Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 485 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The person thus oddly addressed was a queer- little wizen-faced urchin, in yachting costume, who obeyed orders with a directness and taci- turnity that rivaled Mingo himself, By the starry shimmer that was now upon the waters, the latter could be seen making prodigious progress through the swirling tide, with a formidable jack-knife between his teeth, in pursuit of the three heads that were making for the island shore, ‘¢T—I think they might as well have been let ro,” stammered Inez, ‘* at least for the present.” ‘‘T don’t,” responded the detective, ‘‘ Even one of the minor scoundrels, as a witness against the others, might be invaluable to us,” ‘* Ah! but look. Oh, dear, how dreadful!” The two foremost fugitives had clambered ashore, and disappeared, while the negro had overtaken the bindmost, with whom he was en- gaged in a terrific struggle. uddenly both men vanished beneath the sur- face, ‘‘Quick, Starlight!” called out Ensco, in a low voice. ‘‘ There, easy now. No fear of Mingo, in such a tussle.” He was right. At that moment a huge, mo- tionless form, motionless save for the unquiet action of the waves, reappeared on the surface. It was that of Big Mike, a stiletto still clutch- ed in one listless hand, the knife of the faithful negro buried hilt-deep in the lifeless breast! ‘* Bad, bad,” muttered Ensco. ‘‘ Better to have had him alive, but it couldn’t be helped!” Here the boat careened a little under a giant grasp on the gunwale, and then the victorious ingo drew himself in from the water. ‘*Ugh!” he grunted, shaking himself amid- ships. ‘*‘ No use, Marse Rowlock,” Read: reaching out to recover his knife, he re- sumed his duties in the management of the boat as if nothing unusual had interrupted them. Inez shuddered, and she drew her light mantle more closely about her. ‘‘What now?” she asked, noticing that they were heading straight back through the Gate. ‘Around the point,” was the detective’s laconic answer, as he grasped the tiller. ‘* There’s a chance, though only a slight one, of our intercepting the others in their attempt to reach their rendezvous at Bowery Bay.” ‘* Ha! you know of that rendezvous, then?” **T do.’ ‘* But might not the officers of some of the in- stitutions on the island there assist in their cap- ture, were you to give the alarm?” The detective shook his head. ‘‘ Scant time for that. There’s a boat or two that the scoundrels can have availed themselves of ere this.” This was made apparent as soon as the point had been rounded, for a small boat with two occupants was seen making its way rapidly across the outer reach toward the Long Island shore, with the strong tide in its favor, while there was now nothing but a strong head-wind for the pursuer. ‘* No good!” growled Ensco, ‘‘ They’ll make the passage in less than ten minutes, and we are not strong enough to follow them into the gang’s chief fastness to-night.” And he reluctantly altered the shallop’s course, ‘¢ What gang is it?” asked Inez, “The powerful gang of river-bandits who seem to render unquestioning obedience to those scoundrelly brothers,’ ‘‘ Ah! but Vasco must have been left behind, no less thanthe dead man. There are only two in yonder boat,” ‘‘ True; let us hope that he also met his doom in the depths,” Oh, no! Oh, no!” ‘* Bat, why not hope it? There would then be but Juan, the master-murderer, left.” ‘* Yes, yes; to hope it—to desire it as just and well! But then, Vasco was always so brave, so venturesome, so desverate, especially on the water, that I cannot think—” She shrunk down in her seat with a scream. ‘* Vasco is here!” suddenly burst out a defiant voice, followed by a _ blood-curdling laugh, ‘** Here to claim his bride, or to dedicate her to his vengeance!” He had suddenly risen from the water and scrambled over the stern, poniard in hand, like a veritable sprite of the waves, CHAPTER VIII, A LEAP FOR VENGEANCE. Row.xock recoiled from the tiller just in time to avoid a vicious lunge of the young brayo’s knife over Nessie’s shrinking head. But, as he did so, his revolver leaped into view, and spoke with as cunning precision as on the previous occasion, the builet snapping oe uplifted poniard’s blade short off at the t. ‘‘Quick, Mingo!” shouted the detective, ringing straight at the intruder’s throat, ‘* But remember, alive—alive, at all hazards!” But he was intercepted by the tiller striking him heavily in the breast, in its release, and he once more went reeling back, while Mingo, agile though he was, was as yet but midway to the stern sheets. Vasco broke into a terrible laugh, ee LLL LLL TTT TS SS Rowlock, the Harbor Detective. ‘Mine in death, if not mine in life!” he yell- ed, as he caught the shrinking Inez in his grasp, and jumped with her into the waves. In an instant they had disappeared beneath the surface. A cry of terror (terror for /er,) no less than of fury, had burst from the Harbor Detective’s lips, and he was on the taffrail, with his hands joined over his head, his body curved for the pursuing plunge; but a lithe, slight figure—the figure of the little lad Starlight—flitted past and before him like a flash. ‘‘T’m best at water-rattin’, Rowlock!” sung out the lad. ‘* Whatcher about?” And bis diving form had cut down through the water like a knife. Ensco was about to follow when Mingo’s mas- sive grasp closed on his shoulder, He turned upon biminasort of frenzy, but the ebon face of the African was expressive of nothing but contentment. ‘*Golly, Marse Rowlock! Look; all serene!” He pointed to where Inez had just re-appear- ed, lightly buoyed by the partial inflation of her garments, and gasping for breath, but ob- viously more frightened than hurf. They had her, shivering, on board without delay, soon to be warmly wrapped up in some old pea-jackets, which the negro produced from a convenient locker. Then little Starlight also made his re-appear- ance, scrambling forward, like a half-drowned but uncommonly lively rat, without vouchsaf- ing a syllable of explanation. The boat was again speedily under manage- ment; the spanker filled away, and the altered course Was once more resumed, this time with- out interruption. Ensco had anxiously searched the surface of the water with his eagle glance, but without detecting the faintest sign of Vasco’s showing up again. He looked tenderly down at the rescued girl. Exhausted by the repeated nervous shocks she had undergone, and warmly bundled u against the night air, the grateful reaction ha come at last. She had sunk into the brief unconscioness of a sweet sleep. The long, bent, silken lashes of the closed eyes rested upon the fair cheeks, the pallor of the beautiful, upturned face was suggestive of deep peace in the still starshine, her soft breathing came and went equably through the slightly parted coral lips, all the more tempting for a athetic air of weariness, and the uncouth cover- ing just undulated to the slumberous rise and fall of her gentle breast, The detective gave an inward sigh. How he had come to adore her! What would he not have given to imprint but one kiss, that would not be unwelcome, on those rfect lips! And his bosom thrilled anew as he hought of how she bad nestled in his arms, though but for an unconscious instant of alarm, back there on the wave-washed river-rock, He removed his lingering eyes only with an ef- fort from their flashing gaze. ‘* Here!” And, in obedience to an accompanying sign, the boy Starlight was aft at his side. ‘* How did you manage?” ‘* He was a-treadin’ water jest under the sur- face with her sort o’ hitched close, boss,” he ex- lained,‘‘when I bu’sted him full in the bread-bas- et. Then he sort o’ sheered off, and she popped up’ards like a bladder-fish.” ‘Have youany notion what could have become of him? Could he have been drowned?” ‘* Not more’n a Tom cod, That duck was as much at hum under water, boss, as a sculpin or a bull-frog.” ‘* That willdo,” The boy rejoined the negro forward. Some time later Inez opened her eyes, and then started up. ‘* Where are we?” she exclaimed, after recol- lecting ber bewildered senses. ‘' Ah!” and she took a hurried survey of her surroundings; ‘‘ you are not taking me home,” ‘* No, but to the yacht, Miss Delorme,” replied the detective, reassuringly. ‘‘That is best for the present, because the nearest at hand. Be composed, I beseech you)” ‘Tam no longer discomposed now, thank you,” “'Thatis well. Inthe meantime, Starlight shall convey to Mrs. Twiggs the tidings of your safety. And, if I mistake not, there are portions of your wardrobe remaining in the after cabin of the Seamew.” “That is true. Thank you again, Mr. Ensco; you are very thoughtful. Doubtless it is for the best. Still!—” She shuddered involuntarily. He understood. “Ah! you have not been on board since— since the tragedy. 1 hadalmostforgotten. Per- haps [ should land you directly at Astoria?” ‘** No,” with sudden resolution; ‘‘I shall have to master the repugnance some time. Why not now? Besides, the dry garments are indispen- ue ler courage was noteworthy, especially in view of what she had so recently Le mati Nevertheless, it was with difficulty that she Suppressed another shudder when she gained the One’s enough. 7 a yacht’s deck, a few minutes later, and murmured an acknowledgment of Chief Officer John Dago’s respectful greeting. ith one other—Tom Goff, the boatswain, a capital tar—he was the only one of the Seamew’s original crew that had been retained; while the detective also had of late made his home chiefly in the yacht. A commodious state-room, luxuriously fur- nished, at the after end of the Seamew’s saloon cabin, had been occupied by Inez on manya yachting cruise in company with her grand- father, Now, upon emerging from this, after effecting the desired change of garments, she found the detective thoughtfully awaiting her at the saloon table, upon which some refreshments had been placed, The young lady’s face wore a pleased look, as she seated herself, and began to discuss some of the good things before her, in which, at her pressing invitation, he joined her, while she told him the story of her misadventure from begin- ning to end, There was not a single reminder of the terrible tragedy of which the place bad been the scene; the entire interior bad been charmingly re- fitted. Inez testified her appreciation of it all in many ways as she talked. She even grew cheer- ful, and occasionally laughed bappily as she fed a tidbit to the first officer’s pretty skye-terrier that was romping about the saloon. [Ensco listened in attentive silence, and then briefly narrated how he had chanced to divine her danger, and had headed so opportuvely to the rescue. ‘‘ Now let us sift to-night’s strange happenings to their bottom,” said he, ‘* and see what useful hints for our future behoof we can extract from them.” ‘* Agreed,” replied Inez, ‘‘ But first tell me what you were examining as l approached the table. It flashed like something precious when you were renns it out of sight.” Ensco smiled, ‘‘] intended to exhibit it later on,” said he, ‘* But let it be now.” And he laid before her the sapphire ring he — esee up at the first discovery of the ragedy, It was so beautiful that she uttered an excla- mation as she took it in her hand. ‘* Be careful how you press the ring in that parery way, please!” hurriedly cautioned er companion, ‘“* There is a dangerous secret in the gem,” Why, what do you ‘* Secret—dangerous? mean?” And at that instant the terrier familiar- ly scrambled into her lap, and pawed out play- fully for the trinket, Suddenly the little creature withdrew its paw with an agonized yelp, and rolled from her lap to the floor, where it fell into convulsions. Inez was thunderstruck. : ‘* How terrible!’ her lip quivered. ‘‘ Oh, it is horrible! Poor little thing!” | ‘* By the merest accident, though. It is all up with Mr. Dago’s pet, Iam afraid.” The animal was indeed dead. ‘““The ring was doubtless Juan’s,” explained the detective, in answer to the young girl’s — ‘‘Tt’s secret is a anguished look of inquiry. poisoned dart,” She gave a sob of mingled fright and grief, and dropped the ring with a horrified gesture, CHAPTER IX, ON THE SEAMEW. Mnsco returned to the table after causing the removal of the unfortunate animal’s remains. ‘*Compose yourself, Miss Delorme,” said he, cheerfully. ‘‘I have explained the mishap to Mr. Dago, who was not inconsolable, given him by an old messmate only a few days ago. He says you’re not to feel worried an in- stant—otherwise he shall never forgive himself for bringing the little brute on board. ‘Forgive himself? Oh, Mr. Ensco, the poor, the innocent little thing! and so playful, so af- fectionate, only the instant before,” In addition to her quivering lip, the tears were streaming down her cheeks, With a gesture of disrmissing the subject, he took up the ring. How the rich azure of the stone, with its flash- ing ge of brilliants, glanced and scintil- ated! Inez clasped her hands, bending forward with redoubled eagerness, Pet dogs could come and go, wag their tails and die, but such a ring, ah! how seldom is such a feast for fominine eyes, ‘To think of its being so fatal, and yet so beautiful!” she murmured. ‘* What is the secret of its deadliness?” He pressed the thinnest part of the tiny gold band with a peculiar touch. <A delicate, bluish steel point, so small as to be gust perceptible, darted out from near the central] setting, like the tongue of a fairy serpent, and as swiftly vanish- | ed back upon the removal of the pressure. ‘You chanced upon the secret touch by the merest accident,” said Ensco. however, cost me a good deal of struggle.” nicbooks Comic He seems — not to have cared much for the dog, which was. ‘*Tts discovery, | : | d mp4 *, . # ee «’) ? *