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BEAUMONT W“ ABOUT T0 F0th WHEN HE SAW THE OCEAN KING LYING ON 'l‘flh {DTARBOARD QUARTEth ‘

 

 

 

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2 . Conrad. the Ocean King.

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Conrad, the Ocean King;
03.
LEON LORRAIES DISGUISE.

BY HARRY MONFORT.

CHAPTER I.
A DEADLY MEETING.

“ HOLD, Princo Norval! I’ll listen to no fur-
ther words from you. Either you‘ll leave Beach-
Inont forever or we’ll settle this affair with our
weapons. Decide quickly.”

A latent fire gleamed in the speaker’s coal-
black eyes and his right hand instinctively sought
his sword-hilt.

He was a trifle above the medium in bi ht,
with a dosely-knit, lron-limbed frame t at
promised grunt strength and powers of endur-

ance.
‘ His features were regular as if cast in a classic
mold, but there was a steely glitter in the flash-
ing gaze and a sinister curve of the trim lips not
pleath but forbidding.

His companion, who was perhaps a couple of
years his junior, though both were young, was a
trifle tallor and more slender of build.

He had a handsome, manly countenance, blue
eyes, brown hair and mustache.

He wore a naval suit of blue and was in fact
the commander of the American cruiser, North
Star, then anchored in the little harbor below in

n sight of the twain though they were hidden
thea‘fringe of magnolias that skirted the
fin t.

m scene was on the Gulf Coast near one of

it many sunny coves that indent the shore.
quarter of a mile back from the sea, and

they were within the sound of its tide, stood the
0;:- ville of a wealthy planter, Henlon
a no.

He was of Spanish descent as his name im-
plied, and had a son and dau hter to heir his
great wealth and share his fami y ride.

But the impatient pair .under t 9 ma olias
fatal! eylng each other like two duelli
in nee these.

“What do you mean Baize Beaumont?” ex-
claimed the younger half—drawing his sword
from its mbbard at t e other’s menacing move—
mnt. “ I have never wronged you, and I seek
no narrel with you.” 4 _

“ ever wrou ed me I” repeated Beaumont,
hoarse! , tremb ing with passion. “ What do

..

 

a. wrong Prince Norval? Is it no crime
, gmsteal '

the treasure of one’s heart? Your

' American code of honor may shield you in your

infamous course. Mine—never! ave you

on your choice of action; decide quickly. am
gatient to have it over.”

till Norval hesitated, though he betrayed no

“ I do not understand you. Of course——’

“ Bah! What a look of injured innocence!
Kevan have hung round Beachmont a month,
con Hg the smiles of the heiress of Lorraine,
when an officer in the American Navy should
have better business. Praypis this the way you

will

 

hunt down the Gulf buccaneers? There is no
greater pirate than yourself!”

“Stop, Mr. Beaumont, or I shall iiorget that
you are entitled to my respect.”

“ Little danger you will forget Stella Lor-
raine!” sneered the other.

“ Ha! So she is the cause of your anger, or
at least my visits to her house have aroused
your jealousy, though to be frank I did not
know you were one of her admirers. You well
know thatI have been lying in wait here for
Conrad of the Scarlet Hand, who comes fre-
quently into these waters, You cannot blame
me, if, during the mean time, I have sought. as
much as my duty would allow, the company of
her who is my afl‘lanced wife?"

“ She was mine before you came!" hissed, the
passionate man, his dark countenance livid with
ra e.

Impossible. I cannot think Stella Lorraine
other ii an pure and faithful. She—”

“So you add insult to injury, and ive me
the lie!. Take that!” and he attempts: to deal
Norval a smart blow on the cheek: but the
American was too quick for him. and a sharp
stroke from the flat of his sword sent Boise
Beaumont reeling backward.

Quickly rallying, however, he snatched his
blade from its sheath, and sprung full at the
other’s breast.

The attack was so sudden that Lieutenant Nor-
val had barely time to parry the thrust, and put
himself on the defensive.

A good swordsman himself, he soon found he
had met no mean anta§onist, and their swords
clashedand rung sha .

Beaumont’s excitement made him more fierce,
at the same time robbing him of his usual cun-
ning, so that he struck out at first wildly.

A flesh wound upon the sword arm brought
him to his senses, when be exercised greater
caution.

Lieutenant Norval, acting almost wholly upon

the defensive,met and skillfully turned aside the .

onsets of his foe.

“ Curse you!” grittsd the latter, “ I‘ll show you
the metal of my blade,” and drawing his body
backward he gathered all his strength fora furi-
om lunge at the other’s throat.

The American caught the main force of the
blow on his forearm and his weapon linked with
his antagonist’s,the slender blade bending nearly
double, to snap in twain! I

As the broken piece went flying through the
air, Lieutenant Norval staggered back from the
shock of the attack.

Before he could recover, Baize Beaumont
{showed up his advantage by striking a deadly

ow.

With a low cry of “pain, from the wound,
Prince Norval fell heavily to the earth.

A rim smile of triumph playing on his thin
lips, he victor wiped his reeking sword on the
green sword.

While he was doing this he was startled by the
sound of some one approaching, and before he
could ut the weapon up, a ligh , womanly form
dash into the enclosure.

He saw at a glance that she was the young
and beautiful Stella Lorraine!

From the veranda of her house she had

I

 

 

 

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minis... ...  .-

Conrad. the

Ocean King.

 

- witnessed their meeting and hastened to avert
the combat.

“ What have you done, Baize Beaumont, that

on look so frightened? Where is Prince, my
{)VGI‘? Oh, Father in Heaven! dead!”

She had discovered the prostrate figure of the
yfiung lieutenant, one glance suflicient to tell her
a .

With a moan of pain she sunk beside the life-
less form. as motionless as the dead.

Bewildered by what had transpired so rapidly,
Beaumont stood speechless and inactive, until
the sound of footsteps caused him to look wildly
around.

He was about to flee the spot when catching
sight of the new—comers and recognizing them as
friends of his he awaited their coming.

“ You here, Baizel” cried the foremost as he
reached his side. “ We feared we should not
find ou.”

“ hat’s up?” asked the other anxiously, as
he saw that the speaker’s face was white as
marble and that he trembled with excitement.

“ The Old Nick’s to pay, Baize. Your talk with
the pirate last night was overheard, and Leon
Lorraine has carried the news of your treachery
and of the presence of the corsair’s ship in the
hidden cove to the cruiser. A body of armed
men are being raised now to hunt you down and
—look there! a boat is putting out from the
war-brig at this moment. Come! we have got
to get out of this !”

‘ Curses upon Leon Lorraine!” cried Beau-
mont.

“ In Heaven’s name, what means this?” ex-
claimed his confederate, pointing to the insensi-
ble forms of the lovers.

“ Only that the commander 0! you brig will
never trouble us” retorted he, grimly. “May
all my foes perish thus.”

“ Come! are you going with us? We must
not delay longer; Look! a party of men are
leaving the villa. They have seen us!”

 

CHAPTER II.
STARTLING sonNas.

Bun: BEAUMONT saw that they had no time
to lose, but as he turned to take a last look at
the insensible lovers, a wild resolution entered
his mind. ‘

“ I will not give her up~by my right hand,
nol ~
“ Boys, lend a hand here. This girl must go
with us i” I

The twain already movmg off looked back
with surprise. '

“ She is‘Leon Lorraine’s sister.
even with him by abducting her.”

“ But we shall get caught in—”

“ Bah! I am not afraid to try it, it you are,”
and without further delay, he raised the helpless
maiden in his arms to start after his com-
panions.

The squad of men from the villa had now
passed over half the distance to the shorehand
were approaching at a smart run.

Foremost came Leon Lorraine, who had seen
his sister come that way, and was rushing to
her rescue excitedly. _

The boat’s crew was rapidly nearing the

We can get

shore, too, and the parties were destined to
meet where the body of the unfortunate ofilcer

la .

ll‘he fugitives' course lay along the edge of a
thick growth that grew quite to the shore for a
mile or more. '

The country was level, or at least only slight-
ly descending toward the sea.

Baize Beaumont was strong of limb, for he
kterpt tiheside his confederates without apparent
e or .

A about from their pursuers told that the
fate of Lieutenant Norval had been discovered.

“ They’ll be utter us madder’n ever!" panted
the foremost of the outlaws. “Which way
shall we go, Baize?”

“ Straight for the cove. Our only hope is to
reach the vessel."

“ Ay, ay; and you had better drop the girl.”

“ When I can’t keep up with you.”

Nothing further was said as each man did his
utmost to out-distance his foes.

Beachmont formed a huge cape reaching out
into the Gulf, so that Beaumont in taking a di-

sound of the tide, to find the land more broken,
which was favorable to their escape.

By this time Stella began to show signs of re-
turning consciousness, when she was quickly
bound and gagged, and the coat of one of the
men thrown over her head.

mont, and her struggles futile, they moved on as
rapidly as before,

tree-tops, and a few minutes later they came in-
to plain view of the sea.
‘ Harkl

Beaumont. “ We shall be too late after

their flight more rapidly. ,
Suddenly, turning an abrupt angle of the
shore. they came upon a small bay nearly sur-
rounded by the land. '
The shore, overhung by an unbroken semi-
circle of growth, the place was hidden from the
gaze of a casual observer. ,
What might have caused the greatest wonder
to the discoverer, was the appearance of a
erish-looking ship in this out-of-the-way
p ace. ,
“ wonder if there is a boat—”
“ Yes, down by the thicket lyonder,” was the
re ly before the question was airly asked.
ushing to the s t, the boat was pulled from
its covert, and in t e twinklin of an eye the
three men. with their charge. ad 8 rung in.
“Row for your lives i” cried size Beau-
ntégnht.” “We have escaped by the skin of our
t .

suers appeared upon the shore.

They had no means to continue the chase fur-
ther, and even had they it would have been
madness for the handful to have coped with the
vessel’s force. ' ' _

Those on the stran e craft, which was a
singular compound of t e brigantine and yacht,
built for speed rather than tonnage, seemed to

 

comprehend the  'ot the fugitives, for a

 

 

rectly westward course soon got beyond the v

The others now lent their assistance to Beau- "

At last the gleam of water shone through the ,

0h hear them coming!” gas , ‘
allp’ed ‘

Reaching the narrow beach that lay like a hand _ '
of silver along the water’s edge, they continued ,

Before they could reach the ship, their pur-V

 

 

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4 Conrad. the Ocean King. '

 

rope was thrown to them as they came along-
side.

The brig's rail was lined with seamen in duck
pants, blue shirts .and blue tight-fittin caps.

“ What does this mean i” cried the c ear, ring-
ing voice of one whose dress proclaimed him the
chieftain.

“That you have been discovered and we have
barely escaped with our lives in coming to warn
you of your dan er,” replied Baize Beaumont.

‘ Look yonder, i you want proof of my words.
You cannot get out to Sea any too soon.”

“ Up anchor, boys! weigh—o!” command: (1 the
chief, realizing the situation at once. “ I am
glad to get out of this and it Will be only a few
hours in advance of our plans.”

In a moment the scene on the brigantine‘s
deck was one of excitement though of good

order.

Leaying his subordinates to attend to the
work in hand the rover chieftain turned to his
new-comers.

He was a tall, superbolooking man under
thirg ears of age, his commanding figure ar-
ray n a tunic of the most brilliant scarlet
cloth, fashioned after the st is of the Roman
toga costume, girthed aroun the waist by a
wide, golden sash with flowing fringes, its ends
reaching to his knees. His nether garments
were of a deep blue contrasting finely with the
brighter tints of his dress. His raven hair fell
upon his shoulders in waving clusters, while his
finely-shaped head was surmounted by a velvet
cap, fashioned into a happy resemblance to a
crown.

His features were clearly cut as an Apollo and
the pure olive of his complexion made him as
beautiful as a woman with the spirit and pres-
ence of one born to rule.

His shapely right hand rested lightly u on
the gold-mounted hilt of his trusty sword t at
ban in a scabbard of most elegant design.

“ o, my friend Baize, whom haVe you here?
My sooth! what garden have on entered to
pluck such a lovely flower? hose trappings

ll—become her; remove them."

Beaumont durst not disobey the soft, woman-
li tone of the corsair chief even had he desired
t at Stella should longer remain bound.

“ She is Henlon Lorraine’s daughter,” ex-
plained the abductor. “ She defied me and——"

“ y I see; and you did well to brin her
here. My sooth! I do not wonder you fel§cap-
tive before such a. siren."

B this time Stella was free and falling u 11
her nees before the ocean outlaw she begge to
be taken back to her home.

“ Nagy, fair lady, much as I would like I can:
not. 0 spare us your breath. else I shall re-
gret that you have been allowed your freedom.”

“ Kind sir, you look like one with an honest
heart. ‘Have mercy—”

The stormy look that overswept his counte-
nance checked her wild implnration.

“An honest heart,” he said, all the angel he
had shown in his classic features dying out and
the demon creeping in, “do you know that all
the heart I ever had lies a thousand fathoms be-
neath the blue waters? ‘

f‘ If you have any doubts as to who I am I
Will quickly dispel them.

 

“ I am Conrad of the Scarlet Hand. King of
the Blue Water Empire!”
~As the chief uttered his startling words one of
his subordinates touched him on the arm.
“Pardon me, my king, but you are needed.
The American war-ship has appeared around
the headland, and it looks as if she means to
head us off 1”

CHAPTER III. '

GLINCHED FOR BATTLE.

“ HEAD off the wind l" cried the Corsair King,
as he turned his gaze over the larboard rail.

Even the cool and imperturbable chief, who
had schooled himself all his life to meet what-
ever reverse of fortune befell him calmly, started
at the sight of the cruiser so close upon them.

The cape had hidden each other from view
until the two ships. leaving their respective
quarters, suddenly found themselves in close
proximity.

They had evidently been seen by their foe, as
there was every indication of activity on board.

“ He means to cut us off, truly,” said the cor-
sair, half-aloud; “ and he will do it as true as
fate l"

The sea was too narrow here for them to
change their course, and all that they could
hope for was to run the gantlet ahead.

Though the sun was already dipping its nether
rim in the western waters, they could not hope
to escape under the cover of the approaching
darkness, for ere that time the fate of either ves-
sel must be sealed.

Nor did the Corsair King give a second
thought to escape.

He knew the metal of his guns and the nerve
of his men too well to care for the odds against
him.

The war-brig was flying the Stars and Stripes,
which shone with unusual beauty in the fresh-
eninz breeze of that tropical evening.

“ Run up our colors!" thundered Conrad.
“ We’ll let them know we are not ashamed of
our banner. Nail it to the masthead, and death
to the man who tears it down!”

Immediately the silken folds of the roverfs
flag was unfurled to the. breeze, and as it
streamed in the trembling air, on a groundwork
of ocean-azure was seen the figure of a huge
scarlet hand, that dread emblem of the Blue
Water Rovers. _

As if in answer to the defiant dis lay, a shot
from the war-brig came hurtling rough the

air, passing a few fathoms astern of tho hrigan- ,

ne. _ _

“ Ha-hal” laughed the Corsair Kihg, “ our
turn will come soon.

“ See to it, Lieutenant Despard, that every-
thing is in readiness for the but work to come."

The Blue Water Queen, as the brigautlne was
called, though of less than three hundred tons
burden, carried a battery of four guns, one
twelve-pound howitzer on each broadSIde and a
swivel piece of thirty pounds fore and aft.

Her crew numbered eighty able-bodied men
not one of whom but wan battle-scarred an
eager for the flow of blood. They were bound
by a terrible oath, too, to fight to t e bitter end,
but to give quarter—naval

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Conrad, the Ocean King.

 

 

The Queen, in case a flight was thought best,
was as capable of showing as light heels as were
ever shown in the blue water domain.

She had been built with an eye to the amount
of top she could carry, until from deck to main-
topmast, from bowsprit to stern she could be
literally enveloped in canvas.

Besides her schooner rig of fore and mainsail,
main-topsoil, jib and flying-jib, she bore a fore-
topmast staysail, a fore—course. fore-royal and
fore-skysail, which, with the great rake of her
masts showing that she could cut right into the
wind’s e e, to d that before a favoring wind she
could fa rl fly over the water.

Her dec s swept gracefully while her hull
painted a deep blue relieved by a ribbon of
crimson along the rail, made her seem of the
elements born. -

Everything about the decks bore a tidy ap-
pearance and there was perfect discipline among
the men.

While his followers flew about their duties
with the utmost alacrity, the chief turned to
Baize Beaumont and his companions, Stella
standing near by, the meantime, spellbound by
the startling scene.

“ Ho, sirrahi I am half-inclined to think that
you havo brought this upon us. At any rate
you are here and now you must swear to be one
of us in the coming fight."

“ I do. right willingly," answered Beaumont.
“ The die is cast with me and I cannot turn back

if I would. Besides I havo a mortal fee on you
brig.” Ay, I am one of _ you, today and for-
ever.

“ Good] and you, my brave fellows?”

“ Follow where Baize Beaumont leads.”

“Well said, my gallants; and see that you
keep your words. Remember it is death to trifle
with Conrad of the Scarlet Hand and my eye
will be on you through the ensuing scenes.’

“You need not fear us.” Beaumont hastened
to say. “ We have as much at stake as you.
But can‘t this irLbe taken below i”

“ Ay, ay. ere, Benito, get Miss Lorraine
into my cabin. She will be better off there.”

In spite of her protestation Stella was home
into the corsair chief’s elegant cabin just aft of
the mainmast.

The sight of the cruiser had given her courage
for she well know there were brave hearts on
board to dare and do for her.

We will not attempt to describe her an-
guish as she waited the end with a terrible
anxiety.

“ Wear ship and hear of! from the headland,”
ordeged Conrad, now assuming personal com-
man .

With alacrity his orders were carried into
effect b 'those who seemed as anxious as he for
the con not. i

In a few minutes the Queen rounded the point

' and came into full view of the American cruiser,

which had heretofore been partially hidden hi
the sparse growth that covered the narrow use
of land lying between the rival ships.

“ Ho, there, gunner! give them a broadside 1"

Before his command could be obeyed another
shot from the North Star came crashing through
the corsair’s mizzen top.

“Curse them!” thundered the Scarlet Hand,

 

“that gun must he silencedl Do you hear me,
Bernard?”

“ Ay, ay, sir. I will try it at my next shot.”

The hrigantine was now within a hundred
yards of the cruiser, when the Queen suddenly
darted oil? in an oblique course as it intent upon
esca e.

Atp the same time the Corsair King was seen
to staring into the ratlines, his go] -mounted
speaking-trumpet sparkling in the rays of the
dying sunlight with dazzling beauty, as he called
out in a voice that rung clear and sharp above
the tumult of the opening fight:

“ Brig, ahoyl”

“ Ahoy the Corsair of the Scarlet Hand,”
came the ringing response.

“ Draw off your ship and we will depart in
peace. I have no quarrel with you.”

“ Do you take us for fools?”

“ If you enter intoa. fight, I warn you that
we are invincible.”

“ Surrender the captive you have and tear
down that accursed flag!”

“Never, while steel lasts and iron does not
does 2”

“ look to your God for mercy then.”

Conrad reached the deck just as Bernard was
applying the match to his howitzer.

hen as the thunder of its report died away
and the smoke lifted he said grimly:

“Look there. They have one gun less to ‘ V

handle.”

His shot had lodged squarely in the cruiser’s
gun amidship shattering the weapon into a bun.

red fragments.”

“ Go 1” exclaimed Conrad, then turning to
the helmsman he said:

“ Luifl kid to the starboard. Hard down!
Steady, so. We must clinch with that accursed
American 1” I -

Conrad’s quick age ran over his decks for the /
last time, to see t at everythin was in readi-
ness for the coming fight, which e knew would
be one of the most desperate he had ever waged.

“ Larboard-quickl Stead -—so,” and with a
graceful swee of her prow t 9 Queen bore her
lithe form an or the other’s howsprit and ranged .
alon side .

f‘ hrow the grapplings,” commanded the cor-
sair. .

An instant later the two vessels were locked
firme together.

CHAPTER IV.
nor WORK HAND-TO-HAND.

“Now, lads!” thundered Conrad of the Scar-
let Hand. “show these American hounds how
the Blue Water Rovers meet their foes.”

With these wild words he sprung upon the

an -board, brandishing his cutlass over his
den h as he led the way into the very jaws of
oat .

Yelling like fiends incarnate the corsair crew
followed their chieftain, until the decks of the
war-brigawarmed with their swarth forms.

Meanwhile the North Star had u even\
more eager for conflict than the hrigantine. :

They had sought these waters with the avowed
purpose of exterminating the ocean bandittl.
and now the blood of their leader called for their
vengeance. 1

   

11-13. » .r “Ki-‘2“

 

 

 

 

    
   
 
  

 

8 Conrad. the Ocean King,

The body of Lieutenant Norval had been left

in the hands of those who had promised to see
that it had proper burial, and the next in ro-
tation had assumed command.
x He was a tall, powerful—framed man by the
name of Grayson, who had seen his share of
sea warfare and did not flinch from the threat-
ened struggle.

He had loved Lieutenant Nor-val as one does
a brbther, and over his memory he had sworn
to draw the heart’s blood of him of the Scarlet

” Hand.

There was another on board the North Star
who was more anxious yet to meet the fee.

This was Leon Lorraine, who shuddered as he
thouwit of his sister’s fate.

“ e cannot miss them, Lieutenant Graysont”
he had asked, as they dashed up the headland
under all the canvas the brig could carry.

“Never fear, Mr. Lorraine. In fifteen min-
utes we shall have sighted the enemy.”

“And you have no misgivings as to the re
sulti”.

“ None whatever.”

“ Thank God.”

Lieutenant Grayson had proved a true prophet
in the first instance; it would soon be shown
how nearly he had estimated their relative
strength.

The defenders of the North Star numbered a
hundred gallant men, and they sprung at the
throats of the boarders'like so many tigers.

“ Hold your fire until I givo the word,” their
commander had said, and when the signal rung
out clear and stern the death—dealing hail vom~
ited from those iron throats wrought terrible
havoc among the besiegers.

" Give them no quarter!” shouted the Amer-
ican chief, and then followed a scene of car-
nage that the pen is not adequate to describe.

Up from the waist, and from every direction,
sprung the brave defenders of the war-ship,
gnrtgj the corsairs found themselves outnum-

e .

It took more than numbers, however, to daunt
the Corsair King, and, determined to engage the
brig’s commander in combat with himself, be
pressed hotly forward, hewing a path through
the surging mass wherever he led.

At last Lieutenant Graysou and the Corsair
Kin met face to face. '

“ 1 dog of an American. stand your
ground i" cried he of the Scarlet Hand. wielding
his cutlass with a skillful force. “With us lies
the fate of the day!” - '

“ And you’ll find my arm as swift and sure as

yours 1" gritted the sturdy officer, as he assumed.

the defensive in a combat that meant more than
one 1 e.
The sun had disap ared from the crimson-
masked horizon that ung over the sea, grow-
' ing dark under the deepening twilight. which
lent an additional wildness to the weird, start-
lin scene.
he flash of the fire-arms lit up the conflict
with a dazzling glare, so that the swordsmeu
stpod plainly revealed amidship.
’ The veins stood out on Lieutenant Grayson‘s
forehead like whi rds, as he was pressed
slowly backby his on-limbed antagonist.
The corsair was cool, and seemed as uncon-

 

cerned as if merely running a tilt for pleas-
ure.

He made no careless display, however, for he
found he had met no mean adversary.

Once he felt the point of the other’s blade prick
his sword-arm, and the blood began to trickle
down his breast.

His turn came a moment later.

Skillfully parrying one of his straight-for-
ward thrusts, Lieutenant Grayson made a lunge
to run him through, when, missing his foot-

ing, he was for the moment thrown off his

ard.
g“Conrad saw his advantage, and dexterously
throwing up the American’s well-directed blow,
he struck straight at his breast.

So furious was his blow that the keen blade
good a band’s breadth out behind the other’s

dv.

Without even a murmur, Lieutenant Gray-
son sunk to the deck bathed in his own blood.

“ So die the foes of the Corsair King 1” thun-
dered Conrad of the Scarlet Hand, as he waved
aloft his dripping sword.

The fall of their leader disconcerted the brig’s
crevlv‘, though not a man but was doing effective
wor .

The foremost flgure among them was the de~
fiant form of Leon Lorraine seeming everywhere
pi‘esont. dealing with fatal precision his light-
niu -like blows.

e was armed with a heavy cutlass and it
rose and fell like the blasts of a wintry storm.

He was worth any score of men that wore the
new blue.

“How them down!” he cried. “ Once more
for the starboard battery and the victory is
0113'” k1 hi t th

ome sprung quic y to s supper ; o ers
hesitated, wavering without a leader.

While they delayed the corsairs reached the

guns.

They had already seized the starboard battery.

The deck was strewn with the dead and dying.
The gore was ankle-deep.

The words of the corsair chief were proving
prophetic, for with the fall of the commander
the crew of the war-shi began to lose ground.

Leon Lorraine saw hat the fight was going
against them—saw that they were inevitably
lost unless extraordinary eflorts were made in
season to turn the tide back.

With a handful of brave fellows at his heels he
made a rush for the gen ~board. determined to
cut his way through or d e in the attempt. I

For the first time he caught. sight of Baize
Beaumont, and aroused by the sight of his hated
foe he dashed one after another of the bucca-
neers aside, and foot by foot approached the

wretch. _
Beaumont saw hm! and began to beat a re-

treat.

He had acted no slight part in that wild drama,
but he feared young Lorraine, knowmg well at
that time he was no match for the desperate
man.

Leon Lorraine’s bold onset fired the hearts of
the Amerlcans and rallying anew they stemmed
the tide of battle.

The Corsair Kin saw that the day was lost to
him, unless he rape ed them at once.



y.

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v .‘ ._-._L -vme _.__._.. ...

 

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r

 

Conrad. the Ocean King.

 

 

Knowing well the source of his returning dan-
ger. he pushed his way forward to intercept his
enemie’s leader.

This enabled Baize Beaumont to escape, which
advantage he gladly improved.

Nothing loth to encounter the slayer of Lien-
tenant Grayson, Lorraine met the Scarlet Hand
half way.

The latter looked wilder than ever.

“Hound of fury i” shriek'ed the corsair.
“ I’ll end your byvplay in short time 1’

Never a word left Leon Lori-sine’s compressed
lips, as felling a burly Spaniard at his feet he
dashed aside Conrad’s fateful blade; and before
the latter could recover from the shock drove
his weapon through his body to its very hilt!

With a piercing shriek Conrad of the Scarlet
Hand threw up his arms, and reeling to and fro
for a moment, fell to the deck with a thud.

A wild yell followed the ,corsair’s fall, but it
had barely died away when an outcry ‘more ape
palling than any heard before rung above the
tumult of the mad scene, drowning every other
sound.

“Fire! fire! FIRE!"

CHAPTER V.
THE DOOMED SHIP.

“FIREl fire! fire!”

No more appalling cry was ever heard on
land or sea.

Every throat on the ship seemed to take up
the word until the startling exclamation rung
far and wide over the Waters.

Great clouds of smoke came rolling up the
companionway and the flames had already
broken out in the hatches.

As the din of the strife abated the rear and
seething of the conflagration could be heard in
the vessel’s hold.

How the fire had caught no one stoppedto
ask—no one cared.

It put an abrupt end to all fighting.

The corsairs madeamad rush to leave the
doomed ship when Baize Beaumont showed the
superiority of his presence of mind by sprin ing
upon the ang-board and with a pistol in e ther
hand hel the mob in check. ,, ’

“ Pass over slowly i” he cried. “ There is
plenty of time. Some of you look after the
wounded.”

His words brought them somewhat to their
reason and they passed over more orderly.

The survivors of the brig’s crew turned their
attention tothe fire, hoping to stay its head-

wa . - .

when the others had passed over, Beaumont
was abouttofollow when he saw the Corsair
King lying nér the starboard battery.

Springingto the other’s side he found that he
was still liv1ng.

“ How are you, old fellowi”

“ Hard hit. My strength is fast leaving me.
Where are the lads?”

“ Gone back to the Queen. This ship is bum-
ing u . Hark! hear you not the flames?"

" is so. I hope I shall breathe my last be-
fore they reach me.”

“ Can’t you stand it to he carried to the
Queen?”

 

“ I think so.
deck.”

Baize Beaumont called to a couple of the cor-
sairs who helped him bear their wounded chief-
tain to their ship.

They were none too soon, so rapidly had the
fired gained headway. .

The flames had eaten through in several
places, so that the fiery tongues were thrust
forth on every quarter.

0n the Queen the order was given to let loose,
and in a few minutes the brigantine was clear
from the burning vessel that presented a start-
ling spectacle in the gathering gloom of night.

“I would remain on deck,’ said Conrad, as
his bearers were about to carry him below. “ I
can breathe easier in the open air. and I feel-
that 1 have but a few minutes to live. Place
me so that I can watch the burning ship. It
will lessen my pain."

His confederates did as they were told, when
hils gaze became riveted upon the doomedvol-

se .

The remnant of the brlg’s crew could be
plainly seen by the glare of the confla tion
their white faces and excited actions to of
the terrors of their situation.

Some of them had gone to the pumps in deo-
peration‘, but the fire roared deep down in the
vessel’s hold like a volcano, until anon it let
up through gort-hole and hatchway, frin ng
the sails wit flame, and darting along the
cordege till the whole rigging shone in the night
a network of fire.

“A fearful ending to our game," declared
Conrad, as the glow of the fire crimsoned the
see around them. “How many of the boys
went down?” , ,
“Nearly half are missing,” replied Bernard,
the nner. '

“ hey foughtlike tigers. But I thought
when their chief went own that they would
strike their colors."

“The would, had it not been for that IO-
cursed rraine!" exclaimed Balsa Beaumont. ‘

“’Twas he who gave me my death-wound. ’-
But he did it in square fight. See! thayaro
having a worse light than we gave them. I al-
most pity the cor devils!” ‘

“ T ey are ools to try to save the craft. file
is doomed as sure as fate." ,,

Even as he spoke the fire had caught on the “
foresaii, licking with its resplendent tongues the
canvas-until from truck to keelson the lofty
Spar, With all its gear, was one living sheet of

ames. -

The brig’s crew had been brought somewhat
to their senses b the better juwment of Leon .
Lorraine, whose c ear. cool tones 0rd
to lower the boats. ,

All that the could hope to save were thdr
lives, and no me was to be lost if they hoped
to get away.

‘ Ihave alfamind tola to and rescue the
wild fellows,” said Conra -, with a grim smile,
as he watched with feverish interest the excit-
ing scene. “ Dying does soften ono’s hurt
strangely.” he continued

ause. have seen others fall around me ‘
ike leaves in a tempest, and never thought at ‘
quarter so long as my own right arm could ‘

I could die easier on my own

after a moment‘s A '

 

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A   , $2.54.} '

 

— arm‘an :- ~

.A..

  

1 others could not fail to see that

, ship’s, ’ he said, calm

 

’8 Conrad. the Ocean King.

 

sway aloft the sword—the scepter of the Blue

Water Empire. And Conrad's arm were worth
a score of menl

“They would not thank me if I should save
them ” he went on, his mind reverting to the
terri ed seamen, wildly struggling to save them-
selves from the burning ship, which, borne on
by the increasing breeze at a furious rate, sent
out along train of fiery sparks, that glared and
gleamed in the gloom of night like a monster
ser ent of fire, reaching far astern.

he first boat to be lowered from the brig was

swamped by the wild rush made to reach it.

By the time the second was let down from the

. daVIts Leon Lorraine had assumed control and

held in abeyance the maddened mob.

Standing in the glare of the fiery elements he
was plainly seen by the dying corsair and his
confederates, his stalwart form presenting a
grand and strikin spectacle of manly heroism.

“ I admit the fe ow’s brave—” began Conrad,

' but he stopped .in the midst of his speech, as at

that moment the foremast was seen to swa

, from side to side. All the back-stays and hes -

ear had been burned off so there was nothing
eft to hold the tottering mass of fire.

Trembling from foot to top, as if trying to
preserve Its balance for a moment, with aloud
crash it went reeling backward down upon the
lee-rail, its blazing length reaching out into the
water while a cloud of sparks and cinders
shooting high into the air illuminated the awful
scene to the brilliancy of midday.

‘ ' Wild cries rent the air and when Leon Lorraine
had stood lay now the burning

debris.
Fiercest excitement followed the fate of him

alone capable of stemming the mad outbreak,

and each man for himself the terrified seamen
leaped into the water or seeking the boats

‘ swamped them by their frantic efforts.

“ He died as I like to see a man at his post,”

said the Corsair King, thinking of the ill fated

Lorraine.
9‘ The old ship’s race is almost over," said Ber-

' nard, as he watched the conflagration envelop

the mainmast in its fearful folds.

“So is mine,” declared his chief, taming
from the fiery scene to look upon the circle of
followers gathered around him.

“Nay, let us hoge you have many years of
life in store ” said aize Beaumont.

The‘chief shook his head slow] and the

e was fast

failln . _
“ life is goin out faster than yonder
3’. “ I have no regret, for
I was the chooser o my own welfare. I took
the odds and as they are meted out to me so
must I accept them.
" This night’s work has cost you dear, for you,

besides losing many comrades, have lost a king.

, Tis of this I would speak particularly.”

“ We feel the loss keen , good Conrad,” said
Bernard. ” We owe our all to you. Whatever
you have to an to us we will cheerfully obey-

! vy ’
wen: we lads? tb h t
, yay was 9 car yr onse.
"Good’; exclaimed Conrafilmand before I

i am gone would see my successor appointed”.

. A murmur of assent went up from the en-

_ circling throng.

 

CHAPTER VI.
THE coasam's BURIAL.

“ WHOM shall it be, my king?" asked Bernard,
the first to speak.

“ There is not one among you who would not
honor the crown of the Ocean Monarch, but I
am g‘oing outside of you to find a king.

“ here will be no cause for jealous feeling
then. and he will rule im rtial to all. '

“ Him whom I have so acted for this respon-
sible figsition is one who will never, I am cer-
tain, tray my trust. Though he has been
with dyou a short time you have seen his braverv
teste to-night. Even in the hottest of the fight
showing his crimson cutlass hewing down the
toe with invincible flame. When your chief fell
’twas his strong arm that bore him to his own
proud deck. For that deed alone should he be
crowned according to our laws, for he befriended
when all others failed.

“ He whom I now pronounce King of the
Blue Water Empire and whose power shall be
as absolute as mine has been, is-Baize Beau.
montl”

A silence broken only by the swish of the sea,
as its waters beat the sides of the Blue Water
Queen, followed the words of the dying chief.

“ I 5 there in all our lea ue one who objects?"
he asked. “ Let him spea now if ’tis so.’

Still the surprised rovers remained silent, until
Bernard the young gunner spoke:

“ No one cares to cross the purpose of his king.
Silence, my chief, gives consent.”

“ But there is a condition to him who accepts
the trust. He must take the name of Conrad
as I have done. It will then be Conrad, the
Ocean King still. What say you, Baize Beau-
montl”

Then he who had remained silent to the unex-
pected words, said in a husky voice:

“ I—I am not fit for the honor. Let—”

“ Tut—tut! I know your metal. Will you
exchavnvge your name for mine to be ruler of the
Blue ater domain?“

Baize Beaumont, his evil nature overflowing
with exultation at this unsought triumph, how
his head.

“ Good! I knew you would not shrink from
the trust. But it might be well for you to have
a different surname from mine.

“ Ha! I have hit upon a device. When I am
consigned to my ocean grave, as soon as the
breath has left this poor body, wrap the old flag
around me. ’Twill be better to havea new one,
and in the center, rather than a scarlet hand,
let there be wrought a crimson crescent.

“ I like the idea. All hail then to Conrad of
the Crimson Crescent 1”

Instantly a wild shout went up from the’
corsairs, till the evening air rung with the cry:

“ Conrad of the Crimson Crescent.”

The chief smiled. .

“ Your hand, Conrad, and your oath that
you will never prove unfaithful to your trust.”
Baize Beaumont, as we shall call him for the
last time, clasped the outlaw’s extended hand,
an‘dIhowed his head. d .u _t

ong ma ou rosper, an you WI 1 on

are true to eaghyothgr. One warning have {to

ive: Beware how you cross the has water-
me.

. “twos. an... . l

. .,_ . m.

 

Come, the

 

Ocean King. .3

 

“ Never carry your work beyond this and you
are safe; don’t forget. A few words more and
then i am done.

“ Bernard, remember me to Dore]. Break
the tidings of my fate gently to her, but tell her
all, and say that her name was the last upon my
lips. Poor Dorel! it unmans me to think of her.

“I have a favor to ask, too. See that she is
free to go where she wishes. You will grant
this liberty to one, who is dearer to me than
life. Conrad?”

Without knowing what he was pledging him—
self to do. the newly-made chief gave quick con-
sent.

“ That is all,” said the sufferer. simply, and
he turned to see if the burning ship was still in

si ht.

gl‘he doomed vessel was yet to be seen by its
own light, as the wind bore it on a terrible but
grand spectacle.

It was little more than a flame-lit hulk now
driving madly on to destruction.

As they looked it careened to one side, losing
its self-control.

Then a stream of fire shot high into the air,
filling the night with a cloud of sparks and cin-
ders, when, with a loud hissing sound, the fiery
mass went down into the dark depths below.

The darkness that settled over the lace told
plainer than words that the ill-starre brig had
gone to its fate.

At the same time. too, with a moan of an-

ish, Conrad the Corsair breathed his last.

is dying words falling upon an awe-inspired
scene:

“ Remember the blue waterline—remember
Dorell”

“ It is over," said Bernard, huskily; “ the
lifghof the brig and our chieftain’s went out to-

er.
“on was some time before the others found
courage to speak, so deeply had the scene im-
pressed them.

The sky was thickly studded with stars so
that it was not dark upon the sea, but the deep
silence that lay upon t e restless deep after the
stirring, appalling scenes he had witnessed made
it seem the moat gloomy hour the newly made
king had ever known. ,

Stung: grotesque and hideous fl res danced
before h n the weird light, and t e sounds of
the drowned seamen still rung in his ears.

“ We await your first command, chief,” said
Bernard respectfggy. I

“ See that the y of your late kin is pre-

red for burial," he rephed, shaking o for the

'me the dread foreboding? that ay heavily
upon his mind even at the our of his trium h.
“ You know your customs so you may fol ow
them, remembering the request of him.”

Little was said as the body of the Corsair
K? was repared for burial.

hen al also had been done, the flag under
lwihieh he had died was carefully wrapped about
in.

Proud and ma 'estic looked the ocean exile
even in death. e would well have honored as
nobler place in life.

One by one his followers stood over is silent
form to gaze long and earnestly upon 1: e white
rigid countenance handsome even in death.

The corsairs. hardened to crime as they were,
lgved their leader, for he had been faithful to
t em.

Tenderly they laid him upon the fatal plank
and slowly raised him up.

Then as one end of the plank restedfor a m
ment on the ship’s rail, Bernard lifted his hand
preparatory to giving the si 91 for the final act.

S owly his hand came own, and as it de-
scended the inner end of the plank was elevated,
until the grave figure moved rapidly down its
length to disappear in the darkness below.

A plash in the water reached their ears and
then all became as silent as before.

Conrad the corsair would wage his unhallow-
ed warfare no more.
buried,” said ernard as their solemn task was
over.

"Amen," aflirmed one of the onlookers, when
every man present echoed the word. '

Hardly had the sound died away when a
startling cry left the lips of Conrad of the
Crimson Crescent, and he pointed wildly to the
ship’s bows.
person of Leon Lorraine!”
Hand to behold the figure of a man in the fore-
yard-arm!

It was not light enough for him to distinguish
the features with any certainty, but the white
face turned momentarily toward him looked to

brother.
None other saw him, and when they looked
for him he could not be found.

CHAPTER VII.
'rns amen ms.

possible that their chief coul have seen any
one in the fore-rigging of the brigantine, and he
deemed it wise to drop the subnect, though he
was not likely to forget it. '.

The wounded, all who had been brought from
the doomed ship, were attended to; and
their numbers were counted it .was found that
fifty-five had escaped from the fl ht.

tenant Stannard, one of the most trustworthy
of his sub'ects. the corsair king sought the
cabin that e might see how it had fared with
hisca tive. ,

Ste a’s anguish we will not attempt to de-
scribe

ch she had passed those hours of fearful
suspense the imagination may conceive, but it
cannot realize the agony she endured. . \
She was aware o something of the terrible
conflict being waged, and s e listened with,
greathlessinteresttoknow the result if possi-

9.

Then followed the fire, and afterward the tin
mult died away, when she felt that her last hope
was gone.

corsair chief entered her presence.

k with a groan of despair

 

view; she sunk

 

“Let us be e the rest of us will beas well‘

“ Look therel is that the shadow or the living ~ ,-
Ee had turned from the burial of the Scarlet

him like the countenance of Stella Lorraine’s ,

TEE corsairs naturally enough believed'it im-_

when- ‘ '

Leaving the watch under the c arge of Lien: -

Her face was buried in her hands when the,
She started uBa‘but at sight of his smiling
hat,weepingi” greeted the captor.  '

 

 

 

 

    

 

s a“

 é  «Hanna;  a.

 

 

10 Conrad, the Ocean King.

 

the weak give away to tears and I had thought
you a brave woman, Stella orraine.”

“ And you call your cruel treatment a test of
bravery, sir? Oh, Baize Beaumont, if you have
one gm of manhood in your heart, take me
back my home.”

“ ’Tis too late to talk of that. You can do no
better than to be reconciled to your fate.”

“ Why this persecution? l——”

“ You know my reason, Miss Lorraine; I loved
you and when 1 asked you to be my wife you
scorned me for that smooth-tongued American
officer.” n

“ You take a strange we to
tschment. Did 1 love you be ore,
younow.”

His gaze fell before her flashing eyes.

“ You have met the American brig, tell me
with what result."

“ All that I could ask has fallen to my lot to—
night. We whipped the accursed Americans,
and their ship catching on fire was burned to the
water’s edge.”

" Did they—the crew—all perish?” she fal—

red.
“ A few may have escaped in boats, but ’twas
not more than a handful.’
“ Was my brother Leon on board l”
“‘1 H”e was; he was in the thickest of the
g t.
“And he—did he esccapei You will answer
me truthfully now.”
“It seems to me you are asking many ques-

rove your at-
should loathe

time for one in your situation.”

“ This is my last one. Tell me if my brother
perished.”
V “ He did. He passed through the fight un-
ficatlied, to be killed by a falling spar during the
re.
She listened to him in silence, too much over-

. come it seemed to speak.

“ Don’t ‘evs. Stella. It was his own fool-
hardiness t at led him into it. Replning is use-

’ less and you might have fallen into worse

“Since sunset this ship has changed hands and
I am in command now.

He could have bitten his tongue for saying the
words the moment they left his lips, as he fore-
saw what was coming.

“Then you can take me home Mr. Beaumont.
Say gins you will and r I will overlook the

Slowly he shook his head.

“ You know not what you ask. I have sworn
allegiance to the Ocean Empire—have been
chosen its king. To turn has now would be
treachery and my_ life would pay the forfeit.

“ No, Stella; that cannot be. But become my
bride and you shall be queen of the Blue Water

In.
“Our legion have their home in one of the
thin-est isles in the Caribbean: there shall you
dwall in luxuries of which you have never

med.
m‘él will wait upon you}? a sflava and {big};
awsyu our expedi ons 0 con ues m
be continually“ with you. q
“In. time, when “I shall have won the good

‘ girl-mot mysubjects more, it me bewe will

, ,when. you and I can re to to the

 

States. Is not all this worth making a few
sacrifices?”

She listened to his burning, impetuous words
in a dazed, bewildered way.

“ No—nol You ask the sacrifice of home and
loved ones and honor—for what?

“ The blood of Prince Norval, whom I loved,
and my brother is on your hands. I loathe you,
I hate you. All that I ask—take me home!”

His head inclined forward upon his bosom as '

she finished speaking ; otherwise he gave no
token that he had heard, until at last he said:

“ ’Tis useless. I had hoped you would be
more reasonable. Sooner than take you home
I would consign this ship with every soul on
board to an ocean grave. The die is cast; you
are in my power and willing or unwilling you
must remain.”

“ Whither are you taking me?" she faltered.

“ To our island rendezvous. But I must leave
you now. Do not let your fears disturb your
sleep. Be reasonable and it shall be well with
you. Au revoir.”

The corsair chief returned to the deck to find
it deserted save by the night watch.

Its loneliness, however, suited his mood, and
in an abstruse state of mind he paced back and
forth, until the stars were obscured by a mass
of deepening clouds and the sea took on a. dreary
blackness. -

“ There is going to be a storm,” he muttered,
“ and I must seek rest for the coming day.”

As Conrad turned away he saw, or he fancied
he saw, the form of a man near the taflErail;
but thinking it was one of the drowsy watch or
else his imagination, he quickly put the thought
from his mind. When he fell asleep, however,
it haunted his dreams; and he smoke with a
cold perspiration starting out upon his body.

In vain he courted slumber after this, and
when as the gray light of dawn began to tinge
the sea the cry of “sail—oh” from the lookout
reached his care, be rushed upon deck.

“ Whereawnyl’? he cried. ..

“ Just off our weather bows, air; and bearing
directly down upon us.”

" What do you make of her!”

“Nothing definite, sir. She seems schooner
rigged, but in this uncertain light nothing can
be seen distinctly."

Conrad seized the glass to gaze at the oncom-
ing vessel, which to is dismay he saw was not
more than half a league away.

Her sails were furled and she was hugging
close to the water.

In the midst of his survey the voice from the
lookout rung clear and startling for a second
time with the cry of—

“ Sail—oh i” ,

“ Whereaway this time?” exclaimed the Cor-
sair King, excitedly.

“ 0t! our lee quarter and evidently aiming to
intercept us.” ,

The last ship was further away than the first,
though the coming day was fast bringing either
into distinct prominence.

Had the weather been clear already would the
blue waters have shone brightly in the dawning
light, but the storm-clouds of the precedin
night hung low and heavy over the shadow
sea that with foaming hillows and crested waves

we;  M._

.: .1744» .. gs)..- 

 

 

mm», _M_.

 

 

Conrad. the Ocean King. 1”!

 

 

 

beat and throbbed in unison with the coming
tempest.

Conrad of the Crimson Crescent looked anxious
under the threatening outbreak of this double
danger.

 

CHAPTER VIII. ,
A STERN CHASE. 1

“ WELL, chief, what is your pleasure?” asked
Lieutenant Stanuard respectfully, as Conrad
laid do I") the glass satisfied that the approach-
ing ships coming up as if by preconcerted plans
were war-ships bent upon his destruction.

“ With our present decimated force it would
be madness to risk an encounter with thosemen—
of—war,” he replied, slowly.

“ Then you repose to fly from them!"

“ I see no other alternative."

“Without firing a gun, my chief?”

“ Such are my orders, Lieutenant Stannard.
See that the Queen is given every stitch of can-
vas she can carry. We have no time to lose.

“ Tack ship and stand to the south’ard. We
must fall off in the Wind‘s eye."

The decks were now througed with the corsair
crew who listened with wonder to such an order.
Never had they shown their heels before.

“ By the hand of Captain Kyd l” exclaimed
the second lieutenant. Despard, his dark coun-
tenance lookin blacker than the storm-bound
heavens, “the lue Water Queen never bowed
to such a command before. We have made a
poor exchange of chiefs for I see already that
Conrad of the Crimson Crescent will never sway
the scepter as did Conrad of the Scarlet Hand.”

These words were of course spoken in an un-
dertone though they voiced the sentiments pre-
vhailing with the leading spirits in that motley
t rong.

On the starboard tack with everything set that
would draw in the standing wind, away s the

sen much to the surprise doubtless of t 6 con-
dent war-brigs.

Then the boom of the foremast’s gun came
sounding over the sea, and a long furrow plowed .
in the water astern told where the leaden mes-
senger had spent its fury.

“ Can’t we answer that, chief?” asked Bernard
respectfully. “ It will please the boys hugely.”

‘ Certainly,” answered Conrad, when the alert
~gunner hastened to the stern chaser with proud
concern.

Quickly adjusting the swivel-piece to the
proper range, be calculated carefully the dis
tance, and was about to ap ly the match when
a discovery was made whic caused his arm to
drop powerless by his side.

The gun had been spiked I

A murmur of surprise went up from the spec-
tators as the realized the startling fact.

If one he been tampered with, how was'it
with the other weapons?

Upon investigation it was found that not only
the swivel» ieces fore and aft, but the batteries
amidships ad all been spiked with points of
finest steel! '

There was no time to ask who had done this,
or speculate as to the reason. .

“ How lon will it take to drill them out?"
asked Conra , showing by his emotion how
keenly he felt the surprise.

 

“('ll‘wo hours of steady work,” replied Bor- 5’1,
her . fr
“ Let it be done as quickly as possible. Mean- I
while We will continue our present course. Are '
we holding our own with them, Lieutenant
Staunnrdi" ',

“ Ay, ay, sirl That craft never skimmed ;
these seas which could match the old Queen. ,

Escape by flight being now the only alterna-
tive open to them, the corsairs flew to their
work with alacrity. .

The storm, still gathering its forces, as if de- .
lighting in the suspense, delayed in its declam- . -
tion of war. 7.

“If I may be so bold as to suggest,” ventured--
the lieutenant, “ stand to our present course and
by noon we shall reach the broken coast of Pine
Points, where we can easily elude our ursuers
and find a safe harbor. I do not think e storm ,1
will open before then.” v

“ Your advice is worth listening to,” replied
Conrad, who, through his ignorance of the sur-
rounding scene acted under a disadvantage.

So the brigantine was kept on her course, the
time of her commander divided between watch-
ing their pursuers and the rising storm.

The firing on the brig soon after ceased, and 
then followed a stern chase. , '

It was evident that the Queen could, unless
some accident befell her, out-distance her enea
mies. ' ‘

The difference in the race, however was so
slight that, at the end of three hours the fore-
most of the cruisers had fallen elf but a few
knots. ‘ -

“ We are sure to win in a long race,” said
Conrad, as, for the hundredth time, he raised » -
his glass to watch the pursuing brigs. , r '

“ Ay, ay, sir,” res nded the lieutenant. “If I
we can keep up at t is rate three hours more, 
we shall be in the vicinity of Pine Point led f
where you brigs will not dare come. I know 0
a harbor lying amid those reef where we shall-
be safe from the storm and our audacious foes." -

“ But will not the tempest overtake us before '
then?” asked the chief, anxieusl . .

“ I set our arrival at the ocks and the _
storm’s at the same time.” ,

“ You understand your duty, Lieutenant
Stannard. See that the ship is given all the
encouragement she needs to Win the race.” ~

“ Ag, ay, sir.”

Not iug more passed between the chief and)
his subordinate, until at last a white line on the
horizon ahead burst into sight.

“It marks the reefs outlying the Point of
Pines, and which form Satan‘s Jaws,” said the
lieutenant. “Seal the clifl's further on begin-
to loom into view. We must find our way
amid these rocks to a haven of— Hal”_

The ex lanation was called from his llpB‘ by a
lurid fine that streamed across the Cimmemn
vault abovo, its forked tongues of fire shoot
down to the water’s very edge. A mouse --
later a deafening crash seemed to rend the
heavens asunder, and the sea. was lashed into, -
tempestuo'ns madness by the windy vanguards
of the storm. . g .

Lieutenant Stannard had calculated wellon
the approach of the warring elements. 2

Still he had full confidence in their ability not:

\

 

 

‘ a

   
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
   
  
   
    
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
    
      
    
 
  
   
 

\2

   

 

'5}. a ‘

 

12 Conrad. the Ocean King.

 

only to escape but to throw the cruisers, that
hun like barnacles to their heels, oil.’ of their
traci.

“ They cannot follow us, and if they dare
attempt it, they will be driven to destruction.
I know the hidden perils of these waters too
' well not to think differently.”

The heavens now appeared in all the awful
sublimity of a tropical tempest. Great, inky-
rhlack clouds were piled mountain high, while
their trailing box ders of a lighter hue swept the
V ocean. which wind and water uniting in their

utmost fury lashed into one mighty, mad storm,
sending up a roar that drowned the strongest
voice, and carried terror to the bravest heart.

Just as the lightning cut in twain that mid—
‘ night sky, and the thunder upheaved the sea as
if it trembled beneath the shock of the ap—
proaching storm, the figure of a man, unseen by

 r any ol’ the anxious corsairs, stole up from the

hatches and along to the storm-rail. A moment
later he disappeared into the sea.

Soon the c ifls rose forbidding on either hand
and the whitecapped breakers fretted an
tossed high into the air.

The day was nearly as dark as ni ht, and
never wilder storm swept those troubl waters.

Bernard, the gunner next to Lieutenant Stan—
nard the coolest head on board the brigantine,
assumed the responsible role of pilot.

‘ Nobly did the Queen obey her masters, and,
though quiverin from stem to stern, she rode
the crested tide ike a creature of feather.

_'I‘he bravest and strongest seamen on board
were at the helm, and the lieutenant stood near
by ’flrm and reliant.

‘ Conrad of the Crimson Crescent was close at
hand, pale and anxious, his presence now of less
account than any of his underlings.

Along the sinuous assage sped the dauntless
shipi, until the brave ieutenant began to breathe
age n.

“ Once pass that rock point. and we are
safe,” he said. Then, as is gaze swept astern,
a low cry left his lips.

In the teeth of. the tempest and regardless of
the dangers encompassing them, the wanbrigs
were to owing close in their wake.

With feverish excitement, for the first time
showing fear, Lieutenant Stannard watched the
pmfieas of their pursuers.

“ God!” he gasped, turning pale, “ if they
ghoul” make the passage, we are lost as sure as

ate!

The orders from the pilot came more often,
the waves rose thicker and wilder about them,
the storm raged with increasing fury, while

' ' the mad race continued. .

 

CHAPTER IX.
oi: THE coassm’s HEELS.

“ BRIG, ahoyl”
Lotus join the exciting scene on the deck of
the foremost war-brig at the moment the

i ' corsair’s Blue Water Queen is entering the peril-

ous passage of Satan‘s Jawa.
The brig was a magnificent craft, graceful in
“a? line and curve from her hull to main-top-
m .
‘ Her armament consisted of eight guns, three

l

 

twenty-pounders upon either broadside, with a.
pivot piece of twenty-four pounds fore and aft.

One hundred and twenty men all told made
up her quota of able-bodied seamen, so that she
was no mean foe.

At her mast-head was flying the starry ensign
of her country, telling that she had come from
an American port.

She had- in fact been in companionshi with
the illofated North Star; and the brig fol owing
in her wake made up the trio sent out to rid the
blue waters of that terror of the seas, Conrad 01!
the Ocean Empire.

On the quarter-deck ot the War Wizard, for
such was the portentous name the brig bore,
a group of oflicers were anxiously watching the
stormy scene.

“ She is making for the reef as I told you she
would, Mart. She evidentl knows of a passage
to some harbor of refuge beyond. It may be
one of her secret retreats. Howbeit, we cannot
follow, as no one knows the windings of those
hidden rocks, and again the prey must escape

“ It looks so most truly, Captain Pierce; and
if I mistake not, we have got to look pretty
sharp to ourselves or we shall be driven on those
self—same rocks—a wreck.”

“ Right you are, Lieutenant Dodge. We must
fall ofl’ ,at once, for the storm is rising with
frightful rapidity. Give the orders to—”

“ Brig ahoy J "

Clear and ringing the words cleft the air,
coming, it seemed, from the seal

“ I thought I heard a voice a minute ago.
Who and where can it be?”

Then seizing his trumpet he thundered:

“ AHOY! what will you have?”

“ Throw me your port lines! I want to come
aboard!”

At that moment the form of a man struggling
in the foaming tide rose on the crest of one
of the billows to disappear the next moment into
the trough of the sea.

No time was lost in answering his request,
and the ropes had barely reached the water
Elfin he caught upon one with a life and death

0 .
He was quickly drawn up from the stormy
depths and dripping with the salt sea-spray be

all.
l‘l’otl to us, kind reader, for he is Leon Lor-
rame

“ I would see the commander of this brig im-
mediately,” he said.

“ Here, sir- Captain Pierce at your service.
But who in jackson’s name are you, and from
whence have you come?“

“I am Leon Lorraine, sir, and I left yonder
brigantine to swim to you.”

“ Then you are a corsair?"

“On the contrary, I am their most bitter foe.
I was on the North Star last night when she
was van uished by the iratical horde.”

" Wha ! the Star. 'eutenant Norval com-
mander, been in conflict with the corsalrsl"

“ Yes, sir; and I am the only one who lives to
tell the story. But do you realize the peril you
incur in pursuing this contest”

“ Perhaps so. I have given order: to tack

stood before the amazed sailors—a stranger to ’

 

 

 

 

Conrad, the Ocean King.

 

   

 

ship so as to get onto opensea before the tempest
strikes us in all its fury."

“ You are too late for that even now! See!
the insettiug tide is bearing you down upon yon—
der rocks!

“ I have come to help you, and if you want to
trap the corsairs, at the same time saving your-
self, I have a plan that you may like.

“They are seeking safety in a little harbor
that lies hemmed in b these cliffs. I know the
passage that leads to it well enough to pilot you
t ere.

“ Once inside we can rest in peace until the
storm is over, and then capture the prey at your
leisure. He cannot escape, for there is no other
we out.”

‘ Good! Just the scheme! And you will
pilot ’us in? Do it and you shall not be a poor
man.

“ Nay, the money is no object. I have a
sister who is is ca tive in their hands; help me
to save her, and ask no more.”

“That we will; and now I place the ship in
your hands.“

“ Ay, ay, sir; I will do my best to save her.”

Then the brave Lorraine, seein that efficient
helmsmen were at their post, too his position
on the port quarter beside the captain and his
subordinate.

By this time the storm was raging with ap-
palling fury, the upheaving seas. falling tor-
rents of water, and rushing wind, commingling
in an awful struggle for the supremacy over man.

The War Wizard was lifted far up, up on a
billow that rolled mountain high, then back,
down, down, down she sunk, her bow reaching
high into air, while a deluge of water flowed
over decks, when with reports like the roar of
cannon. her sails burst, to be torn into tatters.
and then with a desperate plunge she keeled
over upon her beam’s end.

The rendin of her sails saved the brig, how- ‘

ever, for wit the outflowing of the waters she
righted, and with a mighty effort rode once
more on an even keel.

It was a wild scene upon the decks. Many of
the seamen taken unawares had been washed
overboard, and those who had been more fortu-
nate were holding on to whatever they could
reach with despairin energ .

The clear vorce of e pilo sent a thrill of en-
couragement to all.

“ Hard up with the helm! See that she car-
ries all the top possible, captain? _

“Set the foretopmast staystail, the mainsail,
close-rested, and the foretopmast studding-sail l”
thundered Captain Pierce, quickly. “ Lively
there. boys. if you value your lives 1" _

As the sailors obeyed the order and the brig;
bore the necessary) sail, she dashed ahead with a
mad bound into t e foaming tide where destruc-
tion lurked in every quarter.

The tam t now seemed to have reached its
height, but uanVeyl Leon Lorraine maintained
his wild vigil, peering steadily into the gloom
and storm ahead. knewing that the least mis-
take of his would consizn all to a watery grave.

“ Port—hard a-portl”

:: Ay, ay, port it is.”

u ym' n
Ay, ay, steady it is.

 

CHAPTER X.

IN A TRAP.

THE outlookers felt a thrill of horror as they
witnessed the frownin cliffs that rose thicker
and nearer from out o the maelstrom of surg-
ing breakers.

“ Hard—hard down the helm!"

“ Ay, ay, sir, hard down it is.”

“ Steady—so.”

“ Ay, ay, steady-——”

“ Hard—hard up the helm.”

“Ay, ay, sir, hard up it is.”

“ Steady—so.”

“ Ay, thy, sir, steady it is.”

Nobly id the brig obey her master? and as
they sped past the ominous rocks and along the
winding passage in safety they began to gather
courage.

Captain Pierce’s gaze hardly left the pilot,
who, immobile as a statue, continued to give
out his orders.

:: Kort your helm 1”"

y, ay, port it is.

“ Hard a-port.”

“ Ay, ay, hard a-port it is.”

“ Steady as you are.”

“ Ay, ay, steady it is.”

They were now in the wildest and narrowest
point of the fateful Jaws, and as the-ammnnd . . ..
crew saw that they seemed to be rushin .
straight upon the rocks the held their breatfi \ 
and more than one closed eyes toshut the, 
awful scene.

“ Starboard your helm I”

“ Ay, ay. starboard it is.”

“ Port—stead —hard a-port—starboard—slow .
up—Xort—ste y—so.” .

“ y ay, steady it is.” }

The bug quiversd in every joint at the fear-
ful strain brought to bear upon her timbers. -

There was an ominous grating sound as 
scraped a hidden ledge and for a moment she
seemed lost. I e .

But the strong arm at the helm bro hthel' ' .
round, and with an impulsive bound as avenue: ’
joyed at her release she sped forward upon her- ‘
course. i

The rocks grew less frownin now and the
force of the gale was checked y this long line 
of cliff extending on their starboard. I ,

Les: frequent came the orders from the pilot, .‘ j
who, however. never ceased his earnest watch. "

The men breathed easier that the perilous ‘
gantlet had been passed. , .

“ Down with your helm—brace up,” oomc w
mended Lorraine. f:

Obedient as a fearful child the War WM
with a graceful curve came into the wind, and
within a few reds of the cliff lay at rest, pant- . ,
inglikea rson who has gone through some  H
terrible or as] to some out safe.” . .i' ‘

“ Up, helmsman, bring her up, and y
aback—so—steady. Lower the anchor from
starboard bow.”

“ Ay, ay, sir."

“Reef sail—all.”

“ Ay, ay, reef it is."

As the sailors rung_to do their bidding with
nlscrity, Leon Box-rams turned to the cm
mander saying:

 

     
  
  
    
     
 
 

 

 

 . “41?”.
r. t 5.;  pl'"41'1-._¢>~"if «J ‘ 

 

 
 

Cam-ad, the

Ocean King.

 

“ Captain Pierce, you are safe in harbor
where you can defy the storm."

“ May God bless you, Mr. Lorraine. We owe
our lives to you.”

“ It was a close shave, but we will not speak
of that. I am uite familiar with this region.”

“ I hope I sha I never witness another storm
like this,” the officer said with a shudder as a
gust of the wind was seen to lash the distant
waters into a whirlpool of foaming surf.

“ I would the Eagle were safely inside.”

“ We can only hope she will outride the hurri-

cane.

“ If I mistake not yonder is the corsair’s craft.
He is fairly trapped at lust, for there is no other
exit from the p ace save this one which we so
eflectually guard.”

., V . “That was a great plan of yours and you
v shall have the credit for it. But now we have
trapped the bird, what do you propose to do
next?"

“ It will soon be night and perhaps we might
as, well wait until then, when under cover of the
darkness we can take to the boats and creep

. upon them unawares.

“ Taking them by surprise we ought to effect
their capture with ease. They have not over
to -flveab1e-bodied men.”

" 00d. I shall accept your plan again.

" Now, while we are waiting for the time of
action to come, suppose you make us so uaint-
ad with the adventures that have broug i: you

are.

Beginning with the unfortunate meeting be-
tween Lieutenant Norval and Baize Beaumont
he told him all the reader has witnessed and
much beside.

It groved that he escaped the falling mast on

the oomed North Star by jumping into the

sea.

, Finding that the boats were too far away for

' him to reach and unable to make the maddened

seamen heed his cries, he struck out into the

darkness without any idea of saving himself.

Still life is hard to be given up without a
struggle, and nerved on by thoughts of Stella
"more than all else he swam on and on, until his

“arm began to tire and his heart to weaken.

;, Just as he was on the point of giving over all
hope he discovered a vessel bearing directly
d0wn upon him.

He soon saw that it was the corsair’s brigan-
tine, when he resolved to board her if possible.

Fortune favored him, asarope flying from
thel starboard bow ambled him to ascend to her
ra .

Coming at a fortunate time when the irates
were standing around their dying king. e was
, unobserved. and he su . ed in concealing
, W ' , himself in the stowaway. ,_

f He had intendedto esca‘ige With Stella, but

 the rising storm thwarted h purpose. v
¢ ‘ He? succeeded in spiking the guns. hoping the

corsairs would engage in battle with the war-

brigs. .

Again he was disap inted. to leave the ship
. , h ’, at last, as we descri a little before the rovers
‘ ' *A' reached the go through Satan’s Jaws.
Captain Pierce listened to his story with won-

“I am not surprised at your anxiety over

  
   
   
  
  
  
  
 

l - . , .V -,, .., _ , _ . H »
gag-a“ “unyzgggig-wggis}; r, l ., .. .    ~~ : ...u,,vr_ii',~;._ ,, -:

\
your sister’s unhappy fate. But we will rescue
her as soon as practicable, and capture those
freebooters at the same time.

“So the Scarlet Hand is no more, and we
have a Conrad of a different stamp to meet?”

“Ay, ay, sir; the hard~fought fight on the
old North Star was not all in vain, though it
cost dear. The boys fought like heroes, and
they would have won had it not been for‘the
fire. I do not know how that caught.”

Watching the storm, which raged with un-
abated fury outside the harbor, and laying
their plans for the coming work, the time pass—
ed away unnoticed till the deepening shadows
proclaimed that night was again settling o’er
sea and land.

The heavens showed no signs of clearing

awa .

“ it will be the more favorable for our un-
dertaking,” said Leon Lorraine, who was to
have charge of the foremost boat in the attack.

There were four boats containing in all sixty-
eight men armed to the teeth. '

These were lowered as silently as possible,
3n? the men eifected their descent without any

e ay.

Little need was there to muffle the oars with
the tempest making a continual roar that
drowned the voice unless pitched to a high key.

The darkness, too, shut them off from the
sight of even their own ship.

The plan had been carefully arranged and
the manner of attack agreed upon before eav-
ing the brig.

So cautiously and slowly the little fleet
moved on through the gloom, guided in their
course by the few lights hung out from the cor-
sair’s vessel.

Then suddenly these died out and nothing
was seen to mar their position.

Leon Lorraine notes this disappearance with
forebodings of evil to them. ~

Hgark! What sound is that borne to his quick
ear
“ The are wei hin anchor " he whispers.
“ They Ere stirring‘!” g ’

 

CHAPTER XI.
RUNNING rm: GANTLET.

As Leon Lorraine spoke, the dim outline of a
(glark for]? tiiwered for a mordnenii: ovrlirk the? in

e mur y g oom. coming an go ng i e a
phantom of the night storm. use

“ The are going!” he hissed. “ The fiends
are ma 'ng for the passage. “ Up, boys, and
give them—"

A terrific crash ended his excited command,
and the boat was shivered to splinters under the
corsair’s prowl

Wild cries from the disconcerted seamen rung
with the tumult of the tempest as they foun
themselves floundering in the water.

The other boats, at a loss to understand the
meaning of the eateries, pushed rapidly toward
the Spot where the struggling men were bat-
tling gainst the turbulent tide for life.

One by one these were picked up. while, urh
known to them, their prize was slipping away};e

The storm was abating somewhat, thou
darkness seemed to deepen. es of t-

 

\

 

 

Conrad. the Ocean King. 16

 

ning no longer lit the wild scene with its mo-
mcutary glare, this enabling the spectators at
intervals to note their surroundings.

Knowing some mischief had befallen one of
their beats, the others with the rescued men
soon gave up the wild uest.

The lights on the ar Wizard glowered
faintly in the distance, and thither they shaped
their course, just as a recall was sounded.

Bunting an anxious retreat, they found great
excitement reigning on the war-ship.

“ Lively——on board! The corsair has given
us the slip—he is seeking the passage; we must
follow him i” .

Hardly was the boat raised to the dilute
when the order to weigh anchor was iven.

" Where is Mr. Lorraine?” cri Captain
Pierce. “ We need his services to get us out of
this infernal trap!"

An instant inquiry was made for their quen-
dum pilot, but to their dismay he could not be
found.

Two men from the boats’ crews were missing,
and one of these was Leon Lorraine!

Without him it was madness to attempt the
pursuit of their enemy. Thus while the latter
was known to he effecting his daring esca , the
war-brig was making a fruitless search or the
lost men, until at last they were faintogive
them o’er.

“Curses upon his head!” stormed the irate
commander, ‘he was a traitor! a decoy sent
out by the corsair himself, perhaps, to lead us
into this confounded trap !"

Then when his excitement hnd partially sub-
sided. he said more calmly:

“ Well, here we are, and I suppose we must
make the best of it. One thing certain, we
can’t get away with any hope of safety until
this storm is over.”

Leaving them to follow out their inevi ble
course, we will return to the decks of the lac
Water Queen, as she lay at anchor in the little
rock-bound harbor of the Point of Pines.

The countenance of Conrad of the Crimson
Crescent wore an anxious look.

“ Do you think they will safely pass the
rocks?” he asked, referring to their pursuers.

“It looks as though one of them would. It
evidently has some one on board who knows the

sage as well as even Bernard here. The
other brig I saw falling ofl', not daring to un-
dertake the venture."

“Even in that case we have a formidable foe
to grapple with near at hand.”

“And another to meet us outside,” said Lieu.
ltenant Stannard, “in case we are succemful

ere.

“Do you anticipate an immediate attack
from the bri‘g?"
“ No, my ing. I jud e the brig deems that

she has fairly entrap us, and that she will
wait until night to at empt our capture. See!
she takes up a position near the gap, thus cut»
ting off our retreat.” .

“ So I thought; and in case of a combat, we
shall be outnumbered, Now in, and for the
last time, I purpose flight. W ile onder brig
is napping we must give them the p.”

Lieutenant Stannard shook his head.

 

darkness, while the storm promises to continue
without any abatement."

“ All the more favorable for our escape.
Here, Bernard, what say you to getting uncut
of this place?”

“ What! to-nighti" he asked, having over-
heard a part of the foregoing conversation.

“ A , sir; as soon as night shall set in.”

Loo ing up] with a mud consciousness of his
importance, 9 repli :

“You have but to command, my king, and
I will obey."

“ Then we will prepare to leave the Point of
Pines this ver night.”

Lieutenant tannard was inclined to murmu-
against such a course, but he wisely held his
peace.

As soon as it was whispered among the crew,
the scheme was looked u n as a daring pro
more than one has shaking ominously.

Thus while t e ats from the war-bri were
being lowered, the corsairs were pro to
carry into eflect their hazardous maneuver.

Guided on their course b the li hts from their
enemy, they moved slow y an stealthily on
their way.

Bernard had taken his assi ned post \with
Conrad of the Crimson Crescent ide him’.

Strong men were at the wheel ovorwatchod by
Lieutenant Stannard. ,

Dangerous as had been their ingreu they were ,
now meeting far greater peril. ' ‘ .-
Even should they escape their lynx-eyed foes,
the storm was raging as flercel as over, while
3 night of Stygian gloom succeeded the

av.

The pilot showed no signs of fear. however. ;.
and the neon steadily for ed her we forward. _ ‘.
until the i hts on the war- rig were eft eaten
and drag a bilieatfih of relief.h ‘ .'

tem 00w 9 wish emuttond,~
“ we have the start of thenyi.” '

Had he known their true situation he would
have ceased to dread their pursuit. '

However, a t da or was our!)
319m and boun toabsor his minutest a

on.

The Queen was soon within the narrow, wind-
ing passage hemmed in by rocks more perilous ‘
because unseen. i -'

If his companions turned pale Bernard did not
show a tremor in his clear, cutting tones giving
out his rapid orders.

Not for one moment was his gaze turned from
the surf ahead. .

“ Hard down with the helm—hard down! So, ,
steady— piiup with tho helm—port—J'

A crash he the rending of strong timbth
ahcfuiver that ran the length of them
3

p—a plun e to an overflow of water.

‘ We are cat I” some one cried.

“ Starboard—quick! Steady—so." and one.

more the allant vessel dashed ahead, her

gross growfiig more even and her struggle. 

violent. ' ' -
Bernard’s orders became less frequent until he’ . ,

turned to his commander saying: 
“ There. m king—” but before he 00qu finish .

his sentence 6 turned deathly white and fell It I

the other’s set—senseless. ‘ "

“ The night is going to be one of unusual; Now that the dangers of Satan’s Jawlwtd p

 

 

‘1’ ‘ so Conrad, the

Ocean King.

 

 passed Lieutenant Stannard attended to the
1; welfare of the Queen, while Conrad gave his
personal assistance to the pilot who had fallen so
strangely.

After along time Bernard slowly opened his
eyes and life once more assumed its sway; but
so great had been the strain upon his nervous
system that it was along time before he fully
recovered.

 

CHAPTER XII.
ran aovaas ’ RETREAT.

UPON gaining the open sea the Blue Water
Queen bore up nobly against the storm, which
was really waning in power.

Conrad’s orders were given in a lighter tone,
and the old‘time cheerfulness of the crow began
to return' slowly, however, for the past thirty—
six hours ad brought them more than an usual
amount of excitement.

‘ ,. . When da light at last broke on the deep dis-
 pelling the ingerin legions of the storm, s ow—
.ing them no si 0 their enemies a wild cheer
went up from t e half-hundred throats.

 “ That was the closest call we’ve ever had,”
declared an old. weather-beaten salt by the name
of Foulharbor Nick, “ an’ I’ve sailed with all 0’
the Conrads—four o’ ’em in number.”

p “ Mebbe ye fergit the time, Nick when the
.3, 1 powder magazine caught afire on the Flying Ter-
- ‘ ‘ ror. By the white heard 0’ Neptune, of it had
. not been for our young chief we'd been hoisted
to the gates of perdition afore Jack Robinson
c’u’d a-s un the first letter in his name. It made
9. Con o’ the boy, too, Conrad o’ the Black
Feather."

“ Tut, Dock Starkley thet ain’t nowhar ’side
0’ what Conrad o’ the Lion Heart did at the
massacres on the Island 0’ Pines. Twenty-two
were shot down beside him an’ he kilt thirty-
three 0’ the nagurs afore he got clear!”

“ Wall that may be; I wasn’t thar," allowed
Nick. ‘ But this is taut enough lines for me.
reckon our new Conrad has showed hisself true
grit arier all.”

“ He ain’t nowhar ’side 0‘ our first Conrad,”
’ replied Balters. “Nor shall we find his equal
soon, mark my words. The Scarlet Hand kem
, nearest to him."

Little of this kind of talk, however, was made,
for had a lisp of it reached the ears of Lieuten-
ant Stannard or their chief it would have ended
their careers abruptly.

The course of t a vessel was now 8. s. 111., the
corsair giishing to reach their rendezvous as soon
as e.

_ 0 sign of their'enemies being discovered that
gay, they felt that they had fairly thrown them
their course.

Conrad visited his ca tive twice during the

da , though he made 3 calls brief finding he
.  aroused Stella’s dislike for him lay his pros-

as. ,- ‘

She‘having ven over all thou ht of a rescue
'> muc calmer than he ad expected.
~ 0 was hiding her time, hopin to have an op-
e ' ’mrtunity to escape him even if s e had to ‘ump
 . .totho lea. Death waspreferableto cap vity.
‘ He had told her they were bound to their
" rendezvous onone of the many islands dotting
the blue waten.

.' §

 

 

  
       

The following day the lookout descried land,
which was hailed with gladsome shouts.

While the corsairs are reaching one of the
many beautiful harbors that are formed by the
rugged indentations of this ocean island we will
precede them to their home.

At the time we write the West Indies were
known the world over as the great rendezvous
of iratical hordes.

’ here were many piratical associations seek-
ing a home or a refuge on these islands, but the
most numerous and formidable of them all was
the league known as the Blue Water Rovers.

The pioneer of this powerful or anization
which assumed to be a native was ierre Le
Grand, whose name was synonymous of all that
was cruel.

Under his lead the band grew to five hundred
able—bodied men, not one of whom did not de-
light in deeds of most fiendish cruelty.

Suddenly the corsair chief disappeared.
Some sai he had been slain by one of his
jealous subjects' others, that he had sickened of
his wild life and with enough of plunder had
sought a more peaceful existence.

One, Conrad, assumed sway over these wild
hearts, and so well did he act his part that their
numbers increased to over seven hundred and
he became a reater power than his predecesor.

Conrad of t e Lion Heart scoured the seas for
more than two years, his banner of a ground-
work of ocean azure, with a. figure of a crowned
monarch blazoned on its silken folds, an object
of terror to all law-abiding seamen.

Then, as in the case of his quondam chief, Con—
rad mysteriously vanished from his old haunts
and a mere youth became his successor, taking
the name of Conrad of the Black Feather, on
account of a huge, dusky plume that he wore.

This Conrad during his brief reign brought
only disaster to the outlawed league.

heir chief, tired of the lawless life, gave him-
iself up to an American ship with over fifty fol-
owers.

saved from a plot to overthrow them by the
gaming and bravery of one man, a stranger to
em.
_Who he was they did not ask but placed on
his head the crown of Conrad of the Iron Heart.

Right worthy proved he to wear the name of
Conrad and the scepter of the Ocean King. His
fate we already know for he was him of the
Scarlet Hand.

Now a fourth Conrad is hastening to this
ocean throne, to assume his kin hip over the
wild subjects of the Blue Water mpire.

At the very moment the lookout on the Queen
discovered the hazy outlines of land 01! their
lee quarter, two pair of anxious e as were scan-
ning the sea from a little hightl nd an eighth
of a mile from the harbor.

The owners of these eyes were a con le of as
fair maidens as were ever kissed by a fresh
air of the sunny South.

“ They must surely come today, Dorel,” one
of them said, when her companion, pointing out
toward the sea, exclaims:

“ Look! if I mistake not, Adele, there is a sail
now! It is the Queen I am sure, and he is
returning at last!"

 

 .:.: , ' . 

The balance of the association were barely‘

. 1- r 2  , [.1
..;»g..:?r;.a><  ‘57:“, . mam,

 

 

 

 

Conrad, the Ocean King.

1

CHAPTER XIII.
THE ISLAND STRONGHOLD. v

FOR a few minutes, the fair watchers stood
breathless with intense longing, when the one
called Dorel said:

“Yes; I am sure that I am right. It is the
Queen beyond a doubt, but wait a moment until
I can get my glass.”

Darting down the descent with light steps,
she was not gone long when she returned with a
small telescope in her hands.

Long and earnestly she gazed at the approach—
ing ship, which could now be seen quite plainly
by the unaided eye.

“ It is he—my Alaric~returning at lastl” she
murmured joyously. “But forgive me, Adele,
I did not mean to rob you of the glorious sight.
Wouldst take the glass?”

“ Nay, dear Dorel, I can see the old Queen
clearly now. I fain would not rob my eyes of
the pleasure of first beholding my Bernard with-
out the means of a borrowed power.”

“ As sentimental as that, sweet Adelei Well,
a meeting with my king will be none the less
dear to me for any stolen glances this glass may
give me.”

All the while Dorel's glass covered the shi as
she watched With breathless interest her dec s.

Then slowly the look of joy on her radiant
countenance was overshadowed by one of
anxiety and deep concern.

“I don’t see him!” she mused. “ There is
Lieutenant Stannard, looking as hale and hearty
as ever, and Bernard, thy lover, Adele, grown
more noble in appearance during his absence.

“ There is a stranger among them,” she con-
tinued, her voice growing fainter “ with the
crown of the Conrads on his hea . He seems
to be in command and nowhere is my Alaric to
beseen. Oh St. Mary! what ill can have be-
fallen him? 'I am weak-4 arn fainting, Adele!
Hold me u l”

“ Don’t ose courage, Dorel,” said her come
panion, encircling her waist with her right arm,

‘lean against me. Have courage until you
know the worst. I can hardly think ill has be-
falien one so bravo as Conrad. We W111 hope
not.

Dorel soon became calmer and sh‘e resumed
her watch with less outward show of grief.

She quivered like a lily beset by a tropical
tempest as she saw the vessel at last come to
anchor.

Then as she watched with feverish vision the
disembarkment, her breath came in gasps, the
blood left her lips, and she seemed about to fall.

Adele he in soothing tones, but her kind
words to l on ears that were deal! to but one
sound—the voice of her lover.

“ There is a woman among them!” she whis-
pered, husklly; “ but he is not there I”

A minute Ion or she remained inactive and
then, with a w: d cry, she rushed toward the
shore, saying:

“ I can bear this suspense no longer. I must
—I will know the worst l”

Anxious for her friend’s_sake Adele darted in
pursuit, to overtake her Just as they met the
surprised seamen. ,

Bernard as if anticipatlng the scene to fol-
low, was the foremost to meet them. I

.45? «is: i. "W

 

 

  

“ Where is he—my Alarici” she cried, and
then seeing Conrad of the Crimson Crescent in
command, and reading in Bernard’s face the
terrible truth, she threw up her arms and with
a mean of pain sunk to the earth—lifeless.

Hastin pressing his sweetheart’s hand Ber-
nard sprung to her aid, when Lieutenant Stan-
nard dashed him aside, crying:

h “ gut of the way, hound! We’ll look after
er.

The impetuous young corsair, turning with
the agility of a cat, regardless of the conse-
quence, attempted to draw his sword as the cut-
ting words of his senior rung in his ears.

“ What! dare you lift a finger against our
superior!” exclaimed the lieutenant. “ like
that, dog I” felling him to the earth with a smart
blow from the flat of his cutless. “Men, seize
him when he comes to his senses if he shows any
further rebellion.”

“ You have killed him!” moaned Adele, sink—
ing. bes1de her lover.

or a moment an outbreak of the peace seem-
ed imminent, for Bernard was a favorite with 4
many. '

Conrad saw the danger, and with rare pres-
ence of mind cried:

“ Back there, boys. We can have no uarrel
here. Lieutenant, see that the youn wing
has fainted is cared for. I will look ter these
turning to Bernard and Adele.

He returned to consciousness before Dorel,
and starting to his feet glanced furiously upon
the throng.

“ Be quiet,” said Conrad. “ The lieutenant
was hasty as well as you. I do not wish our‘re-
turn home disturbed by bloodshed.” - '

“ Oh Bernard! let it pass, for my sake,”
pleaded Adele. _

At Sight of her tear—dimmed face he forgot his
anger for the time, though Lieutenant Stannard
ha made a wound that might never heal while
he had not harmed the flesh.

By_this time Dorel had opened her eyes, and '
startm up asked for her lover.

“He as not come back with us!” said Lieu-
tenant Stannard. “ He-—"

“ He is dead—my Alaric!” and again she
swooned.

“ Bear her to the cavern bower," ordered the
lieutenant. ' .

Stella, a captive between two fierce-looking
Spanish sailors, witnessed the startling scenes
With Erlef and amazement.

A undred or more of the rovers who had

been staying on the island now apglearedmt‘: . 
e on

greet their returned comrades, and
ody moved on toward the cavern retreat, Dorel
borne at the head b two stalwart seamen.

Its entrance hid en from the see b a thick,
tropiéal growth, while at the same me com—
manding an extensive view of the water through
the opening in the forest, was an immense, nat-
ural cavern forming the corsairs’ rendezvous. \

At the massive entrance to this castle cav-
ern was a continual guard which allowed no one
to a: without the countersign. ‘

Ki wide tfimssway led to what had been de~ ,
nominated 9 Outer Hall or reception-mom, _
whose walls were decorated with a vast array
of ornaments. ' ‘ , "

 

   

 

 

 would consume too much spa

 

18 Conrad, the

Ocean King.

 

‘ Two passages led from this, the one on the
left hand to the Inner Court, that on the right
to the Grand Palace or King’s Court.

From the first of these opened the Treasury.
where all the plunder was stored and over which
a sentry kept ceaseless vigil. Leading from the
Grand Court was a wide passage to Fairy’s
Bower, where the females who, from choice or
compulsion belonged to the association, passed
their wearisome existence. Here, too, a sentry
was always on duty.

Just to the right of the Treasury vault was
another apartment called the Forecastle, where
the sailors bunked and lived.

Beyond this was the Crimson Chamber,
bounded on one side h a bottomless it, where
many a poor devil ha given up his its on ac«
count of some misdoing or famied shortcoming.
This fearful place was said to be filled with the
cries of doomed wretches who had gone down to
a terrible fate in that awful pit of death. Of
all the corsairs but two had had the courage to
enter the cavern of the dead alone so great was
their dread. These were Conrad of the Scarlet
Hand and Bernard the brave gunner. Of course
we are speaking of the time when the former
was king. Before him the Lion Heart had
passed a night in the pit itself clinging to one of
the shelves on its sides. But he would never
enter even the Chamber after ward.

CHAPTER XIV.
ran CROWN or ran oomuns.

THE return of the corsairs was hailed with
loud cheers, but when the death of Conrad was

 

, known these were instantly checked, so that the

crowd followed the leaders in silence to the
Grand Court.

To describe this strange apartment in full
ce. It must have
been three hundred feet in length and its width
two-thirds of that. The walls were from fifteen
to twenty feet in hight and decorated in the
most, elaborate manner, which ornamentation
shone‘ plainly in the dazzling light of the num-
berless torches illuminating the cavern.

The new king of the Crimson Crescent, who
it must be known had never been here before
was wonder-struck at the magnificence of the
apartment.

As he entered, the azure curtains of a pavilion
upon the right of the throne were parted and a
tall gorgeously dressed man stepped forth
with extended arms crying:

“ Welcome, thrice welcome, 0—”

His voice was dumb at the sight of him in the
place of the one whom he was ex ting.

Lieutenant Stanuard seeing is disappoint-
ment, hastened to explain:

“ I marvel not at your dismay, Viceroy
Durango, while we bear sorrowful ti ings. Our
king is no more, but he died asbecame his valor.
We—”

Deep and bitter cries drowned his h, so
that he was forced to wait until be con d make
himself heard, when he told the stor of their
adventure and finally of the dying wis of Con-
rad to choose his own successor.

9' Allow me then to present to you another
Conrad, who is to be known as he of the

 

Crimson Crescent. All hail then to our new
king.”

In an instant then the cavern echoed and
re—echoed with the mighty shout of four hundred
throats.

As soon as the cheering had subsided Lieuten-
ant Stannard led the bewildered chieftain for—
ward to the throne and with his own hand
placed on his head the crown of the Ocean Em-
pn‘e.

Again the subterranean world rung with the
cries of the onlookers.

As soon as he could make himsslt’ heard. Vice-
roy Durango, who wielded the scepter in the
absence of the king, said:

“ Kneel! Kneel to make the oath of a11e«
giance."

“ He has taken the oath once,” replied Lieu-
tenant Stannard, quickly.

“ ’Twill do no harm to repeat it in the presence
of all,” and, whether or no, the lieutenant felt
there was irony in the viceroy’s tone, as if he
was displeased at the turn of aflairs.

“ Don’t let him blufl! you,“ whispered he in
Conrad’s ear, and the latter acting upon the im-
pulse, said:

“ I have been proclaimed the sovereign of the
seas! Who calls the king to orjerl”

A look as dark as a thunder—cloud swept over
the viceroy’s swarth visage as applause louder
than ever fairly dea ened his ears.

Lieutenant Stanuard smiled as he saw that
his advice had won the king hearty support and
placed him in high form w th the monarch.

As soon as the excitement had abated the at-
tention of the corsair chief was turned to the
captive and to the weeping Dorel who refused
to be comforted.

The first was borne to the Fairy Bower and
thither Dorel followed. Adele pre ared to re- ‘
main with her lover, they having rawn apart
from the rest of the crowd.

This retreat whither Stella was carried was
embellished with more p1 ofuse ornaments than
the Grand Court. though it was not 'more than
one fourth its size.

To Stella’s amazement she saw some twenty
or thirty girls and young women present, repre-
mtipg nearly every nationality and type of

u y.

These, many of whom were doubtless captives
like herself, looked up with curiosity at her en-
trance, but never a. word was spoken.

Dorel’s grief seemed to hem greater effect up-
on them, and at the sight of her tears the others
flocked around her, for she was the queen
among them.

Between her subs she told the story of Alaric’s
fate. Now Alaric was Conrad’s true name. His
surname, out of respect to his descendants now
living, we will withhold.

Poor Stella's grief was be and description.
Hopelessly lost to home an loved ones, she
longed for death as the only escape from a fate
too orrible to contemplate.

Dorel’s tears dried at sight of her agony, and
the beautiful girl at once sought her side with
such soothing words as she could give.

Adele, when the first transport of joy over the
safe return of her lover had passed, turned to
the captive.

 

 

 

 



 

Conrad, the

 

Ocean King. 19

 

Among the three a strong friendship sprung

p.

“ Have courage,” whispered Dore]. “ In my
own great sorrow I offer solace to you.”

“ So do I,” added Adele, more lightly. for her
own heart; was more free. “ Be thankful that
your life has been spared.”

‘ Better death a hundred times,” she moaned.

“ Nay, nay, you are not yourself now.” Then
in a lower tone, she added: “We have all to
live for, and I will tell you when we have op-
portunity.”

The words of her friends strengthened her so
that Stella became somewhat composed. The
hidden meaning in the fair girl’s words had
aroused her more than explanation would we
dare say.

Durinfi the next few days Stella saw the
Corsair ing but twice, as he seemed afraid to
meet her, and no wonder.

Bernard, on account of Adele, she met more
frequently. and she liked the handsome outlaw,
who, despite his sition, seemed the soul of
honesty. His she new instinctively must be no
ordinary history.

“ Come,” said Dorel, “ the morning is fine—-
beautiful, and I have got permission for you to
go out into the open air with Adele and I.
Isn’t that grand, even if we know there is a spy
lurking in the distance? Don’t lose any time.
please, for I am anxious to know the story of
your sufferings.”

“ And you promised me yours,” said Stella,
as she gladly followed her friend.

 

CHAPTER XV.
WON BY FOES.

IT was a lovely, tropical day, and the verdant
island with its rock-ribbed shore and the 3 Hi-
ling see beyond, presented a beautiful, p ctur-
es ue scene.

he minds of the maidens, however, were too

engrossed with other thoughts for them to give,

more than a passing glance at their surround-
ings, as glad as they were over their temporary
escape from the gloom of the cavern.

Adele led the we to the grove which had be-
come their usual p ace of resort. ,

Lurking within sight, though out of earshot,
was he whose duty compelled him to keep in
view of them.

“ We can find no better place than this.” said
Adele. “ Oh. do not mind on fellow; he dares
not lose sight of us, thong he will not come
within hearing. Come, dear Stella; I am im-
patient to hear your story."

I Then in a low tone, while her companions
listened with intense interest, she told her fear-
ful adventures.

“ How I pity
ively. “ \ou ave indeed suffered. hate
that new Conrad whose name you say is Baize
Beaumont.” _

“ So do I; and I fear him! But I am anxious
to hear your stories. Tell me all and then we
will plan to escape.” -

“ Esca i” repeated Adele, bitterly.‘ “But

ive §tel your story, Dorel. You should come

“'1 have little to tell of interest,” began Dore].

oul" exclaimed Adele, impul-l

l ” I don’t know that I have a relative living in
the world. I had no home, and was living as a.
governess at Colonel Wayford’s villa called the
‘ Creedlands’ in _Louisiana, when I first met
Alaric. He was in command of a schooner ly-
ing in the little harbor in plain sight of Greed—
lands.

“He was so handsome and noble appearing
that I fell in love with him at our first meeting.
But I gave not my heart in vain, and when he
asked me to go with him as his bride I gladly
consented, never dreaming that he was other
than what he seemed.

“ Good Father St. Ancia united us in hand
as well as heart, and lightly bidding adieu to my
friends at Creedlands, I went on board In hus-
banilit’ls ship, one of the happiest women in the
wor .

“ Oh, that I might end my story here—that I
might close my eyes and silence my tongue to _
the scenes that followed. Not long had we been
at sea when I learned the terrible secret of my
Alaric’s life.

“ He was an outlaw—a corsair! At first 1
scorned him, but my great love for him soon
conquered my better judgment, and I laid my
soul at his feet, promising myself that I would
redeem him from his wild life. ‘

“ I need tell you no more than that he was
the dishonored and disowned son of a proud and,
wealthy planter. I am sure that he was not all
to blame, and it was my ho to be able some
time to restore to them their ost son, an honest,
true-hearted man. ‘

“ For his sake have I remained, and love has
lightened the horrors of my life here. He was
ever kind to me, and he had promised to aban-
don this unhallowed career. I know that I can
trust you, so I will say that he had pledged him-
self to make only this one voyage, when we were
to leave this crime-haunted place. If I have
sinned, then it Was because I was driven to it.”

“ One with L0 pure a heart as “yours cannot,
sin,” said Stella. “ You have done nothing
wrong, and let us hope we will soon escape from
this horrible existence.” . r \

“ Alas! you do not realize how impossible that
is. But it you will listen, Adele will give you .
her story, and when you have heard it, you will
for et mine.”

he sentry was still in sight, pacing slowly

back and forth, while over and anon be cast

uick, furtive glances toward the maidens, who
gar the time seemed to forget his presence.

“ What is‘t, m beauties, that so on sea
your dear minds wonder?” he said, halt-aloud.

"Twill do no harm to listen. I may learn
something good Durango may be pleased to
hear. Hal ’tis my interest to serve him taith- ‘
fully, for he is going to be‘lct'n .” _

So while the unsuspecting“; is told their sad
stories and became absorb in their plans for
esca , the miscreant crept near to themhdrinb
ing in eve word they said With the smile of a.
fiend upon is swarthy countenance. I

Sittin between her friends, with their hands
clasped n her own, Adele began:

 

“My etc I have never told to other than
Dorel. I W at dwell upon the sorrow I have
elt.
“ I cannot

her my dear mother, for she

  

 

 

 

Conrad, the Ocean King.

 

was taken from earth when I was a. little child
in her arms. Father was very kind to me,
though I saw very little of him, as he followeda
seafaring life.

“ I lived with a distant relative, who gave me
a pleasant home until I was seven teen.

“ Father had promised to quit the sea after
one more voyage, and if I chose I could accom-
pan him on that.

“ gladly acce ted the offer, and with what
joy we set sail need not tell. On the Sea
Sprite I first met Bernard Bernard. Odd, isn’t
it, his first and last name should be alike? He
was second mate, and I think I loved him from
our first meeting. ‘

“ Nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of our
voyage until we reached the blue waters, when
a stran e ship one day gave us chase.

“ Fat er wasn’t long in disoovering that our

ursuer belonged to the league of the Blue
ater Rovers!

“Knowing on too well what to expect in
case we should fa 1 into the hands of Conrad the
Corsair, we crowded on all sail the good Sea
Sprite could carry.

“Alas! we might as well have tried to fly
from the wind, and in less than three hours the
corsair’s brig Was alongside.

“The scenes that followed were too terrible to
repeat. I shall never forget them. The Sea
Sprite was manned by brave men, who were
determined to die rather than surrender. I
saw father go down in the thickest of the fight.
Oh! that awful scene!” and overcome by her
emotion, Adele buried her face in her hands.

“ Bernard alone esca ,” she said at last,
“ and he stood by my si 9 when the last seamen

fell.

“ ‘ Come!’ he cried to me, ‘better death in
the sea than at the hand of those accursed
wretches' and hardly knowing what I did, I
allowed im to lift me upon the ship’s rail
when clasped in each cther’s arms, we leaped
into the water. ~

“ I felt the tide rush over me, and then I
knew no more until I opened my eyes with a
circle of evil-lookin visages glaring u on me.

“I soon learned hat Bernard and had been
flicked up by one of the rover’s boats, and that

e in irons was a risoner near by.

“Sometimes I t ink it would have been better
had we perished in the sea or died with our
friends on the good old ship.

“But, whether for good or ill we had been
gave? by our enemies, and were helpless in their

an s.

“ They seemed to be debating as to what they
should do with us. It seemed that Bernard had
won the admiration of the chief, Conrad of the
Scarlet Hand who was in personal command of
the brig, so he was offered his life upon con-
dition he join them.

“ Thll ofler Bernard to his credit indignantly
refused. when the chief said:

“ ‘Just as you say, six-rah. Lieutenant Var-
engo, see that the precious pair are consigned to
the sea. We can ofler old Neptune no better
sacrlflce.’ "

“ But the wretch, Vsrengo. had other designs,
and fixing his baleful eyes on me declared he
should claim we as his share of the spoils. How

 

my heart sunk as I read on his swarthy visage
his evil intentions.

“‘Oh, Bernard! save me,’ I implored. But
unheeding in words the wicked lieutenant com—
manded his ollowers to send the American dog
to his doom and that he would look after me.

“ I know that Bernard was too brave to have
yielded otherwise, but at sight of my anguish,
for my sake, he agreed to take the oath of alle-
giance to the rovers.

“ Conrad seemed willing enough to accept.
though Varengo scowled fiercely and I heard
him mutter deadly threats against Bernard.

“So we became a part of the dreadful league
and Bernard was forced to mingle freely the
terrible scenes that followed.

“Varengo‘s enmity grew more bitter and I
dreaded the very sight of that inhuman wretch
who of them all none seemed so heartless.

“ He tried to kill Bernard one day while he
slept, but Conrad discovered him in the very
act and ended his life. It was not many days
before Bernard had opportunity to 0dpay his
debt, and thus the two became as go friends
almost as Dora] and I had become.

“But you can easily imagine the rest, dear
Stella, and how anxiously we have looked for-
ward to an escape.”

Adele had barely finished speaking when
Dorel chancing to glance over theses. exclaimed:

" Look, my friends, a boat!"

“ And it is coming toward the island,” said

Stella.
“With one occupant—a man!” added Adele.

CHAPTER XVI.
OMUR run WABLOCK.

“ WHO can he be and what is his errand i” the
three asked in the same breath, as the strange
boat continued to draw nearer. ‘

So absorbed were they in watching the
sg’anger that they did not hear the sound of
f tsteps until a heavy hand was laid upon

 

’Dorel’s shoulder and a gruff voice exclaimed:

“ Ho, my fair plotters, a right royal meeting
Kgu have had. Dost imagine yonder stranger a

1d knight come to rescue you? The king bids
me see on all safe] caged. ’

Dore and Ade recognized the speaker as
their guard.

“ Let us stay a few minutes longer,” pleaded
the first.

“Ha, ha! and perfect your lens of escape.
That will never do, my dear bir 5. And as you
return to your bower I advise you to take a
farewell look of the sea. for it may be many a
day ere on will use on it again.”

Both rel an Adele comprehended that in
some manner their intentions had been discov-
ered, but they wisely held their counsel. The
boat as they lost sight of the sea was still near-
in the shore.

eanwhile the agpearance of the solitary
boatman had been iscovered b the corairs’
ogtlgok and news of his approac borne to the
c is .

By the time the stranger was within hail a
hundred or more had ained the beach.
. “Boat, ahoyi" thun cred the leader.

“ Ahoy it is,” replied the unknown resting on
his cars.

 a“ ,H‘ -.,

sa.:.»._‘, . .

 

 

Conrad, the

Ocean K1113. 21'

 

“ Who are you who dares to invade single-
handed the domain of the Blue Water monarch l”

“ One who comes with tidings of importance
to the noble Conrad.

“ But your name sirrah "

“ Is one Conrad knows right well. I would
meet him in the Council Chamber without de-

la .”

l" Bah! your impudence is equaled only by
your foolhardiness. V

“ For the last time I demand your name.”

“Only to your king may I whis er it.”

A cry of surpriso went up rom the on-
lookers.

“By the heard of Neptune l” cried Lieutenant
Dracut, amused as much as vexed, “he doth
show a cool spirit."

Then in s. louder tone he addressed the
stranger saying:

“ Come nearer, stranger; I would see what
you look like. Beware of treachery for we
shall be careful that you do not escape now
that on have run into our net.”

“ y, ay, sir,” came the ringing reply as the
other with free and easy strokes sent his light
craft through the water.

The corsairs watched him with earnest gaze
as he came nearer, to see that he was n. person
past the prime of life.

In speechless amazement the crowd upon the
shore watched him, until Lieutenant Dracut’s
harsh tone commanded him to stop, when he
immediately fell back on his oars.

“Note. fathom further canst thou come till
thy identity has been disclosed and thy errand
made known.”

“ I wouldst see Conrad the ocean king.“

“ It may be you are not on unfamiliar terms
with him i” answered Dracut. in a meeting tone.

“In sooth 'tis well I know him. Many a glass
have we clinked in days one.”

“ But the Blue Water in ire has known more
than one Conrad. Which onrad would your
royal highness behold i”

There can be but one Conrad—he of the

Lion Heart.”

“ Dead."

“ Conrad, dead! But his successor?”
th“ Was another Conrad—he of the Black Fea-

er.

“ Shades of Neptune! then ’tis him I wouldst
see, though the, name is one of ill-omen.”

“ Another Conrad gone! Pray who succeeds.”
“Conrad of the Scarlet Hand.”
“ Yet another Conrad! Spirit of Neptune, to
him I must fly.”
“ 'l‘hen you will want the wings of an angel,”
replied the corsair, grimly.
Dead 1”

too
“ y, a’y sir.”
“Soul of Neptune! perhaps another Conrad

wields the scepter of the Ocean Empire.”

“Ay,ay, sir; Conrad of the Crimson Cres-
cent.’

“A fourth Conrad; then indeed am I too
late. With your pardm, sir, I will tarry no
Ion er.”

“ old!” thundered Lieutenant_Dracut,as the
unknown was about to turn his boat away,
“you cannot leaVe us now! Since you have

come among us you must meet the result. Will
you surrender uietlyl”

“ Surrender? re ted the stranger. “ I
have come afar wit an important message for

our king. Though your new chief may not

now me, Conrad of the Lion Heart was oft
my companion. We stood side by side upon
the Finger of Fire during the storm of the ill-
fated night—”

“ Holy St. Mary i” cried one of the Spaniards,
frost?in himself piously, “ it is Omur the War-

oc

At the mention of that name looks of awe
overspread the swarthy faces of the outlaws.

“ It «'3 he!" affirmed Lieutenant Dracut, in an
ominous tone. “ So the devil did not perish as
iwe séi’pposed. How many lives has the infernal

in
he stranger must have heard the words for
he said:

“ More than there have been Conrads ot the
Blue Water Empire. But it you would have
me See the kin us let lose no further time.”

Lieutenant ' i'acut was at his wit’s end.
Omur the Warlock as he had known him in
times past was a stran 9 being whom the more
superstitious conside in league with the Evil
Powers. Dnrin the reign of the Lion Heart
he had appea
ways coming and going in a mysterious man-
ner. Once he had been seen when the second
Conrad held sway to disappear in the midst of
one of the fiercest battles and wildest stoma
they had ever known.

“ Perhaps we had better let him ” said Lieu-
tenant Dracut; “ but keep a sharp lookout that
he does not escape.

“ Come along,” he continued, addressing him
in the boat.

Without further delay Omur the Warlock,
rowedtothe shore and benching his boat en-
tered their midst with no ap rent concern as
to his safety, though he cou d not help seeing
that the corsairs were careful to surround him.

In this way they reached the cavern.

“ Make way for Omur the Warlock!” cried
Lieutenant Dracut in a loud voice as he led his
followers into the Grand Court.

“Omur the Warlock!” repeated the crowd as
it fell back.

“ Omur the Warlock!” exclaimed Conrad
starting 1: from his chair of state to sink back
into its fo ds of velvet with a look of surprise at
sight of the striarchal-looking person in the
midst of his su ects.

"Omur the arlock!” gasped Viceroy Duran-
aiéurning pale at sight of the new-comer. “ My

1 it is he!”

Apparently unconscious of the awe and dis-
ma e was creating, the stranger with slow
an stately tread approached the island sover-

ei n.

, Most gracious Conrad, King of the Blue
Water Empire, thee I salute," bowing low be-
fore the chief of outlaws, who stared upon him

in silence at a loss to know the meaning of the

visit. ,
“ He claims to have some message for you my
kin ” explained Lieutenant Drsout. ’

 

 

“ hen let him speak at once for we have a
matter of greater moment on hand.”

 

among them many times al- '

 

 

 
  
 
  
    
  
   
  
    
  
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
  
  
   
 
   
     

   

 

 

 

 

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22 Conrad. the

 

Ocean King.

 

“ No matter can be of greatw moment, oh
king, than the safety of thyself and empire.”

“ Pray explain,” said Conrad, coldly.

Omnr the Warlock again bowed. A death-
like silence had fallen upon the scene. When
he spoke, though it was in a low tone, his words
reached the ears of all.

“ Were you Conrad of the Lion Heart,” he
began, “ you would understand what I have to
say better. On the Finger of Fire is now dying
he who was once your chief!”

Slowly and distinctly the words left the War-
lock’s lips and the listeners stood as if riveted to
the rocky floor.

Viceroy Durango was the first to break the
silence:

“ Evil One, speak. If you have reason to
come here at this time, make it known, else the
worse is thine own.”

“ I come for the good of thy clan, viceroy."

“ From whom i”

“ Pierre Le Grand ?”

At the mere mention of the name a thunder
of applause stormed the walls of the Grand
Court, until the azure banner of the Conrads
suspended over their heads waved to and fro.
It was a belief courted by the majority that
their famous first chief who had mysteriously
disappeared on the isle lT'inger of Fire would re-
turn to them again some time to reassert his
sovereignt .

“ Go on, ’ said Durango, hoarsely, as soon as
the tumult was over.

“ Your great chief is dying, but ere the life
lamp burns out he would see your Conrad. He
has a weighty secret to. divulge. He would not
divul 3 it to me, as if I could not read his
thou ts, ha, ha!”

“ secret,”/repeated Durango; “ his life was
I series of secrets. So he did not tell you its
character?”

“ Never an idea. But you do not forget that
I read minds like so many open books.”

“And you read his?"

“ I did.”

“ erhaps you read mine now?”

“ I do.”

The Viceroy started, but managed to sa :

“ And what pray dost thou read there ’

“ More than you would dare to have me utter.
Wouldst have me speak ofplots and overthrowsl”

Evidently not, for the scheming corsair hast-
ened to say:

“Tell us of our noble chief. Why cared he to
see Conrad?"

“ It was of the Bernardo treasure. But I can
not divul more.”

Years fore a vast lot of coin, jewels and
valuables it was clauned had been buried on one
of the islands by the freebooter Bernardo.
Whether so or not no one had been able to find
them, though the mention of the treasure was
sumcient to set their minds on fire.

To Conrad this announcement was Greek, so
gesgort consultation was held as to what should

one.

The Warlock stoutly protested that Conrad
must be among those to visit the dyin chief.

“ By the sea am, I like it not,” dec ared Con-
rad, who cared ‘ttle to venture from their island
stronghold. “ I fear for the result.”

., '

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“ Phoi” exclaimed Durango, under his breath,

“ that is because you have fear." In a louder
tone he said: “It may be thy dutyto go, my
king. If our great chief—and barring your gra-
cious Highness he is our chief still-is dying and
you should go.”

“ And there is the Bernardo treasure," added
the greedy Dracut.

“ How far is the isle from here?”

“‘ Not twentyvfour hours’ sail from here.”

“ You will go, king!” spoke Omur the War-
lock. “ It will afford untold pleasure to the
good Pierre besides placing in thy hands more
gold than a life sEant on the ocean's great high-
way. With the ernardo board you will all be
rich as the fabled misers of old.”

“ Pray, who art thou?” cried Conrad, who
seemed to mistrust the stranger. “ Why hidest
thou thy visage? Lift that mask that we may
know what sort of a man is before"us."

“ Nay. king. any request but that l” ,

Conrad started at the unexpected refusal.

“ What! dare thee refuse so simple a request,
sirrahi'"

“ I must. No mortal man gazes on my face.”

“ Ye gods l we will or know the reason."
cried Conrad, fiercely. “ Durango, unmask the
man.”

CHAPTER XVII.
BERNARD IN CHAINS.

A DEATHLIKE silence followed the command
of Conrad of the Crimson Crescent. The ma-
jority of those present knew the Warlock only
too well and felt a superstitious dread for him.

Durango took one step. for ward and then hesi-
tated, as if he dared not obey his chieftain.

“ Come, man,” said Omur the Warlock in a

tone that thrilled the trembling outlaw like a.

winter’s blast, ” but one ever dared to touch this
mask. I wait for you to be the second!”

While Durango hesitated the startling account
of a venturesome fellow who on a wager attempt»
ed to raise the Warlock’s mask flashed through
his mind. The deed was done, but the fellow fell
dead in his tracks. Of the half-dozen who saw
the strange being’s face, not one lived to repeat
their boast. The Viceroy was not a coward, but
he shrunk back from the flashing gaze that.
seemed to burn both bod and soul.

Conrad saw his cont erate’s alarm and an
oath left his lips.

" Coward,” he hissed between his clinched teeth,
“ I am not afraid of the dog if you are,” and the
Blue Water KinE started forward to execute his
design of nnmas ing the m sterious man.

Just how the aflair woul have ended we can-
not say, had‘not loud cries and the confusion of
a struggle outside the Grand Court caught the
crowd's attention.

A minute later a dozen or more of the corsairs
came hurriedly into the apartment bearing in
their midst a prisoner. -

“ We’ve got him i” exclaimed the leader. “ He
{longht like a tiger, but we were too many for

)m

The prisoner was Bernard!

“There must be some mistake.” said Conrad.
“ I have seen too great proof of his fidelity to
mistrust him now.”

“ But even then, my king, he was plotting to

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escape,” afliwned the chief of the captors. “ He
is a dangerous man—a traitor.”

“ Death to all traitors!" cried a voice in the
mob, and others took up the words until the
underground hall rung with the cry.

“ It will do no harm to keep him in safe unr-
ters awhile,” replied the Corsair King. “ ave
too much on band now to give his case my at-
tention. Bear him away. If we are to go to
the ,isle Finger of Fire, let there be no time

ost.

“Spoken wisely, king,” said Omur the War-
lock. “ If you would see our old chief alive no
time is to be lost. Ay, the success of our er-
rand lies in the speed with which we perform

it.

It having been decided that the trip should be
undertaken, reparations were begun at once
for the starting, Bernard, the prisoner, mean-
while being borue to one of the caverns, from
whence, with a vigilant guard, he could not
hope to escape, even had he not been bound hand
and foot.

“ Thou h it may seem ill in me to advise,”
said the arlock, “yet I trust you will pardon
me when my intentions are so evident for your
interest.”

“Speak out,” answered Conrad, bluntl .

“ As this trip is little more than a. p easure
voyage, why should not thy fair lady accom-

ny the? A sniff of the salt sea breeze would
g: of vast benefit to her. This underground
pen—ball—is enough to drive the rose from the
fairest cheek. Besides,” and he stood very near
Conrad now, and spoke so low that no other ear
heard him, “ once in possession of the Bernardo
treacsi’ire, why need you come back to this lonely

Conrad of the Crimson Crescent started back
as he caught the words, and he looked around to
see if the others had heard him. To speak the
trutlii, the same idea was revolving itself in his
min .

So he allowed no hesitation in acting upon the
suggestion, and he at once gave orders that
Stella and those whom she wished of her attend-
ants to be taken on board of the Blue Water
Queen at once.

Lieutenant Stannard scowled, and Viceroy
Durango‘s swarthy face looked black as a thun-
der-cloud when the heard the order.

“ A pretty passl’ muttered the latter. _“ Well,
let the fool go, and while he is awa I will man-
age to get u a surprise for him. y time for
action is at sad. But I wish he would take the
lieutenant with him. 1 fear that man.”

Stella’s surprise knew no bounds when the
was told to prepare immediately for a sea voy-
age. Adele urged Dorel to accompany her, as
permit had been given, but the latter firmly de-
clared that she would not desert her, the more
so as Bernard was in peril. One Isa Tremaine,
glad for even a doubtful _escape, quickly offered
to go with her, and arm. in arm the twain went
out of Fairy’s Bower, bidding a tearful adieu to
Dorel and Adele, whom they scarcely expected
to meet again.

By this time Conrad and as many of. his fol-
lowers as he had thought best to take With him,
were in readiness to go on shipboard, Omur the
Warlock among them.

Once Conrad addressed his captive, but she
vouchsaflng him no reply, he turned to give
:ome command to his men and seemed to forget

er.

Once the Queen was fairly under way, how-
ever, Stella and Isa were taken below where
theey were kept in a fearful suspense as to their

a 5.

With the departure of his king the dark fea-
tures of Viceroy Durango lightened with a look
of e ultation.

‘ am king now,” he muttered, under his
breath,” and it will be passing strange if I am
not king after the return of our new Conrad.
He a Conrad—the pug et—-bah l”

Scarcer was the ue Queen a. speck on the
distant sea, as seen from the island lookout,
when Durango ordered the prisoner to be
brought forth that sentence might be passed
upon him.

soon as ossible,” murmured the plotter. “ Lucky
all I dreaded him most.”

Grand Court to the surprise of many who had
expected that his tr a] would be deferred until
the return of Conra . ,

“It is never safe to daily with traitors," de-
clared the Viceroy, “ especially be be brave and
desperate. I dare say none has objection to a
continuance of this trial.”

would be answered other than to his satisfac-
tion.

He was surprised, therefore, to see Lieutenant
Stannard, whom of all present he dreaded most,
step forward, pale but firm, and in a tone that

say: . .
“With your permission, vioeroy, there is one
who deems a trial now premature.”
“Ho!” cried the other, “so the traitor has a
sym pathizer?”

let and he exclaimed, excitedly: .

“What! dare you link my name with the
word ‘ traitor? ”

“"Why then doth thou intercede for a traitor

jibe lieutenant‘s stalwart form shook from
head to foot as he cried, fiercely:

my loyalty doubted. Why sirrah, I havé been
true to every Conrad, and havo done their bid-
ding in the hottest of battles, while you have
remained a laggard at home.”

It was 3. rec less speech for one in his posi-
tion to make. but the outlaw had been
to make it much because he had aspirations to
succeed to the crown of the Conrads and knew
that Durango stood in his way of reaching the
coveted goal.

A murmur went up from the crowd, but of
assent or dissent it would have been impossible
to tell. .

gurgngo shot a baleiul glance upon the other.
as .

we shall have more than one traitor—"

 

\

 

“ It will be well to get him out of the way as r
for me e has fallen under the ban, for of them » '

Bernard was accordingly dragged into the.

Duraugo put the question without dreaming it V
rung to the furthest corner of the Grand Court _ ,

Lieutenant Stannard’s countenance grew scar-
“Hold, Viceroy, not from you will I have. 7 I,

goaded ' x

0 - ‘ .
*‘ ’Less you learn to curb that tongue of yours,‘ I '
“re the Viceroy could finish his speech the 

   
   
     
    
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
 

\A traitor!

 

 

 

, v ,.:;:~.'x  . . ,

 

24 Conrad, the Ocean King.

 

cutlass of Lieutenant Stannard leaped from its
scabbard, and as it flashed in the air he cried,
hot! :

“ stherea man here who dares to call me
a tra itor?”

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
DEVIL’S CHOICE.

Tris. fall of a feather might have been heard.
so deathlike was the silence following Lieutenant
Stanuard’s mad speech.

“Speak, Durango!” he thundered, hoarsely,
“ dare ye sayI am a traitor?”

Every man present, the prisoner alone ex-
cepted, seemed upon the point of an outbreak.
Duran 0 saw it, and read in those determined
faces own disfavor. He quailed.

“I did not mean just that, lieutenant; you
'um to rash conclusrons. No one doubts your
lays t , so sheathe thy sword. It is the prisoner
here who is on trial.” 1

“ And you dare to say that Bernard Bernard,
the bravest loan who ever stood under the ban-
ner of Conrad of the Lion Heart is a traitor!
Ye gods! had you been beside him
as I was, on board of that accursed North Star,
when the blood ran ankle-deep, and he in the
thickest of the fl ht, on would have shamed to
whisper the wor . ad you seen him on the
stormy night he saved the Blue Water Queen
from the jaws of Satan’s Gap—ay, that act
alone should place him abOVe suspicion.”

“If you are done we will proceed with the
trial,” said Durango, with apparent good-will,
though the slumbering fires of his revengeful
nature were burning deeply.

“ Why try him, if try im we must, until the
return of Conrad?”

“ Delays are dau erous. And what if Conrad
does ’not return? e went on a mad fool’s er-

a .

“At least wait a proper time. Besides, we
have no authority—”

“Authority! Pray what greater authority
would you have than our own awsl”

“ But they say that the king must be pres—”

“ So you den thatI am king?” and Durango’s
face grew dar 'and ominous. “Men, will you
see our king insultedi”

lfa hundred weapons flashed in the air,
and for a mement a general uprising was im-
minent. ’But Lieutenant Stannard’s clear tone
quelled the mob.

“Back, boys, let no rashness be undertaken.
I simply say that a Viceroy is not king, and
never mll be I"

The last four words. however, were uttered

. under his breath, and the throng became quiet.

“ I leave it with the crowd to say whether the
prisoner shall have a trial now or whether we

' shall needlessly wait. You know our laws!"

“A trial! a trial!” shouted a chorus of voices;
while others called for a respite until Conrad
should come back.

Feeling confident that he was sure of a ma-
jority, Durango put the question to the test,
when the vote was found to stand as three to
four in his favor. ' _

Lieutenant Stannard simply bowed his head.
at the same time calhng one of his most faithful
henchmen to his side.

/

l

    .
1:” $1M. art‘s; $110“.

 

   

What he said to him no one knew but the
man left the place at once, with the order to fly
toConrad with all speed possible and inform
him that he must return at once if he would
thwart an uprising.

Viceroy Durango had meantime turned his at-
tention to the orgning trial.

“Lieutenant racut, who are your witnesses
that Bernard Bernard has broken our oath of
allegiance?”

“ If it please you, my king, these are the men
among those w o are willing to testifytothe
prisoner’s disloyalty.”

Three corsairs thereupon stepped forward, one
of them the guard who had acted the eaves-
dropper to the conversation of Stella and her
friends. The others were vicious-looking enough
to swear to anything.

Bernard calmly faced his accusers without a
tremor of fear as far as could be seen.

Then, as the Viceroy adroitly questioned the
‘witnesses, they testified to all they had. heard
and seen, and much more, all of which went to
prove the real intentions of the prisoner to sever
the shackles that bound him to the outlawed
brotherhood.

“ What do you think now, lieutenant?” sneered
the Viceroy, turning to Stannard.

“ That it is a base lie from—”

“ Avaunt, there!” yelled Durango. “ More
treachery! The do ,two to one, is in league
with you traitor. . ize him, men. We cannot
brook such an insult at this time.” '

Durango fancied that his time for ‘ecisive
action had come; and indeed, at his command, a
hundred men sprung quickly forward to do his
bidding. But as many more blocked their way.

“Who lays a hand upon our chief dies !” cried
a burly raven-springing in front of the lien-
tenant.

“What means this?” shrieked the appalled
Viceroy. “ An insurrection?”

“ Rebellion! Treason!” yelled the mob.

“ Silence!” thundered the deep-tuned voice of
Lieutenant Stannard, when the outories ceased.
:de want no disturbance now; fall back,
a s.

(guivering with rage, Durango rose to his

so .

“ Who rules here!” he exclaimed excitedly.
“I command ye to put you traitor in irons.
Who dares disobey the king.” ‘

Even then the corsairs hesitated. Lieutenant
Stannard was too hold a spirit to be put down
thus easily; Viceroy Durango, too cringing a
nature to command in times like that.

“ I am here, lads! take me at your wish. See,
I throw down my sword.”

Scarcely had his sword reached the stony
floor when Lleutenant Dracut came to the seals.
tance of the Viceroy.

“ Ay, down with him, lads. He ise. traitor in
league with this other dog. Death to traitors.”

New Lieutenant Dracut never lacked for fol-
lowers, and instantly the entire crowd was in
arms, when a scene succeeded that defies our
descriptive powers.

When the fi ht was over seven men lay dead
around the t mac, and Lieutenant S
was a captive.

Durango had triumphed.

‘ .aé- j‘etflgl ego-- skits-"L

 

... .J, ..

 

“Wm .

Conrad, the Ocean King. 25

 

“ Put him in irons," he ordered. " When the
king returns he shall decide his fate.”

Fain would he have sentenced him to death
then and there had he dared.

Seeing that the odds were against him, Stan-
nard accepted the inevitable with as good a
grace as possible.

Durango smiled as he saw the one whom he
most dreaded put in irons, and quiet once more
restored.

“ Your triumph is secure,” whispered Dracnt.
“ But end the trial at once. ’

Not unwillingly the Viceroy pronounced the
sentence of doom on Bernard, consigning him to
the usual fate in the Death Dungeon, which was
listened to with mingled whisperings of satis—
faction and displeasure.

Two of the corsairs were commanded to hear
him to the fatal passage and to throw him into
the abyss from which no one had ever escaped.

“ Hold, my king,” implored Bernard, “I have
one—”

“ Away with him,” cried the viceroy, “ I hold
no parley with traitors.”

Betraying no outward emotion, whatever he
may have felt, Bernard was borne to his i!!-
starred fate.

When the executioners returned from their
foul errand with evident relief that their art
was over. a carousel was begun which las in-
to the following ni ht.

Then as the drun en mob became quiet and
only the sentries were apparently awake, the
figure of a man stole silently through the Grand
gourt and entered the passage lead g to Fairy's

ower.

It was Lieutenant Stannard, escaped from his
ca tivity

utsi e the Bower he was stopped by him on

guard.

“ Is that you, Vernal?” he asked in a low can-
tious tone.

“ Holy St. Mary! how came you here, lieu-
tenant?”

“ Hist! speak not my name,” warned the
other. “I want to enter the Bower.”

“But my orders are to admit no one, lieuten-
ant, much as I would like to let you in. ’

“Who need know it? And here is gold for
your silence,”

The clink'of the coin in the lieutenant’s hand
caugiht the other’s ear and he leaned eagerly for-
war .

The same instant he was seized in a vise-like
grip, and before he could cry out was overpow-
ered and gagged.

A few minutes later Stannard was rapping
gently at the entrance to the Bower. In answer
to the tremulous query from within, he gave his
name, and requested to see Dorel.

After what seemed a long time to him, she

ppeared. _
‘éwthat means the untimely visit, lieuten-
an .

“Dorel, have you tired of this life’l” he ex-
claimed, im ulsively.

“ Tired o it,” s e repeated, with wonder.
“ From the .”
“ Then fly with me!”

She was more surprised than before.
“ I am under the ban of our chief,” he went

a

/

 

 

on, “ and must flee tonight. That aecursed
Dnrango put me in irons, but I slipped them off
and escaped. Will you go with me, Doreli"

“ Where?”

“ An where—only away from here. We will
go to . onrad, and, reinforced, come back here
and drlve out that accursed Durango. Or, we
will go to the States—anywhere you as , so long
as I may be With you, for, Dore], I ove you.
You must be mine 1"

She started back.

“No, no, Lieutenant Stannard, that cannot
gent GPO your way, and leave me in my cap-

1V!

“ r top, Dorel—you madden me. I had rather
perish here with you than to escape and leave
you behind. Say that you will go, Dore]—
quick! we have no time to lose.”

“ Not on the conditions you name, Lieutenant
Stannard, much as I would like my freedom.”

“ Then are my he s blasted. But stay! I
will not give it up. on may name our own
terms—only fly with me. Decide quic ly. We
have no time to lose.”

Dore! hesitated. her mind filled with wild
vague thoughts. Here was a possible chance of
escape from a living death. The man who held
this temptation to her she knew was no better
than those with whom he had associated.
Should she accept, place herself in his power, or
remain? The alternative on either and was‘
fearful. Her next words gave no key to her
decision.

“ Where is Bernard?” she asked.

” Alas! he is dead. It was on his account that
I incurred the wrath of Durango.” ~

“ Bernard dead?” gasped Dorel.

In a few words tannard told her of the
other’s doom.

“ He may have escaped!”

“ There is no he of that. But you have
not answered me, orel. Come. wi you go
with me or stay in this accursed den?"

“I will go, on the condition that Adele goes
with me.”

“ She shall. And you promise to be my
wife?" ‘

“ Yes, any—”

“Come—quick! get Adele. Ah, my escape .

has been discovered. We are too late!’

CHAPTER XIX. .
“wnou ran eons WOULD nnsraor mi?
mas-r MAKE m."
LOUD cries from the directiono the Grand
Court reached their ears. Lieutena tStannard

rew anxious and impatient as he waited for ’

t e appearance of Ade . .

He was not kept waiting long before Dore!
returned accompanied by her com nion.

“ Keep close to me !” exclaimed t e lieutenant.
“I fear our escape in cut off, but we canat
least make a desperate attempt:”

With the wor s he led the way as rapidly as 3

the semi-darkness would admit toward the
Grand Court. When about midway in the pas-
sage, however, he realized that retreat was cut
off in that direction.

Near this point a passage branched of! from .

that leading to the Bower and into this he
rushed, followed by the terrified girls just in

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

28 Conrad, the Ocean King.

 

season to avoid a part of the corsairs who were
searching for the miss ng lieutenant.

The three followed this course for three or
four rods when they came into another passage
wider and higher.

Dan-ting to the left Stannard led the way,
until suddenly they came into the full glare of
torches that lit the Forecastle where a hundred
or more of the corsair-s were holding a mad
revel.

At sight of them Stannard started back.

“ Not that way 1” he gasped. “ We have been
discovered!"

“This passage leads away from them,” said
Dorel. “ Let us go back.”

“ No—no! not that way! We shall enter the
Crimson Chamber."

“ Anywhere to esca uick or we are lost I”

“Not that way!” cried the bewildered out-
law. “Ah, here they come. I can die, for I
swear I will never be taken alive!”

By this time the corsairs rushed into the
mouth of the passage and Lieutenant Stannard
like a haunted lion at bay drew his cutlass.

" Curse ye, come on 1” he cried between his
clinched teeth. “ I’ll show ye how I’ve fought
under the Courads."

The passage was not wide so that no more
than three could come abreast and these Were
too crowded to work with advantage. So the
hunted outlaw, a good swordsman, promised to
give them no little trouble.

“Here he is!” cried the foremost of the cor-
sairs. “ He is ours, dead or alive 1”

“ Dead or alive!” echoed his followers.

“ Dead—alive! never!” gritted the burly fugi-
tive as he mowed down the front trio, and with
his dripping sword faced the next who came.

Three times the desperate man stayed the on-

* eat of his assailants and nine of them choked the

passway with their lifeless bodies.

The fight came to a standstill. Brave men
were not lacking in that warlike band, but they
were growing more cautious. '

Hark l the faint sound of a cat-like step reached
the fugitive’s ears.

“ The are coming from the rearl” he gasped.
“It wil soon be all over with me." Then as he
remembered those under his protection be con-
tinued: “ Dorel, where are you?”

“ Here,” she replied, tremulously from the fur-
ther; side of the passage. “ Oh, what shall we

0

“ Flee l” he answered, “ flee to the Crimson
Chamber if you dare with Adele. It may be they
will not find you.”

“ And you?” ,

“ Never mind me, Dorel. I cannot escape. If
you do, as I pray to God you will, perhaps you
will think of me sometimes. With all my faults
and crimes I love you truly and—but they are
coming—delay no longer. Fly to the Crimson
Chamber. They will not dare to follow.

Dorel and Adele could but obey, and scarcely
had they disappeared in the gloom beyond when
the corsairs dashed into view.

Viceroy Durango was at the head of this new
party, and at sight of Lieutenant Stannard he

as? d

pe .
So ho, traitorl ’tis thus we find you.”
“ Ay, and of all men the most eager to meet

 

you!” thundered the other, and then before the
viceroy could throw himself on the defensive he
had sprung full at his throat.

Haud-to—hand the two men grappled. Unable
to tell one from the other the corsairs could only
Look idly on as their chiefs strove in deadly com

at.

To and fro, back and forth they struggled, un—
til at last they sunk upon the stone floor locked
in each other’s arms, still striving both in vain to
gain the mastery.

At last one of them stag ered to his feet. Bleed—
ing grom a dozen wounds t was Lieutenant Stan-
nar .

“Long live Conrad—Conrad of the Crimson
Crescent!" he cried in a husky voice, and then
throwing up his arms he fell to the floor—dead.

The rival chiefs of the Blue Water Rovers had
sealed each other’s doom. Truly “ whom the
gods would destroy they first make mad.”

Meanwhile Dorel and Adele had fled to the
Crimson Chamber. Here in the blinding dark-
ness they paused, not knowing whither to turn
or what to do.

“ I wonder where that fearful pit is,” said
Dorel in a low tone.

“I am sure I do not know, Dorel,” re lied her
companion. “ Do you think they will ollow us
here?”

“ Let us hope not. Their cries have ceased or
else we beve got beyond reach of them. Hark!
whatwas that?"

“ Adele!” was borne faintly to them from the
darkness beyond.

“ It is he—Bernard l” cried she, Joyously.
“0h Bernard, where are youl’.’

“ ere—near the pit, but be careful how you
ap roach.”

ith what joy they listened to that well- '

known voice we will not attempt to describe.

Adele led the way to her lover, groping anx-
iously forward through the darkness until he
sai :

“Be careful new; it is but a few feet to the
abyss. I am lying in a shoal chasm leading to
it. Keep a little more to the right.”

“ Are you hurt, Bernard?” she asked, aux-
iouslv, as she paused on the brink.

“Not in the least, dearest, only I am bound
hands and feet else I might have crawled out of
this place. The wretches who brought me here
mistook this for the death abyss in the dark-
ness, and when they pushed me over its edge
supposed they had sent me to my death. But to
lie ere helpless seemed worse than death. Can
you come bown here? It is not more than three
or four feet. Once free my hands and I will be
all right."

It was not many minutes before Adele had
accom lished this, and a little later he was free.

“ I ared not think of any one coming to my
aid, darling. But what brought you here’l Did
you know of my fate?”

In a few words Adele made him familiar with
what had occurred.

“ So the men are in arms. Well, we had bet-
ter get out of this as soon as possible.”

“ Do you think we shall escape, Bernard?"

“ Easily, Adele. You see I have explored this
part of the cavern pretty thoroughly to discover
a passage which leads to the outer world. The

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Conrad. the Ocean King. 2"

 

dread the men had of coming here, kept them
from finding it. So I have kept my secret,
hOping it might be of some benefit at last. That
time has come.”

Under the lead of Bernard they slowly ad-
vanced alon [the Winding passage until atlast,
to their un ounded joy, they felt a breath of
fresh air on their brows.

“How good it seems,” said Adele. “ Do you
think we shall have any trouble in escaping?”

“ The way seems clear. We will hasten to
the shore at once.”

Before reaching the little harbor, however,
they found that their flight had been discovered,
and that they were closely pursued.

" If we can onl reach one of the boats down
the beach,” said ernard, " we will push out to
sea and trust to the darkness to elude our foes.”

After a short race, with their pursuers not
giany rods behind them, they came to the nearest

0am

Tearing it from its fastenings as the girls
clamhered over its sides, Bernard gave it a
stout flush out into the water and sprung in
after t em.

Then seizing the oars he sent the light craft
swiftly over the water.

“ There they go!” yelled the hoarse tone of
Lieutenant Dracut. “ Don’t let them escape.”

But Bernard was too good an oarsman, and
he had got too much of a start of his pursuers
to let them overhaul him very soon.

An exciting race succeeded for nearly half an,

hour, and the fugitives were beginning to think
they had eluded their enemies, when the sharp
cry “ Boat ahoy!” rung on the night.

To their surprise they discovered that they
were in the ver course of a ship, which was
hearing swiftly own upon them!

“ Lay to there, boat, or we will run you
down !’

Bernard gave but a second glanCe at the on-
coming vessel when he cried hopelessly:

“ Merciful Heaven! we are lost! It is the
Blue Water Queen—Conrad’s own ship!”

CHAPTER XX.
TRAPPED]

“ SAIL-’0!”

Clear and sha the cry rung from the look-
out of the Blue ater Queen.

In high spirits Conrad of the Crimson Cres-
cent had Seen the shore line of St. Pierre Island
fade from view; never seemed the ocean breeze
so sweet to him. After the exciting and be-
wildering scenes of the past few weeks this
freedom gave him a. new heart.

Omur the Warlock had scarcely spoken since
leaving the island. Whatever his thoughts not
one could read them. He had kept aloof from
the others, continuall scanning the sea.

Conrad was puzzle to u derstand him. The
more closely he watched im the more firmly
he decided to see the features hidden by that
silken mask, and scarcely less by that long
white hair and flowing beard.

The cry from the lookout, however, ended the
conjectures of the corsair chief, and aroused the
Warlock from his lethargic watch. '
whereawayr’ cried Conrad, raising his

 

“ Just abaft our lee bow, sir. She seems to
be hearing toward us.”

“ What do you make of her?”

“ Little more than a speck on the sea.”

“Keep her well under eye. It cannot be an
enemy has dared to invade our waters.”

The stranger was watched with an interest
bordering on fear.

“ Can you make her out yet?” Conrad asked
for the third time, referring, of course, to the
stran e ship.

“ othing satisfactory, though she seems a
bit suspicious. She seems to be schooner-rigged
and carrying a heavy top. ”

“ She still holds her course?”

“ Ay ay, sir; and she evidently means to
overhaul us.”

“ That looks bad.”

“ There go her colors! They are the Stars
and Stripes! She is an American war-ship I"

“ No more than I' expected. And we have
no force to meet her in battle. Boys, our only
hope is in a pair of light heels.”

“ She will have to have wings if she over-hauls
the Queen," exclaimed an old salt. “ I’ve sailed
on the Queen since her first voyage, and she has
never found her match yet. I’ll—” ~

“ Sail, ’oi—oif the weather quarter 1" -

The words were' fairly screamed hy the look-
out as if he had suddenly lost his self-possession.

The corsairs turned as one man to the star-
board, and the sight that met their gaze chilled
the blood of the bravest.

Bearing closel down upon them, with all
sails set and co ors streaming in the favoring
breeze, was a second cruiser!

“Shake out the yards there, lads, lively! We
are in for it now.”

The sailors flew to their work with alacrity,
and in a few minutes the bri was struggling
beneath all the canvas she can d carry.

Between the war-ships her course must lay,
and her only hope in running the gantlet,‘the
speed for which she was noted.

The cruiser on the starboard proved asfleet as
she almost and with the advantage of the start,
the trumpet tones of its commander not long
after rung over the sea:

“ Ship ahoy, there! what shi l” - -

Conrad seized his trumpet an answered back
defiantly:

. “ The Ocean Queen bound on a peaceful mis-
sion to the island Finger of Fire. Why would
you cross our track?”

“ The Ocean Queen !” repeated an old weather-
beaten seamen. “Ye gods, has it come to pass
that a Conrad denies his identity? ’Tis time old
Rolf Ramon were under the surf.”

But the thunder tones of the American com-
mander followed quickly the corsair’s reply.

“ La . Ocean Queen, for we deman your
surren er.” - _

“Never!” flung back the ocean king.

Boom—boom! rung out the war-piece in an-
swer and the leaden messenger plowed a furrow
in the water less than twenty fathoms astern.

“ Can't the Queen bear a little more sail?”
asked Conrad anxiously. “ We are hardly hold-
ing our own.” _* ‘

“Not another stitch, my ng. The old brig
is doing her ” '-

 

 

 

 

 

  

in

gang- .1. *.

 

28 Conrad, the

Ocean King.

 

“ Pardon me, my king,” sald old Rolf Ramon
touching his forelock and bowing in true nautical
fashion, “ aren’t wegoin’ to answer ‘em'l Shiver
my timbers!" he exclaimed as a shot better
directed than its predecessors tore through
the mizzen rigging, “ they’re comin’ down to
hizuess."

“You can answer that if you ‘wish, though
our guns will avail us little now.”

Gladly the old sea-dog sprung to the swivel-
piece amidship and brought it to bear upon the
audacious cruiser. He did no more, however,
for he found that the gun had been so tampered
with that it was useless!

“Foul treachery l" he cried, as he examined
the other weapons to find others in the same
condition. Then he returned to Conrad with his
startling announcement.

The latter turned pale at his words.

“Traitors—there are traitors on board!” de-
clared Ramon.

“ But we have no time to attend to them.
Great gulls! if they keep up at that rate much
longer there won’t be anyt ing left of us. We
cannot escape!”

“ Then there is but one course open for us,"
said Rolf Ramon.

“ And that?" cried Conrad eagerly.

“ Is to blow up the ship !” .

“ And send our souls to rdition. Are you
mad man?” exclaimed his c ief angry.

“ better death than capture. h I do it,
my kin i”

“ Foo , shut your mouth,” answered he of the
Crimson Crescent.

" We have our lives to look after, not their
accurled clumsy craft.”

“1 will do it!” muttered Rolf Ramon, as he

. made his way forward to the powder ma azine.

“Conrad of the Lion Heart wcul have
ordered it. It will save the disgrace of defeat
and the torture of capture.”

With increasing nervousness Conrad watched
alternately the a preach of the cruisers.

“ If we can on y keep out of their clutches un-
til night sets in," he muttered, “ under cover of
darkness we can hope to escape."

The sun was then half an hour high and to
the hunted corsair it never seemed to sink so

ow .

ThKeker and faster came the cruiser’s leaden
storm doing fearful havoc in the brig‘s rigfinfii
while slowly but surely the gap between e
and their pursuers narrowed.

Slowly sunk the sun, each moment finding the
ocean outlaws more hopeless.

“ Great shades of Neptune!” groaned one of
the eldest corsairs, “ this is a pretty trap for us

-to _fall into. Fleeing from an enemy like a
whigied and bound boy. 1—"

“ elp—l” cried a sharp voice at this juncture,
“ the ship has s rung aleak l"

Turning wit dismay the outlaws saw Omur
the Warlock standing near the gangway wav-
ing his hands frantically.

“ Quick—help—this way—all of you who can
be red 1"

frantic earnestness quickly brought all
the are help to his side.

“ allow me i” he cried. " We may be in
season to stop it and save the ship.”

h_In furious excitement the seamen followed
1m.

“ The leak seems to be in the stowaway "
panted the Warlock. “ I can’t hear it so plain
as I did, but it is still coming in. Hold on a
moment; I must go back and get a hatchet. Or
you may keep on; I will be back soon.”

Leaving them huddled together in a group
he sprung back and closed the hatches, making
them prisoners before they could divine his pur-

pose.

A yell came from them as they leaped for-
ward to thwart his object—too late.

With a laugh he hurried upon deck leaving
them in their fruitless endeavor to escape.

Unconscious of what was transpirin below,
Conrad was still anxiously watching is pur-
suers and the settin sun.

“ The old Queen is doing nobly,” he exclaim-
ed. “Keep her as she is goinfi. Jack; we are
holding our own with them. a! the sun has
set! A few minutes more and we can laugh at
our fees.”

 

CHAPTER XXI.
“BRAVERY AND MYSTERY.”

“ HE laughs best who laughs last!” said a
deep, sonorous voice at his elbow, and turning
with amazement he saw Omur the Warlock be-
fore him, an uplifted cutlass in his hand, ready
to pierce his body.

to What—3’

“ Hold!” commanded the other. “ Your life
is in ,my hands. A move—a word signs your

cam.

“ But what do you mean ?" gasped the terrified

corsair.
“That you are in my power. I command
this—back, there! the first move will be the sig-
nal for, me to run your chief through as I would
a og.

The last was addressed to some of the cor-
sairs who started to their leader’s assistance.

The Warlock’s threat stopped them.

He had taken a position so that Conrad was
between them and none were behind him. Evi-
dently he had made no idle threat. The king
was trembling like an aspen.

“ What would you have?” he asked, in a
husk tone.

“ y orders obeyed, sirrah.”

“ But if I refuse?"

“ Your life shall pay the forfeit.”

A groan left the lips of the Blue Water
Rover. ‘

“First run up aflagof truce!” ordered the
Warlock.

H Nev—H

The prick of the other’s sword checked the
outlaw’s speech.

“ Tpare me!” he implored.

“ hen obey."

Conrad of t e Crimson Crescent glanced wildly
over the sea toward the pursuing cruisers and
then upon his captor. ,

At that moment loud cries and the sound of
furious blows came up from below.

" What does it mean?”

 

“ ,p with the flag—quick, or you are a dead
man!

 

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Conrad, the Ocean King. 29

 

Omur had pressed him back against the rail,
and the point of the Warlock’s sword was against
his heart.

“ Obey, Le Compton! run up the white flag!”
exclaimed the cowering king.

A shot from the nearest warship at that mo-
ment tore throu h the brigantine’s rigging send-
ing a cloud of Sp inters over the seamen.

‘ Ay, obey !’ thundered the Warlock; “ at
once.’

Without apgarent unwillingness the one ad-
dressed as Le ompton sprung to do the biddin
of his chief. But there were others more be]
and reckless who valued the life of their chief
below their own.

These with one accord leaped upon the single
foeman with fierce yells.

At that moment, however, a raking fire from
the fiwar—brig scattered them as wind scatters
c a . .

It was the last shot.

Le Compton had run up the emblem of the
defeated, and the nearest cruiser was hearing
ra idly down upon them.

his the shot saved the Warlock from an at-
tack, it came near endin his career, for a
broken spar shivered by t e leaden assailant,
fell between him and the Corsair King.

The latter staggered back with a groan, and
Omur for a brief time was powerless.

Just then Rolf Ramon, aroused by the out-
cries, left the magazine, and torch in hand
joined the wild scene.

Mistaking him for an all of the Warlock, in
the fast-gathering gloom, t e corsairs—the few
that were left—stood inactive.

Before a rally could be made the war-brig,
none other than the War Wizard, was along-
side, and the crew, led by the gallant Captain
Pierce, swarmed on deck.

“ Lay down your arms," cried the American
commander.

Rolf Ramon had no time to return to the
powder-magazine, and he surrendered, still
clutching the burnin brand.

The ma 'ority of t e corsairs were too bewil-
dered to 0 er resistance, and those that did on]
feehly defended the Blue Water Queen, whic
would scour the seas no more under the piratical

ila .

Conrad of the Crimson Crescent recovered his
self-possession as uickly as the Warlock, and
seeing the inevita le fate in store for him and
his band, he instantly decided upon a desperate
course. -

With the agility of a out he leaped upon th
ship’s rail and the next instant disappeared into
the dark depths below.

Whether from intention or misadventure,
Omur sprung after him, and was seen no more.

Of course the captors of the brigantine knew
nothing of the startling by-play which had

. n enacted on her deck, so no attention was
given to the ones who should have been the first
sou ht for. -

“ his is Conrad’s own ship, I am sure,”_said
Ca tain Pierce, “ and I am disappointed in not
fln mg the chief here.” _

The cries from the imprisoned seamen arrest-
ing his attention, a squad was sent below, which
affected their capture after a smart tussle.

.time, to his dismay, he found

 

“ There is something about this I do not un-
derstand,” declared the commander.

"‘Likely there has been a mutiny,” replied
Lieutenant Dodge. There has been something
of the kind. But we haVe done a glorious work.
Hal the Eagle has come up.”

It was half an hour or more before the dis-
covered Stella aud her companion boun cap-
tives in the’ cabin.

The joy of the maidens to find themselves at
last among friends may be imagined, while the
surprise of the latter was considerable.

Captain Pierce listened to their story with in-
terest; asking many questions in regard to the
strength and situation of the corsairs in their
island stronghold.

“ So Conrad himself was on this brig. I do
not understand it for we find no trace of him.”

Upon questioning the rovers, however, he
learned from one of them that Conrad had
leaped into the sea. He was also told of the
strange man called Omur the Warlock and of
his daring capture of the vessel single-handed.

“ Upon my commission, here is bravery and
mystery; and we let the poor fellow perish with-
in our reach.”

At this juncture it was reported from the
Eagle that a strange ship had been discovered
as rn.

Before she could be distinguished with any
certainty, however, she had disappeared in the
gloom of night.

“ One of the pirate’s own ships beyond a
doubt. Perhaps a companion to this. Avast
there, boys; we’ll give her chase if it be into the
flend’s own den. We will follow this work of
extermination through to the end.

He was answered by a lusty cheer.

 

CHAPTER XXII.
ran wmnoox unnasxnn.

LEAVING those on the ships to retrace their
course to hunt down the ocean outlaws, we Will
folgiw the adventurous career of Omar the War-
oc .

No sooner had he come to the surface of the
water than he saw the dark outlines of the Blue
Water King struggling in the distance.

Without hesitation be smart} that way and the
corsair equally as good a swxmmer struck out
boldly into the night. '

Then followed a stern race each man doing
his best. The Warlock seemed to forget that he
was leaving life and be behind; the rover had
no other alternative. 0 turn back was death;
if he kept on he could but perish.

At last, however, even the strong arm of
Omur began to tire, and lookingbback for the first

_t at he had gone

so far from the ship that its light was no longer
seenl ‘
The corsair was still considerably ahead, and
blaming himself for his foolhardy swim, he was
aboutto turn back, when he caught the faint
gleam of a light ahead.

So he was all right after 11, thou h he was

uzzled to know how he he so in calculated
' direction. But ho ful that he should soon

escape he quickened stroke; and in a tow

 

 

 

 

30 I Com-ad, the

minutes he seemed certain of overtaking his
foe.
To his surprise the lights soon went out on the
ship and she became shrouded in darkness, while
not a sound broke the night stillness save the
incessant swish of the sea.

He now gave up all thoughts of the fugitive,
and beat all of his energies toward his own es-

cape.

Not till he had about despaired of reaching
the vessel did her dark hull loom up before
him, and his bail was soon answered by a gruff
voice. '

At the same time Conrad on the lee quarter
was hailing the vessel in the same way.

Omur began to have his misapprehensions
even then, but it was his only chance and little
later he seized the rope thrown to him with the
deifieration of a drowning man.

ereached the deck to find himself in the
midst of a crew of corsairs.

The ship was the one sent out by Lieu-
tenant Sgannard to call back the chief of the
rovers.

Even then the Warlock would have feared lit-
tle had it not been for the appearance of their
king dripping from the sea and nearly ex-
hausted.

The surprise of the corsairs was beyond de-
scription as they beheld Conrad in his sorry
p ight.

Anxiously they pressed around him eager to
know what ill-fortune had befallen him.

Ina few words he told of the Blue Water
Queen’s fate with all on board.

“ I am all there is left of the old ship!” he
said, sadly. “But, hold! did you not rescue
another while you were pulling me up? ’Tis
that accursed Omur! Where is he?”

“ Here he is!” cried some of the rovers, drag-
ging the Warlock forward, the latter finding
himself a prisoner.

“ Curses upon him i" cried Conrad, “ we owe
all our ill-luck to him. But his capture is worth
something. See that he does not escape."

“What shall we do with him?”

“ Hang him to the yardarm. Nor give the

, wretch a minute to live. He has already caused

us mischief enough."

“ Ay, ay, king; that we will.”

“ Quick—a rope, lads! and we‘ll soon have the
work over.”

“ But can’t we lift this mask, my king?” ask-
ed the corsair lieutenant. “ We wouldst know
our enemy’s face.”

“ Lift it. yes, a hundred ti mes!” cried Conrad,
rallying from his exhaustion somewhat. “ I,
too, would see the dog’s face.”

Unable to resist them if he would, Omur suf—
fered his mask to be torn from his face, when a
countenance strange] youthful-looking for its
210024;? of white bear and snowy hair was dis-

No one recognized him save Conrad of the
Crimson Crescent, who, with a cry of amaze-
ment, gasped:

“ Leon Lorraine I”

The prisoner smiled.

“ Yes. Baize Beaumont, I am Leon Lorraine,
the brother of her whom you would so foully
wrong.”

Ocean King.

 So much more is your capture worth,” he
sax .

“ I care not how much it is worth at this late
hour so long as I have done my work. Thank
God my sister is safe from you, and whatever
you may do with me your own evil race is near-
y run."

“ But how came you here, and in that dis-
guise?” asked the puzzled corsair. “ I knew
there was semething wrong about you. Oh, I
was blind to let you dupe me so easily."

“ It matters little how I came here,” replied
Leon Lorraine, “ so long as I am here. I swore
that I would hunt you down, rescue my sister,
or avenge her wrongs. I have been successful.
Now do your worst. ’

“ So the Hernardo treasure was a hoax, and
Ohmlél' the Warlock a myth?” asked the rover
c 1e .

“ Not quite. neither the one nor the other.
Stories are still told on the Finger of Fire'of the
buried treasure and Omur the Warlock still
lives in the minds of our older followers."

Conrad winced at t 0 words. -

“ Ay, do your worst, lads. Run him up to the
yard without further de—”

'During the foregoing conversation Leon had
been hiding his opportunity and as the attention
of his captors was momentarily turned toward
their chief, he suddenly wrenched himself free
from them and with a bound sprung upon the
outlaw king

Startled b the unexpected attack the man
genital himse f in a life and death struggle with

is es.

In vain he called upon his followers for help,
for as they strove in the semi—darkness locked in
each other’s arms, it was well—nigh impossible to
tell them 5. art.

An unloo ed-for movement was at hand.

Boom—boom!

Closely the reports of the war-pieces followed
each other, and then others succeeded these un-
til the night scene was lit with a lurid glare by
the cannonade.

Taken completely by surprise the rovers find-
ing themselves attacked, as it Seemed, on every
quarter were wild with excitement.

Their efforts at resistance made at random
were futile in the short and sharp conflict which
succeeded.

Almost before they knew it the enemy were
on their decks in overwhelming numbers.

“ Surrender l" thundered the triumphant tone
of Captain Pierce.

It was an unconditional surrender.

Leon Lorraine was found under the lee-rail
holding fast the last of the Conrads, no more
the monarch of the Blue Water.

“ Bind him!” gritted the captor. “Let him
be the last to escape.”

“ What! Conrad himself I And, good Heaven!
Leon Lorraine! Has the sea given up its
dead?”

“ Not its dead, but its living, captain. But
you have won a. complete victolxl‘flé”

“ Ay, ay, that we have, the to you more
than to all others.”

“ And Stella, my sister?”

“ Is safe.”

 

“ Then my reward is ample.”

.yJ/S, -.I r  - " _ ~[-..,

 

 

 

 

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Conrad, the Ocean King.

CHAPTER XXIII.
CONCLUSION.

WHAT followed might be made to fill chap-
ters. But all we need to tell can be given in
one.

Elated with his success so far, Captain Pierce
resolved to follow up his victories by an im-
mediate attack on the outlaws’ stronghold.

Thus as the coming day was breaking he
silently dropped anchor in the little harbor of
St. Pierre and quickly set his forces ashore.

His coming was the most opportune for his
work. Overcome with a night of debauchery
and excitement, bewildered and confused by
dissensions, literally without a leader, for there
was no one to take Durango’s or Stannard’s
place, the ravens either sought flight or threw
down their arms in terror.

So at last was destroyed the dreaded league
of the Blue Water Em piro.

Many captives were set at liberty and treas-
ures beyond estimate were found.

 

The happiest hearts were those of the friends
we have followed through such trying scenes.

The joy of Bernard and his fair companions
me. be imagined when they found the Queen
no onger under the command of foes.

The joy of Stella as she found herself clasped
in her brother’s arms We believe is beyond the
reach of imagination.

Ay, that was a grand reunion on the old
Queen’s deck when the friends clasped hands
and told each other of their sufienngs and at
last their Providential escape. .

Leon Lorraine was properly enoughthe hero
of the occasion though in a measure he had to
share his honors with Bernard.

We need not dwell upon his adventures on
that stormy night of! the Point of Pines, how
he was washed ashore more dead than alive;
how the next day in the boat. after drifting two
days he came to the Finger of Fire where he
was surprised to find a strange nomad and treas-
isurle—seeker who called himself Omur, the War-

oc .
_ Acting upon the advice and direction of this
Singular man who claimed to have once belong-
ed to the ocean league. he disguised himself and
Set out to visit the pirates’ rendezvous with the
result told.

A glad surprise was in store for Stella—a
lover’s greeting, for though severely wounded
Prince Norval was on the way to recovery when
she reached her home.

As soon as he had recovered there was a
merry wedding. ,

A few montbslater the marriage bells rung
as merrily as before, when Bernard and Adele,
Leon and Dorel were united in the sweet bonds
of matrimony.

Isa Tremaine, too, found a- waiting heart and
worthy; so we leave the little circle loving and

contented. The seeds of suffering sown by an

I evil hand had brought its harvest of happiness.

THE END.

 

BEADLE’S BOY’S LIBRARY.

 

1 Defrlgnnter, the Buy Smut n! the Great North Woodl. By
.UOIHPI.

2 Buffalo Bill. from Boyhood to Mnnhuod. Bndi. 1". lngmhaln.

it Kit (‘iu'lon King oH-uiiln. liv Alhert W. Aiken.

4 Gordon Lllllc, the Boy-interpreter oithe Puwnees. By Major
H. ii. Stoddard.

5 “ruin Aillllnn, Old Grin "s an Par-i. ‘By Col. P. Inmaham.

ii Deadwood Dick an n I 0y. iiy Edward L. Win-«lur-

? \Vlld Bill. the Wind l’rlnre. liy Col. Prentiss Inxruhnm.

H 'l'hti I'rnlrio Rinwh. llv Joseph E. ilndgsr, Jr.

ii Roving .lm-x The History ofn ‘ Bord r Buy.” By A.H. Post.

0 Tenn Jill'lu the Mustang King. ily Col. Prentiss lngrahnln.

1 Churlcy nLylm-k. S v of Scliaol-duy Scrape] and College

I

  

A . Ir

(hipunl. ih' l\lujor ll. Ii. Sluddnrd.
2 Murlponu Mun“, My .lqu-ph E. lhulgi-r, Jr.
8 km in: lieu. 153' John J. Murshuil.
» flnrlng Steel, King oflhe liuuh. ll\ .1. E. lludger. Jr.
7- “ lac-Awake iii-or o, lht' iim- l’iuimvr. By Ed. Wlllslt
6 The Roy “'lznrd. h' llnrrv Wilma-ill-
l’? Pen-r l cppergrnun, this Greenhorn {ruin Gotham. By Noah

——_i—-i uni-t

. u .
IS Adrii‘. on the Prairie. mm Alnnleur Hunter! on the
ufluln Rnngr. My Oil (Iomues.

19 The Fortune liuntl‘r; or, Raving Joe “Miner, Cowboy,
’l‘rupper nnd llunii-r. lly A. H. Poul.

30 Tim per Tom, the \Vimd imp. lly T. C. Harbnuah.

21 Tel ow llnir. the Buy Cliici of the Pawnee]. by Colonel
i’ri-niiss lngmluuu.

29 The iii-ow Trull. By 1‘. C. ilnrbnugh.

28 "Id Grizle Adumn. the flour Tamar. By Dr. Frank Powell.

V era. liy Capt. Frederick “hm-liar.
El inriuontn in the Career on Sea ‘and Land
2“ l  izrnlnun. linWm. “kayak”.
“0“ R vcr overs. B C. mining ar .

8? Plain and Plain or, Wyilil Adventures ol"‘BucklUn'BIm,"
(Maj. Sam.  “.11.; By Col. P. lngrahnm. '

28 The Sword Prince. 'lno Rom-mile Life ol Col. Mon-tan.
By Ch t. Frederick Whiilikar. I

29 linow- hoe Tom. By 1‘. C. Hnrhangh.

80 Paul de Lat-y. the French Henlt Charmer. By C. D. Clark.

81 Round the Camp Fire. llv Jmeph E. Badger, Jr.

32 \Vhlte Bearer, the llldinu Medicine Chief. Bv Col. Pnnliu
lnxrnham.

38 The Boy Crusader. lly Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

84 The Chnse ol'thc Grcnt \Vhlte l‘tnfl, and, Camp and
(lance. By C. Dunning (tlnrk.

85 (Did Tar Knuckle and His Boy Chums. By R. Stu-buck.

88 The "uphill; Dragoons or. The story of Gen. Goom A.
Custer. by \rnlil. Fred. “'hiilnker.

8? Night-lluwk George. liy Col. Prentiss ingrshnm.

R The Buy Exiles of Siberia. lly ’1‘. (1. linrlmugh.

The Your": Iicur Hunters. Hy Morris Redwing.

Hmurt Sim. the Lad with a Level lleml. By Edward Willatt.

The firttler’a Hon. By Edward S. Ellis. .

Walt Fer “son’s Cruise. By C. Dunning Clark.

Hflc and evolver. liy Cant. Fred. Whittaker.

'he not [lay Whalers. Bv T. C. Harbnugh.

"fol 0 Billy, the kiddie Prince. By Col. P. ingrnham.

46 nick. the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. v

4’? The Colorado Boys; or, Life on an indigo Plantation. By
Joseph E. Bruiser iv.

48 The Pampas hunter-g or, New York Boy- in Bunion
Ayrel. By '1'. C. Hnrhnuuh.

49 The Adventurous Life of Nebruka Charlie. By
Col. Prentiss lnurahnm.

50 Jack, liar-Ia and Tom, the Three Champion Brothers. By
Capt. Fred. 'hittalior.

51 The Youn Imnd-Luhher. By C. Dunning Clark.

52 The Boy etcvtlvea. By '1‘. C. Harbnnzh.

58 Honest flurry; Or, The Country Boy Adrift in the City. By
C nries Morris. ‘

54 Culii'ohrnlu Joe, the Mysterious Plain-man. By Col. Prentiss
lliL'Tu Mn.

65 Tip Treuel. the Floater. By Edward “'illelt.

56 TdheFSnow Hunters: or, Winiar in the Woodl. By Barry
0 arrest.

57 Iinrr Some". the Silor Boy Magician. By S.‘W. Foam.

58 The dvcntnrouuLIi’e 0 Captain Jack, “is Border
Boy. liv Col. l’renlisl lngrnhmu.

59 Lame Tim. the Mule Roy of the Mines. By Charles Morris.

00 The Younfi Trnll Hunters; or, New York Boy- ln Griuly
Land. By .C.llurhnugh.

61 The Ti er llnnter-i or, The Colorado Boys in Elephant
Land. Ely Joseph E. EminenJr.

62 Doctor Carver, tho " Evil Spirit ” of the Plains. By Col.
Prentiss in nhum.

615 “Incl: flnfae Bill. the Bandit Wrecker. By Roger Stu-husk.

04 You“ “(0" Talbot; or, A Boys Rough and Tumble Fight
from aw York to California. By A. W. Aiken.

35 The Boy pun“ nr, 'I‘hn lulund VVrecin-r. Bv Col. P. lngraham.

66 The Desert Rover; or, Slownwny Dick Among the Au)».-
By Charles Morris.

Bendie’a Boy’s Lihrnry is forrlo hy all Newsduldn, In

cents per copy, or uni by mail on receipt of Ill cents each. ,
BEADLE AND ADAMS. Puhlhherl,

'98 William Street, New York. _

  
 

3333223“

 

   

 

  

‘BEADLE’S BOY’S LIBRARY.

Published Every Saturday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents

 

150 Th6 Boy Multan -lluntcr; or, Eaulaliu, the Beautiful
Amumn. liy Fredurhz Whittaker.
151 Frank Yuk-n, the Young Trapper; or, Mountain Kate’s
Warnlnz. Hy Jolt-pl! E. liadger, Jr.
153 Wild Raven, the Scout. By ()1! Coomea.
158 lfip‘mx-Cup; or, Four Truppera’ Among the Sioux. By Paul
3

| .
164 The Champion Tcxnn Hider: or, Red Bulinlo and the
Herculea Hunter. Bv Harry St. Grurgr.
Dirk’u Damn. B ' .l'lx. E. Budgrr, Jr.
Roll, the Boy S w. By Oil Comma.
57 Nick Doyle, the Gold I unlor. liy i‘. H. Mil-m.
58 Kidnapped Dick; or, The Fate of the Fir: ‘iy. By J. Stan-
ley Hendemm.
59 Sam’a Lon: Trail. By W. J. Hamilton.
60 llunk Trl let’s Vow. By Hurry Hazard.
61 The Mltl kip er. liyR.hlnr|nu~k.
69 The Trapper lug. By Maj. Max M rtlnv.
Simon Kenton Hunk-r. By Eurrmm Rndmnn.
4 The Boy Clllof: or. Frank Brll'a Cmnpm‘t. liy Oll Cuomea.
he Trader 'l‘rultor. By J. Staulry Henderson.
Old June’s Claw. By Mrs. Orrlu lunch
nun“.r Trailer. B W. J. Hamilton.
he 8 enter Spy. fly it nj. Lewis W. Carson.
anlr .utu. the Old Colorado Hunter. By E. W. Archer.
he “I hite Wolf. By Edward “'illctt.
"wnmp Guide. By W. N. McNeil.
'aukcc l’eddlcr. By C. Dunning Clark.
trout and Ill- Young (‘hunn By Warren St. John.
inoxamith Tom’a Man-k. Gen. 1'). Gilbert.
he Buoknkin Rider. Byl Greenwood.
he 8 nutter’n Snrprlne. By Mrs. H. J. Thomas.
our ellowficoutn. ByJ.SmnI Hruderaon.
id Kit and Ilia Comradeu. lly J u E. lludger, Jr.
nele Grill’l Ill-Aguirre. By llnrr) lazurd.
he Marked Miner. Ry Limit. (,ul. Hum-ltine.
he Wild lluntreaa. By Capt. llrulu Aduma.
he Dwarf Deco . Bv Mare 0. Rull'e.
Denn’a Tifltfi'fl. By inuoidxhy North.
ankee l-Iph’a Dilemma. By J. R. Woroaater.
he Wily Witch’s Ward. By Edwin E. Ewing.
Frank, the Farrier. By J. Stanley Henderson.
Diana, the Falr Mountaineer. liv Capt. F. Whittaker.
Jaek’a Snare. By Mrs. Ann . l’nrmr
Sam, the Swamp Scout. By W. J. llnmlllnn.
D The Dashing Trooper. By Fredcrlek Dewey.
he 0% Brave. By James L. Bowen.
Bondy iii, of Texan. By Edward Willert.
llarry Winkle’a Long Chou». By Wm. R. Eyater.
Cree er Clio the Shadow Swamp railer. By F. Dewey.
The anger Detective. By Harry iiaznrd.
ll , the Mountain “'iudl. By C. D. Clark.
n ed Captain. By W. J. Hamilton.
llld Oranslre'n Crinin. By Capt. Cllurlu! Howard.
Zebra Zack, the Texan. By W. J. Hamilton.
t The Nameleaa llunter. By George w. Robinson.
Th: Yankee Captives. Bv Edward Willett.
Tedd ’a Long Trail. By Edward S. Ellis.
01:! unk, the llermit By Edwnvd W. Archer.
l Goonehend‘a Beat film . By Jul. E. Bmlgrr, Jr.
The Dutchman’n Dread. B Cupt. Chm. How-rd-
k. iiy W. . Hnmllton.
By C. Dunnlnu Clark.
By Jauwa L Bowen.
. By Edward Willet.
The Tell-Tale Bullet. By J. Stnnlev Hrudonon.
The Boy Surveyor. lly Vt’. J. Hamilton.
Yankee Drover Swipon. lly Seelin Rohlna.
s lver City Tom. By .lamea i.. Bowen.
Nil-k, thc Drier-live. llv Edwin Emerson.
. ultnn Rider Ii’o .
he Du oiu Dutle
unkee Joy-h. u... Ru B‘ u. l
New York Nrd in (lulli’ornlr. ,
' By ‘dwnrd “'Illett.
unk'n Rival.

I“ B aul J. Pmmtt.

‘91 Doctor Bag. Delecihr. By gawk Jav Swift.

B Sly Sum’n Emu-e. By Louis D‘Iflfln . M. D.

8 01d Nancy’s Wurd. lly Llent. Col. liawltine.
nttlehutc. the Nahuh. )3. Sum. it Sherwood.

. Ilhta- uwk III; or, 'l‘hs New York Spommen'a Claw.
‘.

R W. J.
By Mam O. Rolfe.
I 27 Burney’l Bold Brunh. Ry Jnuma L. Bowen.
9213 The Deadwood Sparta. By leul.  G. Lansing.
929 HurliTwSL-hmidt, In; or, The Diuuiud Yankee. By W. J.
Hill II.
980 Lone Rtar‘a Rure fihot- By l-larry Hazard.
08] Mark Mornun’l Monk. By Capt. Churleu Howard.
883 Billy Broom’a Firnt CruI-e. llv ll. Mlnor Klapp.
'88 The Glrl Rifle-Shot. By W. J. Hamilton.
884 Old Kyle’s Lonfi’Tran-p. By Henry J. Thomas.
935 Old R ll Syoe’a ledge. By Edward Wlllntt.
288 The 0n-thc-Win3 Detentlve. By Ed. S. Ellis.

’8? The Dolphin’l Young Skipper. By Roger Shrback.

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283 .loah’a Boy I’m-do. By S. G. Lansing.

239 Law, Dukin'u Illnzulno. By Mam 0. Knife.

240 Darln Dick‘n Rave. By Arllmr L. Mr-snrvn.

2-H lint-ll; Inho‘a Iioyu. By J. SmuIr-v Hounlwanu.

2-12 ’Cyollat lloh floured. By Capt. R. M. llnwlhornr.

243 B‘lllnln-Ligllt Joe; or, limve. the (‘uninr Smut. By Charles

P. in rv.

244 lioh linker”- Lnnt Loan. By 1’. Benton Silll‘lill. U. S. A.

245') North “'mrdn Nut. liy W. J. llnmillnu.

2-16 Ehn‘nulrl (Thief; or, Dolly’s llrnll Disguise. By J. M.

I-rl’l .

247 Denver Din-k, the Ratllur; or, This Mineer ui Deadwood
GuIr-h. By llurry Hazard. .

248 Blur-k Jinl‘a Doom; or, Billy Bowlegs'a Rl'venge. By Lieut.
Col. Iiazaltine.

249 Mornun, thu Sn-a Rover; or,The Shrcwrl Soutrluuan’n Scheme.
liy John S. Wurm-I'.

250 leh‘a Glmnt Trap; or, The Haunted-House Havoc. By
George A plegala. ‘

251 Kyd’n lgold Game; or, The Death-Trail Myalrry. By
Paul Ribba.

252 Rum-ho Sum‘n Shot; or, Fort Blukley’n Specter Riders.
By Gnome (.‘luuaon.
258 grungy Cruzy Block; or, The French Fugitlve. By Harry
aur .

254 The Fl htln Quaker or The Droll Huh "I: Din a'.
By Eriwn‘r'd s. Ellin- 3 ’ . 3 n ’
255 The Rnnuor'n First. Cruiae; or, The Yauhco'Tar Abroad.
By John S. Warner. -
256 Bolt Gagc'u Crew; or, The Boya of Logger Group. By
John Neal.
25'! Tommy’s Font Paecr; or. Searching lot “ Unclo Joni-h."
By W. J. Hmuilton.
258 Doc Bell’u Pluck; or, The Frvuchman’u l-‘rte. By Clpt.
Chris. Howard.
259 lim-ky Mountain Burt; or, Harry, the i-‘urrler'a Sun.
By Edward \Nlllrtt.
280 Rockies:- Rulpla’n Rink; or, The Tell-Tale Claw. By
James L. owen.
261 Gold Nugget Dick; or, Two Buya’ Good Luck. By Tam
i'. Morgan
262 lru’n Big Bonanza; or. Mylteriolla Craty Tum. By Harry
Huznrd. ‘
268 Joy-h Marx-ten, Detective: 0!. Tim CHIin Agent’r Crime.
B" Mary A. Dnnuou.
264 I'uole Jerry. the Quaker; or, The Schoollnnater'n Trial.
Bv John Nnul.
265 The Skinner’s Mute; or, The (Trulae ol‘ thu Fire-Fly. By
Hurry Cavendish ‘
266 The Girl Cowboy (‘npinim or. The Skinner: at the
Carolina Swalupl By Jon. E. Badman .lr. I.
26? Wh, the Mimic Spy; or, The Frenchnmu'l Doom. By
. l. Humiltou.
288 Rnlnh’u LII-t Tramp; or, The Wmdlnnn‘a Rucrennt Rival.
By Erlwnnl S. Ellil.
269 Sol Steelo’l Grudge; nr,The Madman uitho Miami. By
Edward Will-'tl.
270 Jot-k, the lonnt Dotcotive; or. ’l’ha Dirguined Clptuln'l
Clurk. By Roger Starhuuk.
271 Old Gotlloh. tho Jolly Landlord, or, The Daring Duuh
Dunne]. By Ilurrick Johnawne.
372 Thu Boy Boomer; or, Puwnee Bill'a Protege.
. lluyulon.
278 Red Miko‘n Rune. By W. J. Hamilton.
274 B y, the Dutch Dnme; or, The Aldrvnian'a Littlr
Protngw. liy Drcutur Pauldlng, U. S. N.
275 Conrad. the Del-nu Kin , or, Leon Lorrnlru’a ill-gum.
By llarry )luninrt. Rudy Ju y 27.
276 PM; the, le-ky tier-Fem"; or. Ralph on the War-path.
By W. J. Hum Itml. Rum y August 3.
277 Jar-l: Jordan'n l’ardl or. The Sullln Fe Hunk-n.
M. V. Victor. Randy Allgunt lo.
278 Tom. the Old Tar; or. .lnr‘k Winthrop’l Loop: Trail. By
Rug" Starbm‘k. Ready August 11.
2’39 Dolly’n Death-Shot; or. Dually Mark. lln- Young.r Wild-cat.
By Capt. Chnrlrr Howard. llemly Auuuxt VI.
280 Detective German Joe; or, Thr- Flving Dutchman Out
Welt. By Howard M. Bo utou. Rl‘fllly Augunt 31.
Beadle’n Boy’u Library is for solo 'hy all Nuwldntlon, an
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