THIRD EDITION.

 

'7;

\W


/

afl®§

Illiillll

       

H “l _ ‘ ‘ K 9““ ‘ ——.——_-—.____..__ ‘ £53 « .~ ; §\__4___ A x
Imm_¢wgmmmw» flmwMHMJI mmmmmmmmmwm ‘,.«QLNWWM\
333-50 a year. Entered at the Post 0111“- at .\'ow York, N. Y.. at Second Class Mail Rates,

Copyright, [$94, by Bums AND ADAMS.

Single PUBLISHED \VEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS‘
VOL  Number. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. 5 Cents- NO' 

\_

a

 

Pricey

MANTOMLIGHT-Housn 

THE SMUGGLER SPY.

 

ROGER STARBUCK,

may

‘ ‘\
n
An

AUTHOR or “ THE BOY CAPTAIN," “THE BLACK scnooxxn,“ “ mm: HEELS,“ “THE GOLDEN HARPOON," ETC” me. 1:10.

W“???
t W)“ \.

 

m YOU!“ IIUGGLIRS U'ITIIIID A CRY OI BUPIRBTX'HOUB TERROR. REVEALED FOR. A "W SECONDS, IF A 111mm, 1.va
emu Ol‘ BUNLXGHT, THE“ IT WAS AGAIN—THAT WONDERFUL PBLmI LIGHT-30m

 

  

l
l

 

The Pinihm Light-house;

“Black Rock,” the Smuggler Spy.

BY ROGER STARBUCK,
avrnoa or “Bio HORN iXE," “FIRE-HEELS,”
“THE GOLDEN IIARI‘OON,” ETC, ETC.

 

 

CHAPTER I.
A FOE.

“ WHAT are you doing here, boy? Is this the
way you attend to your master’s business?”

The tone and manner of the speaker were
haughty and insolent to young Robert Brown—
the person he addressed—a flue-looking Ameri-
can youth of seventeen—one of the clerks em-
ployed by John Carlos, shipping goods merchant
of New York. Carlos was a wealthy Spaniard,
who, besides his residence in this city. had a
beautiful home in Mexico, about ninety miles
north of Tampico, to which he sometimes re—
sorted. Having also e. storage agency near
Tampico, he usually took young Br0wn With
him to his Southern mansion, to there look over
the accounts on piles of ledgers, which often
were sent to him from the warehouse.

On the day of which we write the boy had
been told by his employer that he might have a
holiday of ten hours. and he had then strolled
along the bank of the‘Santander river, which
swept past the extensive grounds of the Carlos
mansion. Finally he had noticed seated undera

tree. on the river-shore, the merchant‘s
daughter, Isabel—a beautiful brunette of
fifteen.

Instantly. 0n seeing this lovely vision, he had
paused, and taken a position behind a clump
of shrubbery, through an openingin which he
could watch the girl without her observing him.
He had seen her many times before, and on
several occasions she had spoken to him. To
tell the truth, be loved and admired her; but he
had been careful not to make this known, for,
besides his having received no encouragement
from her, he knew that Carlos, who was a proud
man, would be indignant and would discharge
him at once, were he to even guess at his poor
clerk’s sentiments toward his daughter.

While he stood behind the shrubbery. several

hundreds of feet from the maiden. observing.

her round. lithe form and lovely face, some one
touched him on the shoulder, and turning, he
beheld Captain Philip Cardinas, who command-
ed a. small. armed Mexican 5100 a cruiser
against the smugglers that sometimes ran up
the coast.

Cardinas was about twenty—a slender young
man of dark complexion, who might have been
handsome, but for the uneasy, shifting glances
of his black eyes. He had known John Carlos
and his daughter since he was a mere child,
and Brown had not unfrequently seen him walk-
ing out with Isabel. He had neVer before this
noticed the lad, except by a brief supercilious

lance; but now. as he put the question, he
ooked at him fiercely and intently.

The youth at first was so surprised by the
words of the speaker that he made no reply.

“Come, answer me,” repeated the captain.
sternly. “ What are you doing here, neglecting
your master’s business?”

Robert’s eyes flashed.

“1 would advise you to mind your own and
not to speak to me in that way,” he replied.
“ We Americans are not Used to having our em-
ployers spoken of as our masters!”

‘ Be careful there, fellow! you forget who
you are 5 eaking to. I am of the Cardinas
family! ar that in mind, and apologize to
me at once.”

“ No, I do not for at that I am speaking to a
fellow named Car inas. Americans do not
apologize to people on account of their rank or
family.” _

“Impudent rascal, beg my pardon, or I’ll
tie it out of you!”

find he raised a small cane he held, as if
intending to bring it down across the boy’s
back.

Robert instanth pulled the cane from his
grasp and broke it in two.

“Miserable little whelpl on shall have a
thrashing all the samel” crie the Spaniard.

He grasped him by the throat, but ere he
could strike him, the lad dealt him between the
e as a well-directed blow, which nearly stunned
h in causing him to let go his hold.

“Il‘uriesl’ shouted the other, as soon as h

could speak. “ You shall suflor for this i”

 

 

The Phantom Light-house.

Just then a. shriek from Isabel diverted the
attention of the two disputants, and both Saw
the girl struggling in the current of the river,
which was hearing her further from them every
moment.

They run swiftly along the bank, and, when
opposite to the imperiled maiden, Cardinas
threw himself upon a log, drifting near the
shore, and, pushing it before him, swam toward
the young lady. who, having risen after sink-
ing, was about going down for the second time.
Robert, who had kept on a few yards further
than his c0mpanion, leaped far into the river,
and, striking out vigorously, was fortunate
enough to head the girl off, and seize her as she
was again sinking, while Cardinas was still
some yards distant. Putting a hand under her
shoulder, the boy raised her face above the sur-
face.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “ I will save
you. The tide will help us to the rock, only a
few fathoms off. and the water between that
and the bank is shallow enough for wading.”

But Isabel could not hear him; she had
fainted.

A few minutes later Robert reached the rock
and got upon it with his lovely burden in his
arms. Heedless of the shouts of Cardinas for
him to await his coming, he forded the water,
gained the bank, and moved on with the sense-
less girl toward the mansion. As the weight
was heavy for a lad of his years, he was soon
obliged to pause to rest. He laid Isabel on the
ground, and, at the same time, catching sight
of a smelling-bottle, which had dropped from
her pocket, a few yards behind him, he ran to,
obtain it, hoping to thus restore his charge to
her senses.

Just as he turned,Cardinas, who had come
up, emerged from the shrubhery through which
he had been running. lifted the girl, and hast-
ened on with her toward the house.

Looking behind him at Robert, he called out:

“I am not done with you, yet! I am going
to make you sufl'er for the blow you gave mel”

As he spoke some servants were seen ap-
proaching from the mansion.

They assisted the young captain to convey
Isabel into the house. She was placed upon a
lounge. and, restoratives being applied, she
opened her eyes, just as her father came into
the room..

“ My child—” he began, anxiously, when Car-
dinas seized his hand.

“She is coming to ” be interrupted, “pray,
don’t excite yourself.” .

“Thank God i” cried Don Carlos. “To on,
then, from what I have heard, I am inde ted
for the life of my daughter!”

Cardinas bowed.

“ It was fortunate,” he said, “ that I happened
to be on the bank. The first notice I received
of Isabel’s peril was her shriek, uttered
probably at the moment she fell into the river!”

“You have acted nobly,” said Don Carlos.
“ Depend upon it I shall never forget the great
service you have rendered me, and.” he added,
lOWering his voice, “ I shall not fail to speak of
it to Isabel.”

Again Cardinas bowed, and looked grateful,
while he inwardly exulted at the fortunate turn
which affairs had taken.

“Isabel probably was too far gone, when
that boy reached her, to know who it was that
saved her life," be thought. “ Therefore I Will
get the credit of having rescued her, as the ser-
vants did not see the little rufflan at all. but
only me as I a proached with the girl in my
arms. This wi win me great favor in her
eyes. There is nothing like a bold rescue to
touch the heart of a woman l”

Isabel was soon sufficiently recovered to tell
how she came to fall into the river. She had
reached too far over the edge of a bank to pluck
a flower she saw there, and had lost her bal-
ance.

“ Excepting a slight headache, I now feel as
well as ever,” she remarked, in response to her
father’s anxious look.

Then she arose and left the room to change
her attire.

The moment she was gone. Cardinas turned
to Don Carlos:

“ You have a clerk here—a little rufllan
named Brown?”

“ I employ a boy of that name,” answered the
merchant, looking sur rised.

“I think you woud discharge him if you
knew his true character.” .

“Discharge Brown? Why. I have always
found the boy good and faithful to me.”

“ The fellow imposes on you. He is at this
moment lounging on the river bank, instead of
attending to his duty.”

 

 

    
  

‘— ‘

“You are mistaken, Philip. I gave him
holiday.” 2

" Oh, did you? Well then of course that is
all right so far, but I don’t think you would like
to hear that I caught him watching your
daughter from behind a clump of shrubbery, in
a Very impudent manner.”

Don Carlos frowned: then he smiled.

“ Oh. as to that,” he said. “you know he is a
mere boy. I have no objection to his admiring
Isabel—at a distance.”

“Have you not? “'ell, I did not like his
looks, and I merely requested him to mow
aside to let me pass, when [Lelittle rascal had
the audacity to call me ‘fellow,’ in a way
which made me angry. I raised my cane and
would have given him a flogging had not your
daughter’s shriek at that moment diverted my
attention.”

“ You mean to say that he had the impudence
to insult a friend of mine?”

“ He did so, and more than that. he doubled
up his fist, and Would. I have no doubt, have
struck me, had I attempted to thrash him.”

“I will speak to him about this, and induce
him to apologize to you.”

The young captain’s eyes twinkled. He knew
that Brown would not consent to do this, and
he also knew enough of Don Carlos to feel sure
that he would discharge the lad from his em~
ploy for refusing.

“The fellow will probably tell you some lies
about the affair,” continued Cardinas. “ He
would readily do so, i have no doubt, for the
sake of retaining his situation.”

The merchant looked thoughtful. He had al-
ways found Brown honest and faithful, but he
was of a suspicious nature, and the words of the
ca tain had their effect.

ardinas, so' u after, departed to repair to his
vessel, the St. Mary by name, anchored near
the mouth of the river.

CHAPTER II.
A SURPRISE.

A SHORT time after the young ca tsin was
gone. Don Carlos sent for Robert rown to
come to the apartment which he used as a sort
of office in his mansion. By the time he ar-
rived, the hoy’s clothing had dried, and showed
no traces of his late mant'ul struggle to savo
Isabel.

The moment he entered the room, the lad was
gurprised by the stern look on his employer‘s

ace. ~

“ Strange he should look at me in that way,”
he thought, “after 1 have saved his daughter
from drowning.” ,

“ Robert.” said the merchant, “ I learn that
you have insulted Captain Cardinas, one of my
best friends.”

“ On the contrary, sir, he insulted me. I
merely defended myself.”

“ Silence! th - captain would not lie.”

“ What did he tell you, sir?“

“ It does not matter. You insulted him by
calling him names without provocation.”

b “ if he told you that, he lied,” replied Robert,

oldl .

Thgn he went on to give a frank and truthful
account of the whole affair.

“ You see, sir. I did not ‘punch ’ him until he
took hold of me.” the lad continued.

“Your account differs from his,” said Don
Carlos. “You were t0o hasty I have always
found you faithful and industrious, but there are
other boys equally so, and unless you are willing
to apologize to the captain, you must eave my
employ. Take your choice.”

“1 will then have to leave you, sir.” an.
swered Robert, “ for I will not apologiZe for de-
fending m self.” .

“ Here,’ said Don Carlos. taking out his
pocket-book. “is your salary for this month,
which ends to-morrow.”

Robert bitterly regretted the unfortunate af-
fair which had brought about his dismissal, for
Don CarlOs paid him good wages.

Moreover, on leaving his employer, he would
probably never again see the merchant’s beauti-
ful daughter. ‘

Having taken the amount due him, he re-
paired to~his room and proceeded to pack up his
clothin . He had not been gone a minute,
when sabel. who had changed her dress. on-
tered her father’s room.

The merchant’s grave face lighted up at
once.

“ Glad enough I am you were saved." he
said. “How can we ever repa him for the
gallant deed?" he continued. smi ing, not with-
out much satisfaction, as he noticed the blush
which ovenpread the girl’s cheeks. Cardinag,

  

w.
5. '.

.4
v

.. . _. .
«Luz. .

A

 

   
   
  

 
   

 

  
  
    

 

 

The Phantom Light-house.

 

 

 

  
      
    

. sides beloning to a good family, was the son
of a wealthy planter, who would eventually be-
qm—ath to him a large fortune, and the mer-
chant would have been glad to see the youth
become the husband of his child.

“It was a noble deed,” said Isabel. “He is
slender, and it must have been very hard for
him to hold me and swim at the same time.”

“That is true.” After a thoughtful silence,
he continued:

“Isabel, I—I—think I am not mistaken.

/You like this young fellow?”

I

es
‘\ no

“Like him?” said the girl, opening her eyes
wide with surprise at the question.

“\Vhy—yes. You need not be alarmed. I
have no objection. He is both handsome and
noble.”

“Father, what do you mean? Of course I
have never thought of him, in that way, and I
am naturally surprised that you should.”

“Why surprised? He is handsome, brave,
and of good family.”

“Of whom are you speaking, father?” in-
quired Isabel.

“What a singular question—I allude to Cap-
tain Cardinas, of soursel”

“Then you have been talking of one person
and l of another,” cried the young girl, laugh-
ing merrily.

Don Carlos stared.

“I have been speaking of the young fellow
who saved your life—of Captain Cardinas.”

“ It was not the captain who saved my life—
it was Robert Brown I”

“ Robert Brown? Why, Cardinas said, or, at
least, permitted me to say that he rescued

on.”

“That was dishonest on his part. That he
tried to rescue me, I know, for I saw him en-
deavoring to swim to me, but it was Brown
who reached and saved me. I was conscious
long enough to see and recognize him. Car-
dinas was too far off to even render him any
assistance. I cannot imagine why he should
pretend—”

“Mind, I do not say he told me be rescued
you; only hevhe—did not den it, nor did he
make any mention of the boy, rown.”

Isa bel’s lip curled.

“ I never thought him particularly honest,”
she said, “and now I am sure he is not.”

“ You must not let such thin s influence you.
Doubtle-ss it was the interest 9 takes in ou
which made him use a little deception. t is
excusable in a young fellow of his age.”

“ Is it? I differ with you, father; but let us
say no more about him. What are you going
to do for Robert Brown?”

Don Carlos colored.

“ Well, really. I suppose he does deserve
some sort of recompense.”

“ I will tell you what to do.” said Isabel, put-
ting an arm about her parent’s neck, and look-
ing with a bright smile straight into his eyes.

“ Well, what?”

“ Double his wages.”

“ Impossible.”

“ Why?”

“ Because he will no longer be in my employ.
Three minutes ago I paid him what was due,
and discharged him l”

“ Discharged the boy who saved your daugh-
ter’s life?”

“ I did not know it at the time.”

“Why did you discharge him?”

Don Carlos informed her, giving both the
captain’s and Br0wn’s version of the story. ‘

“And you believed the captain?”

“ I did and do.”

“Well, I do not. It is Robert Brown who
tells the truth. Come, father, call him back.
We haVe detected Cardinas in one falsehood,
and of course he would therefore tell more.”

“As he has saved your life, I will reinstate
him in his place; for as I said, he deservos
some recompense, and I will also increase his
we es."

‘,‘ I think it best to say nothing to him about
your reason,for doing so, as, in that case, he
would be sure to refuse the increase.”

“Upon my word, you seem to know this boy
pretty well !”

Isabel colored slightly.

“One can read him almost at a glance,” she

9 bed.

R Well, I will have to hit upon some retext,
pecially after the way I Served him. he fact
’ he added, after a moment’s reflection, “ I
have long thought of sending him to try and in-
vesti ate the mysterious theft of my goods at
the ampico warehouse. I will send him there
on this mission, and tell him that, as it is a

- . harder and more perilous duty than I have hith-
, _\ orto required of him, I will increase his salary.”

 

“ Could you not think of some other plan,
father? As you say, it will be a perilous task.
Remember, you have already sent on that er-
rand two persons who have mysteriously disap-
peared.”

“ Yes, Henrique and Jason—two of my clerks.
I imagine, however, that they were drowned, as
they went out boating together, instead of at-
tending to their duty as they should have done.
They Were last seen in a skiff, just as a fog was
coming up.”

“I know there was a report to that effect, but
I have always thought,” she added, with a shud-
der, “that they Were murdered.”

“Pooh! I don’t think so.”

Isabel tried to persuade her father not to send
Brown on the errand he had spoken of, but all
to no purpose.

“ Brown is careful and prudent,” he said, “ as
well as courageous, and he is just the person I
can rely 01: for this business.”

The young girl withdrew, and Don Carlos lost
no time in sending for the boy.

The moment he entered, the merchant said to
him: ,

“I have concluded, after all, to retain you in
my employ, if you are willing to stay.”

"I should only be too glad to stay, if you do
not ask me to—’

“ No, no,” interrupted the other, “we will say
no more about your apologizing to Cardinas. My
princ1pal reason for keeping you is because I
have just thought of something—a task for you,
which I would scarcely trust to any other per-
son. As it is a harder and perhaps, a more per—
ilous one than I have ever required of you, I
Will, from this moment, increase your salary
fifty per cent."

Robert stared. He could scarcely credit his
good fortune. The pleasure depicted on his face
pleaSed his employer.

“The question is,” he continued, “ whether
you are Willing to undertake the duty I would
require you to perform. You are aware that,
for several years ast, my warehouse at Tam-
plCO has frequent y been robbed. How it is
done is a mystery to me, as well as to my agent
there, who has good watchmen posted both
inside and outside of the premises. Well, I am
going to send you to try and ferret out this
mystery. It may be perilous work, but I think
I can rel on you.”

“I wiliy do In best,” answered Robert. “I
shall be glad an willing to go.”

“ You can then prepare at once to set out in
the morning. I will furnish you with a ood
revolver, and also with funds for your mainte-
nance while in the city. First, on your arrival,
you will take a letter to my agent, Leon Rupo,
who will give you a packet of money, which
you will immediately send on to me by express.
He will receive the money just before you reach
the warehouse, so that he will be ready to hand
it over to you. As it is a large sum, I would
not like to trust Rupo with it, for I believe the
thieVes have spies to watch him, as he has been
twice waylaid and robbed of cash he was going
to send to me.”

“ So I have heard, sir,” answered Robert.

“ Of course the robbers will not know of your
having the money, and therefore I can rely up-
on its safe arrival.”

. Having given his young clerk further instruc-
tions, be dismissed him to prepare for his jour-

ne .

8n the following morning the lad set out,
taking passage aboard of a schooner which
would land him within a few miles of the city.

At .four o’clock PM. the schooner, which was
a fishing craft, dropped anchor off the coast a
league abOVe Tampico, and Robert was taken
ashore in a boat.

Ashe was passing a rock, after leaving the
boat, on his way to the city, he beheld a youth
of his own age crouched behind a ridge, where,
with a spy~glass, he had evidently been watch-
ing the schooner from which the merchant’s
clerk had landed.

The moment the two saw each other, Robert
recognized him as John Lormo—a young fellow
employed as a custom~house detective at Tam-
pico. As he had often met Lormo at the custom-
house, when he went there on business with his
employer, the boys had become acquainted.

“Halloal” cried Lormo, who was a small but
resolute-looking young Mexican, “me much
glad see you. Where you come fromL—from
him schoon’!”

And he pointed toward the craft.

“ Yes. I am going to Tampico."

“ Good; me go there too, now. Been watch
schoon’. Think might be smuggleum, but see
now only fish catcher. Plenty smuggleum been
go on of late.”

 

“ I should think Captain Cardinas, with his
craft, ought to prevent that.”

“Only one vessel not enough.
smuggle git past him."

The two boys, journeying on, were soon near
the warehouse, which was within a stone‘s
throw of the city. Here Robert parted from
his companion, after which he entered the
building.

It was a large, stone house. which had once
been an abandoned convent. It stood near the
edge of a pier, that projected into the water.
The structure was almost a ruin, when Don
hCarlos purchased it and fitted it up for a ware-

onse.

Entering it, Robert ascended a flight of steps
and passed into the office of Leon Rupo, the
agent.

The latter. a Spaniard with a thin. swarthv
face and keen, black eyes, read the letter deliv-
ered to him.

“If you hurry, you will be in time for the
six o’clock express,” he ‘said, as he gavv Robe rt
a package, directed to Don Carlos. “ Be carw
ful and let no one see this except the express-
agent.”

“ You can depend on me,” answered the
youth, as be deposited the package in an inside
pocket of his coat.

He then hurried cfiz' toward the city.

On the way he was obliged to pass a gully,
half-concealed by thick masses of shrubbery.
He fancied, as he moved on, that he heard a
slight rustling in the shrubbery, and turning
quickly, he beheld a swarthy face, surmounted
bya broad-rimmed hat. He also caught the
gleam of a pair of glittering eyes, and fancied
he could detect the flash of a knife.

“ No you don’t!“ he cried, drawing his revol-
ver and facing about.

The person, whoever he was, had evidently
intended to steal upon him from behind, and
stab him with his knife, but, finding himself
discovered, he sprung backward, and soon dis-
ap ared in the underhrush.

obert hurried on, keeping a good lookout on
all sides of him as he went.

He finally reached the express building, but
be there found everything in confusion. The
house had taken fire, and vain efforts were
being made to put out the flames. , On inquiry,
he learned that nothing could be sent by the
company for several days.

He then repaired to a lodginghouse, and hav-
ing hired a room, be locked himSelf in the
apartment, and carefully sewed the valuable
package in the inside lining of his vest.

CHAPTER III.
'r H E C A P 'r U R E .

HAVING partaken of a frugal repast, Robert
set out for the warehouse.

“ We will see what sort of a watch they keep
there,” he muttered.

He took a different direction from that in
which he had come to go to the express office.
On reaching the building he found that Rupo
had gone home for the day, and had left his
watchman in charge of the place.

There were four men in all, two of whom
were posted outside—one on the pier and an-
other at the front of the structure. The others
were inside. All the doors except one were
barred and bolted. The moment Robert ap-
peared at the one which was unfastened, a
stout man, with a pistol in one hand came for~
ward, and grufl‘iy asked him what he wanted.

“I am going to sleep in the warehouse t0<
night,” said the boy.

"’ No. What is your name?”

“ Robert Br0wn.”

“All right, then. The agent told me to let
no one in except you. If you came, you were
to be allowed to come in, but he said nothing
about yoursleeping here.”

“He can have no ob'ection,” answered the
boy, as he entered. e found himself in a
large, long room, in which was packed a mis-
cellaneous assortment of goods. The apart-
ment now contained but one large lamp, which
afforded only a dim light. “ I see a door at the
other end of the room,” said Robert.

“ Yes, that opens u n another storageplace,”
wasnthe answer. “ here is a watchman there,
too.

“ There are other storage-rooms in the build-
ing, are there not?”

“ Yes, up—stairs.”

“' And is there no watchman there?”

“ No, because to reach them any person
would have to pass through the room in which
is the watchman. The stairway leads up from
that room.”

“I will go and look at it.”

Somehow him

 
   

      
    
  
   
  
   
    
  
   
   
 
  
   
 
  
    
  
   
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
     
    
  
   
  
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
         
     
       
     
       
      

 

   

   

 

The Phantom Light-house.

 

 

The man scowled.

“ i know you are one of the merchant’s clerks,
but that .does not give you authority to come
here and interfere with us. We understand
our business.”

“ Don Carlos ave me orders to come here, if
I wanted to, an look into things.”

“ Oh, he did—eh? Well, why didn’t you
say so before, youngster. Of course that alters
the case.”

Robert moved forward to the door, opened
it and entered the room, which he found light-
e like the other one. As he appeared rather
sudden] before the surprised watcher there, he
detecte a. suspicious-looking bottle, which the
man was thrusting hastily into the breast pock-
et of his coat.

“ Ho! ho!” thought the boy. “ So this fellow
takes his hitters while on duty!”

“ It’s all right, Antolo,” cried the other watch-
man, putting his head through the doorway.
“ This young man is one of Don Carlos’s clerks.”

“You have no right to drink, while you are
on watch,” said Robert to the person with the
bottle. '

“ Me rheumatiz,” was the reply.
much take—only a little.”

As he spoke, however, he staggered, and the
boy could not help observing that his nose and
his eyes were very red.

He looked careiully around him.

“Is the door through which I came the only
one opening upon this room?” he inquired.

“ Ch] of course. Him only one door.”

Robert went up the stairway and entered a
room above. Here there was also a dim light.
The apartment was one of several in this part
of the lofty building.

“ It is true that no one could come here with-
out passing the watchman below,” thought the
boy. ' “ It is plain that the fellow gets drunk,
but the other man appears to he steady and
sober. In fact, I have heard the agent speak of
him as a good, reliable person. It is a mystery,
therefore, how any robber could enter without
being seen by him.

Hours passed. Robert resolved to remain
awake all night. He kept a vigilant lookout
moving from room to room above, and now and
then going down-stairs to see how the watch-
men were conducting themselves.

It was about midnight, and the youth was
walking to and fro is one of the upper rooms,
when he fancied he heard a sli ht creaking
noise in the stone wall, against which some val-
uable oods were piled.

He instantly concealed himself in a large,
empty cask, over which he placed a piece of
canvas, picked up from the floor.

The open bung-hole of the cask afforded him
a view of that part of the wall in which he had
heard the mysterious noise. He kept his gaze
upon it, and finally. to his surprise, e saw one
of the squares of stone above the pile of goods
swin noiselessly back, revealing an opening at
whic a dark, swurthy face new ap earedi

This face, dimly lighted, was eVIdently that
of a Mexican youth of seventeen years. A
fierce, desperate-looking visage it was, with
bright, flashingbblack eyes, a low forehead, thin
lips, and long lack hair, the latter streaming
down from under a broad-rimmed Spanish
sombrero.

The fellow thrust his head through the open-
ing, took a careful survey of the store room
and then sprung lightly in on top of the piled
goods. He had a lithe, active figure, and wore

oose, sailor-like trowsers, confined about the
waist with a sash.

Kneeling, he turned and silently beckoned, as
if to some other person or persons, and the next
moment half a dozen men in semi—nautical at-
tire sprung through the openin and joined the
youth, who had n0w descends to the floor.

Upon one of these fellows the gaze of Robert
was riveted with the closest attention, for he
felt almost sure that in spite of alight cloak he
were and which partly concealed his face and
form he could recognize Captain Cardinas.

This person pointed to the door, which one
of the man now cautiously shut and locked.

Then the Mexican youth whom the boy had
first seen said something in a low voice and all
the persons there except the one Robert believed
to be Cardinas, who sprung back through the
opening after taking a careful survey of the
room, commenced to help themselves to the
most valuable of the goods and to pass them
throu h the secret aperture toconfederates who
were here to receive them.

“ Ho] ho!” thought the concealed boy. “ How
finely it isall done! There must of course be
some secret entrance outside leading to a hidden
stairway, by means of which those rascals have

“Me never

 

come up. The mystery is solved at last and
now, then, for putting a stop to the sport.”

His intention was to spring from the cask,
give the alarm to the watchmen below, and
with them, rush outside to head off the robbers.

He had not taken two steps, however, after
leaving the cask, ere he was seen, when the
whole arty, with drawn knives, bounded to-
ward him, and from their position, got between
him and the door.

“ No noise!” said the young leader, his eyes
blazing like those of a wolf, “or me quick blow
out brains!”

b And as he spoke he pointed a pistol at the
0v.

Robert drew his revolver and at the same
time, resolved to do his duty, was about to
shout an alarm, when something descending on
his head laid him senseless.

The person whom the lad had supposed to be
Cardinas had returned through the opening and
it was he who struck down the youth with a
blow from the pommel of his sword. As he
looked at the prostrate lad his face, fully re-
vealed, was shown to really be that of the St.
Mary’s captain.

Half a dozen knives were instantly raised
above the fallen youth, but Cardinas prevented
the blows from being dealt.

“No, he must not be killed here.” he cried.
“Take him to your craft, Pedro.” he added,
turning to the young leader, “ and then—”

He smiled meaningly, instead of finishing the
sentence.

“ Ay, he shall go to keep com any with the
merchant’s other two spies - enriquc and
Jason,” said Pedro.

“Good.” replied Cardinas, “better so, than
for his blood to stain this floor. There must be
no clew to his disappearance.”

“Three men are enough to take him away,
for he is not heavy,” continued Pedro.

The hands and feet of the senseless boy were
secure] fastened with cords; then he was car-
ried o by three of the men, who passed with
him, through the opening, while the others re-
mained to continue their plundering.

There was a light, secret staircase in a ho]-
low space between the thick walls of the build-
ing, and dewn this the outlaws descended with
their burden.

There were about twenty steps leading to a
water—cave to the left of the pier. The bottom
step of the staircase was, in fact, merely a
rugged shelf on one side of the rock, concealed
by long, flowing weeds. The outlaws had only
to roll a bowlder over the opening above it to
conceal the existence of the secret stairway.

The convent having, in fact, been built at a
time when the Spaniards were at war not only
with the fierce natives of the country but were
also threatened with attacks from French bucca-
neers, doubtless had other hidden ways of
egress and ingress besides those just described.

In the cave, which opened directly upon the
sea, was a large boat, containing the goods
which had already been conveyed to it from
above. There were , several men in the boat.
The three who bore Robert laid him aft, near
the stern sheets, and, in a whisper, explained
about his capture to the others in the vessel.

Then they returned to the store-room. where
they assisted their companions to remove some
more goods from the apartment.

When they had nearly loaded the boat with
as many of the stolen things as it could bear,
they pulled the vessel seaward, having first left
Cardinas on shore.

“ Don’t fail to drown that accursed boy i”
whispered the St. Mary’s captain to Pedro, are
he parted from him. '

“ Me see to him,” answered the other in Eng-
lish. “Take him out near ‘Black Rocks,’
where me sure he neVer can come up again.”

“Would it not be as well to tie a weight to
him, and throw him out of the boat when you
are a few fathoms from the shore?”

“No; ’fraid rope part when fish gnaw with
teeth, and him body come up again. Out at
‘ Black Rocks’ plenty shark come soon, and
nothing of him left!”

And as he spoke, Pedro grinned, showing his
white teeth.

“Perhaps you are right. So long as on
make awa with the rascal, I don’t care . on)

on do it, at be sure and drown him, for it is
likely he saw me in the store-room with you
and of course, if he should get away, he would
tell Don Carlos!”

“ Never fear; him not get away from sharks,”
replied Pedro with a horrible laugh.

A quaJter of an hour later the boat was

nlled al ngside of a small sloop, lying about

sit a league from the shore.

   

 

CHAPTER lV.
BERTA.

“WHERE is Berta i” was Pedro‘s first queso
tion to his mate, as he came and looked over
the gangway.

The mate, an English youth of twenty,
named Bronson, answered rather sullenly:

“She’s in the cabin, just now. She made
me take this watch on deck, although it ain’t
my turn.”

"Never mind. Whatever she order you do,

on must do. That was the agreement me

een make with you when me ship you. Berta
is my own sister, as me have told you, and she
is as good a sailor as me. Me hope she stay in
cabin, though, till we get near 'Black Rocks,
for me got some one here to make mod for
sharks, and you know Berta was never for kill-
ing. You remember what trouble we had with
her, when we went to thr w Heni'ique and
Jason in water.” ,

“Ay, I don‘t think I’ll be likely to for at it.
She fastened her nails in my face, as was
flinging one of the boys over, and I have the
scars yet!”

He then called the men of the watch, a few
of whom proceeded to take from the boat the
plundered property, while others lifted Robert
to the deck.

The boy was recovering his senses as he was
carried aboard. He opened his eyes, when he
was laid on deck, and stared wonderineg at
the evil faces faintly revealed to his gaze in the
dim light. , .

“Who are you? Where am I?” he inqun‘ed,
as Pedro bent over him.

“You ask too many question. You know
where you are, bum-by.”

The youth attempted to rise, when he er-
ceived that his ankles and his arms were tie .

Suddenly the emory of the robbers in the
warehouse fiashe upon his mind, and he at
once realized that he was in the power of the
thieves.

“What are you going to do with me?”he
said, as he was now raisrd and borne into the
hold.

The men did not answer. They placed him
On the floor, returned to the deck, and fastened
the hatches over him.

“There,” said Bronson, who had superintend~
ed this task, “I don’t believe your sister has a
shadow of a suspicion that we have that fellow
in limbo.”

Pedro, to whom he spoke, looked well pleased.

“We must keep it secret from her, till after
we throw boy overboard,” he said.

Bronson was about to reply when Pedro laid
a hand on his arm.

“ Hist! here she come i” he whispered.

In fact a light step was heard, approaching
from the direction of the cabin, and the next
moment Berta appeared.

Seen by the light of the sloop’s lantern
which, as the vessel sped upon her way, had
been hung up in the rigging aft, the girl was
shown to be about sixteen, of tall stature, but
well formed and graceful, with a wealth of
black tresses SWeepin over her shoulders, dark
eyes, and a firm, sel -reliant cast of counten—
ance. Although of masculine nature, so far as
courage and many of her tastes Were concerned,
yet she was a person of strong, womanly feel-
mg.

Her face, of the brunette type, was beautiful,
and the hardy sort of life to which she had been
trained as her brother’s assistant, had given her
splendid health.

“ So the load has come off,” she said, glancing
at some of the things, which had not yet been
taken below. “Did you make a. good haul,

At the same moment a pitch of the vessel
caused the girl to stagger, and Bronson, who
was near, stretched out a hand, as if to save her
from falling.

She pushed his arm violent] ‘ away.

“ I want none of your be p to keep me up!”
she cried. “I’m as good a sailor as you are,
any day i”

The mate shrugged his shoulders and walked

0 .
Pedro lau bed at his repulse.
“I hate hat fellow, and I .wish he would
never come near me,” said Berta. in English.
“ He is a ood man, at any rate, and we can

depend on him, for he escape from prison, and, '
if 0

lane us. he be caught and hung.”
“ It was a brutal murder.” continued the girl,
shuddering. “ To thinkof his hiulin a defense-

less Indian child, Just to possess h use]! of a ,

gold bracelet she were.”

 

 

 

    
 

   

 

 

The Phantom Light-house.

 

“ You think too much of such things,” an-
swered Pedro, " too much for a smuggler and
robber.”

“We can smuggle and rob without killing!
Where are the rest of the goodsi—in the hold?”

“ Ye—yes,” stammered Pedro.

“ I will take a lantern, and go down to look
at them.”

“Better wait till morning,” said Pedro, who
knew that if Berta entered the hold she would
discover the prisoner there. “ You can see bet-
ter then. ”

The girl directed toward her brother a quick,
flashing glance. Evidently her suspicions were
aroused. .

“ I will go n0w.” she answered demdedly.

Pedro threw himself before her, and was try-
ing to frame some excuse for her not to go,
when she pushed him so violently that he tell

own.

“ Hah! she very devil I” muttered the youth,
as he rose.

Meanwhile Berta, procuring a lantern, en-
tered the hold, fastening the door in the bulk-
head behind her, so that she might not be in-
truded upon, for she knew Pedro had some rea-
son for not wanting her here, and she was re-
solved to fathom the secret.

She had not taken many steps when she came
upon Robert, lying, bound hand and footnon
his back. The boy‘s light brown hair having
fallen away from his forehead, revealed, Just
above his left temple, the contusion from the
blow he had recaived.

“ What a handsome young fellow,” mentally
exclaimed the girl, the moment she could re-
cover from her surprise. _

Then she advanced near enough for him to
see her, and meet the gaze of h.s blue eyes.

i “ You have been hurt,” she said, gazing down
at the cut on his forehead. “How came you
here?"

She knew very well that he must have been
brought here by her brother, but she wanted to
learn all she could.

Robert then related to her what he could re~

’ member of the affair in the warehouse.

l The girl’s eyes fl nsh d indignantly. She
\stooped down, and picking up a cup of Water
‘1 ing on a barrel near, she proceeded to bathe
the boy’s wound. As she again met the gaze of
'his eyes, she felt attracted to him more than she
had ever before been to any human being.

She unfastened the lashings from his feet, and
as she helped him rise, she was about to con-
duct him to the cabin. when the hatch above
opened and Pedro sprung down into the hold.

“ Enough of this nonsense,” he cried. “ Why
have you freed that boy?”

Berta sprung between her brother and the
prisoner. her eyes flashing. '

“ I will not have him harmed,” she said, reso-
lutely. “You would serve him as you did
Heurique and Jason l”

“Come, now, who command here? You or

H

“ I have my right here, as well as you. I am

part owner of the craft!”

“ Don’t be a fool, Berta! If you let that boy
0, it is all up with us. He is one- of Don Car-
os’s clerks, and he saw us rob the warehouse!”

“ I did not say I meant to let him go. but Ido
mean to prevent your murdering him.”

“ We see about that," cried Pedro, and, as
quick as thought, he pulled a pistol, - which
he was about to aim at the youth, ovor the
shoulder of the girl, when the latter seized his

arm.

“ Hold l” she cried, firmly. “ If ever you kill
that boy, you and I will be enemies hereafter,
and, as true as there is a God above us I will be-
tray you and your band, and our hiding-place
to the authorities 1"

Her eyes literally blazed. and her womanly
voice rung like an organ through the vessel, as
she thus spoke. ’

Pedro cowered before her. for no person
knew her temper, when she was aroused, better
than he.

“ What do you mean to do with him then i”

“ We can keep him with us. Perhaps we may
induce him to join our band.”

“I will never do that," answered Robert,
firmly. . '

" Silence i” cried Berta, turning her magnifi-
cent black eyes upon the youth. but her voice
now was not at all stern. “You may think
differently, after awhile.”

“ I am su 'e I never Will!"

“ You hear him,” said Pedro. “ Come, Berty,
this is fool work. Besides, Cardinas told me to
n. , ‘be sure tomake way with him,” he added, in a
' whl r. .
“flank care for Cardinas," she replied, also

 

 

in a whisper. “ He need not know that the boy
is with us. He does not often come to our
rendezvous, and when he does, it will be easy
enough to keep the prisoner out of his sight.”

Pedro turned, and sullenly left the hold.

As soon as he was gone, Robert said to her:

“You will help me to escape? We are not
far from land. I think I could swim ashore, if
you would let me drop overboard.”

Then Berta smiled upon him.

“ You could not swim so far. We are more
than a league from land, and the current would
be partly against you. Come with me.”

She conducted him into the cabin and gave
him wine and refreshments. She appeared to
take great pleasure in seeing him eat. When
he had finished, she opened the door of a neat
little room, and pointed to a berth.

“You need rest. Go there and sleep,” she
said. gently.

The moment he had entered the room, she
closed and locked the d0or.

It was her own bed which she had given up to
him. She resolved to watch by the door to
prevent her brother, or any of his crew from
harming the boy.

CHAPTER V.
THE SPY.

ABOUT the time Robert entered the ware-
house, the boy Lormo, with four men, all wear-
ing thick pea-jackets, were pulling a boat past
Pedro’s sloop, which, as stated, lay at anchor
half a league from the shore. Three or four
men aboard the craft were leaning over the
rail, with fishinglines in the water.

“ Ahoy! there i” shouted Lormo. “ What
luck?”

“Not much yet,” answered Bronson, who
was one of the men with lines.

“Hahl hahl flsherman‘s luck! Don’t think
you get much here,” said Lormo, laughing.
“We go fish, too, but we going further out!”

“ Well, good luck to you,” Suid Bronson.

The boat was kept on, for Lormo had no sus~
picion of the sloop’s true character.

In fact this craft, the Maria by name, often
seen (if the coast, was supposed to be merely
an innocent fishing-craft, as Pedro and his sis-
ter fianently brought to Tampicoacargo of
fish. 'lhe young peo le, Well kn0wn to the
custom-house officers, a ways paid for any mer-
chandise which at any time they brought to the
dol-k with them, and were therefore supposed
to be strictly honest in this respect.

Lormo and his companions kept on until the
boat was about two leagues from land, when
the dropped anchor behind a mass of rugged
rocks that rose a little above the surfacc of the

 

sea.

Gradually the gloom of night closed about
them. Then they got out upon the rocks and
crouched behind a ledge where they lay for a
long time peering into the darkness.

“ Here she Comes!” whispered Lormo. speak-
ing of course in Spanish, as his companions
were all Mexicans.

The men slightly elevated their heads to be-
hold the dim outline of a small sloop.

“ How do you know she is the one?”

“By the shape of her mainsail. See! itis the
very one our spy described as belonging to the
suspected craft. I’ll wager she now has the
cargo she is going to smuggle in on this very
night! Quick! NOW is our time.”

All entered the boat and Lormo crouched
down in the stern-sheets under some canvas
by which his small figure w is well concealed.

The others pulled out from behind the rocks
and one of them instantly hailed the craft.

“ Ahoy! What sloop is that?"

“ Tim fishing-sloop WINHO. bound in to Tam-

ico!

“ Lie to and let us board you l”

A grufi’ oath, not intended to be heard was
uttered by the person who had answered the
hail.

“Who are you, and what do you want to
come’aboard for? We are in a hurry and can’t
stop? .

At the same moment the sloop came shooting
on swiftly and would have passed the boat had
not one of the men therein flashed a lantern,
which showed three companions with revolvers
pointed toward the saucy skipper.

“ Heave-to, in the name of the law i” cried one
of the party.

“ Custom-house officers! Why didn't you say
so before?" gmwled the captain.

Then the canvas rattled as his craft swung up
into the wind, and in another minute the boat
was fast alongside with a rope, and all its occu-
pants except Lormo, who remained hidden, were
aboard.

 

at:

“Come, now, what do you want of me—a
poor fisherman?” inquired the captain.

“ How is it you showad no light!” said one of
the visitors. :5 * . »

“Because my lantern is out of order, and I
must have it repaired before I can burn more
oil in it.” ,

“ Hah! Well, please to let me see your
cargo.”

“I have none, at resent; but I should think
you might tell by t e smell what it has been,
unless your noses are stopped up.”

“You will find that our eyes are not stopped.
at any rate,” was the answer. “ Off with
that hatch, and let us see what is below there.”

The Captain ordered a min to take off the
hatch, and the officers sprung into the hold.
This was found to contain nothing except some
empty barrels, ~ome coils of rigging etc. The
cabin was next examined, and afterward the
forecastle.

Meanwhile, while the attention of the crew
was directed toward the officers. Larino had
clambered about with the agility of a cat, and
had dropped into the hold.

He got into an empty barrel, behind some
coils of rigging.

“ Now, then, we will see what else besides the
smell of fish the little Winho will take into Tam-
pico to-night,” he muttered.

“ Well,” the captain at length said to the offi—
cers, “ are you satisfied? I don’t think you‘ll
again trouble yourself about a poor fisher.”

“We ma often do so. Of late we have
heard that, in spite of Captain Cardinas's craft,
a good deal of smuggling is going on. One
Vessel is not enough to guard against that busi-
ness.”

“Right there,” said the coptain, his eyes
twinkling. " It seems to me ti ul Caudinas lies
too near the coast, as he even in.“ is doing, not
halfaleague belOW the city. \Ve passed him
farnenough oil? in the dark for him not to see
us.

“Ay, ay! there should have been another
G0vernment vessel further out.”

With these words the speaker, followed by
his companions. descended into his boat. A
minute later the Winho was speeding on her
way. her captain having no suspicion that a
young custom-house detective was secreted in
his hold.

Lormo in the barrel disposed himself as com-
fortably as possible. His short stature and
slender limbs enabled bin) to sit dowu in his
quarters and rest his elbows on his knees.

About an hour had passed when he heard a
rough bail on deck, and by the noise which fol-
lowed he knew that the sloop had met another
craft, and was being hove to. He cautiously
emerged from the barrel, and standing on a
pile of rigging, pressed one ear against the
hatch.

“ You are here in good time,” was s_aid. in a
voice which he could not hear plainly enough
to recognize, but which in reality was that of
Pedro.

“ Yes,” anSWered the other captain.
pose you have the
take?”

“I have. Land them in the usual place be.
low the city, and there you’ll find a wagon to
take them to ——.”

Lormo could not hear the name, which was
spoken in a low voice.

The noise made by bales and boxes being
transferred from one vessel to the other was
now heard.

Footsteps approached the hatch, and Lormo
scampered back to his hiding-place. Hardly
was be there concealed when the hatch was
Opened. and the Winho’s crew commenced to
lOWer the goods into the hold.

“Good-by, captain!” shouted the Winho’l
commander. “ Success to you!”

“Good-by!” answered the other skipper.
“ best wishes for the little Winho!"

All the goods were finally in the hold. Then
several of the Winho’s crew sprung down
through the hatc' v ay, and carefully cow-red
the articles to be smuggled with coils of rigging,
spare blocks and planks.

“ Humph! Very well done!” thought Lormo,
who now and then took a peep over the edge of
the barrel.

The men finally went on deck, and the boy
could hear tl ‘ sloop forging swiftly on her
way. ~

He remained in the hold half an hour longer,
when he stole cautiously toward the forecastle,
which he entered through the bulkhead. As he
had sup sed was the case, all the men were on
deck. 8 ascended the ladder, and, looking
through the hatchway, he discovered that the

“lamp-
goods ready for me to

   
 
    
    
  
   
  
    
 
  
   
  
  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
    
    
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
   
   
   

 

 
  
   
   
   
 

    
 

  
  

 

 

{I

 

The Phantom Light-house.

 

sailors were amidships. He crept up, and got
over the forward rail, into the knighthead.
The vessel was heading straight for land, which,
not a quarter of a league distant, faintly show-
ed through the darkness. Lormo pulled a cigar
from his pocket, lighted it and placed it in his
mouth.

“They’ll see it if they look sharp,” he mut-
tered. keeping the lighted end t0ward the shore.

Scarcely had the words escaped him when a
heavy club—hammer descended t0ward his head.
Had it struck him, the boy would nevur have
made any more secret signals, as the iron must
have crushed his skull. It chanced, however,
that a roll of the craft, at that moment, caused
him to move to one side, so that the implement
dropped from the hand of the man who held it.
This man was a stout seaman who had been
sent foward to keep a leokout, and had espied
the stranger, fully revealed by the phosporescent
light from the water.

“ Dog of a spy l" he now cried. leaning over
and aiming a furious blew with his knife at the
young detective. “ You’ll never leave the

inho alive!”

Lorino nimbly avoided the blow, and struck
the. sailor on the temple with the butt of his
pistol. It was a heavy stroke, and the man
who had bent down very l0w over the rail, fell
headlong striking against Lormo as he went,
knocking him from his position.

The boy dropped clear of the leOp’s bow, but
the unconscious man struck the water, directly
beneath the bobstay and the craft passed over
him.

He was never again seen alive.

“Now for shore!” thought Lormo, as the ves—
sel rushed past him.

The land was not more than two hundred feet
distant, and the boy, who was a good swimmer,
finally reached it. As soon as he had rested he
hurried toward the city, which was about a
quarter of a mile distant.

On the outskirts, looking seaward, he came
upon half a dozen stout men. "

“Halloal it is Lormo!” cried one, when he
was near enough for them to recognize him.

“ Did you see my signal?" inquired the boy.

“ No.” was the answer

“ You saw the craft? That was the smuggler,
with a cargo of goods.” '

And he went on to explain.

“ We’ll have them yet, if we keep the craft in
sight. Come on!”

Followed by the men, Lormo hurried along
shore in the direction which be supposed the
vessel had taken.

But all that night he and his companions
vainly searched for her.

“ We are too late,” said Lormo. “The goods
have been landed and carted off—where to I
cannot even guess.”

“ They are cunning rascals—those smugglers!”
said one of the party. “You will earn no re-
ward to-night, my boy!”

“No, but I will earn one some other time,”
replied the youth. “ I will not rest until I have
found the smugglers’ secret rendezvous!”

CHAPTER VI.
THE WELL.

ROBERT BROWN. reclining on the bed in the
locked apartment. tried to think of some plan
for making his escape. While he was thus
reflectin .an irresistible drowsiness'stole over
him, an be dropped to sleep.

He was aroused by Berta.

“Come,” she said, “ you will have to go with
us now.”

The youth soon recollected his situation.

“ So I have slept?” he said.

“ Yes,” answered the girl, smiling. “ You
must be a brave boy to sleep, with men around
you thirsting for your life.’

“ I could not helpit,” he replied, as he sprung
from the berth. ‘Where are your people go-
ing to take me to?”

“ Tnat I must not say. You will have to be
blindfolded.”

As she spoke, Pedro appeared with several of
his men. One of these tied a bandage over the
bov’s eyes. _

Then they fastened his hands behind his back.

“NOW, mark my words!” said Berta, as she
drew a small pistol from her pocket. “ The
first of you that offers to hurt this boy will get
a. bullet through him l”

“We have promised,” said Pedro. sullenly.
“ For your sake we will not hurt the fellow.”

Robert was made to go On deck. and was
helped into a boat alongside. He finally felt the
boat ,strike the beach, and he was then led on.
After proceeding a short distance be heard a
grating noise; then he became aware that he

 

 

 

was descending a flight of steps. He was con-

ducted on, and when at length the bandage was

taken from his eyes, he found himself in a large

apartment, with cemented walls and a stone
oor.

The room contained, at present, about a
dozen villainous-looking fellows, in some re-
spects differently attired, but all wearing broad-
rimmed hats and loose sailor tr0wsers.

A sort of fierce “grin” met the boy’s gaze,
when he was permitted to use his eyes.

One group of men were gathered round a.
table provided with glaSses, and were drinking
beer obtained from a keg which was placed
there.

Some of the younger fellows laughed, as
Robert stared confusedly about him.

“Don’t be frightened,” said Pedro. “ We
won’t hurt you.”

Berta was not in sight.

“I was not thinking of that,” said the youth,
“ but I cannot imagine why you want to keep
me here.”

“To prevent you tell tales, of course,” said
Pedro.

“ You do not mean to keep me long, I hope.”

“That will depend on yourself,” answered
Pedro, significantly.

“ What do you mean by that?”

“You know before long.”

Berta now appeared from an adjoining apart-
ment—one of several partitiOned off from
the room in which the smugglers were Col-
lected.

Pedro then addressed the band.

“Men.” he said, “all but four of you can
now go to your homes. The late afl'air will
cause some excitement, and there will be a
search for us. Meanwhile we must keep
quiet and venture on no more expeditions for
she present.”

As the majority of the party were Mexicans,
these words -- ere spt ken in Spanish, of which
language Robb rt had knowledge enough to
understand most of what was said.

A few minutes later the dismissed outlaws
departed. after which Pedro locked the one
door leading into the apartment, and put the
key in his pocket.

Berta now brought refreshments, and re-
quested Robert to sit down at the table and
heme breakfast. The youth complied, and while
he was eating, Pedro and his men withdrew to
the further side of the room, where they held a
conference in a low voice.

“I hope you feel well this morning?” said
Berta to the boy.

“Well enough in body, but not in mind. My
employer, Don Carlos, sent me to Tampico on
important business, and my absence will be un-
accountable to him, and give him a great deal
of trouble.”

“ Why should you want to go back to him?”
in uired Berta, giving him an arch glance.
“ , by not stay with us?”

“What? with smugglers and thieves? Ido
not like such men for company.”

" We would make you rich in a few years.
Sometimes our profits are very large. I do not
believe that even Don Carlos realizes such large
profits.” .

“ He certainly will not if your friends keep on
stealing his goods.”

Berta laughed.

“ I know it is wrong,” she said, “ but there
is a good deal of excitement in the business, and
I really think that a boy of spirit like you
would enioy it.”

“Than you for your good opinion of me,”
said Robert. “ I can tell you that no induce-
ment whatever could tempt me to lead a life of
dishonor.”

“Poohl what is smuggling. after all? That
is our principal business. Your employer, Don
Carlos, if he could have his goods smuggled
without detection in port, would do so quickly
enough.”

“You wrong him. Don Carlos is an honor-
able man. No. person whatever can accuse him
of unfair dealings.”

“Oh, yes; that’s what they all say; but I
don’t believe it. By joining us you will escape
death, and in no other way.”

“ I will not join you on that account. I can
die like a man, if I must.”

Berta's black eyes flashed admiringly upon
the speaker. They were handsome eyes; but
Robert had notiCed from the first that they
lacked the depth and softness of Isabel’s.

“ You may change your opinions in a few
days,” she said, tossing her head with a con-
scious air of power. .

But if she hoped tofascinate the boy into
joining the smugglers, she was disappointed.

   

 

Robert hardly seemed conscious of her
charms.

His whole mind was concentrated on the
thought of making his escape from this den.

But it was so well guarded, night and day,
that he could imagine no plan for eluding the
keen watch kept up by the smugglers. Either
Pedro or some other person was always near
the door when he moved toward it. Mean-
while he would often place his hand. at night,
on his vest, to make sure that the package he
had received at the warehouse from Rupo was
still safe. Its being under the padding of the
garment was what had prevented its discovery
by his captors. One morning Berta persuaded
Bronson—Pedro being absent—to permit the
boy to go out and walk with her.

Robert‘s heart bounded at the proposal: for
he hoped he would at last find a chance to
escape. The girl uiilvcked the d0or, and leading
the way, the two passed out. to the surprise of
the boy. into a large, beau'iful garden.

Robert now threw a quick glance around him,
and divining his thoughts, the young girl
smiled.

As their glances met she slowly shook her
head.

“You see there is no chance of Your getting
away from here,” she said. “ Besides the men
you see in the garden, the walls also keep you
from escaping.”

In fact, on four sides of the garden the boy
beheld a smooth, lofty wall, which could rot be
scaled without a ladder.

“ Still,” he argued, mentally, “there must be
a door in this wall—a concealed door. by means
of which the smugglers enter the garden from.
without.”

Feeling sure he was right, be scrutinized the.
wall as he passed along beneath it on each side
witl' Berta, but he could not ImCe the smallest
creviCe to show the [gii‘eseoce of a secret door.
That through which he had come was the only
one to be seen. and this being large and massive,
was plainly visible.

Berta plucked a rose, which she gave to her
Companion.

“ {s it not a beautiful flower?” she said.

u "’8'?

“ Did you ever see anything so lovely be-
fore?” she continued, with a ct quettish toss of
her head.

Robert did not know she was trying to win a
compliment from him—that she wanted him i0
say: “Yes. you are lovelier even than this
rose.” and so he answered:

" I like pinks better.”

“Have you made up your mind about joining
us. yet?”

“lam of the same mind I was in the first
place."

“Stay with me,” she said, softly. “Do not
let them take your life. Is there then no at-
tracdon for you in this place?”

“ None,” answered Robert, bluntly.

” What? not—not even in me F’”

Robert looked at her in surprise.

“Yes, in me!" she added, bitterly; “most-
men think 1 am attractive.”

" Oh, yes, you are a handsome girl,” said the
boy, frankly.

Alook of joy flashed across her face.
grasped his hands. with both her 0“ n.

“Promise to make me your Wife,” she con-
tinued. hurriedly, glancing about her to assure
herself that no One (xcept Robert heard her,
“andTand—we will go together, far from this

lace. -

Her black eyes were looking into his; she
stood close to him, and he could feel her fra-
grant breath upon his cheek.

“I do not want to marry you,” he said. “I
have never thought of marrying.”

“ So you tell me you reject me?” she cried
bitterly.

“ No,” he replied. not wishing to wound her
feelings. “I said 1 do not want to marry.”

“ You will think better of it when I tell you
that your death is planned for tomorrow.”

“ My death i”

“ Yes. I would save you if I could, but they
will contrive to kill you, in spite of me.”

“You spoke of going away from here with
me, Why not take me away now i”

“.I can only do so by your marrying me, and
saying you mean to join our band, which would
throw Pedro of! his guard, so that we could go
away together.”

“ You can leave this place, at any moment!”

“ Alone, yes, but not with you.”

As she spoke the youth noticed that she
glanced toward a Well, a few yards 03.

A bucket, suspended by a winch, hung over
the opening.

She

   

.l

 
   

.———~.. _ A... .

 

sag,”

.4 ,-:

',;.;L.)_,,r,. .~ .

 
 

    

i

The Phantom Light-house.

7

 

 

“Can it be,” thought Robert “ that there is
some underground passage from this place, and
thaltait may be reached by going down into that
we I.

Presently, bidding him wait where he was
for her, Berta re~entered the apartment the two
had left, saying she wished to speak to Bron-
son.

SearCel y was she gone, when Robert resolved
to explore the well. He sprung to it while the
backs of the men in the garden were toward
him and got into the bucket. Down went the
latter, with great velocity, and the boy struck
the bottom of the well with a loud splash.

He clung to the rope, and climbing it, tried
to scan the walls of the cavity. But so intense
was the gloom, that, several minutes paSs‘ed ere
he was able to see the sides of the well. Mean-
while, ab0ve him, he could hear the voice of
Berta, as she called him, thinking he had con-
cealed himSelf in the shrubbery and $001) the
tones of Pedro ware blended with hers.

As the boy became more used to the darkness,
he could see a cavity in the left side of the well.

He swung himself into it without hesitation,
and crept along a passage before him.

CHAPTER VlI.
THE COMBAT AND RESCUE.

SOME days after Robert's departure Don
Curloh, not having received the expected pack~
age, X‘t‘puil‘ed to Tatnpico, to learn from his
agent, Rupo, of the boy‘s strange disappear-
‘UK‘P.

The watchmen were questioned, but they
could not explain the mystery. They had dis-
covered that the upner store-room had been
robbed of srme goods, but Whether the young
clerk was in that room or in some of the others
at the time, they could not tell. They were
sure they did not hear him give any cry of
alarm.

“ Well,” said the merchant, “ here is the third
person I have sent to look into the robbery of
my goods vanished like the two others. al—
though in a more unaccountable manner. You
did not see Robert come down or go out after
he went upstairs!" he added, turning to the
watchmen.

Antolo said he had not, but as he spoke he
looked so confused that the suspicious of Don
Carlos were aroused

He Seized him by the Collar and threatened to
have him arrested if he did not tell him more
about the affair, for he was sure that he kept
something back.

Antolo, becoming alarmed, then confessed
that he was drunk on the night in question, and
that Robert might therefore have passed him
without attracting his attentiOn.

The merchant was angry and he gave orders
to Rupo to discharge the fellow and hire a
better man. Then he returned to his lodgings.

“Well, father, what success?” inquired Isa-
bel. who had accompanied her parent to Tam-

ico. ‘4'

p Don Carlos told her all he could learn. His
daughter turned pale. and there was on her
face a troubled look, which she vainly strove to
conceal.

“ Did I not say you should not have sent him
on such an errand?” she said. “ I am afraid he
is lost.”

“I hope not, both for his sake and for mine,
as he had in his possession a package he was to
send to me. and which should have reached me
yesterday had he delivered it to the express
company. He was unable to do so, I learn, as
their place had taken fire. New I have to infer
either that he has been murdered or that he has
absconded with my package, which contained
about twenty thousand dollars in bills and
checks.”

“No, he would not have gone off with your
mone ,” said Isabel, quickly. “You know
you ave trusted him with larger sums of
mono than that, and have always found him
faith 111 and honest.”

“That does not prove he did not conclude to
keep the money on this occasion. Still, I will
not accuse him of it, as I am not sure.”

“No, you are not apt to come to conclusions
in a hurry, father. and I do not believe you
would have had a suspicion like that you l~ ave
just expressed had not some person suggested to
you that Robert had probably taken your
money.”

“I will own that it was Cardinas who put that
thought into mv head. He appears not merely
tothink that the boy has absconded with the

I believe he

 

.amouut, but to feel sure of it.”

“Of course he would think so.

‘ ‘ dislikes that  ”
 “When eevera days had passed, and the mar.

 

 

chant still could glean no tidings of Robert, he
believed he would never see him again.

Isabel resolved to make inquiries, as well as
her father. While doing so, one day, she met
the little custom-house detective, Lormo, whom
she had occasionally seen conversing with her
father, on his visits to Tamnico.

“I wish you could find Robert for us. I be-
lieve he was a friend of yours,” she said, as they
talked about the missing youth.

“Robbers are not in my line, you know, se-
norira.”

“ Robbers?”

“Yes, I think it is robbers who have made
awav with my p0or friend.”

“ Why do you think s05”

“Because the store was robbed on the very
night he was on watch. Of course it was to the
interest of the thieves to kill him and conceal
his body when be detected them robbing the
store.”

“ But my father thinks he may have left the
Store before that,”

“I don’t believe he did. I will look for him
as much as my duties will allow, but I am
afraid he has been killed,”

L II'UIO, on leaving lsabel, went in a direction
opposite to that taken by the girl. She wan
dered toward the outskirts of the town, in a
thoughtful momi. The truth was that she took
much interest in R -bert, and, since his disap-
pearance thoug'it of little e:se, day or night.

As she now marched on, she found herself
approaching the ruins of an old stone fort. To
the right or this fort, wlich stood on a slight
elevation, there was a high wall of stone, one
Sitietif Which was built against the hill. The

ground inclosed by this wall had once belonged ,
to a wealthy Mexican, who having been de—l

tected in treason and peculation. was obliged to
leave the country—tr flee tor his life. A mob
had burned his handsome residence to the
ground, but they had not thought it worth

2 While to m ilesr the garden wall.

In a clump of sliruhbery on the outside of this
wall, three or four croucting figures now \\ ere
watching the girl. One of these was the smug-
gler. Pedro, a few yards frttn whom, behind a
tree, stood Captain Cardinas.

All at once. as lsabel appioached, Pedro, fol-
lowed hy his C(unpaniolis sprung out at the
girl, leveling pistols at her head.

“Don’t attempt to run or crv out!” cried the
smuggler. “If you do, we will kill you.”

Isabel was too much terrified at first, either
to move or to speak.

“What can you want of me?” she finally
gasped.

“ You have a gold watch," said Pedro. “ We
will take that, and also the pearl necklace
about your neck!”

Isabel surrendered these things.

“ Now you will let me go,” she said, turning
to leave.

“ No, senorita, you cannot leave us, yet. You

are rich, and we intend to get a ransom for
you.”
. As he spoke. be madeasign to his compan-
ions, who were advancing to seize her, when
Cardinas came rushing from behind the tree,
brandishing his sword.

“Away, ruffiansl" he shouted. “The first
who lays a hand on that girl, dies!”

Isabel recognized him and ran toward him.
The smugglers followed her, but Cardinas
lthé‘ew himself between them and the young
a y.

“Come on l” he cried, flerCely, as they now
paused. “ You shall walk over my dead body
before you offer harm to this sweet girl 3”

As he spoke he pulled a revolver from his
breast-pocket, and there was a_ rapid exchange
of shots.

All the smugglers except Pedro went limp-
ing off, apparently wounded. The outlaw
sprung at Cardinas, sword in hand. The wea-
pons crossed each other and a fierce struggle
ensued, until, by a dextrous stroke, the captain
broke the weapon of his adversary, who then
took to his heels, to soon vanish after his com-
panions in the shruhbery.

Isabel, with clasped hands and anxious gaze,
had been watching the unequal fray.

Seeing Cardinas now in pursuit of his last an—
tagonist, she called to him:

“No, no, let him go! You imperil your life
by following him. He may lead you :into an
ambush.”

“ But he has robbed on of your necklace
and watch. Isaw it all’as I approached. He
shall surrender these things or die!”

And heedless of her entreaties, he kept on his
way to soon disap er in the shrubbery. There,
when out or Isabe ’s sight, he met Pedro.

 

“Here they are," said the latter, suppressing
a laugh, as he surrendered the necklace and the
watch,

Cardinas smiled.

“ It was Well planned, was it not?” said he.
“ To her dying day the lady will believe that I
rescued her by the most desperate courage.”

“ Yes, the senorita cannot doubt that the
combat was real. She has no suspicion that
the rescue was a mock one.”

“ And, now,” said Cardinas, “you will show
me the crevice in the wall, through which Isa-
bel and I can look into your garden. You are
sure that Robert Brown is there, at this mo-
ment?"

“ He is there with my sister, and when you
look, some of my men, the same who attacked
you. shall be there, too."

“That is gOod!” answered the captain, exult—
ingly. “ Go. Pedro, and work quickly. After
“9 have seen the boy, you must—”

He made a significant sigtz.

“ He shall not live an hour afterward,” said
the smuggler.

“ But you have told me that your sister would
not allow you to kill him.”

“There is more than one way to kill a dog.
One grain of a certain powder in his coffee will
carry him off with the cramps, and my sister
be none the wiser, as to ,his having been poi-
sonet ."

"It is well. If you make way with that lit-
tle wretch, all the profits from those stolen.
goods are yours. 1 will not claim anything.”

“ \Ve understand each other,” said Pedro.
“You will reCeive word, before to-night, that
there is no longer danger of Robert Brown’s
telling tales against you.”

The two then separated, and Cardinas return-
ed to Isabel.

“ I overtook the rascal, and forced him to
surrender the things be robbed you of.” said the
youth, as he gave her back her jewelry.

“ You haVe done me a great service, both by
rescuing me and obtaining for me the watch.
which is especially prized by me, as it was a
present from my mother, before she died,” an-
swered Isabel.

“ What would I not do for you?” replied
Cardinas. warmly. “I would risk my life a
thousand times for your sakel Believe me, Isa-
bel, you are dearer to me—”

“Shall we not now return to the city?" she
interrupted. “You can go with me to father.
and I will describe your noble conduct to him.”

“ Wait a few moments,” said her companion.
“ 1 can do you yet another service. 1 can show
to you, in his true colors, one in vi hom ybu ap-
pear to take a friendly interest—one whom you
Were probably searching for when you were as-
seulted by the robbers.”

The young girl looked at him in surprise.

“ Surely you do not mean Robert Brown?”

“ It is to that little rascal l allude.”

‘ Rascal?”

“ Don‘t be indignant: I would not call him a
rascal unless I could prove to you that he is
one. Your father has told me that the fellow
was intruded with a package of money for him,
and I will own that, for a person like this boy,
it may have proved a great temptation. Come
with me, and i will show you what I have dis~
covered, while searching for the man who took
your jewelry.”

Isabel fol owed him to a certain part of the
garden wall, where there was a large crevice,
between the stones of which it was Composed.

" Look for yourself,” said Cardinas, pointing
to the little opening.

Isabel, gazing through the latter, beheld to
her surprise her father’s clerk, Robert Brown,
strolling through the garden by the side of the
handsome smuggler girl, Bertal”

In another part of the inclosure was Pedro,
with be same men who had assaulted her.
Robert seemed to be on amicable terms with the
girl, as the two were conversing together in a
low voice.

” You see,” whispered Cardinas, “ that this
isa rendezvous of the thieves, and that they
are probably the so me persons who robbed your
father’s warehouse. The boy has evidently
joined them of his own accord.”

“ We are are not sure of that,” she answered.

“Not sure! See there!”

As he spoke, it was the moment when Berta
gavethe youth a rose and laid a hand on his
shoulder.

Isabel drew back, her black eyes flashing, a
deathly paleness upon her face.

“Come,” said Cardinas, taking her arm. “I
know now you have Seen enough to satisfy you.
It remains for your father and me to eutrap the
whole gang.”

I'V’V raw.» .. ,'

   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
    
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
 
   
   
  
   
    
   
     
   
  
  
  
    
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
    
     
       
           
       
      

 

 
 
 

~ ’ m » 4.. 'c‘s N.7=...?.:r"v"-.€'r" "n man '21:» ; , «a» I

, :

c

‘.4-..., «u, __. .

]9\_W-.M<-—~r ‘ '

The Phantom Light-house.

 

 

Isabel answered not a Word. but all the way
to the city, Cardinas could feel her tremble
upon his arm.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
THE PURSUIT.

CREEPING along the passage he had discovered
in the side of the Well, Robert finally reached
what appeared to be its extremity. There was
before him a rock, a sort of howlder, having
Crevices at the edges, showing that it was placed
over some opening.

He tried to move the rock by pushing it, but
he was unsuccessful. Looking round him, he
espied a heavy piece of wood. shaped like a
club, lying on the ground. Putting this under
the bowlder, and using it in lieu of a crowbar,
he contrived thus to move it from the aper-
ture.

Emerging from the passage, he now found
himself among a mass of shrubbery, consisting
of briers and vines, so thick that he could scarce-
ly force his way through them. When, at last,
he disen aged himself from the entangling mass,
he rceived that he was at the bottom of a
gul y—the same, be new believed, in wnich he
had seen the crouching figure, on the day he
passed with the package of money he had re-
ceived from Rupo.

“Free, at last!” he cried, joyfully. “Now all
I have to do is to make my way to the city, and
take passage aboard some fishing craft bound to
the part of the coast near which Don Carlos
lives”:

But he was mistaken. He little dreamed
of the perils and dangers which still menaced

im.

Although no one had seen him enter the well
-Berta, as stated. having gone into the rendez-
vous just before he descended by means of the
bucket—the voice of the girl, the moment she
came back to the garden, brought Pedro and
some of his companions there. They instantly
commenced to make a diligent seaich for the
youth,_and finally looked into the well.

“The bucket was not down at the bottom
when we were here before,” said one.

“ Are you sure of that?” inquired Pedro.

“Yes; for I felt thirsty,and was going to
draw up some cool water to drink, when you
came and told us to go back linto the cave. I
noticed the bucket hanging in its place.”

,“ Wh did you not speak before? The boy
has eVidently discovered the secret passage
leading to the gully, and has made his escape. ”

“ I did not notice that the bucket was missing
until 'ust now.” ‘

“ ell, in future keep your eyes about you.”

Then he ave orders to his men.

“Four 0 you hurry to the gully. You will
get there, if you go quickly, before he has time
to come out of it. Meanwhile I will go through
the Well-passage, with another of our men, to
look for him there. Shoot him down the
instant you see him!” he added, lowering his
voice so that Berta could not hear him.

He might as well. have spoken out, for her
keen black eyes were upon him, and she guessed
what he had said.

“Let no one harm the boy 1” she cried. "The
first one who does so dies by my hand 1”

The men knew she meant what she said.

"Don’t hurt him, then,” said Pedro, “but
when you capture him, take him to the new
rendezvous, as this one is now of no use to us.
The dogs of the law will soon know of this
place.”

The men then departed, but Berta followed
them closely, determined that the boy should
not be harmed.

As the smugglers drew near the gully, they
saw Robert Br0wn’s head thrust through the
shrubbery. on the edge of the cavity.

The youth, after leaving the passage, had
climbed the side of the hollow, thinking he
would find his way clear to the city. To his
dismay he now beheld the gang who were
approaching, with Berta coming up in the
rear.

Robert threw a hastv glance about him, but,
as usual, the vicinity of this place was deserted
except by his toes. He saw not a living soul to
call upon for assistanca, and his captors had
deprived him of every instrument with which
he might defend himself, even to his pocket—
knife. True. he had the club with which he
had moved back the bowlder. but of coursetbis
would be comparatively useless before men
armed with daggers and pistols.

He therefore draw back into the gully and
crept among the thick shrubbery. hoping that,
‘ when his pursuerl came to search for him, he
might find a chance to slip away from them un-
abetted,

 

 

Lying motionless, he finally heard the party
enter the gully, and commence to beat down
the brush.

The noise they made enabled him to elude
them b dodging from place to place. and at
length, 8 reached the further and of the cavity.

Up this he crawled, and contrived to draw
himself out of the hollow without being ob-
served.

He now m0ved OR in the direction of the
city, but he had not proceeded far, when, on
looking behind him, he saw the party in pur-
suit. He changed his course toward the sea-
shore, keeping among some sand-hills, which
concealed him from the gaze of the smugglers.
The shades of night were falling, and the boy
thought he might possibly escape the outlaws
by hiding himself in some hollow. He was
about creeping into one, when his gaze tell up-
onasmall skiff tied to a stake, alongside the
bench. He sprung into thelight craft, loosened
it, and finding a paddle in the boat, worked it
away from the land.

“ e see you! better come back!” shouted
Pedro, as he and his party reached the shore.

“ If you don’t, we will fire!”

The youth did not heed the threat, but kept
on, and finally headed the skiff, toward Tanr
pico. Several shots were fired at him, but they
did not take effect, and soon he heard the
angry voice of Berta ordering them to desist.

It was now so dark that the youth could see
little more than the outlines of the gang, as
they moved along the beach.

Ahead of him he could dimly descry the hull
and spars of a schooner.

“It is likely she will prove to be a friendly
craft,” he thought.

He had discovered that the skifl’ leaked badly,
and that he could not keep her afloat much
longer. To go ashore would be sure to bring
in the power of the smugglers, and he therefore
determined to make for the craft ahead.

“ Boat ahoy!” came a hoarse voice from the
deck, as he approached.

“Ahoy! there!” answered Robert. “What
schooner is that, and who commands her?”

“ The Maria, Captain Cardinasl” was the re-
sponse.

“The last vessel, then, that I should board,"
muttered the boy. “I am not gomg to put
in self in any such trap as that.”

e changed his course, heading past the ves-
sel, but, as he did so, he heard a boat lewered,
and could distinguish the voice of Cardinas, as
the latter ordered his crew to give way. In
fact, the captain, who had been on deck when
the had was given, had thought he recognized
Robert’s voice, which, being peculiar, was one
that could not well be mistaken.

Perceiving that he was thus pun-ued by water,
and, knowing he would soon be overtaken, he
made directly for a cluster of rocks, which he
saw looming ahead. _

Cardinas gained on him, but, while he was
still some yards from the fugitive, the latter
glided among the rocks, and, leaping out of
the skiff. concealed himself in a hollow, among
the rugged masses.

The captain seeing the skiff gliding on. be-
vond the rocks, thought that its occupant was

ying down in it, and so kept op after the craft.
Before he reached it, however, the vessel hav-
ing filled, had gone down in a little whirlpool, a
few fathoms from the rocks.

Cardinas then returned to his schooner, which
he had scarcely done, when he saw a light
ashore, evidently being waved as a signal.

He again lowered his boat. and ma e for the
beach, on which he found Pedro and some of
his men.

“ What are you doing here?" inquired the
St. Mary’s captain, as he and Pedro walked to
one side.

“ Looking for that little rascal, Robert Brown,
who has escaped nsl”

“Then it’s all right!” cried the young cap-
tain, rubbing his hands. “So it was he, as I
thought?”

“ I don’t understand you."

“ My first oflicer hailed some one approaching
in a skiff, and I thought I recognized t a voice
of Brown. I gHVe pursuit as he passed 3, and
he and his skiff went down in the whirlpool,
near the Ofl’ Shore Rocks.”

“ You are sure he went down?”

“I am sure he was I ing in the skiff, for I
could just make out his at in the darkness. He
must have sunk, and glad enough I am to be rid
of him.”

Pedro seemed much relieved.

“ How about the search for us?” he inquired.
“ Did you tell the authorities about our rendez-
vous?’

 

 

“Yes, and guided them to it. I did not wait
long to witness their discomflture when they
found the place deserted, but :ame straight
back to the beach and boarded my schooner.”

“How long ago was thisl”

“About half an hour. They have probably
reached the place by this time, and found it
empty.”

" And are now searching for us, I suppose?”

“ It is likely.”

"Well, we will go to our new rendezvous,
which I would defy all the revenue officers in the
universe to find.” ,

“ Take care! those fel10ws have sharp eyes.”

“They would never think of looking under
Hah! hub] to think that part of this
ocean dungeon is directly under the warehouse!
The Jesuits knew what they were about when
they built that convent.”

“You cannot enter the warehouse from the
water dungeOn l”

“ No. not now, owing to the alterations made
by Don Carlos. The planks of the lower floor
cowr the secret door, which used to open into
it. The entrance to the dungeon is through a
passage in an old, disused graveyard vault, far
back of the building No one would suspect
there was a secret door there. as the wall of the
vault looks like one even surfaCe of stone. ”

“How, then, did you find it? You have not
yet told me that.” '

“An old sexton, who had once been a friend
of my father, told me. the secret. just before his
death, which happened a week ago.”

The twain now parted Cardinas returning to
the schooner and Pedro, With his companions.
hurrying off in the direction of their new re-
treat.

Meanwhile Robert Brown was overjoyed
with the success of his strategy. He watched
for some passing craft, which should come near
enough for him to bail it, but he watched in
vain.

Toward morning he resolved to endeavor to
reach the shore (m a plank which was among
the driftwood that had collected between the
openings in the rocks.

Straddling the plank. he paddled with his
hands, and finally gained the beach.

The light of dawn was just beginning to
break, and as the youth looked about him, he
fancied he saw a female figure approaching.

He crouched behind a. bank, and the young
woman passed so near him that he was enabled
to recognize Berta.

The girl was walkirg rapidly, with bowed
head, and with hands clasped before her, and as
she passed Robert heard her say:

“ I am afraid the boy is lost' The skiff was a
leaky one and must have filled before he got far
from the shore.”

It was evident that the girl had remained all
night on the beach in the hope of seeing some-
thing of the fugitive. >

Scarcel was she out of sightin the gloom,
when R ert started toward Tanipico. As he
moved on he did not notice a form which was
swiftly and stealihily following him.

This was Cardinas, who, having been on de'ck
while the young clerk was paddling shoreviard
on the plank, had dimly descried his figure.

A suspicion of the truth had at once fleshed
across his mind, and he had sprung into his gig
and sculled it toward the beach, first having
told his second officer, who bud ihe watch, that
he was going ashore to meet a friend with
whom he had an appointment. As it was not
uncommon for him to thus go off alone in the
gig. thatfficer thought nothing of it.

As soon as he reached the shore be secured
his gig by means of the warp to a rock and
started, as shown, after Robert.

As he had kept among the sand-hills, he had
not seen Berta, who had passed on the other
side of them.

 

CHAPTER IX.
WOUNDED.

“AYl as I thought, it is Robert Brown," the
captain muttered, as the increasing light en-
abled him to recognize the figure of the youth.
“I would not have believed I could have made
such a blunder as I did. I could have sworn
he went down in the skiff."

Stealthin approaching the boy, he pulled his
pistol from his pocket as he drew near him.

Robert bad now reached a part of the shore
which formed a small peninsula projecting into
the sea. Not twenty fathom: from this tongue
of land lay an old sloop, part1 keeled over on

its side, with its topmast bro en of! near the ‘
truck, and its mainsail carelessly furled on the ,

   

    
  
 
 

g .
l

 

  
 
 

 

     
   
  
   
  

   
 

' ’ .‘, hat that, had she not interfered in his behalf,

Cardinas, more than once, glanced uneasily
toward this craft.

“ I don’t believe there is any one aboard,” he
thought. “The sloop has been laid up there for
several weeks by the pearl-divers who used it,
because it needed repairing. Still, there might
possibly be some one aboard, and I will wait
until the boy passes behind that sand-hill just
ahead before 1 attack him, as I could not there
be seen from the craft.”

A moment later Robert passed behind the
sand-hill, when taking aim at his head, the cap-
tain pulled trigger.

The weapon did not go off, and hearing the
click of the falling hammer, the boy turned, to
behold Cardinas, now within two feet of him.

Before he could speak or raise a hand the cap-
tain struck him a heavy blow between the eyes
with the stock of the weapon. causing him to
stagger back, half-stunned. Robert, confused
though he was, quickly recovered himself, and
as Cardinas made a lunge at him with
his sword, he knocked it aside with his club,
which he still had in his possession.

“ You young dog of an American,” cried the
captain. “Your time has come. I told you I
was not done With you.” ‘

And he made another thrust at the boy.

“I am not done with you, thief and rascal as
you are!” answered Robert, as he again parried
the keen weapon.

Then be dealt Cardinas a sounding whack
with the club on the back, as the captain half-
turned to avoid the blow, which was aimed at
his head.

“Curse you-you rat," said Cardinas, as he
made a third lunge at. the boy.

The latter endeavored to parry it, but was
only partly successful. He felt a cold, sharp

ain, as about an inch of the weapon penetrated

is side. The next moment his enemy would
have run him through the body, had not the
young clerk struck him on the wrist of his
sword-arm a blow which benumbed his hand,
so that his weapon dropped from his grasp. He

icked it up with his left, but, ere he could use
it, the sound of quick footsteps ap’proaching was
heard, and Cardinas hurried o soon diasp-
pearing among the sand-hills ahead.

Meanwhile Robert felt the blood gushing
from his wound, and as it made him weak he
sat dowu.

The footsteps which had been heard drew
nearer, and, a minute later, Berta appeared
from behind one of the sand-hills.

“ You are hurt!" she cried, anxiously. “ Tell
me where.”

The boy had already loosened the clothing
about his side.

“ It was Cardinas—was it not?” continued
Berta, her eyes flashing.

“Yes, it was he who gave me the wound,
but, after all it is only a mere scratch!”

“It is bad enough to weaken you for some
time,” she said. “00ward! coward! that he
was to attack an unarmed boyl I will pay him
for this!”

As she spoke, she tore a strip of cloth from a.
mantle she wore, and proceeded to tightly
bandage the wound. _

Then she pulled from her pocket a small flask
containing liquor, and made the boy drink it.

“ Do you feel better now?”

“Yes, I think I can keep on my way to
Tampico.”

He rose, and was surprised to perceive that
he was almost too weak to walk.

“ You will help me on my way to the city?”
he said. .

“ No, you are not fit to go. Exertion of that
kind would be the death of you, in the end.
You need rest. Your wound is worse than you
think.” .

"What, then, am I to do? Will you go to
the City and get a conveyance for me?”

“ What! leave you here for that coward]
rascal to come back and murder? No! I wil
stay With you. I will cure you. You need to
lie now in a reclining position, but not here on
in: Beach, in the sun, which will soon be very

o .

As she spoke, she bathed his head with some
0f the liquor, tenderly pushing back his hair as
she did so.

He started back as if to move away from

her.

“What! are my touch and presence then so
disagreeable to you?” she inquired sadly.

“ Oh, no," he answered, not wishing to hurt
her feelings He was really grateful for her
attentions, and believed that, although she was
ame r of a gang of smugglers, she wasa
friend to him, for it was of course plainly evi-

 

 n ,I’T‘io“¥fif9“§‘.u“ "}...:~.  .« eta-“~13”:  . -' ,. v i 

The Phantom Light-house.

he would have been killed by the outlaw band
soon after his capture '

“Come,” she said, “you shall lean on me,
and I will take you lo the craft yonder, in the
shallow water, just beyond the peninsula.”

a As she spoke, she pomted toward the pearl-
sher.

“ Will the people there be friendly to me?"

“There is not a soul aboard. The craft has
been abandoned for the present, until it can be
repaired, if it ever is, which 1 think is doubtful,
as the pearlvfishers who sailed it are n0w using
another vessel.”

She assisted the youth to his feet, and, put-
ting an arm around him as he leaned on her,
she helped him to the end of the peninsula. and
thence into the shallow water beyond.

Within a few fathoms of the omit, the water
was too deep to be waded.

“ Wait here,” said Berta, and, plunging for-
ward, she swam like a mermaid. Gaining the
lower side of the sloop, she climbed to the deck.

A moment later she launched overboard a
stout plank. Pushing this before her, she re-
turned to Robert’s side. Then she helped him
on the plank, and getting on herself, worked it
alongside of the vessel. She next sprung aboard
and lowered some gangway-steps, by means of
which she finally got him to the deck.

fc‘ll am a great dcal of trouble to you,” he
sai .

“I would do much for you," she answered,
her black eyes flishing with IUVP and tender—
ness. “ It is no trouble, it is a pleasure. Be-
sides, I feel that I owe more than this to you
for the way our hand has made you Suffer.”

She helped him down into the hold, for cabin
the craft did not have. Here there were some
chairs, a couple of bunks with mattresses in
them, a table, a few c MS of rope and some old
canvas. 1n the Center of the apartment a large
obj~ct. shaped like a hell, with strong glass
lenses fitted in near the top, riveted his atten-
tion.

“ What is that?” he inquired.

“ It is a diving-bell.”

“ I did not know that pearl-fishers used those
things."

“They are not in the habit of it. The cap
tain of this craft was persuaded to tr one by a
person having one to sell. The sai ors used it
once and never again, for they did not like it,
preferring to go down in the usual manner.”

Robert was helped into one of the bunks,
where he lay on his back as Berta advised him
to do. This gave him great relief from pain,
and he was soon able to walk a little.

“ Now, then, I think I can make a start for
Tampico,” he said.

The girl shook her head.

“ Not yet,” she answered.

“What makes the craft rock so? I thought
she v’v’as in shallow water, her keel touching bot
tom.

“So she was, but the tide has risen higher
than usual and she is afloat, though held by an
anchor.”

. As Berta spoke she ascended the ladder lead-
ing on deck to take a look at the water and the

sk .

When she descended, Robert noticed that her
face wore an anxious expression.

" We are going to have a gale,” she Said. “ It
will be upon us in a few moments. Don’t at-
tempt to come up, but stay here while I go on
deck again."

As she spoke, there was a deafening roar, fol—
lowed by a wild rush of waters, which latter
threw the craft down almost on her beam-ends.

 

CHAPTER X.
was c KED.

BERTA now hurried on deck. The moment she
reached it, the first object that met her gaze was
Captain Cardinas, now on the after part of his
vessel, spy-glass in hand, watching the damaged
sloop, which it was evident he had seen the girl
board with Robert.

“Rascal!” she muttered, between her teeth,
her eyes flashing, “I will be even with you for
hurting that boy! Don Carlos shall kn0w from
me your true character. He shall know that you
are the thief, who, from the first, planned the
robbery of his goods with my brother-Twat you
allow him to pass you and smuggle his cargoes
into the city, sharing the profits With him.’. .

The wind was now bl0wing with terr1flc_v10-
lence, and great sheets of spra were driven
over the vessel, fore and aft. S e was nearly

on her beam-ends, thumping against the sand-
bank, on which she lay with a violence which
threatened to soon break her to pieces.

Berta running to the round-house aft, found

 

 
 
 

a
A.» va-‘W‘. “‘1. )v ’3 3“.

an old ax, with the help of which she intended
to slip the cable.

It would be impossible now to take Robert
ashore through the ra ing waters. and unless the
sloop could he got adr ft. it must break up.

“I will save Robert or die 1” cried the brave
girl, her eyes fl-ishing. “Our only hope is in
getting the veSSel adrift. She will be carried off
Tampico, and I trust that some craft will come
from the city to our relief if I make a signall"

She soon had the anchor clear off shore, and
the gale bore the sloop seaward. With Some dit-
ficulty, she partly loosened the mainsail; and
then, lashing the helm amidships, she thus kept
the craft directly before the wind. Bending on
to the after halyardsa strip of blue hunting, she
hoisted it half-mast as a signal. but scarcely had
she done so, when the rack of the storm was
driven between the vessel and the city.

“God help the boy i” cried Berta. “ They can-
not see the signal from Tanipico 1”

On went the damaged craft further out to sea
every moment.

Through the driving sheets of spray, Berta,
springing on the bow. peered ahead.

“ All is lOst!” she exclaimed, as a mist in that
direction lifted. “There are the ‘Black Rocks.’
not fifty fathoms ahead. They extend in a line
so that I cannot escape them. unless I can beat
to windward of them, which I believe to be im-
possible in such a blow 1”

She loosened the rest of the mainsail, sheeted
it as well as she could, and took her post at the
wheel.

A momentary lull in the gale inspired her
with hope. She jammed the wheel hard-sport,
and shooting close up to the wind, the sloop
pointed her b0w a little to windward of the line
of dangerous rocks.

Berta‘s whole face lighted with joy. She had
begun to think she Would pass the rocks. when,
all at once, the gale roared with redoubled vio-
lence, and the sloop’s head sw ung off, pointing
straight for the rugged masses.

“ She is gone! No h0pe now i” muttered the

irl.

g She lashed the wheel, and com ressing her
lips, with a look of determination, s edesoended
into the hold.

“ Well,” said Robert, “ how did you find
thin s?"

“ ad enough. In ten minutes from now we
will strike the rocks and go to pieces, when in
no way can you save yourself, in your present
disabled conoition.” .

“ 1 don’t mppose I could swim much.”

“ No, and if you could, I doubt if it would do
you much good. We are close upon the ‘ Black
Rocks.’ and the breakers there would interfere
with the bes' swimmer. Come here, she added,
as she walked to the diving-bell, “ you must get
into this.”

” In the diving—bell? How do vou know it
will go dOwn straight when the craft breaks u f
If it does not, I would be worse off than if I did
not et into it!”

“ think it will go down straight.
to make it go so.”

“How will you do it?”

Berta seized the 'end of a strong rope attached
to the top of the bell, and secured it to the main-
boom on deck.

Then she returned to the hold.

“It is time you were in the bell,” she said to
Robert, taking his arm.

The instrument was raised on blocks, so that
any person could creep up under it, and get into
it. Berta assisted the boy to one of the shelves
in the metallic chamber.

“ How will I breathe under water?” inquired
the youth.

A rubber hose is attached to the rope and to
the top of the bell. If that does not get under
water, it will, I think, give you air enough to
keep you alivp, until you are discovered. At
any rate. the instrument is your only alterna-
tive, under the circumstances. It will. at least,
give you a chance for life. You will find a law
tern and provisions in the bell. God grant that
you may be saved, but there is no certainty
about it, and you must be prepared for the
worst.”

“ Are you not also going to get into the
bell?”

“ No; I am goin
best to keep the
swept overboard too soon,
ceed.” ,

“ So, then you are risking your life. for me?”

“ I would risk it a thousand times for you!"
wasthe reply. “ Good-by!” And as she spoke,
the impulsive girl pressed her beautiful lips to
those of Robert.

The next moment she was gone.

I will try

to stay on deck, and do my
11 strai ht. If I am not
think I will suc-

  

 

10

“I’ve half a mind to get out of the bell
again,” muttered the boy.

But just then a violent roll of the craft caused
the instrument to slip off the blocks, and the
youth found himself imprisoned in the hollow
vessel.

Meanwhile Berta had returned to the deck.
She took her position by the diving-bell rope,
and securely fastened the upper part of the hose
to the boom.

“This spar will be the first to go when we
strike,” she thought. .“ Neither the rope nor
the hose will be dislodged from it, and it will
serve as a sort of mark for Robert’s situation.”

The sloop was now within a few fathoms of
the rocks. A huge breaker came rolling along,
and in a second the vessel struck, with a loud
crash.

She parted amidships, the mainmast at the
same time going over, dragging the boom with
it.

i

Brave Berta clung to the boom, and, even
when among the rushing, whirling waters, she
put her hands on the hose of the divingsbell to
make sure it was firm.

As she did so, a huge breaker struck her and
Swept her from her hold.

She endeavored to swim to a rock near her,
when another sea dashed her against a rugged
mass, depriving her of her senses. For a mo-
ment her dark hair streamed out on the foam-
ing water. Then she went down to never again
rise in life.

“Do you seo her, now?” inquired Cardinas.
who from his sloop had, as stated, been watch-
ing the damaged craft. He spoke to his first
officer, an evil-looking personage name Bango—
some years older than himself.

“No; the craft has gone to pieces, and it is
not likely we’ll ever see that girl again !”

Cardinas still scanned the water with his
glass. 'The fragments of the sloop were borne
out to sea, and only the rocks and white water
were visible where she had broken up. The
young ca tain breathed a sigh of relief. .

“ The
thought.

“ He can never tell tales against me. Neither
can that girl, Berta, who I believe, had she
lived. would have told everything out of spitel”

“Those are bad rocks,” said Bango. “ As
they are about half a league from shore, they
are in the way of in—hound craft. There is at
times a sort of whirlpool among them, and there
is a legend that the spirits of people who have
been drowned there, have been seen flitting
among the rocks.”

“Nonsense l” gasped Cardinas, turning as
pale as death. “You don’t mean to say that
vou think the ghosts of the two young fellows,

edro drowned there ever come up again.”

“ Santa Maria only knows,” answered the
first officer, crossing himself. “ I shouldn’t like
to see the ghosts of Henrique and Jason, as we
had a hand in having them drowned l”

Cardinas, who, as well as his first ofl‘lcer, was
superstitious at heart, shuddered, as he said in a
low voice:

“ Be careful h0w you speak about that. Our
men are true, so long as we can give them
extra wages, but there is no knowing what
they might not do for the large reward that
has been offered for the explanation of the dis-
appearance of those two persons.”

“ You can depend on me. The men shall
never know about the afl’air.”

“ That is ri ht. Now, then, as Soon as the
storm is OVer, must go to the smugglers’ ren-
dezvous and tell Pedro that his sister and that
boy' are both lost.”

hree hours later the gale went down.
Cardinas was then rowed ashore, and he hurried
to the secret retreat of the outlaws. ,

Pedro merely shrugged his shoulders when he
learned his sister’s fate.

" She was a good helper.” he said, “ but her
foolish attachment to that boy would, I think,
hava got us into trouble had she lived.”

“ Fortunately, he is gone, too, so that we
have now nothing more to fear.”

“ I suppose the custom—house fellows are
hunting us up by this time.”

“ Yes, but they can neverflnd you if you keep
close. The person must to be feared is that
young detective, Lormo. He is a shrewd boy,
and for that reason he is paid better than any
of the ‘ force’ employed.”

"1 will balk him. If he comes near enough
to me and I have a good chance—”

Here Pedro significantly tapped the handle of
a dagger protruding from under his jacket.

“ airing life is risky. 1 would not do so ifl
were you, unless I was sure that the deed could

oy is gone, sure enough, now,” he

be done without the body ever being found.”

it -

 

 

The Phantom Light-house.

j

 

“ Come this way,” said Pedro.

Cardinas followed his conductor through the
vaulted apartment until the two reached a
paved archway. Then Pedro held up the lan-
tern he carried, showing a pit, at the bottom
of which could be heard the wash of water.

“ A body thrown d0wn there,” he said, “ with
a weight tied to it, would be carried out to sea
by the under-current, and would never rise to
the surface.”

 

CHAPTERvXI.
Tna annnazvous.

WHEN Isabel returned to her lodgings, on that
day when Cardinas pretended to rescue her,
and afterward showed her Robert Brown
among the outlaws, she went straight to her
room, leaving the captain with her father.

“ It is very strange,” the young girl muttered,
as she bowed her head upon her hand. “ I
would not have believed it had not I seen him
there. He really had the appearance of one
who had voluntarily joined the gang. It must
have been that wicked girl I saw with him who
induced him to become a member of the band.”

Her eyes flashed as she said this, and the color
forsook her cheeks.

“She is not a beautiful girl,” thought Isabel,
as she glanced at a reflection of her own bright
face in the mirror. ” She is bold and showy in
up )earance-th:it is all.”

ileanwlnle Cardinas was giving an account to
the surprised Don Carlos of his rescue of his
daughter, and cf his discovery of Robert BrOWn
among the outlaws.

“You saw that boy with those rascals, you
say?"

“I did; your daughter saw him, too.”

“ A prisoner. of course.”

“No, he had the air of one who had joined
them voluntarily. He was with a girl belong—
ing to the party. They were ev1dently on umi—
cable terms.”

“This is very strange. You think those are
the persons who robbed my warehouSci”

“ have no doubt of it. They robbed the
place, and induced your boy-watcher to join
them.”

“They must he smugglers as well as thieves.
There has been a good deal of smuggling going
on lately, Captain Cardinas, in spite of your
watchfulness. ’

The young captain colored.

“Upon my word," he said. “The Govern-
ment would need a whole fleet of vessels on the
coast to entirely prevent smuggling. With my
little craft I do the best I can.”

“I have no doubt of it,” said Don Carlos,
heartily. “And now, about this boy, Robert.
Do you know what you have told me has almost
destroyed my faith in any human being?”

“Pooh! never had much faith in that
fellow!”

“ I had. I supposed I could rely upon his
honor.”

“It is easy enough to be honorable where
there is no temptation to be otherwise,” sneered
Cardinas. “Remember the boy never before
had so large a sum of your money with him.”

“For that very reason 1 should not have sup-
posed that the smugglers could havo bribed him
to join them.”

“There was a girl in the case, you know, and
it is often in the power of bad women to per-
suade our sex to do Wrong—especially when the
wrong-doing will fill our own pockets!” added
the speaker.

As already stated, Don Carlos was naturally
of a suspicious nature, and as appearances were
against Robert, Cardinas soon persuaded him
to believe that Robert was a dishonest thief.

The two lost no time in repairing to the/quar-
ters of the Vigilantes and also to the custom-
house, where they gave information of what
had happened, and where Cardinas carefully
described the location of the rendezvous in
which he had seen the outlaws. .

It chanced that Lormo was lounging near
when the captain and his companion Were talk-
ing to the chief. When the former Spoke of
Robert Brown, having voluntarily joined the
smugglers, he could detect the air of satisfac-
tion with which this part of the statement was
made by Cardinas.

"1 never liked that fellow,” thought Lormo.
“ People who are fond of accusing others of do-
ing wrong, are often mean, contemptible scoun—
drels themselves. He will bear watching I”

And the shrewd boy resolved, from that mo-
ment, to keep a careful watch u n Cardinas.

With a number of others an also with a
party of Vigilantes, escorted by the young cap—
tain, Lormo was sent to the rendezvous.

   

ed, and a careful search was made of the va-
cated cavern, but the smugglers were gone.

" l thought so,” said Lormo, loud enough for
Cardinas to hear him.

The young captain turned quickly to meet the
clear, steady gray eyes of the speaker.

" You thought what?” inquired Cardinas.

“ That you wouldn’t find any of those fellows
here.”

u Why g»

“ Because they must have known beforehand
that we were coming, and so they had a good
chance to get off!” '

The ciptain looked relieved, and this did not
esca e Lormo’s attention.

“ t almost looks as if he thought I was going
to accuse him of having warned them,” chuckled
the lad, as soon as he left the premises. “ “'ell,
I do more than half think he did, but I won’t
say it is so, for people are sometimes mistaken.”

A few hours later, Lormo, with others de~
tailed for that purpose, was making a vigorous
search for the smugglers.

The boy had disguised himself so that his own
mother would not have known him. He had
changed his attire, and had so blackened his
face with a burnt cork that he looked almost
like a negro.

Separating from the rest of the party, he
placed himself behind a sand-hill, whence he
could watch the schooner of Captain Cardinas.
It was now just after the storm had subsided,
and Cardinas had lowered his boat to be taken
ashore. As the. captain moved off, Lormo kept
nearly behind him, shielded from obscrvation
by a ridge of land alon thc base of which he
crept. At length, arrivmg where there were
trees and shrubbery, the youth walked upright,
kel'plllg himself screened by the foliage. He
saw Cardinas finally enter the tomb in the
graveyard, and without hesitation, he moved on
afler him.

Just as the captain disappeared, however, in
the vault, the boy felt a hand on his arm.

“Where are you going?" came a low, stern
voice in his ear,and turning. he bcheld a rnflian-
ly~looking fellow, with a deep scar between the
eyes.

“ l have lost my way,” answered Loruio, dis—
guising his voice.

“ Where do you want to go to?”

“ l'o Tampico. I am half-starved, and am
kinking for work.”

“What kind of work? Are you particular?"

“Anything I will do. I don’t care what it is,
so long as I can earn money.”

“ Where are you from i"

“ I don’t like to tell you.”

.6 “Way?”

“ I’m afraid you might have me arrested.”

" Ho! :nol I believe you are some prison-
bird.”

“Now you know it, for God’s sake don’t tell.”

“Have no fear. What were you put in
prison for?" .

“ For—for—stealing.”

“ Would you like to steal again?”

“ Try me; but first give me something to eat."

“I think you’ll do,” said the man. “Come
this way.”

He Opened the door of the vault with a key
taken from his pocket.

Lormo followed him to the bottom of the
vault. looking keenly about him as he went.

“ Now you will have to let me blindfold you,”
said the man.

" All right,” answered the boy.

Taking a kerchief, the smuggler fastened it
about the eyes of the youth; then he led him
forward, and a moment later the young detec-
tive heard a grating noise in front of him, like
that of a door being opened.

Lormo was conducted some yards era the
bandage was taken from his .eyes, when he
found himself in a large, bricked apartment,
with a cemented floor, and lighted by lamps in
niches on the walls. There Were about twenty
smugglers present, some of them seated on
benches, playing cards and others conversing
together.

“Here is a boy who wants to join us," said
Lormo’s companion.

Om» of the band called Pedro, who was at that
moment showing Cardinas the pit in the outer
passage. ’

Followed by Cardinas. who. however. was SO
closely muffled in his cloak that Lormo could
not recognize him, Pedro came in and looked at
the boy.

“ So you want to join us?” he said.

“I do,” answered Lormo.

“ You have esca from prison!” continued

 

Pedro, scrutinizing the garb of the youth.

  

Ladders being brought, the‘walls were scalo

  

 

 

The Phantom Light-house.

11

 

 

 

 

  

“ I have.”
“ Be careful,” whispered Cardinas in Pedro’s
ear: “ make sure he is not a spy.”

Lormo looked at the cloaked figure.

“ I wish I could see his face,” he thought. “ I
believe he is Cardinas.”

But the latter now passed on and soon left
the apartment.

“ You will swear to serve us faithfully if we
take you?" continued Pedro.

"I will."

The boy was then made to take an oath,
which he did in a firm voice.

At the same moment a noise was heard of
footsteps and voices approaching, and a minute.
later several smugglers entered. dragging with
them a man in the girb of n. Vigilante. The
latter looked pale and frightened. Lirmo was
sure be had never seen ibis person before.

“ Who have we here?" queried Pelro.

“ A Vigilante—one of the cursed people who
are tryin to hunt us down,” was the an-
swer. “ efouud him lurking outside of our
grounds.”

“What shall be the fate of this man?" in.
quired Pedro, addressing his band.

‘z DEATH!” replied the smugglers in chorus.

“ It is Well. Prepare for your i'cte'" said the
leader of the gang, turning to the Vigilante.

“ Have mercy i" groanetl the latt» r, piteouslv.
“Remember I have a family dependent on me
for support.”

“ You must die. Havmg di-ciVered the loca—
tion of our rendezvous, you cannot be let off to
tell where it is ”

“ For God’s sake, spare my life!“ cried the
Vigilante.

“ You waste your breath," cried Pe lro,
sternly. “ And you," turning to Lorine, ” shall
be his executioner. Here is a Chance for vou to
show your zeal in our cause. Take this,"lie ad
(led. presenting a dagger to the boy, and stab
the prisoner to the heart.”

Lormo felt his blood run cold. He was asked
to murder one of his own fries) is. as it, were.

“ I did not engage to kili people,“ he said. " 1
took you for smugglers and robbers."

“ You have sworn to serve us in any way we
might r: quire.”

“ And the oath included murder?”

“ It is so understood." '

“ 1 do not like to kill any one,” said Lormo,
shuddering.

“The penalty for refusing will be death 2”
cried Pedro. " You Will be cut to pieces if you
disobey.”

Suddenly the boy‘s eyes flashed. He com-
pressed his lips firmly. and then said:

“ Verv well, I will do it ."’ '

The Vigilante was held firmly by several of
the gang.

Lormo raised his knife, aiming it at the breast
of the prisoner, and sprung toward him.

Ere he could strike, however, Pedro seized
his arm.

“ Enough!” he cried. " This was done to try
you! I see we can rely on you!”

Lormo returned the dagger lo the speaker.

" I have hoodwinked him nicol ,” thought the
boy. “I saw a look exchange between him
and the pretended Vigilante, and that showed
me just how things were.”

Tue man who wore the garb of a Vigilante,
now divested himself of the uniform, revealing
attire similar to that of the rest of the gang.

Meanwhile, Lormo looked about him in vain
for his friend, Ribert Brown.

“ He is not here, that is plain ” mused the lad.
“ Can it be that they have killed him. It is
likely I will find out before long.”

 

CHAPTER XlI.
A STARTLING VISION.

THE custom-house officers and the Vigilantes
vainly searched for the secret retreat of the
smugglers.

It was now believed that the boy, Lormo,
who had not been seen by his comrades since
he parted from them, had been killed by the
outlaws.

The truth was that the lad had found
no chance to leave the rendezvous since be en-
tered it.

Cardinas had informed Pedro of Lormo’s
disappearance. and he shrewdly adViSed him to
sharply watch the youth who had lately jomed
his band.

“Who knows but that he ma
self,” he remarked. “He is a
that fellow”

‘ But then he is almost black; and, again, we
have tried him."

“You mean about that pretended Vigilante!

he Lorine him-
ut the size of

 

That, I own, looks as if he is all right, but he is
a sharp fellow, and may have guessed that you
were playing him a trick. As to his being
black, it is easy to make the skin that way with
a burnt cork. Have you seen him wash his face
since he joined you?"

" No. but he shall do so this very day before
me. If the black does not come off, I shall
have ’no doubt of his being what he appears
to be.

This conversation took place two days after
Lormo‘s disappearance aboard Cardinas’s vessel
—tne St. Mary.

Before night, Pedro returned to the rendez—
vous.
b'Not seeing the black boy, he inquired for

mu.

“ \‘l’e sent him to cur craft to help work her."
Rigid Bronson—the Englishman—Pedro‘s first
o IZ'PI’.

" Why did you do that? I told you I did not ‘

want. him to leave the place, alone.”

“ He has i-ot left it alone. There are three of
our men Willi him.”

“That alters the case; but I shall be glad
enough to see him back here.”

At that moment Lormo, with his companions.
was ahnuta mile from “he rendezvous, approach—
ing that part of we cox-st (off which the Maria,
Pr'll'O" craft, now lay at. anchor.

The boy watched for a chance to escape.
but the three xrcu v. ith him kept close to

him.
Finally they drew near a small, stone house,
about half a mile fro... =he city. This house

wasasort of levern. the proprietor of which
was Well kn0wn to the outlaws, lrom whom he
had received many a bottle v t' siuuizgled “ine.

“I am thirsty," remarked Lormo.

“ SO am i,” said one of the men.
am wzien We get near that house."

“A little nine would not hurt any of us,"
contirmed the young detective.

“ No, indeed, but old Bosce, who keeps that
plaCe, will not trust us any more. He has a
long score against us. already."

“ I am willing to treat.” said Lorrno. rattling
some silver in his pocket. “1 don’t. drink my-
self, but. we can go in. and you can call for
what. you want at my expense.”

“ That‘s fair enough.” was the reply.

With L’H'IIIO the three entered the Casino.
It was getting dark, and a lamp had been
lighted.

The boy sat down on a bench, while his com-
panions called for what they wanted.

The moment their backs Were toward him,
Lormo darted through the open doorway. The
men had just ruised their glasses.

“Hold, there I" cried Bosco. “ I think vou
said‘your black friend would pay! He has run
out!

“ The deuce he has!” ejaculated one of the
three, in consternation, but they all gulped
down the l'quor ere they darted oflin pursuit.

" Pay me first!" shrieked Bosco, but he
shrieked in vain.

Away went the trio, the dim form of the
fugitive faintly visible in the gloom, a few
yards ahead of them.

They did not guess the truth. but thought
that the black boy had merely played them the
trick of running off so as to escape paying for
the wine.

“ Come back, there, or We’ll break your head
when we Catch you, you little imp!” shouted
One.

Lirmo, however, kept on. Closely followed
by his pursuers, who were good runners, he
finally found himself on a projection of land,
.Iemmed in on three sides by the water.

“ This is bad,” he muttered. “ No chance now
for me to get to the city. But there is the light
of a craft ahead, and I hope it may prove to be
a friend—one of our custom-house boats.”

He Sprung into the water. and struck out for
"fl; light, which was not more than forty yards
0 .

Ere long he could dimly make out the bull
and mast of the craft. which was a sloop.

“ I belieVe it is the smuggler-craft, the Maria,
after all!" he thought.

He approached the vessel cautiously and
finally gained the bow unperceived. At the
Same mement he heard a hail from the shore.
“ Maria. Ahoy l"

“Ahoy,” was answered from the sloop.

“ Send us a boat, and look sharp for a black
boy who has just escaped us and must now be
somewhere near the sloop !”

Lormo hastened to clumber into the bow and
crouched in the knighthead.

He heard the sound of a boat bein
As soon as it was gone, he chm

“ I always

lowered.
over the

    

canvas, heard Pedro, with his gang,

 

vessel’s rnil, having first made sure there was-
no watch forward, and skulked down the fore-
hatchway which was open.

“Good, so far,” he thought. " My next move
is to swim ashore and get to the city, alter the
boat comes back.”

In half an hour the boat returned and Lormo
could hear the voices of his three late compan-
ions on deck.

He waited in vain for a chance to leaVe the
vessel. The men remained near the fore-hatch—
way and finally he heard the hatch as it was
put, over the opening and fastened.

Preparations Were being made for getting
under way. A couple of hours latter the boy
who had ensconced himself behind a pile of
come
aboard.

His angry voice rung sharply through the
vessel when the three men informed him of the
escape of the black boy, and Lormo could hear
what was said.

“Everything is lost!” cried Pedro, “ with
that boy!”

“ it is likely he was drewned.” Answered one
of the men. “The last we saw of him he was
in the water.”

“If he was the person I think he was, he is
too good a swimml r to be drowned. I now be-
lieVe that he was Lormo, the custom-house de-
tec'ive in di~"ui.se.”

“ Oh, no. I think you must be mistaken! He
was just what he Seemed.”

" \Vliy, then, dii he run away from you?”

“ Meier to esca e paying for the wine.”

“ Pooh! be won d not have taken so much
trouble for a little siIVer. You may be sure he
was :- spy."

“ Well, then, even if he was, I am confident
he was drowned. There are snarks in plenty
off the coast, and I believe he has been nabbed
by one of them.”

“ I hope so. If not, our rendtzvous is as good
as discovered.”

The craft now was under way.

In a few minutes Lorino could feel her rolling
and rocking violently, which indicated that she
had been struck by a gale.

“Light ’0!” suddenly shrieked a‘_man, who
had been put on the lookout.

“ Wherenu av L?” shouted Pedro. -

“A couple of points abaft the weather beam,
not. half a mile tiff!” was the ansWer. “ Santa.
Maria! it comes from a LIGHT-HOUSE!” added
thee aker, a moment later.

“- 0," said Pedro. “ Impossible! That light
comes from the ‘ Black Rocks,’ and there is no
light-house there ! ”

The captain said this as he emerged from the
cabin, but the moment he reached the deck and
took a keener surch of the light, he drew back
with a cry of horror.

“God help us! THERE IS A LIGHT-HOUSE
THERE. BUT THERE NEVER was ONE 0N THOSE
ROCKS BEFORE! What can it meant”

Lormo heard those words.

uI must try to get a look at that light," he
muttered.

He crept cautiously forward, and entered the
forecastle through an opening in the bulkhead.

There was no one there, all hands being now
on deck. The boy ascended the laduer, and
looked through the scuttle-opening.

The wind was bl0wing a gale, and the night
was very dark, except when it was now and
then relieved by a flash of lightning. Looking
toward the “ Black Rocks,” Lornio saw the
light which had been alluded to. Soon an elec-
tric flash revaaled to him an object projcczing
from one of the rocks.

" Sure enough. there is: light-housei” he muc-
tered, in astonishment.

At the same moment he heard a cry of sur-
ptrise from the crew, who were collected anno-
s ips. ,

By the gleam of a lantern in the riggirg, he
could see Bronson and Pedro Rthhg COV‘hrd the
singular vision with pale facesnnd wild eyes.
The young captain ShOLk in every iimb with
superstitious horror. '

What Could it mean—the presence of that
light-house on then: rocks. where it had never
been before?

Pedro clutched Bronson’s arm.

“ It is near the v~ry spot where we drowned
Henrique and Jason l"

“Pshaw! what has that to do with it!" said
the Englishman, who was not quite so super-
stitious as the other.

“ It is a sort of judgment upon us!‘l gasped
Pedro. -

“ Nonsense 1"

Nevertheless he was much agitated by the ‘
sight of the singular apparition, as there oer-

  

 

 

 

12

The Phantom Light-house.

 

 

tainly seemed to be something supernatural
about it.

“See! the light moves!” continued Pedro, as
it was seen swinging to and fro.

“ It is strange enough!” cried Bronson.
" W hen we come this way again we must lower
a boat and go there.”

“ 1 will never go there!” answered Pedro,
shuddering. “ Besides, the strong surf near
that rock is apt to break any boat to pieces.”

“I Can go near enough, at any rate, to look
into the mystery.

As the sloop receded further and further from
the rocks the light gradually disappeared.

The mist and rack of the storm now hid the
PHANTOM LIGHT—HOUSE from view.

CHAPTER XIII.
SUSPEUTED
LORMO returned to the hold, where he again
enSConCed himself behind the canvas. A couple
of hours later the gale subsided. Not long
after, the young detective could hear the rat

tlin of the cable, as preparations were being ‘

ma 0 for anchoring the craft. The creaking
of cart-wheels fell upon the boy‘s ear. He,
again made his way up the forec:nstle scuttle
steps, and, cautiously looking through the
scuttle, he saw lights ashore—not twenty
fathoms off.

“1 must look into this thing,” thought Lormo.

He glided on deck unseen by the men, who
were busy preparing the boats for lOWering.
LOoking over the rail from behind the Windlass,
which, in the gloom, serVed to conceal him
from the gaze of the sailors, he beheld a couple
of wagons, loaded with cases—evidently of
Wine.

“ Ho! ho! my fine fellows!" thought the lad.
“ You will not find it quite so easy to get those
things into the city as you did the others—that
is, not if I can prevent it.”

He was about to return to the hold when. he
saw a boat coming round the b0w. This boat
must have been pulled with muffled oars, as he
had had no warning of its Coming. Ere he
could retreat from the rail, some one in the
stern-sheets held up a lantern, thelight of which
flashed full upon his faca.

He at once recogniZed the,features of Car-
dinas, who also saw the boy.

“ i must get away from here, now,” thought
the latter.

He was about to move tovvard the other side
of the rail, when he beheld Pedro approaching.
The lad then crouched behind the Windlass.

“Is that you, Cap=ain Cardinas?” inquired
Pedro. advancing to the rail.

“ Yes. I came to tell you to keep as near to
the coast as you can, and to show no light, as l
have passengers aboard who may suspect some
thing."

“ Passengers?”

“ Yes, Don Carlos and his daughter, waiting
for me to sail in the morning. They are going
'back to their mansion.”

" Are they not below? Would they be lik' ly
to see me? And even if they did, would thev
suspect that’l was a smuggler whom you Were
allowing to pass you I"

“ The deuce take them, yes. Don Carlos is
auspicious at all times, and although he was be-
low when I came away, he may be on deck
when you pass, as he has kept papping up out
of the cabin ever since coming aboard. The
moment he should see you he would want me
to speak you, and might eVen take a notion to
board you, with his daughter, and she would be
sure to recognize you as the person who
attacked her the other day."

“ True enough; and even if I could keep out
of sight, the old fellOW would probably scent
something wrong, as he is very sharp, or else
he would report having seen me, and finally
learn that I had not received the custom house
inspr ctors. ”

“ Of course he would.”

“So, my flne Ca tain Cardinas, I have on
in a trap, at last " thought Lormo. “ our
game is up now for certain.”

“You think Don Carlos will not see me if 1
hug the shore!” continued Pedro.

“ Not if I can help it. By the Way, I see you
have your black boy aboard. Kee our eve
on him, as l warned you before. dyt’m’t like
his looks. Just now, when I saw him, there. at

the rail, it seemed to me that some of the black ,

had disappeared from his face, leaving it a lit-
tle streaked !”

Here Lormo shrugged his shoulders and crept
along nee rer to the opposite mil. Cardin" had
spoken in a 10w voite, but. the boy had good
can and had heard ever word.

“You are mistaken,’ said Pedro. “The.

 

f black boy has escaped from us. He ran away
i from some of my men ashore, about five hours
1 since."

“I tell you I saw him—either him or his
ghost—not ten minutes ago, by the rail where
I you now stand!”

“Are you sure i"

“ Yes—as sure as that I now see you.”

“ The little imp must then have awum to the
vessel and got aboard without my knowing it.
This must be looked into.”

“ I will help you search for him. After
what you have told me, I feel Certain that he is
that rascally Lormo in disguise."

As he spoke, Curdinns, seizing the fore-chains,
lightly sprung aboard.

Lormo climbed over the opposite rail and
dropped into the water, but not before he had
been seen.

Cardinas was back in his boat in a moment,
and heading it for the other side of the Ve—SSt‘I,
he pursued the swimmer and overtook him ere
he had prOCeeded far.

“Bring him aboard I" shouted Pedro, as the
lad was hauled into the boat.

“Let us have a good look at you, my fine
fellow," said Cardiuas, as several of the men
held the boy down on his back.

Enough of the black had now", owing to his
submersion in the water, left his face for the
captain to recognize Lormo.

“ As 1 thought!” he cried. “ Pedro!" be ad-
ded, raising his voice “it is that rascally imp
of a detective, after a l.”

“ Bring him aboard l” repeated Pedro.

But even as he spoke, the noise of another
bOat approaching was heard, and to the C! n-
sternatiou of Cardinas, he saw that it contained
Don Carlos and his daughter.

“ Captain Cardinasl” cried the merchant:
“ what is the meaning of all this? I see wagons
ashore loaded with goods. 1 fear that things
are not exactly right. here. Your first officer
told me, when I came on deck, and asked for
you, that you were not aboard at present, and
that was all I could get out of him. I saw the
lights ashore, and at once concluded you had
gone to investigate the matter.”

“ You were right," said Cardinas.

“Seeingthe lights, I feared that smuggling
was in prospect, but Ifind thatI was mistaken.

“I have come on urpose to hear about it,”
said Don Carlos. " our officer would not take
me in one of his boats, so I Concluded to take
myself,” and got into one alongside, with my
daughter, who insisted on going with me. At
you see, I have sculled the boat this way. Yi‘u
say there is no smuggling intended. I muet
Own that to me it looks like it. What vessel is
this, near which we now are?"

“ It is the Maria—a fishing craft. The trim;
you see ashore, are cases of wine dcstired for
the house of Martinez & Go. in Tampict."

“ Humphl those fellows I have heard, are n it
OVer honest. You are sure the wire is not to
be smuggled '1"

" Certainly. I have looked into the affair.
and found it is all right.”

Meanwhile Cardinas had whispered to a
couple of his men, who, in spite of Lcru‘o’s
struggles, held the boy down in the broom oi'.
the boat, while one kept a hand our his 11.0th
to prevent his crying out,

"So you are sure it is all rightf’

“ Y~s. sir, I am sure."

“What is that commotion in your boat?
you have some one there a prisoner, have you
not!"

“It is nothing. My men are ‘skylsrking‘
that is all.”

“ A strange time for sport. it seems to me "

As he spoke Don Caiios sculled his boat to-
ward the other.

“Give wnyt" said Cardinas, in a low, quick
voice to his crew.

All except those who held lnrmo down, then
took to their oars, and soon the boat, leaving
Don Carlo-i many yards astern, was alongside
of the St. Mary.

In a few minutes Lormo was dragged aboari
of the craft, and thrust into the hold.

When Don Carlos arrived, he found Cardinas
and his men hauling the boat round toward the
starboard gangweag, looking as if nothing un-
usual had happen .

" Why did you pull away from me?” inquired
the merchant. “You might have waited and
taken my daughter and me into your boat.”

“ I thought you would like the exercise of
sculling, as on said you did.”

“I don’t ike too much of it,” answered Don
Carlos, panting.

He and his daughter were soon after below in
the cabin.

 

 

 

   

A few hours later the St. Mary got under
way and stood to the southward.

It was not quite dawn when the vessel ass-
ed within about two leagues of the “Biiack
Rocks."

" Is not that a light?” inquired the flrstoiflccr,
pointing toward the rocks.

Cardinas, to whom he spoke, uttered a cry
of surprise Then he looked throughanight-

lass.

g “ Santa Maria I” he cried. “ There is a LIGHT-
HOUSE there! What can it mean?”

The first ofiicer, looking through the glass,
also saw the object.

“There never was one there before," he said

Cardinas turned ale. He thought of Hen~
rique and Jason—a so of the reports which he
had heard of the “Black Rocks " being haunted.

Although not so superstitious as Pedro, still
he was easily alarmed by any apparently super-
natural event.

He stood watching the light until a thick mist
finally hid it from view,

He could think of little besides the PHANTOM
LIGHT HOUSE, which certainly was a strange
mystery.

A few hours later the breeze fell away ‘c a.
calm. As the wind had been very light, the bi.
Mary was still not more than seVen miles from
the “ Black Rocks.”

“IVs will go there to look into this strange
VlFiOll we saw," whispei ed Uardinas to his first
officer.

A boat was lowered, and the young captain
was soon speeding toward the rocks.

When he was within half a mile of them tr.»
fog cleared. There was the white surf r(‘li"i§"
and breaking as usual over the rugged me sn- .
which now. at high tide, were mainly urr‘vr
water, but there was no sign of the Paax’rcn
LIGHTHOUSE-that Strange Vision which Lad
been seen on the night before!

Cardinas shuddered. There certainly was
something supernatural about the affair, and 2'.
ocr-urred to the villain that perhaps the appari-
tion had appeared, and would again appear, to
mark the spot where his and Pedro‘s two vic-
tims, Henrique and Jason. with weights attach-
ed to them by chains, had been buried into a
watery gravel

 

CHAPTER XIV.
A FRIEND IN NEED.

is the hold Lormo vainly struggled for some time
to free himself from his bends. At last, however,
his hands, as he rolled over, came in contact with
the edge of a piece « f iron. which he concluded
by the feeling was the blade of an ax. He. tried in
bring his cords over the edge of it, and at last, i -:
was successful.

Drawing the ropes to and fro until they partsr‘.
he first severed these about his wrists. Then i.—
unfasu-ned the gag fit in his mouth, after which ie
untied the rope an and his ankles.

He advanced toward the forward bulkhead, but to
hunt? no opening here as aboard the other craft.
’l‘uining, he neut to the after bulkhead, whicr,
aboard this craft separated the held from It a
cabin. Hvi'e he oui d a door, tightly closed are
locked. He fancied he heard the breathing of SOL?
person on the other side of the partition. he

i‘es>:d his ear to the boards and listened. F.z.al.y

e thard some broken words, evidently uttered Ly a.
'll" .

“It is the merchant‘s daughter Isabel, taking in
her sleep," thought the boy. “'i his put of ti a.
partition sepan ates me from her mom. Now, can I
make her hear me?"

He picked up a piece of wood. the fragment of a
broken llcck. and rapped gently on iiic par'ititt.

in a few izionwiits a gun he voice inquirtc:

“ \\ hat is that? Who is there!“

“ It is l—Ixrmo. the dettcfiVe."

There was a slight cry of surprise, followed by the
noise of the girl leaving her berth.

“ Make no ioise,“ said Lormo. “ I am here a pris-
oner." and he went on to explain.

“You shall besaved," answered Isabel. “Nrw
that I know you are there. no one shall i‘arm you."

“ Have you the key of the door?"

“ The ke is in the lock," was the anSWer. “ I will
let on in. ‘

She unlocked the door, and the boy entered her
room.

“ You as. that Cardinas tied you and ut on
down there’in the hold?" p y

n. V‘- n

" What. was his motive?"

“ He did not want me to tell tales. Doubtleu he
is only waiting fora chance to make away with me.
I have discovered that he is in league with the
smugglers—that he assists them for the sake of a
share of the profits.“

"Can this be true! Can it bethat the one who
acted so nobly in rescuing me from the thieves, is
such a villain. after all?“

“ It is my opinion that that rescue was a planned
affair. He rescued you from the very man with
whom he is in league!"

A light seemed to break u n the girl's mind.

“I don‘t know why it is ~€3t that thought occur-

red to me more than once. Ihave known Cardinal

a“

   
  

v_6\~_‘_ J); figswwg;w4_vw ‘5

ildm~\__g g“; a- __

)

 

/

The Phantom Light-house.

13

 

,-

since he was a boy, and have heard of his being
guilt of many mean and despicable actions.”

" lieve me, senor-ita, a greater villain does not
walk the earth."

“I think so, too now."

“ I am sure that he slandered Robert Brown—that
the boy did not join the smug lers of his own ac-
cord, but was a prisoner amon t ion"

“ I don‘t know." said the gir , coloring. “ I have
thou ht that it must have been so. Now, then,“ she
adde , quickly changing the subject, “ you must
escape from this vessel. ”

“ Yes, and 1 request you not to say a word to Car-
dinas or any .otl-ier person of what I have told you,
for that would enable him to escape me. and I wish
to lay my plans for his capture. Believe me, he
knows what has become of my friend, Robert Brown,
who is not now among) the smugglers, and when he
isa prisoner, and'not efore. will we be able to force
him to tell where the boy is—if indeed he be alive."

“ H0w will you et ashore?"

“ is not there a at, alongside?"

" I don’t know. I will go and see."

Isabel then went on deck. She soon returned, to
report that there was a boat alongside, under the
counter.“

“ And who is on deck, aft?"

_“ Cardinas and his first officer. They are on one
side of the deck, and the boat is under the other,"

“ it is dark is it not?”

“‘ Yes, very. You could easily get into the boat
Without being seen by the two on deck. The man
at the wheel would not see you either, for there is a
piece of canvas hanging from the wheel-house, and it
would hide you from him."

“ Then I will go at once. Many thanks, senorita,
for your kindness."

He ascended noiselessly to the deck, and as Car-
dinas and his first officer now were busy examining
the light on the “ Black Rocks," he contrived to
slip unseen into the boat alongside, the same one
which had been used by Don Carlos.

Unfastening the boat, the boy allowed it to drift
off some fathoms in the gloom, ere he used the oars
for sculling.

Two hours later, just at dawn, he gained the
shore, within half a mile of Tampico.

it was not until after Cardinas had gone to inves-
tigate the strange affair of the Phantom Light-
house, that his first officer missed the boat which
had been lyin under the counter.

At first he t ought the wa -rope might have be-
come loosened from the gin. ut, on questioning one
of the men, he learned t at it had been too securely
fastened to give way.

Now a sus )lCiOD that Lormo had escaped croased
his mind. 6 opened the hatch, and. entering the
hold, found that the prisoner was .not there. The

ieces of flirted rope lying near the ax, showed him

ow the y had freed himself, but he could not
imagine how he got out of the hold.

The moment Cardinas returned he informed him
of what had happened.

Th: young captain was much excited over the
even .

_“ We shpuld have made away with the fellow, last
night,_Bango.” he said. “ Now he will go to the au-
thorities, and tell eve thing!“

“But how do you think he got out of the hold?"

“ In. my opinion, either Isabel or her father had a
hand in helping him off."

“ Then they must now know everything."

"i fear so."

“ What are we to do ?"

“ They must not be allowed to go ashore on this
coast."

“ You don‘t mean to make prisoners of them 2"

“ For the present—yes. We must go to some out-
of-tfhe-way place, disband our crew, and burn the
era ."

“You are right.~ I am afraid it is all up with us
now. Who would have thought that such a mite o
a boy could have caused us so much trouble?"

Half an hour later, as Isabel was preparing to
come up, she found her door locked. Don Carlos
also found himself shut up in his room. He pound-
ed at the door and shouted, but no attention was
paid to him.

" How ion
tinne?“ sai
around him.

1“ It may last all day," was Bango‘s consoling rev

D Y-
Suddenly, glancing at the barometer, Cardinas
clapped his hands.
“ oing to have a ale,” he said.
If it on y comes from t e right quarter, it will
beépod forlus,“ answered Bango.
tb anxiously watched for sign of the gale.
All at once. heavy black clou were seen in the
south and west.
“ it couldn‘t have been worse.” said Cardinas.
gloomily. " The wind may drive us ashore."
Roaring and shrieking, the gale, soon after.
n the craft.
was driven s ‘ ht toward the “Black
_But by dint of ha work, the young cap-
tain conth to weather them. As the sloop went
rushing past the white breakers, he fancied he heard
cry coming up from the roaring
waters. card It. too, and both men ex-
chagged glances.

urse the place. it is haunted!” cried Cardinas.

mat cry scarred afilif it was from one of those
wned wre as e soonerwe at I

here. thebetterl" 8 "my mm

Bongo: his
_"It s a. bad i
ushnhogu,

is this accursed calm going to con-
, impatiently, as he looked

pounced u
At first

head.
"hosaid. "First that Phantom
now that ghastly cry. We are

 

 

 

“ Stop your crmlrin l” exclaimed Cardinas, but he
lvivasb as pale as deat , and he trembled in every

m .

The gale raged for hours. Finally, Cardinas con-
trived to run the sloop into a bay, where headlands
sheltered her from the wind, and dropped anchor.

It was now afternoon. and the young captain
ordered a ood watch kept,

“ 1 will b ow‘up the craft,“ he said, “sooner than
have her fall into the hands of the custom-house
officers.”

Pedro also had been obliged to seek shelter for his
craft, the Maria, in a ba below.

He went ashore with ronson to see if any gov-
ernment cutter was in sight. The two ascended a
promontory, but no sail could be seen through the
drifting fog and rack.

All at once Pedro clutched Bronson‘s arm and
ointed to where the mist had for a moment lifted
rom one of the “ Black Rocks.”

The young smugglers uttered a cry of superstitious
terror. Revealed. for a few seconds, in a transient,
lurid gleam of sunlight, there it was again, that
wonderful Pnan'rou LIGHT-HOUSE.

 

CHAPTER xv,
THE CHASLL.

Lmvmo the boat, Lormo hurried to Tam ico, and
soon reached the custom-house, where he escribed
his late experiences to his chief.

A cutter named the Petrcl, provided with four
guns, and a good crew, was kept in readiness for
serVice, near the dock.

Orders were sent to her captain to get under wa ',
when the gale blowing shoreward came u , wi 11
clouds of driving mist and rack, putting off er de-
parture.

" How long is this going to last, Captain Bancos,”
inquired the boy, Lorino, who had come aboard to
30m the expedition.

“ For some hours.
some sleep while we are waitin .

Lormo went below, threw himself into a berth,
and, in spite of his late exciting adventures, he was
soon in a rofound slumber.

1n the a ternoon the wind changed, and the cutter
was got under wa .

Lorrno was on t e alert. He climbed to the mast~
head to scan the waters and the land along shore.

“ What do you see?" cried the captain.

" The weather is foggy, but 1 see two vessels,
standing to the south. 1 can’t make them out very
well, but I suspect they are Pedro‘s craft, the
Maria and the St. Mary.’

M  ‘7‘

You had better go and get

H

As much sail as she could carry in the wind now
blowing. was put u n the cutter. She was a swift
craft. with a how 1i e a needle and a clean run.

She gained upon the vessel astern, which was dis.
covered to be Pedro‘s.

The latter was heading straight for the “ Black
Rocks," and the gathering gloom of night almost
concealed her from the gaze of the watchers.

“ He is going to run his craft on the rocks!" cried
Captain Boncos.

“ Don’t be too sure of that," said Lormo.

In fact the Maria now was seen to sheer away
from the rocks, and head further out to sea.

Bangl went a gun from the cutters bow.

The smuggler paid no heed to it, but sped on.

Another shot a histled on its way from the cutter,
and the Maria‘s topmast went by the board!

The crew of the Government veSSel cheered.

 \\ e have the fellow, now,“ cried the ca tain.

It is so dark, I cannot see him,” sai Lormo,
peering through the gloom.

The cutter kept on, for many hours, backing and
filling, but no Sign of Pedro‘s craft was discm'ered.

‘ Light ’0!" yelled the man on the lookout.

$u're enough, there was a lantern, apparently
shinin on the “ Black Rocks." which were about a
mile a m. ‘

“The rascals haw sunk their craft, and taken 00
the boats," said the captain, to his first officer.
Porsino. “but they have stoves on the Black Rocks,
and are signaling to us for assistance. It may
be a ruse, and they may show fight. Clear away
the quarter-boat and man her with about twenty
men 1"

Lormo buckled a cutlass to his waist, and thrust
a pistol in his belt. With the armed crew of the boat,
he also sprun in and toe]: his place forward.

‘hGive wayl ’ was the order, and the boat seemed
to y.

As it drew near the rocks. a cry of surprise es-
caped Porsino—the officer in the stern-sheets. 'I‘lie
cutter had sent up a rocket, which describing a
curve. went hissing far above the boat, lighti up
the sea for some distance. In this transient g are.
a li ht’house was distinctly revealed on one of the
“Back Rocks." and from this shone the lantern
which the crew had mistaken for a-signal from the
smugglers. '

“ Did you see it?” inquired the boat‘s omcer of
Lormo.

“ Yes, but not for the first time. i saw it from the
smuggler’s craft last night. It appears to be a
mANT9I LIGHT-BOOBS, for there never was one there

. ore."

" How is it that you said nothing to us about this
wonder?"

“ Because I thought on would on! laugh at me,
and so that it was best or on to see t yourself."

“What can it mean? here issornething super-
natural about lti"

" So it seems."

“Santa Maria rotect us!"

The crew had card what was said, and. turning,
as a second rocket went flashing up into thoalr, they

 

also saw,by the ghastly gleam, that Plum-ox I..le
House on the Black Rocksi

Instantly. with cries of superstitious horror, they
stopped working their oars.

“Pull ahead I” yelled the‘omcer.

" Nol nol The light-house! the light-house!" was
uttered by many terrified voices.

“Fools. I am not going there ."‘ said Porslno.
“There are those smuggler rascals, new, pulling
along shore."

As he spoke, he pointed toward the coast. on the
left of the “ Black Rocks," and whirled the boat‘s
head round in that direction. I

The crew pulled with a will, and the boat. rapidly
gained on that of the smuggleis.

When within speaking distance, Porsino shouted:

“ Hold up, or it will be the worse for you!“

The smug lers‘ boat almost a barge in size, and
cr0wded wit men, had evidently been injured while
it hung from the davits of the sloop, by one of the
shots fired at the vessel, for several of its crew were
busy bailing it out. Pedro sullenly folding his arms.
ordered his men to stop pulling. _

A minute later the cutter’s boat came sweeping
alongside of it, and Porsino pointing a pistol at the
(head of the smuggler chief, ordered him to surren-

er.

“ We cannot do otherwise,“ answered Pedro,
gloomily, as one of his foes now lighted a lantern.
revealing a swivel in the bow of the Government
boat, with a man by it, ready to discharge it at the
outlaws, in case they offered resistance. '

“ You are wise there.” said Porsino. “ We could
cut on to pieces in a few minutes." _

" t is all up with us, I suppose,” said Pedro. " A
cursed prison for us now." .

“ Ay, my man, and the gallows,too." cried Porsrno,
“for we have learned from Lormo that it was you
who drowned the two young fellows, Henrique and
Jason, near the ‘ Black Rocl-zs.’ "
LPedro turned pale and cast a spiteful glance at

ornio.

“Own that it was you who pretended, as a black
boy to join our ham .“

“I own that cheerfully “ answered Lomo. “ Now,
then, be so good as to te l me what you and Car-
dinas have done with my friend, Robert Brown."

"He escaped from us and we afterward learned
that he was drowned while with my sister aboard a
damaged craft, which was wrecked off the ‘ Black

a 1 I

“ ho told you that?"

“Cardinas. ‘

The news of his friend's loss surprised and sad
dened the boy. .

“You say he esca from you. So then he did
not voluntarily join your gang?"

“ No. We could not persuade him to do that, al-
though my sister tried ard to induce him to become
one of us. ’

Lormo felt much relieved, for here was positive

roof that Cardinas had slandered the youth to lsa-
Bel and her father—that he had been true and faith-
ful to the last. .

“ What do you think is the meanin of. to hght
and light-house yonder?“ in uired orsino of_ the
smuggler, as Pedro‘s boat, wit its crew as prison-
ers, were being towed toward the cutter.

“God only knows," answered Pedro, turning yery
ale. “This is the second time that strange Vision
as a peared there, and I knew from the first,” he

adde . gloomhy, “ that it boded us no good."

The band Were finally aboard the cutter, ironed
and in the hold. When asked what had become of
his craft, Pedro said that he had scuttled and sunk
her.
“ Captain Cardinas was ahead of you. Have you
any idea of his destination?" _ .

" No. He will escape you. His vessel is a swift

'one and you can never overtake him."

“ Ve Will see about that," was the reply.

The cutter was kept on in pursuit of the St. Mary
which could no longer be seenthrough the gloom.

All at once, however, the vorce of the lookout was

card.

"Sail ‘0' right ahead!"

The cutter’s captain sent up a rocket, and by the
gleam the St. Mary was discovered not half a mile
03, with only half of her mainmast standing.

The truth was, Cardinas. in his ea erness toes-
cape, had crowded too much sail, whic had result~
ed in the loss of his topinast.

A shot was sent toward the fugitive craft. which
sent back one in return.

“Curse the fellow‘s impudence! we will give him
all he wants!" cried the commander of the cutter.

Bangl went another gun from the latter, to which
Cardinas replied by sending a well-aimed shot at his
pursuers. ,

This shot ssed through one of the cutter‘s port-
holes, and ronson, Pedro’s first officer being I;
flange of it, received the nussrle straight in the fore

ea .

He fell, stone dead, by the side of Pedro, who
coolly remaiked:

“No gallows for him; he has met abetter fate
than he deserved 1"

The cutter kgpt banging away, but Cardinas no
longer respond .

About five minutes later. a broad, lurid flash l t-
ed the sea, and the in itive vessel blew up wit a
deafenin report its ents flying up in a
stream 0 fire to the very ands,

“ There’s the' last of the St. Maryl“ said the cm-
Eer‘shcaptlain. “ By the dash. Isaw her boats making

ors ore "

" Don Carlos and his daughter were prisoner.
aboard that craft. 1 hope they were not left to
their fate. Cardinas is villain enough to do it!"
cried Lormo.

 

    

-v'. grunt" . ..-.

14

‘7‘. d; m. v-—-i.:w‘ a... «l

The Phantom Light-house.

 

 

A search was made for the St. Mary‘s crew, but
they could not be found, although one of their boats
was discovered near Some rocks ashore.

“ They have run off, but the ' cannot long escape
the law. They will be foun before many days,“
.said the captain of the cutter.

“ Hark !" said LOI‘IXIO, who was in the boat with
the captain. “ i thought I heard a voice, ashore.”

Seizing a lantern, the captain sprung to land, fol-
lowed by Lornio, out he had not proceeded many
steps, when two forms were dimly seen approach-
llllz‘.

They soon were near enough for Lormo to recog-
nize Don Carlos and his daughter.

“Thank God! we have escaped the rascals," cried
the merchant, as he came up.

“ So you know now, senor. that Captain Cardinas
is a villain?” said Lormo.

“ One of the blackest kind," answered Carlos, em-
phatically. “Just before blowing up his vessel, he
set Isabel and me adrift in a small boat, which I had
the greatest trouble to prevent from capsizing. At
last, as the wind was toward the land, we struck the
shore, a few hundreds of yards below here, but we
might have been drowned in so rough a sea.”

‘ I hope now, father, you do not believe any of the
statements which Cardinas has made against Robert
Brown," said Isabel.

“ Humph! I don’t know. It seems he was seen
with the smugglers. You saw him yourself."

“Yes, but i believe he was a prisoner there.“

“It has been proved that he was!” cried Lormo.
“ The chief of the smugglers has been captured, and
is now aboard the cut-er. He will tell you about it."

“And is Robert there, too?" inquired the mer-
chant, eagerly.

“N0,” replied Lormo, sadly. “I wish he was.”

“ You have learned what has become of him?"
said Isabel, turning pale.

“ He has been drowned,” replied the boy.

“ Drowned!” gasped the young girl.

f lSlhe staggered so that her father feared she would
a .

" What is the matter. Bell?" inquired Don Carlos.
“ Why should the news of Robert's fate affect you in
this manner?"

With a powerful effort the girl recovered herself.

“It was so sudden," she gasped.

On the way to the cutter she said not a word.

Both lsabel and her father were kind] ‘ treated
aboard the vessel, which now headed for ampico.

From Pedro Don Carlos learned all the particulars

of the robbery of his warehouse. The detestable
villainy of Cardinas, from first to last, was thus
brought to light.

When the merchant returned to the deck, he found
his daughter there listening to Lormo's account of
Robert's fate as it had been related to him by Pedro.

Ere he could say a word, the voice ob‘ the man on
the lookout was heard:

u  10!"

“ Ay, there it is again—that light on the Black
Rocks!” cried Porsino.

"You say you saw a light-house there?" remarked
the captain.

" Yes, sir. not only I, but Lormo and all the men
saw it, too."

“A light-house?“ said Don Carlos. “ How could
13:12.1; be? Come, there must have been some mis-
t e! ’

“ No, sir, there was none," answered Porsino.
“ So many eyes could not have been deceived."

“What does it mean?"

"‘ God only knows, senor!
LIGHT-HOUSE 1"

Don Carlos laughed incredulously.

. “ Such things don't liapéien nowadays," he re-
marked. "How far off is t at light?”

“As we are now a good way out at sea," answered
the captain, “it is about five miles off!"

“Could you not send a boat to look into the af-
fair?"
” My men would be afraid to go.”

“I will go with you," said the merchant.

“And I will go, too," rejoined Lormo.

“ Be it so,” answered the captain.

He headed the cutter toward the rocks, and when
she was within half a league of them, he lowered a.
.boat provided with a mast and sail.

Don Carlos and Lormo were soon in their places.

" Ma I go?" inquired Isabel.

Her ather consented. and she entered the boat.

The mast was stepped, the sail sheeted home, and
away went the boat, bounding along on the star-

board tack.

The mysterious light could not now be so distinct-
ly seen as before; as the boat approached it, it seem-
ed to become dimmer every moment. The roar of
fine (slur! dashing against the rocks was distinctly

ear .

“That surf is dangerous." said the captain.
"There is a whirlpool among those rocks, and so we

‘must not go too near them.’

“ We are close enough to see the lighthouse," re-
marked Don Carlos. “ Where is it?"

The captain held up his lantern, which shed a
lurid glare over the rocks, but no light or light-house
now was visible!

It must be a PHANTOM

CHAPTER XVI.
rnisonns.

“Tats is very stran i" cried Don Carlos. “There
certainly was a light ere.”

“ Yes,” answered the captain. “ You will now
own that there a pears to be something super:...t—
am] about the a air." «

“ It does seem so; but I have no doubt the thing
will be explained in time.“

“I believe we have been drawn into the surf!"
cried Isabel. to alarm.

 

The captain sprung to the sheet and slackened it.

“ Pull — pull for your lives!" he shouted.

Don Carlos could handle an oar. He and Lormo
pulled manfull ', but the boat could make no head
against the w iirlin rush of white water. All at
once, with a crash, t ie frail craft struck a rock and
ca sized.

sabel clutched a spur of the 'ru ged mass near
her and drew herself upon it She eard the voices
of her father and his companions, but she could no
longer see them, as they had been swept, with the
overturned boat, from her sight.

“ Help! help!“ she called. “ Save in ' father!"

In her excitement, she forgot that s e could not
be heard by the people, so far off, aboard the
cutter.

Meanwhile, Don Carlos, Lormo and the captain
clung to the capsized boat.

" My child—my lsabel is lost i" cried the merchant,
whfi, in the gloom, had not seen her climb upon the
rec '.

Lormo, however, had been near enough to the
girl to catch a glimpse of her form as she drew her-
Self up by the projecting spur.

“ She is safe." he said, “ on one of the rocks.”

“Thank God!"

“ We may find it hard to save ourselVes," said the

captain. “ \\ e cannot right the boat, which you can
see is goin down as it fills."

“ How ar are we from land?" inquired Don
Carlos.

“ About a mile. Can you swim?"

“ A little.”

“ If we can once leave this current, then, which is
drawing us toward the whirlpool, we may contrive
to reach the shore."

They soon let go the half-sunken boat and struck
out for the land.

Lormo and the captain, on each side of Don Car-
los, helped him to get out of the current, which was
not \ cry strong at this place.

“I am afraid I cannot keep up much longer,”
said the merchant, when he was still about half a
mile from the shore.

The captain, having slightly sprained his arm
when the boat was capsized, was unable to afford
him any assistance.

“Cheer up. senor,“ said Lormo.
best for you.”

He was a good swimmer, and be exerted himself
bravely to help his companion.

At last the three, in an exhausted condition,
reached the shore.

“ Can you not signal the cutter?” inquired Don
Carlos.

“ Yes; we can make a. fire with drift-wood, and
light it."

Some drift-wood was soon after collected, and the
fire was lighted with a match from the captain‘s
waterproof safe.

Before the blaze could spread, however. about
half adozsn men rushed from behind some rocks.
near the beach, and while one of them stamped out
the fire, two others pointed pistols at Don Carlos and
his com anions.

Held rinly by some of the gang the three could
not have ofl’ered resistance even had not the charges
in their pistols been spoiled by the water during
their swim.

" Follow us, or we will blow out your brains.“ said
one of the men.

“These are Cardinas’s fellows," remarked Lormo.
" We have got into a hornets’ nest."

They followed the rufflans, who led them to a
thickel' about half a mile from the beach.

In a hollow there were slime more of Cardinas's
crew, and the young captain himself was there.

“ Ho! who have we here?" he cried, as the gang
appeared with the risoners.

‘ Rascal!” cried on Carlos, as soon as an account
of the capture. had been given, “ what are you going
to do wit us?"

“ HaVe no fear. We will not harm you, but these
other two wretcles must die!"

“ You would not dare to kill them!"

“ Yes, I would,” answered Cardinas, coolly; “ and
that I will do, unless the cutter’s captain romises
to wait three days before sending the houn s of the
law upon my track!”

“1 will not consent to that,” said the captain,
spiritedly. ~

"Then I will kill you. and this little wretch, too!"
cried Cardinas. " ow, men!" he added.

A ring of raised cutlasses gleamed about the
heads of the captain and Lormo. But the two stood

“I will do my

“ Will you promise?" continued Cardinas.

” No!" both the cutter‘s commander and Lormo
answered, simultaneous] .

Cardinas made a sign {0 the gang, who replaced
their wrapo , which it was evident they had so
threateningl raised only to force the two to make
the re uired promise.

The ands and feet of the three prisoners were now
bound with cords, and they were dragged into a
small cavern, the mouth of which was then hidden
with branches and leaves. ,

“ It will be more than three days-- perha a week
before you are found, as few people t is way,”
sad Cardinas. " Had you given he promise, i
would have set you at liberty. "

“Villain!” cried the enraged Don Carlos. "are
you going to leave us to starve ll”

“Here are your rations," answered Cardinas, as
a man thrust a small bag of sea-biscuits into the
cave. “ You cannot use your hands. You will have
to eat as the igs do. Good by, Don Carlos 1”

And with tiese words, the youth turned away.

i laughifi, and the receding footsteps of himself and

00 as were heard.

 

 

“ I will have that heartless scoundrel arrested if I
have to search for him to the ends of the earth!”
cried Don Carlos. enraged. "I am so sorry this has
happened. it will give the fellow a chance to make
good his escape."

“ When they perceive that we do not return, my
men will send a boat for us." said the captain.
“ They will look for us till they find us."

Hours passed, but no sound was heard to indi-
cate the approach of any persOn to the relief of the
three.

Meanwhile Lormo, by working his arms and legs
vigorous] ', had contrived to draw himself out of the
cave. e had so loosened his cords by these
movements that he was able to creep still iurther,
and finally he arrived upon the edge of the hollow.

He looked seaward, but to his surprise he could
no longer detect the light of the cutter. A stron
wind was blowing shorewaid and it finally occurr
to him that Porsino had stood further out to sea to
give the shore a wide berth.

“ He will wait for a change of wind before he ap.
preaches the coast again," thought the boy.

The sky was now overcast, and an hour later,
flashes of heat lightning darted along the clouds.

Suddenly Lormo uttered a cry.

“ What is it?“ inquired the captain, from below.

“The mysterious light. and the PHANTOM LIGHT-
novsn again!“ answered Lormo.

In fact the strange apparition was again become
visible on the “ Black Rock.”

Neither the bonds of Don (‘arlcs nor of the cap-
tain had been very tightly drawn. They exerted
themselves for some time, and finally gained the
boy‘s side.

“ Sure enough! it is a light-house!" cried Don (‘ar-
los, in alliazeinenl, as a flash revealed the appari-
tion on the rock. " What can it mean?“ .

“Ihope we will learn in time," said the captain.
“ Unless it is really, as it appears to be, a supernatu-
ral affair, we certainly will be able to solve the mys-
terv."

The three watched the singular spectacle of the
Phantom Light-house for some time. At length a
gathering mist hid it from their view.

“Your men have not come to look for us, yet,"
remarked Don Carlos.

“ No, but we will robably see them in the morn»
ing. The wind is t iis way, and Porsino has been
obliged to ive the coast a wide berth."

Now an then the three made efforts to work
themselves clear of their bonds. but without success.

“I hope Isabel has not come to harm.” said the
merchant. “ By the way, as she is on the “Black
Rocks," she must have a good view of the PHANTOM
LIGHT-HOUSE, as you call it, and will probably be
able to tell us something about it. I" rhaps she has
been able to get close to it—near enough to touch

“ If it isa hantom affair. of course she would not
be able to 3 that," said the captain. “I long to
see her to hear what she has to say about it." .

“ i supposic she would have been able to reach it
from her osition?" _

“That epends on where she is. If she is on the
end of the chain of rocks, at the extremity of which
the vision makes its appearance, I think she might
reach it by stepping carefully."

“I am worried about her. Remember we have
not seen her by the flashes of lightning, which I
think should have revealed her to us.”

“ The rocks have many hollows. Probably she
has kept behind some ridge, which has hidden her
from us.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
man METAL TOMB.

As already stated. the damaged pearl-divers
sloop, when it struck on the “ Black Rocks," in the
gale, parted ainidships. Between the gap in_the
riven timbers, the diving-bell, held in an upright
position by the rope attached to the main-boom
ab0ve, went d0wn in the roaring waters.

" Halloal what a racket!” muttered Robert, when
he heard the crash of the breaking craft, and felt
himself descending with the bell.

Through the glass windows on each side of the
upper part of the instrument, he could see the dark,

reen waters of the ocean, and multitudes of long.
glack weeds, which were Swaying about like livin
creatures. All at once, the bell stopped. It ha
evidently landed u on an under-water rock, not
manv feet beneath t e surface.

“Good!” cried Robert. “i don‘t believe I‘ve
goue down far enough for the top of the bell to be
submerged. It will be seen by some passing craft,
lhope, when! will be helped out of these narrow
quarters. Poor Berta! I wonder what has become
of her! I fer the girl has sacrificed herself for
me.”

He called, thinking she might hear him if she had
saved herself. but there was no reply.

Suddenly he uttered a cry of horror. Through
the glass window he beheld an enormous shark
darting past with the form of Berta, held by the
ribs between its teeth! The long, black hair of the
dead maiden stieamed out from her head. which
was partly turned toward him. so that he caught a
glimpse of her glazed, staring eyes. to who the
motion of the water gave almost a lifelike expres-

sion.

“ No doubt about her fate, now," the boy mut-
tered, sadly,

Although his quarters were rather close, he was
at resent able to breathe without much difficulty
an he knew by this that the hose which Berta ha
attached to the boom, was still above the surface of
the water, so that some air could come through it,
and reach him. In fact the boom, after it was car-

   

’
l
l

l

 

 

  

   
 
   
 
   
  
   
     
   
  
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
    
 

      
    
  

      

   

r
P
i

/

,l

 

 

 

 

 

The Phantom Light-house.

15

 

 

cleft, in a rocky hollow, so that the part to which
the hose was attached was raised. keeping the rub-
ber tube, so that the wind entered its mouth.

l-lefore long, however, the mouth-piece was blown
to one side, and was also choked up with particles
of sand and weeds.

His brain seemed to whirl, his Vision became dim.
and he knew that he was stit‘l‘ociiiiii;.:'. Suddenl ' his
gaze fell upon a prongcd piece 0." iron, on the s ielf,
where it had evnlently been placed for the use of the
divers. Seizing it, Robert struck vigorously with the
Jillllt end, one of the glass lenses or windows, which,
as stated. were in the upper part of the bell, and
which remained above the surface of the water, the
apparatus not having sunk far enough for them to
be submerged.

The boy‘s efforts were finally successful. He suc-
ceeded in breaking the \VlllthW-lll making a small
opening in one art of it, and thus obtained a con-
stant supply of 'resh air. He was unable, however,
to enlarge the o )eniiig, as the pronged iron was now
bent nearly dou le.

He felt very thirsty, and. from a water-keg which
was on the shelf, he took a deep draught, after
which he helped himself to a couple of biscuits.

“Thank fortune," he muttered, as he passed his
hand .over his vest; “ through all in trouble, I have
contrived to keep possession of on Carlos's pre-
cious package.“

Hours passed. The boy became drowsy, and, in
spite of his efforts to remain awake, he fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes and recalled past events,
he looked about him in surprise.

“ What does this mean?" he muttered. “I am
still in the diving-bell, but I am no longer under
water.“

In fact there was light enough outside, although
it was night. for him to detect the line of rocks ex-
tendian 211011;: the sea. and also the Rut-Mex of the
water for some distance. Afar off he could even see
the light of a passing Vessel:

“Halibut w iat mysterious power has all at once
lifted the diving-bell
cried aloud.
h_As be reflected. however, the truth broke upon

1m.

“I understand." he muttered, with asmile. “It
is now 10m tin/4', and as all of the bell was not under
the surface, the water receding from it, has lefi. the
whole of it exposed. Tins is good for me! Surely
the bell will be seen. and I shall be taken out."

Then he remembered that it was night, and that
probably the craft whose lantem he could see
through the glass \vind0ws of the bell, was not near
enough to detect the instrumentin the gloom.

Suddenly a cry of joy escaped
bered that Berta had put a lantern in his quarters.

_ " I will light it, and no passmg craft can help see-
ing that signal,“ he thought.

He placed the lantern near the window, and
tfking matches from a safe in his pocket, he Lighted
I

from under the water?" he

“ Ho! ho!” he cried. “Here is a patent light-
house! I shall be seen before half an hour longer!”

But he waited in vain for his rescue.

When an hour had passed. he began to think that
for some reason, owing, perhaps. tonic mist or to
the clouds of spray flying up from Lhe surges near the
rocks, neither the light nor the bell could be seen

'While still hoping that he was mistaken. and that
aid would yet reach him. be resolved to ex lore his
%llarters. The receding of the tide had left under

Imadark cavity. on the edges of which the bell
rested, for its mouth had descended directly over
this hollow in the rock. which at high tide was full
of water.

V “ The cavity cannot be very deep. and 1 will
lower myself into it," thought the boy.

him. He remem- .

Then the boy was nearly stifled. .

here wasa. small coil of rope near him on the '

Shelf. and, attaching one end of this to a book. be
fastened the other part about his breast under um
arms. As already stated his wound was not a very
severe one. and. thanks to the care Berta had be
stowed u n him, be now suffered little pain. With-
out much difficulty he therefore lowered himself
into the cavity with his lantern over one arm. The
hollow was about six feet deep, and in one side of
the rock near the top. there was a creVicu which
would admit the water when it should again riSe.

As he looked about him, he was suddenly startled
by the horrible Spectacle of two ghastly skeletons. In
%;<;ic§g‘nft. which held them nearly upright. side

They were in one corner of the cavity, and as
Robert wk 3 nearer view of them. be perceived
that heavy iron weights were attached by chains to
their legs!

Instantly it; flashed on his mind that these were the
skeletons of Henrique and Jason. drowned b{) Pedro
among the Black Rocks. “ Yes. it must 0 so. ‘
mmtel‘ed he. “These are all that remain of those
yggruglfzorttlgnates, who were sent by Don Caiillos, a.

,0, ‘ - lie ware O s
rogfieries." probe the mystei y of t u e
ere was nothin else of interest in the CflVltYn
and. after the boy hid gazed for a long time at the
unsightlybbjects he had discovered, be seized the
rope to climb back to the shelf or the divingxbell-

t was, in fact, full time he should do so, for the
Water markedly rising. and was trickling through
little openings in the rock.

ln less than an hour after he had reached the shelf
of the bell, the water had riggn tovnthlna few inches
of it. _ It came up no further, i or the shelf was about
on a. hne with the surface of the sea outside, at high
tide, the bell having sunk about two-thirds of its
‘0" :1 $:;;;O§ged on the under-writer r0ck. " d

. ow ever, ke t brea. 'ing over a 8n
Robert could hear them roar and hiss around him.

i
ried away, had been driven and jammed into a

 

“I wonder if any one would hear me if I shout-
ed.” thought the boy. -

Hle called until he was hoarse, but there came no
re ) y.

bile circumstance made him uneasy. He knew
that there were breakers and a strong surf outside
of the line of rocks. and he feared that no boat
would venture near enough for its occupants to hear
his voice. Through the window he could see long
iii-asses of black seaweed, which seemed at high
tide to hang about that part of the bell which was
above the surface.

“I hope the weeds do not hide, the top of the
bell," he muttered, anxiously. “If they do. no
person would pci‘t‘cive the instrument, but would
suppose that it was merely the summit of a rock
rising above the water."

it was low tide again at about two o‘clock the
next day, and Robert saw below him,as before,
the cavity ove w iiicli the mouth of the bell rested.

Something resembling smoke now rose from it,
and the boy knew it was the fog, which was very
thick outside, finding its way through openings in
the rock.

“I had hoped that the bell would be seen in the
daytime. but it seems I am doomed to disappoint-
ment. No person can see it in the mist."

The tide was up again at dusk. After munching
some of his biscuit, and taking a drink of water, the
youth fastened one end of his line about his breast,
so as to make sure he would not fall from the shelf,
and dropped to sleep.

He must have slumbered until the next ebb of the
tide, ere he awoke, for he could now plainly see
through one of the windows, the lantern of a boat
some fathoms off.

He called, hoping to make himself heard. but in-
Stc'ul of approaching, the boat. rapidly receded.

f‘OJ. when will I be taken from this place?" he
cried. impatiently.

He kept his lantern burning until near dawn, when,
the tide .‘iaviug again risen, he put out the light.
which could not have been seen through the thick
inasSes of weeds hanging outside over the windows.

To his chagrin, this day also proved to be foggy.
but he hoped it Would clear up on the next.

When night came, and the tide again fell. he re-
lighted his lantern.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
CUNCLFSION.

AT the time when lsabel, Den Carlos‘s daughter,
clambered up on the rock, after the. boat in which
were her father and his companions, had capsized,
its (ilescribed, the tide had just reached its highest
eve .

The young girl ascended to the summit of the
rock, and )eered through the gloom, vainly looking
if she cou d see some sign of the overturned craft
and its occupants.

Unable to do so, she gazed in the direction of the
cutter‘s light.

“If 1 could only make a signal!" she cried, de-
spairi’ngly, “ but that cannot be done here, in the
dark, ’

Soon after, the wind came on to blow almost a
gale toward the rocks, and the fair watcher saw
the light of the cutter receding.

She crept along the rock, and finally reached an-
other in which there was a hollow sheltered from the
wind and spray.

Here she sat down, feeling very uncomfortable in
her wet garments, with her back resting against the
side of the rngzexl alcove.

This alcove faced [he further extremity of the chain
of rocks, over Which the girl could see the spray
and the breakers, as they su'ept high up on the

; jagged masses.

Hours paSsed when. all at once, the. gleam of a
lantern directlyahv-ail of her, near the end of the
line of rocks, caught her attention.

She called, thinking the light was that of some
boat from the cutter. DUI there “'88 no reply.

“They do nut hear me on account of the roar of
the Surf,“ she thought, , " but, as'the tide is falling,
i think I can creep along to the light."

She found it Very difficult to make her way
over the slippery rocks. covered, in many places.
with long. trailing masses of seaweed. and finally
she mused. lit-Situting .Wht‘lhl‘l‘ I“ proceed 01‘ IIOt.
for  could now perceive that the light, which she
had supposed was a boat's. appeared to be station
111' , and resembled a great round red eye glaring
angrily at her from the water.

“ Can it be that this is the eye of some sea-mow
ster?” she muttered. "I have. heard of luminous
fish—but no," she added, quickly. "No fish could
look like that."

The eye seemed to grow lar er, and gradually the
Rirl could make out, by the urid glare, the upper
part of somethng resemblin a light-house!

As the tide continued to fa l, the form of the light.
house showed more distinctly until every part of it
looming u from the top of a rock,_which the ebb of
the water ad left bare became ViSible in the gleam
of the lantern! ,

“Yes, there it is!" asped Isabel in surprise and
not without a feeling offsupei-stitious terror. “ T ere,
lure. enough, is thnt PnAs'rou LlGflT-HQFSEX” .

For some time she stood gazing toward the Singu-
lar apparition, not, daring to approach it. to obtain a
nearer View.

Suddenly the lantern moved and," ering through
Ehe window facing her, the gir now held ahuman

ace.

She saw it only for a. moment; the next. a. thick
mass of fog drifted about the light-house, almost
hiding it from her gaze.

 

“ I wdl solve this mystery!" cried Isabel, who ill-i

 

though not entirely free from superstition, pos-
sessed a very resolute spirit." .

She crept alongr toward the Vision. and when with-
in a few yards of it. she fillilfll‘d she heard a cry.

“That voice sounds familiar." she thought, ‘31-
though it is partly smotheied. "

She was soon close to the object. when, the fog
having drifted to one side of it. sue again obtained a
view of it

As it was but a few yards from her, she could See
it plainly enough to perceive that it was not a light-
housn after all, but merely a huge diving-tell.

At the, same moment the face again appeared at
the window, now near enough for Isabel to recog-
nize it in the bright “trill.

“ Robert lfirown 3“ she cried.

“ Who calls?“ came the \oice of the boy from the
inside of the bell. ,

“It. is I—Don Carlos's daughter!“ she cried, in
leiear, ringing tones, which could not fail to reach
1111).

“Thank God', then I shall be. taken out at last!“
responded Robert, "and your father will get his
packet of money, which I have heie safe with mel"

“ Hou' did you come in this situation?" .

The boy made a full explanation through the glass
window.

“The wonder to me " he continued, “ is that the
bell has not been seen before, as l have lighted the
lantern every night since Ihiive been here. I sup-
pose your fatheris near, with some men. Please to
call them.“

The girl now explained about the accident.

“I think my father has been saved,“ she added,
anxiously, “for he, could swim a little, and those
with him were good swimmers.“

“I have no doubt of it, if Lormo was with him,
for he is like a fish in the water, and is a brave Loy,
too. Yes, senorita, you can be sure that he is safe!‘

“If so, I am glad that the accident happened.
since it has been the means of your discovery.
Seen, at low tide. rising from a rock, the diving-bell
looks larger than it really is, and has the appar-
nnt-c of a LIGHT-HOUSE. I don’t believe any sailors
could have been tempted to go near it. as they
imagined it was a PHANTOM LIGHT-HOUSE, and were
terrified at its appearance."

The girl remained near the bell until dawn by
which time the rising of the tide had completely
hidden it from view.

Although only two-thirds of the bell was under
water yet, when the tide rose, a rift in a rock near
the instrument, was filled, causing a huge mass of
seam-ed to stream out and hang ever it, thus con-
cealing it. and giving it the appearance of being
Illel‘t‘ly the top of a rock, projecting from the sur-
face of the sea.

The wind had now changed, and the girl saw the
cutter not a league distant. Looking toward the
land, she saw another spectacle which gave i...'
great j--y—-three human forms evidently seated on a.
risingr point of land. These persons, she rightly
judged, were her father and his two companions.

She signaled the cutter with her kerchief, and
half an hour later, Porsino, with a boat‘s crew. ar-
rived, to hear, with Surprisrr. the "tory of the diving~
bell. In anotherhour Don Carlos . J his companions
Were also picked up and freed from their bonds.

The merchant on caring explanations, was much
pleased with Robert’s courage and fidelity.

Before night, with the help of tackles and ropes,
brought to the rocks, just at the ebbing of the tide,
the bell was hoisted sufficiently for its occupant to
crawl out from under it.

Robert's first mowmcnt was to rip open the lining
of his vest and present to the merchant the valuable
packet he had so long kept there.

You are both brave and honest. and I think more
of you than ever, my ladl" remarked Don Carlos.

“ He is as true as steel. I always said so!” cried
Lorine.

The party returned to the cutter, which now sailed
for 'l‘nni ice.

A wee ' later some of (lardinas‘s crew were arrest-
ed, but their captain escaped. A few montns after-
ward, he died of yellow fever in Cuba.

Don Carlos finall ' took Robert Brmvn into
ship with him an ermitted him to woo 1w
eventualy became is bride.

She had long loved him. and her father had at last
wisely concluded not to keep the young peopia
8. )art.

IWe have to add that Robert’s experience in the
divingbell and his previous adventures are often
mentioned on the Mexican Gulf coast, where they
have won for him the appellation of “ ‘ Emcx Rocs,‘
Tun Sunsets; Sm "

rtner-
l, who

THE END.

I 1‘

 

'1‘ H E
Sunnysidi Library

1 LALLA Rooxn. By Thomas Moore............. 1°C
2 Dos Jun By Lord Byron . . . . . ..  20c
3 PARADISE Los'r By John Milton.  100
4 Tan LADY or ran LAKE. By Sir Walter Scott. the
5 chmn. By Owen Meredith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
6 UNDINE; or. 'rnr. WATER-SPIRIT. From the
German of Frlederich De La Motto Fouque.. 10c
For sale b all newsdealers or sent. pos id
on receipto twelve cents for single numbers, double
numbers twenty-tour cents. ADAMS, VICTOR AND
00., 98 William street, New York.

III!!!‘

     
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
    
    
  
 
  
   
   
    
  
     
  
  
  
   
   
  
    
   
   
 
  
  
   
  
    
    
   
   
     
   
    
     
       

 

           
          
   
     
       
   

  

 

BEADLE’S*HALF-DIMEaIeLIBRARY.

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

BY EIHYARD L. “'HEELER.
Deadwood Diek Novels.

1 Deadwood Diek, the l’rinv‘e. ot’thv Rood. ‘
20 Double Dagger-u; or, l).-ndwood hit-L‘s Defiance.
Hull'an lieu: H". l’l'mlwmul llirh in llisguiae.
\t ltd it an. the lloy ('lnude lluvni.
i’lmnlom .lllner; or. ill-mln‘m-ll hit-k'a Bonanza.
flaunt.“ 0”; or. lh‘mlnulni l)ll'l\ in [Dunno-r.
Deaduoad l'1('1\.' Eagles; or, The. l’nrdn nt Flood Bur.
Denduood Dlek on Deek: or. t'niumitv .lnnu. tlu- Heroine.
('(n-(Iuroy {Inn-H“; ur‘ ilemluund llil'k‘s Lust Act.
Dequ ood Dir-k in Lead\ llle.
Deadwood Dlek'n Del iee: or. the Doulrle Cross Sign.
Deadwood Dir-l. an Deteeth e.
129 Dead“ ood Dlek‘n Double: or, The Ghost of Gorgon's

“hi
145'

‘Iitll'il- .

iilullde "iii: "r. Deadwood Dil‘k'n Home, littse.

.\ Gullle of “old: or. lh-uulwnod Dix k‘n Hi;r Strike.

l5“ Deadwood Diet. of Deadwood; or. The i’iriwd l'urtr.

19:: Dead wood lllek‘u Dream; or, The Riv ll: oi the Rond.

201 The Illaek illlln Jezebel; or, Deadwood it rk‘u Word.

205 Deadwood Dlek‘n Doom; or, Cuhunity June‘s Llhii. Ali-
venture.

217 (‘aplaln (‘raek-Sllot, the Girl llri and.

22] Sugar-Coated Haul: or. The Him" tiuwn.

2M2 (Gold-Dual, Divk. A Romnnre oi' Rough I and Toughll.

261i Deadwood Diek'll Dlyide; M. The rpim ot‘bmunp Lake.

Bus Deadwood Diek’n Death Trail.

1509 Deadwood Diek’n iilx Deal; Uh The “Old Brick (ll
illl'flllil.

it'll Deadwood Dlek'n Dozen: or. The Fnkir nil‘imlltotvlFItltn.

34? Deadwood Diek‘u Dnentn; or, Rainy llays iu the lhg.
Lungs.

351 Deadwood Dlek fienteneed: or,'lho Terrihle andeltu.

1:62 ilileadu‘ood Dlt-k‘n (‘lallnt or, The Fuiry Face of Fun;
‘ .‘llll.

405 Deadwood Diek in Dead City.

410 Deadwood Dlek'n Diamond-A; or. The Mystery of Jolln
urlar.

421 Deadwood Dlek in New York: or. A “ Cute Clue.”

430 Deadwood Diek'n Dull; or, The Chained llnnd.

443 Deadwood Diek. Jr.

4 ts Nit-kel-l‘late Ned; «Ir, Deadwood Dick .lr‘a Defiance.

453 Sunflower Mun, oi Shanta; or, llrltdwuod luck Jr’n Full

llnnd.

459 tl‘y‘luuil Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd-

l.

465 Pith“? Fly, ot‘ l'henix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘l Racket at
(' uiln lo.

471 llozeman Dill; 01'. Dvmlwoml Dirk Jr's (‘orruL

4’26 Ilumboldt Harry, the llurritralle; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’-
I)og Deter live.

4‘] Moll Myntery; "r. Dendwnnd Dirk Jr. in Deudwond.

4'91 l'rlnee Vlad, the King of the “'eat; or, Deadwood Dick
.lr'n Compact.

496 Monte Orly-to, Jr.t rtr, Dendwond Dick Jr'n Inheritance.

Deadwood Dlek‘n Dig lam-g or. Dr. Dcnlb-Grip'l Swoop.

Deadwood Diek'n De iveranee.

Deadwood Dlek‘n l’rotegee.

Deadwood Dlek'n Three.

Deadwood Diek’u Danger Duekn.

534 Deadwood Dlek’n Death Hunt.

539 Deadwood Diek Jr" In Texan.

51-1 Deadwood Dlek, Jr., the Wild Went Vidocq.

Other Novel: by E. L. “'heeler.

2O Cloven "00', the Bumth Demon.
82 Bob \Vooli‘; or, The. Girl “rad-Shot,
89 Death-Flute, Detective; or, Lite in New York.
45 Did Avalanche; or, Wild Edna. the (iiri rtrignnd.
53 Jim Bind-loo. Jr., the Boy l’lwnix.
61 liuekhorn Bill; or. The Red itille Team.
89 Gold lfliie the Sitar mhuoter; or, The lioy Detectivg,
80 Rollebud 110b' nr. 'uxget Ned, lh-a Knight.
84 ldyl, the on-l Miner; or, mono Roh .... Hand.
88 Photo ra Phil; or, Rosebud Roh‘n Renppenmnra.
92 Ulllla a (3 et 3 or, (lid Anaconda in Sitting Hull's Cunp.
96 “’“u-lplc 1-,; or, Arnh- nnd Angels of a Great City.
118 Jaek IIo)‘ e the Young Sneeulntor.
ll? Gilt- Edged Diek, the Sport l’eteclivo
1.21 (‘innaluon (Filip, the Girl Sport.
:25 Bonanza Bill. Miner.
‘33 “on. "oh the King ot ltoothlnck;
141 Solid Hunt the lioy Rood-Agent.
145 Captiogn ferret, the New York Detective; or, Bou Bob‘-
033 it a
16! New York Nell the Boy-Girl Detective.
l 7? Nohh Nick of Revadax or. The Sierru SCanI.
181 “'ild ‘ruuk, the Bucknkin iimvo.
209 Fritz, tho Bound-Boy Detective.
218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventrllnquigt Hunter.
226 Shooter. the Buy Sharp: or, The Aral; Detective.
2156 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado.
240 C elone Kit, the Young Gladiator.
erra Sam, till. Frontier Ferret.
248 S-erra Sam'n Secret; or, The Bloody Footprint»
253 c. . .. Sam's i'ard; or. The Angel or Big \ on,
258 u- .- Saln’n Revert; or, The Stolen Bride,
1273 Jumbo Joe the ltoy Pntrol; or, The Rival Heirl.
Denver Doi,l. the Detective Queen.
291 Denver Doli’n Victory.
2‘5 Denver Doli'n Deeoy 3 or. Little Bill’l Bonanza.
291 Turk, the Boy Ferret.
296 Denver Doll’- Drii’tt nr. Tho Rand Queen.
299 A No. 1, the Dalhing Toll-Taller.
808 ’leg Jane, the t$irl Miner; or. the lmn-Narved Sport.
1125 Kelley, lliekev 4". CO" the Detw'tivu of Philadelphia.
880 Little Quiek-S‘hot; UP, The Dead Fare of Dagger-villa.
3114 Kangaroo Kit. or. The Myltarloun Minor.
I89 Kangaroo Kit - Racket.
8 1.8 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood.
858 Flrut-Ciann Fred, the Gent lrom Gopher.
86$ {reka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Lottery of

tie
8?2 Yreka Jim’s Prize.
87$ Nahoh Ned; or, The Secret oiSlnb City.
8N2 (‘.uul Kit, the Kim! of Kidl; or. A Villain’l Vonnnnco.
895 Yreka Jim‘s Joker; or, The Rink of Red No...
889 liieyeic Ben: or. The Lion of Lightning Lode.
B94 Yreka Jim oi’ Yuba Darn.
400 Wrinklen, the Night-Watch Detective.
416 Ilia-h “at Harry, the Rue Dull Detectivo.
426 Sam Slab-idea. the Return-Boy Detective.
‘84 Jim Beak and Pa], Prlv-te Detective;
‘88 Santa Fe Sal, the Kill-1MP.
C86 Sealnkln 8am, tho Spurkler.

 

 

 

 

BY BUFFALO BILL (non. Win. 1". Cody).

Ran- Kingg or. The Red Right Hand.
, 1: atoll B y l or, The Pilot 0! the Pnlrlo.
‘5 Deadly. ye, the .‘nknown Scout.
8 Border Robin flood: or Tho Pnlrle Rover.
158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or. Tho Tnpper'l TM

 

BY COLONEL PRENTISS iNGRAliAM.

7 The Flying Yankee: or. The Orenn Outcnst.
17 Ralph "av, the Roy llun'un er: or. The Fugitive Yacht.
24 Diamond Dirk or, The, Mystery ofthe Yellmvtltnne.
62 The h'hudow til-1p: or. The Rival Lirutennnta.
75 Tile Boy Dl'lclint: hr. The (mine of the Sea-“'0”.
2 Dlek Dead-Eve, the lloy Stnuugler.
Tile Sea-Dev l; or. The .\iid~hlpnmn‘s Luxury.
The ilununr Ca tnin; 0r. 'l h.- limmt ot Hell (Jute.
Little G rll ; or, ems, tho Stock-'l'emlvr‘s Dnughter.
Gold l’lunle: or, The Kid-(Horn Sport.
"lilo" "ill. the l’rlltr‘r. oi the Reina.
Grit. the lirln 0 Sport : or. The Woman Trailer.
(‘rimuon Kate: ”r. The t‘uwln-y's Triumph.
1.0m: Flar, the ('owhoy Cu itnin.
" Merle the .“iddy: or, ' ‘ho Freelanci- lleir.
The .‘l‘ltilliliplllllll Mntlneert or. Brandt, thr- Burmneor.
The Floatan Feather; or, Merle

inland.
The Gold Elli ; or, .‘lvrle. the, C nrietnued.
276 Merle Monte n (‘rnlnez or, The Chose of “The Gold
. lip.
2N0 Merle Monte‘n Fate: or. Pearl, the Pirnu-‘s Bride.
284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte‘s l’ll-dge.
2" “iin "ille-Eyen, the I‘m): Rot-ctr vi the Rio (v‘mnde.
304 The Dead Shot Dandy : or. limit”. the Buy Bustier.
30H Keno Kit; or, lleud Shut llundy'~ llnuhlv. -
314 The Mysterious Marauder; 0r, The Boy Bugler‘s Long

lrml.
877 liunodel, the Boy Rover: or,Th« Flwglunn summer,
H' The lndian l’ilot: or. 'l‘iu- Slum-h l'ol' l’imte lsinnd.
“'arpath 11111. the lloy l'hunlotn.
h'eawait’, 1h.- lloy 1,1...1........r.
lnudur, the Young (ion-piralor: or, The Fund League.
The Do ' innnrgent: or. 'lh-- (‘ulmn Vendetta.
‘ The “'1 d Yaelttnman; or, The Wnr-Clou..’s Cruise.
Dunean Dare. the “NY Refugee.
.\ (Tahln liov‘u Luek; or, The Corsair.
" T e Sea Ilalder.

lionte‘s Treasure

44 ’l he Oeean Firefly: or, A Monty's Vengpnnre,
446 Ilaphazard liarr '; or. 'l‘hr- Sw-pwrnre or the Set.
450 \Viztll‘li 1‘1"! “'1le Boy Fertet of New York.
45i “'iznl'd “'iil’n h‘treett Heoutn.

462 The llorn Guide; or. The Suilor Boy “’nndeler.
468 Neptune Ned. the liuy Counter.

471- Flora; or. Wiznrd Will‘s V .Lmhond Pard.

4H3 Ferrets Afloat: or, “'Iznrd \Viil'n lnust Case.

43? Nevada Ned, the Revolver Rungur.

495 Arizona Joe tin- Itoy l’urd ot Texan Juck.

49’? liaek Taylor, Kim: ol lh-- Cowboys.

508 The Royal Middy: 0r. The Simrk and the Sen Cut.
507 The llnnled Midshipman.

511 The Dutlawed Mlddy.

520 Blu'klklll Hill. tln- ('ontunche Shadow.

525 Brothern in llueknkin.

580 The Bueknki t Bower-I.

585 The line akin kovern.

5 10 (‘aptain Ku—Klux. the Marauder oi the Rio.
545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son ot Lafitte.

B Y C II A RLES MORRIS.

118 Will flow-tern, lin- 110v D.-terttve.

122 I’ll" "ltl'iiy ’ the lions lioy,

126 I’ieayunc i’ete: or, Nirodemus. the Dog Detectlvo.

1110 Deteetive 11101": or. The Hero ln Rugs.

142 Ilaud-ome Ilarry, the Buolhlnvk Detective.

147 “'ill Wildiirc, the 'l‘horoughhred.

152 iliaek Benn, Will “'tldtiro'n Rilft‘r.

15? Mike Merry, the Harbor l‘oiice Boy.

162 Will “'ildllre ill the “'oodn.

165 Billy Baggage. the Railroad Boy.

170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire “'inn and Lam.

174 Bob lioekettt or. Myxteries ot New York.

179 Boll Iloekett. the Bank Runner.

158 The llldden "and; or, Will Wildfire‘a Revenue.

18? Fred llaiyard, the Lite Boat ism; or. The Sutuuglel’l.

1’39 iloll Iloeketta or. Driven to the Wnli.

196 til-udowed; or. lloh Rot-hell‘s Fight for Life.

206 Dark Pull. the Tiger King.

212 Daulllng Dave, the Dandy Detective.

220 Tom Tanner; or, The ltluck Sheep oi the Flori.

225 Ram Chareoal the Premium Darky.

235 Shadow Sam. the Messenger Boy.

242 The Two “ liloodn "; or, Shenandoah Bill and Hi: Gang.

252 Dlek Danhnwnyt or. A Dakota Boy in Chicago,

262 The Young I‘harpnt or. Rollicking Mike‘s liot Trail.

27-1 Joliy Jim. the Detective A]. ll't‘llllt‘e.

289 .loily Jlm’n Job: or. Thu- oumz Detective.

298 The “'ater-llound: or, The Young.' Thoroughbred.

305 :lauhuway, 01' Dakota; or, A \‘l'esterh Lad in the Quaker
‘it '

824 liainll Ready, the Hotel Boy Detertive.

841 Tony Thorne, the \‘nualn-nd Detective.

858 The Iteporter-Deteetlve: or, Fred Flyer’n Blizurd.
881’ W hie-Awake Joe: or, A Boy of the Times.

3 9 Lurr . the Leveler; or. The Blood. of the Boulevttrd.
4 Juek, the River-Rut llt‘lx‘fl‘lll‘l’s.

428 The Lot-t Fin er; or, The i-Zntrnppcd Cashier.
429 Fred Flyer. tie Reporter Detective.

482 invincible Lo an, the l’inlterton Ferret.

456 Billy ilriek, t. le Jolly Vngnhond.

468 “'lde-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed All".
4T9 Deteeti ve Dodge t or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty.

488 “'lld Diek Racket.

501 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Too Sharp for tho shupcr.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

2 Yellow-tone Jnek; or, The Trapper.
49 lilaek John, the Road.Azent; or, The Outlnn’e Retro“.
65 ilnrrieane. Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard.
119 Mustang Sam ; or. The King of the Filing.
188 Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Dnughler of the Ranch.
144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport.
151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue.
1110 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy.
168 Deadly Dani” or, Fighting Fire With Fire.
184 The Boy Trailer” or, Dnlnty Lance on the Wu-Plth.
208 The Boy Pardon: or. Dainty lance Unmnlltl.
.11 Crooked Cale, tho Caliban of Celestinl City.
810 The Barr-non Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy.
819 The Black Rider; or, The Hone-Thievn’ Lenqu
“5 01‘ Double Filt; or. The Strange Guide.
‘5‘ The King of the Wanda! or Dunlel Boonc’l Lat Tail.
“9 Kit Fox. the Bard» Boy Dcleclin.

 

B Y OLL (10011158.

5 Vagabond Joe. the Young Wandering Jew.

13 The h Spy.

2? Anteio e Ahe, the llny Guide.

81 I‘l‘CII-kllli'o, the. Prime “1' the l'I'flil’it‘I.

41 Lilli-0 Jnek, the Young Mustnngvr.

58 The Border King: or, The Sel'ret Foe.
Delaware Dlek. the Young Runner Spy.
llawL-eve Harry the Young Trapper Ringer.
Rollo, the ilo ' Ilnnxer.

Sure Shot, set , th. Roy hillentun.
flour-Fare haul, the Silent Hunter.
Silver Star, the Hun Knight.
Baltic Kit. tin: lio)‘ ilrlnon.
Little Texan, the Young Mustnnzer.
173‘ "ill solitary. the llr‘l‘lllli 'l't'uHu-r.
192 Little. IIIIrrieane, th» llo - Captain.
202 Pro: eet. Pete; or, The i’onnu Unlinw Hunters.
208 The Day Ilereulent or. 'I in- l'lllll’lt' 'l‘rntnpn.
21” '1‘1 rer Tom, the Texas THI’HF.
221 Dan-hing Dlek: or, 'lrumurr 'I‘mn’o ('mltle.
‘ 1111110 “'iiliilre, the Yum”: l’tnirie Nontxtd.
'he Par—on De teetive; or. The Litllr Ranger.
'I‘he Div-gained Guide; or, \\ ild anen, the Ranger.
Dare-Devil Dan, the Young l’mirie Ranger.
Mlnknkin Mike, the Boy Shurpdtooler.
Little Foxllre, the [soy Spv,
The Sky Demon : or. Rniubolt, the Runger.
\" hip-king Joe, the lim Rancher”.
ilerenlenz or. lurk, the Boy llultgrr.
417 “'elli'oot .‘ioue. the Truth]. lh-tw li\'l“.
422 Baby Sam. tin- ltoy Hiunt ol llle Yellowstone.
444 Little llnek-kln. the Young l‘rnirir ('entaur.
457 \i‘ingedt'oot Fred: or. Hid l'olu- Saul.
463 Tmnarae 'l'oln. Lln- Hit: Tm ll‘el' lloy,
478 (Did Ton] Rattler, the Red {ivur lipniemlt‘.
482 Stonewall Bob, the lio)‘ ’l‘ruiun.

BY '1‘. C. iiAltBAIYGII.

23 Niek 0’ the .Viglli: or, Th- lioy Spy (it ’76.
3? The Hidden Lodge: or The Lilli. Hunter.
47 Niglllillu‘ulo .Vllt: ml, The Fol'ext (‘nplninxx
64 Dlllllly .iaek: v-r, The Hollow: ol' the Oregon Trail.
912 K11 "urei'oot the Wood-Huwk.
94 ll ldnlltht .Iaekz or. The ltoy Trupper.
106 Did Fruity, tho Guido: or, The White Queen.
23 Kiowa Charley the White Mnslnnger.
9 Jud e l.) Ileh, Jra or. The l‘lvv \‘iqi‘lunte.
(TTri Ker, lln- :port; or, The, (Girl Avenger.
l Tornado l‘omz or, “thin Jack From Red Core.
8 Ned Temple. the Border lioy.
11"“ .\rkannn\\': hr. The Que n oi Fate’s Revenge.
20'? Navajo Nit-k. the Roy Gold Hunter.
215 (‘aptain linllet: Ir, Littlo'i‘opknot‘a ('rusude.
281 l’luoky PM]; or. Rom, lllr R.» .lozelwl.
241 15111 Bravo: or, T' r Ruuuhs ol tln- liol‘kieu.
255 (‘aptaln Apoil , llw Kim: Pint of Movie.
267 The "Held-Lin Deteetive.
279 Old \"illell: on '1'! e lluvhltin Demwrmltwn.
294 Dynamite Dan: or. The Howie Him. or Fnchpmpn.
302 The Mountain Deteetlve: or. 'l‘he’l‘riggrr liar Bully.
316 01-1 Eellpae, 'l‘rnuto (‘urd of Arizona.
326 The Ten i’ardu: Hr. The Terror 4»! Toke-Notice.
836 Ills: Bent-on: or, The ann oi the La no.
345 l’itlleun Matt; 0', Red TltIlIt-lerltni"s Secret.
85“ "-..,i .- uru u. i “r z o Tho- Terrihle Six.
866 Velvet Foot, the lndinn lletw'tive.
8N6 (‘npialn (‘ntlaunz or, ’ho R wont-N’s (.‘irl Foe.
396 Rough “oh: or. The lwin (‘hmupmnuol lllur- Bin“.
41] Tile Hilkell Lam-o: or, The Rose ot'Ruucu Robin.
4]“ Felix Fox. the Boy Splitter.
425 Texan Trump. ltlo Murder Rattler.
436 Phil Flu-Ill. the New York Fox.
445 The (‘lty Vampire-3 or, Red Rnifo’l Pigeon.
4‘" Due Again-t Fin-v; or. The lam Mun nl'Keno Bar.
470 T1“? iloy Shadow: or, Felix Fox‘s Hunt.
477 The Ext-elder Sport: or. The Wnshinglon Spotter.
499 .‘inrle, Sight. the (inwaed Sport.
502 Branded Dell, the Night Ferret.
512 Dodlzer Dick, the Whnri-Spy Detective.
521 Dmlrer Diek’u Bel-t Dodge.
529 Fox and F1|l('0ll,illt' 1:0]:‘r‘ry5lladowa.
533 Dodger Diek, the. DM‘ rrret.
5-13 'Dodzer Dlek’n Double; or, The Rlvnl Boy Detectives.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

.""('tlll the (‘hnparrnl (belt. llv l,ieu‘.. A. K. Slml.
 gxlmtighkndy; m", A Good Mun Down. By P. S. Whine.
548 Mart, the Niuht Express Detm-tivo. By J. (‘. and‘rn-k.
549 Deadwood )lek on Illn- Mettle. HyE. 1..“lm-ier.
550 Lafitte'n Legacy; or. The Avengan Sou. By Col. Prmtin

lntrrn nm. .
551 Nie Nettle. the Boy Shadow.  Jo l‘lerce.
552 Ariel, the Athlete. Ev Din-id Drtnd.
558 Dodter Dlek'n Deuperate Cale. By T. (‘. Hnrhnugh.
554 Deadwood Dlek. Jr.., in Gotham. lly E. L. “Meier.
555 The (‘reole Cor-air. Dy Col. l’rentiu lngrnlmrn.
556 Lariat 1.11; or. The (‘rut for a Life. RV Philip S. \‘l on...
557 Broadway Billy'fl Death Raeket. By”). C. Cowdrkk.
553 The flare-fihot Pardl. Dr Arthur (‘. Grlssom. .
559 Harlem Jack, the Ofllre Boy thevtive. By Jo Plerre.
580 l'awnee Bill, the Prairie Shidower. llv (‘oL P. Inmham,
561 Deadwood Dick in Bolton. By Edward l.. “hm-let
5612 “hindering Bani]. the Hermit Roy TI-np wr. l’-y Oil Coomeo.
odger Diek. the Boy Vldm‘q. By T. (‘. ar nuzh.
564 Powder i’hll. the Boy Miner. By John W. (ltillnh.
565 Kent Kingdom the Card King. Ry Col. I’m-min ingmhmm
566 The fieeret ‘ervlee Boy Deteetlve. By (‘hnrh-- Mann.
567 Deadwood Dlek, Jr., in Philadelphia. llv Edward L.
Wheeler.
69 The Dand of Dodge. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.
1269 Brooklyn Tlen, the On-Hu-Own-Hook Detective.
l’ieree.
570 Camille. the Card Queen.
571 Air-Line Luke, tho- Young Engint-er. B‘- J_ c, (“which
572 Deadwood Diek. Jr., In (‘llleazm ltv E. 1.. “'llreler.
578 The Two fihadovu. By T. ('. llnrhnuuh lit-adv July 17,
574 Old Weanel-top, the Mun with the Dogs. lly P. s. ane.
Ready July ‘14.
575 The Dungeon-Remit Deteetlve. By Colonel Prentiu
infil‘fll". Rmulv July RI.
576 The liliver sport. By Lleut. A. K. Slim.
Ready Auzunl 'l.
57? Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter. By Jo Pierce.
Rendv Augmt 16.
578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Alia-t. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Randy Augut ‘29.

A New lune Every Tuesday.

The Half-Dine Library in {or ale by nll now-dainqu
unit per copy or sent by mail on rocelpt of le cont- ouch.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers.
” Willia- Strooi. New Yo...

ulna-la
13$“:

HyJo

Ry Fol. Prentlnn lnmlmm.