I ' "g " , v7 ‘Wr - \ ‘ \ » \ \ _ \ » 5 \ \ E \\ 1’ i; _ _ , ¥ 1 , K ‘- Tvv~ . x \_ :3: —-=7; —"' »-:t—__'. “a I with. L. ‘ 5 . m ‘ a“; / - -‘ / J4. f\..,, w, . \ \ \ W ""3153? “""““Hill‘lellifilllllllllilillil W "WI W W ! N (I. .'|J[,','E"'*“mum” I I HI |‘ l i No. 2 llll '. Wm é Hill “H H i HHHIHHJIIIHIHHHI l H ‘ l Price, Ten Cents. \ Ill 11mm .-. :m' * w “ |I.. ‘ [IMMEle y E J GBeadZe j- fldams, @ublishers, No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. Vol. I. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM. The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Witch ’°; Séag {J 6% I ‘ > ‘ . :1 fl 2 .3 x / fix , 4” I \ / // r / F «nu mm m YOUB GAME, IS IT?” AND wrm Tm: 5n.qu or A nan DUDLEY DASH WAs UPON m—Pagefi. The Nemeork Library. The Dare-Devil; The Winged Witch of the Sea. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGBAHAM. CHAPTER I. ‘ PROLOGU'E. “As I live! it is a boat! yes, and I see a form moving about in it—all that is left, doubtless, of the crew of some gallant craft that has gone down.” The speaker was a man of middle age, clad in duck nts, a heav sailor’s 'acket and his face was It shaded y an oi skin hat, while he wore high boots, coming up to his knees. He had a bol weather-beaten face, browned by long ears 0 exposure to sea and storm, and appear just what he was—a hardy fisherman on the iron-bound coast of Maine. He was reared in front of an humble, yet comfortable and substantial cottage, that snug- l clung to the hillside, which rose bold and k far above it. . In front of him lay the vast ocean, spreading away until lost in the horizon and immediately under his eyes was an island- otted bay, one of these numerous indentations that causes the coast of Maine to appear on the map like net- work. From the cottage to the snow-white beach wound a steep pathway, and upon the glisten- in ds half a dozen boats of various size and 1 91 were drawn up, while upon rocks were ying nets, used to entrap the tiny tribes of the deep. ' It was near the sunset hour, and Carter Hayes, the old fisherman, was enjoying his after-supper smoke, when he suddenly spnmo' to his feet, and gave expression to the words that open this story. Meyes rested far'ofl upon the sea, where a sinall, dark object was visible, drifting shore- ward on the incoming tide. >1 must hurry my old bones, or the boat will dash on the reef ere I can reach it,” he said Siokl , and hastily descendin the hill, he ove a small boat into the we r, sprung in, and with vigorous pull sent the lightcraft flying over the tiny waves. A row of half a mile brought him to the lee of a large, crescent-shaped island, the two points taward the land, and in the small cove thus fermed lay one of those short-masted non- descripts, with black hull swallow-tailed stern ahd hi h bows, called a fishing-smack, or “ Che. bacca at,” common on the ew England coast lmlf a century ago. Salinging upon the deck of the craft, he (1211 y raised the sail, drew the anchor aboard, and a moment after the chebacca boat was gliding swiftly seaward through the circuitous channel leading men the islands. .Asail of half an our, and Carter He at lulled up into the wind and drew the dflfthig boat alongside. - With horror he beheld a sad scene, one that , wuched his generous heart to the quick. s It was a arge yawl, and in it were five hu- man forms—two men, two women, and a boy of five years of But alas! Deat had already claimed four of the little crew, and the boy alone lived; sad- ed, haggard-faced, suffering, but yet alive. ‘ My poor little man—thank God! I am in time to save you,” and the kind-hearted fisherman direw the boy close to him, and held him firmly ere. . Then he sprung to action once more, and tak- ing the yawl, with its ghutly crew, in tow, mod ew'iftly landward. An hour more, and he entered his cottage the hoystill in his arms,andcarryin inonelland aportmanteau, that seemed exc ' gly hea . A warm fire and warm food soon caused t e ittle waif to revive, and then sink of! into a pleasant sleep. . gently down upon his ownbed, Carter yes lighted his pipe and began to muse, half aloud: “Poor child! His parents, all gone; but I will be a father to him. Godhassenthimto my home to cheer my old age. ‘ ‘ Itmaiinot be right to keep him: but I can- not give m up now. I am certain those two well-dressed people in the boat were his father and _mother—-and the were rich for yonder boyisheavywnihgol . Yes,Iwillb him u V as my son, and with the 1d I will ueate ~ mks; “segment: ’2}? b" an? move ng . r been a lucky dayafor you. ” yes, CHAPTER II. ' A 3‘0? AT BAY. TEN , Openin chapter, a small, th stench, ri .‘ t was standing. across the rough of an island encircled bay on the Maine A wind was blowin from the northeast, and the waves ran high, w 'ch caused the little W8. years after the scenes related in our but, reefed close, and eld firm] on her course she headed for adistant island, he one furthest off from the shore and the largest of the chain that encircled the bay. The boat contained but a ' occupant—a boy of fifteen—a boy with a kly bronred, mdsome, fearleszc flag, 13:1(1 black, eye: narrow y wa staggering cra , an the wild course ahead. With a firm, daring hand he heldthe carved tiller, and crouched down in the cock—pit, al- ready half filled with water, from the waves that ever and anon dashed over him. But, dressed in a stout pea-jacket, duck pants, stuck in top boo and a sailor’s tarpaulin shad- ing his brown cur he seemed little to care for the dashing sprayl. After several ours’ hard stru gle with the rough waters his little boat gli ed uietly in under the lee of the island, and the keel grated upon the sandgr beach. A sigh of relief bro e from the boy’s lips. He had sa ely crossed the bay; but, as though for- gettin his danger ust , he took from be- neath he forward eck along shotgun powder- :gn, shot-pouch, and game-bag and sprung ore. It was a wild, bleak-looking spot where he had landed, but further on the island apfieared more inviting, and with rapid steps e boy trud d u the rugged hillside. Bu 9. s ort way onlyuhad be gone, when he came to a sudden alt ' manner that of an attentive listener. Distinctly voices came to his ears—a childish voice crying: “ Oh! sir, do not take me away with you—do not take me away with on.” “ Shut u , gal—I’ll muffle that mug o’ yourn ef yer don keep quiet,” angrily replied a man’s harsh tones. :I’ll not beg any more, sir; but, please, do no — ‘ “ Shut up I say! I’m detarmined to revenge in self on ther chief—he cussed me once too 0 n, an’ when he comes back an’ finds you is gone, I guess as how he’ll git pesky med. Come along, a1, ’cause I ain’t got no time ten—well, youngs r, who the devil are you?” The man stopped sudden] , for before him, and o a few feet distan , stood the young sailor, his gun thrown forward, his finger upon the trigger. “ I am ’one who would know where you are taking that‘young ‘rli” said the boy, firmly. “ Dumation an’ uries!—is I to be uestioned by a boy?” and releasin the girl’s d the man quickly drew a kni e from his belt and stepfied forward. ‘ ack, sir, back! or I will shoot you down!” cried the boy in determined tones. But,.unheeding, the man sprung forward, a huge, burly , clad in seaman’s attire, to attack the slender, graceful form before him. Instantly the long barrel rose, the butt the shoulder, the‘fearless eye ran along e iron tube, and then followed the flash and report. A dgromi, a muttered curse, and the rufllan fell end mhistrackahisgleamin knife bury- iteelf half its length in the e instant the boy looked upon his fallen foe, and then turned toward the ' 1. She stood in a half ed, half glad man- ner her hands c gather, her position that of one about bound awe. in fri ht. “You have killed him,” she said, she ed whi?er. “ es; who is he?” “Asm ler—-” “Thenuiggis true thatthis island isthe home of smugglers?” “ Yes; the live in a cave on the other shore; but the chie is aw‘ay, and that bad man was goingtotakemeawaywithhim. I amsoglad you came; but (Eon do not belong to the band?” she adked timi y. ‘ “ No; l’sailed acres forahunt on this island. Iexpected to find lo'tnofganiehere. Doyou beloril'fi to the smuggleml” “ e chief is my adopted father. He took me years a from a vessel he robbed on the high seas. was a little girl, and don’t remem- ber much about it; but he is very good to me, and I live with Lucy.” ‘ “ Who is L 1" “ She’s an $35 woman, and she's cross to‘ me. I don’t want to back; please don’tmake me.” The boy an instant into the beautiful face before ' for she was really a beautiful warmly-haired maiden of twelve, and then said “19;; come with me; I will take on to Father Hayes. and he will treatyou we . He is as kind to me as th hIwashisownson. lagre'yoli:z stamp in eboat andcross the is great J32 gr; “f M... y..." “get his” y e ' a a shudd g 1:11;. e at her la endmy, she fol- lowed her daring bo presorver down the hill- side; and, in ten mlnhtes more the little craft was standing away from the islaud, the youth- ful helmsman and his fair young paaen crouching in the cockpit, and he sees brag wildly over them. . craft to bound wildlyl in the dashing caldron; I 3 face flushing, and his , ‘ marked de ‘ : not speak of love to me, Vol. I; e. It was a lon , hard struggle with wind and wave, but the y helmsman proved himself a bold, skillful sailor, and just as the shadows of night crept over sea and land, the keel of his boat grated on the sand shore in front of the cottage home of Carter yes, the old fisher- man. . CHAPTER III. a BOLD Rascal. Wrrnm the shadows of a clump of trees that fringed the summit of a cliff 'utting out into the sea, lay a youth at full len h upon the vel- vet grass. His form was aceful, slender, tall, yet de- noted both strenggh and activity far above the aver e of one of his years, which could not havo .n over seventeen, though his fearless, determined face caused him to appear older. His features were regular. expressive in a e, and few would have pronounce d him other t an an exceedingly handsome youth. He was neatly dressed in a suit of dark cloth" ing, and a slouch hat, and an open book lay'by his side upon the grass. But his dark eyes were not on his book; they rested upon the ocean where were visible two vessels, standing slowly in toward the little bay, which was sheltered by the earthen arm that terminated abruptly in the cliff. . One of the two vessels, and the one furthest seaward was a saucy looking schooner with masts that raked far aft, and an armed deck. The other was a sloo of thirty tons under main-sail and jib, hes in for. an anchorage under the shadows of the c ifl. . Upon her decks were visible three men besides the one at the helm. With interest in his aze, the youth watched the two vessels, until t e sloop dropped anchor, and then he turned his glance lan ward, for he heard the sound of hoofs approaching. Inland, his gaze fell 11 n a. scene of hill and valley, serenely beaut' 111 in the li ht of the slowly descending sun, w ~ ' up the massive walls of a distant ructure—the university where the youth was a student. ' _ Nearer and nearer came the hoof-strokes, un- tlllmtwo persons suddenly drew rein upon the c . . The one was a oun man of ha twen - two, with a strikiyng fgce, whicliiehowgsver, Inge traces of reckless dissi ation, and an elegant form, attired almost to dfy-ism. The other was a maiden o twenty—clad in a close fitting riding-habit of dark blue, and with a face of rare loveliness. . “ Is not this a level sceuel—and see is an armed vessel, a ea 9 away’, an the cove is a little craft a anchor.’ It was the maiden who spoke, and while a nude:- ere in l strange light flashed in the eyes of her compan- ion, he said impatiently: _ “ You will not listen to me then, fair Louisr; you will insist u chan ' the subject.” “How often ave I figed that yo? wank} r Dunstan Had believed you would have broken your word, I certainly. never should have accepted you as my escort—home. But see; there are two men coming up the cliff th. Let us go. ” ‘ u’flfii young man’s darkened, but he said q e : y . “ I will not offend again' Miss Ra or. Pra linger awhile here and eiijoy the ysgenerisi; not lovely?” “ Beautiful indeed, and—” But, ere the maiden could say more one of the two ro h-looking men who , ascended the cliff su denly seized her bridle-rein With one hand, while with the other he rudely drag- “tiff trim bps“ 1mm evihmwiiihe ti and f l a ace on ear *0me Dunstan Louise Be. or for succor, ut he had also been dragged from his saddle, and felled to the ground. “ Come, Dicki let’s .get out 0’ this ” cried the man who he d Louise Raynor, at same time re. ' the maiden in his strong arms, and placing'hli-fiiand rudely over her mouth to'pre— vent an outezy. ‘ But sudde , a slender form bounded upon the scene, an the man who held the maiden dropfied to the earth like dead, struck down by a we directed blow dealt b the on who, the ushes had witnessed all from his retreat in the ow 0 But, instan‘ tly, the brave boy, for he was hardly more, was confronted by the other mg. flan, ho rushed upon him a knife gleaming in his d,acurseuponhislips. ‘ Fearlesst the boy met him. There he a short, terrible stru gle, and the seamen‘ was . hurled bodily over e cliff while the pinting youth. eta gering backwun‘fi beheld thorium-n whomhe firststa-uck own, rlngtohis feet and dash down the steep pa wayto the beach below. . “Curse you for a dlin fool, Dudley M’desm “ism, the youth beheld e pale ace of . “As ouweretoowwardleytodefendthebg Paul Dunstan, I f titmydntyto rfere “quietly ded the youth: ~ 1 “This to me,sir You forget that; I ma a; i‘, i l (‘53 fl No. 2. gentleman and you a flsherman’s son,” angrily ! said Paul Dunstan, with irate scorn. ‘ l The {outh seemed as if about to reply in 1 an r uthe calmlysaid: . . i ‘ You seem to forget, sir, that Miss Raynor is a lying in a faint, and needs your care.” Paul Dunstan glanced toward the maiden, and then up reaching the youth, said savagely: “ Didle y ash, in what you have done to-day you have made me your bitterest foe, and curse you! I will make you answer to me for the m— linuation that I was a coward.” “ I am wholly at your service, Paul Dunstan, at any time or place. You know my room in the ’t’miversity, and I will be in all the even- say:-s , Dudle‘ Dash turned away, and se- curing “first and ook, rapidly descended the cliff pathway. Upon arriving at .the beach, he beheld two men crossing the white sands, and going rapidly toward a small boat that was awaiting them. Between them they carried a limp and lifeless human form: it was the body of the man whom he had hurled from the cliff. Watching the men attentively. he saw them enter the boat with their ghastly burden, and row rapidly out to the little sloop, which imme- dinter after s read all sail and. stood seaward. Ascending t e path to the summit of the cliff, he found it deserted—Paul Dunstan and Louise Ra or had departed. v g his gaze again upon the sea, now darkenin beneath the shadow’ of night, he be- held the 00p flying swiftl down the coast and hugging the shore, while t e schooner was now close in under the clifl, and slowly moving toward a convenient anchorafiia. Turning upon his heel, Du ey Dash walked rapidly away in the direction of the university, 1and soon disappeared in the shadows of the val- q. CHAPTER IV. rm: Dunn. some the sunset shadows fell 11 11 land and seisfiand again Dudley Dash was one upon the c . But not, as on the day before, lying indolently upon the grass, or idly watching the scene be- fore him. True, his gaze fell upon the schooner, anchored far in under the cliff and looking grim and de— sorted, for not a human being was visible upon her decks. If eyes kept watch and ward over the vessel, they were invisible to the observer upon the land. ' _ With pale face and brow and lip strangely stern, Dudley Des paced to and fro, ever and flu glagcin down the road leadmgd to the , as oug expecting some one, an impa- tient for their arrival. Presentlyhis bright eyes flashed; in the dis- tance he beheld two horsemen ap roaching, one of whom he rose ' d as Pa Dunstan, the other as Loyd i ewton, a fast young fellow, from the villages. league away. “He said he would come alone; but what matters it! it were better perhaps to vs a witness,” he muttere and as the two men rode up he coldly saluted t em. “ Well, sir, I have come to punish you for our impertinence and interference yeste y,” haughtilysaid Paul Dunstan dismountiiliDg. “ came here to act, not to talk Mr. unstan. Are 'you ready?” sternly replied Dudley Dash. “ es; my friend Newto here, will end the pistols, and etc 03 the , agreed on in your rooms ni ht.” “Pardon me . Newton can step 03 the distance, and give us the word; but I prefer to load my own wealpon.” v l“Angril Loyd ewton turned upon the fear- vou ' “ Do you doubt in honor, sir?” “Ido; I would no trust you,” coolly answer- ed Dudle ash. “ You answer to me for this insult, boy.” “ One eta time, Mr. Newton. I am here to meet Mr. unstan, who came to my room at r the university last night and demanded a meet- ing. Then, nothing was said of a third y tothe aflair; but,as he has seen fit to ring you, he”can use you to suit himself. ‘ I actfor m ul Dunstan and his second then walked apart and conversed for some moments together m’l‘hen‘m unan cached, D dl u Dash a u e and Lo six? wt to stepoffteiyipaces: ch he mar the spot where the two duelists should stand. Kevin done this he took from his pocket a pairof ongduehng' Bengals, while Paul Dun- stan sneeringl vremar 4: . r ' “ Not a fisher-lad posessed of such luxuries sad 4 pistols, I brought my own.” 4; Yogzaere very kind—I will use nails; of that: w plane-us on a more ootmg mdeudley Dash ;-took one of t e handsome weapons and beganslowl to load before his enemies,forassuchhe u nbothmen. «Item once evident that ‘ _ rfectoool- no. of _ Duh diecon bothmen. had pad to intimidate him: but, boy ‘I I./ though he was, he showed indomitable courage and a nerve that was remarkable. At length the preparations were made, and the two antagonists took their stands, justas the sun sunk below the horizon. “Gentlemen, are you ready?” sung out the voice of Loyd Newton, and at his words the eyes of Dudley Dash fell upon the sea, and With surprise he beheld slowl coming along the coast the same sloop that ad entered the bay the evenin before, with the evident purpose of kidnaping uise Raynor. Then, with increased surprise he saw half a dozen forms coming along the heach in the di- rection of the cliff. But it was too late to ak then, for he saw a look of devilish hatre in the face of Paul Dunstan, and to his surprise Loyd Newton again called out in slow tones, “Gentlemen, are you ready?” As the words left his lips, Dudley Dash cast his eye again upon Paul Dunstan, and his fears of foul play were realized. The evil e es of his antagonist gleamed at him alon the g ittering barre , and, without wait- ing or the word to fire, his pistol flushed, and the redport rimg out sharp and clear. Du ey Dash staggered back and dropped on his knees, and then recovering himself he quick- ly raised his own weapon and fired upon his Whit“ mch half 1 d ' ns y,w1 a cryoraean pain, Paul Dunstan sunk down in his %racks, while Dudley Dash slowly arose to his feet, wigs? from is left temple 8. blood-stem, for the - fit had grazed the flesh, momentarily stunning m. With a cry of alarm Loyd Newton sprung forward and knelt beside his friend, who breathed, but seemed dying, for the bullet had pierced his heart. “Curse you, boy, you have killed him. Here, men, this is the murderer. String him upl’ - And Loyd Newton sprtm toward a half-dozen men, who ‘ust then rushe u the cliff pathway, and one o whom Dudley ash reco ' as the man who had attempted to kidnap Louise Raynor. The others were a gang of dissolute fellows he had often seen hanging about the villang inn. W1 h one accord the men rushed upon Dudley Dash, who seemed as if about to spring upon the steed of Paul Dunstan and fly: but, sud en- denly changinfigis mind, he drew a pistol from 1 his mPocket and ldly faced them. omentarily they were checked by the fear- less attitude of the boy; but, urged on by Loyd Newton they a sin rushed forward in a mass. There was t e ring of a pistol, a groan, a heavy fall, and then a desperate struggle of a few minutes. Then the men arose from a confused heap upon the ound, and Dudley Dash found him- self boun hand and foot. “Men, he deliberately shot down Paul Dun~ stan and he should die I” cried Loyd Newton, excitedly. “Yes, ug” said the man whom Pudley Dash put flight the evening he- ore. “Ay, ay, tellers! let’s him—he’s got a bad eye,” cried another, an , as though they had come repared for a work of the kind, a rope was a once produced, and a noose made in one end of it. i The other end was then thrown over the pro- jecting branch of a tree, and the noose placed aroun the neck of the brave youth. “Men, would you murder me? How have I injured you?” said Dudley Dash, his eyes flash- ing, his face pale, and yet his manner utterly fearless. “ You’ve killed Mr. Dunstan, and—” “I shot one who sought my life, and lg treachery nearly succeeded. See, he wound 111218123; him b0 I Wh pals 'th g u , s ver w1 him?” cried Loy Newyton, and, as though re- cognizing in him a leader, the men gave a dra u n the rope, and choked ad the utterance o t e ionth, who in vain attem ted to speak— and e felt that he must die— un like a dog, by those whom he had never injure in his life. Thendarknessoameu nhim,hise esseemed b ' from their soc ets, a roar li ethunder resoun ed in his ears, and then allwas silent; he knew no more. CHAPTER V. we ran: nnsonn. “ GOD above! they have hung him!” h stood. iniflwhmiw fiaungthe 3w" immh‘é w o in e , upon y youth they had so cruell ung. , But, they were startl still more to see a tall form bound over the edge of the cliff, and by one. sweep of his sword cut down the swinging youth, and gently receive him in his arms. In dismay they turned upon the bold intruder who had dared to interrupt their deadly sport; but behindhim camea score of gallant seamen, with cutlasses, and the r armed lynchers turned to fly. ' Loyd Newton threw himself u Quickl n his waiting syteed and darted away, while com- \ TheuDare-Deyil; or, The _Winged Witchof thefiea. 3 paniians were most anxious to follow his ex. am e. a - - Bliit the seamen hurled themselves upon them, at a word of command from their chief, and in two minutes time, three of them lay dead, and the remainder were prisoners. “Thank God! .the boy is not dead. Help, men carry him qluickly aboard the schooner, cried the eader o the rescuing party and in— stantly several of his followers 1' Dudley Dash in their arms, and bore him down the pathwa to the beach. “An now, (you devils, I’ve a mind to carry on aboard an han you—but this magnum be alive and I’ll re ease you to lookaf rhim. Here, Pedro," and the leader addressed a few words in Spanish to one of his followers, who at ones out the bonds of the ca tives. “ Now, bear this wound man aw'a . He is badly hurt but may recover,” and e leader bent over the prostrate form of Paul Dunstan. “ There; now be off. Never mind your dead , com ons; they need no care. “ see on these fellows—they have spoiled m e e, e con ue , as men y littl gam ” h tin d the bore Paul Dunstan ra idly away. ’ “Yes, it won] be madness to make the at- tempt no'w—I will put to sea, and another time, wiélodo—come, lads.” u d h. saying, apparen y a dressin no one, Evialked down toward the beach, allowed by. 3 men. - _ Arriving at the water’s ed , he found the boat just returning from bee Dudley Dash aboard the schooner, and springing into it, he said sternly, “ Give way!” A Fivle minutes more and he was onboard his vesse . -. “Senor Valdos, at once put to sea. There has been the devil to pay ashore and we will have to defer our exped tion,” he said in Spells ish to a oung officer who approached him. . -. “ ', nor Capitan,” htely replied Valdm, and ten minutes after e schooner was gliding seaward. . A In the meantime the commander of the vocal entered his cabin, where he found Dudley Dash reclinin upon a lounge, and an oflicer and uh tendant side him. . . “Well, doctor, is the youth alivei” he asked. “ Yes, ca tain, and will to-morrow be all right, thou; five minutes later he would have been dead. ‘ “ I know it. Well, youngisir you had a nar- row escape from d the oath of a dog?” Dudley Dash, pale and weak, half raised If and repli : ' - , “ Yes, sir, and to you Laws my life, do I not!" i “ es, I arrived just in time to cuttg’ou down. I saw your affair of last eve on e clifl, for I was watchi yon shores wi my glass, and this evening to t that some foul play was gobs on, so kept on the alert. ' ‘ When I saw you alone, with two against on, an a o y ap , - y d band rufilans stealthil mg, I was convinced that they were a play a game of deviltry, so called away a boat’s and went ashore. I am glad I arrived as “Thankgodforit. sirl andfrommyheart I thank “ Do not mention it, in fine fellow.” , “ But it deserves men on, sir. You saved me ath’prrible death. This is a vessel of war, no 'léhe captain hesitated an instant, and then “Yes, oh! es—this is a vocal of was" but, me, in Syoung friend, what was all this troupe onh ore abate” P m m can ardl . a Dunstan, man whom I shit in the duel, was a student the college I was attending; but hewasexaell just after I entered, and mother, who rich andbelongstoagoodfamil ,fithimanap- pointment in the na ,w held but} “hurl: “me emttlli: was h turned home, “ wo mon o e no wandering a 'ear,a§one knew where, and began a very fast e, which caused a young ladyto whom he had been engaged, to sever her on- ment with him; but, last evening he was ri ng with her, when two men w 0 had landed from a sloop, attacked them, and went to the rescue and got for my ; nay, more' dPiaduIDunstanchallengedmetomeethim,andI so. “And bravel , too' but do you know I 'be- lieve ed that attack on the He was easil overcome: and, more—I he intended do awa with you. I believe himtobetheleadero adamnableschemo-‘r‘ who was his friend?” ' ' “Loyd Newton, once a student at the uni spend- varsity, but now a profilgate, reckle- “A pmimr- and you are—l” “Dudle fhve onthe Mainecoast. and was a stu out atthe universityJormyedopted father though an humble fisherman . wishe metereeeiveaneducation.” . ,““Andruntoseedasalawyerordoctorf' “,1:Io;slwishedtobeoomeauilor. Month sea. .., “GoodlDo known ' WP, I you ythinsshmfle 4: “Exes, sir; everything,” modestly replied the ou . y “Better still. Lost one of my emcers a few days'since in a fi ht with a—a—vessel of war. You shall fill his p , for 1 like you.” “‘ In what scmce are you, captain?” “I am under a roving commission. I am—” “ Who?” “Hast ever heard of the “ Sea Lance?” I “Yes: it is a pirate vessel.” .. “ Hast ever heard of Captain Winwood “ Yes' he is "a cruel buccaneer, and—” “ Well, my lad, this vessel is the Sea Lance, and‘I'am Captain Winwood.” CHAPTER VI. 7' ' ‘ rm: camsn or m sea more. 7 OVER the springin waters of the Atlantic ocean, and in latitu e a little south of New York,'a vessel was dashing fleetly along, with every thing set that would draw, and seemingly anxious to escape from a persistent little sea- hou‘nd that 'was crowding swiftly in her snowy wake, but, fully a league astern. , At a lance it was evident that the tall and stately s i was the pursued, the rakish-looking schooner t e pursuer. - ‘_, On the deck of the latter were a motley crew, uttired'hi dark-blue shirts, white duck pants, 1 redwoolen caps. , '._ I Eon the quarter-deck, besides the two men att '9 wheel, were half a dozen omcers, judging mom' their dress, and in two of them the reader WQUId have recognized Captain Winwood the humaneer, and udley Dash, with a troubled looku n his pale face. 1' “ ell, my young friend, ou will not now w your fortunes with mme; you will still retiree to be a gallant sea-rover?” said the pirate chief,'turning to Dudley Dash, who answered (“‘Iye'annot link my life with crime, Captain W' wood. You saved me from death; you 1; me through a severe illness that fol- lowed,,and I owe much to you, for you have been'ever most kind; but I cannot become an outlaw, sir, and I beg that you will not urge * buccaneer chief turned away with a mut- tered oath; but after a moment said, uietly: ,. ffWewill soon be in range, and then bring ender vessel to, and I Wish you to board her, . Dash, find out where she’s from, where “ und, and about her freight and passenger list. You will do this for me?” , “Yes, I will do that much for you, captain,” Suletly responded the youth ; and in half an on:- more, Captain Winwood gave the order to mate, shot over the fi 'ng ship. ‘ Away hurtled,the on , and yet the ship QM, QIL. . ;, “Keep up that music, until the lady shows gcme desire to take notice of our attention,” called out the buccaneer and again and . e gun was fired after the flying vessel, un ot cut away her mimen' topmast. Then her. bow sweptup into the wind, and she iaijuiet u n the waters, for her commander seemed to eel his perfect inability to escape in, his untiring pursuer. ' short- while after, the beautiful schooner swebt ' ‘efully into the wind, while a boat put fczrt _ from. her side full of armed men. " In he'stern sheets, and in command of the , ,ggfi Dudley Dash, pale and stern-looking. i.‘ ,the cutter neared the ship, and soon (red’ on 'de, and Dudley Dash 3 rung upon egk, fol wed by half a score of uccaneers. .1 ut,as his foot touched the deck a volley of atry was poured upon them, and four of ' men fell dead. ‘ f‘l‘low we have them—at them lads, and drive m‘overboard,” cried a rin ' voice and the ve English ca tain rush orward, cutlass inhand, andat‘ back came nearly two score pf men, , composed of his crew and passengers. ' ,‘Taken whollyby surprise, and with no time .tu offer explanation, Dudley Dash was forced to , yhismenaround him, andcallu nthesix , , "still inthe boat to come to aid. ._ hen;be a fierce and deadly encounter, and only the t crougherecklessness of the huccaneers g revented their ing at once overwhelmed and - ed imder foot. n . Bu Jh y et the attack half-way, and. the ,crew f e, s p were checked in their advance, 3nd 1; en re'coiled upon themselves. fi‘f‘ ,_ {the Sea lance!” run out inthe clear voice; f the outh, who felt t he had but a temporary vantage. , § I.“ ,l ayk—I. am coming,” floated across the ,_ V ‘in the, voice of Ca tain Winwood, and {balancing over his shoulder, ey Dash beheld schooner alread under way, and rushing 'e above her decks were . ..reversed;.the bower t appeared over side of the ship, and dozens 0 flying forms were. hurled upon the decks of the doomed vessel. I . v l(liveswillbe The New_*Yo In the advance still, Dudley Dash pushed for- ward, and the crew were driven backward to the quarter—deck, where many of the brave de- ‘ fenders of the ship were slain. “ Hold! Are you fiends incarnate, that on kill men who cry for quarter?” cried Du ey Dash to his reckless followers. “ Captain Winwood never shows quarter,” said an under officer pushing forward. The youth glanced quickly around him, and with s rise discovered that neither captain Winwo nor his lieutenants had come on board the ship—he had left the fight to him, determined to make him a pirate. “I command on this deck, sir, and I show uarter. Down with your arms, and spared,” he called out to the 'p’s defenders who instantly obeyed. “Hal there is loveliness, and my rize,” ex- claimed the under officer who had fore ad- dressed Dudley Dash, and he sprun forward and threw his arm around the waist o a maiden who had just come from the cabin, with pallid, anxious face. In an instant Dudley Dash confronted the buccaneerI and his voice rung threateningly as he cried, ‘ Release that lady, rufiian.” The man’s only answer was to raise his blood- stained cutlass, and defy the youth. “ Ha! this is your game, is it?” and with the spring of a tiger Dudley Dash was 11 n him. Then followed a short, fierce, dead y struggle, y llialfgierggment i3 diuretion, andtfihed ufi: caneera inganymuneec while his {empanions shrunk Eachfrom before the blazing eyes of the youth. “Lad have no fear ; I will protect you,” said Dudley Dash, and the maiden was about to replch when a deep voice said. ‘ ell done, my gallant amateurbuccaneer; I have strong hgpes of you now. Take her; she isdyour Du ey ash turned quickly; Captain Win- wood stood before him. ‘ ' I will take you at your word, captain, and claim her as my prize—have no fear, lady,” he added in a low tone, gazing upon her frightened but beautiful face. “ Now we’ll see if the game is Worth the cost —who commands this vessel?” The sturdy English captain advanced, bleed- ing from several sli ht wounds, and said: ‘I did command er. You are a buccaneer?” ' “Softly, softlfy, captain; we are free rovers. Where are you rom?’ , “ New York.” “ Where bound?” “Havana.” “What cargo?” “ Assorted. “Of considerable value, I guess?” 6‘ Yes. ” “You have passengers?” “ Yes, a number, and most of them ladies.” Captain Winwood was silent for a few mo- ments, and then said: “ Captain, if you can raise the sum of twenty thousand dollars on board, I will let you go free—unless some of my men take a fancy to rob you of some of our fair wagers. A seaman’s life is a lone y one you ow. “ It is impossible to raise that sum, Sir Pirate.” .“ Then I shall take what I can of burn your ship, and set you boats. ’ The stem reply of the buccaneer chief start- led all, and none more so Dudley Dash who had not behaved him a man of such cru nature, thou h he had often heard terrible stories told 0 him. The captain was about to reply when the maiden, whom the youth had rescued from the hands of the under officer, called him aside, and after a conversation of a few moments he said: “I will agree to our terms, sir. In afew. moments you shall vs the money; but you certame will not carry out your threat—to take from me 1:331 (if’my passengers?” our cargo, in your H I 00 “Captam' IVinwood, 'can I to you, sir i” and Dudle Dash pped for- ward. “Captain, have no right to ask a 'favor of you, - sir; but humanity dictates .it. You have gained twenty thousand dollars With the loss of only a few men; will you not now, sir, be good enough to let this vessel go on her we , unmolested?’ and Dudle Dash spoke earn- y, while.the,maideni other passen rs eagerly watched the chief and the youth, W cm they believed his lieutenant and who they felt was begging for their safety. “Will you promise to become my flrstomcer, boy?” , ‘ No, sir, I will not promise that.” “Will an romise to do an robthe ' of —which I, mtgnded to do the night I saved you from hangm‘ “No, ' , Igwill not promise that.” “ et you ask me to release these 8 ,“irez, sir Iaaskogalbegit.” Captain w was silent for a few mo- ments, and then said: ‘ tion to “Be it so. 'Get the, money fromthe captain . l. ‘t k Librarv; . I 0111" t rich ol fellow, J u go Raynor ymentof a all sum of money?” Vol. I. ...-._...-.... _. A..- - ..i.__-........_-. ....... ___..__.._..- ...n_ _.. M and then come on board the schooner. The Ildp can (go on her way.” “ "aptain Winwood, from my heart I thank you. The chief turned away, a peculiar smile upnnr his face, and called to his sm'prised men to re- turn to the schooner, while Dudley Dash step— ped forward to ac uaint the captain of the Shlp with the result of ' conversation with Captain ‘i‘nIvIvood. h ere is t e money, yo sir-twent thousand dollars, and may egggy dollar of haunt your soul,” said the captain. ' Dudley Dash flushed crimson, and his eyw: drooped before the earnest gaze of the maiden, who said softly: “ To you, senor, I feel that we owe our re- lease, our lives. I owe you far more, and from my heart I thank you, and, buccaneer though on be I will ever pray to the Virgin other to watch over you. Here, wear this as a token of my appreciation of what you have done for me.’ Ere Dudley Dash was aware, she took hi. hand; and placed on the left little fin r a band of gold, in which was set a. single ' mi of rare size and beauty. A moment more and she had descended into the cabin. With a sigh and a. flushed face Dudley Dash took the bag of gold, and walked slowly to the 8hr: side and sprung on board the schooner. hour more and the two vessels were a Thee gigoing to the southward, the, Sea Lance sai northward, on the search for fur-- ther adventure and gold. CHAPTER VII. ENTRAPPED. “Captain Winwood, I am confident that you der vessel is a man-of-war.” - “Your e es are the best aboard the schooner, Mr. Dash; ut they deceive ou timp. The vesse , m m o mien, is an ng p p, sent to the gee? in these waters. ” ' sup y “ Then she would make a good prize to some American cruiser—for there is no (10%;: now but that war has begun between Eng d and the States.” v “None; the brig we captured gave us that news. See, she is a large vessel, much larger than the shi we took two months since, and which your umanity caused me to let go for the pelt]? sum of twenty thousand. Yes, {211:1- ger ’c'raf is a supply ship and I intendto 9 er. The speakers as the reader is doubtless aware were Captain Winwood and Dudley Dash,and they stood on the quarter-deck of the Sea Lance, which, stripped of canvas, laying to, was riding out a gale that had been sWeeping the ocean or hours. ‘ The night was dark, and the spray was blown in masses from wave to wave, which kept the low lying schooner from being seen in the dark- ness from the decks of a large vessel that was driving alon with only her storm sails ea. Get the schooner “ She is a ut to us. I under her jib and ‘ , reefed down, Senor Valdos.” ‘ “Ay, ay senor,” replied the Spanish lieute- 3‘9" “hath” timid??? thifi°h°°““"’""” g e w e o uge ,' ppearing lire-nu hound upon the trail of a b . alo. ' Still unperceived from on board» the vessel the schooner drew nearer and nearer, until but a (zuarter of a mile divided them. ‘ Fire a over her, Valdos,-to bring her to.” 0rd Ca tain Winwood. ' '» I ~ , , thA momerciltttlilf dr and;de htth eseaan eeo mo.e'>r ofthe iron messenggi' were heard. .g‘m ~ “See Dash, she is coming to., Was-Inst “iii”, a a... n u... a. a; seems so ca re < on as the bows of thé hgge ship sgvept slowly, and a moment after lay he the '. v_ “I‘knew she was asup ly p. ow I have a chance to supply m with ‘ , ammuni- ggwd provisions, for she is doubtlgn well “$213 you ready to my “Upon one condition, captain?” _ H , “Andthatis—i” ' “That if on do not burntheshi ‘yonwill let‘nIie leave has; I 1 V. I :"<' amso ose u, ' ‘ on seem determnrryed not toyobecome a‘bibi’c’t' might a's'well let you go. Call away'the ge- boat, agd ,takehalfa dozen m :withi-you aboard. 3 - lngoshofitinwhfle thethlifeboat of the schooner- was, un over emadwa . Dash-atherhglm.' . ' Itwasalongandhard ull;butat_%gw hugevesselwasreached m Dash and few. men went-ever,- flunf one ofthese'men to"_¢prm' _ y backintotheboatfiayingr’ '- “ or ourlives,men, wayt’i- » .z-"v‘" Quicklg'theorderwas wave bore the lifeboat a ‘ fom, and DudleyDash‘andhis ‘ soundthemselvesonboardanarmedfngate. v I . / l ~ V. 1: .mcxl.umu—.~MM_ .. .. -..... ... ._ D-VW-~ .fl..-.....‘._~._ w .__. v...“ _ n. __‘ -w‘. . -I, ., No. 2. 5 The Dare-13837.9,ageilisWiegee Witch Pithefiea- ,e . Resistance would have been madness, and The youth azed earnestly into the face he- : “Captain I learn that you are goingto risk theyeguietly submitted to their fate, and were i fore him, andt on said quie y: i captureb the En lishcruisers, andare running iro heavily. “Yes, I have seen you; but when or where, I l for the ennebec?g : “Run a gun out and sink that beat!” called i cannot now recall.’ “I am that. I’m leavin’ GlouCester harbor out a. stern voice, and a heavy poured its ; “ I’ll tell you. I was on board the ship you % for pews? the lasttime stran er; but, yer see, iron hail into the lifeboat, whic was at once ' captured two months ago; and whose passengers ‘ I live in ennebec, an’ I haiu’ goin’ to let ' seen to go down. ’ you saved, for I know Captain Winwood. ll " pretty craft rot here dorin’ ther war. I’m “Now stand away for re(yonder schooner. would have gone u if it had not been for you. 4‘ now. i .. ' LivelK men, live] I” orde the same voice, i I was steward on t e ship and when we got into i “I am glad to hear it. I wish to go as pas, , and t 0 huge ship gan to slowly wear round. port I left, and shipped aboard this fri to, for ? sen r.” ' ~ ,, n i But the schooner had already taken the l ’m an Englishman. Now I am a marine, and i ‘ An’ I’m ther manto take yer, for yer look“ alarm; the flash of the gun had shown her arm- f my duty to-night is to guard ou well.” 1 like a likely cha , as had seen salt water afore. , ed decks, and easily handled she was scudding ‘I know your dut , sir, an I—” l “I have. Le me dismiss my boat, and I’ll away before the gale with the speed of a race- “ Suppose I don’t 0 it—what then?” , pa you the passage mone .” , horse, and by the ime the frigate was fairly on The youth started. Could this man be his I The boatman, who ha rowed him aboard, her course the fleet buccaneer was a mile away, 5 friend? Was he not to die after all? I *» on my face. There, now that the rlisap ' g rapidly in the darkness and gloom. “ What mean you?” he asked, as the man said i. In vain was it that every eye was strained to 3 no then returned shoreward, and Dudley Dash handed Captain Dusenbury the amount of his passage, and then sprung forward and aided in , more. kee her in sight. She was soon lost to view, 3 “I’ll tell you. I don’t want to see you die. ’ setting sail. . - , with a disappointed manner, the English You are but a hey if you are a private oflicer “Neow, that’s what I call a likely yo V r; commander descended to his cabin and order- and you served me a good turn once. Before l l He hain’t afeerd o’ gettin’ his hands s", an! ad Dudley Dash to be brought be ore him. took to the sea I was a locksmith.” he’s a oflicer, too as yer kin see by his ,olothet “ Well, sir, who are on that boards the “Well?” tho’ the does look a little hard, ,I admit. King’s frigate in a gale? ou doubtless mistook ‘me or a merchautman?” and the Englishman zed with surprised admiration upon the youth- ‘ him. you to be just what and sotold Ca ain Winwood:——but—— “ Winwood Was yonder schooner the buc- caneer Sea Lance?” “ Yes sir.” “ And you are a pirate omcer—egadl you’ve begun a career of crime at an earl age.” I am no buccaneer, captain. ircumstances over which I had no control carried me aboard the Sea Lance and—” “ You would prove a Peter—deny your crime- stained comrades, to have your own neck. No no, my oung bantam, I have made a g capture night; on ran into a trap, and one which you Will 0 y get out of by putting your head in a noose. In two days, sir, you and your companions shall be hung to the frigate’s yardaarms. “ Guard, remove the prisoner.” In vain was it that poor Dudley Dash tried to speak, to offer some explanation ;—the English commander would hear not a word, and the .ul and handsome face before “I believed you are— “ Well, that is the way I got your door open; I pbicked the lock, for the key is in the captain’s ea in. . “Indeed! Do you mean to aid me then?” ‘ asked the youth, hardly darin to hope. “Yes; r11 pick the locks 0 those hand-cuffs I in a minute, and there are pieces of boards and I other things in here that you can make are- 1 spectable raft out of—can you swim?” “ Like a fish,” replied the youth, faylly. , “Well, I’ll ick your irons OR, or always carries the too s, you know, in case of accident ; myself, and then on can just let your raft, out ' of that open po , and slide out after it—you , understand.” It is Yes.” . “Good! We are off Cape Ann, and it is a { league to the shore, and the tide is running in fig?lamdumdbtif1 goodfl an e : u escape, in e - low, I fear you will be the sufferer.” y “No fear; but it’s good of ou to think of me. You see your door is kept r ocked, you arein a irons, and I’m only out here to prevent commu- nication with you. You were not searched, and no one knows but that you had the tools y i face, hu lively t ar, Mister Greenfiddle, or I’ll make oungster as jist come aboard my mate, an, hrow you inter ther sea” he called out to lon , lean, lantern-jawed ’Yankee, who sew ' in e honorable position of first officer of the Pretty Girl, for Captain Dusonbury had a see4 Mr. Greenfiddle, for he was a fat, moon, . ' tipsy-eyed little man, who always had an N3 pression of assumed bravery on his co ten 6, as if desirous of groving to the worl .at that he was a be] sailor. . 3 .1.- For crew, the Pretty Girl had a negrolflot almost giant stature, and an Indian of the a; 1 0nd omcer too, one who was just the opposim l. rantine tribe, a few of whomlare found the mountains of Maine. _ * ~ On the quarter-deck of the sloop, besides her captain, who stood at the helm, were two . persons—a regular cut-and-dried old-maid wi avisa as sour as a crab-apple, and 8. ca ver- ous-loo ' g gentleman, w ose sanctimo 'ouq spectacles, and white neck _. ,, indica himas being a on if the ' . plain cut of his black clo hing did not 080. “Wall, we’ve a good wind, Parson‘- ; breeze, an’ I’m thinkm’ we’ll make a ood run . youth was led awa to a vacant stateroom, with you to set yourself free. I it. Don’t you think so, Miss Nancyfi’rimrofiju where a strict guar was placed over him, for “ I’ 1 get cursed for not knowing you intended said Captain Dusenbury, addressing the person he was under sentence of death, and he felt esca ing;.biit, that’s natural, and I’m Willing ' and the Old-maid. ' , that fate had indeed dealt unkindly with him. to e it. Here—see; you are free from your l “We are all in the . hands of Provideuoeg Was he' Dudley Dash, who had ever been irons now and good-by.” ' [ The wind bloweth and it dieth away,” said Par- considered the soul of honor, to die thus—was Dudley Dash could not speak—his heart was a son ueezbreeze, in a sepoulllchral voice,,__-w ‘, )d his fellow-men to death for gold? ' Such were the harrowing thoughts that his brain and W 3 tobe hung as a pirate—a manwhohad hunt— crowded through . almost drove him to madness, as he pacedhis little prison, dragging his chains after him with a clanking soun that smote him to the heart. ‘ CHAPTER VIII. , A BOLD STROKE FOR LIFE. Tan night following the capture of Dudley Dash and his three buccaneer companions, the English frigate was cruising slowly along the Massachussetts coast, in the neighborhood of Ca Ann. gaming the day there had been a meetin of the officers on board, and the ca tive youth ad been brought before them, an again told his stor in a frank manner: but he could see that most, all believed it to be concocted to save him from death. - . The three buccaneers were then examined ~ Ie )arately, and each one declared that the story of’ their 0 aflicer was false, for if they were to die, their ardened hearts would show no mercy to him;—na more—the said he was the son of Captain inwood on bad for years been an oficer on board the has. Lance. With this seemingly conclusive testimmiyl, and with appearances rribl against him, dley Dash was sent back to is stateroom with the sentence of death passed upon In an agony of spirit he paced his risen. Not th it he was afraid to die—but oh! die such I. death—hung as a pirate tothe yard-arm of tb s frigate! With a throbbinghheart he glanced through the open port upon e bright waters, no longer lashed by a storm, but rippled by a five-knot breeze—and a choking sensation swelled up in his throat as he beheld, a league distant, the shores so near his own home, where dwelt Ea adopted father, Carter Ha es, and Gabrielle the sweet little mai on whom he had rescu from the smugglers’ island, and whom he had learned to love most dearly. . " In vain would they wait watch for his cominf' ;. he was doomed to die. At e h darkness are t over the waters, ‘ lIwanttobeofservlcetom Look n-mdidyoueverseeithefml” lute. too full; but he warmly wrung the hand of the honest guard, and the door again closed upon Lookin , or rather feeling around his state- room, he ound it was as a kind of lumber- ’ room and he quickly gathered together a few boar , cars, and other odds and ends, and with some pieces of rope and his knife, he soon con- structed a long, narrow float, capable of sus- taining him greatly in the long swnn for life. Attaching a rope to one end, and then passing it through an iron rin in the deck, he slowly lowered it into the wa r. The five-knot breeze was blowing off the sea, and the fri te careened over toward the shore, so that he (1 not very far to lower himself, and the wash of the waves prevented him from being heard. It was a desperate, darm' gbeusndertalnn' slight at the t, and wi out for. his float was bu his own aid would not support his weight, while there was a probability hat the motion of the fri ate migh suck him under. en the land was a good league distant, so hadsaidthe guard; it was too dark to see the shore, and he must risk it on faith. At length the float reached the water and was dra Fed violently along; but the moment after Du ey Dash swung himself from the port and rapidly;1 slipped, down the double rope until he clasped is legs about his frail support. Then he let g? one end of his r0pe and pulled the line throug the iron ring. ' Rapidly he was whirled around as he felt himself free from the f ' to, and he believed that he was ' drawn neath the waters. But manfully e struggled for his life, and after a moment of suspense, swe t out under the stern of the frigate, and was us for safe. , Lying low in e waters, to Prevent being discovered b any keen.e es tha mi ht be on the quarter eck, he saw he frigate g ide swift- 1 1y away from him, and then he ve vent to a l sigh of relief; he was free—yet one upon the i Wide waters, and no land in sight. CHAPTER Ix. ‘ l RUNNING ran noun srnnron. i “ ANcnon speak, sir.” - ! «raisins l I . ’ i 1‘98” for o the worse for wear on board. It was raised his voice to the negro-«7" Dudley MW, pale but‘reso- youandtho'lngiriewillbotuktothor ' Politer ting, hesai in as cur’osities; but the ol -maid replied. in curlenet: t lad h inion, ' “ mnoa as 'ves erop' I c f ,3 din’ what I}; gofi’ to happin tothoselas goes down inter the sea in sliips;,l’m a. I 3; who—” But the ca tain heard no more,_fon e was well acquainted with Miss Nancy, hays ing started herto e, left the person tohec , her .victim, while e went forward,,n1utto to himself. J, “That old hen is just like a clock. You wifiii her up and durn me of she stops until she runs down or want breath.” Swift] down the harbor lided 'thb Pretty Girl, wi all sail set tocatch esix-knot bogus that was blowing, and as darkness cameo 5 new moon hung in the heavens tolight her 92th: we ever the waters. HM , on board felt that they were rimni Eeat risk to attempt to reach the mouth 03% ennebec; but then, Captain Dusenbury, made uphis mind to run hisvessel home, and he was a fearless man, and a skillful g; “ I guesses as how youcan take a tiller, stranger, as er seem ter want to cu ied,” he said, a r the sloop had gained,” es like a cracm o and was daslnng' .swiftl alon . . V- . “ fam w‘ ' ,sir; at I whuld afivise youth keep a bright ookout that th 11 highlight: ' 'n 312% ereisan «n riga ennsuigoo _ waters ” and Du Dash uie helm' ’ I y q fly var; “ You don’t say so! Wall, I’ll skin every, aboard to be ther lookout. Miss Nancy has be-utifilil eyes, so please to keep ’em 11 an arson Squeezbreeze. list quit, raisin’z. I orbs o’ yourn fer Heaving, and. look for, ward, kase Providence ham’t goin’ to helpnope '_ as don’t help therself. “Here, yer tar-black nig'gelre-rskin 4 :, swam ther mast an‘ look both ways furSunda the worthy captam,phaving set his and crew at work, called his mates council of war. «the ' skim ’em over ther summer sec. '. “ See here Mister Greenflddle, , Todd Tipplemuch, this here ._ 4 y' i '. how he knows thar’s dangerhemag‘ou ' don’t want the Prett Girl to ,run smack Greenflddle, sud .. a - 5: . v1 shut out eland from sig-B t and in despair he “Ay, ay—run u the ib—ahal there she i an Englisher’s guns, 0 ye hear?" ,7 buried his face in his han , for with the rising swings round. H oat w at does that feller I “Yes,” and each valorous mate cast eyes sunhe mustdie. I say, anyhow, Mister Greenflddle?” and Captain { in one sweeping look around thehorisom‘ I I, ' ' ‘ Presentlyhe was aroused bythedoor softly Dusenbury, of the packet sloop , irl, 1 “Ef we oes,I loses the sloo and, h”),A , opening, and from without came aglimmer of turned from ' work to answer the ail of 1; my life. The person will bet for gasp}, light from a bottle lantern, reveahng the tall some one in a small boat that was coming 1 some cruiser, sentiman.’ Miss Honeysuam a, g mthe doorway. aboard. . . ‘chancetomarryacomm ; " ,“Well, w tdoyoumtn0wf’askedDudley A moment after, the boat ran alongside the I vice, while thisLoung , e -,.’11 be, . as ' ' a » sloop, and a youth, attired in uniform, looking ‘ rizner 0’ war. Buttermilk. :\ \ 6 The New York Library. Vol. I v Tipplemuch, the Lord ha’ more on yer—they’ll or both told yer both sartin’, for hev t or s on 8. er me ty ddad f t tB Hill?” “I never ad a dfather,” said Toddy, ruefully, while Mr. reenflddle remarked, in an .ngpih‘gg fmmgran: dfath killed thar u m or was , ’ thgmakes as even.” . “Toddy Tigglemuch, you hev’ lied to me, then fur yer tinctly to d me thet—” “ Sail ho!” rung out in the clear voice of Dud— Toddy Tipplemuch, who jus lie? Dash, and all started suddenly,’ while Toddy pple much as suddenly disappeared down the com on way into the cabin. “ ere it is, Captain—just off our starboard bow. It is a schooner, and looks like a riva- teer. Strange I did not see her before, ’ and Dudley Dash pointed to where lying low upon the waters, was visible one of those rakish-look- ing vessels so commonl seen half a century ago, cruising under the of the pirate. “Come down out o’ thet riggin’, yer blind chunk a? charcoal! an’ you, Injin, whar was er eyes?" cried Captain Dusenbury, severely, w ' e he leveled his at the stran sail. “Me see Ion time; E: lay quiet on water—just set he wmgs, and come this wa ; but man talk much and I no tell him,” said t 9 Indian, complacently, while Buttermilk, the , came slowly own to the deck, having 0 ently been asleep on watch. “ Yes, it is a cruiser or a privateer; anyhow, think an American.” “ Let me get a shot at him with Bunkerhill— settle‘him ” cried Toddty Tipplemuch. "‘ You be durued! Is et what yer went hter the cabing fur so suddint?” “ Yas Ca ting.” “de, 1' sta on deck arter this. Ef any hodyfis inter er cabin it must be the Parson and Nanc ” Squeezbreeze, fervent- 3, while Miss Nancy looked pleased to get a at the parson alone (for e was a widow- er), even if there was danger surrounding them. ' ‘ Wal, I’ll jist stan’ on, and ef that feller nuns detarmined to worryme, I’ll jist put inter some little inlet, fur I knows this coast pretty well—what do on make her out, stranger?” and Ca Dusen placed his glass in the hand of ey Dash, who, after a long survey of the change craft, said, slowl : “I have seen her be ore, Captain; it is a schooner that has been for several years a . ler on the Maine coast.” 4 “ Lordy!” groaned Mr. Greenfiddle, while 1 Dash continued: “ late months I have heard that her com- er has become a pirate.” Down into the cabin went Todd Tipplemuch while all on board, exce the dian, seem gallium with e startling informa- had just fallen from the lips of Dudley CHAPTER X. m armor or s snosnsmn. A! hour‘s sailing fully proved to all on board he sloopthat but one meansof escape la be- forethe hatwastoruncloseins ore, abandon Pre Girl, set fire to the craft, a'nd then escape in yawl, which hung at the “Iwould hold on, ca tain, if thepasse rs are willing to nmthe p tlet of the schoonngei’s fire. Shemighthituaandthen ' wemi ht escape serious inj . Ithink tisworth e lrad Buggy Dash lanced toward Iquee reeae Miss an Primrose o theywould tohismoticgn. ’ p on t the wicked men would fire at lemnl ’” the parson so . “ woul$ft fire to amuse us parson, ou be? our barrel 0’ soverns on the ” re fled may , finsenbury, while Miss Nancy 88.1 in a “ ’posetheywasterhit yer, ii an’ er ter be tuk oi! suddingl E yeti yousth be a mother to yer two 1 ‘ children?” and she placed the cbrner of her handkerchief to one while she nervously watched the ef- s 3 i E s E a beta: wgrds on l{he to with the other. beseec ou ve me w ' m is xii" swimmers so «uni; to me." ‘ ’ Mi- Nancyka theparsonathisword and cam placed herselfunder theshelterdfhis lasgbonyarm. ust as she did sotherewasafiashfromthe 'bows otthe schooner,anda roaringsoundin the parson d to the deck, car- t‘: “this fistmyW’ m" PP “0 e P bin, and . Greenfiddle cried in fri ht. in dumnation shaJl I do? I’ll be I wish I was fer home.” :3. Egg! 0 g. ‘39 ‘3'? I 5% 5' 5 ' ’3 g 55 wouldyouadvfie ’ torus thegantlet oftheirflreand git 2; } try and reach the inlet—where the schooner I “And you are in a ti ht placetil now, Mr: Will not follow us,” calmly said Dudley Dash, who still held the helm. ll “ I’ll do it, ef I has to sacrifice the parson an’ , Miss Nancy. Here Injun, you and Butter- , milk haul this sheet taut, and trim in on the ( 'ib. Whar in thunder’s that nigger? Down in l he hold I’ll bet Greenfiddle agin Tipple- ! much. Well sir, what has yer bin doin’ ‘ in the cabin?” and the ca tain turned upon I) then came out of the cabin. I “I’ve bin armin’ myself for the fray, ca - , tain,” and Toddy pointed to a huge sword e = had hun to a belt at his waist. I “Wa , now you is armed, stay on deck an’ fight it out. Im goin’ to board an’ take that . skunner..” ' This was too much for Mr. Greenfiddle, who i at once started for the cabin. l “ Whar er goin’, Greenflddle?” ‘ F “Inter 1: er cabing to git my weepins. I’ll { blow ther durned irat’s inter ther skies.” I “ The schooner is preparing to fire again, sir,” E said Dudley Dash, as he caught sight of a light 1 moving on their enemy’s dec . “ Lord save us! Nancy child, this is no lace . for us. Come,” and dodflg-ing about 1i e a 1 chicken with its head out o , and with the old maid clinging to his coat-tails, the Parson sought the cabin. “ t ain’t possible they could ’a’ heard me, is it?” whispered Mr. Greenfiddle, trembling with fear. “Doubtless they did, sir,” re lied Dudley Dash, greatly enjoying the frigh of the two mates, and yet won ering how men could be so craven. “ Captinfi, is yer really goin’ ter board that ar vessel? as ed oddy Tipglemuch, with an air as though he had further usiness in the cabin. “Yas, I think of it. Ef we don’t git away I’m retty sartin we will.” “ t in thunder would yer do that fur?” in uired Toddy. . ' ‘ To have you biled inter soup for ’em, so as it would make ’em brave.” - Toddy was about to reply, when the schooner luifed uickl up, and then one, two, three, four, bright hes came from her side, and as many deep booms broke the stillness of the waters. “ Down all! Here comes her broadside!” cried Dudley Dash, still standin erect himself, as thou h be disdained to shrink rom death. But t e order was unnecessary for the Par- son and Miss Nancy were alread flat on the cabin floor, and at the first fies the were jointgg by three others—Buttermilk and he two ma Then came the roaring iron hail, cutting away the togmast and the bowsprit, and rendin a huge ole in the sail, which caused the li 1e sloop to tremble from stem to stem, and breach to. Even Captain Dusenbury a thoroughly brave man, st00ped down as the broadside struck his craft; but Dudle fiinched. That ot er was the Indian sailor, who, with folded arms, stood erect and unmoved. “Wall, stran r, I guesses as how we’s gone 115,? said Cap Dusenbury, sorrowfully, and t en he added, quickly; “ We can take the yawl and row ashor . ’ “No; I have a plan- let that yawl alone, or I’ll blow our cowardd brains out,” sternl cried_Du ey Dash, as . Greenflddle and T - 3y Tipplemuch rushed to let fall the boat from e davits. The mates stopped as if petrified; they feared the calm, slender boy. “Captain, the sloop has drawn such a swell behind her that I am convinced we are in very shallow water.” “Yas, not more than three fathoms here- about.” , “Good! The schooner is deep and will not come in here. She is already laying to, to send a boat aboard—” “ Yes, we are gone up, sartin.” ‘f Not yet. She will send a boat aboard—it is coming now, and if my Ian works well, they will find they have caugh .a tartar.” “What is your plan, sir?” asked the captain, more and more imp with respect for his gallant and youthful pSsenger. “Let them come aboard, and then ask the officers into the cabin, and I will be there. As soon as they have entered let the Indian and ne , who are to lie hid on the oppo- site si e of the caboose, fire upon be men in the boat, or make them prisoners, which . ever is eamest to do—” . ‘ “ But the skunner w ill send her boats aboard and murder us all—” - - “Trust me, captain, I beg you, inthis. If I do not catch the ca tain here, why then we can escape in the yaw . If the schooner’s captain comes aboard we will have no trouble.” A “Boy, you are a trump! I’ll be durned ef—” “Never mind, captain; but, have you pistols and onboard? “ aaadorenthankstothattharshaldn’ coward, Toddy 'l’ipplemuch, who insisted upon buying enough to ' equipia man 0’ war.” . t ‘Yer see, stranger, ’ve bin in tight places “Ora an” ' 5 Dash and one other never- Tipplemuch. I would not rag un after we count our dead and wounded— ’ “Oh, Lordyl I’ll go an’ look up ther ns. 1 wish we had a thousand cannons, a on mu- kets and—” “ ’You’ll do no sich thing, Mr. Tipplemuch. The ns and istils hain’t lost, an’ we want you an’ . Gree ddle at yer posts. Ef er skulk now, durned ef I don’t shoot yer In so .” This was a quietus on the two v orous mates, and they subsmled in fear and trembling. Going into the cabin with the ca tain, Dudle Dash found the parson and Miss ancy on the; knees saying their prayers, which the youth at once interrupted to drive the pious couple into one of the small staterooms. “Now, ca tain, I will await here for you to bring the o cers down, when I will either make them surrender or kill them—” “ Thou shalt do no murder, young man,” came in sepulchral tones from the stateroom, and in, the arson’s voice. I “ het up, Parson Squeezbreere? Ef I hear a word from that stateroom I’ll fire=a bullit inter “ Captain,” continued Dudle Dash, smilin at the quiet that followed the hreat, “ you better now place the Indian and negro with their arms, and as the boat comes near, call down to me how many men are in it.” - “ I’ll do it. Now I’ll go on deck.” A few moments of sus nse followed, and then Dudley Dash distinctl card the sound of cars; then followed a stern i1: . “ Sloop, ahoyl what 5100 is that?" c “ The retty Girl, from ennebec.” ‘ “Why the devil didn’t you come-to when I, first fired?” “ I kind 0’ thought it mout be more healthy to try and git away. What skunner’s that?” 4 “ None of your business. I’m comin aboard." “ Thar’s one ofiicer and four men in her duru- ed boat,” whispered Captain Dusenbury down the com anion-wa . “ ; send him down,” came back in the cool tones of Dudley Dash. _ A moment after the boat ranged alongside the sloop, and a tall elegantl -formed man Sprung on deck, dressed in a dar uniform, pro- fusely trimmed with gold lace. , He was armed with a pistol in his belt, and a sword carried in his hand; and his stern, dark, yet handsome face, proved that he was ready to use his weapons, eit er for offense or defense. “Well, sir, what cargo have you?” he-said, sternly, addressing Captain Dusenbury: “I’m durned sorry to say, kase I blieves er ter be a irate, that I’ve got a very veins is cargo. E you’ll come inter my ca I’ll show yer.” Instantly the y(‘igcer folllowed down the com- panion-way, sa g s arp y: inahurry, skip r, forthis isabad “ And be geiglgborhood for a man w 0 serves under my a _ . 5 And what mout that be, capting?" “The Death’s sad and Crossed Bones, ski per,” recklessly said the buccaneer: but as wcgds left his lips, there came the clearcut or er: “ Move one inch and you are a dead man!” The buccaneer felt that he was entrapped, and he turned his e es toward Captain Dusenbury; but he had gli ed like a shadow up the com: panion-way. “ Whoever ves that command is a fool. My schooner lies ut half a mile distant,” said the buccaneer. “ True. And her commander is in my Lay down our arms on that table or ’11 you,” said dley Dash, from his place of con- cealment. A strange light came into the face of the buc- caneer, as he slowly laid his sword the table, and then drew his pistol from belt. Instantly h‘e leveled the weapon in the direction from whence had come the sound, and -- A shriek and a deep groan followed the deaf- ening report, and then the buccaneer turned to bound up the companion-way. CHAPTER XI. came a shank. Wrrnacurseupon his 1ips,~thebuccaaeer rushed up the companion-way to start back with a cry of rage and terror. he was securely shut in the cabin. ' With a bitter curse he strained toforoe his . way out, when there was heard a volley of musketry on deck, and the cries of wounded, strusg ' men. . “ aptam, you are in my power. Surrender or on die.” ‘ - ; ere was no use for the buccaneerto turn: a cold pistol-muzzle pressed hard his ear, and the flashing eyes of y Dash lookedfullintohisown. - a ' “What would you, boy?” he demanded, un- “Mer§ly to pass on our way umolssted. Parson ,ueezbreese, bring thatropeand hind themes. 1 a _ - , “It is not meet and rightthat such slim mingle with—” ' ‘ \ , b’t . .“The bowsprit is rigged, ‘ No. 2. “ Miss Nancy, you do as’ I ask, please, as the parson is afreud,’ impatiently said the youth. tly, Miss Nanc came from the state— room, rope in hand, an with a vicious look at the buccaneer, proceeded to bind his hands be- hind his back, with a skill that was amusing to contemplate. “Curse you fellow, on shall repent this—” “Repen , thyself, o . wicked man, for thy (Kitties are many,” came from the stateroom. “I will answer for my act, Sir Pirate. Ho! gth‘e‘ied‘!” te ! H ed th ! ay youngs r ave er ea c ‘ varmgl’t? An’ who’s been killed?” deignanded Captain Dusenbury, appearing in the com- panion-way. “ No one is hurt. The buccaneer got fright ened and fired at his own shadow. Did you ca ture the crew?” ‘We’ve got one 0’ them slick as case; t’other three is gone cruisin’ in a. lake 0 brim- stene‘an’ fire.” All right, captain. Now, sir, come omdeck with me.” Silently the buccaneer obeyed, and a glad light came into his face, as he glanced out over the waters and beheld two dark objects moving rs idly toward the sloop. ‘Now, young man, your time has come,” he said leefully. “ 0t yet—are you the captain of yonder schooner?” (l I am. 9’ “And you are he that is called or was, until ‘ the breaking out of war, Rafael the smuggler?” “ I am.” “Very well. Now, captain Rafael, the Pi- rate, we desire to go on our way unmolested, and I look to you to aid us. Give an order to the officers in yonder boats to ut back at once schooner, or, so help me ! I will seat— ter 1your brains over this deck,” and Dudley Das placed the pistol he held against the head of his paginsener. Cap ' Rafael cursed bitterly. He saw that he had caught a Tartar, and one glance into the 1306 of his cafter proved that he would do what he threatene . ‘f Quick, sir! hail those beats and tell them to put back. Your minutes of life are numbered if on refuse.” - - ° ‘Ho! the boats! Weston, rest on your ears where you are, for a minute; I am caught in my own trap,” rung out in the clear tones of the .buccaneer chief. ‘f Then we will dash forward and rescue you! iive way, men, with a will,” cried the officer in J: the nearest beat. “Order them back, I say 1” and the youth’s voice was hoarse with passion. “B Weston! for the love of God! back, or I s be killed!” cried the chief in accents that he meant what he said. 7 A ' the beats hesitated, and note. cable’s '. 16 h from the sloop. . g ‘ _ ow, captain, m plan is to at once get un- der way, and run c ose in shore, where your schooner cannot follow me. Captain Dusen- bunfiyfrig a bowsprit just as quick as you can a , hold on sir buccaneer as hostage- if . your boats fgllow an die.” ’ ’ “ Do you inten keep me as a prisoner and hand me over to the authorities ashore?” “ I ihdgglet thought of that; it would be a .__’ “Then hear whatIhave to say. I am a reck- less man, and an outlaw: if taken ashore I would be hung, as ou know: but I love life, .as all men, not fool’s, do, and I will agree to let you go, if you swear to release me as soon as our sloop .18 in a lace of safety.” - dley Dash was s' ent a moment, and then said. .“ What if I refuse!” “ I will give the order for my boats to come .on, and lwill be killed. It is better todieat your hands than on a gallows.” Dudley Dash saw that the buccaneer was in :zamiteamest, and he said, after a‘ moment’s o : “'lgagree to your terms. Order your ts I back, and I will let you return in the one 0113; release the man now a prisoner wi . side, and you. Mind you, the boats are to return to the schooner, and the 8100 is not to be followed.” “I understand. oi Weston, I have come he compromise. Return on board the schooner, : 'andin an hour I will join you.” . “Don’t trustthem, Captain Rafael,” called r' out the ofilcer. : . Sir: I an; tm udgfi eff ' - o o,’ ' re e e‘c ie , and the boats put back toward the schooner. r,” said Cap- tain Duanbury, and then he continued: “ Leastwise it’ll do for present use.” ‘ ,‘fVery Well. Get the sloop at once under The_Dare-Devil;*_er,_TheMWinged ’Witeh of the Sea. '7 E When the schooner had ’ sight Dudley Dash, who held me y: q “Haul that beat alongside. you an your man are ree. An hour’s row an you will meet your vessel. Here, sir, ‘ let me release you—there! I will kegfi your sword and pistol as a souvenir. Farew , sir.” With an oath the buccaneer sprun into his boat, followed by his companion, an Dudley Dash gave the order to cast loose. A moment after the boat was dancin in the wake of the sloop, and as all eyes watc ed the two thwarted buccaneers the saw them hln‘l the three dead bodies into t e sea, and then sprin to their ears with a will. “ all, my young friend, you is the pluckiest cha that ever were breecbes. Bless my soul ef don’t owe you more’n I kin ever pa ,” an Captain Dusenbln'y grasp‘ed the hand of udley Dash who quietly remar ed: “ You owe me nothing, captain; but, thank God! we are safe.” The cariptain was about to reflfl when he ob- h an helm, said Now, cap ' served oddy Tigplemuc r. Greenfiddle lying flat on the eck, and preparing to fire at t e receding boat. “ Blarst yer lubberly beasts, what’s yer doin’?” he yelled out. “I’m agoin’ to show them pirits thet tbar’s brave men as defends this here vessil, an’ blow ther durned heads—” . What more Mr. Tipplemuch would have said is unknown, as he was suddenly seized in the strong arms of the ca tain and hurled into the cab'm, knocking down arson Squeezbreere, who had just made u his mind to come on deck and search for Miss ancy, who had followed Dud- ley Dash and the risener. “ You go arter ' , durn Iye,” gelled the irate captain , (1 Mr. Greenfidd e fo owed the sur- prised Teddy. “ New fur the nigger—” But Buttermilk towered too high for the cap- tain to believe that he could so easily manfie him; and besides, he had blazed awa at e pirates in the beat, when ordered to 0 so. If e hit any of the three who were killed, it was accidental, for Buttermilk had closed both eyes and fired at random 0t ’em, and I mean ter keep ’em caged. They ls enufl to worry one to death- ham’t they?’ and Captain Dusenbury closed the companion-way and securely fastened it. ' Then, turning to the old maid, he said: “Miss Nancy, you’ve made a man 9’ yerself this here night, an’ ef er can’t git married, I’ll marry er myself, ef ’m ever a widdower.” iss ancy smiled sweetly, and was begin- to make a little speech, when Dudley Dash sal : “ Now, captain, we will stand on up the $081; with all speed—and keep close in shore, for _ V ere is danger further out.” “Thet’s so l—You ‘ist do as yer like, young- ster, kase you runs sad 0’ my time, ye do, an’ when we strike ole Kennebec, durned of you won’t be the boy as has done it. I’m yer W singer, I am; so go ahead, capting, an’ no ques- tions axed!” Dudley Dash smiled pleasantly, and headed the sloopu the coast, while be mentally con- gratulated lf upon his narrow escape, and ooked forward with glad hope of soon being at his cottage home. CHAPTER XII. run RETURN. Tim scene of my story again ass back to the iron-bound coast of Maine, and e humble home of the old fisherman, Carter Hayes. 4 But over all rested an air of neatness and comfort that was not there when the reader last beheld it, for the dainty taste - of Gabrielle Gas— ton, whom the old fisherman had found a ray of sunshine in his home, had improved the httle cottage and its immediate surroundings‘greatly. Be of flowers blossomed in front 0 e door, a shell walk wound down to the beach and pretty white curtains hun at the windows, while all within was tidy an invitin porch, in front of the cot e sat two persons— one was an old 11 With a dgayly colored bandanna around er end, on plain homespun frock. She was engaged in knitting a of blue worsted socks, and her hands kept time to a low, plaintive tune that she was humming. The other was Gabrielle Gaston, grown from the child of twelve into a tall, graceful girl of fourteen, just on t e ver 6 of womanhood, for she was most mature for or age. Her face was still more beautiful, than when the reader beheld her cowering beneath the threats of the smuggler, and a mass of golden curls hung in perfect abandon down her back. 'jwa _, and stand in there, Captain Dusenbury,” he was neatly attired in homespun, and'was V . the youth. - ‘ occupied in mending a seaman’s jacket, while a ' ‘-.: . ,Ol‘der Was at once obeyed, Mr. Green- sad look rested ’u her face, proving that her 7 and Toddy‘Tipplemuch springing to work thou ts were no of a hep y na ., withan charity, final. was astonishing. Bu _ y a deep boom Burst upon theeguiet . few memlents fires? the’sloop wasigbgvg; gnu, endottlngroar of a heavy gun m til; _ merrily ooners boat. w ence ong rec lymlesdngahcm ‘ g l on. I l (in c.- - -‘ r disahplgeared from , It was near the sunset hour, anf'upeu the“ attiredina theme and a hearty“ \ Both Gabrielle and the old negl‘css started, and turned their eyes seaward. “What can the frigate mean by firing, Pa- tience? Is there an other vessel in sight?” asked the maiden. cing up and down the coast, and then le ing her eyes fall upon a ship of war that was lying a league away; an just outside of a chain of rock islan that ermed a break-water for the lit 6 'bay in front of the cabin. “ I don’t see nothin’, missy; I guesses as how day is jist shoetin’ to scare fokes, an’ day is dem’ it, too, kase I don’t like deln big guns, no- hew; de Lord didn’t make deln bitr guns, missy, an’ I don’t like ’em,” replied the 0121 no css, evi- dently displeased at having her tune roken in upon with such a rude bass as the roar of a heaxiy gun. , “ ark! there it is again. Can Father Hayes be running in, and are they firing at him, I wonder?” “Ne, miss ; de boss hain’t bin gone but one day, an’ he 'dn’t spec’ to git back afore a week. Dcy’s sheetin’ kase dey knows it am wrong.’ But Gabrielle did not seem to accept the views of old Patience on the situation, and rising, began to narrowly search for the cause- of the firing. A in and again pealed forth the deep boom of *t e gun startling the birds from their ceverts m the crevices of the rocks and pine thickets. » ' “ See, Patience, see! New I knew why the are firing,” and Gabrielle pointed seawar where the skies Were becoming rapidly overcast with ‘ storm-clouds, and a faint roar of a. coming 5 rm reached their ears. , “ Dat’s so, chile; dat big Wessil am becalmed dar on de coast, and dat dar storm am goin’ to knock it apieces. Yes, chile, dey wants a pilot, do;r does. _ ‘Oh! that Father Hayes was here!” cried Gabrielle, earnestly. _, 4 “It won’t do no oed, missy. De bossama reg’lar ’Merican, an’ e hain’t gwine to help t ship of be war here. Don’t you see de flag, misty?” . “ es; she is English, and therefore an ene- my; but humanity would cause Father Hayes to go to their aid and pilot them into the buy. I be )e some good fisherman will do it.” “ o, dey won‘t, missy; dey wouldn’t help dat wessil, kase she’s a enemy. Ne, chile, dam poor sailors is ot to die afore our eyes.” _ “Oh! that knew how to manage a large vessel! I would go.” , 01d Patience adjusted her spectacles, which she always looked over instead of through, and used u n the oung girl as though she be- eved e had en leave of her senses. After awhile she said, reproachfully: “ You is a gal chile.’ “And what of that? I have sailed the, many a time, and I knew the channel w See, Patience, is not that a boat? Yes, it is.’ See, it comes around the point of land—just» rounding the whale’s back.” - “ I see him, chile. “Then it must be my father returnin . I No, it is not his sleep, but a small boat, asin- le sail. Who can it be? Hark! how piteously guns cry for help.” . “ It 3 no use, missy; dey won’t git nobody to help ’em here.’ . ‘ Yes the boat is coming here. ithas rounde the point, and there! he has auled down his sail and taken to his ears for there is not a breath of wind. How boldly he pulls! See, his boat just flies ovcr the water. Oh! Patience mess that should be Dudley?” I “ Don’t of Massa Dudley, missy' de LOrd am done hab him safe in.He bosom. oer hey, we nebber see him an mo’.” , The tears s rung into the beautiful eyes. of Gabrielle, bu she said uickly: “No, Patience, I feel t at Dudley isnet dead; he will yet'return. Come let us goto the beach, and meet the boat, and I, will. urge whoever it contains to go out to the aid of the Englishfiriv gate.” 'Swiftl Gabrielle descended the shell h- way te e beach, followed. more leisure yby the old who, upon her arrival, found mgung girl cing about and clapping her “ Yes, Patience, it is, it is, Dudley! Don’tyou ' new “' ore, God! de chilo am right! It am masser . Dudley, or he ghost.” The next moment the beat ran half its 160% out on the beach, and the well-known form of Dudley Dashsfinmg out upon the sand..a'nd clasped G‘sbrie e in his strong arms—he was again at home. A sov’s PLUCK. . Amthewarm gree" given himb bress on, t ,$’ from Patience, Dudley Dash turn and glanc- I ed anxiously seaward at the rising storms... ,. Galatians sswhis 190k. and thou ‘ I ‘. Yas,'dat ama boat, an’ it _ 8 earnest gaze at the frigate, whose pleading guns each moment seemed to call more oudly. Anxioust she watched his face, and then said quickly: “ Dudle , that vessel is in terrible danger.” “ Yes, abrielle.” “ She will be wrecked if some bold fisherman does not 0 out and save her. ” “Yes; 8 e is on a lee shore, and amore dan— gerous one she could not have found—there is not a breath of air, and yonder storm will burst upon the sea within half an hour. See, the swell, driven before it is already comin in.” “ Dudley is there no one to save her?’ “She is English, Gabrielle; I know her well- three nights agi) I was on her, and condemn tobehun att eyardarm.” ‘l‘agou, udley?’ and the young girl’s face pa “ Yes; they believed me to be a pirate—” “A rate? behaved youa irate?” and Gabri- elle raised her hands in holy orror. “Yes: but it is a long story—I will tell it you another time—now I must act.” “What are you going to do, Dudley!” “ Save yonder vessel. ’ Now was Gabrielle’s time to object, for Dud- ley’s words had greatly alarmed her. Should he voluntaril go on board a vessel where he had been con enmed to death? “Look a here, Massa Dudley—you is a pop’lar boy in dis neighborhood; but chile, ef der fish- ermens knows you sabe yonder vessel from ab- straction, dey gwine to git hoppin’ mad wid yer, an’ no mistake.” “ No doubt of it Patience; but must I stand here and see five hundred men go down before my eyes, when I can save them?’ ‘Dat’s a fack; but you kin turn yer eyes awag.” “ ut their cries would haunt my very dreams. Where is Father Ha es, Gabrielle?” “ Gone to Portlan in his sloop.” “ Then I must act upon my own responsibility —-Gabrielle, I am going aboard yonder vessel.’ “ And I will accompany you. ’ “ You! Why, little girl, you are wild.” “No, I am not. If on meet danger I will share it with you. y, I thought of going mBself and trymg to save the frigate.” udle burst out into a boyish laugh; as but, su denly checking himse , he said, thorgh thinking aloud: “ es, we can reach the frigate before the storm bursts, and once there the dan r will be over. Besides, we can tgrove that told the ,truth, and am not a pira . “ Come, Gabrielle, we will take the life-boat. 'Patlence, I guess you want to come, too?” he said, with a merry twinkle of mischief in his eyes. “ Nebber! bress de Lord, chile, you done gone main-yer mind is clean gone! Git me in dat ar e? No sar! I’m gwine to de house ter pray fur you two child’en, I is. I’se gwine to git in out 0’ dis yer storm, or dar will be a cullud funeral ’bout yer, an’ I won’t be de “3”” saying old Patience trud ed back toward the house, while Dudley and abrielle sprun into a long, narrow hfe-boat, or rather sur skiff, and, seizin the cars, the youth sent it ' over t e That waters. As he rowed swif ly along he told the deeply interested 'rl of his remarkable adventures, and learne that Carter Hayes had written to the university when weeks went b without hearing from and that one of t e profes- sors had replied ow Dudley had been ln'd- nalsed by a pirate vessel, the crew of which h. landed, and carried him off, in revenge for his having frustrated their design the day be- fore, of carrying of! the daughter of a wealthy gentleman, whose villa was on the sea-shore. The letter furthermore stated that a Mr. Dun- stan had, with a few men he called to his aid, attemfirted to take Dudley from the pirates, but that . Dunstan had been severely wounded and several of his men killed. Dudley smiled 'mly at this version of the affair, and made own the truth to Gabrielle, whose beautiful eyes flashed with indignation. “ But, how did IYou get home, Dud?’ “Why, I got t e captain of the sloopto let me take his yawl, when we reached the mouth of the Kennebec, and here I am; but see, Gabie, how rapidly those clouds rise, and just hear how the storm roars! I tell you, we are oing to have a terrible time. The frigate is airly caught, for she can’t budge until the gale strikes her, and then she will rive right on the reef, for it will be impomible to stand out to sea against this storm. ’ h “I ,know that, Dudley; but you can save er— “Yes, if I arrive in time; but it is a hard pull yet. Gabrielle, do you know there are many who will look upon it as a crime for me to save that vessel?” “ Will there be men so heartless?” “ Yes, and women, too. She is the enemy of our country; she has ventured in here, (perha to plunder our people on the coast, an if s e is lost, it will be said it served her right; but do not bok so frightened; I have made up m and to pilot her in unda' the lee of this and I will do it. How dark it is getting; it will be a fearful night, I tell you.” Gabrielle cast a glance over the motionless sea, and then upon the rushing storm-clouds, ever and anon split in twain by arrowy light- ning, and then shaken with rolling bursts of thunder, which devoured the deep boom of the signal ' “This is terrible, Dudley,” and the young girl shuddered and momentarily hid her face in er hands. Dudley Dash made no reply, but bent to his oars wit increased energy, while his face each moment became more daring and resolute. “Look! Gable, how far is she ofi? now?” he asked, quietly. “Not a ha a mile, and they see us, Dudley' they are waving to us, and the gun has cease firing; pull, Du ley; pull for your life, for the storm 13 sweeping up as thoug it would wash the very land away. ’ Dudle Dash cast one quick lance behind him. t he saw there cause his veins to swell out, his teeth to set hard, and every nerve and muscle to strain, for he knew that he pulled for his life, for the life of Gabrielle, and the lives of five hundred human beings. “Ho! the boat! Pull hard! for the love of God! pull hard ” rung in hoarse, startling tones across the wa rs and Gabrielle waved her hand in reply, while she trembled like an aspen leaf with excitement. She would not, she dare not speak now to him who was straining for very life and death. He knew every danger—he felt all; he could do no more than he was doing. A wild cheer of encouragement broke from five hundred throats; but the boy’s face was like marble—he heard, and he kept on at his killing, terrible stroke. “On! on! for the love of God! on!” rung out in trumpet tones. The boy heard, but remained silent, and still ke8t up his fearful stroke. nce he glanced into the face of Gabrielle; her nerve was gone; her face pallid, and, with clasped hands and staring e es, she gazed upon him—him, who held so muc of life and death in his hands. ' Again there came a cry from the frigate— but the roar of the storm rendered it unintelli- gible, and then all on board stood in silence awaiting. Nearer and nearer came the surf-skid flying over the yet calm, but darkening waters, an :h'e nteext mstant, rushed alongside of the huge r1 a . wild yell of triumph mingled with the roar of the storm and then Dudley and Gabrielle were seized in strong arms and dragged upon the deck, amid a wild, heaving mass of human beings—the had reached the frigate one min- ute before t 6 storm! CHAPTER XIV. RUNNING DEATH’S GANTLET. “Tm God! you have arrived in safety, ilot. What is to be done?” and Commodore eLency met Dudley Dash at the gangwai, and in the driving spray and increasm dar - ness failing to recognize him, as one W cm he had sentenced to death, several days before. “To save the frigate—set a jib; her foretop— sail—close—reefed, and spanker reefed down. Our only course is to get into the bay and under the lee of onder island.” “Af ulchance; but wewillaid you all in our ower.” “ shall need it. Come, Gabrielle, stand by me, here,” and Dudley laced himself at the wheel, where already stoo three strong seamen, awaitmg his orders. The sails were quickly set by willing hands, and a silence like death fell 11 n the ship, for the roar of the storm was app ing, and only a few hundred fathoms distant there rolled a huge white wave, weird and terrible in its pho hores- cent light, and looking like a drove 0 wild, foam-covered mustangs charging upon the de- voted vessel. The inky clouds above were in a mad chaos of motion, and trailed alon the sea, drag 'ng volumes of water after hem, while is eir loomy shadows, added to the ap roaching rkness of night, rendered the lan mvrsible from the ’s decks. “My God pilot, I cannot see how you can find a harbor in this hurricane and darkness,” exolaimed Commodore De Lane . “ I know my bearings, sir. 9.! here comes Ehe stprm. Down all! and hold hard! for your 'ves! As the clear voice of Dudley cut through the storm, he threw one arm around Gabrielle, and with the other clung hard to the wheel. Then down, down, sunk the noble vessel, as though the very seawere falling from under her, and above her hovered the huge, rushing wave. With the force of an earthquake it struc and like a mere pla hing the mighty vesse was hurled landw , then driven over upon her beam-ends, while minan with the roar of the storm arose the cracking o spars, sm ' g of timbers, snapping of cordage, and wil wails of a score ofabrave seamen torn from T11,9_,}§TeW,_Y0rk Librarv» Vol. I. I their hold, and carried shrieking away into the caldron of waters to their death. It was an awful moment, and the ph hor- escent glare upon the sea, lighting up Vivid ythe appalling scene, all eyes were turned upon the youn pilot who still clung to the wheel. “ ere! old this girl, and, on your life! cling to her,” and Dudley gave to a seaman the unconscious Gabrielle. Then he cast his eyes at the rigging. The main-topmast was gone, and the fore-topmast, jib, and spanker had been blown into ribbons. “ Cut away the masts,” cried Commodore De Lanc , through his trumpet. - “ 0, she will right herself' holdl” cried Dud- ley, and as he spoke the vessel was again thrown upon a mighty wave, and with a terrific lurch, that hurled a dozen more men into the sea, she righted— oing so far over to windward that it was fear she would never rise. But a moment after the gallant craft righted, and was on a level keel. A ain all eyes turned upon the young pilot; but e was calm and attentive, for his eyes were sweepingly east through the rigging. Then his vorce rung out with a pee iar clear- ness that was heard by all: “ All hands to make sail! Set the fore-top- mast staysail and the fore—course! let fall the inailnl’topsail and mizzen-course! Lively men! we y There was no need of the latter order; the willing seamen were already moving with the ener of life and death. “ e feels her sail! thank God! the canvas holds! At the wheel! starboard! hard—a-star- board!” The three seamen, aided b Dudle , threw their whole weight upon the uge w eel, and the frigate’s bows swung slowl round' she minded her helm even in that rrific storm and a sigh of relief broke from the lips of ali on board. But the danger was not yet over, b any means. All around was darkness an waters leaped high heavenward, while the winds howled savagely through the rig ' g, and the red lightning that momentaril 1i up the scene but seemed to show the aw dangers sur- roun 'ng the struggling ship. “ at does she draw, sir?” yelled Dudley at the t0p of his voice, although Commodore De Iranc stood by his slde. “ wenty-seven feet.” , “Good! I can run in to windward ofthe Whale’s Back—a channel to the south of us,” replied Dudley, and he bent his piercing gaze around him. “Young man, the frigate is in your hands. If ou can save her God alone must aid you,” sai Commodore De Ilancy, who could see noth< ing landward to serve as a guide by which the B0 Pilot could get his bearings. udley made no re 1y: every nerve, every energy was bent upon e desperate work before him, and he stood calm and confident while the shi drove on with a speed that was frightful. round him stood a score of oflicers the lightning blazing brightly u 11 their brilliant uniforms, and in the waist o the ship, and for- ward were hundreds of brave seamen, awaitgtnfi in breathless suspense the end of the frigh drama they were playing, with Death. Not a word, no a whisper did any one utter; their 1i 3 refused utterance—their e es took in the awful scene in one glance, and en turned upon the Boy Pilot; in him was their hope. “Port 2* put your helm! hard-aaport!’ yelled Dudley in a voice that was hear only by the helmsmen at his side. A vivid flash of lightning had shown him his bearings. “Starboard! hard-a-starboard! and about shi ready, about!” came in startling tones, an all whom duty did not call upon to spring to Easy action, stood breathlesst watching the res . Would the good shi come round? Would not the ma waves dash her back? Would it be death to all if she missed stays? Such were the mental questions asked. But the noble vessel swept 11 into the wind and water, and though torren were hurled upon her decks, and she trembled as if in ab ect terror, the bows went round, and the sails, ca h- ing the gale upon the other uarter, filled with a report like the discharge 0 cannon, and forged the frigate ahead once more with fri ht— ful velocity, and rushing toward a huge w of foam directly ahead. “ Men—we have. to weather yonder reef- there! where the sea breaks with such fury. If we fall to leeward of it there is no hope. Now on know your duty. Keep her close! if she aJls ofl half a int we are gone.” This was sai to the helmsmen in calm, but severe tones, and with iron energy they the wheel, and every eye was turned upon the danger ahead. daSuddenly :1. vivid flash gfllliglhtigiing made th: nervisie;tevesse passthreug a ngrrow channel—an island of rock to wind~ ward—a. sunken reef to leeward! *At the time of which I write the word Inrhmrd was in use. ’ emaci- ‘ Tame-)2 l U Ila. 2. Like a mad racer the frigate swept on, and then her bows out into the surging foam There was an instant of awful suspense, a heavy shock, as a huge wave, hurled back from the rocky island fell upon her decks, a blinding shower of spray, and the gantlet of Death had been safely passed! Ten minutes more and the noble vessel was anchored in safety under the lee of tie large, crescent-shaped island, where Carter l-Iayes was wont to keep his little sloop at anchor. Then from the throats of nearly half a thou- sand men burst one long, loud huzza: the frig- ate had been saved by the skill and courage of Dudley Dash. CHAPl‘Ed. XV. A LEAP roe FREEDOM. “Pilot, come with me into my room—you have saved the shi , and I would Speak with cu,” and Conm) ore De Laney lo the way into his comfortable new quarters. With the delighted. Gabrielle—who had re- gained her 3 irits, now that the fearful ordeal was over—cl nging to his ban 1, Duliey enterel the cabin, where Commodore De Laney and half a dozen of his officers hal preceded him. As he came into the presence of the English omcer he threw aside he slouch hat he wore, and which he had purchased in Gloucester, after his secipe fro n the frigate. . “Great God! who are you?” cried Commo- dore De Laney, springing to his feet, as the bright lamp of the cabin fell full upon the youth. “ I am the one who inst acted as the frigate‘s pilot!” uietly returue Dudley. “ng I well know; but were you not a pris- oner on board this vessel three days since?” . “I was—I was unler sentence of death for piracy on the high seas.” “Boy, I believed on dead; it was thought that you preferred roaming to hanging, and in some way minaged to unlock your manacles, anl sprung overboard. ” “ I unlocked my irons, and swam ashore. Had I not escaped, this vessel would now be in pieces on the rocks. ’ v “ I know that well; ‘but how did you get here?” “I reached the shore, as I said, in safety, after along and desperate swim, anl finding a packet sloap comzng up the Kennebec, took ’- e inher. My home is on this coast, no one mile iron here, and thmtfigung girl Will prove to you tuat I told you truth when I said I was no irate.” All iancad at the beautiful Gabrielle, who bluihe with confusion, and hid her face upon Du lley’s she 11 ier. “i‘nank Gull, you escaped the fate of the three buccaneers who boarded the frigate with 01! Cone here, my dear, and tell me how it I found this handsom young man on a pirate vessel.” Thus addresed, Gabrielle staffed forward and in a fran' earnest voice, to Commodore De Lincy, an his officers, all that she had learned from the lies of Dudley “And did you know this rigate when you startel to her aid?” asked the commodore, gaz- ing with admiration upon the face of the brave b0 0 X I did, sir. Humanity alone prom ted the act. Whatm countrymen will say 0 what I have done I 0 not know; doubtless they will believe me a traitor.” “ You are an American, than!” “Heart, body an). soul, sir.” “If all American youths are like you, Eng- land had best lock t3 her laurels on the sea,” mid the com nedore earnestly; then he added: Q‘Atg’l” what can do for you, for saving the ‘allow my sister and myself to return home. Our surf-I‘d! is on the doc ” “ But whit reward can 1-” “Commodore De Laney, I will take no re- ward for what I have done; did I do so I would look upon it as blood-money,” and Dudley‘s eyes fleshed with pride. “ Your sister, then, will accept this.” “No skinluwill accept nothing,” frankly ro- lled Gibr e, and the lish ofilcer seemed [feel himself in a bad position. After a while he said: “ y young friend, no thanks of mine, or those whom you have saved, can ever repay mend uwlll have nothing else; did I thin you woul fit it, believe me I would offer you a com on iuhls Majesty’s service: but as an American I fear you woul refuse it. ” “Most certainly, sir; but I thank you for your kind oifer.” “ For my having once sentenced you to death forgive me—I as it from my heart; but you came aboard under most suspicious circum- stances, ani in very bad company, you must admit; but that is past. Here, wear this medal‘ it is one I am entitled to give from the of Great tain, to any officer whose distin ed services“! have 'won it; you have more than won As Commodore De Laney spoke he pinned overtheleftbreastofDudleyDash,ahandsome gold sparklth precious stones. The you ’s eyes ed with pride: he had won acknowledgment from an enemy, but he said quietly: The Dare-Devil; or, The Winged Witch of the sea. __ 9 went “ahead,” to the next moment reg-r23. it, i for the waters were wilder than he ' “ I thank you, Commodore De Laney. I will ‘ , wear this medal in memory of this eventful night; now will you permit my sister and my- self to de rt!" The Englishman looked perplexed—“ My gungpfriend, cannot you stay and pilot us out sea “ N o, sir; I saved the frigate when in danger; in calm weather you can tow out with your boats at slack tide, and after taking sound- ‘ 1n .” “ Is this fair? You have us in a trap, should , tuous waters he But khe could niot retrafle1g his are now; he must ec on, an strugg " wi tumul- p ulled on with all his strength. But, in the dar ess, and with his back to his course, he lost his bearings, and suddenly the skiff was dashed with terrible force upon a sunken rock. Both Dudley and Gabrielle were buried into , the water—the oath to instantly clasp the young girl aroun the waist, crying: I “ Now, Gable, we have to swim for it! Strike ; out with me—therel” an enemy come along and catch us here, or a force from the land attack us." Dudley was silent a moment and then said: will pilot you to sea; but for fear he may get 1 into trouble, you must romise to land him some lea es up or down he coast, and he must come on d to-night.” “Is he as experienced a pilot as yourself?” “ But one other rson knows this coast as I do, sir, and he won (1 never serve you; but the man I will send you is an experienced pilot—he is an Indian.” Commodore De Laney stepped aside and held converse with several of his officers in a low top; for a few moments; then he returned and 3m : “Much as I regret it, my oung friend, duty to my king, mg 5 ip, my 0 cers and m crew, compel me to etain you to act as our p ot. It will take several days to refit, and repair the we have sustained; but as soon as we are at sea, you shall be sent ashore.” Dudleys face flushed, and then aled, while an angry 1i ht came into his eyes; ut control- ling himsel , he said, calmly: ‘ My sister at least can return on shore?” “ Certainly—I will call away a boat and—” “She has her skiff, sir; she can return alone in that. Come, Gabriellel” As the two left the cabin, Dudle held a short, whis red conversation with abrielle, and then t e surf—skiff was lowered into the Eater, and Commodorig De Laney himself aicliled e 0 girl into ,again urging upon er the aicep nce of a purse of gold, which she in- di ntly refused, for her temper was up at the de ntion of Dudley; Silently they wa bed her row swiftly away, until she behind an island, and then Commodore e Laney said pleasantly: “Come, my young pilot, you are to be my guest for a few days. I will give you dry clothing to put on.” Dudley said nothing but walked along aft, until the Englishman started into the cabin companion-way; then with a sudden bound, be rushed to the side of the frigate, and sprung overboard into the seal CHAPTER XVI. our or rm: SEA AND INTO moss. THE act of Dudle Dash was as une as it was sudden, so t at it was a minu before those who saw it realized what he had done. Then there arose the c —“ Man overboard l” “Lower away the boats i” added an officer, while Commodore De Lancy, returning quickly on deck, and learning the cause of the alarm, at once countermanded the order. . “ No, let him go. A boy as brave as he is de- serves to go free.” But all eyes sought the water for some si of the bold swimmer, yet nowhere was he visi le. ~ fl‘; He may have drowned?” suggested an o cer. “ Not be! One who risked What he did three nights since to esca from the fri to, has r- feet confidence in himself. Let , an we will work out of here as best we can,’ and Com- modore De Laney re-entered his cabin. As for Dudley, he kept on under the water, swimming in a certain direction, and when he m for breath, only held his face up to inhale Then he again swam under water, until he felt he was too far oi! to be seen, when he arose to the surface, and struck oi! with bold strokes for a small and distant island. At length he reached the lee of it, and here, quiet] seated in her surf-skill, was Gabrielle. “ e Gable!" “ Ohl dley, I am so glad you have come. I you might not get away, but I was gem to wait all night for you._” “ made it easi y. Now give me the oars, for I need somethin to warm me u .” seizing the oars, t 9 youth sent tfie light skid rapidly over the waters, and in half an hour was in sight of the beach; but between the t where they then Were, and the beach, rush a fearful sea, which had bounded Over the outer reef, and driven by the mud, made even that land-locked and island-guarded bay, a turbulent mam of waters. “ Gable, I never saw it rough like this in here before, but we'll risk it, for as soon as we reach the lee of Fisherman’s reef, we will have it plain rowin to the beach.” “Goah Dud; I am not afraid,” said the girl in the stern of the surf-skiff. and Dudley ‘ girl; but in those mad waters she lost Gabrielle was a good swimmer, and abrave [artly her , presence of mind, and Dudley had nearly ha- “ I will send you one, when I return, sir, who , ' whole weight upon him. But be her e up bravely. and after a long, hard [truggle icr life, reachc the lee of Fisherman’s lief, where Gabrielle was able to help herself. Ten minutes more “(11:33:13Y landed upon the Leach, teth uttcily axle b their eil'orta. After a short breathing-ope they went up t1]: athhaf th) thf condgairo h th windows, ri t ig t came 11 e and nungierous vo§ces were he within. ning the door, the entered together. 'I e room was fill with tobacco smoke. Patience was cooking before the fire, and a dozen rough-looking men were seated around. smoking their pipes, and conversing in boisterou tones. At the sight of the youth and the y , thedmen rung to their feet, and one of m sax y: “ Dudle Dash, who piloted that frigate in" Crescent ay i” “ I did, Daniel Dawes.” “Did you know that she was English!" it Ya. I “Then I arrest youas atraitortoyourcoun' fry. ” Hold out your hands, boy, for the brace- ets. Dudley Dash knew the man well; he was flat count constable. Without a word he held forth 's hands, while his wrists were ately ironed; he was looked upon as a traitor to his country, and had become the prim of I gang of heartless men. CHAPTER XVII. rumor m GABRIELLE as sum BY midnight the storm had so far abated that all of the men, exce t two left thecottage 1! Carter Hayes for the own omes. . ghe two were the constaan :ghizndthgsh existent . -- ey were to remain a e comes! and go on with their prisoner to the town Bath the following morning. But there were two persons determined that Dudley should not go there, and those two were old Patience and Gabrielle. Unwittingly the old negress had told who was the fri te’s pilot, to a group of men who had come the coast, and instantly pronouncing Dudley a traitor, they had sent 0 for the con- stable to arrest him. ii“: 2:” we was ".331: min t a e o no 0 once she and Gail-lone put their 11% to 1plllot a plan of escape. — dley, who was calm and hopeful, felt, a he watched the aflowers, that something was goin on,soto (1 them all in his power, he ask Daniel Dawes to let him go into the next room and put on some dry cl . The constable at once transferred the man.- cles to his ankles, from his wrists, and said: “ Go ahead youngster; but no foolishnea, mind you.” Once in the room Patience, under a of getting his clothing went in after and winsdifumdzv gwin to be all right—Mi-y Gable ‘ ' e, i s e an’mengwine tofix dem mens,an’yonkinfls awa . “’i:hat1amanxioustodo,andforonereason in 'cular: but, work carefully, for Dawn is a y fellow.” “ Hab no fear, massa: we’re fixin’ t‘inpall ri ht,” and the negress re-entered the room w ere the two men sat. “ Say, old auntie. can’t you ve us a bite, and a pull at some of Hayes’ old rum?” asked Daniel Dawes of Patience. “Yes, massa; I was t’inkin’ you w b. hungry like; I glts you somefin toeat.” ~ In half an hour Patience, with Gabrielle‘l aid. set before the officers of the law a ten was. an 1', which the had sharpened their appetites for? several pufis at a black bottle. " “This is indeed good, auntie: but the bottle‘. dr .” XYon shall hab fnother, nah—Mama Hayes 't werymadefldidn’tginyerallyerwan in 6’s house,” and Patience laced anoflser bottle before them—not mm as been the other French brandy, which the old pilot hadstgotten years before from awneck oaths cos Themen ate totheirhearla‘ orratherltom- zsmir“ “‘1 W...‘ new 6 were on tedtorisefrgmthetab . 10 l The New York Library. VOL II But the effort was too much for them; the ’ hearty meal and mixed liquors had done their work, and they leaned forward upon the table and were soon snoring deeply. Patience, in clearing the things off, managed to abstract from the pocket of Dawes’ 'acketchis bunch of keys, for she had seen him p ace them there, and handing them to Gabrielle, she con- tinued bustling about the room. But instantli; Gabrielle had slipped into the other room, w ere Dudley was lying asleep up- on his bed, for he was utterly worn out after all he had one through. A light 5 ake awakened him, and the chain attached to his feet rattled ominously. “ ’Sh—-—Dud1 Don’t speak! Here, let me unlock your irons.” “And Dawes?” “ Is fast asleep, as is Simmonds also. There, on are free; now you must get out of the win- ow. Be quick!” and Gabrielle gently raised the sash. , Quickl Dudley sprung through, and the next instant abrielle followed him, when the youth gently lowered the sash. “l ow Dud, which wa ?” “ To ortland. I ' take m cat-rigged boat and run down the coast. abie, it was good and smart of you to release me.” “ Patience did it, Dud; I onl helped her; but are you going to join Father a es?” “ No; I overheard Dawes say the the Senti- nel, an American frigate, was in Portland har- bor I am going down to bring her up to fight the‘Englishman. “ Oh, Dudley I” {It is true. I can get back before the Eng- lishman’ sails, and then I will prove that I am no traitor, as they dared to call me.” “ Oh, Dudley—this will be grand.” “Won’t it, Gabie? but don’t mention it to a soul; and Gable, I want you to do something forj me; I promised Commodore Delaney that I would send him a pilot, and I wish to keep in word so I (1 nd upon ou.” . “. What sh I do Du ?” - “_ Go over the ' to-morrow to the cabin of the Tarrantine—” “.The'Indian fisherman?” “’Yes—old Tellico—and say to him that I wish him to go on board the English frigate to-morrow night, and be ready to pilot ‘her to sea—” . . “Will Tellico go, Dud?” ‘fiYes; he will if you tell him I asked him. You know I saved his life three years ago, and he has not forgotten i ” “ Yes, and people said you were a fool to risk ,your life to save an Indian.” r ing for Portland! “ I know it, Gabie; but he was drowning, and it Would have been sinful not to have one to his aid: but on tell him to let no one see ' board thefriga , and in the day—time to keep out of sight, as there will be people watching the ship 11‘ the shore with glasses.” “ es DudIe .” “And tell him to only pilot the frigate be- yond the reef, if she goes out at night; if in the day-tithe, to some place on the coast where he (weave her without being seen, for I do not ' to get him into trouble; and, ask him to delay her as long as possible, with some excuse about the tide and wmd, for I wish to t back with the American frigate. Do you un erstand allithis, _ Gabie ?” ‘ers, Dud. Now y)ou must be off, for I am so afraid that Daniel awes will wake up.” ‘ At once Dudley set off for the beach, and was soon in his boat, the same ill which he had crossed the bay to the northward, when he res- cued Gabrielle. With a good-by to the young girl, he raised his sail, reefed close, for the wind yet blew half a gale, and started down the coast, his craft ‘ over the waters with wonderful (1, and, With a fair breeze over her quarter, Eead- CHAPTER XVIII. AN mason: COMMODORE RECEIVES mron'r- ANT .NEWS. Compost: DUNCAN the commander of .the Ainerican frigate Sentinel was ashore, en oy- in .the hospitality of one of Portland’s w thy. cit n8. - Aroundhim Were gathered a number of dis- gentlemen, and in the room were be as 'of lovely women, flirting with the com- modore’s handsome dyoung ofllcors. “An officer woul s with you, sir; he is in the reception room,’ said a servant. The commodore excused ' , and entered tlm definated apartment. An‘ oer advanced tomeethim, and byhis side Was a youth of eighteen, clad in fisher- man’s garb, and with a pale, haggard face. “All! Lieutenant Wheeler, it is you? Any- t ' wrong aboard ship?” “ othing, sir; but I took the h’berty of troublingyo'u as thisyouthisthebearerof most important news.” “Indeed! What isit, my man?” and the , , ,lturnedhiskeon esatonceu n theyou .inwhomthereogr, hasth recogni Dudley Dash. Dudle met the ze unfiinchingly, and re- ; plied in ' clear, so -possessod tones: i “ Commodore Duncan, last night I piloted : the English frigate Iron Duke, Commodore De ‘ Laney, commander, into a small be on the Maine,coast, above the mouth of the ennebec r. “ Indeed! I knew that the Iron Duke was on this coast somewhere; but why did you take her in where she could damage our citizens?” “She was becahned off my home, and the storm coming up would have wrecked her. I acted for the sake of humanity, sir, and—” “You are a bold-spoken young man for one of your cars. What is your name, sir?” ‘ Du ey Dash, sir.” t: W311, Mr. Dudley Dash, go on with your s . “ had just returned home, sir, when the storm was coming up, and seein the frigate’s danger, my little sister and mcyse went out to her m a surf-skiff, and arrive just in time. “After anchoring under the lee. of Crescent Island, I asked to go ashore, and the commo- dore, because I refused old, presented me this, ’ and Dudley handed he commodore the decoration his courage had won from an enemy. t for him to have given you this, boy. any men have lost their lives in striving to win a” trinket like this; but go on with your sto . “ ommodore De Lane refused to allow me to o ashore, as he said must pilot himto sea. a ; but in sister departed in the surf-skiff, and, as I ha told her waited under the lee of an island for me, and I jumped overboard and esca d.” “ rave boy! I wish we had more like you in service; but go on.” “Upon my return to myhome, I was arrested by the count constable as a traitor to my count ; but abrielle and—” g “ qu is Gabrielle?” , “ y adopted sister, sir.” “ I 8%, 9) “Gabrielle and Patience—” i “ And Patience is—i” “ An old negress, a servan .” “Go on; I am deeply interested; are not you, Wheeler?” “Indeed I am, sir; it was on hearing his that 1 determined to bring him to you.” “ ou did ri ht. Proceed my lad.” “Well, sir, abrielle and Patience got the omcers of the law drunk, and released me, and I took my boat and ran down here, because I heard the constable say that there was an American fri ate anchored here, and I thought I could pilot i u the coast and aid in the cap- “l‘l(')£blhe 11:3“ gill t be d hall 0 sm m an y an on s - but, hasth the Englishman put again to sea: you think?” “ No, sir; the frigate was somewhat damaged in the gale, and lost two score of men over- board. The commander said he would remain several dogs for repairs, and I sent an mm to pilot him sea again.” “ Why did you do that?” “I promised to send some one on board, if they would let me ; but I told Gabrielle to ask the Indian to elayall in his wer, as I would corneas soon as I could with t e frigate.” “Splendid! Now my boy, we’ll at once aboard ship and get under weigl: f we cap- ture the Englishman you shall ve a midshlp- man’s berth on the Sentinel. Until after we meet in cbmbat, you shall be my pilot.” . A proud smile crossed the face of Dudley Dash, and his heart throbbed with :1:th and gripe as, half an hour after, he stood at e wh oi the Sentinel, which, under a fair breeze, was Swiftly gliding out of Portland harbor—bound on a c foe. CHAPTER XIX. ran nor mor. “ WHEN we» get abreast of yonder island, Commodore can, we can see if t e Enghsh frigate is in the ba ,” said Dudley Dash, who stood at the wheel 0 the Sentinel, amid a group of uniformed officers. . At once all was excitement on board the American vessel. It was feared that their enemy might have flown, but every heart beat high with 0 that she was still inthe bay, for, though. the glishman was slightly the superior of the Sentinel in men and fins yet all on board, from the commodore the powder- monkeys, longed to try their strength with the Iron Duke. As for Dudley Dash, he was more. than anxious, for he wished to redeem blinself 1n the eyes of all who had called him a traitor. Every eye was at once turned upon the island, awnlfii as the frigate slowly lided abreast of it a ' hurrah burst from o cers and crew; the frigate was still at anchor in the bay. t the comin of the American was a sur- , prise to the Eng ' vemel was evidentfifor t asters”: 1?” °dnn°°mm.,s:.s°gt “miss 0 er q was distinctly heard on the Sentinel. .y. _: r ‘ \} “By Heaven! your services must have been, raise in search of the haughty English ‘ “Will you stand in and attack her at her anchorage, sir?” cahnly asked Dudley, politely saluting the commodore. ‘ “ I would rather fight her with len _ of sea- 1 room. Beat to quarters, Mr. hee er, and . have a shotted gun fired to leeward to dare her ‘ out.” I q for action, for the willin crew were alre y at 1 thelr posts, and the o cers hastily equipped I themselves in fi htin trim. Steadin the erlcan then stood on, taking in all superfluous sail, and by the time she came opposite to where the Englishman lay, she was ready for the work of death. In the meantime. the English fri to still lay at anchor, though she was apparen 1y prepared for conflict, but trusted to the American ' no pilot to enter the bay. ‘ They are working rapidlv upon their re- pairs sir. Shall I stand on in?” “ No, pilot; we will give him a surprise first; he doubtless thinks we have no pilot. Mr. Wheeler, fire the gun to leeward and run up the Stars and Stripes. ’ “A. , 8%, Sir!” Wit t e deep boom of the gun and rear of the shot landward, the flag of the united States was run up to the peak, and the long pennant of 31111:“ commodore fluttered grom the main top- Instantly the blood-red flag of England was read to the breeze, and the nnant of the nglish commodore hung above ' decks. But the gun was not answered and the work of re iring went steadily on. “ e’ll stand elf and on for awhile, Mr. Dash, and then suddenly surprise him b standin into the y. There does not seem be mu _ working room there, then h?” ' “There is plenty, sir. he islands cause the bay to look smaller than it is.” ' ‘ ' ‘ And there is plenty of depth, on say?" You kmgv gfihese vessels of war deep in the we r which I know well, there are seven to ten fathoms in everg art g the ba , sir. The Englishman has t e ndi for 0. pi ot- I recog- nize him standing b the wheel ”—an ‘Dudley Dash handed the g ass he had been looking through for some moments, to the commodore. “And you reco ' 6 some one else on the rocks, yonder—eh! said the commodore, smil- m I g‘ Yes, sir; my father and sister are there, and g a number of count 1e.” “ Vien’litleylwmrilimo: th t th gran . ra e ma no see 9 stars NEE stri pgo down in gyloomz’ “I do not ear it, sir. The Sentinel, I think, will rove a match for the Iron. Duke.” ‘ “ od t it! Now, pilot, you can stand in; but it loo to me as though there was as much danger in running throu h this rock-bound channel as in fighting the glishman.” ' “ Never fear. sir; know every foot of water about here. The Englishman seems determined not to come out.” “ For that reason I intend to o in and attack him. Pilot, the sailin of the rigate is in your hands- for God’s sake ve a care.” ' ' ‘ " Du ey Dash made no reply. He at once took his stand at the wheel, and m a few moments. the Sentinel was heading in toward the bay, 'throu h one of the narrow and circuitous chan~ nels t at led from the sea shoreward. ‘ It was now plainly evident that the Eu lid:- man gag tElotbgehevedd the Amttlarican ab 6 3 come 6 y, an was grea surprised, See her suddenly standi ‘ the channel, at be same ' cafi‘ghs wfienlgggxllna is slaind'om his ble 811' e n 1 n p in ca , . He is swinggmg round to theglrgeze. Thorél he topsails on the ca‘ ,” and Dudley Dash scorned on out that must DOW. e Sentinel was now within a mile off!» Iron Duke and advancing at a slapping co. _, other ,was' . to, eEngfigh‘man As she drew nearer, leeward, and instantly round and answered it with a broadside that shook the very sea, and rumbled like a, bursts of thunder along the rocky c, . ' ‘ With fearful velocity the iron hail rushed on , and tore over and through the brave Am , sending down a topmost there, cuttin away a. ard here, and crashi‘ngthroug the mass h a sivevzufi, to leavethe deck slippery with gore. ‘ Instantly thunders of ' artillery shook the their iron loads, and the from keel to truck «the fearful shock cane, with far more disastrous effect upontheSentinel'. " littleba one moment lessenmg‘, thatdi d’edthem. . ' ’ and yew thew ’ \ I There was little need of the order to pro are - havmg, “ Excepting on the shoals and sunkenrocks, , ve achancetowitna~ ace throng: g2"‘again taldng ‘ all but her worldntfinsailg for‘she had ‘set ,. g 0 ' is standing across the bay with" royals aloft and, to feel a tremor o delight at the prospect of the ' o . the American Inf! ‘and again the . . - while her , hull seemed on fire as the ‘ belched forth ‘ IEon Duke annulled 'Thenthoroarofthegunsbecafi' M A asthetwo‘hu sewwauidstack‘ ‘about‘thsg 3 I N and nearer ‘ cmne'tocach‘oflle'rij carer ,md they Maj I: h '.r, .m... .7; nyour duties.” sndwhenlbeheld Amorica ‘ ;‘~:h:'adoooutlide,ltund Y . N0.‘ 2| of combat, while more fearful became the car i board; but when she headed in, grazed the Tur— nafie. . ith their rigging1n shattered, their hulls pierced in a hundred p ces their decks strewn with dead and (lying, and their crews strip d to the waist, sti fighting their guns, the wo vessels approached within almost pistol-shot Then the Englishman was com lled to 0 about to avoid a sunken rock ahea , and as s 6 did so, the boy pilot saw his advantage and ! 1 uickly altered the course of the American so 3 t at a raking fire was poured from stem to stem 3 . upon the Iron Duke. The effect was appalling, and ere the English crew could recover from its effect, the voice of Dudley Dash was heard above the roar of bat— tle, giving orders to the sailinry crew, and the next instant, by a masterly and darin move, he laid the American alongside of the nglish- man. ' , ' “Boarders, aho ! Follow me!” rung out in the cheery tones 0 Lieutenant Wheeler, who led the boarding party. As he sprung upon the Englishman’s deck, a slender orm was by his side. It was Dudley garish, with pistol in one hand and cutlass in the er. . Then began a desperate hand-to—hand fight on .deck, whi 9 below decks, on each vessel, the heated guns were pouring their fire into the trembling hulls. . But human nature could not long withstand the impetuous rush of the Americans, and in an hour from the time the first shot was fired, the of the Iron Duke was hauled down. nstantl there fluttered up to the peak in its place the tars and Stripes, run up by the hands 2113i Dtéedley Dash, the boy pilot of the victorious a . . . e had nobly won his berth, as amidshipman, — in the navy of his country. CHAPTER XX. THE DARE-DEVIL mDDY. THE Sentinel had won a great victory' the Iron Duke had struck her colors to her bol ad- versary; but each vessel quickly stood away for the lee of Crescent Island and drop d an- chor ‘ for both were badly battered in h , shat- tered in rigging, and groans of anguish went up from a hundred throats on deck and in cock- p t and ward-room. . Commodore Duncan was as gallant an enemy as brave, and Commodore De Lancy’s sword - a was returned to him. . By the side of the American emcer, when he had his interview with the English commodore, stood Dudley Dash, a proud smile upon his face; he had erased the ban of traitor from his name. “ And you, sir, were the pilot of my conqueror! By Heaven! I half believed it when I saw the masterly manner in which the frigate was han- dled,” and Commodore DeLancy turned his gaze upon the youth, who realied quietly: - “ Yes, sir; I sought redeem myself in the eyes, of my countrymen, for saving your veer se 1" And nobly have you done it, boy; you will , yet win a great name for ourself, and you de- serve a commission,” said 9 kind-hearted Eng- “He has already been appointed a midng- -man in the American navy, commodore. . Dash, you can now go ashore to visit your friends, who must be anxious regarding you. .Betan'n to-morrow morning and commence upon . “Thank ou, sir,” and litel saluting both ofllcers, Du ey left the ea in an went on deck. .As he a peared, there was an excitement at .once visib e among the crew of the Sentinel, . and the boatswain, sprin g» upon a gun waved his tarpaulin aroun his head and cried ': 1n stentorian tones. - :“ Three rousing cheers, lads, one and all, for Dudley Dash the Dare-Devil Midgg.” . The rear 0 voices that respond was almost deafening, and the youth’s face flushed with .Ry and confusion; but, politely raising his hat .. bowed low-to the enthusiastic crew. an walked across the blood-stained deck to the gm”, for he had just caught sight of a boat coming alongside, and containing . two familiar forms. . is At the gen aystood the tall form of Tellico, ., the Indian p' ot, whose eyes flashed with plow muses Dudley greeted him, and said: “ You did well, Tellico; but, what detained the frigate so long, while we were delayed by - the calm?” “ Much heap work to do. Tellico had heap much gold—see!” and he displayed a bag of the precious metal, given him for his services. “1am glad of it, Tellico; but you must not .tellany one how you fig: it. Come, 0 ashore for}, see Fat Hayes and abrielle de. - \ 'So saying, Dudley went down the ,ngway '~Itaps,.'f 'wed b' the delighted In ' , and there a warmlwe awaited him from his 46.0 ted father and the happy Gabrielle. “ y,-I am proud of t£21.11 I saw the whole a standing you were not on l 0" .Y tle rock, and then gassed between the Twin Castles, then, then I ew that you ordered her wheel, for, excepting myself, no man on this ThePsre-Deulare???Winged Witckofjchefisa- e ) coast could have brought the frigate in b the ? channel you came. Boy, my brave boy, proud of you ” and Carter midshipman’s hand until he winced. Springing into the boat, and followed by Tel- lico, the part at once set off for the shore, where u on heir arrival at the beach they ! l to were me by hundreds of fishermen and coun— . try gople of both sexes, drawn to the coast to ; see e sea duel between the frigates. “ Wall, I do declar’—ef er hain’t ther amest boy in these yer di gin’s hen jist call t er ole woman a liar,” an old Patience almost hugged Dudley in her joy at seeing him. As she dropped his hand Daniel Dawes, the constable, stepped forward— “Forgive me, Dud; I was rather hard on you, I admit; but you must mind that the wind was against you; it did look bad; but then, the old nigger and Gabie got revenge for you, for I’m cursed if I hasn’t a headache yet from that liquor, and my partner is drunk yet! I fear they’ve made a ho less drunkard out of him.” Dudle laughed eartily, and replied: “I he (i no ill-will, Daniel, and I admit ap- pearances were against me; but, it is all over now, and for my services I have been made a midshipman on board the fri te.” “ Hooray! hooray for Dud ey! hooray for the young middy!” was heard on all si es; and cheer after cheer was given, until Dudley was glad to escape to the cottage, where he made own all that had happened to him, since he leflii home, a year and a half before, to attend co ege. “And now you are to leave gs again, 'boy? Well, it is doubtless best; but, Ga ie and myself will often think of you, cruising about the seas, and dey for your safe return.” “ 11 I’ll ask Patience to pray for you too. She knows all sorts of prayers—won’t you, Patience?” “Yas, chile; I’ll pm to de goo’ Lor’ ebery ni ht an’ mornin’, and e will hear my prayer, ef be on’y a poor ole cullud pusson.” Swiftly the afternoon assed, and toward sunset Dudley and Carter ayes rowed out to the frigate to ask Commodore Duncan to the cotta e to su per. W' ' gly the commodore accepted the invita- tion and late at ni ht, when he went down to the beach to take is boat back to the frigate, he told Gabrielle he had never enjoyed a more delightful evening. The followin mornin Dudley went aboard the Sentinel an re rte for duty, and shortly after the two friga stood out to sea, the Dare- Devil Middy, as the sailors had dubbed him, when they learned of his most adventurous career, at the helm of the American. and Carter Egges at the wheel of the Iron Duke, for Com- m ore Duncan had engaged the old fisherman to ilot his prize out to’sea. ainin an oflin Carter Hayes left the Iron Duke, an returne in his own boat homeward while the two frigates stood down the coast toward Portland, where they were going for re- pairs, which they sorely needed. Standing at the wheel, Dudle gazed astern until the ow—white cottage aded from his sight in thedistance, and then with a dee sigh he turned away: his career as a mids pman had begun. ‘ ' CHAPTER XXI. m DARE-DEVIL mnnr u woax. SEVERAL months after the scenes related in the last chapter, a large vessel of war was cruis~ ing slowly along the southern coast, in the waters of the great inland sea, known as the - Gulf of Mexico. In her fore, main and mizzen top were sta- tioned look-outs with glasses, who were earnest- ] searching the many indentures and inlets along the shores. Upon the vessel’s deck both officers and men were all glancing landward, as if searching for some object. Upon the uarter-deck of the sea-warrior, which the reader will recognize at a glance as the American frigate Sentinel, stood the well known form of Commodore Duncan, surrounded by his officers, amonguwhom the slender, gee- ful figure, clad in fu uniform, and the nd- some, daring face of Dudley Dash was visible. “Mr. Wheeler,” and the Commodore tinned to his lieutenant, “ should we discover the schoon- er, I wish to take her with the boats, for we dare not venture within two leagues of the shore in the frigate.” “Ay, ay, sir! What ofliccrs shall I take. and how many men?” prom tly answered the officer. “ She cannot possib y have more than sixty men, I think. Take four boat’s crews with you, and I’ll give the midshipman a chance. Let Mr Dash goassecond in command, toyou, and , Midshiprhen Trevor and Roy go in charge of the other boats.” . -“Yes. Ho! the mizzenctcpl What is .it you as. ?” ~ XIsecr-the tome of a schooner-ever the 11 ggint of land which lies just off the starboard w, sir ” “ 13:, . ay! Watch her closely! Mr. Wheeler, I thi ' that must be the schooner.” All was excitement now on board the‘ frigate, am ; which was brought a point in nearer shore, and Hayes wrung the 1 Lieutenant Wheeler went forward to give orders to call the boats away. “ Ho the deck!” suddenly came from the fore- P‘.Ay a r!” “It is the English privateer we have been chasing, sir. I can see her now, with my nak— e e ‘ “Ay, ay! Quartermaster, bring herapoint further in shore. 'Ihere, stead as on are! Now, Mr. Harlow, we will come am; 101‘ here, for from this spot we can blockade the little Englishman,” and Commodore Duncan turned to his second lieutenant. A few moments more and the frigate came to anchor, just as the sun went down, and about two leagues oil.’ the inlet in which lay the schoon— er, the rakin masts of which could now be see from the dec , over a low point of land. " A mile upon either side of the frigate two elbows of land jutted far out into‘ the gulf, so that the privateer could not secs 0 to sea with- out coming under the fire of t e American’s guns. . . ' Just as darkness rested upon the waters, the four boats selected for the expedition, Were gelled away, and the picked crews soon filled em. “ Let fall! give way!” came the stern order from Lieutenant Wheeler, and the boats mov slowly oil” in a line heading shorcward. ‘ ~ After a row of a mile they pullcdmore'swift- ly, and in an hour’s time approached the nar- row inlet, in. which the fleet little rivateer had taken refuge, for the frigate ha been in ursuit of her several days, always to be diS‘l' ced by the sugerior speed of the schooner, which had been oing considerable .damage’to American shiEping in southern waters. ‘ Presently t e leading boat stopped, and the others came alongside. ' “Mr. Dash, you will take the schooner over her hows; Mr. Trevor, you will atinck‘: upon the starboard quarter, and Mr. ' on the port. I will board over the stern andgo first. .“When I have struck the craft, you will at- tack, Mr. Dash, and then the other two boats must follow. Do‘ on understand, gentlemen?” asked Lieutenant heeler. A ' “Ay, ay! sir!” answered the three midship- men. “ Good! Now row to your respective positions, and success attend you, ' The four boats then separated, cnch takin a different course, and moving slowly over e dark waters. ' . A half mile away the schooner lay dark and threatening. No light was visible on heard; no sound came from her decks across the waters. " It was evident that those on board expected an attack, and were lying in ambush, as'it were, to meet it with determined and deadly ance. _ . ‘ . Proud of an op rtunity to again‘ ' 1n his courage, Dudley ash steered his Whine spot best suited for his attack, and en the men rested on their cars, quietly awai the si al for the daring charge over thewatcrs. alf an houridraggcd its weary lcn h along, and there was heard the soundof re d rowin ; the ringing voice of Lieutenant Wheeler, bro ~e ’ over the waters; a cheer from his boat’s crew followed, and the charge upon the schooner had be . 5‘31“ way, men! with a will i” and th'e'voi of Dudley Dash rung out, clear and strong. But, as the oars broke the waters theroicame suddenly a brifilsit red light, flashed up from the schooner’s dec ; a roar of cannon and inns- ketry followed; and then was heard a crashing of timbers, shrieks of pain, and yells of triumph: the combat was begun in deadly earnest. I CHAPTER XXII. . THE ATTACK AND ITS RESULT. 3 “ON men! Pull for your lives, or we’ll: feel the weight of their heavy metal,” cried Dudley Dash, as he heard the iron crashing through the boat of Lieutenant Wheeler. ' ' With a yell the oarsmen bent to’theiroars, and the boat fairly flew through the water. » , ' But, keen eyes watched its progress, and again a red glare lit u the scene, an witha deafening roar, a torren of grape swept”above the heads of the crew. ' “ By Jove! that would have ended us. Cease rowing,” rung out in the voice of Dudley Dash. Instantly the boat glided noiselessly on,vand every ear was strained to catch the sound at combat. God! can they have sunk Lieutenant H M Whee er?” cried Dudley, and as he spoke a. dis- tant hail was heard coming from the water. ‘ “ Put ’back for the love of God! they have us. “Give way, men, with a ' and‘la ' ,aboard Devil Mi ' ' yonder eggooner 1” storm)“ 0 , no wguldvhoc go‘ka now! He Wald 03 avenge his comrades: ' ‘ ‘ 7 . \ 12 ! “ Way engaging cWard her 03 there i” and with the 0rd utter was under the bows of the schooner. _ There was a bright flash above their heads, a deafening roar, a rattle of small arms, and sev- eral men fell back dead in the boat. But the Dare-Devil Middy sprung upon the schooner’s deck, his pistol flashing before him, and his cutlass sweeping around him, and at his back came a dozen bold seamen. “At them, lads, at them!” and the handful , Wt tars pressed forward with a cheer, their inevitable onslaught drove the Eng- lish crew backward into the waist of the schooner. But here they rallied, and, trebling their ad- versaries' in number, would have swept the Americans into the sea had not Norvel revor and his crew just then clambered over the high bulwarks and gallantly sup rted Dudley. ctSmtill the schooner: crew;d aiaoutnumbergld. the a king y an wou ve again iven them bacg had not a yell resounded behind them and Audley Roy and his men boarded over the stern. This reinforcement, which was considerable, for Midshipman Roy had picked up the crew from the sunken boat com etely turned the tide of aflairs, for the were between two Still they were in larger force, and fought with stubborn desperation, as became British seamen, and it was for a leifigl time a de rate hand-to-hand conflict, with glish and eri- eans mixed to ther in a confused melee. At length, udle Roy, with one arm han - ing limp at his si e, from a pistol-shot woun , reached the side of Dudley, and said hastily: Mr. Dash, you are in command; Lieutenan was mortally wounded, and his boat ;heisnowinmyboat astern, and d .” yPéed knows I am sorry to hear this; but, Roy, we must beat them. He, Trevor! Ho men! Lieuth Wheeler is dying! On! and avenfi?I him! , W renewed cries, and desperate co , the seamen pressed forward; and, led y Dudley and his fellow-midshi men, their charge wastrresistible. Slowly the glish crew were driven back, and at len b they could go no w; they were figh ' on their quarter- Here theymadead standforafew moments, and hot and cruel was the combat; but at length they dwindled downtoa t few, whose commander at length felt t it was his du not to sacrifice more lives. “Hold! surrender my vemel,” he cried, in chokingto and he lowered the int of his sword; and t en, turning it aroun , held the hilt toward Dudley Dash. The ht of the battle lantern fell full upon and the Eng ' gazed upon his , ' face with “Iwould surrendermy swo , sir, tothe om— car in command.” “ I am that ofiicer, sir!” “ You! a midshipmen by your uniform?” “Yes, sir! but hes your sword. I am sorry youdid not surre er sooner—it would have saved many valuable lives.” “ To whom do I surrender sir?” “ To Midshipman Dudley Dash, of the Ameri- can frigate Sentinel. What schooner is this?” “The English privateer Dreadnau ht—scven gs and ninety men,” professio y replied English commander. “Ca in, if yourself and emcers give me their word not to attempt to esca , I will not confine on. Now we will loo after the w ” and Dudleg Dash step to the lstemsndsprungover tothe boat edthere. In the stem-sheets lay the form of Lieutenant Wheeler. Placing his hand 11 n his pulse the outh stemming” forevti‘al‘i:ostilledticg‘lfii m offi- cer \ cs on e to and his "raw-Sn his spiritghad ' nd, was dead- ’ sailed away to cruise through an unknown onbeard the schooner Dudley set to work wig: a will to look after the wounded, who were numerous, and it was some ere more all attended to. I he called his own men to their posts, the anchor was hauled up, the sails set, and the schooner moved swiftl out of the inlet. for the spo where they had left the has... maids-resin w surprise 0 n e was no discovered. Keen eyes and nighth swept the sea for miles and searched closelfi along the shares for a sight of the frigate, ut no sail greeted them— e schooner was alone upon the and the frigate nowhere in sight! shehad gene, or what had become of her was a mystery to all. CHAPTERXXIII. been mrs A now can. Want at brokeovertbssea. f thecap oonerstillcruisingpfl .withall on board scanning themde ‘watsrforaglimpeeofthsfrigate norm .. it; But the sun illumined the sea, and nowhere was there a sail in sight. “ The frigate cannot be seen, Mr. Dash,” said Audley Roy, coming into the cabin, where Dud- ley sat in conversation with the English ofilcer. “ I am sorry, for it places me in an awkward situation. Keep the lookouts aloft, Mr. Trevor, and I will stand off and on here until I am cer- gin ,the frigate will not return. How is Mr. 0 l’ “ Much better, sir; it was but a flesh wound he received, and now that the surgeon has dressed it, he has reported for duty.” The New York Library: “ He isa brave fellow. Mr. Trevor, you will 3 act as my first ofiicer, and Mr. Roy as my E certainly most gratifying to Dudley Dash, who second, until we find the frigate.” “Ay, a , sir,” and-with t is deman ed on a well discin vessel, Norvel Trevor politely saluted his y commander and left the cabin to attend to his duties. . But a long and weary week of anxious watch- . m away and no frigate came in sight. en Dudley Dash! called his brother mid- shi men to a council, and it was decided to run to avana in search of the missing Sentinel, for it was known that she intended going there. “She doubtless gave chase to some stran sail and ran so far away that she concluded put into Havana and await us, taking it for ted that we would ca ture the schooner and follow her there,” said . ROM “It may be that Lieutenant eeler had some orders that we did not know,” returned Dudley. “ at must have been the case, sir. I would advise starting for Havana,” remarked Norvel Trevor. “ And I,” joined in Midshipman Roy. “Then to Havana we go. We can at least get rid. of our prisoners there, and procure a supply of stores, of which we are in need, and then we can 0 on a cruise after the frigate.” “ Or turn t e schooner over to some American vessel-of-war that ma be in port.” “No, Mr. Ro ; I 0 not intend to do that. We captured t is schooner after a. hard fight, and I will report only to Commodore Duncan. If I cannot find him, why we will serve our country on our own account as a rivateer.” Both midshipmen looked at their young com- mander with surprise. He was a daring emcer, they both knew, for they had seen him tried; but would he dare do what he threatened? Fearless as he was, they almost feared he would not—I say they feared he would not, for such a reckless adventure ust chimed in with their own spirits; but Aud ey Roy said, quietly: . “”You have no commission as a privateer, “ I seized this schooner, and I need no com- mission. With the stars and stripes at the I care for none. I “ t will the men say, sir?” asked Nervel Trevor. . “ I shall not ask them. If they mutiny, they do so at their ril. Mr. Trevor put the schoon- er away for vana,” and the Dare-Devil mid- shipmen spoke in a tone that proved he was in deadly earnest After a rapid run the Dreadnau ht anchored under the frowning guns of the ore Castle, and Dudley Dash swept the harbor with his glass in search of the missing frigate. She was nowhere in sight and inquii’fi"l proved that she had not put into ’Havana at . Here was a. quan ; but Dudley Dash proved himself eqmil to it, and at once acted with promptness and decision. His first move was to parole the English com- mander and his crew, and send them on board a British sloo of war anchored near him. , This done, 6 sent Audley Roy ashore to pur- chase all supplies needed, for With the schooner he had ca tured a large quantity of old. Soon e stores were on boar and tho schooner’s bow bold] turned seawar . “Is not that cra t a. beauty?” asked Audloy Roy, as the schooner was glidin out of the harbor, and he pointed to a rakish- ookin craft that was lying under the guns of the ' glish sloo of war. “ never saw a more beautiful vessel. She’s as saucy as a. pirate and can sail like the win ,” replied Dudley, wit enthusiasm. ‘She’s a rize to the Eu lish sloop, sir,” said the man at t e wheel, polite y touching his cap. “ An American, then?” “ Yes, sir; she was built by a rich ntleman to go privateering in on his own hoe ; but the sleep cagtured her b runnin afoul of her in a. fog. I learn when went aboard with the risoners esterda , sir.” “I’d like recapghre her,” said Dudle , quietly; but he turned his eyes away from o beautiful vessel and ordered: call the men aft. I would speak with them.” , « “Ay, ay, sir.” As the schooner gained the open see three- score of hardy tars stood in line before their young commander who, after 6 ' them for a moment, said, in his frank, chee nos: “ the unfortunate death 0 Lieutenant Wheeler laced me in command of this schooner. “ his orders were, I do not know; but, certain it is, that after accomplishing the duty at etiquette which l ! 1 I D l I am of - ' _ I have had bad 1252131 lite. ,Ist‘az's yam ,. Vol. I. we were sent upon, we found our frigate gone. . “You well know that I waited more than a week for her off the inlet where we left her, and have now just left Havana, where we came in search of her, but without success. “It is still my intention to search for the frigate; but also to cruise as a rivateer until we find her. In this determination my officers have supported me, and I have called you aft to know if there is one man in this schooner who fears to sail under the command of the areoDevil Middy?" The wild cheer that greeted his words was doifed his ca , and replied: “Lads, It kyou; from in heart I thank you. I am but a boy in years, ut you have all seen me tried, and I see in your midst the gel- lant tar, Dirk Harding, who gave the name by which you are pleased to call me. Mr.’ H ' . until we find the fri to, or it finds us, I ap- point you my acting t “rd lieutenant.” ‘ Again a rousing cheer greeted the be com- mander and he felt, come what mig t, he could wholly rely upon his officers and man. “What course shall we steer, sir?” and Dirk Harding, an honest, brave old sailor, who had once been captain of a merchantman, and afterward boatswain on the Sentinel, came aft, and litely saluted. “ and for Absco, in the Bahamas, Mr. Hard- My first duty will be to pa an old ' ti~ in . pira ca? friend a visit—one he will htt 6 like,” and the young adventurer descended into his cabin, while the fleet schooner bounded swiftly along on her course. CHAPTER XXIV. CAPTAIN WINWOOD AT non. MY readers certainly have not fergetten Cap- tain Winwood, the buccaneer chief, whose prei . meditated attack on the villa of Jud e Raynor, had proven so opWrtune to Dudle Now, Ca tain is this “i we”? 1‘11“; "if 9“ Thames“ possess ' o e u s o ut torunotfwiththefair g8 gd’ met several yearsbefore, when he was an officer of the navy of the United States, and dearly loved her. But the captain was a very fast man and his wild life led him into difficulties which caused him to take life to extricate himself, and then he was com ed to fly the country to save his neck from t e han ’s noose. After his flight, e wrote to the fair Louise, and begged her to become his bride, and re- coived t it would dge intimated inalettertohim, he ' toagaincrosshis u a serious thing for path. Having cruised ' the buccaneers in southern waters, a tain Winwood knew where to find a lace o refu , and accordingly 3?: his (110tth th hi f f the] rmae' eirc‘e ortosa east of him, he was a brave and o cer. After his narrow escape from capture by the Iron Duke, Captain Winwood left Dudley and his boat’s crew to their fate, and stood a for that part of the coast upon which dw t Judge Raynor and his lovely daughter. Entering the little bay, nct far from the uni- versit , he selected a score of his best men move slowly toward the villa. But his coming had and instead of gold he got lead and steel, froma Party of worthy citizens, who drove him rapid- ytohisboatswithalossofhalfhismen. ‘ , Putting to sea again with all ' tch, Cap- tain Winwood the following mormng, sighted 31 small sleep that was standing rapidly toward m. At first he. believed it to be a party coming from thoshore to attack him: but a closerob- servation through his glass proved that the sleep was manned, and carried only half a dosenmen “psi 33 $55“ «mi la and, o r a s: was ‘ coming , the schodner av: aite‘dmgheyfiimseh ofIghe sloop. a1 d d wassoon on ean twomensprungui the deck of the bucggneer. 7 o and excited The one was Paul Dunstan, —the other Loyd Newton, ' ess and War- t. en . “ Paul Dunstan—do I see alight?” exclaimed the buccaneer captain with rise. , “ Yes, Winwood' I am, like you, afngitive— we little thought w en we were rivals for the love of the fair Louise, that we would one day be outlaws; but so it is.” “ And you are an outlaw then?” “Yes; things went wrong with me ashore. I got into some trouble. A follow I had in Egyblabbed andIhad toclearout. tan for lookingafter his own, I saw and nized your schooner, and t out to her- lgt me introduce my ' friend, , hewten. Weareboth gpenforaherthabosrd yourvesscl, andIhave ous'menhemwhowill join cu.” - 6‘ sh mwood had a cubic motive uise, whom he had , rem her an indignant rep! , while the ' a horde o pirates, who soon . already been discovered, ' ' I i 2 , r, A..- , anee 0 an experienced p" ot, H O No. 2. “ Yes; I bought her months ago, to kidna the judge’s daughter; but my plans miscarri , as did yours last night: but what in the name of Satan did you do with that boy you cut down after Newton had hung him up?’ “ Took him to sea With me and tried to make a pirate of him: but it did no good; et he was doubtless h for a buccaneer as sent him aboard a vesse one night that I thought was a su ply ship, and which proved to be an English fréate, that ver nearly caught my schooner. The boy wounde you in a duel, I believe?” “Yes, and I came near dying, curse him. I hope he is hung; but, come, captain, set the 8100 on fire all let us get away from this neig berheol, for I don‘t like to be so near shore.” Captain Winwood gave an order to one of his under officers, and the sleep was set on fire and turned adrift, while the Sea Lance at once set ' heading on a southerly course. ith the cruise of the Sea. Lance I have little to do; but will state that it turned out a most unsuccessful one, and with a mutinous crew Captain Winwood was at length compelled to stand away for his island rendezvous _in the Bahamas. He had lieen ‘theretgiut a few da s, and (signs thinkin' ' go utting seaagain, w enoue y a vessel was Ii)'eporte'.l a {gaming the island. Takin his glass he le ' cabin on shore, and walked a high hill, commanding the entrance to the little bay in which his schooner was an- chored. Landward, the view was certainly uninviting, for a succession of sand-hills and rocky gorges met the eye, dotted here and there, close to the beach of the little bay. with rude cabins, the homes of the buocaneers when on shore. In the little land-sheltered bay lay the Sea Lance at anchor, and with her topmasts down, to prevent being seen by any vessels passmg near the island. ‘ ' On the high int of land jutting into the sea, was a masked attery of three eighteen—pound— ers, that commanded fully the approach to the m I it was at this int thhfil: a lookbotut twas coni etantl ke t, an' n n ' repor ha avessc was i151, sight Captanigi \Vinwood had ascended the hill, and turned his glass upon the strange sail. “ She is a large schooner, and armed, and she heads direct for the entrance to the bay. She means mischief, and I must see to it; but what traitor can be at her helm to bring her here? lia! she dies the American flag! yheaveu! there is to be warm work here, for yonder craft comes on no errand of I e.” . So sa iug, Captain V inwood hastily descend- ed the and his stern voice soon called his men to busy action. “ Into the fort there, a score of you, and man those guns! Mr. unstan you and Newton take charge of the fort, and vanes and myself will go aboard the schooner and prepare for ac- tin. Ifthestranerco esdirectl on e no. hgtflreu nhimindifnhenmstliye ’thtetsof e on. the fort, will lay him aboard wi Lance.” The ofleers and men at once set out for their mauve posts, and when Paul Dunstan reach- ed fort he found the stran schooner within a mile of the shore, and stan mg rapidly in to- ward the entrance under fighting canvas, and with her men at the guns. ‘ CHAPTER XXV. m BUCCANEER AND ran mnnr. HAVING reached the masked battery or to as Ca tam Winwood was pleased to c it, Pa and Loyd N ewt0wn set about prepara- tions for fir' upon the Schooner, which was stun ' sw' y in, evidentl under the guid- for no vessel dare run in so boldly upon an would othermse unknown shore. “ She is near enough to fire upon; blaze away I” cried Paul Dunstan. _ He evidently did not like to see the flag of his country coming so near, with hostile intent. The canvas screen, made to resemble a cf sand, was instantly removed from before the grinning muzzles of the lo eighteens; tncn the burst of artiller' fairly s ook the bid, as the three p0 forth their fire. Two of e iron messengers sped wide of the mark; the third struck the schooner somewhere in the w and it was evident hit her hard. But the cot vessel still stood on, disdainmg to re lg} and in spite of the rapid and well- e from the hill, soon ran in under the land where she would be out of the range of the rt. .But she had passed thro hasevereorde for the int of her long wsprit was she awa , main- mast was. hanging by the rigéig, and severe. ugl looking holes were in her decks, which were blood-stained, and here and there dotted with the dead. Once into the channel, and theschooner stood on, as fast as her shattered condition would ad- mit, and soon glided into the little bay,.where the Sea Lance came in sight. . _ Instantlythe hiecaneer craft deed across the harbor to meet her,and lama; gushing". The DeraDevii 3._-.°r_’..,T.h3 Winged Wit her a terrible broadside, which again did con- siderable damage. Upon the schooner’s uarter-deck stood Mid- shipman Dash, his eag 6 eyes taking in the whole scene—his face pale, but calm. When the broadside of the Sea Lance struck his Vessel, the order to fire trembled upon his 1ip3' but suddenly checking himself, he cried: “ en, we are hurt too bad for the schooner ? to be of much further use; let us take yonder craft unhurt. Boarders, ahey!” A wild cheer broke from the men, and with an order to the helmsman, Dudley Dash sprung forward to lead the boarders. But a in came a broadside from the Sea Lance; ortunatcly it cut away the rigging, and human life was spared. As the mainmast tumbled to the deck, drag- ging the foremost with it, the Sea Lance was skillfully laid alongside, and with maddening yells the buocaneers sprung on board the almost wrecked schooner. Dudley Dash had formed his nien in a solid line, just under the shelter of the quarter-deck, and as the mass of buocaneers hurled them- selves upon the American vessel, there came the stern order: “ Together, men—fire!” It was a telling volle' , for one half the hue- caneers went dewn, an ere they could recover from their surprise, for they had deemed vic- tory in their ~rasp, the cheering voice of the Dare-Devil Middy run out; “U and at them, lads!” Wit ringing cries the irresistible mass moved forward, and the remaining buocaneers were swe t into the sea. “ oarders, ahoy! on their own decks we’ll fight them new,” and Dudley Dash sprung upon the Sea Lance, followed by his three ofilcers and two score of men. ' There he was met by Captain Winwood him- self, and his remaining buccaneers. But the onslaught of the Americans drove them back, and Dudley Dash and the buccancer chief were face to face. “ You here? You were not hung then?” “ No, Captain Winwood. Lay down your arms and your life shall be spared, for what you once did for me.” “Never! I saved youjto make a tool of you —through you to rob udge Raynor. Curse you boy, you owe me nothing,” sava ely said the buocaneer chief, and drawing a pi: lquick- ly, he leveled it at Dudley Dash and pulled the rigger. fiut the powder flashed in the pan,* and Cap- tain Winwood, with a bitter curse, sprung for- ward, with drawn outlass. “ So be it, then! New, I will take your life,” and the two blades crossed. Though a mere youth, Dudle Dash was a fine swordsman, for an old coast- erman, who had once been a British sailor, had taught him the use of all kinds of swords, and constant practice had made him proficient in the art of self-de- fense, and offense. Therefore Captain Winwood found that he had met his match, for he did not cut down, as he had expected, his brave youn adversary. Then followed a hard- 0 h combat—the buccaheer chief fighting for 0 death of his enemy, and for his own life. Dudley Dash de- termined to slay the man before him, and there- by rid the seas of a fearful scourge. With flashing eyes, hard-drawn breath, and muscles severe y strained, they fou ht on, until at length Captain Winwood seem to feel that his hour had come, for his men had surrendered, and the Sea Lance was won by the Americans. Once his eyes glanced upward—but whether in prayer or not none knew; then his face he- came pallid and his lips white, while his nerve seemed leaving him. . “ Will you surrender new?” sternly said Dud- le Dash. “3‘ Ifll glayyou shall my life be spared!” hissed e e 1e . _t ‘”‘ Yes, you shall go free. Mr. Roy, you see to 1 C .“ This is madness, Mr. Dash,” said that oiIlcer impatiently. ‘ I romisehim his life if he me; see to it. Mr. ' ,” "repeated Dudle: Dash. “ surrender—what on?” “You shall be hung.” “ To the death then be it; your life or mine, With fierce determination Ca tain Winwood again pressed forward, to be me with calmness and skill which his fury could not destroy. A few moments longer the combat went on, and then Dudley Dash seemed to suddenly nerve himself to greater exertion; the result followed almost immediately, for Captain Winwood, the buocaneer chief, received his death-blow at the hands of the Dare-Devil Middy. CHAPTER XXVI. AN manner. As Dudley Dash struck Captain Winwood to the deck, tacre came a sudden shout from the t At that time-th look pistols and guns m ‘I “SO. AWE. , men; but it was not altogether a cheer—fora . $3-9??? cry of alarm mingled with 15—35 a terrific ell answered the cry of the Americans, and we boats dashed alongside the Sea Lance; filled with men. Interested as they were with the duel between their be commander and the pirate chief, the seamen not noticed the coming boats until they were 'ust aboard; but they met the attack with a v0 ey that momentarily checked them, Sndtthe buccaneers seemed as if about to re- rea . I But, suddenly, Paul Dunstan and Loyd New- ton s run upon the deck, and their comrades quic yfo owed. There was a rattle of fire-arms, a clash ‘of blades, and Paul Dunstan fell to the deck, mor- tally wounded, by a pistol shot ‘from Audiey R0 . ' fit the same moment Dudley Dash rushed for- ward and struck the sword from the asp of Loyd Newton; but, instantly, he starts back, cr 'ing: a Am I fight—you are Loyd Newton?” “Yes,” lenly repoied the youn man, as he held forth his hands be ironed, w e the buc- caneers, seeing their leaders beyond all resist- ance, lustily cried for quarter. “And Paul Dunstan too, leached with pic rates,” and Dudley Dash turned chis gaze upon the dying man. ' Slowly the eyes of Paul Dunstan opened, and then met the gaze of the young midshipman. “ Ha! you are victor in the end. Thank God! I’ll not be hung,” and then as his eyes-fob ' his friend in irons, he Said, recklessly: “ ew- ton, you’ll be hung. Our life of piracy was a short life, and—a—merry—merry—cruise—God --have morefyg—upon—my poer—mother—too late!-—too——la l” . Again the eyes closed; but he still breathed, yand Dudley Dash knelt beside him and laid, softl : “Your mother shall never know how died her son. I will send her word that he fell in action with an enemy.” The eyes again oBened, and the ri ht hand felt for the grasp of udley, who qui y took it. Then their gaze met, and a smile (nine upon the face of the yingdgirate, while his lips parted with the simple wor : “Thank‘you.” They Were the last words ever spoken by Pauh Dunstan- a moment after he was dead. . “ You’ll me, I an i” Dudley sta d. It was Loyd Newton who spoke, and whose eves lared upon him. , “Pirac u nthe ‘h seas ispunishable with deat . on were ken on a pirate deck, in the uniform of an officer, and ' American seameu' yes, Loyd Newton, you die,” and Dudley Dash turned away. I ‘ Have you no mercy?” groaned the con demned man. “ Such mercyasyou once showed to me, Lode Newton, just such mercy will I show to 11. Mr. Roy, get together these buocaneers, let 'us have their execution over. We have much a) do’, for our schooner is in a sinking condi- on. “ A? W. sir.” . ‘An our afterward the stores and best arms of the ' ' schooner were transferredtothe Sea Lance, which ran in alongside of a small pier, built out from the shore. Then on the beach the prisoners were drawn u in line—thirty—five in number, and five of w om were wounded. Glancin keenly down the line, Dudley Dash said ste y- “lien, my experience on board your vessel some time since, convinced me that man of you were buocaneers against your Will, ous . circumstances, which perhaps, you could not control, having caused you, as I can Well unde stand, to enlist under the flag of the pirate. “By the laws of nations you have forfeited our lives, and though I do not lpromise you ¥reedom from all punishment, I p edge ,myeelf to intercede for you, and be that you may be pardoned, excepting your hrce officers now remaining—Mr. Newton, and the Spanish Lieu- tenants, (Valdos and Pedro. For those three there is no excuse; they must die! “ But my clemency toward you is on one con- dition—that you enlist as seamen under my command—that you do 'all the work assigned - you, and upon your conduct depends my report to my commodore. Should one‘ act of ours cause me to feel that I am d'map intcd in you, the man who commits that act 8 i ll. be hung five minutes after. Do you agree to—my terms?” . If a hearty chccr was an indication, Duelcy should certainly have been satisfied, for the re- deemed buccanecrs fairly made t..e;r thromts sore with yelling while one hardened old sinner, ' anxious to in favor, cried out: " “ And I tell 'er captfng, vfliar kin pita dozen more like y *—they was ck from a wreck some weeks ago, an’ is prisoners in n - der cabin for ther same that the would not Jine our blood band 0’ cut-threats. _ “Goan bringthose menhcre,s!r." _ g The cx-buccaneer departed with that , andin ten wanton-starred with a locking band, thirteen in all. ' I 14 Their story was soon told—they were all that remained of an American printeer, which had been wrecked in a storm, and washed ashore‘on irate island. ith this addition to his crew for the priva- teersmen willingl egilisted un er this dlant midshipman an uccaneer recrui u ey Dash found himself in command of a hundred seamen. “ All hands ahoy! to witness execution!” then loudly called out old Dirk Harding, the actin third lieutenant of the amateur rivateer, an the seamen, ex-buccaneers and ranged them- selves in line amidships, on the Lea Lance. A latform was then erected over the star- boar bulwark, and a dozen weather-beaten tars detailed to act as the executioners, and armed with muskets. , Then the three risoners were brmight up, and mounted m e platform—Loyd ewton, 'd and sh ' g as if with ague' the two dgniards, with livid faces, but a stubborn, in- erent manner. “Dash, for God’s sake, show me Re- member, we were students together. 0 not have me killed,” cried Loyd Newton, wringing his manacled hands in agon . Dudley Dash was very e; but his face was vet-3yd firm, and his eye unflinching, as he re- “No Loyd Newton' there is no he for you; you niust die. Mr. Harding; is in readi- ness?” , It sir.” “Then do our duty, sir.” , Immediate y the squad of executioners were called to attention, and at that instant Loyd Newton dropped upon his knees, and his hands were stretched out in supplication—perhaps in aprayer to his oflended God—gethe in e - treaty to the stern youth whom e h once 0 deeply wronged, and who stood with folded 'arms, and stem face, gazing far out over the waters. H ' 6!” With the ominous word, twelve guns flashed forth their death-knells and the three buccaneer ' emcers fell dead upon the platform. Their ev1l lives had ended in gloom and despair. CHAPTER XXVII. , UNDER ARREST. mm. b “as” "ii We“? as: pm 1151‘ o e as , young o'fllocgg called); counch of his oflicers in the luxu- A 'ously-furnished cabin of the Sea Lance, for ‘ own'schooner had been completely usedup i in the fight. . , “I send for yoxg. gentlemen, to make known ' 'my plans.” he sai , as the three oficers seated themselves. “ You are aware ” he continued, “ that m two visits to this island, when on board thi: vessel, under Captain Winwood, en- zabled ilneldt? 00618 1% atfexfik th: givilccanaeg strong o no y can war and his vessel here which gave us harder work than we had anticipated, for I e ted to cap- ture the island, and awaithis mend aur- rise him; but, as it is, we are successful, and ough we lost our own vessel, have captured one nearly as good; but I am determinedto have I. better craft, and I learn from several of the buccaneers that the schooner captured by the English sleep, and which we saw in Havana was chased by Winwood on three occasions, on " ran away from him with ease—as the schooner is larger than the Sea Lance, and was thorou - 1y armed, it was doubtlem the desire of e owner and captain not to fight unless compelled to, and to grow rich oil of merchant prizes. 4 New, I am determined to have that schooner, ! and shall sail to-day for Havana. If the schooner , is there I shall watch my chance, and cut it out, having it hnderstood hrou h reports spread ~ .ashore that Captain Winw did it, and thus .avoid trouble between our government and Spain. Ifthe schooner has gins on a cruise, so much the better, for we can 6 her on the high use. If we find our frigate, in the meantime, wh our cruise will be at an end. Am I second- .ed y you in my plans?” An amrmative answer was at once give for all new felt the most perfect confidence in t eir young commander, and his wish was then law— where he dared lead, they dared to follow. One week after leaving the island rendezvous, the Sea Lance dropped anchor in the harbor of Havana, the stars and stripes flying from her k. With joy Dudley Dash beheld the coveted ,schooner still at anchor; but the sloo f-war, .Sher captor, was nowhere visible; she gone 01! in search of other prizes. 3 Selectin several of his most trustworthy sea- men to ai him ashore, and giving strict orders that no one else should leave the vessel, Dudley Dash landedilat an isolated pier, and went to an inn,towhic he had been directed byanold who had been often in Havana. . ' uarters for his owere to aid schooner, Here obtained temporary the several sailors him y the nad-thenhe could. \ . Behaddiscardedhisunifonaferaciflm’suut, “marching-lowlyalong,whsnhewu at- i * pass the death sentence upon one to who I "is? onforthtogleanwhatnews he ‘ m_The New York Library. . ‘tiracted by some articles for sale in a shop win- ow. As he turned to walk on he beheld a pair of gleaming black eyes gazing at him from within the shop. Somewhere before he had seen that face—but where? That was what puzzled him, and in vain he strove to forget the un leasant impression they left u n him, as he walked along. 8 ione 0n slowly for hal a dozen blocks, when he eard quick steps behind him, and turning quickly he behold the shopman and two soldiers approaching him. “ That ls he; I know him well,” said the shop- man, in Spamsh, and the two guards stepped forward, one of them saying sternly: , “I arrest you, senor; resistance s useless.” “ And why am I arrested?” asked Dudley Dash in the best S anish he could command. “ That you ' soon know. Come, I must iron you.’ At first Dudley Dash seemed as if about tore- sist; but then, thinkin there must be some mis- take, he held forth his ds, and iron manacles at once clasped his wrists. He was then marched off to the glam-house, where the shopman, and several 0 er citizens, whom he had collected on the way held an earn- est conversation with the oficer of the guard. What that conversation was Dudley did not know ' but at its termination the oflicer said: “ Well, oun sir, I shall have to carry youto the more or e keeping.” “ And why? I am an American emcer,” in- di ntly said the youth, while his brain was w ’ ling-grim conflicting thoughts. Had ' men already betrayed his intended cutting out of the schooner? Was the Sea ce known as a pirate vessel, and he arrested as a buccaneer? But these uestions were not answered, and he was lace in between a file of soldiers and march oil? to the gloomy Moro Castle. Soon the frowning, misery-holding Moro was reached, and the guard and their prisoner drew up at the massizxelfgateway, as several gentle- men, in brilliant ' orms, and accompanied by gliegantly dressed, and parly veiled ladies, pass- out. In front walked a man of noble form and dis- tingue air, while his face was darkly bronzed, fine looking and stem. Ugon his breast glittered a dozen brilliant dec- ora ons, and he was clad in the uniform of a Spanish general. ' upon his arm was a form of rare grace an beau , while the half-hidden face was sufllcient to show that, seen entire, it was wondrously "lovely. As they passed out, the eyes of the maiden fell upon the face of Dudley Dash. At once she , stopped and more intently u n the prisoner, and then ed and said some hing in a low tone to the (gentleman, who at once turned toward the guar . “Whom have you there, senor?” he asked of the oficer in charge. ‘ “ A young irate officer, Senor Eecellenza. He was arre£d upon the char of several citizens who knew him as one of he buccaneer Winwood’s crew.” “Is he the same Carmelita?” asked the gen- era_l,k1tiwning to the maiden, who answe me y: q “ He is the same, father.” ‘ Then throwing back her vail,1 she stepped for- ward and said, addressing Dud ey: “ Senor, where have we met before?” “ Upon the high seas, when I boarded the ves- sel on which you were a assenger; you then Ev: mCeL this mg,” and Dudley Dash held forth an “ I have been told of our .kindness, senor, to my daughter—nay, to who were with her on that eventful occasion ;. but on stand but now confessed of a crime for wh ch there is no par- don—piracy. v “It had been better had on never dared to enter Havana. Then I we d not have had tci m \ am under great obligations; but you have seen fit to venture here and you must look for no merc from me.” “ ether! Eccellenza! would you thus con— demn him to death? Remember, he saved in life, my honczxi-I” and the maiden spoke wit on. be so. I regret it; but he must die. Senor ofilcer, place the prisoner inthe More, and tell the commath to see to his safe keep- n mg Si, Senor Eccellenza ” and the officer moved into the prison yard Dudley, who felt that all hope was no yet gone; he hagmt sight of a ' lance from the beautiful 'ta t bade film hope, for she was his friend. “Tenifiinlafishafdter Dudle Dash1 founfii, him' so]. at: one as am an g oom ce again. the outer wall of which he oculciyhear thesurf heating with ominous roar. , ' xxvm. . , A.WOMAN’S not. As night fell upon‘the town and harbor of Hanna, following the dayon which Dudley , turned away Dash was arrested, a carriage rolled up to the closed gate of the Moro, and was challenged by the sentinel. The driver responded satisfactorily, and the vehicle was admitted and drew up in front of the commandant’s door. “I would see the senor commandant. Ask him to come hither,” said a sweet voice, and a moment after a gray-haired dark-faced oflicer approached the carriage, his hat in hand. ‘ Good-evening, senor commandant. Yer: have a prisoner here that I would see.” - “ The Senorita Carmelita! How can I serve you sweet lady?” and the officer bowed low. “I have just said senor, that ou have a prisoner here that Iwould see. eed I show ou the order from m father?” and the maiden alf held forth her (1, containing a small pa r. Elk no means, lady. Your sweet face would pass you anywhere—whom would you see?‘ I will have him ordered to your fair resencc.” “No; Iwould see him in his cel. It is the young American who is held as a pirate. He once saved more than my life; now he is con- demned to die and I would speak with him.” ' “ I remember, lady—a mere boy, and a splen- did lookin fellow, too. It is a t ity that he should ave become a irate. ' ere, ero, escort the senorita to t 0 cell of the young pirate—his cell is the first in the water row.” A youngwpage came forward, and under his escort the autiful girl wended her way down into the gloom of the fortress. ' “Here, jailer, the senorita would see the pi- rate,” and the addressed the man in charge who recognizing he fair visitor, bowed low an hastil threw open the door of a cell. “ on can retire along the corridor. I will call ou when ‘I need you,” said Carmelita, shud ering at the chill that pervaded the place. The jailer and page withdrew and Carmalita stood face to face w1th Dudley Dash. - “Lady, this was noble of you to come hither,” said the youth, arising. ' “ I have sought'you for one urpose—to save our life. You Will certainly ‘e if you remain ere. Why did ou come hither?” v For an instan Dudley Dash determined - to tell the lovelgegirl all—that he was no Skate; then he chan his mind and mid, quie “An important du called me here, y; but, I swear to you t I amno irate. Ap- pearances are against me; but yet could clear myself, were I given a trial, which under Span- ishdaws I will not be granted. Spain shows no mercy to an enemy.” This; maiden’s face flushed, but she replied, qme y: ' , “Thisisno timeto talk of what you are, or are not. You are doomed to die. To-night I will send a priest to you. Dress ourself 1n clothing and escape; he will ta e your place , here and—” ‘ “ l3e punished on my account. No senorita, I will not gain myf om h-the sufler- ing of another ” roudly replied the outh. "Nony said; ut he whom I sen willmeet with no punishment, I pledge you.” “ Then I will do as you Wish.” “In two hours’ time he will be here, and he will tell you how to get out of this prison. Then, for the love of God! leave Havana. ” ' “I will, lad .” ' “It is we Adios-W and the lovely girl and a moment after the iron door closed upon Dudley Dash once more. But w1th hope in his heart he paced his nar- row cell—to and ‘fro, to and fro, until again he heard steps a preaching; _ Nearer an nearer t ey came; then a ht flashed through the grating, and once more» is door was thrown. ' ~ Before him the jailer, and a person in priestly robes. . ' “ Senor, the good father would hold converse with thee for the welfare of thy deal,” said the ailer, and closing the door he withdrew. “ enor erican, I have come to save you. Here, take this priestly garment, and throw it around you.” ‘ ' ' Dudley Dash started. It was the voice of Carmelita that addressed him. Her tall, elegant form was concealed beneath the dress of a priest, and the cowl hid complete- ly the beautiful face and raven curls. As she spoke she took from beneath her robe a dress similar to her own. - ' » “No, senorita; I will not leave you here,” said Dudley'D y. “Nonsense The jailer knows mewell, andI'havehnbedhim. Assoones pass out and are free, he will return and meta his rooms, where I will remain until 011 have timetogetoutof Havana orco‘ loan-self in some wa ; then he to thiscell, an goandre ' rttotheeommmdant, thatmgoinghisni tlyroundsheufonnda. e womaninthecelloft . .“The senor some ‘hither‘, and escort me in all honor to‘ my home." “ Ah! my lady, I, fear you will have fewer onm account. ‘ x . ~‘- . “ Fyoolish boy! ’Here, let‘me whisperione little secret in yonr'earg I am flu-40W office \ x ‘_ No. 2." - I o n o mauled I &%%.wa WW I. I Dudle Dash was 'almost overcome with sur- I prise. 6 had believed her to be the daughter l of some one in wer; but the secret he then I learned surprise him. . " Now, do you not see, Senor, that the jailer I will keep the secret on account of his own headé ‘I The commandant will nevor tell, and my august I father will scold a little and there the matter will end. Conic, I will call the Jailer and prove that he knows my lot." I “I believe you, ady, and I thank you more I than I can express in words; yet I hate to leave . you here, in this fearful cell.’ “ Then I will go with you to the jailer’s quar- I tore. Come.” I Dudle arrayed himself quickly in his bor- rowed umage and left the cell. At the end of the corridor the jailer met them. “ Aguero, I will await your return here. Come as soon as you have seen the youth safely out.’ . “Si, senorita.” “ Lady, farewell! May God forever bless you, and may I ask that you may do me one favor?” ‘1‘ Name it.” Dudley hastily wrote something on a slip of paper, hauled it to her, and said: f‘ Write to this address and tell me the result of. your braVe sacrifice to-niglit for me.” “I will do it, senor.” “Ere I leave Havana, lady, I will address to youa letter, telling you whom you have this night saved. Farewell.” Dudle Dash bent low over the tiny hand and then fol owed the jailer along the gloomy pas- sageway which led to life an freedom _ CHAPTER XXIX. A PRIZE! AUDLEY ROY and Norvel Trevor sat in the I cabin of the Sea Lance, engaged in earnest con- ‘ versation, for the men who had gone ashore in the morning with Dudley Dash, had returned ‘I and reported that he had been arrested and I thrown into the Moro. All day long they had h ed for some word from him in ex lunation, 1111': none came. I At sunset irk Harding had gone ashore I alone to see if he could learn anything regard- ing the absent midshipman, and while awaiting his return the two young officers engaged in a , conversation, the 1purport of which was to de- vise some means 0 escape for their commander. At length there was a. challenge on deck, and . a boat came alongside; a moment after two men entered the cabin. _One was Dirk Harding, . the‘ 33.16%. was (glad in tfli'iendly garb; th . ‘ . o t is. en emancame o e ieras y, g [board I I was leaving an beggfii tgaghoige on ' their feet in an in- ' He sa 3 he has news 0 Bot midshipmen were on ' stant, to suddenly utter 9. cr of delight, as the I cowl was thrown back an the daring, hand- I some face of. Dudle Dash was revealed. I But ere a wor could be said Dudley re- I marked, quick] : I I I “I have no time toexp1am now. I have Just I disguise. I escaped from the Moro, and in this Tell me, where are the men who went ashore I with me this morning!” i “All aboard, sir. The schooner needed no men now; she is awaiting the return of the I English sloo f-war, and Will then be manned,” I sai Norvol revor. r - . “ Goodl How many men are on board?” “A Lieutenant, a midshipman, and twelve en. . “ Better still. Mr. Harding, call away the long boat, and put in it twenty men dressed as Spanish soldiers, all well I Will pay a visit to the English officer.” As Dudley spoke he took from a locker a false beard and fitted it upon his face, and than I donned the uniform of a. S captain, for Captain Winwood was a man that always kept plenty of disguises about his vessel. In a few moments he walked on deck, and found the men in the boat, and all attired in their disguise as Spanish soldiers. “Now, Mr. Roy, I wish Kiou to don theuni- form of a Spanish mids . pman. and come aboard with twelve men attired as S sea,— - men; half an hour after I leave, come on board the English schooner. ‘l A Mr. Trevor, all valuables that we care to remove from the Sea Lance have ut in the other how and let the men allbe y to leave at a moment’s notice.” Thus giving his directions, and without mak- ing known hiseplau of action, Dudley Dash en» tered the waiting boat, and sternlv ordered: ’ “Coxswain, pull for the . lish schooner, and remember you are all Spam soldiers.” A row of ten minutes brought the boat near thetschooner, where Dudle hailed and begged permission to come alongsl 8. It Wasatcmo granted. and the gangway by the 'midshipman. . “ would see your commander on important business,” said the Dare-Devil Middy, With an wcentmtwas t. > . . i “Wan into cabin, senor; he is about to he was met at I me in capturing this noted pirate?" ' scribe is contemplated in the harbor of and their men were brought on dec The Dare-Devil; or, The Winged Witch of the Sea. A moment after Dudley Dash stood before the English officer—a man of middle age, with a ‘ brave, kindly face. . I “ Senor, I am sorry to disturb you; but there I is a rumor that the buccaneer Winwood intends I to make an attack on your vessel to-night, cut it out, and escape to sea, and 1 came from the ‘I Moro, only a short while since, to ask you to aid l “ Willingly, senor; but I have only half a , dozen men, for half of my men are ashore to- 1 night. You say that such a bold act as ou de— avana, . under the very guns of the Moro?” “ Yes, senor; but 1 do not care for your men I to aid me. In fact, I would rather have them keep out of sight. I have with me a score of 1 men of my own command, and a midshipinan I and a dozen seamen will soon be on board; so I hear may plan.” “ ' ingly, captain.” ‘ “ It is that you remain in your state-room, with yom‘ young officer, and give me pennie- sion to send your men into the hold. I “Then I will conceal m men, and those that I are comin , about the so ooner, and when the I boats of inwood come aboard I will meet this I noted pirate at the gangway, ask him into the . cabin, and in that way we can capture him and 1 his crew.” All this was spoken in a very earnest tone " and in admirably affected broken English. I “ The very thing, captain, and I will be happy I when we have that sea monster safe.” l The arrangements were soon made, and by I the time that midshipnian Bo came alongside I l l in his boat the six En lish sa' ors were crouch- I ing down in the hold 0 the schooner, and, around I them were the twenty bold seamen, clad as I Spanish soldiers. ~ I v “All works well, Roy. Now come with me i. into the cabin and bring two men,” and Dudley Dash met his young comrade at the gangwgy. “ Lieutenant, wi you and your young 0 cer come here a minute '9’ I At the request of Dudley Dash the two ofii- I I cers came from the state-room, to suddenly find I themselves under the muzzles of muskets and pistols. I “Gentlemen, you are my prisoners. One I move and you die. Surrender quietly, and I within the hour you shall be free.” Dudley Dash s ke in a low, stern tone that told the two Eng ' hmen that he was in terrible earnest. To move was death, and though brave men, they had but one alternative—to submit. “ We submit; but, what means this outrage?” “It means thageyour vessel is in the hands of a crew from the ebrated buccaneer schooner, Sea Lance ” “ Hal you are then—” “ The commander of the Sea Lance. Mr. Roy see that these gentlemen are securely con- 311952311 yonder state-room. I have work on ec So saying Dudley Dash went forward, and, descending into the hold said simply: “Coxswain, do your duty; but on your life, harm none of them.” ' Ere the six unsuspecting seamen were aware, they were seized, gagged and bound, for resist- ance was useless. Seeing that all were secured Dudley Dash called midshipman Roy. “ Return at once on board the Sea Lance, towing two of the schooner’s boats, and bring of! al the men and baggage. Leave the Lance at anchor just as she is. I . “Ay a ” and delighted at their success so for Au ey Bo de d upon his mission. Half an hour tor t e entire crew of the Sea Lance were safely on board the ca tured vessel, which at once presented a scene 0 bus life. “ Get sail on the schooner at once, r. Hard- ing- we have et work ahead of us ” calmly said Dudlegr ash, and then he added, “ Let that boat 0 the Sea Lance tow astern; we shall need her when we get an oflln .” Ten minutes more and the sc ooner was swift lifihding out of the harbor of vana, and in h an hour more luffed up, out of run ro of the guns of the Moro, the officers of which ttlc sus- pected the daring1 that a fearless boy had played beneath t elr very 6 es. “ Bring up the prisoners, . Trevor.” In obedience to the order the amoers “Lieutenant, thou b have “taken from yOu . your new and bean ' schooner I leave one for you in fair exchange, which is a fleet ghooner, and one that has spread terror upon e sea. “ I refer to the Sea Lance. You will find her anchored just of]! the harbor stairs of the Moro. No one is on board of her, and the vessel .and all she contains is at our service. There, sir, is the long boat of the a Lance. In it you can return to Havana, and should you wish to find this schooner, you will have to hunt her up on the high”seas. A pleasant trip back to Havana, senores. ‘ The Englishman vo one look into the beard- less face, and said . “Y2? F9139“. . ' night’s WOIK. “1‘ l 1 ing. _ hung over her 15 Dudler Dash laughed, a light. boyish laugh, and rep 'ed pleasan y: a “ Adios, senor.” The Englishman sprim into the boat, whither his men had preceded ' and said. almost savagely: “ Give way, men I” ' And as the boat darted awe , the schooner . fell off before the wind, and un or all the can- vas she could carry, sped over the dark waters “ Head for the island rendezvous, Mr. Hard— Once there, we will point this beautiful vessel snow-white, and then cruise against the ‘ enemies of our country. From this night, she shall spread the stars and striges upon the waters, and win a name far an wide as the Winged Witch of the Sea. CHAPTER XXX. FOUND! MORE than two Iveers have passed away since the Winged Witc fled from the gun-guarded harbor of Havana, leaving behind the wildest excitement at the news that Winwood the buo- caneer, had boldly cut a vemel out under halfa -thousand Spanish Then it became own why the young pirate officer, then supposed tobe in the Moro, visited Havana, ,and many excitement-m denizens of the town anticipated a rare pl in seeing him hung. I But for reasons best known to himself, and which the reader may easily guess at, the gov- ernor-general held his own counsel. A captured some weeks before was mask and ' secretly executed, and then the rumor circulated that the youthful buccaneer lieutenant had been, garoted' the populace were giigll of th but dreadfully sorry that they ' the dimtic stgene of death. irate h _ _ or.issu osedp ewascruising. seas, and hispg’Vinged Witch soon became the terror of English merchant vessels, and British privateers that infested the Am can coast from Maine to Texas, for the Dare,- evil Middy was ever ready to try his strength with an small cruiser afloat. . the time d on, prize after prize was taken and sen into the nearest port until the Wéllsléed Witch was considered alm05t a phantom ve ,’ so numerous were her ca. turos, so re- markable her speed, so wonderful er success in escaping captura and. so deep the mystery, that o cers and crew. I Sometimes it was whispered that she was- commanded b a notorious pirate, who, anI American by irth, had used. the cause of his country, and that her ecks were manned bv a hundred heavily-bearded buccaneerST-men of all nations, trained to deeds of daringupon an outlaw craft. Again, ’twas said t her commander was». slaver, with a. crew 0 African negroes' discip- lined to obey his orders, while still more asserted . that her commander was a mere youth and his crew a band of heroic boys. I And there were a few, of the su istitious kind, who boldly said, and believ , that the Winged Witch had the devil for a captain and lost-spirits for a crew. But the reader knows that the W ed Witch was controlled by Dudley Dash, the are-Devil Midd , who, for more than two. years, escaped the ' cruisers sent after him, and served his country most nobly. Toward. the close of the war with Great Britain, the Winged Witch was cruisin slowl 31°”. "Emil “ ‘°“’"§’§hlli°?f°’ “i h ‘ ° wen - ve e no u e an northward, wfien the lookout hailed the «loci from the most-head. . Ugon the deck stood two persons well kn Wu to t e reader—Dudley Dash and Audley y, both rapidéy maturing into splendid specimens As for Dudley he looked older, sterner, and hisfaco had lost its boyishex rcssion and ,Vof manhoo . smile, fer the cares upon h s young shoul had been. enough to mold his nature into one of iron. I “Ho! the mast-head! What do you see!” he called out in a voice that rung with metallic 'clearness. I I ‘,‘A drifting boat; I make her out now. sir-- five ints oil! the weather bow.” ' “ cad for that beat, quortermaster,” sim y .saidDudley, and he began again to pace e d k with monotonous tread. . an hour’s time the Winged Witch lufled in-. to thewind,_and a boatwas sentaftertheone that was drif . “An curlessbarqueu nthesea.” . “Are the olive?” . _, asthecox- swain call out that it contains two persons. It was some time before the reply came. __ “ One of them, air; but he’s mighty weak." “ Bring them aboard at once.” , A moment after Dudley Dash started back. haTlégd limp.t1 hast, waisteéienfsrm n no. 10 gangway or hands I on known toliim: it was the.Smnggl_ , whom, nearly thine before, wagon , made a prisonerin, tty , l, m” The at or manic the i y l \ The New York Library. Vol. I: “Bury him in the sea. Take this man into my cabin, and send the sur n to him,” ordered thezkyoung commodore, an again he paced the d All: hour passed, and the surgeon came on ec “The gentleman would see you, sir; I fear there is no be for him.” Dudle Das descended into the cabin, and there be eld Rafael, the pirate, as he had after- ward become, reclming upon a silken divan— his face as white as marble, his eyes beaming brightly. “ Am I mistaken—are you not—?” “ Dudley Dash—yes; we have met before, but fizu must keep uiet, and not talk: you shall ve ever atten ion, ’ said Dudle kindly. “ It is late—I am dying. f I lived, it would be but to end my hfe on the gallows: it is better as it is far better. “What vessel is this?” “The American privateer, Win (1 Witch.” The man started, and a ain loo 'ed earnestly at the youth, while he sai : “ And you are—” “ Her commander—a midshipman in the United States navy.” “Boy, on have won a great name—one of honor, w ile 1—1 have won a name of dishonor. But, let me not hesitate now; I have a confes- sion to make ere I die, and to you I would make it. Will you listen to me?” N Yes. 1’ “ My name is Rafael Gaston—” The man paused for he noticed Dudley start, but then he went on: “I was born a gentleman, but my devilish love of mischief would not let me remain one, and I was dismissed from the English navy for a wild escapade, and at once came to America. “ In the United States I met a lovel girl, whom I learned to love most dearly, an for a while I changed my evil life, and returning my love she became my wife. “Yet, strange to say, her pure love did not has me from returning to 111 old life of dissi- patlbn, and one night, in a on frolic, I shot one of my conu‘ades and fled for m life-— fled from my wife and little baby, then ut ten months old. “Of my after career it is needlessto speak, except to say that I drifted from bad to worse, until I became the leader of a band of smug lers, who had their retreat on one of the islan off the Maine coast. “ One day I went further than smuggling, and attacked a large vessel that I had reason to be- lieve would be a rich prize. After a d rate resistance I captured the vessel, boarde her, and in the cabin found— mywi e and child! ‘0 God! the horror of that moment. Did [live a hundred years, I could never forget— for my wife was dead killed by a shot from my own vessel, and u on her lay my poor little gir , weeping bitterly or her mother. My wife was on her way to the Mediterranean, where her father, a naval officer was then stationed, and thus sadly did her voyage terminate. “ Well, I took my child with me to my island retreat, and m poor wife I buried where the roar of the would be her only reflm. “ Had my poor little daughter ever 11 near me, my life would have been far different: but, one day, I returned from a cruise, to find her gone, none knew whither. “I searched the island and fotmd the dead body of a ruffian, whom I had several times pumshed for misdemeanor and by his side were he tracks of my little Gabrielle—but nothing else could I ever earn of—” “Let me tell ou all that on would know,” said Dudley, soft y; and in a ow, earnest voice, he went on to tell of his visit to the island, res- cue of Gabrielle and that she was then living on the coast of Maine. For some moments the man could not speak, mdgovered his thin face with his thinner “ Thank God! I thank God! If she is hafply, I can die content. How glad I am that d not die in that open boat !” “How was it you were in that beat?” asked Dudle . “ e had a severe combat with an English cruiser. My schooner was terribly cut u , but I managed to escape in the darkness, an then a storm came on, my vessel sprung a leak, and we took to our boats. There were nine men in my boat, and I was the only one who lived through the horrors we had to undergo, and I - am d 'ng; but let me tell you that in this sache you will find—will find papers provin the truth of what I tell you about m self, an my wife’s likenea and mine; take t em, and keg Sail ho!” Tihe cry startled Dudley Dash, who at once ‘ sal . “Try and get some sleep, for you need it. After awhile I will see you again, and I trust you may recover and yet see little Gabrielle, or I am bound home now.” A smile covored the thin face, but the lips did not move; and Dudley Dash went on deck. “I not seem to hear In first hail. She is a large frigate, evidently o the largest class,” said Angley Roy, handing the glass to Dudley, who sal - “And she looks American in build. Brin her up, helmsman, and we’ll have a closer 100 at her. If English, we must keep the Witch out of range of her terrible broads1de.” Nearer and nearer the two vessels came to a league divided them, each other, until on] ’ and then the Winge and stripes, and fired a gun to leeward, as if in defiance of her huge enemy. “Ha! there goes up the American flag; and see! they are Signaling us.” “She asks what schooner is that?” said Audley Roy, referring to his book of signals. “Run up our flag to the fore, and signal our name.” “Ay, ay, sir i” Instant y there was run u to the fore-top- mast, a roll of bunting, which, when shaken out to the wind, proved to be a mass of green and blue, representing the waves of the sea, and the skies while in the center was a white, gaunt terrible-looking form, impersonating an old w1tc . “ What does she signal now, Roy?” “The American frigate Ticonderoga—Admi- ral Duncan’s Flag Ship.” The yell that answered this reply enin . The Dare-Devil Middy h lon - ost commodore. “ hat does he signal now?” “Come on board; the admiral would speak with ou.” . “ elmsmen, stand away for yonder frigate. Mr. Roy have a full crew ready to row me aboard the frigate ” and Dudley Dash de- mnded into the cabin to dress himself in his t. At first he stepped light] , for he behaved that Rafael Gaston was as eep; but a second glance told him that it was the sleep of death. CHAPTER XXXI. THE MEETING. As Dudley Dash went over the gangway of the frigate, darkness had settled upon the waters, and he failed to recognize any familiar faces among those that peered into his own, to catch si ht of the famous commander of the Win ed itch. “ will conduct you to the cabin, sir. Was not the commander able to come on board?” asked an officer, meeting him. 811:",1 am the commander of the Winged Witch, The officer gazed upon the outhful face with mirked surprise, and led he way into the ca 1n. At a table, covered with papers, sat Admiral Duncan, for he had won that rank by gallant service. He was looking older, and grayer; but still possessed the same noble, kindly face as of yore. “The commander of the Winged Witch, ad- miral,” said the officer, and he immediately withdrew. Admiral Duncan arose and stepped forward, his hand extended, and a genial smile upon his face: but sudden] he started back, for before him stood a slen er form, clad in a midship- man’s uniform, and with a boyish face. “Great Heavens! has the sea given up its dead, or do I see aright?” “I am Midshipman Dudley Dash Admiral Duncan, commander of the Winged Witch.” “ Boy, my brave, noble boy, let me embrace Eon, ere I ask you any uestions. You, you my midshipman, the amous rover!” and the 01 admiral greeted Dudley with a warmth that was certainl most flattering. Then the we sat down, and Dudley told his chief all that had occurred, even to his cutting out the schooner, and leavin the Havanese to behave that it was done by inwood, the buc- cancer. “It was a bold act, and if known, would cause ustrouble with Spain; but, let it rest as it is,” and the admir gazed admirineg upon his young midshipman, and said: “And you still call yourself Midshipman Dud- ley Dash?” “ Yes, sir; exce t by strangers, I have never allowed myself to called captain.” “But, captain it shall be, sir, and the Presi- l dent will afiprove m ap intment when he ; knows all. ow, Cap ain ash, I would like to explain my running oi! from you on that me- morable occasion which lost us poor Wheeler. was deaf- found his “An En lish 8100 of war came near us and we ve c ase, an unable to overhaul her, I put ck, when another sail was sighted. “ This roved to be a dispatch vessel sent in search 0 me, with orders to proceed at once to the Mediterranean. “ My orders admitted of no delay, so I direct- ed the dispatch vessel to go to my station and ‘ await your return; if you came back unsuccem- : ful, to take you on board and carry you to port, i from whence you could join the fritgate at some 1 future time; if you were success ul, to order ‘ you to follow me in the schooner to the Mediter- down intothecabin, sir, as you did ‘ ranean. Witch ran up the stars ‘ “Until a few months ago, I heard nothing (If the result, until I learned that the dispatch ves- sel had been captured shortly after parting with the frigate, and of your fate nothin was known, so that we came to look upon you a l as dead, or in an English prison—thank God, neither was correct. “ As for myself, I was made admiral of the fleet, and transferred to this elegant frigate, the Ticonderoga; but you will find a number of fa- miliar faces among her officers and crew. But of Rfiy and Trevor, what of them?” “ idshipman Rog-is my actin first lieuten- ant; poor Norvel evor, and irk Harding, who was my actin third officer, we lost ll). battle some time smce,” said Dudley Dash, sa y. “ And where bound now, Ca tain Dash i” “ To the Maine coast sir. I ave not seen my friends there since I left in the frigate. I wished to win a name before I returned; but, admiral, let me make known to you a strange circum- stance,” and Dudley Das went on to tell of his picking up the drifting boat. “Good God! you say that his name was Rafael Gaston?” and Admiral Duncan seemed dee 1 moved. ‘6 es 7’ “ Dudley Dash, Rafael Gaston was 111 son-in- law! He married my only child, abrl'elle Duncan,” and the admiral, deeply moved, passed to and fro the cabin for some moments, commu. ning with a bitter ast. At len h he said): “ And he lies deadin your cabin. Well, my cha lain shall ve him honored burial. None nee know who e was; and poor little Gabrielle, my darling grand-daughter, must never know that her father was a pirate. “ And now,” continued the admiral, after a use of some moments “ now you must con- inue on your course, an as soon as I have an- chored in the Potomac, and reported all that has occurred, I will across country to Maine and join you there. I wish to claim my little Gabrielle,farllltlli1 halve her mother’si body movled to my own a y urymg-groun , near my ome e; but, first, let me go aboard on the Chess. with on an see our wonderful vessel; I wish to e the acqua tance of the Winged Witch of the Sea.” Midshipman Roy beheld the boats leave the frigate’s side and expecting avisit from the ad- miral, he called the men to quarters, and as he ste ped on board gave him a most royal salute wi h his guns. Half an hour after with the honors of war, the form of Rafael Gaston was consigned to st grave in the sea. Then Admiral Duncan wrung the hand of Dudley Dash in partin , and returned on board the frlgate, where the rum rolled, calling the men to lguarters, and from huge oaken sides burst fo h a salute to the Winged Witch that would have done honor to a king. - The two vessels then slowly drifted apart, and when the morning sun illumined the sea, the frigate was nowhere visible to those on the decks of he Winged Witch, which, under a ten-knot breeze drove onward in swift haste to drop all— chor under the lee of Crescent Island and in full view of the cottage home of Carter Reyes. CHAPTER XXXII. CONCLUSION. Camus Harms, whose once erect and power- ful form had begun to droop with age, was seat: ed upon his cottage porch, quietly smoking his p1 . year him sat two other rsons, one a middle- a lady, with a pleasan , intelligent face, and w 0 was the sister of the old fishermen, who r had assed her life in teaching, until sent for t y her rother, three years before, to su crinterd the training and education of Gabrie e Gaston. The other person was that young lady herself —_a child no longer but a beautiful maiden cf seventeen—whose character was as lovely as her face and form. Sitting in the shade of a pine tree, and piouslgr Eutfing away at a long-stemmed pipe. was old atience, over whose honest face and form not a shadow of change had fallen. “I tell you, Gabie yonder schooner stands oi! and on, asthough s e wanted a pilot. If she was an erican I would go out and brin her in,” and Carter Hayes pointed out be on the reefs where was visible a lon , low, ra h-look- ing craft, painted white, an carrying a cloud of canvas. “ By Jupiter! she is putting in without a flat! No, see how she luifed u there to avoi the sunken reef, and now stan 3 across the channel. I tell you, folks, there is a man on board who knows this coast. See, he comes in through the north cut. 'Only two persons that I know of, ever knew that channel and—" “ Those are?” said Gabrielle, rising quickly. “ Myself, and—” “ Dudley?” ‘6 Yes. ” In an instant Gabrielle bounded into the house, to return the next instant with a spy-glass, xiiich she adjusted and leveled at them ooner. 33:3: “Father Hayes," she said, impressively, While her face flushed and paled with excitement—- “ Father Halyes, Dudley stands at the wheel of 71 yonder vesse . God!” tejaculatgd Cfaxt'ter1 Hayes, rin ' u asnim lyasa oyo weve. 8p“ Pfilige (£3 Lor‘l ef de boy hain’t comed back arter all—de goo’ Lor’ God ha’ answer de rayers 0’ de ole nigger—sartin”—and old Pa- 'ence waltzed about with amazing celerity. “10431:! V OMAqu (DIV 'JIXIHO WYOOLIK ms 11357475 ,[DKIHJOX I! we L101 '308 'eoa $8830 ,, vfiwnm v: -_-——- __ .- ‘mfléfl 1v 7? I? _—-~....- _. "I “— 51. UMJ—WODIKL m GI'T- “ 3 X i In the meantime Gabrielle had rushed swiftly down toward the beach and thither the other three followed her as rapidly as they could. Then a few moments of impatient waiting, and a boat put off from the schooner which lliflagncome to anchor under the lee of érescent d. In that boat were eight oarsmen, a coxswain, and two officers seated in the sterndheets. Those officers were Dudley Dash and Audley , g few moments more and Dudlezr Dash sprimg ashore, and received a welcome hat made his heart glad, after which, dismissing presenting Audley Rog}, the party set off for he cottage, Patience s 'pping on ahead like a young girl, as she said: ‘ ‘To git a builka supper for de young ossifers. ” an- an * a: A \\ wk ¢ met with around Batabano. Don Rafael he ‘ st 1% himself, with the conceit of Don the De- , v'. He used to come swa get-ing about our [ cafetal, till the master forba e him.” 1 “Why did he forbid him?” ‘ “ Caballero! if you promise not to betray con- :‘ fidence, I’ll tell you.” “ I” promise it. You may speak without “Well, then, it was because Carrasco had the impudence—onl think of it—to make preten- sions to the Na uanita.” “ Indeed!” I was deeply interested now. “In what way?” I asked. “ Tell me the par- ticulars, good Gaspardo.” “Well, senor, once at a fiesta we had, he was called on for L song. I will say that, scoundrel thou h he be, he can sing well, and play the l ban olin to perfection. Most goajiros can do that, and make their own songs, too, if they don’t the tunes. So what does my gentleman try but some verses he had composed himself, or said he had, in praise of the senorita, describ- ing her charms as people said, too freely; then windin up with words to tell her how much he admir her. It was all up with him after that. Don Mariano was very an about it, and told him never to come near the ouse again.” “Was the senorita herself angry?” I asked makin an effort to conceal my emotion, as listene for the answer. ‘ “Ah caballerol that I can’t say. Women are suc queer creatures. There are not many of them who don’t like being praised, especial] in poetry. Be sure the best of them can stomac a goodish deal of that. There was the Dona Eusebia Gomez, the daughter of 'one of our grandees, who went away with a goajiro, and actually got married to him—all because be sung canczones praising her beauty and bright eyes, and that sort of hing. Oh, yes; in their vanity, the muchachos are pretty much the same, whether they be poor girls or rich ladies.” . I confess that Gaspardo’s ungallant sentiments ve me pain, suggesting thoughts I should not ave entertained. Something more than mere curiosity counseled me to question him further: “ When did all this occur?” “As I’ve said, senor, at the fiesta. We have one every ear after the gatherin in of he cosecha. , hen the coffee-crop is a stored, e custom is to 've a feast in honor of the event, with grand oin and dances, to which eve ~ body is asked. 9 one I’ve spoken of was t e last we had, just before Don Mariano went away to travel in your country. All the time he was gone, the Mad, as you may know, has been staying with her aunt at Havana, and of course, nothing has ha ened since.” ' “Then, I presume aster Cartesco has by this time relin uishe his aspirations?” “ Que'n sabe For that matter, he might as well. Such as he to think of matching with a grand lady like the Dona Juanita Agueral _ It would be as modest in me aspiring to be the alcalde mayor of Batabano. But for all that, one can’t tell what Rafael Carrasco may be up to. He’s got brass for any thinIg and be— sides, the deceit of Satan himself. don’t be- lieve there’s a greater picaro along all this coast; and if report s true, he’s in secret league with contraban 'stos, slave—dealers, and all such sorts. ’Twas only last week one of our ’people saw him in the comfigfiy of El Cocodrilo. “ El Cocod'rilo! 0 ma he be?” “ What, senor! you don’t ow El Cocodriloi" “ Indeed I don’t.” ’ ’ “And have you never heard of him?” :ZEO-Dlievfxth’a’ fi‘an I th h I 'os ts s . on t eve - bod tad.” . 3° E W “ on see I’m an exce’ tion.” “Well, I’ll tell you. e’s a runaway slave— a black man, who once belonged to master. But as he was a bad sort, Don Mariano sold him to another planter a nei hbor, from whom he soon after absconded. ‘hat was several years a o, and ever since he’s a cimmarin, not one of t em able to catch him. Yet he ’ves them eve chance, as ou might think. ere isn’t a wee 1{lulu-lses wit out his being heard of I on some of t e plantations making love to the l negro wenches and robbing their masters right i an left. Several times thegs’ve got up hunting 4 parties, and set their houn u on his track-— ! their very best bloodhounds. S ' he continues to baffle them all.” , j “He must be a clever scamp, this Cocodrilo. 2 But why is he so-called?” l “ Ahl that’s partly on account of his being i flack-pitted which, as you may suppose, makes l ' skln look a llttle like that of a cayman, or crocodile. Besides he’s a big, ungainly fel— low, as they are. ut I think e’s got the name more from his hiding in the crem' as, where the , animals have their haunts. By t 8 way. senor, i this is the very swamp where they say he se- l cretes himself. It is called La Zapata, and ex- } tends for ever so far along the shore. We are just now passing the place where he was last 1 seen by one of the field-hands of our plantation. , It was where the goajiro was seen along with That “‘0'” , him, the two talking earnestly together. 1 was last Sunday night—less than a week eves u ward, I saw what was causing it. ‘ blue 8 y was enameled by scarlet spots—great . birds, with their wings extended in flight—the ' 'I raised the n ' 1 What grand troph' his . e we. a . skiuwrgufim Mfg: “Su ose on and I should come across him i A sin now. oul you be afraid, Ga. ardo?” “Not I, senor. I hope on out rate my courage so cheaply. Afraid of El Cocodrilo! 1 “Among the Mangroves, r forest form these trees of the genus r iza ra. In their growth bearing some resemb ance to the banyan, except that you see no large trunks—only stems of several On the contrary, I'd just like to set my eyes i inches thickness, not springing directly from upon his ugly image anl if I do, I’ll soon after have my hands on lllll. l’ve myself some old scores to settle with that scaly gentleman; and if over he comes into my clutches, they’ll have no need afterward to pit bloodhounds upon his trail. He’ll make no more tracks except those bet .veen where I get hold of him and the jail of Batabano—carajo, no I" “ Well, if we should fall in with the formida- ble fellow, you may depend on me, Gaspardo. I’ll do what I can to assxst you in carrying out your intentions. Not because of his being a. 1 runaway slave, but the wicked character you 'describe him. Besides, as you say, he is your personal enemy.” "‘ Mil gracios, senor.” We reached the roosting— lace of the flamin- goes, and, as half-apprehen ed, found no birds about. The were absent, no doubt. on some other para o the shore, where shell—fish and the the ground, but supported on a tangled trestle of roots gnarled and pointed like the legs of rustic chairs or the limbs of gigantic spideis. . These penetrating the mud leave open spaces under the overshadowing trunks; a lab) rintli , of aisles and avenues, through which crawl . . countless crabs and hideous creatm‘cs of saurian v shape; amen , dile—-for bot ,are indigenous to the island or Cuba. ; within the small-fry on which they feed were more plenti- ‘ ful I saw scores of their curious nests, trimcated cones, on which they sit, or rather stand, with incubation. ’ hey were empt now, but around lay the shells of the hatche eggs, and many feathers cast at melting; Iobserved much, bo- sides, thatishould have interested me, and doubt- less would, had I been in the humor for ornitho- logical inquiry. But I was not. The fear felt in the morning was still u n me—a shadow over my spirits I could not ake off. It forced me away from the memo of the long-legged waders, without staying t eir re- turn. While riding along the swamp edge, on our way back to the cafetal, Gaspardo parted com- pany with me. He begged permission on the plea. of visiting a frien , who had his dwelling near by, and expected him on some business be- tween themselves. , As I now knew the way, there was no longer need for his guiding me, and he said he would be at the cafetal almost as soon as myself—cer- tainly before his master, Don Mariano. I had become attached to the yellow-skidded cazador, and was only too glad at being able to oblige him, by granting the leave solicited. So we separated With -a mutual “ hasted luer o,” as ‘ I moved on, Gaspardo shouted after, “ Dies?” I had barely lost sight of him, his voice mill 8. 0011 species of these gigantic reptiles The trees of the order rhizapora are not all of one kind. There are many species of mannrove '. : along the coast of tropical countries, all per- forming the same office in the economy of na- ture, reclaimin'r the land from the grasp of the i surging sea, and staying the latter in its contin- ual attempts at encroachment. Along their 21 _..._ “a. _. -. . , ,..._...._'4,_... -...._.,. ' effort to reach term flrma. first tacking one others, the cayman and crew» . wa . then another, as appearances promised bet r, likeasloth, swinging in self from branch to branch and root to root, 9.] in vain. I came upon places where the bark showed abrasions, which on scnltiny provedto have been made by my shooting beefs. I was but returning on my own tracks, swinging round the circle. With a clouded sky them was no sun to 've the direc- tion. ILO ' d not have taken i if there had Leon. For, before entering the Jungle, I had not taken note how the shore tren ed., . For several hours Ikept clambering about. till the increasing gloom amid the umbrageous branches of the mangroves warned me that ' ni lit was near. ust then a dark object attracted my atten- * tion, and I turned toward it. Drawing near, I . saw what looked like a haystack set 11 outer selvedge, where the mud becomes exposed i at ebb tide, they fling out roots from seeds still perica?, and adherent to the branches like the entacula of an octopod, grasping a victim at each influx of the tide. The mangroves thus constantly adding to the ground they have already trained in time ' form a forest belt often miles in breadth, stand- their long legs straddled, during the period of 5 make way except as a. 'monkey, by swinging j himself from tree to tree. Into such a jungle had I entered to retrieve the shot flamingo. ~ Clutching the stems, and springing from root ,- to root, I he t on, in hopes soon to rest eyes on ‘ the beautifu bird. I i i l 4 l ,was ringing in my ears, when another sound saluted ' them. At first I fancied it to be the sough of the sea, caused by the breaking of the surf along the shore. I had heard this at intervals while riding along. But it was now at too great a. and could not be that. It was no l' tance t ‘ ls ’ The noise I though in some respects similar. hear Besides, it came from above. The flamingoesl No doubt the flock we had failed toflnd at their roost, to which they Were now on return. They were right over my head, and at least a hundre yards vertically distant. I had not gone far when I heard a rustling noise, as of some one moving off before me. Guided by the sound, and drawing toward it, I caught sight of a man, like myself making way among the mangroves. A huge negro, naked from head to foot, not so much as a rag covering his jet-black skin. I did not at first think it so strange; spag- posinv him to be some slave from the cafe , who had been taking a dip in the sea—tho water of which I could ' perceive shining through the bushes beyon . But, on advancing toward and hailing him, I was surprised at his behavior. He neither answered the hail nor showed any disposition to await my coming up. On the contrary, he went oil? like a wild animal startled from its lair- and gliding over the roots, far faster than , soon disappeared from my sight. From the glimpse I had of his face, as once or twice he ooked back, I could see it hideously Scarred, as by some cutaneous disease—the worst kind of varioloid. Remem- bering Gaspardo’s description of E1 Cocodrilo, I could not doubt but that chance had given me a peep at the formidable ci'mmam'n. Having no desire to come up with him, I turned been and took the direction I had hitherto been fol- : lowing in search of the flamingo. was softer, and more smoothly resonant. ' Turning my . But mybreech-loader was charged with swan- l shot, and suddenlyo checking my horse, my ‘ shoulder and let be. both barre into the thick of the flock. A shil'ifi scream was the responsa, continued as the flamin cesflew on faster than before. Consid- ering t e t distance, I took it for ted I had misse them, and again sping t e reins, was about to ride. on. fast t on I saw that one had so ted from the rest, and was gradually going own. With some experience as a 8%rts- man, I knew from this that some of my 9. 1 shot must have penetrated the body of the bird, touchin it in a vital m. . The p e where I pulled up was a stri of open ground, on one‘ side' a forest of WI] , on the other the mangrove swamp. Two very different kinds of trees, especially‘de- tested by the Cuban planter, as he thinks of 1118 cimmarm slaves. For in the fruit of the former the rtmaway finds sufficient sustenance, while the \ldttor ves him a refuge beyond the reach of the bl ounds. ' The flamingo fell among the manlgroves; and having carefull marked it down, shpged out ofthesaddle, tedmyhorsetoatme,an start— ed to retrieve it. ' The disappointment of the day made me all the more anxious to get the game I had shot— ' ' to return with an empty bag. Be- sides, the flamingo that had fallen was evident- ly an old gander, of a deep scarlet to the tips'of ' '16athers, not awhite one visible in an be mounted in- a museum wi my name underneath: Presented by 00. tam —-—- —; shotontheshoreofBatabano a ,Ouba, -‘ Thus-hmpxred‘ Imshedin among eman- r‘gfioves and; ooinmeaced climbing , over their oer-inimots. _ .' 7' - _ . I. I o . ", By r>‘ood fortune, I found the bird, though it was {he mcrcst accident. For, after losing . sight of the water, and a ain getting into the thick of the trees, I lost . bearing of the place where I had seen it settle down. Screams which I presumed to proceed from its throat 'ded me to the spot. Instead, they proved to c the cries of the «(inward eagle, two of which were in the act of quarreling over a quarry th’iyl had not killed. . e flamingo was quite dead, lying with its 1 wine's extended, like a scarlet shawl rpread over , the branches, while its ion neck, wei hted with the h , curving mandib es, dangle down he- neath t 6 body. Fortunately, it had not fallen into the slime, so as to' 3 oil its flmage for the taxider- mist. Care ully pac ‘ g 115 for transport, I commenced returning on my tracks. Tracks! There were none. What mattered it? I could make my way to the shore in the shortest direction. 80 thought I at starting to go back. But my confidence uickly changed to uncertainty, and soon after apprehension. . In less than five minutes after bagging my bird, I was wander- ing amid the maze of mangroves, helpless as would have been the finding of Fair Rosamond without the silken clue. And in five more I came to a stop with a dead heaviness at my heart as one feels on becomm‘r sensible that he has strayed from the path and got lost. Not as one on a common highway, or amid fields of corn, but in the shadow of a ess forest or the open expanse of a pathless s not for an hour, or a day, or a. 11ith but in'all probability for days, mghts, and hours that mayiend in death. ' . I did not at first full reahze the seriousness. D0 of the ~situation,; so tlo did it affect me. made no attempt to call out or in any way sum— mon assistance. '- ' Indeed, to have done this would have been idle, as! afterward learned when the full fear came over me. Then I called loud enough to frighten the camoaras, With no save, their screams. These, resounding ugh the magma resembled the laughter of maniacs m .my'despmr ' For I wpsnowon me. I n piles. Advancin'r toward it I discovered to be a shed or arbor; no freak of vegetable nature, but the work of human hands. There .was a floor of wicker llianos, warped and twined among the tree roots; above a canopy of leaVes, the broad blades of the wild banana. 'lhxce sides were in- . closed with the battle of sipos; the i‘ourthopen, - giving admission to the interior. S} ringing up to the wicker stage, I found myself amid ob'ects that told of human occupa- 1 tiou, though t e occupant was not at home. ing in the soft mud over which man can not ; ; supporters of the roof : an There was a hammock swung bftweezlhthtle 113812113, mm o as e- ;pended strips of Chili peppery onions, and clusters of ripe plantains; while in one comer stood a basket of sweet potatoes, and a second containing oranges, mangoes, cherimoyas, alli- gator pears, and a variety of other fruit—o. cor- nucopm of tro ical productions. Suspended mm a limb outside was ,a huge guano-lizard skinned, disemboweled, ready for the spit. That it could be broiled there was evident, from the embers of aflre smoldering on a. mud hearth in the center of the ate 3‘. had no need to conjecture as to w is all this meant. Soon as scein the hut-so strangely situated I could tell it to e the refuge of some runaway slave—tho homeof some hunted ma.- roon. ' . I And who else could its owner be than him I had seen scamperinfilgfl-the dreaded Cocodriloi I was as sureof t '_ asif I hadmetthepoclc marked man upon his own hearth, and ,been in- vited t6 partake of his hos itality. Vividly recalling his chhracter as Gaspardo had given it, I had no desire to. ' f5 the cir- cumstances, an interview with him might not end amicably. Perhaps he would mega intru' [ sion on his solitary domam' and be to punish the intruder. . , , , _ ' ; Reflecting thus, With my eyes on theouunan suspended outside. its, form fearfully;_suggutive of a human being hanged and flade 1. remained not an instant longer under the roof, of} the inn- a . "'. I l’iad now Letter ho set, i able to ro- gain the shore;_ for,,a.1 ough the a ht had nearly gene, Still in the dim twilig t could distinguish something like a path along the tangle of roots. Whitish spots showed where their bark had been trodan OR by the hard, horny soles of a necro’s feet. ' Alon!r this I started, continuing on fcrscveru hunched yards. Then, the night came down, dark as a pot of pitch; and could no mom make out the blaze; To proceed further would only be to get strayed again—perhapowith less chance of ultimate success. - ». At thought of this, I dosisted froman further attempts, and resolved to stay among the man- groves till morning. r , To make myself as comfortable as the circumé stances would permit, I selected a ct where the roots were thickly matted, and galore laid I myself along like a steak upon a gridirem But before courting sleep, I took the recaution to buckle my hunting-bat around a. each at the same time attaching it to my Otherwise I . might roll overinto the mud and urnishthecay~ mans with a midnight meal. The . on wee irksomeenough tomyncthing of hem “might; the muskotoes that swarmed m m around me. A mangrove swamp is the place to find these noxious insects in their most voncmous v: r. gilt the fatigue consequent on over We hangs of constant tree-climbing ale with a. man of mental anxiety throuchout , the dayyhad quite ovorcome me, an I atle nth yielded to irresistible slumber. IIow long was uncon- scious I could not tell tall afterward, Then, on taking stock of timo, I knew it must have been an hour. ' it, ' . dreams, and‘hnd earfulvxmonspresentedtoir-r ese figuned .my. hat", sh if“ 1 xiii.“ ium’igow m , e 'e an "‘e , w: it our. ‘ameoxfi‘lgmger her brommtt - nanco 8.96 y _ sod“ BCEidO her were two evils,one up fl with a look of Lucifer, other higgeran blacker, a sort'of Vulcan, with aha and as b is from his Tartar-in for-ammo“ gum.“ the first must avpcmn‘efromwhatlhadsegnofthc‘ iro— e second suggested M mptionofth‘ormwaydavay'” ' I“ ,n- I was the prey to hozt'id ' ( - e»- .noa—:m~.-.:_‘...,- a: a..~.:l<<- vA- ~,~&-. A“--_.-g.. .mw... .- vw’r‘k’fi“~lfln -v<‘..’-..’. 1.... h«*\-.g~p ‘4‘. . , 22 The New York Library. Vol. I; With these two (lemons-inchief were lesser ones, their satellites. Besides, my betrothed appeared to be threatened and in danger. I could hear her crying out: by name calling me to come to her rescue. But I felt that I could not. I was fast bound, unable to stir hand or foot. Still I struggled, and this, with her continued cries, awoke me. Certainl I was bound, as I found on awaiting—buckle to the branch of a tree. In that there was no ima 'nation nor in the cries either. Only that t ey came, not from Juanita Aguera, but from the great gruya, a species of gigggitic crane which frequents the of eased from the spell of my dream, et scarce recovered from its unpleasantness, I ay listening. For the cry of the crane had some- thing in it different from its ordinary call. u the week I had several times encoun- tered e bird, stalked and shot it, so becoming tolerably'well acquainted with its habits. In a second or two, it gave note again, clearly a signal of alarm But now I no longer listened to it, for other sounds, far more significant, had fallen 11 n my ears; be 0nd doubt human voices! At t 0 same time I card a scra in and scratching among the trees—the swi o bent branches in re— boun‘d. Was it Cocodrilo returning to his lair accompanied b a confederate? The moon had meanwhile n, lighting up open spaces amongthe mangroves. One of these was close to where I sat' for I had now unbuckled and raised myself to a sitting posture; and when the silve beams slanted down, I saw two dark forms. uman aha both, however devilish their doings. For i was evident to me they were engaged in something a Scotchman would call “uncanny.” Clambering over the tangle of roots, they bore a burden between them. It was a thing of oblong shape that mi ht be a coffin or a corpse, looking more like the atter. ' Some iece of plunder abstracted from a neigth plantation, which the Crocodile is to his lair, so hea as toneed help. On g the two men I did not think of what they were carrym' or care. My thought was whether they mig t see me. f they did, I should certainly be in some danger. An encounter with the runaway were enough of itself. Too much to meet him in the com- m another— rhaps also a cimmarin like . These gitives from justice, or it may be injustice, are often desperate men, very Ishmaelites, whose hands are every man whochancesto haveawhite s' ;andasmine wasof this color, caught just where I was they might take me for a hunter of them and treat meserdingly. A quick surve of the surroundin satisfied me that I was as e, at least for the ime. The spot chosen for m uncomfortable couch was canopied by spin! g branches thickly besetwith leaves. placed me in shadow lo obscure that a man might be within six feet without seeing me. Assured of this, I sat still andwatched them as they made way. Their was slow and apparently toilsome. The m they were transporting must have been 1. heavy g delicate handling; 1 I cried en indeed, and requirin some article of value easily damafid or brok lo I was thus reflecting, e vanesdtowithintenpacesof me. hen I saw their arms more distinctly, while for a moment the moonlight shining through a break in the foliage, fell upon their faces. 0! these I ca ht onlya mpse;butenoughtomake me' e I was cop and dreaming, for their faces were exactly those that had n in the phan- tasmagoria just disturbed—t two chief de- mom aground in the endeavor ,0 identify them, I no note of aught else till they were nearly out of sight. Then 1 saw what startled me, causing my heart to beat doubly quick, while the blood ran cold in my veins. Something whitish draped down below their burden. It looked like a shawl or the skirt of a woman’s dram. Was it a woman they were carrying? Andifso,wassheli loracorpse,an the white drapery its shrou —its winding-sheet? had an impulse to stalk after them and see; it was more than mere curiosity. Indeed avery diiferent sentiment; with something of fear or hension as I recalled the scenes that W. ctedmeinmydream. Could itbe ble that any of the other personages who ap- —that on uauita Aguera— No—no! The sup ition was absurd—too impomible. But for e excited state I was in I should not have entertained it for an instant. And scarce a second did I, returnin tomy former belief, that the Crocodile and con- federate were engaged in the last act of a bur- m, about to secrete the stolen goods, or it t be a bit of contraband. ailing Gas- o’s account of the goajiro, the last seemed more probable. On reflection, I concluded to leave the robbers tothemselves, at least for that night. Chance had conducted me to theirhiding- lace andif , been abstracted I should know stare was stewed and could tabs steps for recovering it in the morning. hadad-1 " . .i...:-'.'.. .... :..~ . ;. With the moon now shining clear, I fancied I might find my way out of the mangrove swamp, all the easier from having noticed. the direction from which the two men had approached me coming from the land side. ‘ An thing was better than staying there to be ea 11 b the zancudos. I started, and for a time succeeded in keeping the track. Slowly, as I had to examine the roots with great care in order to discover the spots where the bark had been abraded. Withal, I again got off it, becoming wildered and finally lost as before. I was looking for another place fit to re upon, when, lancing a little upward I be old an illuminates s t in the sky. It was not the moon nor any 0 her satellite stars. The liigt was of that reddish yellow easily distinguis - ble as the glare of a conflagration. Since it was not probable this would be in the midst of the mangroves, nor possible on the sea, outside them, the fire, whatever it was, must be on shore. Making it my beacon, I started off afresh, and keeping on toward it, soon sprung down from the network of aerial roots and stood on terra firma. Scanning around me, I saw I had come out on known ground—almost the very spot I had fired at the flamingo. Near by was the tree to which I had tied my horse; and entering under its shadow I found the animal still there just as I had left him; only, like myself, terribly impatient and bad- ly ltten by the musketoes. A soft, satisfied neigh expressed his delight as I drew the bridle from the branch, and flin 'ng the reins over his neck, vaulted into the saddle. I now knew the way well, and in the clear moonlight could not again t strayed. aPutt g the horse to his best speed, in less than twenty minutes after, I had entered the to of the cafetal, and was riding up to the 1 ouse. No, not to the house. There was none there now—only the walls of one, with the roof in red blaze ascendin to the skies. As I entered the outer gate an looked u the avenue be— tween the rows of royal , the s ace at their flu'ther end was lit 11 as in daylig t, only with the red ra of a co tion. I did not 11 telling that e torch of the in- cendiary had been at work. Instinctively I maig with a bodmg' of misfortune far worse My own heart felt afiame, as I struck my heels my horse’s flanks, and gallciped on for the urmng house. As I drew near, could see fi 111an about—men and women, their k forms seen in silhouette against the blazing background. I could hear their shouts and ejaculations, all in tones of terror and dis- tress. In a moment more I was in their midst, scannin their faces, in search of two that were white— be master of the burning- mansion and b oung mistress. , 0 white faces there—only black and yellow —-the slaves and retainers of the plantation. Aman rushing up stood before me. In the low I reco e c or. tohearwhat he had tosay, .ithou: wai on : “ ’here are they, your master, your mis- tremi’ ~ “Gone! both as! 0h, senor, isn’t it sad!” “Gone! Whi er? The fire! What does it all mean? Tell me Gaspardo—quick!” “PorDios cabailero; I cannot. I don’t my- self kuow. I t home only half an hour ago. Then I found in just as you see them, only that the fire wasn so far on. We tried to stop it, but couldn’t. The old house must now.” “Who has done it?” I asked mec 'cally. Somet whispered me I knew the'man. “ Well, e people say that soldiers came from new summits “M’s “rush?” one o e no as. y no e 3 fit awa , and the hadto goback without him. en la r, after t had got to be night, some others came who wasn’t soldiers at all, but men in masks. It was them that carried off the sen- orita and set fire to the cm grands. It’s been burning ever since; and the pobrecita! Nobody knows where they’ve taken or what’s being done to her. ” I knew the first, of the last ignorant though tortured with terrible apprehension. I had no doubt now that what I had seen between the Crocodile and Camsco was the body of my betrothed. Was she still living, or had they killed her, and what they carried was her corpse? “Oh, God! oh, God!” I groaned magonyas the fell fear swept throu h my soul. “ 0, you are rave. You would risk year, life to save that of the aim—would you no “Ten times over. Only tell me how. Try me, senor, you shall see.” 2‘ Get your and horse!” are ere.” Hepointedtothe horse, thatwmllflddlfiflm on, stood tied to a rail. ‘ Your machete?” “ Here on my hip.” “Mount, then, and follow me!” The candor leaped into his saddle—I had not . m...W.A-.nm.,.m.—~M, left mine—and we rode off, leaving the red fiames behind us. Back for the swamp, La Zapata. In less than twenty minutes after we we»; iipfgnt its edge, at the place where I had lately e 1 . . Dismounting, we made our horses secure. tying them to the same tree where mine had most of the afternoon and night. We muffled them to prevent them neighmg. The work we had to do called for caution, silence, the stealthy tread of ti ers. On the way I had tel my companion all, uni communicated my plan of action; which be ap' proved. We were going to en in a conflict With two men strong as ourse ves, to attempt the rescue of a captive, and capture them as vielL They were not likely to surrender with on! showing fight. On both sides the struggle wc 1114! be for ife, hand-to-hand, and therefore desveru ate. My brown-skinned comrade knew this, but quailed not. I saw he was game tothe buck- bone, almost as eager as myself to enter upon action. Besides the desire to rescue his y( ung. he had an additional sentiment to in- spire him—the old standing spite against the runaway, as also a fresh feud with Carrach who had in some way insulted him. The double vendetta would have secured me his co—operw tion, with nothin besides. But I believe he would have I‘lgone into the fight throu h sheer love of it. e was addicted to deeds 0 dating ——seemed to court them for sake of the danger. I had, therefore, no uneasiness about his flinching, or failing me. My only fear was our not being able to get face to face with the enginy'ld ‘t be possibl to tra stepsu on 1 e re co m the hiding-place of the runaway? y This was the question that gave the most con rn. Less new that the cazador “as by my side. After I had told him all, he made light 01 finding the way. He spoke as if he was ac quainted with it. In my zig-tialg through the tangle I had observed a tree er than those around it; not a mangrove though growing among them. It was close to the refuge of the runaway. I had made special note of this with some veggianticipation it might afterwa 5 stand me in , if I needed it for a landmark. The need had come sooner than I expected. I" was now. I 3 he of it to Gaspardo. “ know that tree well,” said the hunter. “ It’s a mahagna that’s grownfrom a seed some bird has dropped amo the mangroves. I re» member from having s at a lird from it—a big _ harpy eagle that had erched on one of its branches. If that’s the p ace, I can go strai rht to it, though it’s now many years smce I shot the Not so much matter al:out the ii so either, l you can only put me on the nth y an ask of. When a man has scrambed over ese roots, trust me for findin his footmarlm, even if it’s only moonli ht. vs no fear, cah- allero! Lead on; and s ow mewhere you was out of the swamp. ” Looking to our guns to see that they were in shooting condition, then slinging than over (or shoulders, we entered among the mangroves. Soon as I set the cazador on the track, 11‘ took the lead, leaving me to come after. He did not go fast. It was more im ortant ti make sure of not getting stray Beside there was the necessxty of not making noise—- even the slightest. To guard against this we had kicked 03 our boots, before taking to the trees; and trod the roots in our stockin We went well for some three hundr urds; when, in spite of the cazador’s wonder skill, we were compelled to auto. The moon had su denlv drorped under s cloud, leaving us in darlinrss so dense .n could no more make out the scratches i in the roots. The were too slight to he died!- guished in the o curity. It was maddenin to be thus bafledn To as every second seem a minute, every minute a I hour. For at such a time and on such a matter every moment was fraught with fearful conse- quences. My fancy pictured Juanita, as she had a; . peered in my dreams, strug ling to escaple tron , he embrace of the flea brutes. 0 ! thav she could have called out; for now I might have heard, and her cries guided me to the spot where she was captive. We listened, but could hear no sounds of hu. man voice; [only the palace of the night, such as meet the ear in the midst of a mangrove swam , the lgroans of the great southern owl, the me - anc oly cry of the quabird the “gluck-gluck ” of gigantic bull-frogs, and the bellowing of alli~ gators. All sounds consonant toour situation, seeming to mock me in my misery. For I was now wretched, despairing, in the belief that after all we should be beaten and have to back leaving the captive unreleased. And a thought of such captivity. It was too fearful to bear mflection. turned to my companion inhopesofhearingsomewordtocheerme. But no, he only whispered: “ There’s no help for it, caballero, but to wait tillthatclouddrivesm.‘ If weattem ttego on without- Ea! t’s that, y l A s -4- W. ...n.......,_.. .W p a. .. f i Hr. 2 23 light! Carrambal I hope it isn’t the Farrol de Diablo!” _ I loliked in the dilil-eftion1 pointed lout. hSure enong there was a Frat, 0* cumin r t rowr tnc leavi'stl’ And as I could €qu b the red bglua‘e, coming from areed-flre, and no anz' nis ‘atuus as the mulatto meant, calling it “ evil’s Lamp.” ' at it, we became satisfied of its true character; and as soon as resolved, we stole to- wardrit. Glidin silently on we got within less than ten cos 0 the spot, then stopped to take breath or the finals ring, now near. For by this we understood a , and knew, to a certainty, what was before us. It was the shed of the fugitive slave. We had approached it by its open side, and could See everything within. A fire freshly kindled, was burning on the hearth, beside which crouched the Crocodile, himself. He had the iguan in his ms , and was almost impaling it on the s it. 'vi ently the lizard was to be the piece e resistance of their supper. 0n the bamboo bench were two forms seated side by side; one erect, the other drooping. The upright {inure was that of the guy goajiro, the bent one juanita. Aguera. I could see that her hair bun" disheveled, and that her dress was turn to shreds. Also that her countenance was sad, the cheeks wan, the lips pallid, the eyes streaming with tears. ‘egsing all this, I had a difficulty to restrain myself from springing forward, and at once 0 footing the rescue. Prudence kept me back, an intuitive percep- tion, that her peril was for the time, past, and thaw might return if i acted rashly. We were still some distance from the stage where the last act of this drama would have to 1)) enacted, beyond the bounds of a. sin gle suing. We must get nearer before attempting to bring about its denouement. While stealing closer, stepping from root to not, Gaspardo by my side, both silent as ocelots approaching their. prey, I heard the speech: “ So, .senorita! W at think you of things now? Aha, Dona Juanita Agxiera! I have you in my power and mean to keep you sic—as the cayman keeps the y he has clutched; this nigh you and I sha 1 sleep on the same couch.” ‘ i 01” I criezl, boundinqr up‘on the platform, unable any longer to hold bac . Then, grasping the throat of A. the radian, Gaspardo simulta- neously tackling the runaway, I continued : “Surrender, Rafael Carrasco! If you resist, your couch will be a bed of death!” Never. in all my life was I so surprised at the rim-wt of .a speech. It was more ludicrous than magical—like a farce following bad melodrama. Anticgga ' 'r a desperate fight with the ferocious maro ‘an the gay goajiro, it almost made me laugh to see the latter upon his knees, and hear ’66- Dingoes appeal t'o_,m_e for mercy; while the former was 11ng In the same strain to Gas- ‘ Idlgfl; both to the tender mercies of the cam- ilor, who roceeded to bind them hand and foot, neither. axing the slightest resistance. Then“ turning, I took the rescued captive in my arms. , . As she. lay upon my breast, her heart heating time to mine, I knew she_ was safe, pure as when. theday before, our lips meeting, she re- solved \er first love-kiss. We left the two criminals in the shed securely tied, to be sent back for and brought to justice, by the alguazila of Batabano. . Then, returning over the trestle of roots—— afllaneed more‘ tenderly conducted than w ‘en she went the opposite way—we r ed the 51133;, remounte our horses, she ' 3 my sa e. Back to thevcafetal, but not there to stay. The easa grande was still ablaze, but the flames Were less bright, subdued for lack of fuel to. feed them. he roof was fast falling in, the red rafters crashing down one after t 0 other. To remain would have been to behold a smok— inLr smoldering ruin. e did not, or but for a. moment—only to take a. last look at the scene of desolation.’ Then turning our horses’ heads, we rode on for Batabano. ' Next mornin , the first train of the cami'no de hierro carrie us across the island to Havana; and before the hour of almerzo, Juanita A era was safely lodged in the house of her tia, Eu too, sharing its hospitality. Before letting fall the curtain on this little drama of Cuban life, it must needs be told what afterward became of the characters who have figured in it. Faking the thieves first, left tied as told, they were sent for as promised, and found aswe had left them. Transferred from the frail, palm-thatched shed to a'strong-walled prison—the calabozo of Bahibano—they were taken out of this, tried, and condemned to death; returned to the jail, and again brought forth, the second and last time for execution on the scaffold. The after fate of the honest people isyet in abeyance; though it may be said the untutored Creole girl is still a girl, under the protection of her tie, in that pretty suburban villa, outside the city of Havana, and her brotheris a n— eral in the Ill-3E1:th army, fighting the at- tles of “Cuba bro,” the brave Gaspardo by his side. For myself—well, perhaps the loss said t better; though I hope, at some da not distan , to revisit ' avana, and possib y Batabano, though I manner so much care again to go flamingo—shoo ' g among the mangroves. - A Conjurer} Illusion. IT was announced a few days ago that Hertz, the conjurer, had promised to em an illu- sion more marvelous than an which had ever been done by any sle ht-of-hand per- former or exhibitor of so-call spiritual pheno- mena. . The performer etegaped form- rd, (may ing a thick , pro bly ten feet . . The semi-circular ge was covered th a heavy Brussels carpet, and at the back between the pillars were hun cmmson c The rofessor said that he (1 board it that e had a confederate underneath the stage, and to show that this was not true, he spread the rug upon the carpet, satisfying the spectators that it was uncut. An unpainted box, about two feet long and seventeen inches deep and wide, was then car- ried upon the stage and put. down in the center of the rug. It had a turnover lid, fastened at three common iron hinges. and] thebackwith "en'ds‘ bélég) 1561.1: “twentiet- me «out. em ., _ . are “ “Messier” '- given the box it two stout iron h fitted to two staples driven into the front of t e box. A few air-holes had been bored through the top and ndes. The box had been put to ther With clinched nails, ‘- 8* nth ex . round d round um W09 . mmapufiigujfimfim «$3553. lace van N . , ..W. .. .9... fit, and the heaps, aftgr lac over 0 staples were fasten by takin a turn through the latter. A narrow red nb 11 was _ tied tightly about the first knot, Woodmth a x’, and fining-wax. A nihilism“ , omen cross was, c aro e. the committee bound this around with ier rope, sealing the knot as in the other ' e ofeesor’e assistant, a fullgruwn man, Muted himself of his coat mwumi, stud sum! to have a long tig ttmg' _, _jo tin. mush, u drawnoverhisheodandbogf , as Then, lyi upon the box on ‘h: drewinhis egssoastoenablethe ti get a ad p on the openend,‘ Oueof l commi infield this tightly Withhis mand- kerchief, and it was further secured another piece of ribbon,which was sealed. 'oam. mon screens were then . and the professor and . other assistant 'fllfi the committee ate 7 undo, This woo _ 9:30 exactly. Two minutes later a, tap heard, the screens were, remgved, an t e lin sack was seen lvin .e ysupm the“ x All the sealswereun‘broian. committee un- . tied the re and lifted the of. the bonmd the man w 0 had been tied ..- "Ida , fied out, looking nonaotsge exbe ushedfaoe of, ' , y . ‘ rs.-. having been ’nntieltfhlfi , was 10% in it. The professor had in vain cred n, to anyoii'e who take itout'rithbmlj‘eak- ing the seal, cutting themataual, or the seams. He disclaimed any spmtuahsuc. ; T Khlvan. Proverbs... ‘ Hm who steadies awe-mp. wiél certainly :, ~. 1,.- wo than . 7 ., Hgfihds'weergg from his heartwill provoke tears‘evenfromtheblind’. " - if" ' T '- A new homeand elm-om astrangecountry each lookamiss' .. , . - wm you to, law against the, Emmott God Himself 5 ouldbethe dge. " “‘ ."‘ ' ' . mend ther same stone. th R . .7 ('1 .U ma raise, ,e . I o timeg, but sgyeswm-still‘be Imam oféiandeome, meow-mm!” taste). ’ ‘7' “1 OUNG men may, , ' 0 men mm ,» THE over-Hem. (flattering). “mew makes a wound. ' _ Iillnwho fears the spamwwin never two mi et. , v , WHEN, the ass bearstoo light along, be. we; at! tolledown. . ' _ , THE 5 ken word cannot again be swallowmi Ha w ose’heartxit somfinilsjgiom tongue. m sensesth -w use; ..- A. awn-a. Wan—‘4'...“ w~.wm~w-r-—n.w..w~—r‘t J'w m —. -<- 4'.- -4 mad :BEADILE’S 82 Large Three-Column Pages. 1. A Hard Crowd; on, GENTLEMAN Ma's Siam By Philip S. Warne. 8. The Dare-Devil; on, THE WINGED or m SEA. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham. 8. Kit Carson. Jr., THE CRACK Sno'r or Cl! Wm. By Buckskin Sam. 4. The Kidnapper; on, THE GREAT know or m Nan. By Philip S. Warne. .5. The Fire-Fiends; on, HERCULES, THE HUNCEEAUE. By A. P. Morris. 8. Wildcat Bob. TEE Boss BRUIRER ; ea. Tm: Boson BLoonnoUNna. By Edward L. Whee- ler, author of “ Dewwood Dick,“ Double Daggers.” 7. Death-Notch. THE Dmmornn; on, TI! Brian LAEE AVENGEEs. By 011 Coomea. 8. The Headless Horseman. A strange story of Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 9. Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 10. Vidooqit TnE FaENca POLICE Sn. Written by himse . r“1&1. Midshipman Easy. By Capt. Mar- 12. The Death-Shot : on, TRACEED r0 DIATI. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 18. Pathawag: on, NICE WE m OLo Turns or as owner. By Dr. J. H. Rob- 11. 14. ThaLes-danegea. THE SCOURGE ; 1 as. Tn WAE- GLE or m Momwxs. By Ned Bunt- w inc. author of “ The White Wizard." 15. The Tiger-Slayer; on, EAGLE- EEAn ro rn Rmous. ByGustave Aimand. 18. TheWhiteWisard; on, THE GREAT . Paorm or m Salmons. By Ned Buntline. l 17. Nightshade, THE Rosana PRINCE I or Bomw Burn. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 18. The Sea Bandit; on, THE QUEEN or m law. By Ned Buntline. 19. Red Cedar, TEE PRAIRIE OUTLAW. ByGustaveAimard. 80. The Bandit at Ba ; on, THE P:— aA'rEa ormPaAnuEa. By Gus ve Aimard. 2LT!” Tra per’ D hte o Tu OU'rLAw'a lump By (gutsy: r, OR, 22. Whitelaw: on, Nan-rm or was LAKE Snan By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 28. The Red Warrior: on, STELLA Man's COIANCHI 10m By Ned Buntline. 94. Prairie Flower. By Gustave Ai- mard, author of " Tiger-Slayer." etc. ' 85. The Gold-Guide; on, STEEL ARM, rls Rum-roe. By Francis Johmon. 98. The Death-Track; o Tm: OUT- LAws or THE MOUNTAIN. By Frandis ohnson. 27. The Spotter-Detective; on, THE Giana or N" on. By Albert W. Aiken. 98. Three-Fingered Jack. THE ROAD- Aom or was Bocuns; on, THE BorMmEa or man Luca. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 89. Tiger Dick, THE FARO KING; or, Tu CAsmEa'a Cain. By Philip S. Warns. 80. Gospel Geor : or, anr Fun, In! OUTLAW. By Joaep E. Badger. Jr. 81. The New York ‘8 3’ on, TEE Fuss or onmnm. By Albert W. en. 88. B’hoys of Yale; on, THE Scum «A man Sn or Comma. By John D. Vose. 88. Overland Hit. By Albert W. Aiken. , 84. M B - unw- fikoag‘ky ountain Bob. 1 A1 w.85. Hentuek. the Sport. By Albert 88.Is\1unDioh By AlbertW. Aiken. 87. Hirl. the Hunchback: on, TEE Manner-sum ByDr.J.B.Bobinson. \ LIBRARY. 88. Velvet Hand; on, THE IRON Gm or INJyN DICE. By Albert W. Aiken. 39. The Russian Spfidon. THE BROTH- Ena or m Sunny Caoaa. By erick Whittaker. 40. The Low ‘ Pards 3’ on, THE TAn'rAas or m 'a. By J as. E. Badger, Jr. 41. Gold Dan; on, THE Wm SAVAGE or THE GREAT SALT LAKE. By Albert W. Aiken. 42. The California Detective ; on, THE Wmnna or NEW You. By Albert W. Aiken. 48. Dakota Dan. THE RECELEss RANGER; or. THE BEE-HUNTERs’ EXCURSION. By 011 Coomes. 44. Old Dan Rackback. THE GREAT Ex'rAnErNA'roa; or, Tn TruANGLE’a LAsr Tun. By Oil Coomea. 45. Old Bull's Eye, TEE LiGETNING Saar or m Ma. 48. Bowie-Knife HUNTER or m Non’-wm. By 011 Coomes. 47. Pacch Pete, THE PRINCE or THE REVOLVER. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr. 48. Idaho Tom. THE YOUNG OUTLAW or SILVEnLANn. By 01] Coomes. 49. The Wolf Demon; or, THE QUEEN or ran KANAwnA. By Albert W. Aiken. arr mason. Ja-No. a 50. Jack Rabbit, THE PRAIRIE Spear; or, THE CHILDREN or m LLANO ESTACADO. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr. 51. Red Rob, THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. By 011 Coomea. 52. Death Trailer, TEE Cmr or Scours' or Life and Lave in a Frontier Fort. By Hon. w‘m. . Cody. (Buffalo Bill.) 58. Silver Sam; or, THE Mrs-mar or Deadwoon Cm. By Col. DelleSara. 54. Always on Hand: or. THE Spon'rrvE Sroar or m Foor Hms. B Philip S. Warne‘ author of “A Hard Crowd.” “Pa nt Leather Joe.‘ 55. The Scalp Hunters. A ROEANCE or m Puma. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 58. The Indian Mazes a: or, THE MAD MAN or was Ms. By rt W. Aiken. 57. The Silent Hunter; or, THE SCOWL HALL Mrsmr. By Percy B. St. John. 58. Silver Knife; or, WICKLn'rE. m Roan MOUNTAIN RANGER. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 59. The Man From Texas; 01'. TH! OU'rLAw or Axum“. By Albert W. Aiken. 80. Wide Awake: or, THE lmor or m BLACE HILLs. By Frank Dumont. 81. Cafiltnain Seawaif. m PRIVA'rEEn By Ned Bun e. Each Number Complete. By Joseph E. Badger. JR. 1 Ben. TEE Lx'rrLE ’ Price 10 on. 82. Loyal Heart; or, THE Turrns or ARKANSAS. By Gustave Aimard. 83. The Winged Whale. By Albert W. Aiken. 84. Double - 8 By Joseph E. Badger. r. 65. The Red ah; or, TEE Booms or m INDIEs. By Captain Frederick Whittaker. 88. The Specter Barque. A TALI or m PACIFIC. By Captain Mayne Reid. 87. The Boy Jockey; or, Rom“ vrnsua CaoomNEas. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr. 88. The Fighting Tra port or, Ki! CARSON 10 ms REsCUE. By Cap . J. F. C. Adams. 69. The Irish Ca tain; A TALE or FONTENOY. By Captain erick Whittaker. 70. Hydrabad, THE STRANGLEB; or Aime-ms CHILD or m Conn. ByDr.J.i Robinson. 71. Captain Cool-Blade. or, TEE MAJ! Sun or ran: Misslsarrm. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr. 72. The Phantom Hand. A Sroar or NEW YORK Emma AND Hons. By Albert W. Aiken. 78. The Knight ofthe Red Cross; or. TEE MAGICIAN or GnANAnA. A Tale of the A1. hambra. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 74. Captain ofthe Rifles. A Bowen or ml: Mme”! VALLEY. By Captain Mayne Reid 75. Gentleman George. or. PABLOB, Parson, STAGE Aim Bram. By Albert W. Aiken. 78. The Queen’s Musketecr. or, TmanE, nu: Pamcass PM. By George Albany. 77. The Fresh of Frisco. or, Tns nurses or BUENAVEN'maA. By Albert W. Aiken. 78. The Mysterious Spy; or, GOLD" PEA-urn, m BUOCANEEa‘s DAuoans. By A. M Grainger. 79. Joe Phenix. THE POLICE Srr. By- Albert W. Aiken. 80. A Man of Nerve; or, cm, was Dwm. By Philip S. Warns. 81. The Human Tiger; or, A Ema or Fns. By Albert W. Aiken. 82. Iron Wrist. the Swot-Master: By Col. Thomas H. Monster-y. 88. Gold Bullet 8 ort; or; m Kmom or m 07mm. By :10 Bill. 84. Hunted Down; or, m Wan-s Wrrca. By AlbertW. Aiken. 85. The Cretan Rover. or ZULEnrAn m BEAU-rum. By Col. Prentice lngr’shsm. 88. The Big Hunter; or. TEE QUEEN or m Woona. By the author of “ Silent Hunter." 87. The Scarlet Ca tain; or, Tn! PRISONER or run: Tom By 1. Dcile Sara. 88. Big Gcor . TEE GIANT or m Gm: or. TBIFIVI w 830nm. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 89. The Pirate Prince: or, Pam NELLY, THE QUEEN or m law. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham. 90. Wild Will. Till MAD RANCEan. or. TEE Truman TEEAN. By Buckskin Sam. 91. The Winnin Oar; or, THE IEN- EEEPEa‘s DAUGn'rEa. By bert W. Aiken. Ready April 7th. 9T2; Buflhdo Bill.WTnE chxser KING; or E Anson or In Ear. Ma 0 field Burr. Ready April 21st. y 1 ' mug” 98. Captain Dick Talbot. KING or m RoAn; or, TB’E BLACK-room or Sm Albert W. Aiken. Ready May 5th. 8' Anewmeth Beadle’s Dime Library is ior sale by“ an Newsdealera, ten cents per copy or sent by m on read t of twelve cents each. BRADLE8 PublEbers, 98 William Street. New York. at, the Death Shot. ‘ us