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V01  Published Every fleadle g?- fldams, @ublishers, ununmcopy, N0 4

Week. 98 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y., May 3. 1882. 85.00 3 Year.

 

THE OCEAN VAMPIRE; or, THE HEIRESS 0F CASTLE CURSE.

A SEQUEL TO “THE BLACK PIRATE."

BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM,

AUTHOR OF “MERLE, mm ML'nxnnn,” “ MONTEZUMA, THE MERCILESS," no, no, no.

 

 

 

 

 

KENT IDXAX PLACED THE MUZZLE OF THE PISTOL AGAINST THE BROAD BREAST OF HIS FOE, AND DREW THE TRIGGER

    
 

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 The Ocean Vampire;

The Heiress of Castle Curse.

I Romance of Blue Water, when Swept by the,

Black Flag. A Sequel to “ The Black
Pirate; or, The Mystery of the
v Golden Potters."

 

BYOOLONELJ’RENTISS INGRAHAM,
author. or “an. run HUTINEER,” “MON-
 ran mornnss,” “SCARLET

" donoounn,” ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
run an.

Thu home of the King’s Commissioner to his.

American Provinces was grandly illuminated,
has] within there was heard the sound of merry-
making. »

Strains of music floated upon the air, and
the hum of voices, with now and then a ring-
ing laughter, came from the open windows
and were borne away upon the balmy breeze

‘ that rippled the waters of the harbor far below
the hill upon which the grand old mansion
stood.

Sir Grey Alstone, His Majesty's Commis-
sioner, moved among his guests with a cheery
smile and cordial manner, ever and anon glan-

. cing over at his beautiful daughter, Lady Eve,
. who was conversing with Lord Cecil Milnor, a
handsome young noble of wealth, and the senior
lieutenant of the famous Gallows Ship, the
Weird craft that had been lately brought into
port by a brother officer, Leon St. Vale, in
whose honor the guests, were invited, be having
hunted down the cruel Black Pirate, and solved
the mystery of the Death Ship.
Taking a position where he was not observed,

h ' Sir Grey, still gazing upon his beautiful daugh-

,ter and Lord Cecil, muttered half-aloud:
“If Eve would only give up Leon St. Vale
and love Lord Cecil Milnor, all would go W01].
“I have little against St. Vale, for his kill—
ing Lord Csverly in a. duel gave the entire for-
tune to Eve, and me the pleasure of fingering
itg‘and his solving this strange mystery of the

Death Ship, and destruction of the Black Pi-

‘ rate and hiscrew, will gain him favor in the

. king’s eyes, while he got a fair sum in prize-

money from the buccaneer craft; but then he

has nothing but his sword, so tospeak, while

,- Lord Milnor is one of England’s best blood, and

' has an immense fortune, so it would be well

for Eve to marry him.

“ Lord Cecil it is true, seems interested in

' that lovely gir , Lena La Rue, whom St. Vale

rescued from the pirate island, and she regards

him highly, I suspect; but it would be just the

thing in romance for her to marry St. Vale,

her rescuer, and while she is here as Eve’s
guest, I’ll plot for her to do so.”

‘ He paused, and turned his gaze upon the

maiden of whom he had spoken, Lena La Rue,

a New York heiress and beauty, whom Leon

St. Vale had found a captive upon the pirate
i: island, along with her dying mother, and
brought with him to Halifax.

Over her was bending, in'earnest conversa-
tion, Leon St. Vale, the young and handsome
naval lieutenant, and the hero of the hour, and
it seemed not amiss, that the two should be
lovers.

And yet Sir Grey knew that Eve 'Alstone,
his own daughter, had won the love of Leon
, St. Vale long before in old England, and that
, she fairly idolized the young officer; but this

was the affair of the heart he intended to plot

to break up to carry out his own selfish aims.

\

' ' \ Standing in a niche of the window, half—hid-

. den by a curtain of velvet, was another-person ,
watching the two couples.
‘ He was'a man with a handsome, yet some-
what bold and sinister face, and wore the uni-
form of a British naval lieutenant. '

As‘a junior officor to Loon St. Vale, he had
come out on the brig-of—war Vulture, sent by
the king’s order to the American shores spe-
cially to aid in driving piracy from the high
seas.

. .. Loving Lady Eve Alstone, and believing that

‘ she lo‘ved Leon St. Vale, he hated the latter
with all the bitterness of his heart, which had
been increased by his prompt punishment for
an insult be had offered Lieutenant St. Vale
upon the brig’s deck, and which, to the surprise
of all, he had passed ovor, outwardly, though in

quietly rest and take a survey of the grand

 

w ‘1

his heart the seeds of revengsweretakin. deep
root. ~ ' ‘ ‘ " ' ~

. With his commander, Sir Roslyn Stannix,
the captain of the Vulture, and other officers,
he had been invited to the Alstone Monsanto
the entertainment in honor of Leon St. Vale,
for his late gallant services upon the high seas,
and it was gall poured into his soul to witness
the loving look that placed between the young
lieutenant, the hero, and Lady Eve Alstone,
whenever the two drew near together.

At length Lord Cecil Milnor offered his arm
to Lady Eve, and strolling across the room to
where Leon St. Vale and Lena La Rue eat, as
if by mutual, or rather quadruple consent, the
gentlemen changed parlmers, and .moved
around the saloon to the strains of sweet mu-
sic. ' '

As Leon St. Vale halted' in the dance, the
two were within a few feet of the window, in
which still stood Kent Lomax, Watching them
with eager, burning eyes, and ,concealed from
view behind the lace and veIVet curtains.

“Ere loug the guests will leave, and when
they do I would see you,” said - Lady Eve, in a
low tone.

But the words distinctly reached the ears of
Lieutenant Lomax.

“I am more than willing, Eve; shall I re-
main?" said the young man, softly, and his
words were also heard by the eavesdropper.

“ No, Leon, for I could not then see you
alone, so leave with the rest, only pass through
the wicker gate into the cliff garden and await
me at the rustic arbor, my favorite retreat, as
you know.”

“ I will be there, Lady Eve.”

“ And I will retire to my rooms as soon as
the guests depart, and you know my boudoir
opens upon the garden, so I’ll not be seen seek-
ing the trysting place.

“Now go and dance with some of the pretty
Nova-Scotians, for I have no right to claim
the lion of the hour for more than one waltz.”

The young officer led Lady Eve to her seat,
while, with a grim smile upon his dark face,
Kent Lomnx left the window, and soon after
taking his leave of the fair hostess and Sir Grey
Alstone, muttered; f

“ And I, too, Lady Eve, will be at the tryst.
ing-place.

 

CHAPTER II.
THE TRYST.

IN twos and quartettes the guests of Sir Grey
Alstone left the handsome mansion, thoroughly
delighted with their entertainment, and the
young ladies charmed with the hero, Leon St.
Vale, while the young men envied him the re-
nown he had won as the captor of the Gallows
Ship and destroyer of the Black Pirate.

Bidding adieu to Sir Grey, and thanking him
for his courtesy, and an assumed farewell'to
Lady Eve, Leon St. Vale left the mansion, but
instead of continuing on down into the town,
and thence ,to the wharf where his boat await-
ed him, he quickly made a circuit of the
grounds, entered the ornamental garden, and
made hissway to the-rustic arbor upon the
cliff.

It was a dove-cote looking affair, built in
the shelter of half a dozen trees, and with a
settee and easy-chairs within, where one could

view spread out before them. -

The moonlight caused the vessels in the her-
bor to be distinctly visible, and standing there
and looking down upon them, while he‘waited
the coming of Eve, St. Vale saw almost be-
neath his feet the brig-of-war Vulture, in
which he had come out from England, with a
little further on the Petrol, which had been
captured by the Black Pirate, and set adrift
with her crew swinging by chains in the rig

iii!th

 

ging, had become known as the Gallows Ship.

The Petrol was now under command of ,
Lord Cecil Milnor, with a prize crew on board, 1
until she could be again fitted for sea, when it i
had been hinted to St. Vale that he would take I
command. a

At anchor a cable’s length distant from the 1
Petrol, was the buccaneer brigantine of the I
Black Pirate, also with a prize'crew 'on board,
and which  St. Vale himself had command
of. , "

In gazing upon the three vessels the scenes
of the past arose before him, and it was in his
heart to win a greater name and rank, to one
day offer to Lady Eve. .

He had loved her from their first met-ting, l
and the man that it was intended she should

marry, he had killed in a duel, and yet she
hadnot turned from him, and hefelt that he
was beloved by her.

Had he not lovod Lady Eve, Leon St. Vale

‘ his heart would have gone forth in
love to the fair girl, Lena La Rue, whom he
had found on the pirate’s island and rescued:
but even her beautiful face and lover charac-
ter had not won his, allegiance for an instant
from his first affection.

“No, Eve is the onlywomau I can ever
love,” he spoke, half alofif‘and then started.
as he felt a light touch upon his arm.

It was Lady Eve, who ind approached un-
heard and unseen in his deep reverie, but who
said playfully: "

“ That was said for my ears, Sir Lieutenant,
for you knew I‘wns near.”

“Upon my honor I thought aloud," Eve:
but it is kind of you to come here, and you are

a brave little girl to meet me,” and he gaZed'

upon her beautiful face, and slender form.
wrapped in her father’s cloak which she had
thrown around her. .

“You forgot that I met you once in the
shadow of Castle Curse,” she said, and with a
shudder, as there flashed before her some un-
pleasant memory, called up by the words.

“Yes, after my duel with Lord Caverly:
you were indeed brave then, for old Welcome
Haven Castle, under its new and weird title
of Castle Curse, was a dismal place fora lover’s
tryst, Lady Eve.” '

“It was indeed; but when I return to Eng-
land I hope to make it my home, in spite of
the curse that I inherited with it, for mine is
not a superstitious nature, Leon; but now let
me tell you why I asked you to meet me
here.”

“I am all attention, Eve,” he said softly.

“ It was not to tell you how I admired your
courage in boarding that Gallows Ship and
solving its hideous mystery, which all others
shunned, nor of your pluck in drivingthe Black
Pirate to destruction, or of the bold part you

played upon the pirate island, for all that I .

think of you, you well know.” 4

“ Was it to tell me that you loved me, Eve?"

“ No, no, you must not refer to that, for re-
member it is only a few months since—l”

She pausod, evidently from not wishing to
say something that might pain.

But he continued calmly, finishing the sen-
tence for her.

“Sinbe .the death of your intended lover,
Lord Gaverly, at my hands.”

“Yes,” she said almost inaudibly.

“Well. I shall not offend again, for in the
eyes of the world you are as a widow for one
year, and, I might add, in the world’s eye, it
is sacrllege for me to think of you as my wife.

“But I cannot help it, Eve— There I have
done, so tell me what you would say.”

“ You have an enemy, Leon.”

“Doubtless many of them,” he answered, in-
differently.

“But one in particular, who means you direct
ham." - '

KAI! ,how know you this?"

“‘Yaterday I sat in this arbor, when I was
suddenly confronted by a youth in sailor garb,
who had a handsome face, but one that was
haggard and sad. ‘

“ At first I was‘startlcd, but he said quickly:

“ ‘I mean you no harm, lady, but. are you a
friend of Lieutenant Leon St. Vale? "

“Ah! he asked that, did he?" said the young \

officer in surprise.

“Yes, Leon, and when I told him that I was '

your friend, he continued: A

“ ‘ Then tell him to beware of a brother officer
who professes friendship for him, and who, if
he goes out in command of the brigantine, as
he expects to do, desires to go as one of his lieu-
tenants, for that one means to kill him.’ ”

“ Why, Lady Eve, you surprise me, for I
can think of no one who would be so base,” and
Leon St. Vale was evidently surprised at what
he heard.

“Are you and Lieutenant Lomax on ,the
i best 0: terms, Leon?” was Lady‘ Eve’s signifi- 

cant question. ‘

“Ba! Kent Lorna: I do not believ’e likes

me, though he appears to.
-“Did the young sailor say that he was the
one?" a ’
“He mentioned no name, Leon.”
“And did he say who he was, and his motiv’e
for warning me through you?” ‘ ,
“ No. he merely said what I have told you,
mad, fndignan‘ily refusing some gold I offered
him, turned and departed.”

 

 

 

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“This is strange, for I cannot place him, or
understand his motive in thus warning me.

“But the night air is chill, and I fear for

i you to remain out longer; but I thank you for
your kindness to me.”

He would have drawn her toward him, but
she drew back, grasped his hand, and with a
simple word of farewell, retreated through the
moonlit garden.

Leon 8t. Vale watched her until he saw her
disappear from sight in the shadows of the
wing of the mansion, and then wended his way

. toward the shore, by way of a path leading
' down the clifi’.
Ashe passed through the gate at the border

A.

from the branches of one of the trees over-
hanging the arbor.

It was Kent Lomax, and he muttered:

“Already warned, and by a young sailor
whom I must look up and silence; if gold will
not do it, steel will.

“But no matter who warns, Leon St. Vale,
you are doomed, and Lady Eve Alstone, you
shall become my wife.”

 

CHAPTER III.
“NUMBER THIRTEEN.”

, UPON reaching the beach, opposite where
the captured pirate brigantine lay at anchor,
Leon St. Vale hailed and ordered a boat sent
ashore after him.
wWhile waiting he saw a slenderly formed,
youthful sailor approaching him at a quick

Pm '

“Well, my lad, you don’t‘ belong on board
unless you have lately shipped,” he said, as the
young seaman halted near him, and seemingly
without noticing his presence.

“No, sir, but I would like a berth on the
brigantine with your permission,” said the
young sailor quietly, at the same time salut-
ing politely.

. , There was something in the voice of the
youth that caused St. Vale to start, and step-
ping nearer he gazed an instant into his face,
while he said in hoarse tones:

“ Great God! has the sea given up its deadfi”
~ “ Senor, I did not die,” was the low reply.

“ So I see, if you are—”

“’Sh—senor, I am Number Thirteen.”

“Yes, you were the unlucky one, self-'con—
stituted, in our shipwrecked crew, and when
I drew the death-lot, to save me sprung into
the sea,” and Leon St. Vale spoke with consid—
erable emotion. -

“It was better so, Senor St. Vale. I was
c'razed with hunger and suffering, and when I
saw the lot fall to you, to die and break the
fated number of thirteen in the boat, I felt
that death would be to me a boon, while you
might live to conquer a great name, and you
have, for not half an hour after I sprung over-
board, as I believed to sink into the dark
depths forever, you sighted, and fearlessly
boarded the Gallows Ship, with which you cap—

. tured the Black Pirate’s brigantine.”

“But how were you saved, Frank, for in
vain I searched the waters for you!” and St.
Vale was interested deeply in the answer.

, “ I‘ am a good swimmer, senor, and lay

‘ . ‘- flpatihg upon the water until you rowed on.

. “Then, mechanically I swam away from

i, I you, and soon sighted a small coast logger, ly-

~' ing motionless upon the waters.

“ Instantly the desire to live seized upon me,
and I hailed them, was taken on board, and. we
were wrecked on the coast in the storm that
followed, but I, with several others escaped.

. “Learning at St. J ohn’awhere I went, that

'» you had come into Halifax with the Gallows

Ship and piratebrigantine, I came hither- to

.1 V_ see you and at my lodging-house learned a

s \ , ,. secret that will interest you, as there is one

you deem your friend plotting against you.”

“Ba! and you it was that sought Lady Eve

,. ", Alstone and bade her warn me?” quickly said

' St. Vale.

“ Yes senor, for, as you had some of the pi-
rate crew on board, I dare'd not be seen by
them, as I wished to be believed dead, and I
could not sea you otherwise, so I sought her.”

 “And I thank yo“, Frank; but tell me who

 - v is this foe of mine?"

“i -, "- “Lieutenant Imnax.”

“As I expected. Well, being forewarned is

, forearmed, and I will know how to act.

 ‘1}. ' _ 3 “ I expect to be sent out in command of the

g - ' hrigantine to hunt down other buocaneers, now

’ ‘  Glut the Black Pirate is dead—”

, A“ He is not dead, senor.”

“‘Hal do you know this?”

_-__—__—-_—.g A W‘ - ..
. v ‘

i

 

, .

.vm»-vrgsco“.,’

 

 

of Sir Grey’s grounds, a man dropped down ‘

 

“ Yes, senor, his crew drowned when his
vessel went ashore; but the Devil takes care of
his own, and he was saved.”

“ How know you this?”

“I saw him.”

“ You saw him?”

“Yes, senor, he was in Halifax today, and
in disguise; but I recognized him by a ring he
wore and his voice, though he did not see me.”

“This is remarkable, for he surely was
washed into the wild water with the rest of his
crew.” .

“It is not remarkable for him, senor.”

“Well, he intends mischief in being here.” _

“The Black Pirate can intend nothing else,
senor."

“ But here is my boat, and you must not be
seen, so return to your lodgings, and I will
come there in the morning and see you, for I
need your aid, Frank.”

“I am at the Anchor Inn, senor, and I am
known there as Frank.”

“ I will find you; good-night.”

The lad turned away as the boat drew near,
and when it touched the beach St. Vale sprung
in, and was rowed quickly back to the hand-
some vessel that had once flauuted the black
flag so boldly from its peak.

 

CHAPTER IV.
THE PLOTTERS.

HAVING been up late into the night, it was
approaching nooa when Frank, the sailor lad,
awoke and quickly ate the frugal breakfast
awaiting him.

Not an ions to attract attention, he returned
to his litt e room to await the coming of St.
Vale, whom he expected might arrive at any
moment, and had thrown himself into an easy-
chnir to indulge in reverie, when he heard the
door of an adjoining room open and two per-
sons enter, as he could tell by their tread and
voices.

The language of one was refined, that of the
other coarse, showing that they were in difl’er~
ent walks in life.

“They are the same two I heard talking to-
gether day before yesterday,” muttered Frank,
and he arose and approached the partition di-
viding the rooms, and placed his eye first and
then his ear to the hole left by a. nail which
had been withdrawn.

“ Well, cap’n, what’s in the wind now?"
asked one of the two, a man in sailor garb, and
with a bold, hard face, addressing one who,
upon throwing aside his cloak and slouch hat,
was recognizable as Kent Lomax, second lieu-
tenant of the English brig-of-war Vulture.

“Well, I have changed my plan,Brent, and
wish you to act at once,” replied the officer.

“ As how, lefftenantl”

“ Why, put an end to St. Vale immedi-
ately.”

“ Before we leave port?”

H Yes."

“It will be a. diflicult job in port, when at
sea it will be plain sailing, Mr. Lomax.”

“ But he is likely to get the brigantine, and
if he sails in her he will do good service, while
if he should die now, I think I can get the com-
mand of her, and thus favor my ends.”

“It is risky, sir, here in port.”

“, The pay is large.”

“It must be double what you promised me
if he got lost at sea.” .'

“ You are grasping, Brent.”

“ It‘s not an atom to what you’ll get by the
lady.”

“ No insolence, Brent,” angrily said the of-
floor.

“We are shipmates on the same red cruise,
you paying the gold and I doing the work, so
I don’t see why I should touch my hat and
mince words when I speak to you.” ‘

Kent Lomax muttered something strangely
like an oath, when the man made this bold re-
mark, and said:

“Well, I’ll give you the sum you demand if
you do the deed within three days.”

“It is too soon.”

“Any time will do, if you do not fear to
act.”

" 011. M, 1m accustomed to red deeds, so
have no compunctions; but I cannot act in
three days, as first I must enlist on the Vul-
ture, and not on the brigantine, as I had in-
tended, and then I have some little work of my
own cut out to do.”

“What matters that when you can make so
much out of me?” -

“I think I can make far more out of the

. other party.”

 

“ Ha! would you betray me!” and Kent Lo-
max let his hand drop upon a weapon in his
pocket. \ 

“Oh, no, not as long as you pay, Kent Lo-
max; but I know you of old, and will hold you
to your bargain.

“What I have with another does not con
cern you, so don’t interfere. . '

“But I am getting old enough to begin to
save-a little gold now, and I have a chance of
making more every day.” ,

“Wretch! you call taking human life for
gold an easy way to make it?” -

“ Why not? What is one’s loss is ' another’s " «_
gain, and I happen to hold the helm in this s !
particular, so shall steer to suit myself.” ' ..

“Well, when will you do the deed!"

“Within the next two weeks."

“ Not sooner?”

H No.” _- ‘ 
“ Why put it off so long?” - , I ‘1
“ I have told you, to transact a little private ‘ * 1:1:
affair of my own. ‘ ' 
“If that does not suit you, hire some one “ - "

 

else to drive a knife to his heart.” , “ ‘33

“No, I dare trust no one else than you.” " ,r

“ And recognizing in me one whom they K.
tried to hang in England for a crime you knew ' 4.
him to be guilty of, and who was saved by W . 1
your testimony in his favor, you felt you could If 
get me to serve you in return for saving my , ' "
neck.”

“I did save you, Brent, and yet knew you

 

were guilty.” , A- ‘I I.“
“You would haVe been inhuman not to ',’, 

have done so, when twice you owed your life
to me. .

“But we will not speak of the past, but of _ I
the future. , ,

“ Are you content to abide my time!" ’. ' ’2.

“ I must be.” ‘ _

“Then it is settled, and within two weeks I '
will remove him from your path, so that you ‘
can marry the girl, and you had better lose no ' :g 6:
time, for she has put her fortune wholly in , 4 _‘-.~
Sir Alstone’s hands, and he is making it fly, ‘ s“
and deceiving her as to how he gets his money.” ”

“ I believe you are right, and I wish to lose
no time.”

“Then I will act at the earliest moment
can.

“If you have a few golden guineas with , 3
you, please leave them for pocket money for" ' x_ 3’
me.” . -

Kent Lomax, with a muttered oath, dashed  '_
several pieces of gold upon the table, and took , ' ' ' “
his leave, while the sailor he had called Brent A

I

 

burst into a low, mocking laugh. . ~ i,

But neither one or the other dreamed that " 
every Word they had uttered had .been heard 9
by the sailor lad, whose quiet, grim smile
showed that he meditated a counterplot 3
against the plotters. ‘ if a

CHAPTER V. ji 3*

ST. VALE AND THE YOUNG SAILOR.

AFTER the departure of the plotters the
young sailor went to the window of his small
room, and stood in deep meditation until he
saw the tall form of Leon St. Vale coming up
the street toward ‘the inn. . ‘ . 

Realizing how negligent had been both the ' ‘ ' a j
sailor Brent and Lieutenant Lomax in convers- , '-  x 
ing aloud in a room, the locality of which they 9 '  ‘r
seemed not to understand was adjacent to
others, he determined not to get caught in the‘
same way, and consequently tried the doors \
upon either side of him. " r»,

One was the room of Brent, and was un-‘ l, 3
locked; the other seemed to be a store-room, .
and was locked; but the lad saw that there was ' a
a wall, and not a thin partition, dividing his . ' '
room from it. '

Hastening down-stairs, he called to St. Vale,
who was just turning away, having been told
by the landlord that the youth was not in, and
the two ascended to the little room. . , . V

" Well, senor, I have just overheard a new ‘ a
plot to get rid of you,” and Frank went on to -' c x,  -*
tell St. Vale all that had passed between Lieu- \
tenant Lomax and the sailor.

The ofiicer listened in surprise at the expo- ‘
sure of the villainy of his brother lieutenant,
and asked: ‘

“ Are you certain it was Lomax?”

“ So the man Brent called him, senor.”

“Well, I must be on my guard, and thwart '
the little game of Kent Lomax.

“ I could call him out, but were I to kill a“
brother oflicer now, so soon after my affair _- 
with Lord (,‘averly, it would hurt me in the l. [35‘
eyes of the king, and keep from me the com— "

 

 

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mand of the hrigantine, so Imust just wait and
watc .”

“ And I will help you, senor, 'for I will
make the acquaintance of this man Brent, get
friendly with him, by spending my gold freely,
and perhaps learn of his intended movements

" so as to catch him in his own trap.

“ Once we have him, and his testimony, for
he will confeSs all to save himself, and mine,
will readily send Lieutenant Lomax out of the
navy in disgrace.”

“ Yes, that is the best plan, Frank, and ’I
leave all in your hands.

“ The brigantine comes into the dock to-day,
and I can be found there, if you need me, and
when I sail I want you with me, and to pre-
vent your being recognized by those men from

’ the island who came with me, I will send

\

them on board the Vulture, and you can pilot
me to the Gulf haunts, as well as those in the
Caribbees, of the buccaneers.

“ Have you seen or heard more of Captain
Ebony, the Black Pirate?"

“No, senor; he is keeping close, but I am
convinced that he is plotting to retake the

. hrigantine.”

“ But he has no men.”

“ He can readily enlist men here who will go
on any desperate cruise.”

“ I believe you are right, and I shall keep a
closer eye on the vessel."

“ Ah, he’ll not make a move until she is
ready for sea, with her stores on board, and
thoroughly refitted and equipped.”

“If you can ascertain where he is staying,
do so, and we can catch him, and I‘ll christen
the hrigantine before she starts on her cruise,

. by hanging him to the yard-arm. ‘

“ Now here is gold for you, which you may

‘ need,” and St. Vale drew from his pocket a

silk purse heavy with the precious metal.

“ No, senor, I need no gold.”

“ But you are working for me, and—”

“You, forget that I am working for myself
too, senor, for the one aim of my life is to
hunt to death the Black Pirate.”

“Ah, yes, you indeed have cause; but you
may need money.” '

“If I do, I have a king’s ransom in jewels
about me.”

St. Vale gazed an instant fixedly into the
face of the young sailor, and then said:

“ Well, you know where to find me, and I
can find you here, if I need you, so I will

"I leave.

' “Don’t be reckless, and remember, Frank,
we are friends, enlisted together in a good
cause.” ,

The youth grasped the ofiicer’s hand warmly,
but made no reply, and the two parted, the
former to rig himself up in a disguise and

. saunter forth upon the street, and the lieuten-

ant to wend his way to the elegant home of

/ Sir Grey Alstone, to pay a short visit to Lady

Eve and her guest, Lena La Rue, to inquire
regarding their health after the festivities of
the past night.

CHAPTER VI.
AN unwnncomn VIsrron.
Warns Leon St. Vale reached the home of
Sir Grey Alstone, he was told that the baronet

‘ had gone down into the town, and the young

ladies had ridden of! on horseback for a gallop,
but did not expect to remain long away.

“ Then I will await them, and kill time by
a stroll in the garden,” he answered, and in a

'couple of minutes more he was standing in

front of the rustic arbor, the scene of his tryst
the night before with Lady Eve, and enjoying

,the beauty of the view spread out before him.

"Thing of this he turned and spied a book
upon the settee, and picking it up was about to
throw himself upon the seat to read, when he
recalled to mind that a hammock swung in the
pine thicket a few paces away.

.. Here he indolently. reclined, and began to
read; but he had lost much rest of late, and in-
voluntarily his eyes closed and he drOpped to
sleep. I

Perhaps for half an hour he slumbered, and
then was awakened by voices.

Glancing out from where he lay he saw Sir
Grey Alstone standing in front of the arbor,
and confronting him was a man in sailor’s garb
and one whom he at once recognized as a sea-
man on board the Vulture.

He. started to spring from the hammock and
make his presence known, when he was check-
ed by the voice of the seaman, who said, ap-
parently in answer to a remark of the baro-
net:

 

“ If I were impudent in sayin’ I had ter see
yer here, Sir Grey, I didn’t mean it' so; but I
needs money, and when I got the letter I did
from home today, and had none to send to the
old folks, I determined to call on you, and so
asked you to let me see you here, when I met
you down street awhile ago.”

“And demanded that I should meet you,
sirrah,” said the baronet angrily.

“When you refused to have anything to say
to me. sir.”

“ Well, now I have honored you by coming,
what do you want?” .

“Money.”

.“ Well, go to your paymaster, and do not
come to me. ”

“ I hav’n’t a month’s pay comin’, sir, and so
I come to you, for the bank failure took my
old father’s savings and my aged parents will
lose'their little home, if I don't send money to
pay off the mort’agage, due in six months.”

“ If your officers know you as a true worthy
man, they will lend you gold; but I like not
your demand, with an implied threat, in seek-
ing me.”

“I hated to do it, sir, but you would not
listen to me, and I hates to get money by a
secret, but I has to do it now, to save the old
home, though I wouldn’t do it for myself.”

“ A secret! what mean you, fellow?” said
the baronet hoarsely.

Leon St. Vale had heard too much to make
his presence known now, and he hoped by re-
maining quiet to escape unperceived, though
his face flushed at being forced to play eaves-
dropper.

“ I mean, air, that I was the sailor that
rowed the lefltenant to the beach under Castle
Curse, when he went to have his duel with
Lord Caverly.”

“ Yes, I recall you now; but what care I
who and what you are?”

“ You’ll care, Sir Grey, when you know
that I saw your underhand work that day,”
was the bold reply.

“What! do you dare say to me that I acted
dishonorany l” hissed the baronet, trembling
with passion, and Leon St. Vale, whose name
had been mentioned by the acumen, and whose
duel with Lord Caverly had been referred to,
now listened with the deepest interest.

“ I mean, Sir Grey, that I know that your
brother left in his will his fortune to Lord
Caverly and Lady Eve Alstone, if they should
marry each other, and that she was engaged
to him, by your command, though the lads
aboard ship do say she loved the lefltenant,
than whom no finer man lives.”

“Silence, sirl this is impertinence from your
 ”

“You had better listen, Sir Grey, or I may
tell it to others,” doggedly said the seaman,
and then, as the baronet remained silent,‘ he
continued:

“Lord Caverly was jealous of Lefftenant
St. Vale, and insulted him, and you remember
the duel that followed, as well as I do that you
urged it on, for if the young nobleman was
killed Lady Eve got all, and I was sitting in
the boat and watching you.”

“ Well?” almost gasped the baronet.

“ When the lefl’tenant spared Lord Caverly,
you urged a second meeting, and I saw you
load the pistol with powder and leave out the
ball, 0 that if Lord Caverly demanded another
fire, Should he not be shot, it would give the
lefftenant another chance to kill him.”

Leon St. Vale half raised himself from his
position of reclining in the hammock at this
startling charge against the baronet, who had
been the second of his adversary; but after a
second’s thought, dropped quietly back again,
and listened.

“Curse you, thou infamous sea-hound, do
you dare make this false charge against me?”
hoarser cried the baronet.

“It is not false, Sir Grey, for I saw what I
my.”

“ And you have spread this charge against
me?" eagerly asked the baronet.

“Not to a soul have I mentioned it, for it
was no affair of mine, and on account of sweet
Lady Eve, I didn’t want you to be disgraced;
but I know of what I speak, and in the trouble
of the old folks at home I come to you and ask
for money to help them out." \

“Though the charge is utterly false, I am
willing to help you, my man, so how much do
you want?” and the whole manner of the
baronet changed. _

“A little matter to you, sir, but a big one to I and Sir Grey moved toward the man, as

me; of a hundred and thirty pounds.”

 

The baronet gave a sigh of relief, for he had ~
, expected to be most freely bled. and said: . 
“You shall have it, my man. I will give "‘
you a bill of exchange on London for the ‘ i
amount to—morrow, if you will calkon me, and
a few pounds of gold for spending money for
yourself.” :
“ No, Sir Grey, I wouldn't touch a dollar of 1 ft}
your gold for myself, and if I ever can, will ' ;
pay you back what I get for the old folks. ‘ l
“ Good-day, sir, and I will call to-morrow, 
thank you, sir,” and the seamen walked away ., ' :
by the cliff path, leaving Sir Grey Alstone ;
standing in painful meditation, leaning against 
the rustic arbor. .1 '
For several moments he stood thus in silence, ’ i 
Leon St. Vale, from his secret retreat, gazing ' '
fixedly upon his face, and then he started as
two persons emerged from the garden shrub. ,
bery and confronted him. ‘ f1 .

 

CHAPTER VII. i I
THE SLAVE or a SIN. ’

Tm: two persons who appeared upon the 9
scene were a servant from the mansion, escort- .
ing a man dressed in a sailor suit, and who was
the one who had been in secret conference with
Lieutenant Lomax at the inn.

“ A sailor man to see you, sir, and I brought
him to find you, as he said it was very impor-
tant,” said the servant. 

“ All right, Lemuel, I will look after him 
now,” and as Sir Grey spoke he turned his eyes '3
upon the stranger.

The start that he gave was seen by St. Vale,
as was also a certain pallor of the face, show-
ing that the man was no stranger to him.

“I have come again, Sir Grey,” said the
man, with a sinister smile, as soon as the ser-
vant was out of hearing.

“ So I see, and for what reason, fellow?” was
the haughty response of the baronet.

“For money, of course,” was the insolent
reply.

“ You cannot have it.”

“Cannot?”

“ Shall not, if you like the words better.”

The man sniiled, and the baronet continued:

“ I kept my contract with you, and owe you
nothing.”

“ But good-will.” v N

“I do not owe you that.”  '

,1
i

“ After all that I did for you!”

“ You saved me some money once, andeaid , ‘ ’
you for it.” -

“Sir Grey Alstone, your father sold some
land once and got pay for it, giving a written .
bill of sale to the purchaser, until it could be , 
recorded. . l 4 ,

“ 0n the way home that purchaser fell from 
his horse dead, and I carried him into my fa- 3
ther’s house and found upon him the paper 1
which I kept.

“ By a strange coincidence your father was
thrown from his horse and killed the same day, ‘ f‘
and I gave you the paper, and you resold the :
land for a large price and paid me a pittance.

“Now you are rich, and I come to you for
money.” .

“ You cannot get it.”

“ You have a fortune.”

“ It is my daughter’s, not mine.”

“ But you are squandering it, Sir Grey.” . ‘
“Leave me, Robert Brent, or I will have my I
servants come and hurl you from this cliff," .

cried the barOnet, savagely.

“I will not leave, and you dare not carry
out your threat, Sir Grey.”

“ Do you dare me, villain?”

H Yes. 9)

Sir Grey seemed about to call aloud for
help, when the look in the face of the man de-
terred him, it was so full of daring and devilish
cunning.

“ Why do you not carry out your threat, Sir
Grey Alstone l" sneered Brent.

“ I wish no scene.” . 

“You fear to have one, and I will tell you i 
why—you fear me.”  

H I fear you!” said the baronet, with w-
casm.
” Yes, for I Md a secret of yours, and you _
are my slave.” : ~

“ Bah! what proof have you that I resold
the land my father had been paid for?" said
Sir Grey, contemptuously.

“I do not refer to the land transaction, for‘

I have no proof of it; but I have proof of
other villainy that will ruin you.”

 

 

 

“By Heavenl you shall rue those words,”

though to strike him down, but he put himself

\

 

\i

 

  

.‘ ., . WA
. 1,. .i‘ .5... u.

' \

if .‘ F-f: J
.x \ '

,7..,'.~‘, . :“g‘j.

. ,‘I‘hei-‘Ocean-Vampire.

 

 

on his guard, drawing from beneath his jacket
7 a long knife, while he said sternly:
“,Don’t threaten me, Sir Grey Alstone, for

' Iam no man to submit to it; but I repeat, I

can ruin you, and, by the Lord above, I will,
if you do not ay me the sum I demand.”

The baronet ew not what dread secret the
man held, but having been a sinful man in the
past, his conscience warned him that he faced
a deadly foe that he must not drive too hard,
and he said anxiously:

“ What is it that you know, Robert Brent?”

f‘ I know, Sir Grey Alstone, that when my
father was your father’s agent, my sister and
myself lived with him in a pretty cottage-
house not far from the mansion, and that you
,won the love of poor Bertie, deceived and dis-
honored her, and then forced her to marry a
young scapegrace', whom you paid to aid you
in keeping secret your wrong to her, as just
then you were about to be married.

“The same night that Lady Alstone gave
birth to an infant, a little girl was born in our
humble cottage; but mark the diflerence.

“The nurse who had been summoned from
my sister’s side to care for Lady Alstone,
showed you your boy, a fearfully deformed
infant, and told you of Bertie’s pretty baby
girl.

“Instantly you bribed her to an, act of
villainy, which was to change the children at
once, for neither mother had seen her child,

and, as you remember, the old doctor was ill 1

and in bed in the mansion,'not to be called in
except in direct need.

“ The nurse, Nan Nailor, accepted you bribe,
carried your deformed child in her arms to our
cottage, placed it by the side of poor Bertie,
and took her sweet babe back to the elegant
cradle of Lady Alstone.”

“ It is a lie,” almost shrieked Sir Grey.

“ It is the truth, as you know, and as I can
prove, for old Nan Nailor did not die of the
poison you administered to her—”

“Good God!”

“ Ah! well may you cry out, for she lives
and told me all, and I am taking care of her
in her old age.”

“ No one will believe her.”

“ She has told but one other and—"

“ And in the name of heaven, who is it that
she has told?" cried Sir Grey in trembling
tones.

“ The priest, whom we call Pere Brandt.”

The baronet gave a sigh of relief, and Robert
Brent continued. '

“ You may remember that Bertie, poor girl,
never recovered from the shock, when ‘sbe
beheld the deformed child, which she con-
sidered a punishment for her sin, and she and
the poor little wretch died the same day and
were buried together.

“ But in their coffin was apaper in a tin box,
written by Nan Nailor, telling of her wrong in
being bribed by you.

“ Bertie‘s child did not die, but grew to
womanhood, and is now known as Lady Eve
Alstone; but, should the world know that she
is not {our daughter, she would have no claim
upon t e fortune she now has."

Sir Grey Alstone was now as white as a

corpse.
, I-Ie twice tried to speak, but could not,
while Robert Brent stood confronting him,
evidently enjoying the anguish he had brought
upon him.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
rm: DnuNn.
“Now, Sir Grey Alstone, you will see the
propriety of giving me gold, when I ask it' of
on.”
y Robert Brent spoke in a tone in which there
was no mistaking the threat that he would
divulge all unless the gold was forthcoming,
and so the baronet understood it, but he cried,
hoarsely:
“ I have no gold of my own.”
:ilttgne not whose gold you give, so that I
go .
“But I can get no money for you.”
“A man Who has a fortune under his con-
trol, can certainly raise a few thousands for a
r man,” was the sneer.
“What! do you mean to beg of me thou-
sands?” cried the baronet, in alum,”
‘(I beg of you nothing, Sir Grey, I demand
of you two thousand pounds.”
“ I can never give it to you.”
“ Then I Shall take all from you by ghowing
that Lady Eve has no right to it, and that you
' have sinned in pulming her off as your child,

a
I

and in attempting to poison old Nan to bury
the secret. " ,

“Now, my demand is a small one, so say
whether you will pay it or not, so I may know
how to act.”

The baronet trembled with fear and fairly
quivered with rage; but he knew he was the
slave of the sins he had committed, and that
he must do as the master who held his secrets
dictated.

His pay as Commissioner be readily spent by
the day he drew it, and he took from Lady‘
Eve’s fortune his living expenses and luxuries,
and the two thousand pounds demanded he
knew must also come from her. _

Of late he had drawn on her resources rather
heavily, having lost considerable in gambling;
but he must silence Robert Brent, and to do
so he must take her money, or lose all, if the
secret of her birth became known.

These thoughts coursed wildly through his
brain for a moment, while Robert Brent stood
quietly watching his emotion and seeming to
read his very thoughts.

“Well, Sir Grey, which shall it be?” said
the man, after a long silence between them,
1 which, to Leon St. Vale, still reclining in the
1 hammock, seemed interminable, for he was
I strangely wrought up by all that he had
5 heard, and the thought of his position, should
I he be discovered—for the shame of it was some-
! thing that he felt most deeply.

“I will pay you the money you demand,
Brent, but 1 upon one condition,” said the
; baronet, fiercely

“And what is that condition?”

“ That you never approach me again for
money.”

“ I shall make no such condition.”

“ Then you cannot have it.”

“ Bah! you dare not refuse to give me a pit-
tance out of the thousands you have. I am
not extravagant in my demands, and if you
did not have money to give I would not be-
tray you from spite, and I’ll not be the one to
kill the goose that lays the golden egg. I’ll
come to you, if I‘need any money, now and
then, and you will let me have it, so make no
conditions with me, for I’ll not agree.”

“ You would rob me, villain.”

“ Call it what you please, only give me the
money.”

“Come to the mansion to-morrow at this
time, and you shall have it.”

“I will be there, Sir Grey,” and the man
left the spot by way of the cliff path to the
beach. .

Once more did Sir Grey Alstone stand in
almost dumb surprise, only there was a deadly
pallor upon his face, and in his eyes a wicked
glare, as he muttered:

“By Heaven!  mean that one sin shall
hide another, and I.will break the chain that
binds me, for that man shall not dog my steps
to the grave.

“ No, he shall die!"

“ Who is it that shall die, Sir Grey?”

The baronet fairly lost nerve as the deep
voice and question fell on his ears, and a cry
broke from his lips.

But, seeing who it was, he hastily gained
control of himself, and answered quickly:

“Ahl it is you, is it, Lieutenant St. Vale?

“Why of course it is, and you overheard
my remark as you came up, and it shows how
circumstantial evidence will often hang a man,
for I was speaking of my favorite dog, Fido,
whom I fear is tainted with madness, and after
a long time I have made up my mind that he
shall die; bht if any one’connected with me
should die suddenly after your hearing me
think aloud, it would look strange, would it
not, my dear St. Vale?”

Sir Grey Alstone had not intended to make
so long an explanation; but the dark, search-
ing eyes of the young officer were fixed upon
him in a way that made him run on nervously,

 

lieved, and the very first words of St. Vale
convinced him of that fact, for he said:

“ Don’t kill poor Fido, Sir Grey Alstone,
and to commit murder his bad way to help
yourself out of a diflculty.”

“What do you mean, air, by your words?”
angrily asked the baronet.

“I simply wish to ask you, Sir Grey, to
promise me your daughter’s hand in marriage,
when she is willing to bestow it upon me,”
was the smiling reply.

“No, sir, for I consider my daughter as
already engaged.” ' ‘

“She is still, figuratively speaking, in

 

.:

z

and yet he seemed to feel that he was not be- _

 

mourning for her dead intended husband, sir,
Lord Caverly.” L '

“Whom you killed, St. Vale, and now
speak of your act with utter heartlessness.”

“You are mistaken, sir, for I feel deeply
the life upon my hands, and you, as Lord
Caverly’s second, know that I spared him un~
til patience ceased to be a virtue with me.

“ But you are the last that should throw his
death in my teeth, as you got a fortune to
handle thereby, and it kept you out of a seri-
ous trouble with your creditors.”

“ Lieutenant St. Vale, I cannot listen tosuch
language from you, sir, and I shall resent—”

“ You will do nothing of the kind, Sir Grey
Alstone, for if you challenged me I would not
meet you, and if you forced me to it, I would
kill you, and you are fond of life.

“ You shall hear what I have to say and We
will make a compromise." '

“Never, sir!”

“ You are mistaken; we will, and never is a
harsh word to use, for it often falls falsely from
the lips of men and women.

“That you have frowned down my atten-
tion to your daughter I have always known,
and that you cordially dislike me, because I
am poor, I also am aware of, notwithstanding
the very elegant entertainment you gave in
my honor last night.

“ But I love your daughter, and she has con-
fessed to her love for me, and I waive what
you are and ask you for her hand, when a
sufficient time has elapsed after the death of
poor hot-brained Lord Caverly.”

“ And I distinctly refuse to allow you to en-
tertain a thought as the suitor of my daugh— .
ter, and tell you that she is as well as pledged ,
to another." .

“You refer to Lord Milnor? You are mis-
taken, for I have reason to kn0w that he is
deeply interested in that lovely American girl,
Miss La Rue, whom I rescued from the Black
Pirate’s Island.”

“ Bah! that is sentiment, and as sheis lovely
and rich why do you not marry her yourself,
for your meeting has been most romantic!”

“ I do not love her, my dear .Sir Grey.”

“Well, you can never have LadyIEve."

“Is this your irrevocable decision?"

“ It is." '

CHAPTER IX. /.
nasrmo run WHIRLWIND.

Want the baronet answered that hegave I. .

his irrevocable decision, that Lady Eve should
never Wed Leon St. Vale, the latter laughed .
lightly, and replied: I

“ Why, my dear Sir Grey, if you talk thus,
I shall have to use an argument to make you
retract your words.”

“Lieutenant Leon St. Vale, no man can
make me retract my words, ” was the stern re-
joinder.

“ And yet twice before, to-day I have seen
you do just what you now say you willnot
do.”

The baronet turned to the hue of death, the g

color, called to his face by anger, retreating

before the fear that seized upon him at St.

Vale’s words. ,
“Twice before! what do you mean?” he

“Simply, my dear sir, that I was asleep in .f

yonder hammock, and was awakened by your
coming to this spot, accompanied by a sailor
who wanted to beg of you some money, and
who forced you to promise it to him, as he saw
an act of yours, at the time of my duel with
Lord Caverly, that had I then seen, I would J
have shot you down in your tracks.” ‘

“But he lies, he lies!” and the haroziet
shrieked the words.

“ Then why pay him the money he demands!

“ No, he told the truth; and more, the 860’.
0nd villain in this life-play also told the truth. /
regarding the sin you committed against the
woman, Bertie Brent, and—"

“Accursed eavesdropper, I have a mind to
kill you where you stand.”

“ A man of your stamp, Sir Grey Alstone,
cannot insult me, and I only refrain from or
posing you on account of Lady Eve, to whose
heart I would not bring one atom of sorrow.

“I love her, and not her fortune; but as she
would have to radar to give up her inherit-
ance, I will keep the secret, but demand of you
as my payment for so doing your outward
goodwilland consent to her becoming my
wife, for her birth does not influence my love,

or even the thought that she is known as yon? ‘ 

child.”

 

 

 

 

I

 

  
 

 

 

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 ':‘| ‘V ‘ There was a sneer in the voice of the young
officer which seemed to drive the baronet to’

 . | . frenzy, for he cried in a voice hoarse with pas-
' i ' sion:

 .' ‘ - “ By the Heawn above, Leon St. Vale, you
'4  shall not marry my daughter; I swear it.”

“ Then you take’a false oath, for if I have to

. tell her all, and leave the king’s service and
5: ' " seek employment in America, she shall be my
' wife.”
, 2- “ Never!”
' . ,L 'c r “ You had better not bring matters to a bit-
ter ending, but accept the situation, pay that
“( ‘~ - wretch his money, smile on me before the
' world as your chosen lever for your daughter,
and give her to me with your blessing, for if
you continue to finger her fortune she will be
a dowerl'ess bride.”

“Devil, I say never!” "

Quick as a flash, with the words, Sir Grey

- l
y l

 

gal

‘51,». Alstone thrust his band into his bosom, drew
A:’ v‘ I out a long-bladed knife, and sprung upon the
2,1; l: . young officer.

,5} ‘-  ' v Leon St. Vale caught his uplifted arm in an

  .iron' gripe, but instantly the baronet drew a
' small pistol with his disengaged hand, and in
 _ ' striking the muzzle aside it was turned toward
.1 -. ’ the bosom'of Sir Grey Alstone when his finger
was upon the trigger.

, With the explosion a cry broke from the
lips of Sir Grey Alstone, and he sunk dead in
his tracks.

' ’ “Good God!” '
‘ > The words came from Leon St. Vale as
though breathed in mental anguish.

“You’ve done it. leiftenant, and as you’ve
lost me a cool two thousand pounds, I’ll swear

,, ’ against you, and there’ll be the funny sight of
. a king’s officer run up into the rigging with a

' rope around his neck.”

Lean St. Vale gazed upon the speaker with a
look of horror.

It was Robert Brent, who had glanced back
ashe left the cliff, and, seeing St. Vale leave
the ,haminock, had crept quietly back and
heard all that passed.

“Villain, it was an accident, as you saw,”
he said, hoarsely.’

“ No, no, I won’t swear that way, lefftenant,
until you give me five thousand pounds, for I’d
have gotten that much out of him,” said the
man, doggedly.

 “Not one pound would I give you, own had

 ,' I the sum you name.”

’ "Then I swea'r my way: you killed him be-
- cause he would not let you have his daughter.

“ See, the servants are coming, so what will
v you do?" '

' “This!”

- g The words came venomoust from the lips
_ . ofLeon 8t. Vale, and springing upon the man,
'  ” he hurled him to the ground, placed his foot

upon his throat, and held his sword-point over
his heart.

The next instant up dashed Lemuel, the
 butler, and other servants alarmed by the shot,
' g ' and in stern tones Leon St. Vale said:

' “Send on board my vessel for a guard of
a marines, for thisman murdered Sir Grey Al-
‘ ." stone.” '

   
  
  
 
  
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
  
 
  
   
  
 
   
    
   
 
  
 
   
      

 

. . CHAPTER X.
” i ran news TURNED.
- Tm: will made by Alvin Alstone, the brother
 of Sir Grey, was a strange one, in that the
,; ,father confessor of the dying man, Pere
f ' Brandt. h‘ad forced him to make it in favor of
‘v ..  Lady Eve, the 'priest himself having been
» made to'influence the millionaire brother of
the baronet, by a secret power held over him
I by Sir Gray Alstone. I .

Thus driven, for fear of the curse of the
Church, to make his brother’s child his heiress,
should, she .marry his former choice; Lord

_ Chverly', Alvin Alstone had left with the in-
 ; ‘\ heritance a bitter curse. '

" This was‘ kept by her father away from
Eve’s ears, but it came to her at last, and when
. she saw her father borne dead' into the man-

' 'siou, she dropped upon her knees and cried bit-

teriy:

“ Oh, God, have mercy! The curse of Alvin

Alstone has fallen upon me in this cruel mur—

' der of my poor father.”

Fortunate was it for poor Eve that Lena La
« fine was with her in her deep affliction to give

‘ , . her consolation, for Leon St. Vale had shunned
' a=meeting with her, and himself escorted the

man he had accused of murder to the prison,
‘ 'where he knew he must take him, and not on
board ship, as he had at first intended.

He had suddenly taken a bold, desperate

p

l

 

stand to save himself, when ‘ threatened by
Robert Brent, and he was determined to carry
it out to the bitter end.

Had Brent not appeared, hard as it would
have been for him, he would have told the
truth of a struggle with Sir Grey and the ac-
cidental discharge of the weapon, though he
felt that it would forever sever him from Lady
Eve.

But when Robert Brent threatened him with
the accusation of deliberate murder, he felt
that it would be believed against him, as there
could be seen no reason why the man should
make a charge so false without cause, and then
the desire of self-preservation flashed through
his mind, and he acted as the reader has seen.

Having taken this bold step, he was resolVed
to maintain it, and it came before him, as
Lady Eve would not know him as the one who
killed her father, that he would bury the secret
in his own heart, and yet win her for his wife.

But he had not the courage to face her after
the fearful deed, and leaving to Manuel the
duty of breaking the sad news to her, he
marched of! with his prisoner to the guard
house.

Wholly taken by surprise by the bold man-
ner in which the tables had been turned upon
him, Robert Brent was at first seemingly
daZed, and sullenly arose at the stern order of
his eaptor.

With his silk sash the young officer bound
the man, and, saying that he wished to avoid
the crowd in the streets as much as poSsible,
started by the cliff path to the beach, to go
that way into the town.

He saw the form of Sir Grey raised in the
arms of the servants, and Lemuel hastened on
ahead to the mansion with the sad tidings, and
then he ordered Brent to march.

“Great God, leiftenant, you surely don’t in-
tend to lay your crime on me,” said the now
thoroughly frightened man, as he moved sul-
lenly down the path, his bound hands behind
him, trembling nervously, and his face livid.

“I surely intend to make known the fact
that you tried to extort money from Sir Grey
Alstone, and when he refused, attacked and
killed him, wrenching his pistol from his hand
to do it wit ,” was the cool reply.

“They’ll ask why you didn’t come to the
rescue!” '

“I was asleep in the hammock, and when
awakened by loud voices arose and started to
Sir Grey’s aid, but was not in time to save
him.

“ As you are a common sailor and I an offi-
cer, lwill be believed and you will hang for
it. ’ ,

“ Look here, lefftenant, I’ll compromise with
you. ’

“I accept no compromise.”

“Then 1 out and tell the whole story, and
the old woman in England can Verify it, and
you’ll get a wife who had not an honorable
parentage, and who will be a pauper, if, she
marries a man whom I can prove killed her fa-
ther, even if it was an accident.”

These bold words commetely turned the
tables upon St. Vale, and he turned deadly
pale, and the man was not slow in making the
best of it, for he continued:

“Better compromise, leiftenant."

“What compromise would you offer?”

“Let me escape; say I throw you down the
bank, and the fall stunned you, and I got
away. '

“ I can hide away until the affair blows
over." ‘

H No. 7'

“Then it’s nip and tuck whether you or I
hang for it, and as I have been a gambler all
my life I’ll take the chances on it, for I have
proof, and you have not.”

nSt. Vale readily recognized this fact, and
most of all, he saw [that the counter-charge
of Robert Brent would greatly damage him
with all and almost certainly forever separate
him from Lady Eve.

They had almost reached the first house on
the shore, and he had but little time to act,
and yet he knew not what, to say or do, so
completely were the tables turned upon him.

The next instant meveral men appeared in
sight coming toward them, and he said hastily:

. “Make no explanation one way or the
other until you see me, and I will to-night
visit you in prison."

“It will be too late then,” said the prisoner,
doggedly. '

“Not so; do as I say, and trust me."

“All right, lefftenant;” and neither said

 

more, as a. crowd began to gather around them,

,to inquire why Lieutenant St. Vale was escort-

ing a sailor, securely bound, through the
streets, and with his draWn sword held threat-
eningly over him.

CHAPTER XI,
A COMPROMISE. ,

Gum and stem, yet with foreboding and
nervous fear at his heart, Robert Brent sat in
the cell of the military guard-house, anxiously
awaiting the promised visit of Lieutenant Leon
St. Vale.

He had longed to get the meney demanded
of Sir Grey, and failing in that, through the
baronet’s death, he had tried to wring it from
St. Vale through fear, but was again thwarted,
and now he only wished to save his life.

Had St. Vale permitted him to escape, on the
way to the guard-house, he knew he could
easily save himself by seeking secure quarters;
but now that the iron bars and heavy locks
shut him in how was he to get away?

He could tell his story frankly, of the crimes
of the baronet, and his seeking him to obtain

money; but that might not clear him against ,

the word of an oflicer so honorable and highly
respected as Leon St. Vale, and he felt, the:
more he thought of it, that he would be the
victim, even though he might bring suspicion
upon the lieutenant, and also thwart his mar-
riage with Lady Eve.

But that would matter little to him, if the
yard-arm was ornamented with his form, or he
had to face a platoon of soldiers asacondemned
murderer.

As the hours passed by and St. Vale did not
come, Brent began to think of sending for Lieu-
tenant Lomax to aid him in his trouble, and
this brought up a train of thought that caused
him to mutter: -

“If i get out of this it will be lucky for me
that I met the leil'tenant as I did, and found
out what he was.

“ Why Lintended to simply seize and knife
him to get my money from Lomax, for he is a.
giant for strength, and handled me as though
I had been a child. ' ,

“If I get out of this I guess I’ll becoutentto
let him alone, and will tell Lomax to get some
one else to kill the lefl’tenant, for I’ll admit I’m
afraid of him, and would be mighty sure be-
fore I drew sight on him, or attempted to drive
a knife to his heart.

“ Ahl there comes some one now.”

Two persons halted at the door as he spoke,
and he saw that one was the guard, the other
Leon St. Vale.

' “Well, sir, I have to ask you a few queer
tions, which you may answer or not as you
please.

“ Leave us alone, guard,” said St. Vale,
sternly.

He entered the cell as he spoke, the key was
turned behind him in the lock, and the hentinel,
with a polite salute walked away.

“ Well, lefl‘tenant, I’m glad you’ve come, for
this is not a cheerful place to be in, ” said ROW
Brent, will a faint smile. ' .

Without replying to his remark, 817. V310
asked quietly, and in a low tone:

“ Have you a cernpromise to ofler now?”

“ I’m not in a condition or a position now to-

offer. a compromise,” said the man, sadly.

“I am, and I shall offer you tends.”

“I’ll agree before they are oflered, if it’s to
get out of here," eagerly said Brent.

“ It is that you take a solemn oath, never to
divulge to mortal the secrets you know re-
garding the late Sir Grey Alstone and his
daughter‘s, or supposed daughter‘s, birth, and
also to in no way implicate me in his death.”

“ What terms do you offer, lefltenanti”
asked the man, his love for gold, even when
life was at stake, causing him to strive and
drive a bargain. 

“ Your freedom and one hundred pounds to
get away from here.”

“ Make it a thousand pounds.”

“ No, for I am a poor man.”

“ You got a rich haul, folks say, in the cap- ‘

ture of the lack Pirate’s brigantine.”

“I took t e craft as my share, and all else
was divided among the crew of the Vulture.”
, “ Make it two hundred pounds then, lefften-
ant, ” urged Brent.

“Not a shilling over one hundred, for it

costs me as much more to free you.”

“ Ah! then I agree to your terms.”

“And will take the oath I dictate?

“ By all that you deem holy on earth and in
Hehven, never to divulge those secrets, or im-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Na?- first
I. 
,,

   

f

 

t,_,

if!  'r ’2: ' ' .

 vaapfis.‘* "

 

 

. plicate me?” and Lieutenant st. Vale spoke in a

solemn voice.

“I swear,” answered Brent, impressively.

“ Then to-night you shall go free.”

“ Howl”

“After the guard is relieved at midnight
the one who comes on duty will unlock your
door and release you.”

“ And get shot for his pains; but that is not
my look-Out.” l

“ No, he goes with you.”

it Ah!”

“ Yes, and he will lead you to a wagon
waiting ‘near by, and the driver will at once
take you to the point of! which you will find at
anchor a smack awaiting, in which you can
run down the coast to Portland or Boston, and
sell for. what it is worth, for I bought it for
you, and it is fully stored for a month’s cruise.

“ But there is one thing more.”

“Well, leiftenant?”

‘- The soldier who goes with you must never

land.”

“ Ah!” .
“ Yes, for he is given to drink, and a tongue
loosened by liquOr will betray secrets that

may cost valuable lives.”

“I understand you, leiftenant. and I think
with you, it would be better for me to arrive
in port alone," was the cool and significant
reply of the villain.

“ Well, here is your hundred pounds, and the
sentinel will release you as I have said.

“Remember your oath.”

“I’ll not forget it. and I thank you, leflten-
aht, and good luck attend you.

“ Good-by, sir.”

He held forth his hand as he spoke, but Leon
St. Vale did not take it, and turned silently
away, and called to the guard that he was
ready to go.

, Once out in the open air, and he turned his
steps in the direction of the Alstone mansion,
while he said, bitterly:

“ Great God! how I have fallen this day.

“ And yet I meant not to sin. and a football
of Fate am driven on by cruel circumstances
over which I have no control.”

 

CHAPTER XII.
'rnn FLIGHT.

WEARILY the time dragged away to Robert
Brent, and he counted the minutes instead of
the hours, until he heard the cry of the senti-
nel.

“ Twelve o’clock! And all’s welll”

‘He saw the relief guard march up and leave
another sentinel, and the one who had been on
the post fall in and go off with his comrades.

Then he waited in breathless silence.

What if another sentinel had been placed on
duty that) the one with whom Leon 8t. Vale
had entered intothe plot?

.What if he had! already gotten drunk, for he
must have been paid by the lieutenant, and
divulged the secret?

And again, what if he feared to take the
risk when i it came to the time, or having his
money, would refuse to do so?

Such were the thoughts floating in the brain
of the prisoner, until he became almost 'wild
with suspense.

Eagerly he watched the silent sentinel pace
to and fro, as though he had no other thought
than his duty, and he was just beginning to
give up all bow, and feel certain that the plot
had in some way miscarried, when the guard
approached the iron gate and asked in a low
tone: .

“ Are you the man who kilt ther Bare
Alstone?”

“ Yes,” was the eager response.

“ You'll die for it if. you stay here.”

“I am aware of that.” .

“ Better not stay then,” said the imperturb-

/

. able sentinel.

“ I‘m just your way of thinking, my man,
SO POTth you can get me out,” answered the
impatient prisoner,

“ I can; come, but be awful shy.”

He unlOCked the door as he spoke, took the

M bunch of keys from the lock, and unfastened

the irons upon the prisoner's wrists, and
motioned to him to follow.

This, Robert Brent gladly did, and they
passed into the street and hastened along the

 "l,,~,deserted thoroughfares toward the harbor
~‘ shores.

 

. At the point which St. Vale had spoken of,
Via a small boat, and anchored of! a short dis-

 .-..'tancs a trim-looking little smack of fifteen

tons, tugging restlessly at her cable, as though
anxious to spread her sails and fly away.

Fifteen minutes after leaving the priSon the
two men were on the deck of the little craft,
and it was flying out toward open water with
a fair breeze blowing, leaving behind it the
quiet town, and the frowning forts upon the
hights.

‘Robert Brent was a good seaman, and the
soldier had once been a sailor, so that the two
were at home upon the water, and the little
smack made the best of the breeze under their
skillful guidance.

It was the intention of Robert Brent to keep
close inshore, to take advantage of an inlet,
or hiding on the land, if pursued, and round-
ing Cape Sable to cross the Bay of Fundy to
the Maine coast.

He had hated to leave Halifax, great as was
the danger in remaining there, without earn-
ing the blood money agreed upon with Kent
Lomax for taking St. Vale’s life; but he had
already felt the iron strength of the young
officer and cared not to make the attempt
single-handed, and feared to delay his depar-
ture. I

Compunctions of conscience he had none, as
to killing the lieutenant, could he do so with
perfect safety to himself, for he loved life, and
though no coward, would not take too great
risks unless forced to it. .

It was dawn when the smack arrived ofi‘
King’s Bay, and as she was running along
close inshore under a six-knot breeze, Brent
felt in a good humor, and said, pleasantly:

“Well, messmate, I guess we can make the
run all right to Portland."

“Yes, without doubt,” answered the sol—
dier, who had changed his uniform for a sailor
suit. |

“ You are a good old salt for a marine,” con-
tinued Brent. ,

“I served my time as a lad aboard ship.”

“So I should judge; but tell me, have you
known the leiftenant long?”

" ‘ What 1efltenanti”

“The one who fixed it up to run me out of
limbo.” ‘

“ He was no lefftenant.”

“ What?”

“ I guess we are not on the same tack, ship-
mate.”

“So it seems, so suppose we go into stays
and start fresh on the same tack.”

“I am willing; but of what lefftenant do
you speak?”

“Who fixed up this job to get me off?”

“ A young friend of mine whom I had known
years ago.”

“ He was an officer, was he not, in the king’s
navy :4”

“No; he was a mere lad.”

“ The devil you say.”

“ Yes; he came to me, offered me good
terms to desert and help you at, and I ac-
cepted, for I put into any port where there’s
the best trade.”

“Ah, I see; well, I guess he was working
for my friend, and as it is, it’s all right.

“ How do you head after we reach Port—
land!”

“ With the wind, for it’s too hard work heat-
ing against it.” .

“ You mean whichever way pays best!"

H Y“. H

“ Then I guess I’ll be your consort, for that
style suits me.” .

Having by this convenatiOn become a 'little
better acquainted with each other, the two
fugitives were most socially inclined, and took
turns at the tiller and all other work, until one
night, ten days after their departure, just after
sunset, the old watch-tower of Portland came
in sight.

A stifl breeze was blowing, and Robert
Brent seemed anxious to run in at once, under
cover of the darkness, and called to his com-
rade to ask his opinion. i

The latter was forward, gazing at the dis-
tant lights of the city, but came at the call of
Baent, and took a south the cockpit by his
Si 6.

“ Take the tiller one minute, messmate,”
said Brent, quickly, and rising, he entered the
little cabin.

The next instant he, returned, and, quick as
a flash, brought a heavy blow upon the head
of the unsuspecting man who had aided his

Without a groan even he sunk down in the
cockpit, and seizing the tiller‘, Brent lufled
sharply up and lay the smack to.

p

 

i
‘ r

,f 4

 

Then, with the cool indifference of a hard-e
ened villain, he proceeded to search the pock-
ets of the man he had struck down, after
which he tumbled him into the sea, muttering
as he did so:

“ I like short division, and two were one too
many to divide that small sum between.

“After all, with what I get for the smack,
I’ll not be so badly off.”

Once more he got the little 'craft on its way, .
and several hours after dropped anchor in the
harbor of Portland. \

 

CHAPTER XIII. ,
, PLOT AND coumnPLO'r.

THE youth referred to as the friend of the‘
soldier who had aided Brent’s escape, was none
other than Frank, the young ally of St. Vale.

To him the officer had gone and made known
that it was important to him not to have Brent
tried for the murder of Sir Grey Alstone, and
Frank had at once told him that he could ar-
range his escape, as he had a soldier friend at‘
the guard-house who had once been a semen
with the Black Pirate.

“ He is treacherous, and evidently means
some deviltry in leading ’the life of a soldier,
for he can never repent or reform, and it

would be a good idea for your man to get rid . .

of him as soon as he has aided his escape,” said ‘
the youth. -

, This St. Vale took literally, and the reader
has seen the result of the hint thrown out to

Robert Brent by him, in regard to getting  g I v .

the soldier.
It was Frank who had bought‘and stored the,

little smack, and arranged all the preliminaries j
of the successful escape, so that Leon St. Vale

was not kn0wn in the matter, and-when hehad

seen the two men go on board and set sail, he 

had returned to his quarters at the inn de-
lighted in having served the lieutenant.
At an early hour the following morning St.

Vale went on deck, to at once discover, thin the'reg ,: h

was some cause of exoitement in the town.

The brigantine had been hauled into the
yard for repairs, and he saw the marine on
duty halt tWO officers who wens coming on
board. '

Instantly he called to him to allow them to ‘ ’5,

\‘S.

and he quickly informed St. Vale that the pris-
oner had escaped by the aid of a soldier who

had deserted his post, and asked that the brig.-  If

antine go at once in pursuit, for there was a‘

small smack seen to leave the harbor at night, “ 

but supposed to be a fishing craft, no notice

was taken of its departure by the guard—hostar " 

St. Vale regretted that the brigantine was!)
such a condition as to be unfit to start, but
promised to row at once on board the Vulture

and see if Sir Roslyn Stannix could not go in 
chase, though he feared not, as the brig was .

also undergoing repairs. I .
The officer thanked 8t. Vale and departed for .
the purpose of further prosecuting the Search

for the fugitives ashore, and shortly after the "

lieutenant was rowed to the Vulture.

Sir Roslyn, when not on duty, was by no-if

means an early riser, and it was half an hour

before he was presentable, and then St. Vale ,3 I  ‘

discovered from him that it would be impossi-.

Ship, was out of the question. ~
At last, however, a crew from the Vulture

was made up and placed on board a merchant“ ‘

schooner, under Kent Lomax, and started in

  
  
  
    
   
  
  
 

.p,
' a

It was the officer of the day and an aide, ~ g if

bio for the Vulture to give chase, and to send ‘1  I
the Petrol, after her long cruise as the Gallows ,. , K'.

 

,. 

3‘

pursuit, that young emcer being exceedingly for"?

anxious to win favor in the eyes of Eve by re- . ‘

capturing the Supposed murderer of her loved
father. -

But when the schooner put to sea the smack
had just twelve hours’ start, and‘ two days
after Lomax returned, as the reader knows,
wholly unsuccessful. '

The town went wild over the strange escape
of the murderer, and large rewards Were of-
fered by the authorities for his recapture and
that of the marine who had aided him.

But it was of no avail, and Sir Grey Alstone .‘

was borne to his grave, with Indy Eve leaning

on the arm of Leon 8t. Vale, following close -

behind the comp.

V Then came Lena La Rue and Lord 
Milnor, Sir Roslyn Stannix and the officers of
the vessels of war, and along line of mourners

that made it a grand and solemn pageant. , <  \’

And around the grave stood the vast assem- . '

binge, little dreaming that the tall, splendid» .
looking officer in his brilliant uniform, gulls

 

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, . Hi _ l

i , . , . . « . , ...s

.- I , y , , , ‘ “a.
. , . ‘ .

\ ‘l~. l

 r, »..','. " '  

\
. h

 “’3; I."

A \ r

_ ~ 5,. z . ‘ r
4 -‘ \ W4."
'\

\ ‘ l ..-"‘.i.- ~. 
’ i w'\ w .
a . 'l \ '

" The o‘ceaii “vampire.

 '~-    -
Hfi‘" .'\.‘ If?" 2a-  ‘ i. "

\ l
«A

‘T ‘x, ’ ' Li‘ I v ‘ V\ ‘V‘ .l

 

 

" ,' ' so calmly down into the grave, was the one by
‘ whose hand Sir Grey had died.

Nor did Indy Eve, clinging in the abandon
of grief to Leon St. Vale, feel that the hand
she grasped had laid her father in his grave.

Over the city fell a pail of gloom after the

, funeral, for Sir Grey Alstone had spent his
E -\ money freely, had made many friends during
. " F his short sojourn there, and his lovely daughter
'3 ~.  was admired by all and loved by many, and
 y ’ they felt that the grand old mansion must no

longer echo with merry laughter, and shed ra-

diance upon the more humble homes around it.

As though the tax upon his nerves had been
fmrful, to play the part he did, St. Vale, after
escorting Eve back to her desolate home, has-

: toned away.
But instead of going on board the brigantine
" i, _. ’ topush the work of repairs, as he had said, he
‘ . sought the inn where dwelt the sailor lad,
 “ « Frank.
‘ N v He found him in his lonely room, and was
greeted with a smile of welcome.

“ Frank, the schooner in which sailed Lieu-

’ tenant Lomax, in chase of the smack, is coming

.~ .  , up the harbor, and of course is unsuccessful in
‘ j. . ' ' her search.

,ui’n: “But you be down at the landing and find

‘ 'out, and if the fugitives are captured, bring

 

 

 l, w ,_ me word here at once.

 ’ r “If. not, seek Lomax, and tell him that-
 ‘ . Brent told you to come to him to perform a
,3 ” I certain work, which his hasty departure would

u ,2  ‘1 ' ‘ not permit, and intimate that you know what
‘1 " it is, and will do it yourself for aconsideia-
' tion.”
; “I understand, sir. Get him to commit
f I himself, you mean?”
“Yes; and make him compromise himself
some way, in writing, and bring it to me, for
there is a little game afoot that I must head
'ofl.”
The youth put on his disguise and hastily
departed, and as the schooner dropped anchor,
* ,he boarded her in a shore boat, and found
Kent Lomax just preparing .to start for the
town to make his répcrt.
l

 

 

CHAPTER XIV.
ENTRAPPED.

“ CAN I see you a moment, Lieutenant
Lomax’l” asked Frank, addressing that officer,
politely, as he was about to go into his boat to
row ashore.

Kent Lomax was in no amiable mood, for
-‘ _- , he had returned unsuccessful in his search, and

” ’had not the anticipated pleasure of telling
Lady Eve that he had recaptured the murderer
of her father.

‘ .. the abrupt reply.

Nettled at the response, Frank
sharply:

“As you please, sir; there may be others
,who would willingly hear what I have to say,
although you are the most interested.”

Thé tone was significant of having something
back of it, and Kent Lomax realized this by
one glance into the youth’s face, and changing
his manner, said:

“If your business with me is important,

, await my return from the shore, where I go
\. to make my report.”

“ It is important, sir, and I will wait,” and
the youth paced to and fro with the steady
tread of one accustomed to walk the deck.

In half an hour’s time Kent Lorna: returned,

.1, and motioned to the waiting lad to accompany

, ",’ him into the cabin, while he gave an under

“ oflcerorders to have the men ready to leave
the schooner to return to the Vulture, which
was anchored a mile away. '

,, “ Well, sir, what is it you want?” he said
, wptly, When the two were alone in thy

' ‘ n

l't'LOf‘ltNI

 

.v‘ “I suppose you know that the murderer of
' ' ~Sir Grey Alstone was your man, Robert
Brent?" said the youth boldly.

Kent Lomax paled slightly at this abrupt
assertion, and asked evasively:

"‘ My man! What do you meant” ,

“I am his messmate, and as he had to up
anchorand run, he could not carry out your
plans. so sent me to do the work.”

“ What work?” gasped the lieutenant.

“ No need of backing and filling in that way,
liwtenant, for I’ve got the whole course down
that Brent was to sail, and as he is away, I’m
sent by him to do the business he left
undone.”

' I» l he tell you what our business together

“ «l the otilcer.

V71-

x

' “No; I care not to be bothered new,” we; ‘

“He teld me that there was a rival in the
way that wanted to be removed, and that you
would pay well for it.” .

“ Who are you?”

“A messmate of Brent’s.”

“ You are young enough to be his son.”

“Perhaps  am his son.”

“ Ah! What is your namel”

“ Frank.”

“ And do you, a boy in years, think you can
accomplish what he difered to do?”

“ Yes."

“And your price?"

“ The same that you intended to give him.”

“ I had already paid him some little.”

“Look to him, then, for that.”

“Well, I’ll pay you well if you do the
work.”

“ I’ll do it. ’7,

“You know what it is?”

“Yes; to kill Lieutenant Leon St. Vale.”

“True. When will you do it!"

“At the first opportunity."

“Then come to me and get your pay.”

“I must have some guarantee that I will get
it. ”

“ I give you my word.”

“ It is not good.”

“What! do you dare—”

“I dare “say, sir, that a man who plots the
death of a brother officer will do anything.”

“By Heaven! I have half a mind to—”

“ You had better not get a whole mind to
attempt any reckless act. ’

“This is business between us, and you pay
me for work you fear to do yourself, and I
want a guarantee that it will be paid,” said
the lad, boldly.

“ What kind of a guarantee?”

“A written one.”

“No. I care not to put my name to any
document that may implicate me.”

“It will be a simple note of hand, promis-
ing to pay a stated sum to Sailor Frank, for
proof of certain services rendered.”

“Very well; I'll give it to you, for I am
most anxious that St. Vale shall be removed
at once,” and, turning to a writing desk, Kent
Lomax committed himself to paper as the
youth dictated, and handed it to him.

“Now, my lad, I am working to get this

matter of! my hands at once, and if you lose
no time I will add a bonus to the amount
promised you.”
' “ I’ll do what I have to do at once, sir,”
was the quiet answer, and, armed with the
compromising document, the lad took his leave
and returned to his room in the Anchor Inn.

 

 

 

CHAPTER XV.
A Dunomsnnn AIR CASTLE.

of Halifax, with the army and navy officers
stationed there, found it a subject of fruitful
conversation and more than a nine days’ won-
der.

The gossips had met with a sore disappoint-
ment, for they had planned that Lady Eve
was to become Mrs. Leon St. Vale, and that
Lena La Rue would certainly marry the hand-
some Lord Milnor. “

Things had certainly been tending in that
direction, to all appearances, the public not
seeing behind the scenes, when the tragic death
of the baronet broke in upon all the plans of
the gossips, and put a damper upon the town.

.Lady Eve, now that her father was dead,
determined to return at once to England, and
gave out as her intention to live at Castle
Curse, her inheritance from her uncle, Alvin
Alstone.

Since the death of her father she had been
strangely moody, refusing to see all visitors,
even to Leon 8t. Vale, and busying herself
with her arrangements for her departure.

As no packet-ship was to sail soon, she had
obtained permission to take passage on the
scbconer in which Kent Lomax had started in
pursuit of the smack, and which was a fast
craft, used as a Government dispatch vessel,
and which was to be sent to England with dis-
patches from the colonies, and a certain
amount of treasure paid to the king by the
provinces. " .

The admiral of the British fleet then an-
chored in the St. Lawrence gulf had ordered
Captain Sir Roslyn Stannix to put a crew on

 

board the schooner, under an efficient officer,
and at once send the craft to England with the
the important disp-uchesx and treasure be for—
’ worded by specinl linesscilgel"

\

In his kindness of heart Sir Roslyn offered
to Lady Eve this opportunity to return to her
friends in England, and would have been glad
to detail Leon St. Vale for the duty of carry-
ing the vessel over.

But the brigantine was now ready for sea,
and it was important that she should sail for
the Gulf and Caribbees just as soon as her crew
could be shipped, and, not knowing the feeling
of rivalry between Kent Lomax and St. Vale,
he ordered the latter to prepare to take com-
mand of the diSpatch vessel.

This was a most delightful surprise for Kent
Lomax, when he learned that Lady Eve Al-
stone was to be placed under his especial care,
and he began building castles high in the air of
future happiness, for he expected daily to be
told that Leon St. Vale was dead, and then he
would have the way clear before him to win
the maiden’s heart and fortune.

But Leon St. Vale heard the news with far
different feelings from what his rival did, and
at once he determined to act to prevent it.

Several times he had been on the eve of lay-
ing the case of the treachery of Kent Lomax
before Sir Roslyn; but then he feared he would
have to bring Frank up, and tell all about the
boy, and some unpleasant questions might be
asked about his finding out the plot of Robert

 

Two weeks passed away after the death of ‘
Sir Grey Alstone, and yet the worthy citizens ‘

Brent to kill him, instigated by Lomax, and he
had deferred making it known until he could
see his way more clearly. '

Now, with Eve, who had persistently re-
fused to see him when he had called, to go to
England under the escort of Kent Lomax, was
more than he could stand, and at once he set‘
to work to thwart it, and, as usual, sought the
aid of his youthful ally, Frank.

Kent Lomax had repaired on board the
schooner as soon as he had received orders to
take command, and soon had all in readiness
to sail.

The luggage of Lady Eve had come on
board, and the maiden and er two English
servants were expected that a ternoon, for the
schooner was to sail by sunset. .

Captain Cuthbert, the unfortunate com-
mander of the Petrel, when captured by the
Black Pirate, had also taken advantage of the
schooner’s going to return home, having fully
recovered from his wounds, had gone on‘ bond
and been assigned a state-room by Kent Lo-
max, who could hardly contain ‘himself with
joy at the prospect before him of being so long
in Eve’s sweet Society.

As he paced the deck impatiently, watching

‘the shore, he saw a small boat coming out to
the schooner, and in it recognized,with a start,
the sailor lad, Frank.

“I would like to see you, sir,” said the youth,
as the officer met him at the gangway.

“Then come into my cabin, and—”

“No, Licub mint Lomax, you accompan)n
me ashore,” and the youth spoke firmly.

“No, for I expect Lady Eve ~Alstone on
board any moment, and sail at dark."

“ You asked me to do some work for you, so
come and see if it is done.”

' “ Hal you have—”

“fSh—l come with me, lieutenant, and you
shall know all.”

The manner of the lad impressed Kent 10‘
max, and leaving the vessel in charge of an un-
der officer, he sprung into the-boat and was
rowed ashore. ,

Instead of landing, as the officer had expect-
ed he would at the town, Frank headed for the
.wcoded point under the cliff on which ‘5th
the Alstone mansion, now gloomy in its deser-
tion. ‘ ‘

“Why do you go here, my lad?”

“The one I wish you to see is there, sir.”

“Ah! St. Vale?”

“Yes, sir.”

“ And he is dead?" eagerly asked the ethos r.

“You will see the result of my work, sir,
and I hope you have the money with you," was
the somewhat evasive reply. .

“Yes, and the bonus I promised you; but
it will rob me of all I have, though I have pros-
pects,” and the lieutenant smiled, as he thought
of Eve and her inheritance.

“But why did you kill him here, my lad,
where people are liable to come?”.

“ It was a good place to decoy him to, and I
am content with the risk I take; but here we

n

As the skiff touched the shore the youth
sprung out, and Kent Lomax followed him.

Crossing the beach the lad led the way into
apine thicket that grew on the hillside, and

 

Kent LOIII‘IX started back as in: was~ suddenly

\

K —-4.'. ._:*n.¢w\3u‘. nae-flank

"mm

 

 

 

 

 

’ I, he CocanVampiré. »

 

 

confronted by three persons whom he know

well.
One was Leon St. Vale, calm and stern, the

other Lord Cecil Milnor, a wondering expres-'

sion upon his face, and the third the surgeon of
the Vulture.

In some way Kent Lomax at once realized
that he had been entrapped, and he turned
deadly pale, scowling upon the youth who had
brought him there, and not returning the bow of
the three officers before him.

He had expected to find Leon St. Vale, but
dead before him; he found him facing him in
perfect health, and with a look upon his face
that be neither liked, nor could fathom.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
A Lori‘an OF LIFE AND DEATH.
FOR an instant Kent Lomax was consider-

ably nonplused, but recovering himself he

quickly said:

“ Goodmfternoon, gentlemen, and I may also
say good-by, as I sail shortly for England, as
you know.”

“Kent Lomax, it will be a lung good-by that
either you or I for one of us must not
leave this spot alive,” said Leon St. Vale in his
deep, stern tones.

The man addressed turned very pale, and
both Lord Cecil and the surgeon seemed deeply
surprised; but Frank looked indifferent and
calm.

“ I—I do not understand our cause of quar-
rel, Lieutenant St. Vale," faltered Lomax.

“ You are mistaken, sir, for you do under-
stand it, though these gentlemen do not, and
there is no reason that they should, unless you
make it known to them.

“ I asked them to come here with me for a
particular purpose, though I did not explain
why.

“ You came here for a purpose I care not to
make known; but. in the presence of Lord
Cecil Milnor, and Surgeon Lester Van Loo, I
desire to ask you if you wrote this document.”

He took from his pocket as he spoke a piece
of paper, the same which the officer had giVen
Frank the sailor as a guarantee of payment for
the killing of St. Vale.

One glance at it, and, recognizing the fatal
paper, he snatched it from the hand of Leon
St. Vale and attempted to destroy it.

But, with the spring of a panther, Leon St.
Vale was upon him, and grasping his hands as
they were about to tear the tell-tale document,
in a gripe that made Kent Lomax cry out with
pain, he took the paper from his grasp, while
he said contemptuously:

“ I need no reply, sir, for your actions have
proven you the author of that agreement,
and there is but one course now for you to
pursue to extricate yourself.”

“And what is that?” hoarser said Kent
Lomax, who was wild with passion.

“Take your stand ten paces fromme, armed
with one of these weapons,” and Leon St.
Vale stepped to where his cloak lay upon the
grass, and took up two dueling pistols.

“I want no quarrel with you, St. Vale,”
huskily said Kent Lomax, while Doctor Van
Loo and Lord Milnor looked on with cool sur-
prise.

“Therein we diifer, sir, for I seek a quarrel
with you.

“One of these. pistols is loaded, the other is
not, and you can take your choice, have the
first fire, and walk up to me and place the
muzzle against my heart. and draw the trigger.

“If luck favors 'you, you remove me from
your path.

“ If luck goes against you, it is my turn.”

Kent Lomax felt that he was fairly caught,
and though he could not but thank St. Vale
for giving him even chances with him, after
the discovery of his plot against him, and also
for not revealing the conspiracy he had entered
into to kill him, he, yet hated him fiendish] y,
and jumped at the chance to slay him.

Of course he knew he had to take the chance
Of 8’6ng an unloaded weapon, but that was
not so great asif they both faced each other
with bullets in their pistols, for then St. Vale,

.WhO never 11118866. would be certain to kill him.

“I accept your terms, sir, as you seem
determined to force this duel upon me,” he
said huskily.

"You have no c0mplaint, sir, as I keep the
cause a secret,” was the biting retort of St.
Vale.

Kent Lomax approached and attentively
regarded the two weapons.

They were both alike, long, deadly looking

0

weapons, and upon one he saw engraven the
date of Lord Caverly’ death, and his name.

“That is the one that served him well be-
fore, and he would surely load that one,” said
Lomax to himself, while Lord Cecil and the
surgeon glanced curiously on, and Frank yet
maintained his cool indifference of manner.

He saw that both weapons were primed, and
the flints in place, and longed to be able to
pierce the iron tube and see in which rested
the deadly bullet.

First he took up one, then the other, and then
seized the weapon that had slain Lord Caverly.
St. Vail’s face was emotionless, and he said
with perfect calmness:

“Is that one your selection, sir?"

“It is, sir; do you know which one contains
the bullet?”

“ I do not.”

“ And yet one is engraven witu a date and a
name?" .

“Yes, the date of my duel with poor Cav-
erly,” Was the unmoved reply.

“ I should think, though the pistols are fac-
similes of each other, that the date would show
you—”

“ I loaded them, sir, in the dark, to avoid
knowing.

“ You may have the loaded one, and you
may not.

“ But soon you will know.”

Kent Lomax shuddered slightly at the por-
tentous words, and walked to his place, while
he said:

“Who gives the word to fire?"

“There need be no word, sir; take your
stand, walk toward me, and draw trigger when
you see fit.”

“I care not to interest these gentlemen in
this affair, other than to see by your own con-
fession, that I have ample cause of quarrel
with you.”

“ But you have no proof—”

“Silence, or I shall make all known, and
yonder youth shall—n ‘

“ No, no, I will meet you,” quickly inter-
rupted Lomax, and he walked to the spot desig-
nated by St. Vale, who also took his stand.

When the two faced each other, St. Vale
calmly said:

“ Lieutenant Kent Lomax. I am ready to
face the ordeal of life and deat .”

There was not the slightest tremor of tone,
not even did the flush of health on his cheeks
die away, and his hand, holding the pistol, was
as firm as the rock by which he stood.

With a murderous glitter in his eyes Kent
Lomax began his advance.

Slowly he made his steps, and halted within
three feet of St. Vale.

Then he deliberately raised his weapon, first
to his face, and the muzzle was within two
inches of his eyes.

But not a sign of fear did he cause to cross
that stem, handsome face, and with disappoint-
ment plainly visible upon his own countenance,
he slowly lowered the weapon until it pointed
directly at the heart.

“Lieutenant Lomax, I must say, sir, that
for an officer and a gentleman you are showing
a refined cruelty unworthy of one of your
rank,” said Lord Cecil Milnor, sternly, and he
stepped forward.

“ And I agree with my Lord Milnor,” put in
Surgeon- Van Loo,

“If he enjoys it, let him alone,” was St.
Vale’s remark.

Seeing that he was losing caste with his bro-
ther ofllcers, Kent Lomax placed the muzzle of
the pistol against the broad breast of his foe,
and drew the trigger.

The powder flashed in the pan, and there
was no explosion.

Kent Lomax had drawn the wrong weapon.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
LEON sr. VALE’S REVENGE.

“ NOW, I believe, it is my turn, Lieutenant
Kent Lo ax."

Leon t. Vale spoke with the utmost sang-
froid of manner, and the one he addressed be-
come as livid as thought life had already left
his body. ’

“I care not to kill you, for you are not
worth the remembrance of the act, but I will
prevent your going to sea as the commander
of the schooner which your connivance has
made you captain of.” | ~

Stepping backward, to the spot where Kent
Lomax had stood, ten paces, distance, St. Vale

 

continued in his quiet way: .

 

“ Surgeon Van Loo, I will put my mark on
this man, and leave him in your charge."

At the last word the pistol flashed and Kent
Lomax spun half round, as though on a pivot,
tottered, gave a cry of pain and rage com-
mingled, and would have fallen had not Lester
Van Loo sprung forward and caught him.

“ You have shattered his left arm, St.
Vale,” cried Lord Cecil.

“ Such was my intention, my lord; there
is my boat for you to pull him .on board the
Vulture, where he can receive every care, and I
will go and report to Captain Sir Roslyn]?
was the cool reply.

The surgeon and Lord Cecil bore the

wounded man to the boat, and Frank seized ‘

the oars and rowed them out to the Vulture,
while St. Vale walked down to the town and
going on board the brigantine made a written
report, of his affair with Kent Lomax, to Sir
Roslyn Stannix, whose first act was to look up
a commander for the schooner, whose depar-
ture at once was urgent, on account of the dis-
patches it was to carry.

To send St. Vale was out of the question.
and Lord Cecil Milnor could not be spared. so
Sir Roslyn went on board the schooner and
begged Captain Cutbbert, of the unfortunate

Petrol, to take command, which he gladly con- -

seated to do under the circumstances, as his
wounds were almost wholly healed.

The consequence was that, Lady Eve having
gone on board, accompanied by Lena La Run,
who intended to make the voyage with her,
and return to New York in a packet ship from
London, the schooner spread her sails and
darted dawn the harbor, saluted by the brigau-
tine, Petrel and Vulture, as she passed, and
upon which latter ves<el lay Kent Lomax,
groaning with pain and cursing St. Vaie wizh
every breath, and laying up a bitter revenge
in his heart against him, for the wound he had
given him, and the manner in which he had
thwarted him from becoming the protector of
Lady Eve in her trip home.

Shortly after the sailing 'of the schooner, a
boat from the Vulture boardedithe brigantine,
and a midshipman handed to Leon St. Vale a
letter.

It read:

“B ‘ -of-war Vulture,
“ ursday evening.
“To Lisu'r. Laos Sr. Van, wmmands‘ug briganthw-
of-Imr “ Black Pirate.”

“Sm—your report of your duel with Lieutenant
Kent Lomax, your brother omcerin His Majesty’s,
service is at hand,and in answer-I would say that with
the followin day you surrender command of the
brigantine to ieutenant Lord Cecil Hilnor,and repair
on board the Vulture to answer to the Admiral of
the North Atlantic Squadron when he arrives in
port, for forcing a meeting with an officer detached

or specml service just as he was about to proceed
upon that duty. Yours with respect,
“Sm Rosum Sunni.
“Captain His Ma esty’s service, and commanding,
British fleet in alfax waters."

“Say to Sir Roslyn, Midshipman Dale, that

“On BOARD His Museum}

I will obey his orders, as soon as Lord Cecil ,

comes on board,” he said quietly to the young
middy, who then took his departure.
When alone in his cabin Leon St. Vale he-

gan to pace to and fro and think over what

had happened.

That Kent Lomax was his bitter foe there
could be no manner of doubt, after all he knew
of his plot against him, and his conscience
cleared him of the punishment he had inflicted
upon him.

He did nu care to make known the real
wickedness of Lomax, on account of the aged
parents of the erring officer, and the honor of
the service, and he would do all he could to
clear himself without compromising him for
those reasons.

He had felt hurt by Indy Eve’s refusal to
see him, after the burial of her father, and
had attributed it to Kent Lomax, and he was
determined to prevent his carrying to sea the
schooner with her under his protection, and he

had done so, and must take the consequences, ' I

be they what they might.
Worried by the order relieving him of the

command of the brigantine, which his skill .

and nerve had captured, he went on deck to
cool his heated brow.

He found that a storm was coming up, for
the heavens were black with clouds, and the
thunder rolled incanantly, while every now
and then vivid lightning illumined the scene.

The brigantine had been prepared to meet
the blow, by the officer in charge of the deck,
and the half score of seamen on board were
indolently leaning over the forward bulwarkfl
looking at the approaching storm.

9 .

r‘ Charmed with the grandeur of the scene
Le0n St. Vqu stood watching the inky clouds,
rent in twain by seams of fire, until the tem-

pest burst with unbridled fury upon the town
and harbor. '

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
ALL through the night the storm raged furi-

,ously, and the vessels in the harbor tugged

viciously at their chain cables, as though im-
patient of restraint, and anxious to fly away
upon the gale.

But at dawn the inky clouds swept away
and the sun rose clear and rosy out of the sea
and cast its rays over the harbor and town.

Then there arose a cry of alarm from many
a deck, for nowhere was the brigantine visible.

Had she foundered in the blow and sunk
from sight?”

No, that could not be, for her masts would
have been surely visible.

Had she broken her cables and been driven
ashore?

No, for though there was a schooner on the
beach near the town, and a wrecked fishing-
smack or two, there were no others.

Perhaps she had at any rate been compelled
to slip her cable and drive before the storm to
escape the drifting schooner, which must have
gone near her; but why, if this was the case,

. was she not seen standing up the harbor to her

\

anchorage again?
Sir Roslyn and his officers vainly consulted
over the mysterious disappearance, and could

‘ arrive at no conclusion.

In the cabin where they sat lay Kent Lo~
max, his shattered arm giving him great pain,
in spite of the skillful dressing it had receiwd
at the hands of Surgeon Van Loo, and sudden-
ly from his white lips came the words, vicious-
ly uttered:

“Perhaps St. Vale has put the brigantine to
her old trade.”

“What!” cried Sir Roslyn in angry sur-
prise.

“ Gone to pirating in her."

“Never! St. Vale is a man of honor, and,
though I do not uphold him in his affair with
you_n

“ 0n the moment of your departure on
special duty,” put in Lord Cecil, with a bow of
apology to Sir Roslyn for the interruption.

“ Yes, on the eve of your starting on special
service, I yet will not hear you slander him,
Lomax, in that way."

“ I beg pardon, Sir Roslyn, but as you
told me you were to relieve Leon St. Vale of
his command, and he had before been strangely
associated with pirates, added to the unaccount-
able disappearance of the brigantine from her
anchorage. I cannot but find excuse for my re-
mark,” said Lomax, with a groan of pain.

“Well, sir, your remark loses you my sym-
pathy in your affair with St. _Vale, who, it
seems, was generous enough not to make the
cause of your quarrel known, while you were
forced to admit that he had cause.

“Surgeon Van Loo, as Lieutenant Lomax

is invalided and not on duty, please remove
him to his own quarters, where a council of
myself and officers will in nowise retard his
speedy recovery.”
’ Kent Lomax saw that he had made a great
mistake; but, as excuses would llit make mat-
ters worse, he remained silent, and was soon
after removed tohis own state-room, which was
by no means the pleasant quarters he had found
the captain’s cabin.

He had expected, as Sir Roslyn had taken a
firm stand against St. Vale, that he could say
what be pleased, and his disappointment and

humiliation in this respect, but added to his

more intense hatred of the man who had
wounded him.

From the look-out on the hills no sign of the
brigantine could be seen coming into the harbor
or at sea, and. wonder grew in intensity as the
hours passed and she did not appear.

Then a merchant captain, anchored down
the harbor came on board the Vulture, and re-
ported that the brigantiue had driven by him
shortly after midnight, with storm-sails set,
and her deck crowded with men.

What this could mean no one could conjec-
ture.

She had had not a dozen men on board, al~
though a crew was being shipped for her; but
a visit to the shipping agent proved that his
men were all on shore.

With this information, Sir Roslyn deter-
mined to act at once, and he ordered the

 

The Ocean Vampire.

Petrel into the dock for repairs and refitting,
and at once repaired on board his own vessel
and stood to sea.

All the town gazed upon the pretty brig as
she sped away like the wind, and wondered
what news she would bring back of the miss-
ing brigantine.

With the following morning there came a
shot from the fort as a signal that a vessel-0f-
war was standing into the harbor, and those
who at once thronged the bluffs beheld the
Vulture coming back before a stiff breeze, and
having in tow the Dispatch Schooner, whose
foremast was shot away, and bulwarks torn
with the iron hail that had been poured upon
her.

But the brigantine was not with them, or in
sight astern of them, and conjecture ran wild
again as to what had become of her.

 

CHAPTER XIX.
'rar. MYSTERY sonvan.

UNTIL the storm broke upon the harbor, did
Leon St. Vale face the deck of the brigantine;
but the rude elements at last drove him to his
cabin, for he had not on his storm suit, and he
threw himself upon the luxurious divan upon
which the fierce Black Pirate had so often
stretched his huge limbs, and continued his
painful reveri'es.

At last he sunk to sleep; but was awakened
by heavy feet on deck.

At first he believed that the brigantine had
broken her cables and was drifting ashore, and
he sprung to his feet to rush on deck.

But then he heard the tread of a hundred
feet, and knew that other than his few crew
made the sounds.

He turned to seize his cutlass and belt of
arms, when down the companionway bounded
a huge form, and a pistol was held to his head,
while there came the deep, threatening tones:

“Lieutenant St. Vale, you are my prisoner,
dead or alive.” '

He saw that he was fairly entrapped, for he
had not his arms in hand, and behind his cap-
tor stood a dozen fierce men.

“You are Captain Ebony, the Black Pirate,
whom I believed at the bottom of the sea,” he
said, coolly.

The man was a giant in size, for he was
nearly seven feet tall, broad-shouldered, and
wore a mask, while he was clad in a pair of
white duck pants, heavy peaqjacket and tar-
paulin, all drenched by the rain.

“Yes, I am Ebony, the Pirate, whose craft
you so skillfully took from him by chasing him
ashore with the vessel he had turned into a
Gallows Ship.

“I was a superstitious fool then, to fly from
my own deadly work, but I am wiser now,
and having escaped death by drowning when
you forced me to beach this craft, I’ll this
night set sail and show the world that the
Black Pirate is afloat again.

“Come, give me your parole not to attempt
to escape, and I will give you the freedom of
the cabin until we get to sea, and not put you
in irons, as I should do; for, Leon St. Vale, I
have not forgotten the clever way in which
you hoaxed me by playing pirate, and I should
kill you."

“ Do you intend to run the brigantine out to
sea?” asked St. Vale.

“I do. Your crew are in irons, with the
exception of two officers, the one who was on
deck and the other We found in the ward-room,
and they are dead for resisting; they were cut
down, with one or two of the men.

“I have half a hundred good fellows on
board, enlisted for a lawless cruise, and the
storm aids me to run out, so if you do not care
to die, you will give me your parole not to es-
cape.”

“ I give it,” said St. Vale, without an instant
of hesitation.

“ Good! Now remain in my cabin until I
come and free you, for I have work on deck
now.”

The pirate chief and his men left the cabin
and St. Vale was alone, and his thoughts were
bitter indeed, for he did not doubt but that he
would be killed by the Black Pirate.

He had given‘his parole not to escape, and
yet was it binding to keep such word to a sea-
monster, who was then going to again enter
upon a red life upon the ocean?

No; he would escape if in his power, swim
to the brig-of-war Vulture, and cut the brigan-
tine oif ere she could run out, or follow her to
sea.

 

He went to the companionway, but found it
locked on the outside.

Although accepting his parole, the Black Pi-
rate had mistrusted him.

He went to the door leading forward, and it,
too, was locked.

There was then no alternative, for he must
submit to his fate.

As he stood in painful thought, he felt the
brigantine lean to the breeze, and the motion

told him that she was under way and heading v

toward the open water at a terrific speed.

For an hour he sat, for the motion of the
vessel in the rough waters prevented his pac-
ing the cabin, and then the companionway
opened, and the Black Pirate was before him.

Leon St. Vale had hoped that the brig-of-
war or the fort would spy the brigantine run-
ning out, and bring her to; if unable to do this,
come on in chase.

But there was no heavy gun mingling with
the artillery of heaven, to show that she was
discovered, and he knew that the daring buc-
caneer chief had well chosen his time, and was
safely at sea, and that all hope for him was
over.

But with a bold, fearless mien, he met the
Black Pirate when he came into the cabin and
calmly threw himself upon the divan, in front
of where the young king’s officer sat.

 

CHAPTER XX.
THE PIRATE AND THE KING’S orrrcnn.

THE pirate chief sat in silence for some time
before St. Vale, eying him closely, while the
young officer also gazed upon him with deep
interest, if nothing more.

He saw not the chief’s face, for that was
masked, and the hands were covered with
heavy gauntlet-gloves; but he knew well the
large form and deep voice, as he remembered
them.

“That was a bold act of yours, St. Vale,
coming on board of my vessel that night, from
the Vulture, to play spy upon me," said the
chief, opening the conversation.

“You are mistaken, for I did not come to
play the part of a spy.

“We were becalmed a long way off from
your vessel, which we took for a trim Ameri-
can trader, and I rowed on board of you to
find out what you were.

“Discovering too late just what you were,
and not wishing to be slain with the boat’s
crew, I sent them back to the brig, and played
a part before you, pretending to be a disgraced
officer.”

“And you played it well; but in Heaven’s
name how did you escape ?”

“I saw a small craft lying to inshore that
night of storm, and let myself go overboard
with the wave that carried off some of your
crew.

“I reached the craft, regained my own ves-
sel, was captured in an attack on one of your
boats that pursued a prisoner from your island
in the Caribbees, and again played a success-
ful part with your men there.” .

“But in the Devil’s name how did you come
to board that Gallows Ship?” asked the chief,
evidently deepfy interested in the story of the
young omcer.

“I left your island in your old schooner,
with your own crew, and it went down in a
gale, and we took to the boats. ‘

“My boat survived and I came upon the
Gallows Ship, just as a storm was upon us,
boarded her, found Captain Cuthbert and 0119
other of her crew, your victims, on board
alive, and wounded, and rerigging her went in
search of you, feeling assured that your guilty
conscience would cause You to fly When 3'0“
saw the Death Ship pursuing you.

“ And I thought right, for I scared you and
your crew almost to death,” and St. Vale
laughed. . O .

H By Beavenl you did indeed, and I can
now join in your laugh, as I know the trick,
and have my brigantine back again; but that
night I beached the craft, and we all sprung.
into the sea, preferring to be drowned to being
taken by what we all believed a ship load of
ghosts.

“Ha! ha! ha! it was a good joke for you,
but I did not relish it then, though, as I reach.
ed the shore, I can do so now.

“But tell me, where are my guests that
were wont to occupy my cabin?”

“ You refer to the skeletons you were wont
to have sit at your table i” .

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“ I had them sent ashore and given honor-
able burial.”

“ Ah! that was thoughtful of you, St. Vale;
but I cannot cruise successfully without skele-
ton guests in my cabin, so shall have to begin
to look for them, though my surgeon who
dressed their bones so skillfully, is at the bot-
tom of the sea, or acting as Satan’s medical
adviser.”

“He need not have died to serve Satan,”
was St. Vale‘s bold remark.

“ True, for you mean that in serving me, he
served the Devil.” I

“ That is just what I mean.”

“You are complimentary, for I like to be
thought a fiend.

“ Now tell me, do you want a berth as my
first luff on board?”

“I’d as soon serve Satan himself, and the
offer is an insult I would resent had I the
power,” was the angry retort.

“But you have not the power, and I need
an officer, for I am in chase of the schooner
and have not a single man on board I could
make a lieutenant.

“ You are a fearless man and a most skillful
seaman, and I can make you rich within the
year, ay, richer than the fair heiress, Lady
Eve, whom you can then marry, swearing that
you had been my prisoner all the while and
just managed to escape.

“The offer is a tempting one, so think of
it.”

At the mention of the schooner St. Vale had
started, and when the Black Pirate spoke of
Eve Alstone, he turned pale, for there was
that in the remark that led him to feel that
she was not unknown to the monster.

Crushing his feelings, he asked calmly:

“ To what schooner do you refer?”

“The Dispatch Schooner.”

“What know you of her!”

“ That she sailed at dark, with dispatches
and treasure, for England.”

“ What more?”

“That the officer who was to have com-
manded her was your rival, and, to prevent
his going, you shot him in a duel an hour or
two before the vessel sailed.”

“What else?"

“She went in command of Captain Cuth~
bert, formerly of the Petrol, which I turned
into the Gallown Ship, and whose commander
I believed I had killed, with all of his crew.”

“And is that all?”

“Oh, no, for the schooner carries on her the
fair Lady Eve Alstone, the heiress of Castle
Curse, and her intimate friend, the New York
heiress and beauty, Miss Lena La Rue, who
was once my captive, and whom you rescued
from my island retreat.”

“You are certainly well informed regard-
ing {rheluhooner and her passengers,” moored
St. a e. ‘

“And don’t forget her treasure, which is
considerable.

“Yes; I am well informed, and what is
more, I know who killed Sir Grey Alstone,
and within twenty-four hours the schooner
shall be my prize, and Lady Eve shall know
all.”

“ Never! accursed pirate, never!”

The words broke in a shout from Leon St.
Vale’s lips, and, like a panther springing upon
its prey, he threw himself upon the buccaneer

chief.
CHAPTER XXI.
A con” wrrn Gum's.

Waonnv unprepared for the fierce attack, the
Black Pirate was taken by surprise entirely,
and the iron gripe of Leon 8t. Vale was upon
his throat ere he could resist.

His belt of arms he had thrown aside upon
entering the cabin, and neither of the two had
a weapon, but the struggle between them be-
came at once savage in the extreme.

St. Vale was just under six feet in hight, of
a willowy form, with broad shoulders, and
muscles of steel, and his strength had been
well considered by his comrades as marvelous.

But the Black Pirate was a giant in size,
well formed, and was also powerful, while he
had never met his match.

But in the king’s officer he at once recog-
nized that he had a most 6 rous foe, for his
fearful blows were skillfully pal-fled with at,
Vale’s right hand, while the left clutched the
enemy’s throat with a grasp tint could not be
broken.

Over and over the two men rolled, knocking
the furniture down, and the roar of the wind
and waves, and the bounding of the ' ve-el

 

alone concealing the tremendous battle going
on between decks from 'those above.

For some moments the giants in strength
fought, and in vain was it that the Black
Pirate, realizing that he had at last met his
master, tried to call for help.

The clutch on his throat choked off all utter-
ance, and he felt the grasp tightening, instead
of relaxing, which proved to him that his foe
was not losing his strength by the continued
struggle.

At last be determined to offer terms, if he
could do so, but in vain he essayed to speak,
for not a word could he utter, and his veins
were swelling out like whip-cords and his
strength going from him.

The thought of death stared him in the face,
and he could see that St. Vale would go on
deck, declare what he had done to the newly-
shipped crew, who would gladly put the brig-
antine about for the promised pardon, and he
would be revived and hanged.

The thought was horrible for him, and once
more he made a savage struggle to shake off
his foe, to find it of no avail.

Then his head seemed bursting, his eyes felt
as though they were red-hot coals, and his
heart throbbed as though it would burst from
the body that held it.

Just then there came a blurred form before
his eyes, he felt the gripe upon his throat re-
lax, and he saw St. Vale dragged backward
and a knife held over his heart.

Though taken wholly at a disadvantage, St.
Vale did not lose his presence of mind, nor for
a moment think of surrendering, although
there was a keen blade threatening him with
death.

As quick as lightning in his movements, he
struck his assailant full in the face, and, as he
fell back under the blow, seized the knife and
attempted to wrench it from his hand.

But the one he now had to deal with was lit-
tle less powerful than the chief, and he was un-
able to wrest from him the knife, and for the
mastery began a second fierce struggle.

And the one he now fought was a being that
looked like a monster, almost, with his im-
mense black head, long arms, claw-like hands,
heavy body, deformed out of almost the hu-
man shape.

He knew him as Congo, the African slave of
the Black Pirate, and a being whom all dread-
ed upon accouut of his ferocious nature and
great strength, added to his readiness to use his
knife upon the slightest provocation.

Wearied by his superhuman exertions in his
combat with the Black Pirate, St. Vale yet felt
that he was the equal of the deformed African,
and determined to end the struggle as soon as
possible, and rained flerce blows in the savage
face that seemed to bewilder his adversary,
whose brute strength was unable to at once
crush the young ofllcer.

But suddenly there came a clicking sound in
his ears, and acold muzzle was pressed against
the back of his head.

“Senor, you are the worst man to handle
that either Congo or myself ever met, and I
admire you the more for it; but now I will
kill you if you do not at once surrender.”

The speaker was .the Black Pirate, who had
quickly rallied, and, rising softly, had seized
his pistol and approached the young ofl‘lcer.

Leon St, Vale felt disheartened that after his
savage struggle with each of the monsters that
it was all for naught; but he was no fool, and
was one who believed thoroughly in the adage
that while there is life there is hope.

Consequently he answered promptly:

“l yield, chief.”

“Congo, you caught a Tartar that time, as I
did, for if you had not come as you did he
would have had me at his mercy, and then
handled you as easily. '

“But leave off your fight now, for I com-
mand you.”

The African readily obeyed, but instead of
seeming sullen and to feel bitter. hatred against
St. Vale, he gazed upon.him rather with admi-
ration, and muttered:

“ Congo owns two masters now.”

“ And the Black Pirate one, it seems: by
Heaven, 817. Vale, you have a whalebone form
and your muscles are like steel finely tempered.

“ You are a very remarkable man, and I am
the more anxious to have you for one of my
officers,” said the Black Pirate without the
slightest sign of resentment in his tone and
manner.

“ I am no outlaw, chief, to herd with such
as you are,” was the haughty reply of Leon St.

 

._‘

Vale, who, excepting the disorder of his uni-
form, bore no traces of his fierce struggle with
the giant pirate and his slave.

“ You may be glad of the protection of my
flag before you die, young sir.

“Once I was an honorable man like you, but
I fell at last, and became what you now see
me,” said the pirate with a sneer.

“ That was before you bore the name of the
Ocean Vampire, was it not?” coolly said St.
Vale.

In aanstant the chief was upon his feet, his
eyes fairly blazing, his form trembling, while
he almost gasped forth:

“Ha! you know me?”

“I know that the 'Ocean Vampire did not die
by the hand of a woman, as all believed, and
hid his identity when again going to sea, under
the name of the Black Pirate,” was the calm
reply of the young officer.

“You know that do you?” sneered the chief.

“ As I know that your powder-burnt face is
stained black, and that you have straight hair
beneath that wool wig you wear.”

“ In the name of the holies, how did you
know this?"

“That, I care not to tell.”

“I can force it from you.”

“Try me.”

“Leon St. Vale you are a plucky man, and I
think the more of you, now that you know
what I was, for I do not deny having once
swept the seas under the title of the Ocean
Vampire.

“ Ay, and I shall throw of! this accursed
mask of a negro, and sink the name of Black
Pirate in the old one of Water Vampire.

“Hal ha! ha! how I will make the very sea
tremble when it is known that the Vampire
rises from the waves and has to do red deeds
to carry out the name he once wore and that of
the Black Pirate too.

“I tell you, St. Vale, you must be. my first
oflicer, and we will amass a fortune within the
year and then you can go free to do as you
please.

“Sell yourself to me for one year.”

“No argument will avail, sir, to make me
forget who and what I am,” was .St. Vale’s
haughty response.

“ Ah! you think so do you?”

“ “'ell, we shall see, Lieutenant Leon St.
Vale,” and the expression that passed over the
face of the chief the young officer did not'like,
for it spoke of a trap yet to be sprung in which
to catch him.

CHAPTER XXII.
roa aoxon, on ma nova.

“ WHAT do you mean, pirate?”

The question came from St. Vale after a
moment of silence between the two; following
upon the last remark of the chief significant of
future deviltry to be developed.

“ I will explain to you, lieutenant. ‘

 

“You remember when we were talking of . .

the Dispatch Schooner?”

H I do."

“It was some word of mine, regarding a
fair passenger—here, Congo, don’t leave but

use your pistol on this very devil, should he ’

attempt to spring upon me, for I am not equal
to another struggle of the kind we had awhile
since," and thechief interrupted his words to
St. Vale to call out to the slave, who seemed
about to leave the cabin by the way he had en-
tered it.

He also observed that St. Vale made a
threatening motion when he spoke of Lady
Eve Alstone.

The young cfliccr smiled at the caution
evinced by the Black Pirate, but said simply:

“ Now that Congo remains to protect you,
chief. pray continue with your story.”

“ I will, my dear St. Vale.

“Ireferred to two fair passengers on the
schooner, one of whom was your sweet lady-
love, the Indy Eve Alstone, the heiress of
Castle Curse, and the other Miss La Rue of
New York, also an heirea and a beauty.”

“ Well?” said St Vale with an air of perfect
indifference.

“They being on the schooner, which also
bears a treasure, not to speak of my old victim,
Captain Cuthbert, sent out especially by the
king, in the brig Petrol, to capture and hang
me, it is not to be wondered at, that I, Cap-
tain Ebony, the Black Pirate, should feel de-
sirous of capturing so valuable a vessel and
having her cargo as my own.”

“ And her captain?" asked St. Vale.

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The Ocean Vampire.

 

 

“I shall hang him to the yard-arm of the
brigantine.”

“And her crew?”

‘- Must go with their captain.”

“The treasure?” ,

"Must be transferred to the hold of the
brigantine.”

“The vessel?”

“I will scuttle, or, after a second thought, I
will make another Death Ship of her, to show
the enemies that not only is the Black Pirate
not dead, but the Water Vampire of some
years ago has come to life again.”

“And her passengers?”

St. Vale asked this last question in the same
cool way in which he had put the others, but

t was by the greatest effort only that he kept ,

i
calm
“ To the victor belong the spoils,” was the

laughing response of the chief, as he fastened :

his eyes upon his prisoner.

“ You would drag those poor maidens down
to shame and misery, you mean 9” came the
question in the same forced tones, that were
yet so calm.

“ That depends.”

“Upon what?”

“Upon you.”

“Upon me, chief?"

‘6 Yes. ”

St. Vale gazed at him in surprise.

“ I repeat, what is done with the Lady Eve,
Miss La Rue and the servants and riches of the
former lady, depends upon you. ”

“ How am I concerned?”

“ You love the lady?”

“ That is no affair of yours,” was the haughty
response.

“Granted; yet answer me.”

“Why should I?”

“I will explain.”

“Yes.”

“ You hope to marry her?”

“ I had hoped to.”

“But she has treated you coldly of late 1"

“Ha! how know you that?”

“Do you know a seaman by the name of
Brent?”

“ Robert Brent?”

H Yes.”

. “I did know such a one.”

“ Where is he now?”

“ I know not.”

“He was accused of the murder of Sir Grey
Alstone'!”

u Yes. if

“You know that he was not guilty.”

“ Ha!” and St. Vale turned slightly pale.

“ You know by whose hand Sir Grey Al-
stone fell; but it was best for Robert Brent to
be the scapegoat.

“ He escaped, reached Portland alone, for he
threw his comrade into the sea according to
orders, and met one of my agents there, who
told him I was not dead, but wanted a crew
for another vessel.

“Brent is a bold man, and disguised as an
old farmer, came back to Halifax. sought me
out, for he had sailed with me once, and told
me his little story.

“ I was revengeful against you for the tricks
you had played on me, and, anxious to make
you one of us, so that you would become as
wicked as I am, I wrote a note to the Lady
Eve, telling her that you had gotten the man
to kill her father to get him out of the way, as
he Opposed your marriage to her.

“I signed no name to it, but it set her to
thinking, as I saw, for I watched matters
closely in various disguises which I assumed.

“But she loves you, and a word from you
can make all clear, and you can one day make
her happy if you will, and the verlest wretch
in the world if you will otherwise.

“Still I do not understand,” said St. Vale,
in slow tone.

“ I’ll make myself understood, then.

“ I'll spare the Lady Eve and her fortune if
you’ll become my omcer.”

“Never!”

“ Holdl take time to think.”

“ I care not to think, monster.”

“ Ask me then what I will do if you refuse?”
was the sinister question.

8t. Vale started, for the full force of what
the pirate meant flashed upon him.

He hated him, yet wanted him for an oflicer
toget his revenge in seeing him dishonored.
To force him to this, he intended, through Eve
Alstone.

What her fate would be he could readily un-
dentand.

 

 

 

To save her he would give his life, his
honor.

But, should he yield, what guarantee would
he have that the Black Pirate would keep his
word?

This he would find out, and to do so he asked
as calmly as he could:

“ Name your terms, pirate."

“That you become my first officer."

“iVell?” i

“Take command of the brigantine when we
sight the schooner, for we are on the very
course she was to take."

“ Well!"

“Lead the boarders upon her deck, rob the
hold of its treasure, hang the officers and crew
in her rigging, and set her adrift.”

“ I am listening.”

“I will then land the Lady Eve and her scr-
vants in a small boat, and we can continue on
our way.”

“Is that all!”

“ Yes; don’t yowthink it is enough 3”

“I think so. And she is to land and spread
the news that I ran off with the brigantine,
turned pirate, captured the schooner, and am
cruising under the black flag?"

“Yes, that is just it."

“And you threaten her with worse than
death if I refuse?”

“I certainly do.”

“Well, I have terms to make.”

“Name them."

“That you overhaul the schooner and I take
command of the hrigantine.”

“That is what I wish.”

“Upon Conditions.”

“ What are they?”

“ That you spare both the Lady Eve and
Miss La Rue, and their personal effects.”

(6 Ah!”

“Yes, and the crew on the schooner.”

it Yes. i?

“ Which you, or I in your place, can rob of
all the king’s treasure, which I know amounts
to thousands of pounds in gold."

“ Well!” .

“ And permit the schooner to go on her way
with her dispatches, and her passengers and
crew unharmed. ”

“I get, then, only the treasure?”

“Yes, and one other thing, which you seem
to overlook.”

“ What is that?”

“Your revenge upon me.” ’

“By Heaven, you are right] for you go
branded before your king and country as a pi.
rate,” eagerly said the chief.

(I Yes.”

Both were silent for a moment, and then
said the Black Pirate:

“You will not demand that I give up my
revenge upon Captain Cuthbert?”

H Yes.”

“ And his crew .1"

“Most certainly.”

“ And the ransom of Miss La Rue?”

“ I do make such demands.”

“And if I refuse.”

“Then, by the Lord above, you can do your
worst, and I will die as I am, a man of honor,
be the fate of Eve Alstone and the others what
it may.”

St. Vale spoke in a tone and with a manner
that there was no mistaking as being in deadly
earnest, and the Black Pirate realized it fully,
and said:

“Well, St. Vale, I agree with your terms.”

“Sail ho!”

The gruff cry came from Congo, who re-
peated it as coming from the deck.

“ The schooner is in sight, sir, and dead
ahead.”

The speaker appeared in the companionway,
and it was Robert Brent.

CHAPTER XXIII.
a san suararsl.

Tan storm that came on the night of the
Dispatch Schooner’s departure, and during
which the brigantine escaped under the daring
Black Pirate, caught the former vessel a few
leagues out from the harbor.

Captain Cnthbert saw that he was to have a
blow, and accordingly got all in ship-shape to
meet it, while he sent down to the cabin for
both Lady Eve and Lena La Rue to come on
deck and see the grandeur of the rising tem-
pest, and regardless, or forgetful of the danger
it might bring to them, they stood watching

the coming tempest with feelings of sublimel

admiration.

 

But, though the schooner was bounding
along at a merry pace, the storm was flying in
pursuit with fearful speed, and soon overtook
the gallant vessel.

She stood the shock well, and then drbvo
before it, like an arrow shot from the how,
both maidens remaining on deck against
remonstrance, and enjoying greatly the
splendid sight of a storm at sea.

When it grew late the maidens went below
to the song cabin, and sat talking together
over their past.

They were certainly Very beautiful in face
and form, and with characters that were
equally as lovely.

Eve was a blonde, with liquid blue eyes, and
Lena La Rue a brunette with gloriously dark
orbs and hair like night.

The sorrows of the latter were now as a
dream to her, as she recalled her capture at
sea and life upon the pirate island with her
invalid mother, her stay there for weary
weeks, the death of her poor mother and burial
on that lonely isle, and her rescue by Leon St.
Vale, the shipwreck, and the cruise in the
Death Ship.

But she had learned to love, when she met
Lord Cecil Milner, also a prisoner upon the
island, and since then her dreams of happiness
gave a silvor lining to the sorrows she had
known, and she looked forward to one day
becoming his wife, as she left America pledged
to him. _

On the other hand, Eve Alstone had made
Leon St. Vale her idol, and in Spite of her
father’s sins, which she could not overlook, she
had been devoted to him.

The latter, she had found, after his death,
had been an unworthy agent of her affairs, and
had squandered her riches with a reckless
hand, and at a rate that would, had be con-
tinued in charge of her fortune, in a few years
have made her a beggar, or little more.

Then the seeds of distrust had been sown in
her heart against St. Vale, by the letter she
had received, anonymous though it was, and
the insinuations constantly cast upon her lover
by Lieutenant Lomax, could not fail of eflect-
ing their purpose of making her think there
must be something wrong.

When, at the last moment, the news came
that Leon St. Vale had severely wounded Kent
Lomax in a duel, she was indeed wretched, and
it was with almost a relief, that she gazed upon
the rapidly receding shores of America, and
felt that she could at least find rest in England
until time would make all things even.

it was after midnight before the two maidens
retired, and they were awakened shortly after
dawn by an unusual commotion on deck, of
hurrying feet, stern orders, and then they felt
that the schooner was being driven ahead un-
der a tremendous pressure of canvas for the
breeze that was blowing, for the wind yet held
very fresh, though the storm had passed away

Hastin drng they went on deck and
glanced around them.

The sea was running rough, and yet the
skies were clear, though there was a ten-knot
breeze blowing, and the schooner had all her
canvas set that would draw.

Glancing astern they discovered a league
distant a vessel apparently in chase, for she was
crowded with canvas from deck to truck, and
her bows raised walls of foam upon either side,
showing, as sailors say, that she was carrying
a huge bone between her teeth as she cane on
at a terrific speed.

Just then Captain Cuthbert limped up, Md
greeted them kindly, and in an assumed tone
of cheerfulness, as they at once saw, when they
gazed at his pale and anxious face.

“ W hat is the matter, captain?” asked Lady
Eve.

“ Oh, we have a friend in sight with whom
we are racing,” was his evasive reply.

“ That looks like the brigantine; I mean the
craft taken from the Black Pirate,” said Lena
La Rue, who was no mean sailor.

“ It is, Miss La Rue.”

“Then why are we flying from her, cap-
tain?” asked Eve.

“ I said we were racing, young ladies.”

“ Is it safe to strain the schooner this way
for a race?" asked Lena, as she noted that the
little vessel was staggering under the canvas
she carried.

“And why should you not wait, captain, un-
til the brigantine comes up, as she may bear
dispatches that arrived after our departure!’
queried Eve, ere the captain could reply to
Lena La Rue's question.

. Ma...  «._. . . ,., ..

\

The Ocean Vampire.

13

 

 

The old seamau seemed in a quandary, for
he was being catechised by two fair cross-
examiners that he could not parry with evasive
replies, so he determined to come boldly out
and tell the truth.

“Young ladies,” he said, gravely, “ I sighted i

the brigantine, apparently in chase, just before
dawn, and was about to lay to and await her
approach, thinking, as you did, that she might

bring later dispatches for us; but just then a ;'

seaman came aft and said he had a confession
to make, if I would promise him full pardon
and protection.

“ l was impressed by the man’s manner and
gave him the promise, and he said that he had
been approached by a man in Halifax to join
in a secret cruise that would pay him hand-
somely, and that he could get a good bonus
down.

“ It seems that his parents in England were 1

to be dispossessed of their farm, through a
mortgage, as the bank in which they had their

money deposited had failed, and failing to get ‘

the amount he wished to send them, through
another source where he had expected it, he at
once determined to join this secret expedition
for the bonus, though he would have to desert
His Majesty’s service to do so.

“ He however asked for leave, and pretended
to desert, got his money, which was some one
hundred and fifty pounds sterling, and enlisted
with the secret band, which he discovered was
under the leadership of none other than the
Black Pirate himself.”

“But he is dead,” cried both maidens in a
breath.

“ It seems not, for this sailor saw him face
to face, and says he escaped, and was paying
liberally for men to cut out the brigantine and
follow and capture this schooner. ”

“ Oh Heaven have mercy! Leon St. Vale
was on the brigantine, and would never sur-
render allve," groaned Lady Eve, thinking at
that moment more of her lover than of herself.

As for Lena La Rue, she uttered no word,
but turned deadly pale.

“The sailor,” resumed Captain Cuthbert,

I“ seems to have spoken truly, for he deserted

the others, when ordered on board the schooner,
and intended to make k110wn the intention of
the Black Pirate, but did not believe he could
get out of the harbor. _ I

“ It seems, however, that the storm and dark-
ness have aided him, and as yonder vessel has
a largecrew on board, I fearitisashesays,
that she has fallen again into the hands of the
Philistines,” said the old captain sadly.

“ And Lieutenant St. Vale’s fate?” asked
Eve eagerly.

“ Alas! I know not what to say,- but I shall
presson as hard as I can, anddoalllcanto
keep the schooner out of the clutch of that ac-
cursed sea monster— Be! there goes a gun,"
and as the captain spoke a puff of smoke came
from the bows of the brigantine, and a solid
shot went flying over the deck of the schooner,
showing that she was within easy range of the
pursuer, whoever might be her commander.

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
A RUNNING rtour.

As soon as Captain Cuthbert discovered that
the schooner was within range of the bow
guns of the brigantine he determined to call
his crew to quarters.

' The little craft had but two guns to a broad-
side, and a bow and stern pivot eighteen,
against a heavy armament of the brigantine.

Also her crew numbered but forty men, and
he felt sure, from what the repentant seaman
had told him that if the brigantine was really
under the Black Pirate, that he had not less
than three-score men under his command.

Still he was not going to surrender his vessel
While there was a chance of beating the brig-
alllltine on, or disabling her by a well—aimed
8 0t.

He had fought the Pirate Chief before and
well know how merciless he was, and that he
knew no mercy toward men, and would be
equfluy as merciless against the two maidens
under his charge.

“Get 90 your MS, lads, and we’ll see if
this fellow can take us as easily as he thinks,”
called out the captain, and then he urged upon
the maidens to retire‘to the cabin. ~

But this both of them refund to do, and
frankly confessed that they would rather be
killed on the deck by a shot, than fall into the
power of the Black Pirate.

Under the fearful procure of the canvas she
carried, the brigantine rapidly gained upon the

schooner, although she was a swift sailer, and
also crowded with sail from deck to topmast.

But the larger hull of the brigantine enabled

her to stand the rough waves and sail-pressure
better than the extremely low hull of the
schooner, and soon to -,all it became evident
j that the chase would not last many hours.
‘ “ If he fires again, and at us, I will feel that
l the Black Pirate is indeed on board and an-
swer him,” said Captain Cuthbert, to the young
officer who was acting as his lieuenant.

And again came the shot from the brigan-
tine, and this time it cut through the mainsail,
leaving a large rent.

“Fire!” cried Captain Cuthbert, and the
stern pivot gun of the schooner belched forth
its iron messenger.

All watched the effect with anxious eyes,
and saw with profound regret that the shot
flew wide.

Again and again the piece was discharged,
and yet with little result, while each shot from
the brigantine told upon the rigging, and now
and then upon the hull of the schooner.

“We are too low in the water, and too un-
steady for true aim,” said Captain Cuthbert,
anxiously, and finding that escape Was im-
possible, and that the brigantine was damaging
him severely be determined to at once wear
round and try conclusions with his foe so as to
end the awful suspense.

But the brigantine delivered a broadside as
the schooner wore round, that struck with
terrible effect, cutting the foremast in two
thirty feet above the deck, and killing half a
dozen men, and wounding more.

Captain Cuthbert again begged the maidens
to retreat to the cabin, in the companionway
of which stood Lady Eve’s maid imploring
her mistress with tears to seek refuge below,
but both still firmly refused, and the gallant
commander sprung to the duties devolving
upon him.

That the schooner was in a lamentable con-
dition was too evident, for, incumbered by the
wrecked rigging, she had broached to, and lay
in the trough of the sea, so that none of her
guns could be brought to bear upon the brig-
antine, which was now coming on straight for
her, and rapidly shortening sail as she came.

Had it not has for the fair passengers,
Captain Cuthbert, with the remembrance of
his former meeting with the Black Pirate,
would undoubtedly have fought to the bitter
'end; but he hoped that the worst that would
befall them would be a detention until a fair
ransom was paid, and whatever his fate might
be he was ready to meet it like the true man
he was.

White as marble, but firm and calm, stood
Lady Eve and Lena LaRue, and, with nothing
more to do, Captain Cuthbert stood by their
side.

At the feet of Eve, sobbing bitterly, was the
maid, and the oilicers and crew stood apart,
awaiting their doom with calmness.

To avoid further bloodshed, Captain Cuthbert
had hauled down his proud ensign, and all that
could be done was to await the result.

Rolling upon the waves, the schooner lay
almost a wreck upon the waters, and even her
wounded seamen ceased to groan to await the
coming of their foes.

Nearer and nearer came the brigantine,
looking beautiful, and dangerous withal, as
she bounded over the waves, and every eye
upon the schooner watched her with eager,
anxious look. -

Nearer and nearer she came, her men at their
guns, and a crowd forward with arms in hand,
evidently there to board.

With consummate skill she went about within
a cable’s length of the schooner, and gently
came toward her lee-quarter, when a ringing
voice hailed:

“ Schooner ahoy l”

“ Ay, ay, the brigantine,” gruflly responded
Captain Cuthbert.

“Do you strike your flag?” came in the same
trumpet tones.

“Do you not seethat mypeakis bare?”

‘_‘It is Leon! ah! it is Lieutenant St. Vale,"
cried out LadyEve, excitedly, as she recog-
nized the tall form of her lover, who had
sprung upon the bulwark forward, and stood
above the heads of the boarders.

“Then I have made a fool of myself,”
growled Captain Cuthbert.

Nearly all on board the schooner now recog-
nised the tall form and handsome face of Leon
8t. Vale, and felt abashed at having-fired upon
a king’s ship.

 

 

d

 

But just then the wind shook out the flag at
the brigantine’s peak, and a cry of horror
broke from every lip, for a black flag was re-
vealed, and in its center a blood-red vampire"E
with extended wings was visible.

At the same instant Leon St. Vale sprung
upon the deck of the schooner, the grapnels
having been thrown from the brigantine, and
he was followed by two-score fierce seamen
armed to the teeth.

 

CHAPTER XXV.
THE OCEAN VAMPIRE.

“ LEON Sr. VALE! you under that flag? Is
this some fearful joke?”

The words came in suppressed tones from
Captain Cuthbert, as he saw the young officer
before him, his drawn cutlass in hand.

St. Vale was deathlike in his paleness, and
his eyes had an unnatural glitter as be bent
them upon the old captain, and answered:

“ It is no joke, Captain Cuthbert, as you
shall see, but stern reality, for I am, as you
see, under the flag of the Vampire.”

“ The Vampire! Great God! how have you
fallen!" groaned Captain Cuthbert, and Eve
and Lena echoed the groan, while the former
sunk upon the deck unconscious.

“ Remove those ladies to the cabin, Captain
Cuthbert, for they and their valuables are safe,
and yourself and crew can remain with ithe
schooner; but the dispatches and the treasure
you bear to your king—”

“ And your king too, base, ungrateful boy,”
cried Captain Cuthbert.

“ Silence! for I will bear no recrimination,
sir, from you.

“ I say your king, for he is mine no longer,
and I take his treasure to prove my words,”
was the stern reply.

“Would to God I had known who and what
you had become, Leon St. Vale, and never
would I have lowered my flag to you.

“Ay, that innocent girl lying there, who
loved you so dearly, should have sunk in this
schooner to the ocean depths, rather than live
to know what you, her idol, had become.”

“Old man, bridle your tongue, I warn you,
or you may drive me to greater crime.

“Remove those ladies to the cabin, I say,
and go thou with them.”

There was no mistaking the tone of St. Vale,
and with a. groan, wrung from his inmost
heart, for he had dearly loved the young 08-
cer, Captain Cuthbert raised the unconscious
Eve in his arms and bore her to the cabin, fol-
lowed by Lena La Rue, weeping as though her
very heart would break.

With burning eyes, haggard face, and quiv-
ering lips, Leon St. Vale saw them go, for over
the bows of the brigantine he beheld acmel
face gazing upon him with gloating joy at his
fall and his revenge, and he knew well if he
wavered one atom no power could ave all on
the schooner from the diabolical rage of the
Ocean Vampire, for the chief had removed al-
ready from hisface the black stain upon it\
and stood his natural self before his crew

His eya seemed fierce, relieved against his
white skin, and the powder-marks on his fore-
head and cheeks gave him a more savage ex-
pmesion.

“Now remove theking‘! treasure, lads.

“Youwill find it in the hold beneath the
cabin fl00r,” ordered St. Vale, and a dosen sea-
men sprnng to obey. -

Soon the boxes of gold were transfeer to
the brigantine, the wallets of dispatches were
given up by Captain Cuthbert without a word,
and St. Vale called out:

"Now get aboardyour vessel, lads."

With alacrity they obeyed, just as captain
Cuthbert again returned on deck and said, ad-
dressing St. Vale:

“Lady Eve Alstone has recovered con-
sciousness, and demands of you, through me.
her miniature which you wear."

Ahoaraehugh wuheardinthebowsof
the brigantine, and 8t. Vale knew from whose
lips it came, and his whole form quivered
with suppreued «notion; but he answered as
calmly as he could: .

“Say to Indy Eve Alstone, oath-
bars, that I will some day return that minia~
ture to her in person.

“rhevampireisahatof esizereportedto
cause the death of men andbzltirgab incur; their
blood mm pinumg

. In Europe the vam
by the Eu MitiOmI to contain the soul of a glared

person re urned to earth to do all kinds of mischief.
—Tuu Av'rnon. '

93- fired ‘v
at ’5“

“I;

w. 4.....-“ “- - M...” ....

...._....§ .. «~- -~ _. «- .....,.

The Ocean  

l

 

 

“No; you shall not wear her sacred image
next your false, dishonored heart.”

“ Hold! dare use such words to me, and by
the God above, I’ll turn these red hounds upon
you,” shouted St. Vale, in a voice that struck
terror to all who heard him, and made even
brave old Captain Cuthbert quail.

Without another word, and, as though fear-
ing to trust himself further, St. Vale waved
his hand, as though in silent farewell to some
one, and sprung back upon the bows of the
schooner.

“ Cut loose those irons!” he shrieked in
trumpet tones.

Instantly the schooner’s crew gladly obeyed.

“Let her fall off, helmsman!”

The order was promptly obeyed, and the
next instant the brigantine was dashing away
from the schooner.

In a steeping position, to keep hidden from
those on the schooner, the Ocean Vampire had
run aft, as St. Vale sprung on board again,
and—met him as he came aft, with a look of
fiendish delight upon his brutal, cruel face.

“ You have done well, my gallant lieutenant,
and your nerve has taken from my heart every
atom of bitterness and hatred I felt against
you, and henceforth I am your friend.

He held forth his hand, but Le0n St. Vale
did not see it, for there came a mist before his
eyes, darkness followed, his form swayed, the
deck seemed going from under him, and he fell
headlong down the companionway into the
cabin, for nature had revolted at last under
the fearful strain put upon his nerves.

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
THE RETURN.

AFTER the departure of the brigantine, from
alongside of the Dispatch Schooner, all on
board gave a sigh of relief.

They had feared for their lives, they had
dreaded a yisit from the Black Pirates, whose
butcheries were known the world over, and they
felt their inability to cope with the monster.

Instead, the black flag had been floating
above a deck which had been wrested from the
pirate by the very one who came in the person
of a freebooter, and under the name of one
th0 had spread terror upon the seas years he-

ore.

A few hours before they had left the brigan-
tine with the English ensign at her peak,
quietly riding at anchor in an armed port,
and under the command of a young lieutenant
who had rendered his king brave service.

They were prevented by that very vessel,
under the Vampire flag, and commanded by
'the same young officer who proclaimed himself
a pirate by the robbery of his king’s cruiser.

Captain Cuthbert was astounded at what
had occurred, as was also Lena La Rue, while
poor Eve seemed dazed with the grief and sur-
prise that‘had come upon her heart.

Once the schooner was free of her foe, and
Captain Cuthbert began repairs upon her, so
that he could beat back to port, for to cross the
ocean in her crippled condition was impossible.

He soon had the men working well, and late
in the afternoon sail was set and the schooner
begun to tack back to Halifax, just as a sail
bore insight, coming down with a free breeze
toward them.

The brigantine was just then disappearing

' in the distance, and heading southward,- and

the new sail was recognized with a cheer of
delight as the Vulture.

Soon she came within hailing distance and
luffing up a boat put oi! from her and Sir
Roslyn Btannix came on board.

“ Well, captain, it seems as though you had
been worsted in action,” he said, as he was
met at the gangway by Captain Cuthbert.

“Far more than you can imagine, Sir
Roslyn, for we were boarded by a pirate,”
sadly returned the old commander.

“A pirate, and you were not able to beat
him off?” said Sir Roslyn in surprise.

“ No, and you see his work upon us, while
half sdouen poor fellows are dead, as many
more wounded, not to speak of the loss of my
dispatches and treasure. ”

“By the king, but which way did this fel-
low sail, captain, for I will give chase, though
I came out in search of the brigantine, which
mysteriously left port night before last in the
storm.”

“Find the brigantine, Sir Roslyn Stannix,
and you have the pirate.”

“Ha! can it he that she was boarded in
port and out out?”

“She was commanded by one who ,sails
under the Vampire flag, Sir Roslyn.”

“By heaven! the Ocean Vampire arisen
from the sea once more, Cuthberti

“Then we must look sharp, for he was as
bad as the Black Pirate.”

“This one is well known to us, Sir Roslyn,
for he is registered in the king’s service as
Leon St. Vale.”

“God have mercy! do you mean what you
say Rupert Cuthbert?" and Sir Roslyn seized
the arm of the old captain.

“Alas that I do, Stannix, for it has hurt me
to the heart to see the noble boy fall so low.

“But it is true; he gave chase, fired upon
us, boarded at the head of his crew, cutlass in
hand, and robbed the hold of the king’s treasure
and also took the dispatches.”

“ How hard is this to believe; but if such be
the case, then I shall hunt him down.

“Come, I will tow you back to port, and
send to the admiral at once a report of the
brigantine‘s flight and poor St. Vale's sad
full.”

Entering the cabin, Sir Roslyn was the
further moved by the disgrace of St. Vale, by
beholding Lady Eve and Lena. La Rue.

The latter grieved for his downfall as a dear
friend, while the former tried to tear from her
heart the image of one who had proven him-
self so unworthy of her love, and against
whom now grew stronger the belief that he
had indeed been guilty of plotting her father’s
death, as written her in the anonymous
letter.

Back to Halifax harbor the reader will
remember that the Vulture towed the schooner,
and the whole town stood aghast at the awful
tidings that spread like wildfire through it.

Work on the Petrel was at once hastened,
and Sir Roslyn determined to send her to
England with dispatches as soon as he received
word from the admiral.

Lord Cecil was selected as the officer to go
as first-lieutenant of the Petrel, as Captain
Cuthbert, who was to command her on the
cruise to England, would not return, and
intended leaving active service on account of
his wounds.

The result of the news was to bring the
admiral in his flagship at once round to
Halifax and, as the Petrel me a sister ship
of the Vulture, and the two were the fastest
cruisers on the coast, he ordered them to pre-
pare to sail in pursuit of the brigantine,
making Lord Cecil the commander of the
former, and dispatching the schooner, under
Captain Cuthbert, once more on her voyage to
England.

The two brigs and the schooner were ready
for sea the same day, and just before their
sailing a packet ship arrived from New York
and reported that the Ocean Vampire was
spreading terror along the entire coast below
and seemed to feel no dread of the American
cruisers sent in pursuit of her daring com-
mander. ’

“Alas! alas! that he should fall so low,”
groaned Lady Eve, as she stood on the deck
of the schooner, for again was she going to
try her destiny on the little craft, and alone,
for news from New York had caused Lena
La Rue to bid her friend farewell and sail for
that city. ‘

At a signal from the flag-ship the schooner,
Petrel and Vulture raised theirmnchors, spread
their sails and sped down the harbor, where,
,after sailing a few leagues in company they
separated, the little messenger-craft to head for
the shores of Old England, and the brigs to
shape their course southward, to hunt down the
Water Vampire.

CHAPTER xxvu.
A! UNEX‘PICTED ALLY.

THE deep swoon into which Leon St. Vale
fell, when nature gave way under the strain
upon it, lasted for some time.

The cruel chief saw him pitch headlong down
the companionway, and yet moved not to his
aid, or even cared whether he had hurt himself,
or was dead.

But there Was one who had caught him as he
fell, and hearing him to a divan had placed him
upon it, where he lay as though life had for-
-ever left his body.

That one was Congo the deformed Africam
whom a brute to many yet had formed I W“
admiration for the man who had proven his
master, and also the victor over the Ocean

 

Vampire himself.

 

As tender as a woman in his touch, he had
chafed the hands of the young officer, while he
had forced, between ,his teeth a spoonful of
brandy.

The effect was soon visible, for St. Vale be-
gun to rally, and soon came out of the deep
swoon that had come upon him.

At first he seemed bewildered, when he
opened his eyes; but seeing the African, he
shuddered, and rose to a sitting position, while
he said in a tone of inquiry:

“It all grew dark before me, and I believe I
fell?”

“Yes, the master fell, and Congo has re-
stored him,” humbly said the slave.

“It had been better had I never recovered
to know what I am believed to be by those I
respect,” bitterly said St. Vale.

“No, the earth is large, the people are many,
and the master may live to be rich and happy,”
was the comforting response of Congo.

The tone, kind and sympathetic, drew the r

attention of St. Vale more particularly upon
the African, and he said:

“ Ah, Congo, you know not what I have
done; but of that I will not speak, for I have
linked my fate with that of the Vampire at
least for the present, and must hide my destiny,
come what may.

“I thank you, Congo, for being my friend,
and I shall not forget your kindness.

He grasped the claw-like hand of the negro
as he spoke, rose to his feet, shook himself, as
a lion might in anger, and walked on deck.

“ You have recovered, I see,” coldly said the
Vampire, who was smoking a cigar, as he paced
the deck from port to starboard.

Without noticing his remark, St. Vale said '

coldly:

“ I have come to report for duty, sir.”

“Good! take the deck, and head for the
mouth of the Kennebec, for we may pick up
something of value about there,” and the chief
left the deck in as inatter-of-fact way as though
St. Vale had been his lieutenant for months.

Having dropped Cape Sable OR the port
quarter, St. Vale told the helmsman how to
steer, and paced to and fro with monotonous
tread, excusing himself from going to supper
when summoned by Congo.

The sun sunk from- sight, the stars peeped
out one by one, and the night cast its somber

wing over the sea, and the shadows deepened.

in the heart of the wretched man.
Leaning over the taffrail in deep thought, he
started when eight bells struck, and declined

he be relieved by the chief, telling him he

could not sleep, and would hold the deck until
midnight.

The Vampire. bowed, smiled, glanced over
the vessel, and at her rate of sailing, and re-
turned to the cabin, where St. Vale soon after
heard the clink of gold, as the pirate was
counting the treasure which he had robbed the
schooner of. ’ .

The wind was blowing five knots, but the
swift brigantine was making six out of it
under easy sail, and the ripple of the waters
about her bows alone broke the stillness of. the
night.

The man at the wheel held her squarely on
her course, and the men forward were as still
as ghosts, no sounds of laughter and song com-
ing from the forecastle.

In the waist Robert Brent, who had, been
made boatswain by the chief, was standing, and
casting an occasional glance at St. Vale, whom
he did not seem to like having been made
second in 'command of the brigantine, as, if a
stray shot removed the chief, he would then
be captain, and might wreak upon him full
revenge for his having betrayed to the Vam-
pire who it was that had killed Sir Grey
Alstone.

“ Go aft and report to Lieutenant St. Vale
that a light is visible three points of! the
starboard bow,” said Brent, addressing one of
the watch who was near.

The man came aft, and Pontely saluting,
made the report, and stepped to the starboard
side to show the light to the officer, while he
whispered, as soon as away from the helms-
man:

“I see you have not penetrated my dis<
guise.” .
(l H&_” .
“’Sh—” and the seaman placed his fingers

upon his lips, for St. Vale had spoken aloud, .

and with ready presence of mind St. Vale con-
continued:

“ Ah! I see it now; doubtless a fishing
smack, though I will soon find out.

 

 

 

 

.f\ . , . ‘

r

' I

The  Vampire.

 

 

-“ Helmsman, bring her up a couple of points
nearer, and hold her so.”

“Ay, ay, sir,” and the bows of the brig-
antine came nearer the wind, while St. Vale
whispered: v

“ I knew your voice, though your disguise I
could not penetrate; you are Frank.”

“Yes; and I tried hard to get you word of
the chief’s coming on board; but I could not,
so had to come with them.

“Now I shall go forward, but remember
you have an ally on board, and the Vampire
has his life-long foe again on his trail.”

As he spoke the youth glided forward and
resumed his place near Robert Brant in the
waist, his short false beard and well-fitting
wig thoroughly disguising him even to the
most searching eyes.

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.
a YANKEE’B avsn.

THE light, which the keen eye of Robert
Brent had discerned off the starboard how,
was soon found to be at the masthead of a
vessel; but as the brigantine carried no lights
visible, and was sailing quietly along, it was
evident that she had not been sighted by the
look-out on the stranger.

Walking into the waist, St. Vale touched
Brent on the shoulder, as he leaned over the
bulwark.

The man started, instinctively seemed to
drop his hand upon his knife, as though from
force of habit, and turning quickly, confronted
the lieutenant.

He saluted politely, and yet seemed to be
embarrassed.

“ What do you make her out, Brent?”
calmly asked St. Vale.

The man gave a sigh of relief, for he believed
the time had come for him to answer for his
treachery, and he expected little aid from the
cruel chief.

“I think she is a trader, sir; perhaps a
packet out of some of the coast towus," he
answered politely.

“So I think, and yet we must be wary, as
We are likely to run across American cruisers
in these waters.”

“ So we are, sir, and I will take the night-glass
and go to the foretop and give her a good
square look.”

“ Do so, Brent."

The man obeyed, seemingly glad to escape
from beneath the searching eye turned upon
him.

In a short time he returned hastily and
said:

“ It is a large ship, sir, and evidently a richly
freighted American.”

“ She still keeps her course, as though she
had not sighted us.”

“ Soit seems, sir; shall I call the chief?” and
it was very apparent that Robert Brent liked
not being alone with St. Vale. .

“No, I am on duty now, and if I need
advice, I will not seek it from you as to when

. the chief shall be called,” was the haughty reply.

“ Pardon me, sir, and let me ask you now,
sir, to forgive my seeming treachery towards
yea, but—” . '

“ Robert Brent, I have nothing to forgive
you, and let me here say that you need have
no fear at me, for I would risk my life to pro-
tect yours, rather than harm you.

“I want you to live. my man, for I have
work for you to do in the future."

"I will do all in my power to serve you,
sir,” humbly said Brent.

“I am convinced that you will when I call
on you. ‘

“Now let the past drop betWeen us, and I
Will urge the Vampire to make you second

' emcer of the brigantine.”

“ I thank you, sir, for you have a noble
heart to forgive me.”

“My dear Brent, you do not half know me,”_
and St. Vale again walked aft, and then
ordered the men quietly to the guns, for the
strange vessel was now not more than a mile
distant.

When he returned to the quarter-deck, St.
Vale took a closer look at the stranger through
his glass, and fairly started at the discovery
he made.

Should he at once inform the chief, or should
he go on into the trap.

Such were the thoughts that flashed through
his mind.

That there was a trap his quick eyes told
him, though perhaps not another eye on board
the brigantine could have discovered it.

 

The vessel was there, a large merchant
barque, and she was sailing with the wind up-
on her starboard beam, and at an angle that
would bring her across the brigantine’s stern
abouta league ahead, if both maintained the
same course they were then on, and the same
rate of speed.

The stranger was sailing slowly, though there
was considerable sail up.

This St. Vale had just discovered, and then
he looked for the cause, and found it.

Upon the windward side of the barque was
another vessel.

It’s sails were not set, and its masts were in
in a line with those of the barque, though they
were visible upon close scrutiny from their
greater rake.

The distance that they were apart, com-
pared with the size of the barque, showed St.
Vale that it was a large vessel, and a cruiser,
without doubt.

The brigantine had been evidently first seen
by those on the other vessels, and her peculiar
rig perhaps recognized, and the cruiser had
used the merchant vessel as a foil to get nearer
to her.

It was just such tricks that had won the
Yankees a name for shrewdness, during the
war just past with England, and there was
little doubt but that the two vessels were
American.

To hold on as he was would bring the brig-
antine in close quarters, with the cruiser
within half an hour, and the latter was with-
Out doubt far her superior in guns and men.

It was a good chance for St. Vale to get the
brigantine caught; but would the Americans,
or even his own people believe that he had
acted a part after he had captured the dispatch
schooner?

No, he would gain the confidence of his cruel
chief by at once saving the brigantine.

With this intention he passed the word qui-
etly forward for the men to spring to their
posts, the halyards were let fly, the helm was
put hard up, and away the brigantine darted
before the wind, her crew spreading sail upon
her as she flew along.

At first an angry growl went up from the men,
for there in plain sight was a large merchant-
man, evidently richly freighted, and Robert
Brent darted into the companionway of the
ward-room, to make his way to the cabin and
inform his chief that St. Vale was proving a

raitor.

Instantly the Vampire rushed upon deck,
aroused from sudden sleep, and shouted out:

“Ho! what is your game, man, that you
lose me a prize?”

“ On the contrary, I save you the brigan-
t‘irnele and your neck,” was the cool reply of St.

a e.

“ In the devil’s name how, when you run
from a merchant ship?”

‘ ‘ Wait and watch yonder merchant craft.”

The chief turned his blazing eyes upon the
barque, and as he looked he suddenly saw her
fall off before the wind, and away from her
side swung a long, rakish cruiser, a brig-of—war
far larger than the pirate craft.

And from her yards and masts fell snowy
canvas, while her rigging was full of men, and
loud voices were heard in quick command.

“ By the sins of Satan! St. Vale, you have
more than redeemed yourself in my eyes, and
I humbly beg your pardon for my unjust sus-
picions.

“You have the eye of a gull or you could
never have detected that ruse, and the fellow
would haVe had us strung up before breakfast.

“ Lively, hounds, or you’ll yet have your
necks stretched.”

Tlte chief's words were heard by all, and
ashamed of their suspicions of St. Vale, the
crew went to work with a will.

And there was need of it, for once free of the
barque, which he had used as a foil, the Ameri-
can cruiser, as her build and bull showed her
to be, proved to be in deadly earnest, for she
came on at a slapping pace, and the glimmer
of her battle-lanterns showed that she was going
to make it a hot chase for the pirate.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
ran VAMPIRE AT WORK.

WHEN the brigantine sped away from the
cruiser, it was evident that the Vampire felt
the full danger of his position.

He had a crew that had never been really
tested, and but one ofiiccr besides himself, while
his force amounted to a few less than fifty, and

 

the American doubtless carried three times that
man .

To St. Vale he left the entire management of
the vessel, and was pleased with the skillful
manner in which he controlled the crew and
lost no opportunitly of adding to the speed of
the brigantine by any device known to old sea-
men.

Finding that the brigantine was beginning to
drop the cruiser, the captain of the latter vessel
opened fire from his heavy bow gun, and the
very first shots proved conclusively that a. little
practice would enable them to cripple the
pirate seriously.

“ Clear this stern pivot for action,” cried St.
Vale, and the order being promptly obeyed, he
turned and sighted the gun himself and applied
the fuse.

In that gun was the strong hope of the chief
to aid his escape, as the one of the same caliber
mounted upon the forecastle his dependence in
overhauling a chase, and eagerly he watched
the ml: of the shot.

A cry of profane delight broke from his lips
as he saw the iron messenger tear through the
rigging of the cruiser.

At the same moment a shot came hurtling
above the heads of the pirates, cut its way
through the bulwarks forward, after laying
two men dead upon the deck, and plunged into
the sea. _

Again all watched the effect of St. Vale’s
second shot, and a cheer broke from the pi-
rates as they heard the crash as the ball struck,
heard loud orders, and then beheld the fore-
mast topple over.

“ Saved! well done, my noble lieutenant!
your dark eyes are true as steel,” shouted the
delighted Vampire.

Broaching to, the cruiser gave the brigantine
a parting broadside of rage, and the pirate
vessel sped on no longer in danger.

“Now, St. Vale, I will take the deck, while
you seek rest,” said the Vampire, in a kindly
tone.

" If I might make a suggestion, sir, I would
say that Robert Brent would make a good
lieutenant.

“ He is a thorough seamen, far above the
common herd, favored in birth and education,
and we need an officer for each watch,” said
St. Vale.

“ You are right; here Brent, come aft.”

The man silently obeyed, and the Vampire
continued:

“ Lieutenant St. Vale has suggested that you
be made second officer, and I follow his sugges-
tion. ‘ .

“ Tell Hoodly to take your place as boat-
swain, and you go on duty as an oflicer at eight
bells."

“ Thank you, sir, and I thank you too
Lieutenant St. Vale,” said Brent, quietly, and.
he walked aft, while he muttered to himself:

“ I do not understand Leon St. Vale, and I
know less of him the more I study him. .;

“ Here he is, after my treachery to him in
betraying his secret to the chief, befriending
me

“I must look out, for kindness sometimes
kills, I have heard.”

When the sun arose the crippled cruiser was
barely visible, and near her was the barque,
which she had so nearly used as a successful
foil. » -
now not many leagues oi! Portland,
Maine, the Ocean Vampire concluded to run »
close in to the coast and begin his depredations
against the merchant vessels and packets that
were running out of that port to England, the
Indies, and the Atlantic toyns of the United
States, for even at that early date Portland
was an important shipping center.

Shortly after dark the light-house came in
view, and an hour after a large clipper ship
had been captured and her crew ruthlessly put
to death, the vessel robbed and scuttled.

“I’ve a mind to leave my mark in anew
way, St. Vale,” said the cruel chief, approach-
ing his lieutenant, who had not been on duty
during the capture of the ship, and had taken
no part in the red work.

“ I think you do leave your mark most thor-
oughly now,” was St. Vale’s reply, with a bit-
ter smile.

“But I will try a new plan.”

“ And may I ask what that is?”

“You remember how I treated the Petrel,, '

sent by the king of England especially to hunt
me down ?”

“ I remember it well, sir.”

“ \Vell, as I intend to be the Vampire, my

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old character, and the Black Pirate combined,
I must be worthy of the combination, so I
shall hang the crew of all the vessels I capture,
and set the crafts adrift to be seen by others,
and thus spread the news that the Vampire is
at work.” .

St. Vale shuddered at the proposition, yet
said with no sign of emotion:

“ You certainly will gain a name by it.”

“I will add to the two names I have al-
ready made famous.”

And most truly did the Water Vampire re-
vive his old reputation as a monster, when he
sailed under that name, while he kept up the
cruel reputation of the part he had played as
the Black Pirate, until the fleets of the world
seemed to have but one desire and that was
the capture of the sea-terror.

Merchant vessels, every small armed vessel,
unprotected coast-hamlets, lordly homes upon
the sea-shore, all became the objects of his at-
tention, and numerous ships cruising about
listlessly, their crews hanging in the rigging,
attested the inhuman work of the monster in
human form so appropriately calling himself
the Vampire.

In vain was it that the Petrel and Vulture,
with numerous other vessels of war, cruised in
pursuit of them, for be avoided them if his
superior in strength, fought them, if the hu-
mor suited him, and eluded all attempt at
capture, while his depredations were daily and
nightly kept up.

To those who had remembered who had been
in command of the brigantine the night of her
flight from Halifax harbor, and who had
chased, captured, and robbed the Dispatch
Schooner, it was believed that Leon St. Vale
was the Ocean Vampire, having become a
monster of cruelty, for it had gone abroad that
the old Sea Vampire was dead years before

And these tidings drifted across the waters,
and reached the ears of Lady Eve in Castle
Curse, where she dwelt in solitude, and it
almost broke her heart, for still she loved the
man to whom her heart had gone forth in all
its worship in her girlhood. ~

_,.___
CHAPTER XXX.
CATCHING A TARTAR.

HALF a year had gone by since the brigan-
tine so boldly ran out of Halifax harbor and
began her cruel pinacies upon the high seas.

And in that time, from Newfoundland to
Mexico, in the West Indies, and across to the
English, French and Spanish coasts, had the
name of the Ocean Vampire spread, and every-
where did it cause a thrill of horror and dread.

English, American, French and Spanish
cruisers were on the watch constantly for the
hated pirate; but, though they captured innu-
merable smaller buccaneer crafts, and almost
drove the freebooters from the Atlantic, the
Vampire still remained uncaught, and still
kept up his fearful deeds of crime. .

In the months that had passed the Vampire
had greatly increased the strength of his crew,

' for he had visited his island rendezvous in the

West Indies, and there found men of a like
caliber as himself, ready to join their fate with
his.
The brigantine was ever kept rigged with

' the greatest care, and her armament had been

added to by placing two pivot heavy guns upon
the stern to keep at bay a heavy foe in a chase,
and also along thirty-two had. been mounted
on a pivot amidship, which gave her a broad-
side of a vessel twice her size.

Learning of the intended sailing of a richly-

‘ freighted ship from Baltimore, the Vampire at ‘

once determined to capture her.

The papers which he had captured from an-
other vessel gave the date of her sailing and a
list of her cargo, and to make her his prize
the Vampire boldly ran into the Chesapeake
and dropped anchor in the shelter of a small
island that would give him a view of the bay
and all passing down it.

Several vessels passed, but the longed-for
craft did not appear, and the pirate chief
feared that in some way she had escaped him,
when suddenly she hove in sight, running
close inshore.

She wasa large brig, and her rig and size
coincided with the description of the one he
looked for.

When she had passed on down the bay. he
raised anchor and followed.

It was night when he overhauled her off the
mouth of the Potomac, and the brigantine
headed as though she were going by.

A much faster sailer than the brig, she be—

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gan to overhaul her rapidly, bearing close in,
so as to board her quickly at the proper time.

Apparently ‘ suspecting no harm from a
cruiser that seemed to have come out of Balti-
more harbor, the crew »on the brig could be
seen leisurely surveying the handsome brigan-
tine, and watching with admiration her trim
rig, gaunt hull and rapid sailing under the five-
knot breeze that was blowing.

Nearer and nearer drew the brigantine to
the merchant craft, until at last her needle-like
bowsprit was on a line with her stern.

Then her sharp bows crept up, and ere long
the two vessels were broadside to broadside,
and not a length apart, the pirate being to
windward, and his tail masts slightly taking
the breeze out of the merchantman’s sails.

“He, the brig!” suddenly called out Leon
St. Vale, who held the deck.

“Ahoy, the cruiser!” came the answer.

“What brig is that?"

“The Mercedes, from Baltimore to Madrid,”
was the reply.

“It is our vessel, then; lay her aboard, Lieu-
tenant St. Vale,” cried the Vampire, who was
seated in a chair on deck, and as he spoke, he
arose and kicked the chair down the cabin
companionway.

The men were already prepared for board-
ing, for.. they lay about the deck in groups,
armed to the teeth, and only waiting the order
of their chief.

As he expected slight resistance from the
dozen men on the brig, the Vampire ordered
St. Vale to lay the brigantine alongside, while
he boarded with but one-half his crew.

St. Vale himsclf took the helm, and, as the
brigantine forged ahead half a length, he sud-
denly and skillfully let her fall off, and laid
her alongside of the brig.

Instantly the grapnels were thrown , and two-
score pirates followed their giant leader upon
the deckof the brig.

But suddenly a stern voice shouted:

“ Fire! up lads and at them i”

A volley of musketry followed this order,
and a hundred men suddenly sprang from out
of the very decks of the brig, it seemed, and
furiously atttacked the pirates.

Caught in a trap, the Vampire at once
shouted:

“Ho! St. Vale to the rescue! to the rescue,
Vampires!”

Instantly over the bulwarks came St. Vale
and the remainder of the pirate crew, and hot
and fierce raged the fight.

Enraged at the trick that had been played
upon, him by the crew of the supposed mer-
chant brig, the Vampire, conscious in his own
strength, determined to visit a fearful punish-
ment upon his foes, and ordered them cut
down upon all sides. '

Like very demons the pirates fought, and yet
they were met with the same demon. like cour-
age by the defenders of the brig, and seeing
that he was losing many men, and had nothing
but hard knocks to gain by a continued fight
upon deck, the Vampire cried:

“ One more rush upon them, bounds, and then
to your own deck.”

The rush was made, and in that rush a tall
form staggered and fell.

“Great God! they have killed St. Vale!
Avenge him, Vampires!”

The chief fairly yelled the words, and for an
instant the pirates drove all before them; but
then a shot struck the chief himself, wounding
his strong right arm, and instantly he ordered
a retreat. The men clambered back to the
brigantine, the irons were cast loose, and the
vessels swung apart.

“ Pour your broadside upon them! Let them
; have the Vampires’ mark!” cried the chief, and
1 the guns of the brigantine sent shot after shot
into the brig.

But not wishing to be caught in the Chesa-
peake, and knowing that cruisers near would
come at the firing, the Vampire at once spread
all sail for the open Atlantic, leaving the brig
a seeming wreck upon the waters, and Leon
St. Vale and a score of his crew lying prone up-
on her dcck.

 

CHAPTER XXXl.
AN UNBUCCESSFUL RUSE.

AWAY sped the brigantine in the darkness,
still firing viciously from her stern guns at the
brig, as long as she was in range, and With a
precision that sent a man or two down at
every shot.

But, hardly had she gotten tWO cable
lengths away when a man arose from among

 

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the dead and wounded that incumbered the
deck. ’

Just as he stood upright a slenderly formed
seaman sprung toward him, crying eagerly:

“Thank God you live! I feared that you
were dead.” .

“No, I am unhurt, and my falling was a
ruse to remain upon the brig. ‘

“ We have failed after all it seems,” was the
reply.

“ Yes, though I did my best for his capture."

“True, but our crew has been greatly in-
creased since you left; but come, set your
officers to work in looking to the damage done
the brig, and run for the nearest inlet on the
starboard shore.”

“ You will not return to Baltimore then, for
the brig is not seriously hurt?" -

“ N o; I have another plan in View.”

“Then take command and do as you think
best."

The man who had arisen from among the
heaps of dead and dying now glanced at the
rapidly receding brigantine, which had just
tired its last shot at the brig, and then gave
orders, in atone that showed he was no novice,
to clear the decks of the bodies, and the
wounded seamen, and then set sail on the
vessel.

The twoscore men able for work at once
sprung to obey the command without hesita-
tion, and one of their number, a pilot of the
Chesapeake, took the helm and the vessel
moved off before the wind toward the eastern
shore of Maryland.

A few hours’ run and the anchor was let fall
in a secluded inlet, and then the one who had
assumed the leadership entered the cabin, ac-
companied by the Seaman who had so readily
yielded control to him.

The cabin was illumined by a swinging
lamp, and by no means uncomfortable, and
the two men threw themselves into easy-chairs
and faced each other, while one deliberately
removed from his face a beard and from his
head a wig.

Then, as the light fell full upon them the
handsome face, grown sad and stern, of Leon
St. Vale was revealed in ’the one, and in the
other the pale, boyish countenance of Frank,
the sailor lad.

For an instant they regarded each other in L

silence, and then the youth said:

“Will you hear my report now, sir?”

“Yes, Frank.”

“ Well, sir, as you directed, I hid myself on
board the clipper-ship, which the Vampire set
adrift after hanging her crew and robbing her,
and—”

“ And you were supposed to have been one
who fell between the two vessels when we
boarded her, and I myself feared you might
have" been,” remarked St. Vale.

“ No, sir; I avoided the fight by at once
hiding, and I did not come out of my retreat
until hours after.

“ It was night when I did so, and the sick-
ening sight, of the deck full of the dead crew,
nearly caused me to faint; but I rallied and
looked about to see what was to be done.

“ Of course, unaided I could do nothing to
manage the craft, and, with what sail it had
set, it drifted about for several days, I eating
nothing, although there was plenty to be bad.

“But I had no appetite, and was sleepleSS
too, and verily believe I would have gone mad
had not an American cruiser sighted the ship
on the third day and stood down to her.

“I told the officer who boarded that I was
a cabin-boy on board the clipper, and had ,es-
caped only by hiding, and he believed me. and
I was allowed to remain, while a prize-crew
was put on board, to run her into Baltimore.

“ Once on share, I set about to obey your or-
ders, and readily raised money on the jewels
you gave me, though I purchased a’ full suit of
female attire to do so, that I might not attract
attention, and drove to the loan office in a car-
riage.” ,

“You were very discreet, Frank,” said St,
Vale.

" Thank you, sir. Once I had my money I
set about looking for a suitable craft for my
purpose, and, having found it, readily shipped
a. crew for a voyage to trade along the South
American coast.

“Having learned that the Vampire was-

cruising between Cape Fear and Montauk
Point, I sent letters ofit.by the various packet
ships, addressed to a fictitious firm in Madrid,
stating,r that the Mercedes, richly freighted,
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date, as you bade me do, and it seems the
Vampire captured some vessel hearing such
letter.”

‘ “Yes, and caught at the bait eagerly,
Frank, and I did all in my power to convince
him that the ship ‘was worth millions, and he
headed for the Chesapeake,” said St. Vale.

“Among the crew,” resumed the youth, “I
found man whom I could rely on as officers,
and I appointed them, told them that I was
bound on a secret cruise, wholly honorable,
that the result would pay them largely, and
told them to ship a good lot of men.

“This they did, and when the arms were
brought on board we set sail, clearing ostensi-
bly for Nassau and a South American trading
voyage.

“You know the result, sir, and I am sorry
that my ninety men were not sufficient to
overwhelm the Vampire’s crew. ”

“ He had added half a hundred men to his
crew during the three months you were away,
Frank; but had this not been the case you
would have been successful taking the pirates
wholly by surprise as you did. ”

“ But, as it is, I am content, for I have you
safe with me once more; we have a good craft
to take us to the Vampire’s rendezvous, and I
think we can yet come out victors,” and St.
Vale’s face showed that he had but one aim in
life before him, if one may judge from its
determination and the resolve that shone in his
flashing eyes, which was to yet place the noose
around the neck of the Ocean Vampire.

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
‘ a LUCKY DISCOVERY .

WHEN Lena La Rue gave up her idea of
crossing the ocean with Eve Alstone, ' after
their capture by the Vampire’s vessel, she was
in hopes of reaching her home in safety.

To return to it, after so long an absence was
sad indeed, for she had left it with her dearly
loved mother, whose grave was in the Pirate
Island, and numerous dangers and incidents of
a most painful nature had stamped themselves
indelibly upon her heart, since she had last
seen her grand old mansion in the outskirts of
New York City, and upon the banks of the
majestic Hudson. '

Little had she dreamed, when as a girl, she
had gazed upon the blue waters, and heard
weird stories from her old nurse, of pirates
having had their haunts in the vicinity of her
heme, that she would ever be their captive.

But one little knows what is in store for us,
and fortunate isit for us all, that we cannot
penetrate the future, and see just when and
how our lives will end, and gaze upon the
pathways our feet are to traverse toward the
grave.

The two events that had left themselves
more indelibly stamped upon Lena’s heart,
were the death of her mother, and her love for
Leon St. Vale. v ~

This passion for the gallant young sailor she
was soon forced to put a check upon, as she
discovered that he not only did not love her,
but could not be won, as he was already do.
voted to another.

That' other, Lady Eve Alstone, Lena had
learned to love as she would a sister, and see-
ing that she returned the affection of St. Vale,
the lovely New York heiress buried her love in
her heart, and hid from the world's gaze the
sorrow that she was forced to bear.

But ere long she was drawn toward Lord
Cecil Milnor with more than ordinary friend-
ship, and more and more won by his noble
nature and fascinating manner, she soon began
to feel that all hope .of perfect happiness had

‘ not died within her heart, and bright dreams

of love, if not the first love of her life she had

' felt for St. Vale, One equally as true, held her

in bonds which death alone could break.
. As the trim packet upon which she had
Wen passage from Halifax to New York, was

‘ Sliding swiftly along over the waters, the

third night after leaving port, Lena La Rue
“00d “9011 deck, thinking over her past, and
future, as I have endeavored to bring them be-
fore the finder, and her thoughts were broken
now and than by her outspoken admiration of
the beauty of the evening, as some one came
near her.

The wtters glittered like silver under the
rays of the rising moon. and there was just
breeze enough to send the vessel swiftly along,
without any lurching and plunging with rude
anes.

“ Well, Miss La Rue, are you looking for the

man in the moon i” asked Captain Hebron, the

 

jolly commander of the packet, as he walked
aft and joined her.

“ No, captain, I was struck with surprise at
the peculiar phenomenon of seeing lines
the face of the moon.” '

“ Lines, Miss La Rue?”

“ch, it seemed, as I was gazing, that a net-
work was spread over its surface—there! now
I see it again.”

“ Ho, helmsman!
ready about!”

Such was the startling cry of the captain,
at the last words of Lena, and the watch on
deck sprung nimbly to their posts, the vessel
answered her helm, and sweeping around,darted
away with the wind astern, to the great sur-
prise of the maiden, who, with natural curi-
osity, asked: .

“ Is there any danger, Captain Hebron, when
the moon is so lined?”

“ There is, indeed, Miss La Rue, for that
lining was the rigging of a vessel lying right
in our course, and evidently waiting for our
coming.”

“Then it may be a suspicious craft, cap-
taini"

“ All vessels with such a rakish rig as that
one, Miss La Rue, are suspicious in these
waters, and I have been warned to keep an eye
on a West Indian pi—I mean craft, that is in
this latitude for no good; but it may be one
of those trim American cruisers, and doubtless
is,” he added, as he saw that Lena was affected

hard down your helm!

. by his words. ,

“I can see the vessel now, sir, and she is
spreading sail, as though to give chase,” said
Lena.

“Well, he is Welcome, and if he catches the
Flying Scud, he is a fast one, Miss La Rue.”

“ Then your vessel is very fast, sir?”

“The fastest craft afloat, Miss La Rue.”

“ Excepting yonder craft, captain.”

“ Why, Miss La Rue, what makes you dis-
parage the Flying Send?” and the old captain
seemed hurt.

“ Ido not, sir, I only give the other vessel,
whatever it may be, due credit. for she is gain-
ing rapidly."

The captain gave a long and earnest glance
astern at the stranger, and then cried:

“ Egad, you are right, miss.” ,

Then his voice rung out loud and clear in
calling all hands ahoy to crowd the ship with
canvas, for it was evident now that the vessel
in her wake was not only a suspicious looking
craft, but a remarkably fast sailer.

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
A HOT CHASE.

A NUMBER of the passengers on board the
packet had retired for the night, but as soon as
it became noised around that the vessel was
flying from a strange craft, and one that had
the look of a pirate, they arose, and the decks
were soon crowded with anxious faces, and
nervously all watched the pursuer coming
along so swiftly in their wake.

All hands had been called on deck, and, as
the stranger was not half a league away, Cap-
tain Hebron had set everything below and aloft
that would catch a hatful of wind, and the
packet was driving along at a speed that, under
other circumstances, would have won universal
admiration.

But now, with a schooner in her wake, with
no topsails set,‘ and wing-and-wing steadily
gaining, it seemed as though the ship was not
making her best time.

“While I can, Mr. Herbert, we’ll throw the
wind on the Scud’s quarter, and see if that
nimble rascal can hold his own with us,” said
Captain Hebron.

Instantly the orders were given to
change the course and haul the sheets aft, and
bending well Ovar, as she caught the wind
upon her starboard, the Flying Scud went
along at a livelier pace than before, carrying a
a huge white bone in her teeth.

That this was the best point of sailing for the
packet was evident, and all anxiously watched
to see what their pursuer would do.

Suddenly he too changed his course, but he
headed so as to cut the packet off, if he could
do so, and each movement brought the two
yessels nearer together for awhile, as the change
necessarily would do.

But, as the schooner did not seem to gain as
rapidly as before, all on board the ship seemed
to gain hope, and Captain Hebron said, glee-

y:
“Now the Bond is at her best, and see, we
are dropping him."

 

.thirty men who comprised the crew of the

“He has not set his topsails yet, captain,”
quietly remarked Lena La Rue, who had ob-
served that the schooner had not increased her
canvas. ‘

“True, Miss La Rue, but that will not help ‘
him enough to catch the Send,” answered the l 
confident captain, and all seemed now hopeful '
that the schooner had more than her match in "
the packet. ‘ 

With the captain’s glass to her eye Lena La
Rue stood gazing long and earnestly at the
pursuing vessel, and said: '

“Captain, will you see if he does not carry
a very short main and foresail to the length of
his masts, or he must spread enormous top-
sails.”

“Miss La Rue, you have a sailor’s eye and
lingo." .

“ The glass, please,” and the captain turned ‘
it upon the schooner. '

“ Miss La Rue, you have decided well, for the v .
rascal has both mainsail and foresail reefed,
and has gained on us with them thus,” and
Captain Hebron spoke in a low tone, which
Lena alone heard, and then walked forward to l v
consult with his officers. "

The result of this consultation was that the

‘4.

packet quietly went to the guns, and pikes,
cutlasses, muskets and pistols were brought on ,
deck. ‘ 5,;

Coming aft again, the captain in his blunt
way said, addressing the passengers:

“Friends, I am no man to mince matters, 4
and I tell you frankly that, fast as the Flying ,
Bond is, yonder craft is faster, for he holds his
own with a single reef in his sails and no can-’
vas set aloft, so that he is merely playing with ,
us

 

‘ E fa";

“He may be a pirate, and he may bean 
honest cruiser; but we’ll prepare for the worst,
and I want help. I 1- .

“ I’ve got, all told, With the cook and cabilr 
boys, just thirty-nine in crew to fight him with, .
buth see here a dozen men whom I expect to
lend me a hand, and those who wish to will
find weapons forward. .

“ Those who do not are cowards, and I will , g _ .
send them below with the women and children." ' X

After this there was no man, even with a
chicken heart, that dared refuse his aid, and I
the result was that Captain Hebron mustered _‘ _ ‘
under him for duty just half a hundred men. ’

“ I am a good shot, captain, and can handle
a sword also, and I gladly volunteer," said‘
Lena, quietly. »

“Bless your soul, Miss La Rue, I honor r
pluck, and have little doubt but that you could'
set us all an example; but I’ll not risk your .,
pretty face and form to danger, somake you ' .*
commander of the petticoat brigade below _
decks, and you are to keep them from running v .
on deck, if it comes to the worst.” ' ‘ h

All being new in readiness to greet a fee,
should the pursuer prove such, every one stood: '
in silence gazing upon the schooner.

The wind was now steadily increasing, and "
under its pressure the Flying Scud beganto
forge ahead of its pursuer, until suddenly the
creaking of blocks was heard, and the sails of- »
the schooner increased in size. ‘ « '

Under this added sail, the reefs having been ..
shaken out fore and aft, the schooner again’ ._
held its own for awhile; but the steady in~ -
creaseof the breeze caused her to be again 3 -
slowly dropped by the packet, and hope arose ’ « ’
oncemoreinthehearts of the pursued. 3

“If this wind blows half a gale and gets at
good sea on, I have no fear, for our larger hull
willdrive along much better than his small
one,” said Captain Hebron.

“He has not set his topsails or flying-jib,
captain,” said Lena La Rue, quietly. ‘ .~

“ True, miss, and we are leaving him as he is’ ‘ ,1
now, and they can but hold him even, with this .
increasing wind. ’ » ,

“ Ah! there go his topsails now—By, find his,  .
jib too. ' ‘

“Now, we’ll see what speed there is in
him.” » 

The schooner now looked like a flying cloud x  . v -
of pure white floating along over the crested ‘ ' r
waves, and was indeed a beautiful sight, yet
a tearful one to those who know not the dan- 
ger to them, hidden boneath that snowy can? '
vas.

“ By Neptune! but he gains on us, and the,
Send can be pressed ahead little more. . ' ;

“Set every inch of duck, Mr. Herbert that .  .
will draw, and I'll take the helm myself tad V.
see that she does not swerve an inch, ” said the  
captain. .

 

  

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 1 , I“ Oh, for a gale!” he cried, 'a few'moments

 after, as .Lena, who stood near the wheel”

n I gazing through the glass, said in her calm
 way:

“'13. “ The Flying Scud has met her match, Cap-
tain Hebron.”

 ' All could now see that the ship was doing
, 1. 'her best, and still the schooner was gaining
steadily. .

“ We’ll fight him to the bitter end, for this

is too fair a fight to give up without a savage

‘i struggle, Herbert,” said the gallant old captain
J , , , to his first officer, and he glanced significantly

“we.”

«7 —~v-'-g “.-e~wor'
I"

   
 

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, ‘5' ‘ Lover his fair passengers, until his eyes rested
 7" upon Lena. .
if. U ,, “ Captain, Hebron, that vessel .I recognize,
. F3}; » .1, air. having seen her often in the Southern wa-
f  ‘ ' tors,” said the second rmte, coming aft.
; i “ Well, Rodley, what do you make of her?”

v i “A devilish pirate, sir, and one of the fleet
1, ‘ of the Buccaneer’s League.”
‘ V “The devil!"

“Yes, sir, she is a devil, and no craft afloat
can sail with her, while her captain is as cun-
ning as a fox and fierce as a wolf.

“ He has been nearly caught several times
(by running afoul of a man-of—war he took to
v.' be a merchantman, and he is now playing with
us until daylight, when he can see just what
We are.”

  1. “And you are convinced, Rodley, that he is
" L r 'the one you think?”

f  “ ‘f I know it, sir, for I recognize fully the cut
v  J: of his rig and hull, for I have been watching
‘v "4  him through my glass an hour or more. ” '

I “I half-feared it was the Ocean Vampire,
whom you know is again afloat.”

“No, captain; I know his craft, too, having
" ' praised long in the waters of the Indies; but

i this is one of the Vampire’s fleet, and the best
‘ one, and her commander is Captain Juan Mo-
. rena, and her name is the Consuelo, or I’ll give
. ~a"year’s pay to charity.”
.- _ _ i " ‘ “,Well, we will fight her, be she what she
‘ i, I ,- ‘myx, . \
, l, “ Certainly, sir, and may luck roost on our
w; "‘ topmast; but she carries heavy guns and a
' rigs,“ large crew.” ,
 _ .y  “Luck may help us, and pray Heaven it be
’3' .  ' on our side. Now warn the crew that they
.. 3,   he strung up if they do not whip that red
 f pirate, and if we do beat him 011’, they shall all
A}, 4 .- have a year’s pay.” .
" ’ " y ‘ “They’ll do their best, sir, and may we win,”
field the mate went forward to tell the crew
’themaptain‘s promise, should they beat the pi-
rateofl.
,_ “Captain Hebron, if you think it will aid,
‘  Jet the promise also to your crew the amount
jot two ,years’ pay to each one, for I can easily
' ' ,aflord it, and a ransom from the hands of pi-
tyrates would cost me far more,” said Lena, who
 " had heard all that passed between the captain
is“ ', iv  mate. «
’ f” -. “MissLa Rue, you are a noble girl, and you
.'  shall make the offer yourself.
' I “Here, Herbert, take the wheel while I go
 forward with Miss La Rue.”

'. Lena walked forward on the arm of
' the captain to where the men stood in the
"(Ii-17M ready to spring to their guns at a mo-
T' :m’ent’s notice, and Captain Hebron shid:
 ‘ ,“ Lads, yonder fellow, Mr. Rodley says, is a
 pirate, and I say if you beat her of! I’ll give to
r) one of you the amount of a year’s pay
V  ,r in our arrival in port, and to the widows
 L and children of those who may be killed the
 .sum that would go to them. . ~
‘ \- S‘Now Miss La Rue has a promise. to
‘ make also.”
i A cheer burst from the crew, and when si-
g‘leloe was restored Lena said, in a voice that
 -' reached every ear: .
.. . "‘ Were we taken, it would cost- me a large
" _ sum to buy myself of! from the pirates, and I
‘ therefore prefer to pay it to you, who are de-
w j, serving, and pledge myself‘to give to you,
W ' 'should you beat-off yonder vessel, the amount

I

    
 
 
  
  

 
   
   
     
     
   
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
   
  
  
  
    
    
  
 
 
 
  
       

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e, ,i of two years’ pay to each man.”

 A wild yell broke from the delighted men at
' this, and cheer after cheer followed for the
j i, generous maiden; but suddenly there came a
- i red glare from the schooner’s bow, and a
 shrieking shot rushed over the ship, causing a
, silence like death to fall upon all in the vessel.

*—

CHAPTER XXXIV.
I m ran TOILS. .
r Tn! shot, though expected by oil, scorned to
’be a general surprise, and it had ,the‘eifect,

’ I

 

after an instant of silence, of sending most of
the passengers below in a hurry.

Several men, even, who had volunteered as
defenders of the vessel, hurried below with the
women and children, with the excuse that they
wished to see them in perfect safety.

At their haste both the captain and Lena
laughed, and the former said:

“Miss La Rue, you must not desert your
command, but go too, and oblige me by send-
ing those deserters back to their posts.”

“But there is no danger yet,” urged Lena,
who cared not yet to leave the deck.

“ There is danger, for that fellow heard the
lads cheer, and fired to show that he had the
power to check it.

“Go below, please, Miss La Rue, and make
those men come on deck."

Thus urged, Lena went into the cabin, and
found there a scene of wild confusion, which
she would rather have avoided, preferring even
the dangers on the deck.

Womeniwere wailing, children crying, and
three or four men now that they were safe un-
der the deck were trying to soothe them.

“ Well, Miss La Rue, I am glad that you
have come to help us quiet these poor people,
for we dare not leave them in their present
unhappy state,” said one of the valiant desert-
ers of the deck, and a pompous, bald-headed
individual, whose hasty flight for the cabin
Lena well remembered.

“Yes, Miss La Rue, we feel it is our duty
to remain here, as in their alarm some one
might become desperate,” cried a second of the
deserters. .

“True, our families first, the ship after-
wards, Miss La Rue,” said the third.

Lena La Rue stood gazing from one to the
other of the cowardly trio with flashing eyes
and a look of soorn, while the weeping and
wailing around her momentarily ceased, as in
clear, cutting tones, she answered:

“The captain said only cowardly men would
remain below decks at such a. time, and if the
ship is saved, your families will be safe.

" Am I to understand that you three stamp
yourselves as cowards 7’”

“Look here, young miss, no man would dare
call me a coward,” said the pompous individ-
ual, while the other two blustered up also.

“Prove that you are not one by going on
deck.” '

“But our duty is here."

“We need not your aid in the cabin, but on
the deck.

“Will you go there, or shall I call to Cap-
tain Hebron to send a file of men after you?”

This was a thunderbolt into the enemy’s
camp, and seeing that the maiden was deter-
mined as she stepped toward: the companion
way, the trio of cravens hastily departed, but
each one of them muttered savage words
against Lena who smiled defiantly, and when
they had gone said:

“Now, my friends, we can but wait quietly
the end, be it what it may.” -

“Weeping and groaning will avail yo
nothing, so try and be calm and accept the al-
ternative bravely.”

The effect of the' words of the brave girl
were magical, for nearly all present became
calm, .while Lena went among the little Ones
and quieted their fears as best she could.

Suddenly, over the ship came another shriek-
ing shot, and another crashed through the bul-
warks, and cries and groans followed, showing
that it had found a victim.

Then the guns of the ship thundered forth in
response, and hot and fierce waged the com-
bat.

Crouching on the cabin floor, hugging the
children to their hearts, wore the frightened
women, now silent and appalled, while, by the
companionway stood Lena, calm, pale and
waiting.

She felt that the ship was yet driving on at
full speed, and the roar of the guns told her
that they were being "fought rapidly and well
by the crew, while the deeper toned reports of
the larger guns on the schooner, proved that
she was tiring steadily, slowly, and with pro.
cision.

Now and .then a sudden shriek of pain, a
groan, and a stern order was heard on deck,
after a crashing sound that told the pirate had
sent a shot home, and yet those below knew
not who was failing that was dear to them:
and what would be the result.

Hotter and fiercer became the firing, and
oftener were groans and cries of pain heard,
and the louder reports of the schooner’s guns,

 

told that she was drawing nearer and nearer

the’ ship, and was not flinching from the iron ‘_

hail poured upon her.

After one'fearful crash, evidently, a broad-
side from the schooner, Lena opened the com-
panionway and sprung up to where she could
obtain a view of the deck. ‘

A pall of smoke seemed resting upon the '

ship, and she knew that the gallant vessel had
been hard hit, for it had broached to, and was
no longer holding on her swift way over the
waters.

As the smoke was blown away by the wind,
she saw that the bowsprit was gone the main
topmast was shot away, the mizzenmast was
tottering, the bulwarks were shattered, and
fully a score of (load and wounded men were
lying upon the decks.

One glance over the waters showvd her the
schooner under her clouds of canvas, not three
cables’ length off, and apparently unhurt, while
she was heading directly for the ship.

"Ho, men, the ship’s not lost yeti.

“To your guns and rake her as she comes
on, and then we’ll meet their boarders in
gallant style,” shouted Captain Hebron in
stentorian tones, and glancing toward him,

Lena saw that he carried his left arm ina sling -

but the gallant old sea-dog seemed to care lit-
tle for the wound.

In dismay, yet determined not to show that
she believed all lost, Lena started to return to
the cabin, when the schooner poured another
broadside upon the devoted ship, and two men
came bounding toward the companionway, to
dodge into its friendly shelter. '

Instantly Lena recognized them as two of
the cowardly trio, and quickly she drew a
little pistol she carried, and leveled it full in
the'face of the leading man.

It was the pompous individual, and he drew
up suddenly.

“ Back! your place is on deck, not here,”
she cried sternly.

“ But the ship is lost,” yelled the man?

“There flies her flag, sir, at the peak, and
her captain even now calls to her defenders to
remain at their posts.”

“ The captain is a fool, and I’ll not lose my
life to save his old tub.”

“You’ll lose it within the minute if you do
not go to the rightabout.

“Quick! or I fire, for I have no patience
with a. cowar .”

The two' men saw that it was certain death
there, and a chance for life on deck, and with
savage oaths they bounded back to take the
chances. -

But, struggle as they might, the brave de-
fenders could do no good, and ten minutes
after the schooner ran alongside with a shock,
scores of men poured upOn the ship‘s decks,
and cries for quarter were heard upon all sides,
coming from the packets crew, and Lena In
Rue knew that once again she was in the toils

of cruel, pirates, and her brave heart almost '

sunk within‘her at the thought, for all her
dreams of hope for the future faded away from
before her vision. 1

CHAPTER XXXV.
, A run szn.
“ AH! Miss La Rue, we did all we could, but

these red hounds were too much for us,” said i,

Captain Hebron, as bareheaded, wounded, and
sorrowful he stood by the companionway in
irons, and saw 'the maiden coming toward
him.

"‘You made a noble flght, Captain Hebron,
but the guns of the schooner were treble the
caliber of those of the ship, and her crew .far
outnumbered yours; but what is to be done?”
said Lena, sadly. -

“Nothing can «be done, except to see what
these red dogs will do with us, though I will
give their captain the credit of having made
his men We all who cried for quarter.”

“And you, also, who would not cry for

quarter, my brave captain,” .said a pleasant _

voice, and taming, Lena saw before her a tall,
handsome man in black uniform, trimmed Wm,

silver lace, and with little the appearance of a

buccaneer. .

“ I am no butcher, my dear captain, if I do
sail under the black flag, and I would not have
been so hard in my tire on you had «I net seen
you were not ea~ily whipped. '

“ For your sake, and thcue of your crew 'who
suffered, I wish you had surrendered, tori I
never let go my gripe once I get it on the
throat of a foe— 0h, lady, I beg'pardin, for

I had not observed you,” and the young bacca- *

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near captain turned toward Lena, who had
again stepped from the shadow of the compan-
ionwayw ' '

“ I suppose it would have made no difference,
sir, whether you knew that women and chil-
dren were on board the vessel?" replied Lena.

“I knew there must be both on board, this
being a packet-ship, and I trained my guns
high, so as not to strike the hull and pierce the
cabin, but I did not expect to find a lady on
deck amid such a scene as your eyes must ne-
cessarily rest upon.”

“It is a sight that shows man’s inhumanity
to man, and his greed for gold, most thorough-
ly, I admit," said Lena, with a sneer.

The young captain flinched under the shot,
and turning to the captain, said:

“ Well, sir, what booty have you?”

“Some rich silks, satins and laces, with a
few casks of wine, which I hope you will not
allow your crew to get drunk on.

“ The rest of the cargo ‘ is of no value to
you.”

“ Have you none of the king’s gold?"

“A little.”

“ Well, that is what I care most for?”

“ Yes, gold is what rules the world.”

“Have you many passengers?” asked the
buccaneer, without noticing the captain’s last
remark.

l | Yes.”

“ How many?”

“ Nearly half a hundred.”

“ Many women and children?”

“Two thirds of the number are women and
children.” ,

“Then you need your ship to carry them
into port, so I suppose are willing to pay for
it?”

“Name your price.”

“ Are you the owner?” .

“I own two-thirds of it.”

“Then you have suffered enough without
paying more, so give me up the best of your
valuable cargo, and the king’s gold, and you
can go on your way, as soon as your vessel is
repaired.” .

“You are generous for a pirate,” said the
captain bluntly, and he added:

“ I thank you most heartily.”

“Oh! I shall make up what I lose through
you, out of some of your rich passengers.”

“Would you rob the passengers?”

“ Not exactly, captain; but if there are any
of them rich, they can pay for their ransom.

“ Are there many on board who are
wealthy?”

“I do not know.”

“ You must certainly know.”

“Well, if Ildid, I would not tell you."

“ I believe you, so I will find out from
others, for I never care to put the screws too
heavily upon a brother sailor, and a brave man
such as you have shown yourself to be."

“This lady is very rich sir.”

Lena started at the words, and turning
quickly beheld the pompous passenger whom
she Shad driven from the cabin, and afterward
kept from hiding in the companionway.

He had heard what the buccaneer captain
had said, and at once determined upon a re-
venge against the brave girl, and such as his
despicable nature was capable of.

“ You are a Contemptible cur, and a coward
to boot,” bluntly said Captain Hebron. 1‘

“ So I think, sir, but at the same time as the
cowardly cur has’volunteered important infor-
xnntion, I shall act upon it.

“ You say this lady is very rich?” and the
buccaneer chief turned to the passenger, whose
eyes glittered with malicious triumph.

“ She is an heiress of New York, and I have

’ heard was once a prisoner to the Ocean Vam-
pire, but escaped without paying a ransom,”
said the man.
' , “Indeed?”
‘ “It is the truth, captain, and if report says
“Eh”, She can' pay ransom for the ship and all
x 0D boa!!! and not feel it.”

" Y0“ 306m to feel a deep hatred against
this lady, sir.”

“ I d0," was the honest reply of the man.

“Does he spent the truth, ladv?"

“In regard to his hatred of rule?”

“That I can see; but are you rich?”

“ I am.”

“As rich as he says?”

“ I inherited over a million," was the frank
reply. ‘

“Then you are indeed a fair prize,

" But does he speak the truth in ca ing you

 7- , 'were once the captive of the Ocean empire?”

' .

 

“ Yes.”

“And escaped?”

“ I did.”

“ Paying no ransom?”

“ I paid no ransom.”

“Ha! ha! now I have my revenge,” cried
the man who had betrayed poor Lena.

“Why does this man hate you as he does,
may I ask?” inquired the buccaneer.

“ He tried, like the coward he is, to remain
in the cabin, with two others in the form of
men, and I shamed him on deck.”

“Ah! Isee.”

“And more; in .the heat of action, when
brave men were dying at their guns, he and
one other ran to the cabin, but I met him at
the companionway with a pistol, and be pre-
ferred to take the chances to certain death, and
it seems he has escaped, while others with
brave hearts have fallen.”

Lena La Rue spoke with deep feeling, and
the buccaneer captain gazed upon her with
admiration, while he laughed lightly at the
man who had proven himself such a coward,
and so despicably revengeful, and asked:

“ Is this man rich, lady?”

“ I know not, sir.”

“Are you?”

“No, I am a poor man,” whined the wretch.

“You do not look it; but how much is your
life worth to you.”

“Ah! you will not kill me?” moaned the
man.

“ How much are you worth to yourself?”

“All I have with me, I‘ll giveiyou.”

“ How much is that?”

“I have a thousand doubloons, and some
jewels.”

“ N ot enough,” was the cool reply.

“ Ah, what shall I do?”

“ I must have ten thousand dollars.”

“Upon my honor I have not got it.”

“Have you a family?”

“No, I am alone in the world.”

“Then no one will mourn your loss, and for
your betrayal of this brave lady you pay me
the sum I demand, or up to the yard-arm you
go,” was the stern response.

“ Mercy! mercy! I have not a dollar more
than I said.”

“ Ho, lads! Up to the yard-arm with this
wretch,” ordered the buccaneer, and half a
dozen of his crew sprung forward and seized
the man.

“Stay, sir; if you will take my draft on
New York I will buy his life, base as he is,”
said Lena.

“By Heaven! but you are a noble woman.

“ No, I shall except no money at your hands

' for him, but for your sake spare the wretch.

“Go, sir, and know that you owe your life
to this lady whom you sought to revenge your-
self upon. .

N Go!”

The man was upon his knees, but bounded to
his feet, aided by a vigorous kick from Captain
Hebron, and down the companionway he
darted in a manner that threatened to break
his neck.

The buccaneer broke forth in ringing laugh-
ter, which he quickly checked, and turning to
Captain Hebron, he said: V

“Well, sir, I will let you levy what ransom
you think best upon your passengers, and then
go on your way; but this fair passenger, who
was once the Vampire’s captive, I must detain,
as my oath to the Buccaneers’ League, and my
chief, demands it.”

Entreaty, remonstrance, all were vain, and
an hour after the two vesaéls parted, the packet
ship to go on her way and the schooner to bear
away with her poor Lena La Rue as a captive
in her cabin.

 

CHAPTER XXXVI. '
A PIRATE Lovaa.

AMONG the Caribbee Islands is one that is
still remembered by many aged seamen, as the
haunt of buccaneers up to a few years after
the close or the war of 1812 between Great
Britainxand the United States.

Though American cruisers, and for that
matter Spanish and English vessels of war,
frequently made voyages among the Caribbees
from the windward group, up into the
Bahamas. in search of buocaneers, they were
little benefited thereby, as the haunts were
not known, and so situated, that few com-
manders were willing to be caught in a tornado
in the vicinity of many of the isles.

Upon an island of the leeward Caribbees,
still an uninhabited rock, there was at the time

’ V

 

 

i
the ocean Vampire swept the seas mercilessly”
a buccaneer band, owing allegiance .to the
Freebooters’ League.

This haunt was one of the few that still
remained undiscovered by the many cruisers,
and in fact was unapproachable save by an
experienced pilot.

His other retreats having been broken up,
the Vampire had ordered his reserve force! to
this island, which he made his treasure home.

From the numerous rocky apertures high 'on
the island, vessels could be seen approaching
from all quarters; but the closest scrutiny
with powerful glasses from the decks of the’
cruisers, failed to show the slightest sign of
habitation, and the surrounding waters seemed
wholly impassable to the keel of a ship even- of
a few tens. ’

Standing upon the summit of this island .
one afternoon, a month after the boarding of

the brig by the pirate brigantine, were two ‘

persons, watching a vessel ceming shoreward
under a six-knot breeze. .
One of the persons was a man with a dark

Spanish face, cruel black eyes, and dressed in , '

duck pants, white woolen shirt, and a palm-

leaf hat, while his waist was encircled by a

belt containing a dagger and a pair of double- ,-
barrel pistols. ”

His companion was a young girl, whose sad ‘
face the reader has seen before, for it was none
other than Lena La Rue. ‘

She was attired in a Spanish costume, and

her beautiful face wore a look of anxiety, as ' '

she asked faintly:
“ Do you think it is the chief, Senor
Capitan?” .
“ I cannot think who else it can be, Senorita
La Rue, that comes so directly toward the «;
island,” was the answer of the Spaniard. f '
“But it is not his vessel, as I can see.”

.. u. .u. a»: . , as some.» » ~m.am . .‘mruumarx...¢ nefirm". a.

 

 

“No, it is net the trim little brigantine, I ‘ '

admit, senorita, but then you know the Vam-
pire is daily engaged in combats at sea, and
he may have lost his vessel and hem forced to
take the one coming hither.” \

“God grant that it benot that man,” crie
Lena fervently.

"For your sake, senorita, I say amen to.-
your prayer, for you know the Vampire as .
well as as I do, and hence I offer you means
of escape.”

He looked into her beautiful face earnestly,
and she turned upon him with a glance of
Scorn, while she said with deep sarcasm: ’ ‘

“ You offer me means of escape, Captain

Morena? You ask me to save myself front s
the Vampire by becoming the wife of his“

lieutenant, only second to him for ‘deeds of
cruelty.” a
The swarthy face flushed at her words, and
the Spaniard gavs response: '
“Let us understand each other, Senorita
LaRue.

“I, Juan Morena, am a member of’ the ‘ 
Buccaneer League, in fact the only commander,.~ )/

besides the chief, known as the Vampire, who ,

remains upon the seas. -
“ My oath of allegiancc to the League. binds

me to him, and hence, when I captured the!

 

 

0
,.

 

packet-ship, upon which you were a passenger, .' ’3

and found that you had been the prisoner of
my chief once before, my duty compelled me
to yield you up to him. , ‘

“I broughtxyou here to leave with my tithe
of my captures, due the Vampire, but loving

you, could not bear the thought of leaving you,” ,

in his poWer.
“Dude I was a man of honor, a Spanish

noble, and an oflcer of the navy of Spain; I "

but I conspired against my king, and fled to

save my head, and turned my vessel into of ‘

pirate.

 

,1 1

“Now I am a hunted man, and have done 

many a red deed; but since I saw your face, '

my hand has been raised against no man, and
my heart bows down to you as its ido ”

“Silence, sir, for I will not listen to such - “
words from a pirate’s lips,” said Lena La Rue, , ‘

haughtily. ' .
“ You will be forced to listen to far diflerent .
from the Vampire’s lips, fair lady, or I know

not the man: but, do not cast me from you. ‘l 

with scorn, evil though I be, for I swear to
you that I will give up the crime-stained life *
I lead, and fly with you to the United States,
there to become an honorable man, for in your
love I can banish the past. -

“ If yonder is the Vampire, and I believe it,
is his I will not report your capture to
him as the one that you are, but keep you from
his sight on board my own vessel, undies ‘

4

I I

 

  
 

«3,, g,  ,

3.  ,
“ 1 ,4,

'3'. - .p: l
.. ., , .‘.

x

as he is gone, we will sail to Florida, where I
will make you my wife, and nevor will I return
to piracy.
“Speak, senorita, and say what you will
do.” '
He looked entreatingly into her face. and
her eyes were on the coming vessel, a: i not
on him. '
Suddenly, while he awaited anxiously her
reply, she said:
' “Your glass, please.”
He handed it to her and she turned it upon
the approaching vessel.
' Long she looked at it, while her face paled
and flushed by turns, and then returning it to
him she said, calmly:
“ I will await the coming of yonder vessel,
Senor Captain Morena, to chIde what my
fate shall be.”

CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE SAIL m run orrme.

 

THAT the Spanish pirate was deeply pained
at the reply of Lena La Rue, there could be no
doubt, for, born to a far different life, he had
'y t never before met a woman whom he loved,
an th sweet face of the beautiful American

girl be wholly changed his crime-stained life.
' To gain her for himself was his honorable
intention, and to feel that she would be in the
power of the Vampire was madness to him.

, The crimes against him were great, yet he
was by no means the monster that the pirate
chief was.

He had robbed on the high seas, and killed
to rob, yet had not been cruel to those in his
power, or inhuman in his acts.

'To feel that Lena preferred to await the
coming of the Vampire and risk mercy at his
_vile hands rather than become his wife, cut him
to the heart.

But not one word of upbraiding did he offer,
and only said:

“Well, senorita, if you find that the Vam-
pire is merciless, call upon me for succor, and
, I will risk my life to save you, and will hold
you to no promise to me for so doing.

“I thank you, senor,” and with sudden
impulse she oflered her hand.

He grasped it eagerly, bent over and pressed
, ‘a kiss upon the tips of the slender, shapely
fingers, and again turned his eyes upon the ap-

 proaching vessel, which was now but a short

league distant.

“ If she puts her helm up, after passing yon-
der ripple on the water, which hides a reef,
senorita, I will know that it is the Vampire re
turning,” said Captain Morena.

Both eagerly watched the coming vessel
from their retreat among the rocks, where the
most searching eye on the vessel could hardly
detect them, and as the' strange sail swept
.b the sunken reef, her course was suddenly
c aged.

“ She is not coming to the island,” cried
:Leha, as the vessel’s stern was turned toward
them.

,“On the contrary, she is, senorita; see, she
, again changes her course suddenly and is fol-
lowing the channel.”

/“ A most serpentine channel,” said the
~ maiden.

“ Yes; you were asleep when I ran the
schooner in that afternoon, and had you not
. been, you would ‘have seen what a steady hand
.and perfect ne'rve it takes to bring a vessel in
here, without trying to compliment myself.”

“ I have heard that there were only half a
dozen in‘ the Buccaneer League could run in by
day, and the Vampire and yourself alone by
night,” said Lena, watching with considerable
interest the winding of the vessel through the
channel. " l

"Iknow of no one living now, excepting
the Vampire and myself that can do so by day
or night.

“ Years ago this was a rendezvous but was
given up on acconnt of the dangerous channel,
and other islands selected, for we were not so
A hunted down then, senorita, as now.

“ First, to run in, one must get the strength
of the wind, and the exact speed of the vessel;
- then, after rounding that ripple, it is all done
by count, and not by the eye.”

“Indeed!”

“ Yes, for instance, if that vessel is now
ailing five knots to the hour, after passing
yonder ripple she holds on due west for just
' one minute; if six knots an hour, she holds on
for forty-{lire seconds, and then gees about

I , and holds east by south, for three minutes.

 “'V’F-V'T'v“ I 2 "rs “we 41: trr- ;.:" - r a ;.-- s - .2-   - r—n '..: .~ ' r r us " r »  - «'   ‘ ~-
  3915:5757“ or“ as:  N13? firs“ WW-‘i’mwr *    ~.
. .. ‘ V, ‘ , {V V 1' 1.,“ '35, . .  .  ~,t -

.‘ aviation ,,
_,,.~ ,Vl. .

.53
r ",  ~ ~“- M"
, , . -,,.

‘ ' The—ocean Vampire.  ‘

“ She is making now five knots, according to
my count,” and Captain Morena took from his
pocket a gold watch and timed the different
courses of the vessel.

“You are mistaken in believing that it is
the Vampire at the helm,” said Lena, who was
watching the craft *most attentively through
the glass-

Instantly the Spaniard held forth his hand
for the glass, and with one glance through it,
exclaimed:

“Santa Maria! it is a mere boy.”

“ Yes, senor, so he seems.” \

“ Yet he is alone at the wheel, and not left
there, as it were for an instant."

“True, for he has made the different change
of courses without assistance, or apparent
order."

“ That is most strange; there! he has
rounded the Devil’s Lance, a sharp, sunken
rock, as well as the Vampire could have done.

“ Who can he be, I wonder?” and it was evi‘
dent that the Spaniard was greatly surprised.

The maiden made no reply and the pirate
captain continued:

“ it cannot be that some one has betrayed
the secret, among the pilots.

“ No, no, for no one would dare bring a ves-
sel in with such knowledge only told him,
without first coming in a small boat and test~
ing it, for that channel leads through solid
rock bottom, and a mistake would send a craft
to destruction.

“The vessel flies the Vampire flag at its
peak, though I do not see the chief on her
deck.”

“I see three officers standing together, not
far from the wheel,” said Lena.

“Yes, and they are watching the island
most attentively. .

“ Can aught have befallen the Vampire?”
and the Spaniard’s eyes flashed as though with
hope that he had been killed.

“ God grant that there has,” was Lena
La Rue’s fervent reponse.

“Then, lady, you are safe, for I am chief of
the League,” was the quick reply.

“I recognize no face on the vessel that I
have seen below,” again said the Spaniard.

H I do. )9 i

“ You, senorita?”

“ Yes; you forget that I was once the pris-
oner of the Black Pirate, and who is now
known as the Vampire 1”

“ Ah yes, and you recognize his officers?”

“ Yes, one of them, as Lieutenant St. Vale,
whom I once esteemed as a man of honor; but
now fallen so low as to be a lieutenant under
the Vampire,” said Lena La Rue with scorn.

The Spaniard’s face flushed, but he said
calmly.

“I never met the emcer you speak of,
senorita, though I have heard often of him,
from different men of the League, and if you
recognize him on the vessel she comes in good
faith, and not as I had begun to fear, with
foes, led by treachery.

“Come, let us retrace our way, for I must
meet her commander when he lands.”

He politely offered his hand, to escort the
maiden; but refusing it, she walked by his
side down the steep path leading to the center
of the island, which was in the shape ‘of a
bowl, with precipitous sides seaward, and
sloping toward the interior down to a basin, to-
ward which the strange sail was making her
way through walls of rock, in which no break
was visible half a mile away from the wild
coast.

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
run MUTINY. I

I LEFT Leon St. Vale upon the deck of the
brig, which Sailor Frank had gotten in Balti-
more, and manned with a large crew, in the
hope of capturing the Ocean Vampire by a
cunning and well-planned plot.

The reader has seen that the Ocean Vampire
believed Leon St. Vale to be left dead on the
deck of the vessel, and sailed away in hot
haste, too glad at his escape from the trap into
which he had been led, to linger longer in the
vicinity of the craft styling itself the Mercedes,
and in which he had expected to capture a
treasure.

After retreating to the shelter of an island
for repairs, and to bury the dead and 100k
after the wounded, Leon St. Vale held a long
conversation with [his daring and able young
ally as to what was best to be done. -

He had, after long months of waiting, watch-

 

   

 

ing, plotting and hoping, decided upon a course
to get the Vampire into his power, and it had
been unsuccessful. -

But he did not despair, for the one aim of
his life was to wipe from him the stain he had’
been forced to bear, and to track his hated foe,
who had so dishonored him, to the bitter end.

Being far from the brigantine, and believed
to be dead, was greatly in his favor, added to
which was the circumstance that his faithful
friend and ally, Sailor Frank, was alive and
with him, and that the two Were on the deck
of a swift-sailing Vessel, with a crew under
their command.

True, the so-called Mercedes was not armed,
and manned with men of whom little was
known. '

Yet Leon St. Vale felt that he had gained a
great point in getting the vessel. and as for the
men, he would soon know if they were true or
false.

After the wounded had been faithfully cared
for, and the dead sewed in canvas, their feet
shotted, and thrown overboard, Leon St. Vale
called to Sailor Frank to come near.

“Now, Frank, I will see what material we
have to work with,” he said.

“I fear, after all, it is poor material,” an-
swered the boy, in a low tone.

“ What do you mean?”

“ They are growling savagely, sir.”

“ What about i” '

“ They eXpected to capture the Vampire.”

“ But did not.”

“There’s the rub.”

H How g” ‘

“They one and all expected to get rich by
the capture of the Vampire’s vessel, and fought
well to do so.”

“ And will still light for that end.”

“I fear not, sir.”

H  Is”

“Because they Were unsuccessful.”

“ Bah! they must try again.”

“ I hope they will, but fear not.”

“They shall.” ‘

“ We are but two, Lieutenant St. Vale.”

“Against two-score!” ‘

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, I do not yield until I am conquered,
so shall stand no nonsense from the men.

“ Hold the deck until I thoroughly arm my-
self.”

St. Vale went into the cabin and reloaded
the weapons he wore, besides buckling others
around him, and returning to the deck bade
Frank go and do likewise.

In the mean time the crew had assembled
forward, and were openly discussing the turn
affairs had taken.

While there was an atom of hope of the cap-
ture of the pirate vessel, with its rich treasure,
they had indeed fought well; but when the
Vampire, after punishing them most severely,
had escaped, they did not enter into the idea of
St. Vale to follow on after the buocaneer, with
the hope of eventually making him a prisoner,
and his vessel a prize.

Had the Mercedes been armed with heavy
guns, and had a crew treble their number, they
would have been more than willing to go on
the cruise; but as it was they were not, and
boldly said so.

“ Go forward, Frank, and order the men
aft,” said St. Vale, calmly. '

Sailor Frank shook his head dubiouslypbut
without a word walked forward.

Whatever the result he would stand by the,

lieutenant. '
But he hoped that St. Vale would be willins
to return to Baltimore and enlist a larger crew)

secretly arm the Mercedes, and then go in pur-.

suit of the pirate chief.
“ Lads, the captain wants you aft.
“ He has a yarn to'spin, and it’s my advice
on take it kindly," said the youth in his our.

and way, as he walked into the midst of the

discontented and grumbling seamen.

“ We'll hear his yarn, sir, and then we has
one to spin, and it’ll be to his interest to h'ear
it kindly,” boldly, yet politely said one of the
men, who was, to all appearances, the leader of
the malcontents; ‘

“You’ll find he is not the man togive ad-
vice to on his own deck, lads, and I advise you
not to ofl'er it,” replied Frank. '

“You did the shipping of this crew," said
one.

“ Yes, under his orders."

“ Well, we’ll see; come, lads, let us hear
what the cap’n has to say,-and then we can
act to suit ourselves."

l

, n

 

 

 arm. ~._,,,

 

 

 

 

I .

 

 

 

 at. ~._,,,

 

 

 

 

 

\

a.  . a, .-

. The;  Vampire... .

 

 sf. . 
'1

 

-

" “ That’s so,” was the general chorus, and the

crew moved aft in a body. , _

Frank glided on ahead in his easy way, and
took his stand by Leon St. Vale, who stood on
the poopdeck near the wheel.

The crew halted by common consent. and
St. Vale glanced over them, allowing his burn-
ing eyes to catch for an instant the gaze of
each one of the two-score men in front of him.

“ Well, lads, I sent for you to have a talk
with you, and then We’ll decide what is best to
be done for our good,” said St. Vale in his
pleasant way, and with a smile which few
could resist the fascination of.

“We has decided already, no matter what
you says,” was the sullen reply of a man stand-
ing in the front rank.”

Hardly had the words left his lips when he
was seized in an iron grasp, and the fist of St.
Vale was driven into his face with a force that
laid him senseless upon the deck.

“I command this vessel, men, and will allow
no interference,” was the calm remark, as St.
Vale stood facing the crowd, his foot upon the
breast of the fallen man, and his attitude that
of a tiger at bay.

So astounded were the crew at the bold act
of their captain, and so quickly had the inso-
lent remark of one of their number been pun-
ished, that they stood aghast, gazing upon St.
Vale in silent awe.

" He quickly saw the advantage he hadgained,
and at once said:

“ Lads, I feel that this insolent dog beneath
my feet was not your spokesman, and now that
he is silenced I will have my talk with you.”

Not 31 man spoke, and Leon St. Vale went
on:
“ For a long time I have been a captive to
the Ocean Vampire, and he has wronged me as
you do not know, and can never know.

“ This young gentleman knows all that I
have suffered through the Vampire, as I do
what he has been made to suffer, and we are
sworn to avenge ourselves.

“' Our plan to take him by a ruse, for which
you were enlisted, fell through, and now we
are determined to proceed in a safer and more
sure way.

“ What my plan is I will not divulge, but I
need your aid, and will enrich all those who are
with me when I haul down the Vampire flag.

“What say you, lads, is there one who re—
fuses to go with me?"

“ We have no guns, sir,” said a voice.

“That is my, not your look-out, my lad.”

“ We are but a few, sir,” said another.

“ If taken by the Vampire I will be the
greatest sufferer, and I am willing to take the
chances with the few I have.”

“ I, for one, will not go on such a foolhardy
expedition.” said one.

“ And I’m with you, Jack!" cried another.

“ And me.” . I

“Count me, too, for no fool.”

“ No Vampire to hang us.”

Such were the cries that arose from the
crowd, and as each one spoke Leon St. Vale
fixed his eyes upon them and said, sternly:

“ Then I am to understand that you are mu-
tineers, am I?”

“ That’s just what you are to understand,
luff,” was the bold reply of one who seemed to
be a self-appointed ringleader, unmindful of
his predecessor, who was still beneath the foot
of Loan St. Vale, lying as quiet as though life
had left his body forever.

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.
IN ran warm or anvanon.

IN g'lancing over the crew Leon St. Vale
seemed to read that his little speech had had a
good slices with two thirds of those to whom
he spoke, and felt that they were willing to be
governed and guided by him in his pursuit of

be Oceah Vampire.

But the same glance had shown him also
that there‘ were some discontented spirits
among the crew, who wished to rule him and
carry their 9011115, and so these remarks, as they
“9.13M ‘30 the front as mutineers, did not sur-
Pns° him 01’ for one instant disconcert him.

In response to the remark of the ringleader,

he replied in unruflled tones:

, “Then as you are so few in numbers who
prepose to mutiny against my authority, I will
not ask for assistance in quelling you, but
order you forward at once.”

“Suppose we won't go?" said the ringleader,

. sullenly.

“Then, sir, I shall kill you,” was the cool
reply. .

 

“Do you mean you’ll set yourself against
two-score of gallant fellows?”

“ I mean that you and your mutineer com—
rades shall obey me. -

“ Forv'vard, I say, or take the consequences.”

Some urged to obey, othersto keep firm, and
the ringleader made a spring for St. Vale.

He seemed to anticipate it, and sprung back-
ward, at the same time drawing a pistol in
each hand, and firing both weapons as though
both had been discharged by the pulling of
one trigger.

Dropping the pistols to the deck, he drew
his sword and cut a third mutineer down, and
was pressing upon a fourth, when the true
men of the crew seized the others and dragged
them back, while one of their number cried:

“ I guess this will be lesson enough, cap-
tain, and we’ll bring these hot-heads round.”

“See that you do, or I’ll string them up to
the yard-arm'within the hour,” was the stern
reply.

It was evident to the crew that the muti-
neers had caught a Tartar in Leon St. Vale,
and the prompt manner in which he acted,
added to his deadly work and fearless mien,
raised him at once in the estimation of the
majority, who felt that he was the very man
to cling to in the cruise after the Ocean Vam-
pire, and to capture him, if in the power of
mortal to do so.

Hurrying their mutinous comrades forward,
they soon prevailed upon them to return aft
and beg the pardon of their daring com-
mander, for the mutineers were only too glad
to have escaped with their lives.

There were five of them, and they marched
aft in a. body, and approached St. Vale, who
appeared to take no notice of their coming,
although his eagle eyes saw them, and he
divined the cause of. their coming.

“ Well, lads?" he said, with no show of
anger, as they halted near him.

“ We have come to say we was wrong, sir,
and we’ll stick to you, cruise where you may,”
frankly said the spokesman.

“ That’s right, my men, for I am one who
will have my own way.

“Now toss these dead bodies into the sea,
and go forward to your duties,” was the re-
ply-
The men did as ordered, but the first muti-
neer, who had remained motionless, even after
returning to consciousness after the stunning
blow given him. sat up as they approached
him, with the evident intention of pitching him
overboard. and cried:

“Avast there, shipmatcs, and give me a
chance to beg pardon of the captain.”

“ You are lucky to be able to do so, my
led, and I warn you that next time it will not
be my fist that sends you down.”

The seamen saluted and hurried forward,onl y
too happy to have escaped, ifor having been
first to start the trouble, and seeing the three
dead bodies near him, which had fallen by St.
Vale’s hand, he had feared for his life, did he
show signs of not\being also dead.

After a conversation with Frank, St. Vale
determined to at once get under way, and the
crew were called up, divided in watches, one
of their number was appointed acting third
officer, and another boatswain, after which
the anchor was weighed, and the brig headed
down the Chesapeake.

St. Vale well know that he was sailing a
vessel, with no papers to justify him; butthe
and justified him, and he was only too happy
to be in the wake of the Ocean Vampire, and
avenge himself, to care what means he used.

“Which way, sir?” asked the newly-ap-
pointed officer, when the brig had gained an
offing from the Chesapeake, and was upon the
broad bosom of the Atlantic.

“Keep her south, air, for the Bahamas is our
destination,” was the stern reply.

 

CHAPTER XL.
res: snounr‘svnson.

To the outward gaze of seamen, sailing by,
the Pirates’ Rock seemed wholly inaccessible,
and yet within its natural walls were spots of
verdure, surrounding the very small basin that
seemed bottomless, for no anchor cable had
been found long enough to find its depth.

Once the vessel had passed through the
outer channel, and it had to be warped into
the basin, where it was certainly in a safe har-
borage from storms and foes.

Into this haven the strange vessel had found
its way, under the pilotage' of the youth

 

whom the Pirate Captain and Lena In. Rae had
seen at her helm. " "
Around the basin were adobe hats, to ac-

commodate those living onshore, when their _

vessels were in port, and one cabin had been
rudely and strongly built of roughly hewn
stone.

This was the Treasure-house, and here were
kept the tithes of the different captains of the
League.

As the cruisers had been of late so hotly
pursuing the buccaneers, and had captured a
number of them, the only contribution of tithe
money, or goods, in the Treasurehouse there
was what had been placed there by Captain
Juan Morena.

From this store he had amply supplied Lana
La Rue with clothing since she had been a
prisoner on the island.

Poor girl, she had often wished that she had
gone with Lady Eve, instead of starting on
her return to New York, for then she would
have escaped becoming a pirates’ captivo for
the second time. '

Remaining upon the island constantly were'

a dozen rude men, left by their chief, and who

did not have a boat in which to leave it,'

should occasion offer.

With these men Captain Morena, to his
honor be it said, would not leave Lena La Rue,
and consequently he had kept his vessel in port
day after day.

The other passengers, and the crew of the
packet ship, on which she had been captured-
while en route from Halifax to New York, he
had, as was his custom, allowed to continue on
after robbing the vessel, keeping the maiden
alone for‘ ransom, he said, though at the first
sight of her he had been infatuated with her
beauty.

Hence she was the only captive on the island, K

and a young and lovely maiden amid four-
score fierce outlaws.

But, in spite of his crime-stained life the

maiden had been drawn toward Juan Morena,
for in him alone she saw was her only protec-
tion. ‘

The schooner lying in the haven was a craft
of two hundred tons, and as beautiful a vessel
as any that skimmed the seas.

More gaunt in build than the brigantine of
the Vampire, and drawing more water, she
was a better seaboat, and on several occasions
when the two buccaneer captains had met at
sea, the Consuelo, as Morena had named his
schooner, had each time shown the flag-ship a
clean pair of heels, greatly to the chief’s
chagrin, for he liked not that one of his officers
should have a vessel that outsailed him.

Taking great pride in his schooner, and con- I

vinced that in her speed, armament and crew
was his protection from the gallows, Juan
Morena had made her all that any commander
could wish, and many a time had he boldly
run into the Atlantic ports and passed 0! sea
Spanish, Brazilian or French man of-war, for
he was an accomplished linguist and spoke
other tongues than his own without the slight-
est accent. '

As the cabin of the schooner was by far
preferable to the adobe huts ashore, Lena had.
remained on board, the Spaniard having re.
signed his quarters to her.

Upon reaching the basin she had conse-
quently gone on board the schooner, accom-
panied by Captain Morena, and reached the
deck, just as the strange vemel’s bowsprit was
visible, pointing into the little harbor. ‘

Slowly she came forward, watched atten- <

tively by all on board the 3110mm, who made
no preparations that we hostile, as Juan

Morena had noticed that she carried no arms. ‘

ment.

Laying alongside the rocky shore, as did “in
schooner, the strange vessel was made fast, and
two persons sprung ashore.

“Yes, it is Leon St. Vale,” said Lena La
Rue, in a low tone, and she added, as her eyes
fell upon his companion:

“The other is that strange youth who was

so kind to me on the other island, when I was
a captive, and who sprung into the sea that
night we were all starving, and whom we be-
lieved to be drowned."

Seeing that the two.from the strange vessel
were coming on board the schooner, Captain
Morena advanced and met them as they came
over the gangway, and politely raising his bat
said:

“Lieutenant St. Vale, I believe?”

“My name is St. Vale, senor, and my young '
lieutenant here informs me that you are Cap- I

V warmesnreugm .srm:,,..msmms hamlets-'ms.
,s. »‘ a,” W .- .:=,,,‘ ,V‘

K

 

 
  

‘ p . "answered St. Vale, coldly. .

 ‘  “I am, senor; may I ask regarding cur
 chief, the Vampire?”

'. ‘v f‘My dear captain, I am chief of this island
' "I now," was St. Vale’s cool reply.

 , “Ha! the Vampire is dead then?” cried the
. _ Spaniard, with unfeigned joy.

‘ ' ' "‘ Whether dead or aliVe, senor, I have come

" '_ to assume command here.”

/__ r ‘ “By the Virgin, senor lieutenant, but you

" u talk boldly, for you forget, or do not know,

that I am the ranking ofiicer under the Vam-

”

m v “.I care not, Senor Morena, what rank you
,‘ hold, for I have in my possession the secret
- , symbol of the League, that all must obey, and
_ f in the name of these gold fetters I command
your obedience and dare you to oppose me.”

,As Leon St. Vale spoke, his voice rung Out like
: a clarion, and he drew from his breast pocket a
. I ~' pair of gold manacles, the sight of which caused
, , Juan Morena to start back with a half-sup-
" ~ ‘ pressed cry, and every seamen near to instant-
ly dofl his tarpauiin.

 

CHAPTER XLI.
THE nonrroa 'rns: saunas,

. As Leon St. Vale drew the gold manacles

 from his breast, and shook them in the face of
' J-na‘n Morena, his eye suddenly fell upon Lena
. La Rue, standing not ten paces distant, and
.  gazing upon him in rapt attention.
’ '5 At this unexpected sight, the maiden seem-
_ ‘ing torise like an apparition before him, his
fl dark face flushed crimson, and then the hot
‘ : blood receded and left him deathly pale.
" Instantly Juan Morena, the surroundings
 I were forgotten, and the Fetters of Gold drop-
ped from his hand and fell upon the deck.

‘9 You here, Miss La Rue?” he gasped, and

started toward her.
 Instantly Frank sprung forward to seize the
I 'manacles which he had let fall; but he was not

. _ “Ah, senor, you are.undonei See! he has
. '  Golden Fetters/l" ,
:; ' The cry came from the youth, and the seem-
& ing anguish in his voice caused Leon St. Vale
to turn toward him.
' " He saw [the youth, white and trembling,
s : “pointing to Captain Morena, who, with a face
5,, . 3."!!! exultant joy, stood facing him.

' - “Well, what is it, Frank!” he demanded,
‘r, 'sternly. I
_' -.“ Senor, have you forgotten that if that
f. symbol goes from your possession, no matter
- ~_ ,how, it gives to the one who holds it the
-‘ .poweri” cried the youth.
‘ Leon St. Vale had not forgotten this fact,
for he had never known it; but the admit
 in which the young sailor had told

 ,mihtahe, and suddenly lost his power over‘all
 buocafneers.

What to do to regain it he did not know.

His crew, with which he had come'to the
island, did not number but thirty-five men;
while he saw at a glance the pirates were over
..foer~score.-
To fight them would be impossible, and he
keenly felt the unfortunate position he had
gotten himself into.

He had come to the island for one purpose,
,~ and that was to lay a trap to catch the Vam-
', ~"plre when next he should visit it.
I . .Once before he had been there, while on the

hrigantine, and Frank had told him he could
~ the vessel in, as he \had studied the chan-
 chart and all its directions, and years be-
fore had twice run a vessel in and out.
i ‘ Could he get there and lay some plan to en-
“trap the Vampire, all would go well; but he
.had arrived to find there the pirate schooner of
. .. .Gaptain Juan Morena, and the quick wit of the
'youth had told him to at once proclaim him-
, selfdiief, in the name of the Golden Fetters,
.;--’ fend thus become the commander of the Con-
,suelo, as the captain would not dare dispute
V his authority as long as he bore the secret

’I  -

, . ’ This he had done, and the respect shown the
p 3“, Fetters by the pirate crew had convinced him
"‘ ' that all would be well, when the intense sur-
prise at beholding-Lena La Rue, whom he be-
.. lieved safe in New York, had caused him to

., drop the revered symbol of the League from
’ his hand. ,
.1 ‘ hike a tiger at bay he glared upon the Span-
 inrd, seemingly about to spring upon him, and

   
   
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
     
  
 
   
 
 
 

  

 

\

' ",tain Juan Morena, of the Buccaneer League,”

* him convinced him that he had made a sad.

 

But a ,warning word from the youth re-
strained him, and then the lad said, in distinct
tones:

“ You can claim your right, senor, to de-'
mand of the holder of those Fetters—so that
he does not wear them upon his wrists in dis.
grace—that he meet you in the duello’ to see
who shall live to wield the power they give.”

“By Heaven, Senor Spaniard, I do claim
that right, so name your own weapons and
meet me face to face to see who shall claim
them,” cried St. Vale, his interest in regaining
the manacles having caused him to almost for
get the presence of Lena La Rue.

But like a statue she stood, seeing all and
hearing all, and wondering how it would end.

One moment she thought she would ask the
Spaniard for her sake to return the Fetters to
St. Vale; but then it would compromise her in
the sight of the very man she would least care
to be under obligations to, and he might ex-
pect her in return to degrade herself by be-
coming his wife.

Then if the two men fought, and Leon St.
Vale conquered, she hoped and believed she
would be safe with him; but if on the contra-
ry he fell, then she would still remain in the
power of the Spaniard, with the chance of yet
falling into the hands of the Vampire.

Thus feeling and dreading, she determined to
remain quiet and await the result. '

When St. Vale proposed to meet him in
single combat to decide the right to possess the
Golden Fetters, Juan Morena smiled pleasantly

'in acquiescence, and the smile was reflected

upon the faces of his crew.

It was evident that the Spaniard had con-
fidence in his own skill and nerve, and that his
men felt as he did in the matter of a duello.

From his earliest boyhood he had been noted
as a finished swordsman,‘ and his many
encounters had but steeled his arm and added
to his perfect confidence in himself.

As a pistol shot too he was a marksman of
deadly aim, and he felt not the slightest doubt
as to how an affair with either weapon must
end. ,

“ Do you acquiesce in my demand, senor?”
asked Leon St. Vale.

“ Willingly, senor; I will be Only too
charmed to maintain my right to the Fetters
with my sword,” was the smiling reply.

“You select the sword then?”

“ Yes, if the senor does not prefer the
pistol.” I

“It is a matter of indifference to me,
senor. v . ‘

“ Shall the matter be settled now?” '

" “It must be within the hour,” said Frank,
and be added:

“ That isthe law that gees with the Golden'
Fetters.” . ‘ ‘

“I am wholly at your service, senor,” dud
the Spaniard bowed.

St. Vale quietly drew his sword, tried the
temper of the blade by bending it almost

' double, and then asked:

“ How does it compare with the length of
your blade, Senor Morena?”

The Spaniard stepped forward, and the two
weapons were pieced together.

“Mine is an inch the longest,” said the
Spaniard.

“ It is of no consequence, senor,” smiled St.
Vale.

“I care not to take unfair advantage of you,
senor.” ‘

“ It matters not.”

“ I warn you that I am a thorough master‘

of my weapon,” suggested Juan Morena.

“ I am glad you are. as the spert will be the
more interesting,” was St. Vale’s cool re-
joinderfl ‘ '

The Spaniard arched his brows in surprise
at this, for he saw that be at least had a man
of consummate nerve to deal with,,and who had
the utmost confidence in himself, whatever his
skill as a sw0rdsman might prove.

St. Vale, who' wore the uniform of the
buccaneers, black cloth, trimmed with silver
lace, quietly threw aside his belt. containing the
scabbard of his sword, a dagger and a pair of
silver-mounted pistols, and stepped in front of
the'Spaniard.

Instantly the pirate captain confronted the
Englishman, and .as they appeared, their
swords presented, they were certainly two
very handsome men. I V

Upon the face of the Spaniard was .0001
confidence, while the countenance of St. V319
showed only the utmost indifference. ‘

All the pirates had gathered in a circle

 

around the adversaries, leaving a lane open at" 7

one side for Lena‘La Rue .to see through, an‘

,act of courtesy on their‘ part she proved her

appreciation of by advancing nearer.

From the face of St. Vail the pirates turned
their eyes upon Frank, the sailor lad, several
of whom knew him, and saw that he, too,

seemed to feel little' concern, or at least t0'

show it, as to what the result might be.

Seeing that something of an unusual kind »,

was going on, the crew of the brig came to the
rock, against which the schooner was moored,
and looked down upon the scene.

They Were a hardy, fearless set of men, and
were ready to defend their young leader if
need be, for St. Vale in the cruise out had en-
deared himself to all his crew.

“ I am ready, Sir Spaniard,” said St. Vale,
calmly.

Juan Morena bowed, and the blades clashed ‘

together with a ring that made every man
start.

And\then each combatant felt the power of
the other’s arm, and knew what was before
him.

Ere a dozen passes had been made the
swarthy face of the Spaniard had changed he
confident look, for superb swordsman that he
was, and that his men'knew him to be, he felt
that he had met his master. -

As for Leon St. Vale, the same look of in-
difference rested upon his handsome, stern
face; but yet be pressed his adversary
harder and harder, {creed him to give back

step by step, until he stood with his back ‘

to the schooner’s bulwarks, and then by a dex-
trous movement, struck the sword of his foe
from his hand, and drove his own keen blade
through his body, pinning him to the oaken
side of the vessel.

The face of Juan Morena grew livid, his
eyes rolled'wildly, and be fixed them upon
Lena La Rue, who stood horror-bound and
speechless, while St. Vale cried in his deep,
ringing voice, as he tore the manacles of gold
from! the grasp of his adversary, who had
fought with them in his left hand:

“Now, Sir Spaniard, I claim these Golan
Fetters, and the rights that go with them,
from the Ocean Vampire!” '

CHAPTER XLII.

rm: MERCHANT BRIG saws ON a MISSION.

To say that the crew of the schooner and
the few island guards stood aghast at the re-
sult of the duel, would be but to mildly express
it. for they had believed that Juan Morena
was the equal of even the Vampire with the
sword.

The men of the brig could scarcely restrain
a shout of delight in honor of their commander;
but were warned by a look from Frank not to
do so.

Wrenching the sword from the Spaniard’s
body, St. Vale turned on his heel as the body
fell to the deck, and again stood face to face
with L‘ena La Rue. \

She was as white as marble, trembling, and
her lips seemed unable to articulate.

But St. Vale had regained his composure,
which the first ,sight of her htid upset, and
raised hisyhat, while he said, politely:

“I had not anticipated the honor of seeing
Miss La Rue here.” -

“ I assure you, sir, it is an honor I do not ,

crave, as you find me, as upon a former occaé‘
sion, the captive of pirates,” she haughtily an
swered, regaining her composure, with which
to confront his easy manner.

“Ah! you are unfortunate indeed; may I
ask how it is that you are here? lWhen last I
saw you, your vessel was bound to dear old
England."

“That voyage, Lieutenant St. Vale may
remember, 1319!; with an interruption, and re—
turning to Halifax I took a packet for New
York, which was 'eaptured by the pirate cap-
tain whom you have just slain,” and Lena of!"
set the manner of St. Vale with a tdne as
equally cool and indifferent as his own.

“And the Lady Eve?”

His eyes momentarily drOOped as he asked
the question and s oke her name. ‘

0‘ Went on to ngland under the arc-rt of

Captain Cuthbcrt, to make Castle Curse her. 1

home.” -

“ I need not tell Miss La Rue, that she is no
longer a Captive, as I am chief here, and that
she will be restored in honor to her home.”

He changed the subject of conversation m
abruptly, and. his words were such «Mim- u;

music to poor Lena‘s ears, that her reserve '

 

    
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
    
 
 
 
 
  
    
  
 
  
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
  
  
   
  
  
 
 
  
 
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
     
     
   
       
        
    
   
   
     
        

flux .

Lal-
«‘7.

 

 

emf-BL! a". an -m‘
o

 

“Fem;

.‘y ’ t,
._ .

 

 

 

at once melted, and, in trying to thank him,
she burstinto tears.

“Frank, kindly see Miss La Rue to the
cabin, and join me again,” said St. Vale, and
as the youth led the weeping, almost hysterical
girl away, he turned and glanced his flashing
eyes over the crew of the schooner, while he
asked in his deep tones:

“Who is the ranking _oflicer under Captain
Morena?”

A seamen stepped forward from the group,

' and answered, as he touched his tarpaulin in

man—of-war’s style:

“ I am bo’scn sir; but the captain never left
the schooner, cxceptin, here at the island, and
never had an officer, for he was all aboard his
craft, as we all knew.”

Just then Frank returned from the cabin,
and St. Vale said:

“Frank, as on the brig, you are my first
lieutenant, and you, Mr. Hoodly are second,
and Merival third, on this vessel, while you,
my man, coatinue your duties as boatswain.”

Ordering the dead Spaniard to be given a
decent burial, he looked the schooner over and
Seemed charmed with his tour of inspection.

Then he examined the stores in the treasure-
house, and calling the roll, found that he had
just one hundred and fifteen men, including
his own crew from the brig.

Having stationed a look-out on the upper
cliff, to give warning of the approach of any
vessel, and especially the Vampire’s brigantine,

’ he sent Frank to Lona La Rue, to ask the
' honor of an interview.

She readily granted it, and he found her
somewhat nervously awaiting his coming.

“Miss La Rue,” he said, in a low, distinct
tone, as he took his seat:

“I have come to say to you that as I may
be detained for a long time upon this island, I
am at your service to bear you to one who will
gladly assume protection of you."

She made no reply, but her looks questioned

V him as to whom he referred.

“I happen to know,” he continued, that
the Petrel, Lieutenant Lord Cecil Milnor com-
manding, is in the port of St. John’s, in the
Island of Antigua, undergoing repairs, and I
am willing to take you there and place you
under his care, if you will make me one
promise.”

“What promise would you have me make
you, Lieutena‘nt St. Vale .4”

“ That you will not make known the exist-
ence on this island of any human being or that
it is a piratical haunt.” _

“ If I refuse, sir?"

_ “ I shall be necessitated to detain you here
then, until I accomplish the purpose I have in
view.” .

“ And then?" -

“ I will, as I before told you, return you in
all honor to your friends.”

“And to accomplish your purpose you may
take some time i”

“Months, perhaps.” ‘ —

“Then I gladly make you the promise you
ask of me.”

l

“Thank you, Miss La Rue, and rest con-.

tent that very soon you will be under the pro-
tection of Lord Milnor.

“ As long as you remain on this vessel this
cabin'is wholly at your service.”

He rose as he spoke to take his leave, when
the words broke passionately from the lips of
poor Lena: ,

“Oh, Leon 8t. Vale, how could you become
what you have, the leader of pirates?" _

.St. Vale turned very white at the abrupt
question, and his lip quivered; but, with an
effort of his iron will he answered firmly:

“ Miss La Rue, my motives for becoming
what 'I am, I must keep to mySelf, and I beg
that from your lips I hear no bitter denuncia-
tions and recriminations, for the load I now
bear is a heavy one indeed.

“For, the past I' offer no explanation, and
for the future I have only hope."

He turned abruptly and left the cabin, and
he carried with him the full sympathy and not
the hatred and contempt of Lena La Rue.

The following morning, to the surprise of
the 15011001191"s crew: St. Vale ordered two-score
of them on board of the brig, and left the re-
remainder on their vessel, with the men that
had come to the island with him.

Taking with him only Frank as an officer,

' and having escorted Lena into the cabin, he

set sail in the brig, and skillfully piloted out
to sea by the youth, laid his course for the

 -_ \ Juana of Antigua.
‘ ' V

 

 

Arriving at the seaport of St. John’s he

_boldly ran in in broad daylight and dropped

anchor not a quarter of a mile from the Eng-
lish brig of war Petrol.

“Miss La Rue, there is Lord Cecil’s vessel,
and as soon as it is dark I will have him come
on board to take you under his charge," said
St. Vale, addressing the maiden, who stood
near him, as the brig ran in to her anchorage.

“ From my heart I thank you, Lieutenant
St. Vale, and I beg that you will not run use-
less risks on my account,” returned the maiden,
warmly.

St. Vale smiled, but made no reply, and
Lena counted the weary moments until sun-
set. ‘

Then, as she stood on deck looking over the
quiet harbor, her heart gave a bound as she
heard the order: .

“ Frank, carry this letter on board the
Petrel, lying at anchor yonder, and ask for
Lord Cecil Milnor to whom give it. ”

The youth called a boat alongside, sprung in,
and soon stood on the Petrel’s deck.

Lord Cecil was pacing the quarter-deck,
smoking a cigar, after his supper.

“A messenger with a. letter for you, sir,”
said a middy.

He seized the letter, and breaking the seal,
read by the aid of the biunacle light:

“Will Lieutenant Lord Cecil Milnor kindly visit
:gdgg friend on the American merchant brig Mer-

“The bearer will brin him to the vessel and re-
turn with him on board t e Petrel." \

“ My lad, there is no name signed to this,
though the writing has a familiar loo ” said
the young noble, glancing suspiciously at
Frank, who promptly replied:

“ Your friend wished to surprise you, sir."

“Ah! well, I will accompany you," and
turning to his lieutenant he said, in a low tone;

“Keep your eye on yonder brig, Vernon,
and ifshe attempts to leave the harbor bring
her to.” ,

“ Better let me send an armed boat with you,
sir,” said the cautious officer.

“Oh, no; Ishall go armed, and if I need
aid will fire a pistol; but it looks as though it
would be all right. ”

So saying Lord Cecil descended into the boat
alongside, in which were two oarsmen, and
took a seat alongside of Frank, who held the
tiller ropes.

“ Give way, lads,” and the boat moved back

toward the brig, anxiously watched from the

Petrel, forthe crew liked not seeing their com-
mander trust himself of! alone as he did.

 

CHAPTER XLIII.
BETWEEN 'rwo FIRES.

As the boat neared the brig Lord Cecil
saw a trim-looking craft of something
over three hundred tons, with clean rigging,
and all looking ship-shape about her, and a
few heads gazing over the bulwarks at his ap-
proach.

“Way ’nough!” said the youth, and the
oarsmcn ceased pulling.

The next moment the beat touched the
gangway, there it was grasped by aseamau,
and Frank and Lord Cecil stepped out.

“ Keep the boat ready for the gentleman’s
return.” - ‘

Lord Cecil heard the order given and went
forward with renewed confidence.

Into the cabin Frank led him, and bidding
him be seated, said, simply: '

“The captain will join you at once, sir.”

“The captain? Who in the name of Nep-
tune. is it that I am tosee?” murmured the
young noble. ‘

And, as the words left his lips, he saw a
handsomely-booted and small foot step down
the cabin companionway, and then the tall
form of a man Stood before him.

“Great God! Leon St. Vale!”

The words burst from the lips cf the young
nobleman, and starting back, he dropped his
hand upon the hilt of his sword.

“Hold! Bord Cecil Milnor, you, of all
men, are the last that would meet harm at
my hands.” , v

Though the voice was stern, there was an
honest ring in the tone that caused Lord Cecil
to at once relinquish the sword-hilt and say:

“I believe you, St. Vale, whatever you may
be to others, and God knows no one bewails
your strange downfall more bitterly than do 1.”

“Reserve your pity, Cecil Milnor, for I ask
no man’s pity. . ‘

“I did not send for you to tell you that I

_ as Castle Welcome Haven, but which had been

 

was sorry for the past and wished to have you
place the hangman’s noose around my neck,-
bnt to give into your charge one whom you
little dream is in this part of the world.”

Lord Cecil was struck by the bitterness of
St. Vale’s manner, in what he at first said, and
then impressed by his reference to one whom
he desired to place under his protection, and
he said, kindly:

“ To whom do you refer, St. Vale?”

“ To one you love.” .'

“ Ah! then rest assured that all I can do ‘
for such an one I will do.”

“I know it, my lord, and hence I brought
her to you.”

“Whom do you mean?” and the color left, ,
Lord Cecil’s face.

“Miss La Rue.” . '

“ 0h, Heaven! Lena LaRue in your power!”

The emphasis on the pronoun stung St. Vale,
and he replied, warmly: , .1 - 

“ Ay, and in as honorable company as  
though she were with my Lord Cecil Milnor.” "

“ Pardon me, St. Vale, for though you may 1',
have dyed your hands crimson with the blood
of mankind, I will not doubt your honor to-
ward a woman in your power.”

“Lord Cecil, I thank you for those words.

“But listen while I tell you that Miss La
Rue was unfortunately captured on the packet-
ship in which she sailed from Halifax, and. l ‘
carried to the island rendezvous of the Bu0ca-
neer League.” 1 ‘

“By yourself, the Ocean Vampire i” ’ '

“ No, by a pirate captain who treated her as
though she were his own sister. _

“ Finding her at the island, I brought her, a
once to you, for I was in Barbadoes when you
sailed from there for this port, not being able
to get your vessel repaired there.” , ;

“And Miss La Rue is on this vessel now, A”; a
poor girl?" , ' ‘ ’_ .

“Yes, and within hearing of your voice.” I o.

As St. Vale spoke a slender form suddenly ‘ ;
sprung back in the shadow of the cabin, and ‘~  '
with an exclamation of joy. Lord Cecil caught
her in his arms, while St. Vale silently glided
from the cabin and left the restored lovers to- u
gather. . 7" ~

For some time they sat talking together, and i . '
then St. Vale entered. .’ '

“Pardon me, my lord, but a boat full of
armed men are pulling from the Petrel to my
vessel, and I cannot permit them to come on 5.. ' ’
board.” . , i

“ I will at once order them back, for they '~=  A
are anxious regarding my safety,” and Lord , 1
Cecil went on deck, and hailed the boat with: '

“ Ho, Vernon, is that you?” ‘

“Ay, ay, my 10 ,” came the answer. ‘ ,

“Return to the brig, and I will come soon “
in the boat from this vessel. ,

“Have my cabin put in order for a lady“ "
guest.” ’ - , 4 '

There was a muttering of surprise in the
boat, which at once put back, while, turning ,
to St. Vale, Lord Milnor said:

“St. Vale, I am cruising in these waters
only to hunt down the Ocean Vampire, which ‘
name you bear. , ‘

“But I will leave it for a man who has  7,.
more meanness in his nature than I confess to, '
to be so vile as to capture you under the pres- _ i:
ent circumstances. * 

“From my heart I thank you, and may it ‘ 
never be my misfortune to return you evil for "
the good you have this night done me!” j » *

He drew Lena toward him as he spoke, and” . ‘ '
her luggage having. already been placed in the ‘A
boat by Frank, he led her toward the gang- . .
Wily. e \ '

But she slipped from his sheltering arm, and ,
grasping the band of St. Vale in both her own,
said in a low earnest tone: ‘

“God forgive you, Leon St. Vale, and bless
you too!

“ Farewell I” ‘ /

He made no reply, and the next moment the
tw0 were gone, and the wretched man was
alone with his sorrows.

   
   

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CHAPTER XLIV.
THE unmss or CASTLE cuasn.
IN the grand old pile of stones, once known.

left to Lady Eve Alstone with the dying curse
of her uncle, who had been forced to make his
will in her favor, and thereby had gained the
name of Castle Curse, sat the heireSS.

It was at the sunset hour, and just one year
and a half since she had parted from Leon St. f h,

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‘Vale on that fateful day when he boarded the “Hal do you some me to be one and the charms XL.
same with that inhuman monster?” he cried coxcwsms.

, schooner at the head of a pirate horde.

In that time Eve Alstone had changed but
little, for her rare beauty of, face and form
still clung to her, but in her heart there was
the grave of a buried love, and ofttimes when
alone it was mirrored in her eyes.

The sunset rays, falling upon her as she sat
upon a balcony of the castle, overlooking the
Sea, gave a rosy bus to her checks, or perhaps
it was a real glow, called there by a letter she

.1 held open in her hands, and which she had re-

ceived that afternoon, and read and reread for
the hundredth time. ,

As that letter will interest the reader, I will
give its contents, or at least such parts of it as

‘ refer to the characters who have figured in this
‘ ‘ e

Itwas dated at Havana, in the island of
Cuba, the fifteenth of October, 1817, and read:
“M own man) Eva:

“ ords cannot portray to you the happiness! ,

beings letowrite oualo
about myself, an in

letter and
lendid
0, but

feel at
tell you nob e,

naLa

her how we two chatted in he lon
lovers, and I feel that my dream of 0 has been
more than realized, and yours so rudely oken.

' “It nearly broke my heart to give you up when
you sailed or England; but I deemed it my duty to
go to New York, at the call of my guardian, and yet,

ago of our

‘ as itturned out, I have not yet gotten there, though

“Our shm was captured b a pirate schooner,
robbed of its valuables, an I was held as a hos-
figs for ransom while the other passengers were

owed to go on their way, being poor in this world‘s

3 .

f‘ But ever strange are theworkings of Providence,
for that vessel never reached rt, though spoken
by other crafts, and is suppo to have oundered
in a gale, while I, the one exception, have reached
the haven of my hopes and happiness.

“ The captain of the pirate schooner, Juan Mo-
rena, whatever his outward crimes have been, was
at heart a true gentleman, for he treated me with
brotherly regard, though he did me the honor to ask
me to 

“ He me to his island retreat, and one day
there sailed into the haunt a merchant brig, and
who do you think was in command?

“Wh , Leon 8t. Vale, poor fellow, that gave up a
noble e for an obie one.

“ He roclaim himself chief, by virtue of a pair
of Go letters he ssessed, and which are the se-
cret symbol ofbthe uccaneer League, giving to the
pomseo. rgrea power.

“But my irate lover refused to yield his com-
mend, it due followed, and St. Vale killed him be-

‘ fore my.e es.

, “Then e carried me in the brigto a seaport near,

where the Petrei was undergoing repairs, and ave
me in charge of Lord Ceci , an the sequel is hat
we were married in Havana one week ago.

" ‘But Leon St. Vale?

“ I hear your query for the old bond can never be
broken I well know, at Eve.

“ Well he returned to his lawless acts again. and
eludes attem ts at capture.

“ Some say t t he is the Ocean Vampire, and
others that he is not; but Lord Cecil believes that
he is, and for the sake of suffering humanit he and
Sir Roslyn ~Btannix, in the Vulture, scour he sees
continually to hunt him down. .

“ But I will not believe that he is that monster,
after all he did for me: but time alone will show.

" Now, dear Eve, I am going soon to my home in
New York. to await there until my noble husband is
ordered'back to En lanoi} and then I will accompany
him and have the y seein you once more.

“Write me to my New Yo

ha‘zgi’ith love from Cecil and in self,
. _ “Your evoted friend,
“Lana.”
Such was the letter, and it caused pearly
tears to roll across the fair cheeks of Lady
Eve as she recalled her buried love she had
held for St. Vale when he was all worthy of
her devoted attachment.
' Lon into the night she sat there, the moon
g down upon the balcony, and silver-

address, which you

- ing the waves of theses.

Presently she started, for a shadow fell upon

her, and leaping lightly over the balcony a
. man stood before her.

She tried to cry out, but her tongue could

' . articulate no sound.

She tried to fly from the balcony, but her

, [limbs refused to obey her bidding.

And it was no wonder that she was so deep-
ly moved. for Leon St. Vale stood before her.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
ran Maurine.

“LADY Eve, do you not know me?”

There was the same pathos as of old, the
same softness in the tone, and Eve Alstoue's
heart trembled as Leon St. Vale asked the
question.

But, determined to school her heart against
any weakness, she said coldly, recovering her
composure by a mighty effort:

"Yes, Leon St. Vale, I know you not as
you were, but as the chn Vampire.”

 

excitedly.

“ Do you dare deny it, ,sir?’

“Ay, dare I deny that I am such a brute in
the shape of man, Eve Alstone.

“ I have sinned, yes, but not .to become such
as the Vampire.”

“And what do you here, Sir Pirate?”

,“Sir Pirate? Ay, heap scorn and epithets
upon me. '

“ Judge me ere you have heard my defense,
while I go from yOu, regretting that I was fool
enough to wish to gaze again upon your
face.” _.

He spoke in such bitterness that he moved
her heart deeply, and she said softly:

“Will you, u 11 your honor, tell me that
you are not the cean Vampire?”

“Curse the very thought that I be such as

he is. » _

“Why, Lady Eve Alstone, that man, that
demon in human shape is my prisoner, and
lying in irons on heard my vessel, which is
anchored not half a league from here.”

“Do you speak the truth, Leon St. Vale?”
she eagerly asked.

“Listen, and you shall bear all, for I will
offer no defense of myself, and tell you the
whole truth.”

She waited breathlessly, and then he told
her of the first crime of her father, when he
had kept some property already sold and paid
for, at the instigation of Robert Brent.

That he lay in the hammock and overheard
the story, as also the other sin of Sir Grey in
not putting a bullet in Lord Caverly’s pistol
the day of the duel, he told her; but he kept
back the damning tale of her birth, and the
change of infants by the old nurse; for he
would not pain her heart to its depths.

Nor did he shrink from telling her that he
demanded her father’s consent, knowing the
secrets against him, for him to claim her as
his wife, and the attack upon him by Sir Grey,
the struggle, the accidental discharge of the
pistol and the fatal result, with the accusation
against the seaman Robert Brent, his aiding
him to escape, and the cause of his duel with
Kent Lornax.

Breathlessly she listened to his every word,
giving a slight moan only when he spoke of
her father‘s death, and then, in the same low,
but distinct tones he went on and told the
story of the brigantine‘s capture and flight,
his double struggle with the Vampire and his
African slave, and the crime he committed to
save her and Lena La Bus from the power of
the inhuman chief.

' “That night, Lady Eve, I swore,” he went
on, “ by the Holy of Holies, to‘ live to revenge
myself upon the Ocean Vampire.

“1 boarded vessels in combat, but never
struck a blow against the innocent, and lived
only for revenge, until at last I escaped from
him, and became as a bloodhound upon his
trail.

“ I waited long in the island retreat for his
coming, and at last he came, and fell into my
power, along with Robert Brent and his crew
of devils. ,

“From him I learned who and what he is,
and heard from his lips that he was the dis-
honored son of Lucas Leon, my kinsman, who
left me as an inheritance, the knowledge that
he had cruelly murdered my father, and the
Golden Fetters, the crest of his house.

“ To that son, the Vampire, worthy of such
a father, he left also a pair of Golden Fetters
and his curse. ‘

“Now, Lady Eve Alstone, you know' all,“

and I have come across the seas to deliver .to
my king the Ocean Vampire and his crew,
in return for a pardon for the sins I was forced
to commit.

“ If his majesty refuse me, then I shall
blow my vessel to atoms, and with it myself
and the Vampire, ay, and all on board.”

He ceased speaking, and stood with folded
arms before her.

“Leon,” she said softly, rising and placing
a tiny hand upon either shoulder:

“In my heartl forgive you, and I crave
you to forgive my doubt of you.

“To-morrow I will myself seek the king,
and, if he will not give to you full pardon.
then I shall return to you and share your fate,
whatever it may be.”

“ God bless you, darling Eve,” and he drew
her toward him in loving embrace, and thus
those two, so long parted, were united once
more. '

Tnun to her promise,.Lady Eve started on
her journey to see the king, and in due time
returned with full pardon from his majesty
for Leon St. Vale and the buccaneere who had
faithftu served him. ,

And there was a special order to the young
officer who had hunted the Vampire from the

seas, to hang the dreaded chief, his lieutenant, '

Robert Brent, and his crew in chains, in

the rigging of his Vessel, and sail into port

and anchor with the ghastly foran there
hanging, as a warning to outlaws the Seas
over. .

And this order Leon St. Vale strictly obeyed,
and the townspeople and seamen of the numer-
ous vessels in port, stood aghast as they saw
sweeping up the harbor a rakish brWI-‘e
and saucy-looking schooner with scom of
forms dangling in theirrig ' g; but the Vam-
pire flag, beneath the English ensign, told the
story to all of what the strange sight meant,
and loud and wild were the cheers that were
given, especially from the crews of two weather-
beaten brigs of war that had lately come
across the seas from a fruitless search after
that very pirate chief.

Quickly their commanders sprung into their
respective boats and rowed on board the brig-
antine, where Sir Roslyn Stannix and Captain
Lord Cecil Milnor were welcomed by Captain
Leon St. Vale, with a pardon and commission
in his hand, and related to their astonished
ears the story of his adventures.

One week after, in the grand parlor of
Welcome Haven Castle, which had dropped
the curse from its name, the same story was
told again by the hero, and corroborated in
every word by a sad-faced woman, in whom no
one who knew her as Frank, the sailor lad,
would ever recognize her in feminine attire,
and who, as the revenged and sorrowing wife
of the Ocean Vampire, won the deepest sym-
pathy of the little group gathered beneath the
roof of Lady Eve Alstone.

And, on that same night, when the stories
of the past were told by Leon 8t. Vale for the
last time, he was bound in holy matrimony to
Eve Alstoue, Pere, Brandt, a sad-eyed priest,
who had known also much of sorrow in the
past, and has sins to repent of, as all of us
have, kind reader, performing ceremony,
while Lord Cecil Milnor gave the ride away,
and Sir Roslyn Stannix, though on the shady
side of forty-five, was the young captain’s best
man.

Whether it was at seeing his brother oflcers,
Leon St. Vale and Lord Cecil, so happy, that
made Sir Reslyn incline toward matrimony, I
cannot say; but certain it is, that some months
after he was quietly married by Fern Brandt
to Fanny Alstoue, for the lonely woman, With

no kindred ties in the world, had taken the /

name of Lady Eve, at that lady’s urgentre-
quest, she having forever discarded that of
Frank the sailor lad along‘with the memixies
of- the past. ,

One other character of this romance, kind
reader, dispcsed of himself by committing
suicide to shun some disgraceful exposin‘e, and
that one was Kent Iomax, who, after all his
plotting and shining, did not succeed in win-
ning the heiress of Castle Curse, or go down to
history-as the captor of the Ocean Vampire.

. ,, . run um.

 

 

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