\\\

 

. Publ‘ndw Id de1 and
No. 331. 333. 13 :10. ,H‘iimzmmysfifims  am’ m‘l’bfiim. V01. XXVI.

 

 

  

The Coast Detective;

THE SMUGGLE_R§’ SHADOWER.

BY ROGER STARBUCK,

AUTHOR or “ BIG HORN IKE,” “ FIRE~}1EELS,”
“THE GOLDEN HARPOON," mo, ETC.

CHAPTER I.
A FOE.

“ WHAT are you doing here, boy? Is this the
way you attend to your master’s business?”

The tone and manner of the speaker were
haughty and insolent to young Robert Brown—
the person he addressed—a fine—looking Ameri-
can youth of seventeen—one of the clerks em-
ployed hv John Carlm, shipping goods merchant
of New York. Carlos was a wealthy Spaniard,
Who, besides his residence in this city, had a
beautiful home in Mexico, about ninety miles
north of Tampico. to which he sometimes re—
- sorted. Having also a storage agency near
Tumpico, he usually took young Brown with
him to his Southern mansion, to there look over
the accounts on piles of lodgers, which often
were sent to him from the warehouse.

On the day of which we write the boy had
been told by his employer that he might have a
holiday of ten hours. and he had then strolled
along the bank of the Santander River, which
swept past the extensive grounds of the Carlos
mansion. Finally he had noticed seated under
a tree, on the river—shore, the merchant‘s
daughter, Isabel—a beautiful brunette of fife
teen.

To tell the truth be loved and admired her;
but he had been careful not to make this known,
for, besides his having received no encourage-
ment from her, he knew that Carlos, who was a
proud man, would be indignant and would dis-
charge him at once. Were he to even guess at his
poor clerk’s sentiments t0ward his daughter.

While he stood behind the shrubhery, several
hundreds of feet from the maiden, observing
her round, lithe form and lovely face, some one
touched him on the shoulder, and turning, he
beheld Captain Philip Cardiiias, who command-
ed a small armed Mexican sloop—a cruiser
against the smugglers that sometimes ran up
the coast.

Cardinal; was about twenty—n. slender young
man of dark complexion, who might have been
handsome, but for the uneasy, Shifting glances
of his black eyes. He had known John Carlos
and his daughter since he was a mere child,
and Brown had not unfreqnently seen him walk-
ing. out with Isabel. He had never before this
noticed the lad, except by a brief supercilious
glance; but now, as he put the question, he look-
ed at him fiercely and intently.

The youth at first was so surprised by the
words of the speaker that he made no reply.

“Come, answer me,” repeated the captain,
sternly. “ What are you doing here, neglectmg
your master’s business?”

Robert’s eyes flashed.

“1 would advise you to mind your own and

 

 

 

The Coast Detective. v

2‘

not to speak to me in‘ that way,” he replied.)
“ We Americans are not used to having our 6111--
ployers spoken of sis our masters I”

“ Be careful there, fellow! you forget who
you are speaking to. Beg my pardon, or I’ll
flog it out of you 1”

And he raised a small cane he held, as if
intending to bring it down across the boy’s.
back.

Robert instantly pulled the cane from his.
grasp and broke it in two.

“ Miserable little whelpl you shall have a.
thrashing all the same!” cried the Spaniard.

He grasped him by the throat, but are he
could strike him, the lad dealt him between the
eyes a well-directed blow, which nearly stunned,
him, causing him to let go his hold.

“Furies!” shouted the other, as soon as he
could speak, “ You shall suffer for this l”

Just then a shriek from Isabel diverted [the
attention of the two disputunts, and both saw
the girl struggling in the current of the river,.
which was hearing her further from them every‘
moment.

They ran swiftly along the bank, and, when'
opposite to the imperiled maiden, Cardinas
threw himself upon a log, drifting near the-
shoro, and, pushing it before him, swam toward
the young lady, while Robert, who had kept on
a few yards further than his companion, leaped
far into the river, and, striking out vigorously
was fortunate enough to head the girl off, and
seize her as she was sinking, while Cardinas
was still some yards distant. Puttingaband
under her shoulder, the boy raised her face above
the surface.

“ Don’t be afraid,” he said. “ I will save you.
The tide will help us to the rock, onlyafew
fathoms off, and the water between that and the
bank is shallow enough for wading.”

dBut Isabel could not hear him; she had faint-
e .
A few minutes later Robert reached the rock
and got upon it with his lovely burden in his
arms. Heedless of the shouts of Cardinas for
him to await his coming, he forded the water,
gained the bank, and moved on with the sense-
less girl toward the mansion. As the weight
was heavy for a lad of his years, he was soon
obliged to pause to rest. He laid Isabel on the
ground, and, at the same time, catching sight
of a smelling-bottle, which had dropped from
her pocket, a few yards behind him, he ran to
obtain it, hoping to thus restiu‘e his chargeto
her senses.

Just as he turned, Cardinas, who had come
up, emerged from the shrubbery through which
he had been running, lifted the girl, and hast-
ened on with her toward the house.

She was placed upon a lounge, and, restora-
tives being applied, she opened her eyes, just 85
her father came into the room.

“ My child—” he began, anxiously, when Car-
dinas seized his hand.

“She is coming to,” be interrupted» “Pray,
don’t excite yourself.”

“Thank God i” cried Don Carlos. “_To you
then, from what I have heard, I am indebted
for the life of my daughterl"

(Izirdinas bowed.

“ It was fortunate,” he said, “ that I happened

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

The Coast Detective. 3j

 

to be on the bank. The first notice I received of

Isabel’s peril was her shriek, uttered probably at
the moment she fell into the river!”

“ You have acted nobly,” said Don Carlos.
“ Depend upon it I shall never forget the great
service you have rendered me, and,” he added,
lowering his voice, “ I shall not fail to speak of
it to Isabel.”

Isabel was soon sufficiently recovered to tell
how she came to fall into the river. She had
reached too far over the edge of the bank to pluck
a flower she saw there, and had lost her bal-
ance.

“ Excepting a slight headache, I now feel as
well as oVer,” she remarked, in response to her
father’s anxious look.

Then she arose and left the room to change
her attire.

The moment she was gone, Cardinas turned
to Don Carlos:

“ You have a. clerk here—a little ruflian
named Brown?”

“ I employ a boy of that name," answered the
merchant, looking surprised.

“ I think you would discharge him if you
knew his true character.”

“ Discharge Brown? Why, I have always
found the boy good and faithful to me.”

“The fellow imposes on you. He is at this
moment lounging on the river-bank, instead of
attending to his duty.”

“ You are mistaken, Philip. I gave him a
holiday.”

“Oh, did you? Well then of course that is
all right so for, but I don‘t think you would like
to hear thatI caught him watching your daugh-
ter from behind a clump of shrubbery, in a very
impudent manner.”

Don Carlos frowned, then he smiled.

“()h, as to that,” he said, “you know he is a
mere hey. I ha ve no objection to his admiring
Isabel—at a distance.”

“Have you not? Well, I did not like his
looks, and I merely requested him to move
aside to lot me pass, when the little rascal had
the audacity to call me ‘ fellow,’ in a way
which made me angry. I raised my cane and
would have given him a flogging had not your
daughter’s shriek at that moment diverted my
attention.”

“ You mean to sav that he had the impudence
to insult a friend of mine?”

“ He did so, and more than that, be doubled
up his fist, and would, I have no doubt. have
struck me, had I attempted to thrash him.”

“I will speak to him about this, and induce
him to apologize to you.”

The young captain’s eyes twinkled. He knew
that Brown would not consent to do this, and he
also knew enough of Don Carlos to feel sure that
he would discharge the lad from his employ for
refusing.

Cardinas. soon after, departed to repair to his
vessel, the St. Mary by name, anchored near
the mouth of the river.

 

CHAPTER II.
A SURPRISE.

A SHORT time after the young ca tain was
gone, Don Carlos sent for Robert rown to

 

come to the apartment which he used as a sort-
of office in his mansion.

“Robert,” said the merchant. “I learn that
you have insulted Captain Cardiuas, one of my
best friends.”

“ 0n the contrary, sir, he insulted me. I
merely defended myself."

Then he went on to give a frank and truthful
account of the whole affair.

“ Your account differs from his,” said Don
Carlos. “ You were too hasty. Unless you are
willing to apologize to the captain, you must
leave my employ. Take your choice.”

“ I will then have to leave you, sir,” au—
swered Robert, “ for I will not apologize for de-
fending myself.”

“ Here,’ said Don Carlos, taking out his
pocketbook, “is your salary for this month,
which ends tomorrow.”

Having taking the amount due him, Robert re—
paired to his room and proceeded to pack up his
clothing. He had not been gone a. minute,
when Isabel entered her father’s room.

The merchant’s grave face lighted up at
once.

“ Glad enough I am you were saved,” he said.
“How can we ever repay him for the gallant
deed 3"

“It was anoble deed," said Isabel.

“ Isabel, I—I—think you like this young fel-
low? He is handsome, brave, and of good
family.”

“ 0F whom are you speaking, father?” in-
quired Isabel.

“ What a singular question—I allude to Cap-
tain Cardinas, of course I”

“ Then you have been thinking of one arson
and I of another,” cried the young girl, augh—
ing merrily.

” l have been speaking of the young fellow
who saved your life—Captain Cardinas."

“ It was not the captain who saved my life—
it was Robert Brown!

“ Robert Brown? Why, Cardinas said, or, at
least, permitted me to say that he rescued
you.

“ That was dishonest on his part."

" Mind, I do not say he told me be rescued
you; only he-——he—did not deny it, nor did he
make any mention of the boy, Brown.”

“ I never thought him particularly honest,”
she said, “and now I am sure he is not. But let
us say no more about him. What are you going
to do for Robert Brown?”

“ Well, really, I suppose he does deserve
some sort of recompense.”

“ I will tell you what to do,” said Isabel, put-
ting an arm about her parent’s neck.

“ Well, what?”

“Double his wages.”

“ Impossible.”

‘(  3!,

“ Because he will no longer be in my employ.
Three minutes ago I paid him what was due,
and discharged him!”

“Discharged the boy who saved your daugh-
ter’s life?”

“ I did not know it at the time.”

“ Why did you disdharge him?"

Don Carlos informed her, giving both the
captain’s and Brown’s version of the story.

 

 . um _.i-_......... w...

 

4 r The Coast Detective.

“ And you believed the captain?"

“ I did and do.”

“ Well, I do not. It is Robert Brown who
tells the truth. Come, father, call him back.”

“ As he has saved your life, I will reinstate
him in his place, as he deserves some recompense,
and I will also increase his wages.

“ I have long thought of sending him to try
and investigate the mysterious theft of my goods
at the Tumpico warehouse. I will send him
there on this mission, and tell him that, as it is a
harder and more perilous duty than I have hith-
erto required of him, I Will increase his salary.”

“ Remember, you have already sent on that
errand two persons who have mysteriously dis-
appeared.”

“Yes, Henrique and J ason—two of my clerks.
I imagine, however, that they were drownet .”

“ I know there was a report to that effect, but
I have always thought,” she added, with a shud—
der, “ that they were murdered.”

“Pooh! I don’t think so.”

Isabel tried to persuade her father not to send
Brown on the errand he had spoken of, but all
to no purpose.

The young girl withdrew, and Don Carlos lost
no time in sending for the boy.

_The moment he entered, the merchant said to

1m:

“ I have concluded, after all, to retain you in
my emplo , if you are willing to stay."

“I shou d only be too glad to stay, if you do
not ask me to—”

“ No, no,” interrupted the other, “ we will say
no more about your apologizing to Cardinas. My
principal reason for keeping you is because I

ave just thought of something—a task for you,
which, I would scarcely trust to any other per-
son. As it is a harder and, perhaps, a more per-
ilous one than I have ever required of you, I
will, from this moment, increase your salary
fifty per cent.”

Robert stared. He could scarcely credit his
good fortune. The pleasure depicted on his face
pleased his employer.

“You are aware that, for several years past,
my warehouse at Tampico has frequently been
robbed. How it is done is a mystery to me as
well as to my agent there. “7011, I am going to
send you to try and ferret out this mystery.
It may be perilous work, but I think I can rely
on you.”

“I will do my best,” answered Robert. “I
shall be glad and willing to go,"

“ You can then prepare at once to set out in
the morning. First. on your arrival, you will
take‘a letter to my agent, Leon Rupo, who will
give you a packet of money, which you will im-
mediately send on to me by Express, As it is a
large sum, I would not like to trust Rupo with
it, for I believe the thieves have spies to watch
him, as he has been twice waylaid and robbed of
cash he was going to send to me.”

Having given his young clerk further instruc-
tions, he dismissed him to prepare for his jour-

nev.

On the following morning the lad set out,
taking passage aboard of a schooner which
would land him within a few miles of the city.

At four o’clock P. M. the schooner, which was
a fishing craft, dropped anchor off the coast a

 

league above Tampico, and Robert was taken
ashore in a boat.

As he was passing a rock, after leaving the
boat, on his way to the city, he beheld a youth
of his own age crouched behind a ridge, where,
with a spy-glass, he had evidently been watch-
ing the schooner from which the merchant‘s
clerk had, landed.

The moment the two saw each other, Robert
recognized him as John Lormo~a young fellow
employed asa detective at Tampico. As he had
often met Lormo, the boys had become ac-
quaiuted.

“ Halloa!"cried Lormo, who was a small but
resolute looking young Mexican,“ me much glad
see you. Where you come fromi—from him
schoon’l”

And he pointed toward the craft.

” Yes. I am going to Tampico.”

“Good; me go there, too, now. Been watch
schoon’. Think might be smuggleum, but see
now only fish—catcher. Plenty smuggleum been
go on of late. ’ ‘

“I should think Captain. Cardinas, with his
craft, ought to prevent that.”

“ Only one vessel not enough. Somehow him
smuggle git past him.”

The two boys, journeying on, were soon near
the warehouse, which was within a stone’s
throw of the city. Here Robert parted from
his companion, after which he entered the build-

in .

It was a large, stone house, which had once
been an abandoned convent. It stood near the
edge of a pier, that projected into the water.
The structure was almost a ruin when Don
Carlos purchased it and fitted it up for a ware-
house.

Entering it, Robert ascended a flight of steps
and passed into the office of Leon Rupo, the
agent. .

The latter, a Spaniard with a thin, swarthy
face and keen, black eyes, read the letter deliv-
ered to him.

“If you hurry, you will be in time for the
six o’clock Express," he said, as he gave Robert
a package, directed to Don Carlos. “Be care-
ful and let no one see this except the express-
agent."

“ You can depend on me,” answered the Youth,
as be deposited the package in an inside pocket
of his coat.

He then hurried ofl' toward the city.

On the way he was obliged to pass agully,
halt-concealed by thick masses of shrubbery.
He fancied, as he moved on, that he heard a
slight rustling in the shrubbery, and turnin
quickly, be beheld a swarthy face, surmounte
bya broad—rimmed hat. He also caught the
gleam of a pair of glittering eyes, and fancied he
could detect the flash of a knife. .

“ No, you don’t!” he cried, drawing his revol-
ver and facing about. .

The person, whoever he was, had eyidently
intended to steal upon him from behind, and
stab him with his knife, but. finding himself
discovered, he sprung backward, and soon dis:
appeared in the unilerbrush.

Robert hurried on, keeping a good lookout on
all sides of him as he went.

He finally reached the Express building, but he

«if w-mfi mi. . A .

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Coast Detective.

 

there found everything in confusion. The house

had taken fire, and vein efforts were being made
to put out the flames. On inquiry, he learned
that nothing could be sent by the company for
several days.

He then repaired to a lodging-house, and hav
ing hired a room, be locked himself in the apart-
ment, and carefully sewed the valuable package
in the inside lining of his vest.

 

CHAPTER III.
THE CAPTURE.

HAVING partaken of a frugal repast, Robert
set out for the warehouse.

On reaching the building, he found that Rupo
had gone home for the day, and had left his
watchman in charge of the place.

All the doors execpt one were barred and bolt—
ed. The moment Robert appeared at the one
which was unfastened, a stout man, with a pis-
tol in one hand came forward, and gruflly asked
him what he wanted.

“I am going to sleep in the warehouse to-
night," said the boy.

“ No. What is your name?”

“ Robert Brown.”

“ All right, then. The agent said nothing
about your sleeping here.”

“ He can have no objection,” answered the
boy, as he entered. He found himself in a large,
long room, in which was packed a miscellaneous
assortment of goods.

“ There are other storage-rooms in the build-
ing, are there not?”

‘ Yes, up-stairs.”

“ And is there no watchman there?”

“ No, because to reach them, any person
would have to pass through the room in which
is the watchman. The stairway leads up from
that room."

“ I Will go and look at it.”

The man scowled.

Robert moved forward to the door, opened
it and entered the room, which he found lighted
like the other one. As he appeared rather sud-
denly before the surprised watcher there, he
detected a suspicious-looking bottle, which the
man was thrusting hastily into the breast pocket
of his coat

“Hol hol” thought the boy. “So this fellow
takes his hitters while on dutyl”

“ It’s all right, Antolo,” cried the other watch-
man, putting his head through the doorway.
“ This young man is one of Don Carlos’s clerks.”

“You have no right to drink while you are
on watch,” said Robert to the person with the
bottle.

“Me rheumatiz," was the reply. “Me never
much take—only a little.”

“Is the door through which I came the only
one opening upon this room W he inquired.

” Obi of course. Him only one door.”

Robert went up the stairway and entered a
room above. Here there was also a dim light.
The apartment was one of several In this part
of the lofty building. ‘

“ It is true that no one could come here With-
out passing the watchman below,” thought the
boy. “It is plain that the fellow gets drunk,
but the other man appears to be steady and

A“ F?

 

sober. It is a mystery how any robber could
enter without being seen by him.”

Hours assed. Robert resolved to remain
awake a1 night. He kept a vigilant lookout,
moving from room to room above, and now and
then going down-stairs to see how the watch-
men were conducting themselves.

It was about midnight, and the youth was
walking to and fro in one of the upper rooms,
when he fancied he heard a slight creaking
noise in the stone wall, against which some val—
uable goods were piled.

He instantly concealed himself in a large,
empty cask, over which he placed a piece of
canvas, picked up from the floor. ‘

The open bung-hole of the cask afforded him
a view of that part of the wall in which he had
heard the mysterious noise. He kept his gaze
upon it, and finally, to his surprise, he saw one
of the squares of stone above the pile of goods
swing noiselessly back, rlivealing an opening at
which a dark, swarth face now appeared.

This face, dimly lighted, was evidently that of
a Mexican youth of seventeen years.

The fellow thrust his head through the open~
ing, took a careful survey of the store-room,
and then sprung lightly in on top of the piled
goods.

Kneeling. he turned and silently beckoned, as
if to some other person or persons, and the next
moment half adozen men in seminautical at—
tire sprung through the opening and joined the
youth, who had now descended to the floor.

Upon one of these fellows the gaze of Robert
was riveted with the closest attention, for he
felt almost sure that in spite of a light cloak he
wore and which partly concealed his face and
form, he could recognize Captain Cardinas.

Then the Mexican youth whom the boy had
first seen said something in a low voice, and all
the persons there except the one Robert believed
to be Cardinas, who sprung back through the
opening after taking a careful survey of the
room, commenced to help themselves to the
most valuable of the goods and [0 pass them
through the secret aperture to Confederates Vi ho
were there to receive them.

“Ho! ho!” thought the concealed boy. “How
finely it is all donel There must of course be
some secret entrance outside lending to a hidden
stairway, bfi‘means of which these rascals have
come up. he mystery is solved at last, and
now the", for putting a stop to the sport.

His intention was to spring from the cask, give
the alarm to the watchmen below, and with
them, rush outside to head off the robbers.

He had not taken two steps, however, after
leaving the cask, ere he was seen, when the
whole party, with drawn knives, bounded to-
ward him, and from their position, get between
him and the door.

“No noise!” said the young leader, his eyes
blazing like those of a wolf, “ or me quick blow
out brains.”

And as he spoke he pointed a pistol at the

0y.
Robert drew his revolver, and at the same time,
resolved to do his duty, was about to shout an
alarm, when something descending on his head
laid him senseless.
The person whom the lad had supposad to be

   
   
  
    
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
    
   
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
   
  
    
  
  
   
   
  
 
    
  
   
  
  
    
       
     
     
       

    

  

6 The Coast Detective.

Cardinas had returned through the opening, and
it was he who struck down the youth With a
blow from the pommel of his sword. As he
looked at the prostrate lad, his lace, fully re-
vealed, was shown to really be that of the St.
Mary’s captain.

Half a dozen knives were instantly raised
above the fallen youth, but Cardinas prevented
the blows from being dealt.

“No, he must not be killed here,” he cried.
“Take him to your craft, Pedro," he added,
turning to the young leader, “ and then—”

He smiled meaningly, instead of finishing the
sentence.

“Ay, he shall go to keep company with the
merchant’s other two spies—Henrique and
Jason,” said Pedro.

“Good,” replied Cardinas, “better so, than
for his blood to stain this floor. There must be
no clew to his disappearance."

“ Three men are enough to take him away,
for he is not heavy,” continued Pedro.

The hands and feet of the senseless boy were
securelv fastened with cords; then he was car—
ried oil? by three of the men, who passed with
him through the opening, while the others re—
mained to continue their plundering.

There was a light, secret staircase in a hol-
low space between the thick walls of the build—
ing, and down this the outlaws descended with
their burden.

There were about twenty steps leading to a
water-cave to the left of the pier.

In the cave, which opened directly upon the
sea, was a large boat, containing the goods
which had already been conveyed to it from
above. There wereseveral men in the boat.
The three who bore Robert laid him aft. near
the stern sheets, and, in a whisper, explained
about his capture to the others in the vessel.

Then they returned to the store—room, Where
they assisted their companions to remove some
more goods from the apartment.

When they had nearly loaded the boat with
as many of the stolen things as it could bear,
they pulled the vessel seaward, having first left
Cardiuas on shore.

“ Don’t fall to drown that accursed boy!"
whispered the St. Mary’s captain to Pedro, ere
he parted from him.

“ Me see to him," answered the other in Eng-
lish. “ Take him out near ‘ Black Rocks,’
where me sure he never can come up again."

A quarter of an hour later the boat was
pulled alongside of a small sloop, lying about
half a league from the shore.

CHAPTER IV.

BERTA.

“ WHERE is Berta?” was Pedro’s first question
to his mate, as he came and looked over the
gangway.

Tue mate, an English youth of twenty, named
Bronson, answered rather sullenly:

“ She’s in the cabin, just now.”

" Me hope she stay in cabin, till we get near
‘ Black Rocks,’ for me got some one here to
make food for sharks, and you know Berta was
never for killing. You remember what trouble
we had with her, when we went to throw
Henrique and Jason in water.”

 

 

.._.

i1::,‘A)r, I don’t think I’ll be likely to forget

He then called the men of the watch, a few of
whom proceeded to take from the boat the
plundered property, while others lifted Robert
to the deck.

The boy was recovering his senses as he was
carried aboard. He opened his eyes, when he
was laid on the deck, and stared wonderingly at
the evil faces faintly revealed to his gaze in the
dim light.

“ Who are you? Where am I?” he inquired,
as Pedro bent over him.

“You ask too many questions.
where you are, bum~b .”

The youth attempted to rise, when he per-
ceived that his ankles and his arms were tied.

Suddenly the memory of the robbers in the
warehouse flashed upon his mind, and he at
once realized that he was in the power of the
thieves.

“What are you going to do with me?” he
saildj, as he was now raised and borne into the
ho .

The men did not answer. They placed him
on the floor, returned to the deck, and fastened
the hatches over him.

“There,”said Bronson, who had superintended
this task, “I don’t believe your eister has a
shadow of a suspicion that we have that fellow
in limbo.”

Pedro, to whom he spoke, looked well pleased.

“ We must keep it secret from her, till after
we throw the boy overboard,” he said.

Bronson was about to reply when Pedro laid
a hand on his arm. '

“ Histl here she come!” he whispered. ‘

In fact a light step was heard, approaching
from the direction of the cabin, and the next
moment Berta. appeared.

Her face, of the brunette type, was beautiful,
and the hardy sort of life to which she had been
trained as her brother’s assistant, had given her
splendid health.

“ So the load has come off,” she said, glancing
at some of the things, which had not yet been
taken below. “Did you make a good haul,
Pedro?”

“ Yes, I did.”

Berta laughed, showing her white teeth.

At the same moment a pitch of the vessel
caused the girl to stagger, and Bronson, who
was near, stretched out a hand, as if to save her
from falling. ‘

She pushed his arm violently away.

“I want none of your help to keep me upl”
she cried. “ I’m as good a sailor as you are,
anv day!”

fl:l‘he mate shrugged his shoulders and walked
0 .

Pedro laughed at his repulse.

“ I hate that fellow, and I wish he would
never come near me," said Berta, in English.

“To think of his killing a defenseless I ndian
child. just to possess himself of a gold bracelet
she wore."

“ You think too much of such things,” an-
swered Pedro; “ too much for a smuggler and
robber.”

“ We can smuggle and rob without killing!
Where are the rest of the goods—in the hold i"

You know

 

  

    

  

  
 

in} :-

  

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

The Coast

Detective. ‘7

 

“ Ye—yes,” stammered Pedro.

“ I will take a lantern, and go down to look at
them.” i

“ Better wait till morning,” said Pedro.

The girl directed t0ward her brother a quick,
flashing glance. Evidently her suspicions were
aroused.

“ I will go now,” she answered decidedly.

And procuring a lantern, she proceeded to enter
the hold, fastening the door in the bulkhead be-
hind her, so that she might uotbeintruded upon,
for she knew Pedro had some reason for not
wanting her here, and she was resolved to fathom
the secret.

She had not taken many steps when she came
‘upon Robert, lying, bound hand and foot. on his
back. The boy’s light brown hair having fallen
away from his forehead, revealed, just above his
left temple, the contusion from the blow he had
received.

“ You have been hurt,” she said, gazing down
at the cut on his forehead. “ How came you
here?"

She knew very well that he must have been
brought here by her brother, but she wanted to
learn all she could.

Robert then related to her what he could re-
member of the affair in the warehouse.

The girl’s eyes flashed indignantly. She stoop-
‘ed down, and picking up a cup of water lying on
a barrel near, she proceeded to bathe the boy’s
wound. As she again met the gaze of his eyes,
:she felt attracted to him more than she had ever
before been to any human being.

She unfastened the lashings from his feet, and
as she helped him rise, she was about to con-
duct him to the cabin, when the hatch above
opened and Pedro sprung down into the hold.

“ Enough of this nonsense,” he cried. “ Why
have you freed that boy?"

Berta sprung between her brother and the
prisoner, her eyes flashing.

“ I will not have him harmed," she said, reso-
lutely. “ You would serve him as you did
Henrique and Jason 1”

“ Come, now, who commands here’ll You or
I?”

“I have my right here, as well as you. I am
part owner of the craft!"

“ Don’t be a fool, Bertal If you let that boy
go, it is all up with us. He is one of Don Car-
los‘s shipping clerks, and he saw us rob the
warehouse I”

“ I did not say I meant to let him go, but I do
mean to prevent your murdering him.”

“ We see about that,” cried Pedro, and, as

quick as thought, he pulled a pistol, which
he was about to aim at the youth, over the
shoulder of the girl, when the latter seized his
arm.
“ Hold 1” she cried, firmly. “ If ever you kill
that boy, you and I will be enemies hereafter,
and, as true as there is a God above usl will be—
tray you and your band, and our hiding-plamx
to the authorities 1" ' _

“ Come, Berta, this is fool work. Besides
Cardinas told me to be sure to make way With

V him." he added, in a whisper.

’ “I don’t care for Cardinas,” she replied, also
in a whisper. " He need not know that the boy
13 With us. He does not often come to our

 

rendezvous, and when he does, it will be easy
enough to keep the prisoner out of his si ht.”

Pedro turned and sullenlv left the ho] .

As soon as he was gone Robert said to her:

“ You will help me to escape? We are not
far from land. I think I could swim ashore if
you would let me drop overboard.”

Then Berta smiled upon him.

“You could not swim so far. We are more
than a league from land. and the current would
be partly against you. Come with me.”

She conducted him into the cabin and gave
him wine and refreshments. She appeared to
take great pleasure in seeing him eat. -W hen
he had finished, she opened the door of a neat
little room and pointed to a berth.

“ You need rest. Go there and sleep,” she
said, gently.

The moment he had entered the room she
closed and locked the door.

It was her own bed which she had given up to
him. She resolved to watch by the door to
prevent her brother or any of his crew from
harming the boy.

CHAPTER V.
THE SPY.

ABOUT the time Robert entered the ware-
house, Lormo, tho boy Coast Detective, with
four men, all Wearing thick pea-jackets, were
pulling a boat past Pedro’s sloop, which, as
stated, lay at anchor half a league from the
shore. Three or four men aboard the craft
were leaning over the rail with fishing-lines in

the water.
therel” shouted Lormo. “What

“ Ahoy!
luck 2?"

“ Not much yet,” answered Bronson, who
was one of the men with lines.

“ Hahl hahl fisherman’s luckl Don’t think
you get much here,” said Lormo, laughing.
“ We go fish, too, but we going further outl”

“ Well, good luck to you,” said Bronson.

The boat was kept on, for Lormo had no sus-
picion of the sloop’s true character.

In fact this craft, the Maria by name, often
seen oif the coast, was supposed to be merely
an innocent fishing-craft, as Pedro and his sis-
ter fretiuently brought'to Tampico acargo of
fish. ' ‘he young people, well known to the
Custom-House officers, always paid for any mer-
chandise which at any time they brought to the
dock with them, and were therefore supposed
to be strictly honest in this respect.

Lormo and his companion kept on until the
boat was about two leagues from land, when
they dropped anchor behind a mass of rugged
rocks that rose a little above the surface of the
sea.

Gradually the gloom of night closed about
them. Then they got out upon the rocks and
crouched behind a ledge, where they lay for a
long time peering into the darkness.

“Here she comes!” whispered Lormo, speak-
ing of course in Spanish, as his companions were
all Mexicans.

The men slightly elevated their heads to behold
the dim outline of a small sloop.

“ How do you know she is the one?”

“ By the shape of her mainsail. See! it is the

 

,

l

The Coast Detective.

 

very one our spy described as belonging to the
suspected craft. I’ll wager she now has the
cargo she is going to smuggle in on this very
nightl Quick! Now is our time.”

All entered the boat, and Lormo crouched
down in the stern-sheets under some canvas by
which his small figure was well concealed.

The others pulled out from behind the rocks,
and one of them instantly hailed the craft.

“ Ahoy! What sloop is that?”

“The fishing sloop WINHo, bound in to Tam-
picoi‘

“ Lie to and let us board you!“

A gruif oath, not intended to be heard, was
uttered by the person who had answered the
bai .

“Who are you, and what do you want to
come aboard for? We are in a hurry and can’t
stop!"

At the same moment the sloop came shootin
o'n swiftly, and would have passed the boat he
not one of the men therein flashed a lantern,
which showed three companions with revolvers
pointed toward the saucy skipper.

“ Heave—to, in the name of the law I” cried one
of the party.

“ Custom—house officersl Why didn’t you say
so before?" growled the captain.

Then the canvas rattled as his craft swun up
into the wind, and in another minute the oat
was fast alongside with a rope, and all its occu-
Bants except the Coast Detective, who remained

idden, were aboard.

“Come. now, what do on want of me—a
poor fisherman?” inquired t e captain. '

“ How is it you showed no light?” said one of
the visitors.

“ Because my lantern is out of order, and I
must have it repaired heforeI can burn more
oil in it.”

“ Hahl Well, please to let me see your
car 0.” l

“ have none, at present; but I should think

v you might tell by the smell what it has been,

unless your noses are stopped up.”

“ You will find that our eyes are not stopped,
at any rate,” was the answer. “Off with
that hatch, and let us see what is below there.”

The captain ordered a man to take oil’ the
hatch, and the officers sprung into the hold.
This was found to contain nothing except some

,empty barrels, some coils of rigging etc. The
cabin was next examined, and afterward the
forecastle.

Meanwhile, while the attention of the crew
was directed toward the officers, Lormo hnd
clambered about with the agility of a cat, and
had dropped into the hold.

He got into an empty barrel, behind some
coils o rigging.

“Now, then, we will see what else besides the
smell of fish the little Winho will take into Tam-
pico to-night,” he muttered.

“Well,” the captain at length said to the offi-
cers, “are you satisfied? I don‘t think you'll
again trouble yourself about a poor fisher.”

“ We may often do so. Of late we have
heard that in spite of Captain Cardinns‘s craft,
agood do of smuggling is going on. One
vessel is not enough to guard against that busi-

 

“Right there,” said the captain, his e
twinkling. “ It seems to me that Cardinas M
too near the coast, as he even now is doing, not ,_
half aleague below the city. We passed him has
far” enough of! in the dark for him not tosed 

s.

“Ay, ay! there should have been another
Government vessel further out.”  .

With these words the speaker, followed by!
his companions, descended into his boat. A 
minute later the Winho was speeding on her ’ ,
way, her captain having no suspicion ,thata

ouggldcustom-house detective was secreted in 
IS 0 u . "

Lormo, in the barrel, disposed himself as com-
fortably as possible. His short stature and
slender limbs enabled him to sit down in his
quarters and rest his elbows on his knees. 

About an hour had passed when he heard 'a ~ ~
rough hail on deck, and by the noise which tol—
lowad he knew that the sloop had met another
craft, and was bein hove to. He cautiously
emerged from the arrel, and standing on a

ile lot rigging, presssd one ear against the
to . r '

“You are here in good time,” was said, in a
voice which he could not hear plainly enough
to recognize, but which in reality was that of
Pedro. H ‘

“ Yes,” answered the other captain. “I ,
suppose you have the goods ready for me to
take?"

“I have. Land them in the usual place be«
low the city, and there you’ll find a wagon to
take them to —-—”

Lormo could not hear the name, which was  '

spoken in a low voice. , 

The noise made by bales and boxes being , 
transferred from one vessel to the other was '
now heard. V

Footsteps approached the hatch, and Lormo .
scampered back to his hiding—place. Hardly
was be there concealed, when the hatch was
opened, and the Winho’s crew commeficed to _
lower the goods into the hold. ,

“Good-by captainl” shouted the 'Winho’scom- ‘
mander. “ uccesstoyoui” v

” Good-by!” answered the other skipper.

“ My best wishes for the little Winhol”

All the goods were finally in the hold. Then
several of the Winho‘s crew sprung down
through the hatchway, and carefully covered
the articles to be smuggled with coils of rigging,
spare blocks and planks.

“ Humphl Very well done!" thought Lonno
who now and then took a peep over the edge 0
the barrel. , '

The men finally went on deck, and the boy
could hear the sloop forging swiftly on her
wav.

He remained in the hold half an hour longer,
when he stole cautiously toward the torecastle,
which he entered through the bulkhead. As he
had supposed was the case, all the men were on
deck. He ascended the ladder, and,,looking
through the batchway, he discovered that the:
sailors were amidships. He crept up. andgofl‘
over the forward rail, into the, kni
The vessel was heading straight for in , which,
not a. quarter of a league distant, teintlyyshows
ed through the  Lorine pulled a; ' 

 

 
 

 

,The (least Detective. I

 

   

- from his pocket, lighted it nnd‘placed it in his
th. I
I, his 8 es' “ They’ll see it if they look shag,” he mut-
lardinas es» tersd, keeping theiighted end towa the shore.
sdoing, non , scarce} had the words escaped him when 9.
passed him .heavy clu hammer descended toward his head.
not bosee 'Had it. muck him, the boy would never have
made any more secret signals, as the iron must
an another hive crushed his skull. It chanced. however,
hat a roll of the craft, at that moment, caused
)llowed by ,‘ghim to move one side, so that the implement
s boat. A “dropped from the hand of the man who bold “5.
ing on her This man was a stout seamen who had been
Ion that a sent fprward to keep a. lookout, and had espled
ecreted in the‘stranger, full revealed by the phosphores-
‘ cent light from ' own or. _
sit as com- ""Dog' of a spy!” he now cried, leaning over
lture and 7 andde a furious blow with his knife at the
>wn in his ;. coast Detective. “You’ll never leave
:63. "-he, inho alivei”
is heard a v Lormo nimbly avoided the blow, and struck
which foi- ’ the sailor on the temple with the butt arms

 

.5.

 

at another pistol. It was a heavy stroke, and the‘man,
cautiously who had bent down very low over the rail, fell
fling on a. headlong, striking againstdprmo as he went,
must the r knocking him from his pointlov.

The boy dropped clear of the sloop‘s how, but
said, in a the out man struck the water, directly
y enough V'heneaththe bobstay and the craft passed over
5 that of v him. '

He was never again seen alive.
am. “I “ Now for shorel” thought Lormo, as the ves-
or me to sel rushed st him.

I be- ‘The lagndwss 11b? morhe than “mudged feet
P ace d stun t e w o was-a3 sw miner,
Wagonto  s’reachedit. {bacon ashehadreetedhe

f  toward the city, which was about a
blob was ' nan-tar of a mile distant.

’On the outskirts, looking seaward, he came
:es being upon half a dozen stout men.
ther was “Helical it is Lormo!” cried one. when he

was near enough for them to recognize him.
I Lormo “ Did you see my signal?” inquired the boy.

Hardly "  " No}, was the answer. _
tch was "You snwthe cram 'That was the smuggler,
en‘ced to  with a cargoof goals.”

- And he wanton to explain.
lo’s com- _‘ “We’ll have them yet, it we keep the craft in
:4 Bi ht. Come on!” '
skipper, " allowed by the men, Lormo hurried along
shore in the direction which be supposed the
Then Vessel had taken.
; down ; r But all that night he and his companions
covered ' Vain'ly searched for her. , ‘
lgglng, - r “ a are‘too late,” said Lorine. "The goods

hum been landed and carted oil—where to I

rascals—those smugglers 1”
“You .will earn no re-

 

    
  
  

_, I , earn one home other time,”
- replied the youth. " I will not rest until I have
found the smugglers’ secret rendezvous!"

, CHAPTER VI.

. THE WILL.
ROBERT BROWN, reclining on the bed‘in the
- looked a meat, tried to think of some lan
«for his escape. While he was but
'A " an irresistible drowsiness stole over

 
  

 

  
    
  
 

   

 

hemmed WM?-

 

 

dtatotheboy,’

He was aroused by Berta. f

“ Come,” she said, “ you will have to go with
us now.”

The youth soon recollected his situation.

“80 l have slept?" be said.

“ Yes,” answered the girl, smiling. “ You

' must be a brave boy to sleep, with men around

you thirsting for your life.”

“ I could not help it,” he replied, as he sprung
from the berth. v“ Where are your people going
to take me to?"

“That I must not say. You will have to be
blindfolded.”

As Sllu spoke, Pedro appeared with several of,
his men. One of these tied a. bandage over the '
b0 ’3 eyes.

hen they fastened his hands behind his back.

“Now, mark my wordsl" said Berta, as she
drew a. small pistol from her pocket. ” The
first of you that offers to hurt this boy will get -
a bullet through him i” r

“We have promised,” said Pedro, snlieuly.
“For your sake we will not hurt the fellow.”

Robert was made to 0 on deck, and was
helped into a boat alongside. He finally felt the
boat strike the beach, and he was then led on.
After prooeeding a short distance he bearda
grating noise; then he became aware that he
was descending aflight of Ste 5. He was con-
ducted on, and when at lengt the bandage was
taken from his eyes, he found himself in a large
apartment, with cemented walls and a stone :
floor.

The room contained at present about a. dozen
villainous-looking fellows, in some respects dif-
ferently attired, but all wearing broad-rimmed
hats and loose sailor trowsers.

A sort of fierce “grin” met the boy’s gaze,
when he was permitted to use his eyes.

One grou of men were gathered round a
table provi ed with glasses, and were drinkin
bier obtained from a keg which was pl:

t ere. ’ ‘ ' r ‘

Some; of the youn er felloWs laughed, as
Robert stared confused y about him. ‘

Berta now appeared from an adjoining apart-
ment—one of several partitioned oif from the ,
room in which the smugglers were collected.

Pedro then addressed the band.

“Men,” he said, “all but four of on can
now go to your homes. The late a air will-
cause some excitement, and there will be a
search for us. Meanwhile wemust keep quiet,
and venture on no more expeditions for the

resent.” . »

As the majority of the part were Hermann,
these words were spoken in punish, of which
language Robert had knowledge enough to un-
derstand most oi what was said,

A few minutes later the dismissed outlaws dz.»

rted, after which Pedro locked the one door .
gliding into the apartment, and put the key in
his pocket. 1

Berth. now brought refreshments, and request- ,
ed Robert to sit down at the table and have '
breakfast, The youth compiled, and while he
was eating, Pedro and his men withdrew to the A
further side of the room, where they held a con-
ference in a low voice. ‘ I ’ . 

“ I hope you feel well this morning? said Ber-

        
    

    

 

 

 

 

10

, I V ;
The Coast Detective.

   

 

" Well enough in body, but not in mind. My
employer, Don Caries, sent me to Tampico on
important business, and my absence will be un—
accountable to him, and give him a great deal of
trouble."

“ Wh should you want to go back to him?”
in uire Berta, giving him an arch glance.
“ b not stay With us?”

“ hat! with smugglers and thieves? I do
not like such men for company.”

“ We would make you rich in a. few years. By
joinii’i’g us you will escape death, and in no other

we. .

‘rI will not join you on that account. I can
die like a man, if I must.”

Berta’s black eyes flashed admirineg upon the
speaker. They were handsome eyes; but Robert
had noticed from the first that they lacked the
depth and softness of Isabel’s.

“ You may change your opinions in a few
days,” she said, tossing her head with a conscious
air of war.

But if she hoped to fascinate the boy into join-
ins.r the smugglers, she was disappointed.

Robert hardly seemed conscious of her
charms.

His whole mind was concentrated on the
thought of making his escape from this den.

But it was so well guarded, night and day,
that he could imagine no plan for eluding the
keen watch keptu by the smugglers. Either
Pedro or some ot or person was always war
the door when he moved toward it. Mean-
while he would often place his hand, at night,
on his vest, to make sure that the package he
had received at the warehouse from Rupo was
still safe. Its being under the pudding of the

urment was what had prevented its discovery

y his captors. One morning Berta persuaded
Bronson—Pedro being absent—to permit the
boy to go out and walk with her.

Robert’s heart bounded at the proposal, for he
hoped he would at last find a chance to escape.
The girl unlocked the door, and leading the
way, the two passed out, to the surprise of the
bog: into a. large, beautiful garden.

obsrt now threw a quick glance around him,
and. divining his thought, the young girl
smiled. ' _
-h A; their glances met, she slowly shook her
Sal

“ You see there is no chance of your getting
away from here,” she said. “ Besides the men
you see in the garden, the walls also keep you
from escaping.” .

In fact, on four sides of the garden the boy
beheld a smooth, lofty wall, which could not be
scaled without a ladder.

“ Still," he argued, mentally, “there must be
a door in this wall—a concealed door, by means

of which the smugglers enter the garden from ;

without.” . _
Feeling sure be was right. be scrutinized the
wall as he passod along beneath it on each side
With Berta, but he could not trace the smallest
crevice to show the presence of a secret door.
“ Have you made up your mind about joining
usz at?” asked Berta. ‘
" ‘ am of the same mind I was in the first

c9.”
“Stay with me "she said, softly. “Do not
, V / i

l, 'y

 

' once.

    
   
    
   

let them take your life. Is there then nont-

traction for you in this place?” ‘ The
“ N one," answered Robert, bluntly. r‘ not ex
“ What? not-mot even in ma!” 5 n W

“ Oh yes you are a handsome ’1‘] "said the i
boy, frlmkly. g1 ' g“;

A look of joy flashed across her face. She 5 :thougl

gras :1 his hands with both her own. - 1 ma nc

“ romise to make me your wife,” she con— {115w
tinned, hurriedly, glancing about her toassure watch
herself that no one except Robert heard her.  Ant

“ andwand—we will go together, far from this
place.”
‘ Her black eyes were looking into his;

locker
‘ Carlo:

the : He

stood close to,him, and he could feel her fragrant , have 1
breath upon his cheek. ' about

“ I do not want to marry you," he said. “ I I; some,
have never thought of marrying.” " ' Am

“ You will think better of it when I tell you: E“ that
tha‘thyfroug 11:11:31 is planned for tomorrow.”  cm“;

i y ea ' _ 7 I i .

“Yes. I would save you if I could, but they "$22
will contrive to kill you, in spite of me.” ’

“ You spoke of going away frOm here with 5
me. Why not take me away now?”

“ I can only do so by your marrying me, and n V

    
 
 

C'
9.
n
S

saying on mean to join our band, which would be] e
throw edro off his guard, so that we could go " pica
away together.” Do:
“ You can leave this place, at any moment!" daug‘
“Alone, yes, but not with you.” 1' face 1

As she spoke the youth noticed that she":
glanced toward a well, a few yards off.
A bucket, suspended by a winch, hung over
then niug. '
“ an it be,” thought Robert, “that there is
some'nnderground assage from this place, and
thifiie‘l’t may be reac ed by going down into that

we .

Presently, bidding him wait where he was? 
for her, Berta re-entorod the apartment the two N
had left, saying she wished to speak to Bron— 
son. ‘

Scarcely was she gone, when Robert resolved.
to explore the well. He sprun to it while the
backs of the men in the gar on were toward
him and got into the bucket. Down went the
latter, with great velocit , and thebo struck
the bottom of the well wit aloud spies

He clung to the rope, and climbed it, tried ,
to scan the walls of the cavity. But so intense "
was the %oom, that sovornl minutes passed ere ,
he was a Is to See the sides of the well. Mean- ‘
while, above him, he could hear the voice of
Berta,as she called him thinking he had con: a.
cooled himself in the shrubbery and soon the
tones of Pedro were blended with hers. , '

As the boy became more used to the darkness,
helfould see a cavity in the left side of the
we .

He swung himself into it (without hesitati
and crept along a passage before him.

   
 
    
  
    
   
  
    
    
    
  

 

 

CHAPTER VII.
'rnn COMBAT AND Rescue. .
SOME days after Robert’s departure Don
Carlos, not having received the expected pack- -
age, re aired to Tampico, to learn tremble ‘ '
agent, upo, of the boy’s strange disappear-

   
 
 
  
 
 

    

 

he
be

11.
1'8

If, i

iis

he
or
is
id
at
as
70
n-

all

)11

r.

The Coast Detective.

11

,

 

The watchmen were questioned, but they could
not explain the mystery.

, “ Well," said the merchant, “here is the third

‘ person I have sent to look into the robbery of

: my goods vanished like the two others, al—
though ina more unaccountable manner. You

, did not see Robert come down or go out after

i, he went up—staii‘s?’ he added, turning to the

‘ watchman.

Antolo said he had not, but as he spoke he
looked so confused that the suspicions of Don
Carlos were aroused.

He seized him by the collar and threatened to
have him arrested if he did not tell him more
about the affair, for he was sure that he kept
something back.

Antolo, becoming alarmed, then confessed
that he was drunk on the night in question, and
that Robert might therefore have passed him
Without attracting his attention.

The merchant was angry and he gave orders
to Rupo to discharge the fellow and hire a
better man. Then he returned to his lodg-
lugs,

“ Well, father, what success?” inquired Isa-
bel, who had accompanied her parent to Tam-

, pico.

5 Don Carlos told her all he could learn. His
daughter turned pale, and there was on her
face a. troubled look, which she vainly strove to
conceal.

“ Did I not say you should not have sent him
on such an errand?” she said. “ I am afraid he
is lost.”

“ I hope not, both for his sake and for mine.
I infer either that he has been murdered or that
he has absconded with my package, which Con-

tained about twenty thousand dollars in bills
‘ and checks.”

” I do not believe you would have had a sus—
, pecion like that you have just expressed had not
 some person suggested to you that Robert had
, probably taken your mone ."

, “ I will own that it was ardinas who put that

;‘ thought into my head. He appears not merely

g to think that the boy has absconded with the

amount, but to feel sure of it.”
“ Of course he would think so. I believe he
dislikes that boy.”

i When severa days had passed, and the mer-

‘ chant still could glean no tidings of Robert, he

, believed he would never see him again.

Isabel resolved to make inquiries, as well as

1 her father. While doing so, one day, she met

3 the little Custom-House detectiva, Lormo, whom

13 she had occasionally seen conversing with her

i father, on his Visits to Tnmpico.

: h “ 1 Wish you could find Robert for us. I be

I have he was a friend of yours," she gold, as they

{ talked of the missing youth.

‘ “Robbers are not in my line, you know, se-

; norita.”

s” “ Robbers?”

‘ “Yes, I think it is robbers who have made

4‘ lawn with my poor friend.”

9 “ by do you think so?"

i, ,“Because the store was robbed on the very
night he was on watch. Of course it was to the
interest of the thieves to kill him and conceal

, Eggrlgody when be detected them robbing the

5 O

l

 

“But my father thinks he may havs left the
store before that."

“ I don’t believe he did. I will look for him as
much as my duties will allow, but I am afraid
he has been killed.”

Lorine, on leaving Isabel, went in a direction
opposite to that taken by the girl. She wander-
ed toward the outskirts of the town, in a thought—
ful mood. The truth was that she took much in-
terest in Robert, and, since his disappearance
thought of little else, day or night.

As she now marched on, she found herself ap-
proachin the ruins of an old stone fort. To the
right of t is fort, which stood on a. slight eleva-
tion, there was a high wall of stone, one Side of
which was built against the bill.

In a clump of shrubbery on the outside of this
wall, three or four crouchin figures now were
watching the girl. One of t ese was the smug-
gler, Pedro, a few yards from whom, behind a.
tree, stood Captain Cardinas.

All at once, as Isabel approached, Pedro, fol-
lowed by his companions, sprung out at the girl,
leveling pistols at her head. _

“Don’t attempt to run or cry out!” cried the
smuggler. “ If you do, we will kill you.’_’

Isabel was too much terrified at first either to
move or to speak.

“What can you want of me?" she finally
gasped.

“ on have a gold watch,” said Pedro. “ We
will take that, and also the pearl necklace about
your neck I”

Isabel surrendered these things.

“ Now you will let me go,” she said, turning
to leave.

“ No, Senorita, you cannot leave us yet. You
are 7rich, and we intend to get a ransom for
you.

As he spoke he made a sign to his compan—
ions, who were advancing to seize her, when
Cardinas came rushing from behind the tree,
brandishing his sword.

“ Away, rufiiansl" he shouted. “ The first
who lays a hand on that girl, dies!”

Isabel recognized him and ran toward him.
The smugglers followed her, but Cardinas
lthé‘ew himself between them and the young

9. v.

“Come on l" he cried, fiercely, as they now
paused. “ You shall walk over my dead body
before you ofier harm to this sweet girl l”

As he spoke he pulled a revolver from his
breast-pocket, and there was a rapid exchange,
of shots.

All the smugglers excopt Pedro went limp-
ing off, apparently wounded. The outlaw
sprung at Cardiuas sword in hand. The wea-
pons crossed each other and a fierce struggle
ensued, until. by a dexterous stroke, the captain
broke the weapon of his adverse , who then
took to his heels, to soon vanish a ter his com-.
panions in the shrubbery.

Isabel, seeing Cardenas in pursuit, called to
him not to imperil his life by following.

“ But he has robbed you!" he called, back, and
heedless of her entreaties, kept on his way and
soon disappeared in the shrubbery.

There, when out of Isabel’s sight, he met
Pedro.

“ Here they are,” said the latter, suppressing

 

 

    

18

a laugh, as be surrendered the necklace and the
watch.

Cardinas smiled.

“It was well planned, was it not?” said he.

. ‘,‘ To her dying day the lady will believe that I
rescued her by the most desperate courage.”

“ Yes, the Senorita cannot doubt that the com-
bat was real. She has no suspicion that the
rescue was a mock one."

“ And, now,” said Cardinas, “ you will show
me ’the crevice in the wall, through which Isa-
bel and I can look into your garden. You are
sure that Robert Brown is there, at this mo-
meat?”

-“ He is there with my sister, and when you
100k, some of my men, the same who attacked
you shall be there, too.”

“ hat is good!” answered the captain, exultv
ingly. “Go, Pedro, and work quickly. If you
make way with that little wretoh, all the profits
from those stolen goods are yours. I will not
claim anything."

“ We understand each other,” said Pedro.
“ You will receive word, before to—night, that
there is no longer danger of Robert Brown’s
telling tales against you.’

The two then separated, and Cardinas return-
ed to Isabel.

“I overtook the rascal, and forced him to
surrender the things he robbed you of,” said the
youth, as he gave her back her jewelry.

“ You have done me a great service, both by
rescuin me and obtaining for me the watch,
which is especially prized by me, as it was a
present from my mother, before she died,’?an—
swered Isabel. -

“What would I not do for you 3’” replied
Cardinas, warmly. “I would risk my life a.
thousand times for your sake! Believe me,‘Isa-
be}, on are dearer to me—”

“ hell we not now return to the city?” she
interrupted. “You can go with me to father,

, atiid J will describe your noble conduct to
h in.

" Wait a few moments," said her companion.
“ I can do on yet another service. I can show
to you, in is true colors, one in whom you ap-
pear to take a friendly interest—one whom you
were probably searching for when you were as-
saulted by the robbers.” , i

 The young girl looked at him in surprise.

“ Surely you do not mean Robert Brown?”

" It is to that little rasoal I allude.”

“Rascal?” .

‘ “ Don’t be indignant; I would not call him a
rascal unless I could prove to you that he is
one. Your father has told me that the fellow
was intrusted with a package of money for him,
and I will own that, for a person like this boy,
it may have proved a great tern tatiou. Come
with me, and I will show you w at I have dis-
covered, while searching for the man who took
your jewalry.” ‘

Isabel fol owed him to a certain part of the

arden wall, where there was a large crevice

tween the stones or which it was composed.

“Look for yourself,” said Csrdinas, pointing
to the little opening.

Isabel, ng through the latter, beheld, to her

 surprise, tax-father’s erk, Robert Brown, stroll-

The Coast Detective.

 

 
   

1

ing through the garden by the side of the ban
some smuggler girl, Bertha!” ,

In another part of the inclosure was Ped
with the same men who had assaulted her. } I
Robert seemed to be on amicable terms with the ; gei
girl, as the two were conversing together in a": to
low voice. ,, thr

“You see," whispered Cardinas, “ that this is I} 10':
a rendezvous of the thieves, and that they arm; 1m

 

 
  
   
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
  
 
    
    
  
 
 
    
      
    
 
    
   
 
    
  
    
    
   
  
  
   
  
  
 

probably the same persons who robbed youts' yo
father’s warehouse. The boy has evidently} ‘J
joined them of his own accord. ’ '7 he.
“ We are not sure of that,” she answered, bu  w)
there was a deathly paleness upon her face. 4
“ Come,” said Cardinas, taking her arm. “ a 3;-
know now you have seen enough to satisfy you. ' I
It remains for your father and me to entrap th l
whole gang.” ‘, ‘~ w]
Isabel answered not a word, but all the we mg
to the city Cardinas could feel her tremb I T]

upon his arm.

 

CHAPTER VIII. 5 th

TEE PURSUIT. g n(

CREEPING along the assage he had discovered i
in the side of ' the wel , Robert finall reached
what appeared to be its extremity. here was‘ L '-
before him a rock,a sort of bowlder, having "

crevices at the edges, showing that it was placed cl
over some opening. w

He tried to move the rock by pushing it, bu , d:
be was unsuccessful. Looking round him, h - a;

espied a heavy piece of wood, shaped like a.
club, lying on the ground. Putting this under}
the bowlder, and using it in lieu of a crowbar, ' -
he contrived thus to move it from the aperture. ‘
Emerging from the passage, he now found
himself among a mass of shrubbery, consisting ,
of briers and vines, so thick that he could roo-
ly force his way throu h them. When. at ast,
he disengaged himself mm the entangling muss,‘ j
be perceived that he was at the bottom of
gully—the same, be now believed, in which in
had seen the crouching figure, on the da
passed with the package of money he ha rev 
ceived from Rupo. . ,
“ Free at lastl” he cried, joyfully. “ Now all
I have to do is to make my way to the city, and ,
take passage aboard some fishin craft bound to f,
the part of the coast near wh ch Don Carlos”
ives. ,
But he was mistaken. He little dreamed
gt the perils and dangers which still menaced
1m. , ‘
Although no one had seen him enter the well,
-—Berta, as stated, having gone into the tenders. ’ ‘
vous just before he descended by means of the
bucket—the voice of the girl, the moment she‘
came back to the garden, brou ht Pedro ands
some of his~companions there. hey instant}
commenced to make a diligent search for th
youth, and finally looked into the well.
“The bucket was not down at the bottom
when we were here before,” said one.
‘2 ére you sure of that?” inquired Pedron
‘ es. ’ r
“Why did you not speak before? The boy“
has evidently discovered the secret passe
leading to the g lly, and has made. his escape.
“ I did not not he that the bucket was main
until just now.” ‘ ‘"

  

   
   
   
 
 
  
 

 

     
   
    
    
    
  
  

  
 
  

hand~

’edro,

her.
:h the
' in a
his is
y are

your
eutly

, but

(l I
you.
p the

way
mble

:
9

D’
5'
(D

30y

The Coast Detective.

18

 

Then he gave orders to his men. »

“Four of you hurry to the gully. You will
get there, if you go quickly. before he has time
to come out of it. Meanwhile I will go through
the well-passage, With another of our men, to
look for him there. Shoot him down the
instant you see hnnl” he added, lowering his
Voice so that Berta could not hear him.

He might as well have spoken out, for her
keen black eyes were upon him, and she guessed
what he had said.

“ Let no one harm the boy i" she cried. “The
first one who does so dies by my hand i”

The men knew she meant what she said.

“Don’t hurt him, then,” said Pedro, “but
when you capture him, take him to the new
rendezvous, as this one is now of no use to us.
The dogs of the law will soon know of this
place.”

The men then departed, but Berta followed
them chSely, determined that the boy should
not be harmed.

As the smugglers drew near the gully, they
saw Robert Brown’s head thrust through the
shrubhery, on the edge of the cavity.

The youth, after leaving the passage, had
climbed the side of the hollow, thinking he
would find his way clear to the city. To his
dismay he now beheld the gang who were

-approachiug, with Berta. coming up in the

rear.

Robert threw a hasty glance about him, but,
as usual, the vicinity of this place was deserted
except by his foes. He saw not a living soul to
call upon for assistance, and his captors had
deprived him of every instrument with which
hemight defend himself, even to his pocket-
knife. True, he had the club with which he
had moved back the bowlder, but of course this
would be comparatively useless before men
armed with daggers and pistols.

He therefore drew back into the gully and
crept among the thick shrubbery, hoping that,
when his pursuers came to search for him, he
might find a chance to slip away from them un—
observed.

Lying motionless, he finally heard the party
enter the gully, and commence to beat down
the brush.

The noise they made enabled him to elude
them h dodging from place to place, and at
length, ‘e reached the further end of the cavity.

.Up this he crawled, and contrived to draw
himself out of the hollow without being ob-
served.

.Ele. now moved off in the direction of the
c1ty,but he had not proceeded far, when, on
looking behind him, he saw the party in pursuit.
The shades of night were falling, and the boy
thought he niigl is possibly escape the outlaws by
hiding himself in some hollow. He was about
creeping into one, when his gaze fell upon a
small skifl tied to a stake, alongside the beach.
He sprung into the light craft, loosened it, and
findingapaddle in the boat, worked it away
from the land.

“We see you! better come back!” shouted
Pedro, as he and his party reached the shore.

“ If you don’t, we will fire!”

The youthdid not heed the threat, but kept
on, and finally headed the skin, toward Tam-

   

 

pico. Several shots were fired at him, but they
did not take effect, and soon be heard the angry
voice of Berta ordering them to desist.

It was now so dark that the youth could see
little more than the outlines of the gang, as
they moved along the beach.

Ahead of him he could dimly descry the hull
and spars of a schooner.

“Boat alloy!” cameahoarse voice from the
deck, as he approu'cherl. .

“ Ahoy! there I” answered Robert. “ What
schooner is that, and who commands her?”

“The Maria, Captain Cardinasl” was the re-
s onse.

“The last vessel, then, that I should board,”
muttered the boy. “ I am not going to put my-
self in any such trap as that."

He changed his course, heading past the ves-
sal, but, as he did so, he heard a boat lowered,
and could distinguish the voice of Cardinas, as
the latter ordered his crew to give way. In
fact, the captain, who had been on deck when
the hail was given, had thought he recognized
Robert‘s voice, which, being peculiar, was one
that could not well be mistaken.

Perceiving that he was thus pursued by water,
and, knowing he would soon be overtaken), he
made directly for a cluster of rocks, which he
saw looming ahead.

Cardinas gained on him, but, while he was
still some yards from the fugitive, the latter
glided amon the rocks, and, leaping out of the
skiff, concea ed himself in a hollow, among the
rugged masses.

"he captain seeing the skifl gliding on, be-
yond the rocks, thought that its occupant was

yiug down in it, and so kept on after the craft.
Before he reached it, however, the vessel hav-
ing filled, had gone down in a little whirlpool, a.
few fathoms from the rocks.

Cardinas then returned to his schooner, which
he had scarcely done, when he saw a light
ashore, evidently being waved as a signal.

He again loWered his boat, and made for the
beach, on which he found Pedro and some or his
men.

“ What are you doing here?” inquired the
St. Mary’s captain, as be and Pedro walked to
one side.

“ Looking for that little rascal, Robert Brown,
who has escaped us!”

“Then it’s all rightl” cried the young cap-
tain, rubbing his hands. “ So it was he, as I
thought?”

“ I don't understand you.”

“ My first officer hailed some one a preaching
in a skiff, and I thought I recognize the voice
of Brown. I gave pursuit as he passed us, and
he and his shit! went down in the whirlpool,
near the Off Shore Rocks.”

“ You are sure he went down i"

“I am sure he was lying in the skiff, forI
could just make out his hat in the darkness. He
must have sunk, and glad enough I am to be rid
of him."

Pedro seemed much relieved.

“ How about- the search for us!” he inquired.
“ Did you tell the authorities about our rendez-
vousi”

“ Yes, and guided them to it. I did not wait

on: to witness their discomfiture when they

, , ' I (A;

 

   
  

      

    
  

The Coast Detective.

 

 

found the place deserted. but came straight
back to the beach and boarded my schooner.

“ How long ago was this?”

“About half an hour. They have probably
reached the place by this time, and found
it empty."

“We 1, we will ,go to our new rendezvous,
'which I would defy all the revenue oiflcersin the
universe to find."

“ Take care! those fellows have shar eyes."

“ They would never think of look ng under
the sea. Hahl hahl to think that part of this
ocean dungeon is directly under the warehouse!
The Jesuits knew what they were about when
they built that convent.”

“You cannot enter the warehouse from the
water dungeons?”

“ No, not now, owing to the alterations made
by Don Carlos. The planks of the lower floor
cover the secret door, which used to open into
it. The entrance to the dungeon is through a
Eassage in an old, disused graveyard vault, far

ack of the building. No one would suspect
there was a secret door there, as the wall of the
vault looks like one even surface of stone.”

The twain now parted, Cardinas returning to
the schooner and Pedro, with his companions,
hurrying oil in the direction of their new re-

I'Bfl .

Meanwhile Robert Brown was overjoyed
with the success of his strata y. He watched
for some passing craft, which a ould come near
enough for him to hail it, but he watched in
vain. ,

Toward morning be resolved to endeavor to
reach the shore on a plank which was among
the driftwood that had collected between the
openin s in the rocks.

Stra dling the plank, he paddled with his
hands, and nally gained the beach.

The light of dawn was just beginning to
break, and as the youth looked about him, he
fancied he saw a female fl ure approaching.

He crouched behind a oak, and the youn
woman passed so near'him that he was enabl
to recognize Berta. ‘

The girl was walking ra 'dly, with bowed
head, and with hands clas before her, and as

-she passed Robert heard her say: '

“ am afraid the boy is lost! The skiff was a
leaky one and must have filled before he got far
from the shore.”

It was evident that the irl had remained all
night on the beach in the ope of seeing some-
thing of the fugitive. '

Scarcelg was she out of sight in the gloom,
when R0 ert started t0ward Tampico. As he
moved on he did not notice a form which was
swxftly and stealthily following him.

This was Cardinas, who, having been on deck
while the young clerk was paddling shoreward
on the plank, had dimly descried his figure.

A suspicion of the truth had at once flashed
across his mind, and heihad rung into his 31::
and sculled it toward the beat: ,flrst having told

, his second officer, who had the watch, that he

_ was going ashore to meet a friend with whom he

intment. As it was not uncommon
for him to thus go 03 alone in the gig, the officer
thought nothing of it.

As soon as he reached the shore be secured his

.2

‘ hadan, appo

kw

gig by means of the warp to a rock and startedflh-
as showu, after Robert. " M

As he had kept among the sand-hills, he hildlfron
not seen Berta, who had passed on the other side :5“,

 

of them. é T1
CHAPTER 12:: $3,:
WOUNDED. "4 “

“ AYE as I thought, it is Robert Brown," timing-
captain muttered, as the increasing light enabled? T]
him to recognize the figure of the youth. “ I ‘abo,
would not have believed I could have made‘such, u
a. blunder as I did. I could have sworn he went 538,,
down in the skiff." g u

Stealthin approaching the boy, he pulled his“
pistol from his pocket as he drew near him. -“

    
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
    
  
    
  
   
   
 
 
   
  
  
 
    

, .
side, with its topmast Eroken oil? near the truck, man
and its mainsail carelessly furled on the boom. 1' n

Cardinas more than once glanced uneasily 80"». ' T
ward the craft. -

“ I don’t believe there is any one aboard,” he
thought. “ The sloop has been laid up there for .
several weeks by the pearl-divers who used it Tan
because it needed repairing. Still. there migh “
possibly be some one aboard, and 1 will wai
until the boy passes behind that sand—hill jus Yon
ahead before I attack him, as I could not there thir
be seen from the craft."  A

A moment later Robert passed behind the of
sand-hill, when, taking aim at his head, the cap-she
tain pulled trigger. .

The weapon did not go off, and hearing thehen
click of the falling hammer, the boy turned, to “
behold Cardinas, now within two feetof him.

tain struck him a heavy blow between the 
with the stock of the weapon causing him
stagger buck, balf’stunned. fiobert, confu
though he was, quickly recoverodhimself, an
as Cardinas made a lungs at him with his sword . den
he knocked it aside with his club, which he stil r be i
had in his possession. « v

“ You young dog of an American,” cried the
captain. “Your time has come. I told you I I w
was not done with you." ‘ low

And he made another thrust at the boy.

“I am not done with you, thief and rascal : :
you are!” answered Robert, as he again parri
the keen Weapon. r

Then be dealt Cnrdinas a sounding when , 3 V
with the club on the back, as the captain half I Np
turned to avoid the blow, which was aimed a V 85!
his head. '

“Curse you—you rat!” said Cardinns, as u
made a third Inn at the boy.

The latter en covered to parry it, but was shel]
only partly successful. He felt a cold, sharp the
gain, as about an inch of the weapon penetrated

i side. The next moment his enemy would
have run him through the body, had not th
young clerk struck him on the wrist, of h'
swogd-arm a blow dwhiophedbgnumlllifdmis hang _ the
so 1; at his weapon ro mm s grasp. ,.
picked. it up withhis eft, but are he could u

   
  
      
  

   
     
  
 

    
  
  
  

  

heard, and , Cardinal! hurried

 

‘it the sound of ‘u’iok footstepsnp roachin w
’ q 05, soon dice

peering among the sand-hills ahead.

  

‘

_4

The Coast Detective.

15

 

:edi

. Meanwhile Robert felt the blond gushing
W‘dlfrom his wound, and as it made him weak ho
“de m down.

The footsteps which had been heard drew
nearer, and. a minute later, Berta. appeared
from behind one of the sand-hills.

“ You are hurt!” she cried, anxiously. “ Tell

the me where.”
Ilfd The boy had already loosened his clothing
‘ I about his side.
1““ “ It was Cardinas-was it not?” continued
911‘? Berta, her eyes flashing.

_ “Yes, it was he who gave the wound, but,
1115 after all, it is only a mere scratch i”

“It is bad enough to weaken you for some
are time," she said. “Coward! coward! that he
MO was, to attack an unarmed boy! I will pay him
gue for this!”
its . As she spoke, she tore a strip of cloth from a
ck, mantle she wore, and proceeded to tightly
. bondage the wound.
to- { Then she pulled from her pocket a small flask

)containing liquor, and made the boy drink it.
he; “ Do you feel better now?”
for; “Yes, I think I can keep on my way to
it, {Tampicofi’
glit‘ _“ No, you are not fit to go. Exertion of that
aitikind would he the death of yon, in the end.
ust You need rest. Your wound is worse than you
are 5 think.”

As she spoke, she bathed his head with some
:he of the liquor, tenderly pushing back his hair as
rp- ‘Ishe did so.

He started back as if to move away from
ihe ,hcr. '
toi “Whatl are my touch and presence then so

{disagreeable to you?" she inquired. sadly.
ip-_ “Oh, no.” he answered, not wishing to hurt
Ies‘hcr feelings. He was really grateful for her
to attentions, and believed that, although she was
ed a member of a gang of smugglers, she was a.
nd friend to him, for it was of course plainly evi-
‘d ,dent that, had she not interfered in his behalf,
ml; he would have been killed by the outlaw band
isoon after his capture.
he 3 “'Come,” she said, “ you shall lean on me, and
i I i I Will take you to the craft yonder, in the shal-
 10w water, just beyond the ninsula.”
3 As she spoke, she point toward the pearl—
851’ fis'ier. A
ed “ Will the people there be friendly to me?”

“There is not a soul aboard. The craft has
ck jbcen abandoned for the resent, until it can be
113-, repaired, if it ever is, w ich I think is doubtful,
at -, as the pearl-fishers who sailed it are now using

‘. another vessel."
be She assisted the youth to his feet, and putting
an arm around him as he leaned on her, she
as helped him to the end of the peninsula, and
rp thence into the shallow water beyond.
ed  Within a few fathoms of the craft, the water
ld  was too deep to be waded.
he. “Wait here,” said Berta, and plunging for-
us Ward, she swam like a. mermaid. Gaining
d, the lower side of the sloop, she climbed to the
In deck.
so A moment later she launched overboard a
as stout plank. Pushing this before her, she re-
p. ,turnedtoRobert’s side. Then she helix”d him
on theplank, and getting on herself, worked it
alongsxde of the Vessel. She next sprung aboard

 

and lowered some gangway-steps, by means of
which she finally got him to the deck.

She helped him down into the hold, for cabin
the craft did not have. Here there were some
chairs, a couple of bunks with mattresses in
them, a table, a few coils of rope and some old
canvas. In the center of the apartment a large
object, shaped like a hell, with strong glass
lenscslitted in near the top, riveted his atten-
tion.

“ What is that?” he inquired.

“ It is a diving-bell.”

Robert was helped into one of the bunks,
where he lay on his back as Berta advised him
to do. This gave him great relief from pain,
and he was soon able to walk a little.

“Now, then, I think I can make a start for
Tainpico,” he said.

The girl shook her head.

“ Not yet,” she answered.

“What makes the craft rock so? I thought
she was in shallow water, her keel touching bot-
tom.’

“ So she was, but the tide has risen higher
than usual and she is afloat, though hold by an
anchor.”

As Berta spoke she ascended the ladder lead-
ing on deck to take a look at the water and the

skv.

When she descended, Robert noticed that her
face wore an anxious expression.

“ We are going to have a gale," she said. “ It
will be upon us in a few moments. Don‘t at—
tempt to come up, but stay here while I go on
deck again.”

As she spoke, there was a. deafening roar, fol.
lowed by a wild rush of waters, which latter
throw the craft down almost on her beam—ends.

CHAPTER X.
WRECKED.

BERTA now hurried on deck. The moment she
reached it, the first object that met her gem was
Captain Curdinas, now on the after part of his
vessel, spy—glass in hand, watching the damaged
sloop, which it was evident he had seen the girl
board with Robert.

“ Rascal!” she muttered, between her teeth,
her eyes flashing, “I will be even with you for
hurting that boy! Don Carlos shall know from
me your true character. He shall know that
you are the thief, who, from the first, planned
the robbery of his goods with my brother—that
you allow him to pass you and smuggle his
cargoes into the city, sharing the profits with
him.”

The wind was now blowing with terrific vio-
lence, and great sheets of spray were driven
over the vessel, fore and aft. he was near]
on her beam-ends, thumping against the sandy:
bank on which she lay, with n violence which
threatened to soon break her to pieces. ’

Berta running to the round'house aft, found
an old ax, with the help of which she intended to
slip the cable.

It would be impossible now totake Robert
ashore through the raging waters, and unless the
sloop could be got adrift, it must break up.

“ I will save Robert or die!” cried the brave
girl, her eyes flashing. “Our only hope is in
getting the vessel adrift. She will be carried off

 

 

The Coast Detective.

 

Tnmpico, and I trust that some craft will come
from the city to our relief if I make a signal!"

She soon had the anchor clear off—shore, and
the gale bore the sloop seaward. With some dif:
ficulty. she partly loosened the mainsuil; and
then, lashing the helm amidships, she thus kept
the omit directly before the wind. Bending on
to the after lmlyards 9. strip of blue bunting, she
hoisted it half-mast us a. signal, but scarcely had
she done so, when the rack or the storm was
driven between the vessel and the city.

“ God help the boy!” cried Berta. “ They
cannot see the signal from Tampicol”

0n went the damaged craft further out to see
every moment.

Through the driving sheets of spray, Berta,
sprin ing on the bow, peered ahead.

“ l is losll“ she exclaimed, as a mist in that
direction lifted. “ There are the ‘ Black Rocks,’
not fifty futhoms ahead. They extend in a. line
so that I cannot escape them, unless I can beat
to Windward of them, which I believe to be im-
possible in such a blow l” l '

She loosened the rest of the mainsail, sheeted
it as well as she could, and took her post at the
wheel.

A momentary lull in the gale inspired her
with hope. She jammed the wheel hard—e-port,
and shooting close up to the ‘wind, the sloop
pointed her how a. little to windward of 'the line
of dangerous rocks.

Berta‘s whole face lighted with joy. She had
begun to think she would (Fuss the rocks, when,
all at once the ale more with redoubled vio-
lence, and the s cop’s head swung off, pointing
straight forthe rugged masses.

“ She is gone! No hope now!” muttered the

girl.

She lashed the wheel, and compressing her
lips, with a look of determination, she descended
into the hold.

“Well,” said Robert, “how did you find
things?”

“Bad enough. In ten minutes from now we
will strike the rocks and go to pieces, when in
no way can you save yourself, in your present
disabled condition.”

" I don’t suppose I could swim much."

“No, and if you could, I doubt if it would do
you much ood. We are close upon the ‘Black

ocks,’ an the breakers there Would interfere
with the best swimmer. Come here, she added,
as she walked to the diving-bell, “you must get
into this.”

“In, the diving-bell? How do you know it
will) go down straight when the craft breaks

up?’

“ I will tr to make it go so.”

“ How wi l you do it?” _
_ Berta seized theend of a strong rope attached
to the top of the bell, and secured it to the main~
boom on deck. _

Then she returned to the hold.

“ It is time you were in the bell,” she said to
Robert, taking his arm.

I . = The instrument was raised on blocks, so that

“any son could creep up under it, and get into
it. a. assisted the boy to one of the shelves
in the metallic chambo . .
; 4“ The instrument .is your gully; alternative,
under the circumsjgonoes. , it at least give

 

you a chance for life.
and provisions in the bell.

You will find a lento

you may be saved, but there is no certain
about it, and you must be prepared for pa

worst.”
“ Are on not also going to
“ No;

swngnt overboard too soon, I
cee ."

get into the

um going to stay on deck, and do 
best to keep the bell straight.

ItIam.
thinkIwills,

“ So then you are risking your life for me?” I.
“1 would risk it a thousand times for you» 10

was the reply.

“Good-byl” And as she

the im ulsive girl pressed her beautiful lips.

thosec Robert.
The next moment she was
“ I’ve half a mind to get
again,” muttemi the boy.

gone. ,»

out of the

But just then a violent roll of the craftca -
the instrument to slip of! the blocks, and
youth found himself imprisoned in the boll

vessel.

Meanwhile Berta. had returned to the :1

She took her position by the

diving-bell to,

and securely fastened the upper part oi! the - u ~

to the boom.

“ This spar will be the first to go when

strike,” she thought.

“ Neither the rope

the hose will be dislodged from it, and it " ‘
serve us a sort of mark for Robert’s situation V

The sloop was now within a.

few fathom:

the rocks. A huge breaker came rolling ale
and in a. second the vessel struck, with n 1

crash.

She parted amidships. the meinmast at t
same time going over, dragging the boom w

l
Brave Berta clung to the

boom, and, ev

when among the rushing, whirlingiwaters, ~

put her hands on the hose 0! the

make sure it was firm. r
As she did so, a huge breaks

swept her from her hold.
She endeavored to swizg

when another sea dash her

ring-bell~ ;

r struck her a.

tonrock near b ”

against a rngg

mass, depriving her of her senses.
ment her dark hair streamed out on the foe.
ing water. Then she went down to never ug,

rise in life.

“Do you see her, now?” inquired Cardin

who from his sloop had. as am:
in the damaged craft. He

ted, been We. s
spoke to his i

o cer, an evil-looking personage named Ba

—some years older than him]
“ No; the craft has gone to
not likely we’ll ever see that gir

-Cardinas still scanned the
glass. The fragments of the

out to sea, and only the rocks on

were visible where she had
young on thin breathed a sigh
“ The
thou ht.
“ e can never tell tales a?
can that girl, Berta who
lived. would have to! every
“Those are bnd’rocks,’ '

laces, and 
again!” '
water with h,

sloo

white we r
broken up.
of relief.

y is gone, sure enough, now,” h

inst me. Neit  I

Bengo.‘ '

they are about half a lea us from shore.

are in the way of in-boun

craft. There

times a sort or whirlpool among them. and

is e legend that the spirits or

 

mieth V

The Coast Detective. l!

"~—r
, a hub been drowned there, have been seen flitting
. . among the rocks.”
‘ “ Nonsense!” gasped Cardinas, turning as
'pale as death. “ You don’t mean to say that
l on think the ghosts of the two young fellows,
the bani edno drowned there ever come up again 3”
nd do m. “ banta Maria only knows,” answered the
[ am In, first officer, crossmg himself. “ I shouldn‘t like
to see the ghosts of Heni'ique and Jason, as we
had a hand in having them drowned!”

Cardinas, who, as well as his first officer, was
superstitious at heart, shuddered, as he said in a
low voice:

“ Be careful how you speak about that. Now,
then, as soon as the storm is over, I must go to
the smuggleis’ rendezvous and tell Pedro that
the bet; his Sister and that boy are both lost.”

Three hours later the gala went down. Car—
” can”, dines was then rowed ashore, and he hurried to
and w the secret retreat of the outlaws.

Pedro merely shrugged his shoulders when he

Ir me?"

{101‘ yogi
e 3'

'ul fig; f;

9 how)! learned his sister’s fate.
he deg; “She was a good helper,” he said, “but her
,n mp, foolish attachment to that boy would, I think,
the ha: hll‘ve got us into trouble had she lived.”

f ‘ Fortunately, he is gone, too, so that we have
vhen  now “thing more to fear.”
ape not _ “ I suppose the custom-house fellows are hunt-
1 it m1 1112! us up by this time.”

“Yes. but they can never find you if on keep

"9
33):} close. The person most to be tear-e is that
,. 810 young detective, Lormo. He is a shrewd boy,
’ I": and for that reason heis paid better than any
8 ° , of the ‘force’ employed.”
at t3 “ I will balk him. Come this way,” said Pedro
a wig Cardiuas followed his conductor through the

i vaulted apartment until the two reached a
' paved archway. Then Pedro held 11 the lan-
N tern he carried, showing a pit, at the ttom of
be’u a which could he heard the wash of water.

“ A body thrown down there,” be said, “ with

 

Er  a weight tied to it, would be carried out to sea
a . by the under-current, and would never rise to
i the surface.”
1' hr?
'“88.
a m, CHAPTER XI.

foa' rnn nannnzvous.

“gay WHEN Isabel returned to her lodging, on that
din day when Cardinos pretended to rescue her, and
m afterward showed her Robert Brown among the

8 fl outlaws, she went straight to her room, leaving
the (Iagptain With her fpther.
is very strange, ’the youn irl muttered.
as she bowed'her head uponghir hand. “I
would not have believed it had not I seen him
‘ there. He really had the appearance of
h h _ , . one
who had voluntarily Joined the gang. It must

b0" have been that wicked ‘ - -
girl I saw hi th
"Pr who induced him to become a memheifnofwtlhe
7‘ band.”
,,  _ Meanwhile Cardinas was giving an account to

- the surprised Don Carlos of his rescue of his
“ha daughter, and of his discovery of Robert Brown
I .b, among the outlaws.

 aggro“ ‘saw that boy with those rascals, you
they ‘ I did: your daughter saw him, too.”

is at  A Prisoner, of course?”

here? No? he had the air of one who had joined

b" them voluntarily. He was with a girl belong—

   

 

 

l

iug to the party.
amicable terms.”

“ This is very strange. You think those are the
persons who robbed my warehouso?”

“ I have no doubt of it. They robbed the
place, and induced your boy-watcher to join
them.”

“ They must be smugglers as well as thieves.
There has been a good deal of smuggling going
on lately, Captain Cardiuas, in spite of your
watchfulness.”

The young captain colored.

” Upon my Word,” he said. “The Govern-
ment would need a whole fleet of vessels _on the
coast to entirely prevent smuggling. With my
little craft 1 do the best I can.”

“ 1 have no doubt of it,” said Don Carlos,
heartily. “And now, about this boy, Robert.
Do you know what you have told me has almost
destroyed my faith in any human being?”

1 “ Igoohl I never had much faith in that fel-
owl ‘

As already stated, Don Carlos was naturally
of a smpicious nature, and as appearances were
against Robert, Cardinas soon persuaded him to
believe that Robert was a. dishonest thief.

The two lost no time in repairing to the quar-
ters of the Vigilantes and also to the Custom-
House, where they gave informatiom of what
had happened, and where Cardinas carefully de-
scribed the location ot the rendezvous in which
he had seen the outlaws.

They were evidently on

It chanced that Lormo was lounging near I

when the captain and his companion were talk-
ing to the chief. When the former spoke of
Robert Brown, having voluntaril joined the
smugglers, he could detect the airo satisfaction
With which this part of the statement was made
by Cardinals.

“ I never liked that fellow,” thought Lormo.
“ People who are fond of accusing others of do-
ing wrong, are often mean, contemptible scoun-
drels themselves. He will bear watching !

And the shrewd boy resolved, from that
moment, to keep a careful watch upon Car-
dinas.

With a number of others, and also with a.
party of Vigilantes, escorted by the young cap-
tain, Lorino was sent to the rendezvous.

Ladders being brought, the walls were scaled
and a careful search was made of the vacated
cavern, but the smugglers were gone.

“ I thought so,” said Lormo, loud enough for
Cardinas to hear him. , r

The young captain turned qumkly to meet the
clear, steady gray eyes of the speaker. _

“ You thought what?” inquired Cardinas.

“ That you wouldn’t find any of those fellows
here.”

“ thy i”

“Because they must have known beforehand
that we were coming, and so they had a good
chance to get off I” ' ‘

The captain looked relieved, and this did not
escape Lormo‘s attention.

“ It almost looks as if he thought I was goin
to accuse him of having warned them,” chuck]
the lad, as soon as he left the premises. “ Well,
I do more than half think he did, but I won’t
say it is so, for people are sometimes mis-

taken.”

K.

 

’18  The Coast Detective.

 

A few hours later, Lormo,with others detailed
for that purpose, was making a vigorous search
for the smugglers.

The boy had disguised himself so that his own
mother would not have known him. He had
changed his attire, and had so blackened his
face witha burnt cork that he looked almost
like a negro

Separating from the rest of the party, he
placed himself behind a, sand—hill, whence he
could watch the schooner of Captain Cardinas.
It was now just after the storm had subsided,
and Cardinas had lowered his boat to be taken
ashore. As the captain moved off, Lorine kept
nearly behind him shielded from observation
bya ridge of ion along the base of which he
crept. At len th, srrivmg where there were
trees and shrub ery, the youth walked upright,
keepin himself screened by the foliage. He
. saw ardinus finally enter the tomb in the
 r ’ , graveyard, and without hesitation, he moved on
 after him.

Just as the captain disappeared, however, in
the vault, the boy felt a. hand on his arm.

“ Where are you going?” came a low, stern
voice in his ear, and turning, he beheld arufiinn—
ly—looking fellow, with a. deep scar between the
9 es.

y“ I have lost my way," answered Lormo, dis—

guising his voice.

“ Whore do you want to go to?”

“To Tampico. I am half-starved, and am

' looking for work.”

“ What kind of work? Are you particular?"

“Anything I will do. I don’t care what it is,
so Ions: as I can earn money.”

“ Where are you from?”

“ I don’t like to tell you.”

is Why,”

“ I’m afraid you might have me arrested.”
-“Hol ho! I believe you are some prison-
bird.”

“ Now you know it, for God’s sake don’t tell.”

“ Have no fear. What were you put in
prison for?” h

' “For—-for—-stesling.”

“Would you like to steal again?” .,

‘t‘g‘ry me; but first give me something to
ca .

“I think you‘ll do,” said the man. “ Come
this way.” , I

He opened the door of the vault with a key
‘ ken from his pocket.

’ Lormo followed him to the bottom of the
i vault looking keenly about him as he went.

“ Now you will have to let me blindfold you,”
.said the man.

“ All right,” answered the boy.

Talon a kerchiel', the smuggler fastened it
about t e e as of the youth; then he led him
forward, an a. moment later the young dated
tlve heard a grating noise in front of him, like
that; of n. door being opened.

‘ Lormo was conducted some yards are the
“ bondage was taken from his eyes, when he
ltyound himself in a large, bricked apartment,
wWith a cemented floor and lighted by lamps in
niches on the walls. here were about twenty
smugglers present, some of them seated on
c
0th

 

  
 
   
    
   
 
   
       
       
     
   
     
       
     
         
       
       
     
         
     
       
     
     
     
     
     
       
     
      
      
         
        

    

 

  
     

"hen es, playing cards and others conversing
 er. , v .

 

“Hero is a. boy who wants to join us,” said
Lormo's companion.

One of the band called Pedro. who was at that
moment showing Cardinas the pit in the outer'
passage.

Followed by Cal-dines, who, however was so
closely muffled in his cloak that Lormo could
not recognize him, Pedro came in and looked at
the boy.

“ So you want to join us?” he said.

“ 1 do," answered Lormo.

“ You have escaped from prison?” continued
Pedro, scrutinizing the garb of the youth.

“I have.”

“Be careful,” whispered Cerdinas in Pedro’s
ear; “ make sure he is not a spy.”

Lormo looked at the cloaked figure.

“ I wish I could see his face,” he thought. “I
believe he is Cardinas." -

But the latter now passed on and soon left the
apartment.

“ You will swear to serve us faithfully if we
take you 1” continued Pedro. ’

“I will.”

The boy was then made to take on oath, which
he did in a. firm voice.

At the some moment a noise was heard of
footsteps and voices approaching, and a minute
later several smugglers entered. dragging with
them a man in the garb of a Vigilante. The
latter looked pale and frightened. Lorine was
sure he had never seen this person before.

“ Who have We here?” quaried Pedro.

“A Vigilante—one of the cursed people who
are trying to hunt us down,” was the answer.
“ We found him lurking outside 01 our grounds.“

“ What shall be the fate of this man 1’ inquired
Pedro, addressing his band.

“ DEATHI" refilled the smugglers, in chorus.

“ It is well. repare for your fate,” said the
leader of the gang, turning to the Vigilante.

“ Have mercyl” grosned the latter, piteously.

“ Remember 1 have a family dependent on me '
* t

for support.” >

“ You must die. Having discovered the loca—
tion of our rendezvous, you cannot be let off to
tell where it is." ,

“For God’s sake, spare my life!” cried the
Vigilante. .

“ You waste your breath,” cried Pedro,
stomly. ” And you," turning; to Lormo, ,“ shall
be his executioner.”

“ I did not engage to kill people,” he said. .“ 1
took you for smugglers and robbers.”

“ You have Sworn to serve us in any way we
might r uire. The penalty for refusing will
be deethl’ cried Pedr . '

Suddenly the boy’s eyes fleshed.

He com-1
pressed his lips firmly. and then said: '

“ Var welleilldoitl” ‘ ' ' ‘

The igilante was held firmly by severnlo
the gang. 1 r

Ere Lormo could strike, however, Pedro
seized his arm. "

“ Enough!” he cried. “ This  done to try 7

you! I see we can rely on yoni

“I have hoodwinked him nicelv,” thought in: my

boy. “I sewn. look exchanged between him

the pretended Vigilante, and that showed me

just how things were.”
The man who wore the garb oth‘ ilan

 

 

 

2
a
y
g

   
   
   
  
    
   
 
 
  
 
   
   
   
     
  
    
 

  

  

The Coast Detective.’

 

now divested himself of the uniform, revealing
attire similar to that of the rest of the gang.
Meanwhile, Lormo looked about him in vain
for his friend, Robert Brown.
“ He is not here, that is plain,” mused the lad.
“ Can it be that they have killed him? It is
likely I will find out before long.”

 

CHAPTER XII.
.L STARTLING VISION.

Tall Custom-house officers and the Vigilantes
vainly’searched for the secret retreat of the
smuggler-i.

It was now believed that the boy, Lormo,
who had not been seen by his comrades since
he parted from them, had been killed by the
outlaws.

‘ The truth was that the lad had found no
chance to leave the rendevous since he entered

it.

Cardinas had informed Pedro of Lormo’s
disappearance, and he shrewdly advised him to
sharply watch the youth who had lately joined
his band.~
- “ Who knows but that he may be Lormo him-
self,” he remarked. “ He is about the size of
that fellow.” .

“ But then he is almost black; and, again, we
have tried him.”

“ You mean about that pretended Vigilante?
That, I own, looks as if he is all right, but he is
a sharp fellow, and may ave guessed that you
were playing him a trio . As to his being black,
it is easy to make the skin that way with a burnt
cork. Have you seen him wash his face since he
joined you?”

“ No, but he shall do so this very day before
me. If the black does not come off, I shall
home no doubt of his being what he appears to
be.

This conversation took place twodaya after
Lormo’s disappearance aboard Cardms‘s vessel
mthe St. Mary.

Before night, Pedro returned to the rendez~

' 7003.

.Not seeing the :black boy, he inquired for

1m.
, " We sent him to our craft to he] work her,”
said Bronson~the Englishman— edro’s first
officer.

“ Why did you do that? I told you I did not
want him to leave the lace, alone.”

_.‘f He has not left it one. There are three of
our men with him."

“That alters the case; but I shall be glad
enough to see him back here.”

At that moment home. with his companions,
was about a mile from the rendezvous, approach-
ing: that part of the coast ofl which the Maria,
Pedro’s craft, now lay at anchor.

The boy watched for a chance to maps, but
the three men with him kept close to him.

Finally they drew near a small. stone house,
about half a mile from the city. This house was‘
a sort of tavern, the proprietor of which was

 well known to the outlaws, from whom he had
_. ~received many a bottle 'of smuggled Wine.
; “1 am thirsty,” remarked Lormo.

 

“30,3111 I.” said one of the men.

"I always
am when we get near that house." .

 

” A» little wine would not hurt any of us,” con-
tinued the young detective.

“ No, indeed, but old Bosco, who keeps that
place, Will not trust us any more. He hasa long
score against us, already.”

“ I am willing to treat,” said Lormo, rattling
some silver in his pocket. “ I don‘t drink my—
self, but we can go in, and you can call for What
you want at my expense."

“ That’s fair enough,” was the reply.

With Lormo the three entered the Casino.
It was getting dark, and a. lamp had been
lighted.

The boy sat down on a bench, while his com-
panions called for what they wanted.

The moment their backs were toward him,
Lormo darted through the open doorway. The
men had just raised their glasses.

f‘ Hold, therel” cried Bosco. “ I think you
saigwyour black friend would pay! He has run
on

“The deuce he has!" ejaculated one of the
three, in consternation, but they all gulped down
the liquor ere they darted off in ursuit.

“ Pay me first!” shrieked fiesco, but he
shricked in vain.

Away went the trio, the dim form of the
fugitive faintly visible in the gloom, a few
yards ahead of them.

The did not guess the truth, but thought
that t 9 black boy had merely played them the
trick of running off so as to escape paying for
the wine.

“ Come back, there, or we’ll break your head
when we catch you, you little imp l” shouted
one.

Lormo, however, kept on. Closely followed

by his pursuers who were good runners, he '
finally found himself on a. projection of land,
hemmed in on three sides by the water.
" “ This is bad,” he muttered. “No chance now
for me to get to the city. But there is the light
of a‘craft ahead, and I hope it may prove to be
a friend—one of our Custom-house boats.”

He s rung into the water, and struck out for
tit]: lig t, which was not more than forty yards
0 .

Ere long he could dimly make out the hull and
mast of the craft, which was a sloop. (
“ I believe it is the smuggler-craft, the Maria, ,

after all i” he thought. I

Be approached the vessel cautiously and
finally gained the bow unperceived. At the
same moment he heard a hail from the shore.
‘.‘ Maria. Ahoy l”

“ Aho ,” was answered from the sloop.

“ Sen us a boat, and look sharp for a black
boy who has just escaped us and must now be
somewhere near the sloop!”

Lormo hastened to clnmber into the bow and
crouched in the knighthead.

He heard the sound of a boat bein lowered.
As soon an it was gone. he clim over the,
vessel’s rail, having first made sure there was
no watch forward, and skulked down the tore~
hatchwa , which was open. . ,

“ Goody, so far," he thought. “ My next move
is to swim ashore and get to the City. after the
boat comes back.” I ' -_
In half an hour the boat returned, and Lormc ‘ -

   

    
     
       
    
         
 
 
      

20

i The Coast Detective.

 

could hear the voices of his three late‘com-
pamons on deck.

He waited in vain for a chance to leave the
vessel. The men remained near the fore hatch-
way, and finally he heard the hatch as it was
put over the opening and fastened.

Preparations were being made for getting
under way. A couple of hours later the boy,
who had ensconced himself behind a pile of
canvas, heard Pedro, with his gang, come
aboard.

His angry voice rung sharply through the
vessel when the three men informed him of the
escape of the, black boy, and Lorine could hear
what was said. V

“Everything is lostl” cried Pedro, “ with
that hoyl"

“ It is likely he was drowned,” anewered one
of the men. “ The last we saw of him he was in
the water.”

“ If he was the person I think he was, he is
too good a swimmer to be drowned. I now be-
lieve that he was Lormo, the Custom-house de—
tective, in disguise.”

' “ Oh, no! I think you must be mistaken! He
was ust what he seemed.” .

“ by, then, did he run away from you?”

“ Merely to escape payingr for the wine."

L‘yPooh! he would not have taken so much
trouble for a little silver. You may be sure he
was a soy.” —

“Well, then, even if he was, I am confident
he was drowned. There are sharks in plenty
off the coast, and I believe he has been nabbed
by one of them."

“ I hope so. If not, our rendezvous is as good
as discovered.”

The craft now was under way.

- In a few minutes Lormo could feel her rolling
and rocking violently, which indicated that she
had been struck by a gale.

“ Light '0!” suddenly shrieked a man, who
had been put on the lookout.

“ Wheroawu i” shouted Pedro.

“ A couple 0 points shaft the weather-beam,
not half a. mile off!” was the answer. “Santa
Maria! it comes from a. LIGHT-HOUSE!” added
the speaker, n moment later.

“ No,” said Pedro. “ Impossible! That light
comes from the ‘ Bluck Rocks,’ and there. is no
light-house there I”

The captain said this as ho emerged from the
cabin, but the moment he reached the deck and
took a keener survey of the light, he drew back
with a. cry of horror. ' ,

“ God help us! ( THERE Is A LIGHT-HOUSE
THERE. BUT THERE NEVER WAS ONE OR THOSE
ROCKS BEFORE! What can it mean?”

Lormo heard those words.

“ I must try to get a. look at that light,” he
muttered.

He crept cautiously forward, and entered the

-. torecastle through an opening in the bulkhead.
There was no one there, all hands being new
on deck. The boy ascended the ladder and looked
through the scuttle-opening. ‘
The wind was blowing a gale, and the night
j was Ve dark, except when it was now and
3 then re] eved by a flash of lightning. Looking

V toward the “ Black Rocks,” Lox-mo saw the light

which bud been alluded to. Soon an electric

 

flash revealed to him an object projecting fromr,
one of the rocks." ‘

“ Sure enough, there is a. lighthousel” he mut-
tered, in astonishment. ‘

At the same moment he heard a cry of sur-
prise from the crew. who were collected amid-
ships. '

By the gleam of a lantern in the riggin , he
could see Bronson and Pedro gazing townrdg' the
singular vision with pale faces and wild eyes.
The young captain shock in every limb with su-
perstition. horror. . '

What could it mean—the presence of that
light-house on those rocks, where it had never
been before?

Pedro clutched Bronson’s arm.

“ It is near the very spot where we drowned .
Henrique and Jason l” . _

“Pshawl what has that to do with it?” said
the Englishman, who was not quite so supersti—‘
tious as the other.

“ It is a sort of
Pedro.

“ Nonsense l” ,

Nevertheless, he was much agitated by the
sight of the singular apparition, as there cer—
tainly seemed to be something supernatural
about it. . '

“See! the light moves!” continued Pedro, as
it was seen swinging to and fro.

“ It is strange enough!” cried Bronson. r
“ When we come this way again we must lower
a boat and go there.” '

“I will never go there!” answered Pedro,
shuddering. “ Besides, the strong our! near
that rook is apt to break any boat to pieces.”

“ I can go near enough, at any rate, to look
into the mystery. ‘

As the sloop receded further and further
from the rocks the light gradually disap—
peared. ~ . _

The mist and rack of the storm now hid the
PHANTOM LIGHT-HOUSE from view. -

CHAPTER XIII.
SUSPECTED. ;

LORMO returned to the hold, where he again
ensconced himself behind the canvas. A couple
of hours later the gale subsided. Not long
after, the young detective could hear the rat- .‘
tling of the cable, as preparations were being
made for anchoring the craft.
cart-wheels fell upon the boy’s ear. He again
made his way up the forecastle scuttle steps,-
and, cautiously looking; though the scuttle,
heusiliw lights ashore—not twenty tathoms oil.
Lormo.

He 1

Looking over the rail from behind the windings, .
which, in the gloom, served to conceal him,
from the gaze of the sailors, he beheld a couple
ofi wagons, loaded with cases—evxdently of
w no. . , ,k. *
“Ho! hol my flne fellows!” thought thew.
“ You Will not find it quite so easy to settliose
things into the city as’you “did  othersuthst
is, if I can prevent it ’ “ ” _

- He was aboutto return to the hold when he:

saw a boat coming round the how, This

judgment upon usl” gasped V

The creaking of ,»

must look .into this thing," thought 

A

ided on deck unseen by the men, who, ,7
were busy preparing the boats for-loitering. ‘:

 

  

 

 

 

,‘I‘he Coast Detective.

  
   
 

  

? i

 

‘ 21‘

 

must have been pulled with muffled oars, as he
had had no warning of its coming. Ere he
could retreat from the rail, some one_1u the
stern-sheets held up the lantern, the light of
which flashed full upon his face.

He at once recognized the features of Car-
dinas, who also saw the boy.

“ I must get away from here, now,” thought
the latter;

» ' . He was about to move toward the other side
.~ of the rail, when he behold Pedro approaching.
The lad then crouched behind the Windlass.

“ Is that you, Captain Cardinals?" inquired
Pedro, advancing to the rail.

“Yes. I came to tell you to keep as near

. the coast as you can, and to sh0w no light, as I
have passengers aboard who may suspect some—
thing.” .

“ Passengers?”

“Yes, Don Carlos and his daughter, waiting
for me to sail in the morning. They are going
back to their mansion.”

“ Are they not below? Would they be likely
to see me? And even if they did, would they
suspect that I was a smuggler whom you were
allowing to'pass you?”

V “The deuce take them, yes. Don Carlos is
r’suspicious at all times, and although he was be—
low when I came away, he may be on deck when
you pass, as he has kept popping up out of the
cabin ever since coming aboard. The moment
he should seeyou he would want me to speak
you, and might even take ’a. notion to board you,
with his daughter, and she would be sure to re-

v: coEnlze'you as the person» who attacked her the
'01; at day.” \ r

“True enough; and even if [could keep out
of sight, the old fellow would probably scent
something wrong, as he is very sharp, or else
he would report having seen me, and finally
learn that I had not received the Custom—house
inspectors."

‘ Of course he would.” ' » '

“So my fine Captain Cardinals, I have you in
'a trap, at last!" thought Lormo. “Your game
is ugfnow for certain.”

“,- ou think Don Carlos will not seemeif I
hug the shore?" continued Pedro.

‘ Not il’ I can help it. By the way, I see you
have your black  aboard. Kee your eyes
on him, as I warne you before. don’t like
his looks. Just now, when I saw him there at
the rail, it seemed to me that some of the black
had disappeared from his face, leaving it a. little
streaked?

 Z  Here Lormo shrugged his shoulders and crept

along nearer to the opposite rail. Cardinas had
spoken in a low vows, but the boy had good ears
and had heard every word.

“You are mistaken,” said Pedro. “ The
black boy has excaped from us. He ran away
from some of my men ashore, about five hours
since.” .

v “ I tell you I saw him -—e1ther him or his
ghost—mot ten minutes ago, by the rail where
you nowstand I” j '

, “Are you sure?" '

‘_“ Yes-ans sure as that I now see you."

‘ “The little imp must then have swum'to the
Vessel-and got aboard without my knowing it.
must/be looked into.”

 

 

“ I will help you search for him. After
what you have told me, I feel certain that he is
that rascally Lormo in disguise."

As he spoke, Csrdinas, seizing the fore-chains,
lightly sprung aboard. ,

Lormo climth over the opposite rail and
dropped into the Water, but not before he had
been seen.

Cardinas was back in his boat in a moment,
and heading it for the other side of the vessel,

,he pursued the swimmer and overtook him ere

he had proceeded far.

“ Bring him aboard 1“ shouted Pedro, as the
lad was hauled into the bout.

“Let us have agood look at you, my fine
fellow,” said Cardinas, as several of the men
held the boy down on his back. .

Enough of the black had new, owing to his
submersion in the water, left his face for the
captain to recognize Lormo.

“As I thought!” he cried. “Pedrol” he ad—
ded, raising his voice, “ it is that rascally imp
of a detective, after all.”

“ Bring him aboard I” repeated Pedro.

But even as he spoke, the noise of another
boat approaching was heard,and to the con-
sternation of Cardinas, he saw that it contained
Don Carlos and his daughter.

“Captain Cardinasl” cried the merchant; ‘
“ what is the meaning of all this? I see wagons
ashore loaded with goods. I fear that things
are not exactly right here. Your first oflioer
told me, whenIcame on deck, and asked for
you, that you were not aboard at present, and
that was all I could get out of him. I saw the

lights ashore, and at once concluded you had
gone to investigate the matter.” V
“You were right," said Cardinas. “Seeing

the lights, I feared that smuggling was in pros
pact, but I find that I was mistaken.”

f‘ I have come on urpose to hear about i ,”
said Don Carlos. “ our ofiicer would not take
me in one of his boats, so I concluded to take
myself,” and got into one alongside, with my
daughter, who insisted on going with me. As
you see, I have sculled the bout this way. You
say there is no smuggling intended. I must
own that to me it looks like it. What vessel is
this, near which we now are?” ,

“ It is the Maria—~33. fishing craft. The things
you see ashore are cases of wine destined for the

ouse of Martinez 86 Co. in Tampico.”

“ Humphl those fellows, I have board, are not
over honest. You are sure the wine is not to
besmnggledi” v

“ Certainly. I have looked into the affair,
and found it is all right.”

Meanwhile Cardinas had whispered to a
couple of his men, who, in spite of Lormo’s
struggles. held the boy down in the bottom of
the boat, while one kept a hand over his mouth
to prevent his crying out. .

“ So you are sure it is all right?”

“ Yes, sir. I am sure.” . .

“ What; is that commotion in your host!
Ydighave some one there a prisoner have you
no . r
“ It is nothing. My men are ‘ skylarkiug'
that is all.” . '
“ A strange time for sport, it seems to me."

 

    
  
    

   

    
   
    
 

 

      
     
   
 

 

 

The Coast Detective.

 
  

 

  

As he spoke Don Carlos sculled his boat to-
ward the other.

“Give way 1” said Cardinas, in a. low, quick
voice to his crew.

All except those who held Lormo down, then
took to their ours, and soon the boat, leaving
Don Carlos many yards astern, was alongside
of the St. Mary. ‘

In a few minutes Lormo was dragged aboard
of the craft, and thrust into the hold.

When Don Curios arrived, he found Cardinas
and his men haulin the boat round toward the
starboard gangway, looking as if nothing un-
usual hnd happenei . '

“ Why did you ull away from me?” in uired.
the merchant. “ on might have wait and.
taken my daughter and me into your boat.”

“I thought you would like the exercise of
sculling, as you said you did.”

6 and his daughter were soon after below in
the cabin.

A few hours later the St. Mary got under
Way and stood to the southward.

It was not quite down when the vessel ssed
within about two leagues of the “ luck
flocks.”

“ Is not that a light?” inquired the first ofllcér,
pointing toward the rocks.

Cardinns, to whom he spoke, uttered a. cry
01? surprise. Then he looked through a. night-

ass.

g “ Santa Maria!” he cried. “ Therein amour—
nousn there! What canit mean?”

The first officer, looking through the glass,
also saw the object.

“ There never was one there before,” he said.

Cardinus turned pale. He thought of Hen-
rique and J nson~nlso of the reports which he had
heard of the “ Black ROCKS ” bein haunted.

,A few hours later the breeze ell away to a
calm. As the wind had been very light, the St.
Mary was still not more than Seven miles from
the “Black Rocks.”

“ We will go there to look into this strange
vision we saw,” whispered Car-dines to his first
officer. ,

A boat was lam-red, and the young captain
was soon speeding toward the rocks.

When he was within halt a mile of them the
fog cleared. There was the white surf rolling
and breaking as usual over the rugged masses,
which now. at high tide, were mainly under
water, hut there was no sign of. the PHANTOM
LIGHT-HOUSE—that strange vision which had
, been Soon on the night before!

Cardinas shuddercd. There certainly was
smoothing supernatural about the alfair, and it
occurred to the villain that perhaps the appari-
tion had appeared, and would again appear, to
mark the spot where his and Pedro‘s two vio-
tims. Henri no and Jason, with weights attach—
ed to them y chains, had been hurled into a
watery grave?

, r CHAPTER XIV.
A FRIEND IN NEED.

IN the hold Lormo vainly struggled for some
1 time to free himseli‘ from his bonds. At lost,
however, his hands, as he rolled over, come in
contact with the edge of a. piece of iron, which
he concluded by the feeling was theblade of an

 

,ax. He tried to bring his cords over the edge of
it, and at last he was successful. r.

Drawing the ropes to and fro until they
parted he first severed those about his wrists.
Then 6 unfastened the gag from his mouth,
after which he untied the rope around his
ankles. -

He advanced toward the forward bulkhead,
but he found no opening here as aboard the
other craft. Turning, he went to the after
bulkhead. which, aboard this craft, separated
the hold from the cabin. Here he found a. door,
tightly closed and locked. He fancied he heard
the breathing of some person on the other side of
the partition.
and listened. Finally he heard some broken
words, evidently uttered by a girl.

“ It is the merchant’s daughter, Isabel, talking
in her sleep,” thought the boy. “This part of
thepurtitiou separates me from her room. Now,
can I make her hear me?"

He picked up a. piece of wood, the ire ment of
ghroken block, and rapped gently on t e parti-

ion.

In a. few moments a. gentle voice inquired:

“ What is that? Who is there?”

“ It is I—Lormo, the detective.”

There was a slight cry of surprise, followed by ,

the noise of the girl leaving her berth.

“Make no noise,” said Lorine. “I am heree
prisoner,” and he went on to explain.

“ You shall be saved,” answered Isabel. "Now
that”! know you are there, no one shall harm
you.

“ Have you the key of the door?"

“ The key is in the lock," was the answer.
“I will let you in.” ‘

She unlocked the door, and the boy entered
her room.

“ You say that Cardinas tied you and put you
down there in the hold?’ A

“ Yes." ,,

“ What was his motive?" ‘

“ He did not want me to tall tales Doubtless
he is only waiting for a chance to make away
with me. I have discovered that he is in league
with the smugglers—that he assist: them for the
sake of a share of the rofits.”

“ Can this be true Can it be that the one
who acted so nobly in rescuin me from ,the
thieves is such a villain, after all ’

" It is my opinion that that rescue was a
planned unfair. He rescued you from the very
men with whom he is in lelguel” .

A. light seemed to break upon the girl’s mind.

“ I don‘t know why it is—but that thou ht oc-
curred to me more than once. I have nown
Cardinas since he was a. boy, and have heard of
his being guilty of many mean and despicable
actiom.” _ '

“Believe me, senoritu, a greater villain does
not walk the earth.” V r

“ I think so too, now.” .

“ I am sure that he slandered Robert Brown——
that the boy did not join the smugglers of his
own accord, but wen: a prisoner among them.”

Now, themshe added, quickly changing, the .r 

subject, “ you must escape from this vessel. I >
“ Yes, and I request you not to say a word'to
Cardinas or any other person of who!» I have

 

told you, for that would enable him to escape

He pressed his ear to the, boards .

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 

  

Thev Goaist

 

 

Detective.

 

me, and I wish to lay my plans for his capture.
Believe me, he knowswhat has become of my
friend, Robert Brown, who is not now among
the smugglers, and when he is a prisoner, and
not before, will we be able to force him to tell
wheretbeho is—if indeed ho is alive.”

“ How wil you get ashore?”

,“ Is not there a boat, alongside?”

“ I don’t know. I will go and see.”

Isabel then went on deck. She soon returned,
to report that there was a bout alongside, under
the counter."

“ And who is on deck. aft?"

“ Curdinas and his first oiiicer. They are on
one side of the deck, and the boat is under the
other.” "

“Then I will go at Oncv. Many thanks,
. marital, for your kindness.”

He ascended noiselessly to the deck, and as
Cardinns and his first officer how were busy
examining the light on the “ Black Rocks’.’ he
contrived to slip unseen into the boat alongside,
gm lsome one which had been used by Don

ar 0'5.

Unfastoning the boat, the boy allowed it to
drift 0E some fathoms in the gloom" urn he used
the oars for sculling.

Two hours later, just at dawn, he gained the
shore within half a mile of Tmnpico.

It was not until after Cardinas had gono to
investigate the strange affair of the Phantom
Light-house, that his first officer missed tho boat
which had been lying under the counter.

. Now a suspicion that Lormo had escaped

 his mind. He opened the hatch, and
entering the hold, found that the prisoner was
not there. , ‘

The moment Cardinns returned he informed

him of what had happened.

The young captain was much excited over the
event.

“ We should have made away with the fellow,

' last night, Bongo,” he said. “ Now he will go to
the authorities, and tell everything!”

“ But how do you think he got out of the
hold?"

“In my opinion, either Isabel or her father
had a hand in helping him off."

“ Then they must now know everything.”

“I fear so." -

“ What are We to do?”

“They must not bcallowed to go ashore on
this coast.” '

“ You r’don‘t mean to make prisoners of
' them?”

“ For the present-fires. We must go to some
outof-the-way place, ishand our crew, and burn
i the craft.”

Half an hour latcr, as Isabel was preparing to
come up, she found her door locked. Don Car—
los also found himself shut up in his room. He
pounded at the door and shouted, but no atten-
tion was aid to him. I

,. r “ How orig is this accuraed calm gomg to con-
tinue?” said Cardims, impatiently, as he looked

around him. i
" It may last all day,” was Bango’s consoling

gllfildenly, glancing at the barometer, Cardinas
‘ . his hands.

 

at?

aggro going to have a gale," he said.

“ If it only comes from the right quart/er, it
will be good for us," answered Bango.

Both anxiously watched for signs of the gale.

All at once heavy black clouds were seen in the
south and west.

, “ It couldn’t have been worso',” said Cardinas,
gloomily. “ The wind may drive us ashore." ‘

Roaring and shrieking, the gale, soon after,
pounced upon the craft.

At first she was driven straight toward the
“ Black Rocks.” But, by dint of hard work, the
young captain contrived to weather them. As
the sloop went rushing past the white breakers,
ho fancied he heard a. strange, wild cry coming
up from the roaring. waters. Bongo heard it,
too and both men exchanged glances.

Tzhe gale raged for hours. Finally, Cardinas
contrived to run the sloop into a buy, where
he'hdlnnds sheltered her from the wind, and
dropped anchor.

- It was now afternoon, and the young captain
ordered a. good watch kept.

“I will blow up the craft,” he said, “ sooner
than have her fall into the hands of the Custom-
honse officers.” ,

Pedro also had been obliged to seek shelter for
his craft, the Maria, in a bay below.

He went ashore with Bronson to see if any
Government cutter was in sight. The two as—
cended a promontory, but no sail could be seen
through the drifting fog and rack.

 

CHAPTER XV.
THE CHASE.

LEAVING the boat, Lormo hurried to Tamp.co
and soon reached the Custom-house, where he
described his late experience to his chief.

A cutter named the Petrél, provided with
four guns, and a good crew, was kept in readi-
ness for service, near the dock.

Orders were sent to her captain to get under
way, when the gale blowing shoreward came up,
with clouds of driving mist and rack, putting
oil? her do urture.

“ How cup; is this going to last, Captain Ban-
cos,” inquired the boy, Lormo, who had come ~
aboard to join the expedition.

” For some hours. You had better go and
get some sleep while we are waiting.”

Lormo went below, threw himself intoa berth,
and, in spite ol.‘ his late exciting adventures, he
was soon in a profound slumber.

In the afternoon the wind changed, and the
cutter was got under wu . '

Lormo was on the a ert. He climbed to the
mast—head, to scan the waters [and land along '
shore.

“What do on see?” cried the captain.

“The west er is foggy. but I see two vessels,
standing to the south. I can’t make them out
very well, but I suspect they are Pedro's craft,
the Mario and the St. Mary.’

H  ‘1,

As much sail as she could carry in the wind
now hlowmg, was put 11 on the cutter. She
was a sw1ft craft, with agow like a. needle and
a clean run. v '.

_She gained upon the vessel-astern, which was
discovered to be Pedro‘s. . ~ 

The latter was heading straight for the “ Black

\

 

24‘ . _

x‘

   

Rocks,” and thegathering gloom of night almost
concealed her from thegaze of the watchers.

"‘ He is going to run his craft on the rocks!”
cried Captain Boncos.

“ Don’t be too sure of that,” said Lormo.

In fact the Maria now was seen to sheer away
~ from the rocks, and head further out to sea.
’ Bang! went a gun from the cutter’s bow.

The smuggler paid no heed to it, but sped on. '

Another shot whistled on its way from the
cutter, and the Maria’s topmost went by the
board.

The crew of the Government vessel cheered.

“We have the fellow, now,” cried the cap-

1:).

“ It is so dark, I cannot see him,” said Lormo,
peering through the gloom.

The cutter kept on, for many hours, backing
and filling, but no sign at Pedro’s craft was dis-
covered. ”
“ ight ’0!” yelled the man on the lookout.

Sure enough, there was a. lantern, apparently
shining on the “ Black Rooks,” which were
about a. mile aheam.

“ The rascals have sunk their craft, and taken

. to the boats,” said the captain, to his first 0111--
cer, Porsino, “ but they have stoven on the
Black Books, and are signaling to us for assist-
ance. It may be a ruse, and they may show
fight. Clear away the quarter-deck and man

her with about twenty men I” I

Lormo buckled a outlass to his waist, and
thrust a. pistol in his belt. With the armed crew
of the boat, he also sprung in and took his place
forward.

“ Give way!" was the order, and the boat
seemed to fly. 7

As it drew near the rocks, a. cry of surprise
escaped Porsino~the oflicer in the stern—sheets.

The cutter had sent up a. rocket, which describ-

ing acnrve, went hissing far above the boat,
r lighting up the sea for some distance. In this
transient glare, a. light-house was distinctly re-
vealed on one of the “ Black Books," and from
this shone the lantern which the crew had mis-
taken for a signal from the smugglers.

Insrantly, with cries of superstitious horror,
they stopped working their oars.

L “ Pull ahead!" yelled the officer.

“No! ml The light-house! the light-house!"
was uttered by many terrified voices.

“ Fools, I am not going there I ” said Porsino.
“ There are those smuggler rascals, now, pulling
along shore."

,As he spoke, he pointed toward the coast, on
the left of the “ Black Rocks,” and whirled the
boat’s head round in that direction.

' The crew pulled with a will, and the boat
ra idly gained on that of the smugglers.

« hen within speaking distance, Porsino
lhoubed: ‘

“ Hold up, or it' will be the worse for you!”

The smug lei-8’ boat, almost a barge in size,
and crowds: with men, had evidently been in—
gured while it hung from the devits of the sleep,
_, yone of the shots fired at the vessel, for sev—

eral of its crew were busy bailing it out. Pedro
eullllfiiy folded his arms, ordered his men to stop
pn

g.
\ , 1A minute later the mtter’s boat came sweep-
  alongsido of it, and Porsino pointing a pistol

I The Coast Detective.

 

 
  

 

 

at the head of the smuggler chief, ordered him 1 , -
tosurrender. I - ” t * '

“ We cannot do otherwise,” answered Pedro,
gloomily,as one of his toes now lighted a lantern, r
revealing a swivel in the bow of the'Govern-; *
ment boat, with a man by it, ready to discharge '
it at the outlaws, in case they offered resistance.

“ You are wise there,”said Porsino.
could cut- you to pieces in a few minutes.” ,

“it is a l up with us, I suppose,” said Pedro,
“ A cursed prison for us now. r ”

“ Ay, my man, and the gallows, too,” cried
Porsino, “ for we have learned from Lormo _
that it was you who drowned the two young
fellows, Heurlque and Jason, near the ‘ Black
Rocks.’ ” 1

Pedro turned pale and cast a. epitetnl glance ,
at Lormo.

“Own that it was you who pretended, as a
black boy, to join our band.”

“I own that cheerfully,” answered Lormo.

“ Now, then, be so good as to tell me what you
and Cal-dines have done with my friend, Robert
Brown. ‘

“ He escaped from us, and we afterward ,
learned, that he was drowned while with my I.
sister aboard a. damaged craft, which was/'
wrecked of! the ‘ Black Rocks.’ "

“ Who told you that?”

“ Cardinas.”

The news of his friend’s loss surprised and
saddened the boy. ,

r “ Yen say he escaped from you. So then he
did not voluntarily join your gang

“ No. We could not persuade him to do that.
although my sister tried hard to induce him in
become one of us.”

Lormo felt much relieved, for here was posi-
tive proof that Cardinas had slandered the youth
to Isabel and her father—that he had been. true ’
and faithful to the last. ' V

The band were finally in the cutter ironed ‘
and in the hold. When asked what had become ’ '
of his craft, Pedro said that he had scuttled and ’
sunk her.

“Captain Cardiuas was ahead of you. Have -
yon any idea of his destination?” '

“No. He will escape you. His vessel is a »
swift one, and you can never overtake him.”

.“ We will see about that,” ‘was the reply. ‘

The cutter was kept on in pursuit of the St. . ‘-
Mary, which could no longer beseen through the

loom.
All at once, however, the voice of the lookout
was heard: I
“Sail ’0, right ahead 1” ' 4 y
The ontter’s captain sent up arocket, and by
the loam the St. Mary was iscovered not ha f .
o. m e oflf, with only half oi,’ her mainmaststaul
mg. ,
The truth was, Cardin”, in his eagerness to
escape, had crowded too much sail, which had
resulted in the loss of his topmost; .
A shot was sent toward the fugitive craft, -
which sent back one in return. ’ i -‘
“ Curse the fellow’s impudencel we will give
him all he wantsl” cried the commander of the , '
cutter. ‘
Bangl want another gun from the latter, to , ‘
which Cal-dines replied by sending a womed
shot at his pursuers. _ f a 1

»

  

  
  

“We

 
    

 

I.  idea-t Detective.

" This shot pureed through one of the cutter-’3
- rtrholes, and Bronson, Pedro‘s first ofilcar
gang in range of it, received the missile straight
n the forehead. I
v He fell, stone dead, by the side of Pedro, who
oooll remarked:
“ .“ o gallows tor him; he has met a, better fate
than he deserved l” p
r The cutter kept banging away, but Cardinas
no longer responded.”

About five minutes later a broad, lurid flash

‘ lighted the sea, and the fugitive vessel blew up
With a deafening report, its fragments flying up
in a stream of fire to the very clouds.

“There's the last of the St. Mary!” said the
author's captain. “By the flash I saw her boats
making for shore l”

, “ Don Carlos and his daughter were prisoners
, aboard the craft. I hope they were not left to

« their fate. Cardinas is villain enough to do itl” .

' cried Lormo.
, .A Search was made for the St. Mary's crew,
but they could not be found, although one of
their boat! was discoVered hear some rocks
ashore. .,
“They have run off, but they cannot long es.
‘ cape the law. They will be found before many
days " said the caitgiu of the cutter.
 “ ark!” said rmo, who was in the boat
with the captain. “I thought I heard a voice,
ashore."

Seizlug a lantern, the captain sprung to land,
followed by Lormo, but he had not proceeded
many steps, when two forms were dimly seen
up reaching. .

hey soon were near enough for Lermo to

ize Don Carlos and his daughter.
"‘ hank God! we have escaped the rascals!”
cried the merchant, as he came up. '
‘ “So you know now, senor, that Captain Car-
dinas is a villain?” said Lormo.
; ' “ One of the blackest kind," answered Carlos.
‘ emphaticall . “ Just before blewiug up his ves-
’ sol, he set Babel and me adrift in a small boat,
which I had the greatest trouble to prevent
’ from eapsiziug. At last, as the wind was to-
' ward the land, we struck the shore, in. few hun-
dreds of yards below here, but we might have
been drowned in so rough in sea.”
“ I hope now, father. you do not belieVe any of
the statements which Cardinas has made against
rt Brown,” said Isabel.
“Humph! I don‘t know. Itseems he was
.3 seletuflwith the smugglers. You saw him your-
” 88

1‘8

,. “ Yes; but I believe he was a prisoner there.”
_ “ It has been proved that he was!” cried Lormo.
“ The chief of the smugglers has been captured,

V  and is now aboard the cutter. \He will tell you

: shoot it.” r *

“ And is Robert there, too?" inquired the mer-.

chant. eager]

“No,” rephbd Lorine, sadly. “I wish he '

' “ You havo learned what has become 01 him?”
said ' Isabel, turning pale.
“ He has been droWned,” replied the boy.
,, “Drowned!” gasped the young girl;
\ Eula; exigent! so that bier father feared she

y to the cutter she said not a word.

 

Both Isabel and her father were kindly treat-
ed aboard the vessel, which now headed for
Tampico. From Pedro Don Carlos learned all
the particulars of the robbery of his warehouse.
The detestable villaiuy of Cardinas, from first to
last, was thus brought to light. ‘

When the merchant returned to the deck, he
found his daughter there listening to Lormo‘s
account of Robert’s fate as it had been related to
him by Pedro.

Ere he could say a word, the voice of the man
on the lookout was heard: ’

“ Light ’01”

“ Ay, there it is again—that light on the Black
Rooks!" cried Porsino. '-

“You say you saw a light-house there?” re-
marked the captain. K

“ Yes, sir, not only I, but Lormo and all the
men saw it, too.” '

“ A light-house?” said Don Carlos. “ How
could that be? Could you not send a boat to
100K into the alfair?”

“ My men would be afraid to go.”

“ 1 will go with you,” said the merchant.

“And I willl‘go, too," rejoined Lormo.

“ Be it so,” answered the captain.

He headed the cutter toward the rocks, and
when she was within half a league of: them, he
lowered a boat provided with a must and.
Ba] .

Don Carlos and Lormo were soon in their _
places. ' '

~“May I go?” inquired Isabel.
b Her father consented, and she entered the
oat.

The mast was stepped, the sail sheeted home,
and away went the boat, bounding along on the
starboard tack.

The mysterious light could not now be so dis. '
tinetly seen as before; as the boat approached
it. it seemed to become dimmer every moment.
Theroar of the surf dashing against the rocks.
was distinctly heard. _

“ That surf is dan erous,” said the captain.
" There is a whirlpoo among those rocks, and
so we must not go too near them.”

,“ We are close enough to see the light-house,”
remarked Don Carlos. “ Where is it?"

The captain held up his lantern, which shed a
lurid glare over the rocks, but no light or light? ’
house now was visiblel I ,

y . CHAPTER XVI.
PRISONERS.

“THIS is very strange!” cried Don Carlos.
“ There certainly was alight here.” ' ,

“Yes,” answered the captain. “You will ’
now own that there appears to be something
supernatural about the aifair.” ’ y _

‘It does seem so; but I have no doubtithe
thin will be explained in time."

“ believe we have been drawn into the surtl’l
cried Isabel, in alarm. ‘ y ,

The captain sprung to the sheet and slackened

it.

“ Pull—pull for your lives!” he shouted.

Don Carlos could handle an car. He and
Lornio pulled manfully, but the boat - could
make no head against the whirling rush of ‘ white
water. All at once, with a crash, the frail craft
struck a rock and capsized. - . ' _ r ' '

 

\

  

a;

< gin.-.



1s. ~v¥4=rv 7

“my

n»);

  

26

   

Isabel clutched a spur of the rugged mass
near her and drew herself upon it. he heard
the voices of her father and his companions, but
she could no longer see them, as they had
been swept, with the overturned boat, from her
sight.

“ Helpl she called.
father!"

In her excitement, she forgot that she could
not be heard by the people, so far oflf, aboard the
cutter.

Meanwhile, Don Carlos, Lormo and the cap-
tain clung; to the capsized boat.

“ My child—my Isabel is lostl” cried the mer-
chant, who in the gloom, had not seen her climb
upon the rock.

Lormo, however, had been near enough to the
girl to catch a glimpse of her form as she drew
herself up by the projecting spur.

“ She is safe,” he said, “ on one of the rocks.”

“ Thank God!”

“ We may find it hard to save ourselves,” said
the captain. “ We cannot right the boat, which
you can see is going down as it fills.”

“How far are we from land?” inquired Don
Carlos.

“ About a mile.

“ A little.”

“ if we can once leave this current, then,
which is drawing us toward the whirlpool, we
may contrive to reach the shore.”

They soon let go the halt-sunken boat and
struck out for the land.

Lormo and the captain, on each side of Don
Carlos, helped him to get out of the current,
which was not very strong at this place.

At last the three, in an exhausted condition,
reached the shore.

“ Can you not signal the cutter?” inquired
Don Carlos.

“ Yes; we can make a. fire with driftwood,
and light it.”

Some driftwood was soon after collected, and
the fire was lighted with a match from the cap-
tain’s waterproof safe.

Before the blaze could spread, however, about
half a. dozen men rushed from behind some
rocks, near the beach, and While one of them
stamped out the fire, two others pointed pistols
at Don Carlos and his companions.

Held firmly by some of the gang, the three
could not have offered resistance even had not
the charges in their pistols been spoiled by the
water during their swim.

“ Follow us, or we will blow out your brains,”
said one of the men.

“ These are Cardinas’s followers,” remarked
Lormo. “ We have got into a hornets’ nest.”

They followed the rufflans, who led them to a
thicket about hall! a. mile from the beach.

In a hollow there were some more of Cardi-
nas’s crew, and the young captain himself was
there.

“ Hol who have we here?” he cried, as the gang
appeared with the prisoners.

“ R'iscall” cried Don Carlos, as soon as an ac-
count of the capture had been given, “ what are
you going to do with us?”

“ Have no fear. We will not harm you, but
these other two wretches must (lie I”

“ You would not dare to kill theml”

,

help I" “ Save my

Can you swim?”

 

The Coast Detective.

“ Yes, I would,” answered Cardinals, coolly;
“and that I will do, unless the cutter’s captain
promises to wait three days before sending the
bounds of the law upon my track.”

“I will not consent to that,” said the captain,
spiritedly.

“ Then I will kill you, and this little wretch,
tool” cried Cardinns. “ Now, men l” he added.

A ring of raised Cutlasses gleamed about the
heads of the captain and Lorine. But the two
stood firm.

“ Will you promise?” continued Cardinas.

“No!” both the cutter’s commander and Lor—
Ino answered, simultaneously.

Curdinas made a sign to the gang, who re-
placed their weapons, which it was evident they
had so threatenineg raised only to force the two
to make the required promise.

The hands and feet of the three prisoners were
now bound with cords, and they were dragged
into a small cavern, the mouth of which was
then hidden with branches and leaves.

“ It will be more than three days—perhaps a
week, before you are found, as few people pass
this way,” said Cardinas. “ Had you given the
promise, I would have set you at liberty.”

“ Villain!” cried the enraged Don Carlos,
“ are you going to leave us to starve?”

“ Here are your rations,” answered Cardinas,
as a man thrust a small bag of sea-biscuits into

the cave. “ You cannot use your hands. You
will havetoeat as the pigs do. Good-by, Don
Carlos!”

And with these words, the youth turned away,
laughing, and the receding footsteps of himself
and companions were heard.

“ I will have that heartless scoundrel ar-
rested if I have to search for him to the ends of
the earth!” cried Don Carlos, enraged. “I am
so sorry this has happened. It will give the
fellow a chance to make good his escape."

“ When they perceive that we do not return,

my men will send a boat for us,” said the cap‘ \

tain. “They will look for us till they find us.”

Hours passed, but no sound was heard to indi-
cate the approach of any person to the relief of
the three.”

Meanwhile Lormo, by working his arms and
legs vigorously, had contrived to draw himself
out of the cave. He had so loosened his cords
by these movements that he was able to creep
still further, and finally he arrived upon the
edge of the hollow.

He looked seaward, but to his surprise he
could no longr’r detect the light of the cutter. A
strong wind was blowing shoreward, and it
finally occurred to him that Porsino had stood
further out to sea to give the shorea wide berth.

“ He will wait for a change of wind before he
approaches the coast again,” thought the boy.

The sky was now overcast, and an hour later,
flashes of heat lightning darted along the
clouds.

“ Your men have not come to look for us
yet,” remarked Don Carlos.

“No, but we will probably see them in the
morning. The wind is this way, and Porsino
has been obliged to give the coast a wide berth.”

Now and then the three made efforts to Work
themselves clear of their bonds, but without suc-
cess.

. .1???”

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘ 3- was

 

 

 

The Coast Detective.

 

.Méé4—4~f~wzw  -

,l 2’?

 

“I hope Isabel has not come to harm," said
the merchant.

“ I am worried about her. Remember we
have not seen her by the flashes of lightning,
which I think should have revealed her to us.”

“ The rocks have many hollows. Probably she
has kept behind some ridge, which has hidden
her from us."

 

CHAPTER XVII.
THE METAL TOEB.

As already stated, the damaged pearl-divers’
sloop, when it struck on the “Black Rocks,” in
the gale, parted amidships. Between the gap in
the riven timbers, the diving-bell, held in an up—
right position by the rope attached to the main-
boom above, went down in the roaring waters.

“ Halloal what a. racket!” muttered Robert,
when he heard the crash of the breaking craft,
and felt himself descending with the bell.

Through the glass windows on each side of the
upper part of the instrument, he could see the
dark, green waters of the ocean, and multitudes
of long black weeds, which were swaying about
like livmg creatures. All at once, the bell stop-
ped. It had evidently landed upon an under—
water rock, not many feet beneath the surface.

“ Good I” cried Robert. “I don’t believe I’ve
gone down far enough for the top of the bell to
be submerged. It will be seen by some passing
craft, I hope, when I will be helped out of these
narrow quarters. Poor Berta! I wonder what
has become of her! I fear the girl has sacrificed
herself for me.”

He called, thinking she might hear him if she
had saved herself, but there was no reply.

Suddenly he uttered a cry of horror. Through
the glass window he beheld an enormous shark
darting past with the form of Bl‘I‘La, held by the
ribs between his teeth! The long, black hair of
the dead maiden streamed out from her head,
which was partly turned toward him, so that he
caught a glimpse of her glazed, staring eyes, to
which the motion of the water gave almost a
lifelike expression.

“ No doubt about her fate, now,” the boy mut-
tered, sadly.

Although his quarters were rather close, he
was at present able to breathe Without much
difliculty; but it was not long before the rub-
ber tube which communicated with the air be—
came choked up with sand and weeds, so that at
length his brain seemed to whirl, his vision
became dim, and he knew that he was suffocat-
ing. Suddenly his gaze fell upon a. prouged
piece of iron, on the shelf, where it had evidently

een placed for the use of the divers. Seiziug
it, Robert struck vigorously with the blunt end,
one of the glass lenses or windows, which, as
stated, were in the upper part of the bell, and
which remained above the surface of the water,
the apparatus not having sunk far enough for
them to be submerged.

The boy’s efforts were finally successful. He
succeeded in breaking the window—in making a
small opening in one part of it, and thus obtain-
ed a constant supply of fresh air. He was
unable, however, to enlarge the opening, as the
pronged iron was now bent nearly double!

He felt very thirsty, and, from a water-keg

l

 

which was on the shelf, he took a deep draught,
aftir which he helped himself to a. couple of his-
cm 

“ Thank fortune,” he muttered, as he passed
his hand over his vest; “ through all my trouble,
I have contrived to keep possession of Don Car-
los’s precious package.”

Hours passed. The boy became drowsy, and
in spite of his efforts to remain awake, he fell
asleep. When he opened his eyes and recalled
past events, he looked about him in surprise.

“ What does this mean?” he muttered. “ I
am still in the diving-bell, but I am no longer
under water i”

In fact there was light enough outside,
although it was night for him to detect the line
of rocks extending along the sea, and also the
surface of the water for some distance. Afar
off he could even see the light of a passing vessel!

“ Halloa! what mysterious power has all at
once lifted the diving—bell from under the
water?” he cried aloud,

As he reflected, however, the truth broke up-
on him.

“ I understand,” he muttered, with a smile.
“It is now low tide, and as all of the bell was
not under the surface, the water receding from
it, has left the whole of it exposed. This is good
for me! Surely the bell will be seen, and I shall
be taken out."

Then he remembered that it was night, and
that probably the craft whose lantern he could
see through the glass windows of the bell, was
not near enough to detect the instrument in the
gloom.

Suddenly a cry of joy escaped him. He re~
membered that Berta had put a. lantern in his
quarters.

“ I will light it, and no passing craft can help
seeing that signal,” he thought.

He placed the lantern near the window, and
taking matches from a. safe in his pocket, he
lighted it.

“ Ho! ho!" he cried.
light-house!
longer!"

But he waited in vain for his rescue.

When an hour had passed, he began to think
that for some reason, owing, perhaps, to the
mist or the clouds of spray flying up from the
surges near the rocks, neither the light nor the
bell could be seen.

While still hoping that he was mistaken, and
that aid would yet reach him, he resolved to PX-
plore his quarters. The receding of the tide
had left under him a dark cavity, on the edges
of which the bell rested, for its mouth had de—
scended directly over this hollow in the rock,
which at high tide was full of water.

“ The cavity cannot be very deep, and I will
lower myself into it,” thought the boy.

There was a small coil of rope near him on the
shelf, and, attaching one end of this to a hook,
be fastened the other part about his breast un-
der the arms. As already stated his wound was
not a very severe one, and, thanks to the care
Berra had bestowed upon him, he now suffered
little pain. Without much difficulty he there-
fore lowered himself into the cavity with his
lantern over one arm. The hollow was about
six feet deep, and in one side of the rock, near

“ Here is a patent
I shall be seen before half an hour

    

The Coast Detective.

 

 

the top, there was a crevice which would admit
the water when it should again rise.

As he leaked about him, he was suddenly
startled by the horrible spectacle of two ghastly
skeletons, in a rocky rift, which held them near-
ly upright side by side.

They were in one corner of the cavity, and as
Robert took a nearer view of them, be perceived
that heavy iron weights were attached by chains
to their legs.

Instantly it flashed on his mind that these were
the skeletons of Henrique and Jason, drowned
by Pedro among the Black Rocks.

“Yes, it must be so,” muttered he. “ These
are all that remain of the two unfortunates, who
were sent by Don Carlos, 1). year ago, to probe
the mystery of the warehouse robberies.”

There was nothing else of interest in the
cavity, and after the boy had gazed for along
time at the unsightly objects he had discovered,
he seized the rope to climb baCk to the shelf of
the diving-bell.

It was, in fact, full time he should do so, for
the water was rapidly rising, and was trickling
through little openings in the rock.

In less than an hour after he had reached the
shelf of the bell, the water had ri5r~n to within a
few inches of it. It came up no further, for the
shelf. Was about on a line with the surface of the
sea outside, at high tide, the bell havmg sunk
about two-thirds of its length ere it lodged on
the under—water rock.

The waves, however, kept breaking over it,
and Robert could hear them roar and hiss around
him.

It was low tide again at about two o’clock the
next day, and Robert saw below him, as before,
the cavity over which the mouth of the bell
rested.

Something resembling sniokenow rose from it,
and the boy knew it was the fog, which was very
thick outside, finding its way through openings
in the rock.

“I had hoped that the bell would be seen in
the daytime, but it seems I am doomed to dis~
appointment. No person can see it in the
mist.”

The tide was 1) again at dusk. After Inunch-
ing some of his iscuit, and taking a drink of
water, the youth fastened one end of his Line
about his breast, so as to make sure he would
not fall from the shelf, and dropped to sleep.

He must have slumbered until the next ebb of
the tide, ere he awoke, for he could now plainly
see through one of the windows the lantern of a
boat some fathoms off. I

“ He called, hoping to make himself heard,
but instead of approaching, the boat rapidly re—
ceded.

“ Oh, when will I be taken from this place?”
he cried, impatiently.

He kept his lantern burning until near dawn,
when, the tide having again risen, he put out the
light, which could not have been seen through
the thick masses of weeds hanging outside over
the windows.

To his chagrin, this day also proved to he
foggy, but he hoped it would clear up on the
hex .

When night came, and the tide again tell, he
relighted his lantern.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
CONCLUSION.

AT the time when Isabel, Don Carlos’s daugh-
ter, clambered up on the rock, after the boat in
which were her father and his companions, had
capsized, as described, the tide had just reached
its highest level. ‘

The young girl ascended to the summit of “J”
rock, and peered through the gloom, vainly look;
ing it she could see some sign of the overturned
craft and its occupants.

Unable to do so, she gazed in the direction of
the cutter’s light.

“ If I could only make a. signal!" she cried, de-
spaifi'irigly, “ but that cannot be done here, in the

ar '.

Soon after the wind came on to blow almost a.
sale toward the rocks, and the fair watcher saw
the light of the cutter receding.

She crept along the rock, and finally reached
another in which there was a. hollow, sheltered
from the wind and spray.

Here she sat down, feeling very uncomfortable
in her wet garments, with her back resting
against the side of the rugged alcove.

This alcove faced the further extremity of the
chain of rocks, over which the girl could see the
spray and the breakers, as they swept up high
on the jagged masses.

Hours passed when, all at once, the gleam of a
lantern directly ahead of her, near the end of the
line of rocks, caught her attention. .

She called, thinking the light was that of
some heat from the cutter, but there was no re-

‘Y‘ They do not hear me on account of the roar '
of the surf,” she thought, “but as the tide is.
falling, I think I can creep along to the light.”

She found it very difficult to make her way
over the sli . pery rocks, covered, in many’
places, with ong, trailing masses of seaweed,
and finally she paused, hesitating whether to v'
proceed or not, for she could now perceive that
the light, which she had supposed was a boat’s, .
appeared to be stationary, and resembled a .
great round red eye glaring angrily at her from
the water.

“Can it be that this is the eye of some see--
monster?” she muttered. “ I have heard of
luminous fish—but no,” she added, quickly. “ No ,
flsh could look like that."

The eye seemed to grow larger, and gradually '
the girl could make out, by the lurid glare,
the upper part of something resembling a light-A
housel

As the tide continued to fall, the form of the‘
light-house showed more distinctly, until every
part of it, looming up from the top of a rock,,
which the ebb of the water had left bare, be»
ceme visible in the gleam of the lanternl

“Yes, there it is!” gasped Isabel. in surprise,
and not without a feeling of sunerstitious terror.
“ There, sure enough, is that PHANTOM LIGHT-~
HOUSE!”

For some time she stood gazing toward‘the
singular apparition, not daring to apprOaCh It to
obtain a nearer view. _

Suddenly the lantern moved. and peering
through the window facing her, the girl now be-
held a human face.

She saw it only for a moment; the next, a.

 

 

 

 

 

The Coast Detective. 29

 

thick mass of fog drifted about the light-house,
almost hiding it from her gaze.

“ I will solve this mystery l” cried Isabel, who,
although not entirely free from superstition,
possessed a very resolute spirit.

She crept along toward the vision, and when
IL rhin a few yards of it she fancied she heard a

1.1,. .

“ That voice sounds familiar,” she thought,
“ although it is partly smothered.”

She was soon close to the object, when, the
fog having drifted to one Side of it, she again
obtained a view of it.

As it was but a few yards from her, she could
see it plainly enough to perceive that it was not
a light—light house, after all, but merely a huge
diving-bell.

At the same moment the face again appeared
at the window, now near enough for Isabel to
recognize in it the bright light.

“Robert Brown 1" she cried.

“ Who calls?” came the voice of the boy from
the inside of the bell.

“ It is 1—Don Carlos’s daughter 1” she cried,
in clear, ringing tones, which could not fail to
reach him.

“ Thank God! then I shall be taken out at
last!” responded Robert, “ and your father will
get his packet of money, which I have here safe
with me!”

“How did you come in this situation?”

The boy made a full explanation through
the lass window.

“ he wonder to me,” he continued, “is that
the bell has not been seen before, as I have light-
ed the lantern every night since I have been
here. I suppose your father is near, with some
men, Please to cull them.”

The girl now explained about the accident.

“ I think my father has been saved,” she add-
ed anxiously, “for he could swim a little, and
those with him were good swimmers.”

“1 have no doubt of it, if Lormo was with
him, for he is like a fish in the water, and is a.
brave boy, too. Yes, senorita, you can be sure
that he is safe!”

“ If so, I am glad that the accident happened,
since it has been the means of your discovery.
Seen, at low tide, rising from a rock, thediving—
bell looks larger thanit really is, and has the
appearance of a LIGHT-HOUSE. I don’t believe
any sailors could have been tempted to go near
it, as they imagined it was a PHANTOM LIGHT-
HOUSE, and were terrified at its appearance.”

The girlremained near the bell until dawn by
which time the rising cf the tide had completely
hidden it from view.

Although only two-thirds of the bell was
under water yet, when the tide rose, a rift in a
rock nenr the instrument, was filled, causing a
huge mass of seaweed to stream out and ‘hang
over it, thus concealing it, and givmg it the
appearance of being morer the top of a rock,
projecting from the surface of the sen. '

The wind had now changed, and the girl saw
the cutter not a league distant. Looking toward
the land, she saw another spectacle which gave
her great joy— three human forms evuiently
seated on a rising point of land. These persons,
she rightly judged, were her father and his two

companions.

 

She signaled the cutter with her kerchief, and
half an hour later, Porsino, with a boat’s crew,
arrived, to hear, with surprise, the story of the
diving—helix In another hour Don Carlos and
his companions were also picked up, and freed
from their bonds. -

The merchant, on hearing explanations, was
much pleased with Robert’s courage and fidelity.

Before night, with the help of tackles and
ropes, brought to the rocks, just at the ebbing of
the tide, the bell was hoisted sufficiently for its
occupant to crawl out from under it.

Robert’s first movememt was to rip open the
lining of his vast and present to the merchant
the valuable packet he had so long kept there.

“ You are both brave and honest, and I think
more of you than ever, my lad I" remarked Don
Carlos.

“He is as true as steel. I always said so!”
cried Lormo.

The party returned to the cutter, which now
sailed for ’lampico. ‘

A week later some of Cardinas’s crew were
arrested, but their captain escaped. A few
Exogths afterward, he died of yellow fever in

u a.

Don Carlos finally took Robert Brown shipping-
clerk, into partnership with him and permitted
11pm to woo Isabel, who eventually became his

ride.

She had long loved him, and her father had at
last wisely concluded not to keep the young
people apart.

Lormo,‘ the young Coast Detective, at the
solicitation of Don Carlos, resigned his office to
accept a responsible position in the shipping
merchant’s employ. He is a frequent visitor at
the Carlos mansion, andalife long friend of
Robert and Isabel.

THE END.

DIME DIALOGUES: AND SPEAKERS

FOR SOHO 0L EXHIBITIONS
AND HOME ENTER TA INMEN T S.

Dialogues. Nos. 1 to 37 inclusive. 15 to 25 popu-
lar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each vol-
ume 100 pages 12mo.

Spenkern, Nos. 1 to 25 inclusive. Each speaker
100 pages 12mo. containing from 50 to 75 pieces.

 

YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERIES.

Dime Book of Winter Sports.
Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports.
Dime Gents' Letter Writer.
Dime Book of Eti uette. '
Dime Book 0 ' Verses.
_ Dime Book of Dreams.
_ V . Dime Fortune'l‘eller
Dime Ladies Letter Writer.
Dime Lovers‘ Casket.
Dime Ball-Room Companion.
Dime Book of 100 Games.
Dime Chess Instructor,
Dime Book of Beauty.
For sale by all newsdealers. or sent. poshpaid, on
receipt of price—ten cents.

BEADLE AND ADAMS, Puausa'am,
98 William Street, New York.

 

  
 

,‘x
f
i
“.
i

 

g

82 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier.
By E. S. Ellis.

88 Canada Chet, the Connterfeiter Chief. By E. L.
Wheeler.

84 The Dumb Page: or, The Doge’s Daughter. By
Captaid Frede rick Whittaker.

85 The 150 Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. By
Edwar S. Ellis.

86 Jack Harkaway in New York. By Bracebridge
Hem ng.

87 The ussar Captain; or. The Hermit of Hell
Gate. By Col. Prentiss liigraham.

88 Deadwood Dick in Lcadville; or. A Strange
Stroke for Liberty. By Edward L. Wheeler.

89 Bill Biddon, Tra )prr, or, Life in the Northwest.
By Edward S. E is.

90 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion.
By George Gleason.

91 Mustang Sam, the King of the Plains. By Jos.
E. Badger, Jr.

92 The Ocean Bloodhound; or. the Red Pirates of
the Caribbees. lEy Samuel W. l’earce.

93 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy; or, The Mystery of
the Stronghold. lly Char cs Morris.

94 Deadwood Dick as Detective. ByE. L. Wheeler.

95 Buck Buckram; 01’7Bi'SS the Female Trapper.
By Captain J. F. 0. Adams.

96 Gilt-Edged Dick. B Edward L. Wheeler.

97 The Black Stecd 0 the Prairies. By James L.

Bowen.

98 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe.
By Juan Lewis.

99 Bonanza Bill, the Man Tracker; or. the Secret
Twelve. By E. L. Wheeler.

100 Net Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive.
By E. S. Ellis.

101 Daring Davy. the Young Bear Killer; or, The
Trail of the Border Wolf. By Harry tit. George.

102 The Yellow Chief; or, The Half-Blood’s Ven-
geance. B Capt. Mayne Reid.

103 Chip, the girl Sport, By Edward L. Wheeler.

104 "he Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old
Tar. By Roger Starbuck.

105 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective. ly
Charles Morris.

106 Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch.
By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

107 Jack Hoyle's Lead; or. The Road to Fortune.
By Edward L. Wheeler.

108 Rocky Mountain Kit, the White Mustanger. By
T. C. Harbaugh.

109 The Branded Hand, or, The Man of Mystery.
By Frank Dumont.

110 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. By
George W. Browne.

111 Boss Bob. the King of Bootblacks. By Edward
L. Wheeler.

112 The Helpless Hand. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

113 Scar-Faced Saul, the Silent Hunter. By Oll
Coomes.

114 Piney Paul, the Mountain Boy. By T. 0. Her»

baugh.

115 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or. The Ghost of Gor~

on’s Gulch. By Edward L. \Vhi eler.

116 aboz Coffin, Skipper: or, Lost in the Polar
Regions. By Cu t. F. Whittaker.

117 Fancy Frank 0. Cnlorado; or, The Trappors
’l‘rusr. B “Buffalo Bill."

118 Will Wildfire. the Thoroughbred: or, The Win-
ning Hand. By Chas. Morris.

119 Blonde Bill: or. Dea'lwood Dick’s Home Base.
By Edward L. Wheeler.

120 Gopher aid, the Boy Trapper. By T. 0. Ear-
bauzh.

121 Harry Armstrong, the Captain of the Club. By
Bracebrldgo Hemyng, (Jack Harkawav).

122 The Hunted Hunter; or. The Strange Horseman
of the Pmirie. By Ed ward S. Ellis

323 Solid iiarn. the Boy Road-Agent. By Edward L.

ee er

19! Judge Lynch, Jm or, The Boy V lento. By T.

0. Burbank. ’81

BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY.

 

125 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil‘s
Island. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

126 Blue Blazes; or. The Break 0‘ Day Boys of
Rocky Bar. B Frank Dumont.

127 Ton Fox, the erret; or, Boss Bob‘s Boss Job.
By dward L. Wheeler.

128 W ill Wildflre’s Racer; or, Winning Against Odds
By Charles Morris.

129 Eagle Kit. the Boy Demon. By 011 Coomes.

130 Gold Trig er, the Sport; or, The Girl Avengers.
By T. C. arbau h.

131 A Game of G0 d; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big
Strike. By Edward L. Wheeler.

132 Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. By Joseph E.
Bad er. Jr.

133 Wilc -fire, the Boss of the Road. By Frank Du-

mont.

134 IlgikeMeri-y, the Harbor Police Boy. By Chas.

orris.

135 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or. The Picked
Party. By Edward L. Wheeler.

136 Old Rube, the Hunter. By Capt. Hamilton
Holmes.

137 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas. By G.
Waldo Browne.

138 Bob Rockett, the Boy Dodger. By Chas. Morris.

139 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy.
By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. A

140 Captain Arizona, the King Pin of Road-Agents.
B Philip S. Warne. I

141 Nfiw York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. By
E. 1... Wheeler.

142 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. By 01]
Coomes.

143 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. By
Jos. 11;. Bad er. Jr.

14-]. Little Grit, he Wild Rider. By 001. Prentiss In-

raham.

145 The Tiger of Taos; or, Wild Kate, Dandy Rock’s
Angel. By Geo, Waldo Browne.

146 The Cattle King; or, Cortina‘s Right Bower. By
Frank Dnmont.

147 Nobhy Nick of Nevada; or. the Scamps of the
Sierras. B ' Edward L. Wheeler.

148 Thunderbo t Tom; or, the W01£~Herder of the
Rockies. Dy Harry St. George.

149 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner. By Charles
Morris.

150 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock‘s Doom. By
G. Waldo Browne.

151 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. By 00].
Prentiss lngraham.

152 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. By
W. H. Eyster.

153 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. By E. L.
Wheeler.

154 The Boy Trailers; or, Daint Lance on the War-
Path. By Jos. E. Badger, r. .

155 Gold Plume, the boy Bandit. By 001. Prentiss
lngraham. .

156 Will Wildfire in the Woods. By 0. Moms.

157 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. By T. C. Har-

ang . '

158 Deadwood Dick‘s Doom; or, Calamity Jane's
Last Adventure. By E. L. Wheeler.

159 Patent-Leather Joe’s Defrat; or, The Lady
Road-Agent. By Philip S. Warne.

160 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The
Doomed Thirteen. By Col. P. Ingraham.

161 Bob Rockett, the Cra cksman. By C. Morris.

162 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. By 011
Coomes. _

163 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, the Rivals of the
Road. By E. L. Wheeler.

164 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack from Red Core.
By T. C. Harbaugh. .

165 Buffalo Bill’s Bet; or, The Gambler Gunle. By
Col. 1’. Ingraham. _‘ _

166 gililli )Vilgflrcethilns 131nd Loses; or, A Tmmp

ar .‘ ar es arms.
16’? Dandy Rogk’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, By
7 George W. Browne.

 

.Hw.‘ .h

 

 

“"N _.‘*h ww—x MM

Mon—4W1, H“

 

BBLDLE’S POCKET LIBRARY.

 

168 Deadwood Dick’s Xifl‘ or,1The Black Hills
bel. B Edwa . ee er. .
109 :31? Boy Champion. By Edward Willett. I
170 Bob Rockett‘s Fight for Life; or, Shadowed in
New York. By Charles Morrls.
171 Frank Morton, the Boy Hercules. By 011

omes.

172 %e Yankee Banger; or, Dusky Darrell. By
Edwin Emerson. .

173 Dick Dingle. Scout; or, The Frontier Angel. By
Edward S. Ellis.

174 Dandy Rock’s Scheme; or, The Golden Hand.
By G. W. BrOWne.

175 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp
By Edward L. Wheeler.

176 Will Wildflre’s Pluck; or. The Hidden Hand. 'By
Charles Morris.

177 The Boy Commander; or, The Maid of Perth.
B Col. Prentiss Ingraham,

178 T o Maniac Hunter; or. The Mysteries of Night
Island. By Burton Snxe.

179 Dainty Lanee' or, The Mystic Marksman. By
J E. Badger. Jr. ’

180 The Bo GoldHuntcr; or. Navajo Nick’s Scout.

181 113 Téc' Harbauih’ B Ch 1 M ris.
‘ eica 8 race ‘on. y ares or

182 The Dafki‘kinned Scout; or. The Freehooters
of the Mississippi. By Lieut. Col. Hazeltine.

183 J abez Dart, Detective; or, The Hermit Trapper,
By 011 Coomes. '

184 Featherweight, the Boy Spy. By Edward W11.

lett.

185 Bison Bill the Overland Prince. By Col. Pren.
tiss Ingraham.

186 Dainty Lance and His Pard. By Joseph E.
Badger, Jr.

187 The Tra ped Tiger King; or, Dark Paul‘s Plot.
By Char es Morris. _

188 The Ventrilo uist Detective. A Romance of
Rogues. By Edward L. Wheeler. V

189 Old Rocky’s B0 5; or. Bomto. the Young Mus-
tangBrenker. y Maj. Sam. S. Hall.

190 Sim Simpkins. Scout' or; The Faithful Mountain
Mastiff. B James , Bowen.

191 Dandy Roc ’s Rival; or. The Mysterious \Volf
Rider. By Geo. Waldo Browne.

192 Hickory Harry; or, RoaringRalph, the Ventrilo-

uist. By Harry St. George.

193 etectiVe Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator’s
Game. By Edward L, Wheeler.

194 Prospect Pete. the Boy Miner. By 011 Coomes.

195 The Tenderfoot Trailer: or, Plucky Phil, of the
Mountain. By T. C. Harbaugh.

196 The Dandy Detective; or, The Abducted Boy
Mystery. By Charles Morris.

197 Roy, the Young Cattle King; or, The Texan
S ort Unmasked. By Col. Prenti$ Ingrahain.

198 E on Dan’s Mask; or. The Rival Leagues of
the ll ines. By Frank Dumont.

199 Dictionary Nat. Detective; or, Bill Bravo, the
Bear Tamer. By T. C. Harbaugh.

200 The Twin Horsemen: or, The Brothers of the
Plumed Lance. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

201 Dandy Darke’s Pards; or, The Hawks of High
Pine. By Wm. R. Eyster.

G 202 Tom. the Texan Tiger; or, Old Luke’s Luck. By

011 Coomes.

203 Sam, the Office Boy; or, The Tables Turned. By
Charles Morris. ,

204 The Young Cowboy; or. The Girl Trailer‘s Tri-
umph. By Col. Prentiss lnzraham.

205 The Frontier Detective; or. Sierra Sam’s Scheme.
By E. L. Wheeler.

206 White Lightning; (:r, the Boy Ally. By T. C.
Harbaugh.

207' Kentuck Talbot‘s Band; 01'. The Red Lasso. By
Captain Mark Wilton,

208 Trapper Tom‘s Castle Mystery; 01-, Dashing
Dick‘s Disguise. By 011 Coonles.

209 The Messenger-Boy Detective; or, The Tobias
Turned. By Charles Morris.

|.

 

210 The Hunchback of the Mines: or, Recklesl
Ra] h, the Road-Agent. By .105. E. Badger, Jr.

211 Litte Giant and His Band; or Despard, the
Duelist. By P. S. Wame.

212 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado.
By E. L. Whee er.

213 The Pirate‘s Prize; or. The Mysterious Yankee
Schooner. By C. Dunning Clark.

214 Dandy Dave. of Shasta; or, The ’Frisco Flash 0'
Lightning. By T. C. Harbaugh.

215 Daring Dan. the Ranger; or, The Denver Detec-
tive. By 011 Coomes,

216 The Cowbo Captain; or, Ranger Ralph’s Ruin.
BV Colonel rentiss In raham.

217 Bald Head of the R00 ies; or, The Ang’l of the
Range. By Major Sam 8. Hall.

218 The Miner S art; or. Sugar-Coated Sam’s Claim.
By Edward , . Wheeler.

219 Buck. the Detective; or, Paul, the Boy Pard. By
Albert \V. Aiken.

220 Crack-Shot Frank; or, Bill Bounce, the Moun-
tain Bravo. By Charles Morris.

221 Merle the Middy: or. A Waif of the Waves. By
Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

222 Rosebud Ben’s Boys; or, The Young Prairie
Rangers. By 011 Coomes.

223 Gold Conrad’s \Vatch-Dogs; or, The Two Pards
of Vulture Bar. By T. C. Harbeuzh.

224 Frisky Fergus, the New York Boy. By G. L.

1 en. a

225 Dick Drew, the Miner's Son; or, Apollo Bill, the
Road~Agent. By Edward L. Wheeler.

226 Dakota Dick in Chicago; or, Jack, the Old Tar.
By Charles Morris.

227 Merle, the Boy Cruiser; or, Brandt, the Buc-
caneer. B Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

228 The Preac er Detective; or, The Boy Ventrilt»

uist. By 011 Coomes.

229 1d Hickory‘s Grit. By John J. Marshall.

230 The Three Boy Sports; or, The Sword Hunters.
By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

231 Slerra. Sam, the Detective. By Edward L.
Wheeler.

232 Merle Monte’s Treasure; or. Buccaneer Brandt’s
Threat. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

233 Rooky Rover Kit; or. Davy Crockett‘s Crooked
Trail. B Ensign C. I). Warren.

234 Baldy, t e Miner Chief. By Capt. J. F. 0.
Adams.

235 Jack Storm ’5 Cruise; or, The Montpelier’s Muti-
ueers. By szer Starbuck.

236 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female De-
tectives. By Ed. L. Wheeler.

237 Newsboy Ned. Detective; or, Two Philadelphia
Gaming. By Charles Morris.

238 Merle Monte’s Sea~Scra or; or. Little Belt‘s
Droll Disguise. By Col. remiss lngraham.

239 Ben’s Big Boom; or. The Boss Miner’s League.
By Capt. Mark Wilton.

240 Sharp Shot Mike; or, Columbia Jim on the War-
Path. By 011 Coomes.

241 Sierra Sam’s Sentence: or, Little Luck at Rough
Ranch. By Edward L. Wheeler.

242 The Denver Detective: or, Dainty Dot at Gold
Gulch. By T. C. Harbough.

213 Dutch San’s Dilemma; or. The Mysterious
Mountain Monster. By Maj. L. W. Carson.

214 Merle Monte’s Disguise; or. The Capture of
Brandt. the Buccaneer. By Col. P. Ingraham.

215 B 'ldy’s Boy Partner: or. Young Brainer 1’s
Steam Man. By Edward S. Ellis.

246 Detective Keen’s Apprentice: or, James Jumper
the New York Gamin. By Charles Morris.

M7 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe‘s Disguise. By
Edward L. Wheeler.

243 Giant George's Para; or. Arizona Jack. the
Tenderfoot. By Buckskin Sam.

249 Ranch Rob’s Wild Ride; or. Old Winch The
Rule King. By T. C. Harbaugh.

250 Merle Monte’s Pardon; or, The Pirate Chief’s
Doom. By_Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

 

BEADLE'S POCKET LIBRARY.

6'

951 The Deaf Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp.
By Edward Willett.

252 Denver Doll’s Device: or, The Detective Queen.
B Edward L. Wheeler.

253 Tlvie Boy Tenderfoot; or; Roaring Ben Bundy of
Colorado. By Cant. Mark \\’ill0n.

254 Black Hills Ben; or. Dutch Jan on the War-
Path. By Maj. Lewis W Carson.

255 Jolly Jim. Detective; or. The Young Protege‘s
Victory. By Charles Morris.

256 Merle Monte‘s Lost Cru e; or. The Sea Robber
at Bay. By Col. Prrnviss lngrahani.

257 The Boy Chief of Rocky Pass; or. The Young
California Perils. By Maj. E. L, St. Vrain.

258 Denver Doll as Detective. By E. L. Wheeler.

259 Little Form-ye. the Colorado Spy liy ()ll (loomes.

260 Skit, the Cabin Boy. By Edward Willett‘.

261 Blade, the Sport, or. the Giant of Clear Grit
Camp. By T. C. Hnrhaugh.

26?. Billy. the lloy Rover. By Col. P. lngraham.

26.5 Busber Bob’s Buoy; or. Lire. the Light-House
Keeper. By Capt. J. l“. C. Ad‘llllS.

264 Denver Doll’s Partner; or. Big Buckskin the
Snort. By E. L. Wheeler.

265 Billy, the. Baggage Boy; or. Tlichung Railroad
Detective. Br Charles Morris.

266 Guy’s Bo. Chum; or; The Forest Wuif‘s Mask.
By Capt. omstock.

26’? Giant George’s anenqra; or, The Boys of "‘ Slip-
up Mine." By Buckskin Sun].

268 The Dead Shot Dandy; or. The Rio Grande
Marauders. By 001. Prentiss ln_‘.{rah:Lm.

269'The Quartzville Boss; or. Daring David Darke.
By Edward Willett.

270 Denver Doll‘s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss.
By E. L. \theler.

271 Ebony Jim’s Terror; 01'. Rang—erRiinbolt’s Ruse.
By Oll Coomrs.

272 Kit. the Girl Detective. By T. C. Horhungh.

273 Tue Girl Rider; or, Nimble Nl-d‘s Surprise.
Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

274 Dead Shot Dandy‘s Double: or, Benito, the Boy
Pard. By 00]. Prentiss lngrahmn.

275 F‘rr-(l. the Ocean Wait: or, The Old Sailor’s
Protege. By Charles. Morris

276 Deadwood Dick ’l‘rappod; or. Rox/‘y Ralph‘s
Ruse. By Edward L. \thr-lur. -

277 The idiot Boy Avenger; or. Captain VVihLCut‘s
Big Game. By Albert \V. A ken

278 Arizona All‘. the Minor; or, Litlle
Luck. By T. (1. Hui-ha Ugh.

3379 Color Kit) Jar'k, the ’ Lo " or, The Ghost of the
Trailer. By Frmlor ' .

280 Dozid Shot Dandy‘s L ii

281

By

Snap Shots

: or. Keno Kit’s
New Role. By Col. Prentiss: lug. Llinni.
Nod. the Boy Pilot; or. The Pirate Livutenanlt’s
Doom. lly Jack Farragut.
Buck Hawk, Detective' or. The Messenger Roy‘s
Fortune. liy Edward  Wheeler.
: Roving Sport Kit; or, The Ghost of Chuckaluck
Calm). By Edward Willow.
A The Showman‘s lh-st Car ', The Mad Animal
Tamer. By Capt. Fru l. ‘.\ ‘ ittttlzcr.
~ . Old Rocky’s Pard; or lull;- lwi‘s Chase. By
Buckskin Sum.
Dick. the Dakota Sport ly Charles Morris.
Ned, the Bov Skipper: or, The Son, Sorceress’
Cruise. By Jack Farragut.
lh-i‘ulwood Dick’s Distruiscz or. \Vild Walt, the
Sport. By Edward L. thcinx
f. Colorado Nick, the Lassoist; or. Old Si's Protege.
By Major H. B. Stoddard.
Rube, the ’l‘t‘ndcrfoot: o-."l‘lw ltoy‘s of Torpedo
Gulch. 3y Major E. L. St. Vmin.
20 Peacock Pete, the Leadvillv F1) -:
Boss Miner. By Albert W. Aiken.
292 Joe Morey. the Nizlit-Ilmvk; or, The Black
Rider. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.
293 Dwarf Jake. the. Detective; or. Kit Kenyon's
Man Hunt. By Edward Willett. .
294 Dumb Dick‘s Pal-d: or Eliza Jane, the Gold
Miner. By Ed. L. Wheo or.

or. Hawk. the

 

295 White Win , the Ferret Flyer. By Chas. Morris.

296 Govinda, t e Tiger—Tamer; or; The American
Horseman Abroad. By Cuptuln F. Whittaker.

29’? Arizona. Giant Geor e; or, The Boyeesof Sardine-
Box City. Big Buc skin Sam.

298 Daisy Doll’s ash; or, The Ten Colorado Paras.

By T. C. 'Harbaugh.
Jack Slasher's
Young Pard. 3y Harry Enton.

299 The Balloon Detectives: or,
300 Deadwood Dick’s Mission By E. L. Wheeler.
301 Dandy Duke, the Cowboy. By Major E. L. St.
\ rain.
302 Big Benson’s Bet. By T. C. Harbmirzh.
303 The Hotel Boy Detective; or, The Grand Central
Robbery. By Charles Morris.
Bald Head’s Pard; or. Creeping Cat‘s Cunning.
By Buckskin Sum. ‘
305 Dusky Dick’s Duel; or, The Demon‘s Trail. By
Harry Hazard. "
Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Decoy.
By E. L. Wheeler.
Nick. the Boy Sport; or, Three Plueky Pards. By
Maj. E. L. St. Vrain.
Double-Fisted Mat: or, The Mystic California
Giant. BV JOS. E. Badger, Jr.
Old Graybeard’s Boy: or, The Girl's Ruse. By
C. Dunnin Clark. . .
Kit, the irl Ca tain; or, The Mad Sailor’s
Legacy. By Col. rentiss Ingraham.
Frio Fred in Texas. By Buc s‘ in Sam.
The Detective Road-Agen'; or. The Miners of
Sassafras City. By Edward L Wh' elcr.
‘ Honest Jack's Protege; or, The Dwarf‘s Scheme. A
By Philip S. Warne.
Clip. the Boy Sheriff; or. The Two Crooks of
Montana. By Edward Willot.
Tom. the Arizona Sporl ; r r. Howling Hank from
Hard Luck. By Major E. L. St. Vrnin,
The Street-Arab Detective: or, Dick Dorgun's
Do ihle Dealing. By Charles Morris.
Buckskin Ben of Texas: or. Single-Eye‘s Plucky
Partls. By Buckskin Sam
0 \lorado Charliv's Di-tective Dash; The
(‘nttlc Kings. lly Edward L. Wile -ler.
I" Old Skir.flint the
Shmlowcr. By Roger Starlan

sky Frank in ldalo; or.
320 Cool Sam’s Girl Paul; or. Captain Dick and His
Texans. lly T. C Horlmugh.
321 llilly, the Kill from Eisco; or, Silver Mask‘s
Cleu'. By J. C Cowdrick.
 Fred Flyor. Detective; or. Abe Blizzard on Deck.
By Charles Morris.
32:? Doml Shot Ike in .‘l ‘llla'l‘l‘. or lloz Helper. the
Yunlwo l’ard. By Roger Smrlnivk
3le Kit; tho Dnnvcr Short; or. The lionnnzt Miner
King. liy Ed ‘ 21rd L. Wheeler
. ky Darrell the Camp Detective; or; The
Dandv‘s During Dash. liy Elwin Emerson,
326 TI w, "the lloy Cruiser: 01'. The 'Watcr \Volf
\‘,'1~w:lrers. By Colonel Pl‘l‘l‘lll“ lngmlinm.
3‘27 Mel. the Royiug Miner or, Arkaa’sww Jack's
Match Ry Harry Hazard. . _ “
3‘28 lino :y Don‘s Band; or. Big Pete‘s Du: Haul. By
\V. .l. T-lqmiltrn.
329 Dave. the (‘olorizdo Wmst‘lrr. ly l‘.l'~j. E L. St.
Vrain
330 'l‘l.n Donror Kpori‘s Rocket; or. Kit‘s Big Doom.
By Edward L. \Vlir‘l‘lwr.
373 The Coast D *t-t-ctive; or, The Smuggler Shadow-
er. By Roger S'arbuok.
332 Dakota D-m in Canyon City; or. Colorado Kate’s
Chock. lly Philip H. ‘uVilJ‘T‘r‘.
333 llootbl'u"k lion. the Detective: or, Poolrr Jim
and His Pnrd. By Anthony P Morris
Ready May 29. \ _
334 Frisco Tom on Deck: or. The Golden Gate Smug-
glers. Dr George Henry Morse. Rm: y June 4.
BEADLE's POCKET L1an is for sale by all News‘
dealers. five emits per“ copy, or sent by mud on re.
' . .ixcenseaci. .
celpt 0“ BEADLE AND Anus. Publishers,
98 William Street, New York,

0?,