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  PubliIhOd 3'"! ‘I'J’WI (17!" (f' \FIH’H 7n .<. (.7 ’11 I) is]: e rs, Ten Cent, 3 Copy,
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The Havenless Cruiser.

A (‘ompanlon Story to the
“ Fatal Frigate.”

 

 

BY (.‘OL. I’RENTISS INGRAHAM,

AFTBOR mr “ MERLE. THE MUTINEEB,“ “ noxn~
zuux, THE MERI‘ILESS," Inc, ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
DRIVEN 'rn SEA. '

“I AM afraid we are lost, Brandy."

“Yes, Masm L00; it do have that kind of
100k."

“ But we won‘t say die‘ Brandy, as long as the
boat holds together."
“ No. Massa Leo, we only say die when we
have to."
The speakers were both youths; the one white,
the other Hack.
The former was about fifteen years of age,
well built. and with a face strangely handsome.
’ ’ so thoroughly were both manliness and beauty
“no YHI' .\<x. \‘uw. WHY “Al'TAIV I'I'TMN. THE ONE—ARMED nwmxmm, indimted in feature and exprvhxinn.

Ln L» [ML 5;)_\ . \«.1;: ‘ Lung- dark eye». {11” of tI-IIG'W'Iu-ss. and :ot

 

 

 

1131

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

 

 

lurking in their epths the glow of a proud,
brave spirit; a li firm and daring; teeth milk-
white and even, with the chin denoting stren th
of character and a brew stamped with intc li-
gence.

He was dressed in a sailor suit, a tarpaulin
shaded his brown waving,r hair, and his hand,
upon the tlllcl‘ of the little vessel he held on
her way, was small, shapely, and yet firm and
strong.

The negro was the senior of his young master

~ by Several years, and his form was that of an

7..

r \‘,. \a. .,
._ r ~

1?). r " ‘
.

athlete. .

He was also dressed in a sailor costume, of
coarse material, while his tarpauliii bung down
his back, attached to a string.

They Were in a little slo<ip of fire tons, triinly
built, and with a cuddy to serVe the place of a
cabin.

Several lea lies away on one hand land was
visible—a bol , rug ed coast, with islands here
and there, and bac upon a hill, sheltered by
pines was a large stone mansion.

U n the other hand, to starboard as the sloop

along, was the boundless sea.

Now, from landward came sweeping across the
waters, a storm of the wildest l'ury. It had risen
suddenly from behind the hills, and long before

, they could find a refuge under the lee of some

. giant ships

.emoti

 mm

' wall of waters rushed n

V hold fest, and though

island, the two youths lilluW that the storm WOiild
be upon them.

. It was this which had ('allcd forth the remark
opening this romance.

“ I never saw a. worse storm, Brandy: it is a
re ular hurricane, Such as they have iii the \Vcst
1n ies.”

“ Yes, Massa Leo; it looks ugly, air, and the
clouds are as black as my face; so I ’l'raid, sir,
the Sea Dog hain’t going to stand up when it
strikes us.”

“ It’s about time to strip her of all but her jib,
roofed down, Brandv, and then we’ll send before
it, if we can; so let her canvas come!”

The negro quickly obeyed, and in a few nio-
ments the two had all shipshape, and the slight-
est ssible canvas set.

8 tempest was indeed a frightful one to be-
hold, even to one ashore. The trailing waves of
sable clouds had swept away from the land, and
as it passed over the bills the trees were seen to
bend, and many of them yield to its force, snap-
pin of! or bein torn u y the roots.

on the ion was s ut out from view, the

storm drag ed along over the waters, raisin a
n

huge wall 0 water its wake, and the than or
was terrific peal following al like a combat of
hurling broadsii es upon each other.

_ e lightning seemed fairly to have set the
since on fire, and the roar of the winds and
waters was terrific; therefore no wonder that
those two. exposed to the fury of such a tempest,
felt that their frail craft must go down beneath
the shock.

But though death stared them in the face, they
showed no coward fear; they meant to ii ht for
life, even against the fearful odds they ad to

face.

“ Good-by, Brandy, if it has to be Wood-by,”
and the brave boy held out his hand and grasped
that of the negro, While his voice choked with
on.

“ -by, Massa Leo, and I hopes if wehas to
y any n gers is white folks up there,” and
po nted upward with his right hand,

, g, we both travel the same road to Heben, for

rand

While is face shone with simple faith.

“ Bold hard, Brandy 1" suddenly cried the

0 little vessel.
Then the bowling winds swept over them the
:1 them, and the sloop
was hurled forward wit frightful velocity.

- Then came a loud snap, the mast came down,

/ Ind'the an y waves tore the wreckage way
. “if it had been held by threads, and th hull
- was driven on with the gale.

But the can ski r and the ii ro still
y g gist-drowned, an feeling

.' ' that they were utterly helpless, they yet ha

‘ .
‘é.
o

' -- and n at settl
~_ in fury
from

I so low in the water and seemed about to

’ ‘ “33nd; talk that way, Massn Leo.
'deLord done for us last pi ht, I tell you, air,

after league the wreck was driven,
upon the Sea. Than the storm
at for all that it was a Wild
nous night, and the little wreck had

But it still it t afloat, and its tried, half-
.dromldd occupan crouched in the little cock-
pit holding on tenacious] to life.

Toward dawn the win s died dowu, the waves
ran less high, and when the sun rose, it was in
a clear sky and upon a comparatively smooth

sea..-
.“ Brandy, we are fifty leagues at son,” said
“. sir, I can’t see land nowhere.”
“ .3 I’m afraid you never will again.”
After all

we hain’t going to be drown ed this time.”
. “ Bravo for you, Brandy, and we won’t say

~ die. ' So let us get the water out of the hull and

3 I: Bandy. as he looked about him
’ _, “that's so, and the cabin

use what we can do.”
‘ “ No mast, no sails, no cars, no nothin’," said

is washed clean of

r, and they both grasped a flrm‘

when we get the water out.”

“Then out she comes, Massa Leo.” and the
two set to work with their tarpaulius, and be-
gun to bail the water out of the boat.

It was along and tedious task, tired as they

were with their sleepless night and without
food: but at last they saw to their delight that
: the hull was not leaking.
l But, it was their only comfort; for not a thing
in the way of ediblcs had been left, nor cover—
ing, and only a plank’s width was between them
and eternity.

And thus the day passed and night Settled
upon the sea, leavmg them drifting over the
boundless expanse—drifting toward the destiny
which Fate had in store for them.

 

CHAPTER II.
DESTINY.

“ SAIL, ho!”

The cry came faintly from the li s of the
boy skipper, as at dawn of the thir morning
since the sloop had been wrecked by the storm,
he raised his head and glanced about him over
the ocean, becoming light under the approa: h
of (lawn.

Brandy looked up and Siniled sadly:

“ I fear you’re foolin’ me, Massa Leo,” he
said, faintly.

“ No. Brandy. it's a vessel, and she is coming“
ton’ard us.

“ Yes, they sce us. llriindy, they see us, and
we ("'0 sand 1"

Ho almost shrickcd the last Words, in his joy,
and aroused by hope the negro, who was not as
strong as his young master, arose and looked out
over the waters.

There. not a half-mile away, was a slmp-of—
war, and she was coming straight toward them.

“ The lior’ be praised! Mussa Leo, We liaiii't
dead yet,” cried Brandy.

The vessel was now very near the wreck, and
soon came a hail:

“ \Vreck nhoyl”

“ Ahoy!" answered Leo as loud as he could.

“ All right, my luau, we will send a boat for
you,” answered an officer, who seemed to realize
the fact that the one who answered his bail was
in a pitiable condition.

Ten minutes after the two were or. the sloop-
ofI-War and in the hands of the surgeon, who was
doing all in his power to bring them round, for
with safety the reaction had come and neither
Lee or Brandy were able to stand, or give an ac-
count of themselves.

But they rallied quickly. and the second day
after being taken on board, Leo reported to the
captain in person.

“ Well, my line fellow, we found you just in
time; but what Were you doing a hundred
leagues at sea in that shell?”

‘ I thank you, sir, for your kindnessto us, and
We owe you our lives,” said Leo, saluting the ofli-
car, and adding:

“We live on the coast, sir, and were on a run
to Portland, when we were blown out by the
storm, but oh, sir, can we not be put ashore
somewhere, for my parents will be greatly dis-
tres.

“My boy, I am sorry, but this is His British
Majesty’s sloop-of-war. Venture, and we are now
bound to India, if you know where that is, with
the newly-a ppointed commodore of the. squadron
in those waters, and there you must go, so it will
be a year or more before you can get back to
your home.”

The boy‘s e es filled with tears, but choking
back his emot on he said:

“I am sorry sir, very sorry for the sake of
those at home; but we do not wish to be in our
way, sir, and I would be lad if you wil put
Brandy and myself to war .” '

“ Well said, my fine fellow, and I will give Iyou
a berth ascabin-bo and Brnndy—youcalled im
Brandy, I believe . ,

“ Yes, sir his name is Brandywine.”

“ Ah! well, Brand can help the cook.”

“ Brandy is a cook himself, sir.”

“ So much the better, and I guess you are
something of”a sailor?”

l

Yes . -
“Well, try your luck as a. cabin-boy, and if
you do not like it you can forward with the
crew, begin at the forecast , and if you do not
belie your looks, you will reach the quarter-deck
et. ‘
“Thank you, sir,” and with a sad heart Leo
went forward to tell Brandy that it would be
over a year before those at ome would know
that they were not lost.

The commodore, who was going out to take
command of 3:19  East $2.3m Squadron,
wasa uiet, gn man an ere was very
little tint escaped him that occurred on board.

He had been struck by the face and bearing
of the oath, and one day asked abruptly:

” W at is your name. ladl”

“ Lionel Ionsdnle, sir.”

“ You are an American?”

H Y“, sir.” \

That was all that occurred, but the commo.
dore noticed that one night in a storm, when the
main topmost had been weakened by the part.
ing of a stay from the top, and men feared to

i s . . I

 

1 provisions and all else; but she’ll float better I go aloft to make another fast, that Lionel stepped

 

up to the captain and said:

“ 1 Will go, sir, for my weight is not as great
as that of a man."

" Do so, my lad, and let them middies see, who
are even lighter than you are, that a cabin-boy
dare go where they would not.”

The middies were crestfallen at the rebuke,
and they did not regard the cabin-boy very
kindly, as he went aloft, as agile as a cat, and
in spite of the great iril he was in, performed
his work Well, receivmg a round cheer from the
crew.

“ The boy has stuff in him,” muttered the
commodore to the captain, as Lionel came down
saluted politely, and returned to his WOl k in thd
cabin.

Some weeks after the vessel lay rolling upon
thel swell, not a breath of air stirring to fill the
3m s.

The day was inteuz-zcly hot and the crew lav
about the decks vainly trying to catch a refresfi-
ing breeze.

I‘he old commodore came out of the cabin
glanced about him. and then determined id
enjoy a swim, and the outer gangway was low.
ered for him.

No one noticed him as he. plunged ill, and
Lionel, who was brushing up the stern ports of
the cabin. suddenly saw him appear a shun.
distance from the ship.

A moment more and the commodore gave a
faint cry, his arms Were thrown above his licazl,
and he sunk from sight.

There was a shrill cry:

“ Man overboard l”

d I: came from the cabin-boy and aroused all on
cc '.

Then came a plunge and the next moment
those who thought of the commodore saw him
rise, and, as he did so, he was seized in the strong
gras of the young.r swimmer. ‘

“ have a severe cramp, my lad, and am
helpless,” the brave old man said.

“All right, sir, I can hold you up until the
boat comes,” was the plucky reply.

A boat had been hastily launched, and as it
was pullingJ rapidly toward the cabin—boy, “ho
upheld the clpless commodore, a. cry arose from
the ship:

“ Pull hard men! a shark! a shark l”

“I see them, sir, but the boat will reach us
first,” said Lionel, and, still supporting the
commodore he began to swim toward the 111.8
preaching boat. for the ocean swell had carried
them some distance from the ship,

' “Pull, you hearts of oakl pull for their
lives!” came in trumpet tones from he captain.
while a was hastiiy aimed and red at the
approac ing sharks, or there were several of
them, and having scented their prey, they were
SWimming with Wonderful speed directly to-
ward the youth and the helpless officer.

The sho plowed up the water behind the rav-
enous monsters, servin': on] to incr so their
speed, and all on the ship he (1 their br th in a.
horror of sus use, for it seemed that the bi at
would be too ate.

But no, the officer had steered his boat Well;
the oarsmen ceased rowing as they passed be-
tween the sharks and their intended prey, and
the commodore and his preserver Were drawn
out of the sea to safety.

And just in time.

Under the surgeon’s care the commodore soon
rallIied, and sending for his young preserver, be
5m :

" My lad, I knew when I saw your face there
was the right material in your make-up. and I
was not wrong.

“ You did one act, in in aloft that ht as
you did, whens men in cars feared go,
which I meant not to forget, and now I pwe you

In life.

Y‘ Captain Bridewell will have you now report,
as an acting midshi , and on shall receiVe
your warrant to that eflect in ( no time.

“,1 thank you, Midshipman Lonsdale, from mv

heart.
“ Now report to Captain Bridewell for duty.
the hand of

pllleaso,"land the; outg‘iinmodore wrung
0 new y-a n .
heart, left t mabin. middy’ who,  8 happy

__.

CHAPTER In.
W 'rnn HAUNTED INCA"-

“ ELL, Mm we’re almostasbad
as we was ten yxf‘go, when the “01'!!! big:
as out to sea, and we were Picked up by the
Vffilture, sir.” the

_ 9 speaker was Brandme negro Wh
With his young master  wrecked in “(1)0,
mam oil” the coast of gnfidm m ,n ‘

e addressed his 111 7' an -
chair in the large and m‘mbk’ “bmezs‘ya
k ’3  l “way “1‘”! 

en ears  ' tW
had made their mug" 11“ “SW th:
tempest, and h “mp m h

In those ten yw'l‘fiz 2mm“ “d mm", 1'0"
1’03" We.” 3:“ "m" but with thé wm
an a n 8%“
of indigglmbb pm which, he hadwom (rm
boyhood. ' A

 

 

i
i
i

'l
-'l
i

>2“

I, The OneQ-Armed Buccaneer.

3

 

 

The master had now the look of one born to
com iiiand.

His face, handsome and winning, was yet
stamped with firm resolve and daring, and the
ten years that had passed had caused him to step
from cabin-boy to captain, for he wore the
uniform of a captain in the nav of Great

lritain, though young in years. ant by birth an
American.

For over a year Brandy had been mourned at
their home as lost, and then one day a ckct
schooner had landed them upon the lit e pier
near Sealands, the home of Lionel Lonsdale’s
parents, and they had welcomed back as from
the grave their noble son, and beheld with pride
his midshipman’s uniform, which he had won
\by his own daring.

From the day of his becoming a king‘s officer,
,ood fortune seemed to lead the steps of Lionel
nasdale, until, at the age of twenty-six he had
found himself in command of a frigate.

But of that vessel, in the cabin of which he is
seated, let his conversation with his faithful
negro servant tell. for a strange stcrv hangs
thereto, a story of love, envy and hatr .

“ You refer to my crew having been taken
from me, Brandy?” quietly asked the young
captain, in response to the words of the negro.

it sir-7‘

“ We are not so bad off as you suppose,
Brand .”

“ We’ve got the ship, sir, but it’s a haunted
one, and the admiral has not left you a single
man on board.

“ He’d have ordered me oil? to, if he. had had
any control over me, Massa Leo,” said Brandy,
speaking with the air of freedom which their
long friendship, for it was friendslii ) honest and
earnest between master and man, a lowed.

“ Sit down there, Brandy, and let me tell
you a secret,” and Captain Lonsdale smiled.

“ Yes, sir.”
h“Do you know why I was ordered to this

s i .7”

‘ No, sir.”

“ You know that she has been unlucky from
the day she was launched in London?”

“ Yes, sir, awful unlucky, from all they say.”

“ She was so unfortunate, throu h some

strange fatality, to all of her comman era, and

her crew, that she could find no one to go to sea
in her and she was turned into a prison-ship in
New York Harbor, when all on board, French
prisoners and English guards, died of the
soon e."

“ So I heard, sir.”

“ Then one night in a storm she was cut loose
from her moorings and driven out to sea, and
no one expected, or wished to hear of her again,
when one day she drove into this port before an
easterly storm, and brought up against a brig,
which she sunk with all on board, yet remained
unharmed herself.”

“ Yes, massa, I heard that too, sir."

“Then it was that I was ordered to take com-
' and of her and go in search of the French

igate Le Boi, which has done so much dam-
age to English shipping along the coast.”

“ And you captured the Le Roi, sir," said
Brandy, with a smile of satisfaction.

“ True, but it was not expected that I would.

“There is the secret, though, Brand , which
I have fathomed, for when I lost in b g by her
sinking after her action with the reach sloo ,
I was ordered here, as ou know, and proved o
be the ranking naval o cer, after the captain of
the rt and the admiral.

“ ow Admiral Fenton’s son isa senior lieu-
tenant, ranking next to me, and he had been
fondly in ho of commanding the new frigate
Saturn, whic will soon be ready for sea.

“ But I stood in his way, and more, he fears
that I also stand in his way of winning the hand
of Miss Belle Vernon, the wealthiest young lady
in the Colonies.”

“She does'think a has of on, Massa Leo."

The young officer blushed ike a school-girl,
and hastil continued:

“ The .miral, th h a fine officer and stem
to others, is governed y Lieutenant Frank Fen-
ton, his son, and envious of me, and also jealous;
the young officer concocted the plan that I was
to go out in this Fatal Friggte, as she is called,

after the La Roi.

“He never ex ted us round the 1‘ 30,, 0,.
he never would ave gm himself as my senior
lieutenant, with the 1p in bad condition and
but two-thirds of a crew; but he had his picked
men paid for the work, who were to mine a
mutiny, declare in favor of Lieutenant Irena)“,
forcin the command from me.

“ This was intended to d as me and
put him ahead, both as ano cer and in
of Miss Vernon and her father. .

“ But I broke up his calculations by q
the mutiny. though I was forced to take me to
do 80. and then searched for and found the 1‘,
Roi, whipping her and taking her into port a ‘
prize.

“ You did for a fact, Muss Loo,” said Brandy

’With enthusiasm.

u. “ Thwarted as he was, Lieutenant Fenton then
his father to order every mm from

thus
the eyes

Yg‘g'ate, leaving me here with you alone; and,
‘ con

fldont of his own prowess, he sought cause

' near a quarrel, challenged me, and I disarmed

 

 

him and gave him his life twice, and the ad-
miral who was on the field thanked me for it,
though his sdn did not.

“Now I hold my orders for this vessel,
Brandy, as ea tain, with unlimited choice to
cruise where like, and no time set for return.

“ The admiral has sent the crew on board the ‘ b0
Saturn, and placed his son in command, and '

knowing the utter impossibility of getting a

crew in the Massachusetts seaports, told me I g

was at liberty to man the haunted frigate as I
wished.

“ I got this from him in writing, Brandy, and
we shall have a crew.”

“ I don’t know where they are to come from,
Ma3sa Leo.”

“ I will tell on, Brandy.”

“I’d like to now, sir.”

“You know the prison on the bill they call
The Tombs?” I

“ Yes sir.” -

“Well, there are hundreds of men there, of L

all degrees in life, officers of the army and navy,

privates and ordinary seamen, civilians, biir- ‘

glars, murderers, and many very vile wretches,
all convicts, who have been sentenced for vari-
ous crimes against the king, the Colonies, and
society in general.”

“ They’re a hard lot, Massa Leo.”

“ Many of them doubtless are, but there are
also many innocent ones among
must take the good with the bad, for I shall man
my frigate with the men from The Tombs.”

The whites of Brandy’s eyes enlarged at this
piece of startling information, and Captain
Lonsdalo laughed when he looked at him.

“ You seem shocked, Brandy.”

“ I am, sir; but Lordy, Massa Leo, does the
admiral know of this?”

“ No, indeed, or he’d man the. Saturn with
them, I guess.

“ The happy thought has not entered the head
of the admiral’s son, either, and I do not intend
any one shall know, for I have a man working
secretly for me, whose brother and son are pris-
oners inside and sentenced to death for killing a
king’s officer who attempted to impress them
into the service.

“ I shall go to the prison, with the men in my
pay, gain admission, make a prisoner of Cap-
tain Stone, the keeper, and then, calling in my
companions, seize the night-guards in the corri—
dor, release the convicts who have signified
their willin ess to ship with me, and the boats
will be rea y to bring them on board the frigate,
when I shal at once go to sea.”

“But won’t the give ou trouble. sir, when
they find out that his is t 6 Fatal Frigate?“

“ No, Brandy, I fear no trouble that I cannot
subdue, and if there is I must take my chances!

“ The admiral would not fit the frigate up for
me, so I did so, as you know, at my own ex-

ufieuand with what I took from my prize, the

01.

“ There is not a fleeter vessel afloat, nor a
better sea-boat, and there is no reason the men
should be afraid of her, for though she is named
the Ill-Omen, I will prove to them that she is
ill-omened only to her foes.”

“But, Massa Leo, she is haunted,” and Bran-
dy spoke in a whisper.

“ There is that about her, Brandy which I
confess I do not understand, and of a weird
nature; but I must go ashore now to perfect my
plan, and I leave you in command of the frigate
—and the ghosts f”

CHAPTER IV.
ran: onosr or ran ILL OMEN.

WHEN Captain Lionel Lonsdalo had departed
from the frigate, Brandy rowing him ashore in
the gig, and then returning, the negro was sur-
prised, as he drew near the vessel to suddenly
hear a shrill voice:

“ Boat ahoy !”

From habit be promptly responded:

“ Ahoy the frigate!”

“ What boat is that?”

The question came in the same shrill tones.

“The gig of the Ill Omen, sir,” answered
Brandy.

“ Ay, ay; come alongside!”

The negro was standing up in the gig, and
sculling with one oar astern—a style of locomo-
tio i that he prided himself upon.

en minutes before he had left the frigate,
feeling that there was not a soul on rd.

He had set his master on the wharf, and
ut back at once, but now came the bail
mm the deserted fri te, and it was no wonder

that Brand was curious.

The vesse , nd in outline, quiet and somber,
lay of! in the arbor onl a couple of cables’
length from the shore. low her "in the har-
bor were many vessels at anchor, large clipper
shi , coasters and fishing-smacks, while half a
mil:8 away toward the sea lay the new frigate,
the Saturn, which Captain Loanale had allud-
ed to as the “ bone of contention ” of the
ldmiml’s son.

The Ill Omen was a beautiful craft, long. nar-
NW. high in the bows and stern, and with a
ball as trim as a pirate schooner. '

Her masts were very tall, particularly the ; open, revealed a ,
topnmsts, and her , immense long liowsprit and worn beneath the coarse outer clothing.

them, and I l
3 cscaixd the lips, and the negro, now thorough]

spars showed that she could spread a vast
amount of canvas.

She had just been wholly refitted, repaired,
and her armament added to, and she was ready
for Sea at a moment’s notice; but there was

i only her captain and her faithful Brandy on
ard.

Now, however, on his return to the ship,
Brandy was suddenly hailed from her decks.

In those da 3 every one, more or less, was
, superstitious, or it was just prior to the break-
i ing out of the I'Var of the Revolution, and
i Brandy naturally had the superstition of his

race.
! But he was absolutely devoid of fear of man,
and he said to himself:

“Now that’s somebody on board tryin’ to
fri hten me.”

ith this idea, he sculled on to the side of the
} frigate, made his boat fast and clanibered on
I deck.
It was a starlit night, and he saw the outline
, of the frigate from foi‘castle to taffrail.

As he stood by the gangu'ay, in spite of his
nerve he started, for his eyes quickl ' revealed
the fact that he was not alone on thelll Onien.

Coming from the forecastle was a human
form, clothed in white from head to foot.

It came slow] along the deck, upon the star-
board side. Wbifi; Brandy stood to port.

The head turned toward Brandy, but no word

alarmed, as he felt that he was face to face wi
a ghost, stood staring at the weird being in si—
lence.

a woman, stopped at the mizzen ratlines, sprung
lightly upon the bulwarks and went upward to—
ward the cross-trees with the motion that caused
the negro to believe the ropes were not needed
for a sup rt.

Then t e ghost] * form passed out on the yard
and standing on t 0 end was d at in horror
by the negro on the deck of the Haunted Craft.

After standing upon the dizzy perch for some
time, the weird form descended wthe deck and
entered the cabin, for Brandy had not closed the
companionway door.

Instantly the negro ran to the entrance and
ga zed within, to behold a bright li ht in the
cabin, so that all therein was distinct y visible.

Not being able to see the ghostly form from
his point of observation, Brandy stepped dowu
the companionwa ‘.

He had nerved imself for the worst, and was
determined to know all about that ghOst. '

There sat the weird creature in a chair, the
one that Captain Lonsdale liked most, and one
hand rested upon the table at one side.

Instantly Brand walked boldly into the cabin
and advanced to t e table, confronting the ghost
without one atom of fear in his brave heart.

He had seen that weird white form before, on
the ship, and it had spread terror to the hearts
of others who had beheld its ghostly wanderings
at night, on the decks of the ill-fated craft. _

Now he was face to face with it in the broad
glare of the cabin lamps, and he did not shrink.

 

to his vessel, and Brandy met him on deck and
in a few hurried words he told his master the
story of the ghomly visitor.

But the young captain wasnot alone. for at-
his back came man after man, as they coma;
aboard from boats that were alongside, and, an
hour after, in the darkness, and in a. fearful
storm that had swept up, the III Omen went to
pressure of the gale like me monster of
the deep. ’ ’0 g

 

CHAPTER V.
ran cmrrun CORSAIR.

small smack was sailing along the coast of what
was then known as the Carolinas. '

skimmed along under the very t breeze, m a’
way that showed she was a g
she stood up well as proof of iii-stun
craft.

ler, and the other seated upou the cabin-deck (if.

man sitti on the cabin-deck was gazing at’it

coast, are you ca tain f"
It was the hehnsman who spoke, a large,
brawny fellow, with a face that wasbold though

person al ther. His manners

refined, his

face were

 

’withal

His form was elegant, and his attire that of is , "

 

recklem mouth, yet which was very handso

ordinary seaman, h his coat, which was:

me oflicer's 

Passing aft, the form appearing to be that of V

Several hours after Captain Lonsdale returned \

sea with her convict crew, drivin along, under r

SEVERAL weeks after the sailing of the frigv _ I,
ate Ill Omen, manned by her convict crew, a ‘

The smack was about ten tons burden, and . \

\ sailor while,
as“ ..

Them were two men on board, one at the til- '
the little craft, and within a. few feet of his cum» .
panion. , . g ..

The land was but a league away, and the - ,
mph the air of one who was watching for stiller. ‘

H1&0“ are not afraid of anything along this  
insincere. , , ~ .

Theone he addressed was a different looking '
‘ng that of a gentleman. and yet .

his face was one to feet, with its dark eyes. and 1.:  
me a' .

t

l

\‘*

 

 

   
  
   
  
   

'i

 

  

 

 

 

man
' which

"annulment

 

4 . The One-Armed Buccaneer.

Upon his left hand were two rings set with
precious stones of rare value, and another gem
was worn in his black silk scarf; but his right
arm was worn in a sling, and the bandages re-
vealed that the hand had been severed at the
wrist, and evidently the wound was of recent
infliction.

“ N0, Bonus, I am not afraid of anythin
catching us along this coast, but I know the lam
yonder, and was having a look at it for old ac-
quaintance sake,” and the speaker had a slight,
but pleasant accent in his speech, which shtiwed,
as well as did his dark face, that he was of
Spanish origin.

“ We have had a wonderfully successful run,
sir. and may consider ourselves safe now.”

“ I have not thought of danger to myself,
Bonus, since you helped me to csca from that
horrid prison, which they right y call The
Tombs.’

" Don’t speak of it, sir, for I shudder when I
think I ave the keeper, poor Captain Stone,
the ow er that killed him, when you said it
w d merely put him to sleep.”

“ It did just as I said, Bonus, put him to sleep,”
re lied the other with a laugh.

‘ Ah, sir, I can never drive that memory from
m mind, and many a time 1 will regret, in spite
o the jewels en gave me as a bribe, that l was
false to my uty as your ard, and, not only
allowed you to escape, but illed the captain to

m.

“Bah! don’t be a. fool, Bonus. What is the
taking of a human life, anyhow? I have taken
man a score, in my piratical career, and I live
now t for revenge,” and the eyes of the one-
anned man fairly glittered with hatred as he

spoke.

“ But who have you to be avenged on, cap-
tain?” asked the helmsman with a shudder.

“ Well, let me see, In good Bonus, who I will
seek revenge upon, ant to accomplish which, I
wished you to let me escape.

“ You know that I went to the eastern coast
to secure another vessel, as my schooner was in a
ve bad condition. I hardly expected to find
as eet a craft as was the noble little Spitfire,
which had won me riches and saved me from
the yard-arm by her speed; but off your port I
chased a packet schooner that ran out, while I
was] 'ng under bare poles in the offing.”

“ at was the Pretty Ellen, the new Portland
packet, sir.”

“ I know she sailed wonderfully well, and
was dropping the Spitfire when I opened lire
upon her, and, after awhile, when she was
most out of range, crippled her and she became

_ 'my rize.

“ ow, Bonus, as you ask me about my
revenge, let me tell you that on that emit, as a
passenger, was a young lady whose beauty won
my heart at sight.

“For ter 1 Would have ln'cn glad to have
given up piracy; yes, and lived an honest life.

‘I meant to make her my captive, and then
win her love and make her my wife; but she
scorned me, and then it was that my young
lieutenant, the base dog, stepped forward as her
defender.

“ Well, Bonus, to humor him, I accepted his
terms to fight with cutlasscs, and if I was de-
féated, to @t the lady free.

.“ M men have called me Captain Cutlass,
the on y name the know me by, on account of
mfiy great skill wit i that weapon, and I laughed
a the idea of defeat and met him.

" But, why dwell on it, for this is the mark he
left on me,” and with a bitter laugh the pirate,
for so he had confessed himself, held up the
stun] of his right arm.

“ [Io you ask, now, why, Captain Cutlass, the
One-Armed buccsnecr, lives for revenge?”

w

/

 

CHAPTER VI.
TREACIIIRY.

You a momlgit no Word was said by either of
the men on t little smack, which was held on
tor wa by the helmsmun.

The use of the nan uhom he called “Cap-

tain,” worked convulsivglgir for awhile with the

Ntt'ernessthat pervaded soul, and then he re-
named:
“While I was fighting like a fool with that
old, a danger was coming upon us of
0 little dreamed, Bonus.
“I was an idiot to let Harold fl ht me, and
fluid have had my crew kill him; at then he
saved me from hanging once, when I was a
mixer, and when a couple of years later I cap-
a craft of which he was mate, I made him
my lieutenant.”
‘ Willing] on his part, sir?”
“ No, but 0 hadto serve me, for I needed just

, ' ,vsuch a man, and it was my gratitude tohim that

unmanned, me for, while our combat was going

I‘ on”the English frigate,\Ill Omen, came upon
1:133. ' '
“You know the result. M schooner was

taken, my crew sent on board he frigate, and

the maiden I had—tho moment I saw her—
to love was the sister of Capta‘n Lons-

men.

“Hoka my lieutenant as an ofiicer of the

 

frigate, for he had but a convict crew, as you
well know, and carried my schooner into port in
the fog, leaving her there, with me in her cabin
in irons, and simply a note to the old admiral,
for he did not like to be seen himself, as he feared
his crew would be taken from him.”

“That was a bold thing, sir—his taking the
convicts from the prison.”

“ Yes, Bonus, he is a bold man. If he was not
he neyer would have sailed in that doomed
craft.7

“ I was on duty that ni ht, sir, and was made
prisoner while Captain onsdale had the men

ed out of their cells that he wanted.

“ It was pouring rain—the very night for such
work, and he left Captain Stone tied to his
chair, but, when he got the crew on board, had
some one who was his ally, send a letter to the
President of the Town Council telling him what
had been done.

" All, but it was a
Cutlass!”

“ I admit it; and if Lonsdalc turned pirate he
woulrl make a name for himself.”

“ I think he’ll make a reater name when the
war, comes between Eng and and the Colonies,
811'.

“ Doubtless, Bonus; but you wish to know
about my revenge?”

“ Yes, sir ”

“ Well, I shall just get my vessel, and then I
shall” go to her home and kidnap Miss Lons-
dale.

“ But you said, sir, if I would let you escape
and set you free, you would get a vessel and
leavo the Colonies.”

“ That was a spasm of honor, Bonus, to get
ou to set me free. I am a Cuban, in man, and
old no interest in the quarrel of t o Colonies

With Great Britain. I was driven to piracy, and
I shall not desert my flag."

“Oh, sir! but I re rct to hear you say this,
and I will not enjoy t 0 home your jewels will en-
able me to buy, nor be happy with the girl I
have so long been working to lay up money that
I might marry.”

“' hat is your misfortune, Bonus, not my fault,
for I shall, as I said, make, captive Miss Eve
Lonsdale, a; d that will be my first stroke cf rc-
ven e against her brother for capturing me.”

“ I‘hen I shall capture my reereant lieutenant,
Harold. and have my sweet revenge on him, as
also English, my other cfllccr, who accepted ser-
vice as surgm n under Captain Lonsdale; but he
shall simply serve me as before. for I hold no
particular ill-will against English.

“ From you I have learned certain gossip that
Captain Lonsdale is in love with a Miss Vernon,
11 young lady of vast wealth, and to get her into
my power will be a second stroke of revenge,
while, for her ransom, her father must pay a
fortune.

“Now, Bonus, you know what my intention
is, and once I get my foot on a fleet vessel, and I
know thol'crut‘t I want, I. will become an ogre
upon the ocean that will make men tremble at
m name.”

‘Oli, captain! 1—”

“Silence, sir, and don‘t preach to me.”

“ But do you think I will not right the wrong
I have done, by delivering; you up to the author-
ities, afmr all on have it ld me you intend to
do?” stormy 53%! to helmsmun.

The pirate lau died. and it was a laugh that
grated upon the ca rs ot' the man Bonus.

“My car Bonus, in telling you what I did, I
talked as man would before the dead.”

“What mean you, Captain Cutlass?”

“Bonus, you are a fool,” and again came that
harsh laugh.

The helmsman grew pale, for somehow he
seemed to feel that there was trouble ahead.

“Bonus, I gave you jewels to the amount of a
thousand pounds, to aid me to escape, did I
not?‘

“ You did.”

“ Then you drew the money you had laid up
of your own and it was a sun little sum.”

‘ Yes. all I had in the war] , and which had
cost me long toil to save.

“ But, had it been sufficient for the purpose I
needed it. I would not have taken our accursed
hribe of jewels, and now regret t at I ever set
you free. ’

Once more the grating Hugh, and then the
words, as he motioned landward:

“ Yonder inlet you see, Bonus, leads to a little
bay, on tlzo shores of which dwell a few wild
people, men whom I know.

“It is my intention to go there, Bonus, and I
do not intend you shall accompany me. You
proved a traitor to your duty as guard, and once
a traitor, never to betrusted. When I gave you
those jewels it was but to accom lish in end,
to gain my treedom. Now I am ree, an those
jewels and your money Ineed, and only your
life stands between me and their ion.

“ See, I care nothing for human life, so I kill
you.” and, as the crippled corsair spoke, he drew
a pistol from his bosom, leveled it and fired.

At the report the helmsmau f ll across the
tiller a dead man, for the bullet had pierced his
forehead.

Thus did the ogre begin his red work by
treachery toward the man who had saved him
from tip gallows.

daring act, Captain

 

CHAPTER VII.
a GIRL AT THE HELM.

UPON the coast of Maine the homestead known
as Sealands was the grandest one of all in the
early settlements of that )art of the country.

It had been built by a ritish naval officer of
wealth who had married a lovely An erican girl,
and gileing up his home and kindred in England,
had .n content to settle down in the land that
was the birthplace of his beautiful wife.

Loving the sea, he had made his hcme upon it.
and his riches soon made for him a most sub-7
stantial and comfortable home.

He had purchased a thousand acres in a body,
and snug cabins were built for the tillers of the
soil, until Sealands, as he named his plantation,
became a settlement of its own.

The house was built of stone, solid as a rock,
and with wings, piazzas, and a toWer, did not
look unlike an English nobleman’s home.

The view from the front windows and broad
piazza was grand, stretching out across an island-
dotted bay to the ever-restless ocean a few miles
be 0nd, and up and down the coast for leagues.

The grounds had been improved, and a pier
jutted out into a little, land-locked bay, wherein
rode at anchor several small plea sure craft.

In this home had been born Lionel Lonsdale-
and his sister, some seven years his junior, and
a girl of rare loveliness.

From this home, too, had the boy, Lionel, and
Brandywine, whose mother had come with l‘cr
mistress, Mrs. Lonsdale, from Virginia, gone
forth that day of the storm which blew them in r
out to sea. wrecking their little sloop, and 1: av-
ilngghe inmates of Sealands to mourn them as
( ea .

Several years after the return of his son, in
the uniform of a British naval officer, Captain
Lousdale had died, leaving his wife and two chil-
dren to mourn his loss.

For the education of her daughter, for her son
was at sea Mrs. Lonsdale had removed to Bos-
ton, but she grew homesick there for dear old
Sealands, and procuring a governess [for Eve,
returned once more to the home she loved so
well.

After finishing her studies, Eve was deaf to all.
offers of hands and hearts of the allaan,
whether in the army, navy. or in civil ife, l. (I
seemed to enjoy more living at Sealands with
her mother.

Perhaps it was that up to her nineteenth year
no one had really touched her heart, for “ ith her
brother Lionel as her beau ideal of manhcod,
she was hard to please.

Then, too, an American girl, she felt ined at.
the treatment the colonists received at t e hands
of their English rulers, and Mrs. Lonsdale had
often urged her son to give up his commission
as a king’s officer.

It is to this home of Scalands that. I would
have my reader accompany me, a week before
the sai ing of the Ill Omen with her crew of
felons on board.

The mother and daughter wrre seated, as was
their wont in the afternoom, u; (in the brtad pi-
azza, gazing out upon the sum: of grandeur be-
fore them.

Some little while before the keen eyes of Eve
had sighted a small craft Winding in and out
among the islands, as she sailcd up the bay.

The craft carried a mainsail and jib, and was
scarcely over twenty-five feet in length, while
but one person was visible on board.

But she ap red to stand up well under her
canvas, for t e wind was blowing free. and the
01:15] at the helm handled her thh the utmt st
8 . ’

“The sloop is coming here, mother, without
doubt, for if not she would have gone the other
side of Deer Island,” said Eve.

“ You are right, my child, and I hope she
brin some tidings of our brother.”

“fir, for Leo, you now, is in Boston, and
that craft comes from along the coast.

“ I will get m glass and have a- look at her.”

As she spoke. v0 arose, and stepping into the
hall soon returned With a large sp -glass, which
she adjusted and leveled at the lltt e vessel.

“ Mother that is one of those smart chebacca
boats? 811d 1 08}! see but one person on board,
and—mother, It is a woman at the helm.”

“ A woman i" asked Mrs, Lonsdale in surprise.

“Yes, mother, it certainly is a woman, or
rather a young girl, for I can see her face new
distinctly.”

“Then whoever accom ice is in the cabin.
or somewhere about the $11k.”

“Doubtless, mother, but it is strange that a
man would allow a girl to sail through these
islands, as she has been doing for half an hour
past and not come on deck.”

“ e is somewhere out of sight where you do
not see him.”

“ No, for I see the craft from stem to stern, so
He " oust be in the cabin.” .

You can sail anywhere you Wish, Eve, and
alone, so why not another girl?”

“ True, mother, why not? But I donot rcc0g~
nize, that boat as one I have run before in
them‘flters, and I know them all.”

" Ifl‘s- strange, my child; but see, is she not
headin " In toward our harbor?” -

“ Ye.‘ mother, she has changed hercoursehalf

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a dozen points, and the ”girl let 03 the sheet rope
and jib halyards alone.

“ Can she be alone on the boat, Eve?”

“ It certainly looks 80— Oh!”

“ Well, Eve?”

“ . .he has raised a glass to her eye, and is
looking ahead toward the entrance to the. cove——
I.)\V she turns the glass upon the house, and is
i ioking straight at us.”

“ It is more than I can understand, my child;
but if she appears to be alone when she runsinto
'. .l‘l cove, we will go down to the wharf and
:.i ‘et her.”

" Yes, mother, for she is alone, or if there i4 9.
mun on the boat, he is ill or hurt, so that he
cannot help her.

“ Let us go now, mother, as the boat will be.
there soon, and I am most anxious to find out
who this strange girl is at the helm of the little
sloop.”

And a moment after, Mrs. Lonsdale and Eve
were descending the winding gravel walk down
‘to the shore of the little haven.

CHAPTER VIII.
A DEBT REPAID.

THE little haven into which the sloop was now
:standing was certainly a snug harbor for any
craft under a hundred tons.

A good wharf projected from the shore, and
upon the end of it was an arbor which, in the
winter, could be shut in with boards and used
as a boat-house.

Now it was open, and a pleasant place to sit
and look out upon the waters.

Here is where the mother and daughter seated
themselves to await the coming of the sloop.

The young helniswomaii had run into the
harbor, and was steering so as to make a land-
in at the wharf.

ghe was plainly visible, and it was evident to
Mrs. Lonsdale that she had no one to aid h r in
the management of the boat.

But she seemed to handle the craft with great
skill and ease.

Giving herself ample room, she rounded u
easily, and the sloop glided up to the wharf wit
a gentleness that was hardly felt.

Springing ashore, the young girl 'made her
boat fast to a cleat, and then said, as she
looked from one to the other of the two who
met her: ‘

“I need not ask if you are the mother and
sister of Lionel Lonsdale, for your faces betray

he kinship.” .

The speaker was scarcely over eighteen, with
":1 tall, willowy form, which seemed also indica-
tive of strength.

She was dressed in a blue cloth suit, trimmed
profusely with gold lace, and upon her head
she wore a mans tarpaulin, encircled with a
gold cord.

Her face and hands were very dark, the for-
mer radialntly beautiful, the latter shapely and
covered with rin set with precious stones.

About her nee was a chain of gold, studded
with gems, and u n her slender, firm wrists,
were massive bun s of the some precious metal.

Her complexion was as dark as a Spa
“but every feature was perfect, the hue of
health was in her cheeks, and the eyes were

radiant in their brightness and intensely full of
feeling.

The mother and daughter gazed u n this
wonderful creature with surprise, ming ed with
admiration. and the former said, in answer to
her words, which had been spoken in a terse
manner, but in a voice that was very 1mm-
cal:

“ I am Mrs. Lonsdale, and this is my (laugh.
ter Eve, madam. _

“ But we have not the honor of knewnig you.”

The girl smiled and then said:

“ Hist ever heard, dear lady, of a young
school rl, who several years ago in Portland,

 

niard’s, A

, you, noble

 

was ki napped one night by smugglers, and was -

rescued by your son?”

“ 1 bar 137 recall such an incident, madam.”

“ Felling Captain Lousdale has performed so
many d e of valor, that the saving of a young
girl from the hands of those who meant her
ham, was not considered worth referring to at
home."

There was a tinge of scorn in the words and
manner, and Mia. mnsdale replied:

" M son has done many noble acts, and
doubt 688 many we know not 0f.

“ He is modest however. regarding the telling

of his adventures, and liesldeS, we do not see
him so very often as he. 18 most constantly at
sea.”
“Ah, yes, mother, I remember the dream.
stance now; but Leo saw the oung lady but
an instant, as he left her at t 9 door of her
school.” h

“ I am the young girl, and I have never for
gotten Lionel Lonsdale, for he saved me Q3“:
more than he can ever know. .

“ But, inayhap, madam, you recall auschooner-
of—war whose commander lay unconscious in his
cabin. from a wound received in action, and his
lieutenant had anchored off a coast where it
was death and destruction to be caughiqlin a
$501111? 4m"

“ A young girl saw the danger of the. greener,
her home, and beholding a stern! arising,

 

V The One-Armed Buccaneer.

rowed out in her skill“ to the schooner. told the l
officer of his danger, and piloted the vessel to a
safe anchorage.

“ Finding that the wounded commander was
Lionel Lonsdale, he who had saved her from the
kidnappers, she had him carried ashore to her
home, for there was no surgeon on his vessel, :
and her father, a man scienced in surgery and
medicine, extracted the bullet and saved his
i e? ‘

“ Perhaps you may have been told this story,
madam?”

“ Ah, yes, indeed, and my son owed his life to
irl, and your fath-Ar, for you nursed
him throng long weeks of suil‘ering, ’ said Mrs.

c

5

“ The claim of my love.”
“ Ab! and do you possess his love?”
“ Girl, it is that which drives me mad,” came

the fierce rejoinder.

“ Did my brother ever tell you he loved you?”
She was silent a moment, and then she said

slow] ':

it 0. 9,
“ And yet you are so unmaidenly as to claim

him?” and there was a touch of scorn in Eve’s
l words.
i

“Madam, do not be severe, for you see I am

i almost heartbroken.”

“ Forgive me.”
“ Your brother would have died but for my

Lansdale, while the tears came into her eyes at father’s skill in surgery, and it is said, my de-

the remembrance.

“ You are Lola Leslie,” cried Eve quickly, i
grasping the hand of the strange girl. 

“ Yes, I am Lola Leslie, and 1 repaid the ser‘ 1
vice that Lionel Lonsdale rendered me.” i

“ Come, you are as welcome in my home as ;
thouah'vou were my own child; come with us to ‘
the house, and let us tell you how much we owe
you in gratitude,” said Mrs. Lonsdale earnestly.

“ Yes, come at once, and I will send the boat- 1
man down to lower your sail and anchor your
little craft off-shore.

“ But are you alone?”

“ Yes, MISS Lonsdale, I am alone. and I shall
return at once in my craft. as soon as I haVe
heard from the lips of your mother and yourself
the truth about Lionel Lonsilale. for upon the .
truth hangs his life or mine,” and the girl’s face
paled now, and she. spoke with a look and man-
ner that caused both Mrs. Lrnsdale and Eve to
shudder in spite of themselves.

CHAPTER IX.
LOVE-MAD.

FROM some reason, why she could not under-
stand Mrs. Lons'lalc felt a strange chill come
over her, at the words of the girl who stood be- 3
fore her. i

i
|

 

But she controlled her emotion and asked:

“ Will ou not come to the house, and there
we can ta k over what you wish regarding my ,
son?” '

“ No, I will hear from your lips what I would i
know,” was the sharp respinisu. ‘

Eve saw that her mother, whose nerws had
not been very strong, since the shock of her i
father’s death, was becoming deeply affected by ,
the words and manner of the young girl, and ;
she said haughtily:

“ As you will not accept the hospitality we of-
fer you, madam, perhaps you Will tell us what it i
:15 that you would know regarding Captain Lonsr 1

a e? '

The girl’s eyes flashed, and she
quickl :

“ I would know if it is true that he is soon to {
marry a young lady of Boston, a Miss Belle Ver-
non by name 24” .y

“My brother has not told us of any such an
engagement, nor written us, and I cannot be—
lieve as he only has been a few months in Bos—
ton, hat he would marry any one whom he had
known so short a time."

“ You say it is not true, then?” eagerly asked
the irl. ' -

“ o the best of my knowledge and belief it is
not” .
“ And yet I cannot have been misinformed,”
the girl said impetuously.

“ May I ask where you got your information,
madam?”

“From one who was there, and said that it
was the gossi ) of the town.”

“ I cannot lieve it, or my brother would cer-
tainly have written my mother."

“I enven grant it be not true; but then I fear
that it is.”

“ May I ask, madam, that were it true, how
my brother’s engagement would interest you?”
and Eve spoke haughtily.“

The eyes flashed, the .0m heaved, and in a
suppre-tsed voice. came the answer:

“ It interests me in that I love him.”

“Have you any claim upon my brother?”

“ Yes!” was the fierce reply.

“ What claim?”

“I love him.”

“ Are (you bound to him by any tie, or prom-
ise?” an Eve spoke coldly and calmly, while
Mrs. Lonsdale, sinking into a seat in the boat-
house, listened breathlessly to every word, her
eggs wandering from the face of her daughter to
t t of Lola Leslie:

“ Yes.”

“ By word or tie?”

“ By the strongest tie that earth can have."

Eve turned pale at this, but asked in the same
calm manner:

“ You imply that you are my brother‘s wife?”

“Then I did not mean to do that."

“I can understand no other tie so strong as
you speak of.”

“I saved his life: I brought him back out of
the very shadow of the grave.”

“ I grant that.”

\\ I
returned 1

‘liim. and I sprung into my little sloop and

 

“ Is that not tie enough?”
“ It is a strong tie, I admit, but does it give
yo‘n a claim upon my brother?”

“ Whéreinr' .

3 voted nursing.”

“ He has said that himself.”

“ Night after night I watched by his side, hop-
ing, praying and fearing.

“ At last he begun to come back to life.

“Slowly, then rapidly, he iinproVed, and. as
he grew better, I limited in the forest and shot
for him game. [ fished in the deepest pools and

, caught him the best fiz—h, I read to him. sung for

him, played to him on the spiinict, I sketched
for him and told him stories to amuse hini. -

“ As he grew able to go about I led him
through the pine groves. sailed with him over the
waters, and, when one day his vessel came and __
he went away, he took with him my heart, my .E.
soul. a ‘

“ He came back to see me once, twice, thrice,
after long months had passed, and I had grown
from a girl to a woman, and so I loved him with
a woman’s passionate heart and son'.

“ He did not tell me he loved me. but I thought 

; he did, and, I held no fear for the future, until—
i until—I heard he loved another.

“ Then I grew lovemad, then I vowed that
he was mine, and that no other should claim 

came here tohis house to learn the truth from
you. 
“I came. alone, and all last night and to- 
day, l have sailed on my way, and I vow, be- 
fore High Heaven, I will kill him before he ‘

' shall be another’s.

“Do you hear? I shall kill him. or I shall . _
kill myself, and so you tell him, if you love ‘ 1.x;

him.

“Tell him that Lola Leslie makes no idle
vows, and means all she says. -
“I shall come for his answer before very ' 
lon . I 

Without another word she turned, nnfastened
the painter that held her boat, shovid off, and
taking the helm, hauled in her sheet and went

skimming out of the harbor, leaving the mother 

lying on the floor of the boat-house in a swoon, ".3

l and the daughter bending over her, bathin

her face with her kerchief, which she in
hastily run to the end of the pier and saturated
with salt water. ‘ , -

 

CHAPTER X. g
A RIVAL’S PLOT. 
Tm: fair girl of whom Lola Leslie, them r
terious dweller upon the coast. was so In
jealous. was an heiress and a beauty. , 
Her father had been born in America, and, - : 

like his father before. him. had “taken to the. ,j,
sea.” to be a ship’s commander. '  

But unlike his father “ Commodore ” Venion,
as he was called, for he had a fleet of vessels un-
der his control, and all his own property too,
had inherited a fortune. .
This fortune he had added to, until in, early
life he had bum forced to give up his ship and
look after his vast interests. ,
Belle Vl'l’iimi was heiress to all his wealth. " _ .
which was said to be greater than tliatof any ', » 
other person in the Colonies. ,’ 
Not that Belle Vernon was the only child, for , .' “.1
there was another. her broiler. Shh-e years "
senior, and a bright, handsome lad, but atrifle

Wild. v
In fact his wild we 8 had led him into trouble,
and one. night he ha been pluyin cards with ..
four of his fast comrades, when t e lifeofmo ‘ '
had been taken. . ' ,

The next morning he had been found dfi ‘
the dirk knife of young Vernon in his heart, ,
the three comrach had departed. ’~' _ .

From that day the name. or his son was never “ ' ‘
allowed to be mentioned in the family of 03'  '
Hiram Vernon. and he locked rpon Belicia: MI
only child and heiress, dearly as he had loved the ~ ,
erring boy.

At the time of the evening of this stov , m - ... 
years had passed away since the flight 0 your; ' .
Vernon, bearing the brand of murder upon him.

 

 
   
     
    
 
  

and he was looked upon as dead. '
His beautiful sister, who had fairly idolifld }' 
her erring brother. was wont to keep in her f 
room, in a secluded neck, a veiled portrait a ; ‘
the wanderer. and each ni ht before she re.-
tired she would look at it an murmur a prayer '
for the poor fellow. wherever he might be. A .
Belle Vernon was no ordinary i'ersonage, far
she POW intelligence, wit and talent, he.
sides her beauty and her wealth. and thushad ,
no rival as the reigning belle am “toast” of» _
the town. , v :5
Vernon Hall was a place where all loved!» ‘
visit, old men and young. soldiers, sailor-said. I

a:

Y \
,.__
.

    

6

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

 

 

 

 

 

citizens, and its hospitality was noted and un-
bounded. '

The commander-in-chief of the port, and in
“fact of the military as well—for there was no
oficer of very high rank there in the British

’ Army—was Admiral Mars Fenton, a stern-faced
old seamen, who was a thorough dismplinarian
with all under him, excepting his own extrava-

nt and wild son, Frank, who was a senior
tenant in the navy.
This sprig of the sea was a dashin , fine—look-
fellow, V'(‘I‘y popular, and could cad the ad-
miral by the nose, so to speak. and, figuratively,
did so when he wanted his own way.
’ The admiral was as extravagant as his son,
: ,' wuss nobleman. and yet was as poor as Lazarus,
having nothing but his pay.
I His son had received certain most acceptable
' some as prize money, and always helping his
father out, thus held a money ,influence over
him, which is most [xnveri‘ul the world over.
Now, Frank Fenton, lieutenant in the king’s
na , had fallen in love with llello Vernon, in-
clu‘gng her money, and not only did the admi-
ral ur e the suit, but the “commodore” was
more t an willing, for so well did the old and
n sea—dogs manage their financial matters,
' at 516 were supposed to be rich.
/ Belle ernon, having had he" heart touched,
had not looked unkind] y upon the gallant young
, ‘ sailor, who considered his chances good.
" ' But there was a spice of coquetry in her na-
5 ' tune, and there was another of her numerous
.- admirers whom she was about as kind to as to
firi _ Frank Fenton.
 This one was Major Albert Branscombe, who
was known to his intimates as “ Bprt” Bruns-

  

as
a: '

   
  
   
   
   
 
    
   
  
   
    
   
   
      
    
    
     
   
  
     
   
   
  
  
 
    
   
   
  
   
 

. 0001 \
, . He had been a midshi man in the Royal
Navy, and had distinguishm himself as such.
Then, feelinga desire for service in the ro-
mantic land of India, he had resigned from
the navy and gotten an ensign’s appointment in
the army, and his daring rapidly advanced him
' up the ladder of promotion.
, r years of service in India, he had been
sent toAmerica with his regiment, which he
‘commanded a battalion of in Boston, at the
, opening of this sto .
' ~ Young, as han some as an Apollo, very
‘ ' wealthy, a oung noble in embryo, he was court-
ed by all w knew him. and many thought that
he would win the fair Belle in the end.
.But suddenly another person in uniform ap-
' poured upon the scene.
' He was a man With a history too, and the only
' can holding high rank in the British
' a. .
f  he was, other than that he had been
 up a. lad, at sea, in a fishing-smack, by a

1v

w

s fiagshi , saved the life of a commodore,
, won a mid y‘s berth, was not lmowu, except
that he had forCed recognition and promotion by
hiccuperb courage and. ability.
‘ It was said that his hie had been a. romance of
adventure, and, having beaten off a French ves-
' Q51 , vastly his superior when he was in command
of a. brig, his craft had been so badly used under
v ficterrific fire. that in a storm that drove the
butants a rt, she had sunk, and he had been
on] surv vor, being picked up the next day
,zydgis 0e 1ilvhom he had so fearlessly and deeper-
fou

t.
_ Bomuc‘h did the French captain admire his
act

that he ran into an English port, under
In; truce and gave him his lihe , aion

:1“ a letter to the admiral of the Britis squa -
 detailing the circumstances.
:1, ., Reporting at once for duty Lionel Lonsdale
* ;  been ordered under the command of Admi-
'- all Fenton, and his coming had created a sensa-
  Rico in the town.
F , And more, it soon became noiscd abroad that he

 come between both Lieutenant Fenton and
,  Brsnspombe in the affection of Miss Ver-

. m.

, « Realizing this Frank Fenton had begun the

4 » ’ whic the reader‘has heard Lionel Lonsdale

, ‘ his faithful comrade and servant, Brandy-
!” who, when the brig went down, had for-

Mniely not been with his master on board, but

home at Sealands on sick leave.

 lulled in his first got, Frank Fenton \had

‘  5-1111: a. quarrel with nsdale, which had end-
'  a due], the result of which was that the

' tw1ce gave the lieutenant his life.
kg ‘ with hi son Cs tain Lonsdale had
t a man on board excepting Brandywine,
‘ he had placed his son on the splendid new
Ca tain Lonsdale had outwitted the ad-
s his son, gotten a crew, convicts
4 I  n, reader knows, while he had already sent
' h u s prise the Cuban Corsair Captain Cutlass,
M and crew to swell his own numbers on

:11 Oman.

officers, military, naval and civil. had
-hnlnmmoned, after the sailing of the Fatal Fri-
5  as she was more generally called. and Wit-~

by the a miral, on he frigate Ill Omen,
5  Saturn, then fitting for sea.
5' they were, for his frigate. and gone to
" d his schooner the Spitfire, taking the pirate,
, . the chicanery of Frank Fentou, a coun—
:, j  d
sworn that she was to be turned

with her felon crew, she had been
the admiral. . .,

r/

 
  
   
   
   
    
 

     
 

  



 
   
    
   

' an
lee-'P‘my

 

 

 

And more, Frank Fenton, promoted to a cap-
taincy, had been ordered to go to sea in the
Saturn with all dispatch, and hunt down the III
Omen, and bring her back to port.

He had sailed with 11 ing colors, to be run

1
l

o
posed that he had been a fisher-lad. and had risen,
and the beauty and refinement of his sister sur—

l prised me beyond measure. ’

back into port the night ollowing by a French .I
frigate, and a. captured British sloop-of-war, I
serving under the French commander, and nar- ‘
rowly had the Saturn escaped having to strike 3

her colors. ,
Thus matters stood at the time of my romance,

if I add, that after the visit of Lola. L"sli(‘, to Sea- 3
lands, Eve Lonsdale had taken the stage to

Boston to  and warn her brother, but found
that he had sailed the night before, while, on
nearing the town the horses had run away wi 1h
the coach, and her dearth would haVo followed
but for the pluck of Major Branseombe who had
shot one of the animals, and thus stopped the
team just in time to save all from dashing into
a torrent.

Remainingbut the day in town, Eve Lonsdale
had been on the. packet—:r-luniner, l‘retty Ellen,
Which had been captured by ihe. Spitfire, and re—
taken by the ’[11 Omen, thus meeting the brother
she had gone in search of.

CHAPTER XI.
A MAIniax‘s rzi'snros.
“ HE never told me that he loVed me, and. yet
I feel that he does.
“ He asked me not to think ill of him, to

 

promise that I would know all the truth regard- .

mg him before I judged, and I gave him my
pledge. that I would.”

‘ fallen into the hands of her brother, and not been

i
l
i
i
l
1

The one who thus mused to herself, was Belle ,

Veriu )1].

She sat in her own room. furnished with every
luxury that heart could Wish, and watched the
beauties of the sunset.

Her father was down-town preparing to take
his vessel, anew privateer brig—for the com-
modore had several privateers at sea feeding on
French commerce-out to sea, along with the
Saturn and the pirate schooner, which were to
attack the French frigate and sloop-ot-war an-
chored in the oiling.

They were the saute that had driven the
Saturn back to port in a damaged condition,
and then, in defiance, had anchored of! the
harbor.

All was excitement ill: d preparation in the
harbor and town, for the Saturn was being rap-
idly reiittcd, the brig, Belle Cf Blue Water, was
also getting her armament on board, to sail un-
der Commodore Vernon, with a crew of mer-
chant— aailors and fishermen,and the Spitfire, the
pirate schooner, was to go out, as soon as in con-
dition, under Ma 'or Branscombe, who had vol-
unteered, and With a crew of fort artillery men
and soldiers, the major’s former experience as a
midshipman fitting him to take command.

These three were to fight the Frenchmen, with
Ca tam Frank Fenton as the flag-officer.

he thou ht that her father was to expose
himself to ( oadly danger had sot Belle to mus-
ing, and yet the defiance of the Frenchmen, with
the hope of Capturing them and releasin'r the
British crew of the sloo of—war. known to e on
board, was more than t 0 old merchant-commo-
dore could allow to pass without his lending a
helping hand. '

“In two days the Saturn, the Belle and the
Spitfire will be ready to an out. and. oh! what
a fearful loss of life will follow,” Belle Vernon
continued in her musings.

“ But will they be able to conquer the French
vessels, for the frigate is a match for the Bat-
urn and the 3100 of war may prove superior to
the little brig an schooner that my father and
Major Branscombe command. . '

“ Oh! how terrible is war! And yet he is in
dail danger of death. -

“ {low strange has been his life, and how won,-
derfully he has been spared.

“He has cruised over all seas and to many
lands, and yet how young he is, how handsome
and how brave

“I half-thou hi: I loved Frank Fenton, and
then meeting aior Branscombe convinced me
that Idirl not: while, when I met Lionel Lons-
dale I for the first time knew my own heart.

“But he has not told me of his love, yet I
believe we both read each other’s meaning in
each other’s eyes.

“ And that Frank Feuton might not feel more
raven eful, when he asked me to become his
wife, at him 011’ with my answer.

“ If I ad refused him he would have laid it to
Lionel Lonsdule, I feel assured. and that would
have made him most bitter toward him, and he
hates him now enough for all purposes of mis-
chief, I feel assured.

“ Well, he shall have m answer after I have
seen Lionel Lonsdale and now that he is not_to
be treated as a pirate, for going out, as he did,
with that convict crew.

“ I have confidence in him, and feel that he
will do some not that will cast the charge. of
outlawry to the winds, for he told me, no matter
wfipt :happened, to have trust in him, and I
w

“How strange that he never told me of his

beautiful sister.
“ He 9 ire of his mother and sister, living

1

quietlya. their homoon Casco; Bay, but I sup-

!rw l. ,5.

 

 

“And how desperately in love with her did
Major Branscombe fall; and I am glad of it, for
111_ was a little ashamed of my eoquetry with

1m.

“ He is a splendid fellow, is Bert Branscomhe,
and he brought me word of Lionel Lonsdale so
kindly, and has stood his friend through all.

“ But he just fell over head and ears in love
with Eve Lonsdale. the day he saw her, and she
cut me out decidedly.

“ But I am glad of it, and I hope she will re--
turn the love of the. splendid fellow.

“ How fortunate it was that she should lia re

the captive of that red-handed pirate.

“ And it makes me shudder to think “at the
pirate escaped. and took the life of poor old Cap—
tain Stone to do so.

“I fear he will be heard of again upon the
seas, even though he has but one arm—- Ah!
there comes father now, and l‘..'n.jor l‘raizscombe
is with him.

" I am glad he has brought him likll e to :-up—-
per with him,” and Belle Vernon Win (on n
stairs to root her father and his guest, Bert
Branscom e, who certainly looked wry hand»
some in his su rb uniform ot‘ the King’s ()mr
Regiment of ragoons. ._ ,

‘ Is there any news?” she asked eagerly. as she '.
led her guest into the sitting-room. Inkling:

“ That is the all-pervading question now, lila—
jor Branscombe.”

“ I suppose you heard that Captain Cutlass?
the crippled corsair esca ?”

“ Yes, and killed the keeper to do so.”

“Yes, the poor old captain was poisoned, and
the guard may have been foull dealt with also,
as he cannot be found, though fear the pirate
had jewels somewhere about him, and they were
{loo gig-eat a temptation to the man on duty over'I

1m.

“It seems so; but no trace of him has been *
found?” ‘

“ No, Miss Vernon: some believe he is in town, 
others that he went by sea, still more say by land ;. l
but no one knows. '

“Still I predict that the scamp will be heard 
of again, for he is no ordinary man, that Cuban. ‘
corsair captain, and a close watch on the sea. i
should be ept for him.” i

“ So I was thinking, sir.

“ But, M81210? Brauscombe, what do you think
of Captain enton’s chase back to port by the»
Frenchmen?” .

“He was wise, I think, for there were two. 1
against him, and one a match for him.” 6

“ lVould not Captain Lonsdale have fought
them, even against the odds. think you i” 

i
l
i
l

" Yes indeed, for he is just the man to win
against big odds.”

“ And what are your chances to win, when.
you 0 out to the attack l”

“ air, if the frigate Saturn does her dnfy.

“We are near rt. and, if we get the worst
of it, can run bac {, Miss Vernon,” and the ma—
jor laughed, while he added:

“ The little pirate vessel that I am to com-
mand has a heavy battery, and I hope the three
of us can master the renehmen, or at least.
drive them away for repairs.”

The commodore now entered, and soon after
supper was announced, the guest retiring at an
earl hour.

T on Belle Vernon sought her room, and be-
gan her musing once more.

Then she retired for the night, when she was
awakened by the distant roar of heavy guns.
and it was soon evident that a terrific combat at
sea was going on off the port.

“ No, no, our vessels have not gone out to the . _
attack, for they were not ready, and father is .

ere.

“ Then who can it be?

“God have mercy! what if it should be the
Fatal Frigate that has attacked them. for a
lar e sail was reported coming in at n' htfall!” ‘

few moments after there came t 0 rapid
clutter of boots up the driveway, and c con: -
mending Voice sh< vntcd:

“ I-Io, commodore! are you up?”

“ Yes: is that you, Bransccmbe’r” answer-coil
the old merchant.

“ Ay, ay, Sir. and I rode here 1'! cm Point
Lookout, Where we all went from Military Balk.
to see what the firing meant, and what do yr in
think it is?”

“ Captain Lonsdale attackin the French rm.
sols.” Came in ihe clear tones 0 Belle Vernon.

“ You are right, Miss Vernon. Lonsdale l a.»
run in and attacked the Frenchmen singk ~
handed. I \

“ Good—night,” and the major darted'uwa it:
the full speed of his horse, while the commo cre-
called out:

“Get ready, Belle. and we will drive in the
carriage to Point Lookout. for this is daring un- ‘
heard of, even in that brave fellow who com— l
mands the Fate] Frigate."

CHAPTER XII.

CASTLE BLIAK.

A STRANGE house was “Bleak Castle.” or
“ Castle Bleak,” as it was more frequentlycdllcd

o

 

-sM—W_._w

 

    
 
 

  
    

‘ ' The One-A

\

rmed Buccaneer.

'7

 

 

 

 

 

I by the scattering neighbors that dwelt near, the
'. mar being within a circuit of twenty niilcs. _

’ It had been erected by an old Spanish exde,
‘ who had come there with his young wife and
two old servants, and having money he had
paid liberally for the building of his home after
his own fancy.

One morning the old servants arose to find the
“Don,” as the Spaniard was cailod, and his
young and beautiful Wife dead, and there was a
schooner in sight, sailing out of the buy. on the
high shores of which the houso was situated,
and signs that a landing had been made.

This was all that the country folk could find
out about the murder. and the Don and his win-
were buried among the pines on iliccliif. the
servants departed and the place allowed to go to
ruin.

There it remained for years, and one day a
purchaser came for the estate. _

The agent sold it cheap, for no one would live
'- there, and the stranger moved in.

‘ He was a foreign-looking man, a Frenchman,
-it was said, and his name was Enrique Leslie.

He had a daughter, a girl of twelve, Willie.

dark, Weird beauty that was almost Gypsy-

lkfie had three French servants, a woman and
two men, these were all. I .

The house was most dismal looking. With its
weed—grownlawn, and about it was an nirol' deso—
lation that well suited the name that had been
given it of Castle Bleak. .

About it were hundreds of spreading acres,
but only sufficient were tilled to afford vege—
tables for the family, and :ill the rest ran wild.

Shortly after coming there the master sent his

, daughter away to boardiiig-schcxil, and lived
i alone with his servants. _
‘ A dark-fecal. austere man, With hau hty
‘ i manners that froze every attempt of those u out
him to be neighborly. ho had lxsen soon left se-
verely alone, and this seemed to be more to his
? tastes.

The mansion was situated upon the brow of a
hill with huge pine forests behind it, through
which wound the road to the village, some miles

awn .

Tlia hill sloped ton cliff, which was two hun-
dred yards away, and overhung an island-dotted
ba .
it one side of the cliff was a small cove, with

sandy shores, and this was the little harbor of
the estate. I

Beyond the bay was the blue ocean, stretching
away to meet. the horizon. .

I U )n the cliff grow a number. of pines, and

i ami these were two white stones, erecqu by the

' servants of the exiled Don, at the head of his and

his wife’s graves.

A rustic seat had been made betWecn two
pines, near these graves, and from it a splendid
view of the bay and ocean could be seen, and
the well-worn path leading to the little retreat
showed that some one was a. constant VlSltOl‘
there.

That some one was the daughter of Mr. Leslie,

. who had finished her school days, and come to

dwell with her father in his dreary abode.

, Grown into a beautiful woman, Lola Leiie’s
, 3 beauty was yet such as to cause one to fear

7 rather than love her.

7 The reader has seen her when she visited Sea-

lands and made to the mother and sister of Lio-

Eve to find her brother, and warn him of what

! the love-mud girl had sworn. I
5 She is now presented to the reader again, and
Z in her home, some days after her return from

enlands. _

i S If all without, surrounding 'Castle Bleak, is
E loomy and drear, all withini ‘Just the op ‘ite,
‘: . for the mansion is furnished with a magni cenee

‘ ' that is rincely. . I
The donors are laid with the most exquisite car-
pets nnd rugs, the windows shaded by curtains
of rare design. and the furniture is of the finest,
and include: all kind from Persian divans of
silk to massive carv chairs and sofas of En-

glish manufacture.

‘ The sitting-room opens into a library, where
books innumerable are found, even in that day
when books were not common. and silver can-
delabra: are upon the table and mantle.

‘. Beyond is the dining-room, and the father and
u hter are dining.
3 danfeztable is fairly loaded With silver service,
‘ 2 in rare desi , and the re 1: is fit for a king,
l While the 20% of silver. are filled with wine
l v that would delight a bon meant. .
A man with a stern, Sinister face is Enrique
’ Leslie, and yet his manners are courtly, thou h
cold.I and his dress is rich, and of the style 0 a
: number of a hundred years ago.
His «ilk stockin mm of the finest make, his
‘ breaches an silk-faced coat is of silk vel-
vet, and the lame in his shirt-front would please
a dowager’s heart .
His shoe-buckles and knee buckles are of solid
'80“. and set with precious gems. while he wears

 

a. watch and fob-chain, mined rings upon sev-
eral fingers. and in his in sparkles a ruby
A , .of magnificent sine. * _
x Behind his chair stands a footman in livery.

.w’.

«.1» v _ , Ulla idly sips her wine, for her thoughts seem
l  ‘w‘y. I

 

nel Lonsdale her rash vow. and which had sent,

 

 

She is pale, yet her beauty is not lessened
thereby, and her dress is as rich as a rincess
might wear, while she is ablaze with jewe s, neck-
lace, bracelets, and rings.

“How long will you be gone, father?” she
asked, pi‘e~=clitly, breaking the silence which to
others Would have been painful.

“ A week, perhaps; but I cannot tell.

“ Expect me. when you see me, my child,” was
the rosmnsc, in a kindly tone, and soon after
.T‘lin'ique Leslie arose from the table, and kissing
his daughter good-by, went to his room. and
changing his attire. mounted his horse and rode
owny toward the village to catch the Portland
slime.

liola Leslie seemed
(-misc.

She had hardly touched her dinner, and going
across the hall entered her on ii room, which
was furnished in the same magnificent manner.

In half an hour she emerged. and in a differ-
ent dress, one suited for outdoor exercise.

Going to a door at the end of the hallway she
threw it open and enterwl.

It was evidently a chamber seldom used, but
yet the same degree of luxury pervaded it.

“ Hero is where he lay. hovering between life
and death, and I watched over him.

“ \Vell. I was happy then, Lionel Lonsdalc,
but now I am wretched.”

As she spoke the tears came into her eyes,
but dashing them away she turned quickly and
left the room.

Leaving the mansion she wended her way
along the well-worn path to the cliff, and
glanced out over the sea, as she sat down upon
the rustic sent near the graves.

Suddenly she sprung to her feet, a cry upon
her i is of surprise and delight, while she said:

“ by there is a frigate at anchor in the
Horseshoe Haven and a boat is coming ashore.

“ None, but ionel Lonsdale could have
lirou ht a large vessel in there, as I showed him
how 0 do so when he was here.

“ Yes, it is he, and the story is false.

“ He does not love. another. He loves me!

I “Yes, he is in yonder boat and soon will be
iere. ‘

“ I will hide in the pines yonder and await his
coming.

“ But ah! suppose he comes to tell me he loves
another?” ,

d A: the thought the girl became white as the
ca .

ill at ease from some

CHAPTER XI'II.
TH E FATAL vow.

Two persons stood upon the cliff near Castle
Bleak Home. :

The one was Lola Leslie, her face white, her
features set, and her band asping a stiletto.

The other was Captain fiche] Lonsdale, tall,
calm, commanding and sad-faced.

Before the girl‘s flushing eyes and threatening
words he has not quailed, though she had said
she would bury the knife in his heart.

Then, with a sudden impulse that seems her
nature, she cries:

“ No, no, I cannot kill you, Lionel.

“But I vowed that one of us should die.

“I shall kee my vow. and I will be that one!”

She boundei toward the cliff. and ere he could
restraii her, he had sprung from the dizzy

hi ht.

Tie stood appalled upon the brink. watched her
rapid flight, saw her strike the water. in a way
that seemed not to harm her, and cried:

“ She may yet be snvod l”

Away he bounded back from the cliff, dashed
down the winding pathway along the hillside,
to the shore below.

It had never seemed half so long before,

On the shore, their boat half drawn out of the
water, his men gathered.

“ Ho, lads, shove off and seim your oars.

“ Be ready the moment I spring in to pull for
your lives!"

He shouted this as he ran and the startled
men obeyed.

Springing into the boat as the oarsmen
swung its stern around, the young captain
called out: _

“ Quick! ull for your lives!

“A lady as fallen from the other side of the
cliff into the sea!” .

The oarsmen bent their blades double in their
strong pulls, and fairly lifted the boat [from the
water at each might stroke. '

The clifl' 'utted on into the water, and below
a bar had orm'd just in front, which had be-
come covered with a growth of Cedars.

This bar was in the shape of a bent arm. and
glithin this was the cove, or harbor of Castle

eak. .

To at out of the cove. the boat had to cross
it, a istance of a hundred yards. and rounding
the arm of earth, to pull around it to the other
side of the cliff was twice as much more.

' The chances were desperate to save the girl,
but the men were urged to the utmost, for- the
words of their captain rung out: ‘

“ A hundred pounds to each man if she is
saved !”

The veins stood out on the foreheads and arms
of the men, in their hereulean efforts.

They worked for the love of their commander.

/.
,

 

1

{their hope to save the maiden, and the most
1 generous reward.

‘ Around the point swept the boat, driving
along at a tremendous ace.

Down the shore of t e earthen arm it fairly
flew, and soon the other side of the cliff came in
View.

Up to the spot where Lola Leslie had. sunk
dashed the boat.

Here it was brought to a standstill. by the
order of Lionel Lonsdale.

h Standing up in the boat he gazed about
lll’l.

His face was very pale, his lips firm set.

There was a seared look upon his face which
no personal danger could bring there.

All eyes scanned the base of the cliff and look- I
ed along the shore. 

The sea was a trifle wild there. as it was beaten 5
back by the cliff wall.

The waters far and near were searched by
ewry eye.

Not a sign of "he maiden could be seen. »

“ If she fell there, sir, the mo h waters must 3‘
have dragged her under or hur ed her against
the cliff.” : aid the coxswain. =

“ She fell just where we are, from yonder \
point above.

“Poor girl! poor Lola! She was mad,” and
the'voice of the strong man trembled as he
spoke.

For an hour the boat moved about along the
shore. for and near, and then came the order:

“ Pull back to the cove."

Landing, the young captain made his way up
to the mansion, which looked treny bleak now, ,
and Enrique Leslie was asked for.

“The master has gone to Portland, Captain 
Lonsdalc, lam Sorry to say; but i’m sorry to _ a.-
see you looking so white again, sir,” replied . », 
Enos, who had not forgotten the handsome .,
golden souvenir the youn officer had given him i 5*
two years before, when is lay at Castle Bleak ' 1
so badly wounded. . ~‘j ?

“ I wished to tell him of Miss Lola—”

“ She‘s down on the cliff, sir. It’s strange you .
did not meet her.” 

“ Enos, where is Clarice?”

“ In the kitchen, sir.”

“ Ask Clarice and Pierre to come here, for I
wish to tell you something.” .

Enos seemed impressed with the manner, and ‘ '5,
hastened away upon his errand. ‘

In a short while Clarice, the housekeeper, and ,
Pierre, the stableman and gardener, appvarui.
and they also greeted Lonsdale pleasanily. li'r ~ .
they, too, had cause to remember his gcn- l
erosity.

But they saw that he was very pale, and had " i
something of importance to tell them.

Then in a few words he told them that their
young mistress had fallen from the cliff, and ,

ow he had searched for her in vain. .  f

A wail went up from the trio, for they deaiily '
loved Lola, whom they had known from chi -
hood and with one accord came the cry:

“ What will the master say?” ' 

Together the went to the cliff ; the frigate,  
lying in Horses oe Haven, two miles away, was , . "
signaled to send half a dozen boats ashore, and
the search was renewed. 

But the waters would not give u theirvics, ‘
tim, and with a and heart it was that Lionel g
Lonsdale sailed away from Castle Bleak. r ' , 

But he had left with Enos a sealed letter for v ‘ 
the stricken father, in which he told him the - .3
whole truth, as it had occurred, while to the cor. ' 5
vents and the crew of the frigate he had im~ 

 

 

plied that Lola had fallen from the cliff.  i
I I Y ‘ 
CHAPTER XIV. -' 4 I

ran Los'r rnii‘vxnr.

LIONEL LONSDALE was deeply moved at the, , ‘
mad act of Lola Leslie. and his thoughts could, ’- \“i:
not but revert to that fatal leap from the cliff. "

“She kept her vow, and, but for my mother ‘
and sister, I would rather have had her kill me ‘ 
than take her own life.  ii

“ Poor girl, how strange that love for-me, . i:
should drive her to such an act.” - ' ’

So be m as he sat alone in his cabin.“ ..
while the frigate was on her way South, cruis-' ?’
ing in search of a French foe. ' - 1 -, ,

After his capture of the pirate schooner}
Spitfire and rescue of his sister thereby, be bad -
sailed or Sealands, and there he had left 

ve. \
He had heard from her of Lola’s visit to  . ,
lands, and from his mother that she had chain ' L
been there, so he had gone to Castle Bleak with. ~
the fatal result known. , \_
That he had been outlawed by Admiral Feu— ' '-
ton, for running out with the frigate, and tale, ..
ing the convicts from the prison or a crown he .
did not know, for, in her stay of a day in the ’ 3'
town, it had been kept secret from Eve. '
He knew that he had done a bold thing,_how-_, 
ever. and he meant to palliate it by rome act of ,3 m:
heroign, and so he hoped to capture a French - ‘ '

9 had sent in the pirate schooner, with her ‘
chief in the cabin, and left her in port at an. . .
chat. with no one else on board, and a letter to
theadmiral. , '1 *

  

 

    

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Th999€9rermed Emcee?-

 

 

 

 

Her two officers and crew he had taken on ' spoil it, for in his little fishing-smack a bench old. for the bold manner in which you faced that

board the frigate, the latter being placed in
irons.

In need of a surgeon, and finding in English.
the pirate lieutenmt u jovial l'cll.>W, scionced
in medicine and surge: y, and beingr told by lnm
that he had been forced to Serve the buceuncer
chief, he had at mi'c told him to report for
duty. The first ofli er of the Spitfire was a
young man cf most attractive appearance.

His face was perhaps reckless ‘in expression,
but he was a man whose countenance lore the
stamp of strong character.

Ills stor , as told, was that he had been mate
of a vessc that had captured Captain Cutlass
by an accident.

Pitying the pirate, he had allowed him to es
cape, and a year after bud lullen into the hands
of Cnptain Cutlas:, who forced him, as it Were,
toserVo him as a lieutenant on certains condi-
tions.

'l'hoso conditions, that the Spitfire should
never cruise in Northern waters, ifuptuin Cul-
lass had broken, and capturing the Pretty Ellen,
he had found on board of her a: a passenger
vae Lonsdale.

Instantly the young lieutenant had defended
her. with the result already known, and left
Ca )taiu Cutlass minus his right hand.

rotecting Eve as he did, won Lionel Li)!“-
dale’s gratitude, and, us no oflicm‘ among,r his
convict crew, knew well the duties of u. Ill'xt
lieutenant on u frigate, the. one holding that
place was glad to let the young pirate step into

s sition.

mm the moment that he had assumed the
duties of first officer, Lieutenant Harold, as he
was known. had provon himself in every way
competent for the berth. and had given great
satisfaction to his captain.

In small numbers at a time the crew of the
pirate had been glad to take the oath of ullc-
glance as seamen on the Ill Omen. in schice of
too king, and be allowed to go on duty.

And a splendid lot of seamen did Ca )tain
Lonsdale find them, for the pirate chic had
been a. strict commander, and as boarders and
gunners the half a hundred buccaneers had no
superiors, for great had been their experience
in 'ust such deadly work as that.

' [me it was, after he had been at sea a short
while the young commander had his crew un-
der perfect discipline. they (lid their Work to
perfection, and knowing the worth of his ves-
sel, he was anxious to meet an enemy and try
conclusions with him.

It was several days after leaving Castle

I Bleak, that while Captain Lonsdale was seated
.» in his handsome cabin, that Brandywino, his

ever faithful servant, entered and handed him
somethinrr. .

Lionel Ionsdale started as he gazed at it and
asked uickly: '

,“ W ere did you get this, Brandy?”
r,“ Found it, 311‘.”

“Where?”

“ 0n the gun deck, sir.”

“ When?” ‘

‘flOnly a. few minute: ago, Mam Leo. when

'1 was coming along.

1

“ I nearly stepped on it, sir, so I picked it up

\_ and brought it to you.”

‘,‘ I am very much obliged. Brandv.”
The he re left the cabin, and for 0. long time
taln onsdule sat, lookng attentivelv at the

oh 1: he held in his hand, and which Brandy

 ‘ had given him.

Itap

 

tired to be a golden trinket, and at-
tachod o it was a broken chain.
Turning it over the young captain read some
words that were engrave!) there, and then ho.
aloud:

i r . “ That accounts for my feeling sure that I had
' seen him before.

'“ It is the likeness he bears to her.
‘ “How strange, how pnssmg stranch
“No, there can be no doubt now, and I will

 read for. him. for he is the owner.”
‘ I -. Then he called out:

.“ Ho. the deck l”
 ' 1 The ccmpanlonway was 0 n, and one of his of-
“ one he had appoin . an acting midship~

 

-. .“man. Marl: Manly, appeared and saluted polite-
~"!thhile he said:

You called sir?”
Manly, ask your father to come

MEG lease , '
v, , hart Manly had been. with his son. in

risen under sentence of death. and his brother,
6 ski per of a fishing smack. was the one who

‘ had he pod Lionel Lonsdale to secure his convict

3 ' crew.
; a ' For this reason Robert Manly had been made

. iacti .
. land 0 nineteen..a midshipman.

v,tho place

firstlieutenant, and his son, a handsome

' 'But Robert Manly had been glad to yield his
berth to Humid. the pirate lieutenant, and take
next in rank.

In obedience to the summons of his captain,

tho-entered the cabin. a tall. robust man of

fifty. witha frank, fearless face and the look ofo
thorough sailor, one who did not feel exactly

-' ‘ot echo in the handsome uniform he wore.

Manly, sit down, please.”

“Mr.
The took a seat on‘the edge of the

officer

" Jawbone chair, as though he feared; he might

 

was good enough for him.

" Mr. Manly, may I ask if you know Commo-
dore Vernon, the rich shipping merchant of
Boston?”

“ Who does not. captain?"

“ Did you ever know his son ?”

“ You mean the wild fellow who killed a. man
and ran away ?”

“Yes.”

“I saw him now and then, sir, but not to
speak with him.

“But a wild chap he was, and I’ve seen him,
for sheer love of danger, take a boat out in
the harbor, when everything was green with

when but a lad.”

again?"

"No, sir, I hardly think I would."

“ How long; since you saw him last!”

“ Sonic six year, I guess, sir, and he was
quite n lad then.” .

“ Thank you, Mr. Manly."

“ You are welcome, captain: but have you
heard of the 1nd?”

“ No, only if I could do so, I would be glad, us
I could give him a berth aboard the frigate, you
know, and he might redeem himself by bravo ,
service.” ‘

“That‘s so, sir, and his old father would be
glad for he had a heap of love for the boy.”

“ .60 you know any one on the ship who knew
youmr Vernon ?"

“ l\o, sir, not one.”

“ You do not think there is any one, then, who
knows him?"

“ [ um sure there is not, sir."

Olllcer Manly now returned to the deck to his
duties, while Captain Lonsdalc muttered:

“ He is safe, at least as far as any of the crew ,

0. 5

“ Now to see him, when Manly goes ofl’ duty.
for I would do nothing new to draw the old man‘s
suspicion u n him. though I do not fear Robert
Manly wo d betray him,”

CHAPTER XV.
THE SPITFIRE’S LIEUTENANT.

“BRANDY!”

“ Ay, av, massa.”

“ Ask Lieutenant
cabin. "

“Yes sir."

Bram y disappeared on his errand, and soon
after the young oflicer, who had been lieutenant .
of the Spitfire. put in an appearance. ‘

He was a striking-looking man, scarcely over
twenty-four, and yet with a face that gave him
. the appearance of being older. ,
' 0f splendid physique and tho easy air of one ?
born in refinement, clad in the new uniform l
which the frigate’s tailor had made for him, he
was certainly a personage whom. in appear- 1
anee, no vessel need be ashamed to own as an
ofilcor.

“ You sent for me, Captain Lonsdale?” he said,
polio-1y.

“ Yes, be seated. please, Mr. Harold.”

Tho lieutenant obeyed, and Lousdale asked:

“ How is the frigate doing. sir?"

“ As well as shi can do, sir.

 

Harold to come to my

 

blow light or heavy. she goes well.“

“ And how do you like her working?”

“ Very much, sir.”

“ Iler rig is satisfactory?”

“ Wholly s0, captain.”

1 “find in action what would you think of
ier ’

" A splendid boat under all circumstances, sir,
in spite of the name she has.”

" You like her buttery!”

“ It is splendid, sir."

“ And her crew’l"

"All you need, sir, is a fight to show their
Worth.” ‘

“Then nothing is needed but the enemy, Har-
old?" said Lonsdulo. with‘ a smile.

" That is all, sir."

“ Do the men fear her now, as a haunted
craft?”

“ Well. sir, if we were Worsted in a fight, and
had to run for it. I fear the men would give
trouble, thinking the craft was doomed to ill for-
tune: but they have great confidence in you, sir,
and they both love and fear you.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

“ If you whip your first test battle, sir, the
men w ll be your slaves. from ofllcersdown, and

tor any French craft in these waters.”

here on this must, 1'. arold!” V
* “True, air. but you lmvoasplendidcraft here.

commander whom we implicitly trust and why
not, when you have done for the convicts all you
have. saved some from death, others from a. life

in prison.

“You kept the pirates from the yard-arm. and
what you have done for me. Heavvn bless you
for,” and the young officer spoke with deep emo-

on.
“ You deserved all I have done for you, Har-

 

the gale, and be was said ‘to be, one of the best ,
sailors in port, for he used to sail with his father 

"Would you know him if you saw him'

“ She is asplen id bout, Cnptuin Lonsdale, and ‘

I for one. feel assured that this frigate can bet- .

“ There are some rett large Fruich frigates 

a devoted crew, and what is more, we have a. l

redhanded pirate chief of yours, to save my sis-
ter from captivity."
, _ “"1 could not stand by and see him harm her,
= 811‘.
' “ You risked your life to .irotect her.”
“And what was my life t enf—a pirate‘s!”
, “ Well , Mr. Harold, it is different fol-you now,
i and you can win honor, and whcnl go into B18-
! {1011] 1, shall .~peak to Admiral Fenton in your be-
a f. ’

Lionel Lonsdole was looking straight in the
face of the young «filter, and he saw him start at
his words.

Then came the. question:

“ Are you going to Boston, sir?”

“I hope to some day.”

“ Captain Lonsdulef”

“ Wull, Mr. Huroldt”

“ “'1” you do me e. favor?"

:‘ ($rtainly."

‘ 'v lien "on ca )turo a irize I su pose on
will take itJinto Bhstonc” I ’ p y

“Yes, if it is one Worthy of so doing.”

, “ \Vell, sir. the favor I have to usk is, that you
will not speak to Admiral Fenton about me. and

, will be good enough to allow me tokccpniy

state-room on the
in port.”

“ \Vhy shall I do this, Harold?”

“I cannot answer you, sir, and yet I would
like to.

“ Some day I may, but not now, sir, not now,
or you muy think as ill of me as others do.”

“ You shall do as you like in the matter, Mr.
liar-old: but by the way, have you not lost some-
thingr of value. something,r bearing your full name
cngravon upon it, and—’

“ God have mercy! I have lost my locket!”
and the face of the young officer became livid.

“ e not alarmed, my friend, for here is the
locket you seek."

“ Oh, sir, where did you find it!” and the red
blood rushed into the face of the young officer,
while, his eyes flashed with joy.

“ Brandy picked it up about the ship and
brought it to me."

“ And you saw the name upon it, sir?"

“ Yes, for I supposed at first it was a stolen
trinket. dropped by some of the pirate crew.

"Seeing the name. I recalled you first to mind,
for I knew at once whom it. was the likeness in
the locket resembled. and more, your name, that
I know you b , is Harold."

“Then you now me now, sir?”

H Yes.”

“ Will Iyou keep my secret. and
ence on t is ship remain a recret?’

6‘ Yes.”

“Captain Lonsdule, you place me under an
obligation that I can never repay.” and the
young officer hold out his hand which Lionel

onsr ale grasped warm] , while he said:

“Remember, Harold, know of your alleged
crime, but, meeting you as I have done, 1 will
not condemn until I hear our story.

“ Now. here is your 100 ct, and be careful not
to lose it again. ‘

“ Now, where are we?”

“About ten leagues off the port I dare not

plea of sickness, while you are

, let my exist—

smile.

“Then head toward rt until we can see if.
there are any Frenc men lurking along tho
coast.” 

“Yes, sir,” and Lieutenant Harold went 0‘"
deck, and half an hour after Lionel Lonsdule‘
heard the crv of the lookout: .

“Sail ho!” '

“ \Vhercawuy?” asked Harold, who was on
deck.

“ Dead ahead, sir.”

A moment after again come the cry:

“ Sail ho!”

“ Where now, my man?”

“ Dead ahead, sir, as the other one lies.”
' “ Av. av ”

ed on deck.

 

CHAPTER XVI.

AGAINST BIG ODDS.
WHEN Lionel Lonsdalo a peered on deck, the
- sails sighted from the mast-lieud were not visible
from the quarter-deck, and so, taking his belt

; glass he went up into the rigging. I
Stan ling where ht'could see both vessels, With
. the naked eye. he turned his glass upon one and
then the other, and his grze was a. long and

careful one.

Then he descended to the deck, and Lieutenant
3 Harold felt that he had made some discovery.

“ Mr. Harold?”

“ Yes, captain.”

“ Those Vessels are Frenchmen.”

“I expected as much, sir.”

“ They are. n frigate and a sloop-of-war.”

“ It is a pitv the fri to is not alone.”

“ I shall fight them th. Mr. Harold.”

Th1? oflloor lorfirkgg surprised.

“ lov are 0 6 port, sir where I expected
some 1 Frenchmanf wolvlild be, cruismg, and it
wmilr no a great out er in our ea to whi
them both." p p

“ It would indeed, sir.”

 

I

go'into,” said the young officer, with a sad.-

i.

if

I

As Harold was about to report the sails to 
Captain Lonsdale, that person suddenly appear- 

l

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l

“ I think it would gain a pardon for my c: n-
victs. ay, and my pirates, too.”

" I hope so, sir.” 2

“One, I am sure, is the fine British sloop-of—
war Rajah. which I heard ran into the midst of
a French fleet in a fog and was taken a short
while ago.

“ Tier crew were kept on board, so I heard,
and she was manned from the fleet and sent on
a cruise.”

“ It would be a great thing, :rir, to recapture
her; but I only wish there were not tWo of them.”

“ Mr. Harold, if we whip both, so much the
greater honor.

“ I have men on board this vessel who need to
do some great deed to save them from the gal—
lows and imprisonment.

“Yonder is their chance, and I shall put my
crew to the test, for I will fight both the frigate
and the sloop.

" If I did not feel that, under the circum-
stances, there was a chance in our favor, even
against big odds. I would not light; but I be—
lieve we can win, and if not, we can run away,
though never will I give the order to retreat out
of action as long as there is one atom of hope of
victory.”

"I am at you service, Captain Lonsdale, to
sink or swim, sir.

“ I am not one to say die until hope has fled.”

“I believe you, Harold."

“ Now, get the vessel quietly in trim, and see
that norhing is wanting.

“ “'beu all is ready, I will say a word to the
crew.”

An hour after Lionel Lonsdale again came on
deck. ‘

 

The two Frenchmen were distinctly visible
now, and they Were slowly standing down to
meet the British frigate.

ad was in plain view. and the distant town i
could be seen from the quarter-deck.

“ Mr. Harold." ,

“Yes, sir.” 3

Lonsdulc had carefully taken in the situation,
and after having a look at the skies, continued: I

" Put the frigate away.” 

“ Not to fight, sir?"

“ Not just yet, for I wish to appear to run I
from them." ,

" Ay, ay, sir.” _

The frigate’s course was accordingly changed,
and instantly the two French vessels, which had i
been under easy canvas, began to crowd on sail
in chase. i

The wind was off-shore, and blowing about six i

 

, knots. i

Just what their captain meant to do, the
officers and crew, with one exception, could not 1,
understand, for somehow he did not seem to be
running from the enemy in earnest.

Presently officer Harold said:

“ l thlnk. sir, you are doing just what I Would
like to so gest; for, having sailed under Captain
Cutlass,  have learned many tricks, such as
pirates study.”

Lonsdale turned to him with a smile and an-
BWered:

“I hadan idea you understood what I was
aiming at."

“ May I explain, sir?”

“ Certain] .” ’

“ You wis to draw the Frenchmen off-shore,
gettgig them into a certain position by dark?”

“ '09..

“Then you believe, as will doubtless be the
case, a stiff wind wi.1 come in from the sea, kill-
ing the present off-shore breeze, and that will
put you to windward.”

“ Right, and what then?”

“ You will run for port and fight them as
near the entrance as possible, SO if compelled to
retreat, you can run the gantlet and get under
the am; of the fort.”

“ on have divined in plan correctly, Harold,

“ but it is growing twilig t now, so we will begin
to act

“ n a short while we will have the wind of
th . follows, for see, the land breeze is already
dying out.”

Darkness soon came ugon the sea, and then
the moon arose and Iprea its silvery light over
the waters. .

With the rising of the moon the land breeze }

l
l
l
l
l

died out, but are it did so the frigate was put ,

about, and as the Wind came in from the ocean,
her sails filled and she glided swiftly along.

She had gained the Windward y the clever
maneuvering of her young captain, and more,
she was in a position to run into port, if she so
wished, asshe had the Wlnd blowing good and
strong half an hour almost before er enemies
felt it.

Then they had to wear around, and the crew ,
of the Ill Omen felt thuttheir young Commander ,
could now run to port in safety, or fight as he
deemed best.

They hoped it would be the. latter.

CHAPTER. XVII.
rm: FATAL FRIGATE.
THAT his crew wanted to fight, Lionel Lons
dale could see. ,
And more, he was sure that they had perfect .
confidence in him, and were anxious to try the
frigate. ’ -

 

s

The One-Armed Buccaneer.-

“ Mr. Harold ’5”

“ Yes, sir.”

“ Have the men had much to say of late about ,
the ghost of the Ill Omen ?” ,

“ They regard the vessel as haunted, sir, and 1
in fact no one can doubt it who has seen the
ghost.”

“ You have seen her?”

“ Yes, sir, and all of the men, without excep-

, tion.”

\

" And what do they think?”

“That it is the daughter of the English cap-
tain, who died on board with the scourge, at the
time she was a. prison-ship.”

“ But they do not seem to fear the ghost?”

“They are not anxious to crowd her, sir,
when the see her taking her midnight walks."

“No. suppose she has the deck mostly to
herself on such occasions."

“ Yes, sir; but then the boys call her what
you said she would prove, the Guardian Spirit
of the Frigate, and they wish to see the result
of a light.

“ If we win, they would rather have the
ghost on board than not.”

“ \Vhat do you think, Lieutenant Harold?”

“Of the ghost, sir?”

“ Yes.”

“ I was brought up, sir, not to be supersti-
tions, and was told there were no such things as
spooks and spirits, but—“

“ But— ”

“ But I confess the ghost of the Ill Omen
staggers me, as well as (lees the. ill-fated history
of this craft.”

“ Then you would rather sail in a vessel that
was not haunted?”

“ I‘ll answer better sir, after our fight with
the Frenchmen, when I see what our Guardian
Spirit of the ship has done for us,” was the smil-
ing rejoinder.

“ Please call the men to quarters, sir,” said
Lionel Lonsdale as he walked away.

The drum-beat to quarters at once rung
through the ship, and the crew sprung with
alacrlty to obey the call.

The ship was stripped for action, to the sur-
prise of the Frenchmen, who had deemed her
anxiously running for port.

That she. meant to fight them had not entered
the heads of their respective connnandcrs.

The moon shone brightly, a fair breeze was
blowing, the sea was smooth, and the position of
the combatants had changed from what it had
been a few hours before.

Now, if so he wished, there would be little
doubt of Captain Lonsdale’s'running into port

I without much damage being done him.

But that he did not so wish the crew of the

1 III Omen were thoroughly convinced.

As the two Frenchmen saw their enemy draw-
ing nearer they too stripped for action and their
crews were called to their guns.

“ Men, I have been anxious, having taken the
responsibility of freeing you from your prison
life, and saving others from death on the gal-
lows, and at the yard-arm, to secure a pardon

; for your past offenses, and make you once more

free men.
“Yonder are our foes, and the. larger one is

i more than a match for this vessel undcrordi-
nary circumstances, for I

recognize her as one
of the finest frigates in the French Navy, while

I the sloop-of-wm' is also a formidable foe.

“ I shall head so that I wish you to devote the
starboard broadside to the frigate, and the lar-
board" to the sloopof-war.

“ thip these two Frenchmen and you secure
your pardons, my word for it.

“ Some of you must fall, but you die in honor,
on the deck of a king’s vessel and beneath the
flag of Great Britain.

“ If I decide to board the frigate I wish you,

' crew of the Spitfire, to follow me.

“ Now do your duty, and if I see a coward on
my deck I shall swing him up to the yard arm in
the faces of the Frenchmen.”

A wild cheer, not such as would have been
given by British tars on the deck of a man-of-
war, but a yell that was appalling, broke from
the crew of the 111 Omen that reached the ears
of their foes.

“ Ho, there, at the starboard guns.

“Let her 03, helmsmenl

“ Steady! starboard broadside, fire l"

The recoil of the guns made the fri ate reel,
and the iron meSsen ers of death we t flying

. along upon their miss on to kill and crashed into
' the stout hull of the Frenchman.

The Wounded frigate reeled under the deadly
blow but her brave commander ordered a re-
turn broadside.

Ere it could be given the rt broadside of the
Ill Omen was poured upon he sloop-of-war, and
both French vowels got a blew before they could

’ deal one.

But the “sloop also rallied and the firing be-
came hot and fast.

P
As the daring enemy approached them the?

Frenchmen were amazed at the recklessness of

5 her commander and the accuracy of her aim,

and they felt that they must fight hard to win,

; even against a single f0e. i

Nearer and nearer the combatants drew to-

 

* Now changed to “ port."ans Amos. 4 \

n-
U

gether, the British frigate. heading as though to
pass between her foes, which narrowed the space
to prevent it.

th,to maneuver and to deliver their Lroadsides,
they were compelled to keep a considerable dis-
tance a rt.

That the Englishman meant to pass between
them seemed aSsured from the course she held,
and the fire of the Frenchmen was terrific in an ‘
endeavor to cripple their foe ere he could (Lo
so

   
 
   
   
 
 
   
  
 
  

The guns of the Frenchmen roared continuour- ‘
Iy, while the Ill Omen fired only in broadSIdcs.
first one and then the other; but the effect “as
most deadly.

Nearer and nearer she drew running dead to-
fore the. wind, while her enemies had to beat to
windward and were frequently upon opposite
tacks.

Suddenly, as all expected the Ill Omen to pass
between the two French vessels, I.cr ('oiu'se was
quickly changed and, cre the slcop could avoid
it, as she and her consort were licth on the star—
board tack, the, bows of the English vessel 5“ avg
round at the quick order of her con niandcr, and
she was thrown thereby off the port Li W of the
smaller vessel.

Then her port broadside was poured arm the
sloop, and wearing around qmckly, while she
held her small foe between herself and the large
frigate, she gave her the starboard broadside at
close range.

It was more than the sloop could stand, and
while her foremast came down with acrash,‘
and her bowsprit was cut off short. there came
the cry on board in French:

“ I surrender, monsieur !”

“ Ay, ay, monsieur, remain where you are
until board you,” was the res use of Lionel
Lonsdale in perfect French, as t e 111 Omen shot
ahead, now on the starboard tack with the
French frigate, which had feared to fire, on
account of the danger of hitting the sleep.

"CHAPTER XVIII.
“aoxnnnas AHOY I"

AS the wild cheer of the crew of the Ill Omen,
at the surrender of the sloopwf-war, ceased, the
stern command run out:

“ Now, lads, for t 0 battle of the giants!

“ Starboard broadside! fire I" v

The entire guns to starboard were discharged,
almost as one, and they went crashing into the
Frenchman, and with severe damage. \

But the French frigate was a superb vessel,
and her crew were anxious to redeem the loss of
the sloop, and regain her by whipping thtl!’
daring foe.

As soon as the broadside had been fired. quick \
came too order to let the Ill Omen wear round
before the wind, and when the French guns
belchcd forth in a broadside the iron balls sped
through the smoke, but the nglish frigate was
not there, and, to their surprise, they got an-'
other broadside from astern that very nearly
raked the vessel from stem to stern. . ~

After firing this second broadside, Lionel “
Lonsdale headed directly after the Front 11 “ "
frigate, determined to come to closer quarters. '
forllie had seen that he_could outsail the enemy
eas1 y. .

The Frenchman now stood on the port tack, . »
to avoid being raked, and poured his broadside,  ,«~
upon the Ill Omen, hoping to rake her from.' "
stem to stern. «

But th- masterly manner in which the young'
captain handled hisyessel prevented this, as the v 
Ill Omen went about with the Frenchman, and’ fl,
more quickly. so that her broadside was deliv-, ‘.~
ered more quickly. , 1‘ ,,

The deck of the Ill Omen was now an apps-l" " 3.
ling sight. . g2

Several of her guns had been dismounted. her " v.3”
bulwarks were torn, her decks seamed her low: f 
er sails almost in tattel‘s, and some of her spare 
cut in twain and swinging by the stays. _ ‘  '?

Though gushed in many places her ma and in ‘5'
bowsprit stl‘ll stood firm, and she minde hr " 
helm with the quickness that she was remark-  
able for. , " '~

But, saddest of all, from stem to stem, above "  
and below decks, her crew had suflered terrib , 7 
and the dead and dying lay in hes , w 
many a man suffering from no slighgswonmi,  :
stood at his post of duty and fought on. 

“We are ID a bad plight, men, but long  '
Frenchman has struck, and the other shall’; 
soon,” shouted Lionel Lonsdale, in a voice that .
rung through the ship. i. 

But a cheer greeted his words, and the gear ' 3
now roared savagely as they were turned upon 1 5"
the fri te. I ‘ 

“ Pomt closer, helmsman, for I shall board her  ‘9
on this tack if possible!” i  *2."

“Ay. ay, sir,” and as one of the helmsmen‘w;
spfioke, he and his comrade fell dead at their ‘

k

“ I have the wheel, sir,” said a quiet voice, as“! i
Lionel Lonsdale rung toward it. ~
“Ah, Harold, it is you! but I will call for , =
quartermasters to relieve you, as I shall bound, ‘3‘",
and wish you to go with me.” .
“ Ay ay, sir, I am ready,”
res use.

was the calm ' 
we more quartermasters came runnir :o' H

is

(I
l.

 

.4: '-

i.

xvi 4.69:3
.

s

 . red

    

N

" .l

 

 

10

 

J

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

 

the wheel, at the call of their captain, and then
came the thrilling cry:

“ Boarders ahoyl

“Spitfires, I want you!”

A wild yell in chorus came from the pirate
contingent of the crew, as they crowded to-
gether after their young captain, and cutlasses
were waved with frantic gestures.

“ Marines ahov!”

“Ay, ay, sir!” answered the captain of ma-
rines.

“ Sweep the Frenchman’s decks with our
muskctry, as I give the order to lay the frigate
aboard the Frenchman.”

“ Ay, ay, Ca tain Lonsdale.”

Then came t 9 order the two splendid vessels
bein at pistol range rom each other, running
side y side, the III Omen to leeward.

“ Starboard broadside, fire!”

The recoil and the shock were appalling.

But above the roar came the tones, clear as
bugle notes:

‘ Lay her alongside, helmsmen

“ Ay, ay, sir!”

“ Marines ahoy! fire!”

The muskcts rattled forth, and as the bows of
the Ill Omen swe it up in the wind there came a
crash that shoo both Vessels .to the center,

apnels were thrown from either deck, and

iouel Lonsdale and his lieutenant sprung on
board the Frenchman, their pirate crew at their
backs. ,

The fire of the marines had staggered the
Frenchmen, then came the crash of the two ves-
sels and the III Omen’s broadside, and next the

m

.' flying forms of the pirates boardin .

While the

In vain they strive to stem the tide
huge gaps

heavy guns of the two vessels made
in the stout bulls.

The cha e of the pirates was irresistible, for
‘inanyadec had they thus sprung upon and
swept, and they but too well understood their
work.

Followed b others, the stream of humanity
seemed unen ing to the Frenchmen; their cap-
tain and manyY officers had been killed, their
decks were in] of wreckage and of dead and dy-
ing men, and they cried in piteous tones for
quarter. r

“ Hold!

’ “ Mere is asked for—it shall be shown!”
"came in he well-known voice of Lionel Lous-
daIe, as he 3 run ward thepeak halliards,
hauled down t e F n colors and sent up in
their place the British ensign.
, The fight was won. The Ill Omen had indeed

'proven to be a Fatal Frigate!

CHAPTER XIX.
CAPTAIN CUTLAss AT WORK.
WHEN the One-Armed Buccaneer fired upon

' his shipmate, Bonus, he did ‘ust what he had de-

termined upon from the th. .

He had used the man to escape from rison
where, when well enough, he would be anged
for piracy, and he had bribed the unfortunate
guard by giving him gewels which to the poor
I ellow would realize a ortune and thus enable

, him to carry out the dream of his life—to buy a
‘ little home and marry the girl he loved.

But Ca taiu Cutlass was a man who held no
,mercy in is heart, and gratitude was unknown
in the make-up of his composition, or he would
never have forced the young sailor, Harold, who

 had saved him from the yard-arm, to become his

lieutenant;

Aslong as Bonus had been useful to him he
had kept him with him, for, one-handed and
’alone, he could never have made the run down
the coast in the little smack.

But when he came in si ht of the place where
he knew he could get aid, e had quickly taken
the man’s life, as has been seen.

v His shot was a deadly one, and when be

“912% to the tiller he leant over and took from

the y, of his victim the money and jewels he

carried. ,

Then he let the body remain there, while he
headed the boat in toward the shore.

' . There was an inlet through the narrow
stretch of sand, and passing into this, the pirate
headed toward a wooded int of land.

As he neared it he saw hat he was observed
from the shore by several men, who were stand-
ing among the large pines, holding rifles in their
hands.

‘ The buccaneer knew his men, and that they

’ were a hardy, reckless set, hunters, fishers and

timbermen but at the same time ready to put-
their hands to any work that came handy,
whether it was honest or not.

\ Oncp he had sou ht shelter in the little bag,
6

turning in at nig t through the inlet, when
was hemmed in outside b two vessels-of-war.

The men of the wild set ement had sided with
him, thou h he was known to be a corsair, and
his 1 ad been taken- to a retreat which the
war- ft could not find.

In return, Captain Cutlass had been mest lib-
eral with the people who had saved him not
from a irit of gratitude or generosity, but for
future advantage.

Several times he had run into the little bay

. and'givcn them presents, l'ecling that the day

\

I

might come when he would need their ser—

Vices.

At last that day had come, and he had used
Bonus to bring h m in si lit of the settlement,
and then had coo 1y shot ini.

As he rounded the point of timber and glided
into an anchorage not visible from the sea, the

men came down to the shore, and several sprung «
into a skiff and rowed out to the smack, as Cap- ‘

tain Cutlass ran up into the wind and, going
forward, let fall the anchor.

“ Why, it’s you. after all, cap’n!” cried one of
the men, as he s irung on board the smack.

“ ch, Chief ilder, I am back again to see
you, but I do not come in my schooner.”

“So Isee, cap‘n: but we thought you might
be Government officers, hiding below decks and
ready for us, as they says we smuggle a little,”
and the man laughed.

“ 11, no, you would not be so Wicked: but
see, I have lost an arm, I may say, for my right
hand is gone.”

He held up the stump, as. he spoke, which
Bonus had skillfully dressed twice a day since
they set sail.

“ Fact, cap’n; but what’s it all about?”

“ The king‘s mcn caught me, 1r0t my schooner,
I was wounded and went to jai , and I escaped.
See that chap?” and he pointed to the body.

“ Yes; he’s dead.”

It Vor)y'”

“ \Vhat kilt him?“

“ Lead."

“ I see, run ag‘in’ a bullet?”

“ He tried to ml) me, when I told liim I had
friends inshore.”

H I see.”
“I englaged him to bring me here, and he
knew I ad a little money with me, and so

thou ht he’d get it and go back.

“ ut I killed him.”

“ Now you did.

“ But, cap’n, come ashore and take pot-luck in
my cabin, while the be 's will be glad to see you,
and the women and chi dren too, for they hain’t
forgot the presents you gave ’em.”

“ Thank you, Chief Wilder. I will accept
your hos itality for a day or two.”

“ Hain t going so soon?”
H YesI H

“ Must?”

“ Yes, for I have work ahead.”

“ You is gen’rally busy.”

“ I wish to propose something to you, too,
Wilder.”

“ I’m open for business, cap’n, if it ys.”

“Very well, we’ll talk it over to-night, for I
want to have you go with me.”

“ No, now?’

H I do.”

“ Will it pay?”

“ Immensely.”

“ I‘m your man, cap’n.”

“And 1 shall want a crew too.”

“ For the smack?” .

“ No, for my schooner.”

“ Thought you said she was nabbed.”

“ I did, but I intend to get her back, or a bet-
ter one,” was the si iflcant reply.

“ That’s ood tal ; but what shall I do with
this?” and t 8 man kicked the body of the false
guard. I

“ Pitch it into the sea.”

“ I’ll search him first."

“ I have done that, and he had but little.

“ You can give it to your children,” and the
pirate. handed out a few pieces of gold.

“ Thank you, cap’n, for the little ones.

“ Now here goes,” and the body was tossed
overboard.

 

CHAPTER xx. /
rm: COAST orrsms.

HAVING gotten rid of the body of Bonus, and
Chief Wilder—as the man was called, who had
boarded the smack—putting things shipshape on
board, the pirate ot into the skid alongside
and was taken on s ore.

Back among the pines was the camp, or settle-
ment of the wild ple, who had become known
as “ Coast Gypsigs? from the strange life they
led.
There were half a hundred cabins grouped to-
gether, well-built and comfortable.

In the r of the cabins some distance, was
a clearin , where vegetables, were planted, and
the cabins and the garden were the whole
visible belongings of the peo le who dwelt there.

They called themselves unters and fisher-
men, aud were went to take both fish and game
to the markets along the coast.

Thay dressed furs also, made fancy baskets,
and oor-mattin of fine straw, and such was
their stock in tragic.

There were those who said the met smuggling

vessels OR the coast and run heir car in,
while others believed ‘them little better 11 pi-
rates.

But still nothing had been proven against

them as a class, thou h individuals of their num-
ber had pow and t en been caught in illegal
acts.

They had a chief. and his word was law over
the half thousand souls who com the set-
tlement, and which consisted 0 women and

 

children, as well as men.

l,

- v ‘ \

I They were a werfully-built, wild-looking set
of men, could a l swim like aSand wich Islander,
were natural sailors, dead shots and fearless.

They had a score of small vessels, which. if
they wished to change their dwellin , they could

, bundle the whole tribe on board an sail where

1 they chose.

But they generally Settled within a day’s sail
of some seaport of importance, to find a market
l for their wares.

I The cabin of Chief Wilder was no better than

I the rest, though it was larger, and had an as-

{ sembly room in it.

‘ As he passed along, the pirate was greeted b

i the people, who all, recognized him from his

; formdr visits, and his generosity on those occa-

l sums.

l Arriving at his cabin Chief Wilder sent for
the “medicine—man” of the settlement, to look

after the arm of his pirate friend, and an old

man came who certainly did give the woundcd
outlaw much relief from the pain he had been
suffering.

After supper the chief said bluntly:

“Now, cap’n, what can the Coast Gypsies do
for you?"

“I wish to do for thcm as wall.”

“ Granted' but first, what do you want?”

“ How many men have you in camp?”

“Just six hundred and one people, and three
hundred and sixty are males over eighteen.”

“You could then spare seventy-five good fel-
lows and they would not be missed?”

“ W hat for?”

“ I wish to go to my Island Retreat.”

“ In the Bahamas?”

it Yes."

“ Well, what then ’9”

“I have there a dozen men, but mostly crip-
pled or old.”

It I See 1?

“ They keep the stores I have on the island.
and it is a retreat I must have when I need to lit
out: but of late the war-vessels have dogged me
so I have not been there for months.”

“ I understand.”

“ For this reason I ran north with my schoon-
er, which was in wretched condition, determined
to capture me another craft.”

“And missed it?”

“ I captured a schooner, 'ust what I wanted,
but she was taken from me y a frigate, the one
they call the Fatal Frigate, of which you have
heard.”

“ Yes, I have heard her spoken of as a haunted
craft.”

“ She is.”

“ And she took your schooner?”

“Yes, and my prize.”

‘i   ll

“ So I came here to get some of you men to go
 me  my smack to the Bahamas retreat. ’

see

“ There I have a merchant brig in fair condi-
tion, and she has on board aca o of woods from
South American countries, an was bound to
England.
“ But I’ll run her here, get the number of
men I need from on and sail for Boston.
“ Once in the arbor I’ll sell the cargo and
brig, cut out my schooner by night, for she is
bein put in splendid trim by her captors, and
then 11 be afloat once more.’
N I m.”
“ You can spare me the men?"
“ That de nds.”
“ Upon w at?”
“ Terms.”
“ I” will give you the rank of first lieuten-
ant.
“ No, I’m an honest man, and I’m leader here,
captain.” ,

‘What terms do you wish?”

“ I’ll put the crew against you and the schooner,
and share even on all prizes.”

“ These are hard terms, Wilder.” \

“ Then at a crew elsewhere.”

“ No, I now our men are the best.”

“ Then pay or them, for mind you, officers
whom you may appoint, and all, turn their share
into our Gypsy treasury, and we all share alike.

“ That‘s our little law, and the man of this set-
tlement, or woman, or child either, who breaks
it, knows what the penalty is.”

“ And that penalty?”

“ Death.”

“ Very well, I agree to your terms, and I will
need a omen men to go With me on the smack.”

“ You can have them; but when will you need
your full crew?”

“ In about three weeks, or withing the month,
upon my return.” ”

They will be ready for you.

“ Seventy~flve will do.” _

“ You can have all you wish, cap’n, and they
will be men you can trust, while they areas good
sailors as ever set foot on a deck.”

“ I do not doubt that."

“But what about the 103s of your right hand i”

“Fortunately. I use one hand as wall as the
other, while I can wield a cutlass and shoot with
my left also; but I shall begin [practicing with a
blade and pistols at once. for shall need to,”
was the rejoinder.

 

I

. ,__. _-.,..._ ~ _._.~_--—... .._. ..

_ ,_ whamwmm _ .__4 «

 

 

 

 

I if!

i I ' .The One-Armed Buccaneer.

11

 

 

CHAPTER XXII.
A PIRATE’S WIFE.

THE woman who was on the Pirate Isle had
the dark face, slender form and glorious eyes of
a Cuban. “ I am surprised.”

She was dressed richly, for her attire was of l , “ So was I; but I captured a schooner which
l the finest materials, and strangely out of place  I meant to take for my vessel, as the Spitfire
[ there; but then she had the choice of her toilet I was sadly in need of repairs, and in the vessel,

i CHAPTER XXI.
' rim ournAws’ RETREAT. ’
AMONG the man 1' islands, keys, rocks, reefs
and sand-banks, which 0 to make up thatl
strange archipelago, the ahamas, are a num-
ber of secure retreats which, in olden times,
1 yes, and down amon the “ eighteen-thirties,”

“ And he cut your hand 01!?”

“ Yes, in square fight, though.”
“ And you with your cutlassl"
5L Yes.”

 

. further on the wth of trees Would conceal a ‘ once adorned the cabin of one of his prizes, and and ii frown was upon his face, for Marcelite had .. 
; market-war th her topmasts housed. the {pun wife sat near him. asked him not to bring his intended captives 
,2 _A.s though intended nature for a pirate “ ow ave matters gone since I left, Mai‘ce- there to the retreat. ‘5

i hng- lace, thobasin wi his the island, curved lite?” he asked. “You are a silly fool, Marcelite,” be said. 5 ‘-

 

 

‘en of the island, and long and narrow in shape:

{reader accompan

~ ing on her deck the unlucky Bonus, and the

were used as hiding-p aces for buccaneers. l

It required in the long ago good management
to sail through the Bahamas, in rough weather,

» and there were many localities there where a l

sailor did not care to be, either in good or foul 1
seas.

Scenes of the island can be pointed out to- i
day, as the home of bnccaneers during the last i
century, and in the early rt of this one. ‘

With a retreat where ew dared follow him,
and only the most skillful pilot would dare ven— ,
ture in bad weather, the daring )irate was l
wont to deal havoc upon the shipping up and
down the American coast of the Atlantic, and
among the West Indies, feeling that he could
always retreat to his rendezvous to lie hidden
and divide his spoils. ,

It was in one of the most secluded islands of ,
the Bahamas that the Cuban Corsair, as the ,
one-armed outlaw had been more generally ,
known, had his retreat. ‘

While there was a sail in sight he never would ‘

0 near that retreat, for he would do nothing to
feud any one upon him in his hiding.

Then, too, his island rendezvous could only be ]
neached at the full tide.

It was an island in shape not unlike a wedge.
with a rocky cliff at one end and a sandy point 1
at the other.

A fourth of a mile in length, it was a tliou— '
sand feet wide at the cliff end, and arose to a l
considerable hight.

A dreary-looking rock in appearance, it yet,
from the center to the cliff end, was overgrown ;
with a growth of hardy trees, twisted out of i
all shape in their growing, by the fierce winds ‘
that had swept over the island.

To one coming near, and in the maintop, what
ap ared to be a lake could be seen at the lower

 

 

but that there was an means of entering it
from the sea no one co (1 have believed.

It is to this island I would now have my
y me, or rather to the deck of
in small sloop the is heading for it.

The sloop is the same that left Boston, carry-

One-Armed Pirate.

‘ Upon her decks are a dozen men, all gazing
toward the island with interest, while at the
tiller stands the crippled corsair himself.

“ I can see no way of getting in to that island,
captain," said a young man. with a dark face,
stamped with daring and determination.

“ You will only see when the tide is high
enough for us to go in, and not then until we
are passing through the sand shoals,” was the
reply. ,

And 03 and on the little vessel
for the tide to run full.
d'At last Some (rifting! and shoals on 6 point
- isa fined an e row w
thei) nd. ’ p as pm ted for

It required a steady hand to shave the shoals,
as the sloop had to do; but Captain Cutlass
edged around the sand-banks near enough to
spring from the deck upon them,aud then headed
in toward the rocky point.

At high tide as it was, all could see that the
sup lake was then connected with the sea,
an the sloop glided into it, with no sail set, un-
der the pressure of the strong current.

There was ample depth within the basin, and
as the sloop was swept on the rocky shores upon
either side rose higher than the mast, and still

stood, waiting ‘

in thes ape of an L, thus affording a safe re-
treat for vessels. after rounding the curve.
But until the bend was sounded. a vessel
could be seen far and near on either side.
The shores of the basin were wild and rocky,
but there was depth for a good ancho , and
itE force

 

no wind could reach a craft there w schooner. - “For my sake?"
enough to do it hpl'm- “ But of course I mourn most for the low of “ No.” '1
Upon the hillsides, covered with the growth your hand.” ‘ “ Poor girls, they will pine here, and oh! how 

of trees alluded to, were several cabins, built
mostly of ships’ timbers and wrecks , while
upon a rock, that served well as a w art, was
War structure, a store-house for piratical

ty.
Amid a clump of ines Was another cabin of

better ap nee t the others and which
had a mmmrtable, cosey look. ,

from a store that seemed inexhaustible.
Then she were rare jewels worth a king’s ran-

which was a coasting packet out of Boston,
there was a young lady of vast riches.
“ I meant to hold her for ransom, but Harold

som.
Her face was touching in its sadnessbgiut very , took her part, and while we were seeing who

lovely, and in years she could scarcely
twenty-five.

As the little sloop glided alongside the rocky
shelf that served as a wharf, there was a motley
gang there to receive it.

Cubans, Indians, negroes, and a few whites,
among whom were English, Irish, French and
Portuguese.

Altogether there were a score, with a few ne-
gresses in the part .

Some of the men had their heads bound up, as
from wounds, others were. lame and Used rude
crutches, several carried their arms in a sling,
and two were minus an arm and a leg.

They gave a cheer as they beheld their chief
spring ashore, but they looked anxious when they
saw that he had lost his right hand, and came
back without his schooner, and with strange
men.

In the. basin were several vessels at anchor,
from a small Cuban golefa to a brig of three
hundred tons.

Pointing t0 the latter, the. chief said:

“ Lads, I am back again, having lost my
schooner and crew.

“But I have another crew, and yonder brig
shall win a fine vessel and he the means thereby
of securing greater riches.”

Then he passed on up the hillside, towhere the
woman stood, her face now pale, as she saw that
he had but one arm.

“ Oh, Murell my h sband! you are wounded,”
she cried anxiously, 8 she threw her arms about
him.

“ Marcelite, I have come back to you without
a vessel or a crew, and with my good right hand
gone, as you see.

“But the future is before me, and I will tri-
umph over my foes and win revenge.

“ But come, let us walk to the cabin. and tell
Duena to come and cook me one of her good sup-
pers for I am ver hun .

“ Hast been wel , Marce its?”

“Yes, I am always well on know, my one
illness being lonesomeness, urel.”

“ Well, you will not be lonesome now for a
week, Marcelite, as I will be here with you.

“ Just think of it, my wife, I Will be here one
whole week.”

“ And away three whole months.

“ Ah, Murel it is not often that I see you
now, but I will call Duena and have her pre
supper, and you can tell me how it is that see
you thus grippled and with no vessel."

She pla a silver whistle to her lips as she
spoke, and givin three sharp blasts, it was an
swered by a m cal call:

“ Coming, senora. coming,” and a mulattress
left the crowd on the rock and came rapidly up
the hill toward the cabin of her mistrem.

Duena was dressed in a. picturesque, if not a
fashionable costume, and seemed to be fond of
showy attire.

She was a handsome mulattress of forty years
012.111 e, and as quick in her movements as a
c i .

She greeted the pirate chief polite] , and then
set to work to get supper, calling 'a alf-grown
negro lad to her aid to make a fire and bring
wood and water.

In the mean time the buccaneer had thrown
himself upon a comfortable settee, which had

“ As usual.”

“ No trouble with the people?”

“ None that I could not quell,” was the quiet
response.

After amoment of silence she asked:

“ Tell me how you lost your hand and your

“ It was the work of that handsome lieuten-
ant, whom you always liked.”

“ What, of Harold?"

“The same.”

“ He certai did not turn traitor?”

“ I think so, t oughgou might think not.”
. “ I would not defen him in an act of wrong,
Murel, thou h I did feel sorry that he was

beyond  should rule, a frigate came up and captured
I me
I

“ I was sent in irons to prison, but got away,
and my vessel is a prize; but I shall soon have
her back.”

“ How can you?”

“Well, the frigate‘s commander is an old foe,
who has chased ine often, and I have longed for
revenge, and now I shall have it.”

“ I cannot see how.”

“ It was his sister who was passenger on
board the packet, and he is also engaged to a
young lady of vast Wealth.

“I shall capture both maidens, bring them
here, and here they shall remain until I get my
price for them.

“ Oh, Murcll”

“ With that money and what I have, I will be
able to lead a different life, and we will go
somewhere and find a home, Marcelite, and.
spend, the rest of our days in luxury and happi-
HESS.

“ Can we, with the grim specters of the past
to haunt us?”

“Yes, for I will live for the
the future and bury the past.”

“ Ah, me! if I only could; but why not carry
out our good resolve now, Murel?”

“ have not riches enough.”

“ Ah, Murel, you are very rich 1”

“ I will be, after my next cruise; but, Mar-
celite, I will remain here a week to fit the brig:
out, and then sail in her.

“ Within two months I hope to be back with-
my captives, so I shall have a cabin built near
this one for them, and you shall be their
guard." ‘

The pirate’s wife sighed but made no reply,
though a deep shadow fell upon her heart.

present, hope for

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
A STRANGE BRIG.

THE days passed at his retreat by the pirate
were spent in trying to et his arm perfectly
well and in fitting out the rig for sea. .

It was a craft of three hundred tons burden
loaded with costly South American woods, and
had laid in the basin since her capture, nearly at
year before.

But she was overhauled,
out with better canvas.

The Cuban Corsair also passed a can lie of
hours of each day in fencing with his leftIiand.

The young Coast Gypsy, Leon, was a good
swordsman, and be exercised with him, and also .
practiced shooting, until he began to feel thathe
was becoming a dangerous man to engage in
combat, and just were his views upon this subl
ject, and not imagination.

At last the day was set for sailing, and he had
put on board a quantity of booty, intending to
dispose of it somewhere, so that he felt he would

painted and rigged

have money enough to gethl' or the new schooner, "

or for his own if he cut t e Spitfire out, all that
was needed without drawin upon his ' wels,
for the buccaneer prized t em as be his
heart’s blood, and never cared to part with"
r em. ‘

He was seated in the cabin with his wife, wait-
ing for the tide to come in full, so that he could
get out with the brig, when it began first to ebb.

“ Perhaps I am.”

“ I know you are.”

“ Humor me then.” '

“ And not capture those two maidens!”
H Ya.”

“ I cannot do it.”

unha py the will be.”
“ fixey will be ransomed.”
“ You are rich enough, Murel.”
“ I have not enou .”
“Ah! Murel, you

falls to man’s lot often.
“ I want more.”

Giv: up taking these ladies capfive.”
0 r

H
U

i’r’e a far greater sum than

 

A shed in front served as a piazza. once the fonfid to lea a life of outlawry, when he was so N . 15
rock floor. and here, seated on a rustic chair, well fitted to occupy a far different position.” “ I beseech you, Mum ” 
was a woman regarding with interest the com- “ And I?" ,.  “ Wh ?” >  1,
mg in of the sloo “ You know how I have longed to get you out “ W I do not care to have them here.” ‘4
_ Yes. it is Mural, and he haslost his schooner, of this wild, sinful life.” \ “ You are jealous” . 
that is certain. , “ Well, we will be able to soon, if my plans go “ Call it so if you wish, but do not bring them “i?

5, Butt“ Vi be praised that he is spared. well.” \ hem;- ‘ g , i

I Will meet in at the store-house wharf.” “ How so?” “ I cannot gratify your wish,  for I J ,, .~

She am as she spoke and walked downs
ppm leading to the larger cabin already spoken

 

   
 

“‘ [Ytold’ you that Harold did this.”
‘ es

“ He is a very devil when aroused.”

,/‘

 

have nowhere else to take them.”
“ Leave them where they are.”
“ And my revenge?”

 

e-

 

‘ f ’25:

 

it“s" ".‘ 12:”)? 1‘..-

.-

12

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

 

 

“ You have no reason for revenge, for the
frigate’s commander was doing his duty.”

‘ I am revengeful though, and, as be ruined
’me I shall seek revenge.”

‘ I can say no more, Murel.”

“ I am lad you will not.

“ See, t 0 water has covered the tide—rock,
and will turn in a few minutes.

“ I must be off, so bid ine good-by, wife, and
remember, that within a few months I no longer
swee the seas as a buccaucei‘.”

“ he Virgin grant your words prove true.”

“ All will come well, cam mia, so good-by!”

, He kissed her affectionately, and nodding to
Duena, said:

“ Take gocd care of my wife, Duena.”

The mulattress bowed, but made no reply, and
Marcelite running after him, Went down to the
shore by his side. ,

The brig had been already swung round, her
bows pointing to the sea, and she was moved
alon side the wharf rock.

“ cod-by again, Marcelite.” and he sprung
on board.

“ Good-by, Murel.”

She spoke in a tone of deep sadness, and going
back to her cabin, watched the brig drift out
with the tide.

There wasa point of lookout on the island, the
summit of a tower-shaped rock, and ships’ rat-
lines had been made fast to the top.

Upon thi rock a man stood, his visicn sweep

‘ ing~ the hon on with a glass.

0 this rock Marcelite went, and seeing her
the lookout said:

“ No vessel in sight, senora.”

“ I will watch, dolpho, so come down.”

The man did so, and the Woman ascended the
ratllnes to the top.

It was a breezy place, but the rock had been
hollowed out, so that she could sit there and her
head merely be on a level with the edge, did she
so wish, and it would afford a hiding-place for
one on watch there, from an passing yessel, the
ratlines going up on the si e where they were
not visible from the sea.

But Marcelite stood up within the hollow of
the rack, and waved her sash to the receding

bri . x,

Sgime of the crew saw her and attracted their
captain‘s at ention, and he raised his hat,
while in his c ear Voice came to her ears, even
at that great distance:

“ Good-by, Marcelite l”

The tide swept the brig on out of the basin
through the channel around the sand shoals, and
thus out into open water.

Then sail was set, the Coast Gypsy crew

, springin to work with a will.

In go time the brig reached the little bay,
near the village of the Coast G ypsi‘es, and Chief
Wilder came on board.

A night was spent at anchor in the bay, and,
having had a talk with his men who who went

with the buccaneer, and asking them \blnntly ‘
right before him, all he desired to know, he

ordered the remainder of tho seventy—five on
board, and the brig set sail and shaped her
course for Boston.
, It was in broad daylight when she arrived oil’
the port, but the daring buccaneer chief, dis-
thoroughly as a South A‘ nerican skipper,
and wearing his right arm in a sling, with
splints as though it had been broken, ran right
in for an anchorage.
Only half a score men were visible 0n deck,

. the remainder being in hiding below, and no

one who saw the strange brig come in, dreamed
that she held a secret of such importance be-
lpath her decks, and that the bearded skipper
was none other than Captain Cutlass, the
Cuban Corsair, in disguise.

CHAPTER XXIV. ‘ ‘\
A STRANGE MANEUVER. .
LIST us now return to the Fatal Frigate,
after her capture of the two French vessels.
That it was a most deadly combat the reader
in already aware, and also that the 111 Omen bad

 

",I . suffered heavily in men, as well as havin been

 

out up pretty badly by the hot fire of her oes.
The sloop-of-war was so much of a wreck, as
as her masts and riggng were concerned,

- 1 that she could not be gotten under sail without

hours of dela , so that Lionel I .onsdaie deter-
mined to take or in tow and thus carry herinto

&,
ware Fatal Frigate and the French frigate
were both able to maneuver very well, and so
they started in the former with the smaller

. prim in tow, and the large Frenchman bringing

up the rear.

i It was new dawn and the vessels could be

distinctly seen from the town, and‘wild were

the cheers in honor of the victory. '
There were many too who were glad on ac-

- count of the ydung commander of the III Oman.

He had been heated unfairly, many thought,
in havin been outlawed for his act in getting a
mwan going to sea.

,8uspicion alone had condemned him, for at
the council held, a few seamen had said that
ureadmd been made to them to ship on the
Oman, and it Was told how she was to become

a ' ate.
, van after the capture of the Spitfire, and

l ' /

 

Lionel Lonsdale having sent her in with her
chief, as he did, the brand of outlawry was not
raised against him, as it should have been.

Many wondered wh . i Others supposed that
it was because he ha kept the pirate crew on
board, intending really to turn free rover of
the seas.

Yet ignorant of the brande outlawry against
him, and only anxious to remain out of port
until he could gain some signal victory, which
would keep his crew from being taken from him
b the admiral, as he expected would be the case
it he ran in to an anchorage, the daring young
commander had kept away, and his chance for
triumph had come sooner than he had expected
when he sighted the two French vessels and
ca tured them.

lpon Point Lookout, the hill where the mili—
tary and naval officers had gone to see the com-
bat. a great many citizens had also gathered,
among them a. number of ladies.

Thus had Belle Vernon not been alone, when
she drove there with her father.

Admiral Fenton was there also, anxiously
watching the combat, and yet the most anxious
of all in the party was Frank Fenton.

He watched the battle with fear and trembling.

Not that he dreaded the Fatal Frigate would
be taken, but, on the contrary, he feared that she
would not be.

Those two same vessels had met ltim in the
s lendid Saturn, and the equal of the larger
‘l‘UlK‘il vessel, if not her superior by a few guns
and half a hundred men.

But they had driven the Saturn out of the
fight very quickly, and no one had condemned,
or thought of doing so, the. young English captain
for not remaining and fighting two such power-
ful adversaries.

Now here came ihe Fatal Frigate, a vessel. in
the number of guns and men far the iiiferioifiof
the Saturn, and she had boldly sought the
battle.

And more, she had silenced the French sloop—of-
war in a most masterly manner, by rare ma-
neuvering, gotten her between her huge consort
and herself. while. she did so, that she might
quickly end the matter with her. and then hold—
ly attacked the large Frigate.

It made Frank Fenton bite his lips with rage,
to hear the praise bestowed on every side upon
Lionel Lonsdale. ,

And thus it was he was unpairiotic enough
to wish the Fatal Frigate. might be captured

He knew that if taken Lionel Lens-dale would
be carried away to a French prison, leaving: the
field wholly to him, as far as winning the love
of Belle Vernon Was concerned.

He had offered himself to her, and he had
been put ofl’ for his answer. '

But if Lionel Lonsdale returned a victor. then
he feared he knew what his answer would be,
for he could not drive the thought from his
mind that she loved the. young American sailor.

Frank Fenton was aware, too, that should the
111 Omen bring one of the French vessels in as a
prize, it would remove from him the brand of
outlawry, which had been cruelly put upon

1m.

But that he could bring both foes in, he had
not the remotest idea though there were several
who predicted it, theloudest in these predictions
bein Major Bert Brauscombe.

W on therefore the slcop-of-war ceased firing,
it was certain to all that the Ill Omen meant to
drive her into port, keeping back, as she followed
her, as well as she could, the powerful French
frigate.

But words were inad uate to express the
amazement of all, when ionel Lonsdale was
seen to steer directly to attack the huge French-
man.

“He is mad!”

Such was the universal cry, \

And Captain Frank Fenton was delighted, for
now his rival must fall.

But instead, as the darkness faded before the

dawn the French frigate was seen to strike to
the Ill Omen, and loud rung the shouts upon
every side.
Still watchin , those on Point Lookout beheld
the 111 Omen ta 9 the sloop-of-war in tow and
stand in toward the harbor, the prize-frigate fol-
lowing in their wake, and above each deck float-
ed the king’s flag.

They sawa barge put away from the fort and
board the Ill Omen. ,

hen the latter vessel swept around and came
to'an anchor, signaling the two prizes to do like-
wnse. '

Boats passed to and fro from each vessel then,
and getting 11 her anchor the Fatal Fri ate
ililtood seawar , leaving the two prizes behind

or.

At the same moment a. barge from the fort
pulled toward the town.

“ What did it mean?”

. That was-the question upon every lip.

But no one cou‘d answer.

CHAPTER XXV.
LIONEL LONSDALE’S RESOLVE.

When the three vessels. the victor and the
vanquished, headed into port in the early morn-
ing, those on their decksmw that the frrts were
crowded on every rampart with soldiers, send-

 

ing cheer after cheer toward them in honor of
their great triumph.

Upon board the sloo f-war the crew of Eng—
lishmen, with their 0 cers, who had been held
as prisoners for weeks, since the vessel had fallen
into the hands of the French, had been released
from their imprisonment below decks and,over a
hundred and fifty strong, they were wild with de-
light, ansvvering the cheers of the fort’s garrison
with shout after shout.

Suddenly out from the water-stairs of the fort
a barge put forth, and it was headed toward
Fatal Fri ate.

Lionel onsdale had just come on deck from
his cabin, where he had been to have a sh rht
wound on the hand dressed,and Lieutenant ar-
old met him with the remark:

“ A suberb victory, Captain Lonsdale.”

“ Yes; but you are wounded, Mr. Harold?”

“ Very slightly, sir.” '

“ It is enough to cause you to keep your state—
room, sir, and I prefer that you do it; for we are
going into port ’

The dyoung officer understood the remark, and
replie :

‘ I thank you, Captain Lonsdale, and I willdo
as you desire.”

“ it is better, sir, though I hope that the vieto
ry we have gained will soon cause a free pardon
for all to be issued, while I will see to your es»
pecial case myself.”

“ With your permssion, sir, I would rather not
yet be known, as, for the reasons I told you, I
prefer to wait.”

“Very well, Lieutenant Harold: but if you
were Cutlass, the Corsair himself. your bravery
in the combat we have just fought would gain
you a pardon.

“ But is that barge not coming on board i”

“Yes, sir, and they are hailing.”

“ The Ill Omen ahoy!”

The hail came across the water from an officer
in the stern of the bar 0.

“It is Colonel Du ose,” said Lonsdale, and
he replied:

“ Ahoy the barge!” "

“ Can I board you, Lonsdale, for I recognize
you now?”

“ Ay, ay, Colonel Du Bose, come on board.”

A moment after the handsome artillery officer
grndsped the hand of the young captain, while be
5m : <

“The grandest victory I evor saw, and I con—
gratulate you, Lonsdale, especially as those two
vessels ran the Saturn, with Captain Frank Fen-
ton, commander, into port several da 5 ago.”

“ What, did the Saturn meet them; ’

“ Yes, and was so worsted Fenton put into
port, and the Saturn, the Belle of Blue Wat
and the pirate schooner, Spitfire, were fitted o
for the express purpose of going out and attack—
ing the Frenchmen.” _

“I am sorry to take the glory from Cap'ain
Fenton, for I believe you so called him, but he is
too late.”

“Yes, he was promoted to take the Saturn."

“ I expected it.” ‘

“ But this act Will cause the admiral to at once
remoye the cruel and silly outlawry he put upon

ou. ,
y “ What, sir?”

The eyes of the sailor flashed as he asked the
question.

“I forgot, Lonsdale, that you doubtless are ig~
norant o the fact that a lot of the Tow n Coun-
cil met the military and naval leaders some time
ago, the admiral presiding, and, on account of
your having taken the convicts for a crew, and
the swaaring of some seamen that you had gone
out to turn pirate, the ban of outlawry was put
upon your vessel."

Lionel Lonsdale was very white now, but
otherwise he showed no emotion.

“ And this charge is now against me, Colonel

“ Yes, Lonsdale I regret to say, for Bruns-
combo, myself an others voted a ainst it, but
were over~voted and you were out awed."

“ Helmsman, let the frigate come round!

“ Forward there!

“ Let fall that anchor!

“ Cast of! that tow-line from the sloop.

“ Ho! the sloop!”

“ Ay, ay, sir !'

“ Fetch our craft round as well as you can,
and let fal the anchor! ~

“ Mr. Manly!”

“ Ay, a , sir!” i

“ Signa the French frigate to come to an-
chor near the sloop!”

u , ay’ sir.”

“ ow, Manly, dfll the sloop and
frigate to lower away two ts and await fur-
thergrders!” ”

‘ v a ! m'

“  lif'anlyl”

“ Sir to you, sir.

“ Lower away two boats from the Ill Omen!”

H Ay’ sir.”

These orders had been given in a rapid, rin -
ing veice, and Colonel Du Bose was evidentFy
surprised at them.

But he was not long left to wonder, for Lionel
Lonsdale said:

“Colonel Du Bose, I desire to turn overto

1'!

you, sir, the French frigate and sloopof-war, ~' ; V A 

‘ ‘ A. ‘41-:

 

I
i
i
l

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to
/ , shattered.

 

tin hold until taken possession of by Admiral
(‘Il (ill. a .
“ You are to transfer them to him as prizes of
the pirate frigate lll Omen.
‘I have lost nearly a hundred men in the
combat, killed and wounded, and I sludl rri lace
‘li-ni With seventy-five men from the lingiish
wrew I rescued.
“ I shall keep my Prisoners on board with me,
,i as they would doubtless be hanged as pirates, it
'_ they were sent ashore.
' “ Mr. Manly.”

“ Sir!” -

“Signal the slw'ip to send sCVenty—five men

aboard this frigate at once, and for the Fin-g;- ‘

lish captain to take command of his vessel, and
.allow my prize crew to come also.”

“ Yes, sir.”

“ And have it done at once!"

“Ay, :iy, sir.”

“Then :»-ignal the English captain to send a
prize crew iroin llIS vessel, of his own released
men, on board the French frigate.”

‘ y, ay, sir.”

“And signal my prize crew on the French
frigate to come on board the 111 Omen the min-
Inc the men from the sloo take charge!” ‘

Robert Manly quickly 0 lycd the orders given
him, while Colonel Ilu Bose said:

“ My dear Lonsdale, but What do you intend
:to do?”

, “ I intend to put to sea at once, Colonel Du
.Bose, with my crew filled up to their proper
:number by the English prisoners I rescued.”

“ But if you went up to the town, I am sure
the admiral would at once raise the ban upon

ou.

“ Colonel Du Bose, will you please say to Ad-
.miral Fenton from me that I have captured a
' irate craft and two French vessels and that. if
. 6 Wishes to see me enter port, he ms to with-
draw the ban of piracy against me as publicly
.as it was made, and send an officer to find me
and deliver to me word that he has done so.

“ If he does not deem it his duty to do that,
upon the proof that he still allows me to be
branded as an outlaw, I shall know what to do.

“ I thank you, Colonel Du Bose, for your very
great kindness in telling me what you have, and

surrender my prizes into our keeping."

In vain did Colonel Du Ose urge Lonsdale to
come into port, or at least wait there until he
gould go up to town and see the admiral for
. 1m.

,The young sailor was obdurate.

“But where will the admiral‘s messenger find

“It is his duty to find me upon the high seas,

where he has placed me under outlawry, and, if

V he does not remove the ban, and wishes to cap—‘
'ture. the p1rate frigate, let him send Capton Fen-
‘ton mthe Saturn to bring me in,” and Lonsdale
spoke in a way that betokened ill to Frank Fen-
ton should he come.

The transfers of men were now made to the
different vessels, and, bidding Colonel nu Bose
good-by, the young sailor ordered the anchor up
andsail set, and the beautiful, though unfortu-
‘natefrigate, headed for the open sea, her crew
repairing her shattered hull, torn riggin and
-:shot-ripped sails, as she moved ma jest cally
.away from the port where the brand of outlawry
had been put upon her.

CHAPTER XXVI.
Eva’s WARNING.

FEELING that he had been treated with cruel
injustice by Admiral Fcnton, Lionel Lonsdale
was determined that he would make the old
sailor raise the ban upon him as publicly as he
had placed against him the charge of being an
outlaw.

For this reason he had refused to cnterthc
£3)“. feeling well content that his havm , cap-

}‘ed the irate schooner Spitfire, the I reach
frigate. an released the sloop—of—war which the
FrenChmen held as a prize, would be enough in
ibis favor to throw back in the teeth of the old
@dmiml. and hilflcvusera, the charge of his hav—
in acted with dishonor,

i3 hBVing taken the convicts for his crew,

and used the piiuratcs from the Spitfire, had
roven that he ew he could make them the
of sailors

The frigate had been pretty well scarred up in
km fierce fight, though her masts still stood
. rm. -

But there was a topmast Shot away, some spars
«cut in two, rigging severed in man places sails
‘ in, gun]; dismounted and the bu war-kg Badly

was no easy matter,

To re air these damage.)

and as 'onel Lonsdale rad determined to enter
110 port with the brand of outlaw upon him, he
11 to sail for a secluded haven where he
fknew hacould refit at will, and in perfect seclu-
: ion.

' Running in near Portsmouth by night, he sent
Robert Manly ashore in a boat, with four men,
.00 purchase there a small sloop and place on

rd all that was needed to repair the frigate.
Mr. Manly bad instructions also to visit Port-

! lung, it all that was wanted could not be found

31h OM01! h, and then to sail for the rendez-

‘vous where he would find the frigate.

' Crippled a: nine was, the Ill Omen made slow
‘ it . I" , ' , I

 

' The OnstéieeéBuccan¢9L

__ ~-L‘,L_ iL‘ZW’, ;,

headway, and some days passed ere she ran into
the secluded haven where her captain piloted
her. \

It was the very place to fit out a craft, for the
very best of spar-timber could be had near, and
there wasa pine forest Within hail, where the
wounded could be removed, and recover more
rupIidly than if housed 11 below decks.

. en were set to wor dressing spars ashore,
as soon as the wounded had been carefully re-
moved and placed in tents erected in the woods,
and others began the repair of sails, rigging and
bulwarks.

Several days after the arrival of the Ill Omen,
the little vessel purchased by Robert Manly came
in, and it had on board of it all that was needed
to put the frigate in as good trim as ever she
had been.

Seeing that all was going well, and that two
weeks would be needed to get all shipshape, for
he had no desire to hurry the men, Lionel Lous-
dale decided to go to Sealands on a visit.

Leaving Lieutenant Harold, who was rapidly
ret-ovcring from his wound, in command, Lous-
dale took four men with him and set sail in the
little sloop for his home.

It gvas dark when he ran into the little haven
and glided alongside of the pier, remarking in
his pleasant way to his men:

“ Suds, I am at home now, and I’ll not forget
you.

“ We know that, sir, for you're’a gentleman,
born and bred, and ‘will die the same, sir,” re-
plied one. of the seamen, who, ike all of Lionel
Lonsdale’s crew, had come to fairly idolize their
young commander. _

As he sprung ashore a form suddenly con-
fronted him.

“ Why. Eve!”

“ Yes, brother!”

She sprung into his outstretched arms as she
spoke. '

“ What are you doing down here alone, Eve?”
he asked tenderly. “

“Oh, I saw the sleep at sunset, and when I
beheld her go through the channel between the
Twin Brother Islands, I knew that you were on
board, as no one else has ever dared to make the
attempt.

“ So when I saw the sloop
cove, I ran down to meet you.

“ And dear mother?”

“ Is well and yet Worried.”

“_Wh s ould she worry, Eve?"

h “ Vge l, brother, that strange man has been
cre. '

“ Who?”

“ Lola’s father.”

‘(  P,

“ Yes. he was here a few days ago.”

“ Did he tell you what had happened?”

6‘ Yes. ,1

“ That Lola was dead?”

H Yes. 7,

“ What did he say?”

“ e said you had gone to Castle Bleak, and
tha she had sprung from the cliff and com-
mitted suicide. ’

“ True, poor girl.” .

“ He was very stern in manner, yet courtly.”

“Why did he come?”

“ To see you.”

“ And you told him I was cruising?”

“ Yes; but he said he would find you."

“ I will go to see him.”

“ No, no, Leo, do not. I beg of you.”

“ “'h , child, what ails you r’

“ I he love he means you harm.”

“ Did he say so?”

“ No. but his eyes flashed so when he said he
would find on.”

“ He can avo nothing against me, Eve."

“ Well, brother, his coming has worried
mother, for she seems strangely nervous of
late. ‘

“ Is she not well?”

“ Oh, yes, but she will fret about you, and she
fears pvil will ha pen to you.”

Lionel Lonsda e laughed lightly, but he could
not but feel that, wearing as he did then, the
brand of an outlaw, that the evil had overtaken

. cOming into 'the

1m.

He was glad to see that the news had not, by
any niischance, reached Sealands, and he hoped
to cheer his mother and sister up by telling them
of his victory over the Frenchmen.

He found his mother on the piazza. to greet
him, and every shadow fled from her face as she
listened to him tell of his fight with the frigate
and the sloop, and the renewed honors she knew
would be his. ,\

He told them, too, that his frigate was bein
refitted, and that he had taken advantage 0
that circumstance to run up and see them.

A messenger was sent down to the cove to tell
the four seamen to come up to the mansion and
have their supper and the meal that they got
from the hands 0 Brandy’s mother, who was
the cook at Sealands, lingered long in their
memory. '

After a day and night spent at be e, Liorlilel
to is

{.nnsdale set sail in the sloop to retu
ri ate. .
ut instead of going back the way he came,
Eve noticed that he headed up the bay, and she
mattered to herself: ~ .
V. , I 3,  ,/

:7 ,
<’\

13

 

"' He has gone to Castle Bleak, I know; but I
dare not tell mother.

“ Oh, whv has Lionel gone there, for I am
sure that stern-faced man meant harm to him—
perha(ps toscck revenge upon him for his daugh-
ter’s cath.

“ Heaven protect him,” and tears dimmed the
beautiful eyes of Eve as she watched the rapidly
receding vessel.

CHAPTER XXVII.
THE OFFICIAL RETRACTION.

THE strange maneuver of the Fatal Frigate,
going to sea in her shattered condition. after
havnig given over to Colonel Du Bose the two
French Vessels, was not understood by the peo—
ple, who witnessed her remarkable move.

Pulling in his barge straight for the town,
Colonel Du Bose at once sought the home of Ad-
miral Fenton.

That gentleman had accept/ml the invitation
of Commodore Vernon, to return and breakfast
with him, and Major Branscombe and Captain
Fenton had also been asked, but the former had
been anxious to discover the cause of the IR
Omen going to sea, and said he would come at a
later hour. '

The truth was - Belle had urged him to find a
solution for the mystery, and he had promised
to do so, being as anxious himself to know the
cause as was the maiden to have him.

Captain Fenton had also promised to come
later, and in fact was in a very unenviable
mood. r

Seeing that the barge, which he had observed
board the Ill Omen, was pulling for the water-
stairs at the foot of the street leading to the
adiniral’s quarters, Major Branscombe had hae-
tened there. for he had recognized Colonel Du
Bose with his glass.

He knew the. colonel to be most friendl to
Lionel Lcnsdale, and the fear came ,over
that the young captain had been killed and the
wild crew had indeed seized the frigate to turn
her into a pirate.

.As Colonel Du Bese sprun ashore Major
Branscombe grasped his hand, or the two were
particular friends, though one was of the heavy
artillery and the other of the cavalry servica

“ My dear Du Bose, what of LonSdalet”

“ He is all right thank Heaven.”

“ So say I, thank Heaven!

“ But he has gone to sea.”

H ‘79s.”

“ Where are you going?”

" To the ndmiral’s; will you come?”

“I will take you to him, for he has gone ,to

 

w

later. .
“ Is it a sceret,or can you tell me what it

getting one of the old commodore’s good break-
fasts encourages me to get into a good humor.”

“ Miss Vernon's, colonel, for she is the excel—
lent housekeeper," corrected the major with a
smile. '

“ I accept the amendment, but will we be h
time?”
the year around.” , .

“It is new three-quarters of an hour before
that hour. ' ‘

“ But to Lonsdale.”

“ Yes; what a magnificent victory l”

“ Never saw anything so grand, and he
planned so well!” '.

“ He did, as well as we could judge: but he'll
not wounded!” ,

“ A mere scratch on thel hand, which he said
was m thing.”

“Yet he went tosea?”

H 3'08. 73

" And why?" .

“ He had not heard of his being outlawed,
and said he would not enter port until it on,
publicly withdrawn.”
would have been wel " »

“ I inadvertently referred to it,'and11 m
saw a man get so white. ‘

went to sea very quickly. leaving me a ’
foi‘dthe gdmiral, which I shall'deliver just as g
to me. '

Hall, and seeing

them approach, Belle met 
at the open door. ‘ i ‘

Her face was pale, and she glanced aux?! ’ i ‘ k
at the major, who understood her look, '~’

Isaid:
“ The gallant captain is all right, Miss Veni-
non, but has gone to sea a ain.” v
She seemed leased at his news, as shehad
feared, in all t at mad battle Lionel Lonathb
had been wounded, perhaps ala I).

told his story. ,
The admiral heard the words put. that Liond
demanded that he should cmovn the brand

 

  

against him, and more, send in search of him is
to him so. _ ‘ ‘
A. g

 

‘

Vernon Hall to breakfast, and I promised to go - .

'means!” \ .
“ I have not breakfastcd, and the thought of ;

“ Oh, yes, for the breakfast hour is eighfithirty‘\ _‘

“He is right; butfiyet, had he councilman I q
“He at once issued orders like lightning," Illl " .

The two friends had now reached  I

Leading the visitors into the sitting-roan, ,,
where the admiral and the commodore were ‘
taking a little morning beverage 10 drive- alt,
the effects of the night air, Colonel Du Boseeou -

fr»

 

 

 

 
  
 

     

14

“The fellow is iinpertinent,” said the ad-
miral, hotly. .

None of the gentlemen dared reply to this, but
Belle Vernon did:

“ I think he is but just, Admiral Fenton, for
he was branded as a pirate without cause. u )0!)
the say-so of several seamen, who may have iad
some reason for their testimony outside of the
truth. I

“He gave the lie to the charge of piracy by
capturing the Worst pirate of these times and
sending him to you as a prisoner, along With his
vessel and valuable booty.

“ And more, he attacked two French vessels,
which had driven the Saturn into port. you re-
member. and he certainly had not as powerful a
craft as Captain Fcntoii commanded.

“ He brought you these prizes into port, re-

/ leasing an English oilicci‘ and a hundred and
fifty men from imprisonment, and, finding that
he was outlawed, he has gone to sea, demanding
that his actions have spoken louder than the
falsehoods of his fees, and it is just that he
should be angry."

Belle had not intended to say so much, but she
warmed with her subject and said just what
pleased her father and the tWo army ollicers.

The admiral had winced under lltll'fWEl‘dS,

' mail when she s )oke of the victor o ons-
fisalpg OVCI)‘, the tire vcésels which had (l’riven his
son into port. '

He felt in his heart that he had been biased

inst Lonsdale. _

' e remembered that he had twice spared his
son’s life, and more, that he had been outlawed
really through the urging of Frank Fenton and

,. the testimony of several seamen that they had
been asked to ship on the Ill Omen, which was
to be turned into a pirate.

Since she had been at sea the actions of her

oung commander had refuted these charges,
and the admiral felt that his duty was plain.

The “beverage” had warmed his innermost
soul, the coming breakfast was antiCipzited With
delight, there were two rizes in the harbor

Pder his command, an so he said, pleas-

J,  2‘ 7

§ “ y dear young lady, your able argument
convinces me that justice should be done.

1* “I will, this morning, have a special order

 issued to the effect that Captain Lonsdale was

' wrongly accused, and is restored to all rights,

the ban against his vessel being at once re-

‘ moved.”
,» “ And I place the Belle of Blue Watcrat [your
\ Vice, admiral, to find and deliver to him your
ficial papers to that effect,” promptly said

the commodore, while Major Branscombe i-c-

'ed:
“113 there is no immediate land service for

-- mo, and 1 would like a cruise once more, I vol—

,‘ unteer to command the brig, adm1ral, With your

' sanction.”

Thus it was arranged, and a very pleasant
part it was who sat own to breakfast at Ver-
nonélall, th subject of conversation turning
wholl upon t e superb victory of the Ill Omen
aver er powerful adversaries.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
ENVY, BATRED AND MALICE.
A1)ka FENTON returned to his quarters
. immediately after breakfast, and the port cap-
‘ . “in was there awaiting him, .
 , The sloop—of—war was readil disposed of, for
 shew” returned to her Eng ish captain With
' order- ‘to fit her out with all i tch.
He was also at the admiral’s, and grumbled
a little that Captain Lonsdale had taken half of
his crew. _
“You are fortunate, Sll‘, that you and your
-‘ menare not now prisoners, and your vessel a
h ‘ prize to the French,” said the admiral.
'r This quieted the Eu lish ca tam, and be do—
with the belief that 6 really was in

2‘3 The French frigate was a superb vemel, but
" - ' Aha had been pretty severely handled by «the fire
“of the Ill Omen. so had to 0 into the dock for
repairs and a com leto over uling, as soon as
the other prize, a rigate, had come out.
“I will have a. fine navy yet,” said the ad-
man in great lee. ,
,, ‘ “There is tlIe frigate Le Roi, which Will be
" ‘, steady in a. couple of weeks; then this last splen—
 , did prize, the sloop-of-war, too, which I shall
i , heap on this station, the Saturn, under command
\of m noble boy, the pirate schooner Spitfire,
iwhich will be in line condition in av-few days,
and lat, and etby no means least, the Ill Omen,
 ‘ ‘ under that up endid fellow, Lonsdale.
, > “Four frigates, a sloop—of-War and a schooner.
“Why, I will defy the Frenchmen on this
_ count, and if their fleet should appear in Sight, I
‘ will send m vessels out, under to son, as com-
a! ‘ modem to ht them,” and the a miral rubbed
1%. min hands in great glee, until Major Branscombe
‘ ‘ qniotly remarked: .
’ “Captain Lonsdale, howevor, admi ranks
Fenton, so he would have to be t a flag

 

l

 

   
  

4

K‘- i

4.

. _. ” was the somewhat gloomy reply
‘ .a the old cal or. _ .
, The repair: on the Saturn were still continued
, ht not with such such a rush, and the Belle of
it.“ Water continued her preparations to go to

i

r  , ,

 

l

 

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

 

sea under a gallant merchant captain, to turn
privateer.
All wer

Commodore Vernon simply said that he knew
what he was about, and those who were best ac-
quainted with him thought that he did.

The pirate schooner looked like a new vessel,
and being ready the next day, Major Brans—
combo sailed in her, with a crew taken from the
Engliin sloop, to find the Ill—Omen and carry to
Captain Lonsdale the official )apers of the re-
traction of the charge against iim.

The whole trouble in port seemed to be to get
men to man the prizes that were to sail under
the English flag.

The .éziturn had her full crew, but Captain
Feiitmi would not allow any of them to be de—
tached from the frigate, saying that he would go
to sea as soon as ready, and needed all of his own
men.

It seemed strange to the old admiral that his
son had not been near him, and, after the sailing
of the Spitfire, and arrangements being made
for the two French frigates and sloop—of—war to
be put in perfect coiidil ion, he sent for the young
commander of' the Saturn.

He seemed to feel that his son was angry fibm
some cause, and he was not slow in guessing the
reason of his anger.

Frank Fcnton obeyed his f ather’s summons
with an ill-grace.

He found the admiral alone, and the latter
grectcl him with:

“ “'cll, Son, you are quite a stranger, for I
have not seen you for three days, though I
wished your advice upon some matters."

“ You seem to have acted without it, sir,” was
the sullen reply.

“ I have done as I deemed best.”

“ You have pardoned Lonsdale?”

H No.” .

“ I know that you have.”

“ I say no.”

“ Branscombc, an army officer, has sailed in
command of the schooner, so anxious were you
to send Lonsdale his pardon.”

"- Major Branscombe was once a naval ofii—
ccr, and, as we have no officers of that service
that 'we could readily spare, I accepted his offer
to go and find Lonsdalc.”

“ With his pardon.”

“ My son, a pardon is given for an offense
committed, and Captain Lonsdale had com-
mitted no crime, so needed no pardon; but I
sent him an official notification that the charges
against him had been proven too hastil acted
upon, had been disproved by his splen id con-
duct, and that he was no longer under the ban
of outlawry.”

“I believe he will yet prove himself an out-
law, or a traitor to the king which is more.”

“Wait until he does; but he had captured the
Le Roi, the irate schooner Spitfire, and last
the French gigafe and the sloop-of-war. all
within several months, and what can you show
to equal such a superb record, my son? ’

The young captain dro ped his head, but said:

“ No man blamed me or retreating before a
vessel fully my equal, and another of half her
strcn rth.’

“ rue, but Lonsdale, with a craft little
stronger than the weaker one, whipped both.”
“ I did not come here to be abused, father.”

“Your abuse is imaginary, my son, for I
have done more for you than for any other he-

in .

E I placed you, over the head of Lonsdale, in
command of the finest frigate on the American
waters, be they French, Spanish or English.
and this man whom you hate so who saved
your life twice in your 'double duel with him,

as taken a craft that all feared, that no one
would command, and with the old haunted hulk
he has performed prodigies of valor.

“ Now, Frank, what your chances are with
Miss Vernon, ou know best, but I believe she
thinks more 0 Lonsdale than she does of you,
and you had better be a man and quit this spite-
ful. envious fight you are making against him.”

“ He shall not have her,” was the savage re-
spouse.

“ I only hope that you will win, but I fear that
you will not. ’

. “ He shall not, mark in words, Admiral Fen-
ton,” was the hpt reply 0 the young captain, as
he areso to depart.

“ Be careful, to son, or you may go too far,
and though we ru 8 these American people, they
are of: to be trifled with.” ,

“ hat is it, and you expect Lonsdale, an
flmerican, to be true to the king, when the war

reeks out, for it is coming, and QUICkly, too,
between the Colonies and Great Britain?”

“ What do you think he will do?”

“ Turn his vessel into an American pirate, and
begin to prey upon English commerce.”

He may but I do not believe it of him while
he holds a lng’s commission,” Was the response
of the old admiral.

CHAPTER XXIX.
m 11.1. mum’s LUCK.
Tami: to his determination Lionel Lonsdale
had gone to Castle Bleak, sailing there in the
. little sloop, as Eve had feared that he would.

\-.

 

‘. 3‘»! _

surprised that the privateer brig,
should be . rat to sea with but half a crew, but ?

 

But Mr. Leslie was a sin away from home,
and leaving word with os, that he had been:
to see him, Lionel Lonsdale returned to where
his frigate lay hidden in the little bay.

As he ran for the anchora e, he saw a large
brig in the offing, standing 5 owly along, for the
wind was light, and u on reaching the frigate
Lieutenant Harold told him that the brig had
been standng off and on for half the day.

“ It has a signal set, sir, for I went to the
rocks above, and 1 would not be at all surprised
if she is a French smuggler and is v aiting for
some craft on the coast to meet her and take her
cargo,” said the youn lieutenant.

Going up to the roe 'y lookout Ionsdalc irok.
a long look at the strange vessel, and what he
saw convinced him that Harold Vi as right.

“ Get six boats ready, with muffled cars for
to—night, and a hundred men, Mr. Harold.

“Put a boat howitzer in two of them. and I
think, as the night will be dark, and the wind
light, we can capture the brig, and the vessel
that comes out to meet her.”

The preparations were at once made, and,
shortly after dark, as Lionel Lonsdalc Sllsl‘fl‘tvd
would be the case, a small schooner was scen
standing out from the coast and heading toward
the brig, which was a league away.

“She has been hiding inshore until night,”
said Captain Loiisdale, and he ordcrrd his men
into the boats.

Two boats were to make a wide detour. ap-
proaching the brig from seaward, one was to»
come up on either side, and the remaining two
were to approach from the land.

The first two boats started on their way. then
file next two, and last those to attack from the-
5 mm.

The schooner meanwhile had signaled the brig
with colored lights, and the signals had been
promptly aDSWered.

Then came the plunge as the brig’s anchor
was let fall, and the schooner glided slowly out
to her and ran alongside.

The skies were obscured with clouds, so that
the night was very dark, while the breeze was
hardly blowing three knots.

An hour passed, and then Lionel Lonsdale,
who was in one of the boats to pull directly out,
from the shore, gave the order:

“ Give way, lads!”

Nota ripple came from the muflled oarsas:
the boats moved on, and at a short distance of!‘
they were not visible in the darkness.

Busy with the work in hand, which was the
transferring of fine laces, silks, velvets, Wines
and other dutiable goods from the brig’s hold to
the deck of the English coasting-schooner, no
one sighted the approaching boats, until sudden-
 a cry of alarm arose as they were almost upon

em.

Loud orders run out, and shots were fired.

But Lionel Lo ale and his boat’s crew were
soon upon the schooner, and then began a hand-
to-hand fight.

The smugglers were numerous, and both the-
schooner’s crew and the brig’s fought desperate-
ly; but one after another the Ill Omen 5 beats
came up, and the battle was soon over.

“ A valuable rize this, Harold, for the brig
is French and ric ly laden, and the schooner has--
a score of the coast smugglers known as the
Casco Corsairs on board.”

“Yes, Capitain Lonsdale, it is a rich capture,
and especia y to me, for there is a risoner
among the Castro Corsairs, as you ca them.
thatl wish to kee ) as my especial prize,” re.
turned Lieutenant IHarold.

“ Hal one of those whom you have recog-
nizcd?"

“Yes, sir.”

“ Has be seen you?”

“ No, sir.”

“Very well, send him below and give him a
place to himself.”

“ I thank you. sir.”

“And do not let him see you, for I have a
plan to suggest to on.”

“ Yes, r,” an the face of the lieutenant
wore a happy look while he muttered :

“Yes, he is my special prize, and I ask no
more—yes, now for the others.”

CHAPTER XXX.
FOUND IN THE roe.

WISHING to kee his prizes with him, Captain
Lonsdale carried them into. the little bay. where
the 1]] Oman was undergoing repairs, and there
kept them until the frigate was ready for sea
once more.

Then he set sail, determined to send the brig,
the schooner, and the little sloop he had ur-
chased into the harbor by night and give t cm
into the keeping of Colonel Du B089. ’

What would be done by the admiral regard-
ing his being outlawed he did not know, but he
meant to faithfully do his service for the him: as:
lon as he was in command of the vessel bearing
the ritish ensi above her decks.

As he sailed own the coast one night. in 01089
company with the other three vessels, a fog came
over the sea and shut all out of view.

The other veSSels were hailed, and, as the wind
was blowing light, told to go under Very little'
sail and to keep the frigate constantly in night.

Thus they went along in column, the Ill 0mm

in..- I...” fit...

.. 23"; :

 

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The One-:Armed. Buccaneer.

15

 

 

leading, the brig following, next the schooner,
and the little sloog bringing up the rear.

Suddenly ahea of the {n ate was heard a
loud hail, then stern orders in rrciich, and next
a heavy gun.

A eras follOWed and cries, oaths, pistol—shots
and the clash of steel. '

It was very evident that two vessels of hostile
flags had come together in the fog and were
fighting for the mastery.

The orders in French, and some sound English
oaths from the other side, told Lionel Lonsdale
that the vessels were French and English.

So his duty was plain.

The frigate had not been seen by either of the

‘ other vessels, and glided. under sail that had
been shortened and barely gave her headway,
directly alongside of a large vessel.

“ Boarders, follow me I”

This stern command, and the throwing of the
grapnels from the frigate were the first indica-
tion that the Frenchmen had of an enemy on
that side of them.

Upon the other side of the French vessel,
which was a large barque, armed With a light
battery, lay a small schooner.

Upon the deck of the latter a fierce hand-to-
hand fight was raging, the Frenchmen having
boarded the little vessel, as they ran upon it in
the fog.

“This is easy work, for she is but a store-
ship, Well armed,” ciiul Lionel Lonsdale, as he
reached the deck of the Frenchman, followed by
his crew. .

A cry of alarm now arose from those on the
barque, which told their comrades fighting on
the schooner, that they had another enemy to
face.

But even in the night and fog they saw that
the had a large frigate lying alongside, and
wit but a hundred men they quickly cried for
quarter.

Springing to the side of the barque Lonsdale
glanced down upon the schooner, and he beheld
there none other than Major Bert Branscombe,
with a gallant crew at his back, holding his
vessel against the onslaught of twice as many
Frenchmen.

“ Ho Branscombe, I greet you!

“ But the fight is over, so let those gentlemen
surrender to you.”

“ Lonsdale, as I live!” cried the major.

“Ay. ay, sir, the Fatal Frigate lies on the ,

other side of this barque, whose captain has
surrendered to me,” and calling out to the French
lieutenant and his men on the schooner. address-
ing them in French, Lonsdale continued, “ Mon-
sieur, your barque is my prize.

“ Pray surrender your arms, and those of
your men, to that gentleman.”

The Frenchmen were amazed, but a word-

from their captain quickly let them know that
they were risoners, and Ma 'or Branscombe
boarded the arque and 'oined nsdalc.

“ You saved me, Lon ale, for they were two
to one and had boarded me, as on saw.

“ We ran together in the fog. ’

“ It was a lucky meeting with you, major;
but come. let us hear what this French captain
has to say," and they walked aft to where the
French commander stood, lookin very gloomy.

About him were a number 0 ofl‘lcers, some
of high rank. wearing both the naval and mili-
tary uniforms of France.

“ Monsieur, I syinpaihizc with you that the
fortunes of war are against you.

“ Pray what is our vessel, where bound and
who have you wit 1 you?” and Lonsdale spoke
with marked courtesy.

“This is a store-ship, monsieur, the French
armed barque Typhoon, and we were en route
to join the fleets of our nation on the Ameri-
can coast, with supplies, and a few officers of
the army and navy.

.“ You have made a valuable capture, mon-
Sieur but if not for the fog no vessel could catch
the yphoon.”

“I thank you. monsieur, and permit me to
say that while under my cha e, you and your
brother ofilcers shall have the reedom of your

‘ vessel, though under your parole d’honneur not
,to attempt to seize the ship, or escape.

“Your crewI will transfer to my frigate,
and place an officer and men on board to man
» 'our craft,” and givin the necemary orders.

at le then turned to a .r Branscombe and
invited him to his cabin, w le Lieutenant Har-
old 8001) brought order out of chaos, and the fleet
of, now six vessels. held 0n thelr may once more.

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
i STILL AT SEA.

A smisn carriage, with coachman and foot.
man in liver , was drivmg along a. road in the
outskirts of gain.

In It were two persons, Commodore Vernon
and his beautiful daughter.

They had been out to Valle Vernon, the flue
farm of the old commodore. si ted a few miles

the city, and where the father and daughter
Were wont to drive once a Week.

As the highway wound over an eminence,
from which a view of the harbor and sea could
beuaeen Belle cried out excitedly:

Father. see there i”

 

 

‘tlie oflicer.

.major flushed at the insinuation.

 

“ Well, my child?” and the commodore ad-
justed his spectacles.

“ Is it not the schooner, sir?”

“ What schooner?”

“ The Spitfire l”

“ Oh es!

“ Well, it is the schooner,” added the commo-
dore, as his eyes now fell upon the vessel in
question.

“ And those vessels in her wake, father?”

“ Bless my soul, there are one, two,
four following the schooner!”

“ Yes, sir, a large armed barque, a brig, a
small schooner and a sloop.

“ What dees it mean, father?”

“ I am at a loss to knOW.”

“ The Spitfire went out to find the Ill Omen?”

‘6 Yes.” ~

“ And comes back with four vessels in her
wake.”

"She has captured them.”

“ No, father, the Spitfire could never capture
that large armed barque, which must carry a
crew of over a hundred men, for she is pierced
for a broadside of twelve guns.”

“ That is so, and the schooner has but nine.

“ But we will soon know.

“ Drive on rapidly, Dobbins.”

The coacliman touched up his horses, and the
carriage rolled rapidly on into town.

Arriving there they found a great deal of ex-
citement, and all that could be learned as to the
cause was what a boat’s crew, which had
brought Major Branscoiiibe ashore reported,
that the vessels were the prizes of the Fatal
Frigate! '

“ Go home, Dobbins!

“We will soon know all, as Branscombe will
call,” and the latter was said to his daughter.

The commodore was right, for Major Bruns-
combe did soon call, arriving at Vernon Hall
just as the lamps were being lighted.

Belle was seated at the Window awaiting him,
for she felt sure that- he would come to see her,
as soon as he had made his report to the ad-
miral.

“ I welcome you back, Major Branscombe,”
she said in her sweet way, as she offered her
hand.

The commodore also greeted the young officer

warmly, for the major was a great favorite of =

is.
“And I bring news that will please you,” said

“ You brought prizes enough.”

“ Not mine, commodore.”

“ Whose then?”

“ The Fatal Frigate’s.”

“ Umph! that craft is a fatal one to French-
men.”

“ Yes, commodore, she deserves her name in
one sense, and should be named the Fortunate
Frigate in another.

“ But I suppose you would like to know what
I have to telli‘

There was no need of an answer to this ques-
tion, for both the commodore and Belle showed
by their looks that they were dying of curiosity.

So the major said:

“ I deemed the best place to find Lonsdale was
in the, vicinity of his home.”

“ No doubt.” slyly said the maiden, and the

1_ «So I went there, be having told me where he
iv .

“ I secured a fisherman on the coast who
knew how to run into the harbor of Sealands,
for that is the name of his plantation, and I ar-
rived there at sunset.

“ As I was in my attire as a king’s dragoon,
Miss Lonsdale recognized me even before I land-
ed ’

“\Vas that the only reason, major!" again
asked Belle, with a look of mischief. ,

“I hope it was not the uniform alone, Miss
Belle.

“But I tell her mother and herself of my
mission,and I learned that Ca tain Lonsdale
had been there several days be ore, in a small
sloop, leavinghis frigate at a secluded part of
the coast where it was undergoing repairs.

“Miss Ilonsdale could not tell me just where, ‘
so I had to go on a search for the I] Omen.”

“ I so pose on started at once?”

“ No, iss elle, I remained at Sealands until
the next day, and perha you would like
to know something about t e captain’s mother
and her home?”

It was Bella’s turn to blush now, and she said,
quickly: -

“ I suppose it- is a pleasant place?”

“It is a charmi spot, overlooking Casco
Bay and the sea, an is certainly a grand old
home. The house being of stone, with orna—
mental grounds and all about it to make it com-
fortable. ‘

“The fisherman who acted as my pilot sur-
prised me by the information that the Lonsdales
were enormously rich. whereas I an posed the
captain had only his prize-money‘an his pay.”

“ Yes so I tho ht, ’ put in the commodore.

“Well,I look along the coast for the Ill
Omen without success, and was about to return
to Sealands to discover if aught more bad 11
heard "of the captain. when. that night i a

 

dense fog, I ran plump upon a large French
i ' . . ,

store-ship, and though I fought back my foes. I
would have had to surrender, had [Ml the 111
Omen come up unseen in the mist, lauded the
bar ue from the other side, and saved me.”

“ ravo!” cried the commodore.

“ The barque was a most valuable craft, with
French army and navy officers on l‘oard. coming
to their commands here in America, and in tlc
fleets, and she is filled with most valuable FlOI’f s.

“But Lonsdale had with him a French Liig
which he had captured smuggling a cargo of
laces, silks, and other things on board a Hhcorer
which belonged to the Casco Corsairs, as they
are called.

“ He captured both the brig and schoolu r, ard.
with his little sloop, was heading for this port, to
send them in as prizes, when he ran upon the
l)81'( he and Spitfire.”

“ low fortunate; but you gave him the paper
you bore?”

“ And he was pleased, I know," said the com-
modorc.

“Without doubt, sir; but he simply thanked
me for my looking him up, said it was very nol ie
in Miss Vernon to say what she had to the ad—
itiiral, and which I told him made the papeis
forliliepniing, and took the document- as his
rig it.

“Asitis; but you were kind to speak soof
me, major,” said 9110.

“ Y« n dcserVed all that I said, Miss Belle.”

“ But why did Lonsdale not mine into ort
with you, as he has the admiralk~ withdrawn of
the charge f" asked the commodore.

" I hope he considers it sufficient, for] fear the
old admiral will do up more,” Belle remarked.

“Tliercis ‘a )OWCI' behind the throne,’ with
the admiral. ‘ iss Vernon, that is working
against Lonsdale.”

“ I understand you—it is Captain Fenton, the
ad‘i‘nxiral‘s; son.” ‘

V 7

“ But why did' not Lonsdale come in, for that
paper was a complete vindication,” urged the
commodore.

“ He discovered from the French officers, I be-
lieve, just where the French fleet could be found,
and so he has gone there, be ing to cut out one
of their vessels, after which e will come here,”
and the words of the major caused Belle Vex not!
to turn pale with dread. , '

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
A PIRATE 1N PORT. I

THE brig which had sailed from the island re-
treat of the Cuban Corsair. drop anchor in a
part of the harbor that comman ed a good \iew
of the different vessels at anchor there.

The Spitfire had just run into the harbor, fol-
lowed by the prizes sent in by Lionel Lonsdale,
and the disguised pirate was delighted to see the
fleet little craft in such splendid trim,

He also discovered that, having accomplished
her work, her crew were taken ofl’ and returned
to the sloop—of—war, leaving but a couple of sea-
men on board as a guard.

This pleased the buccaneer greatly, and eve ,
thing seemed to wrrk to suit im, for into
sailed the Prett Ellen, the fleet, new ccasting
packet, on whic Eve Lonsdale had taken ras-
age for home. and bten captured by the Spitfire.

The buccaneer remembered that the what -
schooner had outsailed the fleet little pitflre
then, and, but for his long-range Livot gun he
would never have captured her.

Rigged as, a coaster she would hear a great
deal more sail, with a hatte on board, and
then would be far faster than t e S itflrq.

So he reasoned, and so he want the packet
schooner.

The Spitfire was, however, armed. and he
knew not how to get guns for the racket
schooner.

In this trouble Le‘on, the Coast Gyps , wltrm
he had made his first oflicer, suggesth that he
cut out both vessels, and, after a trial of tried
at sea, take the faster one for his purpcse, and
send the other to his retreat, to retrain there as.
a reserve in case he should need notrer vessels. ,

This seemed to glease the O e-Allrtd Buc-
caneer, and he deci ed
his G lieutenant.

As e could not keep three-score men telow
decks all the time, he had allowed Ecme togo
ashore each night and find uarters, so that:
after being a few days in Iort had (n1 what
apfieared to he a v orkin crew on the Lt g;

e had received good

wood he carried, but he knew that (uch wrcds -. ‘
were scarce, and held on for a big sun, whithth . , _~ 

had at- last gotten. '
Whilein his disguise the One-Aimed Pirate
had also trade himself acquainth with Veinon

,'l

to follow the advice  '

offers for the cargo of ’-,~ '

an.   .9. .‘

r,'..,

7‘

Hall and its surroundings, for he was deter- ’ 

mined, when he can icd cut the schooners, he"
would have Belle Vernon a captive onbcard.

He also sent two of his nen by stage to Port-
land. to there find out all they cculd oflow to
reach the home of Lionel Lonsdale, making an
arrangement to meet them at a certain tavern
in the town. of which he had heard.

Thus matters seemed to go well for the (or- -

l .

‘\

" is

E

sair. and he was anxious to strike while the iron‘ , 

was hot, and before Lionel Lonsdale returned to ,-
port, for somehow be had a
young sailor.

great dread of (ht ‘ L 

 

 female attire

\ .

Ti -

i



. 1

’~‘

.4

{3

.g,
i.

in
g)'

a}.
i; (

 
 

< a

, .

16

“We must delay no longer, Leon,” he said

lfine afternoon, as the two sat in the cabin of the
r1 .

“gYou know your own affairs best, captain,
and! I am ready whenever you say the word,”
answered the young sailor. ,

“ It Would be too dangerous to attempt to run
off with the packet schooner the night we cut
the S ittire out, so I have a new plan.”

“ .es, sir.” ,

“ It is to let the packet sail, which she intends
to do to-morrow night. and then we will board
the S itfire and carry her out.”

“I ell, ca tain?”

“The pac et will put into Portsmouth for a
day, and we can lay in hiding along the coast
and catch lier as she comes out."

“ Yrs, sir, that would be better; but why
would it not be better to take her as soon as she
leaves in wt. '4”

" we will not go out until after she does.”

“ True, captain, but I can go on board with
halfa dozen men in disguise, some of them in
as passengers, and We can seize
her after she leaves port, and join you when you
come out in the schminer.”

‘ “ You have hit it, Leon, and it is a splendid

 

 

“ Go ashore to—niglit, select the men you wish,
'and engage passage on the acket.

“ To—morrow I will sell t e cargo to the iner-
‘chant that made me the best offer, and the
brig shall go to another, so I will have my men
'ready to board the Schooner after the packet
sails and run out with her.”

“There will be no trouble about passing the
forts?”

“No, I think not for I shall say I am going
in search of the Ill men, and if there is trouble,

- then I must run the gantlet of their fire.”

“ And the lady, sir?”

“ I shall manage to get her into my possession

,’soon after dark, and think I can arrange it
without trouble. .

I “ Now go ashore and select the men you need,
and I’ll get rid of the cargo and brig early in
the morning.”

Thus th two parted, and the One-Armed
Buccaneer retired to rest that night fully con-
Vinced that the consummation 0 his plot for
revenge against Lionel Lonsdale, and to bleed

, Corgemodore Vernon of his gold, not to speak of

» his in once more afloat on an armed vessel,

was on t highway to perfect success.

 i, ‘ CHAPTER XXXIII.

' Lnon’s GAME.
CAPTAIN Amos CALDWELL, of the

 I igetty
_ . packet-schooner, was a regular “Down- est ’

skipper, just such as are still found along the

 Maine and Massachusetts coasts to—day.

,. Boy and man he had been a coaster for thirty
years. and at last had married a pretty Yankee
girl with a snug home in a Kennebec village,

 ‘ while he had saved money enough to lave built

9' 4 land on the way,aii

 after his wife, he had named the

torhim a. trim and fleet sailing- iacket, which,
retty Elltll.
It was this vessel, upon her first inn out, that
Eve Lonadale had been a ssenger 1 ii, and been
"' captured by the irate sc ooner Spitfire, simply
[through an unluc y shot as the craft was,getting
" out of range.
. Hie Vessel Was released by Captain Lous-
,daie,vwho thereby gained a lasting riend in the

a , skipper.

,, rcmn Caldwell had made his vo age up to
.the Igmnebec, stoppin at Portsmout and Port-
had returned with the
r list full and a good cargo.

I .' ’He had set his day for sailing, and meant to
‘ 'runzout at sunset, but was disappointed in get-

gamehmndw

I.

if * —
ii},

 

: I “That

tin ssengers back, as he had expected.

Sgtth had a paying freight and (lid not care
' had just expressed himself to his
: mpw. when a man approached and asked:

‘ I this Captain Amos Caldwell?"

_. r “I are. I deelar’ to gracious, I be.”

p“ 0! the Kennehec packet, Pretty Elleni’
-" “ It be my vessel’s name, stranger.” '

“Can you carry passengers this run?”

a what tber craft are fer, I declar’ to

“gracious it is.”

 “ Weli, I wish to go, and there is witcaparty

‘ with nae—all going to see our i‘o s in Port-
d ” ‘

.’ “ want to know!”

‘ 1, , “Yes, there be my father and mother—v pretty

le now—my father’s brother and his two
agd mylélf.”i

d see.” I
“ Six of us.”

 ,. 1 has the room for yOU. strangefi Md 31“

 use

or, I declar’ to gracious, I is.’
on do you sail? .-

i '3‘ “To-night at sunset.”

-. ' “ We’ll be here h dark anyhow, if you won’t
. hind Waiting a litt 6 While.” -
v “ No, I likes to be accommodatin’, and if I git
awn by an hour arter sunset I’m content.”
', .“ ewill be here, cap’n, so have our berths
nilready for us, as we has the gold to pay for
y “WM we . etc.
612K991) is” a token I mean business,” and

" ,ncad

nil.

well. ‘

 

er thrust sdverul guinea: into the hand

 

 

t0 the wharf a party of seven persons, the
stranger who had arranged for the passage say-
ing to Captain Caldwell:

“ I’ve got another passenger for you, cap’n.”

‘:'l‘he more the better, stranger, and thank
ye. ’

First there Were assisted on board an aged
couple who seemed to walk with difficulty.

Then an old man and two young men, whom
the stranger said was:

“ My uncle. and his boys.”

The “other passenger” was a hardy-looking
young man, and, with the stranger, made up
seven passengers.

All went below exce it the stranger and his
friend, and the Pretty lEllen at once got under
way.

As she iassed the captured pirate schooner,
Spitfire, she was seen to be getting up her an-
chor, and a boat’s crew of seamen were going on
board.

“ That’s a war craft, linin’t it, cap’n?” asked

the stranger, who had given his name as Dusen-
berr '.
“ gins, she has seen a heap 0’ war. I declar’
to gracious she has, for she war\a pirit once,
and captured my own Pretty Ellen, here on her
first voya e.

“ But 8 10‘s a king’s schooner now, having
been taken by the grandest man as wears British
uniform; I declare to gracious he is.”

“ Who is that?”

“Ca ’n Lionel Lonsdale, who commands the
Fatal rigate.” '

“ What, the Haunted Ship?”

“ Thet same.”

“ They tried to say he was a pirate.”

“ They lied, and them has eat the lie that told
it, for he’s a true one. if any man are, though
he be an American in the king’s uniform.

" But I wonder what the schooner are gittin’
read fer sea fer?”

“ aybe for a. short cruise.”

“Maybe so, stranger, though she has just re-
turned from a cruise, and a good one, they tells
me.

And so the Pretty Ellen sped on her way
went by the forts out to sea, and gaining good
sea room, laid her course for Portsmouth.

Hardly had she done so. when Mr. Dusenberry
asked the captain if two of his men could go be-
low and help move a heavy chest which had
been carried aboard as part of the passengers’

baggage. .

0 men (were at once sent to the cabin,
though the skipper thought that the two stout
young men, nephews of the old couple, might
have done the moving.

Captain Caldwell had a crew of four men, a
negro cook and a cabin boy, and the moment
after the two seamen had gone into the cabin,
Mr. Dusenberry was joined on deck by his two
“cousins” and his friend, and the former said
in a quiet way, as he presented a pistol in the
face of the amazed skipper:

"Captain, you are my risoner, sir, for your
two men are in irons be ow, and your crew on
deck we can readily master.

“ Resist, and 1 will kill you!”

Amos Caldwell was never more taken aback in
his life' but it is possible, even against the odds,
he won d have resisted had not he suddenly seen
the old “couple” and the aged “brother”
spring on deck, a cutluss in one hand, a pistol in
t 10 other.

“ Well, lieutenant, shall. we toss ’em into the
sea?” asked the one whom the skipper had con-
sidered an old, infirm woman.

“ No; We Will simply put them in irons and
await the comin of the schooner,” was the re-
ply of Leon the east Gypsy. for be it was who
ind. so cleverly plann the capture of the
Pretty Ellen.

“ Waal, strangers,
take!

“ l declar’ to gracious l is,” said the skipper,
dolefully, as hc'saw that resistance would be
madnrss, and accordingly surrendered, while he
asked:

“But who be ye?”

“ A part of the crew of the Cuban Corsair,
now known as the One-Armed lluecancr r,” was
the calm reply of Leon the Coast Gypsy.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
CLEVERLY EXECUTED.

Bur what of the plot of the One-Armed
Buccaneer, to et passession of his old vessel?

He had, as 0 said he would, early disposed
of his 0 o, for a large cash'sum, and after-
ward sold is brig for a fair price.

Havin ac uainted himself with the town,
he had can a Jew clotiiier where he could
purchase a complete outfit for his crew of
second-hand uniforms for marines and sea-
men, and these had been sent to the different
quarters of his men.

A very shrewd man, Captain Cutlass had
discovered the fact that the officers and crew
of the Saturn, knew little, if anythin . of those
on board the aloop-of-war, which ad lately
been recaptured by the Fatal Frigate.

Spendinghil money freely he had gained all
the information he needed. and waswell assured
ants-mmmh n,‘or , ed marines,

I is dead heat, and no mis-

 

Th’eflClne-Arnied Buccaneer.

 

 

 . l“.Whereuvhyr'

l
secluded wharf and there take to a boat aw ail:-
ing them.

Once upon the water there was no danger of
their being noticed, for the. guard-luals oid not
begin ‘duty in the harbor until eight ch in k.

If challenged, they could ainncr that they
were from the sloop-of—war, or Saturn, as cir—
cumstances dictated.

If seen going on board the schooner Spitfire,
and demanded the reason, the pirate meant to
reply that he was obeying orders mm the
admiral.

Once he got anchor up), and sail set unchal-
lenged, he did not doubt at that he could slip
by the Saturn, for if bailed he would find an 6
good excuse fora reply, and from there must
take his chances, which, as a man of indcniit-
able pluck he was willing to do.

The One-Armed Buccaneer had most skill-I
fully laid his plans, sending on board the Pretty
Ellen, as “baggage of the passengers,” all he
needed on the Spitfire.

As soon as it was dark the Coast Gypsy crew
began to leave their respective quarters in the
town. and make their way to the different
wliarvcs selected for them to embark from.

The pirate captain had driven down to the
wharf in a carriage with four men, one of
whom bore what appeared to be a muffled hu-
man form and had gone off in a small boat to
the schooner. The men in charge had prompt-
ly hailed:

“ Bout ahoy i”

“ Ay, ay, the Spitfire !” answered Captain Cut-

lass.

" W'hat boat is that?"

“An officer from Admiral Fenton with
orders.”

“ Ay, ay, sir, come alongside?”

The pirate ca tain did so promptly, stepped
on deck and sai politely to t e man, who salu-
ted, seeing him in uniform:

“ I wish to see you and your comrade in the
cabin, for I have secret orders for you, as there
is to be an attempt made to seize this schooner
to-night.”

The other watchman just then came forward,
the cabin companionway was unlocked, and the
three entered.

As they did so three of the crew of the boat
crowded in after them, and, ex .ctin no harm
they were felled to the floor b eavy lows and
in an instant had been g and ironed.

“ So far, good i” ‘

So muttered the pirate, and ordering the two! .

risoners to be mat forward, and the man who
re the burden in his arms to enter the cabin,
he went on deck to see his men come on boa rd.

Soon a boat was seen approaching, and as it
drew near he hailed:

“ Spitfire!”

The answer came in a low tone:

“ Ay ay, come alon idei” .

Five minutes after t 6 men from this boat had
boarded, another appeared in the darkness.

“ Boat. ahoy i” sung out the pirate leader.

“Coast Gy syl”

“A , ay, a 1 right!”

A t ird beat soon after came in view, ecmi
down the harbor, and once more Was but
from the schooner:

“Boat abo l”

“ Pretty E len!”

“ Come aboard!”

“ One more and we will have all,” muttered ’
the chief. ' ’

It was then that the packet schooner was seen
approaching, and soon aftervpassed on her “ ay
to sea.

Almost in her wake came a fourth boat, and
the bail brought the response:

“ Fatal Frigate!”

It seemed to suit the buccaneer, for he ordered
the boat aboard.

Then the anchor was hauled out of the mud,
the sails were set, and the f ourboats cast adrift.
that had brought off the men, the small one in
which the One-Armed leader and his 1' ur men
had come, being towed astern, for use new

sar .

grown the harbor glided the Schooner, and as ,
she passed near the Saturn stern came the bail: .

:: Ho, the Spitfire!”

. ay, sir. ’

u where bound l” \

“ The packet schooner Pretty E11911 has in 99"
coped prisoner on board and I am ordered to
overhaul her and bring  mat”

" Ay uy: but where did you get your crew!”

“ From the sloop-Of-WBR” '

Then the schooner passed on, and the next
hail came from the fort.

The same story was coolly told again, and the
Spitfire stood ( ut to sea, free as a bird.

“ W e have made it.

“Now, about the packet schmner?” said the
One-Armed Buccaneer in an exultant tone. .

“ Lieutenant Leon has made no mistake. lit,”
replied the Coast Gypsy, who was acting u no-
ond officer. .

“ I hope not.” ‘

Av thumb to give roof pf the Coast G .
words. there came rem the lookout oi , II
the schooner sped out into the open ocean: .

 

“ Sail. he i”

   

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“ Off our port quarter sir.”
“Ay, ay; liclmsniau, head for yonder craft,
for it is the I‘rett r Ellen and she is waitin 2' for
3
us

“ New I am myself once more.” and a wit-kt d i
glare was reflected from the eyes of the pirate :

chief, as he stood in the light of the cabin coin—
panionwny.

 

CHAPTER XXXV.
KIDNAI’I’EIJ.

A SLENDER form came out of the front door
of Vernon Hall and paced up and down the.
broad piazza.

The sun was setting in a rich mass of piled-up
clouds, and the scene was one of great beauty,
causing the maiden tostand andguzc in admira-
tion upon the glorious dying of the day.

As the twilight dccpciml, she left the piazza
and walked along the gravel drive leading to the
massive front gateway.

Suddenly she stopped, for the sound of wheels
fell ii )0“ her car.

“ e is coming, for the carriage turns in the
gateway ; but I expected he Would be on horse-
back," said the maiden.

The carriage was passing her when she hailed
the driver.

Quickly he drew rein, and a form at once

sprung out.
' Quickly, ere a word was said, a heavy cloak
was thrown over the head of the maiden, and
she was taken up bodily and thrust into the ear—
wage.

The door closed with a bang, as the order
came:

“ Drive on, and use the whip!”

At the gateway the vehicle paused an instant
whiletwo mun sprung inside, and then it rolled
on at the same rapid pace.

N ight had settled down now, but an officer in
brilliant uniform, mounted on a spirited cha er,
.and wi 11 spurs and trappings jingling, das ed
by, going in the direction that the carriage had
Come.

“ That is Major Bert Branscombe, for I re.-
member him well," said one of the men who had
entered the carriage at the gate.

At his words a cry broke from the lips of the
maiden, but it was quickly checked by a rude
hand being thrust over her mouth.

“ You must not do that, Miss Vernon, for you
force me to be rude.

“I am sorry, but I must put this bandage
over your mouth to prevent your outcries, and
also bind you.”

“ I will be still,” came in a faint voice.

“ No, I cannot trust you, and we have too
much at stake to take any chances.”

As the man spoke, he placed a handkerchief

‘ over the mouth of his captive and bound her

hands securely.

It was dark when the carriage drew up at a
wharf, and dismounting first, the leader of the
part said:

“ river, here is your pay, and I’ve been lib-
«oral. I

“ Now, Miss Vernon, you must allow yourself
to be wrapped in my cloak and borne aboard
my schooner. I

‘ 0,; par, you carry the lady, and keep her in
charge until I have secured the two guards on
yonder schooner.”

“Ay, ay, sir!”

Ten minutes after the captive found herself
alone in the Spitiirc‘s cabin. her hands bound
behind her and the. bandage yet over her mouth,
for Captain Cutlass was not a man to take
chances of a woman’s scream from on board the
esca ing schooner.

A ter passing the forts Captain Cutlass enter-
edthe cabin and hastily removed the bandage,
and bonds, and he said politely as he was doing

so:

1“ I urn, sorry to have been obliged to bea trifle
rude, Miss Vernon, but I have kidnapped you to
hold 11M“ your father Days me a princess s ran-
som for your return '

‘ You willllot be harmed. but, on the contra-
gtreated With marked courtesy, whue. in a f.\“'
days, you will have the company of Miss Eve
nsdale, for I am now going to her home to
he her my captive 8150. though no ransom will
ever buy her from me. ”
“Miss Eve Lonsdale? ,
“Yes, the lovely‘ sister of the man I believe
_ are to marry, as report has it—Captain
e1 Lonsdale.

ut 1 innst go on deck, now, as I have an-
‘Oth prize near at hand.” _

saying the One-Armed Pirate left the cab-
ID, and his captive sunk upon a chair With a low
“‘0”! sorrow.

. 1:119- pitflre soon came near the Pretty Ellep,

\.bICh Was lying to, awaiting her, and aptain
(hitlass hailed,

“AV ay. captain!”

u All'rlghti”

it Yes‘ my ‘ ~
“ Any passengers?

“‘ None exokefilt ourselves, sir.”
“ Anyone ed 7

' 4‘. r.” l
 whale the skipper'and his men into

   
  

 

 

the boat I send aboard of you and let them go
ashore.”
“ Ay, ay, sir l”
“I have Miss Vernon on board, and I shall
head for my other fair captive now: but I will
send half a dozen men in the boat {is help for you
to man the schooner, and then follow me.”

“ Ay, ay, captain!”

“ And see what the Pretty Ellen can do as to
speed with the. Spitfire.”

“ She is a good sailer, sir, as I have already
seen,” was the zlllSWL‘l' of the lieutenant.

side, half a dozen of the crew were ordered into
it and it pulled for the packet.

The Spitfire then continued on her course.
while the unhappy captain and his men Were put
into the boat and started for Salem, the. nearest
port.

Having got rid of them Lieutenant Leon at
once crowded on sail in chase of the Spitfire,
which was now a mile ahead.

Having sat isfied himself that his bol-l plot had
been successful without a break, Captain Cutlass
gave orders tohead for the vicinity of Portland,
and then went into his cabin.

His CupiZIVe sat at the table, pale and anxious.
She had heard all that had passed between the
pirate chief and his lieutenant, and was made
aware that the Pretty Ellen had also been cap-
tlll‘ed.

“ Miss Vernon, I came to say that this cabin is
wholly at your service, so you need fear no iii-
trusion, and as you know your father will quick—
ly pay the large ransom I shall demand, you
need give yourself but slight uneasiness as to
your captivity.

“ Good‘ni ht, madam.”

Leaving t e cabin the chief mused:

“A pretty girl, but not as beautiful as I ex-
pected to find her.

“ But then, her vast Wealth makes her the
grand lady I have heard her called.

“ Now, Miss Lonsdale is more to my liking by
far, and for her I Would give up piracy.

‘ “ I must win her heart and then get rid of that
jealous little wife of mine.

“ But how Can I do it is the question.

“Well, now to kidnap the fair Eve.

“ I must think up the best way to get her into
my powe; without alarming her.

‘ Ah! as I live, that packet schooner is creep-
ing up, and I must make the Spitfire do her
best,” and the pirate gave orders to set all sail.

A seVen—lmot breeze was blowing, and the sea.
was comparatively smooth; but for all that the
Pretty Ellen begun to overhaul the Spitfire at a.
lively pace, and the fact caused Captain Cutlass
to sa ':

“ I shall run into some safe haven and transfer
the Spitfire’s guns to her decks, for she is the
fastest craft by, far.”

 

CHAPTER XXXVI.
INSNARED.

SEATED upon the veranda at Sealands some
days after the sailing of the Spitfire and Pretty
Ellen from the harbor of Boston Eve Lonsdale
sighted a sail coming across the hay, as though
to run into the little harbor of the plantation.

She got her glass and turned it upon the ves-
sci. and said aloud:

“ Why, it is the Pretty Ellen!

“ Evidently she ' is bringing some passenger
here to Sealands.” '

Her mother had driven over to the village,
some miles distant, so that she was alone.

Watching the scboimer approach, and won-
dering what had caused her to come to Sealands,
she saw that she did not run into the cove, but
luii‘cd and dropped anchor outside.

Then a boat was lowered and put off from the
side.

It contained two oarsnien and a man in the
stern. '

Eve had thought of the vessels coming in con-
nection with her brother, in some way, and the
dread had come upon her that he was wounded.

She therefore eagerly awaited the arrival of
the boat, and saw the man who had been in the
stern coming toward the house. .

As the stranger drew near the flaw she arose
to meet him, and saluting her With marked re—
spect, he said:

“ I wish to see Miss Lonsdale.”

“ I am she.” "

“I have a letter here lad , from m captain
for you,” and the man han ed a seal letter to

nor.

“ From my brother, you mean, sir?”

“ Yes, lady. for 1 am a seamen on Captai'n
Lonsdale’s vessel.”

“Indeed! be seated please, while I read the r

letter.”
Breaking the. seal she read:

“On Board H. M. Frigate Ill Omen.
Off the Kennebec,
Thursday.
“ MY DEAR SISTER!—

“ I had anticipated coming by home to see you up.
on an important ma'ter. but ,sighting the Pretty
Ellen com in: out of the Kennebeu, begged her cap-
tain to bear this letter to you. and bring you to me
of! Portsmouth, where I am nowgoing.

“ l have a. matter of importance to see you. aboiit,
and, of which ldgre, not write. but it In mam

     

5,, ,, .i

-H-..._.‘.-._.._.k———. -—..-

med Buccanee

 

I'

 

1.?

that you can greatly aid me in. and I shall have to
ask you to go on to Boston with me.
"As you may be detained there. you had b-st

 

I biing a'chest with you of clothing. and, if it i~' neces-

sary for to stay any great length of time. I will have
Skipper Caldwell go by Scalands and brim: our good
mother down to Boston, for the change \\ ould 00 her
a world of good.

“ Do not delay, as it is necessary that I see you

‘ SUOI).

“ My devoted love to mother, who I know will par—
don iny taking you from her at this time. when she

. knows it i. imperative, though do not let this fact
H _ V “ alarm her.
lhc boat towmg astern was then hauled along- ‘

 

l
l

  
    

 

.5 ’
  Rf; cg.

“Your ever loving brother.
" LEO."

Eve read this letter through with surprise, for
what could it be that her brother wanted her for,
she wondered.

Still she did not doubt its being genuine, as in
those days letters were not as frequent as now,
and one was not as thoroughly acquainted with
another‘s handwriting. ‘ '

It certainly was a close imitation of her bro-
ther’s writing, for it caused her to feel no doubt;

“You are from my brother’s frigate?” she-

said.

“ Yes, lady, and he sent me on the Petty Ellen
to bear this to you.”

“ I should have been glad to have had Skipper
Caldwell come ashore.”

“ He’s not feeling 'ust well, lady, or he would
have done so; but e is anxious to get on his
way again." I

“ My mother is away, and I must await her
return; but I will in the mean time pack my
chest and have all in readiness.

“ May 1 offer you some refreshments?”

The sailor was inlling, and he was accord-
ingly asked into the house, for he was a most re-
spectable-Imking young fellow, while Eve began
her )reparations.

V hen her chest was read , the messenger
bore it down to the boat, while Eve turnedto
greet her mother, who just then drove up in the
family carriage.

Reading the letter to her, Mrs. Lonsdale could "

not but consent to her daughter’s going, while
she said: '

“ I really ho you will have to remain some
time, my chil , as I would like to go there for. a
few weeks.

“I am not well, and wish to consult one of, I

the town doctOI s.”

“ thy not go now, mother?” . «

“ No, I will wait; but I will be very lone-
some.

“ I wonder what Leo can wish with you i”

“I do not know, mother; but I must be 06',
as I do not wish to detain the packet.”

An affectionate farewell between the mother
and daughter followed, and then Eve departed in
the gathering twilight, little dreaming what was
before her. ’ ,

The messenger had already carried her chest
out to the schooner, and returning, awaited her
coming down to the wharf.

He aided her into the boat, .which' pulled”

away in the gathering darkness.

“ lease enter the cabin, lady,” said the mes- . ‘

senger. Eve obeyed, the companionway closing

behind her, and as it closed, she beheld the occuf

pant there, for there was but one.
And that one sprung toward her
arms about her neck, and said in a whisper:

“ Embrace me and call me Belle Vernon, forI .

am supposed to he. Miss Vernon.
“ ll e are prisoners, and our

kidnapper is ’a
pirate.m ’

A low moan escaped the lips of Eve Lonsdale, M
e

and she sunk upon a settee,

r face as white as
a corpse. .

CHAPTER XXXVII.
A MISTAKE.

CAPTAIN Amos CALDWELL was a very sad . ‘

man, when he was
his crew.

He was three leagues awa
but that was not what trouble
was smooth and the wind light.

placed in the little boat with

him, for the me

He had been cleverly tricked, and b the v i '
/ pzilxiate that had before captured the Frog;
en. ’ ‘ '

“He’s vicious ’cause he’s lost his ’hand, and: ‘
he‘ll turn the Pretty Ellen infer a pirit, I declar’.
ter gracxous he will,” he said, as he saw  ~

schooner sail away after the S nitfire.
“ And he said, when he hail

non aboard as a prisoner, and meant to git some
one else, too,” said Josh
as mate of the Pretty Ellen, or rather, had
done so.

here on ther oocan, so let us git ashore and then

threw her 

“ That are so, Josh; but we can’t make nothinl \

a- a— go N»- m..."

,’

 

from the coast,” '-

ed that teller as
nabbed us so clever. thet he had Miss Belle Vero‘

Nublvina, who acted 

hunt Busting town, and ma be some ,0’ them I

war-vessels may captm” ther loody pirit yet.

“To think I were tuk in so complete, and ‘

were played fer a darn fool, as I is, to take than
varmmts fer honest country folk, and believea
men was a. Woman!

“Lordyl it ther fool-killer were to 
, I declar’ tar 

  
    

’rounl he‘d catch me snrt’in
ciops he would. . .'
‘anmhtusdemhdsdorltlays 
o e ' . > ‘ I i _ ‘

; 4"-

l

:.

         

  

Two onrsmen set to work, and the boat moved
slowly toward the shore.

, l But it was a long and hard pull; the tide was
against them, and havmg but two oars they
made slow progress.

“When at last they reached Salem the sun was
up, and tired out they sought a tavern to get
breakfast.

Then Skipper CaldWell bought a must and
sail for the little boat, )ut some water and

revisions on board, and t 0 start was made for

oston.

Night had settled down as they sailed past the
fort and Were hailed.

Colonel Du Bose ordered the boat to run in to
the water—stairs, and there heard the story of
the skipper.

Skip n' Caldwell also heard that the brig
Belleo Blue Water had gone in search of the

irate, for, the Spitfire disappearing as she had,

1; was supposed s 0 had been cut out by her f or-

mer daring commander, though it was noon be-
fore it became known that no one from the war—
vessels had gone out on her.

~ / Getting into his barge and taking Ski per
‘ Caldwell with him, Colonel Du Bose starter for

the town, the sail-boat following” Josh Nubbins
having been told by his ca )tain to go and put
up at the Seaman’s Solace im, where he would
join them.

“ And you say that the pirate kidnapped Miss
Vernon?” asked the colonel, as the dozen oars—
men sent the barge rapidly toward the city.

“ Yes, sir.”

“ Stran e that I did not hear of this; but we
will soon now, for I Wish you to go with me to
see Admiral Fenton, who is not aware that the

,‘ pirate capggred your schooner, too.”

' “I doc ’ ter gracious he Jid, though, cols

one] 1” -

Landing at the wharf nearest the admiral’s
the colonel led the way to the quarters, and
learned that the naval commandant had gone
out to Vernon Hall.

Then Coloan Du Bose went to Military Hall,
where the aristocratic youn bloods of the town
and the navy and army 0 cers were wont to
configate, and he found there Major Brans-
» com , whom he sought.

 ‘ The young ma 'or was called out, and the skip-

' ’ re ired him as having been the one to es-

cort Eve Lonsdale to his vessel, along with Cem-

modore Vernon and his daughter, the day that

' she had sailed for Sealands’ on the first voyage

   

'\.

'3: . ofthe Pretty Ellen.
fie quick y told his story, when the major
a .

, I “There is a mistake about Miss Vernon’s be-
.. ' ing on board, for I was there this afternoon; but
’ she is in great distress over tm mysterious dis-
', appearance of her pretty maid, Lurline, whom
she is most fond of, as a companion rather than
a. Servant. .

“But let us go at once to Vernon Hall.”

A walk of ten minutes brought them to the
 elegant home of the commodore, with its acres of
' ' ornamental grounds surrounding it, though real—
" 3 1y it was in e town limits.

.' A I Saunders, the butler, admitted them, and,
' ‘ A anxious to hear tidings of her lost maid, Belle
' Jcame quickly to the dear.

, She recognized Skigger Caldwell ere Major
Branscombe had intr need him, and ushered
them right into the parlor, where the admiral

 and the commodore were playing cards, and
 Captain“ Fenton had been entertainin her.

. a ‘ Father Colonel Du Bose and Ma or Bruns-
i? I combe;an you remember Skip r aldwell of
a i " the Pretty Ellen, who has news or the admiral,
 j I believe. ’
'3 “Zonndsl news on news! Ah, my fine fellow,
‘3 ' ' you have newsi”\cried the admiral.

H . Skipper Caldwell was almost stunned at his
9,, aurrou' ndinfs, but he made several bows and
5,4 
, ‘ “ Then that explains poor Lurline’s disappear-

“She was kidnapped for me,” cried Belle,
tears in her eyes.
“And that accounts for the strange carriage
(that dmve in while we were away, and turned
;, immund over the flower-beds,” the commodore

 r

.i‘
ii

  
 
   
   
   
 
  
 
   
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
  
  
     
  
 
   
      
   
 
    
   
  

' .11"

£3.

1.!

 

remarked.
“I had left Lurlino to await your coming,
7,, under, and ask you to join us at the Chathams,
 v'Mnrnln to tea with us, and the housekeeper
laid she went out upon the piazza, and then
‘fiwalked toward the gate, and that was the last
'acn other»
“ But cannot this daring pirate be taken?” and
- Bel Vernon glanced toward Captain Fenton.
>. ‘ Be on Mar be, I declar’ ter gracious he
,Ih’n' for could he were goin‘ ter sail and git
his at r fair ca. tive; them were his words and
in thinkin’ t et means Miss Lonsdale, ter 1
them varmints as tuk my schooner say
i her name once, and speak 0’ Casco Bay.”
“Hme defend her! what if he has gone

there! .
'1 “Oh/ Admiral Fenton, can nothing he done
,‘-for the sister of Captain Lonsdale, and my
Lurlinei”

    
  
 
 

rm“. ,
') ’v

«or

     
 
  
 
   
    

{ .

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

with the fine vessel he commanded, and in per-
fect trim once more, he should have been at sea
looking for enemies of his country.

“ Do so, I im lore eu, Captain Fenton, and
sail at once for asco ay, and I wish there was
another vessel to 0.”

“ If I could get a craft, and put some 0’ them
Frenchman’s guns on her, I’d go a jirivateer,
durned quick, I declar’ ter gracious would,”
said Skipper Caldwell.

But the admiral (lid not accept of his services,
and Captain Fenten at once tonk his leave to go
to sea; but somehow Belle Vernon (lid not seem
to have such faith in the young commander of
the Saturn as he had in himself, for she said to
Major Branscombe, as she bade him good-night:
" i feel he will do nothing.

“ Olil that the Fatal Frigate were, here.”
“He will be here soon, 1 hope, Miss Vernon,
and woe be unto that pirate if he falls into
the hands of Lionel Lonsdalc,” was the, reply
of the handsome dragoon, as he followed Colo—
nel Du Bose and Skipper Caldwell, who had
gone on ahead with Frank Fenton.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE RUNNING FIGHT.
TIIE Saturn sailed, as Frank Fenton had
promised Belle Vernon, the same night in search
of the daring pirate.
That Captain Cutlass had come into port, or
been there all the while since his escape from
prison, for no one knew which, and had found
another pirate crew to aid him in cutting out
his former schooner, and also, by his allies,
had captured the Pretty Ellen, was a disgrace
to the guardians of the fort.
From the admiral down, the king‘s navy
felt it, and Frank Fenton had been glad to
escape to sea ere the dawn came and it was
known just what had hap ned.

He had himself hailed’ethe schooner on her
way out, and been satisfied with the pirate’s
llllSWCl'.

All the rdians of the port would naturally
feel humiliated, and the secret would go like
wildfire through the town, try as they might to
keep it.

So it was that Frank Fenton had been anxious
to sail before the dawn, and if he could capture
the pirate and bring him back it would bea
great feather in his cap.

If he could also rescue the maid of Belle Ver-
non, it would give him a deeper hold upon her
affections than he could flatter himself he then
possessed.

If he could rescue the sister of Lionel Lonsdale
from the pirate’s clutches, he. would have a sweet
reven 0 upon his rival and fee.

Sot onght Frank Fenten as he went along
toward his frigate, and arriving on board he
startled all by an energetic order to get ready
for sea.

As some of his officers and men were ashore, he
awoke the town firing signal guns for them
to Some at once on board, which they hasan
to 0.
Thus it was that the Saturn went out to sea
under all the canvas that she would draw, and
the town had been wakened up to let them know
she was going. ‘

It was the second day after her departure, and
in the mornin , when the deep boom of heavy
guns was heart far out at sea.

All that could do so at once went to the points
of observation about the town, and it was dis-
covered that flve vessels were coming toward
the town.

After a glance at them through a powerful
glass, Ma'or Branscombe mounted his horse and
rode rapii 1y toward Vernon Hall.

The commodore had just driven home from his
office, to ask his daughter to go with him to a
point which commanded a good view. telling her
that he was certain that the Saturn was en-
gaged with a French vessel some leagues out to

 

sea.
This appeared to be the eneral belief; but
when Major Bert Branscem dashed up, Belle
called out excitedly:
“ Major Branscombe, what is the firing
about?’
“ I came to ask you and your father to drive
over and sec, for I think it well worth your
While,”
“ Leave our horse here, Branscombe, and go
in the carriage with us,” said the commodore.
“Thank you, sir,” and the major very gladly
acce ted.
“ ou know what it is!” said Belle, as they
drove away.
“I had a lance through my glass, and it
logkcc’l’ to me like a British frigate running befo e
a 08.
“The Saturn! I’ll wager m saddle horse ”
cried Belle. y ’
‘flVVe will soon know," the major said with 3.
arm 9.
The point sought by the Vernon carriage, at
the suggestion o the major, was a bill that com-
maniled a line view of the harbor and sea be-
Iii .

 

“ I will go to sea tonight, Miss Vernon, with
"w ‘my kind father’s permission,” said Frank Fen-
‘ ton, looking unutterably strange at Bella for his
iagrent generoaity, as he believed it, whereas,

  
 

There was a signal station there, under the
I charge of a middy and two assistants, and as

1

 

 

“ A brave sight, sir, for a sailor and a sol-I
dier.”

“ What is it, Midshipman Morton?” asked‘
the major.

“ You see three ships, sir?”

H Yes.”

“ There is one in advance, alone, and she is»
heading for port.”

“ So  l
“ She is a frigate.”

‘5 Yes.”

“ She is British.”

“ I understand.”

“There are four vessels in her wake, sailing;
broadside to each other, sir.”

“I observe that.”

“They are two frigates, a sloop-of-war and a.
brig, sir.”

“ Yes, Mr. Morten.”

“ They are French, sir.”
“ So I supposed.”

“The vessel leading is running. but she is in
no great hurry, sir, as she has none of her top
sails set, and she is liring rapidly, and with good
aim from her stern guns n )i m her pursuers."

" She is lighting them w ilc running!“

“ Yes, sir."

“ She is plucky."

“ She is more than that, sir, as you will see in
a moment, when you see her do what I did five.
times—there !”

As the midshipman spoke the leading vessel,
which was running dead before the wind, was.
seen to wear around and deliver a broadside.
The effect could not be seen with the naked
eye, but the middy already had his glass to his.
eye, and he cried out:

“ There comes the signal from the fort, 'West.
so set your colors as I read them, and let the adv
miral’s Signalman know.

"it reads:

' i‘ ‘ British frigate delivered her sixth broad~
sn e.

“ ‘ This time the frigate to starboard caught it
and appears hard hit, as she is dropping astern
of her consorts.” , '

“ Bravo!” cried Major Branscombc, and he
added, addressing the mid: hipman:

“ She is making a stubborn fight, although
against terrible odds.”

“ Yes, sir; I never saw a luckier fight, for if
she was dismasted she wouk be. taken.”

“ What frigate is it, Midshipman Morton?”
asked Belle.

“ The Saturn, miss, so they signaled from the
fort awhile ago.” -

“ Then Fenton is redeeming himself for hav-
ing been driven in before by the Frenchman
that Lonsdale captured.”

“ Captain Fenten is not Captain Lonsdale,
sir; but the admiral would turn me over if he
heard me say so,” and the middy laughed.

After a moment he continued:

“ When I first saw the splendid fight the Britr
isher was making, I was sure it was the Ill
Omen, but the signal came from the fort that it
was the Saturn, and I was surprised."

“ So am I, Mr. Morten,” quietly said Belle
Vernon.

“ They are signaling from the fort,'sir,” said
West, one of the middy’s assistants.

The British craft again were round, as the
middy raised his fglass to his eye, and once more

“ What is that si 8]?
“ By the beard of
the fort signals.”

Those in the carriage

 

excitem nt, while Major Bert Branscombe cried: ‘
“ I kn .w it all the time. for before I want f "

you. I was sure that my strong glass had-
]

 
 
 

 
 
 

         

   

 

 

:the carriage drove up the youngster saluted
politely and said: ‘ , .

\

   

I

J,‘   Muir

 

verily believe, if he could cripple t

eptunel But’listentowhat 4,0! w
u

 

   

 

{UN

for a c<
each ve
Then
stood 01
and agi
showing
ably in
Then
homewa
his norm
and brei
turo by 1
Slowly
rt, the
er pilot
“P r en
ardl
came al

ashore a:
goon son
They cl
ed their 1'
“ Lonsd
those fell
on 1’

poured in one 0 her terrible broadsides, while “you I
the Frenchmen were keeping up a hot fire the fleet and
whole time, the roar of the heavy guns being h'i‘hev
continuous. . M‘hem at (

“Bravo! I thought sol See! That knocksh “Ifoun
the brig out of the fight, for she is dismasted, md I m;
and the frigate got it so hard that she has H A f0
dropped astrrn.” cried the middyn Hie Haunt

Then be fairly shouted: Tor them i

asteri
icons
1" W;

held their breath, for ate dim“

the middy’s face showed intense excitement as ,i “The a!
he said: > , ‘ bad “at
“ The signal reads: . 1 "1 they 1,

“ ‘ Was mistaken. _, fling
“ ‘ The British frigate is not the Saturn. «1 mn k
“ ‘It 1's glorious Lomdalv, in his Haunt ’, ,fi that a
Cruiser!” I,“ .3,“ pm,

I l

CHAPTER XXXIX. 332$],
SAD TIDINGS._ .  «I do DO,
THE announcement of the midshipmm caused . u But w,“
the face of Belle Vernon to flush and 19 with i u The at,

deceived me, while it was just, 1 0 [Out I d
and unlike Fenton, though I do not 11433. Q ~_ L
his courage.” _ _' ~ ,_ v m, ’
u Bless my soul, major, hut Lonsdahl, a g._ “Add;
tremendous chances to add to his lam.‘ gut,“ "4.1;
the commodore. . i - u" . is
“ And he Will add to it. sir, for Just see wit ’mai her!
what bulldog courage he fights back, his toes, {cm “I;
running With a dogged defiance that makes him Doha; p.
ayictor. U, I w be,” h
‘ Yes, the frigate has slackened her speed foruml was a
reppirs, and the brig is out of the fight, W 154,-?“ 01W 91
cer am. , ,9» :uWJ ‘4
“The frigate and the sleep re u ' - m. igmLo

 

    
 
 
 

\

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

  

19

 

they could not come up, Lonsdale would fight
his two remaining adversaries.”

“ Heaven grant he does not attempt it.

“ But, oh! what a story of sorrow he must
have when he arrives,” said Belle.

\Vatching the combat, they saw that the crip-
pled brig and frigate had repaired damages,

and were again coming Oil, and yet the Haunted ,

Cruiser, as people had begun to call the Ill
Omen, was safe, for she was running in toward
the fort.

“The frigate is signaling the fort,” cried the
inlddy.

“ \Vhat does he say!” asked Major Bruns—
combo.

“ The fort now signals us—ycs, they say:

“ “The frigate has signaled that he will take
losition near the fort and open fire on the
‘rench fleet as it comes ilp.

“ ‘ He also asks if the Satuni is in port, and if
so for her to come out with the pirate schooner
Spitfire and tho privatcer Belle of Blue Water.
and they can capture or sink the French fleet.’ ”

“ Brave Lonsdale!” cried the major.

“ He little knows that the Spitfire is under her
old master, and my brig has gone iii search of
the pirate,” the commodore said.

“ There is nothing iii port to go out to aid him,
then i” Belle remarked, indignantly.

“The fort has signaled that the schooner and
brig are not here, and Captain Lonsdale has re-
s nded.

“ ‘Send out the Saturn, and We will attack
them,” the midd remarked.

“Poor fellow! e knows no fear,” the major

said.

“ T he fort has now signaled that the Saturn is
not ill port. and to expect no aid, so the Haunted
Cruiser i8 running to a. .itioli to fight them
back with the fort.” Mi shiplnan Morton ex-

lained. .
In a. short while the III Omen had taken a po-

  

     
         
  
      
   
  
 

   

   
   

 
 

 
    

1..

sition broadside across the channel, and as the
it French fleet drew near, she opened a heavy tire,
'u in which the fort rapidly joined. .

The anch fleet, however, seemed not inclined

be for a combat, and after firm a broadside from
each vessel, drew off and sai ed away.
gh Then’the Haunted Crmserzas it in defiance,
stood out to sea a leaguo after the Frenchmen
-if and again returned to port. sailing slowly and
showin evidence that she had/suffered consider-
nf" abl in 91‘ unequal combat:
118“ the Vernon carnage rolled rapidly
the homeward, where Major Branscombe mounted
his horse to ride down and meet Lionel Lonsdale
av— and break to him the sad news of his sister’s cap.
nail tum by the One-Armed Buccaneer.

Slowly did the Haunted Cruiser come into
£10, g", .the fort saluting her as she went by, and
t be r pilot headed her for an anchorage near the

Ill" 1' ehd of the harbor-
; ardlf' had her anchor drop whan a boat
Brit. flme a.011 side and M330? crt Branscombe
a Ill wrung on eck. , , .
at it ‘7 Her Captain was in his cabin, preparm to go
gore and make his report, and thither t ie an.
elle ‘1 $011 ht him. ,
B . They c as hands with a Warmth that show-
’ said i Hume" friendship. 9-94 the. Young“ soldier said:
l': Lonsdale, it was magmhcent, for you kept
s the fig fellows at bay in spite of their driving
more ,
while tYoudremombcr I went to find the Frendh
. the an I did.
(being mime? were bunched _t0gether, and I found
.4 ‘3‘“ at dawn one morning unpleasantly near.
necks hdIIfOund that they were cruising Hort ward,
t “I: about.
:38 :22: “AK four ave. chase and I discovered that
1 Haunted igate was more than a master
't them in speed, While my long range pivot
“rem earned further than any of their
w at . w 9088.
D. h ' mixes just what I wanted. and I kepta
,th, for “9T,” 06. flrin steadily. _ '
t as v. f t u t echase under fun 8&1]. whfle
len . ‘ ‘y ' munggh canvas set to ho d my own,

    

 

 

12119! have been

.ng.

1 ° I min for port, hoping the Saturn was here,

: ,th‘3the ochgoher Bpltfilm and the commo-
8 p vateer Hz were iere for with the

i ‘ help me. I could» I think,’have captured

“zo'FI‘GIICh fleet.”

.‘j £3? not doubt tilt.” ~

‘ Where are 060 three vessels?”

“The Saturn and the br' have sailed to find

9 3 Mire, which was rat on by her old com-

..Iter me since yesterday

   

     
  
            
     
      
   

 
 

 
  
  
  
     
       
 

   
 

want t ‘ er.” and Major Branscombo nervod him-
had Uhtell the worst. ' -
.m. Why tone-armed as 1;: ll, dld C‘Pmm
- w :' Ln} ' l or
"_ i  ‘  E:  the harbor one night
it "   n
h ‘ .i M  ~ " .5 who a crewfrom somewhere
seew“ . v I ‘_ ,and w n hailed-by Fenton and
ibis m, c multiply and hewas in chase of the
was“ , gunshot: packet schooner, which had sailed a
w 3 hours before I believe, and on board of

b

l. g . 1'. N./‘
“I; .2: ' If.

. .
(/
~ .

    
    
     

. i was a prisoner to be brought back.”
u . clever rascal.”
will, Lowdale, to end a lone; story.

.253, Ind they coined

 

he had
at '11 1 ml the Pretty Ellen in the guise i

her and putting

Skipper Caldwell and his crew in a smal. boat,
the two schooners sailed away together.”

“Remarkable.”

“ But before going it seemed the intention of
the Cuban Corsair to make Miss Vernon cap-
tive to (get a large ransom from her father.

“ lie id not know Miss Vernon, it Seems, but
drove up‘to Vernon Hall in a carriage, and kid-
napped urline, Miss Bellc’s pretty maid, carry-
ing her 011‘ for her mistress.”

‘And Miss Vernon?" asked Lionel Lonsdale
in a. low tone.

“ Is safe, but greatly distressed about poor
Lurlinc, and also in dread that the revengeful
pirate has paid a visit to your home.”

Lionel Lonsdalo was on his feet in an instant,
and then he said:

“ I cannot put to sea in my frigate under
twent '—f‘oi;l' hours, as she needs repairs, as you
doubtlcrs observed, but then I will go at once ill
chase of Suit pirate.”

The illzzjol' then explained that Captain Fen-
ton in til» Saturn, and the Belle of Blue \Vater
had gone igi chase, and advised Lonsdalc to make
his repel-1, to the admiral, while his crew was at
once set i.) work upon repairing the Haunted
Cruiser.

Going on deck the young captain gave his or-
ders to repair the frigate with all haste, and to
allow no one from the vessel to go ashore, or any
boat to board her in his absence.

Then be accompanied Major Branscombe
ashore and was received with deafening cheers
by the crowd.

Raising his hat ill acknowledgment, he hast-
ened on, and soon entered the admiral‘s quar-
tors.

The old admiral received the two officers at
$103, and his greeting of Lonsdale was most

In .

“ You ran off in your haunted crai t just as I
had determined to give on the Saturn, my
young friend; but, as it as turned out, I am
glad that you did so.

“ I have to thank on. in the name of the king
and for myself, for t 1e distinguished services you
have rendered, and in behalf of his Majesty, as
the power within me lies to represent him in this
colony, I shall issue a pardon to all your crew on
condition that they serve you as long as you re.
quire their services.” _

“ I thank you, Admiral Fenton, most kindly,
and I will read that pardon to them upon my
return on board ship.

“ But now I am most anxious to t to sea, at;
the earliest moment, in search oggthat Cuban
corsair, and shall not enter port again until I
have found him.

“ I vow it 1”

Having had from_the admiral the official par-
don for his crew, Lionel Lonsdale accompanied
Major Branscombe .Lo Vernon Hull, where a
warm welcome awaited the gallant sailor, the
youn soldier domg all in his power to entertain
the o d commodore, and leavmg the pleasant
task to his friend of talki to Miss Vernon.

After an hour passed at ernon Hal the two
friends do rted, stopping in at Military Hall to
see the 0. cers and citizens gathered there, and
to learn if aught else had been heard of the dar-
ing PIN“, for somehow news went first to that
social headquarters, and from there went forth
as rumors,” or “ gossip,”

CHAPTER XL.
AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE.

WHEN Major Branscombe entered Military
Hall, accompanied by Captain Lionel Lonsdale,
a great about of welcome arose. ., _

t had been generally believed that Captain
Lonsdale would drop into the gay assembly-
roomh during the evening, and consequently a
vast crowd had gone there to see him. .

It was already known that the admiral had
pardoned the convict crew of the Hauntel
Cruiser, and the lion of the day was her daring
commander. . .

Since his capture of the S ltflre, Just after
sailing with his convict crew, hey had not seen
Lonsdalo in mom, and his otherwlctories had
won for him the greatest admnptlon.

As he stepped into the main saloon he was
completely en aback to see the large assem-
bla rise as one man, while a voice run out:

‘ bree cheers for the Wizard of the aves!”

And such cheers as were given made the old
house shake» and the glasses on the sideboards
rattled an accompaniment.

Downs his bat. Lionel Lonsdale bowed low
and passed on toward an inner room, where
Major Branscorpbe had asked him to join him
in a bottle of mm with several friends, among
whom was Colonel Du Bose, the commandant of
the fort.

As they entered the room, some one stepped
quickly forward and touched Innsdale on the
arm.

Turning. to his surprise he behold a face well
known to him.

It was a face he had not expected to see
there, however, and which brought up painful
memories.

“Mr. Leslie! I am glad to see on. for I
have twice nought you at Castle Blea ,” he said,
at the sum time speaking in a sad, subdued tone
and exten ing his hand.

i

 

 

    
   
   
   
   
    
 
   
   
   
    
  
  
    
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
     
   
 
   
   
  
     
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
    
   
   
  
   
    

It was Enrique Leslie, the master of Castle
Bleak, the father of the unfortunate Lola who
had sprung from the cliff.

To his science Lionel Lonsdale owed his life.
when he was carried desperately wounded to
Castle Bleak.

h But Enrique Leslie did not take the proffered
and

His dark face was ashen in its paleness. out
his lips were sternly set, while his eyes buinedl
with a wicked light.

“ Captain Lonsdale. I am glad to see you, for
I came here for that purpose. A word with
you. please.”

“ Cc rtainly; will you step into this adjoining
room?” said Lonsdalc, coldly, as Mr. Leslie re-
fused to take his hand.

“ Pardon me a moment, gentlemen,” said
Lonsdale, to Branscombe and the others.

“ \Vill not your friend join us, Captain Lona—
dale?” politely said Major Branscombe, who saw
that the stranger was a very distinguished look-—
ing rson.

“ 0, thank you.

“ My business with Ca tain Lonsdale Will soon
be arrancod, and then e is at liberty,” coldly'
said Mr. Leslie.

When the two had entered the little room Liov
ncl Lonsdale said:

“ Be seated, Mr. Leslie, and tell me why you
refuse my hand.”

“ Because, sir, you are the murderer of m “
child,” and the words were hissed from the man s
lips. .

“ Be careful, Mr. Leslie, for I am not one to
stand such accusations.”

H“ They are true.”

“ They are false, and I wish

“ I have your letter.”

“ Then you know all.”

“ I do.’

“ And accuse me of murder?”

‘6 Yes.”

“ And why?”

“ Lola loved you.”

“ I am sorry such was the case.”

“ You should have made her your wife.”

“I am the best judge of that, sir.”

“ Then you should not have won her love."

“ Uipon my honor, Mr. Leslie, I did nothing to
win her love.”

“ She loved you you would not marry her,
and hence you are her murderer.”

“ That is strange reasoning, sir.” - -

“ It is my reasoning.” . , -

“ I see. sir, that you are in a humor to look at- ‘ 
matters in a different light from what they are.
so I will bid you goodomght.” “

“ Hold on, Captain Lonsdale.”

“ Well, sir?”

“ Lola was all I had to love, and, as youcansed;
her death, you shall answer to me for it.”

“ Mr. Leslie, you are mad.” ' _ ,

“I am mad enough to make you do as I say.” .1“ ~~ .-'-

“I will not meet you.” ' " ‘

“Will not?” . r

“ No, for you were most kind to me, and Iowa» ,
you my life.”

H“ My child was indebted to you for more than.
1' e.

“ And I owe to her the saving of my vessel and
crew from wreck.” , '

“ Your debt was canceled by her acts, and
mine, so no sentimental nonsense shall stand in
the Way of your fighting me.”

“ I will not.”

“ You shall.”

“Mr. Leslie, beamanandceaaethisstrlfe.” , .,

“You refuse?” ‘ l

“I do.” -

“ Do you fear me?"

I(  13

you to hear me."

.

“ Are you a coward?”
“ Let my st life answer that.” . l V. V ,5.
“ Then tag; that l" ,
As he he the infuriated man struck um!
Lonsdale ightly in the face with his glove. »
The sailor turned very white, but said with
the utmost calmness:
“ Even you have gone too far, Mr, Leslie.
“ Name your friend, Sir, and mine shall all
on him.” . .
“ I have no frienddaut as you mm “m,
gentlemen let one of your companions act for I

8..
m“ WilIfiyOu be satisfied?"
“ Yes.

     
   
  
      
 

  

“Then come with me.” . ) ‘ 

Enrit‘letlgedie greyed. and eat the room l~ ' '
were e reeo cerssatw" mailm— '
dale said: . mung, ‘ x “ .
.Léneegtlemen. permit me to introduce in. .

All bowed. _

“And Branscombe, I am goi toaskof on
the favor of befriending Mr. in an 1 air
of honor, as he has no friend in the town.” ‘

“ Certainly, Lonsdale.”

“ And, Colonel Du Bose, I must ask your
kindly services in behalf of [:3 self.” »

“What. in a duel. Lonsdale ’

“ Yes. with Mr. Leslie.”

Bad the Haunted Cruiser suddenly sent 3'
broadside into the town, it could not have  -
caused more surprise to these three ofioul than ',
did the words of Lonsdale. ‘

   
    
    
   
     

    

  
 
  

  
     
   
 

1 fill

 



“Mr. Leslie has a fancied cause of quarrel
with me.and will not be pacified, so i have
«consented to meet him; so I leave the matter in
your hands, colonel.”

" And I leave my honor in your hands, Major :

Iiranscombe. _ .
“ I will be in the outer room, sir,” and Enrique
Leslie left the party alone.
I CHAPTER XLI.

' THE PARl)UN.
THAT all present with Lionel Lonsdale, were

 

sun
Who Mr. Leslie was they did not know.
He looked the gentleman, but he had s -ezue'l
in a. Very wicked mood toward Lon-3(lale, though
[courteous to all.
‘ “ You really wish me to act for that gentle-
in' 11, against you?” asked Major liranseombc,
"w ien Lari ue Leslie had left the room.
: ' “Certain y, for he had no one to call upon,
 I “and I felt that you would do me the kindness to
, .serve him, as he demands that I meet him.”
“ I will do so with pleasure, Loiisdale. and I
suppose you refer me to Colonel ilu Bose!”
 . . “ Yes, if the colonel says he will serve me.”
" “ Gladly, Lousdalc; but who challenges!“
1y ’ “ I do, as he forced me to do so.”
i J “ And your weapons!” and Colonel Du Bose
. turned to Ma'or Branscombe.
“Egad, I 0 not know.
1 ‘1 “I must see the gentleman,” and he left the

com.
I .' I In a short while he returned, and he and Col-
‘i , -onel Du Bose walked apart together, and after
»_ ,holding awhispered conference, the major again
i.’ ..left the room.
" :/ Upon his return he addressed a‘few Words to
5 ' ‘Colonel Du Bose, and the latter said:
1 “It is arranged for tomorrow at sunrise, on
"the, cedar point, where you fought Fenton,
Captain Lonsdale, and the weapons are to be
 .’ -swords.”
‘  " I am content, so now let us drop the unpleas-
nt subject?” rejoined Lonsdale, and an hour
23m very pleasantly, when the command-
»~er \o the Haunted Cruiser bade his friends
, good-night and departed, Colonel Du Bose going
i» with him, and accepting his invxtation to remain
*5» :as est in the frigate until the morning.
 Eriving on board Lionel Lonsdale saw that
 "the crew had been workin with a will, and the
 , prospects were that the rigate could sail the
3,. Q "next afternoon.

_.?

l

v, , ’ “ There has been a. gentleman to see you, sir,”
53‘ ' :said Robert Manlfl.

 ,. “ 'Who was be, r. Manly?”
 a i“ He did not come on board, sir, as such were
I:  your ordera'but he rowed out in a shoreboat
95 _ ,and said it was most important for him to see
,A, on.»
if , ,“Was his name Leslie?” r
J “Yes, sir."

XV “I have seen him, thank on,” and then
'. ' Lionel Lonsdale gave orders to ave all the crew

;’ .ggalled on deck. .

.j ' ' ' This was done, and glancing over the upturned
it . faces, as they stood there in silence, the young
win/captain said: _ '

 ‘ Men, I hold here a paper which is a pardon
*3 from the admiral for one, and all of you, if you
 are content to remain on the frigate and serve
“  5 me until I honorabl discharge you.

- , “ What say you, ads?”
3"” ‘ ‘ The wild cheers that broke from the crew at

 ' .712he words of their commander awakened many
 i a sleeping citizen ashore, and for a few moments

,4 ..

Tifrjthe’men seemed almost beside themselves with

 a" .

79/ 1.0Tben‘ holding up his hand for silence, Lionel
" ' .Ibusdale said:

if . ' ’ “M n, you have well earned your pardon,
‘; ,_ 1nd I hi this day you are no longer convicts

,atnd iratcs in the eye of the law, but free men
I and oneat tars aboard a king’s ship.
? “Now/to your work, for the Ill Omen ulust
' sail to—morrow afternoon, and she has an urgent
:daty to perform, for the Cuban Corsair is again
«afloat, and‘upon the deck of his own schooner,

 

re.
I" ‘ .“I 0 must be hunted fronf the seas.”
__--.Again the men ave a cheer, and Lionel Lous-
(d‘alelod the colono , who had been an interested
. " ’ -tatbr of the scene, into his cabin, where
i - randy soon had a substantial supper for them.
“Brandy. I wish an early cup of coffee, and

 read at dawn."
1‘  sir.x
” Call ‘the colonel and myself in ample time,

'1
" “ I will, massa ”
9 Then the captain showed his guest to his state-
' horn, and gom into another stateroom, he said:
-' “ Are you a cap, Lieutenant Harold?”
,' “No, sir, for I heard you come on board,”
was the answer of the officer, as he rose from his

1" bunk. -
, 0.. “I have a rdon for one and all on the
  ate, and omenrse you are included, Hare

 

“I thank you. sir.”

.é

. - nit of in be e, as I have just learned that
. Curitiba Cuzlassfnthe Cuban Corsair, in spite of
 j ghpving deprived him of'his.zood“right

   
   
 

   

   

V.

surprised at what had occurred need not be:

“ It will sail to-morrow afternoon for the vi-l

l

l

i band, is again afloat, having cut out his schoon-
. er, and, worse still, he kidnapped Miss Vernon’s
i maid. by mistake for her mistress, and I fear
i has gone to my home to make, my sistera pris-
ouer.”

i “ lTu ler these circumstances I will ask you to
I await. our return before I act upon your mat—
ter.“

“ Lil-idly, sir, and I hope we can soon get
away after the pirate.”

“ I expect, as I said, to sail iO-ll’lill'I‘UVV after-
noon; hut you had better remain in your state—
room until you get out to sea, for you are re-
ported on the sick list.”

“I will, sir. and I can take you to the hadnt
‘oi' the pirate.”

“ I felt that you could; but now good night,"
and Lonsdale retired to his own state-room and
was soon fast asleep, as though the deadly affair
fippointed for the mornin;,r Weighed lightly upon

In.

CHAPTER XLII.

TllE DUEL.

BRANDY was not one to makea mistake, and
promptly on time he called his master and his
guest.

He had a cup of hot coffee and light break-
fast ready, and after partaking of it, he, at
the direction of his master, picked up a sus~
picious—looking box and some swords wrapped
in buckskin, and followed the captain and the
colonel on deck.

The captain‘s gig was alongside, with four
oarsmen and a coxswain, and entering it they
were rowed away.

The East was growing crimson with the ap-
groaching sun, when the captain, his second, and

randy stepped out upon the sandy shore of a
wooded point of land in a secluded part of the
harbor.

A walk of a hundred ards brought them to
an open space, which ionel Leisdale knew
well, for there he had fought a duel with Frank
Fenton. first with swords, then with pistols.

Hardly had they reached the spot, when a
carriage came in sight, and stopping near, three
persons alighted.

One was Major Bert Branscombe, anothera
surgeon of the dragoon regiment, and the third
was Enrique Leslie.

The latter was stern and silent, and walked
toward the group awaiting him, raising his hat
with cold liteness as he did so.

He too ad brought swords and pistols, and
the Weapons were quickly opened by the two
secOnds.

Lonsdale stood ,apart, talking to Brandy,
while Colonel Du Bose was arranginCr the pre-
liminaries with Ma ‘or Branscombc, Iiut when
called stepped uick y to his stand.

Enrique Les ie had grasped his sword with
the air of a man who meant that it should do
deadly work for him.

His eyes fairly burned with hatred, but other-
wise his face was motionless.

“ Permit me, gentlemen. to say before you all
that this duel is not of my seeking,” said Lionel
Lonsdale quietly, and with the look of a man
who was beinw driven to do an unpleasant task.

“ No, it is o my seeking. gentlemen,

“ I have come here to kill Captain Lonsdale,”
came in measured tones from Enrique Leslie,
and they made these who heard them shudder,
excepting Lonsdale, who was wholly unm0ved.

Having been placed in position, and the
weapons handed to them the adversaries stood
watching each other in silence.

Enrique Leslie held his hand up, and sword on
guard, while Lonsdale rested his hilt against his

in .

gluddeniy, seeing that Lonsdale made no feint,
Leslie quickly did so.

But his blade met one that was held in an iron
hand, and he seemed surprised at the skill and
strength of his opponent before a. dozen passes
were made. ‘

All could see that Enrique Leslie, though clad
as a. civilian, handled 9. Weapon as one who had
seen service, and deadly service at that.

He fought like a sailor, determined to give
deadly thrusts and expecting to receive them.

Finding, as he soon did, that, Lonsdale Would
gnlyl act on the defensive, he began to press him

ar -

But not an inch did the sailor give.

All were surprised at the skill and rapidity of
Leéxlie’s movements, hutone at least, Branscombe,
felt no anXiety as far as Lonsdale was concerned.

“ I mean to kill you,” hissed Leslie through his
set teeth.

Lonsdale made no repbh, his face did not
change but, as though to ow his foe that he
was at his mercy, he suddenly, by a most skill-
ful movement. isarmed him, sending his sword
flying ten paces distant.

A cry of rage broke from Enrique Leslie's lips.

at his defeat, and rushing for his invord he picked
it u and was springing to attack his adversary
aga u, when Colonel Du Bose and Major Bruns-
oombe interposed, the latter saying. stemly:
“No. Mr. Leslie, I will not permit this.”
“ He shall die!" cried the infuriated man.

 

e .14
.. f... I‘,,

  

“Stand aside, gentlemen, and let him come
Onsifm', , , .

‘1

-/,i.

The One-Armed Buccaneer.

i
a

i
I
!
l

 

   
  
 
 

v..."—

~I" - A. HI-A. _, w... . _‘__

Instantly Enrique Leslie rushed forward, and
once more the combat waged with fury.

The face of Leslie was flushed with rage, that
of lionsdziic colorless and stern.

He seemed to have made. up his mind to some
course, for suihlenly he struck up the blade of
his foe. and let the point of his own weapon pass
through and through the sword arm of his en-
raged enemy.

'l‘ne Weapon of Enrique Leslie fell from his
grasp, and us Lonsdale quickly withdrew his
blade from the. wound, he turned on his heeland
VValkl‘ii away.

The drugnou surgeon started quickly toward
him, but hehzisteucd his steps, Sprung into the
carriage and the driver drove furiousl y off, leav-
ing Major Branseombe and his brother oflicer
with Lonsdulo and (‘olonel Du Bose.

“ Well, he surpasseth my understanding, and
Captain Lousdz-le, in behalf of my principal, I
thank you for his life, as you certain y had just
cause to kill him,” said Major Branscombe.

“Poor fellow! he has a heavy grief to bear,
and I pity him.

“ But, come, major, you mid Surgeon Moore.
and return to the frigate to breakfast with me.”

The invitation was gladly accepted, and the

party sought the boat, and soon after were in '

the handsome cabin of the Haunted Cruiser.

As they arose from the breakfast table, Mr.
Manly reported a sail coming in, and goin on
deck it was discovered to be the Belle of lue
Water.

'\
“Now we shall have neWs,” said Colonel Du

Bose, and the brig was Signalcd to send a boat
aboard the frigate as soon as she dropped
anchor.

CHAPTER XLIII.
THE FRIGATE eons ON THE HUNT.
WHEN the brig was signaled from the deck of
the Haunted Cruiser to send a boat aboard, the
answering‘signal came back:
“Mrs. onsdale is on board, and would be
glad to see Captain Lonsdale on the brig.”

At once Lionel Lonsdale sprung into a boat,

and boarding the brig, entered her cabin.

His u other was there and greeted him most
affectionately while she said: .

“ I took advantage of the brig’s calling at
Sealands, to learn 0 your whereabouts, my son,
to come to Portland to join Eve, though I hard-
ly ex ted to’ find on here."

“ . oin Eve, mo her 3’” and the Words fell
hoarsely from the lips of the young sailor.

‘5Yes, my son.”

“ Did you not leave Eve at home, or is she not
with on. mother?”

“ b y son, has she not reached here yet?”

“ Reached here?”

“ Yes, she sailed in the Pretty Ellen to join

on.”
y “ The Pretty Ellen 3"

“Yes, Lionel, according to your letter.”

“Heaven have mercy!

“ Mother, I wrote no letter. Eve has been en-
trapped, for the Pretty Ellen was captured.”

“ Oh, Lionel, my son! then your sister is in the
hands of the French?”

Lionel Lonsdale wished that his mother mi ht
so believe, but the honest though thought css
skip er of the brig blurted ou :

‘ {Verse than that, mum, f r the Pretty Ellen

was captured by that bloody One-Armed Bucca— ’

neer.”

A groan from Mrs. Lonsdale, and she would
have fallen upon the
arm of her son upheld her.

She had fainted.

Bearing her to a sofa the. son used what means
he could to re=tore her, While he bade. the skip-
per; new thoroughly alarmed at the result of his
words, to hail the frigate and ask Surgeon Engi-
lish to come at once on board.

This w done, and with him arrived Com-
modore ernon.

Hearing the situation of alfairs, he at once
said: ' ‘
once to my house. .

“ I will send for my carriage, and tell Belle to
have all prepared for her—mo, I will not have
you say nay, for I mean it. Your mother will,
need every care, and at Vernon Hall she can get
it, and you will feel more at ease regar- ling her,
for on must go after your poor sister, as all do-
pen 8 u n that.” . .

Lione Lonsdale was persuaded to do as t

cod-heart d commodore said, and an hour at
firs. Lonsdale, reCOVOI'Pd from her swoon,
bowed down in grief, went ashore and cuts
the Vernon carriage.

The commodore” her son, and Surgeon E
lish accompanied her, and the sym thetic w

come she received from Belle\m eher feel A “

least at home.

“ I will have our doctor come now, as yoh will
need surgeon English
you ma
mother t t we can do.”

“ I well know that, commodore

“Now I will go on board 111 chi and 
y 1" cod-baa” ..
o .

all is ready to sail I will return to on g
Returning to his vessel. accom ed. ,
surgeon, I found the men "or ' 
vars. ' "a , r 
- , 1.}  ,’ ‘ 

‘,o. lw't'“, .

   

   

flmr, had not the strong '

“ Lonsdale, you must bring your mother at"

“ Wit,“ You. Lonsdale, 
{961 that all W111 be done for-you? ,

is i  .’

 

         
 

 

  
  

a.

\l

The One-Arms o Buccaneer.

 
 

 

 

They realized just what they had to db, and I thinking it would keep him from going back  “ I will respect your being so, and Ibis:~
to Boston and capturing Miss Belle, for he is é cabin shall be devoted to you exclusively.

were doing it with a will and energy that show~
ed their sympathy for and love of their daring
commander.

When the vessel was about ready to sail,
Lonsdale drove rapidly to Vernon Hall, and at
once sought his mother’s rd in.

She was delightfully situated, and everything
had been done for her comfort that it was possi—
ble to do, but the blow had been a bitter one, in-
deed.

The letter received by Eve Mrs. Lo sdale
fortunately had picked up from the, table, and
happened to have put it into her pocket, so that
Lionel read it.

“It is a clever forgery of my handwriting, so
the fellow must have gotten some letters of
mine somewhere, to have imitated it so well.

“ But cheer up, mother, for Lurline, the maid

of Miss Vernon, is with Eve, and ransom is

what the pirate wants, and he shall have it——1‘n
iron, slewl and lead,” and the last words were
muttered rather than spoken. ‘

Bidding his mother good-by, and telling her
he would bring Eve back, Lionel Lonsdalc left
her in tears.

As he descended the broad stairway he was
met by belle, who bade him feel no anxiety re-
garding his mother.

“I will not, I assure you, Miss Lonsdale, for
you are kindness itself.

“ hope soon to return with my sister and
your maid, and give you the knowledge that the
pirate has suffered for his crimes.

“ But let me say to you now how much I
thank you for all of your noble, trust in me
through the shadows that came upon me.

“ Branscombe has told me that you were most
loyal in your friendship, and the promise you
gave me once, to trust me through all, I feel
that you have more than kept.

“ I cannot say more now—good-by I"

This was all that he. had ever said to cause
her to feel that he loved her; but it was enough,
and she felt that some day he would say
more.

He bent over and kissed her hand in farewell,
and half an hour after the Haunted Cruiser was
sailing seaward, waited on her way by the good
wishes of thousands who lined the shores and
saluted by the fort as she passed.

Once she was outof the harbor she was seen to
head southward, and Major Bert Branseombe,
who had With a. number of other officers sailed
in her as far as the fort when the colonel’s barge
took them off, said to his comrades:

“ I shall even pity that pirate when Lonsdale
captures him, for I never saw him in such dead-
ly earnest.”

“ He has a way of being in earnest in all he
does," responded Colonel Bu Bose.

And th ee cheers were given 1'1 )r “ The Wizard

: of the “'aves ” by the soldiers of the fort, who

were watching the receding frigate.

 

CHAPTER XLIV.
run CAPTIVES.

AT the words of Lurlinc, which made
known to her the awful truth of how she had
been deceived, Eve Lonsdalc was for a mo-
ment overcome.

She gave a low moan and sunk down upon
the settee in the cabin of the Pretty Ellen.

But. Lurlinefiuickly said:

“ Be brave, iss Lonsdale, for We are held
for ransom.”

With the same spirit as her mother, Eve
rallied quickly, and at once cast off thefeel-
ing of despair and horror that had seized
upon her.

“ I will be brave, Lur—” ‘

“Belle, remember—I am Miss Belle Ver-
non. now, for no one on board knows the
difference. and let me keep the secret, as it
will save her.”

“ You are a dear, brave girl, Lur— I
mean Bella, and we will not despair, will
we " ‘

" No, indeed, Miss Eve—”

“ There, it is your mistake now, ,for you
must call me Ere.”

i Eve had seen Lurline the. day she visited
at Vernon Hall, and had then been struck
by her pretty face and pleasant manners.

Belle had told her that Lurline was the
daughter of a boatswain on one of her father’s
ships, and an only child, had taken the posi-
tion of maid to her, and that she was a noble
girl, pretty, well educated and very lady-
131m, and that she was very much attached to

CT.

‘ v : <A8 the two sat in the cabin together, Lur-

: told Eve of how she had been kidnapped,

, 96 that Captain Cutlass had mistaken her
i.  . _ I or Belle Vernon, and that her father, as he

ut it, should pay a round ransom for her
restoration to him.

“I carried on the deception, Miss—Eve,

 

capable of anything.”

“ And he is the same wretch that captured 

me before, you say?"
“ Yes.”
“ His right hand was cut off in the duel

between his handsome lieutenant and himself, :

and he was taken to prison in Boston, but
you say escaped?”

“Yes, and killed old Captain Stone, the
keeper, in making his escape, while be
either also killed the guard or took him with
him.”

“ He is a perfect monster; but my brother
will be upon his track when he knows what
has happened."

“ I am so glad that he kidnapped me, Eve,
instead of Miss Belle, and that I am here to
be company for you."

“ You are a dear good girl—Bellc—thcre,

l
|

“I will regret to disturb you for a den, .
with the noise of bringing the guns ( or
‘board, but after that all will be well. for
, both vessels will sail for the retreat, and
‘ there you will be well taken care of.

“If you need anything you have but to
‘ ask, and I shall place a young lad I have on

board at your service as a servant, so that no i
. one else need intrude.

“ Good-night, ladies.”

Captain Cutlass bowed himself out most
gracefully, casting a glance at Eve that he
meant should impress her, and which did,
though not as he had hoped, and the .two
were left alone. ‘

Soon after a bright-faced lad of seventeen,
a young Coast Gypsy, appeared, and began.
to set the table for supper.

The rcpast was a good one, and in spite of

  

I will soon get to calling you Belle, for their situation, both Eve and Lurhne ate »

neither of us must make an mistake in the
name before that rcd-hande wretch.”

As Eve spoke a knock came upon the com-
panionway, and Lurline called out prompt-

“Come in!”

it was Captain Cutlass who entered, and
saluting the two maidens politely, he said:

“Miss lionsdale, you know by this time,
from Miss Vernon, that you are a captive of
the Cuban Corsair, for I suppose you recog—
nize me as one whom you have met before?”

“ I remember you, sir, as the pirate, who
lost his hand for insulting me,” was the
calm retort.

“ Yes, my right hand has gone, as you
see," and he. held up the stump of the arm.

“ You seem to have been Very fortunate
in saving your neck thus far, from the hang-
man's noose.”

“ And will continue to he, Miss Lonsdale,
for I was not born to be hanged.

“ The truth is I am not as black as I am
painted."

“ You could not be blacker in my estima-
tion." a

The pirate frowned.

This, then, was the girl he had expected to
win the love of.

Ile certainly had begun in a bad way.

He was an attractive-looking man, very.

Thirty~five years of age, perhaps; with
splendid eyes, regular features, and a mouth
that when not contorted with evil thoughts,
was very winning in its expression.

j

l
i
l
l

 

To the casual Observer,vwith his handsome ,

form and easy manners at times, he would

1, morning?"

have been very attractive, but to one who 1

studied his face the eleven foot of his nature
would be revealed.

His dress was that of a dandy, for it was ‘;

more than elegant, and he wore a fortune in
precious stones.

lIis laces, on bosom and wrists, Were of
the finest kind, a ruby of vast size sparklin
in the former, and his handless arm ha
been gracefully looped to a button on his
breast. '

His uniform was rich, covered with old
lace, enough for an admiral, and to his right
side hung a cutlass of rare workmanship,
the hilt being of gold and studded with pre-
cious stones.

Lieutenant Harold, who had cut off his
hand, had appropriated his other golden-
hilted cutlass, but he had gotten a second
one u on his visit to his retreat, and had a
skill worker in gold and 'ewel setting,
change the hilt to suit his left and.

Alto ether Captain Cutlass was an attrac-
tive an remarkable-looking persona e.

In the heart of Eve Lonsdale and urline
be excited on] loathing and horror, for his
crimes upon merican “waters had caused
terror for years.

“Well, youn ladies, I am now runnin
to a harbor w ere I shall rejoin my old
schooner, and I shall transfer her battery
and full armament to this vessel, which is
faster than the Spitfire.

“ Then I shall sail in her to my retreat in
southern seas, where on are to remain cap-
tive until it is decide what shall be done in
the way pf ransom.” '

“If you would only send word of your
price, sir, it would be paid without. taking
us so far away," said Eve.

“ I preferto take you to my island home,
and then arrange for your ransom ”

“ We are at your mercy, sir,” said Eve.

 

r ning of the sailing,r of the Haunted Cruiser in y
, chase of the pirate, he was surprised to be. "f

with relish.

During the night the Pretty Ellen, or
rather Pretty Pirate, as Captain Cutlass now
called the schooner, reached the haven
where the Spitfire awaited her, and in the
morning early the fair inmates of, the cabin‘
were awakened by voices and heaVy sounds.
on deck.

Looking from the cabin window they saw
that the Spitfire and Pretty Pirate lay side "i
by side, in a secure, landlocked anchorage,
and thcykncwthat the guns of the pirate
craft were being transferred to the captured
packet. ' V, ‘

“()h, if the Ill Omen would only run in ' "
here now,” said Eve. , ' J

“ Captain Lonsdalc will yet bring that. .
cruel man to the yard-arm, Eve," said Lur- , 'f
line, so do not despair. ' i 

“I feel for my poor mother, when she: .3
knows'all. . .

“ She is not well and the shock will kill.
her,” and the tears dimmed the eyes of the" ,
poor girl, as her thoughts went back to Sea- \
lands and her poor mother’s grief when she.
knew that her daughter was the captive of 3. ~ '.
pirate. , ' '1

CHAPTER XLV.
UGLY RUMORS. . .
When Major Branscombc dropped into the 4,
Military Hall, with Colonel Du Boso, the eve: ' a

   
  
 
 
   
   
   
   
    

 

asked by several, in a confidential way: - ,é‘
“What about that duel of Lonsdale's,’this' 

The major had supposed the duel was un-- ,i.
knoWn outside of those who had been upon~"""
the scene, and he asked quietly: ,

“To what duel do you refer?” ' '- t

“ The rumor is around that Lonsdale and ‘
a stranger fought a duel this morning.”

“With what result?” ‘ ‘

“ That Lonsdale wounded the stranger,” . .

“ Who was the stranger, Lennox?" "

“ I do not know his name.”

“He is said,” spoke up a young‘ocivilian,
” to be a man whose daughter nsdale‘s.
descrtion of caused hen to take her life.” ,

“ Indeed I” said the major, and not having.
himself heard the story of why Enrique been .
lie had fought with the captain of the Haunt-7,
ed Cruiser, he was surprised that ot-hers‘i
should assume a reason for the duel. ‘

So he sought out Colonel Du Bose, 'wbo'
had passed on into the assembly-room and
motioned him to follow him. . ,

,They went into the little room where the
scene had occurred between Lonsdale and“
IJCSIIC’. \ V 

“ Du Bose, the duel is known." ,
" So I have just found out from ,3 do”! or

>

more.” ,
" Who told of it?” x ' ‘
“I am sure I do not know.” . ‘ a?
“ I have kept silent.” " '/
"And I.”

“ I wonder if my surgeon could have been ~
so indiscreet?” Z
“ I saw him in the assembly-room just.
now.” _:

“ 1 will send for him.”

A servant was d' tched for the surgeon,
who said emphatica ly: ._ , .

“I have not breathed a word; but. maybegg
the driver did.” ,‘ 

“He scoured the carriage next door at the ,
tavern,” said Colonel Du Bose. . 

.v

\

 

The driver was at once Sent for.

y, .
I 3’":

  

    

f2 www.7wa

He was an honest-faced Englishman, and
when questioned said:

“No, major, I was paid four guineas to
hold my tongue and nobody has offered me
five to tell."

“ Where did you drive the gentleman after
he left the ground?”

“To Doctor Norton’s house. sir."

, ' “He had his wound dressed there?"

“Yes, sir; and a bad one it was, for the
sword had gone clean through, scratching

' the bone, the doctor said."

“ And then?"

“ I brought the gentleman back to the tav-
ern, sir, and etting his baggage I took him
.down to the ortland packet, sir, which was
to sail at sunset, sir.”

' “Thank you, my man," and the major
added another guinea to the four that Leslie
., .had iven him.

“ on think he has told the truth ‘1"

“ Yes, colonel.”

“ I do also.”

“ He said he had been given four guineas
for silence, and no "one had made it live to
talk.” I

“ I see, and no one that I can conceive of
would," Colonel l)u Bose said.

, “No, as Captain Frank Fenton is not
- here." was the dry reply.
I “ We must trace this rumor if we can.
major. for it reflects upon us to have the
affair known.”
“ Do you think, Colonel Du Bose, that
that man would make it known?”
” Leslie?"
‘ “ Yes."
' i “ Hardly, if he gave that driver four
guineas to keep quiet about it."
“ And the doctor?”
“ Ah, he may have told him, and not as a
secret.”
“ The driver might know."
The driver was again sent for.
“ My man, did you go in with the gentle-
man, when you were at the doctor’s?"
“ Yes. sir.”
“ And remained there?"
“ Yes, sir, for the entleman was that weak
from loss of blood, had to support him."
“ I see.”
“ But after the doctor dressed the wound
‘ and gave him a dose of medicine, he seemed
braced up.” ’
, “Did he tell the doctor how he got the
 2 ‘wound?”
"3' , " He said he had gotten it in a bout with a
 man who was the best swordsman he had ever
' met.”
“ He mentioned no names?"
“ No sir.”
“Did the doctor ask him an questions?”
“‘ He asked if it was in a duel’?"
‘t _ ' “And the reply?”
“Yes, with a man I meant to kill,
1 "will

I!

‘V‘\

'1}?

a.

and
I

et."
That was the reply i"
x-v “ Yes. sir.”
,54' Another inea was given the man, with
the injunct on to keep quiet upon the sub-
ject, and he left seeming to have the hope in
is face that he would be sent for again, for
he muttered gleefully:
., . “ Three months wages in one day.”
 ' For awhile the friends discussed the
matter, and then came the question:

 “' Is it known that we were participants?"
‘ X “ Captain Ruth would know, for he spoke
to me upon the subject,” said the colonel.

A servant was sent to fetch Calptain Ruth.

,: “ Ruth, will you kindly tell ranscombe

_ iand myself, what tgis rumor is Ebout a duel
4.. that Lonsdale had ith a strong r this mom-

in l"

- ' ha tain Ruth smiled as he said:

‘ “a s on, colonel,-and Major Branscombe
are 51:1 to have been the seconds in the
affair, I should think any information I

1 could give would he valueless."

" May I ask what you heard, then, and how
_you heard it?"

“ Certainly.

“ You know I am acting adjutant now for
the admiral. and while a number of officers
were there late this afternoon, aletter came
by an orderl .

'  It was given to the admiral, who handed

' it to me to read.”

" And its contents?"

.  , “Simply that a duel had been fought that
six. ,, morning between Captain Lionel Lonsdale
.of the Haunted Cruiser, and an American

"V cf"

rag-q.-

71‘1m‘441r ‘~ “’3 it"; u

-“\ V, 1,. 

,. ,J-(_ T

 

v-

 

/

_Th99neieraed Buscanee}

\

 

 

"It also stated that the stranger was

l

I

wounded, and that you, colonel, and the:

major here. were the seconds.”

i
“ That was all?” }
I

“Yes, sir, and as the admiral made no

secret of it, it became at once gossip upon '

everv lip." 3

“ I thank you, Captain Ruth, and I would
say that there was a duel fought as stated,
but that Lonsdale had wronged any girl 1 am
sure is false.

“ l was Lousdale’s second, and Branscombe
acted for the stranger; but in th * absence of
my friend, Captain Lonsdale, I shall deem it
my duty to resent any slur cast upon his con-
duct as a gentleman and a king’s otlicer. and ,
you may so state to those you hear handying :
this gossip about,” and Colonel Du Bose
spoke earnestly. i

“ And I shall also resent. any slur against
Lonsdale, for those who will talk behind his
back about him, must learn that he has
friends who deem his honor as precious as
their own,” added Major Ilranseombe; and
Captain Ruth said laughingly:

“ \Vith two such champions, the gossip
about Lonsdale I am sure will end.

“ 1 shall at least let it be known that it will .
be dangerous to slander him, until his side '
of the duel with the stranger is heard, and I i
hope it will check these ugly rumors which I
go so far as to say Captain Lonsdale drove
the girl to suicide."

As Major Branscombe was about to reply,
one of his dragoons entered and handed him
a letter with the remark:

“ This was sent to your quarters, sir, and
as it was marked ‘important,’ I sought
you."

“ Thank you. Benin," and the young oili-
cer broke the seal and read the contents.

Then he looked at his watch, and excusin
himself to his friends, he left Military Hafi
with the air of a man who had an important
engagement.

 

CHAPTER XLVI.
QUESTIONED.

THE letter which Lionel Lonsdale had re-
ceived was as follows:

“ Vimon HALL—8 p. n.

“MY DEAR MAJOR BmscouE:—_May I beg that
you come to me on receipt of this, 1' not after
ten o‘clock, as I have a most important matter to
consult you about. having just received a communi-
cation which perhaps you can shed some light upon.

” Very sincerely.
‘~ " BELLE Vaaxox."

It was about nine when the major received
this note, and he hastened at once to Vernon
I-Iall.

He saw the fair mistress of the handsome
house pacing the piazza, as though awaiting
his coming.

“I am so glad to see you, she said. ear-
nestly, as he ascended the steps. “Father
has gone to the admiral’s to a card-party, and
Mrs. Lonsdale has at last dropped into a
sleep, under the influence of Opiates admin-
istered by the doctor, so we will be undis-
turbed.”

He saw that her manner was excited, and.
as they entered the sitting-room he observed
her face to be flushed and an angry look in
her 0 es. ’

“ on have been so true a friend to me,
Major Branscombe, that I call upon you as I
would upon my poor brother, whom father
never allows to be spoken of at home since
he fled years ago.

“But he was so good to me, and Ioften
wonder where he is wandering and wish that
he could come back and prove that he was
not uilt of the crime he is charged with.

“ ut forget that it was not to s eak of
my unfortunate brother that I aske you to
come, on] you have been as kind to me as
he could ave been.”

“ Let me take his place, then, as near as I
can, Miss Belle, and call upon me as though
I were in reality your brother, in all that I
can serve you."

“ You are very good, Major Brhnscombe;
but let me now tell you why I asked you to
come.”

“I am all attention.”

“ I received a letter just after supper, which
surprised and pained me.”

“ A letter?"

H

i

i
i

i ' a ' be
gentleman whose daughter Lonsdale hadl “That'is strange.”
. cruelly jilted.

 

“Yes, and from one whom I do not
know."

i

i
l
l,
l
l
I

“Will you tell me the truth, if I ask you
some questions?" ,
“ I will.” i

“ I feared you would refuse to tell me."

“I have nothing to conceal?" l

“You are Captain Lonsdale’s confidant." '

“No, I can hardly say that, though I deem
him my best friend, and believe he to eon- ,
siders me." i

“ Did he fight a duel this morning?"

Major Branscombe started.

“ Will you not answer me?"

“ You have heard of that also?”

“I have."

“ How?"

“Please answer me.”

“ He did.”

“ Where?”

“ Upon Cedar Pointf”

“ When ?"

“At sunrise.”

“ Who was his second?"

“Colonel Bu Bose. ”

“ Who was the duel with?"

“A Mr. Leslie."

“ And who was Mr. Leslie's second?"

“ I’ was."

“ Yet the friend of Captain Lonsdale?"

“ I acted as Leslie's second at the request
of Lonsdale.”

“ Who else was there?”

“The surgeon of my regiment, the driver
of Leslie’s carriage, and Brandy, Lonsdale's
negro servant.”

“Those were all?"

“ Yes."

“ One question more?”

“Yes, Miss Belle.”

“Who is this Mr. Leslie?"

“That I cannot tell you."

“Will not?“

“ N0, cannot.”

“ You do not know?”

“ I do hot.”

“ Describe him, please."

“A tall man. very distinguished looking,
dark-faced, and with a foreign air.”

“ About how old?"

“ About forty to forty-five. I should
sa .”

2" Where does be live ?"

“ I do not know, but I believe Upon a
plantation near the Penobscot River.”

“Did you never see him before?"

“ Not before last night at Military Hall.”

“Will you pardon me for being so inquisi-
tive, and tell me, what occurred?”

" He was there when we went from here,
and called Lonsdale aside.

“What passed I do not know, but they
came into the room where Colonel Du Bose
and myself were seated, and Captain Lons-
ilale presented his companion as ‘Mr. Les-
i6.”

“Then he told us that Mr. Leslie had a
supposed grievance—"

“ Did he say supposed?” ,

“ I think so, or his words and manner im-
plied it, and he asked me to second him,«as
he had no friend.

“ I did so, and the meeting was arranged
for this morning."

“Did not Mr. Leslie tell you anything of ,5
his trouble?” 5’.
“ Nothing. ;'

“I called for him at dawn, had a cupvof -
coffee with him, and we went to the field in

s5

.929 . ,-

a carriage. .

” He was a very entertaining man, I taunt}
him, though of a. stern nature, and .he to]: . ,
me he meant to kill Lonsdale, as he had . 
never met a man who was his equal with g "
sword."  . i

“ But he was Wounded?"  ,'

“Yes, for Lonsdale is a phenorn ? . ' ;
swordsman . ” H g‘ e
.I “ Please tell me more?” ‘, "

Her manner was most entreating as ahg
uttered the words.

Then she added:

“ If you are not betrayin confidencem ,

“No, for it is known. I n . .

“Lonsdale acted wholl upon. the t. (a:
sive, until Mr. Leslie spo c to him inp'l ~
tone, and I caught the words that» ”' g .i'
him he meant to kill him. i ,

“Then Lonsdale disarmed ’him, an ,
ing his sword far off.” . 1

“And then?" , ,. .

“ The man was mad, rushed for his sword, _
and though we interposed, Lonsdale told an “

.\,.

 

33*;

.6

\

‘ lift»? 

._  11‘
«es-a-  c

.u. .~__.m«.3=9

--.~... .u..a.__

.. The one-A rmedflBiiecaneer.

 

 

 

‘to let him come on, and then he drove his
blade clean through his sword-arm.“

“And then?"

The stranger turned, walked to his ear-
riage withouta word, and drove from the
field.

“The driver of the carriage. whom I
[questioned to-nitrht, told me he went to Doc»
tor Norton, had his wound dressed, and
then went on board the Portland packet.”

“ Iias it sailed?” eagerly asked Belle.

“ Yes, two hours ago."

“ I am so sorry.

“ Oh! that I had known it sooner.“ and
Belle Vernon’s face SilOWHI deep emotion.

(,‘IIAVI‘I‘IR XLVII.
A s ’l‘ RAN (i E L ET 'l‘ 1‘: u.

“MAY I in turn become questioner, Miss
Belle, and ask why you wish that you had
known that Mr. Leslie was to sail?"

Major Branscombe asked the question,
when he saw that Belle Vernon had some
deep cause for the feeling slie exhibited.

“I will tell you, yes, for it was to ask
vouradvic: that I wrote you to come to
inc." .

“Something has disturbed you, with-
out doubt."
“Major Branscombe, between (.‘aptain

Lonsdale and myself there is no spoken
ledge.

“ He asked me to trust him through all.

“ I have done so.

“ He asked this before he sailed with his
convict crew, in what was then called the
Fatal Frigate.

“Through all I have trusted him, and he
has made his enemies, those who are the
ardent friends of Captain Frank Fenton ad-
mire and respect him. .

“He has returned to port, and his noble
deeds gained for him the pardon for his
felon crew. , .

“Now he has gone again and under eir-
cumstances that almost shake my faith.”

She spoke earnestly, and the soldier list-
ened with deepest attention.

Then he asked:

“ In what way, Miss Vernon."

“He left me last night, with you, still
holding my pied e to trust him. and yet
this morning he ought a duel with a man
whose cause of quarrel with him he did not
make known.” ‘

"' Why should should he?”

“ Was it not but justice to you?"

“ No, for Colonel Du Bose was his second."

“ Then did he explain to Colonel Du
Bose?" ,

“ I am certain that he did not.

“He said that the gentleman had forced
him to challenge him, and more, on the field,
he remarked that he hoped we would under-
stand that the duel was not of his seeking.”

“ He said this?"

“He did."

“ And no more?"

“ He disarmed his adversary, and when
attacked a second time refrainet from killing
him, where other men, I for one, would
have shown no mercy."

“ Had he no cause?”

“ How do you mean?"

“May there not have been a cause for his

erc 7 ’
“ l-Ils desire not to take human life was all

flhat I could see."

“ This evening: Maior Branscombg a man
left this letter for me. ' ’
She handed him a letter bearing a seal, on
men was Stamped 3 pair 0f crossed cut-
3.
ffwas written as though with difficulty
or the writing was labored. ’
M This is f romksoirticH ignorant person, from
' ‘ , I ta e1 . . .
tllfivfirglglr‘fUOr Branscombe, it is written by a
an of education. as you V1“ Beaver when
'1 read it, but it was written with evident
iculty and pain, the excuse being given at
{end of the letter." _ 9"
Iiat liberty to read it.
n] .n .
' P00 the letter and was glancmg over
Omen“. when Belle said:
“ P191188 read it aloud.”
"As you wish," was the reply.
Then he read siowiy and in a low tone as

{wowsz
, ii 

    

 

“ ON BOARD Penman PACKET SPRAY, %
AY.
“To Miss BELLE VERNON, VI‘RNON HALL:—

“ Mnnmz—Pardon one who is a stranger to you for
writing as I now do.

“It is for your welfare that I do so, to save you
from a sorrow that is sure to come upon you.

“ I came to this town some time ago to Seek one
whose life I wish to take, for that wish still remains
in my heart, though I failed in doing so to-day.

“I dwell upon a plantation on a rugged coast far
to the eastward ot’ here, and, with a pleasant home
and an only child, had as much happiness as Comes
to the lot of man in general.

“My child was my daughter. a beautiful maiden
who had not yet passed out of her nineteenth year.
i “I loved her, for she was all I had in this world to
ove

“When a girl budding into maidenhood, she was
saw-d from being kidnap ed by pirates through the
courage of a young navarofflcer.

“ He took her to toe boarding-school where she had
been receiving her education. and she saw him for
only a moment, as it Were, as he slipped away be-
fore she could thank him.

“ But she never forgot his face, and never ceased
to pray for him.

“ Two years after. 011‘ our coast. a Schom or was
threatened With destruction, and dumb to h r ('i‘ew.

“ My child saw the vessel, and. at the 1‘ s2; of her
life. saved it by going out in her boat and bn‘nging
it in to a safe anchorage.

" The. schooner's commander lay
wmuided and unconscious in his cabin.

“It was the young oflleer who had
my t'llll’l.

“ She had him brought ashore, and, being a sur-
geon. l dressed his wound, and we brought him back
to life.

" He left us when able to do so, and he carried my
child's heart with him.

" He knew that she loved him, for she had shown
it in every look and word.

“She, believed that he loved her, for he had so pre-
tended.

“ in some way she learned that he was to marry a
fair maiden of this town, and she went to his home,
and was repulsed by his mother and sister,

“They told him of her visit, and he went to her
home.

“ What was said. Heaven and that man only
know.

“ But my child is dead.

“ She went OVer the cliff into the sea; and her body
was never found.

" He sailed away, leavin me a l.tter that told me
she had sprung from the 0 ill’.

“ I believe that he threw h r fro'n i‘.

“I came here to seek him, and I forced him to
meet me.

“ I believed that I could kill him.

“ I was mistaken, for we met in a duel. in which
his friend, Major liranscombe, was my second, and
Colonel bu Bose his.

“ He wounded me. but my revenge will yet come.

“ That man, who murdered my child, because she
loved him, because she stood in the way of his win-
ning you and your riches. is Cap/um Lionel Lonsdale,
the commander of the Haunted Cruiser.

“Cast him off, unless you wish to marry a
woman’s murderer.

" Drive him from you unless you wish to become
a widow.

"I meant to kee my sorrows a secret; but I
could not do so, an so write you all.

“ Pardon my wretched writing. as my hand suffers
from the cruel wound the murderer of my poor Lola.
gave me.

“ But Lionel Lonsdaie's days are numbered.

“ He sailed on the Fatal Frigate, and Fate works
slowviy but surely.

“ ith regret to give mi pain, as I know I must,

“ Your 0 tent servant,
“Eamon: Llama."

Such was the strange letter that Bert Brans-

desperat sly

before saved

combe read.

 

CHAPTER XLVIII.
THE YOUNG srr.

Tim letter which Major Branscombe read,
from Enrique Leslie, caused his eyes to darken
angrily.

“ This is infamous,” he said.

” What?"

Belle asked the question in a low tone.

“ This letter. "

“ You do not llelieve it?"

" Yes, in part."

“ What part do you disbelieve?"

“That Lonsdale could be guilty of such
an act.” ,

“ You think the maiden took her own
life?"

“ Undoubtedly. "

“ I could not brin myself to accuse Cap-
tain Lonsdale of suc an act."

“No, nor was he guilty of deceiving the
girl, I am sure. for he is no man to play with
a woman’s heart.”

“ I am glad to hear on speak so of him.”

" It is but 'ust that should.”

“ I am pained that this unfortunate girl’s
father should have so spoken of him."

There is deviltr beneath that letter, ac-
figgdmg t0 my arm yzation of it, Miss Ver-

“ The truth was, the irl mad] loved
Lonsdale, and that I do nogblame heyi' for.

 

“She ived alone with her father seein
few WOPIE, doubtless, and became’fascing-

, \

t; 7v. 

 

l ated with the handsome fellow, for he had

 

served her once, and she had saved his life. ,
“He was kind to her, without doubt, but .
that he asked her to become his wife. or even I
made love to her, and then deceived her, I .
am sure was not the case. i,
“Her father’s nature was doubtless hers. '

‘and she heard rumors that Lonsdale loved

you, and at once became mad with jealousy.
“ In finding, when he visited her, that he
did not love her, as she wished, the frenzied
girl, in a moment of nngovernable fury,
doubtless sprung from the cliff.
“ Such is my theory."

“ You are a noble friend, Bert Brans-
combo, and you cause me to blush that I ,
had a doubt of Captain Lonsdale. for, tiougli 
as I told you, we are not engagul, I feel that 
i we are near to each other, and it cut me to ._..

 

the heart to read that letter. ‘

“Not that I believed him the girls (10- ,
stroyer, oh, no! butI feared that he might ‘5
have led her to believe that he loved her." '

“Mr. Leslie, in his letter, says that his
daughter went to Sealaiids, which is the
name of Lonsdale's home; so ask his mother
what she knows about the girl.”

“ I will.”

“ But, as she may not know that she is .:
dead, I would not tell her. as she has grief 
enough to hear just now." 2 f

" It is thoughtful of you to remind me. f i

“ But what about this letter?" 4

“In what respect?" ’ . '

“ The man's thr *ats.”

“A threatened man is long-lived, Miss 

 

Vernon.“
“ Still that man means what he says.”
“ I)ouhtless.” 5 ~
“ You will warn Captain Lonsdale?" ‘
“ The'moment I see him." f g
“ But what can he do?” '2, i
“ Call the fellow out and run him ' " "

through,” was the blunt response. a
“ I do not think he will do that.”  '
“Better Leslie’s life than his; but I will
not detain you later, so do not grieve over
the letter, for if you have any dread that ,.
Leslie will kill Lonsdale, I’ll get a leave,  2
run up to find the fellow and kill him if.
myself, just out of friendship for you,” and
with a laugh he bade her good-night, I it.
wending his way back to Military Hall, ~
where he was pained to learn that the un-
kind rnmors against Captain Lonsdale were
still gaining ground.  t“
“ Du Bose, there is some underhand work» , -
about this. i“ '
“Some one antagonistic to Lonsdale is _ 
nag ing this gossip on," said Major Brans- )
com 6 to his riend, who replied:
“I am sure of that in self.” * -
Two da 3 after the aturn returned to
port, unab e to find the pirate schooner or
Prett Ellen, though the shortness of her' ‘
stay id not indicate a very thorough search. ,
It was by no means a pleasant surprise , '-"
for Captain Fenton to learn that his rival
had come in under flying colors, during his ,
absenCe, and gone to sea a ain in chase of 
the buccaneer and packet ac ooner. 7 i.
Nor did he like the idea of Mrs. Lons-
dale being a guest at Vernon Hall. ‘
But he was very much pleased at the
sip that was going the roundsabout Lionel ‘ .,_
Lonsdale, as to his having caused a oun‘g it
and beautiful girl to take her life, an then ‘:
wounded her father most dangerously when
he sought to avenge his daughter. ’ .
"Is there any truth in it, Lucien?" he « i’}'
asked the young naval apprentice who gave ’ 1:
him the information with great gustou
” Yes. sir, there is." ‘
“How do you know?" ‘
“Well, sir, I carried the letter that the. j  ,.
lady’s father wrote to Miss Vernon.” ,  ‘ '
“You did?” , ‘ a,  Q,
“Yes, sir, for I was down to the Portland .- , r .4"? 5
packet to see my aunt off, and Mr. Leslie“  ’
me in the cabin, where he was writin , and -
asked me to see that the letter reached ad-
dress, at the same time giving me agold~
piece. . . ,
“I had seen Captain Lonsdale leave his ' ’1,
vessel at. daylight in a boat With Colonel Du t; 5.
Bose and that black devil Brandy, and when ' 
I went to Military Hall for the admiral, two 
hours after, up drove Mr. Leslie, and he was‘ ‘ “a
wounded. ' g
“This made me know there hadbeena“ ’
duel, and when he sent the, letter toMiuwc'x
Vernon I thought you wanted to know the,

 

 

4‘

 

 

.‘l . ,

___

contents, so I just read them,“ and the young
rascal told what Enrique Leslie‘s letter had
said.

“You have done well, Lucien; but how
about breaking the seal ‘2"

“ I saw the seal was stamped with apair of
crossed swords, and I had a sea button with
crossed cutlasses on it, so I didn‘t mind
breaking it and sealing it over."

“ You are a great rascal, Lucien.”

“ Yes, sir."

“ But you have done Well for me, and I ex-

' . pected you would whenI took you into my
,' Service.”
.' “ Thank you, sir.”
 I /“ Well, here is a COuple of gold-pieces for
i you. and I think I shall have to make you
my ship‘s clerk.”
“ I’ve done more, sir. "
“ Well?“ ~
" I’ve started the stories about Captain Lous-
’ dale and all that, for Itold several old wo-
men all about. it, and it doesn‘t take long for
them to spread it."
"H, ‘ You are a tine boy, Lucien, and I guess
' ' on have ended Captain Lonsdale‘s affair at
, . ernon llall."
IV ' "I hope so. sir."
~  “You shall be well remembered, Lucien, if
such is the case. '

“Now go, and keep your eyes and ears

9, both open—stay!"

 v “ Yes, sir."

.v‘ “Did you deliver the letter in person to
i ‘ Mlss' Vernon?"

“No, sir; I took a mate with me and he

 gave it to the butler, while I waited in the
’., , yard.’ .
- . ' " That Was right.”

, “ Now I wish you to take a note for me to
- I Miss Vernon, saying I wish to call this
‘3 evening."
The note was written and sent.
Half an hour after Lucien returned with
the verbal answer:
“ Miss Vernon says that she will not be at
' I home, sir, as she is leaving town for a short
, , . ,while." ,r
M  A curse came to the lips of the' young
captain, and his humor was by no means
improved when he saw, an hour after, the
.  commodore‘s privateer brig sail down the
 harbor with Belle Vernon standing upon her
' a,” deck. leaning upon the arm of her father.
' 7s" , They bowed. and he was so mystified and
r7 v angry that he forgot. to raisehis hat, and the
 ‘ privater brig passed on.

 

 CHAPTER XLIX.
' I A'l‘ REST.

Tm; day following the visit of Major
Branscome to see Belle Vernon, the town
’ was too full of unpleasant rumors and idle
*gossip about Lionel Lonsdale to be kept
long from the ears of the poor mother, and
the old nurse, with no intention to do harm
had told her just what was said.

The punishment of the nurse, who had
been engaged at most lucrative wages, at a
time when she was in need of money, come
,very quickly, for Mrs. Lonsdale said at

i, .Once;

,‘ “‘I will not remain in a town where my

‘sontaftor all that he has done, is so illy

'thou ht of.

 ~‘ “ sk Miss Vernon to please come here."
“‘1' * '. The nurse begged her to feel that they
‘ . were'nothing but idle rumors, and, thorough-
. 1 lyialarmed at the mischief her words might
v . cause; tried to retract them.
’ \ But Mrs. Lonsdale cut her short with:
' "My good woman, I will pay you for
' your services thus far—here is your money-

'now please depart, and, ask a servant to re-
quest Miss Vernon to ceme to me.” ,

’ The old nurse felt keenly her just punish-
*  ment for her gossip, and departed with tears
t-v in her eyes. .

‘ v, n a short while Miss Vernon came
' into the invalid‘s room, when she was sur-
, , prised to see her 11 and dressed.

 f > "My dear Mrs. onsdale, 1am so glad to
' " see you better. ”
, ' “I am not better, Miss Vernon, and I feel

, ‘ that I never shall be; butI desire to return
 -: home today, either by stage or packet."
I: In vain did Belle plead with her, for Mrs.
‘ ' Lonsdale would have her way.
 “ But you are not well enough.”

< x "I shall never be any better. and these
, stories about my brave boy are killing me.”

)

3‘

     
 

e 0: rmex uccaneer.

 

“ Then you have. heard all from that busy- i
body old nurse?" .
“ Yes. all.” i

“ I will."
Ten days passed away,
burdened woman was at rest.

and the grief.

 

“ Did you know the unfortunate girl ?"

“I met her twice, and she was, in my
opinion, crazed. l

“ She came to Sealands wh -n Eve was at '
home, and demanded of us if Leo was en- ;
gaged to you?

“ She refused to enter our house, sailed ‘
there alone in her own little boat, and after
threatening to kill him rather than lose him,
or to take her own life, she departv d.

“Eve came here to see her brother and
tell him all. ,

“ It was there you saw her, and while she
was away that poor, mad creature came
again.

“Lionel brought Eve home, as you know,
and then sailed for Castle Bleak, her home.

“ More I cannot tell you."

“ And you will go?"

“ Yes, for I feel I cannot live long.

“ My heart has long given me trouble, and
the capture of Eve, and this trouble, gives
me a warning I must not Overlook.

“I wish to go back to Sealands, and put
my house in order against the coming of
death.”

She spoke in perfect calmness, and her
words brought tears to the eyes of Belle
Vernon.

" Mrs. Lonsdale, my father comes home
soon to supper and I will ask him about the
packets, for you are unable to go by stage,“
said Bell *. and upon her father's coming she
told him all.

" These aecursed rumors have been dingcd
in my cars all day, child, and your name
with them,” said the old commodore.

"But what about Mrs. Lonsdale‘s going?"

“ She must not."

“ She will though, sir.”

"I'll talk to her.”

And the commodore did, but all to no
purpose. /

Then he said:

“ I’ll tell you what I'll do, madam.

“I wish to take a sail in my brig, the
same that brought you here, for I have never
done so, and Belle needs a change, so we’ll
take you home and sail tomorrow night,
aml—-but here comes that fine fellow Brans-
combe, and we'll talk it over with him, for
he is your friend, madam, our friend, and
your son’s, and he has a ver level head.“

Major Branscombe heart the story, and
made a suggestion to the effect that he should
quietly obtain leave and accompany them,
and he added:

“I have a desire to visit Castle Bleak, and
find out about this man Leslie.”

So it was arranged, and thus it was that
Belle Vernon sent word to Captain Frank
Fcnton that she would not be at home, and
he afterward saw her upon the deck of the
privateer brig.

As for Major Branscombe, he had not told
any one he was going awa , obtaining leave
simply to “absent himsel from duty for a
short time," and he remained in the cabin
pf the brig until the vessel had passed the
orts.

Mrs. Lonsdale had borne up bravely, until
in the cabin of‘ the brig, and then she
seemed to feel very weak and wretched.

But Belle had brought her own old nurse
along. a woman who had cared for her in
childhood, and the invalid was to be taken
the best care of, while the commodore had
sent aboard a quantity of provisions and
wines, and his cook and butler to see that
the should not be spoiled in the cooking
an serving.

“ We‘ll not starve, Branscombe, or go
thirsty,” he said, as the two sat on deck that
night enjoying the lovelysail.

The brig made a good run, and arriving in
the buy, a signal gun was fired, and the boat-
man at Sealands came of! and acted as pilot
into‘ the cove.

The house was at once thrown open. for its
mistress and her guests, and the well-trained
servants went about their work in a way to
make all comfortable and to feel at home.

But Mrs. Lonsdale was forced to go to her
room. and she whispered to Belle:

“ My child. the end is not far away, so you
must not leave me." 1'

“I will not my dear Mrs. Lonsdale.”

 

" Your fathier said he ,was in no hurry to .
' return, so stay until I am at rest.”

1 that strange man an

CHAPTER L.
A \‘Islr 'ro CASTLE BLEAK.
THE day after the arrival of the Belle of
Blue Water at Sealands, Major Branscombe

7 decided to go on a voyage to Castle Bleak.
of Mrs. -
Lonsdale‘s words to Belle, and also that he '

The commodore had told him

did not believe the poor lady could last over
a few weeks.

“You can take the brig and run up the
coast and see what you can find out about
the girl’s death, and I
tell you frankly, Branscombe, I am most.
anxious to know, for that little girl of mine
loves Lonsdale, and if there is aught wrong
I must know it."

“ I understand you, eommodorev and I
will do all I can to find out everything.

“ I will stay here, for it would not be right
for me. to leave, and I assure you, but for
that poor dying woman I could enjoy it,
immensely, for the cook is an excellent one,
and the wines of Sealands are simply deli-
eious, while my room is as comfortable as I
have at home. and that is saying much.

“ ThenI can sail on the bay, fish, shoot
and enjoy my rest from business cares.

“But return within two weeks, and if
you can bring a French merchantman back
as a prize so much the better.” -v

“ l'll trv to, commodore," answored the
young soldier, and he went in to say good-
by to Mrs. lionsdale and to tell her he hoped
he would be able to bring her word that no
shadow of blame rested upon her son for the
death of the unfortunate Lola.

“I fear I shall never see her alive again," he
said to Belle, as with her father they went
down to the little cove to see the major Off.

With a good-by he sprung into the boat,
and soon after the Belle of Blue Water was
flying away from Sealands, her merchant
skipper and crew anxious to meet a
French prize, and to fight an enemy's vessel-
of—war if not too strong for them.

Ilaving obtained an idea of the locality of
Castle Bleak, Major Branscombe held a con-
sultation with llenry Raymond, the genial
skipper of the Belle of Blue Water, and the
result was that the brig hugged the coast
very close and a sharp lookout was kept for
a fisherman, or some small coasting craft.

The day after leaving Scalands a man was
seen in a small boat, engaged in fishing and
he was hailed and told to come on board.

Ilis jump and look of surprise showed
that he had gone to sleep while fishing, and
had not seen the approach of the brig.

He seemed as though he meant to try and
escape to an island half a mile away, when
Major Branscombe, who had avoice of great
power, shouted:

” Come alongside, sir,
side upon you.”

The man hastily rowed toward the brig. to-
the amusement of the crew, for he showed
that he was/frightened. ,

He was a man with a dogged expression
of countenance, coarsely attired, and ap-
peared to be either a fisherman or coast sea-
man.

“ Well, my man, you acted wisely to come

or I'll pour abroad-

and not attem t to runoff, for we mean you .

no harm," sai the major.

“I thought you were a Frenchman]? the
man replie . I ,

“No, this is n king’s craft; but can on
tell mg where dwells upon this coast r.
Enrique Leslie?”

The men hesitated, and then he replied:

“No. sir!” '

“ Why did you hesitate?”

“I was thinking, sir."

“ Then think again.”

“ I don't know, sir.” .

“Well, take this for. your trouble, and see
if you can remember where Castle Bleak is?

“ As he spoke the major tossed a gold-
piece into the boat. _

“ It‘s three leagues from here, sir."

“Then you do know?” '

“I know Castle Bleak. or Where Ii. is...

though l‘ve never been there.”
“ Does not Mr. Leslie live there?”
“ Don‘t know, sir.”
" Are you a coaster?"
“I was, when times was good.”
“ What do you do now?"

 

nut—:-

“90‘

rel

.—

r—c

n-

.w-vv- -

 

 

 

lIg‘he One-Armed Buccaneer.

25

 

 

3f. 7—"   ‘ ‘ ' "v “ "
“ Fish a little, and work a little on the
farms when lean."
“ You know this coast Well. I suppose?”
“Yes, sir.”
of “ Then come on board, for I wish you to
)0 pilot us into the nearest harbor to Castle
, Bleak.”
8. r The man hesitated.
to ‘ “ Five pounds if you do as I ask you, and
'r freedom.
“ lmpressment in the king's service if you
c refuse.
1- “ \Vhich shall it be?"
i “ I‘ll pilot you, sir, and take the gold."
iv “ Come aboard, then.”
a “ Will you take my boat aboard, sir, for I
,r don’t wish to be seen as pilot, sir?”

" “'0 are not a French ship."
“ No, sir; but people alongr this shore are

curious, and they might say you was
l‘rench.
( “ These are ticklish times, sir."
“All right.”
a A The man came on board, his boat was
hauled in and hidden on deck, and then he
‘g asde for a sailor's suit so that he would not
be recognized it seen from the shore with a
glass.
“There’s folks' lives further up, sir,” he
said.

“And no one here?”

“ No, sir.”

“What were you doing so far away,
then?"

“ Fishing, sir."

“ I believe you are one of the smugglers be-
longing to the band known as Casco Cor-
sairs, and were on watch there for some
vessel."

 The man turned pale and the major saw

that he had hit pretty near the truth.

i “ Oh, ‘no sir! I‘m an honest man!"

‘i “ Very well, act squarely with me and you
get your gold I promised, and I'll let you go.
But let me catch you at any tricks and you ll
make the acquaintance of the yard-arm.

“ Now get into that suit of clothes and
take the wheel."
The man obeyed, and two hours after the
brig ran into a cove on the lee of an island
~ half a league from Castle Bleak.

Loweringa boat the major sprung into it
and the four oarsmen pulled for the little
cove which the pilot, who remained on'
board, directed the young soldier how to
enter.

~....,n._.

 

CHAPTER LI.
GAINING INFORMATION.

WHEN the boat drew near the entrance to
the little cove, near Casth Bleak, Major
iranscombe most attentively examined the
surroundings.

Ile had questioned the pilot closely, and
learned from him, in spite of his assertion
awhile before, and which he had seemed to
have forgotten, that he did not know Mr.
Leslie, that the gentleman lived at Castle
Bleak with his servants, since the death of
his daughter.

He furthermore had said that Miss Leslie,
or Lady Lola, as he spoke of her, had fallen
from the cliff and been drowned.

The man had ointed out the cliff, and
Castle Bleak in istinetly seen in the back-
ground through the pine trees.

Rowing around under the cliff the major
saw that it was a straight wall, from the top
to the water, a distance of perhaps seventy
feet.

Going into the cove he saw several boats
- at anchor there, one a high-bowed, high-
.sterned little pleasure craft such as '1“ rs. Lons-
dale had described the one in which Lola
/ Leslie had visited Sealands.

Landing at the stout wharf of logs, the
officer told the men to amuse themselves

about on the shore, and ascending the wind-
. irligfpath he soon reached the summit of the
ex .

There, beneath a tree that grew alone he
beheld a huge rock, that served as a monu-
ment, for upon it was cut deeply in the
' following:

 

“TO THE MEMORY
, on

MY Los'r IDOL \
LOLA LESLIE."

 For some time the soldier stood by the
 “rock, lost in deep thought, and then, step-
 ping to the edge of the cliff he looked down

 

 

 

into the rough depths below, for the waters
beat savagely against the wall of rock.

Back beyond the pine grove he saw Castle
Bleak, and upon it rested an air of desola-
tion well worthy the name its eccentric mas-
ter had given it.

Following the path he approached the
mansion. wondering at its solitary grandeur
in that far-away spot.

“ Only an exile should live here,” he mut-
tered, strangely enough hittingr the truth of
the building of the mansion by its former mas-
ter. an exile.

Ascending the stone steps he let the huge
brass knocker fail several times.

Soon the door opentd, and to his surprise ,

a servant in livery appeared.

“ Is this Castle Bleak?”

“Yes, my lord," responded the servant,
seemingly surprised at the appearanee of the
soldier, who was attired in his full regi—
mentals, for in those days soldiers wore their
uniforms at all times.

“ 1 would see M r. Leslie, please.”

“My master is not at home, sir."

“ I am sorry, but 1 hope he will not be
long away, for I had the pleasure of meet-
ing him in Boston awhile since, and cruising
near concluded to visit him.”

“You are a friend of the master, then?" 

The soldier hardly knew what to say, and

yet he Wished to know something of the man ‘

who dwelt here, and he said:

“Oh, yes, and lwish to know how his
wound is?”

“Ah, sir, you know it then?”

“ That he was wounded?"

“Yes, sir."

“Oh, yes."

“Would you say, sir, how it happened?”

“Did your master not tell you?"

“ No, sir, and We servants fear he was set
upon in the city by foes.”

"No, he received his wound in an honor-
able manner; but is he recovering?”

“ Yes, sir, though it has been a bad wound,
and still gives him pain.”

“ When will he return, did you say?"

"Within the hour, sir, for he rode to the
village. and has been gone some time.

“It is the first time he has gone so far
since he was wounded.”

“ I suppose his daughter‘s death saddens
him?"

“ Ah, yes, sir, it was a. fearful blow to us
all, so young, so beautiful, so kind was Miss
Lola.”

“ Was she very beautiful?”

“ Very, sir,” and putting his finger to his
lips he walked back into the house.

Then he returned and said: .

“I will show you her portrait, sir, which
master had painted by a fine artist in the
cit .

was not beautiful, only do not let master
know." i -
Branscombe promised secrecy, and then
Enos led him into the magnificently fur-
nished house and drew aside the

frame.

lt was life size, and weirdly beautiful was
the dark, gypsy-like face, and gorgeous in-
deed the attire.

“ That is Miss Lola, sir," the man said in
a whisper.

For a long time the young soldier gazed
upon it, and then he mused:

“Just the face of a woman to kill or die
for love.

“ A strangely beautiful, dangerous face."

“ Come, sir, I dare not let you remain
longer.

“See, how master has draped the whole
house in black.”

As he spoke Enos pointed to the massive
drapings of rich black velvet and crape that
hung about the walls.

“ Your master must be very rich to expend
so much money in costly draperies for his
dead child.”

“ I do not know, sir.”

“ And how did the poor young lady die?”

“Alas, sir. she fell from the cliff into the
sea, and it has never given up its dead.”

"‘Was she alone?"

“Well, sir, no."

“ Her father was with her, then Y”

“No. sir, but, one who had been a guest at
Castle Bleak, a naval officer, sir. ”

Y .
“ He has draped it in erape and wrll not ,
look at it, sir; but I will show you it she?

_ somber :
drapery from a large portrait in a massive ,

 

“Ah, es, 1 now recall, it was my friend,
Captain fionsdale. ”

“ You know him then, sir?" s

“ Intimately.”

“He is a noble gentleman. sir, and it hurt
him to see Miss Lola die before l is eyes.”

“ It must have; but pray, tc 1 me how it
, was?"

“ Well, sir, Miss Lola saw his vessel com-
ing in, and waited for him, for you must
know, sir, she loved him.

“They were walking, or standing on the
cliff, when she started suddenly and went
over.

“ A fisherman who was off near one of the
islands says that she ran and sprung off her-
self, for he was looking toward her at the
time.

“ But he was mistaken, of course.”

“Then they were to be married, Captain
Lonsdalc and Miss Lola?"

‘ “That, sir, I do not know; but the cap-

1 tain. to my thinking, (lid not love her as she
did him."

, “Did this fisherman tell your master that

‘ he saw Miss Lola spring from the cliff?”

“Well, sir he dared not, for master has
been very grim since.” _

i “ \Vhat did you say the fisherman’s name

was?"

“Tony Brent, sir."

“Where do the fishermen on this coast.

live, for there seems to be no market near
for their fish?”
5 “There are but few, sir, scattered along,
I and Tony lives on an island leagues south;
} but, sir. would you mind walking about near
1 the cliff, sir, until master returns, for lam
? not allowed to let any one enter the mansion
in his absence?”

“ Certainly, my man, and I thank you for
your information.

1 “Take this as a keepsake," and a guinea
‘ was slipped into the open palm of the servant
~ who bowed low and then closed the heavy

door in the face of the visitor. who sauntered
‘ back toward the cliff, a smile upon his face
as he muttered: _

“So far good; now for Mr. Tony Brent,
the fisherman.”

 

CHAPTER LII.
THE msULr.

MAJOR BRANSCOMBE had not waited long
ppon the cliff before he saw Enos approach~

ng.

“ Mv master has returned, sir."

“ Well?"

“I told him your name, and he bade me
ask you up to the house, while he was chang-
ing his riding-suit."

Enos led the way, and upon reaching the
mansion, the visitor was ushered into the
grand parlor, which he had not seen before,
as he had been shown the sitting room where
the portrait hung.

All about the large parlor was hung the
rich and somber drapery of mourning but
the dragoon observed that from the carpet to
the window curtains there was an air of
wealth and refinement stamped upon every-
thing.

A harp stood in one corner. and over it
was thrown a mass of Velvet, tastefullv
draped. . '

Soon a quick, firm step was heard in the
hall, and Mr Enrique Leslie entered.

He was pale, and showed the cfiects of
suffering. ‘

llis right arm was worn in a sling, but he
was dressed in a costume that was very rich,
though in black, while he wore his jewels, in ‘
spite of being in mournin .

“Major Branscombe,g1 greet you, sir,"
though 1 had no idea of ever seeing you“
i Castle Bleak. , s

“ To what circumstance sir, am‘ I indebted

 

i for the honor of your visit?” a
, The manner was courtly, the welcome’cold:
E and Bert Branscombe saw that it would have
; been preferred by his host had he stayed
4 away.
I “ I was called to the cdast further down,
i Mr. Leslie, to aid in bringing Mrs. Lonsdale
to her home. for she is dying." z
“ lndeedl”
“ Yes. sir.”
“ Would that it were her son, and that my
hand had caused his death. ' ,
“ You see I still suffer from the wound ho

v

 

 

   
   
   
  
   
   
  
 
   
  
  
   
   
    
    
   
   
    
  
  
   
  
  
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
    
  
  
   
    
    
  
  
  
   

  
  

 

 

Til: OileTAImed. 3310033991"

 

gave me,” and a grim smile crossed the
speaker’s face.

“ I see, sir, and you were fortunate that he
had the mercy not to take your life."

“ You were telling me why you came, sir,
when I eat scd you to digress—but, oh! let
me ask 0 into my dining—room for a glass
of wine. ’

Bert Branscombc could not \vell refuse, and
besides, he was determined to know all that
he could about this strange man.

So he bowed and followed him.

The mourning draperies, the solid silver-
scrvice, the rare wine, the liveried, stately
servant, made it rather impressive and 0[)«
pressive to the dragoon, to eat and drink with
Enrique Leslie; but he bore it W0”, and was
surprised that while offering his hospitality,
Mr. Leslie became most entertaining.

Half an hour thus passed and the host led
the way back into the parlors, and instantly
his manner became cold and cynical once
more.

“You were telling me, Major Branscombe,
when we left this room, why I have the
honor of your presence at (Jastle Bleak?"

“In a word, sir, I came. to ask you, as
man to man, if your daughter did not, in her
frenzy from unrequited love, take her own
life, and was not driven to it by any word or
act of Lionel Lonsdale‘!”

“That is a matter, sir, with which (‘aptain
Lonsdale and m self alone have to do."

“ You are mistaken, sir, for it is a matter
that interests others, myself among the num—
ber.”

, “I repeat, that it concerns now but Cap-
tain Lonsdale and myself.”

“ I will prove to the contrary, sir, by your
having written an anonymous letter to Ad-
miral Fenton, telling him of the duel, and
also a letter to Miss Belle Vernon, making
charges against Lonsdale to influence her
against him.

“ Here, sir, is where vou brought two
others into the matter, an I step in as the
friend of Miss Vernon, and also of Mrs. Lons-
dale, who is dying, as I told you, and has as a
nightmare before her, the charge that on
make against her son, that Lionel Lomdag is

your daughter‘s murderer l”

" I declare him so to be.”
“Upon the basis of a father’s love for a lost

‘ child onl , and from no proofs.”

I greater proof than that she is

“What proof?”

“ The word of those who saw and heard
all."

This was a random shot of the dragoon’s;

. but he saw that it hit hard, for the man fairly

gasped:
"“ Who heard and saw all?"
“That, sir, I will not now make known.”
“ Major Branscombe, I shall allow no in-

- terference in this matter, sir.”

“ I shall act, sir, Without your authority,
for my friend shall not rest under the charge

you make against him.”

“My charge, air, is that he murdered my
child, and when 1 meet him again he shall
face me in mortal combat.”

“ You \ may not find hint as merciful at
another time."

“ He will find me merciless,’

response.

“ Then I am to understand, sir, that you
refuse even to ease the last moments of a dy-

was the sav-

5 ing mother,'to withdraw your charge?"

 

H I  I,
“ When I tell you too that the happiness of
a lady is at stake, the one to whom you ad-

1 V ' dressed our cruel letter?"

"I re use, sir.”
“Then, Mr. Leslie, where you urge war
against women, and one on her deathbed,

 you are a coward.”

The words came out with startling dis-
tinctness.

 ' The strange manstarted, bpt said with his
‘ cynical smile:

, “ You see,sir, that my sword-arm is wound-
ed— on saw the thrust given me."

“ es, but it will be well before very long,
Mr. Leslie. and you know my name and
where to find me. while, if you do not feel
like... taking a voyage to Boston, send your
friend to me, and I will gladly meet you
wherever you may designate.

"‘Good-afternoon. Mr Leslie."

With this Major Bert Uranscombc bowed

 

  

himself out, and an hour after he was again I guiltless of all wrong where Lola Leslie was

on the brig, which was headed back toward concerned.

Sealands, the coast pilot still at the wheel.

CHAPTER LIII.
THE CAPTURE.

“MY man, you did not tell me the name
you bear?” said Major Branscombc, after
the Belle of Blue Water was under way, and
he addressed the coast pilot:

“ Tony Brent, sir.“

The major gave a whistle.

 

“I saw her father, and he is revengefnl,

so I could do nothing with him; but. this-

man saw the seene on the cliff and will tell
you just what occurred."
The coast pilot at once told his story, and
j both the commodore and Belle were (lt-
lighted to know the truth and feel that.
whatever motive the girl might have had for
her distressful act, Lionel Lonsdale was cer-
l tatnly not guilty of the cruel charge of Mr.

it meant a great deal, for Tony Brent was , Leslie against him.

the man that he wished to see.
“Well, Mr. Brent, 1 am glad to have met
you, and I. hope we shall meet again.
“Now here is the money I promised you,

and, if you wish, when we reach the vicinity f

of the island near which We found you, you
are free to go, if you wish."

The man took the money gladly, and then
Major Branscombc said:

“ Iwas talking,r to ]).)s)l' Mr. l.t'—llf‘ about
his daughter, who went mad, you know."

“ I think she was mad. sir, but I don't
dare say so to Mr. Leslie."

“I see, for he seems nearly crazed with
grief of her.

“ llut I really think she sprung from that
cliff herself."

“ I know she did, sir, for i saw her do it.”

“ indeed?"

“But, sir, don‘t tell what I say, for Mr.
Leslie would kill me.

“He. doesn't know I saw it, but I did."

“ What did you see?"

“You won’t tell, sir?"

“ No, you can trust me.”

“ Well, sir, I was fishing close in under
Star Island. and I saw a boat go ashore.

“An otlicer left it, that I now know was
Captain Lonsdale, and he met Lady Lola
upon the clifl". .

“ They talked together some time, and she
seemed very much excited, for I turned my
glass upon them,

“Then she raised a knife, as though to
strike him in the breast; but he. ncvc rmoved,
and flinging the blade away she sprung to-
ward the clifl’. '

“ He was after her very quick, but could
not catch her and barely escaped going over
himself.

“ He then ran round to his boat and

i

made search for her, and signaled to his;

vessel to send all the boats ashore.

“But it was no use, for she was lost."

“ My man, Captain Lonsdale’s mother lies
dying at Sealands, her home.

“The report is that her son killed Miss
Lola Leslie, and I would have the old lady
know to the contrary from your lips.

“Itvill give you one hundred pounds if
you will go there with me and tell your
story.”

" I dare not,”said the man, in a frightened
way.

“Now, Mr. Tony. Brent, you know that
I have the power to take you; but Iam a
man of my word, and I shall set you free.

“But I will give you two hundred pounds
to go, and you can say what you please, as
to our absence.”

he man was silent a moment, and then
said: “ You are good to me, sir, and I feel
sorry for the poor dying lady.

“I will go, sir, though it may cost me my
life," ‘

" Here is your money, my man, and ifyou
decide to remain with me, or become a
sailor under Captain Lonsdale, I will prom-
ise you a good berth.”

he man seemed happy at having made
so much money, and keeping the wheel he
ran the brig the nearest way back to Sea-
lands.

it did not take Major Branscombe t look
trim in the face of the commodor as he
went up to the mansion, to see that the end
had come.

“She is dead i" said the commodore.

“ I feared it!”

“ She died soon after you left and we will
bury her this morning, after which I shall
close the house, leaving the servants in
charge, and return home. ’

“It will be best.”

Just then Belle came out upon the piazza,
and her and face lit up with a smile as she
greeted the young dra oon. ,

" I hoped to arrive n time for this man to
tell Mrs. Lensdale t

i

\ i.l‘

 

 

1‘ This being settled, the arrangements for
the burial of Mrs. Lonsdale Wei-eat once he-
; gun, and the people of the estate were called
g to the funeral.
A minister from the neighboring village
‘ had been sent for, and the dead woman was
1 taken to her grave, followed by those who
‘ had been her guests, and her servants.
‘ The handsome home was then closed up
‘ and left in charge of the faithful N rrants of
. the estate, after which the commodore, his
1’ daughter and the major went on board the
brig and sail was set.

Toward night a fog SWept in from the sea,
and under shortened sail the brig held on
her way, the wind being light.

But suddenly in the middle of the night,
came the startling cry:

“Sail, ho!”

There was no need to ask where the vessel
was, as she was almOst upon them in the
fog, neither craft having sighted each other
until the same moment.

“Ready, about!" shouted the brig’s cap.
tain.

But then
French:

“(Tome to, or I’ll blow you out of the
water.”

Major Branscombe was on deck, and he
understood French, and a glance showed
him that the vessel was a large ship-oil
war.

To attempt to fly would be useless.

To attempt to tight would be madness.

So he sprung to the wheel himself and
brought the vessel up into the wind, while he
said quickly to the astonished skipper:

“Do you not see that yonder vessel isa
large sloop-of-war and her, broadside would
knock you to pieces?”

“You are right, sir, and we can stand no
risks with Miss Belle on board.

“ We must surrender, and as you under--
stand the lingo please do the talking."

The major then hailed the sloop, saying
that they had lowered their colors, and a
boat was sent on board and at once took
possession.

came the stern order in

the gallant French commander lay to. until
morning, and then the commodore, his
daughter and the major were taken on board
the sloop-of—war to be held as prisoners un—
til it was decided what should be done with
them.

A prize crew was then put on board the pri--
vatecr brig, and the two vessels headed south-
ward, the French captain heading for the
Gulf, and his prisoners felt that it would be
many along day ere they again saw Boston-

CHAPTER LIV.
JEALorsv.

Tun scene changes to the Pirate Isle,
among the' Bahamas, where dwell Mar-
celite the ’Buccaneer‘s bride, and those who
are there as her subjects, for the rules them as
a. ueen might.

It has been long since her husband sailed.
and has been anything but

away, she

ha py.

because she loved him, she yet had remained
without a murmur. '

NOW, :1 grief of another kind came up be,
fore her.

Her husband had said he would bring there
two fair captives.

Marcelite was of a jealous nature, and
something told her that all would not be
well. , .

But she must wait until his return and then
she would see if those captives were brought
there wholly for ransom-

If she felt that her husband was min of
her, then she would act. and he should eel
the danger of a woman scorned.

 

hat her son was wholly One day as she sat watching from " bent

Learning that there was a lady on board v

ever contented, though remaining there I

 

 

 

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cabin window, the lookout reported a sail in
sight.

She at once repaired to the Lookout Rock
with her glass, and discovered two sails in
view.

A hasty glance told her that one was the
well-known schooner Spitfire.

She other she did not know.

She saw at least that her pirate husband

had redeemed his word and retakeu his
vessel.
As they drew nearer, she observed that the

strange vessel was armed, and that the. schoo-
ner Spitfire was not, while, as they sailed
evenly along together, the old vessel was
under more sail than the new.

The tide was running in well, so that by
the time they reached the island they would
be able to cross the bar.

Watchingr them until they entered the
island channel, the pirate‘s wife then de-
scended from her perch and went to her cabin.

As the chief had ordered, a cabin had been
prepared for the prisoners, and all was made
as comfortable as possible by Mareelite, for
she felt that the blame of coiningr lay with
her husband, not with the unfortunate cap-
tives.

When the Pretty Pirate glided alongside of
the rocky shelf, the chief looked in vain for
his wife among the island group that gath-
ered there.

Entering the cabin, he soon returned ac-
companied by the captives, and they followed
him in silence ashore, and then up the steep
hillside to the cabin which had been prepared
for them

The pirate was rather glad that his wife
was not there, for he had told his captives
that he would place them in charge of his
sister, and Eve had remarked:

“ Her sistcrly love must be strong indeed,
that she clings to you in all your vileness."

“Our cabin is at most comfortable,” she
said, as they reached their little prison, and
she gazed about her at the many little evi-
dences of comfort, which Marcelite had
placed in their quarters.

“ Here are clothes in abundance, too. and
of the richest kind," cried Lurline, when the
pirate had left them alone.

“ This is the work of the one he calls his
sister; but whatever she be to him, I pity
her,” said Eve.

Then they made themselves at home, and
wondered what would be the next move of
their wicked captor.

In the mean time the pirate had gone to
his owu cabin, and his wife had greeted him
with her usual affection.

‘ " You did not come down to meet me,
Marcelite?”

“ No."

“ Why not?"

“I do not approve of your new idea of
bringing female Captives here.”

“ have done so before."

“ Yes, when taken at sea, and it could not
be helped, perhaps. I

“But now you have deliberatelygone to
work to capture or kidnap these ladies.” ‘

“I will get enormous ransoms' for them. ’

“You have enough wealth as It is.”

" I have lost, as you know, in losing my
schooner, and need more.”

“ You have recaptured your schooner?"

" Yes, but not the booty on board."

“ And how long will those captives be

ere?"
~ " Until I can arrange their ransom only.”

“ How long will that take?"

“A month, or more.”

" And then you will let them go?”

Il Yes.” I

“Both of them?”

"Why do you doubt me, Marcelite?”

d “‘I do not know, Murel, but in this case I
0., .

“ Are you not my wife?"

58:;Mmy a wife has been deserted, and will

"Ah. Marcelite, you must not be 'ealous; I
“1me you will be more so when tell you
gnarl" told those maidens you were my

“ Your deter!”

‘ers.”

“ilknfd wt: 2”

" 98," they would not believe you
were really fiy wife, and, feeling that Y0"

every mm 1 5’ would be treated With

 l

The pne:.A_rmed Buccaneer.

————.

 

27'

 

“ You will not let them believe other-
wise?" '

“ It is the duty of those in your buccaneer
band to obey, and I suppose I must do like-
Wise."

“ You are a dear, good girl, Marcelite.”

The woman made no reply, and the pirate
watched her closely.

But her face showed no anger now.

Suddenly she asked:

“ How did you capture these maidens?”

“ From their homes.”

“ When?"

“ Some weeks ago, for we have been long
on the way, as we were chased off our
course by a French cruiser, and then blown
far off by a storm of severa‘ days.”

“ Are )"wu not expecting pursuit?”

“ llo  will they know how to find me?"

“ Have you forgotten that when you were
here before you told me that Lieutenant
Harold. Surgeon English and your crew
were tai~.:-:z on board the Haunted Cruiser?

“Can they not follow you here?"

With a livid face and a cry of alarm the
one-armed pirate sprung to his feet, crying
anxiously:

“ I liadfergotten that!”

CHAPTER LV.
AN I'Nuxmccrsn FRIEND.

THAT he should have so far overlooked
the fact, that he could be tracked to his lair
by the young lieutenant who had cut elf his
hand, or, in fact, the surgeon and several of
his crew who were navigators, and all on
board the Haunted Cruiser, was a stunning
blow to Captain Cutlass.

He saw that Marcelite had remembered
what he had forgotten. with all his cunning.

“ There is but one thing to do, Marcelite,"
he said.

“ Well?"

“For me to go in my vessel at once to find
another retreat.”

“ Yes, that seems all you can do.” an-
swered the woman, quietly, while she added:

“ There is no time to losc, either.”

“ The truth is. Marcelite, the Haunted
Cruiser. as I understand it, is outlawed, or
at least Captain Lonsdale does not dare enter
port. for he carried to sea with him a crew of
convicts.

“ lie is anxious to win pardon for them be-
fore he goes into port. and as he has my
traitor officers and men with him, I have
nothing to fear right off, as from a vessel that
was in port and could follow me.

" True, the Haunted Cruiser might be;
and will be looked up, and the story of Miss
Lonsdale’s capture, and Miss Vernon's, be
told to Lonsdale, when he will follow me
here. ,

“But I do not fear he will come at once."

“ Still it would be better not to trust him."

“True, and I will sail to-night, at high
tide. and look up another retreat, and
within a few days hope to find one.”

This being the decision of the chief, he
sought the cabin occupied by the captives.

" Young ladies, I wish to say to you that 1
am goin away fora short while, and my
sister wil care for you.”

“I suppose you will communicate with
m brother, sir, and let us know the result?"
said Eve.

“All in good time. yes; but not now, as
my duty is to find a retreat where your
brother cannot surprise me.

“ I have the honor to say good by ladies,‘
and the pirate raised his hat polite y and de-
parted. ,

That night his vessel sailed, the captives
watching its departure with censiderable dc-
li ht.

gThe next morning the mulattress brought
them a very tempting breakfast, and soon
after Marcelite called at the cabin.

Her sad face and air of refinement im-
pressed them, and when she spoke to them
Eve answered in a very friendly manner,
for there was something about the woman
that won her respect.

In an embarrassed manner, after asking if
she could better their cabin in any way, or
add to their comfort, Mareclite said:

“May I ask you a few direct questions,
Senorita Lonedale9”

“Certainly. madam.”

“When did you first meet my—mvbro—

 

D

 

 

th'er I" and she emphasized the wordbrothen, .

é

“ On board a packet schooner in which I
had taken passage from Boston to my home.”

" And then?"

“ What is your meaning?”

“ You became his captive?”

“He captured the schooner. but, when he
sought to claim me as a prize, as well as the
vessel, his lieutenant interfered. a duel with
cutlass followed, and your brother lost his
hand.”

“ I am surprised at this, for my b'rotlzrris
considered the best of swordsmen, and won
the title of Captain (‘utlass from the manner
of wielding that weapon.”

“Lieutenant Ilarold wielded it better out
that occasion ,“ was Eve's cool reply.

" And then?"

“ My brother‘s ship came down upon the
two schooners, and Captain (‘utlass was cap-
tured and sent to Boston, from whence he
escaped. "

“ And when (lid you see him again?”

“ \Vhen be, through one of his men, in--
veigled meon board a schooner he had cap--
tured by forging my brothers name to a let—
ter he had written to me." ‘

“ And then?"

"I found on board Miss Vernon here, a.
captive, and was told we were to be taken to
this island.

“Your brother has hinted that Miss Ver-r
non should be ransomed, while I was in-
tended for the honor of becoming his bride,"
and the face of Eve writhed with scorn.

“ His bride?" gasped Marcelite.

“ So he hinted, madam.”

“ But I—"

“I feel that you will not permit such a.
crime on his part.”

" Do on love him?" and the words were
uttered in a hoarse whisper.

“ Love him? I hate, I abhor, I loathe
him I”

There was no doubting that Eve Lonsdale
meant all that she said.

The eyes of Marcelite were cast down now,
and she stood for a moment in deep thought.

Then she asked:

“What are the feelings of Miss Vernon
toward Captain Cutlass?"

“The same. How could an honorable.-
woman feel otherwise toward such a being?”
was Lurline‘s quick response.

“I will befriend you,“ said Marcelite; to
whom the words of the two maidens seemed.
to give great pleasure.

“ But how can you?"

“Trust to me and all will come well, for"

you shall be set free.

“ I vow it, and I am your friend."

So saying the strange woman walked
away, leaving joy in the breasts of the two
captives.

 

CHAPTER LVI.
THE ESCAPE.

“ BELLE," said Eve Lonsdalc to her fellow
captive, for she now constantly called her I)
that name, “ do you know why that ~‘
faced, beautiful woman is our friend?"

“ No, Eve.”

" Jealousy.”

“ What can she be jealous of?”

" She is not that man’s sister.”

“He said so."

“ Yes."

“ And she spoke of him as her brother.”,

“ True. but I have had my doubts all,
along, and she hesitated when she said the
word brother each time.

" Then, when I told her he hinted at make-
ing me his bride, her face became Iivi .”

“I noticed that."

“ Then it flushed up, and she looked as
fierce as he does at times, and I am sure the
woman is not. his sister."

“ You think she is his wife?" .. ’

” It may be; but she is as anxious toget
rid of us as we are to go.” I

“ I hope so.” I g

“ I am sure of it, and there will have to be:
no ransom paid for our return.

“ Mark my words.”

And Lurline did mark they), for the "9“:
day Marcelite paid them a visit and asked:

“ Are you afraid to take a big risk to leave
this island. senorita?" .

“ What kind of a risk?" ,

" You will have to go in a small three-ton
smack." A '

"I will risk it, will you not, Belle?"

"\ '1;

 

"f
.l.
.
.‘v
.Q

i
'
'
g.
.9-
.

I .

v

 

 

 

28

The One

 

 

“ Yes, indeed, I’d go on a plank," an—
swered Lurline.

"I will send a man with you who knows
these waters Well, there is a cabin in the
boat, and I will see that you have ample
food and all the comforts I can give you.

“ But where would you wish to go?“

“To Charleston, as the nearest port, for
time we could get a vesscl home.”

“Then you shall go there, for the little
vezscl can creep along the coast, once you
have left the Bahamas.”

“ You are very kind; but will you allow
us to be armed?" .

“Certainly, if you wish it,"

“ I do, for we do not. care to be at the
Incrcy of anyone whom you might send wuh
IS.

“They might hunt up their pirate master
and return us to him.”

“True, but there will be but one man to
go, and yet it will be better that you both are
. armed, and I shall see to it that you are and
that he knows nothing of it.”

“ Thank you, madam: but when are we
to go?”

“ To-morrow night, for as we have had
bad weather of late, I think it will be clear
now for a few days.

“I will arrange all, and at midnight to-
morrow you can go out when the tide
begins to run seaward.

"' So be ready, but keep no light burning
in your cabin.

“I will come for you.”

The woman then turned away, muttering
to herself:

“ I will thwart him, and yet he shall not
know that it is my act.”

Going down the path leading to the basin,
she approached a small cabin near the shore.

It was the home of the pirate who was
called by courtesy the “ llarbor Master."

A man of forty sat on a bench at the door,
and he arose as she approached, dotfing his
.tarpaulin politely.

“ Franklin, I wish a talk with you.”

“Yes, lady.”

“ How long have you been a sailor?”

" Boy and man, forty years, lad .”

“ You were once in the British avy, I be-

“ Yes, lady.”

“ Why di you turn pirate?”

“It was in this way, lady:

“I was full of grog, for one day my folks
came over in a ship from England, to settle
in America, and I got a little upset wrth joy,
for there was my old mother, my wife and
little one.

“Iliad put them in a pleasant home my
prize money had bought for them, and went
on board. as I tell you, a little the worse for

the grog in me.
‘ “ A. young oliicer I staggered against had
me triced up to the grating and the cat-o‘-
'nine tails laid on my bare back.

“It made the blood run. lady, and I was
crazed with pain and fury, so w ten I got free
I drew my knife and sprung upon him.

" It touched his heart, and he was (1 -ad.

, “ But, all half-stripped as l was, I jumped
into the sea and swam down the harbor.

“It was night, and a gale was blowing, so
I got away and swam to a craft that was lay-
.ing to, in‘the outer harbor.

" It proved to be smuggler, and I wasglad
enou h to get refuge on board.

‘t rom smuggling I took to piracy.

“Now you know all my life, lady."

" How long ago was this?"

“ Five years, lady.”

“ Would you not like to see your wife,
child and mother again?”

“ Ah, ladyl”

“ Would you?"

“ I cannot.”

“‘ You can."

“ Do not hold out false hopes, lady."

“‘ Franklin."

“ Yes, lady.”

“ Could you manage
alone?"

” Yes, lady."

“ Well, put her in perfect trim for sea, and
fit her cabin up the best, for I intend that you
{shall take two lady passengers away from
this retreat.

“ Get out of the store-house what is needed
for bedding and stores for a cruise of a
month. and be all ready by to-morrow ni rht.

“ You will take the passengers to Char es-

yonder smack

 

 

ton, running no risks of capture on the way,
and you can sell your boat and go home, for
there is to be war soon, and you can join the
Americans against the British.

“ Here are a few jewels which will bring
you a handsome sum, so that you can keep
your family from want."

“ ()h, lady!"

It was all the man could say, and Mareelite
quickly turned away

But the next night she went to the cabin
of the captives, and while all others on the
island were buried in sleep. she led them
down to the shore of the basin, Franklin
carrying Eve's chest.

Then she bade them farewell, and the
little craft drifted out of the pirate harbor
on its way to from! un.

CHAPTER LYII.
wr'ruo lT'I‘ RANHOM.

\Vch the llavenless Cruiser had pointed
her prow southward, her daring yoaug conr
mander had her crowded with all the canvas
that would draw.

ller destination was the Bahamas, and no
prize met there could have swm‘ved her from
her course, no matter how valuable.

The crew were in good humor. in the en-
joyment of their pardon, and it was a cause
of congratulation all round that the ill ()men
had at last conquered her way to find a port
open to her and she was no longer a Maven-
less Cruiser.

Knowing that their captain‘s sister was a
prisoner in the hands of the cruel Cuban
Corsair, the men were most anxious for her
release, and they went to their work with a
will.

The pilot was Lieutenant lIarold, who
had told Captain Lonsdale he would take.
the frigate to the vicinity of the island re-
treat by night, and'then two boats could
enter under cover of the darkness and cap
ture the island, carrying it by storm.

“If the schooners are there when we
arrive, all told there will hardly be over a
hundred men on the island, so double that
number will be sufficient to make the attack
with,” Lieutenant Ilarold had said.

It was two hours after nightfall when the
frigate dropped anchor two leagues away
from the island, so that she could not be
seen by the lookout.

The boats Were. all ready, the oars had
been muflied and the crews were soon in
them.

There were seven boats and two hundred
men.

in the gig went Lieutenant llarold, with
Lionel Lonsdalc, and they were to lead the
way.

“I fear the tide will turn before we get
there, sir, but it will only be a pull of a
mile, for we will get pretty close up before
it begins to run out," said lIarold.

Then he suggested that one heat should
land twenty-five marines on one side of the
island channel, and another with as many
more on the other side.

These were to march inland and attack on
land while the boats entered the harbor and
boarded the vessels there.

“ Sail, he!"

The words came ‘Ili a low tone from
Harold, who was looking ahead very closely,
and spied a sail.

They were not half a mile now from the
island channel, and the craft sighted had
evidently just come out of it.

Those on board had evidently not seen the
boats, and word was passed astern to stretch
out in a semicircle and let the Vessel sail into
their midst.

“ She cannot with this light wind get back
into the island, nor can she run either side of
it, for reefs are thick there,” explained
Harold.

In a short while more, the movements of
the little vessel showed that her skipper had
sighted the boat ahead.

But it was too late to run, for he saw that
he was surrounded.

“ Lay to!" sternly ordered Harold, for his
boat was within a cable’s length of the
craft.

The order was promptly obeyed, and the
gig a moment after ran alongside, and Lionel
Lonsdale sprung on board

“ Leo! oh, Leo! we are saved!" cried Eve,
and k:ihe threw her arms about her brother’s
nec

 

 

-Armed Buccaneer.

 

It was a joyous meeting, and the crew of
the gig Could hardly be kept from cheering.
Explanations followed, and Lionel Lons-
dale heard how easy it would be to capture
the retreat, as the schooner was away with
Captain Cutlass.

Half a dozen men were put on board the
smack, with orders to steer for the frigate.
and Franklin was told that he could ship as
a sailor on the Ill ()mcn, for his part in the
rescue of the maidens, which delighted him
greatly.

Then the boats moved on to the island.

Int with but a score of men there, there
was no resistance, and the island was taken
without a shot being tired.

()1) account of the part which Marcelite,
the pirate’s wife had played to set his sister
and Lurline free, Lionel Lonsdale gave her
a Cuban ,r/alrm of ninety tons, and what
property she claimed as her own, and allowrd
the pirates on the island to serve as her crew,
for she said she wished to go in srarch of
her husband.

“ I am sorry I cannot also go in search of
him, madam; but though he has escaped me
this time, I will yet hunt him down,” said
Lionel Lonsdale, adding:

“Please tell him so with my compli-
ments."

“ i will, sir, and for the leniency you have
shown me, and these here, I thank you.”

Lonsdale waited until the goleta sailed
from the island, and then, loading the Spit-
fire withthc guns and booty found there, and
setting fire to the worthless vessels ant-bond
in the basin, along with the pirate cabins, he
sailed away from the Pirate Isle and joined
the frigate, which at once squared away for
the North, her young commander anxious to
return his sister to their mother, whose grief
he knew was most poignant.

 

CHAPTER LVIII.
A SEA DUEL.

To picture the sorrow and annoyance of
Commodore Vernon, Major Bert Branscombe
and Belle, not to speak of that of the skipper
and crew of the Belle of Blue Water at their
capture would be utterly impossible.

The commodore felt it more. for his daugh-
ter, for he was one accustomed to take lifeyas
it came to him, and Belle tried to cheer up on
this account

The French captain was coldly polite. gave
them quarters in the cabin, and said. wlu'n
he could do so, without incouvt-nk nee to
himself, he would land the commodore and
his daughter as non-combatants, but that the
major must be held as prisoner of war.

As they sailed south, Major Branscombe
remarked:

“If we could only run across the Ill Omen
somewhere, I guess this French captain
would find it. convenient to give us up."

“ Pray for it, my child,” said the commo-
dore, with a smile.

Whether Belle did pray for it or not, one
pleasant morning, some two weeks after the
capture of the Belle of Blue Water, in 0 mil
were sighted from the mast—head of the
French sloop-of-war.

The prisoners wore on deck, standing to-
gether, and Major Branscombe, speaking
French. heard what was said by the
officers.

“ One is reported to be a frigate, the other
a schooner, and they head so as to come
near us.” he said.

The French war vessel was under full sail,
and ahead of her, under easy sail, was the
Belle of Blue Water.

The strange vessels Were more than a.
league and a half apart. but sailing on the
same course, and it was evident they had
sighted the Frenchmen and were heading to
meet them. ‘

Seeing this the French captain signaled to
the prize officer of the brig to drop back, and
going aloft he took a long look at the
strangers.

“ ‘They are a frigate and schooner,evident-
l British. and we will tight and capture
them. for I believe we are their equal. if not

stronger,’ ” Major Branscombe told,was what

he said to his officers.

“ I will ask him for his glassa moment,”
said Belle, and she boldly walked up to the
ca tain and made the request.

Ie seemed surprised, but relinquished it
with a bow. . >

I

i

 

.. m... m..-.-_

 

 



 

 

After a. moment's observation of each ves-
sel she handed it back with thanks.

“ What vaz ze mademoiselle finds out about
ze vessels?” asked the captain in broken Eng—
lish.

“ Simply, monsieur, that we'will he guests
on board yonder frigate within a few
hours."

” Zounds! zen zey vas Engleesh?“

“ Yes, sir.”

“ Ve vill have ze vessels our prisoners
very soon, mademoiselle.”

Belle smiled, and rejoining her father and
the major said in a suppressed tone:

“One is the Ilavenless (raiser the other
either the Spitfire or l’retty Illlen."

“ That means the pirate has been taken by
Lonsdalc,” the major said.

“ Yes, and the rescue of Miss Lonsdale and
Luriine."

“ And our rescue, father,“ added Belle.

“ Yes, though this will be a hard vessel to
whip, and the brig will be more than a
match for the schooner.”

“ 1 fear not the result of a sea duel," was
Belle’s confident reply, and all then watched
the coming vessels.

Before long the Frenchman saw the En-
glish flag hoisted on the Ill Omen, and, as
the showed their colors, their foe quickly
limped and gave them a broadside.

The French crew were at their guns, and
all ready for a fight.

But this sudden and unexpected beginning
of a fight surprised them, and hurt them too,
for the iron hail cut among their rigging,
tore through their bulwarks, dismounted one
gun and lay half a dozen men upon the
decks.

Instantly Commodore Vernon forccd
Belle to enter the cabin, but he returned and
stood by the major, just as a second broad-
side camc from the 11 ()men.

“ Lonsdalc means to sink the Frenchman

.beforc he can fire, at this rate,” said the

major with a smile. .

“ The French captain looks anxious,” the
commodore, rejoined.

The broadside was then returned, and the
brig opening also upon the 111 ()men it be-
came at once a fierce combat.

“ Why does not the schooner come down
and join in?" cried Lonsdale.

The commodore could not answer; but
neither knew that the Spitfire was full of
pirate booty and had not a gun mounted
upon her decks, though a number as freight,
and hence Lieutenant llarold, who was in
command, could not join in the. battle.

But undismayed the III Omen rushed to
th? fight, and her fire became hot and fear-
fu .

Directing his fire, as was his wont, for a
few moments wholly upon one craft, Lons-
dale soon crippled the brig and placed her
out of the fight, after which he ran down to
en age the French sloop-of—war.

he Frenchman fought bravely. but the
frigate's crew knew what work their young
captain had cut out for them and they did
it so well that the enemy hauled down his
colors half an hour after the sea duel was be-
gun, and, to the amazement of Lionel Lons-
dale. as he sprung on the deck of his prize,
he was greeted with the words:

“ Hello, Lonsdale, glad to see you.”

“ Branscombel by the gods of war!" cried
Lionel Lonsdale.

“Yes, and Commodore Vernon, too, for
he has gone to the cabin to tell his daughter
that we are rescued," and, a moment after,
the cemmodore and Belle came on deck and
a warm greeting took place, while Belle
said, addressing the French commander:

“I offer you my sympathy, Monsieur le
Capitaine, but Ito. you how it would be
when I saw you meant to give battle to the
Havenless Cruiser.”

“ Alas, mademoiselle, it vaz zc fortunes of
War." was the response of the gallant French-
man.

Half an hour after, the commodore, Belle
and Bert Branscombe were on board the Ill
Omen. and a glad meeting it was between
them and the rescued captives of the pirate.

 

CHAPTER LIX.
CONCLUSION.
Tim escape of the two captives on the
Pirates’ Island, through the jealousy and
friendship of Marcelite, the bride of the Cuban

-_ ..........—.~.«.... - ‘-~

“The One-Armed Buccaneer.

4 . ,,__ V-.. w... .— -——. m..— H _. ,.-W—.-_.__...__....._.

29

 

 

promise something like that to Major Brars—

Corsair, just as they would have been res-
combe, “ when the war should end.“

cuedb the crew of the Haunted Cruiser

under ionel Lonsdale and Lieutenant Har- So the French prize sailed into port, bier»

old, having been made known to the reader, ing the commodore, the major and the

as also the capture of the French sloop-of- imaidens, while the Haunted Cruiser sped

war and her prize, the Belle of Blue Water, iaway with her prize, Spitfire and the

I will now relate a circumstance that. made ' privateer brig, to serve the patriot cause of

several hearts very happy on the return run . America.

of the 111 Omen and her prizes. That in the end Lionel Lonsdale kept his
The commodore, his daughter Eve, Lur- : vow and captured the Cuban Corsair, and:

line and Ma'or Branscombe being guests on ' served with great distinction as an officer of

board the I aunted Cruiser, her captain said ‘ the American Navy, would at once he

one day: iknown, were I to give the true name of’
“Commodore [am going to touch on a , the daring man who won the well-earned.

forbidden subject, to speak a name you will title of Wizard of the Waves.

not willingly hear; but] feel that 1 have a ,

right to under existing circumstances. and I THE EM)“

beg that you will listen to me in patience.

“You had a son, a noble-hearted fellow, BEADLE AN!) ADAKS’
but a little wild."

“ We will not speak of him, sir,” said the
commodore with emotion.    
“ We will, sir, and I will suffer any con-
demnation at your will after} have told you speaker“ _
what I Wish, so listen tome. . , Each volume contains 100 large paw. prian
There was something in the qu1et manner 1 from clear. open type, comprising the best can”,
0f the young captain that commanded atmn’ , tion of Dialogues. Dramas and Recitations.

tion, and the commodore was silent. } The Dime speakers embrace Wemrfour volume‘
“ One night,” continued Lonsdale, “your viz;

son fled from home with the brand of Cain , American Speaker, 15. Komikai speaker.

 

 

 

 

‘ 1

upon him. I  IIgiitiorial gpealéer.  Elouth's S eaker.

.. . , . ‘. atriotic pea er. . o uent er.

,‘ It wab ‘ln‘l‘serYed' 4. Comic Speaker. 18. Bai’ Colum ia Speak-

He had been With several young men, I 5. E‘ocmionist. er.
one a bitter foe of his, and when the latter i g. I‘Iumorous Speaker. 39. Eerio-Comic Speaker.
joined the party, your son left them, but he E    *Ff‘lggtvs 1:33:15;
9 . .. .

soon remembered that he had a letter in his 1 . Juveni‘e Speak“ 22. J0“ speaker.

pocket for one of the party, and returned to 3 10. Spread-Eagle Speaker 2%. Dia ect'Speaker.
give it to him. 11. Dime Debater. 24. Reieitationsand Road-

12.19 ' " peak . .
“He entered the room, to find but one ; 13_ Sgfig‘gi‘g‘mmfke, er '25_ Bum“, spake,-

person there. i 14. Ludicrous Speaker. i
“ That one was his enem , and he lay on These books are replete with choice pieces for the-
thc floor. dead. a knife in his heart. ; School-room, the Exhibition. for Homes, etc. 75 to

“ Your son fled, and feeling that he would  100 Declcmations and Recrtations in each book.
be accused, sought to find those who had
been with the dead man.

“ He remained in hiding, and the next day i
learned that it was his knife which had been I
taken from the dead man’s breast.

“ Then he knew there was no hope forhim
and he left town on a coaster in disguise.
Ile wandered about until he became mate
of a vessel in Southern seas, was captured by
the Cuban Corsair and forced to serve him
as an olficer.

“ It was he who saved my sister from the
pirate, and he is now first officer of my
vessel.

“But more: Among some smugglers cap-
tured upon the eastern coast he recognized
one of the party who were with him the night .
of the murder, and who had also tied the I
town, as you know. 

“ He has kept that man aprisoncr on board 

Dialogues.

The Dime Dialogues. each volume 100 pages, em-
, brace thirty-two books. viz.:
é Dialogues No. (me. Dialogues No. Eighteen.,
. Dialogues No. Two. Dialogues No. Nineteen.
Dialogues No. Three. Dialogues No. Twenty. i
Dialogues No. Four. Dialogues No. Twenty-one.
Dialogues No. Five. Dialogues No. Twenty-two.
Dialogues No. Six. Dialogues No. Tummy-three.
Dialogues No. Seven. Dialogues No. Twenty-four.
Dialogues No. Eight. Dialogues No. Twenty-five.
Dialogues No. Nine. Dialogues No. Twonty-six.
Dialogues No. Ten. Dialoguesh’o.Twenty-seven.
Dialogues No. Eleven. Dialogues No. Twenty-eight.
Dialogues No. Twelve. Dialogues No. Twenty—nine-
Dialogues No. Thirteen. [Dialogues No. Thirty.
Dialogues No. Fourteen. gDialegues No. Thirty-one. ,
Dialogues No. Fifteen. {Dialogues No. Thirty-two. ‘
Dialogues No. Sixteen. Dialogues No, Thirty-three.
Dialogues No. Seventeen

15 to 25 Dialogues and Dramas in each book

Drama and Readings.
164 12mm Pages. ‘ZO-Cents.

ever since.

“And still more—he found among those
on the Pirate Island another of that party. For $0th Parlors. Entertainments and the Am.

” They have confessed that Harold Vernon , ate“? Stage. comprising Original Miner Dramas.
was not guilty, that one of them murdered 1 Comedy. Farce. Dress Pieces. Humorous Dialogue
the man, with the knife that belon led to and Burlesque, by "006d Writers: and Recitation!
your son, and which the man who id the ‘and Reading's. new Ind standard. of the greatest ‘
deed had picked up from the floor, where it celebrityandinterest. Edited by Prot.A. M.ansell.‘
had dropped.

“ Now, sir, Lieutenant I-Iarold Vernon
would be glad to be welcomed by his father
and sister. ’

And welcomed he was, in a way that made
his heart glad, and the old commodore was
almost beside himself with joy.

When the Haunted Cruiser arrived near
port, a vessel ran down toward her with the

 

tiV'

DIME HAND-BOOKS.

Young People’s Series.

Bnnu’s Dun: Hum-Boots ma Yornm Plain.
cover a wide range of subjects. and are especially
adapted to their end.

. Indies? Letter-Writer.

Book of Games. '=\ _ 3

news that war had begun between the 0010- , Gemss Wrwfiwr Formuewenen
mas and the mothier country. i  0: gflquette. afiers‘ Casket.

“I said I won] not return toport until I 0 9398- 4‘00!" Comm
had captured the Cuban Corsair, and I shall ; B°°k or D' a" !' B°°k °f BM" 
keep my vow. . i Hand-Book! of Games. ' V

“But, Major Branscombe, I give to you i Handbook of Summers m .
my written recignation of a captaincy in the Book of emu“ Ywhtmggnd'mm_ ._ 
king s serum, and .in the place of the Chess Instmctor. Riding and 9mm; \ 1
Haunted Cruiser, which I will keep, I send 0'”de “‘1 F0095“! Book of Pedestri

1 Guide to Swimming.

in under your charge, the French sloop-of-
war, so that I do not rob the king of a vessel.
“Now, major, I will transfer you, and
the others to the French sloop, and then‘
i

I

Handbook of Winter Spom—Sklting. 00¢.

 

 

Lives of Great Americans.

I shall sail awa , in search of the One Armed r
I.-—George Washington. VIII.—IsraelPutnun. ‘  

Buccaneer, an also—to enlist as an America
. II.- ~John Paul Jones, X.—-Tecumse~h.
m fl“ fith for Freedom ” Ill—Mad AnthonyWayne III—Abraham Lincoln.

So spoke Lionel Lonsdale, and, as where W-—EthnnAllen.t ’_ . x11.-I{ontiac.
he went his crew would go with him. so v'“u‘m“i5d“L"E-Vem xm“uym 36"“-

it was arranged, and sad partings took place, amt-he above books 5,. sold by “ended.”

his sister going home with Belle Vernon eye

_ . a rywhere, or will be sent. postpiud. to or ed- A
who had premised some day to be the wife of ‘ am an rm“); of prim, gen cent. each, hip“ , 4
Lionel Lonsdale, while Eve had also given a up Am”, “we”. 93 wimam st," N_ y. . 3

 

  


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rIVETI'tQTCorps of A Contributors Unrivaled !  

Almost all of whom write exclusively for its publishers—embrace the following popular authors:

Col. Prentiss Ingraham,
Albert W. Aiken,
10301“! E. Badger, J r., Major Dangerfield Burr,
Capt. Fred “’hittaker,

Ed\vard L. Wheeler,

T. (3. Harhaugh,
Frank Triple",
Wm. S. Gldley, K. I’. Hill,
A]. ‘V. Crow/ell,

H. S. Keller,

J. C. (You'drlck,
Wm. B. Eyster,
Wm. H. Manning,
1!. H. Johnson,
Henri Montcalm,
Jo Pierce,

Weldon J. Cobb, nge to

etc., etc., 

“on. \an. 1". Cody (Buflhlo Bill),
Philip S. Warue, K.

Eben E. Ike-(ford,
A. F. Holt,

Col. 1;. Z. C. Judson (Ned Buntllne),

Major Sum S. Hall (Blu‘knkln Sam), 
Edward \Vlllett,

 
   
  
 

 

 

 

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INTERESTING AND ATTRACTIVE FIELDS 0"

Border, Interior. and Wild West Romance—

Adventure, Exploration. and Sport—
Lifo on the Great Plain.—

Lii'o on the Rancher—

Life in the Mines—
Lii'e in the Wilderness—-

City Life Character. Courts and Ways——

Detective and ‘Shadow’ Revelations—
Stories of the Great Deep, etc.

Hence, each and every number overflowa with the most
interesting and exciting matter, While in its several SPECIAL
DEPARTMENTS answering all the needs, and adding to the
general interest and usefulness of, the strictly popular
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BEADLE’S*DIME*EBRARY.

 

 

BY “'ILLIAM R. EYSTER.

145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar.

160 Soft Hand, Sharp: or, The Man with the Sand.

1182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon.

192 The Lightning Sport.

211 TI e Two Cool Sports: or, Gertie of the Gulch.

229 Captain Cuisleeve; or. The Little Sport.

208 Magic Mike. the Man 01’ Frills.

300 A Sport in Spectacles; or, The Bad Time at
Bunco.

 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

341 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand.

356 Thr xe Handsome Sports; or, The Double Com.
bination.

375 Royal George, the Three in One.

896 The Piper Detective.

402 Snapshot Sam: or. The Angels‘ Flat Racket.

~129 ilair Trigger Tom of Red Bend.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
8 The Headless Horseman; A Strange Story of
Texas.
12 The Death-Shot; or, Tracked to Death.
55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.
66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific.

74 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Queen of the
Lakes.

200 The Rifle Rangers; or, Adventures in Mexico.
208 The White Chief. A Romance of Northern Mex-
1co.

"213 The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse.

218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter’s Ven-
’ geance.

'228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah.

284 The Hunter‘s Feast.

.267 The White Squaw.

BY CAPT. FRED. WHITTAKER.

39 The Russian Spy; or, The Starry Cross Brothers.
65 The Red Rajah; or, The Scourge of the Indies.
69 The Irish Captain. A Tale of Fontenoy.
96 Double Death; or. The Spy of Wyoming.
98 The Rock Rider; or, The Spirit of the Sierra.
108 The Duke of Diamonds.
115 The Severed Head; or, The Secret of Castle
Coucy.
132 Nemo. King of the Tramps.
159 Red Rudiger, the Archer.
174 The Phantom Knights.
187 The Death's Head Cuirassierl
198 The Man in Red.
$6 One Eye, the Cannoneer.
211 Colonel Plunger; or, The Unknown Sport.
215 Parson Jim, King of the Cowboys.
226 The Mad Hussars; or, The 0’s and the Mac‘s.
230 The Flvinz Dutchman of 1880.
242 The Fog Devil; or, The Skipper of the Flash.
247 Alligator Ike; or. The Secret of the Everglade.
253 A Yankee Cossack; or,The Queen of the Nihilists.
135 Old Double-Sword; or, Pilots and Pirates.
2713 Seth Slocum. Railroad Surveyor.
277 The Saucy Jane, Privateer.
281‘ The Three Frigates; or, Old Ironsides' Revenge.
“0 The Lost Corvette: or, Blakeley‘s Last Cruise.
295 Old Cross-Eye, the Maverick-Hunter.
808 Top-Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw. .

810 The Marshal of Satanstown'. or. The Cattle-
Lifters‘ League.

326 The Whitest Man in the Mines.
378 John Armstrong, Mechanic.
406 Old Pop Hicks, Showman.

(12 Larry Locke, the Man of Iron.

BY NEWTON M. CUBTISS.

no The Texan Spy' or. The Prairie Guide
254 Giant Jake. the, Patrol of the Mountain.

“Y JACKSON KNOX—“ Old Hunk.”

386 Hawk Heron the Falcon Detective.
Hawk Heron‘s Deputy.

I! PERCY B. ST. JOHN.

' 57 1110 Silent Hunter.
a T” 3‘8 Humor; or, The Queen of the Woods.

V Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue

 

 

Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

194 Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent.
202 Cactus Jack, the Giant Guide.

219 The Scorpion Brothers; or, Mad Tom’s Mission.
223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Idaho.
237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black League.
245 ilarrnnca Bill, the Revolver Champion.

258 Bullet Head, the Coloravlo Bravo.

263 iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer.
266 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves.
271 Sioneflst, of Big Nugget Bend.

276 Texa: Chick, the Southwest Deiective.

285 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror.

291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck.

305 Silver-Plated So], til» Montana Rover.

311 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men.

323 IIotspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers.

BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTERY.

82 Iron Wrist, the Sworilmaster.

126 The Demon Duelist; or, The League of Steel. "
143 The (.‘zar‘s Spy; or, The Nihilist League.

150 El Rubio Bravo. King of the Swordsmcn.

157 Monrad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Sword-
masters.

j 169 Corporal Cannon. the Man of Forty Duels.

i
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i

“Y SHVI S. HALL—“ Buckskin Sam.” .

3 Kit Carson, J12, the Crack Shot.
90 Wild Will, the Mad Ranchero.
178 Dark Dashwood, the Desperate.
186 The Black Bravo; or, The Tonkawzly’s Triumph.

191 The Terrible Tonkaway; or, Old Rocky and his
Pards.

195 The Lone Star Gambler;
Maid.

199 Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver.

204 Big Foot Wallace, the King of the Lariat.

212 The Brazos Tigers; or. The Minute Men.

217 The Serpent of El Paso; or. Frontier Frank.
221 Desperate Duke, the Guadeloupe “ Galoot.’

225 Rocky Mountain Al; or, The Waif of the Range.
289 The Terrible Trio; or. The Angel of the Army.
244 Merciless Mart, the Man Tiger of Missouri.

250 The Rough Riders: or, Sharp Eye the Scourge.
256 Double Dan the Dastard; or, The Pirates.

264 The Crooked Three.

269 The Bayou Bravo; or, The Terrible Trail.

273 Mountain Mose. the Gorge Outlaw.

282 The Merciless Marauders; or, Carl’s Revenge.
287 Dandy Dave and his Horse, White Stocking.

293 Stlampede Steve; or, The Doom of the Double
ace.

301 Bowlder Bill; or, The Man from Taos.

809 Raybold, the Rattling Ranger.

822 The Crimson Coyotes; or Nita the Nemesis.
328 King Kent; or. The Bandits of the Bason.
842 Blanco Bill, the Mustang Monarch.

858 The Prince of Pan Out.

871 Gold Buttons; or, The Up Range Pards.

_or, The Magnolias

BY DR. J. H. BonINSON.

18 Pathaway; or, Nick Whiflies, the old Nor’west
Trapper.

17 Nightshade; or, The Robber Prince.

22 Whitelaw; or, Nettie of the Lake Shore.

87 Hirl, the Hunchback; or, The Santee Sword-
maker.

58 Silver Knife; or. The Rocky Mountain Bangor.

70 Hydrabad. the Strangler.

73 The Kni hts of the Red Cross; or, The Granada
Magi an.

163 Ben Brion; or, Redpath, the Avenger.

BY FRANCIS JOHNSON.

25 The Gold Guide; or, Steel Arm, Regulator,
as The Death Track; or, The Mountain Outlaws.
123 Alapaha the Squaw; or, The Border Renegades,

124 Assowaum the Avenger; or, The Doom of the
Destroyer.

135 The Bush Ranger; or, The Half-Breed Rajah.

136 The Outlaw Hunter; or. The Bush Ranger.

138 The Border Bandit; or, The Horse Thief’s Trail.
BY GEORGE ST. GEORGE.

290 Duncan, the Sea Diver.

417 Tucson Torn; or, The Fire Trailers.

BY'C. BURNING CLARK.

164 The Kin '3 F001.
188 Gilbert t 0 Guide.

1

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‘ 236 Champion Sam; or, The Monarchs of the Show.

62 Fighting: Tom. the Terror of the Toughs.

332 Spring-Heel Jack; or, The Masked Mystery.

BY ISAAC FAWKS, Ell-Detective.

232 Orson Oxx; or, The River Mystery.
240 A Cool Head; or, Orson Oxx in Peril.

BY PROF. J. H. INGRAIIAM.

‘ 113 The Sea Slipper; or, The Freebooters.

118 The Burglar Captain; or, The Fallen Star.
314 Lafitte; or, The Pirate of the Gulf.

i 316 Lafitte’s Lieutenant; or, Child of the Sea.

BY GUSTAVE AIMARD. ‘

15 The Tiger Slayer; or, Eagle Heart to the Rescue.

19 Red Cedar, the Prairie‘Outlaw.

20 The Bandit atBay; or, The Prairie Pirates.

21 The Trapper’s Daughter; or. The Outlaw's Fate.
21 Prairie Flower.

62 Loyal Heart; or, The Trappers of Arkansas.
149 The Border Rifles. A Tm of the Texan War.
151 The Freebooters. A Story of the Texan War.
158 The White Scalper.

MISCELLANEOUS.

6 Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser. By EdwardL.
Wheeler.

9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.

10 Vidocq, the French Police Spy. Written by
himself.

11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Maryatt. ‘
32 B’hoys of Yale; or, The Scrapes of Collegians.

60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By Frank Du- ’

1110113.

68 The Fighting Trapper. By Captain J. F. C.
dams.

76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany.
78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger.

102 The Masked Band' or, The Man without a Name.
By George L. Aiken.

110 The Silent Rifleman. By E. W. Herbert.

125 The Blacksmith Outlaw; or, Merrie England.
By Harrison Ainsworth. .

188 Body the Rover. By William Carleton.
140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker.

144 Th1; Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor
ugo.
146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel.

152 Captain lronnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief.
158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell.

168 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By Septimus B
Urban.

179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleevo.
190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas.
all Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col.

J o Yards.
275 TléeuyOl', The Cavern in the
312 Kiggogfi; the Mountain Scourge. By Moro ‘
880 00390332, the Quaker City Detective. By [Charla

850 Flash Falcon, the Societ De
J. Cobb. I tective. By Weldon

858 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush. ' *l

Bv John Cuthbert.

ass Ta? Telegraph Detective. By George Henry '
orse. .

410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Hill.
428 Th1?e gigging Glim; or, The Island Lure. 3114008

A new team: every Wednesday. .
Boodle’s Dime Library is for II. b! ‘3
.Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on '
receipt of twelve cents each. 8mm & was.
Publishers, M William Street. New York. ‘

 

 

‘.

 

 

 

 

“saw-w». "rv-N - ~, -~

Published Every W'ednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Un ifo

._—_..

BY COL. PREN'I‘ISS INGRAHAM.

2 The Dare Devil; or, The Winged S a Witch.

85 The Cretan Row-r; or, Zuleikali the Beautiful.
89 The Pirate Piince; or. The Queen of the Isle.

94 Freelance. the l’uccaneer.
108 Merle, the Mutine r; or. The Red Anchor Brand.
104 Montezuma. the Merciless.

109 Cap ain Kyd. ti e King of the Black Flag.
116 Black Plume; or The Sorceress of Hell Gate.
121 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts
128 The Chevalier Corsair; or The Heritage.

131 Buckskin Sam. the Texas Trailer.

134 Darkey Dan, the Coloreo Detective.
189 Fire E A; or. Til“ Bride of a line 'anrer.

147 Gold pur. the Gentleman frotn Texas.

155 The Co ‘sairQucen: or, The Gypsies of the Sea.
162 The Mad Mariner; or. Dishonored and Disowned
168’ Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.

172 Black Pirate; or The Golden ll‘etters Mystery.
177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair.

181 The Scarlet Schooner; or. The Sea Nemesis.

184 The Oct-a 1 Vampire; or, The Castle Heiress.
189 \ ild Billis Gold Trail; or. The Des rrate Dozen.
198 The Skeleton Schooner; or, The Sk miner.
205 The Gambl -r Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon.
210 Buccaneer Boss. the Lioness of the Sea.

216 The Corsair Planter; or, Driven to Doom.
no The Specter Yachu; or, A Brother‘s Crime.

224 Black Beard, the Buccaneer.

fit The Kid Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor.
235 Red Li htning the Man of Chance.
246 gueen elen, the Amazon of the Overland.

255 he Pirate Priest; or, The Gambler’s Dau hter.
259 Cutlass and Cross; or. the Ghouls of the ca.
28l The Sea Owl; or, The Lady Ca tain of the Gulf.
807 The Phantom Pirate; or, The ater Wolves. ‘
818 The lndian isuccnneer; or. Ihe Red Rovers.

825 The Gentlem'in Pirate; or The Casco Hermits.
829 The League of Three: or, Buffalo Bill’s Pledge.
836 The Magic Ship; or, Sandy Hook Freeb )otors.
841 The 8 ea De. oeriulo.

346 Ocean Guer 'llas; orfl’hantom Midshi man.
362 Buffalo Bill's Grip; or Oaln Bound to uster.
364 The Sea. Fugitive; or, Till' Queen of the Coast.
869 The Coast Corsair; or, The Siren of the Sea.

378 Sailor of Fortune; or, The B irnegat Buccaneer.
377 Afloat and Ashore: or, The Cor~air Cons irator.
388 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker itch.
393 The Convict Captian; or, The Battles of the

Buccaneers.

899 The New Monte Cristo.

418 l‘he Sea Siren: or, The. Fugitive Privateer.

425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.

480 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War.

BY OLL COOMES.

7 DeathNotch. the Destroyer.
48 Dikota Dan the; Reckless Ranger. r
44 Old Dali Rackhack, tilt' Great Extarminator.
46 B .wie-Knit'e Ben, the Nor’Wrst-Hunter.
48 ldaho Tom the Young Outlaw of Sliverland.
51 Red Rob, 1 9 Boy Road-Agent.

99 The Giant Rifieinan; or. Wild Camp Life.
137 Long Beard, the Giant Spy.
148 One-Armed Alf. the Giant Hunter.

 BY CAPTAIN HOWARD HOLMES.

278 Hercules Goldspur the Man of the Velvet Hand.
294 Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy.
821 California Claude, the Lone Bandit.

', ' 9% Flash Dan, the Nabob.
. 340 Cool 0 ‘inrad, the Dakota Detective.

817 Denver Duke. the Man With “ Sand.“
me The Desperate Dim-n.
865 Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow.
374 Major Blister, the Sport of TM) Cities.
$2 The Bonanza Band; or Dread Don of Cool Clan.
892 The Lost Bonanza; or, The Boot of Silent Houni.
400 Captain Coldirrip; or. The New York Spotter.
407' Captain Coldgrlp‘s Nerve' or. Injun Nick.
4133 Captain Coldgri in N ew York.
. 421 Father Ferret, t e Frisco Shad0w.
431 Lucifer Lynx, the Wonder Detective.

BY AN'I‘BONY P. MORRIS.

5 The Fire Fiends; or, Hercules. Hunchback.
95 Azhort. the Axman; or, The Palace Secrets.

.‘ 100 The French Spy' or. The Brine of Paris.

167 The Man of Stee . Tale of Love and Terror.

185 Man 8 idsr; or. The Beautiful S hinx.

288 Bank ound the Crescent Citv etectivc.

260 The Masked M story; or, The Black Crescent.
288 Elcc'roP . t c Man of Fire.

306 The Bong s of Richmond.

818 Mark Magic. Detective.

334 The Cllpher Detective; or, Mark Magic’q New

Tm .
843 The Head Hunter; or, Mark Magic in the Mine.
357 Jack Simona, Detective.

BY MAJOR DANIEL BOON]! DUM03‘T.
888 Shier Sam, the Detective; or, The Butte City

ust rs.
. as» Colonel Double-Edge, the Cattle Baron's Pard.
41 The White Crook; or, Old Hark’s Fortress.

.. ...........1.-.:»_-.,‘1...». 5,1»v “~u" «— a---
. . .r ‘ _

xv.

BY BUFFALO BILL (lion. \V. F. Cody).

52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

83 Gold Bullet Sport; or, Knights of the Overland.
213 The Pilgrim Sliar ; or, The Soldier's Sweetheart.
304 Texas Jack. the rairie Rattler.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind 01' the West.

394 White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte.

397 The Wizard Brothers; or, White B'nver's Trail.
401 One-Armed Pard; or, Borderland Retribution.
414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective.

BY MAJOR DANGERPIELD BURR.

92 Buflalo Bill, the Buckskin King.

117 Dashing Dandy; or, The Hots ur of the Hills.
142 Cs tain Crimson, the Man of he Iron Face.

156 Ve vet Face, the Border Bravo.

175 Wild Bill‘s Trump Card; or, The Indian Heiress.
1815 The Phantom Mazeppa; or, The Hyena.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

28 Three-Fingered Jack the Road-Agent.

30 Gospel George; or iery Fred, the Outlaw.

40 The Lon -Haired 15......

45 Old Bull s-Eye, the Lightning Shot.

47 Pacific Pete, the Prince of the Revolver.

50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie S rt.

64 Double-Si lit. the Death S 0t.

67 The Boy ockey; or, Honest vs. Crookedness.

71 Captain Cool Blade; or, Miss ssip i Man Shark.

88 Big George; or. The Five Outlaw rothers.

103 Dan Brown of Denver; or. The Detective.

119 Alabama Joe; or. The Ynzoo Man-Hunters.

12? Sol Scott, the Masked Miner.

141 Equinox Tom, the liul'y of Red Rock.

154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.

165 Joaquin, the Terrible.

170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective.

180 Old ‘4il; or. The Amazon of Arizona.

197’ Revolver Rob- or, The Belle of Nugget Cam .

201 Pirate of the Placers; or, Joaquin‘s Death unt.

23:3 The Old Boy of Tombstone.

241 S itfire Saul, King of the Bustiers.

219 uphant Tom, of Durango.

257 Death Trap Diggings.

283 Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines.

296 Pistol Johnny; or, One Man in a Thous

292 Moke Homer, the Boss Roustabout.

302 Faro Saul, the Handsome Hercules.

317 Frank Lightfoot, the Miner Detective.

324 Old Forked Lightniii . the Solitary.

331 Cliispa Cliarle . the Gold Nugget Sport.

3'39 S read Eagle in, the Hercules Hide Hunter.

845 asked Mark, the Mounted Detective.

351 Nor‘ West Nick, the Border Detective.

355 Stormy Steve, the Mad Athlete.

360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.

367 A Royal Flush; or, Dan Brown‘s Big Game.

372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record.

379 Howling Jonathan, the Terror from Headwaters.

387 Dirk Din-g, the Ishmael of the Hills.

395 Deadlv Alm, the Duke of Derringers.

403 The Nameless Sport.

409 R vb Rov Ranch' or, The Imps of Pan Handle.

in; Monte Jim, the Back Sheefi of Bismarck.

420 The (iiilOSi. Detective; or. T 8 Spy of the Secret
S“1‘V (:9.

433 Laughing Leo; or, Sam’s Dandy Pard.

BY ED‘VARD ‘VILLETT.

129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man ‘5 Sacrifice.
209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza Prince.

2222 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack‘s Crime.

248 Montana Nut the Lion of Last Chance Camp,
m4 Flush Fred the Mississippi Sport.

W Flush Fred s Full Hand.

298 L gger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods.

308 Hemlock Hank. Tough and True.

315 Flush Fred‘s Double' or, The Squatters‘ league.
327 Ternpin Dick, the Wildwood Detective.

337 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp.

348 Dan Dillon. King of Crosscut.

368 The Canyon King; or, a Price on his Head.

l

BY NED BUNTLINE.

l4 Thayonda I. the Scourge' or,The War-Eagle.
16 The White izard; or, The minole Prophet.
18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle.
23 The Red Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover.
It‘ll gabptgin Sealwaié. tltiilPrivatfir.

c mum er a n: or. eSkl r's Crime.
122 Saul Sabberday. t e Idiot S . pm
270 Andros the Rover; or. The rate‘s Daughter.
361 Tomt stone Dick, the Train Pilot.

BY WILLIAM H. MANNING.
279 The qud Dragoon, or. The California Blood-
oun .
297 Colorado Rube. the Strong'Arm of Hotspur.
, 885 Will Dick Turpin the Leadvillc Lion.

405 Old Baldy. the Brigadier of Buck Basin.
415 Hot Heart, the Detective S y.

BEADLE’SrDIMErflBR/XRY.

rm Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

BY ALBERT ‘V. AIKEN.

27 The Spotter Detective; or Girls of N -w York.
31 The New York Shsr ; or, The Flash ( t' Lightning
33 Owrland Kit; or, he ldyl of Whi e Pine

34 Rocky Mounmm Rob. the California Outlaw.

35 Kentuck the Sport: or, Dick Talbot 0* the Mines.
36 Injun Dick; or. The Death-Shot of Shasta.

38 Velvet Hand; or, Injun Dick’s Iron Grip.

41 Gold Dan: or. The White Savage of Salt Lake.
42 the California Detective; or, The Witches of N.Y.
49 Th « Wolf Demon; or, The Kanawha Queen.

56 The Indian Mazeppa; or, Madman of the Plains.
59 The Man from i‘exas; or, The Arkansas Outlaw.
(L3 The Winged Whale; or, The Red Rupert. of Gulf.
"2 The Phantom Hand; or The 5th Avenue Heir ess.
75 Gentleman George; or. Parlor. Prison and Street.
77 The Fresh of Frisco; or, The Heiress.

79 Joe Plienix, the Police Spy.

81 The Human Tiger; or, A eart of Fire.

84 Hunted Down; or, The League of Three.

91 The Winnin Oar; or, The Innkeeper's Daughter.
93 Captain Dic Talbot King of the Road.

97 Bronze Jack, the Caiitomia Thoroughbred.

101 The Man from New York.

107 Richard Talbot. of Cinnabar.

112 Joe Phenix. Private Detective.

130 Captain Volcano; or. The Man of Red Revolver .
161 The Wolves of New York; or, JOe Phe ix's Hunt-
173 California John. the Pacific Thoroug bred.

196 La Marmoset, the Detective een.

$13 The Double Detective; or,The idnight Mystery.
252 The Wall Street Blood; or The Telegral h Girl.
320 The Genteel S otter; or. The N. Y, Night Hawk.
349 Iron-Hearted ick. the Gentleman RoadAgent.
354 (1 Richard; or. The Crimson Cross Brand.

3o3 Crownin hield, the Sleuth; or. Pitiless as Death.
370 The Dus y Detective; or. Pursued to the End.
370 Black Beards; or. The Rio Grande High Horse.
381 The Gyps Gentleman; or Nick Fox, Detective-
384 InJun Dic , Detective; or, Tracked to New York.
391 Kate Scott. the Decoy Deteciive.

408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death.

419 The Bat of the Battery ; or. Joe Phenix, Detective.
425 The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreaiits.

 

 

~uimku- -

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

58 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of De'dwood City.
87 The Scarlet Captain; or. Prisoner of the Tower.
106 Shamus O’Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingai.

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

1 A Hard Crowd; or. Gentleman Sam’s Sister.
4 The Kidnap er; or. The Northwest Shanghai.
29 Tiger Dick. aro King; or, The Cashier’s Crime.
54 Always on Hand; or, The F00t<HlllS Sport.
80 A Man of Nerve; or. Caliban the Dwarf.
114 The Gentleman from Pike. _
171 Ti r Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart.
207 01 Hard Head: or. Whirlwind and his Mare.
251 Tiger Dick vs. iron D. spard.
280 Tiger Dick's Lone Band.
299 Three of a Kind; or, Tiger Dick, Iron Despard,
and the SportiVi Sport.
338 Jack Sands, the Boss of the Town.
 gelloubiluck. 1thealiicstizo.
: iger ck‘s e e; or The Golden Ser nt.
401 Silver Sid; or, A Ennis} “Bluff. W
431 California Kit, the Always on Hand.

BY J. o. cownnicx.

890 The Giant Cupid; or Cibuta John’s Jubilee.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the Gold Star Detective.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

898 Sleepless Eye the Pacific Detective.
432 The Giant Horseman; or, Tracking the Red
Cross Gang.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

438 Laughin Leo: or. 8 read Ea is So: ’ '
‘84 LPaif'd. L y JoslefphW . (Bad erFJr. m s Dandy
u er ynx.i e (D er t
‘35 TfogudAnolgéeé e ective. By Capt.
a ne- rm uccaneer' or, The Havenles
Cruiser. By 0' l. Prentiss ingraham. ’
(36 Kentucky Jean the S on from Yellow Pi. e; or,
Biuoeyed Belle of ended Bow.
Read March 2.

487 Deep uk , the Silent Sleuth; or, The Man of
Two Lives. B William H. Manning.
March 3

Ready . -

438 Oklahoma Nick- or. Boomer Balt‘s Little Bur
Egggyl’artyh it: Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

489 Salamander Sam; or, The Swamp-Island Rene~

g“ es. By Ms . Daniel Boone Dumont.
sdy March .

.4 new issue every Wednesday.

Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all
Newsdealers. ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each. .

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Ptmnsnsns.

 

 

The Old River Sport; or. A Man‘ of Honor.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mil .

as William Street, New York.

 

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