axé

“'5‘.

r a

. u

 

 

 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT. 1881. BY Bum; 8: Amus.

 

 

"a 1  Published Ever!
I I

Oc'ronxn. 1902. 1
M. J. lvnus a; 00., Publishers, 1; #7“
Month.

Cent: 3. Copy.

smegma”.  t
FIRE-EYE, THE SEA HYENA; or, THE BRIDE [IF A BUCBANEER.

A ROMANCE 01‘ THE REALITY 0P PIRACY DURING THE BYGONE CENTURY.

(JAMES SULLIVAN. Puonlml).
379 Pearl street. New York.

BY COLONEL PRENTISS IN'GRAHAM,

two: or “nun, m Human,” “MONTEZUMA, mm nacmnss,” “ mnmcn, m BUCCANIIB,” “m pm nun."
“ um CRITAN noun,” “mm mm maven,” am, no.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"moon: nwnmmnnnam,IWAmtnomumPArmmmn-

amusinunwnouAMCwuommuonoomwmm

 

 

Fire-Eye, the Sea Hy

 

Fire-Eye,
THE SEA HYENA;

The Bride of a. Buccaneer.

A Romance of the Reality of Piracy
During the Bygone Century.

BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM,
AUTHOR or “MERLE, THE MUTINEER;” “MON-
TEZUMA, THE MERCILEss;” “ CAPTAII’
KYD,” “DARKIE DAN,” ETC.

CHAPTER I.
' SOLD TO SATAN.

“ IN the name of Heaven! who are you?”

“ The Devil ! ” .

“No! no! no! you do but jest; you are not—”

“ I am the Devil .’ ”

“God have mercy on my soul,” and the
speaker fell his length upon the stone flooring,
while in his ears echoed, with the last sense of
consciousness, the mocking laughter of the one

 

 

' who had so fearlessly confessed himself Satan.

The two stood in the turret of an old ruin,
that for many long years had overhung the sea,
and looked off from the English coast.

 

Then Satan turned a uiet glance upon him,
and seeing the eyes open 6 spread his red wings
as though about to fly from the dizzy hight.

“Great God! It was no fearful dream then,
but a most horrible reality!” at lengfll burst
from the lips of Ross Vashti, as he half arose
and crouched back in one corner of the tower.

“ Yes, I am a reality Ross Vashti, as you
shall know, and I came here to visit you,” was
said in deep, stern tones.

“ Heaven protect me!”

“ Silence! Dare you ray to Heaven in the
presence of the King of ell?”

The tone and words brought a cry of terror

‘ to the man’s lips, and again several moments of

silence passed, and then Ross Vashti, feeling
his very brain growing cold and knowing that
madness would come ere long, said in alow,
piteous voice:

“What would you with me?”

“Not thy life, Ross Vashti, if you obey my
commands.”

“,I will do all that is commanded, only spare
me.

“Thou art a great‘sinner, Ross Vashti, and
therefore thou Jileascth me; but thy sins have
been committe against those upon whom my

; Satanic regard has been fixed, and for it thou

One time, in the far past, it had been the :
home of a noble race; but their hot blood had 2

. made them live too fast, their large hearts had
beggared them. and the last of his name, a mere :

y in years, had been driven from his home by
a scheming debtor, and forced to seek upon the
seas a refuge.

And that debtor had erected upon the broad
domain, within sight of the old castle, a lordly
mansion; and, won by his wealth a girl-bride,
the very maiden that the sailor youth had sworn
to return and claim for his own.

What mattered it that he was almost treble

her years, so that he held position in the land 1

that his gold bought for him?

What mattered it that one called him father,
of whom‘dark Stories were told, for his riches
Could buy silence? .

His bride’s name was a noble one, and her ,

: boyhood caused thee to

 

father held high title, and yet, being poor, sold ‘

his child as a mercantile commodity to the'

stern owner of Sealands, as his place was called,
striving to forget the pledge he had made the
boy sailor, Brandt Greyhurst, that when he re- .

turned from beyond the seas the Lady Lois

3,

. .two horns projecting from
deed the real Satan, l

 

should be his wife.

And thus the gold of Ross Vashti had gained
him the grand old estate of Sealands, won for
him the young and beautiful Lady Lois Nor-
man, the daughter of an earl, and made him as
~flippy as one‘ of his stern, sordid nature could

The nuptials were over, the guests had gone,
and in an evening stroll Ross Vashti had ex-
tended his walk to the old ruined castle of Sea-
lands, and in its main tower had been looking
out over the waters, unmindful in his medita-
tions, that night was coming on, for the full
moon rising with the goin r down of the sun,
had so blended day and night, that the change
was not sufficient to_ draw him out of his rev-
erie.

Suddenly a low, mocking laugh behind him
had caused him to start and turn, and he was
aghast with horror, for, not ten feet from him,
stood a form such as he had never seen before.

Strange stories were told of the old ruin, of
orgies held there on stormy nights by witches
and weird revelers, and yet, though avoiding
the place when darkness crept over the land
and sea. Ross Vashti had believed the stories
but the idle tales of old women.

Now, however, standing at the head of the
stone stairway leading to the tower he beheld a
form which suited all stories he had heard
and read, and ictures he had seen, of none
other than his atanic Majesty himself.

Dressed in bright red, with slender, wiry
form, peaked nose, sharp chin, long, claw-
like fingers, and ‘with win 5; and having
is forehead, the
stran e creature seemed
and from the lips of Ross Vashti broke the
tremulous cry:

“ In the name of Heaven! who are on?” .

He had ho d for a different reply—that it
was but ‘a jo e playedu n him by some one,
and the answer drOVe t e blood to heart and
brain, and down 11 the stone floor of the

. turret he sunk who y unconscious.

And the one ,who had thus announced him-
self gazed calmly down 11 n the prostrate
man, and then sprung nimb y upon the turret
wall, and with is winged arms folded upon
his. heart gazed out upon the moonlit sea,
wholl unconscious, seemingly, 'that two hun-
dred eel: below him was t e rocky shore be-
neath thecastle, and which the slightest false
atop, or the tremor of a nerve would hurl him

Upon .

. A: meticulous and silent as the prostrate man

the creature who-had called limself the

until the few moments that seed, teem-
- and at last ,RooaVashti owed sign.

u

I

.__,____4--4, i

  

 

shalt know punishment.”

“ Mercy!”

“ But now thou didst ask mercy of Heaven;
but I have no time to waste with thee, Ross
Vashti, so will simply sa that the hate of thy
ring the noble famil
of Greyhurst to ruin, and, not content wit
clutching the wealth that Was theirs, thou hast
stolen from the last of his race his bride, and
for it I‘liave placed my seal upon thee.” '

“ Mere , oh mercy! ’

“Ha! ia! ha! I love to hear thy voice in
pleading; but I will tell thee now that I lay
claim to thy soul just eighteen ears from this
night. or shall demand of thee a 1 else that thou
host to give: dost swear I shall have the one
or the other when I demand of thee the one I
desire?”

“ No, no, no, I cannot! I dare not!”

“ Then from this turret this very minute shalt
thou take thy hellwnrd flight with me,” and
the Devil spread wide his win s again, and
sprung down from the walllto t 9 side of the
cowering man.

“ Mercy! oh mercy!”

“1 tell you the word is not known in my
vocabulary! Speak! wilt thou live on in wealth
and seeming honor, with thy young bride, for
eighteen years, and then g,ch me what I choose
to demand, or wilt thou this instant take thy
hellward flight?”

“ Let me live!
pleading cry.

“ Then you sell me thy soul when I demand
it, after eighteen years from this night have
passed, or whatever else in its steadI may
claim?”

“Yes, only let me live now!”

“ So be it: hcre, wear this ring, and if it leave
thy finger, that instant you forfeit'your soul:
whoever comes to thee, and asks in the name of
this ring thy soul, or aught else. then wilt thou
know that he comes from me.

“ Thy hand, Ross Vashti!”

The trembling hand was stretched forth, and
the man shrunk. as though the touch of the
claw~like fingers burnt him.

Then, upon the little finger of the left hand
the Devil placed the ring, a solid band of gold,
with a red stone set in it.

“This shall protect thee. Ross Vashti, for
from this moment know that thou hast sold
th self to Satan.”

oss Vashti made no re ly for his tongue
could utter no word, and t e Devil continued:

"‘ Should that rin fail to remind you of my
visit to you this nig t: shouldst thou, in the
bright sunlight, forget that thou hadst sold
thy soul to Satan, in return for eighteen long
years of wealth, happiness and honor, then look
thou in thy glass, and thy snowy locks will
recall this night.”

“ My snowy locks?” gasped the man.

“Yes; I have made thy black hair as white
as the driven snow. Farewell, and remember!”

There was a vivid flash of lightning, that
blinded momentarily the eyes of Ross ashti,
and when he looked again, his Satanic visitor
had gone: but the heavens had suddenly he-
come overcast, the thunder rolled, the lightning
flashed, and in terror the man fled down the
stone stairwa of the turret, sped through the
vast ruin, an flying like a deer through the
park bounded into the brightly-lighted parlor
of his villa, and sunk upon the floor in a swoon.

CHAPTER II.
THE KING’S ARMED YACHT.

UPON a midsummer’s evening, during the
past centu ', a rakish looking cruiser was ying
at anchor 11 the river Thames, not far below
the Tower of London. '

The glow of sunset yet lingered in the west,
and the English ensi came flutterin , liken
Yrgeoua-plum hm down to the eck, for
t e e'voning gu had not been fired, and twi-
liggt shadows era f has n hndand sea.
' pop the can of those on

oh! let me live!” was the

 

8118..

   

 

leprottycratttoll'

 

j

the ceaseless hum of voices, the rumble of
wheels, and the deep tones of the vesper bells.
floating from the city.

That the armed yacht was a king’s craft was
evident, for her oflicers and sailors wore the
livery of the nation, and her being anchored
close in toward the London Tower proved that
its coming there was evidently an object of im-
portance, as boats had been passing and repassv
ing frequently, between t e craft and the
gloomy old stone pile within which dwelt so
much of misery.

The yacht was a model of symmetry from stem
to stern, and her rig proved that she was con.
structed with an eye to speed and stanch sea-
going qualities, while her armament was heavier
than was generally seen on a vessel of her ton-
nage, which was about a hundred and eighty
tons. ‘

The mass of the crew were below decks at
supper, and the watch on deck, impressed by
the gathering twilight, and the gloomy towers
of t e prison, were spinning yarns of fearful
deeds done in that black, menacing pile, which
flung its shadows almost over the craft.

The yards were squared and the sails furled
with the nicest precision, and the rake of her
masts was such that the long silken pennant,
with no breeze to fan it, hung down beyond the
stern davits.

The masts and spars were of polished black,
and the hull was also of the same somber hue,
excepting a belt of crimson that ran along the
to l of the bulwarks fore and aft.

I’rcsently out of her cabin came a tall form,
wearing the undress uniform of a captain in the
British naval service. v

Across his arm was thrown a cloak, as though
he expected to be exposed to the chill of the
night air, and after a glance at the “ Tower,”
he lfiegan to pace slowly fore and aft the white
dec . ' -

He was tall in stature, well—made, and pos-
sessed the air of one of high birth.

By degrees he relaxed his walk, and presently
came to a standstill, as though so lost in deep
meditation as to be unconscious of the move—
ments of his body, and then his noble features
became so distorted with his inward emotions,
as to mar their beauty, for his lips were severely
(‘Olllpl‘eSFGd his dark eyes scowied beneath the
contra ctcd brows, and a suppressed groan issued
from between his teeth.

As if the sound recalled him to himself, he
started and resumed his walk, and suddenly
turning to a junior oilicer who was near, or-
dered stern] :

“Mr. Mor ey, lowvr sway the third cutter!” I

“Ay ay, sir: third cutler away!” cheerily;
responded the young oiliccr, and the crew.
sprung to obey, and then stood in ....1diness
awaitin the next order of their chief.

“Mr. lorlcy, bring the prisoner, Greyhurst.
from below. and place him in the cutter: then

_ go to the Tower, and deliver him up to the

keeper with a. letter which I will give you.” and
Captain Tudor Vashti entcrcd his cabin, and
sitting down at his table wrote as follows:

“ T0016 CommamIan/e of [he Ton-er.-

“ SIR—I send by one of my officers a dcsm‘lcr from ,
the service, although he wore the uniform of a mid-
shipman in .the Royal N av '.

“ He is Brandt Greyhnrsi, lately promoted for gai-
lantr in the Indies. which circumstance you may
rccal : but his desertion, while in port in the. Ameri-
can colonics, places him under the ban of death. and
as I may sail at any moment, I send him to your
keeping. VAsnTI,

“ Captain Royal Navy, and
“ Commander H. R. H. armed yacht Lance.

“ THAMES RIVER, off London Tower."

’teturning to the deck, Captain Tudor Vashti
handed the letter to the young officer, and said,
sternly:

“Give this to the keeper, with the prisoner,
and return at once!”

“ Ay, ay, sir,” and the officer sprung over the
side into the cutter and took his seat at the
tiller, and by the side of a young officer in uni-
form, but from whose shoulder had been tom'
the epaulette denoting his‘ rank, and who sat
with bowed head, an heavy irons upon both
hands and feet. , ,

The captain gave a glance over the bulwark
at the prisoner, and a grim smile came upon his
face; but he made no remark, and the boat
pulled away in the direction of the Tower stairs, ‘-
apd was soon lost from sight in the gathering
g 00m.

Slowl , and with hands clasped behind his
back, dor Vashti paced the deck. until he
heard the oflicer of the deck hail the approach-
ing boat, and Paul Morley called out:

‘ All ready, sir!”

Takin his cloak from the bulwark, he threw
it aroun his shoulders, and step . toward 

ngway, which was quickly med by ade-

3.

‘ Well, sir?” . ,

This abrupt address was to the “young omcer,
who still kept his place at the er, and |who ,
understand ng it replied: ._ . ‘ .

“I deliveredthe risoner to the com and?
auto of the Tower, SK, and here is his rece pt”,

“Very well; but-I take'the conwain wi
me ashore, Mr. Morle .” , , _’-

Thoomoerrel _, morath ,_

y t

 

   

    
 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

   

I,
(.
l

W-n..-

cm

,1". '

 

 

 

 

 

"a
‘t.
’I“ .
*2,
.3 , [A
y,
‘6 I
v f l'
:2
a
A
v
V .1.
, re ,5


.. .
; Ltd
J. ".

. n

 

‘ be next day we arrested him in the town, just

 

Fire-Eyetthe Sea. Hyena.

 

 

of disappointment. relinquished 'the tiller and
returned on board the schooner, while the cutter
went shoreward, urged by the strong, steady
stroke of her oarsmen.

CHAPTER III.
A QITARTEI‘vlllfiCK cuA'r.

“ WHAT the dt vil is the matter with the cap-
tain of late, Manning?" asked Paul Morley, ad—
dressing a brother (:flicer as the cutter roe ell
away, and it “as (Vident that he was in ill-
humor at having been disappointed in going
ashore.

“ 1 cannot tell, Paul, for he is as savage and
silent as those Indians we saw in New York,
and. has been since we got our batch of mail in
the Indies; but I think his dark looks havo
something to do with poor Greyhurst. whom he
has just Sent to prison." responded Percy Man—
ning, a handsome young reefer witha dark,
resolute face.

“So I think, and more, it seems to me that
there iS‘some deep mystery at the back of (trey-
hurst’s desertion, and our sudden return to
England, and orders to allow no ccunnunica—
~tion with the shore. though our sweethearts are
dying to see us. By Neptune! how he nipped
my little game to have a little run up among
the theaters to-night‘, while he was away from
the boat”.

“He did indent. and instead of listening to
sweet songs £53101“, we'll have to content our-
selves with the howling of the dogs on the
banks; I tell y-nu,lJrr(-y,1 believe he has in-
curred the king’s displeasure in some way, and
has been ordered here to be convenient to the
Tower if he is wanted, or—”

“ Or what, Pauli" asked Percy Manning, as
the other paused.

“Or we have come to take an important
prisoner to sea and lose him, for certain it is,
we have not crossed the ocean so 55px din mere
Iy to give the royal family a sea airing,r of a
few days: but see: the cutter does not land at
the Tower stairs, but is pulling up along the
shipping, as then h the skipper was going up
into the cit for a lurk.”

“Well, s e is lost in the darkness now, and
among the other river craft, so I care not where
he goes; only I would like a short run ashore,
and to know it' we are to sail without seeing
our friends. But, come: let as smoke, for I
have some of those frrgrant Habaneros I got
when in the Indies, and their flaV‘oI‘ will drive
dull care away.”

The two young cfficers were then joined by
more of their comrades, and the Habancrcs hav-
mgI been passed around, all were soon in the
fu enjoyment of a fragrant cigar, and willing
to chat on the subject that seemed uppermost
in their minds, and which Paul Morley after
awhile set going by the remark, as he glanced
toward the Tower:

“ Poor Greyhurst: I fear his doom is sealed.”

“I fear so, too, for he who enters yonder
stone wall may certainly bid a long farewell to
hope,” replied Percy Manning.

‘ Comrades, do you know,‘ there was some-
thing behind the desertion "tr Brandt Grey-
hurst?” asked Leo Paulding, the senior of the
youthful set of officers on the Lance, and, in
he absence of his captain. the commander.

A man of few words, his remark caused all
to look quickly into his face for an explana-
tion, nd he continued.

“After the reception of our mail in the In-
dies, I saw that Brandt was (lee 1y moved by
letters he had from home, and I was on deck
when he went into the cabin and asked” the cap-
tain fer leave to return home at once in the
clipper ship that sailed that ni ht; but Captain
Vas ti seemed to have receive news that put
him in an ugly humor and sternly refuscd.

‘ “Then Brandt urged it as a matter of the

greatest importance, and being again refused,

eft the cabin for a few moments, and returned

with a. paper in his hand, and I distinctly heard
words:

“ ‘ Captain Vashti, it is so important that I go
home at once, and you having refused me leave,
that I hand on my resignation, sir, from the
R0 a1 Navy. ”

n exclamation of surprise burst from all
thug l501mg officers, and Paul Morley asked
I] c : r

“ lint then, Mr. Paulding?”

“ Wh , the skipper took the pa r, tore -it in
two an threw the pieces out of t e stern ports,

 

* while he said sternly:

“ ‘Go on deck, sir, for I decline our resigna-
tion, and you shall not return to ngland.’
“ Well,’ Brandt Greyhurst replied, ‘I have

given it to you, sir, and the Admiralty can de- '

termine whether you had a right to refuse it
under the circumstances)

“ Then he came on deck, and that night, as
you know, he dropped own'board and swam out

1 toward the clippirr; but the craft was already

under way, and he failed to reach her, was
picked up by a cotfee drogher coming in, and

 

he was going on board a vessel bound to New
ork; now why did the captain refuse poor
burst. and why was he so anxious to return

 V owl”, and again, why has the yacht run

Kg. - < e, when we expected to bcawa

.\
» .‘t 

   

 

\
a year ye .nd now being in the Thames, we
are not allowed to go ashore. or hold communi-
cation with any one from ashore?”

“ These are conundrums I am continually ask-
ing myself. I’aulding, and as regularly giving
them up.“ replied Percy Manning.

“ ‘V‘. ll, [ lei-l sorry for poor Greyhurst, for a
better fellow never Wore epaulet, though he i_-;
hot—headed when urous’id, and would not speak
to me when. I can l‘if‘ll him to the Tower, but be
naturally feels b?  and sore at heart. By
Neptunei that xx: s a bouncing fish that sprung
out of the water then!” and Paul Morley
sprung to the side :md looked over at the swift
running river; but. excepting the ripple of the
watersnothing was Visible, and he returned to
his seat on the quarter-deck. just as a dark ob-
Ject appeared under the counter of the yacht,
and slowly mow-d shoreward with the strong
and steady stroke of a bold swimmer.

CHAPTER IV.
TUDOR VAsuTI MAKES A VISIT.

“7112): the third cutter, after quitting the
Lance, neared the Tower stairs, Tudor Vashti
aroused himself with a start, and sail! sternlyz

“ Not there. sir! Head for the water stairs
of St. James!"

The coxswain quickly changed the direction
in which he was steering, evidently very will-
ingr to avoid closer contact with the frowning
Tower, and the cutter was soon ascending the
river parallel with the shore, which was bor-
dered with shipping, with houses beyond, and
long avenues, or streets. here and there, leading
back into the heart of the town.

Beneath the majestic arches, supporting the
bridgzs that cross the Thames, the cutter went
on its way, here and there turning out for a
crowing Wherry, and with the hum of the city,
the ‘heave—yovco’ of seamen raising their
anehcrs, and the song of some boarman re-
sounding in their ears, and heard with crident
enj .j'mcnt by all excepting the silent man rc-
clitiiug upon the, crimson velvet (‘llsllltlllh‘ in the
stern-sheets, and wrapped in the oblivion of his
own thoughts.

At length the coxswain ran the boat along
the feet of the St. James water stairs, and the
captain sprung to his feet, and said steruly:

“ Return at once to the yacht, and come back
here for me at midnight; but mind you, touch
nowhere cnroutc, and hold converse with no
one.”

“Ay, ay, sir,” responded the coxswain, and
springing ashore Tudor Vashti rapidly ascend-
ed the stone stairway, and was soon after
traversing one of the dinay thoroughfares that
lead from that quarter of London to the western
part of the city.

Enveloped in his cloak he held on his way by
an obscure street. that led into the oldest part of
the town, and where men of his bearing and
dress were seldom seen.

As though realizing this, his hand beneath his
cloak held firmly to the hilt of a dagger, ready
to greet any footpad that might spring upon
b.

im.

Holding on his way still furtherinto this hive
of drones, where obscenity and dninkenness
alone seemed to hold high revel, for home hap-

iness and industry had long since taken flight,
lie soon came to a street of ittle better appear-
ance, and with altogether a. different aspect,
for the sidewalks were lined with small shops
dimly lighted, and the show-windows were fll ed
with an assortment of merchandise that made
them appear like curiosity-shops.

This was the Jews’ quarter, and here the
Israelites of London did business, with impecu-
nious Christians as their customers, a. fact that
seems true almost the world over. .

At length Tudor Vashti stopped and regarded
a shop on the opposite way from him, and said

uieflv:
q “ Yes, that is his den, if I remember correct-
ly; but the accui‘sed shops are all so much alike
it is hard to distinguish one from the other!”

Crossings,r over he read above the door, can
sign thata e had sadly defaced:

“ Shyloc '—Money-lender.”

Entering the dime lighted shop, the young
captain saw before him a black-eyed handsome
Jewish youth in red cap and dark suit, the only
occupant of the place, and who was exam—
ining with considerable triumph in his face a
handsome court dress upon which he had just
loaned a sum not one-tenth of its value.

“Where is the Jew?” asked Vashti steruly,
and with his f ace wearing a smile of contempt.

“ I am a Jew,” was the somewhat proud re-
ply. .
“ I mean your master, Sirrah.”

“I have no master: my uncle’s clerk I am,
but I am not his slave.” was the angry response.

“ ls Shylock your uncle?” ,

“ He is.” ‘

“ Then he it is that I wish to see.”

“ I can attend to any business you may wish,
if it is a loan you desire, for just such proud
gentle’nien as you are come to as poor Jews for
' old.’

“By the cross! you’ll never lend an onza if
vou b ‘dle not your tpngue, Jew! go and bid
hylo kcomet‘ome.” 4 -, s ' ' l
‘5   hanged ” '

41.

   

 

“ I must see him, for it is a matter of deepest
moment.”

The young Jew smile], but said in reply:

“ What name shall I give, sir.”

“Tudor.”

The Jew turned away, and as he was about
to leave the room by an inner door, said:

“ Will you keep shop until my return?”

“ Curse you! do you take me for a peddler of
old clothes? No; I’ll let the street rabble sack
your accursed den if you hurry not back,” was
the savage response, and with a light laugh, the
young Jew disappeared.

But he was gone. onlya few moments, and

Yet that was sullicient ior Tudor Vashti to feel .

uniilinted most deeply, for a sailor coming in,
half-drunk, and seeing but one peison present,
and not recognizing his hearing and face, said:

"‘ I say, old Israel, bear down on me with a
couple of sovereigns on this spy-glass, for it be-
longed to the lord admiral once.’

" Go to the devil, sir!”

The stern command brought a look from the
tar, which caused him to dart out of the door,
just as the young Jew entered, and said: -

“ My uncle will see you, sir: this
please.” -

Stooping to enter the low door, Tudor Vashti
stepped flCl‘OSS the narrow hallway, and instant-
ly a transformation scene burst upon the as-
tonished eyes of tnc young captain, for, instead
of being. ushered into a portal on his r' ht,
which he knew opened into a dingy 0 cc,
where he had before visited Shylock, the
money-lender, a soft, sweet voice called to him
from the left, and he found himself suddenly
confronted by a vision of beauty whom he had.
before met, and yet little dreamed of ever see.
ing in that quarter of London, while the room
he entered was large, superbly furnished, and
as luxurious in its appointments'as heart could
desire. '

The sudden metamorphosis from without to
within, and the being he beheld before him
seemed to strike the sailor dumb, and he stood
gazing in rapture upon the fairylike room and

way,

its beautiful occupant, until recalled by a sil- .

very laugh, and the words:

"Captain Tudor Vastti is welcome to the
home of Shylock the Jew.”

“ And 'oul'in Heaven’s name, who are you?”
he gaspe , rather than said. -

“ I am Adina, the daughter of the money-
lender,” was the, calm response.

" Impossible !"

“ No, sir, it is not impossible,” was the firm
re a r.

“ I have followed you often when last in
England, have let my eyes dwell on you at the
opera and at the theater, have chased on
when you were riding in the Park, and tried so
hard to win one word from you; but you cold-
ly passed me by, when we Were near to each
other, and at a distance your eyes lured me on
and I believed that you were some fair maid of
noble blood and name.”

The face of the maiden flushed, and she said,
proudly:

“ I do possess both blood and name, for m
anccstors date back to a time when yourf
isle of England was the home of barbarians.”

’ “ And yet you are the daughter of Shylock, a
Jew i” '

“ Yes, a. money-lender, who can make half
the nobles of ngland beg mercy of him this
night,” she sai , with a sneer.

“ Pardon me; I meant not to ofi'end, and we
must not quarrel. I am glad at last to know
you, be you whom you may, fair girl, and we
will be friends if you but permit it,” and he

ke in a tone, and with a fascination in his
ark eyes that had seldom failed to make them-
selves felt when turned upon either man or wo-
man.
“ I accept the truce, - gallant captain: be
seated. pray, for you fall to my tender mercies
to entertain until my father is at leisure,” and
the maiden motioned toa silken- cushioned chair
for her visitorto take, while she sunk gracefully
down upon a. divan of Oriental manufacture,
and in rapturous admiration the young captain
gazed upon her.

.——~—

CHAPTER V.
rm: JEW AND ran smon.

IT was no wonder that Tudor Vashti gazed
upon Adina, the Jewess, with rapture, for her
form was one of exquisite grace in each motion
and perfection of outline, ,while her robe of
canary-colored silk suited her dark, Italian-like
beauty.

Upon her arms were bracelets of sapphires,
her slender fingers were encircled by the ransom
of a princc in precious stones, and a necklace of
rabies was around her beautifully-molded

neck, and sent forth crimson sparks at her every

movement.
He:- slippers were marvelously small, high-
heeled, as was then the fashion, and upon each
was a gold buckle studded with rubies.

Like the rich tones of a flute her voice felt
delightful cadence upon the ear, and the a
contour of her face, with masses up; - - -b
hairheldinco *  "

-i‘ i

“has.

P'-

 
   
  

 
    

 

     
 
   
 
  

1 who earned it . in

_ more

, was

4.

Fire-Eyetthe sea Hyena.

 

 

h.. I

ing of rarest loveliness to look upon, and one
whom lustrous dark eyes, full of passion, might
lure a man to be either devil or angel.

If Tudor Vashti was enraptured at the beauty
before him, Adina the Jewcss, seemed also to
be deeply interested in the young captain, and
had, in fact, as he had said’, in meeting him in
her rides and at the opera, encouraged him by

, her glances, and, after several of these acciden-
tal meetings, had taken the trouble to find out
just Who and what he was.

For some moments the conversation between
the two went pleasantly on, and then it was
broken by the entrance of a. tall, well-formed
man of fifty perhaps, with a resolute strongly
marked face that would have been noble in ex-
pression, were it not marred by a certain look of
avarice and cunning that played in his eyes and
around his mouth.

His hair was long, black, and streaked with
gray, and he wore a longr mustache that in a
measure hid his moral weaknesses that hovered
about his full lips. '

Physically he was a splendid specimen of his
race; morally he was the cruel, merciless usurer.

Without the slightest accent, and with the.

air of a man who knew his power, he said in his
dee tones :

“ am honored by a visit by Captain Tudor
Vashti. Adina, my child, this is my friend,
Captain Vashti, but I see you are already ac-
quainted.”

The young captain’s face flushed at the name
of friend bein a plied to him by the Jew; but
he kept back t e 0t words that rose to his lips,
remembering that the want of gold sometimes
made the slave the master, and said calmly :

“ Yes, I have before met your beautiful
daughter Shylock, though never dreamed that
you could be or father.

“You came to visit me, I believe, Captain
Yashti,” said the Jew, quickly, and in a. tone
that sh0wed he did not exactly like the remark
of the sailor.

“I did, sir,” was the ban hty re ly, and the
Jervess arosa and with a smi e and w left the

m.

“ I believed you were in American waters,
cagtgin but I am glad to see that you are again
in ndon, and in time to redeem your paper,
which comes due within the week,” said Shy-
Iock, when the two were alone.

“So I should be in American waters, Jew;
but receiving your letter, refusing to renew my
paper, I boldly came to London, trusting in the
clemency of the king to pardon me for acting
without orders.”

“ And the notes alone brought you, captain?”

“You, I believe, are interested only in the
notes‘ you hold of mine,” was the haughty ‘re-
sponse to the question.

“ I am interested in you, my dear captain, and
I ask a ain, if the notes alone brought you
back to ndon?” Was the suave inquiry.

“ You know I am ruined it they are not paid,
or arranged fur,” evasively said the sailor.

“ True, but you have another motive, strong
as is that one, in being here.”

“ Well, what is it?"

“I believe the senior Vashti has taken unto
himself a young bride.” '

. _“ Curse him, yes I”

“ Ah! you arrived in London too late to re-
vent your father marrying the fair Lady ois,
and taking her for your own bride l”

“Curses! yes; but what could have induced

 

the old fool to marry the child, for she. is not ,

aighteen?”

“ Perhaps the motive that caused you to offer
her your hand and heart, by letter, he day you
sailed for the Americas.”

“ What! did you dare tell him, Jew, what
you told me?”

“Yes, Tudor Vashti, I did tell him that she
was to fall heir, when she reached the age of
twenty, to a vast ro rty left her by an uncle,

in Calcutta, but wished the secret of the inheri-
tance to remain unknown to her and to the
earl. until after she married, thinking thereby
that she would marry a man who wedded her
for love and not for her gold.” ,
“And you told my father this secret, after
divulging it to me?” v , ‘
“ I did, for I have other plans for on,” was
the cool response; but it brought the ot words
A from the sailor. .
“ Thou accursed unbeliever, do you dare speak

1 ‘ of me as though I were your slave?”

“Money makes all on an e uality while we
trade in it, Captain Vashti, an for the time we
are uals.” .

“ hat! you my equal?” almost shouted the
ea in a frenzy. I

‘I said for the time being you were my
equal, sir; but holul let us not quarrel, but
resume where we left off; I say I have other
plans for you, and they will bring vou even
d ”gold than would the Lady Lois have
A one. ‘ ‘

l  ,“lfl'amc' the plans,” was the stern command,

Mining“: Word of gold_having. in a degree,

     

 very,

the to zor of, the yo ng sailor.
mdi l! Vsldnnedél’j‘ulmost iii-l

:_
'1-

   
   

n in, and died in my house '

 

 

“Oh, no, I only desire to probe you, to see
what you can stand.”

“You will urge me on to hurl you beneath
mv feet, Jew!” was the savage reply.

The Jew arose to his full hight, and said
calmly: '

“ Tudor Vashti, Enoch Shylock fears no
man, and the instant you stretched forth your
hand to me in anger. that instant would you
fall a corpse at my feet.” ~

ImpreSsed by the commanding fearless man-
ner of the Jew, the young captain replied
puickly, for he could not but fccl respect for
um:

“I mean '011 no harm. JcW, but on drive me
to madness by your insultinzz won s."

“ I ask you again, how thick is your skin to
stand had tidings?” ‘

“ Great God! does my father know of—no,
no, he cannrfi—that is, there is little to know.
In the Devil’s name, Jew, what do you mean!”
and as Enoch Shylock sunk down in his seat,
the young captain arose livid and nervous, and
confronted him.

“I mean, Tudor Vashti, that I have a bitter
tale you must bear, and yet, if you are not owr
fine in feeling, it may be lightened by the clink
of gold: but be calm, man, for it is not of your
deeds I would speak, but of the acts of others
that deeply concern you.”

“ I fear my father suspects that I have done
some wron and intends to cut 011' my allow-
ance, until '3 death makes it mine by right; in
this case, Jew, I am ruined, for my pay is not
enough for pin money for a milk» maid.”

“ You know best what wrongs you have done,
Vashti; but, as I before said, it is of the wrongs
of others I would now speak, so be seated and
listen to me, for I have a secret that will startle
your ears, as does the moaning of the coming
tornado; are you calm?”

“Yes, say what thou hast to sa ,” was the
sfiern response, and the sailor sunk ack in his
c 1111‘.

 

CHAPTER VI.
THE .mw MAKES KNOWN A similar.

“I AM ready to hear our secret, Jew, be it
good or had,” said Tudor ashti, as Shylock re-
mained silent for some seconds, after the two
were seated.

“ It is your secret, Captain Vashti.”

“ Be it whom it may, tell it me, for life is too
short Jew, for me to spend my time here,”
was the impatient response.

A sinister smile crossed the face of the He-
brew:

“Your father, Ross Vashti, gave you every
advantage that money could buy 5” he asked
calml '.

“ es, he made me a gentleman, and it re-
mains with me to keep or lose the title by my
deeds,” was the bitter re .ly.

“He gave you, I believe, an estate worth
thirty thousand pounds, upon your coming of
age three years ago?”

“ Yes, and you hold mortgages on it amount-

, ing to tWelve thousand, which I cannot pay.”

“I am aware of that, on item; but tell me,
did you ever know your mot er'l”

“ No, she died in giving me birth.”

“ Ah; it is sad not to know a mother’s love,”
with a sneer. .

“ I did not know my mother, but there was
one I loved as such, for indeed she was a
mother to me, and. had she lived until [grew to

- manhood, I would have led a different lift};

and the voice was full of sadness; but changi
his tone, he asked: . ,

“ W h, do you ask these questions concerning
my family and myself, Jew .3”

“ From interest in finding out what you know
of yourself, Ca itain Vashti."

“ And what 5 your discovery?”

“ That you are in utter ignorance of who and
what'you are.”

“ What! do you dare insinuate that I am
different from what I tell you?” was the fierce
question.

“I insinuate nothing, sir, I state one; .’aets;
you are not what ydu seem, and that is the
secret I have for your ear. ”

“ You are a tool, if you think you can deceive
me with your concocted stories, Jew.”

“He enjoys his laugh most, Captain Vashti,
who laughs last: but I am losing time, so i will
at once say that you are not the son of Ross
Vashti.”

The voung sailor sprung to his feet, and cried
savage 1y. ’

“ In the Devil’s name whose son am I then?‘

“ The King’s I”

The refply, uttered in a decided tone, seemed
to take rom Tudor Vashti all power of utter-
ance, and he sat vacantly staring at the Jew,
whose faceremained cold, sinister and cruel.

At length he said in a hoarse tone:

" Jew, in your 'eeth I throw the lie, for you
would imply a stain upon my name by your
words ”

“1 imply nothing, Tudor Vashti, but boldly

, assert tlmt you have royal Hood in war Veins,

    
 
 

and that you an the son’of England’s King.”

’ a an

 

one who was born in dishonor.
would hear the story.”

“I will hear all you have to say,” and the
young sailor bent his head upon his hand.

“The king, as you have heard, in his young
days wusa wild, dashing youth, and when sent
to msticate for a few months, after some mad
freak, he met a young and beautiful girl, the
sister of a poor landowner.

“ She knew not who he was, though her
brother t'crreted out his inrogmfto, and she
lovod him, as he did her, and the two were
secretly married.

“ The brother had played the spy upon their
actions from the first. and after their secret
marriage, made known to the youthful king
what he knew, and then the thunderbolt burst:-
with fury, for English laws annulled the mar-
riage, and His Highness Went back to London
in sorrow, and in shame at the dishonor he had
brou ht on one whom he really loved.

“ be two never met again, Captain Vashti,
for the deserted wife remained as secluded as a
mm, and gave birth to a son, whom she never
lived to see grow to manhood, for she died when
he was in his sixteenth year.”

“ I never heard of this act of the king, Jew.”

“Oh no; it was kept a dead secret, exccpt
among those who were forced to know of it, and
you never heard either, that you are this son
of the king and the unfortunate MTV”

The sailor again sprung to his feet, and paced
the floor for a moment in deep and painful
thought: then he said slowly:

“Jew you have to give me proof of this.”

“ I wi 1; do you remember having heard that
Ross Vashti, in his younger days, wasa poor
land-owner, and made all his money by spec!»
latiigg in city property?”

H  ’1

“Where did he get this money to speculate
with, my dear captain?” was the sinister ques-
tion.

“Ask him.”

“ N o, I ask you.”

“ I know not.”

H I  ,1

“ Then wh the devil do you ask me?”

“Because wish you to know; he was the
brother of the maiden whom the king secretly
married.”

“ Ha! you insinuate that he was paid to keep
the secret?”

“ I do.”

“ Go on.”

“ It was your aunt Infelice whom you re:-
ferred to as being a mother to you?”

“ Yes.”

:‘ §hn was the sister of Ross Vashti?”

‘ 70*.

“ Sin: was your mother.”

“ Good God!”

The intense surprise and feeling portrayed by
the sailor pen can not express. as now there
came before him the belief that the Jew iad
told the truth, for a thousand things flashed be-
fore him to prove that the secret of his tirth
was a true one, and in deepest, painful reverie
he remained for some time.

Then heasked:

“ Be more lucid, Jew, in your story; Why has

Listen if you

fore the world?”

“His is a sordid nature, Captain Vasha‘d, and
knowmg that he held a secret that was a golden
revenue, he used it for his own go

“ He had married about the tin the king
secretly Wedded his sister, and his wife died in
giving birth toa child, born the da that you
were born; but the child was de , and this
Secret was kept from all but the king nimse
and you were, raised as his child, and yaur rov
master made Boss Vash‘i the wealthv man no
is, and gave to you yourestate, which you nu rt-
gagcd to me, and gave to him gold to give you.
and which he kept his percentage of, you may
be assured, knowing his sordid nature.”

“ Yes, you are damnany alike, I assure you
Jew: but now I understand his liberaiity low
ward mo and miserly conduct toward all other?
and, Enoch Shylock, I believe your story] and
shall asp it to my advantage,” and a triun )h—
ant, sinister light came into the dark eyes 0:.
Tudor Vashti—a look which the Jew did not at
all like, for he said quickly: v

“ Hold on, captain, do not go too fast.”

A mocking laugh was the response, and the
youn sailor took up his cloak and hat, as

houg to depart, when he sudden] was con-
fronted by the Jew, his face white, his manner
resolute, as he said in stem tones, at the same

naval omcerz—
tell you.”

CHAPTER VII. ,
A GAME IN WHICH A woman won.

Enoch Shylock, Tudor Vashti. 'with a livid
face, resumed his seat, and the Jew also at
down, and, after an instant of silence, said:  .
, “Tudor Vashti,-you= hold ,a secret

 

 

‘ Sheen kept ASH.

have no fight to divulge;
bin

  

Ross Vashti borne the name of my fatherbo'

time leveling a pistol full at the heart! of the ‘,
“ Sit there, Tudor Vashti, for I have more to .

Imnnsssn by the threatening" manner a! 

    
  
   
  
  
   
    
  
    
  
  
    
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
    
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
    
   
   
   
 
  
  
   
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
    
  
   
     
  
  
    
  
  
   
     
     
           
           
       
       
    
      
       
     
       
     
      
  

 
  
   
       
  
   
    
   

  
 

 

. like kind,” was the cool

 

_.-... _. _.. “mid” ,

“ And that is?” _
“ The enalty of death hangs over all who
know it, if'it is divulged.”
“ Bah!" was the contemptuous exclamation.

“0h. sir. I know that in your calling you t

face death almost daily: but you do not face
the death that awaits those who know this
secret. should one of their number prove false
and bctrn y it.

"I tell you, those who held power were de-
termined that this wild freak of their king
should not go abroad, and the law of death was
passed as n penalty against all who knew it,
should any one betray it, and that doom is, to
die m a dungeon of the Tower by torture.”

The youngr sailor, brave and reckless as he '

was, shuddered at. the words of the Jew, and
again a silence fell between them for amoment,
until Tudor Vashti suddenly broke it by ask-
lng: _

“ How knew you this secret, Jew?”

“I will tell yon;l had, and still have impor-
tant dealings with Ross Vashti, and after some
of our transactions, he sent me a roll of impor-
tant papers, to keep for him as he Was moving
to his new country estate of Sealands, whic
you know be robbed the. Gre burst family of.

“By mstake, he inclosed. among them a
small package, which be had intended de-
positing in the bank for safety, until his safe
was ready at his villa, and there were the let-
ters that had passed between Infelice and
the king, and himself and the king, mak-
ing known the whole story of the weddin ,
s- pnrntion. discovery, penalt of betraya,
and your birth, and the fact t at Ross Vashti
was to claim you as his son.”

“ And you read these secret papers?” snecred
the sailor.

“Of course; I saw that they were private,
and I skillfully broke the seal, read them, and
then told Ross Vashti, when he came to me in

dire alarm, that they had not been 0 lened, ‘
and nfteru close examination of them, )8 be- :

lieved me.”
“ Well, to what does all this tend l” impatient-
ly asked Tudor Vashti.
“ You are in need of money, I believe?”
“ You know that I am.” - ,
“I will give it to you.”
Tudor Vashti looked up in surprise, and said:
“ Yes: for usurious interest.”
“No; on fair terms.”
“ W hat l” ‘
“I mean it.”
‘ “ But you need security.”
“0) ly some names.”
“ What names?”
“Yours and one other.”
“ Whose?”
“Your father’s.”
‘ “ The king’s?”
“ Ah, I forgot: no: Ross Vashti’s.”
“ He will see me in Hades first.”
“ Don’t ask him.”
“ What mean you?”
“ Write it for him.”
“ Hal ou dare insult me by such a pro-
ition?’ apd‘the young sailor was again on his

eet.
“ Oh, no; I merely tell you to do what you
have done bet re.”

and remained silent, while Enoch Shylock said:

“ I have in my iron box there, Tudor Vashti,
a draft drawn in your favor by RossVashti,
and which was cashed for you before you

 

 

“ Try again,” was the laconic remark.

“ Would you lure me on to still greater
ruin?”

" Yes.” 6

"How have I wronged you, Jew?”

“ You have not wronged me; I wish on to
be in trouble that I may serve you; now 0 you
wish to pay those notes I hold?”

“ I have no money.”

“I will let you have it.”

“ Again I ask for what?”

“ Simply on your name, say your note of
hand for the sum you desire, and the indorse—
ment of Ross Vashti.”

“But I tell you he will put his name to no
paper of mine, and “besides, I do not wish him
to know I need money.”

The Jew laughed, a low, sinister laugh. and
said:

“ It is as I thou ht, Captain Tudor Vnshti
the notes I hold 0 yours for ten thousand

)unds, now about due. have on them the forged

‘ indomnmcnt of Ross Vashti.”

Again Tudor Vashti became livid, for he saw
that the Jew had overmatched him in cunning;
but after a few seconds of thought he said:

“ I may as well admit it: the draft you hold
would condemn me without the notes, and I
frankly confess to you Jew, that tne indorse-
ment is ungenuine, an it was the fear of hav-
ing you present them to the man I then believed
my father, that brought me back to England
Without orders.”

“ Well write new notes, say at the same
length 0 time, to cover the sum I gave on on
them, with what I lost on the persona effects
of your suicidal friend, and the amount I paid
to take up the draft with what other money
you may w'sh, and  will cash them for you,
less twenty per cent.”

" You are enerous,” was the sneering reply.

“ Yes, for should have charged you forty,
as I did before.”

“ And I must indorse by Ross Vashti.”

“ Of course, otherwise your note would be
worthless, for I hold mortgages on all you
own.”

“ You have some deep motive in this?”

H YesI i) '

“ What is it?”

“I prefer to let time develop;‘what amount
will you make the note?”

“ Twelve thousand pounds for three months,
for I need a thousand to see me through my
stay here in London.”

‘ Write the note!” was the stern command,
and the Jew handed the sailor a pen.

In a bold hand he wrote the note and signed

“ Now indorse it l”

In a skillful manner he forgle: the signature
of Ross Vashti, though his nd trembled a
little as he did so.

“ Now here are your old notes, Tudor
Vashti,” and the Jew handed them to him.

“ And the draft that I gave poor Vincent the
money to take 11 ll” -

“I shall kee that.”

The eyes 0 the sailor flashed, but he said
nothing, and taking out of his iron box a roll of

; crisp bank bills he counted out the amount due

3 the young officer and handed them to him, with
Tudor Vash i turned livid at this bold charge "

the remark :-
“ This should last you some time, Vashti, but

'a fool and his money are soon parted, you

sailed to the Americas, by his bankers; your :
notes to me, on which you got money, aided in 1

taking up that draft before maturit , and to do
so, you left the money in the ban 8‘ of one of
your friends, who gambled a. part of it away
and in despair came to me to raise the amount
desired upon certain personal valuables of his
own.

“They, were not worth half the money, and
subject to fainting attacks, in his alarm, he
fainted away in my office, and a little drug
kept him from returning to consciousness until

examined his papers, and I found on him
the etter, stating you inclosed the money to
take up a certain draft.

“He had not suspected you but I did, and
when be revived, I told him if he would call on
the morrow I would arrange the loan for him.

“ I then went and took up the forged draft
and I hold it against you, and when he camel
loaned him the money on his valuables, andI
sup se you know the result?"

filo heard from home that he had committed
suicide.”

“ He dil; intoxicated by the salon of so
large asum, he tried to doube it, lost it at,
the  table, and drove a knife to his

ear "

“ And you have that draft?” said the young
sailor in arlow tone.
“ I have; and I will cash another for you of a

“You wish me to a
“ What matters it?
xgllllln will follow.”tak m _ “I
no on e up per w1
you still: the ganiin table)” ’

use.
in commit forgery!”

    
 
     
 

I , - L-r- : l. ‘. ‘
..- , h,“ «.l. 

«v Wonthefnmmfits lel itbubeenm
 .for'  meyfmibm’,
fl  < E".  . Ii" . "

know.”

“ No comments, Jew,” and as the ofllcer leant
forward to take up the bank bills, he saw his
own notes, and the draft, within reach of his
grasp, and seized with a sudden desire to destroy
all proof of his dishonor. he suddenly graSped
them, and as qulckl drew from his breasts.

; dagger and held it a ove the heart of the Jew,

 

to test her nerve 

cryifig savagely:

‘ old, Jewl or you shall die, for I am a des-
perate man, and I will have these proofs of my
guilt, and your money !you can keep, though
you have robbed me o a far larger sum by
your usurious interest.” ’

Enoch Shylock knew that he had to deal with
a desperate man, and he was aware that the
slightest movement would cost him his life, so
he moved not an atom, but from his lips came
an exclamation of alarm, and almost instantly
it was answered by the words, in a firm but
musical voice: ,

“ Sir, you are in my power, not my father in
yours.’ .

With a startled cr , Tudor Vashtl turned to
behold behind him, lf concealed by aheavy
velvet curtain, the slender form and lovely face
of Adina, the Jewess, and in her hand she held
firmly a revolver leveled at him, and her look
and attitude told him that he was indeed at her
mercy .

CHAPTER VIII.
, lrnANGnLY nn'r. ,

Irwua suikifnfiltableau for a moman and
one which was of dan r to both dor
Vashti and the Jew, for the ace of the former
had lost its nobleness and was 'frenzied with
desigrate determ‘ lnation, and he still held his
kn threatenmgly,‘andu thou h determined
tostrlke, and dare the shot of

 

    

 
 
 
    
   
 
  
  
  

     

   
 
  
 

  
 

 

FireuEye. the Sea. Hyena. 5

 

ogmlidm 501' .
Min-r . immerse-aw

        

    
  
   
  
    
 
   
  
  
   
 
   
    
     
  
 
    
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
 

 

lint Enoch Shylor-k knew Well the girl‘s nas-
turc. and he said, calmly:

“ Lower your weapon, Adina, for the captain
had perhaps cause to attempt my life, and
caught me unawares: but he will not make the
attempt again any more than will I be takenat
disadvantage: you are a brave girl, and I owe
you my life."

Instantly the maiden lowered her weapon,
and as quickly the arm of Tudor Vashti drop/
ped to his side, wnile he said. earnestly: -

“ You are indeed a brave girl, and worthy the
love and esteem of any man, and warmly do I
thank you for preventing my adding another
sin to the catalogue against my name.”

Adina smilsd, and in the smile there was a
look of forgiveness; but without a word she
lowered the curtain and was lost to sight, whllc
the Jew said cololy:

“There is your money, sir, and I warn you,
royal—blomlcd though you be. not to betray the
secret you have this night heard from my lips.”

“I am not anxious to make known my own
shame, Jew, for as the marriage between in)
royal father and unfortunate mother was an
nulled, Iccrtainly am a child of shame; so be
it, I have this night proven myself a man of
dishonor by forging the name of him I beicvr-d
my parent; good-night, Jew,” and the‘oflicer‘. , ,
turned away, and his host quietly and without
a word conducted him to the outer door.

With his money in an inner )ocket, and his
cloak folded around him closely. he m-nded
his way rapidly through the wretched thor-
orghfare, avoiding as much as possible the
crowd of half~drunken loungers here and there
grouped in the street, and unhceding, as was
his wisest course, the ribald jests and abuse
heaped upon him for being better dressed than
were the denizens of that low quarter.

Hours had passed while he was in Shylcck‘s
house, and it. was getting late, but still he
seemed to shun the better streets, until he left
the Jews’ quarter, near Monmouth sire. t, \\ hen
he turned into an alley, dimly lighted that led
to a more fashionable thoroughfare.

But hardly had be gone ten paces, when out
from a shadOWed doorway there 5 irung three
men, and in an instant he was in t eir rough
rude grasp. and that their intention Seem
both murder and robbery was evident.

Tudor Vashti was a man of strength above the ,
average, and as quick and agile use panther; "
but unsuspecting attack he had been Seiz‘ d,
and his arms pinioned before he could ofl‘m
resistance, while a hoarse voice cried:

“Knife him. Tom, while Jack and I 1101.:
him, and we‘ll be even for the forty blows o’ the
cat he put on our bare backs.”

In an instant he knew the three men, asde-
serters from his vessel the night before, and
des rate fellows whom he had punished severe— j
ly or misdemeanors during the last cruise, and v'.
he knew well that his steps had been (logged ‘5
and that they would kill him for revenge, an _
rob him for grog money, and kn0wing how
helpless was a struggle, he raised his voice in
one loud, ringing call:

“Help, here!” ' '

Just as the cry left his lips a form passed the
head of the alley, and like an armw darted to .
the rescue. and, ere the assailants of the officer .
could turn to meet the attack of the man who
had so prom )tly answered the call, two oftlwm
had been fe ed to the earth, and the tlird was
in the grasp of one who was his master. . .

“My brave fellow I owe you my life; let me ‘. 3-
help on with that villain, and then I’ll deliver ‘
the t ree to the guard to send back on board
my shi , from which they deserted,” and, as
Tudor ashti ke he felled the third man to *7
the avement, Just as two of the city guardians -, ’45
oft e ace ran up to the spot. ; “ ‘

“ 0 cars, these three men are descrtcrs from I
my vessel, His Majesty’s yacht Lance, and they
dogged my steps to waylay_me, so hear them
to the St. James water stains, and give them
overto the coxswain of my boat that await:
me there.”

“ Pardon me, sir, but you are—”

“ tain Tudor Vashti.”

“A right, sir; we will obey you,” said the
man politely and the three seamen were 

uickly ironed and arose to their feet in sullen :- 
silence at the orders of the night guard, while - ., ,‘ in
the officer asked quicklly: “ ._-

“Where is the gent eman who came to my ,.
rescue so nobl l” ' . - ‘

“ He walk away sir, as we came up, and,
tnrnedthecornertothele " answered one of

the ard.

“fumnst see and thank him; here, take this
and drink my healthg’and do not let these three
devils escape you and so saying. Tudor
Vashti started rapidly awn , in pursuit of the
stmnger who had so fear essly answered his
cryforhol ,anddid suchgoods‘emce after =
his arrival. slip modestly away as though to '.
“gun:  l .the dista he '

w n ace 1»
cognbodythe agile orm, and walkingra -
{.3311 he, after a while come near enough to

l ‘V old, comrade, for I would if“. ‘. a" g g,
th yoma’he mod.  y, . . 1 V . .‘
.l  &. luv?”

      
      
          
 
      
    
        
     
   
        
      
 
        
    
       
       
        
        
     
       
      
 
 
        
       
         
     
   
       
     
 

. In

 
      
        
     
      
        
     
   
   
      
     
         
          
 
  
 
 

   
     
 
 
 
  
      

  
  

    
 

   
  

  

  

 

of a swinging street lamp, recognized the
cloaked form of the oflicer and started, as
though about to run away; but checking his pur-
pose he turned and faced him, and said calmly:

“llVell, Captain Vashti, what would you
with me?”

“ Ha! you know me?”

“Yes-7

“ And you saved my life a while since?”

“Yes’

“And you are—Great God! you are Brandt
Greyhurst !” and Tudor Vashti started back in
unfeigncd astonishment, while the other said
in the same quiet tones:

“Yes, I am Brandt Greyhurst, whom you
ordered sent to the Tower as a. deserter a few
hours since.”

“And you escaped?” asked the still amazed
captain.

‘ NO.”

“You did not go?”

“I did not go.”

“ There was treachery then on my vessel, for
I ordered Mr. Morley to deliver you to the
commandantc, and he has dared to—”

“Hold, Captain Vashti, do not suspect Mr.
Morley, for he believed that he took me to the
Tower; but it was not me that he delivered to
the commandante.”

“ More mystery.”

v “I will solve it, sir: Midshipman Holbrook
Friedland is the son of the cornmamlante of the
Tower, as you perhaps have heard, and he is, as
you know, so strikingly like me that we are
often called the twins.

“ He is my friend, my confidant, and know-
ing why I wished to come to England, he nony
offered to take my place, aware that his father,
when he confessed all to him, would not hold
him in durance vile, and that the influence of
the commandante would prevent his being pun-
ished for what he did.

“Disguised in one of my suits, and in irons,
he passed for me, and I, aftcr you left the
yac t, slipped ovm‘board swam ashore, and was
Just coming from a J ew’s store, wlrcre I fitted
myself out, asyou now see me, when I heard
your or for help.” -

“ An nony rescued me, nay saved my life,
Greyhurst, and I thank you for it from my
inmost heart; but you are a dcscrtcr from my
vessel, and, you are m 1/ prisoner.”

Out from beneath the cloak came the hand of
the captain, and in it was a pistol that he had
cautiously drawn from an inner breast-pocket.

“that! Would you do me this wrong, Cup-
tain Vashti?” cried the indignant young man,
offering no resistance, as he knew his instant
deathwould follow.

“ I am‘sorry for you, Greyhurst, but my duty
to my king demands that 1 an" st you, and this
time I will take you to the Tower and there
shall be no mistake as before.”

'With a sigh Buandt (lrcyhurst seemed to
submit iohis fate, and, thrown off his guard,
Tudor Vashti 10wered the threatening,r weapon,
when, quick as a flash there came in his face a
stunning blow and he dropped his full length on
the avemcnt.

“ ie there, Tudor Vashti, and remember
that my hand has but struck lhe first blow of
revenge I will treasure up a gainst you.”

So saying, the disgraced inizlshipman turned
quickl away, just as Tudor Vashti sat up, and
rubbe his hand across his forehead, as if striv-
ing to recall his numbed senses.

Atlength he arose to his foot, and glancing
around him saw that he was alone.

Stooping he pickcd up the pistol that had fa1~
len from his grasp, and said, savagely:

“ Curse you, Brandt (l-reyhurst, that blow
shall cost you your life!” .

Again folding his cloak around him, he strode
down the street, and soon after reached the
stairs at the foot of which his boat awaited
him.

“Ha! my worthies, you are here,” he said,
fiercely, as he discovered the three deserters,
and springing to his seat in the stern sheets,
he gave the order to pull for the yacht in a
tone that set the oarsmen tb work with a. will,
for the saw that their chief was in no humor
to tr-iflg with.

CHAPTER IX.
\ A GREYHURST or SEALANDS.
WHEN Brandt Grey burst walked away from
* the rostrate captain, he wended his steps in
the itectiou of t‘ e strand, and, as thou h fully
acquainted with the mazes of streets, eld on
until he arrived at a public hostlory, at the door
of which he knocked for admittance.
“ Closed for the night; no admittance,” said
I. gruff voice within.
. “Oh yes, Sands, don’t be inhospitable to an
old friend,” replied the young sailor.
“Who are you?” asked the same voice.
“Greyhurst of Sealands.”
“ Foxhounds and racers! why didn’t you sa
-, so before, Master Gre burst, for never would
have my doors to one of your name,”
I cried the voice in a very changed tone from the
 1:8,; 3, and the door was instantly swun

W a. half-dressed, stout man wit ‘

ammunition

__Fire-Eye, the SeaMI-Iye

 

 

 

boast of, Sands?” said Brandt Greyhurst, in
answer to the last remark of the proprietor of
the hostlery. .

“No, Master Brandt, for all I possess I owe
to the liberality of your father, and those before
him; come in, sir, come in, and let me grasp
your hand, though I looked not for such pleas-
ure, as I thought you were over the sea.”

“ No, our vessel arrived but lately from the
Americas, and important duties carry me out
home, at once, and I wish a. good horse from

cu.

“The best in the stables, Master Brandt;
here, Silas, saddle and bridle VVhalebone and
bring him to the door! and Master Brandt,
when you get to Perkins’s Inn, make him give
you Runaway for a remount, and the two will
carry you to Sealands finely; but I thought the
old lace, sir, had gone out of your hands?”

“ o it has, Sands, but there is something
there I need to look after.”

“Why how remiss I am; come in, Master
Brandt, and take a drop to warm you before
you go, and you shall have a saddle flask to
carry with you; sit there sir, while I get it,
and it was some of the old brame your fore-
fathers loved, and you will find it still better,
for it is older now, then when they were sport-
ing gentlemen.”

The young sailor threw himself in atired,way
into a chair before the table, and the lam fell
full upon him, displaying a fine, athletic orm,
a face that was manly, resolute, and of rare
beauty of feature wrthal, while his brown
curls clustered around his forehead and neck
and his dark, fiery eyes, made up a tout ensmr—
ble of manliness and womanly perfection of
form and feature, seldom seen in mankind.

He was dressed in a hunting lsuit of the
times, carried a cloak across his arm, and was
fully equi pcd for a journey.

Present y the host returned with a flagon
covered with cobwebs, and a small flask in hand,
and the liquor was poured out and the health
and happiness of the young sailor drank in a.
bumper.

“ Now put this in your saddle pocket, Master
Brandt, it will help to make the miles shorter,
and when you return let this be your home,”
and Sands forced the well filled flask upon him
just as Silas came to the door and announced
that VVhalebone was ready.

Brandt Greyhurst drew from his pocket,a
roll of bank notes, to pay for the hire of his
horse; but Sands would not receive them, say-
ing earnestly:

“Not from you, sir, the horse is yours if you
will take him; the Grcyhursts gave me what I
possess, and I am not a poor man, so offer me
no money, Master Brandt, unless you wish me
to feel hurt.”

The young sailor grasped the hand of the
honest innkceper, threw a piece of silver to
Silas, and springing into the saddle darted
away on‘ the splendid sorrel, with the seat of
one who had been reared in the saddle.

 

CHAPTER X.
IN THE FLOWING TIDE.

THE sun was just nearing the western horizon,
as a horseman drew rein, half turned about,
turned back again, and seemed undecided
which way to go, while upon his face rested a
troubled look, as though t xere was some pres-
sure of coming evil upon his heart.

The horseman was Brandt Greyhurst, and
he was within two leagues of the home of his
race, or rather that had once been the estate of
his forefathers.

Thoroughly acquainted with the surround-
ings, to spare his tired horse, he had taken a
cut along the base of a cliff, upon the beach,
rather than a climb of double the distance ‘over
the hills, and had gone but a couple of miles
mug the sandy shore when he realized his mis-

e.

And it was a mistake that had cost many a
noble life on that same beach, for the.tide was
coming in, and like a wall the cliff ran ahead
and behind him for miles, with not a single
break in it, and towering half a hundred feet
above his head.

With nothing to check its onward flow, the
incoming tide came on, rising higher and
higher toward high water mark upon the cliff,
and which was on a level with the back of the
tired steed. I ,

“Iwasafool to forget the tide,” muttered
Brandt Gre burst, as he sat an instant in uncer-
tainty whet or to 0 back or onward, while the
waves washed the etlocks of his horse, for they
were n a place that had been washed out by'
the waters.

As if feeling that he must quickly do one or
the other, he suddenly)called out to his horse,
and determined not go backward, urged his
horse into a full run. -

But the animal was tired, the sand was heavy,
and the distance to safety was a. long way

how futile was the attempt to escape their
fury, and rose higher  igher with savage

fury. .
“We cannot make, it old horse and Ifear,
" cried  n he suddenly

na.

 

ahead, while the anes seemed to wish to show ,

 

....___.—_J...._ _. ___V... ..

 

drew rein, for his horse was floundering in- the
waters up to his knees. '
“Come, we must go seaward, or we’ll be

| dashed to pieces against the cliff; if you are not

tired out you may be able to swim to the cove;
if not you must go down, but I will not.”

There was a look of resolute determination on
the young sailor’s face not to say die, and with
the next out- going wave he turned his horse
seaward, and the noble animal was the next
moment swimmin bravely.

A hard struggle it was to get out of the surf :1
but at last the perilous deed was accomplished,
and the 'horse and rider were in o n water. i

But the young man saw that his horse would
not last, and he at once determined to save him-
self, and raising'his feet he pulled off his boots, .
and then threw aside his cloak and outer cloth-

in .

Ilardly had be com leted his arrangements
for his hard struggle for life, when he felt hisl
horse sinking beneath him, and he slipped offl.
into the sea, and, relieved of his Weig t, the,
nollffle animal made another effort to save him- e
se .

But he was tired out with his long journey,
the run on the sands had fatigued him more,’
and the struggle with the waves had utterly'
prostrated him. ‘ ‘

Piteously he looked at his rider, as if for help;
but though the youth was deeply pained to see
him die, the life of the brute must be sacrificed
for the human, and he swam out of the way of
the struggling beast.

As if frenzied by his avoidance of him, when
he sought aid and sympathy, the horse greW'
vicious, and snapping his white teeth swam af-
ter his rider with a specd the youth had not be-
lieved him capable of, and gained upon him too,
although Brandt was a superb swimmer.

Diving deep be avoided the attack of the new
crazed anima , and coming up some distance
away, he saw that the final struggle had come,
for the last cfl‘ort had been a dying, false
strength, and the drowning beast was sinking
beneath the waters.

A moment more and he had sunk from si ht
forever, and, with a sigh, the swimmer hea d
11p the coast, in the way in which he had been
riding when checked by the inflowing tide.

The long wall of cliffs seemed interminable to
the lone swimmer, and hope of life in that wild
waste of waters, seemed indeed to hang by a
slender thread; but on he stru gled, on he held
his way, with great strong strlfires that steadily

. urged iim along, and with the steady, untiring

movement of a piece of machiner .

Thus an hour passed, and at last the break in
the cliff was visible, and a rocky arm running
out into the sea, formed a haven of refuge be-
yond the reef, which, if he could once gain he
knew he was safe.

Before him, upon a mass of solid rock Sea-
lands castle was visible, and a mile beyond,
glimmering through the park trccs, were the
white walls of the villa which Ross Vashti had .
built for himself and his girl bride. ’

The sight of the castle, where he had been
born, and where generations of his name and
blood, had first looked on the li t of day before
him’, caused the brow of Bran t Greyhurst to
contract sternly, while the distant villa but
added renewed strength to his fatigued frame,
and he muttered savagely: _

“ I will not die, no 1 will not die, for there is
much for me to live for."

And on, on he struggled, although the buoy-
ant stroke had gone, and the face had become
hard and haggard, and many a man would have

yielded to tired nature and sunk beneath the

waters as a relief from the strain upon him.

On, and on, until the shadows of night shut
out all but the gloomy castle on the point of
rocks overhanging the sea, and left him strug—
gling in darkness and dread.

But, as the mariner regards the friendlv
beacon to guide him on his way, so did Brandt
Greyhprst look ugon the dark towers and battle-
ments of castle ealands, outlined against the
sky as the light-house to pilot him to a harbor- '
age, and though every effort be made was a pain-
ful one to him, on he stru gled, with the words
constantly repeated from Ins lips:

“ I will not die, no, I will not die!”

At last he passed within the reef, and still
swimming on, or rather paddling. for his strong
strokes had ceased and he swam'with only the
greatest effort, be at last touched the shore,  '
as the tide had begun, to flow out, and whic in
a few moments more 'would have carried him to
a grave 1n_ the bottom of the sea.

Sta germg, hardly able to-drag his tired feet
after 1m, he reached a pile of rocks beneath
the west end of the castle and sunk down utter-
ly prostrated, and with the trium hant c131:
d_“nl kept my word; I didvnot '9, I Ch not
re. ‘

CHAPTER XI.
THE COAST SMUGGLERS.

HABDLY had Brandt Greyburst sunk down
upon the $3, when a
cutter a pa in ht, runnin in toward the
cove un er reefed sai and 'sto in on with? m
hardibood among theka reefs, fiat sho '- ' "
a. skillful pilottopo “the « "  ‘ '

small, which-looking",

  
 

 

 

 

 

    

   

 

 

wines,

 

I: _._‘ 4 I

So nearly the hue of the waters were both the
Vessel and the sails painted, that it would take
a keen sailor’s eye to diSCover her at even a
lhort distance away, and no light being visible
upon her, it was evident that her object in com-
ing into the cove at midnight was one of se-
crecv.

Running through the channel in the reefs, the
little crai’t held on her way straight for the
bold and lofty cliff upon which stood Sealands
Castle.

As she drew near she shortened sail, until
only a jib remained, which, as the wind was
from the sea, urged her on against the tide with
sufficient speed.

To one observing her from the sea, it would
look as though the cliff opened and received her,
as she disappeared wholly from sight; but to
one standing on her bows, there was a narrow
chasm that opened into the solid rock, and suffi-
ciently large to conceal from view in any direc-
tion a vessel of small tonnage.

As this cave-like chasm was spanned by the
castle arch above, there was no place from
which a view into the basin could be obtained,
excepting one entered it in a boat, and there-
. re a more secluded retreat could not have been
found. v

When the Greyhursts dwelt in the castle, the
.place was called the Wizard’s Well, and the ser-
vants told stories of its having been the resort

of witches and wizards in the long ago, and fur-

thermore said that the waters therein had no
bottom to them. and that a boat would be in-
gnlfed if it entered the fearful basin. .,

And certain it is, to aid in this theory, that
a skiff sent in by an elder Greyhurst one day,
when the tide was running into the W'izard’s

Well, was never seen more, and the foaming

waters that were hurled back from it in a
storm, but added to the weird talcs told of it.

The part of the castle that overhung, and
was built above this lVizard’s lVell, had not
been inhabited for many years, for, as the
Greyhursts became poorer with each genera
tion the retinue of servants decreased, and only
the land rooms, and one wing of the sea struc-
ture had been occu ied, the balance of the mas—
sive old structure \ing allowed to crumble to
decay.

Regardless of the tales told of the old castle,
and the fate that, it was said, awaited any craft
that went into the. lVizard’s Well, the little vcs-
sel certainly held on until the cliff shut her
Wholl y from view.

But into this weird retreat beneath the ver
cliff, we will follow her, and the reader wil
find that the cutter, instead of being dragged
down into the lower depths, was moored against
a shelf of rock that served as a pier, and back of
which was visible a cavern entrance.

It is true that the vessel fretted at her moor-
ings, for the Wimrd’s Well, from mine causes
far down in its depths, kept the, wail-rs tOShillg
continually, as tlrmgh it were a culilron of
boiling water, and it kept a stout llIlWScl' to
hold the craft to the rocks, and thick, soft
fenders to keep her from (lashing in her sides,
hung over the edge of the rocky shelf.

Hardly had the strange vessel run into the
ver side of the cliff, as it seemed, when her
(180 s became alive with men, as a score of
stalwart forms came from the cabin, and u )on
the shelf of rock half a. dozen more were visi ‘le,
ocming out of the cave.

“ Ho the Send!”

“ Ay, ay. the ll'izard’s Den!”

The’flrst hail was in a stern voice from- the
cavern entrance, and the reply came from on
board the rakish little vessel, which the ncxt
moment glided up'to the rock and was made
fast by Willing hands.

“Good luck, I hope, Captain Reckless,” said
a tall man who came forward and saluted a
person who sprung ashore and confronted him.

“ Ay ay, MacGregor, we have cargoes of

laces and silks; What luck with You?”
answered the person addressed as Captain eck-
less, and who was a dark-faced, stern, yet fine-
looking man of thirty, thoroughly armed with

sword and pistols, and dressed in a jaunty sailor '

suit.

“ Our luck has been good too, for the cargoes
have been safely run in to the Agents,” answer—
ed MacGregor.

“ And the money i”

“I have it safe, captain; but you will have to
lay, in the beam all day to—morrow?”

‘ Yes, as the cargo cannot he landed and give
me time to run out of sight before dawn ;.come
let us go in and try some of these Fin-nob wines
.I have brought, and as soon asthe Scud is empt
let the men come in and have a jolly time until

da light, and they can sleep to-morrow,”,and

._ ca ling toa cabin boy to bring him a case of

wine Captain Reckless entered the cabin, fol-
lowed by Ma.ch or, hearing a lantern.

The rocky co dor taken by the two men,
led them into a rotunda, for the cavern

  

I, '- widened into extensive dimensions, and here
, , «were swung hammocks, and set tables and
‘ ‘ ~ » a showing that it was a general living

l'or the men, while different tunnels led in
‘ both. seaward

4
0

  

 

 :' N “.V an.“ 4.4..-. w 'vu-O‘JV‘: v. aw“.

FirefEJye, the, Sea Hyena. ' '7

 

 

 

habitation for men whose lives were in daily
peril, and who sought secrecy in all their
actions.

Throwing himself upon a ship’s sofa, the cap—
tain lighted a cigar, and MacGrcgor took a seat
,near, and the two entered into conversation re-
garding what had occurred on land and shore
since the last monthly visit of the Scud.

Presently the cabin-boy arrived loaded down
with bottles of wine, and one by one the men,
as they finished their tasks, drop )ed in and ere
1011;,r tl'e cavern hallway rung witli the sound of
revclr‘c.

But suddenly a hush fell upon all, for a sud-
den exclamation from one turned every eye up-
on the cause of it, and there before them they
beheld a face and form that did not belong to
their smuggler band.

Instantly every man was upon his feet, and
every hand was “upon a weapon, but there
came from the stranger no cry for mercy, and
no sign of fear, as be advanced into their midst,
and said calml :

“Hold! gent emen, I mean you no harm.”

“ Who are you sir?” cried Captain Reckless
stern :

“ Bfandt Greyhurst of Sealands.”

“ Hal a naval officer, and come here to take
us dead or alive, for he is not alone: at him,
lads, and cut him down!” cried Captain Reck-
less.

The men moved forward, but sto ped sudden-
ly, for instead of 0. cr to men t ey su posed
near to come to his ilk , he calmly fol ed his
arms, and met their savage glances with a fear-
less stmile, that seemed to dare them to do their
wors .

 

CHAPTER XII.
THE PLEDGE OF A GREYHURST.

THE fearless attitude of Brandt Greyhurst
checked the advance upon him of the smug-
glers, and the pause gave them a. chance to ob-
serve that he was. certainly not a very dan-
gerous personage as he then appeared.

Bootlcss, hatlcss, half dressed, with dishev-
eled hair, haggard face, and no arms, he ap—
peared more an object of sympathy, than one
to be dreaded, and the smugglers looked to their
chief who also, b ' the light of the lamps, had
closely observed t 10 young man, and discowred
at a glance that he had not come into their
midst to do thcm harm.

“ Hold, menl I see there is a mistake here,”
he called out to his men, and then turning to
the visitor, who like an apparition had come
among them, he continued: ,

“ How is it sir, I findyou here?”

“I was rir in along the beach to my old
home of Sealant. s, the tide came in and washed
me out to sea, and my horse drowning, I swam
to the cove, which I barely reached, and fell
unconscious on the point of rocks.

“ Coming to I came hither, guided by your
voices.”

The plain story carried truth with it to every
one], and yet Mat-Gregor stepped forward and
saw :

“Had you not heard our voices, Brandt
Greyhurst, could you not have come to this rock
chamber?”

(1 y’es.”

“Hal what mean you sir?” cried Captain
Reckless; "but before Brandt could answer,
MacGregor replied:

“ I’ll speak for him, captain, for it is not the

,first time I have seen the young man, and there

are other old heads here will recall him, al-
though the time I speak of was nine years ago.

“ The boy is a lreyhurst as all can tell, by
his burning eyes, that ever knew any of his
race, and he is the last of the name, if I mis-
take not, and has nothingleft to keep up the
dash of his ancestors. ,

“Nine years ago, before his father died, this
boy dwelt with him in the castle above our
heads, and the old nurses had filled his brain
full of stories of the Wizard’s Well, and the
old castle being haunted, and left to himself,
for the colonel, his father, was overrun with
creditors and troubles, be explored every crevice
of the old ruin and the waters around it; but
sit down, oung man, and sip wine while I talk,
for you 00k white and needy; give him a

goblet full, captain, for he’s worthy of the
best”

Brandt Greyhurst bowed his thanks and
sunk into a seat, and the captain filled a. goblet
of champagne and handed it to him.

“Drink it down lad, for it’s all the better for
having paid no duty, as you know: but, ship-
mates, as I was tellin ye, this lad then about
elemears old, one y concluded he’d try the

' ’3 Well, and you may set me down for a
land-lubber if he didn’t strip himself on ‘ the
rocks and jumfi into the sea at high tide and
swim into the basin.

“ He made a landing on the rocks and followed
the cavern channels to this vergespot, and be
surprised a party of us here t n as he has
now.” ‘ -

“Fact, as I’ll swear.” ‘ .

“I’lltakeoathonittoo.”., , - 

“I knows him now.” . "

'. O
y. . .p _:n l g", “_ V_ I
9’. '1.?“§.',-‘ «grey-T...“ 4.".  -. :39  _., t ' 4",,

 

 

Such were the exclamations from a numberof
the smugglers. as the scene in the past was
recalled to their memories, and, as if having no
regret at having met him before, thOSe Who re-
membered him premed forward and offered
their hands, which the young sailor frankly-

grasged. .

“ e easy, lads. until my yarn is spun out,
and then we’ll touch glasses all round to the
"()uth.” said MacGregor, and then, seeing that
1e had regained the attention of his hearers, he
continued:

“lVell, lads, we seized that boy in no time,
and you all know our laws, of death rather than
betrayal, and knives pointed might close to
his heart, I can tell you; but he didn t scare at-
all, and there was something in his face that
wouldn’t let us kill him.

“But the captain—Red Joe was chief, then,

Captain Reckless—said the boy must die, and so:

we set about work to kill him, when up he spoke
and said: '

“ ‘ Men, I don’t want to die, and yet I am not
afraid of death; but I came here only from‘
curiosity, and will not betray you if you will
let me go.’

“ ‘Curiosity killed a cat, and it’ll hang us
some day if we let you go,’ said Red Joe to him.

“ ‘ I will not betray you,’ again said this lad,
and something in his face and manner struck
Red Joe, and you all know what a devil he was,
and he asked:

“ ‘What will prevent you betraying us?’

“ ‘ M promise not to do so.’

“ ‘ I hat is that worth?’

“ ‘The ledge of a Greyhurst was never
broken to riend or foe.’ ,

“ I tell you, lads, that speech made Red 'Joe
shout right out, and he grasped the hand of the
boy and said:

“ ‘ We’ll take that pledge, lad: go back as you

came.’

“ Well, lads, you all know I have lived in this
cavern ever since and you all know the lad
kept his word, and I say drink his health and let
him go again. for if he gives his word he’ll keep
it, for I know the race from which he comes."

A wild shout of approval greeted the words of
MacGi-egor, and t e mugs and glasses were
filled all round, and a bumper was drank to
Brandt Greyhurst, whose boyish pledge had
been kept through nine long years.

CHAPTER XIII. ‘
A BROKEN PLEDGE.

“I SUPPOSE you understand, Mr. Greyhmt'g
that your pledge of years ago must be repea
now, or you cannot go hence alive,” remarked
Captain Reckless calmly, 'when the men had
sought rest, for the day had dawned, and he sat
at the table still with Brandt Greyhurst and
MacGregor his only companions.

1“ i know, sir, that this is a band of smug-
ers—'

“Night Hawks is a better name, sir,” inter-
rupted the captain with a slight sneer. ,

‘ I know that you break the laws of the land, '
and in duty would be to arrest you; but I have
no sun intention, whatever desire I might have,
and I frankly give the pledge not to betray,
you,” replied the young sailor.

“As you have shown in the past that your
word can be fully relied on, sir, I ask no more:
good-night, or rather good-morning, for I see
the light stealing in yonder passageway, and I
hope to meet you ere your departure, which
of course must not he in daylight; now I in-
tend to seek rest,” and Captain Reckless left the
two together, and for a few moments both
MacGrcgor and the young sailor seemed busy
with their own thoughts; then the former said:

V“ May I ask, Mr. Greyhurst, what has
brought on up to Sealands, for if rumor
speaks rig tly Ross Vashti owns the estate?”

“ He does, for he got it by loans he made my
father, which could not be met: he lives here
now I believe?”

“ Not in the castle, sir: he has built a magni-
ficent villa on" the hill 8. mile awa , and lives
there, for I think he feared to dwel in the old
castle, and it is left deserted, to go to ruin.”

“Ab mel what a change from the days of
my early boyhood; but my forefathers lived
too fast, and each son leaving to the other a
debt to shoulder, it at last fell upon my father
and swam him, and I am left a beggar; but
let us not well upon the past, MacGregor, for
its memories bring only bitterness.

“You ask me wh * I am here; I have come to

revent a still grea r wron being done me by
Ross Vashti; have on seen he Lady Lois Nor-
man of late?” and randt put the question in a
tone of indifference he was far from feeling.

“Why don’t on knovaaster Brandt, that

 

she is now the dy-Ross ashtii” -
An electric k could not have no nickel-
to the heart of randt Greyhurst, t on (I this -

fatal tidings.

From boyhood he had loved the beautiful
little child whose father”: impoverished mu
joinedfleahndgandushegrewto‘ ,
andthentothevargeotfi 
become almost idols r .

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

_ hing

a of rocks that rose before her vision not far
away, and which were known as old Castle

.8 FirefEYé. 1319,3984 Hyena-

 

 

uni-e than a boy in vears, and they had pledged
annual love and devotion to each other.

Hearing from her, when in the Indies, that
her father wished to force her into a union
with a distinguished and wealthy personage,
Brandt Greyhurst had determined to return
home at once and make her his bride; but the
reader knows how Ca tain Tudor Vashti thwart-
ed that scheme, and is refusing to accept the
resignation of the youn sailor, the desertion
from the ship, and being firought back in irons
to England.

Tudor Vashti had also learned of the intended
marriage of the Lady Lois, and he knew well
the intention of Brandt, for he had heard of
their love affair and aware, through the story
of Enoch Shylock, that the maiden was secretly
heiress to vast wealth, he had boldly, and with—
out orders, determined to return home and win
and wed her.

But the wily Ross Vashti had pushed matters
rapidly, and ere the Lance touched English
shores, poor Lady Lois was the girl—bride of the
Wealthy owner of Sealands.

“ Whatl I’ve hit you *hard, lad, for I lmow
on were sweet on the pretty lady yourself;
ut I thought you knew she was married to the

old sinner Vashti, for the ossips, some days
egg, were full of it, and con (1 talk of nothing
8 thalthe shameful mating of May and De-
cember.” .

“You have hit me hard, MacGregor, but I
have been used to hard blows of late,” said
Brandt, in a low, constrained voice, while his
face was livid, his lips hard drawn over his
white teeth and his eyes fairly blazing in their
intensity of bri htness.

.“ My poor la I can feel for you, for twenty
years ago a woman’s false vows to me sent me
to the bad, and made me what now I am; yes,
they were married some days ago, and are now
at the villa, and the gossips do say that she is
heart-broken from some cause, but then her fa-
ther forced her to it.”

“ No woman can be forced into a marriage,
MacGrglgor, if she set her heart against it; but
it is us ess torepine; 1 came here for one set
purpose, and that cannot now be done, but I
shal not have made the journey for naught.
You frequently leave this den, I believe?”

“ I may as well admit it, Master Brandt; there
is a tunnel leads from here to the bill that over-
looks the valley beyond, and my but is there,
built over the openin , and people call, me the
Valley Hermit, for I isguise myself as an old
man, and go occasionally into the villages and
toivns, but allow no man to visit my abode, and
thus kee my secret.

“In t is way I carry to the towns at night
to our a cuts, the goods we smuggle in, an
thus it is get rid of considerable of the gossip
that is cruising round.”

“Then you are the very man to aid me, if
you will.” ,

“ And I will, God knows, for I like you, lad.”

“Then rig me u some kind of disguise to
visit the villa in, or I wish to see both the
Ladv Lois and her husband.”

“Don’t be rash lad.”

“I am not gomg to be; what I do, shall be
done with calmness, I assure you MacGregor;
new aid me all in your power, and upon my
meetin with those two my future destiny
hangs or good or evil.”

'" I. am your friend. lad; come with me,” and
taking up a lantern, MacGregor, the Smuggler,
led the way into a narrow, rock corridor run
direct! inland, and wi h eager step
Brandt Grey urst followed him, muttering to
himself, over and over again:

“ She ledged me her word to be true and
wait, and she has broken it, broken it I”

 

CHAPTER XIV.
THE GIPSY.

A SLnNmm, graceful form, clad in a walking
suit, cut short and with a sun hat shading her
Wealth of go] -brown curls, stop for rest in
a rustic arbor of Sealands Park, t at command-
ed an extensivo inland view, and also a vast
expanse of water, dotted here and therewith
331 3.

Her hands were filled with wild flowers,
gathered in her walk and humble little speci-
mens of the Floral Kingdom, compared with
the choice exotics in the gardens of the villa;
but then it would seem that here was a nature
tolove the little blossoms hiding away in the
woodland. ' '

The face of the fair pedestrian was youthful
and lovely, and yet a sad look lingered in the
dark blue'e es, and a certaincompressing of the
lips shows that she was struggling against
sorrowful, perhaps bitter thong tsthat_welled
up continually and would notbe put down.

As shethrew herself languidly upon the rustic
seat in the arbor, her eyes turned upon the mass

5. . , ‘
grand structure, even crumblin to
as, and it held a weird look .t at.

 

 

the ver place for hobfoblins
todwell, a, name arm stint,

j .» q ‘\ il.‘
. a .m.-'-:- .mn. ‘r was;

But the fair beholder of Castle Sealanrls, as
it lay gloomy even in the morning sunlight,
did not seem to feel dread of the place, for her
footsteps were wandering in that direction
when she halted in the arbor for rest.

As she gazed upon the massive ruin, her eyes
filled with tears, and with a sigh and then im—
patient exclamation and gesture, she turned
her glance upon the (li~tant villa, the lordly
home of Ross Vashti.

Butagain the impatient (xclaniation arose to

her lips, and she bent her gaze upon the sea, ,

wihich was tinted with the sunlight, and beauti—
ful in its quietude, for only a light breeze ruf—
fled its surface.

As if calmed by its motionless bosom, she
remained quietly gazing upon the sea, utterly
oblivious of the present, it seemed, until sud-
denly recalled to herself by hearing a step
near her.

Starting, she turned, and beheld the bent
form of an old man, for his beard and hair
were white, and his dark face seemed furrowed
with lines the passing years had made there.

At first she was slightly startled, for the
orders of the owner of Sealands were severe,
regardin allowing any one other than those
who he] the ri t, in the grounds of the es-
tate, and she had not expected to see any one
during her walk, and, wishin to be alone,
had bade her attendant to remain at the villa.

But the white, bowed head reassured her,
although the strange dress told her that she
stood in the resence of one of the wandering
children of t e woodland—a Gipsy.

“ My good man, ifyou are hungry and need
food, or wish a few pieces of silver, if you will
go to the villa yonder, you shall be cared for,”
she said, kindly. ,

“Lady, I want not your gold, for I am not
in need, and my heart only 18 ahungered,” was
the calm reply.

“Are your people near?” she asked, with
some show of anxiety, not liking the mannner
and tone of the old man.

“No; I have no people; I am a wanderer
alone over the green earth, and I am the last
of my race,” was the sad reply, in a quivering
voice.

“Poor man; you are ettin too old to wander
about as on do and s ould ave some home,
some she ter wit kind friends to care for you;
if you will go to the Country House, I will have
my coachman take you there, and give you a
letter that will gain you admission.”

“I am one who neither asks, or recaives
favors, lady; I ama reader of the stars, of
signs, faces and hearts, and can tell you the fu~
ture, which to you is as a hidden book, but to
me is as clear as crystal; would have me read
thy fortune, lady?”

“ Ahl my fortune is but misfortune; my fate
is sealed forever,” she said, sadly.”

“ Let me see thy fair hand, lady,” he asked,
politely.

Withdrawing the thread glove she wore, she
unhesitatingly extended her hand tohim and
taking it 'in his own, which trembled slightly,
he said:

“Ah, lady, I see the lines of joy, ambition
and heartlessness strongly marked here.”

She quickly withdrew her hand, while her
face flushed, and he said pleadingly: .

“Do not be angry, lady, but listen, for I
would trace out th destiny, so that thou mayst
know which way t y tiny feet will tend through
life.

“ Thank you, lady: now I see that thy earlier
days held forth promise of ha piness to thee,
and love was thy mate from girl mod to woman-
hood; but here, dark lines are traceable, and it
seems as though pledges made were broken,
promises given were unfulfilled, and gold and
pgsitipn won thy heart from one who loved
t ee. -

“ You shall not talk thus to me, sir,” and the
hand was drawn suddenly away. '

“ So it seemed, lady, to my reading, and there
is an old saying that truth only ofl'ends; but I
meant to read in thy small ham only the truth;
wilt let me see thy hand again?” .

Hesitatingl she held it forth, and he went on
in the same ow, quivering words in which he
had before spoken:

“There is a break here I note; it is the
broken ledge of which I spoke, and, as the
lines of t y destiny run, better had it been true
love and a humble home, than gilded misery
in a pala for dark shadows creep in here, and
the pledge roken turned the heart that loved
thee to 1; see, he becomes a wanderer, for
here the ines branch off, and what evil he may
do, he will lay at thy door.” ‘

‘ This is crue and loving me he dare not do
it, for he would ow his charge against me to
be unjust!” she said, quiclgv, and speaking
more to herself, than to the ipsg.”

“The lines say that on bro e the pledge,
lad , and what sorrow t gives him, he twill lay
at y door; see, the futin'e looks .mis here on
th palm, but I can read no any for t ee in the

and here comes a

  
 

in bear, 0- u- e --.- rt

  

' son flush, on the.

in
hand, that tells of dark deeds yet to come.” ,4 , .storm swee
V i“ I w - art is Pm

 

£11: 7:11: I: 2:77;: ‘ZT‘L': 1.: 32' "If ':“;::2

“ But the. past, and the broken pledge, lady,”
persisted .‘he fortuneteller.

“ I admit it not.”

“ Thou wilt not deny it, for here, on this fin-
ger where new glitters a diamond, rested a
ruby, a binod~red stone, and it has been cast
aside and—”

“ field! do you know me?”

“ Thou art the lady of yonder lordly house I
take it."

“ Yr s; and my name?”

“ Is different from the one thy heart once
chose to bear.”

“Enough! if you need food go to the villa: if
you wish gold come, and I will ive it you, for
I have not my purse. with me; ut I will hear
no more, old man, for thy croakings have a]-
rcady added to my sorrows; farewell,” aid
Lady Lois Vashti turned away, and the old
Gipsy was alone. __

CHAPTER XV.
A REWARD.

A MAN, attired in the dress of a regular coun-
tryman, wearing heavy boots, and carrying a
stout cane was walking lele along the high-
way that cut in two parts the vast landedes-
tate of Sealands, a few hours after the inter
view between the Lady Lois Vashti and the
old Gipsy fortune-teller.

Presently he came to where a massive gate-
way lcd to Castle Sealands, visible half a mule
away, and into this he was turning, when his
eyes caught sight of a placard fastened upon
one of the stone posts. ‘

Instantly he stopped and read aloud, and in a
voice one would not have suspected from one of
his appearance: ‘

“In m Kmo‘s Nun!
“ TAKE norms ALL LOYAL summers!

“ Whereas one of the officers of the Royal Navy
to wit, Midshipman Brandt Greyhurst formerly of
Castle Sealands, has willfully deserted the service
of his Kin , while on duty in foreign seas, is now
a fugitive, avin made his escape from the Tower,
be it known that e is hereby denounced as

A Dnsnnrm AND Fawn,
deserving of death, and a reward of

, Osn THOUSAND Ponnns
Will be given for the return of the said Brandt Grey.
hurst, dead or alive, to the King’s Yacht Lance,
anchored off London Tower.

“ By order of His Majesty, the King.

“Tunon Vm,

“Captain Royal Navy and Commander of the
King’s Yacht Lance.”

Thrice did the countryman read over the
placard, and then, after glancing cautiously up
and down the road, he tore it carefully down,
folded it u , and walked rapidly on to the
castle and isappeared in one of its entrances.

For a few moments he remained unseen,
and then he reappeared in the sea tower, and
leaning against the turreted wall, carefully read
over again aloud the reward.

“By Heaven! this is the work of Tudor
Vashti,” he muttered, and after an instant of
silence he continued:

“This last stroke throws to the wind all”
ood resolves; a deserter and a felon, deserving
eath, and with a reward offered for his body,

dead or alive, has no right to raise his head
among honorable men, and no power to prove
his innocence of the charge against him.

“ Ha! who comes there?”

Bending his eyes upon the park, a long way
off he saw a man approaching, and, after a
while he cried:

“‘ By the cross! it is Ross Vashti, and ho
comes this way.”

Quickly he turned and descended from the
tower, and taking a large ball leading from the
center of the castle, wended his we to the old -
 overhanging the sea, and t e Wizard’s

e .

In the middle. of a small stone chamber was
an ancient altar, for the Grevhursts had been
good Catholics, and upon this he lightly sprung.

Instantly the altar moved slowly from its
placzi, revealing an opening bereath, and stone
stairs leading down into the depths bclOW.

Standing on the third step, the altar began
to slowly return to its place once more. and the
secret opening was again securely closed, leav-
ing the rock chamber as before. »

Half an hour, perhaps, passed away, and
once more the heavy stone altar turned on its
hidden hinges, and in the open trap appeared a
form that was certainly terrible to lock upon,
for in the uncertain twilight, an unheliever

even would be pardoned for believing it to be 

Satan himself.

And that same diabolical form the reader be--'

held in the opening scenes of this story,~wh,en

Boss Vashti met face to face in the town, ‘one , .

who claimed to be Satan himself. and to whom ,
he sold his soul when after the lapse of years he
should be called on to give. it'll}? I
which should be deman ed of him in its stead.-
When Ross Vashti
homewa‘rd, amid the rollin of thunder ' ‘
flashes of vivid li btning, t at broke fr
su denlv up OVer land an
amalgamated 

 

he Who an) ad .
th ,, I,

i

or that 3‘ ‘

ed from the ruin, and j.

  

 

 

    
 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

~ hid taken the Lad
.to-night, and now

 ,' the protection of MacGregor, to return at once
- {1” her home, or you shall die by my hand.” '

Fire-Eye, the Sea Hyena.

 

 

CHAPTER XVI.
CAPTAIN RECKLESS CAPTURES A PRIZE.

“ WELL, my lad, you have been rigging your-
self out in as many of those old costumes I
showed on as a ship has sails,” said Macva or
as Bran t Greyhurst entered the social ha 0
the smugglers, in their cavern under the castle.

It was the second night of his stay among the
outlaws, and all the day he had been busy, so
that Mch regor had not. seen him after the two
had rted in the early morning.

“ es, and the have served me well, for if I
have not put a t 101‘“ in one )erson’s side, and
made another believe tl.at mum walks the
earth, then am I greatly mistaken; but tell me,
has Capt llll Reckless sailed yeti”

“ No, he Foes to—night, but he is off with the
mm on a little expedition he seems to think
will bring him in considerable profit, though I
do not approve of these land raids.”

“I ho )e the villa is not his destination,” said
Brandt reyhurst quickly.

“ It is to get possession of some old land-owner
who will pay Well for his release- but have you
decided yet what you are to do?"

“ Yes, turn smuggler, pirate, or anything else
that is evil,” said the young sailor bitterly.

" No, no, Master randt, the likes of on
never should turn from honor’s path," said ac-
Gre or earnestly.

“ hl don’t preach to me, man. of honor, for

1 look how the innocent suffer, while the guilty

hold high their heads ” and the young sailor
handed the smuggler t 10 placard, which, in his
disguise or a countryman, he had torn from the
gatepost leading to the Castle Sealands.

In su rise the smuggler read it through, and
said excrtedly:

“ But this cannot be true.”

“ No, it is false, for I asked leave to come
back to England, and it being refused I handed
in my resi ation, and it being also declined, I

cretly leg:] the vessel by swimming, to reach
1: e ship that was to soil that night for El gland;
but I was too late, was picked up and brought
here in irons, and the man who did me this
v .145 was Captain Tudor Vashti, the son of the
man who robbed me of my just inheritance.

“ But you see I dare not show myself to my
fellow-men, or the reward would set them like
blood hounds upon me, and unable to prove my
innocence, ard branded with the names of de-
Serter and felon, do you wonder that I say I in-
tend to turn smuggler, for in the exciting life I
will lead, I can drown thought, and perhaps it
will lead the way to an end I have in view, for,
MacGregor, he who wrongs a Greyhurst had
better not been born.”

Brandt had spoken almost wildly, and his
words drew the deepest symgiathy from the
heart of 1the smuggler” who sai :

“ Well, my lad, I feel for you, as you know,
and cannot say what is best for you to do: but
it seems a shame that one of your name should
be branded of a crime and a shadow put upon

our life when it is in you to make a reputa-
{ion that would cause England to be proud of
on.”

“ It IS in me to make a devil as well; had the
world treated me well, I had hopes of winning
a us no for myself; but it has branded me with
infamy; and now I am what I am; he! do you
not hear voices?”

“ Yes; Captain Reckless is returning, and if
\you wish to go with him there will be no trou-

le about it; in fact. he needs a second in com-
mand, for the boys are hard to manage, and
none of them fit for the duty devolving upon
an officer.” .

“ I thank you,MacGregor,” answered Brandt,
fervently, and as he spoke Captain Reckless
and his men entered the assembly hall, and the
chief cried, exultantly:

“ Well, Mac, we did not
he was ill, they said'

y

it, be will pay a cool ten thousand poumk to
get her bac , so we are in luck.”
“ on, captain, you did not kidnap the Lady

get the old nun, for,
but we just kidnapped
. that sweet young wife of his, and my life for

Lois, I hope?” cried MacGregor, anxious] , at.

the same time glancing toward Brandt ray-

bursts.

“ Indeed I did, and she is now a- prisoner in
the Scud’s cabin, and we sail within half an
hour, although it is a nastv ni ht out.”

With a bound Brandt GreyJ urst confronted
the smuggler ca tain. and is hand dropped
heavily upon his 3 oulder, as he said, in a voice
house from suppressed passion:

“ Did I understand you ari ht, sir, that you
Lois Vashti from her home
old her in your power on
your vessel?”

“80 1 have done, air, and how does it con-

youi” was the an reply, for the captain

corn
Jilted not the heavy han upon his shoulder.

In dead earnest came the answer, and intones
Is clear as the tone of a bell:
“Then, sir, you shall place that lady under

CHAPTER XVII.
..'rnl CHALLENGE.
:~.-.~ = u  won-esoan

  

 

smuggler who had seated himself at the ta-
ble for a parting lass of wine, was on his feet

in an instant, while Captain Reckless, in spite -

of his dashing courage, which had gained for
him the name he bore, seemed almost stunned
by the attitude and words of the young sailor.

But he uickly recovered his cool, snecring
manner an asked:

“ May I ask what the lady is to you?”

“ That is none of your business, sir; you have
heard my words, and one or the other shall be
the alternative,” was the fearless reply.

“Does it not strike you that there might be .

another alternative f”
“ Name it, sir.”
“That 1 might kill you,” was the sneering re-

ort.

“That alternative I am willing to contest

with .you whenever you say that you will not
lace the Lady Lois in the keeping of Mac-
‘re or here.” ~

“ ah! he would do my bidding.”

“You mistake me there, captain, if it is to
harm a woman, or even to keep her in durance
vile to exort money for her ransom,” said Mac-
Gre or. boldly.

“ al this looks like mutiny, and led by one
whose life we spared, on his Word alone. I am
chief hare, MacGregor, and as such I will be

0 .
' “ nd you shall be, Captam Reckless, in all
things‘ that tend to the interest of the band, but
not when you war on women.”

“By Heaven! I will teach you a lesson, (10
of a mutineer,” and Captain Reckless step
toward M cGregor, his sword in hand.

But quickly Brandt Greyhurst sprung .efore
him, and seizin the blade, said, calmly:

“This uarre , sir, is between you and I, not
with Mac regor.”

“ I’ll settle you anon, sir.”

“ You will settle with me now.”

“ Release my sword!” '

“ Only on condition that you cross blades
with me, and may the best man win,” was the
fearless reply.

“By the king! but I have half a humor to
oblige you, though I could have you quartered
and thrown into the sea. ”

“ Therein on would act the coward for I
am a defense ess man in {lour midst: but I have
that confidence in the ga ant men I see around
me to feel that they will see fair plav and if
their captain refuses to meet me, will con-
vinced that he is what I believe him to be.”

“ And that is?" sneered the smuggler chief.

“A coward I”

“Curses on you! I’ll meet you, sir, in any way
you please, Brandt Greyhurst,” cried the cap-
tain, stung to madness by the insult.

“Very well, and we fight for life and death,
and the instant release of the Lady Lois.”

u Yes-i)

“ And your men, if you fall will allow her to
depart in safety?”

“ That rests with the men.”

“ What say you, lads; is the lady to go free
if I defeat your captain E”

A number of voices replied in the affirmative:
but there were some grumblers, and one an-
swered: -

I “ ,You see, sir, we would get a big ransom for
ier.

“Yes, the old man would pay well,” added
another. .

“ She’d be worth more to us than a year’s
cruise,” remarked a third, and seeing that the
avariciousness of the men would defeat him,
even if he was ctor over Captain Reckless,
Brandt said:

“ Well, my men, I will pay you the ransom;
call the amopnt fifty pounds to each man in the
King’s gold. ’

“ Done, sir; but where is the gold?”

“ I will y you ere I take the lady from
your kee mg.”

Even
in intense surprise, for where was he to get
such a sum from? and Captain Reckless said in
his scornful way:

“ Men, he has not a shilliug'to pray his soul
out of rdition.”

“Ls , your captain lies; I pledge you In
word to pay vou the amount within the hour. ’

“Enou h, if Master Greyhurst romisesit,”
cried a vo cc, and a general assent ing given,
Brandt turned to MacGregor and asked:

“ Will you land me a sword to cross with the

captain?”
‘ Certainly, mg lad; but you’d better drop
this matter ’ sai Mchgor, and he added in

a\low whisper:
“.Reckless is a very devil with the blade.”
“And so am I,” was the cool reply, as Brandt
Greyhurst took a blade handed him by Mac-
Gre or, and tried its temper on the well? floor.
“ orth of the Kings scabbard, acGre-
gor,” he id li htly, and turning to Captain
Reckless, he con inued: ' ,
“ Now, sir, I am wholly at your service,
though I wish you would think betterof it,
restore the Lady Lois to her home, let our-quar-
rel end here“ and take me along with you on
ymirvassqi. . g ;_ ,/  , -; . _~
“A reyhunt a“ '

acGregor looked at the young sailcr ‘

 

   
    

n
{x ,Grgfiyhurst _

- lem nerve ban in previous combats, a

 

fl

“ I am what circumstances made me, sir: but
as you seem disinclined to follow my sugges-
tion. let us cross blades at once.”

“ Willin ly,” and throwing aside his coat
and hat, ‘aptain Reckless drew his weapon,
measured its len th with the sword in the hum;
of Brandt Grey urst, and said in a bitter, in-
solent way:

“ New, sir, to gain my reward, for I notficui
to—night that there is a thousand pounds offered
for "011 dead or alive." I

“ I‘hen suppose you earn the blend money,"
cried Brandt Greyhurst. his face flushing. and
he at once advanced upon the smuggler capm :n,
and with a clash that made the rocky CBVU‘H
and its halls ring again, the two blades met [m
gether in a vicious, determined stroke thui:
showed plainly that both men were in deadly
earnest.

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE DUEL IN THE CAVERN.

THE career of Captain Reckless, the smuggler
chief, had been a. strange one, according to the
yarn spun b one of the seamen of the Send,
who claim to have known him in his boy-
hood.

The old tar, for the yarn-spinner was an old
man, had told his messmates that the captain
was an Isle of Wight be , born of a family of
good name’and wealth, w ose father dying 1: ft
him a fair inheritance under the control of his
mother; but the widow had married again, and
the boy had found a hard master in his step-
father, and had one day hidden farewell to
home and kindred and gone to sea.

Rumor had it that he had gone to the Ameri—
cas, and had there set up in business in some
Atlantic seaport; but he came back in a few
yw a very rich man, squandered his money in
fast living in ,London, fought a duel that was
fatal to his adversary, and had to fly
trouble, as the one 6 killed was a. king’s (fli-
cer. ‘

Several years more passed away and his
mother died, and he came back to claim l is
estate, but found that his step—father had run
through with it, and he revenged himself upon
him by killing him, and again taking to the sea

The next the old tar heard of him was on it a
deck of the Send, which boarded a French ves-
sel, on which he was a seaman, and reCeived tize
goods to be smuggled into England.

Making himself known to him the captrin
had instantly asked him to go with him, and
thus it was that the old sea-dog had become a
smuggler under one who was an infant in arms
when he was a man grown.

MacGre-gor said of Captain Reckless that he
had been with the band several 3 ears, and l". d
been picked u by'Rcd Joe, their former chief,
and had been is protege, and by his pluck and
sea skill, had been chosen chief.

All united in saying he was a desperate man
when aroused, as bravo as alien, and the l..s,:t
hhnd with a blade any of the band had met
seen handle one. ,

It was on this account particularly. that Mac.
Gregor had desired to prevent a hostile meefi g
with Brandt (,‘rreyhurst: but that young m: u
had yet to meet any one whom he could be 1:294 a
to fear, and was (etermined to meet Captain
Reckless on his own terms.

Ere half a dozen passes had been exchang. d
between them. the smuggler chief’s confim nt
smile faded from his face, for he had ex ecud
to instantly 'disarm the youth, trusting in his
own rowcss and strength; but he feltconvim‘cd
that 10 had met a master of the weapon, and a

few skillful parries and dangerous finals,-

caused him to hem his guard (against his for.
As for Brandt Greyhurst, he well knew his
own pronesg, and wishing to end the matter at
once, and free the Lady Lois from the deep
anxiety she must necessarily suffer, be pressed
the fighting from the first, and becoming
warmed to the work soon showed the crowd of
interested smugglers that their captain had all
he could do to defend his life.
Surprised at the skill and strength of the
oung sailor, never having met his match or: n
fore, Ca in Reckless seemed to fl ht “ith
it was
but a few moments before he stood at bay, his
back against the rock wall of the cabin. and
hisf every energy devoted to protecting him-

sel .
But Brandt Greyhurst seemed bent only link

the task he had set out for himself to sea m-
lish, and with set lips and stern brow pres ed
is adverse harder and harder, until at last

he 01: in un er the rd of the smuggler chief

an drove his swo deep into his side.

The cry of rage and pain comminzled, that t .

broke from the lips of Captain Idem, v. as
drowned in the cries that issued from the band,
as their chief sunk down in his tracks. v

“Great God! you have killed him!” cried " 

MarGregor, sp nging to the side of the wounded
man. . '

in firm. stern acne ts came the words:
“,Not yet: I  you (ii

iii

to case: e'

 

 

 
  

  

 

 

7 » forms they brou ht me here. I
,' incon’vince me t at I was in the power of pi-

10.

Fire—Eye, the Sea Hyena.

 

cot in one of the inner recesses of the cavern,
Brandt Greyhurst said quietly:

“ Lads, I will bring you the gold here Within
a few moments.” ’

Retreating into one of the tunnel-like hall-
ways he disappeared, whilcthe men eagerly dis-
cussed the duel, and commented upon the re-
sult; but their conversation was ere long in—
terrupted by the return to their midst of the
young sailor, bearing in his hands a leather bag

eavy with gold, as was shown when be poured
the contents upon the table.

Forgetting their wounded chief, at the sight
of the shining metal, the crow gathered around
the table, and one by on.“ they received from
the young sailor the amount he had promised

cm.

“This looks like old gold, lad,” said one, ex-
aminin closely a. gold—piece he held inhis hand.

Brandt Greyhurst smiled grimly and replied:

“It is, and is not much worn, as it has been
idle for a century; now, lads, I have paid the
tamom of the Lady Lois, and I suppose that I
will have no more trouble.” ’

Over the CI'OWd he cast his burning eyes, and
his glance seemed to fall upon every face, and
to a man the unswu' came:

“ No!”

“I am glad of it; ha! MacGregor, how is the
chief?” and he turned to the smuggler officer,
who just then entered.

d.“” e is alive, and conscious, but I think will
is.

“So be it; he brought it upon himself; but
come with me, for I have a duty for you to per-
form.”

“ Ay, ay, lad, and it will not be an unpleasant
one, I can swear, as 1 know that the fair lady
goes free.”

“ She does: I have paid her ransom.”

“ The devil you didl with what?”

“ Gold.” v

“No! where did you get it, lad?”

“ That is my affair, MacGrc-gor; but come.”

“Hold on, Messmate Mac, but are we to sail
now the captain’s done for?” asked the boat-
swain of the Send, coming forward.

“I know not what to say, Miller,” answered
MacGregor, in an anxious tone.

“Then permit me to decide; yes, on sail
within the hour, and I go as your chic .”

Every eye fell upon the speaker in utter
amazsment.

It was Brandt Greyhurst that spoke, and
calm and smiling he stood before the two-score
men, watching the effect of his startling. de-
cIaration. '

“Does any man dispute my claim?” he said
after an instant of dead silence.

“Not I for one; there is none better to serve

under, if you choose'to brand yourself as an,

Outlaw,” said MacGregor.

“ In the king’s name I have been branded as
such, and I cast my fortunes with you, lads;
havin taken from you your captain, it is but
right is at I supply you with another, and there-
fore I so. that I will take the Send on her
cruise; W 0 says nay?”

A wild shout burst from the group of reckless
men and MacGregor said earnestly:

“l3y the cross! lad, you are the captain of
'the coast smugglers.”

“So be it: I but follow my destin , lead me
where it may,” was the stern, unre enting re-

ply- - ,

‘ CHAPTER XIX.
A MYSTERY T0,. LADY LOIS.
, THOUGH the waves ran high without the Send
“In safely moored in the, cushioned dock of the
'szard’s Well, and was ready to drop out with
the tide running Seaward, and once more face
’the dangers of the precarious calling her crew

 

In the small, but comfortable cabin, sat a
"fair form on an easy-chair, her face buried in
her hands, and the long trail of her evening
dress lying in folds around her.

Presently she looked u , and the face of Lady
Lois Vashti u as revea ed in all its beauty,
though now upon it rested a scared expression,
for, dragged from the luxurious little tea~room
where she sat alone, her head muflled, and
borne to a vessel by Whom, and for what pur-
pose she knew not, it was no wonder that terror
soizad upon her heart. ’ \

Presently there. came a heavy step on deck,
and the next instant a tall form entered the
cabin.

“ Well, sir, who and what are you, and why

I have I been brought hither?” cried Lady L013,

and her indignation shone in her, eyes and look.
It was MacGregor the Smuggler who stood

 before her, and doffing his hat, he returned po—

litelv:

“Lady, by no desire of mine were you
brought here, I assure on, and I have come to
hear you been to your ome.”

"” “Ah! then you are not one o the outlaws,
eard enough

3’ i .

“Alast Indy. '1 am 'an’outlhw; ,but though I

L,» ,0, u it act's-fit outlawy Tor gold, or excitement
"’ on!" "be

ill

lies within a short distance of your husband’s
villa?” '

been hitherto suspected?”
H  n

tra ou?”
.21;
deeds?”

night’s happening.
understand it?”

tended victim; but when our on tain called at
the villa and asked to see him, ie was told he
was confined to his room ill, and would see no
one, and you were then discovered in a wing of
the building, and calling several of his men he
seized you.’

pledge?”

not be disturbed again.”

was to get gold from you we now held you, you

of one dollar.”

sarcasm of her tone was marked.
Bast, Lady Vashti, he has not forgotten his

gor she said quickly, while the color rose in her
ace: ‘

had so befriended me: what is the pledge you
ask?”

band, or any one finding out the secret of our
is the very man whobefriends you, for .his
so similar but the pledge?”

divulge b word, or act, the Secret of the smug-
glers of t 1e coast?” ’

  

 

1; reason, I grin not one.

“Then you will set me free?" said the wo—
man eagerly.

“ Yes, I think so.”

“ Then you shall be well paid, I pledge you.”

“ I act not for gold now, lady, but at the re
quest of one other.”

“And that other?”

“ I am forbidden to tell; like me he has the
brand ilpon him, but to save you to~night, he
boldly faced the entire band, fought the chief,
and mortally wounded him, and himself paid
your ransom, and by his command 1 am now
here to release you.”

“ And who is this man?”

“ I said I was forbidden to say.”-

“ And he knows me?”

“ He does.”

“It cannot be, for men of his class I have
nchr met,” said the lady with sarcasm.

“Ah, Lady Lois of Sealands, I have seen just
such beautiful women as you are, drive men to
outlawry with false smiles and pledges as iickle
as the wind.”

The Woman started and turned pale, for some-
how the shot Went home to her; but she said
coldl :

“ e will not discuss the matter, sir; whoever
this brave defender of mine is, I thank him from
my heart, and I shall repay him, if he will only
tell me how I can do so.” 9. .,

“Lady, do not add insult to injury by offer-
ing him gold.” '

1‘ And I have injured him?” she asked in sur-

rise.

“ It may be; but let us drop the subject, and
allow me to ask if you are willing to make a
pled e if you go hence?”

“ ow mean you?” -

“ You are aware that you are in the power of
outlaws?”

H Yes.”

“You also doubtless know that this yacht

H Yes. 7)
“ The haunt of smugglers on this coast has not

“ W e wish the secret to remain a secret.” '
“ And expect me to pledge myself not to be-

es, lady.” ‘
“Thereby making me a party to your evil

“ No, simply forget the circumstances of to

“ I cannot.” .
“ No one saw you taken from your home, as I

“ No, or an alarm would have been given.”
“Your husband, not yourself, was the in-

“ And the affair will be repeated if I give the
“Not so, lady, for I give my pledge you shall

“ And my husband?”

“The same pledge I give regarding Mr.
Vashti.” A

“ You are an outlaw?”

The face of MacGregor flushed at the sarcasm
and meaning of the remark; but he answered:

“ Yes a self-confessed one”.

“An you expect me to take your word?”

“ Yes, lady, for if I meant you harm, if it

would not be allowed to go without the payment

“True; butyou said there Was one who had
paid my ransom?”

u 'Y'esI 3’

“And who he is you refuse to divulge?”

“Yes, lady, at his demand.”

“ He holds me in high esteem,” and again the

“ Whatever he may have to forgive for the

onor,” was the prompt rebuke, and she felt it,
“ I was wrong to speak unkindly of one who

“ Our law is, Lady Lois, that a traitor to our

retreat, must die instantly, and it has been
cruelly kept, with one exception, und‘that one

pledge was taken, and yours will be.”
“Strange that weashould be in circumstances

“That, upon your honor, you swear not to

“ If I break my pledge?” ;
“ Then woe be unto you, Lady Lois.” ,
She, started at the eepl y impressive words
and manner of MacGregor, and wishing to end
a scene that was most painful to her; she said

 

1 upon the shelf of rock.

 
 

; hand of the coxsvmin,,and he

   

“ Endugh! come, lady.”
He led her from the cabin, having thrown a
cloak around her, the one which Captain Reck~
less had used to muffle her head in. and with
curiosity she gazed around, as she stepped out

Into the cavern he led her, until they came to l
the dimly lighted social hall, and she saw
around her a number of men, standing grim
and silent in the background.

Presently there came the stern command:

“ lialt I”

“ Ay, ay,” replied MncGregor, coming to a
standstill, and holding Lady Lois by the arm,
for he saw that she was deeply moved.”

“ Has the pledge been given?” asked the same
stern voice.

u Yes.”

“ Let it be repeated here.”

“ Repeat the pledge, Lady,” said MacGregor,
and in u. voice that at first quivercd, but then-
grew firm she said, so that all could hear:

“ Upon my honor I give the pledge not to
betray the svcret I have this night discovered.”

“Woe be unto thee and thine if that pledge
be broken, Lady Lois V ashti, of Sealands, for
the ends of the earth are not far enough to fly
to, to escape our wrath that will follow you,”
said the stern voice back in the gloom.

“ Come,” whispered MacGregor, and the two
moved forward once more, followed one of the
dimly—lighted passageways, until, after quite a .
loner walk, 1hey came out into the cabin kn0wn
as  Old Hermit’s.

A path led them along then in the direction
of the villa, which they at last came in sight of.

Lights still burned brightly in the windows,
and it was evident that Lady Lois had not been r , 
missed, or if missed, her absence had caused no ; 
alarm, as she was supposed to be in some part i '
of the extensive mansion.

The wind still howled dismally, and the roar
of the storm~lashed sea, was distinctly heard, as

 

 

wet, bedraggletl with mud, and worn out, Lady . 
Lois halted with MacGregor in the shadow of '. - r
the )inzza.  ‘1'

“ ore I leave you, lady.”
“I thank you for your kindness to me, and

beg that you allow me to send you a reward.” «r' I
“ No, lady; not for doing my duty.” . t.
“ Then to the one for whom you act, and A  '

whose name you will not betray, give this, and Y '

say that Lady Leis Vashti pledges herself to
serve him should he ever need her aid, when he
returns to her this ring and asks such favor
of her.”

As she spoke Lady Lois drew from her slen-
der finger a massive gold ring, shaped and
carved in a most peculiar manner, for the top
was shaped as an eye, with a large, glowin
opal for the ball, and so exquisitely surrounde
and inlaid with onyx and pearl, that it seemed
almost as if it were real, and when turned up
on Mac-Gregor the orb of fire seemed to look him
through.

“ It is an heirloom in our family, and I give
it freely as a souvenir to my unknown friend,
outlaw though he be. Good-night.”

She glided away, and having watched her
disappear in the massive doorway, MacGregor
returned to the Wizard’s Well. and found all
the crew gathered upon the Send, and Brandt
Greyhurst pacing silently to and fro in the pas-
sa

 

geway.
“ “fell?” .
‘4 She is safe, and they seemed not to know of /
her absence; she sent you this ring to wear, and
gave the pledge to serve you, should you ever
need her aid. when you sent and asked it in the
name of this opal eye.”

" And she does not know me?”

“ No; nor suspect.”

“ I thank you; now let me tell you Maw ’
Gregor, this cavern holds a secret which you
do not know, for to—day I found buried here a

treasure-box, hidden by my great-meat- und- 3 ,.
father, and it was from this that I aid the . '
ransom of the Lady Lois to-night: your 'indness r ‘ , " .2
to me I can never forget, and should luck go . ‘-

against us, I have in this cavern, still conceaL
ed gold enough to keep you and me from want.
‘ Now 1 am launched upon the sea of destin ,
and I shall go whithersoever the wind listet ;
farewell!” u.
He wrung the hand of MacUregor, sprung on " '
board the Send, gave the orders to cast 100ée,
and ten minutes after thefieet craft was flying

 

 

of! tosea under close reefcd sails, and Brandt I 4 :
Greyhurst controlled her destiny for good 0  ,
evil. ' l .
CHAPTER xx ‘ ‘ gj'
. A MISTAKE \ _ ' »
LEAVING the Send and her; reckless young
captain to struggle with the storm for the :
resent, I will return to Tudor Vashti, who u ,\
ad given his boatmen orders to pull for the ‘_ ,5 s. -

yacht, inatone that caused them to see that ‘
their commander was in no mood to trifle,
with. ' ‘ .-
As th .cutter was passing the Tower stai
Tudor ashti sndoenl y seized the tiller from 4:
acth directly;

   

 
 

  

  
 

 

'1.

   

.. ‘ awkward situation, and yourself in a dangerous
' . one,” said Sir Charles in a perplexed way.

who..-” .--2 , W .-.»~‘..r., .. P

 

-_ .._.~.. _. -V ._.A .--... .. _.._ .-

Sprin 'ng out on the stone steps, he was con-
fronted y the sentinel on duty who leveled a
bayonet at his heart and said decidedly:

“ Halt l”

“ I would see Sir Charles Friedland, the
commandante.”

“ It is after hours, sir, replied the sentinel,
politely saluting, for he saw that he addressed
an ofiieer of high rank.

“It matters not what the hour is; I have
prisoners for his (infusions, and news to com-
municate; send him word that (.‘aptain Tudor
Vashti, of the king’s yacht, asks an interview.”

The sentinel gaVc a signal and a sergeant ap—

roachcd and bore the message, and soon re-
urned with the rcquest that he was to follow
him to Sir Charles’s quarters.

“Coxswain, if these three men escape, I shall
ornament the yard-arm with you,” he said, sav—
agely, to the coxswain of the cutter, and then
followed the sergeant within the gloomy walls.

In a pleasant'if a. spot in such a gloomy pile

77

. could be so termed—wing of the To\ver was a

suite of rooms occupied by Sir Charles Fried-
land, the eommandante of the Tower, and
he was seated at a table writing when the young
captain entered. ,

A pleasant—faced man. in spite of the misery
he held in his hands in the control of the prison,
he looked u , and then arose with a smile of
welcome as udor Vashti entered. _

“ Ah, captain, glad to see you back from
across the waters; but knew not you were ex-
pected; you are welcome.”

“Nor was I, Sir Charles, as I took the bit in
my teeth and ran home against orders; but I
suppose Ican make it all right with the king
under the circumstances; but you received a.
prisoner from me?”

“ Yes, poor Brandt Greyhurst, who it seems
has gotten himself into trouble, and deeply I re—
gret it, for he is the last of his re cc, and comcs
of a stock than which there are none better in
the kingdom; how was it?”

“ He Wished to return to England, and I re-
fused. for my crew are mutinous, and I could
spare no officer, and he very coolly deserted.”

“ Strange, indeed! I woufd not have believed
it but from your lips; but it will go hard with
him as death without trial will be his doom.”

“ Yes, when he is taken.”

“ Taken! what mean you. captain?”

“When we capture him.”

"‘Why, I already have him in a dungeon of
the Tower.”

“You are sure?”

“ Quite sure; he was brought before me, num-
bered ironed, and sent to cell13.”

“ You are mistaken, Sir Charles.”

“ Impossible l”

“And yet I just met him in the streets of
London perfectly free, and in attem ting to
capture him, was knocked down an be cs-
caped.” r

“ Captain Tudor Vashti, the man who enters
this Tower as a prisoner can never escape, sir;
you were mistaken in the man.”

“On the contrary, Sir Charles Friedland, you
were mistaken in the man.”

“It can be proven, sir.”

“Then order the occupant of cell No. 11}
here.”

“I will,” and stopping to the door, Sir Charles
gave an order to a. sentinel on dut: , and in ten
minutes there was heard the clanking of? chains,
and a prisoner entered, with bowed head, and in
uniform, but with the insignia of rank torn
from his shoulder.

“Ask the guard to retire, Sir Charles,” sug—
gest? Tudor Vashti, as the latter was about to
spea .

The commandante did so, and ‘ when alone
with the prisoner, Sir Charles said stornly:
“Now, Captain Vashti, which is right, you
or I?” -

“Let the prisoner answer, sir.”

Instantly the bowed head was raised, and the

risoner advanced into the light, and Sir
harles, after one long look started back with
the cry: - » ‘

“Great God! Holbrook, my soul” -

“lYes, father, I am your son,” was the firm
rep y.

“ And in .chainsi You then were the desertcr
that dis raced himself, and—”

“qu l. father, Iam no descrter, as Captain
Vashti will tell you; but Brandt Grey burst was
my friend: he saved my life at Cowes, as you
know, several years ag , and, begging my cum-
mander’s pardon, not having him intention-
ally a deserter, and wisbin to save him from
the death I knew would fol ow if he came here,
if took advantage of our stran e likeness to each
other, and of your position as ower keeper and
passed for him and went tothe dungeon, intend-

to send for you in the morning and confess
. 3, ~
“Holbrook', you ,have place me in a. most

“The risk I willingly face. sir; but I regret
trough: to you,” though think it can be avoided."
v “ ow?” r

‘Ca tuVagliti, Brandt, you and I alone

an practied Sir; and leap

 

,_ _,F_i¥e:¥?rszjhe See, Hyena-

it,” was the bold suggestion of the handsome
young reefer.

Sir Charles glanced furtively at Captain
Vashti, who paced the room several times in
silence, as was his wont when deeply moved;
but at last he said:

“Sir Charles, I have no desire to cause you
trouble,'and I can but praise the. act of your

' son in wishing to serve one whom he called his

friend, and who had saved his life: but Mid-
shipman Friedland must be most careful how he
sets my authority at naught again.”

“I thank you, Captain Tudor, for your kind-
ness to both Holbrook and myself, and hope. to
some day prove that in some way I can serve
you,” and Sir Charles held forth his hand,
which Tudor Vashti warmly grasped, while
Holbrook Friedland said:

“ And I too owe you thanks, Captain Vashti;
but under existing circumstances, it would be
best for me to return in irons to the yacht. and
in the morning it will be believed that (Prev-

'hurst made his escape, and nothing will

thoucht of it.”

“A good idea: now, Sir Charlrs, I have
three deserters in my boat to turn over to 'our
keeping, until they are executed; I will have
my lieutenant make out charges against them,
and send them to you tomorrow, for tonight
they attacked me in the streets, and had it not
been, for a passing citizen, would have killed
me '

“ Indeed! they shall be most severely dealt
with ' they are in your boat, you say ?”

“Yes, at the Tower stairs.”

Sir Charles touched a. bell, and the same ser-
geant appeared.

“ Lead this prisoner to the boat at the Tower
stairs, and leave him with'the officer; then take
charge of three prisoners there and carry them
to the death-cells.”

The sergeant saluted and retired, and after a
glass of wine with Sir Charles. Tudor Vashti
took his leave, and half an hour after was in his
cabin pacing to and fro, while the daring young
inidshipman who so cleverly had saved Brandt
(lreyhurst, had left his irons in the state-room
of his friend, and quietly crept ofl.’ to his own
quarters, where he was congratulating himself
upon the happy termination of what seemed at
one time to be a very gloomy picture for all
concerned°

 

CHAPTER XXI.
THE KING AND Ins VISITOR.

THE scene new changes to an apartment in
the St. James Palace which was used by Eng-
land’s monarch as both library and private au-
dience chamber.

Upon the morning following the scene at the
Tower, the king sat in a velvet-covered chair,
elaborately carved, sipping a cup of coffee,
which he poured from a silver urn that stood on
atable at his left hand, while upon his right
was an escritoire, covered with writing ma-
terials, letters, official documents and papers.

The chamber was hung with tapestry of ex-
qu'site patterns, the colors remaining rich and
bri liant, though it was centuries old, and
around the room Were massive pieces of furniv
ture of the Elizlbethan age.

A few portraits of the German ancestors of

the king hung on the walls, a. superb silver.

candelabra in the sha of a. stag’s antlers, and
a jowel-hilted sword ying on the mantle, were
the only other objects of interest to attract the
eye of the visitor. ‘ . .

As the king sipped his coffee, which he had
himself poured into a tiny China cup, his brow
was clouded, and it was evident that something
had gone amiss with him.

He was a man of co anding appearance,
and about him was an air if dignity and power
that at once proclaimed him a monarch.

“ Well, I see I must curb that boy, or he will
give me trouble,” he muttered, setting down
his cu ,and taking a an official dispatch re-
ccive the evening be ore.

“ The Lance anchored near the Tower, and I
believing her in the Indies: why what ean‘the
boy rm 1]?

“ Has he had an action with the enemy, cap-
tured a pirate’s nest, or done anything that has
caused his return without orders? ,.

“I hope so, though I fear not, as he would
have at once come to report his triumphs.

“I sent him away for a long cruise, hopin
to save him from the dissi atlons he had entered
upon here, and now I find iim back again and
-—what is it, sirrah?” and the king turned an-
grily to a liveried servant, who just then eu-
tered and brokein upon his musings.

“ Captain Tudor Vashti, your majesty, begs
a private audience with your highness.”

" Hr‘ the very object of my thoughts: speak
of Satan and his imps appear,” muttered the
king and aloud he added:

“ I will reCeive him, and I wish no intrusion
until I call.” ’

he servant bent low in obeisance and retired,
and the king poured out another cup of 00390.
and was quietly sipping it, wit apparent

relish when Captain Tudor Vasbti‘ was, an-.

nounced. . _ , h .
H ' full uniorm,  “certainly.

    

 

' w- .............._4....,...,. mucou- ~., an.“ mom i
.

- L1

 

‘thon ht, as be advanced "with martial “p, and

bent fore him.

“Your majesty, I have come to renor“ that I
have returned home without orders-and crave
ypur pardon for so doing,” he said in a. low

ne.

“ Captain Tudor Vashti, whom I have ele-
vated to the command of my own vessel, and
sent on an important cruise in foreign waters,
cannot have returned home without orde
unless he had ample reasons for so doing,” sai
the king sternly, and yet gazin with some
degree of kindness, and considerab e admiration
upon the dashing young scapegrace.

“Your majesty shall be the judge if you
deem I had ample cause.”

“ I am listening, sir.”

“My official reports of my action with and
capture of a pirate vessel was sent home, your
majesty—”

‘ And read, and a mark in your favor set
down sir.”

“ I lost quite a number of my crew in that
action, your majesty, and a tornado shortly
after, swept several more into the sea to perish,
and then followed a mutinous disposition upon
the art of march"

“ lutiny in my service, sir?”

“ Not open, your majesty; but there were
dark looks and threats from those I had pun-
ished.”

“ A good officer, Captain Tudor Vashti, should
never give cause for mutiny on his vessel, and if
it did occur, prom )tly meet it in a way that
would prevent fart. ier trouble.”

“Your majesty is the best judge of whetherI
am capable of the position your highness has so
kindly assigned me to.”

“ I am not blaming you, Captain Vashti,
without knowing the facts.”

“ Your majesty will remember that my crew
had an easy life of it when here, only running
out to sea now and then to give your majesty
and the royal family an airing, and—”

“ Yes, you were coming play sailors, all of
you. and I thought a hard- voyage would do you
good, but you tire of hard knocks, and run back
to an anchorage where you can enjoy your club
dinners and flirtatious.”

“ Your majesty is severe; I had hoped that I
had done my duty.”

“ Oh, yes; but about this coming home?”

“Your majesty has just heard that the 001m
bat and the tornado made me short-handed. and
with some of my crew mutinous, and an officer
in irons—”

“ An officer, sir?” and the king’s blue eyes di-
lated.

“ Yes, your majesty; Midshipman Brandt
Grevhurst, of Sealands.”

“ o, no, none of that name ever did a deed
to stain their honor.”

“I am sorry to report, our majesty, that
Midshipman Gre burst has one so, for he asked
leave to return ome, and upon my refusal of
the request, he deserted the ship and swam out
toward a packet that was getting under wa ;
but he was too late, the vessel sailed, and e
was retaken, and I brought him home in irons.”

“ You did right, Captain Vashti, but itis hard
for me to think evil 0 one bearing the name of
Greyhurst; where is he now, sir?”

“ He esca (1 last night, your majesty.”

“Esca l a prisoner escape from a king’s
ship?” said the king sternly, and he added:

‘ There has been gross negligence in this,
Captain Vasbti.” ‘

‘ He was in irons, sir; they were filed 08, and
he dropped out of the port last night and swam
ashore.’ .

“ Placard him, sir, in my name, as a deserter
3nd 3. felon, and spread it through the king-

om. \

“ I will obey your majesty’s commands; but
I sent to the Tower three of my crew, the muti-
nous ones referred to your highness, and
whom I charge with ma 'ing an attempt upon
in life.”

“Hal I will dispatch word to Friedland to
have them executed with the setting sun; this
germ of mutiny in my navy must be stop d at
once, and when Greyhurst is retaken, ,will i
make a public example of him.”

“I thank your majesty; now I have a favor
to ask of your royal highness.”

“ I will hear it, sir. ”

Nothin abashed by the stern manner of hi.
kin . Tu or Vashtisald: _ ,

“ he pirate vessel I sent home,yonr ma sty,_
as a prize, is one of those American built sc 00n-
ers, that sail like the wind, and she is much
lar r and more seaworthy than the Lance,
an showed us a clean pair of heels, your ma-
jesty, in spite of our speed. until she grounded. ,

“ I saw her, as I came up the Thames, your
majesty, almost a perfect wreck; but she can

made as stench as ever, and even, faster, ‘ ~

and heavily armed and manned, I 'will pledge r
myself, your‘ma 'esty. to return to American
waters and soon unt from the Seas the bold ~
buccaneers that are doing such damage to your
majesty’s merchant servwe. '

“ It. was finding the Iaan I I light
service, and tltiefllosé‘hof scineo ‘ "
. a A - ,.

tmous win

  

 

  

. that you shall rise or 1'

Fire-Eye, the__Sea Hyena.

 

12

 

hopednfor your highness’s clemency and royal

favor. .

“A-nd wherein had you the right to expect
ater favor at my hands, sir, when your wild
To here, before our departure, almost caused
me to regret havmg interested myself in your
behalu‘” and the king looked straight into the
ftlnce cf the young profligate, who boldly re—
p ied '
“ It is said, your majesty, that blood is thicker
than water, and I sought to see if the words
I held true.”
3 The king turned deadly pale, and sunk back
‘in his velvet chair, his blue eyes fixed with a

istrange Look upon the daring man before him.

CHAPTER XXII.
THE POWER OF A SECRET.

FOR some moments a silence fell bet ween the
king and his daring sub'ect, for, so stunning
had been the effect of ’ludor Vashti’s words,
that his royal master seemed speechless.

And yet how simple had been the utterance,
though there was in them a significance that
the kingfelt evidently, and while his very man-
ner showed that the J ew’s story of the yonn
ca tain’s birth was true, that personage stood
be ore his majesty, a quiet smile upon his face,
and triumph burning in his eyes.

“ I do not exactly understand your words,
sir,” said the king after an instant or two of
silence that was growing painful.

“I merely said, your majesty, that I trusted
your kindness to me had a motive which I am
cognizant of.” -

“ Sirrah! do 1L’you dare attribute motives to
me to my very ace?”

“ Your majesty is angry with me, because I
have told him that I was aware of the great
goodness he has ever shown me being prompted

y feelings that sprung from his heart.”

“ Boy, you say that you know why I have
befriende you; who has told you?” and the
king’s voice quivered.

“ One whom the penalty for divulging the
secret cannot fall upon,” was the calm rep! .

“ What! do you mean that he is so big in
rank I dare not have the doom, of which you
seem to know, carried out?” and the king arose
excitedly and his hand hovered over a bell upon
the table.

“ Your majesty, the one of whom I speak,
even your wer cannot harm.”

“Hal w at mean you?”

“ She is dead,” and Tudor Vashti having
readil told the lie, or insinuation as to where
he ha gotten the news of his birth, remained
silent, while the king sunk back in his chair
and buried his face in his hands.

fifter a. moment he raised his head, and said
sa v:

“I know from whence came thy knowledge
of this secret, and yet I deserved not that she
should have told it, though it was but natural
for her mother’s heart so to do.

“ So let it be, and let there be between us two
the same wall that there has ever been, and not
one tendril of affection, strive it ever so hard, to
climb up to look over into the heart of the
other.

“That past is dead, so let it rest and bury its
dead,” and the royal, proud head again drooped,
and even the selfish, heartless son bent his face
so that its emotions, if any flitted across it, re-
mained hidden.

Suddenly raising his eyes, the king said in
his quick, commanding tones:

“Captain Vashti. your favor is anted, sir;
the American vessel shall at once e hauled to
the Tower dock and put in perfect repair, armed
fully and manned and equipped as you direct;
but until she is ready for sea, remain in CODI-
mand of the Lance, and hold 1yourself in readi-
ness for a pleasure cruise wit her majesty and
her children at any time.”

“ It shall be as your majesty commands,”

 Was the respectful reply.

_ “And now, Captain Vashti, I will write you
an order on your—your—I mean upon Mr. Ross
Vashti, for the sum of twenty-five thousand
Sounds, leavmg him to believe it to be for the

tting out of our vessel, but which I wish you
to use in re eeming the property you have
mortgaged to a Jew, and which I have heard

“Tudor Vashti’s face flushed, as—the king
v spoke, but he made no reply, and his majesty
continued; _

“When on have tten back your estate
on will at have a andsome sum left, and I
ope you will put it to 00d use, and not gamble

gloomy as you have al you have possessed in

0 tr

“ shall keep my role eye upon you, Cap-
tain Veshti, and I pledge on my kineg honor
according to what

 

your actions deserve.”
to his table again. the king hastily
order upon Ross Vashti’s banking-
ty,»flve thousand nds, and
pang captain saidhsternly:
, , is the moneyiwithw, ich to re-,
and estate; fl: '

 

 

waters or time; our audience is at an end, Cap-
tain Tudor Vashti.”

The youthful captain, with the triumph he
had gained sparkling in his eyes, bent his head
low before his king, and retired.

Entering the carriage in waiting before the
royal palace, he drove to a printing-oliice, and
had the placard struck off that offered a re-
ward for “ Brandt Greyhurst, Deserter and
Felon,” and then returning to his cab, bade the
conchman drive to “Enoch Shylock’s; a Jew,
in Monmouth street."

“ I’ll surprise old Enoch, I think, and then
visit my respected fulher at Swalands.”

So saying, he settled himself back on the
cushions, while a look of devilish delight came
over his face. _

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE KING’S DRAFT.

“ ‘VELL my dear captain, your visit is so
unexpectm , I fear to ask if there is trouble?”
and Enoch Shylock looked up somewhat mix-
ionsly as Tudor Vashti entered his private
office.

“ No; I only called on a little matter of busi-
ness, Jew, to ask the amount due on the mort-
gages on held against my pro erty.”

“ What matters it, Tudor. ashti, when you
cannot take them up?” v

“ int I can, Jew. ’

Enoch Shylock elevated his eyes, and, yet,
concealing instantly his astonishment, Said,
casually:

“ Ah! been successful for once at play.”

“ Not at play, exactly but at another game,
Jew; now let me know the amount due on mort-
gages and interest.”

'Ihe Jew quietly turned to a. large book,
and running his eyes over several papers, said:

“Let me see, captain; the mortgages amount,
with interest, to twelve thousand and ninety
pounds.” .

“ And last night I gave you a note for twelve
thousand dollars; 1 will take that ‘up, too; so

ive me the change out of this order for twenty.-
hve thousand pounds.”

The Jew calmly took the paper, and again
his 9 ebrows were raised in surprise, as he said:

“”t is an order on Vashti & Company, bank-
erfi Yes.” ‘

“ For twenty-five thousand dollars?”

“ Yes, as you see.”

“They are good men?”

U X70~.77

“ And the king is the drawer of the draft?”

“ Yes, as you see.” '

“ llc b'mks with them I know.”

6‘ Yes.”

“ Hi3 draft should be good.”

“ Should be good? it 1's good, as you know.”

“ Yes,'if he wrote it.”

“ I do not understand, Jew.”

“15 he wrote the draft.”

“ He did, all of it.”

“And gave it to you?”

“ Yes.’

“ Strange.”

“ What is strange?”

“ That he should give it to you.”

“ It is to lit out an American vessel I captured
under a pirate flag, and sent home as a prize.”

“ She is to be fitted out here?” '

U KTCS. 7,

“ ‘Vilel’G.” ,

“ In the Tower dock.”

“ Why does not the Admiralty’s Treasurer
pay for it, and not the king out of his private
account?”

Tudor Vashti saw that the wily Jew had
cau;:ht him in a trap; but he said, impatiently:

“ This vessel goes on a special service, Jew.”

“ I don’t doubt it, captain.”

“ Well, give me the balance of the draft due
me, after taking out for my mortgages and
neg,” ..

'hat a it .

“ What!” p y _

“ That I have not got the notes.”

“Why, I only gave them to you last night.”

“Yes, but I negotiated them.”

‘“ You were in a hurry, Jew.”

“ That is the way I make my money, Captain
Vashti.”

“Well, send your clerk to take them up.”

“ It cannot be done.”

“ Cannot! Wh ?” _

“ They are on of my possession.” .

“ That you just said; so send to the man who
has them.”

“ He will not give them up until the day they
are due.” ‘

“He must 1” ' Q

“ He cannot.”

“ He shall I” shouted the officer. ' -
“ Don’t get excited, Captain Vashtl, for it
will do no good,” coldly said the Jew.

“Then give me my notes.”

.“ Impossible, upon the day of maturity I
will have them here for you.’ ‘ -
' “Cum on you, ghylookl you wish to

d -heldthose“aignat ageing me

0' _,
..

 

 

’

'its ruins, nor tovtheWizard’s Well beneat its

“ True; then deduct the mortgage money out
of this draft, and hand me the balance."

“But how about the fitting out out of the
American vessel 1”

it How z”

2:199 king gave you this draft to pay for it!"
es:
“If you spend it for yourself, what will the

ldn say!" '

“ hat is m look-01$,” and the face of Tudor
Vashtiflushedr at being again led intoasnare
by the cunning israelite.

“ That is my aifair, not yours.”

“ It was my interest in you prompted the
question, dear captain.”

“ Curse your interest in me.”

“You Christians plead humbly to the Jew
when you need money, and curse him in your
pros werity.”

“ ou deserve what you et, for you thrive
on the vines and follies of 0t er men; but cash
that draft, as I asked you to do, and when the
note comes due, I will take it up.”

Enoch Shylock again looked carefully at the
draft, and said: -

“I cannot cash it, Captain Tudor Vashti, un~
til I know that .it is 00d.”

“ Do you dare to oubt its genuinenes‘sl”

it Yes.”

“ Ha! you dare—”

“ Hold! no threats, no hostile demonstrations,
Tudor Vashti, or you may not escape so easily
as last night, and your life then hung by a
thread.”

The,tone and manner of the Jew caused the
young officer to sink back in his chair, for he
remembered well the scene of the night before
when he had been under the aim of the fair
Jewesa

“ You doubt the draft?” he said, hoarsely.

“ Yes, for but last night you execuu d before
my Eyes 9. most skillful ‘piece of forgery.”

“ urse vou, Jew! ou insult me because
you know I am in your power.”

“ You should not have so placed yourself,
Tudor Vashti.”

“Don’t morah'ze to me; but tell me if you
believe I have forged this draft on Ross Vdshti,
in the king’s name?”

“I do not say that, captain; but I must be
cautious.”

“ Then give the mortgages into the hands of
your clerk, and let him drive with me to'the

ank, and I will pay him the sum due and get
them from him.”

“ Enough, so that my name does not 20 on a
paper that might, mind you, I say might be
forged.”

“ Then call your clerk.”

“ No, my daughter shall go with you.”

“ Your daughter?”

is Yes.”

“ “'hy sh )uld you send her?”

“ I have my reasons.”

“I care not if Satan goes, so I get the un-
pleasant duty off my hands; bid her hurry, for
it is nearly time for the bank to close),

“ You will send her back?”

“She certainly is not one of a race whom I
would select to run off with,” was the insolent
re 1v.

RI am .ready, father,” and Adina stepped be-

fore the two, looking l'aVishingly beautiful, and

evidently havmg heard all that passed between

em. _
Tudor Vashti started and colored, and would ’
have stammered out some apology, for he was ’

seldom rude to a woman; but her smiling face
caused him to hope she had not heard his re—
mark, and he conducted her to the carriage in
waiting, and fifteen minutes after he held the
mortgages of_ his estate, and over twehe thou—
sand pounds m cris bank no‘es, while Adina
the J eWess was on er 'way back to her father.

But Tudor Vashti was not yet wholly at bil
ease, for the note he had given the Jew, with
the forged. Indorsement of Ross Vashti, ,was not
yet "1 PQSseSSiOD. nor was the draft given before
and until he held'possession of these, he could
not be contented. , , l

“ To—morrow I will run up to Sealands; but
now for a dinner at the club and then to try my
luck once more,” he muttered, as he strolled in-
to a fashionable club house on the Strand.

CHAPTER XXIV.
ROSS vasan AT Hon.

FROM the crowded maria of London, the
busy hum of mercantile life, and the whirl of
pleasure, back to the sea-shore where the wash
of the waves, the song of birds, and sighing of
the\winds mingle together in delightful bar-

 

mony,I would have myyreader.‘

me. , .
Not to the old Castle of Sealandagra d in
cavern-hollowed docks,- but to; the Wills of

the estate, built by: Ross Yacht/i, and 'mado,.j ,
through the lavish ofl'lgo‘ld,‘ a mansidn 01'

u

{tare beauty ‘g’audgvc
dW" ' h ,5.

V '1
g.  v ram.

 

    
 

 

l .
l
l
a
.

 

m4....,.~.vv" 4

_ ~......... g... *;‘l‘-.,._,

 

    

  
 
 

l
|
2

 

 45%.... .A .
.‘ V ’ .

9 .

 

  

. led in London before you left, has frosted my
.I I he 9:

‘v . trunk and say it is a guilty conscience.”

. . 5.“...— -..,,.\.

Fire-Eye, the Sea Hyena.

13

 

 

mings, crimson curtains, and r0ws of costly
books, sat Ross Vashti the master, gazing
vacantly through the open window upon the
sea. view in the distance. é

At his hand, upon a small table, were a pile
of opened letters and papers, showing that he
had but just finished reading his mail, and
glancing at the news items.

But the master of Sealands had changed in
the past few days, from the man ot a week be-
fore, and rumor had it, that his severe illness
of only short duration, had turned his dark
locks white, and certain it is that he had one
evening sought his room, leaving good-night
for his young bride, and a demand not to be
disturbed, and the following morning was a
grayhaired man.

There were hints among the servants of a
shock received, losses of property, and all that;
but the very day after he again appeared at
the head of his household he sent to London
and ordered a superb set of diamonds for his
wife, and which cost a small fortune.

To his bride he complained that neuralgia
had whitened his hair, and so the matter
dropped, for reference to it, all saw, caused
the master’s face to grow more stern and
gloomy.

As he sat there that afternoon in the library,
some days after his moonlit interview with an
avowed Satan in the tower of Castle Sealands,
he mused half aloud, and the subject of his
musings was one who has already conspicuous-
ly figured in this story.

“In the name of all evil spirits, why has the
boy come back here?

“ I hoped to have gotten rid of him for near-
ly two years to come, or a year at least, and
here I find that he has returned to London, and
is now doubtless gambling his pay away, that
has accumulated since his departure.

“ Why did not some kind tornado sink him,
or did not that pirate serve me a good turn by
killing him, I wonder?

" The king, when last I saw him, said noth-
ing of the intended return of the boy, and I do
not understand his coming back.

“Well, I am ahead of him with Lois, at any
rate, and I shall finger her fortune, when it
comes, thanks to the kindness of that good Jew
Shylock, for telling me what he did, and her
avaricious father who sold her to me, forI have
sense enough to see that she cared nothing for
me, and still loves that accursed Brandt Grey-
burst.

“ Ha! ha! ha! have I not had sweet revenge
on the name of Greyhurst for the blow the

' boy‘s father gave me years ago when he stole

ifiom me the woman I then so madly loved?

“ Well, they are both in their grave now,
Nanine and Paul Greyhurst, and yet I have
not done with my revenge, for their son must
die a beggar."

Just then his muttering to himself was
broken in upon by the entrance of a servant,
who said politely: a

“I have to announce, sir, that your son,

Captain Vashti, has just arrived. sir, by post."

“I will see him here,” said Ross Vashti
aloud, while to himself he muttered:

“He is dead broke, I’ll warrant, and will
take oath that filial piety has brought him; but
the king has forbidden me giving him more

I money to squander, which I cannot but regret

as it was convenient for me to get my pick-

" ings out of— Ah! Tudor, my dear boy, you (ll e

Welcome, nevertheless you have giVen me a
great surprise,” and Ross Vashti arose and ad—
vanced toward the tall, handsome man who
had entered the room with quick, firm tread.

But Tudor Vashti came to a sudden halt,
and the hand he had half extended dropped to
his side, ashe stared in open-eyed wonder at
the man who welcomed him, and asked in sur-
prised tones:

“Have you gone back, sir, to the fashion of
powdered hair again!” .

The face of Ross Vashti turned pale, while
he answered impatiently:

“Of course you must comment upon my
hair, sir, even before you return my greeting;
no, sir, I am getting so accursed old that my
hair has grown gray, or rather your fast life,

“Oh no, do not lay it to my door, 'but 
1.“ Binl Tudor! I will not—J , _
'jf‘Ndw,: now, don’t let us quarrel, but ac:

; (gag  your. montage, ; w

.

  

 

. ' .”
’4‘ " "in, 

why you, nearly half a hundred years old,
have married a child hardly out of her baby-
clothes?”

“Tudor, I will not listen to such language l
from you: besides I am only forty-one, and 1:
Lady Lois Vashti is—J’ 

“Almost seventeen; but how fine that f
sounds, Lady Lois l'ashli, but I know her to 1'
be a lovely woman, and you are to be con— l
gratulated as sincérely as she is to be condoled
with; but come, can younot ill'er nae a glass 
of wine, for my throat is full of the dust of )
travel, and to-night after dinner, and I have
paid my dovoirs to Lady Lois Vashti, We will
have a little talk on business together. ”

“Business with you means an advance of
money for your dissipations," growled Ross
Vashti.

“True, I am dead broke, for I lost several
thousand pounds lately for three nights in suc-
cession.”

“ Back to your old traits again: I had heped
that your cruise would have benefited your
character. ”

“Oh Lord, no; it only sharpened my ap—
petite for gamingr ~—. Ah! this is my sweet girl
mother,” and the young officer arose, as Lady
Lois just then entered the room, and with the
courtly grace he so well knew how to assume
at will, he crossed over to her, took her hand,
and bending low kissed it, while he continued
pleasantly:

“I am glad to renew our acquaintance,
Lady Lois, for I have known you ever since
you we're a wee girl, and admired you so
much, that you may remember, before I sailed
for the Americas, I wroteand offered you my
heart and hand; but my father anticipated
me, it seems, and what was my loss is his gain,
while 1 have the sweet assurance that you will
be a mother to me if not a wife.”

For an instant Lady Lois seemed as if about
to resent this bold address; but it was said so
Openly, and in such a deferential manner, that
she laughed it off pleasantly, and dinner being
announced, the three went into the dining-
room, and together passed what would appear ;
to an ordinary observer a delightful evening; ‘
but in the heart of each there was an aching
void, though their faces were wreathed with
smiles.

 

CHAPTER XXV.
THE VALUE OF NEWS.

“Now, sir, as your fair bride has left us to
go to the land of dreams, in which your hoary
head will doubtless be continually popping up,
like a nightmare, between htr and a buried
love, alh w me to suggest that we turn to
business.”

“I know of no business arrangements be-
tween us, Tudor.”

“ I can soon tell you, sir.”

“It is gold you wish, I am certain; but you
have your pay, your estate should yield you a
generous income, and you could live like a
liable, were it not for your love of gambling.”

“ I have news for you, which 1 will first I
make known to put you in good humor.”

~ “ No news will make me advance you one :
cent.”

“ We’ll see; would you not like to hear that
one whom you looked upon as an’ enemy, if I
remember aright, and had cause to dread as a
dangerous rival, had done that which brings
ignominy upon his name?”

“ Hal whom do you mean, Tudor?”

“ Why what an old gallant you must be to
have hadso many rivals as to forget the one to
whom I refer.”

“All! you mean Brandt Greyhurst?”

“Yes, the boy whose intended bride your
money bought.” ‘ .

“ Well, what of him?” impatiently asked -
Ross Vashti.

“ First, he got the news, in some way, that
you were to marry the Lady Lois, and at once
asked to come home, in a packet ship that beat
us here four days; but I befriended you most
nobly, and refused him permission, and the
result was that he deserted the Lance to sail on
"the ship, but was taken and brought back in
irons.”

“Ha! ha! ha! a Greyhurst desert his ship?
This is indeed news,” chuckled Ross Vashti.

 

“Oh, I knew the heme would please you; '

but it will give you more joyto know that he
escaped when we afichored in the Thames.”

“ Escaped! is he at large?"
“ 91: yes, but the king oflsmfreward
., . l.“- V I“. . _

 

5 . .,

  

“But he may come to this neighborhood,
and I will at once give orders to the servants
to keep watch for him, and whatever the
king’s reward may be, I Will double it to the
man who takes him dead or alive,” and un-
heeding Tudor Vashti’s remonstrance he called
a servant and at once sent forth the tidings re
garding the dcserter, and made known hisown
generous orfer to his captor, but demanded that
the news should be kept strictly away from
the ears of Lady Lois.

“You fear the icy may run off with your
bride,” suggested Tudor Vashti with mock in-
nocence.

“ No, sir, I have no such fear; but I wish to
see the last Greyhurst under the ground,” said
Ross Vashti, almost fierCely.

"Now, 511', for another piece of news; 4‘,

drew from your banking hears before MOVE:
London tWenty—flve thousand pounds.”

“ Twenty-five thousand devils! whahndi
let you have that sum without my ordain"!
yelled Ross Vashti.

“Your tool whom you honor with the title
of partner.”

“ I will discharge him at once, and—"

“Discharge a partner 5?” Why I see the
partnership was only a blind. and that he was
really a tool as I béiore suspected.”

“And he dared to give you that immense
sum?”

“ He dared not do otherwise.”

“ What do you 'mcan, Tudor V'ashti?"

“I had the king‘s order for it, or draft,”
was the provokingly cool reply.

“You had the king’s order for twenty-five
thousand pounds?” and Ross Vashti looked at
the young man in utter amazement.

“ Certainly; I am ordered to a larger vessel,
fitting out for me to go pirate-hunting on a.
roving commission, and I have to pay for the
equipment of the cratt.”

“ Ah! but I think the king makes a mistake
to place so large a sum in your hands to dis-
burs ‘; he should have let me attend to it.”

“Oh, no, not to get your twenty per cent.
interest out of, for you are as usurious as Shy-
lock, the Jew, whcn'yru can be.”

“ What know you of that man?”

“I have heard of him.”

“ \Vvll, sir, to return to the king’s act; die
your capture of the pirate craft you sent home
to England, win you this favor?”

o.  "I!

“ What did then 1’”

“ You con. idor yourself interested?”

“Certainly.”

“ Upon what grounds?”

“ Bing your father it is but natural.”

“ Upon the same grounds the king gave me
the monty.”

Waite as his snowy locks now turned Ross
Vas‘nti, and his lips quivcred, as he strove to
speak, yet no sound came from them, and,
with a mocking laugh, Tudor Vashli continued:

“ How deeply it affects you to find out that
I know the little secret you, have, with others,
'so carefully hidden; but I can bring back to

a your lips the power of speech you seemto

have lost, when I say that I intend to use my
knowle<lge;”

“ ln Satan’s name! what would you do,
mad boy

“ Ah! you can‘talk now; gold is the magic
word to Open your lips; well, you ask what
would I do?

“ Why. simply ask of you a loan on a verbal
promise to repay you when I can, and if I
never do, I’ll be that much better off, and you
won’t miss it.”

“ I can give you no money.”

“Only a small loan; say, let me see, yes,
call it ten thousand pounds.”

“ Ten thousand Satans!”

“Oh, no, one is enough, if you are a fair
sample of the others; yes, I wish ten thousand
pounds.” ‘

“I cannot spare half of that sum now, for

i this villa has cost a fortune, its furnishing an-

other, and my marrying has caused me to lay
out large sums.”

“All of which you will get back as soon as
your wife receives her inheritance.” -
She has no inheritance, for her father is little
mere than a, beggar." .

“ But her uncle died rich, you know.”

       

Again did Ross Vashti turn livid, and m 3,3,
*0 la” “he-P9“? 0f “demeanowmle  ,

laughed in the, some low, mocking
comment. ‘44 .l   “ " 
‘ LI  _ -.

‘x

139:

ll

0.»

 

x

 

 

 

sum upon the secret of your wife‘s inheri-
tance.”

“No, no, if you really need the money I
can give you a check for it tomorrow.”

“Better give the check to—night, as life is
uncertain, and sudden death frequent among
high~1ivers.”

“I would not be SUI‘pI‘is-‘d if I livul to see
you hanged, at the present rate you are going
on.”

“Nor I either, for if I cannot get gold by
hunting pirates, I’ll turn pirate and hunt gold,”
was the bet ter reply.

Ross Vashii made no reely, but u role. a
draft for the amount of money demanded,
and putting it in his pocket, the young man
arose and said in his sin Prim, way:

“This will do for the. present; but if I cap-
ture Brandt; (lreyhurst, I will call upon you
for your reward."

“And I will gladly pay it."

“Doubtlcss,” and with a light laugh Tudor
Vashti left the library and was shown to the

L‘gant suit of rooms assigned to him, while
less Vashti remained seated where he left him,
turting at every sound in the villa, and almost
wholly unnerved by his interview with the
bold and wicked spendthril’t he had so long
called his son. ____
CHAPTER XXVI.
LADY LoIs As AN ALLY.

IF it had been the intentiqn of Captain Tu-
dor Vashti to reform after his interview with
the king, it certainly escaped his memory to
carry out the resolution, for, having lost his
twelve thousand pounds before I)" went out to
Sealunds villa, he returned, after a week paSsed
in that delightful spot, with the banker’s check
for ten thousand more, which went as did the
other.

Now and then he won large sums, but gold
slipped through his fingers like sand, and his
club associates were' astonished at his losses,
and yet the seemingly unending supply of his
purse.

The secret was, Ross Vashti was being bled
freely, through the secrets of the last, and
another check, and another, quickly followed
the one perStnally given to the young profil-
gnte. - _

In the mean time Tudor Vasht-i passed the
greater part of his days :‘uperintnnding the work
on his new vessel, organizing his new crew,
drilling them at the guns, and getting all in
perfect shape for the intended cruise, and the
king’s spies were compelled to report'thut the
young ofliCer was certainly not neglecting his
duties, and his majesty, knowing of his gam-
bling, contented himself with the remark;

“ Well, the boy is sowing his wild oats, and
if they do not turn into tares before he haves,
after he gets to sea. all will go well, and I hope
to hear good accounts of him.

“ If he would only marry some fine woman
it would be his redemption, and I will looit
around and select a wife for him.”

At last Ross Vashti received the last straw
that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, in a
demand upon him; for thee nnmand, tor it was
nothing more. for money, the time preVious to
this last insolent letter, had boldly hinted that
the king should be insormod that be, Ross
Vashti, had told the young officer of his birth.

Of course the banker knew that his instant
death would follow, and the money was sent,
and in a few days was squandered, and a still
more peremptory demand followed.

Ross Vasliti was in dismay, for if he yielded
to the incessant demands, own his enormous
fortune could not hold out when pitted against
the most skillful gamblers in London.

In his distress he, turned to his beautiful, but

'_ sad-faced bride, telling her everything, and, to

his great joy, she Said:

“ I can manage it for you, if you will trust
me‘”

“Certainly, I will trust you, but how can
you manage that wild devil?" i

“How, I am not at liberty to trll, but I will
guarantee that he nukes no other demand
upon you, if you will permit me to go to'Lun-
don, and alone.”

MES Vashti could not see how Lady Lois
could effect any good by such a strange pro—
mdure, but he consented, as his gold was his
ol, and even his young bride would be willing-

’wds other: in her private carriageto London,
*9, * on her arrival she stopped [at a large
‘ ‘d calling
. 3 _. ‘

'j on, 1191?  equipaget.'an

i

t  sacrificed upon the altai~ ot' the god of Mum-'
"Mom-and the'result was, that Lady Lois Vashti

 

a cab, got into it, and was driven to an inn
in an obscure part of the city, thereby destroy-

Fire—Eye,  Sea, Hyena.

ing all trace of her presence in town, a thing
she seemed most anxious to do, from some rea— ‘

son known only to herself.
CHAPTER XX ’11.
Tim MIDNIGHT Visiron.

CAPTAIN TI'non Vase/r1 bad just returned
to his own rooms, which he had rented during,r
his stay in London, and, in no enviable mo )‘l
was pacing to and fro, with no seeming desire
to $0.1; rest, although the hour was past. mid-
night.

He had just returned from the club, where
he had gambled away a thousand pounds,
borrowed from Sir Charles lt‘ricdland, that he
had not.th that afternoon, and he was in no
t‘llVitlLle frame of mind from several reasons.

First, he had gone to Shylock the Jew. and
that worthy had refused to advance any more
money, even on the very best forged paper, un-
til Lhe other notes were paid, and he had not
the money to pay them, although they came
due in two days’ time.

Second, his letter to Ross Vashti 'remuined
unanswered, and he owed several thousand
pounds of borrowed money from his intimates.

Third, his new vessel was ready for sea, and
he had received a request, which amounted to
a command, to go to see. within three days, as
a buccaneer craft, seemingly tired of waiting
for the cruiser to hunt him down, had gone to
cruising around the coast, and, in spite of the
Royal Navy, was committing numerous pira-
cies within sight or the English shores.

A sudden knock upon the door cause! Tudor
Vashti to start, and. in answer to his call his
valet entered.

“There is 0. young gentleman here to see
you, sir, and he has called several times before
to-night.”

“ I care not to see anyone, Buck. ”

“ He says he must see you, sir."

“ Is it Mr. Morley, or any of my ofllr‘ers?”

“ No, sir, I neVer saw him before; he is quite
young and Very handsome.”

“Show him in. and l’ll soon know why he

calls at this late hour,” and Tudor Vashti com- '

menced his walk to and fro once more.

Presently tne door again opened, and a
youth of slender form, jet»black hair, blue
eyes, well dressed, and wearing a slight mus-
tache entered, and bowed low to the officer.

“IVelI, sir, how can I serve you at this late
hour?” said Tudor Vashti, looking closely at the
youthful visitor, not altogether liking his
looks.

With another bow, and n. twirl of his
cane, he visitor said in broken accents.

“I have not 29 plasir of speak English per-
fectment, Monsieur Vashti; vill you speak ze
language Francaise wid me?”

“ Yes, if you prefer it,” was the prompt
reply in perfect French.

“New, sir, state the cause of your visit.”

In the same language, and the purify of ac
cent proving him to speak it to perfccti n, if it
was not his native tongue, the youth replied:

“My call upon you is not a pleasant one,
sir.” ‘

“ Ah!"

“True, sir, for I came from Monsieur Ross
Vashhi, your fa‘ her.”

“ Inleedl then I suppose you are to give me
a lecture with the money you are to hand over
to me,” said Tudor Vashti with a. sneer.

“Neither, «sir. Iassure; but 1 have Come to
give you advicu”

“Which I take from no one; give me the
money that- was sent me and depart ”

“I have no money for you, sir.”

“What! did not Ross Vushti send me the
money I asked?” cried the elbow angrily.

“ He did not.”

“Then he shall regret it.”

“On the contrary. sir, you will regret it,
if you push matters against him.”

Tudor Vashti wheeled suddenly in his walk,
which he had kept Up, and said almost sav-
agely:

“Boy, I’ve a mind to hurl you out of that
window for' your insolence.”

" Oh no, you will not add that to your other
crinrs,” was the bold retort. ’

The officer made astep forward, as though
to carry out his intention; but there was some-
thing in the fearless, confident bearing of the
youth, slight, and seemingly fragile as was his
form. that checked him. '

“State your b th me, and rave”,

' . ‘he ‘dhéhlfee

 

 

“My business, sir, is to say that Mr. Rom
Vashti declines to be blrtclamailcth any longer,
even by you. and will give you no more
money to squand _ at the gambling liable.”

“ He shall. by giavenl"

“ He shall not I"

“What! do you dare 2w 5" and the (nicer
raisel l:i-< clinched PM.

“ I do," was the fearless reply.

Again the i2t'121'llzg of the youth checked the
man's impulse. and he said:

“ Vibe. in ii.1,‘llllll‘;" «(5511117)! :1:':~_\'oii’{"

“One ‘n'ura i".“il»‘-,\ nu, 'lud-. r \‘ushli. well,
or 1 would IIHS. 'f'u- ‘i' 'i ywit in}or:1' mixer.

“ Iioldi‘yotl have l.‘iltt‘l\'llltlli(“.l Ito»; Vashti
into giving you money, and l inland it shall
step.”

’" Bah! ultui‘ power lravc you to say nay!"
was the content;muons (incdinn. ’

.“ Listen uiui judge: do you remember five
years ago, \\ hen you came home from sea and
visited your lather at the villa, which he was
just building, and 1.:1'ezerred to ii\e in, to the
gloomy old castles“

“ Yes!” was the abrupt reply.

“One day, strolling along the cliff with your
gun, you met a person you little exp cted to
see there—-- Why, Captain Tudor Vushti.‘ how
pale you are.’

But with an effort the officer controlled his
emotion, and the youth cominued;

“Seine hot \w-rds passed ilCYJW‘t‘t'Il you. and
then you came to the ruined castle l()_~..'.clllcl‘,
and there was one Who heard the steaiiger im~
plore you to act boncmbly and make b- r your
wife, for it was a “email in the garb of a
man. '

“Well, the whole story came out, of your
having bound the mizocent girl to you by a
false marriage, and then deserted her, after
forcing her to swear never to divulge the
secrrt; but she loved you still, Tudtr thti,
and learning that your V1S<0i had returned
from a foreign cruise, she a-ougi t you out and
threatened to tell Ross Vushli all, and then
even go to the king.

“ You enli-eatrd, you implored, yru threat-
ened. but all to no purpose, tor she was deter--
mined, and you bade liergo,n1u1, as she “11'th
from you, you sprung forward, seized her in
your arms, and hurled her into the sea.

“Two days after a fisherman fonnd her
body, and she was burie-z in the village church-
yard, aud the world knew not of the, cruel
wrong you had (lone- the poor girl, and the
heinous crime you had concealed it With: but I
knew it, Tudor Wtshtt'.”

(.‘H AFTER XXVI} I.
nEA'ruN AT 111s own GAME.

THROUGH the whole story told by the
French youth. Tudor Va>hti had stood like one
in a trance, for that one cruel crime of his life
he had believed known only to himself, and
now, to his horror, he found it told as it hap-
pened, by the lips of a stranger.

“A7 d who are ytus” he asked hoarsely, as
the youth said that he knew it.

“I rm the one who “itncssed the neeting
on the (:1 if, and heard what passed, after you
came to the -:istle together, and saw you do
the deed.”

“ Did any one else see it?"

H NO.” .

“Does Ross Vashti know this?"

H No. ‘1

“Does any one else know of it?”

H Iqoj‘ ‘

“You and l are the only ones?”

{f TI'CS' )7

Tudor Vashti stepped to the bell rope and
rung for his valet.

"Buck, go to the yacht and bid Mr. Morley
come up to the club and breakfast with me at
eleven in the morning.”

“ Yes, sir,” and Buck the valet left the house.

“Now my young French friend, you have
made a 9 eat mistake in bringing Tudor Vashti
to bay,” raid the man bourgely.

“ How so?” was the cool question.

“You have run yourself into a trap, for if I
killed a woman to silence her tongue. I cer.
tainly shall have less compunction in killing a
Frenchman, especially as the French are our
naturnal enemies, you know.” '

This.was said with the utmost sang froid,
and with a smile of deviltry on the face that a
fiend might have been proud of. ‘ "

“ You will not touch me, Tudor Vashti,” was i  ' i

the calm reply.

I,“ I shall certainly kill you,” was-the equally a“

data; response.

s u

“'5.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

   

 

f;

fl

. s
4)

   

“One minute: you have proven yourself a
blackmailer, as well as a murdcrcrot’ the worst
kind, and to save Ross Vasht‘i I came to warn
you that I would go tothu king with my story,
if you made another threatening demand for
money.

“ Say that you will not, and your secret is
safe.”

“ N3, I prefer to know that my secret is for-
ever safe, and the same time I must have
money, and will ha 70 it.” '

“ You refuse my advice!”

“ I do." '

l

I

“Turn do your worst, for I do not fear i

you.”

Again the "man hesitated, for the youth‘s
manner was utterly fczirhss, though he must.
know that Tudor Vashti had sent his valet
away simply to have him wholly in his power.

After a slight pause he suddenly sprung for-
ward and grasped the youth by the shoulder
with a gripe of iron, and murderous intcnt was
in his eyes; but ere he Could clutch the slender
throat the youth cl‘le-d:

“Unlrand me, for I have oflicers awaiting
me.” . ’

Tudor Vashti checked his impulse, and the
youth continued:

“ Go to that window, draw aside the curtain
and you will see a vehicle, in which are t. ree
officers of the law; if I return not by two
o’clock. and it is now a quarter of an hour to
that time, they break inlo this house, and will
seize you, for a written statement I sealed and
placed in their hands to open should harm be-
fall me.”

The manner of the youth carried convic-

-tion with his words, and Tudor Vasbti quickly

released him, and became livid with tear; but,
like a drowning man catching at a straw, he
cried:

“Your story none would believe, for you
me but an unknown youth.”

A peculiar smile crossed the face of the ,

stranger, and, after an instant, he said;

“Tudor Vashti, I intended not to reveal to
you who Iwas; but to keep you in check I
will do so, and if you will let‘ Ross Vashti
alone I will not betray the secret, which I have
kept locked in my heart for five long years;
but if you demand of him another cent, the
king shall know all.

“ Why I kept that fearful shcret, which has
been likea hideous nightmare in my heart.ever
since that fatal day, I know not, and could
never explain to myself; but I saw you com-
mit the deed, for I sat in a niche of the castle,
sketching the land View, and I witnessed all.

“ I was but a child then of twelve, but I told
no one of the fearful story, and I do not care
now to do so, unless you force me to it; if you
do, I have fortifiud myself with the name and
home of the murdered maiden, and know all.”

“But no one will believe you.”

“Perhaps not, believing me to be an un-
ku0wn French youth; but, as Lady Luis Vashti,
of Sealands, they will.”

The dark wig and mustache were taken off
suddenly, and with a cry of horror Tudor
Vashti started back and gazed upon the daring
woman.

But again catching at a straw, the man
said:

“Lady Lois, you are in my rooms, and my
valet shall return and find you here, and then
your fair reputation is forever gone."

“ You forget that I am accompanied by four
king’s officers. sir,” was the haughty response,
and Tudor Vashti saw that he was indeed
beaten at his own game, and said humbly:

“ I submit; command me and I obey.”

“ You kilow what, I demand of you, and see
that you di~rogurd not my wishes; good-night,
Captain Vashti; I wish you a pleasant break
fast with your lieutenant,” and resuming her
disguise, Lady Lois left the room and the house,
and entering the carriage, where three men sat
awaiting her return, she said:

" Drive to the inn and I will pay you for
your services, which I am glad to say were not
med 1’ .

 

CHAPTER XXIX. .
THE an’s LITTLE GAME.

I! was with a black fawn. and fierce humor,
that Captain Tudor Vashti drove up to the
home of Enoch Shylock, the evening after his
Interview with Lady Lois, and demanded to
seq the. Jew.

Seated in his easy-chair,a table with his

before ,him, Enoch

.b H

l

 

a... .m». . a w»; “mm .-

pleusant mien that by no means poured oil on
the troubled waters of the speudthrift’s soul,
for he cried fiercely:

" Curse your smiling face, when I am in
such a tumor. Jew.”

“ It is hard, I know, Captain Vashti. to have
to pay out your money to redeem your note.
when you could get rid of it so much more
pleasantly by gambling it away."

“ But I lave 1.:» money to pay yoi

Up went the arched eyebrows, as if in great
surprise. and the Jew asktd:

“ Iii-.vo you not come to redeem your notes.”

" N(: I"

“ Ah! some other business then, for I remem-
ber they are not due until to—morrow.”

" .‘Hy ltllb‘llll‘t-IQ is lint the note must remain
.,)Vl~1‘."ll:itly said the officer.

“ Impossible. Captain Vashti.”

“ It is not impossible, Jew.”

" It is.”

~‘ Why?"

“ TLey are in other hands.”

“ They must be. t::l:en up."

" Give me the money to do so.”

“I have it not. Jew.”

“ Tlch they must go to protest.”

“Take them up yourself.”

" I have not the amount I care to invest in
them.”

“ You must.”

“ That is a strong word, captain, from a
beggar.”

u’ Sir!”

“Yes, from a beggar to one he asks a favor
of.”

“ Oh, curses on you, Jew Shylock, you know
you have the money and can take themup.”

" I must have seculity.”

“ l have none to give.

“ 'I‘lnn they go to protrst.”

“ Damnation! would you ruin me r”

“ Go to Ross Vaslni and get money.”

“ He will give me nothing.

“ Try him.”

“I have tried him.”

“Try him again.”

“Fuel! 1 have bled him of thirty thousand
pounds since I gave you the notes.”

“ Ah! then you have money.”

“ l have not, for 1 lost it all in play.”

“You should give up that evil habit, Cap-
tain Vashti.”

“I will pledge myself to do so, if you will
take up those notes.”

“ What interest is it to me whether you
gamble or not? your vices are nothing to me,”
was the cold response.

“ Ah! I forgot, you are a human vampire
to live oil? of other men.”

“It is the way of the world, my Christian
captain; one half of the world steals h‘om the
other half; some do it on the high seas, and it is
called piracy, others break into our homes and
it is termed burglary, others still trade on the
necessity of others and we call it busineSS,
v. hile many thrive, under the cloak of the
church and honesty, by swindiing their neigh-
bors, and it is called speculation; I tell you,
Tudor Vashti, I am no greater sinner than my
brother merchants.”

“ Hush your accursed moralizing and help
me.” ’

“ I cannot, for you will not help yourself; I
lift your head above “titer, and you make no
GIIOI‘L to keep from sinking again.”

“ Oh, what: shall I do?”

“ I seldom give advice.”

“Do so this timc, good Emah, for if those
notes go to protest, they reach the hands of
 Varhti, and my forgery will be known,
and I am ruined.” ‘

“ You stould not have committed forgery.”

*‘ You t< mpted me.”

“You shl uld have resisted.”

“Don’t preach to me, Jew, for you know
how I was situated, Lut tell me how to extri-
cate mysolf.”

“ Advice is a commodity that has a market-
able value in law."

"You mean I must pay for it?"

H X7uS-7’

“Some other trap to lead me into, I’ll war—
rant.” —

“ You can decline as you please.”

“Well, what is it?”

I”

r

the money.” '
“ Or lcourse you must _rob me.”
“No; I save you from ruin.” _ ,
“You shall have it, only help mu out.”

,. ‘ 1:“ s,

“I must haVe twenty per cent, if you get

Fire-Eye, the Sea. Hyena,

   

 

"fie-ulna» -.-.,..' . - .a. -r

 

1?.

“I have thought of that, and was going to
do so, telling him I had been reckless and
throwing myself on his clemency; but a young
man I had befriended years ago, and whom I
meet at the club, came to me and told me se-
cretly that ho was om.- ol' the king’s detectives,
in fact the chief of the force of spies, and told
me he had received orders to dog my steps, and
that his men Were watching me, and had sec
cretly my every action to their master, and
that his majesty had muttered 50th once .'

“ ‘ He is nearing the end of his rope, in spite
of all I have done.’

“Now, Jew, you see I dare not approach
him.”

“ No, it would not be wise.”

“Besides, I received an order this day to sail
to-morrow night in my new vessel, if ready,
and pursue that accursed pirate that is spread
ing terror along the coast.”

“Yes, the city is wild with rumors regard-
ing him; by- the way, did you ever capture
your desertcr?”

“ You mean Brandt Greyhurstf”

“Yes.”

“ No, although the king trebled the reward
offered.”

“ No one has seen him?”

“ No; why do you ask?”

“ I saw him the other night.”

“ You I" exclaimed the oflicer.

4‘Y65.” '

“ Where ?”

“In Portsmouth.”

“Why did you not arrest him, Jew?"

“ I am not a king’s officer,” was the cold re-
sponse. ,

“ Nonsense; why did you not call aid?”

“I did not care to.” '

“ Would you protect a deserterl'

“ I am protecting a forger, sir.”

Captain Vashti winced under this shot, and
cowcd his companion by saying:

“You did wrong, Jew, to allow him to es-
cape.” '

"I am the best judge of my own actions,
sir.”

“It was in Portsmouth you saw him, you
say. {7)

“ 'Y'es. n

“ IVhere L’" ‘

“At the inn.”

“ What was he doing there?”

“ Talking to me.”

“;You know that it was Brandt Greyhurst?”

‘ Yes.”

“What did he say to you?”

“ That is my business, sir.”

“ By Heaxen! you are protecting a felon
from justice, and are liable for it.”

“lYts. if the king found it out.”

“ he shall, for I will tell him, sir—unless you
do as I Wi>ll.”

“ You will hardly tell on yourself.”

“,Myselfl what do you mean?”

“ Why will you tell the king I am protecting
a forger—yourself?” ' '

“ Curse you, Jew, I meant Brandt Grey-
hm‘st.” ,

Ah!”

“Devil take that ah of your’s; it means.
more than a whole sentence of most men, and.
maddens me.”

“You are easily upset, my Christian cap-
tain; but have you any idea who this pirato
' .m -
15'“ N0. 7’

“Think!”

“I have no idea.”

“I have.”

“ Who?”

“ The deserter.”

“Brandt Greyhurst?”

“ ch.” ' .

“By the Holy Neptune! I believe you are
right, for he has only appeared on‘the coast
the past six weeks, and his craft is reported as
one of those fleet channel traders. so 01 ten used
by smugglers, but larger and of trimmer build
than the usual run of those vessels; vs hat makes
you Suspect Midshipman Greyhurst, though,

ew:

“I went down to Portsmouth to look at a]. .

lot of goods my agent re; orted were very fine,
and that I could buy cheap-J” '

“Smuggled doubtless?” sneered the captain...
I ne'ver ask a man where he gets his goods,"

\‘l

 

m.”
_ “No need in that case; but go on,
“They were sh0wn meby. a ma
merly had dealings wit '-
sndedabu ~m‘ '

-

v

- 7......” «4 MW

._«

 

 

      

”,;.

 

 

 

  

l
v

I

\J

 

V manner.

-\.'

 

16

 

 

Fire-Eye, the Sea Hyena.

 

 

lag the door at a. rap, a young and handsome
man entered, dressed as a sailor.

“I had before seen Brandt Greyhurst, and I
at once recognized him.”

“Well?” impatiently asked the officer.

“He said to my friend, whom I was negoti-
ating with, that, as the breeze was light, and
the tide would ere long be against them, it was
necessary to sail at 01109.”

“. Smugglers! by all that’s holy!”

“I did not ask them their calling, but paid
for the geods, sent them to the city, and have
realized largely by their sale.”

“ Of course, but why do you connect Brandt
Greyhurst with this daring pirate?”

“ Why,I saw the fleet craft the two men board-
ed put to sea, and before the next sunset there
were half a dozen merchantmen captured,ro bbvd
and set fire to within sight of the land, and
their crews reported the pirate just such a
rakish little vessel as I had seen the night be—
fore.” '

“I believe you are right.”

“I expect so, and it would bea feather in
your cap to capture the pirate and the deserter
midshipman at one and the same time.”

“It would indeed; new I regret what Idid ”

“That you drove the midshipman to piracy?”
asked Enoch in a well-feigned tone of inno-
cence.

“Nol but when I got the king’s order to
sail, I paid a man to prevent my going at
once to sea.”

“How could he?”

“The new vessel had been just drawn out of
the dock, and was anchored in mid-stream,
below some trading barges; one of them, by
accident you know, Shylock, slipped her cable
and drifted down upon the schooner, Sll’lilSllir g
her bowsprit, flying jib-boom, and crushing the
martingale, figure-head, all into one confused
mass”

“Did it sink her?” asked the Jew with in-
terest. . .

“Oh 110, nor injure her hull, and the dam-
age can be’repnired in a couple of days; but it
served me well to gain time, as the yacht needs
repairs too before she can put to sea, or at least
I so reported, for I sent word of the accident
to the king.”

‘( Ah!”

“There is that accursed exclamation again,
what does it mean in Hebrew, Jew?”

“More than the translators of your Bible,
captain, could ever interpret,” was the laconic
response.

“ Well, what is to be done about the notes?
for I cannot pay them and must go to sea in

two days.” .
“ The last hour of grace is up with them at
two o’clock to-morrow, captain.” ,

“ You must redeem them.”

“ I canpot.”

“ Jew, if you will save me this time, I will
do anything you may ask of me.”

, “Anything, your highness?” and the Jew’s
eyes twinkled.

“ Don’t highness me, Jew.”

“ You are a king’s son.”

“ Yes, one he dare not Own, but, yes, I’ll do
anything you ask, for I will then go to sea
contented, capture this ’pirate, and Brandt
Greyhurst too, if he is on board the buccaneer
craft, and win favor in the royal eyes once
more.” .

“Captain Tudor Vashti, I shall hold you to
your word, and I will take up your paper and

.. save you fr‘om ruin.”

“But what am I to do, Shylock?” asked the

ofilcer, impressed by the Israelite’s strange

“Marry! that is all.”

 

CHAPTER XXX.
A STRANGE PROPOSAL.

A BURST of mocking laughter from the lips
pf Captain Vashti was the response to the Jew’s
demand. - I

, “You seem pleascd, my Christian captain,”
he said, with a sneer. -

“I am, for I never took you for a 1091 be-
fore, Enoch.” ‘ -

“I am conceited enough not to‘ think I am
one now." .

f‘ And you wish me to marry ?”

.' V H Yes-n ‘ s
:3“ 5,“,And are in earneSt?” .
I”  YES-N11  ' '

 
 

 

“ Will you do as I say?”

“ That depends. ”

“ Upon what?”

“ The woman.”

“ I should think she would be the one to
objcct.” --

“Upon what grounds?”

“Many.”

“ Name them.”

“You are a (lisowned son, a. spendthrift, a
gambler and a forger ”

“ You certainly do not mince matters.”

“ thy should I!”

“Yes, you do know me, well, who is the
Woman?” '

“ You agree?”

‘ ‘ I cannot do otherwise. ”

“ You are wise for once.”

“ Who is she?”

“ My daughter.”

Tudor Vashti could not restrain the start lte
gave, and his face turned deadly pole, for, in
those early days for a Christian to wed a Jew
was looked upon as a heinous crime.

“ You seem surprised,” said the Jew who
was eagerly watching him.

“I am.” e

“ Why should you be.”

“ She is a Jewess, I am a Christian.”

“Bah! what are creeds where love is con-
cerned?” sneered the Jew

“ Love! where is the love?”

“ She loves you.” .

“Indecdl I am honored,” and there was a
tinge of sarcasm in the tone that caused Enoch
Shylock’s swarthy lace to flush.

“So you are, for my daughter comes of a
pure race, while you are a. disowned son, the
offspring of royalty that does not.own you.”

“ You are right; but why one, who like your
daughter is pure and noble, and must know
much of my evil life, should feel affection for
me I cannot comprehend,” he said, deeply
moved. °

“The hearts of women are as inscrutable as
the ways of the Providence your preachers
talk so much about.”

“Yes, I agree with you; she must know 1
am wicked ”

H 3'95.”

“ That I have not one good trait?"

“ She thinks otherwise.”

“Then love has made her blind.”

“ All love is blind except one kind.”

“ And what is that?”

“Jealous love.”

“Ah, you speak truly, for jealous love is
Argus eyed, and can see more than there is to
see; but you astound me, Jew, with your pro-
position.” a

“ \Vhy should I?”

“She is a Jewess.”

it Yes. D

“ I a Christian ”

“What doth it matter!”

“I fear the uni‘n.” , . \

“ Do you not believe her a pure woman?"

“ Yes indeed.”

“Is she not beautiful?”

“Diviner so.”

“ Her form is good?”

“ Perfection personified.”

“She is well educated.”

“So she seemed.”

.“ Accomplished.”

“Yes, for I heard her playing the harp with
exquisite touch, and her voice is as sweet as
seraphic music, while these paintings on the
walls you tell me are her work, she rides
splendidly, drives with a. master hand, and I
loved her at sight, so to speak,‘ though it was
not a love to in any way break my heart at
loss of the obkct; but to marry her, Enoch, to
marry her, is another thing.” '-

“Very well, Captain Vashti, our interview
need be protracted no longer.” .

“ Now don’t be in such a hurry, Shylock, let
me thin .” i  t

“ You committed forgery‘ without think-
ing.” .

“I wanted money then.”

“ Your need is greater, now.” .

“ True, by marrying your lovely daughter
I keep off ruin.”

‘6 Yes. 71 . \ 1

“ But I have nothing to support a wife 01:.”
“ Your wife will have.”
“ Permit me'just this once to make use '01:

/

, your expression—Ah!” . g .
.«dkulc . 

ip'terpret it for  fro
1 ' l} ’ .' H

192

  

 

“ You are right, it does.”

“ Well she is rich, for I will give her to you
by no means empty-handed.” ‘

“ How much, about, for instance?” said the
sordid man.

“ Is it a bargain?”

“Name the sum.”

“ What do you wish?”

“The notes redeemed—”

“ Yes."

“ About ten thousand pounds in cash for
myself—”

“ Yes."

“That forged draft and the notes returned
to me~" '

it Yes.”

“ And, say. a handsome estate in the coun-
try for Adina to live upon—”

it YCS'H

“ And about twenty thousand pounds pin
money for her to live on.”

“Anything more?"

“ Yes; that our marriage remain a secret
unleSs I wish to divulge it.”

“, That is all ’4”

H Yes]? "

“ Well. Captain Tudor Vashti, I will tell you
what I will do, and name my terms, and if
you do not accede to them, our transaction
ends here."

“ I am readv to hear.”

“ First, I will return you the notes and the
draft to do v~ilh them as you please, for they
are in the possession of a Jewish banker, my
friend."

“ Well?”

“Second, I will give to you for your per—
sonal use twenty thousand pounds.”

“ The devil l”

“ I will give to your wife a handsome man-
sion in the city ami an elegant estate in the
country.”

“Why, my dear Enoch, how could I ever
believe you ungenerous?”

The Jew smiled blandly and continued:

“ And she shall have jewels, laces and gold
and silver service worthy of a princess.”

“ My noble fathr r-in—laW, in prospective,
you are the acme of genemsity.”

“And I will give her deeds to property so
invested. that it will yleld her twelve thousand
pounds per year, an annuity worthy the bride
of a prince."

“Let me embrace you. my prince of Jcru-~

saleml” cried the astounded ofiicer.

“One moment, sir: you have heard what
dowry goes with my daughter?”

“Yes.”

“ You are content? ‘

“More than satisfied.”

“Now hear my terms.”

“ Your terms?”

(‘ Yes.”

“Of course there is some accursed afterclap

to hit me har( .”

“You call be the judge.”

“I am waiting.” .

“In return I demand that I shall have the
right to make the marriage known when and
how I please.” v

“The devil, Enoch, that would crush me in
London.” ' -:

“The forged notes will not benefit you."

“ But to marry a Jewessl”

“Is not so bad as What you have done, as
you will find when the. executioner of the
Towpr lays ycur handsome head on the, block.”

“ Ugh! don’t speak of such thirgs. Shylcck.”

“Which shall it be: arrest for forgery, and
execution. or marry a Jewess?”

“I’ll take the Jewess.” '

“With the right to me to mini known the
marriage?”

“ Yes, but don’t be in a hurry about it.”

“ I shall suit myself.”

' “When is this interesting ceremony to take
place?” ,

“ Tomorrow at noon.”

H so  w,

.“ The notes are due at two o’clock.”

“Ah, me! I shall be on hand; my regards
to my bride that is to be, Enoch,” and with a
shrug of his shoulders Tudor Vashti left the

J cw’s house and Wende his way to the club, ,
where he gave his draft at one day’s-sight. on .

the banking-house oi" RoSs,Vashti & Company,

from the Jew the *fdllowjng day,“ . 1 x .1 ,
 gpstjhel'oragvdaw' “hall 'tt ti pi 

received the money, flve thousand;£ounds, for lg

it, intending-to meet it with what e received ‘

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

  
 

 

 

 

cern for he had 'mado up his mind to follow
the course laid out for him by Enoch Shylock.

 

CHAPTER -XXXI.
AN UNINVI'EED GUEST.

W’HEN Captain Tudor Vsshli‘s valet called
him, according to orders, at nine o’clock, on
the morning of the day set for his wedding, he
found him sleeping calmly, as behooves a bride-
gloom on his marriage morn.

Awaking, he made a careful toilet, sent for
8. ca rriagc, and drove to a jeweler’s and made
pmclase of a, costly set of pearls {or his in-
tended bride, telling the Silversmith to send the
hi] that night to his chib for payment.

As he owed only gambling debts, the young
officer‘s credit was good, and knowing him, the
Silversmith gave him the jewels, and he then
drove to his club for breakfast, and, after a
sump‘nous repast, having a spare half hour,
sat down for a game with several of the early
C H k l \‘.

T. his surprise luck sided with him, and he
a: -.:i .he v. inm-r of a thousand pounds.

" I'y the Lord Harry! the Jewess brings me

I z' " .‘ he said, as he left the club, and bade the
m2, Lilian drive with all speed to Monmouth
s; v lor he was late, and that is an unpar-
(.-| 1n .' :4 sin in a bridegroom, though it is per-
n \\i with a b:ide.

1’. null Shylock, dressed in a suit of black,
r. » ism at the deor, and he was led into the
I r, where he was struck with amazement
11.. : :syusite beauty of his bride, who re-
c. 1 2.1.11 hill) 3. winning grace that made
L ;.a .t‘sl mat she “as one to adorn his home,
a: -: w-hll madden with envy his male asso-
ci vs at the pi ize he had won.”

" 31 cu are ready, Captain Tudor?” asked the
Jew.
“ch, Enoch; where are the notes and
d1. 4’ ' '
" lhe money, yours, is here, seel” and the
J. w opened a morocco pocketbook he took

fl , .:ve table, and showed that it was. full of
r- _ ii. id; of England notes of the denomina-
tx. .. -..i' thousands.

“in that pocketbook are the deeds to my
(hat, tel-’s‘ property, and the money I give her,
an . see, these cases contain her jewels, and
th. s v UXCS her silver service.”

“ But the draft and my notes?”

“I told you a Jewish banker, my friend,
he; i 'hem, he having negotiated them for me,
nzd I expect his clerk with them each moment,
as I asked him to Send them here for payment;
u o man; I have here.”

“ Then let the ceremony go on,” was the im-
p lion? response, and as the Jew left the room,
'l udvnr Vashti crossed over to his intended
la ale nnd handed her the case of jewels he had
brought her, while he said, in his soft, winning
w y : I

“ Adina, accept th' so from me as an emblem
0‘ 3:4 ur purity, and believe me when I tell you
that l more than appreciate the sacrifice you
make to Wed one whom you know to be a
\- yke: man; but your sweet influence, I feel
no u‘tlllbt, “ill win me from my evil ways,
a u zrom tO-duy I will become a changed be-
lng.”

_ . be beautiful eyes met his own, and she rc-
tuy'n. -d the kiss he imprinted upon her lips; but
i e Mne could reply her father entered, accom-
] .ied by a magistrate and several wit-
! C k S.

The bride and groom then took their places
Ly t e table, their names were affixed to the
I ar lilgrfi documents, and Enoch whispered in
the ear of Tudor Vashti: " i

" Put, ‘son of the king,’ your highaess.”

\. .tu a reckless smile the young officer
cl yell, and the ceremony was read by the
l..(‘_l~‘ll&[9,, \\ ho, with his witnesses retired.

“One moment, your highness,” and as the
Jew woke he opened another door and there
entersd' a Jewish rabbi, in his robes, and he
was accompanied by half a dozen Israelites.

men the ceremony of the Hebrew church
v." s gone through With, and Adina the Jewess

d Tudor Vashti were pronounced man and
wife, and a [road smile rested on the face of
1h; \ oung bride, while her husband said:

. "Now, my revered father-in-law, I must
t‘r ire to my yacht, for I expect there a mos-
:ago .‘rom the king.” .

“You will find your wife not here, Tudor

but at the home I have given her up in the

015/; here is the address, and here'is the money ~

 10m”
. ~, , my),

h‘ )l
.3; IN" 

  

 

“ Then give them to Adina for me.”

“I will, for I sent my clerk to hurry them
along—ah! here is Ephraim now.”

“The notes Were taken up before banking
hours closed yesterday,” said the clerk.

Both the Jew and Tudor Vashti turned dead-

unexpected to his father-in-law as himself; but
he shouted:

“ Impossible!”

“No, sir, the notes we'a taken up, sir,” per-

sisted the clerk.

“By whom?” asked Enoch Shylock in a voice
that quire-red, while Adina, with white face
Ill‘tSSCd forward anxiously.

“ By Mr. Ross Vashtt'. ’

Here was another thunderbolt into the Jew

'camp, and the three seemed dazed, for what

could it mean?

But before any one could reply, aservant en-
tered, and behind her came one whom Tudor
Vashti recognized, for it was the king’s chief
detective.

“ Ah, Shirley, I am glad to see you,” he said,
with lorced calmness, though his heart grew as
cold as ice. ,

“ And I to see you, Captain Vashti, for I was
seeking you."

“ Indeed; anything wrong?” ’

“The king desires your instant presence at
the palace. ”

Both the Jews and Tudor Vashti knew well
what this meant, but the latter said:

“ I Will accompany you in a minute; but
permit me to present to you my bride, Madam
Vashti, and my father—in-law, Mr. Enoch Shy-
lock ”

Fred Shirley was a gentleman, and he bowed
at the introduction, said a f; w pleasant words,
and then urged Tudor Vashti to accompany
him.

“I will go at once; Adina, Iwill be home
to a late dinner,” he said pleasantly, but the
smile upon his fice was a mask to hide the
fiendish determination in his heal t, for he had
suddez 1y formed a desperate plan of action,
and was jusc the man to carry it out.

CHAPTER XXXII.
runon VASHTI PLAYS A BOLD GAME.

“IVELL, Shirley, what is the trouble at the
palace?” asked Tudor Vashti, with feigned in—
difference, when the two were seated in the
vehicle.

“ There is no trouble. there, but with you;
oh, Vashti, I warned you and you heeded not
my warning,” said the chief detective sadly

“ Why, what the devil is the matter, man?”

 

Fire-Eye, the Sea. Hyena.

 

1the Secret, and I \iil} in)

 

“I will tell you: y u did me a good turn in I

the past, Tudor, and I tried to return it,
though I was derelict in my duty tothe king in
telling you that he had spies upon you.

“i hoped you would be cautious, and try
and redeem yourself, In you in came even more
reckless, and now you .have run yourself into
the toils.”

“ Why, of what am I accused?”

“No one knows your crime—”

U Slr I”

“ Do not grow indignant, for you cannot
bully me, Vashti; I repeat, no one knows your
crime other t an myself, the king, and your
father.”

"‘ And of what crime 'am I accused?”

“ Fergery.”

“ What?" asked Tudor Vashti with feigned
surprise. ,

“ Of forgery!”

“ Who dares accuse me?”

“ Yourself, Vashti, your father came to
town and in looking over his bank accounts,
learned from his partner that‘ a note, drawn
by you, in favor of Enoch Shylock, and in-
dorsed by him, had been sent in by the party
holding it, asking if it would be paid several
days before maturity, it five per cent was
taken off for the accommodation, for the holder
needed the money at Once. '

“ Your father’s partner declined, but yester-
day your father called and took it up, and thus
the secret came out.

“ For a. while he thought he would drop the
matter, and let it go, informing you only.that
he had that in his possession to send you to the
block; but this morning he’thought differently,
after sifting some of your past losses in gam-
ing, and went to the king.

“1 was sent for, and the king bade me

,flndyou, and I have donevso.”

‘ 1
4..

,“ And. I am tones the'kihgund'.  father
.,I\Elll.i  I  “I, '

  

 

1'7

“No, I have orders to take you to the
To“.er_n

“Great God!
officer.

" Yes; the king bade me place a mask upon

to the Tower?" gasped the

I you and deliver you to Sir Char‘es Friedland,
ly pale, and the latter saw that the news was; :5 ‘

with orders to place you in the Life Dun-
geon.”

“God have mercy! am I to (lie there?”

“You knew what confinement in the Life.
Dungeon means.”

“And Shirley, dear, good Shirley, would
you take me there?” pleaded the prisoner, for
such he now was.

“I warned you. Tudor.”

“Oh that I had taken your warning.”

“ I deeply regret it."

“ But, Shirley, remember, I served yfi
once and you will serve me now.”

“ Alas! I cannot.”

“ But you must.”

“No, I will not do ought to forfeit the trust
the k ng has in me.”

“Shirley, you are a your mm. and I have
with me ten Ila use: o :«w (is; my yr u could
not find me, and i: i” w H .' ’

“No, you (‘.:lllli‘i ll 2: ,i; ~~ . 'l‘nd r.”

“ List! u: there is to l: m ir :lis -- otter, so
return with me to 11:0 Jm '~-; lt-y will keep
Into your hands-
twenty thousand pounvs, it _\Iu uil only not
arrest me, and v I“ mu‘t until nit ht before you
return to the kn g.”

“No mon y will tempt me, Vashti, to bo-
tray my trust.” was the film response.

“Then by, Heaven \ou shall die!" .

With a sudden motion, wholly unexpected,
Tudor Vashti move a k» on blade into the side
of the detective,al the same time clutching»
his throat with an iron gripe. .

In vain the poor victim ,r 1 his own honor tried
to cry out, lor lhe knile had enter/d his heart,
the grasp on his throat held him firm, and
within half a minute he was a dead man.

“There, now 1 have 'utlflWt’d myself; but
he brought it upon himself by his false notion
or duty to his king; no, no, Fred Shir ey, no
Tower of London tor me, Iwhile the sea 5 open
to my vessel’s prOW,” and arranging the corpse
in a sitting posture, and securely fastening it
up, Tudor Vashti coolly leaned out of the win-
dow of the vehicle and older-ed:

“Coachman, drive first to the St. James
stairs.” r '

With no hint of the tragedy committed so
near him, the coachman obeyed, and soon
after drew up at the river bank, and before he
could dismount from his‘box, Tudor Vashti
sprung out, and said quickly:

“ Keep your seat and drive Mr. Shirley
back to the home of Enoch Shylock, in Mon-
mouth street, where he joined me and here is
your fare.”

The coachman’s eyes glistened at the five.
pound note handed him, and after a profusion
of. thanks started to drive 01f, when the cap-
tain waved his hand, as though to the occupant
of the vehicle, and called out:

“Au revoir. Shirley, old fellow.”

Away dashed the coach with its ghastly

rider, and hastily Tudor Vashti descended the

river stairs and called to the boatman.
"Put me on board the king’s yacht with all
speed.”

‘I‘ She sailed two hours ago, your honor,” .

was the startling reply

“ Sailed !”

“Yes, your honor,~ gone to hunt the pirate
I heard.”

“ Then row me to the Black Dove,” ordered
the officer with f( rced calmness.

“ You mean-the American built craft sir?”

U Yes. 71

“She has just hauled out of the deck after
repails, and I heard was to follow the king‘s
yacht, sir.” .

“Yes, I .know; now row my man, if you
wish a pound note.” '

This incentive sent the light boat flying
dewn the river, and in a' few minutes it ran
alongside of the beautiful cratt, which was,
again in perfect orde. . i ,

Throwing the bank note to the boatman,

\

Tudor Vashti ascended to the neck, and when 
met by Midshipman Lv-o Pavloin. ot the Lance, 
Wed politely, but looked surprised, while v

who sal
he said:

 

“I saw the Lance get under way, sir, andf

thought you sailed in her ”
“N6,_I sent her ahead; you have
mane", Ward with your? ’ -- 
"‘Y Ownin‘Vyhtt‘" ‘ -'  a
in...” . .l 

 

 

  
    

  

118

1 1' ur'

 

 

Fire-Eye, the Sea Hyena.

 

 

 

Lance sailed, so get up the anchor with all l

speed and we will run for open water; you act

:as lieutenant for the present. ”

1 . The delighted midshipman sprung readily to

obey, and in five minutes more the Black

Dove, as Tudor Vashti had named his new
‘ . vessel, was flying down the river, the admira-

. tion of all who saw her.

And upon her deck stood the man who had

taken his destiny in his own hands, and had
' determined to give full vent to the devil that
was in his nature.

With stern face, and burning eyes he paced
the quarter deck, and, as he saw that he was
safe from capture, for the schooner ran like a
race-horse, he muttered?

“Now, my royal father, I’ll make you trem-
ble at the name of the son you disowned, for
from yonder slender peak, from this night,
shall float the flag of the pirate, and my
Black Dove shall prove a Hawk among thy
flocks of merchant craft.”

i
i

 

-CHAPTER XXXIH.
A. WOLF IN snsar’s CLOTHING.

AN hour previous to the sudden sailing of
the Lance, Paul Morley, the lieutenant in
command, during the absence of Captain
Vashti, was pacing the quarter-deck, Watching
.the new vessel being taken out of the Tower ‘
dock, after her repairs, when a boat coming
directly toward the yacht was hailed by a
middy.

. . ' ’ “Orders from the king,” was the prompt
reply, and a moment after Lieutenant Mor—
ley met at the gangway a young officer whom
he knew to be an aide at the palace.

“Well, Saunders, I am glad to sue you on
board; but Captain Vashti is absent.”
“My orders are for you, Morley, and not .
the captain, as you will see on reading this
. dispatch.“ and the aide handed the lieutenant
an official paper, bearing the king’s seal.
Breaking the seal, he read with evident sur-
prise:

“ ST. JAMES PALACE, 12 M.
“ To Lmurnnm PAI'I. Monticv,
“II. M. Armer/ You/4f, erm’,

“ Sim—His Majesty, the King, orders that you at ,
once get under sail, with what force you have on ‘
board. and put in to Southampton, where you will
land and report in person to the officer of the train-
ing ship at anchor there, and take from said vessel
the number of seamen and marines you require for
a full crew.

“ Having done this, you are to proceed at once to
sea and hunt down the hated pirate known as Fire-

, Eye, the Curse of the Coast.
' “ Ummann.
“Safy Io the King."
“ Why, Saunders, what does this mean, when ‘
Captain Vashti is in command!" asked the t
amazed lieutenant.
“Do not know. unless Captain Vashti is to '
also go in his new vessel, which I see is re-
paired, aftcr her being run into by the barge
I the other night.”
“Yes; she is all ship-shape again, is thor—
oughly armed and equipped, and stored for a
, six months’ cruise; all she needs is a good I
-‘ crew, and she'll make a name for herself; but
I must not tarry with orders from the king in ;
my hand. Mr. iilanningi"
“ Ay, ay, sir!” and Percy Manning ap-
, V proachcd.
" ._ “ Order the anchor up and sail set at once;
come, Saunders, and have a glassot‘ wine.”
“Yes; to toast you a ban voyage, Morley,

 

’ and the wish that you win your captaincy," i
S3  and the king’s aide followeddthe lieutenant in- l
‘L' to the cabin, but soon returned, and, as be en- ’
 ’ .tered his boat alongside, the Lance was under 
 M way, and by the ltime he reached the St.
 James stairs she was gliding down-stream
5a.": - .under the pressure of all the sail that would
' ' draw. ’

Arriving within three leagues of his destina- ‘

. . a , tion a dead calm fell upon the sea, and a boat .

'l' . was lowered, and Paul Morley started for the

- town, with six good oarsmen, for he cared not
to delay an instant.

But after an hour’s pull a light breeze sprung
up, and the lieutenant hoped that the yacht
would feel it and overtake them, but a glance

,,.Istern showed him that the pufl of wind did

not reach the Lance, seeming to merely follow

tit ' j the shore, for inland halt a mile a sharp-

/ ’ flowed fisher-boat was gliding g mer-

my. .
 1 “That craft would sail with a bellows blow-
,- ‘J .135} on, her canvas, sir,” remarked a youn
» , Watching the fishing vessel. '
w ill hail him, and
he sin-same the:

l‘

 

 

i get my sea-legs on once more."

' mate, too, it he wishes it.”

 

A'It

his clear tones:

“ Fisher-boat, ahoyl”

“ Ay, ay,” came across the waters, in a l
voice distinct and commanding.

“ I am in haste to reach the town; can you
give me paSSage for gold 9”

“ Willingly, sir, without pay; I always like
to aid a king’s officer,” was the prompt reply,
and the helm was put up, and the fisher boat ‘
was guided so close 1!) the stern of the cutter,
that the lieutenant easily sprung on board.

“ Come to the training ship. Dalton,” he
called out to the middy, and then turning to
the skipper of the fishing craft. continued:

“ Your vessel sails with but a capful of
Wind.” ,

“ Yes, sir, she needs but the pressure of her
sails to carry her along,” answered the skipper,
whose hand rested lightly on the tiller.

There were but two men in the little craft,
which was not over three tons’ burden, and a
perfect model of symmetry.

One was the helmsman, a man of apparently
forty years of age, dressed in a seaman’s shirt
and trowsers, and wearing a tarpaulin that he
were pulled down over his eyes, as though to
shield them from the sunlight.

Contrary ,to the then usual custom, he wore
a heavy beard, while his companion was a
smooth-faced youth.

“ Is not that craft the Lance, sir?” he asked,
politely, looking far astern to where the yacht
still lay becalmcd.

“Yes, my man.”

“I served on her once, sir, under Captain
Vushti, but do not remember you, sir."

“No, I joined her from a frigate, when in
the Indies.”

“ Is the captain on board, sir?”

“ No, he is in command of a larger vessel, that
has been specially fitted out for him. I am
commanding the Lance now." ‘

“ She’s a fine vessel, sir, and I would like to
ship on her in a cruise against the devilish
pirate that is such a terror on our coast now.”

“ Then you can, my man, for I am now go-
ing to the training ship to complete my crew,
as I have but thirty men on board.”

“ I thank you. sir; I will put you on board
the training ship, and then run down to the
Lance tonight and join you.”

“ But she will come 11p to town with the rise
of the wind.”

“ It's an all day, and if I mistake not an all
night calm, sir; but we’ll have a breath with
the sunrise anyhow."

“ Then she will come up then.”

“And I’ll be on hand, sir, for fishing, now-
adays don’t pay much, and I’d like a cruise to.

“You shall have it, my man, and your ship-

“No, sir, he has to stay and look after the
old folks; sec, sir, there is not a feather-weight
of breeze, and my little Spray glides along
three knots to the hour.”

“She does, indeed: there is the training-
ship, I see,” and the Spray was headed for the
huge vessel, lying at anchor in the harbor a
mile distant.

A short while more and Paul Morley went
up the steep sides of the ship, and, with a
promise to see him again, the skipper of the
Spray header] inshore.

Landing, he left his companion in charge of
the boat, while he went up into the town, and
soon turned into the door of a dilapidated Sai-
lor’s Inn.

“Is Captain Opal here?” he asked of the
red-faced landlord.

“Who wishes to see him?” was the surly
response.

“ The Bond.” ‘

“ All right; up-stairs, first room to the right,
knock three times.”

The man obeyed, the door opened, and en-
tering, he- beheld a person seated at a table
writing, and who, upon looking up, displayed
the youthful, handsome, but stern face of
Brandt Greyhurst.

The other was MacGregor, the Smuggler,
of the Wizard’s Well. .

CHAPTER XXXIV.
rim PLO'I‘TERS.
“ MacGaxuoa, old man, I am glad to see
you,” and Brandt Greyhurst sprung to his feet
and grasped the hand of the visitor.

 

 

 

“And I to see you, lad; I mean captain,
torleannotcall you lad‘now, name,

p .

i on ' JV. . ‘
   4?.

,. 
w‘ .

no
‘ n;

“ My orders have been changed since the I boat,” replied Paul Morley, and be sung out in “Yes, I am still the same, Mac; and no, I

fear I am greatly changed,” he said, sadly;
but, after an instant he continued:

“ There is no need of asking you if you re-
ceived my message, for your being here proves
it.” 5‘

“ Yes, captain, I got the message. and I was
glad to come, for, when you began to make a
name, the boys I had with me left to join you)
and I was all alone; but I waited your orders '
before I would leave.” *5

“You did right, MacGregor; you see, after
my first run into the \Vizard‘s Well with the
cargo of wines, I got into a scrape with a king’s
cutter and had to fight, and rather liking it, I
determined to cruise for bigger game than laces .
and liquors, and I hoisted my free flag, and I’
think the king has heard of me.” ‘ If

“Well I should say so, for Fire Eye, the‘
Demon Sailor as they call you, is rather well;
known from one end of the coast to the other;
but how is it I find you all ashore?” .

“Why, I ran into a trap, got badly hulled
by a frigate’s broadside, but escaped in the
darkness.

“ But it was the little Scud’s last run, for she
was so badly wounded that I saw she would
sink, so took to my beats, and sent her to the
bottom.

“ Under cover of night we came in here
and my crew are lying close while I look up
a new craft.”

“Your messenger told me you were ashore,
and wanted a new deck under you; how many
men have you, sir?”

“Fifty-five all told here with me.”

“ And myself and the boy you sent after me
make fifty-nine; they are enough.”

“ Not for my purpose, MacGregor, for I need
a hundred, as I have determined upon a bold
plan.” I .

“First let me. ask you, sir, how you would.
like the Lanct-t”

“The very craft I just thought of; but then
I have'my eye on a Letter one, which is a ves—
sel I aided Tudor Vashti to capture from a
lVest Indian pirate, and which the king, I learn
has fitted out for him.”

“First let us get the Lance, and with her
take the other craft, for the yacht now lies Le-
culmed several leagues away.” .‘

“ Hal that is good news; but she has a large;
crew doubtless.” .

“ But thirty men on board, for she has come
here for a crew from the training ship.”

“ MacGregor, the Lance is our vessel, and we
must seize her to—night,” said Brandt Grey-
hurst, earnestly.

“ So I decided upon, and I will tell you all I
know,” and MacGregor went on to relate his
meeting with Lieutenant l‘lo‘rloy and his bring-
iug him up to the city with him,und all that he
discovered from the officer.

“Mat-Gregor, it is now an hour to sunset,
and I have no idea that the bretze will spring
up; but if it docs we must be prepared to take
the Lance as she comes up to the town, and I
will tell you how it can be done.

“ Thnre are fifty-nine of us now, and I can
right here, through the landlord of this inn,
ship forty more for any service, and, just. after
dark we must leave for the open water and
meet the Lance.

“I will hail, imitating Morley’s voice, and
they will believe us the crew from the training
ship running down to her, and we can throw
ourselves on board and seize her.

“ If she is still becalmed, then the work will
be just as easy to do.”'

“So I thought, captain, for such was my
plan, and I kn0w it will be successful.”

“But, MacGregor, there is one thing thatI
must insist on.”

“ Well, captain?”

“ Paul Morley, Manning and the other
officers on board are friends of mine, or rather

were, while I am still friendly tothem, and the

men too I wish protected, so not a blow must
be struck, or a shot fired, except in self-de~
tense.”

“I will do all I can to carry out your on
ders.”

“ You must, for you are my first ofloer,
and I shall depend upon you; now to arrange
for the work ahead, and once the Lance is in
my possession, and the capture of the Americana
schooner will follow.” I
“ With Tudor Vashti.”
“ Yes, with Captain Tudor Vashti, the man
I have sworn shallots by my hand,’," and,

ndt Greyhurst spoke in stone the ’

   

w a..- w...

 

 

 

._I
-' !

 

 
 

  
 

 

f—v

 

little dreamed was also a fugitive, and, by his
own act, an outlaw.

But changing his tone, he quickly added:

“ There is one thing 1 would know, Mac-
Gregor?"

“ Well, captain?”

“ What about Captain Reckless?"

“He died of the wound you gave him, sir.”

“He deserved his fate for daring to pollute
Lois with his touch,” muttered the young
sailor, but MacGregor caught the words.

1
l

 

‘ CHAPTER XXXV.
IN THE TOILS.

AS both MacGregor and Brandt Greyhurst
had predicted, the breeze did not spring up
é with the setting sun, and, with the darkness the

calm still rested upon sea and shore, and the
air was hot and oppressive, i‘oretelling a
storm.
Shortly after nightfall, a boat pulled away
from the dock near the dilapidated Sailor’s
Inn, and headed slowly down the harbor, to
be shortly after followed by another, and then
others, until four had departed.
Once at a safe distance, and out of the sight
. of prying eyes, and the hearing of inquisitive
' y? ears, the leading boat remained quiet upon the
' waters, and one by one the others came up,
 and joined it.
' “Men, the yacht will not be able to leave

- her anchorage, as there is not a breath of air,

so we must pull down to her and board.

“Remember, I anSWer all hails, and there
is to be no bloodshed, except in cases of self-
defense, and the man that disregards my or-
ders, I will hang to the yard-arm of the
Lance as soon as she is in my power.

“There are but thirty men on board, and,

1 expecting a crew from the training ship, they

will’t‘all an easy prey to us. Now give way
all!"

The speaker'was Brandt Greyhurst, and he
spoke in the terse, detei mined tones of a man

 

 fikr:‘f+ 1w: 1
x _ _ .

 

 

who would stand no trifling and intended to be '

obeyed, and, at his order, to give way, the
oars dropped simultaneously in the ‘water, and
the {our heavily laden boats, bearinga hundred
men, once more moved through the waters.

It was a long and hard pull, but the oars-
men ,were untiring, and at last the dark hull
and masts of the Lance came in sight, and ere
half an hour more a hail came across the
waters.

‘,‘ Boats ahoy! keep 011’!”

“ Ay, ay, the Lance. I am Lieutenant Mor-
ley and the crew from the training ship.”

. “ All right, sir; I_ did not know you,” came
" ‘ in the voice of Holbrook Friedland, who was
-’ 1’ officer of the deck. .

“vNow men, remember; MacGregor, go to
starboard with your two boats, while l head as
I am,” was the stern command of Brandt Grey-
hurs', and a moment after he sprung on deck
follnwed by half a hundred men.

“ You are my prisoner, sir; submit quietly
and no harm will befall you and your crew,”
_ , came in the stern accents of the young outlaw,
> ‘ and he held a pistol at the head of Holbrook

:. w  Friedland, who glanced quickly around, and
” ' saw that the watch on deck were all over-
powered, and that it would be madness to re—
sist. ,

“ I can do nothing else but surrender; but to
whom?" and the young officer turned his gaze
upon his captor.

.; ' But only a black mask met his look, for the
' countenance was fully hidden.

“ You surrender, my dear sir, to him whom
men call the Demon Sailor, from the fact that
I have played sad havoc with some of the

 l . king’s craft of late.”
- - r ' ,“ What! are you that curse of the coast they

.3150 call Fire-Eye?” cried Holbrook Fried—

t'g ‘ 
5," ' “I am; but I mean you no harm, sir, only
borrow your yeasel to aid me to capture a bet-
ter one I have my eye upon, as my craft went
down some days ago from the effects of a
. 4 broadside one of the king’s frigates poured
'5‘» . ' ' ' upon me; are the officers and crew all prison~

ers, MacGregor?”

“ All, sir, and without a drop of blood spilt.”
“ I am glad to hear it; now get the men into
‘ . ' the boataand I will tow seaward, for I care not
’ - tol’bO sq nearin shore when the sun rises; but
drill! I mistake not we will have a storm break

.
in» . v.  . .

 

‘3

 

 

 

   

- mended in haughty tones:

 

the

Fire-EyeglthewSiea Hyena.

19

 

’ Lance went scudding seaward before a gale

that broke with fury after the long calm.

 

CHAPTER XXXVI.
CATCHING A TARTAR.

“SAIL no!”

From the masthead of the Black Dove rung
out the cry, which. no matter how often heard
at sea, always sends a thrill through the bear-
er, whether he tread the quarter deck or fore-
castle.

“Whereaway?” came in the stern, clarion-
like tones of Tudor Vashti, who, at the cry,
came from the cabin and hailed the look-out.

“Dead ahead, sir.”

“How does she head?”

“She is rising, sir, and is coming directly
toward us.” ,

“Ay, ay, I catch her now with my glass;
helmsman, keep her as she is and we will soon
have a view of this stranger, who will tell us
what she is!" and Tudor Vashti kept his glass
riveted upon the strange sail.

In half an hour more Leo Paulding ap-
proached him and said:

“I have just descended from the fore cross-
trees, sir, and yonder craft is the Lance.”

“ The devil! then all is well with us, for we
can divide crews.”

“I hope so, sir, for this being at sea with
but two men to a gun, and not enough to
man the sails properly is not pleasant.”

“I do not consult your pleasure, Mr. Pauld-
ing, but my duty,” was the stern rejoinder,
and as the midshipman walked away, Tudor
Vashti muttered to himself:

“ By the cross! but I believe Paulding sus-
peels something is wrong, and the crew cast
suspicious glances at me too, or my guilty con-
science causes me to imagine so.

“Yes, that is the Lance, and I know she
has not had time to run into any port and
learn of my flight, so 1 will pick from her
crew what men I think will follow my lead,
and once with crew sufficient to man my guns,
I’ll soon get more.”

Nearer and nearer the two vessels ap-
proached each other, and presently Tudor
Vashti said in an anxious tone:

“I do not recognize a single officer on her
deck; ah! I have it, Morley was ordered to
take her to Southampton and she has been
ofliccred and manned from the training ship;
but they cannot have heard of my flight, so I
will say I was sent to overhaul the Lance and
taking part of her crew cruise in company
with her in pursuit of this Demon Pirate.”

The two V'tS:~’.(tlS were now quite near to each
other, and as no hestile demonstrations were
made upon either side, it was evident that
some one on each craft, had recognized the
other. ‘ ‘

As they drew nearer, Tudor Vashti, in his
trumpet tones, hailed:

“Ho the Lance, ahoy!"

“Ahoy the Black Dove,” came back the an-
swer, which caused Tudor Vashti to mutter:

“They are not all strangers on board, for
there is some one who knows this craft; ah,
there is llildshipman Friedland,” and raising
his voice, he called out: , '

“ Lufl' sharp, and I will round to to starboard
and board you.”

“Ay, uy, sir," came in reply, and almost in-
stantly the maneuvers were executed, and the
two beautiful Vessels lay quietly upon the wa—
ters, not two c‘abies’ length apart.

Hardly had the Black Dove become station-
ary, when a boat was lowered from the davits
and came rapidly t0ward the Lance.

In the stern sat Tudor Vashti, his face pale,
which was not to be wondered at under the
circumstances, but determined and reckless, for
he was not fully assured of what reception he
would meet, though intending to brave it out if
it was not a pleasant one. a

As he crOSSEd the gangway and stepped on
deck, his eye fell upon a person in uniform,
but with masked face, confronting him, and,
while a sword was pointed at his heart, he
heard the ominous words: -

“Captain Tudor Vashti, you are my pris-
oner.”

The first impulse of the entrapped man was
to resist; but a glance at the strange faces

around him, and he saw it would be madness, _

and he was not, as the reader has seen, a man
to give up life while there was an atom of
hope, and he drew himself up proudly, and de-

and

n gt means til;  lit,

5‘- .
"’~’.""’.J.‘-.“*c ‘V

  

 

“It means, Captain Vashti, that you are my
prison r.”

“A d who are you, sir, that dare not show
your face?” ‘ -

“Men call me the Demon Sailor; perhaps
you have heard the name,” was the calmre-
ply.

From white to livid turned the face of Tn.
dor Vashti at the words, and he cast a quick
glance around him, to assure himself that he
really stood on board the Lance, and catching
sight of Holbrook Friedland and seveial
other familiar forms, he was reassured and
cried: in

“This comedy has gone far enough, sir; I
know this vessel to be the Lance, and there
stand several of my own officers.”

“That maybe, sir; but they are also my
prisoners.” ,2

“Ho, Friedland! what means this masque-
rading farce on board a king’s vessel’s” cried
Tudor Vashti. '

“Unfortunately, Captain Vashti, it is real
acting, for we, like youiself, are prisoners.”

“ Never While—”

But the sentence remained unfinished, as a
blow upon the head, from a pistol in the hands
of his captor, sent Tudor Vashti stunned to the
deck, and instantly he was seized and securely
ironed. 1:

When his senses returned to him, the fugi-
tive officer found himself in the cabin of the
Black Dave, and around him Were several he
recognized, and among them Holbrook Fried-
land, Leo Paulding and Percy Manning, while
his masked captor stood near.

“Captain Vashti, I am glad that you have
returned to consciousness, for Iwas about part—
ing with your officers, and you may have some
word to send to London,” said Brandt Grey-
hurst quietly, and whose mask, constantly
worn, had prevented his recognition by any of
his former brother officers.

“What do you mean, sir?" was the sullen
question.

“I mean, sir, that I have taken this vessel
for my own use, and return to Mr. Friedland
the king’s yacht, which I borrowed for a short
time, and in it he can return to London and

'report that instead of the Lance taking the

pirate, she caught a Tartar, and the Demon
Sailor took her.

“As for yourself, Tudor Vashti, you remain
with me, and a letter to the king will give my
reasons for keeping you.

“ If his majesty replies favorably to my let-
ter, sent through Mr. Friedland, you are in no
danger at present at my hands; but if an un-
favorable response is received from his royal
highness, then I swear to you I shall hang you
to the yard-arm, and sail through the English
channel with you hanging there. " '

All started at the vindictive tone of their
captor, while Tudor Vashti, groaned, rather
than said:

“ In Heaven’s name who are you?"

“ Your untiring foe, Tudor Vashti,” was the
fierce response, and then in the pleasant man—
ner he. had assumed in addreSsiug the other
officers, he continued: .

“Gentlemen, your boat’awaits to bear you
on board the Lance; a pleasant voyage, and
should you wish to again meet the Demon ‘
Pirate, you will find him on the high seas.”

Brandt Greyhurst bowed low as he spoke,
and Holbrook Fricdland and the other young .
officers arose, while Tudor Vashti, ironed hand
and foot, said pleadingly: J

“ Do not leave me.” "

“We can do nothing, Captain Vashti, I
regret to say.” . v '5

“ Can you not fight, it out with this devil in-
carnate?” f.

“ No, sir, for the guns of the Lance are all ‘
spiked, and his crew more than double ours.”

“ Where is Lieutenant Morley?” '

“He went on board the training ship at
Southampton, Tudor Vashti, to get a crew
for the Lance, while his vessel was becalmed
some leagues out, and learning his errand, I
threw my men on board in the guise of honest
English tars,” said Brandt Greyhurst.

“Curses upon you! ay, upon you all for a
set of cowards,” cried the enraged officer, and
angered at his words, Holbrook Friedland and
the others turned away, and with a cold salute,
given to his rank only, left the cabin and en-
tered their boat. g . f

. A few moments more and then-Lanes
the Black Dove partedcompah‘y, the
an.  to London-andtholl' '

iii
5

.93"

    

     

'?‘u
I

   
 
 
   
  
 
   
 
   
  
    
  

  

‘ “annulled by, the wish of the few old ,fools that

20

 

 

CHAPTER XXXVII.
WHICH NONE OF THE PLAYERS
HELD TRUMPS. .

To depict the mortification and regret of
Enoch Shylock the Jew, at the termination of
the wedding scene, and the despair of the bean-
tiful Adina, would be impOSSil‘le.

For once the cunning and daring Israelite
was at a loss how to extricate himself from the
difficulty, or in what way to aid his newly-
made son-in-law.

Fully acquainted with London life in all its
phases, and knowing well who and what Fred
Shirley was, Enoch was aware that Captain
Vashti was a prisoner, from the moment the
detective chief entered the house, and, know-
ing that the forged notes had been taken up,
by Ross Vashti, for so the clerk had reported,
he felt assured that the affair had been re-
ported to the king and feared for the result.

But, after calm reflection and conversation
with his daughter, they, both arrived at the
conclusion that the king would not really harm
his own son, but intended giving him a severe
fright that would cause him to change his wild
mode of life.

This idea gaining ground as they talked it
over, the color came back into their faces, and
the Jew was himself again.

But only for a short time, for a. wild cry in
his shop, brought back the livid hue to the
faces of both father and child, and sent the
blood in cold torrents to their hearts.

“In the name of Joshua! what ails you?”
cried the Jew excitedly, as his clerk dashol
into the magnificently-furnished room where
he s t With his daughtr.

“The coach! the stranger! the captain!”
cried the young Israelite in broken and re ri-
fled accents, and, unable to learn uught from
him, and hearing voices in the street, Enoch
Shylock hastily descended to t :e shop, before
the door of which he saw a Vehicle, surrounded
by an excited, chuttering crowd of humanity.

“In Abraham’s name, what has happened,
friends?” he tremblingly asked, in Hebrew, for
nearly all present he recognized as people of
his own race.

“I will tell you, sir, and I have sent for
emcers of the city,” cried the coachman, ap-
prOur‘hing the Jew, whom he recognized as tLe
owner of the house that he had driven his
fares to.

“Do you see that form in there?” and he
pointed to the dead body of poor Shirley.

“Yes-l7 ‘~

“ W‘ ell, sir, not an hour ago he drove away
from this door as well as you or I, and with
him was Captain Vashti, whom I kno v well.”

“life”, well?” said Enoch Shylock, impa-
tiently, as the excited coachman pans-d.

“ Well it is not, though, but very bad; ‘for
I took the captain to the St. James water
stairs, and he told me to drive back here with
his f iend.

“And I did so, and there lies his friend in
my coach, cold and stiff, and a knife-thrust in
his hrart, ani marks (11 his neck, and you
know Lut one man could have done the deed."

Cautlousiy the Jew approached the vehicle

teams IN

‘ an gazed in upon the pallid face of the man

be ad so lately seen in life, and, as the guar-
dians of the city’s peace row aprroached at a
double-quick, he turned and bounded into the
house, and bursting into the mom where his
daughter paced anxiously to and fro, he cried:

“Oh, child l. child! we are turned! utterly
ruined l”

“Speak, father, what is it!” she cried, in
commanding tones, and the beauty of her soft
eyes gave pace t.) a devil that slumbered in
them, and suddenly showed her true nature.

“ I am done, and your exalted ambition has
brought sin and shame upon us,” \\ hined Enoch
Shy lock, seemingly overcome with grief and
fear.

“ Speak, sir!” and her eyes flashed with
fiendish fury.

“ i will speak, girl; I will tell you that your
ambition to wed the son of a king, has ruined
me; you sought, and I, doating upon you,
obeyed you, to plane yourself, Jewess though
you ‘are, upon a peer with the noblest dames of
England, by marrying a. scion of royalty.

“Well, I plo. ted and planned, and with the

ewel in our grasp, the cup of nectar to our
lips, for, well we knew that the king’s early

  

e was a true one,and could not be

« “initial-hank! be, and that he could be made

woman-downs . .
‘24,, ' I,  “the

31179733792. Elle S

 
 
 
 
  

in command of her, intending in a" short while

 

wilmfi'p‘t.‘ .hfh"
Wayland“;

of our ambition, the jewel we find but paste, .

the cup of nectar but gall, and the golden 1nd . jesty, in the

der crumbles beneath our step, and we fall, ,3
never to rise again." i

“ Father, you are an old cowardly fool, for
I do not give up because he has been accusml
of forgery, for the king will not allow shame
to fall upon his son.”

“ Girl, you are the fool; it might have been
well, had not his own hot head have brought
the crash, for, on the way to the palace, he
killed the king‘s chief detective, sent here after
him, and, knowing Tudor Vashti as I do, I
will wager tl.e (arnings of my life that he is
now flying to sea in his vessel, and—"

“ The God of the Israelite have mercy upon
me.”

The wail of the now thoroughly crushed girl
broke in upon the words of her father, and he
sprung quickly to her side and caught her in
his arms, just as she was f‘ll.lf|‘!.

Gently he laid her down upon a velvet di-
van, and called to servants to fetch a surgeon
and the rabbi.

The latter arrived first and bent over the
beautiful form and marble face, and said sor-
rowfully:

“ Enoch, my brother of Israel, she feels no
sorrow, for her heart is broken, its throbbing
is forever stilled, and her bridal robe will be
her shroud.”

A groan broke from the lips of the poor
father, who had sinned for her beloved so
deeply, and bending above the dead fo 'm, be
murmured:

“The God of the Hebrew forgive thee,
Adina, and forgive thy old father, who from
tins day will deVo 312i; life to deeds of good,
and his fortune to Charity for the Welfare of
both the Hebrew an 1 too Christian.”

CHAPTER I XXXVIII.

run mscovznr. '
WHEN the killg, knowmg the crime which
Tudor Vashti, his wicked So I, l ul bi-en guilty

of, after a consolation with R183 ’Vashti, or-
dered his chief dctcctive to arrest him and
carry him t {the Tower, t‘r re to be confined
in the life cell, he had no do we to l.-t the prof-
ligate end his days tin-re, for he was secretly
very much attached to the young ofliccr.

But, after a. shcrt stay there, he thought it
would be \\ ell to \isit hizn in disguise, and ofu
‘cr him certain inducements to forever leave
England, not doubting that the prisoner Would
be mest delighted to accept clemency instead
of a life-long imprisonment.

Some 'A but anxiously he awaited the return
of his officer, for he was demrous of knowing
how his unruly son had takrn his arret, and
he was congratulating himself that he would
frighten the recklesscaplain of his yacht into
a life of rectitude, When an «fliccr entered.

“ Did you give my ofllcial clunmunicurion to
the lieutenant, sir,” he askc l quickly.

It was his aide, Saunders, who, the reader,
will remember bore the oral; rs to Paul :J/lit’y
to sail in the Lance iminediat 17, for, Ly s_ non;
the yacht to sea at once the king hope ! lo cou-
ceal the fact that Captain Vilolltl. had not gone

to have some plausible rumor spread abroad
regarding the absence of .8 young command-
er of his favorite vessel.

“I did, your majesty, and the Lance was
flying deivn the Thames ere I reached the
water stairs,” answered the aide, in response
to the king’s question. ' ’

“It is well; but what means that excite-
ment without?” and an angry flush covered
the king’s face, as he l card loud voices in the
corridor leading to his private audience room,
lor he was in the same chamber where he had
held the interview with his unworthy son
some weeks before.

“I will ascertain, your majesty, regarding
this disrespect to your higbness,” replied
Saunders hastily; but ere he could leave the
room an officer of high rank entered and said:

“I crave your majesty’s most humble par-
don; but one of your trusted officers, your high-
ness, has been foully murdered.”

“ One of my officers murdered, General St.
Viel?”

“ It is true, your majesty.”

“ 'And who is be?”

“Secret Service Chief, Shirley, your—”
General St. Vie! stopped short, startled by
the cry that broke from the king’s lips. '

“Shirley dead, and slain by whom?” asked

 

ea Hyena. v

   
   

,your hands,
his majesty, by a great effort of self-control, $66 0
‘ ‘ command.ch this It " -'

   

 

“He entered a vehicle, it seems, your ma-
ews’ quarter of the city, in com.
pany with Captain Tudor VuShtl,I regret to
Say. and -”

“ Go on, sir!"~ came the stern command, al-
though the general was speaking as rapidly as
he Could.

“I will, your majesty; the driver was on
dered to drive to' your highness‘s palace, he
says, and then the order was changed to" the
Tower, and again to the St. James water
stairs, and then Captain Vashti left the vehicle
and fade the coachman to take his friend,
meaning Shirley, your majesty, back to the
Jews’ quarter.”

“Well, sir, well?”

“ {when he arrived there he found Shirley
dead inside, and a wound in his side, from a
knife, and marks of violence upon his throat;
this is all I can tell your majesty of the sad af-
fair.”

“God knows, General St. Viel, it is enough;
but send at once to all parts of the city, and
have Captain Tudor Vashti brought to my
presence,” and the king’s voice trembled as he
gave the order. .

But, as the reader knows, the search proved
fruitless, and the Black Dove having taken such
sudden flight, seemed conclusive evidence to
the king, and Ross Vashti whom he sent for,
that the fugitive had determined upon some
bold and desperate plan.

Fully aroused to action, and determined to
punish his son by death, the king dispatched
couriers to the different seaports, to order
vessels of war in pursuit of the American-
built craft, with orders to bring back her dar-
ing commander, dead or alive; but the days
passed by and no tidings of his capture came,
until Lieutenant Paul Morley suddenly arriVed
and reported the mysterious disappearance of
his vessel from Southampton. -

And quickly on the heels of this report
the Lance swept up the Thames and drdpped
anchor off the Tower, while Holbrook Fried-
land and Leo Paulding landed, and drove in
all haste to the palace, and urged an immedi-
ate andience with the king.

Learning of the return of his yacht, the king
granted the audience, and the young officers
Were ushered into the royal presence and their
star‘tling story was soon told, and the letter
given them for his majesty was delivered, and
the seal quickly broken.

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.
AN EPISTLE To A KING.

WITH stern, set lips, blazing eyes, and a
hand that, in spite of his self-command, trem- ,
bled as it held the paper, the king read twice
over the letter written him by the masked
pirate, whom none of the young officers, or
the crew of the Lance had once suspected as
being Brandt Greyhurst, the unfortunate .mid-
shipman, and a victim of their former captain.

The letter read as follows:

“Ar SEA, Se tember 10th.,
“ On card Pirate. Schooner, _
" Black Dove.
“ To His Majesty, KING or ENGLAND:

“ Smu:-—A former unworthy subject of Your High-
ness, and now an unfortunate man branded 1th
crime and ignominy, be s that you will peruse t ese
lines and consider well t elr meaning. l

“Belonging to a race that has served your ma‘
fiesty‘s Government in the past, and now the last of

is name, I call upon your majesty to judge if I was
not driven to the wall by misrepresentations and
cruelly cut oil’ from a plea in my own behalf. '

“ Beggared b a man who hated my father, I went
to sea, and the uture was bright before me. for a fair
maiden had iledged me her undy mg love; but when
in the West ndies, serving your malest , I received
news from home that the hated foe_ w 0 had beg-
gar-ed me, was to tear from me my intended bride,

asked for leave ofyour majesty’s commander, Cap-
tain Tudor Vasbtn, to return to England; it was
cruelly refused. '

“ Determined to neturn I wrote my resignation
from your majesty’s naval service, and that too,
being refused, I left the. vessel, was retaken as a
deserter, brought home in irons, to be sent to the
Tower and executed, and barely escaped the doom.

“ But, under the misrepresentation of Captain
Tudor Vashti. I was branded in your majesty’e
name as a Deserter and Felon, and a reward offered
for me dead or alive.

“Seeking in disguise the home of my youth, I
found that she whom I loved was the’b do of Ross
Vashtl, the man who had beggared in race, an
then, a hunted being, in utter despair, bka the
law of the land, and became what I now am, a. pirate.
and known as Fire Eye the Demon Sailor.

“ Your officers wil tell your maggoty of my cup-
ture of your yacht, and that I rmed none of
them, and then how I made. Captain Tudor Vushtl \I
my prisoner. ,

‘ nd now, holding him my prisoner, I beg to any »
to your madesttvy, that I will return him gawew to A

1 your majesty,‘ wilt wi , 
er and Felonyou hovel) : _
'  :0! . .

-!-‘ “i

   
  

 

    
  

 

    
 

 

'Jnust die, for] have sworn it, and then the

_ 1., . m. . mafia-W,"

3%

 

Fire-Eye, the Sea I-Iyena,

 

~-

"If our maiesty refuses my prayer. then I will
hang ‘a tain Tudor Vashti to the yard-arm of the
vessel I iave taken from him, and with him there
hanging, will cruise the length of the English chan-
nel.

“ Your majesty can send me my pardon by an of-
flm'r on the Lance, and I will deliver to him Captain
Tudor Vashti; if your majesty refuses, let the Lance
lllt'i‘l me off the month of the Thames, any day the
\v ck following this, and signal vour niajesty‘s
reply. I am, your iiiajol,-;t_\"s former

" Obedicnt subject,
“ BRAva UREYHURST."

Thrice over the t king read this strange
apistle, and then, while his brow grow black
as n thundercloud, he said:

“ He may hang Tudor Vash‘i, and it will be
a fitting fate for him. and he shall know that
I give no pardon to pirates.”

Then turning to an aide, he continued:

“ Send word to the admiralty, that I desire
a naval oflicer of tried skill and courage, and
a picked crew, placed at once on board the
Lance, which will at once set sail in pursuit of
this Demon Sailor, and sink or capture the
vetsel he has stolen from me.”

The order was promptly sent, Holbrook
Friedland and his shipmate returned on board
the Lance, and two hours after the fleet craft
was bound on her mission of death.

 

CHAPTER XL.
m CRUISER AND THE CORSAIR.

IN spite of the king’s cruisers everywhere
searching for him. Brandt Greyhurst delibe-
rately put in toward the mouth of the Thames,
at the appointed time, to keep his rendezvous
with the Lance.

With wistful eyes he looked for the well-
known soils of the yacht, and hoped that she
would sbou appear. bearing his pardon.

“ That will take the brand of! my brow," he
murmured, as he paced to and fro the quarter-
d. ck, and. with the gold I found in the (ill
castle, 1 will go to America and live; but. I
will not forget my revenge against TuJ r
Vashti, for the cruvl wrong he did me, for he
made me what I am; nor will I for 91; Res
Vlrhti, for he too shill feel my revenge.
When these two debts are paid I will live, or
die content. Ah Lois! Lois! if you had only
been true to me, how different Would our lives
have been!” and he turned away to provont
MacGregor, who stood near, from seeing the
tears that wellod up into the brilliant black
eyes, whose blazing lustor had cansed his CLBW
to call him Captain Fire‘Eyo.

Glancing alot‘t, to where his flag floated, an
eye of fire in a black field be continued:

“There fly my colors, Lois, taken from the
ring you sent. littlo drc'nning you sent it to
me; ah, me! how will all this end, I wonder?”

Again he turned away, and as he did so,
them may the cry: '

“ Sail ho!”

“ W hereaway!” rung out in his clear voice.

“ Coming out of the river, sir.”

“Isee her; yes, it is the Lance. Send the
men to quarters, Mr MacGrcg ir, for we know
not what that craft brings to us, weal or woe.”

“ Ay, ay, sir,” and the roll of the drum sent
the wilting crew to their guns. ' ,

Atter glancing at his men, and then over his
vest-cl, Brandt Greyhurst de-cended to the
c. in, and stood face to face with the man who
had .~o uthng him. 1

“Tudor Vashti, the Lance is in sight, and
you know what it brings for you and me,” he
said, sternly. ~

The face of the prisoner was haggard and
white, and his hands were ironed.

Looking into the face of his captor—for af-
ter the two vessels separated, Brandt Greyhurst
had removed his mask, and with horror the
fugitive ofil‘er saw who was his captor—tho
answer came in slow measured words:

“ Yes, I know that she hears either good or
evil tidings for you or me; but I feel that the
king will grant you the pardon you ask for
yourself and crew, and my life will be safe,
though that I will be punished for deeds I have
done, I know; but he will not baVe me exe-
cuted, no he will not do that.”

“ Why should he!” ,asked the young pirate
captain, who, it will \be remembered, was in
ignorance of all that had occurred.

“ Of course he will not,” was the quick, eva-
Iive reply. ,

“ Well, if he refuses to pardon me, then you

‘klngtsball regret that he turned the Black Dove

: Antonina hyena,” and with binning eyes and

  

not go down

 

: mtqlthgfimmn
5,, .r U

The Lance in the mean time had run out into I
open water, and was not more than a league ,

away, for the Black Dove had swiftly ap- l shot-torn, but

preached her also.

Nearer and nearer the two vessels drew to
each other, the captain of the Lance conceal-
ing from observation the extra crew he had on
board, and endeavoring to get as near as possi-
ble to the Black Dove before he signaled the
message of the king.

To further guard against suspicion the men t
on the Lance were not at their guns, and it “
really ]o:»ked as though a peaceful interview ‘
was anticipated, and the heart of the pirate ‘
captain beat high with hope; but he was not
to be caught off his guard, and had made every
preparation to meet his foe with ti:e, if hos-
tility was intended.

Cnlmiy the pirates stood at their guns, al-
ternately eying the Lance and their young
commander, in whose skill and courage they
had perfect confidence.

“It looks as though we were going to live
honest men in future, captain, and that Vashti
would escape the noose rigged for him,” said
MacGregor.

“ So it seems, MacGregor—hal there flies the
signal.”

“And read it.”

And in loud tones, that reached every mem-
ber of his crew the pirate captain read:

“ Tudor Vashti deserves death at the yard-
arm of a pirate craft .’

“ No pardon to buccanecrs!

“Death to the Demon Sailor, in the king‘s
name I"

Hardly had the sound of the young captain’s
voice died away, when a sheet of flame burst
from the broadside of the Lance, and a shower
of iron came flying over the Black Dove.

“ Bring up the prisoner!” shouted the pi-
rate, in hoarse tones. for the answer to his
litter to the king had been a cruel blow.

Out of the cabin the piisoner was dragged,
now calm, but as white as the corpse ho. knew
he would soon become, and around his haughty
neck the noose was placed.

“ Tudor Varhti, you made me what I am, as
in your heart you know it, and I revenge my-
self upon you by visiting upon you the doom I
may one day meet.

“ Up with him lads!”

A irayer was choked off of the stern, hand-
some lips, and up into the air the elegant form
was dragged, while a. wild yell of fury broke
from the pirate crew, and was dr0wned by an-
orher broadside iron) the Lance.

“ Let him hang there! now, pirates that you
are, tight for your lms, for yonder vessel has
come to show no mercy; fire!”

t
t
t
i
l
,
l
l
l

 

The Black Dove l‘i't'lt‘ll under the discharge 2

of herguns, and instantly the combat became
hot and fierce. ‘

But such a combat Could not last long, for
the king’s cruiser fought with picks d men, con-
fident in their numbers, and the like]: Dove‘s
crew tought for life alone, and all leit that it
.was a battle to the bitter end, to the very
death.

And thus the moments flew by in the red en-
counter, until at last the Lance was seen to
settle badly in the bows, and the pirates knew
she was hard hit, and fought with more desper~
ate determination to conq ter.

“She has her death-wound, lads; sink her!”
cried the captain, bleeding from several
wounds, and a wild cheer f( llowed his com-
mand, and an answering huzza came from the
king’s ,brave tars, as they stood at their guns,
with the waters washing their feet.

Another fearful broadside from the Black
Dove, which had escaped severe injury strange-
ly in the mad havoc, another wild cheer from
the buccaneers. another defiant 'huzza from
the English tars, and down beneath the encrim-
soned waves shot the Lance from sight, carrying
her gallant crew to the depths of the blue waters.

For a moment a silence tell upon the pirates;
but then they were roused by the voice of their‘
young chief, shouting:

“ To work, lads, for see the bounds of war
are upon us; crowd on sail, and hot for up the
channel, with yonder form to adorn our rig-
ging,” and he pointed first to two large vessels
of war crowding on all sail to reach the .~cen'e,
and then to the body of Tudor Vashti torn by
shot, and swinging to and fro, a ghastly sight.

“ Crowd 9n sail, lads, and aid us ye winds,
if ye blow. a tempest, for the gallant Sea
Hyena, as now I. name my noble watt, must

 
  

 

‘ until she-has traced the broad

“Three cheers. lads, for the Sea Hymn 2"
And with a. will they were given while the
still stand: craft bounded
away at a speed that showed the cruisers in
her wake that pursuit was idle.

 

CHAPTER XLl.
AFTER LONG YEARS.

YEARS have passed away, kind reader,
since the Black Dove, rte-christened the Sea
Hyena, sunk the king’s yacht and her gallant
crew, and spread terror along the entire coast,
until even the humble fisher dared not spread
his sail.

After fulfilling his terrible threat, and sailing
from one end of the chanm-l to the other, “ith
the ghastly form of Tudor Vashti swinging in
the rigging, Brandt Greyhurst seemed to have
turned into a human bloodhound, for no mt my
to his fellow man was his motto, and from .v—a
to sea, and land to land the terror of his have
spread, while his wonderful escape from tho
numerous war vessels constantly in search of
him, made the superstitious believe that be
was protected by Satan himself.

Of those who have figured in my story in
London, I can only say that the king’s career
has gone down to history, and need not In
touched upon here; and, as to Enoch Sbylock
the Jew, he kept his word, and to the end or
his life did good to atone for the evil he had
done, in his greed for gold and ambitious de-
sires.

Two other characters of my romance, I
would still follow with an author’s privilege,
and note the changes in their lives.

Those two are Ross Vashti and his wife, the
Lady Lois.

For awhile Ill that ROSS Vasbti toucl ‘d
seemed to turn to gold; but at last the tide of
frrtune turned, and spreulation took from him
not only the greater part of his own, but the
inheritance he gained through his wife, and he
begged the king to send him to America as
Governor of the Carolinas.

And there it is that I would follow them, for
prosperity again perched upon the head of Rt ss
Vashti, when once settled in America, 1 nd
gold flowng into his coffers, he built in tho
New World a home that was equal to Castle
Sealands, which debt had wrested from him.

In this lovely abode, one pleasant afternt on,
eighteen years alter this story opened, “nth
the scene in Castle Sealands, Governor lims
Vashti was seated among his bOLkS, enjoy mg
the balmy breeze that came in through the
open wmdows overlooking the sea, and lizila
dreaming that a shadow was already falling
across his threshold.

Presently a young and beautiful girl, almt st
the counterpart of what Lady Lois had lun
eighteen years before, glided into the room,
attirt‘d in riding habit and hat.

“Come, father, join us in our ride this
afternoon,” she said coaxingly.

“ No, Lois my child, not this afternoon, tor
if I must confess it I am really lazy,” was lno
Governor’s reply, and then drawing the
beautiful girl toward him, he asked anxiously:

“ Lois. who is to be your escort?”

The young girl blushed, and seeing it, her
father said:

“My child, it is that Cuban planter, who
has lately settled in our midst?”

“ Yes, father.” 6.

“Lois, frtm some reason. I cannot explain
why, I do not like Don Castilla.”

“I love him, papa, and he loves me,” broke
passionately from the girl’s lips. _

“ Lois, strange as it may seem, I wculd
rather see you do , than the bride of tlat
man, and I will never consent to your marriage
with him; but dry your pretty eyes, in (1
another time we will talk on this subject, yet
know now, that I forbid you to encourage him.“

The maiden turned sadly away. and assbe

paSSPd out on the balcony Lady Lois entered I

by the hall door.

A regally beautiful woman she still was, and
yet it was not a face that one cared to look
long upon, for the depth of sadness far back in
the eyes, the look of constant suflering that
seemed to haunt the exquisitely molded mouth, ,

told of Sorrows in the past ever present in the ‘

heart, and reflecting upon each feature, strive
as she might to hide from view the gamma;

sum it.
about Lois and Don (hatilia,” she Said in

soft way. “ .V .I .,
{‘1 have:th spoldu bier ,

grief that fed upon her life, yet did not con. \ _. ’

_ “Husband,I have come to speckle you, t ‘

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

    

22

 

FiltefEYFi: the 3.9%,HYQW-

 

 

ject, my dear; like myself, I feel that you are
opposed to the Cuban.”

“ Yes, and yet why I cannot tell, for he is a
courglygentleman, is generous to a fault, has
most fascinating manners, though at times it
seems to me the fascination of a snake, and evi—
dently comes of good blood; but then his face
troubles me when I look into it, and haunts
me when he is not here.”

“It is the same with me, wife; but do you
think he loves Lois?"

“He seems to idolize her.”

“ And Lois?”

“I am confident loves him.”

“What is to be done then about it?”

“Refuse him her hand, for I know he will
ask it.”

“I will, so do not let the matter worry you
more.”

The wife seemed content, and withdrew. and
the Governor flattered himself that happiness
would not fly from his household.

And that night Don Juan Castilla asked for
the hand of the Governor’s daughter and was
refused, and took his leave, while poor Lois lay
upon her bed and wept scalding, bitter tears,
for to the Cuban she had given her first and
only love; but she would not disregard the
wishes of her parents, and determined to bury
her lost love forever from sight of the world,
though she knew that she could never forget
the grave in her heart, over which twined the
tendrils of her affections.

 

,- xi
‘ ' CHAPTER XLII.

THE DEMAND.

11‘ had been a day of great excitement in
Bathtown, in the present State of North Caro-
line, and the people were all astir and
anxious, for a vessel had run into the harbor
and reported that the dreaded buccaneer,
known far and wide and feared the world over
as Fire-Eye, the Demon Sailor and the Sea
Hyena, had sunk a king’s privateer and two
merchantmen some leagues out\at sea, and
chased it into port.

SO great was the terror felt of this dread
rover that the forts were manned with treble
the force, the militia was kept under arms,
and all were most anxious for fear the Sea.
Hyena might run into Bathtown harbor, for
the daring pirate had done so before, and also
visited other cities along the coast.

Wearied with the duties devolving upon him
the Governor had strolled to a little pine forest
in which was a rustic arbor, to steal a. short
rest ere night came on.

Seating himself, he drew a book from his
pocket to read; but his eyes merely scanned
the lines, and weary nature soon lulled him to
sleep.

“You are Governor Ross Vashti, I believe?"
- The voice awoke the Governor with a start,
and he. beheld before him a swarthy-faced
man, with white hair, but a form that denoted
activity and strength scarcely looked for in
‘one who had journeyed some distance beyond
the meridian of life.
The man was dressed in deep black, and had
‘one arm.

“Yes; I am Governor Vaehti; who are you,
and what do you wish in my grounds?”

“I am here to remind you of an oath you
took long years ago.”

The Governor turned pale, but said, firmly:

“ I recall no oaths that I made, in which you '

are interested.” \
“Perhaps this ring may refresh your mem-

, ory, your excellen‘cy.”

The Governor took the ring extended to him
with a. trembling hand. ‘
. “ Where did you get this?”

“You recall it?” '

“ Yes,” was the almost inarticulate reply.

“ You know what I have a. right to de-

, mandl”

“ Good God! are you Satan in another
guise?” cried the Governor.

“It matters not who I am; are you ready
to give up your soul or grant the request I do.
mand, as bearer of this ring?” ~

“Oh! I will grant anything, only do not
take my life and destroy my soul,” groaned the
unhappy man.

“ You swear to grant what I ask?” \

“Yes, I swear.” ‘ "

“ My request is a simple one: give your

* - consent. to your daughter to become the wife
' - d DonJuan Cristina”!
 “ My wife, the Lady Lois, will object.”
~33 ~ ',,'see’~tc..tbatn doyou swear'to give, .

.t

 
  

 

your consent that your daughter shall become 1
the wife of Juan Castilla within the month?"

‘4 I do. 77

“Enough; go!”

N 0 second bidding was needed, and, with ,
very undignified haste the Governor went back i
toward his mansion, fully convinced that he 
was going to have one allied in some mysteri- j
ous way to Satan as a son—in-law.

The stranger stood gazing after the Governor '
with a peculiar smile upon his face, and then
made a wide detour and gained the flower gar-
dens, which were the favorite resort of the
Lady Lois.

found Lad y Vashti seated in her favorite evcr- ,
green arbor, engaged in embroidery, a favorite ,
pastime with her.

' She started at seeing a stranger, and would
have retreated; but noticing that he had but 4
one arm, she deemed him some oflicer of the
navy, or army, and hesitated, while he said in
a kindly tone:

“ Feel no fear of me, Lady Lois Vashti.”
“I cannot recall that we have before met,

7,

“ And yet we have, lady, long years ago.”
“In England, I suppose?”
“Yes, lady, at Sealands.”

The woman started, and her faced paled, but
she said calmly:

“ Your name, please?”

‘ ‘ MacG'rcgor. ”

“ \Vhat! you are-”

“ The smuggler who escorted you home
that night; you kept your pledge well, Lady
Lois.”

“What do you here, sir?” she Asked in al-
most a whisper. “\

“This ring may explain.”

“ Ha! it is my fire eye opal.”

“It is, lady.”

“ Well, what means your bringing it back
to me?”

“To recall a promise, lady.”

“ Ah, I fear me trouble to come."

“You said you would befriend the one to
whom you sent this ring, and he now asks a
favor of you.” n

“It was whispered that Brandt Greyhurst
leagued himself with the coast smugglers and
afterward becamca pirate,” she said, moodily.

“True, lady, so it was rumored.”

“ And that that cruel fiend—oh! I dare not
call his name, and, no! no! I will not believe it;
yes, I Will do as the one asks to whom I sent
that ring.”

“The request is simple; that one whom he
knows well be permitted to claim‘ your daugh-
ter’s hand in marriage.”

“ Heaven have mercy! who is he?” she asked
in quivering tones.

“Don Castilla of Cuba.”

“And he knows that the Don loves my
daughter and that we refuse to allow the
alliance?”

H Yes. n

“ What know you of Don Castilla?”

“ He is a noble man to his friends.”

“Well, I know not what to say.”

“Keep your pledge, lady.”

“ But my husband will refuse to permit the
marriage.”

“He will not: do you say yes?”

“Oh, yes, for I can say nothing else, and I
know that Lois dearly loves him.”

“Enough! one month from to—day the Don
will come in his yacht to claim his bride, for
he has already sailed from Bathtown, as you
doubtless know, lady. ”

“Yes,” she said dreamily, and with eyes
bent down she stood in painful reverie for
some minutes.

When she again looked up her strange com-
panion had disappeared, and with a shudder,
she hastily returned to the mansion.

sir

 

, CHAPTER XLIII.

CONCLUSION.

NEVER had the Carolina and Virginia
coasts suffered so heavily from the ravages of
piracy, as the month following the visit of
MacGregor the smuggler to Governor Vashti
and his wife, and the citizens of the towns.
and the planters were kept in constant dread.

And yet‘tbe gossips kept up their interest in
one important event to1 happen, and that was
the marriage of the beautiful Lois, the Gov-
ernor’s daughter, to the wealthy Cuban, Don
J éan Castilla. ‘

 

 

l

l

i

1

Good fortune seemed to favor him for he i
’ i

i

 

 

‘mHappy that her parents had. changed their

ind regarding her handsome lovely, LP“ .

5 i

_.

sought not to dive into the reasons, and was
busy with her maids day and night in arrang-
ing her trousseau, such as a maiden of her
rank should have, and her father spared no ex‘
pense to have the affair, as it must be, the
grandest event his dominion had witnessed.

A vessel arriving from Cuba had brought
letters to the intended bride and her parents,

i from Don Juan and most costly presents of

laces and jewels, and the yacht was daily ex.

, pected to arrive with its master.

But the day of itsarrival paSSed, and it came
not, and the croakers shook their heads omin~

, ously, and predicted that the Sea Hy ena hadi

captured the Cuban.
But, shortly after nightfall a flash was seen
for out to sea, and then another, still further

é ofi', and it resolved itself into a sea chase, al-

though the vessels could not be seen.

Nearer and nearer came the two vessels, the
pursued and pursuing, hotter and hotter sound-
ed the guns, and then the firing suddenly ceased,
and into the harbor swept a beautiful craft, and
dropping anchor, who should land but Don
Juan Castilla, who reported that he had been
chased by the Sea Hyena?

A right royal welcome he received too, for
bad he not beaten 011‘ the dread pursuer?

And the next morn the nuptials, between
the Cuban and Governor’s daughter were cele~
brated, with great pomp and ceremony, and
the lovely bride went on board the graceful.
and'rakish craft of her husband, accompanied
by her parents and a gay company to bid her a,
last farewell.

One by one the company said good—by, and
then only four persons remained in the yacht’s
cabin. Those four were the Don, his bride. and
her parents, the two last intending to sail a
league from shore and return in their own boat.

“Governor Ross Vashti,” said the Don, an
the yacht began to glide through the water,
“ do you recognize this person?"

Both the Governor and his wife started, as
MacGregor suddenly appeared before them.

“ Governor Vashti, you are the man who
ruined the Greyhursts of Sealands, and stole
from Brandt Greyhurst, the last of his race,
his promised bride.

“ Lady Lois, you broke your pledge to Brandt
Greyhurst, and that broken pledge made him
swear revenge, and upon you both he has had
his revenge, ay, a bitter vengeance indeed, for
I am he who was once called Brandt Grey-
burst, and your daughter is my wife; but not
here ends your anguish; for Iam the Demon
Sailor, Fire Eye the Pirate, and you now an
on board the Sea Hyena !” ,

A wild shriek rung through the cabin, and
Lady Lois sunk on the floor unconscious, and
with a groan of anguish her husband bent over
her, crying:

“Yes, bitter indeed has'been his revenge, for
my child is a buccaneer’s bride. ”

And that child?

Poor Lois stood like one dazed for an instant,
and then burst forth in peels of merriest laugh—
ter, that floated far across the waters.

“Great God! you have crazed her brain,"
cried old MacGregor.

“Silence sirl and put the honored GOVGTOI'
and the Lady Lois in their boat,” was ha
stern command, and quickly it was obeyed,
and the slaves, with scared faces pulled rapidly
shoreward, to tell what they had heard and
seed, .while the Sea Hyena sailed seaward into
the gathering gloom, for a storm was sweeping
rapidly over the ocean, and, until she was lost.
in the mist of the hurricane, the wild, merry
laughter of the buccnneer’s bride floated back ,

“'ith a smile the Don continued: {

over the waters. L

When the slaves rowed the boatashore, at
the villa lending, their mistress was gently
borne to the mansion, the Governor following
in silence, and for long days she lay at the point
of death; but at last she rallied and once more
went about her household duties, but from the
day of her daughter’s marriage to the hour of
her death, years after, no smile ever dwelt
upon her i'aCe, for her heart was broken.

And the Governor, a sorrowing old man
held on to life until four-score years, hoping
against hope to one day see his child again.

But the hope was vain, for, from her sailing
that afternoon and dashing into the very teeth
of the storm, the Sea Hyena was never heard
of again, and it was believed that she had gone
down in the tempest, to find a resting-place in
the deep sea and hide her blood-red decks fon-
ever from human ,eye. . ‘ ‘

' THE END. '

/

/

  
 

' l

 

 

 

 

 

    

  

  

 

BEADLE’SeDIMErflBRARY’.

Wished Every Wednesday. Each Isswz Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss Inzrnhnm.

994 Buffalo Bill’s Lone Hand.
989 Buffalo Bill’s Marked Bullet.
. 984 Buffalo Bill's Life Raffle.
, 979 Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Trail.
' 964 Buffalo Bill’s Invinciblos.
960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.
956 Buffalo Bill’s Volunteer Vigilantes.
950 Buffalo Bill at Bay.
943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game.
936 Buffalo Bill‘s Black Pard.
, 927 Buffalo Bill‘s Bluff; or, Dusky} Dick the Sport.
; 921 Buffalo Bill‘s uandary: or. elvet Bill’s Vow.
915 Buffalo Bills. the Surgeon-Scout.
; Buffalo Bill’s League: or, Red Butterfly.
f ‘ Buffalo Bill's Tangled Trail.
Buffalo Bill‘s Rough Riders.
.895 Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Ally.
890 Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake.
882 The Three Bills: Buffalo Bill.Wild Bill and Band-
, box Bill; or. The Bravo in Broadcloth.
874 Buffalo Hill’s Buckskin Braves.
869 Buffalo Bill’s Road-Agent Round-up.
m3 Buffalo Bill‘s Death Charm.
‘ ; 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush.
( 851 Buffalo Bill‘s Double Dilemma.
1 845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse.
630 Buffalo Bill‘s Boys in Blue.
8% Buffalo Bill’s Sha Shooters.
822 Buffalo Bill‘s Best ower.
(4 ‘ 816 Buffalo Biil‘s Red Trail.
812 Buffalo Bill‘s Death—Knell.
794 Buffalo Bill‘s Winning Hand
787 Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot.
~7 781 Bufialo Bill's Brand.
 777 Buffalo Bill’s Spy Shadower.
g' 769 Buffalo lill’s Sweepstake.
 ' 765 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam.
; ~ 761 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot.
pl 757 Buffalo Bill’s Double.
- Bill‘s Big Four; or, Custer's Shadow.
Bill‘s Flush Hand.
3’ 739 Buffalo Bill‘s Blind: or. The Masked Driver.
 . 235 Bulfan Bill and His Merry Men.
‘j‘~- . 731 Buffalo Bill’s Beagles: or Silk Lasso Sam.
’: l 727 Buffalo Bill’s Bodv Guard.
722 Buffalo Bill on the Wur- ath.
716 Buffalo Bill’s‘Scout Shut owers.
710 Buffalo Bill Baffled: or. The DeSerter Desperado.
697 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Brotherhood.
691 Buffalo Bill’s Blind Trail; or. Mustang Madge.
667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop;or. The King of the Mines.
658 The Cowimv Clan; or, The Tigress of Texas.
653 Lasso King’s League; or. Buck Taylor in Texas.
649 Buffalo Bill’s Chief of Cowboys; or. Buck Taylor
644 Buffalo Bill’s Bonanza; or. Siver Circle Knights.
362 Buffalo Bill‘s (iri >: or. Oath Bound to Custer.
329 Buffalo Bill‘s Pl ge: or. The League of Three.
189 Wild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or. The Desperate Dozen.
( 75 Wild Bill’s Trump Card: or. The Indian Heiress.
168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

‘By Buffalo Bill.

: The Broad Shot Four

'l‘o-xzis Jack, the Lasso King

The Ranch Kin;r Dead-Shot.

White leaver’s Still Hunt.

\Vllfl Bill. the Wild West Duelist.

Wild Bill. the Dead-Center Shot.

639 Buffalo Bill‘s Gold Ring. _

599 The Dead Shot Nine: or. My Bards of the Plains.

414 Red Renard. the lndian Detective.

401 One-Armed l’urd; or. Borderland Retribution.

397 The Wizard Brothers: or, White Beaver’s Trail.

394 White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West.

304 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.

213 The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier’s Sweetheart.
83 Gold Bullet Snort: or. Knights of he Overland.
52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Soon .

a}-

 

 By Leon Len’lii, Ned Bluitline, etc.

-. 773 Buffalo B-ll’s Ban: or. Cody to the Rescue.

‘  " " 6‘52 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Survive Trail.
629 Buffalo Bill‘s During: Role: or. Daredeaih Dick.
517 Buffalo Bill's First Trail; or. The Express Rider.
153 Buffalo Bill, (thief of Scouts. _
117 Buffalo Bill 5 Strange Ford: or, Dashing Dandy.
. 92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King.

BY HAROLD PAYNE.

.‘ 883 The Man from Mexico in New York.
3 872 The King-Pin Shark: or, Thad Burr‘s Ten Strike.
.  $1 The Tenderloin Big Four
, ' r 853 The Quaker City Crook.
844 Tracked to Chicago.
836 The Policy Broker‘s Blind.
8539 The Frisco Sharper’s Cool Hand.
821 The Tramp Shadower’s Backer.
813 The Sham S otter’s Shrewd Scheme.
$6 The Grand treet Gold-Dust Sharpers.
. \ Detective Barr’s Lunatic Witness
 . The Wall Street Sharper‘s Snap.
  784 Thad Burr’s Death Drop.
.51 :42 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.
- l .. 734 Detective Burr‘s Foil; or, A Woman’s Strategy.
‘ - 728 Detective Burr. ttheadquarters Special.
m Detective Burr’s Spirit Chase.
W6 Detective Burr’s Seven Clues.
M Thad Burr the Invincible: or, The “L ” Clue.
. , I 00 The Matchless Detective.
' ‘ ' no XX. the Fatal Clew; or, Burr's Master Cm.

 

BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTERY.
:9 . ‘fl The Czar‘s Spy.q

‘ an Iron Wrist. the Swordmaster.

 . ' Chain ion Sam: or. The Monarchs of the Show.
“‘ .1 ’ E1 Ru lo Bravo. King of the Swordsman.

   

s BY J. Wu 0830K.
4 '. Shsdrsch. the Sport Detective.
 ' Goldsur theDsndySport.
' ' Sam 530

 

 

 

BY CAPTAIN HOIVARD HOLMES.

929 Gentleman George. the Showman Sport.
912 Genteel Joe‘s Lone Hand. .

903 The Train Detective.

896 Kent Keen, the Crook—Crusher.

888 Ni htshade in New York.

879 Fa con Flynn, the Flash Detective.

871 The Crook Cashier.

859 Clew-Hawk Keene’s Right Bower.

847 Hiram Hawk, the Harlem Detective,

840 Major Bullion, Boss of the Tigers.

83! Shadowing the London Detective.

817 Plush Velvet. the Prince of Spotters.

803 TheBogus Broker’s Right Bower.

7le The N ight-Hawk Detective.

779 Silk Ribbon’s Crush-out.

766 Detective Zach, the Broadway Spotter.
751 The Dark Lantern Detective.

736 The Never-Fail Detective.

724 Captain Hercules, the Strong Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon, the Gilt~Ed2e Detective.

701 Silver Steve. the Branded Sport.

694 Gideon Grip, the. Secret Shadower.

684 Velvet Van, the Mystery Shadower.

678 The Dude Desperado

671 Jason Clew the Silk-Handed Ferret.

664 Monk Morel, the Man-Hunter.

654 Sol S hinx, the Ferret Detective.

612 Red ard and Yellow.

608 Silent Sam the Shadow Sphinx.

592 On. tain Sid, the Shasta Ferret.

579 01 Cormorant. the Bowery Shadow.

569 Captain Cobra, the Hooded Mystery.

559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.

550 Silk Hand. the Mohavo Ferret.

543 The Magneto Detective.

532 Jack Javert. the Independent Detective.
523 Reynnrd of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective
512 Captain Velvet’s Big Stake.

505 Phil Fox. the_Genteel Spotter.

496 Richard Redilre. the Two Worlds' Detective.
487 Stinshine Sam. a Chip of the Old Block.

480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.

468 Coldgrip in Deadwood.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective.

453 Captain Coldgfinp’s Long Trail.

447 Volcano. the disco Spy.

441 The California Sharp.

434 Eucifer Lynx. the Vi. onder Detective.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.

413 Captain Coldgrip ill New York.

407 Captain Coldgrlp’s Nerve; or. In'un Nick.
400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The New ork Spotter.
392 The Lost Bonanza: or, The Boot of Silent Hound.
382 The Bonanza Band: or, Dread Don ofCool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities.

365 Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.

352 The Desperate Dozen.

347 Denver Duke. the Man with “ Sand."

340 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.

3‘35 Flash Dan. the Naboh. or, Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude. the Lone Bandit.

294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.

941 The Shadow Sport from Frisco.

I)! \VILLIAIVI H. MANNING.
943 The Red-Glovod Detective.
931 Frisco Frank at Glory Gulch.
929 The Montana Miner in New York.
908 The. Doomsday-Den Detective.
899 The Double-Quick Detective.
893 Yellow Gitl. of Dark Divide.
885 The Expert Dvl-t‘Cl ive’s Shake-up.
875 Trap ing the Race-Track Judge.
864 The olice Special’s Dilemma.
819 The Genteel hharper‘s Combine
841 Grziydon‘s Double Deal. -
833 The Sport Detective’s Grip.
8123 The Athlete Sport About Town.
808 TheCrook-lmtective’s Pull.
790 Plunger Pete, the Race-Track Detective.
782 Royal Rock, the Round-up Detective.
774 Steve Starr. the Dock Detective.
764 The New York Shm ’s Shadower.
738 Detective Claxton, t e Record Breaker.
714 Gabe Gall, the Gambolier from Great Hump.
703 Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Sus ect
692 Dead Shot Paul, tl~e Deep-Range x lorer.
655 Strawberry Sam. the Man with the irt-hmark.
640 Dark John, the Gliin Guard. .
639 Murdock. the Dread Detective.
6‘23 Dangerous Dave. the Never-Beaten Detective.
611 Alkali Abe, the Game Chicken from Texas.
596 Rustler Rube; the Round-Up Detective.
5% Dan Dixon’s Double.
570 Steady Hand. the Napoleon of Detectives
508 Wyoming Zeke, the Hotspur of Honeysuckle.
551 Garry Kean, the. Man with Backbone.
539 Old Doubledark, the Wily Detective.
531 Saddle-Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur.
521 Paradise Sam, the Nor’-West Pilot.
513 Texas Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives.
506 Uncle Honest. the Peacemaker of Hornets’ Nest.
498 Central Pacific Paul. the MailTram Spy.
492 Border Bullet. the Prairie Sharpshooter.
486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective.
479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack.
470 The Duke of Dakota.
463 Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator.
455 Yank Yellowbird. the Tall Hustler of the Hills.
449 Bluff Burke. King of the Rockies.
.442 Wild West Walt, the Mountain Veteran.
437 Dec Duke: or, The Man of Two Lives.
487 The ivals of Montana Mill.
415 Hot Heart, the Detective 
405 Old Baldy the Brigadier o uck Basin.
997 Colorado Rube. the Stron Arm 01' Rm“
279 The Gold Dragoon; or. alifornia Bl

BY NED BUNTLINB:

657 Long Tom. the Privateer.
633 The Sea S y, ‘
621 The Red rivateer; or, The Midshipman Rover.
584 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King.
517 Buflalo Bill’s First Trail.
861 Tombstone Dick, the Trai Pilot.
122 Soul Sabberdsy. the Idiot 

11 The Captain; .0 in crime

9.

  
   

 

ALBERT W. AIKEN’S NOVELS. .

Dick Talbot Series.

991 Dick Talbot at the Mines: or, Kentuck. the Sport.
988 Rocky Mountain Bob. '
976 Overland Kit: or, The Idyl of White Pine.

741 Dick 'l‘albot‘s Close Call.

737 Dick Talbot in A ache Land.

733 Dick Talbot. the net] King. .
729 Dick Talbot’s Clean-Out.

725 Dick Talbot in No Man‘s Camp.

351 Dick Talbot; 01. The Brand 0 Crimson Cross
36 Dick Talbot; or. The Death-Shot of Shasta.

Alken’s Fresh of Frisco Series.

825 Fresh, t e Race—Track Sport.
660 The Fres l in Montana: or. Blake‘s Full Hand.
652 The Fresh’s Rustic at Painted City.

-

.647 The Fresh at Santa Fe; or, The Stranger Sharp.

556 Fresh. the Sport: or. The Big Racket at Slide Out.
537 Fresh Against the Field: or, Blake. the Lion.
497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Escobedo Millions. ‘
461 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande.

97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze Jack,

Aiken’s Joe Phenix Series.

965 Joe Phenix‘s Mascot. ’
959 Joe Phenix’s Double Deal.
954 Joe Phenix in Chicago. i
949 The Doctor from Texas; or, Joe Phenix’s Clue. l
944 Joe Pheuix’s Ri ht Bower. _ \
865 The Female Bar r Detective; or, Joe Phenix in

Silver City. )
799 Joe Phenix’s Great Blue Diamond Case; or,‘ The
' New York Sport at Long Branch.
793 Joe Phenix’s Deco : or The Man of Three. 1
760 Joe Phenix’s Lone an . . a
749 Joe Phenix’s Big Bulge. ‘
745 J on Phenix’s Mad Case. '
708 Joe Phenix‘s Siren; or, The Woman Hawkshaw.
700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crook:
681 Joe Phegiix‘s Specials: or, The Actress Detective
6‘37 Joe Phenix in Crazy Camp.
682 Joe Phenix's Master Search. . .
628 Joe Phenix’s Combine ; or,the Dandy Conspirator '
620 Joe Phenix’s Silent Six. - l
601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow: or.the Detective’s Monitor
419 Joe lwixq the King of Detectives.
161 Joe Phenix’s Great Man Hunt.
112 Joe Phenix, Private Detective; or, The League. ‘

79 Joe Phenix, the Police Spy.

Alken’s Misc ellancous N ovels.

980 The All-Around Athlete.
940 Captain Jack, the Scalper
9‘35 The Hawks and Wolves of New York
932 Detective Gordon‘s Grip.
926 Old Sunflower, the Silent Smiter.
923 Old Sunflower. the Hayseed Detective.
901 The Hotel Swell-Sharp; or, The Siren Shadows.
892 The Countryman Detective.
876 Gold Button Sport: or, The Miner Sharps. ,
842 Teton Tom. the Half-Blood.
835 The King—Pin Detective. ‘_
814 The New Yorker Among Texas Sports. .3
775 King Dandy. the Silver Sport.
753 Gideon’s Grip at Babylon Bar.
717 Captain Pat iIcGowen, the Greencoat Detective.
674 Uncle Sun Up. the Born Detective.
670 The Lightw eight Detective. ' l
665 The Frisco Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.‘
613 Keen Billy. the Sport.
607 Old Benzine, the "Hard Case " Detective.
594 Fire Face. the Silver King’s Foe.
580 The Silver Sh arp Detective.
577 Tom, of Calif ('l‘llla: or. Detective’s Shadow Act.‘
570 The Actress Detective: or. The Invisible Band.
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.
520 The Lone Band on the Caddo. a
490 The Lone Band in Texas. . . ,
475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective. , (I
465 The Actor Detective. . :
440 The-High Horse of the Pacdic. _ -
421 The Lone Band; or. The Red River Recreants.
408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death.
381 The Gypsy Gen tleman: or. hick Fox. Detective
376 Black Beards: 01. The Rio Grande High Horse
‘70 The Dusky Deto ctive: or. Pursued to the End. -’
363 Crowningshield, the Detective
3'20 The Genteel Spo tter: or Tth. Y. Night Hawk. f
252 The Wall Street flood; or. The Telegraph Girl.
203 The Double Detective: or.1‘he Midnight Mystery.
196 La Marmoset. the Letectlye Queen.
101 The Man from New York.
91 The Winning Oar: or. The Innkeepers Daughter.
84 Hunted Down: or, The League 0 Three. ‘
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire. ‘
75 Gentleman George: or. Parlor. Pnson and Street. '
72 The Phantom Hand: or. The 5th Avenue Heiress. ‘ ~
56 The Indian Mazeppa: or, Madman of the Plains. . - .
49 The Wolf Demon: or. The Kanawha een.
42 The California Detective: or. The Wife esofN.Y.

a 'Au-A a.

81 The New York Sha ; or. The Flash of Dining. 
27 The Spotter Detect ve: or. Girls of New ork. , ,_:
NEW ISSUES.  ‘:

1000 Buflalo Bill’s Grim Guard. By 001. Ingrnhlm, _ x J,
1001 The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. By John W. :
Osbon. 

1W2 Silver Cit Sam. By Joe. E. Bad r.  ,
1003 Gvgld Difiny; or, Dick Talbot in U . By Albert  
. A en. . ,v

1004 Buflalo Bill’s Death Deal. Bi Col. Ingrnhlm. ;
1005 Foot-Hills Frank. By Joe. Badger. .

1006 The Sea. Cadet. By 001. P. Ingrahu'n.

JU ST ISSUED.

996 1 n Dick. the Shasta Dead Shot. Aiken.
997 333......- Hsl, the Sport from Budsfliok. 3,

J03. E. Badger. Jr.
9% Captain Seawalt, Privateer. By Nod Buntllno.
999 The Velvet Hand' or, The Iron Gflp’ of In“

Dick. By Albert W. Aiken.

X A m {use every Wound”.

1

run null: unmiti- for
W, ‘ rt. :9". m. 

  

I H \ ..,
5.
A
a L _,.

   

A

 

'f"t;:~'oe—

  
 

 

 

     
 

l "\._‘\.

Each Number
Complete.

\

l
l\ i
l

 

 

 

“A \4‘

Blllllllll

 

llfliflli

\ -H...._._,_-._. .__.

   

 

   

 

lllfl
111MB

 

 

 

\ Hiram.

 

 

979 Buffalo Bill's Relentless Trail.
Prentiss Ingraham.

973 The Dread Shot Four: or. MY’Pardn of the

_ Plains. By Col. W. F. Cody.

964 Buffalo Bill's Invincibles; or. The Sable Shad-
ower’s Sublime Sacrifice. By Col. P. Ingra-
ham.

960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade; or, Sun-
flower Sam of Shasta. By Col. P. Ingraham.

956 Buffalo Bill's Volunteer Vigilantes; or, The
Mysterious Man in Blue. By Col. P. Ingra—
ham.

950 Buffalo Bill at Bay; or, The Gold. Seeker's
Doom. By Col. P. Ingraham.

943 Buffalo Bill's Block Game; or, The Mounted
Miners of the Overland. By Col. P. Ingra-
ham.

936 Buffalo Bill‘s Black Ford; or, The Gold
Boomers of the Big Horn. By Col. 1’. Ingra-
ha.m. .

927 Buffalo Bill's Bluff; or, Dusky Dick, the
Sport. By Col. P. Ingraham.

(921 Buffalo Bill’s Quandary; or, Velvet Bill’s
Vow. By Col. Prentiss ingraham.

915 Buffalo Bill and the Surgeon Scout: or, Go—
wan-go, the Redskin Rider. By Col. P. In-
graham.

909 Buffalo Bill’s League; or, Red Butterfly. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

904 Buffalo Bill's Tangled Trail; or. Gentleman
Jack, the Man of Many Masks. By Col. P.
Ingraham.

900 Buffalo Bill's Rough Riders: or. Texas Jack‘s
Sharp—Shooters. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

895 Buffalo Bill's Secret Ally; or, The Texan’s
Double. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

890 Buffalo Bill's Life—Stake; 'or, The Pledged
Three. By Col. P. Ingraham.

882 The Three Bills; Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and
Band-Box Bill; or, The Bravo in Broadcloth.

. By Col. P. ingraham.

874 Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Braves; or, The Card
Queen’s Last Game. By (‘01. P. Ingraham.

869 Buffalo Bill’s Road Agent Round-Up; or, The
Mysterious Masked Man in Black. By Col.
P. Ingraham.

863 Buffalo Bill’s Death—Charm; or, The Man
\Vith the Scar. By Col. Prenms Ingraham.

857 Buffalo Bill's Royal Flush; or, The Pony Ri-
der’s Death-Run. By Col. Prentiss ingra-
ham. 1

851 Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma; or, The Great
Scout’s Big Three. By Col. P. Ingraham.

845 Buffalo Bill's Redskin Ruse; or. Texas Jack‘s
Death Shot. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.

839 The Ranch King Dead-Shot; or. Texas Jack‘s
Proxy. By Buffalo Bill.

830 Buffalo Bill’s Boys in Blue; or. The BrimStOne
Band's Blot-out. By Col. P. Ingrnham.

826 Buffalo Bill's Sharp-Shooters; or,. The Surgeon
Scout to the Rescue. By COl- P- Ingrflhflm-

2 Buffalo Bill's Best Bower; or, Montebello the
82 Gold King. By Col. Prentiss Ingmhamm

By Colonel

l
lllll

 

 

ceipt of

0000000

     

,‘o‘anor'o o o o 0
on 0.0.0 o o 0 o

 

 

 

 

._o‘oa.oooooo

 

In":
*3

1mm emanates Mm

 

820 White Beaver’s Still Hunt; or, The Miner
Marauder’s Death-Track. By Buffalo Bill.

816 Buffalo Bill’s Red Trail; or, The Road-Rider
Renegade’s Run Down. By Col. P. Ingraham.

812 Buffalo Bill‘s Death-Kneli; or. The Red Hand
Riders of the Rockies. By Col. P. Ingraham.

07 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, The Girl
Mascot of Moonlight Mine. By Buffalo Bill.

807 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, The Girl
Grande Relph. the Cowboy Chief. By Buf—
falo Bill. /

794 Buffalo Bill’s Winning Hand; or, The Masked
Woman of the Colorado Canyon. By Col. P.
Ingraham.

787 Buffalo Bill's Dead Shot; or, The Skeleton Scout
of the Colorado. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

781 Buffalo Bill's Brand; or, The Brimstone
Brotherhood. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

777 Buffalo Bill's Spy-Shadower: or, The Masked
Men at Grand Canyon. By Col. P. Ingraham.

773 Buffalo Bill’s Ban; or, Cody to the Rescue.
By Leon Lewis.

769 Buffalo Bill's Sweepstake; or. The Wipe-out:
at Last Chance. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

765 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

761 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot; or. The Death Valley
Victim No. 13. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

757 Buffalo Bill's Double; or, The Desperado De-
tective. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four; or, Custcr‘s Shadow.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

743 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand; or. Texas Jack’s
Bravos. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

739 Buffalo Bill’s Blind; or, The Masked Driver
of Death's Canyon. By Col. Prentiss ingra-
ham.

735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men: or. The
Robin Hood Rivals. By Col. Prentiss Ingra-
ham.

731 Buffalo Bill’s Beagles: or, Silk Lasso Sam.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

727 Buffalo Bill's Body Guard; or. The Still Hunt
of the Hills. ‘By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
722 Buffalo Bill on the War Path; or..Siik Lasso
Sam, the Will-o’-the-Wisp. By Col. P. In—

graham.

716 Buffalo Bill’s Scout Shadowers; or, Emer-
ald Ed of Devil’s Acre. By Col. P. lngraham.

710 Buffalo Bill Baffled; or, The Deserter Des-
perado’s Defiance. By Col. P. lngraham.

697 Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Brotherhood; or,
Opening Up a Lost Trail. By Col. 1’. In-
graham.

691 Buffalo Bill‘s Blind Trail; or, The Daughter
of the Regiment. ily Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

682 Buffalo Bill's Secret Service Trail. By Major
Dangerfield Burr.

667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop; or, the King of the
Mines. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

658 The Cowboy Clan; or, The Tigress of Texas.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

THE DIME LIBRARY is for sale by all Newsdeaiers,
ten cents per 00py, or sent by mail, pro-paid, on re-

price.

 

653 The Lasso King’s League; or, The Tigers of
Texas. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
649 Buck Taylor, the Saddle King. Buffalo Bill's
Chief of Scouts. By Col. P» Ingraham.

644 Buffalo Bill's Bonanza; or, The Knights of
the Silver Circle. By Col. 1’. Ingraham.
639 The Gold King“; or, Montebello, the Magnin‘

cent. By Buffalo Bill.

629 Buffalo Bill‘s Daring Role; or, Daredeath-

Dick. King of the Cowboys. By Leon Lewis.

599 The Dead Shot Nine: or. My Pards of the
Plains. By Buffalo Bill.

517 Buffalo Bill‘s First Trail; or, Will Cody, the
Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntiine.

414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective: or, The
Gold Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill.

401 The One-Armed Pard; or. Red Retribution in
Borderland. By Buffalo Bill.

397 The Wizard Brothers; or, White Beaver's
Trail. By Buffalo Bill.

394 White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte; or,
AHWronged Man's Bed Trail. By Buffalo
Bi .

362 Buffalo Bill's Grip; or. Oath-bound to Custer.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

329 Buffalo Bill’s Pledge; or. The League of
Three. By Col, P. Ingraliam.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West. By
Buffalo Bill.

304 Texas Jack, the Prairie Rattler; or, The
Queen of the Wild Riders. By Buffalo Bill.

243 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, The Soldier's Sweet-
heart. lly Buffalo Bill, Government Scout
and Guide.

189 Vi'ild Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate
Dozen. By Col. P. Ingraham.

175 Wild Bill's Trump Card; or, The Indian
Heiress. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot; or, Dagger

Don’s Double. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

158 Buffalo Bill. Chief of Scouts; or, The Doomed
Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell.

117 Buffalo Bill‘s Strange Pard; or, Dashing
Dandy. the Hotspur of the Hills. By Major
1). Burr.

92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King; 01‘. The
fimazon of the West. By Major Dangerfield

urr.

83 Gold Bullet Sport; or. The Knights of the
Overland. By Buffalo Bill.

52 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life
and Love in a Frontier Fort. By Buffalo
Bill.

NEW ISSUES TO COME.

981 The Gold Lace Sport; or, The Texan Sam-
son's Wide Swath. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

982 Chris Crowley's Winning Hand; or. The
Rascaily Vaiet‘s Double Game. By A. P.
Morris.

983 Kid Glove Kris, the Sport. By J'. C. Cow-
drick. Ready August 25. a

984 Buffalo Bill's Life Raffle; or. The Doomed
Three. By Co]. B. Ingraham. Ready Sept.'1.

 

 

    

    

ooooooooo
“69000000

6300000000