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Copyright“. 1988, by BIAnLI A)": Ann". Enhrod M m» You Office n N": York. N. Y., as Second Class Mull Mnuur. May M, 1888.

 

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v01. XVIII. 32-51:. “ 1'N0.mfgggff’213:;i“mh  No. 227.

 

 

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- \ ,omm unions. lanoszn THI YOUNG orncn Tu A HEAT. AND. TEROWING Busan INTO am
\ OWN sun-cum, my man! an HAND ton TEE DISPATOBES.

 

r

z r, Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

 

Merle, the Buy Bruise;

BRANDT, THE BUGCANEER.

A Stirring Tale of the Sea. ’

i ..
‘ef BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM,

AUTHOR OF "MERLE, THE MIDDY," “THE
COWBOY CAPTAIN," “ THE BOY COM-
MANDER." are, are, ETC.

CHAPTER I.

THE YOUNG SAILOR AND HIS SHADOW:
A CURIOUS throng was gazing“ upon a trim,
rakish craft that lay at anchor 11 cable’s
len th ofi-shore, in the Potomac River, and

witrhin sight of the capital of our countr .
Boats were running constantly aroun the
pretty vessel. and the curious-minded were
talking in suppressed tones, as their eyes
roamed over the saucy little craft from her

 

as quaint hull to her needle—like topmasts.
‘ That there was some story or mystery con-

nected with the schooner thus lying quietly
at, anchor in the Potomac was evident, for of
the larger vessels anchored near by, and
cruisers that had won names upon the high
seas, none received the earnest attention of
the one upon whlch every eye seemed riveted.

The secret was that the, schooner was a
.captured pirate. and her former master, the
famous Brandt, the Buccaneer, lay betwaen
her decks, ironed hand and foot,/and only
waiting for his, captors to give the order to

» string him up to the yard-arm as punishment
for his munycrimes.7 -

Under a prize crew the schooner, fleet as
the Windvand which long. had been the ter-
ror of the Gulf had, been brought into port,
and at once had the news of, her capture
spread, and thousands had flocked to the
Potomac’s shores to get a look at the little
outlaw craft. ,

‘And the story Went round that a boy had
been her on ton: , v ‘

Some ssi‘ he Was‘a fisher—boy living upon
an island in the Mexican’Gulf. \ ,

Others said that-he was the daring son of a

, Mexican ranchero dwelling upon the shores

z

of that country. I

| And more had it also that he was a cabins
4 V.» b u on an Amerlcan cruiser. ; ~

hichrreportmvas right the sequel will
show; but Certain it is that a. boy had been
the captor of Brandt. the Buccaneer, and his
whooner. and had come on in her from the
Gulf as who r second oifiger under the junior

, lieutenant, w to had been sent in command
‘ Flirt-he prize and the prisoners. r , ,
The name of this young Piratgflunter was

r

 

Merle Monte, it was said, and he had been
made a mi‘dsliipman in the United States
Navy and ordered back to the Gulf to join
a vessel there whose duties 'were to put down
smuggling and piracy in those waters. ‘

Those who had seen Merle Monte, repre-
sented him to be a tall, splendidly-formed
youth of perhaps fifteen, with 'anr‘exceeding-
ly handsome, daring face, and always ac—
companied by a black slave, dressed in Per-'
sian garb, and evidently an Abyssinian. ,

While the crowd on the Potomac shores,
and in the numerous small boats upon the
waters, was gazing upon the schooner with
the same rapt attention in which they had
stood for hours, and discussing. the pirate,
and his captor, there was n ex  move--
ment in the outer edge 0 the throng, and
passing throuih it came a youth, followed
by a huge blac . ' .

It was Merle Monte, and his‘ slave. Mez-

rak, and their,appearancé caused a murmur
to run through thevcrowd,
. The youth was clad in the uniform of a
midshipman, which was most becoming, and
his face won the admiration of all who gazed
upon it. ‘ r

The black slave, in his foreign garb and,

turban, also attracted universal atlcntion,’ I I

with fear and curiosity commingled, and no
admiration.

,His form was massive, and deformed by
the length of hisbody‘and arms, the size of
his head and the shortness ‘of his legs; but
there was that. in his movement to indicate
that he had the strength of, a lion, agility of
a panther, and courage of a tiger, with hu-
man cunning and intellect to make him a
most formidable foe. ‘ '

The crowd gave way with respect before
the youth,'and did not close up closely on
the Abyssinian as he passed; and many pa:
litely saluted the your sailor, 'which saluws
he acknowledged by sing hiccup. ‘ ,

Reaching the river-bank; the youth shouted
in rin ihg tones: ' i
‘ “‘ f)! the schooner ahoy!" '

“Ay, ay, sir!” came an answer from the 
officer of the deck. '

f‘Kindly send a boat ashore, if,‘ yout,
rimd, v' y . ‘ I
" "Ay, sy,‘ sir!”came back” the response. .i

animate minutes after the schoonerfs kg;

.

thebhnk, and s rihu‘in into it “ii htl ,f l; v a
p b dg ' g {radio '

lowed ,2) his slave,“Mi shipman Merle

(gavel ers to return to the vessel. ,, .129»
Patientl the crowd watched andfwaatedt
and after alf an hour hadpassédfi‘beheld
the midshi'pman and hisblack shadil’jfiigffln
come ashore and disappear in wbiéé‘wmwn
of- nie city,» me as, the twilight rm deepen ,,
ingmto» r ens. . ,  , i

- " . - , _ n V
\ , , I , r V r h .

 

 

With two opinion and acoxswain to'uche atf  . ,v , I

 

 

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ates
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Merle, the Boy Cruiser. / ’ 3

 

, CHAPTER II.
THE CABIN-BOY.

FACING the deck amidships of the cap-
tured pirate vessel, was a youth in sailor
dress.

He wasrneatly attired in duck pants, blue
woolen shirt, tarpaulin and pumps, and had
a jannty air about him, though a sad, pale
face. '

His features were regular, and his face
handsome: but there was something about
him that seemed to show he was out of place
on a. vessel-bf~wai'.

He’ had enlisted on board the American

\cruiser Sea Wolf, when it had touched at

Havana, and been assigned to duty as a
cabin-boy: but when Captain Meredith had
sent the pirate schooner north under a prize
crew, he had begged to go in her, and as he
looked in ill~health his request had been
granted. ,

lie answered to the name of Little Belt,
which he said he had bf‘t'll called on account
of the smallness 01 his waist. and other than
his own statement that he had come to sea to
make a living and was an American, noth-
innr was known regarding his former career.

He had turned quickly at the hail of
Merle, thelMiddy, from the I’otomac’s bank,
and watched his coming: on board with an
earnest regard thatdenoted deep interest.

When the youngr middy had gone into the
cabin with the lieutenant in command. and
hisbrothcr officers, to tell them good-by, as

’ he started to rejoin the Sea Wolf in the Gulf

the followingday, Little Belt hart immediate-
ly followed them into the cabin and seemed
intent upon some duties there.

As soon as the middy had departed. he
watched him out of sight, and then, carried
into the cabin the supper of the young offi-
cers, after which he went into the wardroom,
hearing in his hands a traycoutaining the
evenin meal of Brandt, the Buccaneer, for
it was is duty to wait upon him. .

' Seated upon a low chair, ironed hand and
foot, was a man of really majestic presence.
a face that Would seem little likely to be that
of a pirate chief. ,

He was attired in a Mexican undress uni-
l‘orm, and gazed calmly at the boy as he en-
tered. . .

I “ Well, lad. a few more days; and I Will

tr uble you no more,” said the buccaneor, in
"£131 cymbut by no means unpleasant voice.
.
o

u mean that you will soon be hanged

‘ atthe yard'arm for your crimes," said the

boy. ‘
“Yes. that is just what l mean,” wasthc
almost indifferent reply,
“VYnu will not be hanged this‘time.”
“lln! am i to sulfur other punishment

than hanging?” quickly asked the man.

. ,t,
~._ _7 \

 

“ No; you are condemned to death at the
yard-arm, but I intend to save you."

“ You intend to save me .9" asked the chief,
speaking in a low, slow tone.

it Yes.”

“Boy, you have a good heart, but weak
hands.”

“ t have a will to accomplish that which I
undertake,” was the firm response.

“ You speak boldly." '

“I mean what I say.”

" That I shall not; be strung up this time
to the yardarm?" ‘

“Yes; not this time."

“ How can you help it?"

“ I have formed a plan to save you."

The man started, and, reaching forth hisl
ironed hands, tried to seize the boy and draw
him closer to him that he might the better
see his face in the dim light shed by the bat-
tle-lantern. But, the cabin-boy e uded his
grasp by springing back quickly.

“Who are you. boy?" asked the chief,
dropping.r his outstretched hands.

“ A cabin—boy.”

“ Your name?"

“ Little Belt."

“ That is not your true name.” , ,

" It is the one by which I am known here." ’

" That means that you will not tell me?"

“Yes.” , - - 7

“ Well, tell me why on have eluded my
every effort to see your ace?”

“ tmattcrs not now.

“ane’we ever met before?”

“ Have I befriended you in some way in
the past?” - t t

“ Yes, you have and I wish to ay 01! the
score, the debt [owe you, Brandt rentford,”
was the savage reply. “

“ Ha! you do know me, for you call me
by my name!” I

“ Yes; I knew you in all your vilenessfl’

“ 9nd yet you would save me, you say 7”,

It '03.)! v y I ‘ V y

“ You are a mystery, boy; knowing me to
be guilty ‘of piracy, you yet would not see
me die?" said the perplexed‘pirate._

“You are mistakenh sir, for I'would not

'see you die where others have brought you to

the gallows.” . -

"Your words smack of revcn 6 against
me yourself,” said Brandt, quick y, and in
vain trying to get a good look at the face of
the youth. I

“You are right, for I am revengeful, and
I intend to save you from death now. to
have you. in the end. come to the gallows.
m' a more horrible. death. through my instru-
mt'ulahty.” r

“ lu Heaven‘s name who are you?" cried
the pirate chief; ‘ , r t «

  
 
 

  
   
 
 

, coming from the cabin companionway would

I sir.” answeredBelt. ‘

Merle, the Boy Cruiser;

 

future peace of mind.
“It is now the supper hour, and by mid-
night I will come here and free you.”
“Do this for me, boy, and I will reward
you richly," eagerly said Brandt.
“ My reward shall be my revenge.
“I will not fail you,” and the cabin-coy
turncizd and left the cabin without another
wcr .

 

CHAPTER III.
FOR REVENGE.

DURING the "daytime there was no guard
kept over the pirate chief and his crew; but
at night a sailor was made sentinel on duty,
and paced the deck, from the spot forward
where the men were in irons, to the state-
room in which Brandt was a prisoner.

As the prize crew was small, there were
only a few men on watch, and a middy held
the deck toward midnight, and passed the
dragging hours away by leaning over the
bulwarks and watching tnc lights of the city.

Forward in the forecastle the three men on
watch were chatting together, unmindful of
anythingr going on of an uncommon nature
on board.

'l‘hc,lieutenant commanding the schooner
had gone ashore early to attend the theater,
and had dismissed his gig, saying he would
come off in a shore-boat, ‘ '

Along with him, went the cabin-boy, Little
Belt, Who had begged a few hours’ leave on
shore. r »,

Several hours had thus passed away, when
the midshipmanofiic‘er ot‘ the deck spied a

been coming off toward the schooner, and
muttered: ,

“ The luff is‘coming aboard earl .”

Soon after he hailed the approac ling boat,
and there came back the answer:

‘ “ Ay, ay, sir, I have a letter for you from
the lieutenant."

“That’s Little Belt‘s voice; what‘s up, i
wonder?” muttered the middy, and then he
called out: ,1 ,

“‘ Come alongside!” , « » I

There were two oarsmen in the boat, and
three men who,£werc in uniform and carried
muskets‘, as the middy saw, when the latter
followed Little Belt over the gangway.

The. cabin-boy walked straight up to the
middy, and saluting politely, said:

" The lieutenant sent you this letter, sir.”

" Anything wrong. Belt?" asked the youth-
ful’officer', as he stepped to .where the light

fall upon the letter.

" A sudden, move to he made, I believe,

“ That you will know all too soon for your

“ Asnoan. 9:80‘r. n.

“Mmsmmum VALE, Commanding Pirate Prize

Schooner :— .

“Sm—You wrll place in the charge of the of-
ficer, and two marines accompany hlm, the
Plirate Chief Brandt, who is to be taken to prison on
s iore.

“Also have the other risoners ready to be sent
ashore at daybreak, as have orders to run the
schooner to Baltimore for repairs."

out: .

“ Belt, go below and bid the guard bring
the pirate, Brandt, on deck, an
irons!” , I

The boy quickly disappeared below, and
the middy, after finishing the perusal of the
letter, which was of no further importance,
advanced to the officer of marines and en—
tered into conversation with him until the
clanking of chains announced the coming of
the risoner. .

“ Icre isyour man, lieutenant, and I sups
pose he will not be long in your care,” shid
the middy,‘ a significant remark, which
Brandt heard and fully understood the mean-
ing of.

The marines placed the prisoner quickly
in the boat, their officer waved adieu. and
Little Belt was following, when the middy
sung.r out:

“Hold on, Belt! If you go ashore again
I’ll miss my midnight supper.” .

“ The lieutenant told me to return, sir, for
he has some bundles to bring off,” was the
ready reply. ' . ,

“ All right; I’ll forageon the mess locker
myself, then,” and the middy stood leaning
over the bulwarks, while the boat pulled
shoreward.

Getting close in under the shadow of the

the how beingr headed down-stream until

Greenleaf’s Point* was rounded, when it was

turned up ,the Eastern Branch. '
"Here um two marines in uniform seized

'cxtra cars. and the light boat shot ahead at a

rapid pace. running swiftly past the navy-
ard, gliding under the bridge on the Upper
iIarlb’ro’ Road, and soon landing at a point
near Prospect Hill. . '
“ Herc, sir, we leave you," said the;
the dress of a Inai'inblieutenant. I , t ,
“Yes, for there comes the ‘man with the
horses. , ' ' ' '
“ The keys. please?" said the cabin-boy.
As he spoke a 'man approached, leading

handed a bunch of keys to Little Belt, who
bade Brandt hold out his hands. - ' ‘ ~

’The'chizf, who had not uttered a'yvord
since leaving the schooner, silentiyfibeyed,

and in an instant he was freed~of the heavy

m  v.1 '

 

~ V Opening the letter, the mide readaload;

. I filingan called; /

     

land, the course of the boat was changed, r

two saddie~horses. and the marine oflicer'

Breaking ofl.’ in the letter, the middy called "

in double

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Merle, the Boy Cruiser. . 5

l
i *' n»: that were upon his wrists and ankles, l

and after a little difficulty, sprung on shore,
for he was cramped and stifi from his imv
prisonment.

“ Here is the balance of your pay, sir, and
you can divide with your men." said Little
Belt, throwing a-lurge purse of gold into the
hands of the officer.

‘ Thank you, my lad, and good-luck to
youa Now, boys, let us shuck these duds
and pull back to the town, for we must be
abed by dawn," said the ofliccr.

Instantly off came false beards, and the

uniforms the three had worn, and they ap-

peared in ordinary dress, and the man who
had approached with the horses, yielding the
reins to Little Belt, sprung into the boat,
which at once shoved off. and started dowu-
stream, leaving Brandt the huccancer and
Little Belt standing alone on the bank.

“ Well, it seems you have kept your word.

“You are a remarkable youth," said the
chief, as the bout disappeared in the gloom.

"‘ Thank you."

“ No, it is I that owe you thanks, my lad,
for you have indeed saved me from the gal-
lows.” '

, " I know I have.”
‘ "And that was a most cleverly played
deed, my boy, well worthy of older heads.

“ You hired those men, I suppose?"

“I did.”

“Then I owe you gold as well as grati-
tude?”

” No, you owe me nothing.”

“ But you will at least permit me to repay
you what you have paid out for me?”

“ No, I will not.”

“ I have a small fortune in jewels upon
me, which my captors did not find, i and
gladly 1 will 3 rare them with you." ’ .

" No, I would not touch your gold or
jewels. Ihave set you free because I hate
you, and wish to he the one who shall cause
your death. A vessel sails from Baltimore
to-morrow for New ereans, and you can
catch her, for these are good horses. I will
go with you, but after reaching Baltimore we
are as strangers, remember, though I now
swear to dog your steps to the bitter en "

The outh spoke in in low earnest no,
and with a light laugh Brandt replied: ‘

, “ As you please, my lad. 1 care not
for y‘ur threats. or your hatred, though I
than, you heartily for setting me free and
savin‘ my neck from the noose. I know a
vesse that should sail about this time. and if
it is the one I think, she is, richly freighted,
and already I have a score of good fellows
on board of her, and shall ride hard to catch
her. Come, let us mount and away, if you
go with me.” v i ,

The youth nimbly sprung into the saddle,

 

the chief more slmrly "whirling, and renal-
ing Prospect Hill, the. two lllt‘ll turned into
the Baltimore turnpike, and dashed away at
nquiek gallop. __
(‘llAl’TER IV.
TREACHERY.

FOLLOWING the directions given him, to
" stick to the turnpike,” Little Belt led the
way toward llaltimore,rcmaining silent when
ad( ressed by Brandt, the Buccaneer.

“ Better drop your ill-will toward me, my
lad, and ship with me on the craft I know
my boys have secured, and I’ll make a junior
officer of you," said Brandt, after several of '
his remarks to the youth had remained un- '
answered.

“ No, I’ll not be treacherous to you, for I
give you fair warning I will hunt you down,"
was the low reply.

The pirate seemed deeply impressed by the
decided manner and determined hatred of
the boy toward him. and said, after a while:

“ You will not tell me who you are?”

“ Not now.”

“ Nor how I have wronged you?"

“Not now.”

“ Some day you will?"

“Yes.” ‘

“ When '2"

“When'I have you in my power,.‘and I
know that my hand has led you to your
death."

“Well, you certainly have taken a great
deal of trouble and risk, and sp at your gold
freely-to set me free, when, if n y death was
what you want, you could have enjoyed see-
ilng me triced up to the yard-arm in afew

ays. ’

“ I would not have been the one that
brought that death upon you.”

“ ‘Alli that is your great desire?"

I! Yes."

“ You’ll never see me hanged, my lad.”

“ I will see you die.”

“No, I think not. But this trifling has
gone far enough. Tell me who and what
you are.”

“I will not.”

" Then I shall find out.”

guick as a flash the chief (bent forward
an seized a pistol that was stuck in the
belt of the boy, and though the two horses
sprung forward each retained his seat in the
saddle, and yet grappled each other With
seeming deadl determination.

Away boun ed the horses at arun, fright:
ened at the fierce struggle going on between
their riders, and‘prescntly there came a flash,
report and a cry, and falling backward; the
cabin-30y dropped with a heavy thud to the

roun . / r i r t t
g On ran his horse, and by his side the uni-

\

,

 

g

    
 

‘ had sent no such or

. hand. as he was compelle

‘,,. “That cabin-boy?” l

tones.

6

and that held the chief, from whose set lips

came the words:
“ I hated to kill him, but better his lif
than mine, and he had sworn to kill me."

It was some time before the chief could
check the flight of his frightened steed: but
at last he brought him down to a slow can-
ter, and wheeling to the rightabout. went
back toward where his victim lay motionless

where he had fallen.

“ Now I’ll solve the mystery as ’to who
this boy is,” he muttered, as he dismounted,
and hitching his horse, approached the pros-

trate form.

Bending over him, by the starlight, he

gazed earnestly into his face.

-He had in his pocket his tindcrvbox, for
smoking had been his solace while in irons
on board the schooner, and quickly he ig—
nited a taper, and a light shone full into the

white face. V _

Nbitter curse broke from the man’s lips,
and he dropped the light, whil his hands
were thrust into the open jacks , as though
searching for papers, or gold.

But, wilh a cry that rung through the
dark forests upon either side of the road, he
sprung to his feet and fairly tottered toward
his horse.

Several fruitless attempts he made to
mount, for he seemed strengthless from some
sudden shock; but at last he got into the
saddle and dashed away like the wind, just
as the rumble of wheels, and rapid tramp 'of
hoofs indicated the. approach of the stage—
coach on the way to Baltimore. .

a.

 

CHAPTER V.
BAD AND GLAD TIDINGS.

‘ THE morning after the escape of the famous
buccaneer chief all Washington was a scene
of intense excitement, und.the wildest rumors
were afloat regarding the one who had aided
him in regaining his freedom. ' ‘

The lieutenant commanding the schooner
had returned on board after midnight. when
another middy was on duty than the one
who had received the supposed letter order-
ing the pirate to be sent ashore, and hence '
nothing was said about it until the officers
met at breakfast, when the startling news fell
like a bombshell upon all, for at once it was
made knownhy: the dyoung lieutenant thathe

er. '

The middy tremblineg produced the let-
ter, which was a fair copy of his ‘superior’s

to confess. ,
t‘ Who brought this?” he asked, in hoarse

‘5 Little Belts”

Merle. the Boy Cruiser.

“ Yes, sir."
“l always—felt there \vassomething mys-
c terious about that boy, and now I know it:”
“ lle was from the Sea, Wolf, though, sir,”

“ True; but Captain Meredith also felt the
boy had a history, for we have often talked
about him. Well, he has helped that fiend,
Brandt, to escape, that is certain, and I must
go and make report to the admiral. Who
was on duty last night?" '

The Sailor guard was at once summoned

“Brace, did you see the cabin-boy,'Belt,
talking With the prisoners?" asked the lien-
tenant.

“No more, sir, than to take them their
vittals three times, a day.”

“ You never thought there was any wrong
in the boy, did you, Brace?”
“ Not a mite, sir, for hewas full of good?
ness,” wasthe ready answer.
With a heavy heart the lieutenant and
middy, armed ,with the letter, went to make
report to the admire], and half an hour after
the whole town was alarmed, and the guards
Were scouring; the country in all directions
‘in search of the escaped pirate.
But the day passed, and others, until
weeks formed a month, and no tidings had
come of Brandt, the Buccaneer, or of the
daring cabin-boy, who, many now said, was
also a‘ pirate officer, who had shipped on
board the American cruiser Sea Wolflfor \
some reason best known to himself.
Then, one day, the mails came from New
Orleans, and the papers contained'the follow
ing information: I ' . ~
“The kingdelayed packet ship between
our city and Baltimore arrived in port yes‘
terday, just as her agents and the ublie had
begun to feel the greatest anxiety egarding
her being overdue.
“_And not without cause had been the
‘anmety, it seems, as the vessel has been for
the last two weeks in the hands of that arch.”
fiend, Brandt, the Buccaneer,‘ who, ' after
having been captured and taken to Washing—
ton, made his escape, and in disguise took
passage'upon the vessel, '
, “It seems from what we could glean from
the o eers and passengers, that a arty of
pret ided priests and Sisters of Chart ftmk'
passage in the vessel'npon her last trip north,

and engaged their berths for the round voy-
age

[1:

Now. it] turns“ out that, these pretended
religious people were, frauds of the deepest‘
dye, for after-leaving: Baltimore. and arriving
in the vicinity of the Bahamas, the leader sud.
denly threw off the cloak of religion, he wore. .
and came out in his true light, ' ' ,

“ That true light was ,in his person of

 

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1 . _ ,

Brandt theBuccan‘eer, and his companions,

the pretendedppriestsgand sisters, also gash ? «r

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alked
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~44 N.-a.V.t.:n.;—..

—..« _, ah..,»1

Ml.“

. tum“ an.“

 

. my]...— -m.

seized by Brandt and‘his buccaneers, and

4 Coast he set signals of distress, as a revenue

i ,and though he had been schrely wounded
r thy-the fire of the pirates, he had not only

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

aside their robes,,and were found to be a
band of thoroughly armed seamen.
“There ,were on board, as passengers, a
{gong midshipman by the name of Merle
onto, and his slave, a deformed Abyssinian
who answered to the name of Mezrak.
“This middy, it seems, was the same who
had taken prisoner Brandt, and gone north
with himin his schooner, and was returning
to his vessel, the Sea Wolf, or the packet-ship.
“ Seeing how readily the vessel had been

perhaps realizing that he need look for no
mercy whatever at the hands of the pirates,
he made a desperate and daring efiort to
escape, in which he was followed by the
slave. Mezruk.

“Up into the rigging they went, though
fired at by Brandt, and followed by half a
dozen seamen, and fearlessly running out
upon the yard—arm the boy, and then his
slave, made a mi hty leap upon the jutting
point of rock, winch the channel led the ves-
sel almost to touch.

“They reached the rock in safety, but
were afterward killed by the firing of the
pirates, so it is said.

i “The pirate .ca tain‘felt so confident of
their being kille ,that he did not touch at
the island to discover if they were or not,
and held on his way. _

“That way was to run down vessel after
vessel with the fast-sailing packet, robbing
each one of them, and then setting them free,
with orders to spread the news that Brandt,
the Buccaneer, was again afloat. ,, .

“After several captures along the Florida

schooner was sighted. ‘which ran down to,
him, when he boarded the unsuspecting lit-
“0' cruiser, and won her by his daring act
after a short, fierce conflict.
“Then the pirate took all of value out of
the packet, left the prisoners on board, and
set sail for other scenes, and ere long we will
again be made to tremble at the/ name of
Brandt, ' the Buccaneer.”
This was certainly startling tidin for the
peopleof Washington, and the so fate of
the youthful hero,Midshipman Merle Monte,
and his “shadow,” was greatly deplored.
,and navy ofiicers swore to avenge him if ever
opportunity occurred. . ' '
But upon the heels of this news came
, another batch of New Orleans papers, one of
wlncn confined the' tidings that the Sea
Wolf had just come into port, and on board
Of. her was none other than MerloMonte,‘ the
middy who had been reported deadm, « ‘ _ '
. He was still accompanied by his “ shadow,”

7

 

which he had so darin rly sprung, a gang of
cruel wreckers, who, a ter a desperate fight,

had been killed, and their vessel taken asa
prize by the bold youth. v,

As soon as he, was able to depart, Midship-
man Monte'and Mezrak, had, after destroy-
ing the wreckers’ false beacons, set sail in
their little sloop for Vera Cruz, which port
was reached in safety, and the Sea Wolf
being then in theharbor, the gallant middy
and his deformed slave had joined their ves-
sel, which at once put to sea in pursuit of the
captured packet-ship, but after a fruitless
cruise had run into New Orleans to find the
vessel there.

The paper furthermore stated that it was
the intention of Captain Meredith of the Sea
Wolf, to fit out at once, and go in search of
the revenue cutter, which had been captured
by Brandt, the Buccaneer, and it was I the
hope of every one that the famous rerer
would soon dance in mid»air from the en

of the cruiser’s yard-arm. t »

CHAPTER VI.

, THE BUCCANEEB CHIEF.
I WILL now return to Brandt, the Bucca-
neer, who, afterhis successful escape from
death, through the act of Little Belt, the
cabin-boy, had just reached Baltimore in
time to sail upon the packet-ship upon which
a part of his band had- shipped in disguise,
knowing well the value of the cargo the ves-
sel was to carry out on that trip, through a
spy in New Orleans, who kept an eye on the
shipments of the agents.

When Brandt had laid his schooner up for

 

coast, and sent part of his crew to capture
the'paeket-ship, he had little thou htthat

capture (.f his vessel and the rescue ‘of him-
self a few weeks after.

His escape was welcomed by his comrades
with delight, for they had given him up as
lost, knowing that he and his schooner, with
a few of his messmates, had fallen into the
clutches of the captain of the Sea Wolf. ’

It was a source of joy to the chief, to find
on board of the packet the very youth who
had been instrumental in his capture, and.
' the taking of his vessel, and whom he had
‘been most anxious to get intd his power.

“I’ll forcethe secrettrom him, and that
black: slave, by torture of thecruelest kind,
as to where this island is where they have
hidden the treasure that was Montezurhzi’s."

“The boy. I know, is Montezuma’s son,
for he bears the name of Merle Monte, and, I
remember well the night he was bOrn, when
the ‘ Persian Prince. Kaluta V pursued the
yacht and tried to capture her.

 

granniyed, birthed met on the island, upon

V“’Amid storm and battle the boy was born

a season, in a secret lagoon on the Mexican _

that very act would beninstrumenta "in the ;.~

 

   
 

«a: r

' followed. on some part of the coast, or an is-

4 of his vessel, which bere away from the rag-

”... ,.,__, “up .  r n . u~

 

8

Eerie, the Boy Cruiser.

 

and his mother dying, and his father being
killed, the yacht and treasure should have
been mine, but for those slaves that kept me
from it. \
" Curses on theml they thwarted me then,
and set me adrift in an open boat off Vera
‘ Cruz; but they did not go for with the yacht,
. for there were but three of them, and the
craft doubtless went ashore in the storm that

land, though I have been unable to find
where.

” I have been the football of Fate long
enough, and once 1 can find Montezuma’s
treasure island, I will furl the black flag and
live like a prince and a Christian. ‘

_ " The boy and his slave both had plenty
of money, and jewels, and. I therefore know
that the treasure was not lost, if the yacht
was, and I’ll wring the secret by torture
from them, or they shall die,

“ If I et it. the crew can have this craft,
and I'll Sink Brandt, the Buccaneer, and be-
come once more Brandt Brentford, for the
little wild oat-sowing of my past will be for-
gotten when I am a millionaire.

“ But what a shock it was to see in that
pretended cabin-boy one whom I believed
dead! Bah! I was mistaken in it, that was
‘all; but there is no doubt now, for my aim is
too sure, and the apparition will never rise
before me again.

" Now I must drill my crew to be ready at
an y moment 1 may see propento seize this
craft, and upon no account to kill, or even
wound, that boy and his slave, for their
tongues silenced and the treasure is forever
0st."

Thus soliloquized Brandt, the Buccaneer,
as .he stood in his priestly garb, leaning over
the taffrail of the packet-ship, the night after
leaving Baltimore, and gazing at the phos-
phorescent wake, as though charmed by its
beauty, and yet so deeply wrapt in his own
thoughts as not to V see the glimmering
Waters. , ‘

The da s went by, and at last the trap
was spru g. the vessel was seized, and a
lucky accident of the tide bearing the vessel
close: iii to one of the rocky islands near by,
was the means of saving the midshipman and
his slave, through their escaping by the yard-
arm, as it swung almost against a point of
rocks. (3-_

Believing his intended victims dead, killed
by the fire of his men, Brandt, Buccaneer,
felt the necessity of looking after the safety

ed rocks "just ii; time to prevent serious
damage. ‘ ._ y '
As no place 0 landing was visible, the
weather looked t reutening. and he felt as-

with bitter curses at having lost the treasure
he had hoped to find through them, he held
on his way, capturing vessel aftervvessel, un-
til at last the revenue cutter fell into his
power, and he was once again afloat upon an
armed deck, even thou h he had not more
than a. score of men un er his command.

But his paucity in numbers did not trouble
the chief, for he knew where he could easily
ship a. hundred desperate men, and toward
that point he headed the trim little cruiser
that had fallen into his hands. ‘

CHAPTER VII.
BAD BLOOD AMONG Tim mourns.

WHEN Merle Monte reported on board the
United States cruiser Sea Wolf, he was Warm-
11y welcomed by Captain Mayo Meredith and

lieutenant Basil Branscombe, the senior offi-
cer next to the captain. , ' '

But he had not such swarm Welcome from
a junior lieutenant, Dunning Graham by
name, and his brother midshipmen, two of
whom were very pronounced in their dislike
of him, envy being at the bottom ofjt.

These two were Midshipmen Otis Raleigh
and Hugh Benton, and they were nagged on
in their dislike of Merle, by their superior,
Lieutenant Graham, who was wont to con-
tinually throw out such remarks as:

“ He’ll ascend the ladder ,of promotion,
young gentlemen, right over your’ heads."

"The captain thinks more of him now,
than he does of us all.”

These remarks added to the flame of envy,

 

‘which had been planted through Merlehs cap.

ture of the buccaueerand his vessel, and then
his escape from the' packet-ship, and fight
with the wreckers.

For an unknown boy to thus accomplish
so much, and win rank which their family
influence and several years of hard knocks
and service had gained for them, made the
midshi men on board the Sea Wolf, jealous
of the aring youth. ‘ .

All could see at a glance that he knew his
duties well, and he was far ahead of his older
messtriates in learning, while he was certain-
ly their superior in strength. marksmanship
and other qualities that a] admiredg’make
up the brave, self- eliant‘msn. - "f. - '

Upon the arriv‘ of the Sea Wolf at New
Orleans, to, repflr , ortmglr‘lyl and repro—
vision, before going chase of the escaped
pirate, Captain Meredflh gave the middies a
day and night 011. and Merle at once saw
that he was to be slighted, for his messriiates
clubbed “together, and they looked at him in
an im
about iin. _
' He was conscious of having given them no‘

 

mated that’bbth Merle and Mezrak were dead,

, Pt...

mannerij his pride held him aloof, and,

, i ,
\‘l/ ,_ .»' , .,

rtinent ,way, and talked in whispers 1

cause for this conduct, and felt hurt at their .

 

.WHMA‘ so ”-, .‘b ,_-_..._ A.

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g . a....__~,‘... _, ‘nvn

 

EEflSlJl‘G
8 held
Pl, no,
0 his
on an
lmore

ouble
easily
ward
'uiser

raw—Q.tw....nnM,w.« A. .

at, .d m- ..h-\ 44%.. Jam-m“.

rm-.__. . “New “A

 

' um“ imam“- ,.

he went ashore with his faithful shadow,

'.,stood behind his chair, faithfully waiting

' "gs lant‘ deeds, and winning public favor and

i of the jewels the

.' againstyou sunfi < .

Merle, the Boy Cruiser. V 9

Mezrak. o

"Mezrak had also observed the conduct of

Hugh Benton sprung to his feet with a. cry
f rage, and turned savagely upon Merle, a

knife in his hand, which. he had hastily

the youngsters, and also that of Lieutenant seized from the table.

Dunning Graham, and his mind at once
gras ed the cause, for he sad:

“ hey are jealous of you, master, because
you have done a man’s work, though a boy
only in years.”

“ If that is it, my good Mezrak, they shall
have greater cause for envy, if the occasion
offers, for I love the service, and will rise to
high rank in it, " answered Merle.

Going up-town to a fashionable restaurant,
Merle ordered a good dinner, and Mezrak .

upon him, for even when ashore together on
the island, where the yacht had been wreck-
ed, and in nursing the boy through his baby-
hood and later years, the devote slave had
never forgotten that Merle was the son of
Montezuma, faithfully intrusted to his care
by his dying father, and therefore his master
under any and all circumstances.

Presently, into the restaurant came Otis‘
Raleigh, Hugh Benton, and the other five
midshipmen of the Sea wolf. and they took
seats at a lar e table near Merle, not even
IIggticing him , y a nod in recognition of his

w. -
Aboard ship, duty compelled them to as-
sociate with him, but ashore they would
have their own way, and, from talking the
matter over, and brooding over it, they had
almost begun to look upon the youth as hav-
in been guilty of some crime, whereas his '
the friendship of the captain and
had ined him their ill—will. '
“ wonder where he gets money to order
such a sumptuous repast. with wine and all
the entrees?" said Hugh Benton, in a tone
loud enough for Merle to hear.
“ It’s a mystery no one on board ship, not
even the Sea Wolf’s gossip, can fathom, for
when picked up by the captain he was only
a. poor ranchero’s son, I have heard,” re:
sponded Otis Raleigh. r -
* “I guess he filled his pockets with some
pirate chief had in his
cabin,” said another.  a. -
. ‘5 That’s it, Doty, for he’does Wear a rub
of immense value on  little finger.”

“ He, has proven himself such a good sail-
0“, who knows but t he may have been a
.youngypirate himself? ’ said Hugh Benton.

At this all} laughed: but the laugh was
suddenly (checked. as, M le arose quickly
from his seat, and Bfiizin ehis, glass of wine
dashed it full in "the ac‘e of his insulter,
wth he said sternly: _ I- g ‘ 3.

‘ ‘.' From this day, gentlemen, I declare war

first, luff

 

’ .
i

you have cause of trouble with me,
wall where I can

.But, to his surprise and mortification the

knife was suddenly wrenched from his hand,
and a blow full in the face sent him back-
ward u on the table, while‘Merle said:

“This is no place for a row, sir; but if
you know
he found." ,
The few persons in the restaurant, with the

proprietor and his waiters, had now assem-
bled, and were talking excitedly, seemingly
not daring to interfere, and seeing this Otis
Raleigh cried: -

“Come, lads, let us stop his promotion

right here.”

All seemed in humor to follow the advice,

for they had been making merry with wine
all da , when suddenly the form of Mezrak
glide up to the side of his young master.

There was not one of the middies but

knew the giant strength of the slave, and his
courage, and they dared not to face Merle
and the black together, though they were
seven to two, and Hugh Benton who had al-
ready bedo sample of his foe’s blows, cried
out: ‘

“Hold on, lads, this is not the place, as
that fellow says, for a row.”

Seeing their leader back down, the rest
were only too willing, and the tipsy party
walked out of the restaurant, while Merle
resumed his seat and coolly finished his din-
ner.

, CHAPTER VIII.
CHALLENGED.

UPON returningon hoard ship, Merle was
not surprised at finding seven notes awaiting
him. . '

They were from his midshipmen mess-
mates, couched in most insulting language,
and commanding him not to speak to one of
them again, except under orders, and in dis-
charge of his duties, under penalty of severe
punishment. ‘  ' >

One of the notes was a little. difierent, and
that one I g1ve below mbatt'm : ' ~

, “ON BOARD Sn Wons. If 

' V 11 o'clock”? M.
“ To Mmsmmm Manna Mon-rs :— , V V
' “Sm:——You of course havasense eno h to com-
prehend that I cannot s over your b ow to-day.
without demanding satisfaction for it. such as, one
gentleman has i right to ask of another for an in-
sult arisen, 1

“ Hence.,1 shall expect of you a written apology,
as wellras a public one. upon the deck of this vessel,
or (you shall meet me with What weapons you please,
an Igt what time you may seefit, to wipe out the

Dan . ’ . -

' “ Accident gave you a name. and won for you pro-
motion. and by our sly ways. you have insinua
yourselt into  good favor at several 0: 

4

 

"$6; '

 

 

'will be better to challenge the others and

, As folloWS:

_ {’The dueling-ground of New‘mbans.near the

3 ‘hwmwwe :‘

‘10.”..“4 _ H-..

10

superior officers, until our mess looks upon you as a
‘Jonah ’ on board our vessel, and I believe that I
* will be the one to rid the service of one who has no
Karentage or country to look back upon for. I have
card that Mezrak, your shadow, is all t 9 link that
connects you with the past. '
“Expecting an immediate reponse, and warning
you that I will not allow you to address me, except
upon duty, and by way of an humble apology, I am,
" With no respect,
- “ Hush BENTON.“

Merle read his seven letters over with a
smile, and then handed them to Mezrak,
while he went on duty. ‘

Early the following morning Mczrak re-
turned them with the remark:

“ Better meet him, master; choose swords,
and the city duelidg-ground,* and at sunset
to—morrOW; and, as all of them insult you, it

have the quarrel over with.”

" So I think, Mezrak; but I have no
second.” 4

“I will attend to that. master, for your
father had friends in tliis city, and if you go
to the field alone I will soon follow with a
second for you.”

“Very well, Me'zrak, I WilhanSWer the
notes and you can deliver them,” and half
an hour after the seven middies were each in
receipt of a note from Merle, that of ‘Hugh
Benton reading: |

g

“ ON nonnn SEA WOLF.
Thursday morning.
“Hues Bamox,M’Mshi man. (I. 8. Navy:—

“ Sim-No apology w ll be offered, and, suspectin
you as being possessed of good sense, [am surpris
thatlyou suggest t.

“ ime—t'i s afternoon at Sunset.

“ Place—tho City Dueling field.

“ Weapons—swords.

. " Respectfully,
. . “ MERLE Mom‘s."

The other six letters read alike and were

" ON BOARD SEA Wow.
Thursday morning.
“ To, eta: .

“In response to your insulting communication. I
can only say that, as you are anxious to §et rid of
me, I wdl glad furnish you the opportun ty. ,

“ Time—one our before sunset 0-day.

“Place—tho City Dueling-field.

“ Weapons—whatsoever you tplease.

" Respect ully.
“ Manna Moms."

To say that the ‘seven vmiddies were sur-
prised, would be to draw it mildly.

They Were astounded, and several who
had not felt bitter toward Merle. and yet had
been urged on by Benton and Ralci rh, wish-
ed to withdraw their letters by fro kly Writ-l
in%others of apology. ,1

at this they dared not do, when they
spoke of it." v 4 .

All had believed that Merle would weaken

if opposed to the entire mess, and once they

«g;m;- v. A , I;

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

gained the whip-hand of him, they would
see that he did not get any more promotions
through gallantry.

But, when he not only refused to apologiic
to HughBenton, but to challenge the six
others to meet him in theduello, setting the
same place, and time, almost .‘for the seven
duels, they were astounded, and wished they
had been less precipitate in their actions.

But they had begun the fight and they
must go on to the end. a

Two hours before the appointed time
Merle left the ship, and shortly after Mezrak
followed, bearing a bundle under his arm.

The seven middies had long before begged
leave for half a dayor night, and were at a
fencing gallery in the city practicing, for'
they knew well that Merle handled both
sword and pistol skillfully.

At last two carriages took the party, a
little elated, with wine, out to the field-and
to their sur rise they found Merle seated
there beneat i a tree, engaged reading a
book. , p ,

He was alone, but on their approach arose
and raised his cap.

“ Where are your seconds. sir?” demanded
Otis Raleigh. insolently, for he was to act as
second for Hugh Benton.

“ I had no friend I could call on, sir, but
aMczrak knew a friend of my father who
he thought would act for me, and went after
him. It is yet ten minutes to‘ the time,” and
Merle glanced carelessly at a handsome watch
he had purchased that do .

One would have thong t his confession of
his friendless condition in the .world would
have moved the hearts of his messmatos to
pity rather than bitterness and hate, and it
did in one or two cases; but the ringleaders
were determined to press the rismg boy
against the wall, and they showed no com-
passion, and those who felt any dared not
give exhibition of the praisewm'thyfluality.

Having given his explanation,‘ erlev re-
sumed his seat and his book, to the utmost
surprise of the other‘s, who, one and all of ,
them, were certainly nervous, in spite of the
courage the wine had imbued them with.

They tried to think that he was “making
believe,” and not reading; but notin his
face they saw that it was unmoved, an rog-
ularly each page ., Was turned. until they
were convinced. there Was nopretense, and
thatthe boywas cool aaan icicle‘outwardly,
whatever might be his inward emotion.

An impatient ejaculation from Hugh Ben-
ton. 'who, with his companions!“ had been
walking nervousl about, caused Merle‘to'
glance up, and then again at his watch; .' W
Seeing that the time was up, he rose quick-'

 

ly, and
calmly :_

seeing no one approaching, said I

{

 

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at WMMHM.-_.MJ
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ould
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gize

six

the
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hey

hey

Eme
rak

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if
I
l
l‘,
i

.1

' “Ghntlemen, I shall have to trust in your
honor and meet you without-a second.” 
f‘This you know our honor will not per-
mit. and your being here alone looks very
much like an evasion of a meeting with us]:
said Otis Raleigh!

But as he ceased speaking there ,was heard
the rumlgle of wheels, and the next instant
up dashed a closed carriage with Mezrak
seated upon the box with the driver.

. CHAPTER IX.
,« CATCIIING A TAR'I‘AR.
' THE entire party of middies, including
Merle, gazed somewhat curiously upon the
carriage as it drew up. and )lczrak sprung
to the ground, for they were desirous of see-

 

ing who it was that the Abyssinian had got-

ten for 2‘; second for his master.

The door was opened, and eight pairs of
lips uttcrcd on expression of surprise, alarm
and anger eomniingled.

And no wonder. for those who descended

from the vehicle, and there were two of them,
Were none other than Captain Mayo Meredith
and his surgeon, Doctor Dan Delafleld.
' 'The faces of the captain and surgeon were
in stron contrast to those of the middies,
for the ormer were smiling, and the latter
pole and perplexed, even to Merlc’s.

As for Mczmk, his, countenance was al-
ways unreadable, except when he was in a.
rage.

Now, it was as passive as a. mill-pond. ,

The surgeon took his box of sur ieal instru-

- merits from out the vehicle and dermal: un-

rolled, the bundle, which he had brought

‘ with him from the ship, and. which were a.

peir of superb swords and a box of dueling
pistols.

“ A ,leasant evening, young gentlemen,
for dea‘ ly sport," said the captain, as he ap-
proached the group.

The middics all saluted, but did not reply,

~ and Captain Meredith continued:

“I see I am not an invited, or an expected

'- guesit, but nevertheless I have come and Mid-

shipman Monte, the reason of mycoming is
to act as yoursewnd, in this very equal meet—
ing you are to have against seven older men
than yourself, and whose conduct toward
you has, not escaped my eye," '

.‘v‘ Believe me, gentlemen, t ," is no not of
,imgne,” and Merle turned with an almost
frightened “look to his fees, for he could see
that. their belief was thathe had informed
Captain. Meredith of the meeting .

“ I will vouch for, that; gentlemen, and my
word goes as sometliinglhero, I know. Mez-

' / rak had sought to gem a fribu’d of Mr.
. liloutekr father, to act for him: but the gen.
t

91mm being absent from the city, he re"
tweed'hgntily on board ship, told me of'the

r

,V ,l’ .-‘ g,

Merle, the Boy Cruising.

11

affair at the restaurant, and of which I had
word already, and then showed me the let-
ters Midshipman Monte had received from
.his messmates. I at once determined to be-
friend the gallant young officer, and know-

» ing his nature, and expecting sharp work, I

brought Surgeon Dclafield, so now let us
get to work. You, Ibelieve, Benton, are to
first meet Midshipman Monte, and the wee-
pons are swords?”

This was certainly carrying the war across
the line for the middies, to suddenly have
their captain, from whom they had expected '
instant arrest, with court-martial to follow,
not only urge the affair on, but act for
their foe,

“Perhaps, Captain Meredith, we had bet-
ter drop the matter here, and give pledge
that there will be no more trouble," said
Hugh Benton; feeling that he was speaking
for his comrades.

“Pardon me, Captain Meredith, but I re-
fuse to drop the matter here,” said Merle,
quickly. ,

The captain and surgeon smiled, and the
middies feeling confident that there would he
no blood shed, with their superior ofiicers
present, all bowed acquiescence that the'
afiair should go on.

“ By all means, Monte, for never come to
a field unless you mean fight,” said Captain
Meredith. ' ‘

So saying he took up one of the'swords
handed him by Mezrak, and seeing its temper
said:

" These are superb blades, Benton, so you
had better take one of these, for Monte will
give on your choice, 1 know." .

“ ith pleasure, sir,” and Merle smiled,
as he bade, Mezrak give Mr. Benton his
choice. '

Throwing aside their jackets, a moment
after the two middies faced each other.

Benton was eighteen years of age, being
over two years the senior of Merle, and his
form was larger ’and heavier; but it lacked
the leonine race, a’nd quickness of .move-
ment of Mer e, and his manner was a trifle
nervous, though no one could doubt his
Courage. i

At _a word from, Captain Meredith the
blades crossed, and though all knew Merle
understood the use of a weapon, they were
surprised at the masterly manner in which
he handled it, for his "movements were like
lightning. his strongtli something wonderful
for one of “hisxyears, and his endurance
seemed untiring: , " ‘

Step by step he drove Benton backward,
really playing,r with him. and keepin him'

 

busy zlefending himself only. and sin doul
’iill‘l 1;; up his blade. heron his own throng

the'sword-mn of his foe. _

 

   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

1‘7‘ "'m‘

Merle, the Boy Cruiser. -

 

Instantly withdrawing it, he turned on his
heel, and said coolly:
“I hope Midshipman Benton will he sat-
isfied with the souvenir 1 leave him of me.”
The surgeon sprung to the side of Benton,
who turned deadly pale, and quickly dressed

' the wound, while Captain Meredith said:

“It is your turn now. Raleigh, as soon as
Monte has had a resting-spell.”

“I need no rest, sir, and am ready now.

“ What are Midshipman Raleigh's wea-
pons?” asked Merle calmly.

“ Swords only shall be used, for I am con—
fident no deadly work will follow, as I see,
Monte, 5you are a master of this weapon, and
will not punish too heavily, when it lies in
your power to dose."

Merle bowed, and then took his place in
front of Otis Raleigh, who was certainly
quite nervous, as he had seen Hugh Benton
so cleverly handled, and knew that Merle
could have killed him had he so desired.

As though Warming up, to his work, Merle
pressed Raleigh from the start ata killing
pane. and with the same result, a. thrust
through the sword~arm of his foe. ‘

The wounded middy was then turned
over to Surgeon Delafield, and Merle was
confronted with his third adversary, whose
sword was sent flying from his grasp at the
first pass, while the end of his blade just slit
the right ear, as a punishment, for recently
Ned Hastings had been his bitterest enemy,
withOut lnwing the courage to openly speak
out. ‘ . >
" A dan erous slip that, Monte,” said Cap-
tain Meredith, who had. feared that Merle
meant to kill his foe.

“'I, intended to mark him, sir,” was the
calm reply.

The remaining four middies were now de-

‘cidedly nervous, and would willingly have

avoided a meeting with one. whom they felt

'to be so greatly their superior.

But Captain Meredith was firm, and called
the next to the scratch:

It was one of. the middies who had felt
sorry for Merle, and yet whose strength of
character hadnot been sufficient to enable
him to take a firm stand. ’

This Merle seemed to realize, for, with a
single movement of his wrist, he sent the
sword flying from his hand, and lowering
his own weapon, he said quietly'

“ I leave you unmarked, air."

Frankly did the youth, Bennett Ross, step
forward and extend his hand, while he said
in earnest tones: .-

“For ive me, Monte, for weakness in the
past, ant, let us be friends." .‘

“ Willingly," said, ’ Merle. grasping his
hand Warmly, while Captain Meredith and
the surgeon, in a'hrcath, said; i

. I

I

 

“ Well done for you, Ross,"

“ And I frankly confess my error, Monte,
and beg your pardon before you get a chance ’
to mark me, for I freely admit we caught a.
Tartar." ‘

And Lawrence Langley also extended his
hand, which Merle took with the same sin-
cerity with which it had been offered.

“Number six! your turn now, Martin,”
sung out Captain Meredith, addressing a
midshipman with a sinister face, and who
had been particularly marked in his disa-
greeable manner toward Merle.

“ Ay, ay, sir,” said Martin, and he toed the
scratch gamely.

He was known to be the best swordsman
on hoard the Sea Wolf, and wore a confident
smile.

But hardly had his weapon crossed that of
his young foe, when he found his sword a
struck up, and then came. a stinging pain
across the cheek, which Merle had opened
with a skill and nerve that showed him to he
possessed of marvelous power in the hand-
ling of a blade.

“That is an ugly wound, Monte,
Captain Meredith, somewhat sternly.

“Paul Martin is an ugly customer, sir,

I:

said

and the wound will leave a scar that will

keep me constantly in his memory," was the
quick reply. ,

“Number sevenlyour turn now, Men-
ken," ,cried Captain Meredith, seemingly
anxious to have the affair over. I'

“Midshipman Monte has had no time to
rest, captain, and Menken is a dangerous
hand with the blade,” called out Surgeon
Delafield. stopping in the operation of stitch-
ing up the gaping wound in the check of
Paul Martin, whose eyes blazed- upOn his
fo - with fury. , -,

“True; I beg pardon, Monte," said the
captain. .

“I need no rest, sir. for I have had little
to tire me, and if Mr. Menken is readyI am,”
was Merle’s indifferent response.

The blades crossed, and it was evidently
the intention of Heber Menken to kill, if he
could

Merle saw this, and he pressed him har’d ‘

from the commencement, worried him-into
nervousness, played with him fairly, allowed
him no time to rest, and suddenly disarming
him stepped qnickly for-ward, and with his
open hand slapped the face of his foe with a,
force that must have made hlm "see stars.”
fl ‘1‘ Now. gentlemen, I hope you are all satis-
Ut .

” Captain Meredith. I owe you‘my warmest
thanks for your kindnesg' and you .3180.
Surgeon Delafield, for I fear i have given
'01] considerable trouble." and Merle tossed
hissword to Menmk to clean and! mop up.

./ '  ll

_‘ .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.LVA

 

 

 

 

. ‘14.“..-WW‘W

Mex-1e, the Roy Cruiser.

.18

 

“ It is better that I do the work than the
undertaker, Monte,” said the surgeon signifi-
cantly, adding the last stitch to the wound in
Martin’s face. ‘

"Now, young gentlemen, you will please
report on board ship as soon as possible, and
if I find any more of this despicable feeling
shown against Midshipman Monte, I will
allow his punishment of you to be more
severe than it has, and I do not believe one
of you will deny but that he had it in his
power to kill you in detail,” said Captain
Meredith, addressing the discomfited mid-
dies, after which he turned to Merle and
added: I -« 4 . ,

"‘ Midshipman Monte, it will give mexplea-
sure to have you and the doctor dine with me
to-day.”

Merle bowed in acceptance, and leaving
Mezrak to ride the horse he had ridden there
back to town, he got into the captain’s
vehicle, followed by his commander and the
su‘rgeon, and the three chatted over the duels
as they were driven into the city.

CHAPTER .X.
was: ’mismmous shaman. ,

801m ten days after the arrival of the ' Sea.
Wolf in the port of the Crescent City. 9. lug-
ger came slowly up the river and dropped
anohot not two fathoms astern of the cruiser.

The craft was not ill-sharpen to a critical
eye, and carried considerable canvas; but
there was an air of neglect about her that
shorted her tobelong to some of the ,planta~
tious, on the coast, and to be manned by a
no to crew. ' j , 7 > "

n fact, half a dozen negroes and one white
man seemed to comprise the/ crew.

The negroes were as like in appearance as
peas, but the white man was peculiar in 'his
appearance.

He was a stout man, dressed in a. slovenly
sailor suit, and bad hair and whiskers of a -
most «crimson hue, so fiery red were they;
while his eyes were black and piercing.-
~. He eyed .the cruiser with apparently the
deepest interest, whole hours at a time, until

the middies began to joke with him and ask

him if "he did not want to ship in one of
Uncle Sam’s sea warriors. ‘
One day as he .sat watching the vessel.
seemingly enrnptured with her beauty and
awedbe the armament, he saw a boat drawn

‘ alongshie and two middies descend into it as

for a trip ashore. .

Instantly he called to one of his black
crew, and springing into the lugger’s yaw],
was rowed to the shore. "

.The two middies, one 'of them with a

. bandage around his face; walked‘leisurely

,r

 

up into the town, and the rmLheaded sca-
nmn followed them, though apparently not
intending todo so.

After they turned a corner and were lost
to sight from any one who mightbe looking
on the deck of the cruiser, the manovertook
them.

"Ahoy! young gents, I hope you liain’t
above taking a glass of grog with a man
whose craft has no quarter-deck," he said in
a bluif but friendly way.

“Hello, Red Head, it’s you, is it?” said
Paul Martin, recognizing him as the mysteri-
ous man on the lugger.

“Yes, my fine young gentleman, it's me,
Red Head, if so you please to call me,
though my name is Peter Stokes.” r

“Indeed! Mr. Stokes, I am glad to meet
you. Here, Menken, let me present you to
my read-headed friend, Captain Peter Stokes
of the African luggerthat lies astern of the
Sea Wolf. What did you say, my dear cap-
tain, about grog?” and the lively young
middy smiled innocently.

“I said, lads, that if you didn’t mind a
glass of grog with an humble salt-water fol-
lower, I’d be bagpy to have you join me. 1
know a place ,W ere the liquor is good, and
I guess itwould help that aching tooth of
yours, sir.” '

“Aching Tooth be cursed, man! that is a
woundrccoived in battle, an honorable scar, r
or so I shall report it, when I return home,”
answered Paul Martin, his face flushing with
anger at the remembrance of how he had re-
ceived the wound.

“Well, we will go and drink that you some ,
day get even with the man that marked you

v for life.”

"Done, my gallant 'lugger skipper! I’ll
drink thattosstuntil I can’t run on an even
keel. Come, here is a grog-shop, and it hangs
out good colors.” ‘ .

Paul Martin led the way into a saloon upon
St. Charles street, and which was a fashion-
able resort at that time. t

The three men were given a table a little
apart from the others, as the niiddies had
asked to be near a window, and a bottle of ,
wine was called for, the contents of which
soon set the tongues of the two lads and the
older sailor to wagging pretty freely.

It Was but a very short while before Paul
Martin and Hebcr Menken found that the
sailor was not a man to be made‘fun of.

He was hot-headed as a woodpecker, un-
kempt in his toilet, and slovenly in his at-
tire; but he was no fool, and had evidently,
from his talk, seen far more salt water than
they both had together.

“ So your ship is the craft set for the work
of running down the Buccaneer Brandt?”
said Peter Stokes, after awhile.

/ .

  

 

51“”

 

 

 

“ Yes, skipper, and she is the craft for the
work." answered Paul Martin.

'- They say the revenue cutter he captured
in hut."

“True, and so is the Sea Wolf, while we
have over a hundred men in crew, and
fifteen guns, and Brandt cannot raise half a
hundred. and the cutter carries but nine
guns. “ ()h! we’ll have him before long."

" You know his haunts, I suppose?“

“ Some of them.”

“ Well, there is one on board who ought
to know all of them."

“ Send him aboard the Wolf to have a talk
with the captain.”

“ I mean he is on board your vessel, not
mine."

" Ah! who is that?" ,

“ A midshipman, i ,believe he is. for he
not that rank for capturing the chief before.”

' “ lla! Merle Monte!” cried both of the
rni'l'lies in a breath,

” Yes, thatis the name, and what he don‘t
know about pirates and their haunts ain't
Worth knowing.” ‘

" Why, how (lid he glean all this piratical
knowledge?" asked Midshipman Menken.

‘* The best way in the world.”

“ How was that?”

“ By beingr one of ’em.”

The middies looked at each other in sur-
lid-40,.

I “ Being one of them?" asked Paul Martin,
eagerly. .

“ Yes."

" I do not understand you."

“ Wh , he was a pirate himself.”

" .VIer e Monte a pirate?”

“ Certainly, didn t you know it?"

"Never! no. no indeed! you surprise us."

“ I thought you knew it, and that he got
a pardon from the President on account of
eapttu'ing Brandt. and then set to work to
hunt down his former comrades.

“ I say 1 thought you knew all this.”

The middies were astounded, and after
gazing at each other significantly, and then
at their mysterious companion, Paul Martin
said:

“ N 0 one on our vessel ever suspected this,
a assure you."

“ Then I have done wrong in telling, but

' I thought you knew it."

" N»; we only knew that Monte was said
to be the son oft a rancherd on the’ Mexican
shore. near Corpus Ohristi.*”

“ No; his father is really Brandt, the Buc-
caneer,” was the low, earnest words that
came from the. li )S of the mysterious Seaman,
and bath Paul N artin and Heber Menken sat
like statues. struck dumb with amazement. /

e At that time at Mexican town. ’

 

4 Earle, the Boy Cruisef.'

CHAPTER XI.
'rms SKIPPER’S YARN.
IF the skipper of the lugger saw the Sillirl-
terlook of triumph upon the face of lr‘aul
Martin and Heber Menken, at his startling,

words, he did not appear to notice them, but»

went on quietly:

“ Oh, yes; he's the son of the bnccaneer,
as I thought :11. his messmates knew, or I'd
not been the one to give him away.

“ You see, Brandt talked sweet to the
boy’s mother. and she fell in love with him,
for- she did not know he was a pirate.

“ The lady was the daughter of a rich ran-
chero near Corpus Christi, and she married
Brandt, or, leastways, she thought she did,
for the ceremony was performed; but
Brandt already had a Wife. and the priest
whom he took to the vessel to marry them,
was no priest at all, only his lieutenant
dressed up in robes, so you see be deceived
the poor young girl.

“As soon as she found out who Brandt
really was, she hated him, and tried everv
way she could to escape from him, but was
never able to do so,

“At length they had a littlerbabyborn,
and he is the boy of whom I am talking.

“ Well, he was brought. up a young pirate,
and they do say that when he was but
twelve years of age he was the best one in
the band with sword and/pistol. ‘

“His mother lived on onenf Brandt's
islands, and the boy was constantly at sea
with his father, so that he became a good
sailor when he was little more than a child.

“ His father never allowed him to see his
mother, they said, unless he was present
with him, so he never knew how she, and
himself, too, had been wronged.

But one day Brandt was badly wounded
and carried to the island, and then it was
that the boy saw his mother alone, and heard
from her lips the story of her‘wmngs and
her shame. . ' .

" He took it fearfully to heart, they say,
and swore he would kill his father then and
there; but his mother begged him not to do
so, but to aid her to leave the island, and to
go with her.

“ This the boy promised to do, and he let
into the secret a slave, that had been cap-
tured from a Spanish vessel. and whose life
he had saved, which bound the black' to
him for life. ‘ ’

“ Those two rigged out a large ship’s yaw),
decked her over, to make it comfortable and
seaworthy, and one night. just at dark,
When the wind was blowmg fair, left the
island secretl . leaving Brandt, lying on“ his
back, still su erin from his wound. f
l “The bo , as have said, was a

ood

sailor, and, instead of heading for the it ext 3 V

t
/

 

 

1

 

hi»
aul
ing
but

ll]-

 

r,

na‘w‘m‘wwwwww“

MW ‘ '
M.Ww~___i

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

15

 

 

can shore, at the nearest point, stood boldly
out into the Gulf, and thus threw the pur-:
suers ~ that followed him at dawn off his
track.

_ “ In good time he navigated his little craft
into port, Corpus Christi, I think, and the
boy and his mother went upon a ranch in the
interior to live. '

“But there Brandt followed them, and at-
tacking the hacienda one night, he shot down
the poor woman, but his son, headin the
cowboys on the ranch, drove him an his
crew back to their boats.

“From that night Merle Monte swore to
hunt down his father and bring him to the
gallows, and he very nearly succeeded, I
have heard, and, as he is now an officer in
the navy, and upon such a swift craft as the
Sea Wolf is reputed, I guess he will yet keep
his oath.

“ But come, gents, let us have another hot-
tle of wine, and then I must go and see if my
atoms are rcadyto carry back to the planta-

. on. ’
The bottle of wine was eagerly drank, and
r then, greatly excited by the yarn of the skip-
per, they bade him farewell and hastily re-
turned to, the, Sea Wolf, to spread, through
the ship the 50 ful,‘to them, tidings they had
heard against" Ierle Monte, and which they
implicitly believed in every particular.

CHAPTER XII.
THE SKIPPER MEETS His MATCH.

HAD either Heber Menken or Paul Martin
seen the look upon the face of their skipper
friend, as they walked away, the would

‘ have observed something ‘there . whichthey
could not fathom, and, yet of "which they
could read sufficient to show them that he
had been playing their eredulity into his own
hands. ’

He smiled. in a way they would not have

, liked, as they departed, leaving him at the
table,.for he returned to it as soon as they
bade him adieu.

“Those hot-brained fools will do the work
well, I’m thinking. They do not like the "

boy, I am certain, and I guess that one with
the wounded face, if he told the truth, would
say that the youngster gave it to him, for
Belo says there was a duel among the‘mid—
dies somefdays ago, and one of them got the
‘Ibetter of all the others.
time to see what harvest the sowing of my
youth} those young fools’ cars will bring,
and If It doestnot set, him adrift, then 1']! see
what else Is to, be done. Another bottle of
Wine here, waiter.“ - , i
The waiter brought the wine quickly and

‘ drew the cork. — . 
- ,-,“, Why not order another glass, my friend,
for I am "thirsty ?” said a frank voice behind

,.

Well, I’ll bide my '

 

the skipper, and lurnin " quickly he saw a
man who appeared to %e a well—to-do mer-
chant. , ' I

He was stout, red-faced and dressed in
black,while a pair of gold Spectacles concealed
his eyes. v .

The skipper at first seemed inclined to re-
sent the familiarity, and frowned; but think-
ing better of it, he said quietly:

“ Another glass here, waiter."

Then turning to the stranger, he continued :

“ You are certainly welcome, sir, for I am
no man to refuse a glass of grog to any ship-
rrfiate, or land-lubber either, if it comes to
t at.”

The stranger quietly poured out a glass of
the really delicious wine, and quafi'ed it with:

“Good will and good health, sir, on land.
or sea." Iv '

Refilling the glass, as he smacked his lips
with gusto, he continued: ‘

“Did you apply the name of grog to this
nectar, str?”

“That is what I called it," curtly replied
the skipper. '

“Then your looks do not belie you, for I
wondered how one of your rig could order
such nectar, and the truth is you knew not
the virtues of the wine. Grog for-sooth!
why, sir, this is as sweet as the tears of an-
gels weeping with joy,” and he filled and
dashed off another glass.

“Yes, sir, this is made from the juice of
grapes grown in the vineyards of Phradise,”~.
and down his capacious throat went another

lass. . .
g “ Talk of nectar, sir, why this is the honey
of nectar,” and another glass was disposed
of with a s’mapk of the lips. a

“The perfume of this wine, sir, is stolen
from the flewers of Eden," and another lass
followed .the others, while the wine-bi ber
continued, as the skipper gazed in amaze-
ment upon him: . '

“The color of this wine, sir, which you
vulgarly call grog, seemsto be made of the
tints cau'ghtfrom the rainbow, and—”, ‘ I
" What do on think of the hottle,.ship-
mate, for that is all that is left?” broke in the
skipper. _. ' ‘ . 4

“ The bottle,’sif",_is empty; and it, like the
human ferm,_is but the cayey casket that
held the slpirit, you see.” i
] f‘flNo, don’t see a drop of that wine ‘
e t. 1’ K

“ Ah! then it“ is my turn to play the host.
Here, waiter, a glass of common grog for my
seedy~looking friend here, and a bottle of
that same,neotar of the eds for me. " > _

“Curse youl do you intend to insult me?”
and the. skipper was upon his feet In an in;

, stant.

“Sit down! ‘ Brandt, (he Buccaneer.”

 

  

 

   

 

..,.  . , V .7 __ _.,. --, _ ,, -‘n . . e
“A f ‘5 2-19. t-‘naf ‘ v-s ,.’._ -- 5 .‘5.»'3>.‘»ui1 W ‘ v,“ s," 'v‘ I
  ,nx-v in w ' ~ '   L .,‘

16 V Merle. the 30y Cruiser.

.‘Jch'mfi .v. ‘...~...v. a... 7,- .c, .,.. ..

 

,‘Thewords came stcrnly from the lips of
the stranger, and without a Word the man
sunk down in his chair, while he cast a fur-
tive glance around to see if any one had
heard that name fall from the lips of the
strange person before him.

1? CHAPTER XIII.~
THE PrnArns’ PLOT.

THE return of the waiter with a glass of
rum, and a- bottle of wine, prevented the
skipper from uttering a word, after his glance
around the room. '

"‘ There, garmn, the grog for that person,
the Wine for me." said the stran er quietly,
and as the waiter retired out of- 2hearing the
skipper broke out with:

“ In the Devil's own name, who are you?"

“One who knows you Well, Captain
Brandt,” was the quiet reply.

“Why do you call me Brandt?”

“ Because that is your name.”

“You are mistaken, sir." i,

“ hen Brandt, the Buccaneer, if so you
like it better.”

“ You surely do not mean to say you re-
cognize in me that famous pirate?”

“ As surely as I say that in your pretended
negro crew, on board the lugger at anchor in
the river, I recognize half-a-dozcn of your
picked men."

“ Well, admit that I be he whom you say,
how did you recognize me?” asked randt.

“Your voice first attracted my attention,
and then one glance into those splendid eyes
of yours and I knewy’ou, for neither your
tone or eyes belong to such sslovenly dis-
guise."

“ Again I ask you who you are?”

“ A friend.” ‘

“ Your name?"

“ See if you’cannot guess?”

Brandt eyed the man closely and said:

“ No, I never remember to have seen you
before.”

"Then my disguise is complete." ‘

“ Who are you ?”

“Your old lieutenant, Max Maurice."

“ lie"! but no; for he was as slender as-J’

” As you are, you were going to say, only
you are not slender with those hal -dozen
suits of clotheJ on, and it is the same with
me, for I am padded from hip to shoulder,
and- look like a gouty city merchant, if I
don‘t feel it.

“The truth is I am too well known to,

many here to golwithout a,thorough dis-
guise.” I - '

" Well, Max, no one would ever know
you in that rig: but what are on doing here
when I believed you in the tow Castle at
Havana?” '~

 

V5

“Ah, it’s a story soon told. I .am here to
get a crew and a deck under me,”

" But how did you get out of the Moro?"

" A pretty girl fell in love with my good
looks, and she managed to unlock doors and

remove iron bars ‘for my exit, and here I '

am 7)

“And you were in search of a vessel and.

crew?" / v
“Yes, for I heard of our capture, and
that of the schooner, and id not expect you‘
to turn up again, once the United States had
its grip u on you.”
“But have. on see?"
“Oh, yes, an I am glad of it, and re-

joice to hear of our bold, capture of the_

packet-ship from altimore."

“ Well, what have you done in the way of

a. crew ?"
“ I have a good one.”
“ And a vessel?"
“ None yet.” 4

“Well, I have the vessel, so come with ‘

me with your crew.” ,

“ I’ll do it, though it was not exactly right
for on to desert me, the night Of our attack
on on Pablo's hacienda.”

" The troops drove us to our boats, and I I

could not warn you and the men in the
cellar.” ,
“ Well, I'll forget it, as I‘vescaped: but if
they had arroted-me,_1’d hatiehaunted you
through 'fe, Captain Brandt; ‘but where is
your craft!" ’ _  ,. ' , -
“In one of the bayousj‘on the coast, for I
dared not come" here in her, so captured a
plantation luggcr and ran up for stores, and
to see if I could not find out where the Sea
Wolf was.” . 
“ You found her here?” , 
“Yes, and will know just where "she is
oin to searchior me; but better still. I'have,
oun out that the one whoeaptured "me is
on board of her as a middy." 1 ‘ '- p '
“A boy, I believe it was?" ,
"Yes, and he is a son of Montezuma the
Merciless, of whom you have heard me
speak. ” _
“Ah, yes, whose treasure was lost on
some part of the coast.” " c ‘
" It was not lost and ifféeargget that boy
in my possession, l will finx out where it is,
and accomplish my revenge too.”

 

nag-“d new:

“Au-

3

 

“I’ll get him in you!“ power, if you give
me a liberal share." I
“ I’ll do it." ‘
“Done! Now let us go and I’ll turn the

crew over to you, and then I’ll set to work ’

to get the boy.”
"But how?” ' ' " . '
“I’ll shz‘ on the Sea Wolf!” was the low
response 0 Max Maurice, the pirate lieu~
tenant. >' ‘ , ' ' ,

 

 

 

 

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'Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
LOST IN A Lnooon.
. A sMALL vessel, forc-nnd—aft-rig, was drift-
ing hstlessly upon the waters of the Gull“,
not a third of a league from the shore, off
Barrataria Bay.

She had been driven before a hurricane
past the Delta of the Mississippi, and then,
beating her way back to enter the river by
the way of the Southwest Pass, had been be-
calmed.

t was evidently a trading craft, and upon
her decks were visible a few passengers, one
of whom was a little old man with gray hair
and beard.

He had been watching the shore for some

' time, doubtless thinking of the days when

Lafitte, the Riratc of the Gulf, had spread
his black flag to the breeze in those waters,
and ruled like a king on shore.

A's though interested deeply, he suddenly
turned to the skipper and asked:

“Captain, there is no hopes of a breeze
for a couple of hours, is there?"

“ I fear not, sir, until dark.”

“Then if 'you will lead me your small
boat, I would like to row‘ ashore and look
around.‘” '; . " I ‘ a . . ' r

The old man had paid liberally for his pas-
sage, and the, captain had taken a fancy'to
him, so ansWered:

“ The boat is at your service, Mr. Beldcn,
but don’t get out of sight of us.”

A few moments after, the elderly passen-
ger was rowin ' shoreward with a stroke
thatshowedfgxe newxwell how to handle the

cars. ' , .

He did not followgthe captain’s advice, for

he did get outwf sight of the schooner, and
penetrated a lagoon, whose dark, deep waters
ran far inland. ,
» Gazing upon the somber funereal vails*
upon the trees along the banks, Mr. Belden
continued on his way for more than a mile
inland, until he entered a small lake, and
then he stated upon his return, thinking he
had gonefar enough.

Half}: dozen 1 , oons suddenly opened be-
fore lum just 't on, and the banks of all of
thfim hem alike, he was unable to tell by
w ich her ad‘come.

f Taking the one_he thought he remembered
as the one by which he had entered the lake,

Lhe pulled along for some time until he felt

ewes wrong. ‘

But just here he was in a perfect net-work
of la cons, or bayous, and after a thorough
searc for the one he tho ht led to the
1(innit, he was forced to adm » that he was
as . , ;

 ‘Thelon droopingmoss thatcovorstho tree l
lotitudgé / . s n

I

That no onetvasncar to aid him to find
his way back, he was assured, and he at
once determinedfto retrace his course to the
lake, and there try each lagoon in succession
until he found the right one.

But this was no easy matter, for before
his prow the network opened, and he soon
became bewildered as to which direction the
lake lay in, for the forest of trees, heavily
covered with moss, shut out the sight of the
sun from his view.

As he was about to give up rowing and let
his 'boat drift where it would, he suddenly
beheld, not a cable’s length away, a vessel.

It waslying close inshore. was half-hidden
by the overhanging trees and moss, and had
his eyes notxbccn very keen, in spite of his
seeming age, he might have passed without
seeing her.

cry, and had seized his oars again to row to-
vard her, when he remembered that,»if L, -
fitte was dead, a few pirate craft yet plowed
the seas, and that was a very suspicious
neighborhood to be in, and a vessel so hidden
must be a suspicious craft.

Landing, he took a closer View of the craft
from the opposite shore,

She was armed~4hat was certain.

Men in uniform were on her deck too, and

What could she be doing there?

Was she an honest vessel?

These questions he asked himself, yet
could not answer.

As he stood, looking closely at the vessel,
his eyes suddenly fell upon a boat, far down
the lagoon, pulling toward the schooner.

He noted the position of the boat, which
was over a mile distant, and saw that it had
just rounded a point of land upon which
grew five tall, white-trunked sycamores.‘

There were three men in the boat he‘saw,
as it came nearer, and it was evidently mak-
ing for the schooner. _

Crouching down in the thicket he waited
its approach, and, as it drew nearer, heard a
voice on the schooner cry out;

“ The boat is coming back!"

As the boat drew near, the same voice that
had spoken from the vessel’s deck called
out: ‘ ' i

“ Ho, Pedrol, What news?" I

“Nonewfor the Indian has not returns
from the city, so we must expect to stay in
this black hole several days longer," said a
man in the stern of the boat.

“ Ah! Captain Brandt don’t care fer our
comfort, while he's enjoying the pleasures of
the city,” was the response ‘of the one on the
deck, and the next moment the boat ran

 

alongside the schooner.

. *9 Captain Brandt! "

is

He was at first delighted with his discov-V

he was surprised that ho had not been seen/

   

 

  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  

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Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

 

The name fairly burst from the lips of the
old man, and he stood like one struck dumb.
For some moments he remained motion-
less, excepting that. he repeated over and
over again the name he had heard spoken.

Then he cautiously glided away from his
place of concealmentregained his boat, and,
creeping along under the shadow of the over-
hanging trces, held his course toward the
dark point upon which stood the live syca-
mores.

At last, just as the sun was sinking below
the horizon, he rounded the point, and, over
a low piece of land, beheld the distant spars
of the vessel he had left.

“I have found my way back, and I have
discovered a secret by being lost in the la-
goon," he muttered, as he pulled a strong
and steady stroke in the direction of the
schooner, which already had her white sails
set to catch the breeze that, afar off, was
sz-en rippling the blue waters.

As he touched the deck the sails filled and
the schooner bent gracefully to the pressure
of the wind and forged ahead, while the old
nun paced to and fro, strangely moody, the
captain thought. for he could learn nothing
from him regarding What he had seen ashore,
and the cause of his remaining away so long
a time. __

CHAPTER XV.
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.
«CAPTAIN MEREDITH was pacing his quar-
tv'r.deck, gazing alternately at the town, and

‘ then at a schooner coming up the river under

full sail, while ever and anon his eyes would.
fall upon a group of middies gathered in the
waist, and talking earnestly together, Paul
Martin and Heber Menken seeming to be the
principal spokesmen.

“That craft. is a Maine coaster, as sure as
those middies are lotting some 'deviltry," he
muttered, recogn zing the rig and build of
the coming schooner as an Eastern coaster, as
quickly as he did that the youngsters in the
waist were u to some misc lief.

Since the uel he had been rather stem to-
wnrd the middies, and they had avoided him
as much as possible, while he had kept a close
watch-upon them to see if they treated their
messmate, Merle, with disrespect.

As for Merle, he saw that he had not
changed in his manner towai'd his shipmetes,
treating them as before with cool respect, ex—
cepting Bennett Ross and Lawrence Lang-
ley, toward-whom he seemed more friend y
than before the duel, and who certainly felt
most kindly toward him.

The schooner, in the mean time, ran close
inshore and let fall her anchor, and not five
minutes after a boat with a single occupant
left its Side and came toward the Sea Wolf.

 

 

The boat was hailed, and the reply name
back:

“ Is that the Sea VVolf‘!"

“ Ay, ay.”

“1 wish to come on board and see your
captain.” '

“Let him come on board, Mr. Brans-
combc," called out Captain Meredith to his
lieutenant. and a moment after a man came
over the gangway and approached him.

‘lt was the same old man who had gotten
lost in the lagoon. '

“Well, my man, how can I serve you?"
asked the captain, kindly.

“It is for me, sir, to serve you," was the
reply in a thin, shaky voice. ‘

"Ah! in What way, pray?”

“This is an American cruiser?"

“ It is.” ,

“ You would be anxious to capture a
pirate?"

“ By all means, for pirate—hunting is the
special service my vessel was ordered upon."

“ Do you know anything of Brandt, the
Buccaneer, since his escape, and capture of
the Baltimore packet ship?"

“ Yes, he committed seine high-sea robber-
ies and murders, and then cleverly captured
the revenue cutter, Sea Serpent.”

“Indeedl’ L had not heard of this; but
then I have been at sea some time, our
schooner haviug'clearcd from tarmac a
month ago. a: 1’;  '

“ Describe the afitewyplease, captain.” it"

“ A low, black hull. ,with hlue helt encirc-
ling her, and ver'y‘tall,Tsinglesticks, With-1'”

“That is sufficient. sir, for I can tell y6u
whom to find that vessel.” _

“ Ha! you know the whereabouts. ‘of
Brandt?" cried the captain, excitedly. ~

“I know where his vessel lay at anchor,

or rather moored to the bank, twenty-four '

hours ago, sir, and nor commander, Brandt,
the Buccaneer, is in the city, I haveé‘ever
reason to believe,” and theaold man toh

Captain Meredith of his adventure in the

lagoon. I .

The result of this was the de arture 'offtthe
Sea Wolf down the river un er‘full sail in
less than half an hour after the arrival on
board of the stranger.  , i

Just as the Sea Wolf was‘fifid‘ing away
from her anchorage, two men came down to
the pier, opposite to which'she had been
anchored, and from one of them broke the
cry: ~

“Great God, captain. look there i" '

“ Curses! it is the Sea Wolf rushing down
the river,” cried the other. .

“. True, and that ends our plot for the pre-
sent." . ‘ ,

“ Yes, and may leave us without a craft,
for her captain, is no man to run off upon a.

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Merle. the Boy Cruiser.

19

 

fool’s errand. Come, Maurice, lwr destina-
tion is the cutter, so let us get }‘ ur nwn at
once, take boats, and gain lhc mat" ahead of
her, which we can dd by rowing down the
river to the bayous, and following them to
Barraturia Bay by Eafitte’s old route. Come,
for once on hoard the cutter with your crew
and mine, and we‘ll turnthctnhles on Captain
Meredith and take the Sea Wolf.”

The two men hastened away from the pier,
and two hours after, just at dark, six large
boats, crowded with men, and urged byla
dozen oars, swept rapidly down the Missm-
sippi to gain the Gulf by way of the bayous,
which, like a network, cut up the southern
shores of Louisiana.

CHAPTER XVI.
THE BOAT ATTACK.

“Tins wind holds so light, Maurice, that
we will certainly beat the Sea Wolf to the
lagoon,”. said Captain Brandt. no longer in
his disguise, as he sat at the tille of the lead
ing boat, and spoke to Max -‘laurice, his
lieutenant: following a short distance astern,
as the heavily laden boats pulled With
strong, steady strokes, thrlofigll Bayou Du‘-

 

pout, on 13$jr. way to Rs tar'a Boy, in a
lagoon erg- hich the ‘cfpturedfi’gdutter was
conceal ’  '- ’3“ “V

“ Ay, ay. the wind is ourfr‘iend. captain,"
answered the pirate lieutenant, who no
longer looked the city merchant, but the
handsome, dashing, but reckless young ras-
(:11 he was, as he had discarded his padded
suite! black, high hatf,and gold spectacles,

t,‘ fof'sallb‘fifittirei' .

“ We'll give those Sea Wolves a surprise,
if we.de not manage to escape an attack, for
if our guns are not'gas heavy, we can match
them in men,” continued Captain Brandt.

And all. through the night the boats con-
tinued their southward way, the men con-
slnntly relieving each other at the oars, for
(each boat held. over a. score of men, and
pulled from eight to a dozen sweeps.

ln‘tho bow of the leading boat crouched
an Indian. the pilot, and unswervingly he
held his way, never for a moment at a loss
in the darkness and the numerous bayous
the passed through, but following the
ma '1: channel as a hound would a trail; with
ieemipgly nothing but instinct to guide

1m. 1 

‘The next day the lagoon was reached. and
there la the trim little cutter, safe as yet.

31“ iaplain Brandt hastily threw his new
crew on board-set them to drillln at the

’ sums, and with hisown men ahead in a boat

began to tow out toward open water, for be
well know the danger of yeing cahght in
there. ‘ '-

‘It wasjd‘ark as he reached the open bay, v

\

 

and there, as he had feared, he beheld the
Sea Wolf at anchor, and her boats coming
on toward the lagorm' he was just leaving.

They spied the cutter as soon as he did
them, and pulled hard to head them 01$, for
she was yet too landlocked to get the off-
shore breeze, and was barely moving through
the waters.

“Give them the iron!" yelled Captain
Brandt. and, in obedience to the order the
iron hail of the cutter-’s broadside went flying
toward the boats.

"But not one of them was touched, and with
loud cheers they came on rapidly, while the '
Sea Wolf’s canvas was being set and her
anchor hauled up in double-quick time.

“Curse the wind, there is not enough to
give us good stuerageway,” cried Captain
Brandt, as, he saw how slowly the cutter-
answcred her helm.

Again he gave the order to fire, and this/
time a crash followed, which showed one
heat was hit. ‘ '

it was the leading boat, and from it came
in a youthful, but clear, ringing voice:

“The boat is sinking, lads, but yonder
deck will hold us.” ‘

A cheer answered the words, and on came
theboats, urged the more by the same voice
or mg:

“Pull! pull, for yourtlivcs, lads!”

“ Small-arms, ahoy! Give it to them!”
shrieked Brandt, the Buccaneer, as the lead:
ing boat. though settling fast, was almost
upon the schooner.

'Instantly a volley of small-arms followed,
and shrieks, groans, curses, and then a
heavy crash, all came together, for the boat
had struck the schooner,

“Boarders ahoyl” yelled the same ringing
voice, and upon the deck sprung the young
officer, cutlass in hand, and at his back came
a huge black form, followed .by five seamen,
all that remained alive out of the boat’s crew.

“Hold! Let no man kill that boy, or
black!” yelled Captain Brandt, as, by the
flashes of the fireaa ms. he recognized lierle
and Mezrak as they boarded. ’

A score of weapons, leveled at the youth
and Abyssinian, were instantly IOWered,
while Brandt sprung forward, and his blade
crossed'that of the young midshipman.

“ Now, youngster, I claim my game!"
hissed‘the pirate chief; but, as he spoke, two
more boats struck the vessel. and two-score
gallant tars/sprung on board, with an irre-
sistible impetus that sent the pirates back
from the bulwarks and mixed up the com; ,
batants in deadly, hand-to-hand combats. '

“Cut them down! We outnumber them
two to one!” cried Brandt, while his lieuten-
ant echoed his words. ' '

But the pirates were, most of them,ncw

 

 

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20 Merle. the Boy Cruiser.

 

men, and the well-trained tars bore them
back, while a fourth boat‘s crew, boarding,
and the Sea \Volf rushing down toward the
scene, Brandt the Buccaneer, felt that the
battle was not to be won by him.

But he urged on his men with desperate
courage, telling them to “hurl the honest
dogs into the sea, and then seize the Sea
Wolf.

But all to no purpose the few welttrained
pirates fought, for their new shipmates were
demoralized, and, after a few more minutes
of hard fighting, the cutter was captured.

“ He, the cutter!“ cried Captain Meredith
from the deck of the Sea Wolf, as she drew
near.

No answer was returned, and then Merle
called ,out:

“ Where is Lieutenant Branscombe'z”

“ Dead, sir,” replied a seamen.

“Ahoy! the Sea Wolf !” answered back the
middy. ,

“Do you need any aid?"
“ No, sir; the cutter's ours!"
" Is that you,Monte?”

“ , ay, sir."

“ VV’iiere is Branseombe?”

“ Killed, sir.”

“Then you take command of the cutter
and bring her to anchor, and I will lay near

on. ’

y " Ay, ay, sir,” and a few moments after,
the cutter, which had now forged far enough
out from the land to feel the, breeze, was
lut'fed up and her anchor let full.

Quickly the Sea Wolf followed her exam-
ple; and it was bnta short time before Cap-
tain Meredith stepped on deck, and grasping
the hand of Merle, said:

“Well, lad, you say poor Branscombe is
dead?”

“ Yes, sir; Midshipman Ross says he was
killed before-he left his boat.”

“ Was his the boat that got that hard hit
and still held on and boarded first?" _

“ No, sir; that was my boat, and I am
sorry to say but five men out of the ei hteen
that started with me are alive,” said erle,
sorrowfully.

1‘» “Well, my lad, they have met a brave

saithr’s fate, and you have stepped another
round up the ladder of promotion, for you
took the cutter, and from greatly superior
numbers, it seems." and Captain Meredith
cast his eyes over the sullen group of prison
ers standing in the cuttcr‘s waist and secure-
ly guarded. ‘

“It was a short, but hard fight. sir. and
would not have been won but for the prompt
assistance of Midshipmen Ross and Langley
and their crews,” frankly said Merle.

“ That’s right, Mr. Monte, givedvour ship-
mates credit; and, Ross, you an Langley

shall not be forgotten, and I am glad I sent-

you two instead of Martin and .‘it'liilt‘fl. who

seemed so anxious to come.
“But now let me see this Captain Brandt,

dead or alive, and if the latter, I‘ll pledge'

‘him my word he will not a second time es-
cape.” .

At the words of the captain diligent search
was made for Brandt, the Buccaneer.

Every man, living and (lead, was closely
sizinfned, but nowhere was to be found the
c re .

Max Maurice, his lieutenant, lay forward,

dying from a sword-thrust which Merle had ~

glven him, but the most thorough search
only served to show that Brandt, the Buc-

caneer’s star of destiny was still bright, and I

had not set in gloom.

CHAPTER XVII.
,THE MUTINY.

THROUGH the darkness of the night the
Sea Wolf and cutter lay near together. and a
strong watch was kept upon the captured
craft, while Merle was left in command.

With the break of day the dead were
thrown into the sea. to find a sailor’s rave.
and the pirate prisoners were heavily roned
and put in the hold of the Sea Wolf, while

 

further search was made for Brandt, the '

Buccaneer. .
He was not among the dead, that was cer-
tain, for Merle, who knew his face well, had

scanned every one, of the slain ere they were 2

tossed overboard.

He was certainly not in the sick-bay among .

the wounded, for all there had been stared
at in the vain endeavor to find the missing
chief. '

IIis men said they had seen him a moment
before the cry arose for quarter, and none

remembered to have seen him after that. 1

“He doubtless slipped overboard and
swam‘ashore.” said Captain Meredith. 

“That was an easy task, sir,‘ and others
may have gone with him, for the land is but
half a mile distant.” answered Merle, to
whom the remark had been addressed.

“Well, I hope he has not drowned, for I
hope to see him live to be hanged,” and Cap-
tain Meredith laughed lightly» '

“ He will not drown, sir, for he was born
to be hanged," said the old* man whom the
reader has before met. a _

“Ah. you here, Mr. Belden? Well, I
must thank you for piloting us upon the
enemy, and Midshipman Monte says you
fought with marked gallantry in the attack
on the cutter," said Captain Meredith.

“ I tried to‘ do my duty, sir; and only re-
gret that Brandt escaped.”

 

“ But he shall not escape me always. '
'You speak, Belden, as though you had

.
l

l

1

 

 

Ni V
i sent personal cause for hating the buccaneer legs of yours, or I’ll spruce them up with the
who chief?" cat. Here, boatswain, give me that cat, that
"I have, air,” and the old man turned I may scratch the back of this great black
undt, ‘ away before the captain could say more, as devil’s dog." .
[Edge ‘ though 'he cared not to be questioned upon The boatswain silently handed over the in-
ie es- the subject. .r strument of torture, known as the “cato’.
“ That Is a strange old customer, Monte, nine-tails,* and the midshipman stepped
:arch and somehow I think I have met him before: nearer; too blind to see the look Of fierce
but, forthe life of me, I cannot place him,” defiance that flashed in the eyes of the '
)sely send the captain. ., blan- '
l the O“ It seems to me also, sir, that 1 have met Just then Merle returned, and Paul Martin
him before.” continued his abuse of Mezrak with:
ard, “ Well, he did us a good turn, and though “ If you don’t stir that ugly body of yours,
had: he.vappears to be poor, he has too much you imp of Hades, I’ll lay the eaten.” v
arch pride to accept a reward from me, which I Mr. Martin, my slave is working simply at
Suc- - told him I would give him if we captured my command, and it is not his duty, so land-
and the cutter. By the way, I wish I could 1y reserve your epithets and blows for those
' leave you in command of the .cutter I to who deserve them," said Mérle calmly. ,
take her back to New Orleans, but Imust “Hal you teach the wretch insuhordina-
give itto Lieutenant Graham, and you shall tion do you? Well, Lieutenant Graham
be his first luff, though neither of you seem shall hear of this!" hissed Paul Martin, and
the to like each other very much.” he raised the cat as though to strike.
(1 a . Merle made no reply, but set about his “Hold! I warn you not to la the lash on
red duties, and an hour after the two vessels set the ' back of that man!” and ’[erle’s voice
sail. and headed for the Mississipi Delta, on rung out clear and determined.
ere their way back to New Orleans. Feeling that Lieutenant Graham would
ve, I But hardly hadtheygonc also no when a protect him, and unheeding the warning, the
red ’ severe stormj-lswept over the Go f, and the reckless middy brought the lash down hard
ule 1 two vessels, were soon lost to the sight of on the back of the grant negro. .
me each other, as Lieutenant Graham had put With a cry of an enraged hyena Mezrak
the. cutter away to scud. before the gale, sprung upon him, seized him in his powerful
er- whlle the Sea Wolf lay to to ride out the arms, and had not Merle reached forward
ad blow. and quickly spoken to the Abyssinian a few
we Fearful of driving ahead too long on one hasty words, then and there Paul Martin’s '
course in that locality, Lieutenant Graham career would have ended.
in were round. and stripping the cutter of all As the black hurled him from him, the
ad canvas let gothe anchors. now thoroughly frightened middy yelled
lg 7 The gale had spent itself, and the anchors lustily for, help, until he felt he was now
~ held the little craft without dragging, and safe, and then he sung out:
at thus the night passed away. ' “Hols mutiny here, by the flag! Ho!
to With the morning land was visible off the men! seize that black hound and his white
1 port. quarter, but the Sea Wolf was nowhere pet, and shoot them down if they resist!" i
d to be seen. 3 The men stood undecided, for they hated
~“ Get up those anchors, Monte, and, as we Paul Martin, and admired both Merle and‘
's are short of, hands, set that lnbberly ape of his slave, and they knew that the reckless
.t ours” to work at the Windlass,” ordered middy had provoked the trouble. _
o ieutenant Graham, in a tone that sheired he At bay, as it were, stood Merle and Mez:
)Vould use his ower, now that he was clothed rak, not knowing what might be done, and
I In a little brie authority. ’ V just then Lieutenant Graham, with 'a dozen
- Merle silently obeyed, though he saw at men at his back. came rushing forward.
once the officer was taking advanta e of his ‘f'There stand the pantineers,” yelled Paul
I position, which he held for the time ing. . Martin, and without waiting to see who was
2 1 ’ A Word to Mezmk in the Persian tongue, in the wrong the officer charged uponM’erle
,- , and the black obeyed by going to the wind- and the slave. ' . _ ‘
, 1288.. where his great strength and quickness “Back, sir! I am no mllllUCCI‘yHOI‘ is  V ‘
made the men fly round nimhly. rak, who punished that coward for a useless
, Merle then went aft to attend to some blow. Back I say!" cried Merle, while he ‘
, duty. and Paul Martin took his place by the drew his sword and stood on the defensive, I
Windlass, and he tpo showed that he was out and Mezrak seized a capstan bar and stood
'/.,from under his captain's eye, and under one also at bay. - i ‘,
ofhis own style, for he cursed the\ rapidly .“I‘la! this is indeedmutinyl SCIZC them,
, flying seamen. and yelled out'tn Mezrak: _..._ l - ,f  ,
'. "Your great black Imp, at" those Dandy ‘ *At thattimein general use in the navy.

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

21

 

 

 

 

 

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22 Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

 

men, and cut them down if they resist,”
yelled the lieutenant.

“ Hold! Lleutenant Graham, both Mezrak
and myself will submit, if you do not put us
in irons. We will let you make what report
you please to Ca tain Meredith, and abide
the result, if .he ecides against truth and
justice; but do not urge the crew against us
as though we were pirates at bay.”

A score of voices half-cheered Merle’s
words, and, driven to frenzy at seeing the
crew siding with him, Lieutenant Graham
fairly shrieked:

7‘ Seize them, I say, or out down that
mutineer midshipman and his black shadow!”

It was evident that he wished the latter
order executed, that Merle and Mlenk could
not tell their stories of the affair, and fearing
to disobey, and urged on also by Paul Mar-
tin, the seamen rushed in a body upon the
midshipman and his slave at bay.,

“ Don‘t let them kill us as they would
cattle, Mezrak," cried Merle, and instantly
he ran'his sword through the breast of a sea—
man 'ust in time to save his life, while, with
one low of the capstan-bar )Iezrak laid
three men upon the/deck.

But before the youth could withdraw his
blade from the body in which it was sheathed,
and the slave once more raise his bar, a score
of men were upon them, and borne to the
deck by weight of numbers, they were soon

overpowered and heavily ironed, greatly to,

the regret of both Lieutenant Graham and
Paul Martin, who would gladly have had
them slain.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
DENOUNCED.
IT was certain] an exciting time on board
the cutter after the victory of the lieutenant

‘ ' and midshipman over Merle and Mezrak.

The affair had gone much further than
of the evil-disposed officers had
wished, but having been pressed to a. deadly
andbitter alternative, they felt that they
must brazen it out.

They had hoped to excite Merle into some
act or word that he could be made responsi-
ble for to his commander; but the middy,

gwhen he struck Mezrak, had gone too far.

The seamen enera'lly .sympathized with
Merleand his 3 ave; but the very word of
mutiny had such a terror for them, that they

: felt forced to uphold the officer in command

even in his wrong-doing. rather than the one
who had rebelled; even though right.

The vessel'Was held on her we toward
the Southwost Pass, and poor l. erle and
Mezrak were kept in irons, while Lieutenant
Graham, with his middy chum, discussed
the affair over and over again. I . -
a“ Waive got «to push them to the wallvwith

 

all our might, and it will end with their both
going to the yard-arm for killing seamen."
said the lieutenant.

Below decks. though in irons, neither
Merle or Mczrak seemed wholly cast down.

“Well, Mezrak, this is a bad business we
have gotten ourselves into,” said Merle.

“Master, )Iezrak does not care for him-
self, but for you.”

" Never mind me, Mezrak, for I’ll get out
of the scrape, I guess." '

“ Master, I was mad, for I never was hit a
blow before.”

“I know it, my faithful friend, and now

that alfairs have gone as far as they have, I '

almost regret not allowing you to kill him
for striking you. Other and better men were

killed through his act, and as death had to 7

follow, I wish he had gone under.”

“Ah, master, you had better let me do the
deed, and then I alone would have suffered:
but as it is, you also are in irons. Oh! to
think that I took oath to your noble father.
that [would protect and care for you, and
my very act has put irons upon your wrists.~
The thought maddens me!" and the face of

the black worked with the feelings that

seemed almost to overpower him. .

“Don’t speak of it, Mezrak; but I wish
now we had lived on our island. and never
sought to leave it.’ ’Twas m
rise to a position. from a home ess boy, that
has brought us to this."

“I supposelw‘e will be strung up to the
yard-arm, master?" A

” Yes, I guess so.”

d (‘1‘ Why, you did not take life, for I alone
i it.”

“Your goodness of heart leads you to say
so, Mczra , for you know that
life, and I am guilty with you, and shall suf-
fer with you, be the penalty what it may."

“ And escape with me,” said the slave. in
a low tone, and the youth glanced” uickly at
him, but said nothing in reply, ant?
fell between them“ . '

In due time, the breeze holding good, the
cutter ran up the river, and dropped anchor
in front of the Crescent City, the people of

which were wild with excit ment, for already

had the Sea Wolf arrived; nd the news of
her capture was spread far and wide.

But, in the rejoicing at the capture of the
cutter, all felt the deepest regret at the mys-
terious escape pf the chiel’. Brandt. and

many shook their heads and said he would, ‘

again be heard of upon the high seas.

The name of Merle Monte was also circu-
lating through the town. as having again dis~
tinguisht-d himself, and Captain Meredith
really felt most proud of his young prowge,
and signaled the cutter, as soon as sh drop-

ped anchor, for'the midshi‘pmau-to come on '  ’

r

'« .4 1 t I

 

ambition to ‘

did take ’

a Silence .

 

mir

cer
um
ow
ths
yo
dil

I (it

he

ti

Q-fi

 

t—AA

 

 

are

)d

\ sented the blow.

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

 

hoard, little dreaming of the terrible trouble
that had taken place.

“The captain has signaled for you to
come on board, Monte, and the lieutenant
bids me accompany you," said Midshipman
Martin to Merle.

“ And Mezmk?"

“ W'ill go with you.”

“ Very well. we are ready.

“ You’ll not he so ready, when you know
what is in store for you."

“It can be only death, and that I do not

fear to meet,” was the calm reply.
» A boat was now alongside, and Lieutenant
Graham was only too willing to have the
midshipman go, and first tell his story of the
affair.

Captain Meredith and several young ofll-
eers stood Watching the coming boat, but not
until the midshipman and his slave came
over the gangway in irons did the realize
that something fearful had happene .

.“ Great God! you, Monte, 1n irons, and
your slave too?

“What means this?” cried Captain Mere-
dith, turning deadly pale. '

“Midshipman Martin, sir, has anexplana~
tion to make,” said Merle, calmly. ,, . , ~

” Speak, Martin! What means this?"

Martin's face flushed and then paled, while
he stammered:

“ A mutiny, sir.”

" Mutiny?”

“ Yes, sir."

“And what had Monte to do with a. mu-
tiny?". ‘

r “ He was the ringleader, sir.”

“A rin leader? Be careful. Mr. Martin,
What Wor s you utter,” said Captain littere-
dith, sternly.

“ It is true, sir." '

" I do not believe it."

“ But, Captain Meredith, 1—"

“ Silence, sir, for there are two sides to
ever story.

" peak, Monte, what have you to say?"

.“ Midshipman .Martin, Captain Meredith,
has told the truth, for I am certainly guilty
of causing trouble on board the cutter, ’ said
Merle firmly.

“Good Heaven? what trouble?"

“I did it, sir, and I alone am to blame!"
came in the deep tones of Mezrak.

"Ah! you too in irons? Well, there has

, been trouble I see. Speak, Monte, and ex-
plam‘.” ‘

ll” We were 88mm; up anchor, sir, and Mez-
ml‘ here» had gone to the Windlass, and was
dmng more than _his hare, when he was
cursed by 3- mldshlpmzln. and instantly he re-

n

-

.‘,‘ Orders were
but I have found

.- - ,

yen to shoot him down,
1111 too true a friend to me,

 

 

not to try to help him, and the result was the
death of several of the crew at our hands, and
our being overpowered and put in irons as
you see."

This frank confession of the mutineer mid-
shipman seemed to move Ca tain Meredith.
and others who heard it, deep y, and he cried
earnestly:

" Oh, Monte! Monte! this is indeed a bad
business. You and your slave have taken
life, and I fear must suffer the direst punish-
ment as mutineers, but I will sift this mat»
ter to the bottom, and those guilty of driving:
you to desperation shall not escape free, I
PICdge You. Remove these prisoners below
decks, and see that they do not escape," or-
dered Captain Meredith sternly.

Then turning to an under officer, he said:

"Go on ,board the cutter, sir, and relieve
Lieutenant Graham of command, telling‘him
I wish him to report in person at once to me.

“ Midshipman Martin, I wish to see you in
my cabin.”

Martin turned pale, and to help his cause
all in his power, be sung out:

“ Captain Meredith, there is another charge
against Merle Monte, even more serious than
mutineer, as I have proof of.”

Merle turned quickly, as he was walking,r
away, and said: ,

“ Well, sir, what other charge than the one
to which I plead guilty, do you dare bring
against me?”

Captain Meredith seemed about to speak,
when Midshipman Martin cried:

“I denounce Merle Monte as the son of
Brandt, the Buccaneer.”

 

V ' r
CHAPTER XIX. .
r - , CONDEMNED.

No pen can describe the scene that fol»
lowed the denouncing of Merle as the son of
the but-cancer chief. » ' .

Ca tain Meredith started, and a cry es.
cape his lips. . ,

A loud exclamation broke from the mouths
of officers and seamen alike,.and the e es of
all were riveted upon two persons,JlIer e and
his accuser.‘ v , r I '

As for the one denounced, he turned livid, ’
and for a moment his face seemed as though
carved in marble.

Then there broke from him one cry:

“ liar!” ,

With the utterance of that one word, in
irons as he was, he darted forward and sprung
upon his accuser, and his manaeles fell heav-
ily in the face of Martin, dropping him in
the deck as though every spark of life had
been taken from im. . -

Tlnce having given this blow. Merle be.

 a
t

 

 

 

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i
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43"..  “. .. 2'...=v;~.'?,-.._~r :

24

came calm, while Martin was quick] v raised
to his feet again and gazed in a dazed) way at
his commander.

“Mr. Martin, do you mean your words?”
asked Captain Meredith.

“ I do, sir," and he wiped the blood from
the gash on his forehead made by the irons.

“ You will take oath that you so believe?”

“I will, sir, and Midshipman Menken will
bear me out in what I say.”

“ Midshipman Menken will also make the
same charge ?"

_“ He will, sir."

“Mr. Menken, you heard this youth (le-
nounced just now as the son of that sea-curse,
Brandt?"

" I did, Captain Meredith,” and Ileber
Monken stepped forward. _

“ Do you make the same charge?”

” 1 do, sir.” "

“You have reason to believe that you are
right?"- ,4 

“ I have, sir."

“Then you and Mr. Martin will. have to
get your proof and appear before the tribunal
that will try\ Mr. Monte for mutiny, and also
investigate your accusation against his pirati»
cal parentage.

“Lead the prisoners below, and Mr. Mar-
tin, neither you or Mr, Monken are to leave
the ship until I give you permission.”

Captain Meredith then turned and entered
his cabin, just as Lieutenant Graham ar-
rived on board, feeling in no mood to meet
his commander. ‘ V r

In a few words Midshipman Menken told
him allithat had occurred, and the lieutenant
entered the cabin. I ‘ V

Closely did Captain Meredith question him
.on the mutiny and its causes, and though he
felt sorry for Merle and Mezrak, and felt
'that they had been driven, to the not, he,
knew that-he must do his duty. and grieved
that the young, handsome and gallant middy
would have to end his promising Career at
' the yard-arm.

t As‘to the charge of Merle being the son of
Brandt, the Buccaneer, Captain Meredith
tried to dismiss it without a thought; but
Lieutenant Graham told him he had heard
strong hints of the kind himself, and he felt
convinced that the two midshipmen who
made the startling accusation could bring
' proofs. ‘

“ It will takefghe strongest proofs to con
vince me, Graham, and I believe it is their
hatred that has caused them to listen to idle
rumors about tho‘boy, simply because his
past life seems to be one of mystery and
romance, and he has plenty of money to
spend. 1 ‘

“ K‘s for the mutiny, I no more uphold
ltiniin thatvthan I do you and Martin for
o’

‘ ,

 

‘-- w 4* avast-0......- ,-_ .., _ k

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

 

 

driving the negro to frenzy, and thus caus-
ing Monte to strike in his defense.

From that moment a gloom seemed to fall
upon the ship, and it was evident to all that
Lieutenant Graham and Midshipmen Men-

ken and Martin were more nervous about the ‘

approaching trial of Merle and Mezrak than
they were themselves. ’

At last the day of trial came round, and
the officers of several vessels in port were on
the court-martial.

Pale, but calm, Merle appeared before
them. and Mezrak showed no interest what-
ever in the afiair.

The stories of Lieutenant Graham and Mid-
shipman Martin were told in a nervous, but
frank manner, and were attentively listened

o. .

Then the seamen who were on the cutter
told what the  knew about the mutiny,
and it was evir cut to all that the honest tars
tried to smooth over the affair for Merle and
Mczrak, v

Merle was then heard, and Mezrak also,
and they had only to confess their guilt, as
far as the killing of their shipmtes was con‘
cerned, and then tell what had driven them
to it.

The (loath of the seamen at their hands
none would, or could deny, and they were
at once condemned as mutlnecrs to suffer the
full penalty of the crime. ‘

“ What have you to say, Midshipman
Monte, why you should not suffer death?”
asked the judge advocate. '

. “Nothing, sir, for I know that I did
wrong,” was the cool reply.

“Then, sir, the decision of this court is
that you be at once cashiered from the ser-
vice of your country, and in ten days’ time
that you'be strung up to the yard-arm as a
mutineer, there to hang until you are dead,
and may Heaven have mercy upon your
guilty soul." , -

Merit! bowed and resumed his seat, while
the death sentence was also passed upon
Mezrak, who actually smiled as the judge
advocate completed his words.

“ Now’, Captain Meredith, we will ex-
amine into this second charge against the
condemned man, which accuses him of be-
ing the son of the Gulf scourge, Brandt, the
Buccaneer.” ,

“Yes, sir; his accusers are Midshipmen
)Ienken and Martin.” answered Captain
Meredith, and Paul Martin was placed upon
the witness stand.

In a few words, and in a far'more straight-
forward Way than that in which he had. told
of the mutiny, he spoke of his meeting, while
with Midshipman Menken. a sailor in the,
restaurant np’totvn. and the. accidental hear~

leg that Mcrlewas a, bueeeneer’s son, and , ‘.

 

 

had
' ll‘l]

p N
the
I not
'l

(M
felt
tin;

HH'PS‘EO”

“I, .... u. ammo

 

 

 

LUS-

fall '

hat
en-

the *

tan

Eerie, the Boy firuiser.

his”

 

had been himself in early boyhood life, a
pirate on board his father’s vessel.

Menken then told the same story, and yet
the sailor who had told them the secret could
A not be found.

’i‘here were many to believe all that was
(ml against the poor boy, while a few others
felt for him in the iron chain of a cruel des-
tiny, which held him in bondage forever,

 

‘,“-to that port.

CHAPTER XX.
MAN OVEBBOAKD.

THERE was one thing that Captain Mere-
dith got done for Merle and Mleak, and
that was his time of execution postponed un-
til he could send an, officer to Washington,
and get a response from the Secretary of the

avy. ,.  \

Lawrence Langley was the midshipman
selected for this duty, and, as there were no
 railroads in those days to whirl a messenger
northward in less than a week‘s time to
Washington from New Orleans, he took a
packetship sailing for Baltimore, the day
after the sentence was passed upon the muti—
neer midshipman and his slave. _

) In his letter to the Secretary, Captain

Meredith had earnestly urged the early life
of 'Merle, his gallant services, love for Mez-
rak,'and the provocation of officers who
were envious of him, and had entrcated a

Z ' [pardon from the President for the boy and

, his slave, even though the youth was dis
missed‘from the service.

Lawrence Langley made a rapid run on,
find pr sented his dispatches and letters in
i ‘1‘"? t 8; but almost immediately was he
sent back, and the words of the Secretar ,
after an interview with the President,- d
the youn middy thatxthere was no hope for
said: , ' _,

~ “ Now, sir, hurry away, and you’ll catch
the outward-bound packet which leaves Bah
timore in the morning, and I sincerely hope
that the fate to be visited upon that hot-
tempered ’youth' will be a warning to the
young men of our service to understand'that
they must learn to command themselves be-
fore they7 do othemr‘,’ :: .

Lawrence Langley had of late taken a/great
fancyto Merle, audit was with a heavy heart
that beset out upon his return. ‘

[Upon reaching the ship, he was delighted
/ $9396 a young officer also in naval uniform,
. “Mint once introduced himself.

. ‘He found his, companion to be Bassed Mid-
fihilWPm Boy Vernon, who was on his way
she'd-low his vessel at Havana, intendin ,. he
;sa1 , to take another ship from New or eans

i’, ~ «he ve first day out. the .m‘iddies became

L fast frien g'and‘greatly enjoyed the sailm-x

 

 

Poor Mer e,’ for the distinguished oflicial had "

 

of the harbor, with the frowning fortress o’l‘
Mollcnry on their starboard, and the green
hills of Catonville far beyond.

Down the beautiful Chesapeake swept the
stately and fast-sailing craft, and by the
time she had dropped Cape Henry astern,
and was dashing through the waters of the
Atlantic, the two midshipmen appeared to
have known each other from infancy, the
bond of being sons of the sea. seeming to
bind them together in indissqluble chains of
friendship, 1 ‘

liochrnon, told Lawrence Langley all
about himself; and how he hoped to be an
admiral some day, and win a name second
only to Paul Jones, while Midshipman Lang-
ley seemed less ambitious; and would be
content to become a Decatur or a Preble.

Buthetold of his career too, and of the
sad fate that‘wnis‘ to befall a shipmate for
mutiny, that had been forced upon him,

Heifoundyin Midshipfixan'Vernon ‘3. most
sympatlicthic friend indeed,» and the two”.
youthful sailors ‘Were went to pace the‘deck
every night until a late hour, talking over
the misfortuneof poor rMerle, and hoping
iigainst hope that something “might yet save
um. - ' / '

,The day before the ship reached the/Delta :
of the Mississippi, a‘severe storm'struck her, "'
which hold on into the night, and the two
young friends remained on deck, anxious to
be ready to lend their aid to the captain‘and
crew should it be needed._  I

Suddenly, above the storm arose the thrill-
ing and-startling cry: v

“Man overboard.” Yr ’,

At once all was excitement, and at noth-
ing could be denc to aidsihe un ortunate
man. ‘ ‘ ' _ a: . ,A , ~

8 n it__,.appeared (that it was Lawrence '
Lan ' ey, and the story of his loss was soon
told y his messmates. 2 » r

The two had been standing together aft,
whens-a huge wave struck the ship, boarded,
rushed along the deck with irresistible force,
and when it had passed, Roy Vernon'discov-
cred that his friend was ‘g  and at once
gave the cry of‘alar _, thou he knewnoth-
mg couldybet‘dene t4; ave him... ‘ 

 ,‘CHAPTER XXI. 3’
' ‘st'u‘nn Mrnnr’s MISSION. '

CAPTth MAYO Mnnnnrrrfinaced the deck
of the Sea Wolf, watching t i
hertv'anchorage of ‘aclipper-ship, whichhhe
knew to be onset the passenger vessels'be-
tween the ports of New Orleans and Balti-
more/and a sister craftto the ions in which
Lawrence Langley hadrsailed some time,  '
fore. , , ./ ’ ' / ' ” ,
Although he hoped, his messenger would
M with all due haste, he hardly dared hope

 ,

‘ /

c running into, ' ’

i

 

   
 
  
  
 
   
  
 
  
  
 
   
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
   
 
  
   
     
     

 

 

'rovage, the vessel coming in.

'into his own easy-chair, held forth his hand

days, air, and I would like toreturn in

‘MrW-flmm we...“ .

w '-‘-' 'N... a, _. ..
._ , w» 33—;“r¢—~ -,--. 1— , t.

26 Marie, the Boy owner.

 

that he had been able to catch, on the return

But seeing, after she reached her anchor:
age, that a boat was coming toward the
cruiser, having just put off from the clipper,
and an ollicer in uniform was in the stern-
sheets, he muttered: ’

“ By Neptune! Langley has made it.

“ God grant that the President pardoned
the poor boy!" >

Soon the boat reached the side of the Sea
Wolf, and a young officer ascended the gang-
wa and approached Captain Meredith.

taising his cap politely, he said:

“ Do I address Captain Meredith, sir?"

“You do.”

“I am Passed Midshipman Roy Vernon,
and have dispatches for you, sir, from the
Secretary of the Navy.”

“Ah! Mr. Vernon, I am glad to meet you;
butI sent dispatches of a most important
nature on by Midshipman Lawrence Lang-
le .” .r

“Alas! sir, he will never return!”

" What!” and Captain Meredith was great}
ly surprised.

, He was returning with me, sir, when he
Was lost overboard, three nights ago, in a,
storm."

"Poor, poor Langley! this is indeed most
sorrowful tidings you bring; but tell me, Mr.
Vernon, of the ispatches you bring me,”

and Captain Meredi, ‘led theyway into the .

cabin, the rniddy f rogyinghimu

“ Well, sir, what liav‘eyou for inc?" and
Captain Meredith, halting, motioned the
young officer to a seat, and, throwing himself

for the dispatches.

Two large sealed envelopes were handedlto
him, and breaking the seal, Captain Me dith
glanced over the contents, while he; ooked
troubled. ‘v

“Are you acquainted with thegnatp of
these dispatches, Mr. Vei‘nonfi37> 

“Iain, sir.” I ,  .

,“ Then you are aware that r. Langley’s
trip was useless?” '

“ Yes, sir.” i .

" The President not only refuses to pardon
poor Monte. but orders him sent, with his
slave, on t‘o Washington?" '

"' Yes. sir.” ,

“ And you are to take charge of him 7”

“I am, sir.” 'kf‘ ,

"He says nothingof guards?” '

"‘ I have men with me, sir, now on board
the clipper.” ,

I “‘if’ih, yes; well, when do you propose sail-
ln ..

“ The next clipper-packet goes in two

 

her.” ‘

“ You can do sot Mr. Vernon, and when '

you are ready to receive the prisoner 1 WM
turn him over into your charge."

“ And the slave, sir?”

“Oh, yes, and Mezrak, too, of course,"

Respectfully declining the captain’s invita»

tion to make the Sea Wolf his home while in
port, Roy Vernon went ashore and put up at
a hotel.

But. several hours before the sailing of the
clipper-ship, he was on board the Sea Wolf,
accompanied by four marines, to receive his
prisoners. \

The long stay between decks had taken
the color from Merle’s face, but he was stern
and fearless looking, and Mezrak wore the
same air of utter indifference to his fate
which had characterized him from the first.

Captain Meredith bade both Merle and,
)‘Iezrak-a sorrowful farewell, and there were
many sad faces among the crew, at sight of
seeing the brave youth going to his death.

They were soon on board the clipper, the
anchor was dragged out of the muddy bottom

of the Mississippi, and thevessel spread her 5

snowy canvas and sped do‘Wnthe river on her
northward voyage, while Roy Vernon paced
her deck and gazed listlessly at the shore, and
Merle, in the gloom that surrounded him,
pondered bitterly over his fate.

CHAPTER‘XXII.
A WELL-PLANNED PLOT.

.TnE good ship Reindeer had begun to feel],
l'of the Gulf, and was bowling mer- ;
rily along, having discharged her pilot an - v »

the swe

hour before, when Roy Vernon, who stood
talking to her captain on the quarter-deck,
suddenly started, and with a hasty ejacula-
tion darted into'the cabin. \ ,

The surprised captain wondered at his
strange departure, and a moment after the
midshipman returned. . V

“ Captain Mortlake, you must hail yonder
fishing smack for me, sir, as I just find I have
come off without my dispatches, having left
them at my hotel.”

“ I hope we are not going to lose you for
the voyage, Mr. Vernon}? said the captain.

“ I am sorry, sir, but it is imperative."

“ Indeed! and your prisoners?"

" Must return with me." - g
’ “ Then you wish me to signal the‘ smack?”

“I do, sir.”u ' ‘

The fishing vessel, a mile distant, and
standing briskly down toward the Reindeer,
was at once signaled to head so as to meet
the clipper ship / ‘ \

For awhile it seemed as though she was
not going to notice the order; but soon after

she altered her course; and in fifteen minutes '

more she was near enough to bail.

7

’A )rlez

 

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Merle; the Boy Cruiser. ’ _ 27

 

“He, the smack!” shouted Roy Vernon, in
1 seamanlike tones. .

“,Ay,"ay, the clipper!" came back in a

nrfl’ voice. _

“I wish you to run me back to New
Oileans."

“For gold I will," was the reply.

“ All right; you shall haVe it.”

“ I want a cool hundred."

“A hundred and fifty, if you wish.”

“All right; lufi up, and I’ll run close in.”

The clipper was soon lulled up with the
wind and lay to, and the smack stood close
in until a line was cast to secure her.

Upon the decks of the smack two old men
and one boy were visible, and the craft
looked as though her crew had had bad luck
with fishing. ’ ’

The transfer of Vernon and his prisoners
was soon made, and regretting to lose a
young comrade who had proven himself an
agreeable companion, the captain of the
 clipper held on his course, while the smack

 

‘  put back; toward the Delta of the Missis-

, sippi.‘ , , ,

Mezrak had been placed in the small-cabin,
and there they had remained but half an hour
when Roy Vernon entered. ‘ '

“ Well, Midshipman Monte, I think I
have done a mest clever trick,” he said, with
a smile. ' v

“ What is that, sir?” asked Merle.

 

the yard arm.” _
“ Saved us?” asked Merle, ln surprise.
‘1 Yes.”
“ I do not understand."
“ You are a mutineex?" ‘ - I
“ I was.” , _
“In that mutiny you and your slave killed
several men?” ,

 

 

   

 “‘We were so unfortunate.” _ '
'  “ You were tried for your cnme?’
. :3 “Yes.”
‘ f - ll ‘ 7)
g  . “£2;le guilty?

“ And sentenced to death at the yard-
. arm?"
, It 7) ‘

“Captain Meredith ot the execution put
off until he could sen an officer to Wash-
mgton?” ' '

" So he told me.”

“ The officer did no and 'l"

.'  “So I have been to] .”

~ _ "-Well, airfhad that officer reached New

ct . ‘; Orleans with the dispatches he bone, ‘ere
» ;‘_ this ou would have been dead.” ' '

“‘ ut you brought dispatches?”

:‘ 9-
v  ‘5'“ v'l‘L‘s'W

  
    
 

2: I a “ I brought what was taken as such; but
res my 231" Monte, the papers I took to Captain
~Met

ith' were forged!’

' .

 

Upon boarding the smack, Merle and,

“I have saved you and your slave from

 

“Forged?” .

“ Don’t look so startled.”

“ You astound me.” '

“‘ A mutin’eer astounded at forgery t”

" You forget you insult a prisoner in irons
who is unable to resent your words."

“True; i beg pardon.

“ But I repeat, those dispatches were for-
geries.”

“Explain, please.” 

“ Well, Midshipman Monte, I am a clever
hand with the pen, and I eraséd with acids
the writing of those dispatches and wrote in
what I wished.”

“ But why?"

“ To save you."

“ But how could you save me?”

“My orders, or rather those I wrote for
myself, were to the efiect that I should
bring you in irons to Washington, there to
be put to death.

" N ow, the real orders were that you should
at once he executed, as an exampleto the
young men of the service.”

“But why have you done this?” asked the
astonished Merle. ' . 1 ~ ‘

‘9 I serve a master,” ,

""A master?” :

“ Yes”! ' r ,

’ Who is he?” -

“ You will soon see him.” ,3,

“ What interest has he' in me?” ‘ '

“ A great interest, for he would not see
you die, unless by his hand.”

“Ah, heis a toe?”

“ Certainly." ‘ ,‘ .

“ You speak in mysterious tones.”

“ I’ll try and ex' lain:

“Midshipman angley was sent North

‘ with dispatches, and my master ordered me

to go ii onthe same vesse ."*
“ An youdid ?”
" Certainly; for I always obey orders.
“ Welly], formed the acquaintance of Mid-

shipman Langley, and we became good V
,friends on the trip North, andvhe was very 
kind to me, for then I wore feminine attire."

N Hal”
“ You read my secret."
“ You are awoman?”

‘ It I am.” Y, . ’
“ Go on wit ,our story.” i 
“ Welly Pgo‘t. rom Langley all he was go-

\

ing for, and I determined to return with ,

him, for that was what I was sent for. ' /
“Inthis disguise, and under the name of
a midshipman I once knew, I came back.
with Langley, and we became fast friends. I
“ I tried to get him to joinme in a plot to
save you, and he indignanth refused, and
threatened to betray me to t e’captam and
have me put in irons for the rest of the voy-

. age. '

 

  

Q8

 

“1 saw that he was in earnest, as soon as
the storm was over, and then I determined to
not, so I threw him into the Sea.”

“ Great Godl"

“ I did it to save myself, you know,
Monte. .

“ Well, the day after I got hold of his dis-
patches, altered them to suit myself, and
then determined to play the bold game,
which has otten you into my power, along
with our 5 ave here.” .

“ he guards?"

“ Are my men.”

" And where are you going,r now?”

“ Well, back to the city.”

“And your motive in saving me?”

“1 leave that for my master to tell you,
I may sa my husband, for he is on
board, havmg chartered this fishing smack
for the very purpose of heading off the
Reindeer.”

As the daring person who had played such
a strange rpart ceased speaking, she arose,
and a man entered the cabin.

()ne glance into that bold, handsome face,
and Merle Monte, in spite of his nerve and
h thitual Calm, uttered a cry, for he saw
hni'ore him none other than Brandt, the
1's’;t~«runmr, ______
CHAPTER XXIII.

. DEFIED AND DEF‘EA'I‘ED.

. “ WELL, my lad, I am about the last man
you expected, or cared to see just now?”
said Brandt the Buccaneer, in a pretended
tone and manner of friendship, as he entered
' the cabin.

“ Yes, I was in hopes you were at the bot-
tom of, the sea," was the hold reply. ,

"‘ No such bad luck for me; or good luck
for‘you.”

" So it seems”

, “ Well, I have saved you from the yard-
arm."

“ Why?" -

“ I had a good motive.” ,

f‘ You evidently played a bold and Success-
ful gamei”~ , "

“Oh, that was the woman’s game.

“She is my wife, as ‘she doubtless told
,youybut one who, believing me false to her,
muhht to kill me; but, as usual, Satan looked
after his own and saved me. ~

" She fell into m power, and with threats
to kill her child
work of getting you free. and she has won
her freedom and the life of her child thereby,
and I Will lend them and let them go their
way.” . l

“ And my slave and myself?” asked
~ Merle.

2 h r “ go“? do you mean?” '
“' hat is to be our fate?" I r

t

  

Eerie, the fioy cruiser.

made her do the clever-

 

. slave refuse .to divulge the secret offwhere,
l. '

 

V .... ,-

“That depends upon yourselves.”
“ Well?"

“You are free to go where you please

when you have done what I demand.”
“ And that is—”
” That you tell me a secret."
“ Ah! I know now all that you wish.”
“It is to find the treasureI know your
father, Montezuma, possessed, and which
that black bid on some island, Where the
yacht was wrecked, and where you were
brought up.” ‘
“ Well, you will never knowfl
“You mean it?”
“ I do.” i .
“I will give you your life, and let you
take half the treasure.” '
IINO.)! ’
“ I will torture you to death if you re-
fuse.” V ,
“ I refuse.” ,
An impatient oath ,escaped the lips of the
man, and he turned to Mezrak.
“You will not be so foolish?" he said,
“Mezrak has no fear of death,” was the
quiet reply of ’the slave, who had been e si-
lent, but attentive listener to all that had
passed. '
“ But you have of torture?”
Mezrak shook his head. v
"’ If you do not tell I will torture you botl
until you shriek forth in your agony the-se-
cret I would know."
“ Try us,” said Merle, contemptuously.
“ Boy, see what you throw awayl",
” I know.”
“That treasure is worth millions, for I
know well its value."
“And so do If? ’ 
_ “ Half of it will give you a fortune beyond
that of a prince, and. you can go to Europe

and remain until you grow to manhood, and I

then no one will know you as the mutineer
midshipman, and you can revel in your’gold.

" You are brave, for I remember well '

our courage; and my vessel would not;
lave been taken that night but for your

dariu .” ,
“ bank you."

“ You need not thank me, for I speak but

the truth. _ _ ‘ ,

“I tried to beat you back, for I did not
wish to kill you as I could have done, for
the secret of the treasure would die with
you; but ,you fought like an enra ed tiger
and finding my vessel was lost,

swam ashore.” ,
“ I hoped you haddrowned." ’
."No, I

but ,we will see.

I “Now tell me. do you and this black‘

 

 

 

slipped . 
into the sea, followed by a few men, and «

guessI/was born to be hanged; _. j ;

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

' gem e
'1:

caneer. was _

v ' ' Montezuma, are the pirate, whose red deed
‘1, ’Will Spread terror the world over." =

 I “No. no,

filli’ieri‘od Merle.~ - .

)

 
 

. life, so
for me.

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

29

 

 

lies that island where your treasure is .
buried?”
_ “I do.”

“ And the master knows well that no tor-
ture can wring from me the secret,” answered
Mezruk.

“ Well, we shall see."

“ Yes!"

“Now my plan is to run this craft back to
New Orleans; and first set Victorie. my wife,
and her child free, for I shall keep mygword
to her, as she so cleverly got you into my

H -

P‘ It will be the first act of justice you
were ever guilty of, I’ll warrant," said Merle,
bol’dly. '

” t shall be the last.

“ But to my story. After I have disposed
of her. I she I cut out the cutter again, and
set sail in her, for I have a comrade now
getting me a good crew, and in her I shall
put to sea, carrying you and )Iezrak with
me.

“ If so you will then, we will head for the,
Treasure Island, and I will keep my word
with you. ,

“ If you refuse, then I shall again hoist the
black flag. and Cu will be responsible for
the red deeds of raudt the Buccaneer.”

“ Oh, my conscience will not trouble me
for your acts!"

“But you will regret not doing as I ask
vou."

“ Bah! I will regret nothing.

“The envy and hatred of several brother
officers made me a mutincer. and l have been
tried and sentenced for my crime, and poor

- .‘th-Zl'flk with me.

“ You have succeeded in getting n‘s into

' your power, through the plot of a clever

woman. who ruined~—ay. nurrdered-—~poor

' Langley to save her child from your cruelty,

and you threaten me with death if 1 refuse
to divul e the secret of Where my treasure
lies llidt on. I

“Branded as a mutmeer, I care not for
.your threats of death hold no terror
7) I y

31

1' “But torture shall. i I
force my lips to speak,

“No, you cannot

‘ i and Mezrak you will find even more firm
’ than I.”

‘ “ Well, your escape will soon be known,
and I shall spread it around that you are
indeed my son, and that I aided you to

ghen I shall let it be known that you 
the cutter Out. and that I, Brandt the Bun.
' killed; and .1118!» you, Merle

“It is just what I shall do, b0 .

“Piracy is about ended on tile high seas,
and in a year longer, perhaps a shorter time,
a black flag will not be found upon the
waters.

“But I know well the seas, and for a long
time I will elude all pursuit and run my red
Way until I have gained treasure enoughto
live on; but, mark me, boy, you will be be-
lieved to be the pirate. for the World will not
know that you and your black slave are
chained to the floor of my cabin, dying by
inches.

“ Now you know what; to expect, 50 talk
with the black and decide what you Will do."

“ Master has no need to ask Mezrak, for
he knows what is in my heart.”

“Bravo, Mezrak,” cried Merle. ,

“If master wishes to save his life, let him
tell where lies the island, but the lips of Mez-
rak will never speak the secret, nor the
.hands of Mezruk hold the tillerxthat uides a
vessel there that is not commande by my
master.”

Merle said simply:

“You have heard, Sir Pirate.”

With a bitter oath Brandt arose and left
the cabin. ‘

CHAPTER XXlV.
A DOUBLE SURPRISE.

IT was but ten days after the sailing of

the elippership, in which the pretended
Midshipman Roy Vernon had sailed with his
prisoners, when one of the line of vessels came
up the river, and dropped anchor in front of
the city.
, lt was evident that the vessel had been in
collision with another craft, as her bows
were badly stove in, and her‘bulwnrks' shat-
tered. , . ‘ '

Soon it became know that she had col-
lided in a dense fog wit the outuurd going
clipper-ship of the same line, and that the
other vessel had been so badly damaged that
she sunk soon after, though. ll the‘ pas-
sengers were saved and brou ht back to
port. . r , . 

Alarmed at the report, Captain Meredith
visited the vessel to ascertain,some news re,»
garding Merle‘ and Midshipman Vernon fl 

He soon returned on board the Sea $01.
with a troubled face, for he had learned of
the mysterious departure of the midshipman,
his prisoners a d guard. ‘ v ,

As he had de ivered the dispatches in per—
son to' the pretended middy, he knew that he‘
could not have left them. . I
. And why'had they not come back to. the '
city“? * ‘ .

"The weather . had been fair. the so ark
when brarded, near the Delta, and; tilt: should

 

 

you will not, bad as you are, do

.545

a.

have returned a week before.

\' v‘,

   

l

"   ‘A
1: 

.-«r:-r;-Ici-su; «v.1. ‘

, ":1

'30

; deck, and hastily ascending,
,dith had another surprise.

:yelled the captain, and in spite at the storm

‘-.,

w. u

" a e - ..
'eNWt=15.rmwxfi"'rt" .r. .M;“  v -» -. a. .'
.m w . swim -   .- 

Then Ca tain Meredith read over his dis-
patches, an by examining them carefully he
saw that the seals and paper had been tam-
pered with.

Holding the pa. er up to a light, he discov-
ered erasures, an at once he knew some-
thing was wrong.

Going ashore, he heard a startling rumor,
that it was reported how Brandt, the Bucca-
neer, had, by a most clever ruse, rescuedhis
son from the clipper ship.

Returning on board the Sea Wolf, Captain
Meredith ordered his senior lieutenant to go
on board the cutter, which was lying near,
and instantly fit her out for sea, while he
would see that a crew was enlisted for her in
the town.

The officer obeyed his orders with alacrity,
and in three da 5’ time the pretty and War-
like little Sea erpcnt was ready to sail, and
all that was needed was the coming on board
of her crew which had been enlisted for her.

Then, to add still more to the chagrin of
Captain Meredith, a vessel arrived with the
mails and brought dispatches from Washing»
ton saying that it was hoped by the Govern-
ment that the death sentence on Merle, the
mutineer midshipman, had been immediate-
ly carried out upon ’ the return of Midship-
man Lawrencc Langley, with orders to that
‘eflect.

Then Captain Meredith knew that he had
been cruelly deceived by Roy Vernon, and
felt that after all Merle had been rescued by
Brandt, the Buccaneer. who must be, as

‘ rumor said, the father of the youth.

For Merle’s sake, loving the boyr as he did,
he was lad that he had escaped death; but
yet he readed, with such a father, what the
b0 ‘5 future might be.

he next day the Sea Serpent was to ’re-
ocive her full complement of men and set
sail, and Captain Meredith went to his cabin
to prepare his dispatches.

It was a nasty night on the river, for the
wind was blowing hard, and a driving mist
made the vessels in the stream invisible even
at their own length aw‘ay.

Suddenly there were loud voices heard on
Captain More-

A boat belonging to a merchant craft had
just come alongside, and the mate in it, who
was returning from the shore on board his
vessel, had seen halt" a dozen boats, crowded
with men, suddenly board the cutter lying
the eighth of, a mile down the river, cut her
cables and set sail, while on board were
heard angry voices, then orders and the clash
of steel. _ I.

“ 110, men, ahoy! all‘hands to make sail!”

Merle, the Boy Cruiser.

 

  

- 5:".- fiflw‘acgm .4!“ . ,.., .

r

J

dhe‘ Sea Wolf was at once a busy scene of
action. .

But ere she swung loose, to start in pur-
suit, another boat ran alongside, and in it
was the officer who had commanded the cut-
ter, and the half-score of men who were
with him. . ' 

In a few words his story was‘told. of
how he had been in his cabin, when sudden—
ly he was confronted by half a dozen masked
men. ~ » ‘

He had resisted and called to his men'; but
the fight was too unequal, the cables had
been cut, and the vessel was under sail and
headed down-stream, with over sixty piratt s
on board. '

He had been hustled into a boat, with his
men, and told to pull for the’eruiser, with
the information to Captain Meredith that
Merle, the mutineer midshipman, was cap.
tain of the Sea Serpent, and he would sail
under the black flag in future, as he had
been condemned 'to death under the Stars
and Stripes. v'

“ Did )lerlc Monte give“‘you this message
for me?” asked Captain Meredith, in a trem~
bling voice.

“ No, sir, but he sent an oflicer to me with
the message,” was the reply.

“Did you see Merle Monte?”

” I did, sir.” ‘

“ He was then the chief?" ‘ ‘

“He was in the cabin, and Mezrak was
with him, sir. ' ‘ .

“ As we stood near the cabincompanion-
way, while my men were getting into the

boat, the pirate oflicer who had charge of me

said:

“ ‘Thcre is our young chief, and he‘ll
make a fearful name upon the sea.‘ ” '

“I looked into the cabin, and my eyes fell
upon the mutineer midshipman.”

“ There was no mistake?”

“None, sir.” I. . ' .

“Poor, misguided boy; well, let us go in.
pursuit at once," said the captain, sadly:

And down the river, through the darkness
and storm, sped the Sea Wolf, in Chase 01' the
captured cutter, now over a league ahead.

But- when the (lawn broke thelcruiser"

found that the cutter had gained greatly, and
none on board the Sea Wolf ever Saw the
little craft again,

Some said she was sunk .ona reef, Others
that she was none'other than the Floating
Feather, a pirate craft that was the last keel
over which the black flag floated in the Gulf
of Mexico. . ‘,

int what really btcame of the bee :‘wr.
pent, and what late hcfell »Merlc,'thc Buy
Cruiser, is told in the story known as
“ Merle’s Island Treasure.”

' 7 THE END.

u
I , ,

 

v M M. ; m’ M...

 

._. .W....-fl _

 

\ PRICE, mm cmxrs;\ \

S

afiADLE’

f'EPOCKET LIBRARY.

 

 

 

lfl lOF‘Fl pl— V‘ a
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Whoohv- ‘

1 Deadwood Dlek, the Prlucu or the Road. By
Edward L. Wheeler.
“lug; or, The Red Right. Hand. By
Buff“) Bi . v
8 Ta: Flynn: X unkee. 3y Cal. Prenliu Ingraharn.
3. Double Daggers. By Edward L. Whedlvl’.
he Two Dctefllven or, The Fortune. «1’ a
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The Prolrle I Hot. By Buflnlo Blll.
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“'1” Ivan, [he Buy Clmrdn Duvnl. By E. L.Wheelor.
Diamond lurk; nr,’Tl|~I Mynery of tho: Ysllow-
stone. By Cnltrnvl l’rentisn lngrulmm.
Kuen-Knll'c. Prince of tlm Prnlrivr, By Oll Coomel.
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27 Glam-E o, the Gram. Shot of the: \‘l out. By Copt. J.
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29 chk Darling. the PonyErpreu Rider. By Captain
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30 Bob \V 0011', the "order Ruffian. By E L. Wheelrr.

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hatchmammmmwmmhmcnwwmhhhmwmmhummmhmmmmmummmhwgf‘

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0 Bl t Illnrel’oot, the Wood—Hawk. By T. C. Har—

‘llll I.
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68 ldyl, 1hr Girl Mineg or, Rzubud Rob on Hnud. By
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orns. '
0 flux-e Eliot Both. the Boy Riflemnn. By Oll Coomu.
1 Sharp Sum: or, The Adventures ofn Friendleu Boy.
lly .1. Alexander Patten.

72 The Lion ofthe Sen. , By Alherl W. Aiken.

73 Photograph l’hll,tlw Bo; Sleuth; or, Rosebud Rnh'n
Renypenrance. liy E. L. Wheeler.

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llv Charla Mono.

7:, [niand Jim; nr,The PM. of the Family. By Bruce.
hrhlge llemyng (.lm-lr llnrkaway).

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7’? Dick Dead Eyc. the hay Smugglgr. By Cul. x'.
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31 The Sun Vipbr. Ry Col. Prenliu lugrahnm.

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83 Cnnudn Chet. the Cowurfeltcr Chief. By Edward

‘L. M‘ lee er. ‘

84.11“: bum
Capt. Frederlvlg/Wlmuxhe‘l. .

85 The Boy '11 liner-A. By Ellwnl" S. Ellin.

86 Jack llurlulwny In Now York. By Bruce-
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87 The. lummr (7n lain. l3y(.'ol.l’n~nii.=s Ingmhnm.

SS llcndu‘ood Illa In Londtllle; or, A Slrflnga
Sh (‘lie for Lzhvrly. ‘ lly Edward ll. W hauler.

89 Blll Blddon, Trapper; or, Liie in the Northwun.
By Edward 5. Ellis.

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91 Mun mg b m, the King at the l’lnius. By Joni.
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92 The (on “laodhound. By Smmn-l W. Pence.

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8 Ned min

89 Deadlfirn , thu Unknown-Scout. B lluflnlolilll.

40 Nick IJIEW: Pet» By Capt. J. .C.Adnm.. ,

41 Deadwood Dlevk’a E lu; or, The Par-d: of
Flood “or. By Edward L. Vheolu’. ‘ ’

42 The Border King. By Ollpoomn.

48 (Ma lilokory; or, l‘nndy Elli-M Scllp. By Hurry

George.

St.
‘44 The “'hltc Indlnn; or, 'l‘lu Scent. of the Yellow-

stone. By Ch ;I. J. . C. Adams. . , /
lhlekhorn {Klllg 01, Thu RM Blllo Tem.’ By
Edward L. Whaler.
‘6 The Shadow Ship. By Col. annllal Ingrnhgm,
4-7 The Red Brotherhood. Bv W. J. Humrltnn.

p
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,on

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3811;: :R'zheme-Kller. B Alb-In flirt...

 

 

 

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l)? The. Block steed ol'tho l’nllrlen. By June:

, b. Huwzll.
$8 The Son Serpent. lly Juan Lewiu.
99 Bonnmm Bill, the Man 'l‘rnclarr. By E. 1.. Wheeler.
100 Not Todd" or, The Ville of the Sioux Captive. By
Edward 5. Elm. ’ ,
101 Dal-In]; [hwy ;v the Younk Buur Killer. By Barry

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‘ (é 'cudw .i IM'. 8 Ca t. lJu-ne Reid.
1015 chip, ll“: Gm Spun. Bnyd‘Em-tl 1;. “'heeler.
|04 1|“! film-I: Helmoner. By Roger Stnrbm‘h.
105 llnndnomo'llnrry, “15 Bootblnch Dehcms. By

48 Band Joel; or The ()uthm ofthe ankon 'l‘rall. Charles Mon-rm.
; By lye. Hmh‘mm ' j 106 leht-llnwk Klt: or,¢ha Daughter of the R-nch.
AflVllul-riaane Bill; or, Mulinngfiam and ll‘iI“I’ard.” By Joe. E. Badger. Jr. ,
V g» 5). low“! E K". n v 10‘? Jae “file‘s Lend. Ry EdwarLL. Wheeler.
50 Single and yet. A Lite {0: n Lila. By W. J. 108 R‘oek . ountaln Kit. B\' T. C. Hmbnugh.
Hamllw 1,09 “he 1 rumled "and. B Frank Dnmuut. '

1 10 The Dread Ride

. Issued Every Wedmm’hy'y
Bundle’a Pocket Library in for ml» by an N"...
dpalgfay five cents per copy, or nut by mail on rvceim n! pix
can" nah.
BEADLE 4h ADAMS. l'ubllshen,

93 “’llllaln'filruet, New York. ‘

 

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,5; The aura" no)“. um ' mi» ROW", 111 Ron: Boll. the Kingornoowmlh. 15y E. nwn .
Br Buflnlo Bill. ’ ~i ‘ "sud r 112 The Ralph's: "and; By,Cupl. Mayne 33.13?"
53 Gold Rina: ")0 Shlmhoodu. B E. 1.. Wheeler. 1'3 Si’flf'l’i’fle sad]; “10S lent Nunler. By 01] Comm.” . . "
54 on! Zlv’I 09mm or.A Gran ornlnlhe Wourll. l4 l’lney r’nub a u M unmin Bo -: or. 1'5. um.’ r
llv Capt. J. Ericka???“ .’ 115 film); or “33  T. ?. “aiming. ' ' V. ._
‘ ware I: , t u R; .I . en woo e I lull e. By E. . W mm. x a“!
55 "redial. r 'n“ an" 8” B) 0“ 116 Johan Coffin. Skip er. By Cum. l". Whimfio‘er. i“ '
; ’l‘om “'estern.’ By W. J. mmnwn. 11? Fancy Frank, 0! ado. “‘By “Burma 8m." .,

 

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“118 Wm Wlldliro, um 'l'lmruuglmrml. Hy 1.7mm. Mun-h. 154 Featherweight, :‘ne Buy Spy. Hy Edward eru. I
119 Iglolnlllcll‘ lily/Inn] Dumhwo-l Jm-lx‘s Home Bus... “5 mm" m“, um Overland mum “y Curvpnwfl }
3' LI wu ' A. m: er. - H I Inm‘ulmmi \ . .v ‘
120 (‘0 her Gl lh-Hu3"[‘rnpwr. 1;; I.('.-I‘[urlmu;z:|.
121 lingry Arlfiatrinm the ‘npmin ot‘lhc Cluh. By 186 Dainty Lnuee und III. Flu-(l. Hy Jusepb E.
'122 "ii‘hcelfiidga “Sufi”, :Jnck Iguyklnyayug I m Budgcr, r. / a I
l u t ml or. ‘ 1' war . ‘2 s. , I v y ' . r .
l Sollflil 1"“:th Boy Rand-Agent. Hv . Wheeler. 18? {he ’lrrnvm Tiger 1‘1"" $3 Chm“ Mmfl"
- Jutlge‘ ynch. Jr, My ‘1‘. t‘ 1.. "wk 188 The ‘mltrlloqnlnt Deteeuv’cjfiv Edward L.
"V ' 5 The Lan Pirates. By (Inp’l. .“nynz Reif]. Wheulcr. H I 
186 June gnaw; :Dor. The firm 0 Day Bow u! Rocky 18,9 01d Bach’s Boys. .By guys“... 5. Hull.
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12‘? #:ruy i‘..¥."u.« Wig. By Edwnrd L. Wheuler.’ 190 51m§lmpklnsy Sumt- B) Mined-Emm- w' .
128 Elm-k Buns, WHI' Wildfire’s 3:603“ {iv U. Mun-n. 191 Dandy Rock’s Rival. By (goo. ‘Va‘ld01810wna.
129 In 10 K ' um Hwy-Demon. 'l y ‘oomes. 5‘ .. . . x. . _
130 Gofil 'l‘vllg'ger, thé Sport. By T. C.Harl}aunh. v ll”: "1‘ Laryv Hun-5' B) HM” Bbzqevm'fie'
I)“ A Game 01‘ Gold; or, hmdwood DICk'H H}; I)» bctu‘lhe Jush G‘rhu. By Edward L. Wheeler.
182 ST"!- Bl" WWW! L‘l‘WNS‘IH’t- B J F R 1 J 194 Profipevt l’ctc, um Boy Minor. By OIICoamen.
n n IV min-u lnu ny.‘ ml: . y . n u ff‘l’ r. ‘ u . .‘ . ,, -
138 Wild-lire. the imam... rm. By Fnlnk’lifi‘mxzml. 19" '1 "9' “WWW-‘0‘ Tram" BY 1‘ Cn"""9“£"‘
13:} “Ike Men-y. um HnrhanoHv'alioy. Byt. Mums. 196 The Dnndy Detectlve. By Charles Morris.
135 llengi\y4:ml luck of Deadwood. If): Elwurd 19? Boy, [ha You”: fume King, 3y Col. P.1ngmhnnfi .

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136 1nd Rube. muumr. Bv'i'u n. Hhmiltanllohneg. 19$ Maw-3' Dan a flask. By Frank Dun-om.
131 “mm-V “99k “"3 M‘“ rm“ ’““3' “3' G' W" ‘10 199 Dietlmngry Not. Dewcthe. By T. C. Harimuah.
IOWIIC. .

a”,  ' _Bub Rot-ken. the Buy mag". ny an... Mum. 200 The Tnfiu’flomemgn. By Cnth“. W‘bflLaklr.
- T1“. In “4;. mum: or, 'Dnini’y lem in Jeupalfdy. 201 Dandy Burke’s Parting ,fiy Wm. K. Finish

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“Y "0'6 | 33' BMW" ‘h' 202 Tulll le Tvxzm Tiuer. Byfll Gnomes.
140 C Ariznnn. By Phi“ F. W: mo. 1 , ’ "’ ‘ r 
In x‘e‘fi‘fiu'wulmu, um Boy-51m DLAm-tivn. By . 203 5am. “I‘- 0610” 3”.“ Br Charles 11°13'- . if?

 {I'I'rrlmlql‘nwNIP“, \I R 0]“ > 201 The Young (‘mflmgu B) (‘01. l’. lnL'rEham.

. «- exnn.) m r-una. u anger. y 'oomes. , v . _ . _ _ H _ . . ) 4.
1-13 Dr'udly anh; or, Fig/wing Fire with Fire. By ‘30" ’1'“ l‘ “'"u‘ r DU“ “‘ '" By I" I“ “ 1"" “'~ -_
’ .lml. E. mam. , Jr. 206 “'.]Ilt(‘ Lightning; ur,'1'h9 Boy Ally. By '1‘. 0..
1414 Luth Grfl,’ me Wlld ‘Rinlgr; "g, mum, mason-k Ilewbnuglx. .3; _
45 $‘fl’g“vi\;;::'§:£¥'uow (lull:  202' Kflgtucl‘l' Tfayrt‘!‘ “and! or, Thr Rad Llhlfl.
44! The (3mm. King. Ih' Frank Dumom. . ’ if} .‘I'N‘ L "I" _‘ to“:
4? Nnbhy .V'Ivk orNevuda. By Edward L. Wheeler. 208 {runner '1qu a (moth: )h'utery. By QM.
Ag Eilglllgt‘l'kifll T‘onll. Balhrry St. Hem'ge. .4 ' bmnne-‘h . , I

o m. 9",, L m Sun): unnur. By C. Morris. 309 The “em”.ger.not luggage“ 3V and"...
‘0 The Hm! ‘1 er. My (1‘. W: l'iu Brnvne. . . ’ ’ _ ’ _ V ' . 
‘ ‘51‘ 1“. guy Tana“ ;;y(;.‘1_lg;m,,u;a “Imam” 310 'lhc lluuchbuek offlle flinch B) J. h.Mdger.
62 anxndy Elan-kc; 01-, The Tigrrs or High, Pine. 13:,- : an Litfle flhmfi find H19 Bum). By‘l’.  Warn.

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15- The Buy Trulleru. By Jug. E. Badger, Jr; 313 The Pix-an n 1 rue. by (7. Dunumg dark.

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1;; gal ;1'omll)lle;'fi|w’ Ugdnr “my.” H;.'I‘I.‘('i~ly§mlinuxh. 216 The (“owlmy Captain. B) CD]. P. lngnh-‘m.

‘ m“ WM“ “ ‘ ‘ mm" "I 1" ' "3‘3"" 217 Bald Head of Ulc- Rock“! B Sam H H

59 P tent-I maker Jm‘umr- m.~ 8mm ,5. 1- 3’  " .
gum. ‘ “l 3  ‘9 215 The Minersmm. By Edu-de..Wheel;~r. 

160 ’hdhhl lHlly, menoy Ell“\v}|uclul‘.}1y Coluf’. 219 Buck, the "mm.va By A, w, Aiken.

 

 

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l‘ le,.Swm. Bxlmvurx! 3.‘ Elm. 228 The Frau-her Doom-“ye. Byfillfioumu.
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