Beadle's Dime Library No. 510 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

28 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore. ship, in answer to the signal recalling them, the two schooners had begun a desperate conflict. But suddenly there were heard loud cries on the brig, and fierce fighting followed. ‘** Ha! the pirates have risen against the guard the schooner left over them, and see, they have regained the brig!” cried Géneral Ainsworth. he brig was now seen to rig hastily a bow- sprit and run down to join once more in the combat; but the schooner that had captured her put about instantly, and again stood down toward her, once more boarding, and the fight on her decks was renewed. A. few moments after the other schooner ran alongside, and then fierce and terrible the con- flict was waged, until General Ainsworth sprung into the first boat to arrive alongside the troop ship, and hastily arming his soldiers, gave orders to pull hard for the three vessels, at the same time telling Captain Luther and his nephew to follow in the next boats that arrived. ard and fast pulled the oarsmen; but ere they arrived in a cable’s length of the three ves- sels, which seemed like an Inferno, the fighting suddenly ceased, the fierce tumult was hushed, and down came the pirate a Wildly the soldiers cheered, and upon board- ing the schooner that had fought against such desperate odds, General Ainsworth was met at the gangway by a tall, splendid-looking young man, his head bound up with a kerchief, his cut- Jass red to the hilt and his face besmeared with blood and powder. ‘*T thank you, sir, for coming to my aid; but it was not necessary, and you are at liberty to go on your way,” said the young commander of the schooner. **'You have made the bravest fight, sir, man ever did, and Lowe you my deepest gratitude,” said the general, warmly, while just then his nephew, Captain Ainsworth, sprung on board, ‘Great God! Neil Morgan, is this you? **Ay,it is, and no other, and once more we owe you our lives. General Ainsworth, this is Neil Morgan, the—the—young man who saved us atthe time of the mutiny on the convict ship.” ** What! can it be possible, sir, that 1 owe you the favor of again saving those I love from fall- ing into outlaw hands? ‘Mr. Morgan, you left England as a convict, but TP’ not draw my sword for a king who would refuse to give you free pardon after the allant services you have rendered,” and General worth warmly the hand of the young commander of the schooner, and whom he reader now knows to be none other than Neil Morgan, the convict. CHAPTER XLIV. THE DEATH-BLOW. Lapy Luv the Lioness stood in her little fort, at the pirate stronghold, gazing upon a number of vessels that were approaching the inlet. It was near the sunset hour, and the fleet could not arrive until some hours after dark; but she felt no dread of them, for she had recognized, when the vessels first came in sight far up the coast, the flag-ship of her father’s fleet, alon with the two schooners which Colonel Rublo ha fitted out to fall into their hands, ‘* My father hascaptured the other schooner,” she said to Captain Duluth, who stood near her. ‘* And a large packet-ship, it seems,” he said, referring to a large ship which formed one of the fleet of four vessels. ‘She can never get into our harbor,” re- marked Lady Lulu, and thus the two, surround- ed by three-score buccaneers, stood watching the approaching fleet. Soon after dark shut them out of sight, but their lights were visible as they came on toward the channel. An hour after sy “apap a rocket suddenly soared upward from the deck of the aly § ‘* Tt is my father’s signal,” said Lady Lulu. Soon after shots were heard inland, toward the prairie camp of Captain Bandera, and then hot and fast resounded the sound of conflict. Lady Lulu was astounded, and called out: ‘“* There is an attack upon us landward, and I had no warning that thére was to be a move against us. “‘It is well that my father arrives just as he does with the fleet.” For some moments the battle was hotly waged out upon the prairie beyond the everglades, and then silence followed. Lady Lulu had at once dispatched a courier to the scene of conflict, but be did not return with any tidings, and she hurried down to meet her father at the landing, for the brig and one of the schooners had entered the basin behind the forts, and the other schooner had dropped an- chor in the pass, while the large wie lay in the channel, having come as far as the depth of wa- ter would permit. n From each vessel boats were coming ashore, and. as Lady Lulu reached the landing she met, not her father but Neil Morgan. ' As she started at sight of him, he said: ** Lady Lulu, be not alarmed for your safety, but your stronghold is in my power, as over five hun men have landed, and resistance is ut- terly useless; but come, let me speak with You alone.” ‘ Lulu the Lioness had started at his words. Instead of flying into a rage, as Neil Morgan had feared, she seemed cowed, and walked apart with him; while she asked in a low tone: ‘“* Where is my father, sefior?” ‘* Listen, and you shall hear all, Lady Lulu. ‘To you I owe it, that [ was not hanged by your father’s command; but you put another in my place, took me on board of your goleta, and carried me to Vera Cruz, and, I would not have you think that I have returned good for evil, for I have felt that you were not one to lead this wild life, and I sought to free you from it, ‘*Through your aid my life was saved, and, after you left Vera Cruz, I met with one who nobly aided me, for learnin mah! history, as I told it to him, he bade me follow his advice and become secretly a Mexican officer. ** Possessing vast influence, on account of his wealth, this friend told me how he intended fit- ting out a vessel to cruise against the pirates of the Gulf. ‘** At his own expense he was to do this, while the Mexican Government gave him a blank commission with the rank of a captain of the navy, which he was to fill up with the name of any officer he cared to appoint. “He sabe me that commission, and knowing that Colonel Rublo was to betray his Govern- ment, and give up the schooners to your father, I plotted to get possession of one of them to use as a vessel to cruise in. ‘** Knowing also, where Colonel Rublo had or- dered the crews of the schooners, under pretense of having them taken on board, I went there showed my commission, told them of the fate of the other schooners, and then set sail to hunt down the brig and the sister craft to my vessel. ‘*T at last found them, and the brig had cap- tured a large English troop ship that had upon it some people whom I had known before. ‘**T fought the brig and the schooner, captur- ing both; but in the combat your father was slain, “It is better so, than to be hanged,” was the low, hoarse remark of Lady Lulu. ‘True, and so thought I. ‘**T buried him at sea, with the other slain, and then I urged the commander of the troop ship tocome hither with me, knowing that I could capture the stronghold by strategy, and place in his hands the vilest set of convicts that were ever herded together, and who were subjects of the British crown. “He consented, and, above here on the coast, I landed the troopers, under a guide, and they attacked and took Bandera’s camp, while I now have your stronghold, *“You, I wish to say, are free to go, and, in your goleta with your faithful peon crew, whom I know so well you can fully trust, I would ad- vise that you set sail as soon as possible, taking with you what treasure you wish, ‘*Go where you please, and never Jet it be known that you were Lady Lulu, the Lioness of the Lagoon. : ‘**T shall go; but you?” she asked, in the same hoarse voice. ‘*Lady Lulu, I shall remain in the Mexican sere for in my own land I was never treated we ** And Colonel Rublo?” ‘*T wished to save you from that man, for well I know that you do not love him,” ‘*'No, [ love you,” was the almost fierce reply. ‘Yes, you have before told me that you hon- ored me with your love, while I as frankly told you that I loved another.” TR aap we must go different paths through e? “Yes, Lady Lulu.” | ** So be it; but Colonel Rublo?”’ ‘**T sail from here to Vera Cruz, and I shall arrest him, make his treachery known and leave him to the Government to deal with.” ‘‘Tt is better so; farewell,” She held forth her hand and grasped that of Neil Morgan. A moment she stood thus, and then turned without another word and walked away. Half an hour after the goleta was seen glidin out of the inlet and soon es eda seaward, ria ge i prisoners of all the outlaws, de- stroyed their stronghold, and put prize-crews on board their vessels, Captain Neil Morgan gave the signal to get under weigh, and shortly after sunrise the little fleet of the dead Corsair Com- modore ran out of the inlet. and joining the troop ship, all spread sail and flew swiftly away over the waters of the Gulf. Gaining an = the troop ship headed along the coast, to round Yucatan and steer for here former destination, the island of Jamaica, while the fleet of smaller vessels put away for Vera Cruz, Upon the deck of the brig, by the side of Neil Morgan, stood young Captain Ainsworth, he who had so ga oe, led his men against the rairie fort of the pirates, and whc was going to era Cruz with the convict commander, to ask of the Mexican Government the felon prisoners found among the lagoon outlaws. “There is a wounded man, Sefior Captain, who wishes to speak with you,” said one of Neil Morgan’s officers, approaching him as he stood talking with Captain Ainsworth. The convict captain at once followed the offi- cer forward and found there a man who had a fellow felon with him. He had been wounded in the fight between the he and the schooner, and had been steadily ailing. ‘*Captain Morgan, I sent for you, sir, because I am dying,” he said, in a low tone. “Well, my poor man, is there aught that I can do for you?” ‘** No; but I can do something for you, and I will die easier. ‘* Ts not Captain Ainsworth on board?” *¢ ‘Yes, my man.” ** Ask him to come here as a witness in your behalf.” In surprise Neil Morgan asked a man to fetch Captain Ainsworth, and when he had come the dying man said distinctly: ‘* Mr. Morgan, I was a wild youth, and un- able to save money from my wages, and wish- ing to get married, I plotted a murder, ‘I watched my chance, and soon it came about, for my employer went to town accom- anied by his groom to get his rents, and I laid in wait for them and killed both. “‘T saw some one coming through the forest and ran away before I got all the money, the oom having fallen some distance from his mas- iy **Those whom I killed were Lord Ravenal and his groom, and you were the one who fright- ened me away, and the murder was placed against you. **T fled, but I got into other mischief and was thrown into prison, going out to the colonies a convict upon the same ship with you. **Now you know, Captain Ainsworth, that Neil Morgan was innocent of the crime charged against him, for J was the murderer !” Neil Morgan could not speak for full a mo- ment, and then, as Captain Ainsworth grasped his hand, he cried, in a quivering voice: ** At last! at last!” ; eee poor, poor Morgani how you have suf- ered, ‘*But henceforth your life will be without a cloud,” said Captain Ainsworth. Bending over the dying convict, Neil Morgan thanked him in words of deep gratitude, and sat by bis side until the spark of the murderer’s life flickered out. Arriving at Vera Cruz, Neil Morgan beheld there the goleta of Lady Lulu, and found the town greatly excited over the story that a beau- tiful Spanish lady had come there to dwell, had pomergna” an elegant house, and had surrounded erself with faithful peon servants. This ‘*‘ Spanish lady ” Neil Morgan knew to be Lady Lulu, and he hoped that in the gay life of the town she might be able to drown the sorrows called up by memories of her past. Going to the quarters of Colonel Rublo, Neil Morgan found that arch traitcr enjoying dinner with a party of friends. The colonel sprung to his feet upon seeing his hated enemy enter, but in thunder tones came the words: **Colonel Rublo, you are mae se and I arrest you in the name of the Mexican Govern- ment, whose officer I am!” ** Never!” broke from the lips of the desperate man, and shortening his sword, he drove the blade into his heart ere any one present could prevent, and fell dead across the table, around which were gathered his friends. CHAPTER XLV. CONCLUSION, For his services in behalf of the Mexican Government, in capturing the fleet of the Cor- sair Commodore, and destroying his stronghold Neil Morgan was decorated by the junta an made a senior captain in the navy, The convict prisoners found among the pirates were turned over to Captain Ainsworth, who had them carried on board oneof the schooners, which Captain Neil Morgan said should carey them to Jamaica, while he in his brig, when it had been refitted, should convey him there. During the time the two vessels were fitting out for the cruise, Neil Morgan and Captain Ainsworth were the guests of Jacobs, the Jew. Several weeks after, when they took their leave, the beautiful Adinah, knowing the hope- lessness of winning the love of Neil Morgan, transferred her affection to the handsome young cavalryman, and he departed with the assurance from her that before many months had elapsed he could return to Vera Cruz and claim her as his bride. And return he did, within the year; but not alone, for he came upon the Mexican brig- of-war, ‘‘The Lioness,” Neil Morgan com- mander, and accompanying the Mexican cap- tain was his beautiful wife, once known as Gul- nare Ainsworth, and who had loved the man she married when he was a convict, though threugh all she bad never believed him golly. The wedding of his daughter, Jacobs, the Jew, made a sensation of the day, and among the guests present was a beautiful creature, radiant with diamonds, who was known as a Spanish lady of fabulous wealth; but whom Neil Morgan would not betray as having once been Lady Lulu, the Lioness of the Lagoon. THE END, Eboo ‘S, ( com 3 s alone Ee ae <n pergreeresin | dam % * 4 Ma Fy 0 (i \ a i