Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 103) (1879 07 15)
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te {| Dts i Sai A a $2.50 a year. Entered at the Post il ‘im i fl il att at lal la a Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class Matter. Copyrighted in 1879 by BEADLE AND ADAMS, < Da a i T WI, VERB THT ZB MY \u July 15, 18796 Single Number. fhe Lith ot see The Vailed Lady of San Tropez, A WEIRD, WILD TALE Vol. IV. OF THE OLDEN TIME, WHEN THE ALGERINE PIRATES SWEPT THE SOUTHERN SEA AND BOLDLY DEFIED ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, CHAPTER L THE LUGGER, ‘*“ What wild and wandering men are these?” —OLD Puay. Buus are the waters of the Mediterranean, fairest of all the Southern Seas; and ri ner ure * Uf ! Fi - yi Tf doe | FOR THE LOVE OF HAVEN, NOPLY Sm No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. its tides in stories of romance than all the rest of the waters of Europe combined. And of the Mediterranean we write—of that beautiful sea as it was in the year 1653 when on its southern line it washed upon the territory of as merciless a horde of corsairs as this world has ever known. It is of the Algerines we speak, the Algerines of Algiers, the fierce and turbaned Moors, ruled over by a Dey who claimed direct descent from the far-famed pirates of the olden time, the Brothers Barbarossa, who, invited by the peo- ple of the coast, craving for rulers who depend- might of right, seized upon the throne of Al- giers. And these pirate brothers became lords of | | that land, and their descendants ruled after them as Deys, nomirtally su’), in reality utterly independent STAIN NOT YOUR soNuT PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, “4 to Turkey, but | Price, 5 Cents. In 1653 the Dey was called Aboo Tassan, x "yt arrogant tyrant who believed himself «2 2 master of as greata kingdom as though has could boast that on his dominions the sun never set. And this jackdaw of a sovereign—this little head of a nest of sea-robbers of the worst : dared to levy war upon any ship that spreadits white sails on the blue waters of the Mediter= ranean, no matter what flag she carried. All was fish that came tothe net of these ruthless sea-rovers whether the vessel displayed , at her peak the keys and castle of old Spain, the ed upon the strong band rather than on the | Italian colors of Leghorn, Genoa or Naples, or even the almost-universally-respected lilies of France or the St. George’s Cross of England. It seemed strange that these powerful nations should submit to such outrages at the hands of these merciless rogues, but they did so for many years, and even paid black-mail to the ** ma: WITH THIS DEED OF HORROR!’ SHE CRIED, IN ACK
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L os ae isnt we asthere « on boagdynor yet an ounce of — 2 2 The. Lion. of the Sea. nificent ” Dey, in the shape of ransom for their captive subjects, or to buy protection for their flag; and so daring had these sea-brigands be- come at the time of which we write that hardly a ship, other than a man-of-war, no matter what flag she carried, dared to attempt to navi- gate the “Mediterranean without being prepared to pay ransom, or else, being well armed, to fizht a passaze through. Mi vtters being in this state, it was strange thes a smail, two-masted lugzer, little more tuan a fishinz-boat, illy manned, not armed at all, sailing due south, “skirting Minorca’s isle, leavitig Majorca’s high cliffs far behind, should boidly “steer straight for the African shore! A mean contemptible- loging ts: by a most hang : | t% Vy 4 S06 . her way throu; “a Aleem e St it fi. 3 measures of a cou ” p-ecious in the sight of men’s eyes. A precious cargo, although not a pound of JY, sa¥dwhat the skipper, and the villainous crov carr ied in the tn pockets of their ba leg Srowsers, To 3a ne atu get corehilll. that not or = 3! 1e was cosy. Vv “ey slightes trades of fie er Biche Saul i Ok ‘on, andl yet ‘thek was fdt @ Thah ofS. Cote ho would ot hid re ie | é ie a cD fot Ae tha Ao fh SPaight from the French coast to the south- a was rom Rie ited vane ti it the. ern African land the craft had laid her course. | dull-pated scoundrels, they might at once have The lady, listless" and” melancholy; spent alr her time in gazing at the blue waves rippling ast, and spoke not, save when the skipper ad- twat some remark to her; She knew not whither = Ws going, ane did) she care; life for her had few charms, for, from- her early childhood, ne ver been mis- fortune’s prey: wie And the skipper! hela passing mention; a tall, dressed, like a commo sailor, 3 certain something about itis man use1 to command SHEW ; and anything but handsome the face; for his Sree and mipscular, bull-dog-like ‘not to his beauty, although they ore than a av man, roughly- yet with that > a x Bs "haope Te wills ins ot Bacay by oe, hes gin the li ; sHpper’s sides iste) isi Yer: me of the cre tH Pe-a i Be betty t than the rest, arth eat dup red enough; and he was as red : ras) \ilack—red face, re ir-andten be: ishman, also, for+he talked with the | e craft in thats Seneue,, a language which | ee outcast bravoes’ fromm. the em lands: The lady was leaning over the-prow_ of the. craft watc z the bub’ Xa : eed = the vessel |. jsut through the water,- and so could -not liste to the gonversation, : Son aot hep an anxious watch the “been keeping out ahead at the -bow,; and_ when his eyes, Bien as the orbs of the falcon, | mkt sight of an object, rising dimly along the er: ern horizon, which as yet none fit had noticed, he uitted his position ax ed carelessly to the stern of the craft. “ Well?” questioned the helmsman. *“Tind,” replied the Other, Taconically, — “ And no-sailPhsr AOs ae 4 that theirSowner was a mg rf, Z fhe rest did not/utiderstand, forthey- were-all. ; ** No sail.” ‘“ That is strange!” “Yes, they should have overhauled us an hour ago. ‘* What does it mean?’ ‘‘T know not; some misunderstanding, I pre- sume; perhaps ‘they did. not weigh anchor in time, or the wind may have failed them.” “Ttis a good wind.” ‘For us, yes, and should be so for them.” “These vermin do not suspect,” and as he spoke the speaker glanced carelessly at the crew, four men in all, now congregated ina knot by the foremast, throwing di dice and jabbeting fari- ““We must conceal her below; it is not likely that we will be searched when they discover who and what we are.” Then the skipper went forward, and explain- ing his fears to the lady, conducted her below. ‘he unknown craft came up, hand-over-hand, as the saying is, and the sailors, noticing her at last, sought the pe 5 and speculated vigor- ously in regard to her. One conclusion was reached by all, and that was that she was no honest craft. Twenty minutes more and she came so near that her decks could be plainly distinguished, crowded with men—armed men, too, for the lint of the sun on the steel of the ‘weapons ; ag be seen. ecraft less favored than the men her, for a couple of brass pieces igi forward ports bow-chasers. Won_piece, amidabips showed ew off the S ci of rd e, thus mountéd,-in-after-years e to -~ moons as.the:hong’Tom of the + “dew plael k” Pees schooners, and of the hardy Y ankee pri- vatee ‘iA single shatithektranger firéd’as a signal for the lugger toskeamxerto—no empty menace in the shape of a blank cartridge, a a well-aimed solid ball that went skipping playfully over the waves only ayard or two ahead of the Jogger’ 8 bow. ag Wey nor does she seem to.care. omen are,strange animals,” exolaimed the. “Other, with a very expressive shrug of the shoulders. “ What will they do with these fel- lows when |they: ae them? Pr ood... ¢ - pow ’ replied the ror con- vail tuous the Dagens will stop a cannon- ball or dull “the edge of a outings as well % bet- The crew of the little” craft’ ondcratood the meaning of the signal well enough, and, without waiting for or ders, thoroughly frightened, they skippeéc ‘jabhering like)so many monkeys, to the TO es, and down came the sails on a run, &ligger' Tost *her' Headway almost’ imme- ‘Aately; ‘and ‘lay’ like a& tog’ on the surface of the “that the vailed“tady was as! iad the calltag, ‘the attention | wavél _ brig! a nua Pa aye! nat” Stor a ie ise andr ; th ae raat 12 ‘ull Thestran der shoe By thém, atid as’she did so aradiss wail to r vi us an es,” ey,,a lee y. owered a boat with t t pro ot alacrity and © Bo aduet “her, ie ‘dark ue of the” inane and “gailo rs aa el heen ; je Ahn ready’skill ‘whiel so claaby tdid a practiced @ il: ert f ahh St as fe, wane ‘per orce, must seamanship, and atthe ate instant a ball of 10 AY TAe MF ORI qcie 9, hebween theiy own precious selves and | bunting went up to the 4tranger’s peak; she bad aol ARS pe Her, i bi ants of| the aotibe W el bo shore whete by wine me be pegeoasly displayed no colors. Sat of money, Cou Pea MOR ihare wer fat on-board the hugger -was fixed on ofStind MN a ba afore Hae resi hyena Biies $0 BBS B lif 8 the Seal al tomting, for it was black, and not a na ” thé skipper. rexclaiat ae : tag ofa t,.each, , 1 with, great glee, anc repeated the’ name of the far- med Spanish city; but, had they not been -soul-.there, but,expeeteds to see there display - the, Death’s Head and: @ross-bones,ever) the p rate’s favorite device from time immemor isl; but they were disappointed, for wh en the wind 00 x1. to the yreeze, there, On a black ground, a w hite lion’s headWas seen, the mouth open and the tusks gleaming, see mingly in anger. A cry went up from the lips of the helmsman. “Tt is the Lion of the Sea, master!” he ex- claimed; ‘‘ the boldest and most merciless sea- rover that ever fired a gun in these waters!” ‘* A Greek pirate?” quoth the other. ‘Faith! no one knows whether he is a Greek or what he is, for no mortal ever sees his face; he wears a most strange disgt: S$ you will see _ifhe.comes in person to beag fon se goat seve mye fast to smal / aa a gh me 7h rs, > ai A sagt n uprr77e the eek it — = oticed the difference between the low shore, -hardly-a fathom’s hight above the sea which | ey ‘were approac hing, and the botd--eliffs which. mark the site of the anciént town that ihe Boman epic, ; gladly conquered two hun- before Christ, an electrified the seven-hilled city, with ings. t master of, the richest to¥ r End, lightly my were dress- lly worn by voncealedy Teape 2¥ some . i ih} : U ir | sag 3p: iowkds Mou th idk so”? thet’ sletey mo ie yidens y alagraed. ° a Yt 20% Sstyle of ag Ee who ro ste fas more’ thing meye m an, 3h ae af arfu : S.A age, ve Ka Beh’ century, if jy quité the that hnmans could at oe com- ; #end Be darkness, aiid-by- his aid reek ‘pirabe ; OS axed) Aten derful. deeds. Even: the church 50) u gies e fosudin se ee te araped tlie idea).and warned its children in In-that-case we 2 Taw noth ; he -most my ananer that-they. must not carry no cargo;jwe—are simply an form “‘tmhaly_alli with th he Author of All ing-craft thabiiias been bld6wn-out to Evil. east a wiiho ompass we hav The Titon-Ca tain a searching uy soe > ti Ving. to Inake a harbor ws ance around him: SS —Ofio!..L miss some saat e ote er ut the lady Say asked “the “other, _Signifi- | And at this extreme cwiar,exclamation eantlys' © o'T a fok all on *Woatd iow that tite istiy had gone oe
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The Lion of the Sea. below, there were pale faces among the hearers. The saying argued a supernatural knowled xe, ‘‘T crave your pardon, noble sir,” said the skipper, who did not share in the superstitious feelings of the crew, but merely looked upon the lion’ le bead as a chever device to promote mys- tery and so excite terror; and as he ke he approached the stranger mp in hand, in the most humble manner, evident. Tene it 7 no easy task for him so to appear. oes your lordship seek on board of our poor P erattr” ‘“Who and what are ye?” asked tho stranger, speaking now in the previously used French. The skipper hesitated to reply; he was evi- dently reluctant to use his own language for some reason. “Don’t you understand English?” the Lion Captain questioned. A little, noble sir,” the skipper responded, hesitatingly. “Speak, then, man, and don’t lie, for Ill wager my craft yonder and all she contains you first spoke English ere you learned any other tongue.” The skipper was perplexed; this Greek pirate used his mother tongue like a native. ‘“We are only poor fishermen, your honor blown out of our course by contrary winds, anc we are now seeking some safe harbor.” . A conte: uptuous laugh came from the lion’s ead, “And is the harbor of Algiers so safe that | you run straight for it?’ he demanded, now speaking in French: ‘are you all anxious to serve the Moor as slaves?” -**Oh, no, not Algiers!” cried one of the crew, borror-stricken. **Oh, no!” ie rest chorused. ‘ Cartagena!” (5 Alg ers lies yonder, not two leagues off,” and the strai; ger waved his hand toward the | strand—tho low sandy coast. ‘And it is a mercy tuat the Algerines have not swooped down upon you loug ere this; ea youare ahead of your time, good_master skipper; you have sailed better than _you calculated upon, for you | are not due for an*hour-¥eb.” Despite th® firni conmiand that the dark-faced | cemaster ofthe later had oreriisfédtures he tr Waisstartledatthéawords of the” Dion! ore reand betrayed his uneasiness his fiee: “ Aha! T reachetvhomethav tind? oostrangerimed#en.’ o'SvAn ott itt ae, siygood Master Richard TPONaHBL hore oealledsBiack Dick of Crewe; ‘Bat? eet bear when you wear the para rine foknéw Hot, although’ T nave ie bt” J hatcyou are as igdod! a Moores tify’ of the ‘rest wot theme : » The skipper was thuntérstruck: for the $ttan- regen hitvnameddhiny oily too ' earteetly and he‘ _also understood the mnedilthe 6e Uae sit¥oware ntistiken, ndtle alte oie ntry hig hardt7 dissertible,’ ERG E ‘Have® But" med livesy andi: your: honor se ks “‘Shent Wwe ure at ye ts bos bo te oud { urybursmeney. $6 “OWS, we'H “fake.-y6ur: apa, i yeaa “80 frei el” or bic te ai with/a riesmaugh 44? te ry : i » andi you,’ Ronest® ei Me Fm ‘There's root” S cee lt in Daye Jonov¥locltiy anth iy the! pe | erent el eke by ie en ae! bene “fbf Ons BY Yoh nal 8 a ‘ “plank ant tdvariced | halfway thevai © {t eat autit WE w *sMowythen,ta awe rfidre and solve that at great Sra which has? ‘manya mat fh thi aoe wordy ' at Bine rast’ mit crew With | horror athe rangers* with cag ‘Curiosity. °Thenedp frori the ‘little held rushéd ry, her vail now bast-aside in the” tigitation’ of moment; atid flurig hers¢lf upon her knees. © For theldve’of Heaveti! noble sir, paraie me your soul with ‘this-deéd of hortor!”” she ¢riéd in accents wild. mglish tongue, having | ‘aspen the’ i tru sol 5 i se ee ee ar WRAY “Teaeen el pa t- BOG ihe ot thie! CHAPTER III. THE MYSTERY REVEALED. Nor a soul upon the craft but looked with ad- | miration upon the beautiful face of the girl, for she was one of those rare types of beauty that are so seldom seen; a glorious creature with great blue eyes, into which one might look day after day for years to come and yet find a new beauty each new day to rew ard the search; hair rich, dark-gold in hue, and as fine as finest silk that patient silk-worm ever spun; lips red , whole world of love; the complexion so prose that pearls might pale with envy, an droop in despair, not daring to attempt to rival the handiwork that the great goddess, Nature, | had lavished upon this most perfect creature. Her form, perfection itself. In fine, nature never created—art never represented, ‘a more exquisite woman. nd now with all the charms of her beautiful face exposed to the free gaze of these strange men—those charms that few eyes had ever look- stranger to such a quick and sudden death. ** Do not fear, lady,” said the Lion Captain, a most decided change in his manner now, his voice respectful, even kind. ‘*‘ Your boon was granted ere it was asked; your appearance saves the life of this gentleman, whois now so strange- ly disguised for a man of his parts. Down to your deck again, Master Tendrell, and thank this lady for your life. Ah! it is a fine recom- pense for your action; she has saved your life but to what fate have you decoyed her ?” The man slowly returned to his former posi- | tion, a sullen look upon his dark face, and it was slain that he chafe terribly under "the merci- ess examination of his tormentor, know not what you mean, sir,” he said, at ” ‘Oh, you are a much ill-used man!” the other exclaimed, in mockery, ‘but do not attempt to trick me with a falsehood. I know more of you | and of your plans, and of your master’s plans too, than Sa think for!” Again the skipper started and glared angrily and suspiciously at the stranger. ‘* Aha! I touch you on the quick again!” the + Lion Captain cried. “Oh, you and this other SWhom you wot of, have planned shrewdly, but before you have done with me you sh Teseines superior to the rest of mankind.” '} Then, he ‘turned to the lady. ‘ Can I not be of | service tO ra in some way?” “NO, si earth not,” she replied. She had risen td! her feet i was surveying the strange \ disg ike that thé m curiosity. , e lion’s head bodes iinet ni ima yi mi aven knows, dear shi ed you's ~ that I could al- right hand if I ‘op oard of my you.for your. kin: bes oa vette eraft'yo tore awe Jord but, x ith re Lee, Inchon Sadie ever in ee feo is va ey Tine of sgt om ae “ait he) ory tt wads i ens epee on Oh ea you an a a oti Sh 18 ied.” ot 0 &ha e it “Lady, oe you ihe, ie 0 way rhe bib ne woul in ye r oh mE anid, ene Lt i fo ce me a ; MD cary hit fe your, oat m dq. vessel? | iB Te bie Bn gees nea pe, fis oi gil asked, | ish’ langyage, tay. A ia” Yon tongtie, s a} 4 ] native; you: are’ drbssett dometBing like an Bhi sailor, | but that lion’s heal is not tue fi ag of England,” as rubies, and so rich in dewy fr eshness that | they seemed to hold within their soft confines a | roses | ed upon, womankind alone excepted, she knelt | and cried for mercy for the mar doomed by the | find | ‘that the man who flies the lion’s head from the of his craft has means of information | : ve ore wit *: fia? esti a 2 my appearance, lady,” man. fas th @,Care-o ! pont te — dh or — 3 and as she spoke she pointed to the black ensign _ how flaunting proudly in the breeze. “Yonder ship is called the Lion; I am her | master; no nation claims her, and she sails the seas.ow ‘ning no master save my sole will; but of this one fact be assured, that ship fires no gun _ against any vessel that flies the St. George's Cross, old England’s banner!” _ “But, why do you take this interest in me, a stranger?” she asked, her curiosity excited. “ hay. I cannot answer that, at present; but in the future I may be able to ex lain. For the last time I implore you to quit this doomed craft and seek refuge on board of my snug and stanch sea-bird, as good a vessel as floats the w ig this day. ; t be,” sh t may not be—it may no she re perlengly 5 | f ‘although I go to my deat eset ust I go!” “You are destined for a fate worse than death!” cried the Lion Captain, impulsively. “Worse than death!” echoed the irl, open- ing her great blue eyes wide in astonishment. “Yes, a thousand times worse to such a wo- man as I think you are! * Alas! I do not know what I am; I am not | even sure of my own name!” she exclaimed, pa- thetically. “What! is it as bad as that?” “From early infancy I have been kept in ig- norance in regard tomy birth, and who or what “I am. I know that I am called Cleora; but, what else, I know not. I know that I have a father—I have seen him twice when he visited me in San Tropez—I am going to him now at Cartagena—” | “Ttisa foul lie, lady!” the Lion Captain ex- claimed, abruptly. ‘‘You are many leagues from Cartagena, and you are not two from the city of Algiers, the nest of these accursed, dus turbaned pirates, the very scum of the earth! “T know nothing but what I am told,” the lady replied, helplessly. ‘‘This gentleman brought a message from my father—his written command to come to him and to trust myself entirely to this gentleman’s care. My father wrote that he isa man of broken fortunes and could not provide me with a better escort. I lssow my father’s hand—Heaven help me! bet- ter than my father’s face! What should I do but obey his written will?’ 2 Lady! !” eried the stranger, impatiently, ‘‘ { had no idea that you were so utterly ignorant of all that concerns yourself and _ tunes, but you shall dwell in this doubt no longer. I know your birth and race, and what Ik ls I will unfold to you. Your name is Cleora—Cleora Craven. You are the daughter of Thomas Cra- ven, Earl of Crofton and Knight of Engleboro!” “Oh! is it possible that I am so well descend- _ ed?” cried the lady, clasping her hands together AN, Vell descended!” cried the stranger, in bit- ter disdain. ‘‘ Ah! better were it for you, lady, to be the daughter of the poorest peasant England, if he were an honest man, than to come of the tainted line that calls your father its head! Iam speaking bitter words for a daugh- ter’s ears, but you will learn the truth some time, and it is “better for you that you should know it now.’ The black-faced skipper set his teeth together icin rage, but word he dared not speak, for he stood in = holesome awe of the strangely-dis- ae jgyised aya S95 Gacy, ga. on!” the lady cried; ‘let me hear worst tha@t,ean be said, Perha ap y +" speak a WA ENGS Ch mToe, and when I am face to fs stake Ea father she har easily disprove the “hae wir ‘ia i ee that rou W ill, find him in when lend will in ao e ht wm Ord on, eh on! ‘Tt burn with impatience!” she mou ltw! ' ‘Themes Graven, _Eark of: “Cnof- in Sponttalan ; nGRe gD pe ror oe or, EWG lendly: to revenge: chis | oe and reyenge, the awfulrévent he did: by | Seger ie rting ta-the, enemy: on. the first: favorable CRROTENPIEY arr (with him important rs, Sg rons ‘whieh, disclosed to Grom- Well, aided nore than, anything else to a downfall of aad th al eause.” 3 s.r tence eame,drom the: dips ofthe: girl, aaa vith, her fair handsishe covered her glorious eyes, Brea by: the act; she- ‘would ee? Te _dnembr BANCO. 2/ “Oh, gags it eanngtibe true? she ‘saideat init; “quite feebly. “Tt is true!” the Lion Captain replied, firmly.
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4 The Lion of the Sea. “The annals of England are stained by the crime! Richly was he paid . 5 Cromwell for his traitorous betrayal of the trust confided to his care, but the act gained for him the con- tempt of every honest man, and at last, unable to endure the public scorn which met him at every turn, he fled from England and in a foreign land sought amid strangers to lead a new life. And to what land did this recreant p Engiisher come? What country did he honor with his presence? Not a civilized clime in the {world but would scorn such a man and such a deed! One country alone offered shelter—A1- giers, the home of the pirates!” CHAPTER IV. THE ALGERINES. Tne dark-faced skipper could restrain himself no longer. ‘Oh, lady!” he cried, ‘‘ let not this stranger’s awful story fall heavy on your ears! ,With his own lips your father shall disprove the tale. It is the base invention of his enemies, who, jealous of your father’s noble nature, and unable to use him for their base purposes, first, by secret, un- derhand means, ruined his fortunes at home stained his good name, and then, by craft and trickery, drove him from his native land.” ‘Well, are you through now, good Master Tendrell?” the Lion Captain asked, contempt- uously. “Yes, even though I am helpless in your power, still will I speak the truth, although the penalty be the forfeit of my life!’ ‘““Now, by the red cross of St. George! Mas- ter Dick, but you are a faithful and a stanch servant, and pity ’tis that you serve so truly so vile a master; and yet to a man of your broken, desperate fortunes what other road is open?’ cried the stranger, in bitter scorn. ‘‘ Lady, let me introduce this gentleman to you,” he con- tinued, “‘for I perceive that you really know him not, although freely you trust him with the rich treasure of a matchless self. By name, Richard Tendrell; by his companions in crime most aptly termed Black Dick of Crofton, upon whose head a price is set, and who dares not be found within the four seas of Britain for fear of the hangman’s rope. I have given you the two names which he has borne in his native land from which the fear of an outraged law has for- ever banished him, but he has still a third name —a, name that he sports when he treads the deck of an Algerine galley, decked out in turban and Moorish garb, as great a Moslem to all outward signs as any tawny pirate of this accursed, sun- bitten land!” and the speaker shook his clenched fist, fiercely at the low shore of Africa. ‘‘ He is a bloody-minded leader of bloody-handed men! Against his own race, his own kin does he war, and in the hour of slaughter he waves aloft in triumph the Moorish cutlass, red with Christian blood!” ‘Oh, horrible!” cried the girl in anguish. “ Lady, remember that my tongue is tied!” | *T am in this man’s | the skipper exclaimed. ower and he holds my life in the hollow of his and!” the stranger. er! what better are you ? maelite of the waters, your hand against every man and all against you?” ‘I decoy not innocent women to fearful dooms!” the Lion Captain exclaimed, fiercely. ‘You would save the lady from me to make her your prey!” ‘*'You are a villainous liar!” the other retort- ed, ‘‘and were it not that I scorn to strike you now that you are helpless and at my mercy, your life should pay the forfeit of your words!” ‘“‘T will deliver the lady to her father! By all that I hold sacred in this world, I swear it!” ‘‘No doubt, no doubt!” the other cried, ‘‘ but you, as well as I, know the fate to which she is des! ned.” E , “Tt know nothing!” the skipper replied, sul- enly. . “I will inform you then!” the Lion Captain exclaimed, “ for it is just possible that the rene- ‘ gade has not trusted you with the secret, though faoubt it. And, lady, you listen, too, for I will unfold to you the fate to which you are most surely doomed unless you accept my roffered aid, Your father is high in the confidence of Aboo Hassan, the Dey of Algiers; he is, toa certain extent, his right-hand man; he also com- mands one of the Dey’s piratical cruisers; but the man who climbs to power in these Eastern do- mains treads a most perilous and uncertain road, particularly if he happens to be a rene- gade. ed upon the very top of the ladder, there is no telling how soon some bold hand may shake him from his place of pride and power. And ‘“You call me pirate and butch And then he turned in sullen rage to | Are you not an Ish- | Even though one may be securely perch- | so, in your father’s case, he feels that he is treading upon dangerous and uncertain ground; he would render his position with the Dey more secure, and with an almost fiendish craftiness he has inflamed the imagination of the tyrant with rich descriptions of your grace and beauty, The picture of your mother, whom you most strongly resemble, he has shown to Aboo Has- san and pronounced it to be your likeness. Mark, lady, I speak plainly, for in such a mat- ter as this we cannot stop to pick and choose our words. Your father intends you for this bloody-minded, fickle, beak tyrant! He sells you to him outright merely for the lease of power. Jt was all carefully arranged, although this base wretch denies it. You were told that you were going to your father at Cartagena, but, instead of so sailing, you were brought near to the Algerine coast: a pirate galley was to meet you, seize you and tring you in tri- umph to Algiers; there your father was to re- ceive you, tell you a well-concocted story of how he had also fallen into the hands of the Moors but had been kindly treated by them and elevated to a high office, and then, gradually, little by little, the praises of the Dey were to be sung in your ears until at last you consented to the life of shame to which the hand of your sire was to conduct you. You, an honest Christian English girl was to become one of the wives of this brutal monster of Algiers!” “No, I cannot—I will not believe it!” the lady cried, wringing her hands in anguish ‘*Tt is the truth, before high Heaven. J swear it !” cried the Lion Captain, wy nated i And then, all of a sudden, the booming of a n came sounding over the waters and startled th the spectators and actors of this strange scene. The shot had been fired by the vessel of the stranger as a warning of danger, and, as they all looked around them and one and all gazed toward the land, out from the shelter of the headland came a rakish, stately craft, evidently an Algerine war-vessel, and one of considerable tonnage, too. “There, behold, lady!” cried the Lion Cap- tain; ‘‘ yonder comes the tawny monster eager for his prey. Against your will I cannot brin myself to tear you from your danger, althoug: I am strongly tempted so to do. For the pres- ent I must bid you farewell, for 1 must go on board my ship and prepare to receive this stran- er with all the honors of war, for, big as she is, if I can’t blow her out of the water or sink her below the wave inside of an hour then will I never shake my flag again to the breeze; but, lady, forget not my parting words, no mat- ter where you are, no matter what danger threatens you: if you are on the sea—if it is on the land, in the trackless desert, where the wild simoom is king—within the wall of Al- | giers, yea! even within the palace of the dusky Dey himself: in your last hour—in your direst extremity, call upon the Lion, and be may be near to render aid, when all means save the To the | great hand of Heaven seem powerless. boat, men.” | Quickly they descended to the launch, and the | Lion Captain standing up in the stern waved an | adieu. | Impulsively the girl cried out the question which had arisen in her mind: “ Why do you take such an interest in me “‘ Because I love you, Cleora Craven, and fain would win you for my own,” was the answer that came pealing back over the surface of the | swelling waves, | The Algerine came on apace. The skipper, whose keen eyes had been atten- tively fixed upon the Moorish war-vessel, anx- iously endeavoring to make her out, suddenly gave vent to a joyous exclamation. He had re- cognized the craft. A gleam of fierce joy illuminated his swarthy face, and he darted to the side of the vessel and shook his fist defiantly at the retreating boat, now pulling back to the rakish craft of the stranger as fast as the stout arms of the rowers and the good old ash-blades they wielded could propel her. Tt is the frigate of Ali, Pasha Blue Beard!” he shouted, at the top of his lungs. ‘‘ Now look well to yourself, Lion-head, or else a slave to | the great Ali you may become!” This renowned Moor, Ali of the blue beard, was reputed to be not only the boldest, but | the ablest, of all the wild sea-rovers who swept the Mediterranean, whether of Algiers, Tripoli or Tunis. All three of the Moorish powers, at the time of which wé write, claimed a sovereign ty over the waters adjacent to their territory. The ship of Ali was the most powerful of any of the Moorish cruisers, bemg a brig. carryimg 99 twenty-eight guns and fully manned by a crew of desperadoes, not a man of whom but richly deserved the rope. In grandiloquent style this very king of pi- rates had named his craft The Sword of Death, and for his banner he floated a blood-red flag, whereon was emblazoned a silver crescent, the ees emblem, crossed by a naked Moorish saber. Ruthless as a tiger mother bereft of her young, bloody-handed as the flag under which ee sail- ed, no man, the keel of whose ship pressed the b.ue waters of the Mediterranean, was more to be dreaded as a foe than Ali. The skipper ordered sail to be made at once, for he saw that a conflict was at hand, and he desired to get out of harm’s way; in bis mind, though, he had no doubt at all in regard to the issue of the fight. The craft of the Lion-head was hardly half the size of the Algerine frigate, and then, too, the skipper could hardly bring himself to be- lieve that the stranger was really in earnest when he had declared his purpose of engaging the Algerine war-vessel. ‘When he discovers that it is Pasha Blue Beard, he will think twice before he shows his teeth!” the skipper observed, to the red-bearded helmsman, “He is in a trap, though,” the other replied; “he cannot hope to escape by flight aad must either fight or yield.” “Tf he does fight it will be because he cannot help himself!” the skipper exclaimed. By this time the Lion Captain had reached his vessel, and the first move after he got on board was to put the craft about. She had shown her stern to the Algerine in running down to pick up her captain, but now, as boldly as though the superior force of the Moor had not been noted, she wore around, and with all sail set made straight for the Algerine frigate. “She goes to destruction!” the skipper ex- claimed. A boom of a gun announced that the fight had commenced. CHAPTER V. THE SEA-FIGHT. TuE Algerine frigate was a good sailer and tolerably well handled, although not with the precision and skill common to the officers and men of the European navies. Her decks were crowded with sailors, a mot- ley crew, for, though they wore the Moorish dress, not one tenth part of them were native to the African soil. However great soldiers the followers of the Prophet may have been on the land, since first the world saw and trembled at the sight of the Crescent banner, yet on the sea they have never distinguished themselves. Men of all nations were there in that crew, renegades from every country and from every clime; a horde of ruthless, barbarous souls who fought for gold, not for love of country, nor in- spired by the noble spirit of daring which gives rise to wondrous deeds. Even the —_ was a renegade: originally a Spanish plate-ship, but captured by the sea- rovers and transformed into an armed vessel. Upon the quarter-deck of the craft stood the great pasha himself, Ali, of the Blue Beard. A tall, well-built man was the Moorish com- mander, with a black, eagle-like eye, a massive face, a nose hooked like the beak of a bird of prey and a beard fully a foot long, black in ue, but with a slight Pinish tinge to it, from which circumstance he derived his name. The beard was all fancifully plaited into little tails, and each and every tail tied with a small blue- black ribbon. ; Like a very king the pirate was arrayed; the shops of the rich Orient had been ransacked to provide him with fitting apparel; costly chains of gold, curiously inlaid with precious gems, adorned his person, and the diamond buckle that fastened the short blue plumes in his tur: ban was of the value of a ship of the line, fully equipped. Great had been the astonishment of the Moor upon discovering the craft of the Lion-head hov- ering near to the lugger., “By the beard of the Prophet!” he cried, ‘T fear this fellow has secured the prize that we are after!” But the first officer of the frigate, carefully surveying the scene through a ,0werful marine glass, announced that he could distinguish the figure of a woman upop the deck of the lugger. _ ‘* Allah be praised!” exciaimed the sea-rover, in joy ; ‘‘ and double praise be given tothe Great Ruler who has placed this dog of a Greek in my power, Jam sick of hearing of the deeds of this » ot a
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The Lion of the Sea. — EEE = = Lion of the Sea! No flag must float in triumph in these waters but the banner of the Crescent. What think you, Achmet—can the fellow escape us?” “T think not, and from the preparations on his deck I think he means to fight us.” cer had been busily engaged surveying the deck of the Lion by the aid of the glass. Ali Jaughed loud and long. “Fight us!” he exclaimed at last; ‘‘is the fel- low mad? By the Holy Tomb, at a _ single broadside I'll blow him out of the water!” “Tecan distinguish only two guns,” the other observed; ‘ yet stay! she has a heavy piece mounted amidships.’ ‘A heavy piece!” ‘* A very monster of a gun, and they are pre- paring it for action.” ** Are we within range?” ‘No, not yet, but I think that that big gun is heavier than any piece of metal we carry. It may be their design to keep off and pound us to pieces at long range.” li was silent for five or six minutes, atten- tively watching with his eagle eyes the strange genres and also noting the speed of his own ves- se ‘*Tt is impossible!” he cried at last: ‘‘ we have the foot of them; this wind serves us better than . does them. We shall overhaul her within an our. The observation of the Moor was perfectly correct. The breeze was from the land and both vessels were running straight before it, but from her superior spread of canvas the frigate had the advantage. Indeed, in such a breeze there were few crafts afloat that could outstrip The Sword of Death. The Lion Captain was not long in ascertaining this fact, but as from the first he had made up his mind to fight rather than fly, it did not in- commode him n the least. Steadily the frigate gained, until at last the first officer announced to his chief that in ten or fifteen minutes more they would be within range. The Algerine drum at once beat to “ quar- ters,” and hardly had the sound died away, when a flash of flame, a white puff of smoke spurted out from the deck of the Lion, followed by the boom of a big gun. The fight had commenced. It was a well-aimed shot, for it tore a hole through the bulwarks of the frigate, ranged along the deck, dismounting two guns and kill- ing half a i men. P tha ties oF Alban cry of rage came from the lips o as he beheld the destruction. . ‘Tear me a hole in yonder ship, old Selim!” he exclaimed, addressing the master-gunner. He had sprung from the quarter-deck and rushed to the bow in a frenzy of rage. contort the man adju:ted the gun, a bow- chaser, and as heavy a piece of metal as there was on board; then, waiting until the craft of the Greek rose on the surface of the swell, fired. A well-aimed shot, indeed, but the distance was too great, and the ball sunk beneath the waves twenty feet short of the Lion. “Give her more elevation; the next will reach!” Ali cried. 4 But, hardly had the command passed his lips, when the big gun of the stranger belched forth its missile again—the aim of the gunner so good this time that the frigate’s main-topmast was shot away and falling down with the main-top- sail yard across the larboard fore and fore-top- sail, rendered her head-yards unman ble. A yell of triumph went up from the Lion’s crew as they beheld the result of the successful shot, and this cry of delight was answered by a how! of rage from the lips of the Algerines. The unknown was quick to improve the ad- vantage which he had ined. He fied no longer, but put his helm up hard and brought his craft around. The frigate, quick to seize upon the chance, let fly her whole broadside, but firing as the ves- sel rose, the balls harmed only the rigging of the other craft, cutting away only a few unimport- ant ropes and light spars. Then the Lion, shoot- ing by her now unwieldy and almost unman- ageable antagonist, passed under her stern and, for the first time displaying her battery which had been concealed by false ports, raked her so terribly, pouring the fire in at almost point- blank range, that the decks of the Algerine were covered with blood and most of her guns dismounted. Never since the days when he first commenced to sail the seas, had Ali, of the Blue Beard, been soroughly handled; but, encouraged by his fero- cious commands, the men stuck to the guns and fought like tigers. . The offi- | Ts 5 But, crippled as she was, the frigate could do | but little execution, for the Lion Captain han- dled his craft with the skill of an admiral. Five minutes more and the gaff and mizzen | top-gallant-mast went by the board and some | ugly holes just at the water-line threatened the | destruction of the Moor. Half the crew of the pirate had been slain outright, a quarter more, bleeding from wounds, were pretty effectually disabled from active ser- vice; the deck was slippery with blood; while, totally unmanageable, the vessel rose and fell on the swell of the waves, a helpless hulk, en- tirely at the mercy of her antagonist, who had suffered no material damage in the fight. Still the blood-red flag of Ali floated, for, al- though it had been shot away during the action, yet the ruthless pasha had climbed into the rig- ging and nailed it to the mast, despite the hot fire of the enemy. Again and again the Lion had “raked” the frigate, and now coming down upon her quarter was apparently about to attempt to board. Ali mustered his men to repel the attack. The Lion came up, threw her ppling-irons aboard and fastened to the Algerine, despite the strenuous attempts of the pirates to prevent it; and then, up over the side swarmed the board- ers, led by the Lion Captain in person, Brief was the struggle, for the Algerines, dis- pirited by the slaughter of their comrades made but a feeble resistance; Ali’s threats and curses could not inspirit the despairing crew. The Algerines were driven to the quarter-deck after a brief and bloody struggle; then they threw down their arms and cried for quarter, their chief alone excepted. For when he saw that the fate of the day was decided—that further resistance was hopeless, and death or captivity alone remained for him, he chose to trust himself to the mercies of the sea, rather than submit. With a terrible curse he hurled his blood-red apd at the victorious foe and then leaped into @ sea. The Lion Captain had os the pasha hard; to capture the ruthless Ali had been his wish, and i was his disappointment when he saw the rine betake himself to the water. “A boat—a boat!” he cried. ‘ A cap full of gold to the man who takes the pasha!” But fortune at last was resolved to befriend the Barbary sea-rover, for the cry suddenly went up that the vessel was sinking, and so, in truth, it was; the _— of the Lion had been served only too well. In hot haste then the victors retreated to their own ship, cut away the SS and had hardly got good and clear, when, with a sudden lurch, the frigate filled and went down. The Lion-head had kept his word—he had sunk the Algerine. During the fight the lugger had made sail southerly; the crew had attempted to rebel, but the skipper and the red- bearded helmsman, well- armed, had quelled the mutiny. The Lion would have pursued, but out from the shelter of the harbor of Algiers, attracted by the sound of the guns, came a whole fleet of oorish vessels. ““We must stand out to sea!” the Lion Cap- tain cried. ‘‘The lady is doomed to go to Al- giers, but what I could not accomplish on the sea, I may succeed in achieving on the land!” CHAPTER VI. THE TYRANT OF ALGIERS. THE city of Algiers, the capital of the terri- tory ruled over by the — Dey, Aboo Has- san, derives its name from the Arabic, Al Je- zireh, the island. Itis built on the slope of a mountain which rises from the coast and com- mands the harbor at its base; and the houses of resplendent whiteness, appearing one above the other, seem as if rising in successive layers of i snow, and present a most dazzling picture from | the sea, The houses are all flat-roofed, and the inhabi- take the air and enjoy the cool sea breeze which in the afternoon, always springs up; the land wind, which generally prevails during the day, comes scorching hot from the great sandy deserts of the interior and in summer-time al- | most renders life unbearable, with earth and serve as small gardens. The streets are narrow and the houses are for the most part very badly built. Looking at the city from the sea one building towers well above the rest; this is the palace of | the Dey, the Kasbah, or citadel, for so uncer- ) tain, at times, has been the hold that the Deys | had over their turbulent and unruly subjects The tops of the houses are generally covered | —<s | that it was necessary to ensconce their precious persons behind strong walls, and each and | every Dey had surrounded himself with a well- paid force of mercenary soldiers, by means of which the turbulent spirit of the mob was in a measure kept in check. The harbor of the city was far from being good, as it was small, with very little depth of water, and the entrance to it was rendered dangerous by numerous rocks. The mole of the harbor, some five hundred feet long, extended from the main land to a small island where there was a castle, well provided with heavy guns and a strong water battery. The position naturally was a very te one, and all its ad- vantages had been skillfully improved by the cunning engineers who had planned the de- fensive works. On the land side the city was by no means as strongly defended, for the wall that encircled the town was old, badly planned and built and not calculated to resist a well-directed attack. The only strong position on the land side was a castle placed on an eminence just outside the walls, known as the Emperor’s Fort, and which completely commanded the city. e will introduce the reader at once to the a of the Dey, to the grand hall of the Kas- h, where Aboo Hassan sat in council. The Moorish ruler was seated on a raised throne, his legs crossed after the fashion of the Orientals, smoking a chibouque, as the Turkish pipes are termed, which rejoices in a flexible stem half a dozen feet long. Aboo Hassan was not over thirty-five, with rather a handsome face, although deeply mark- ed by the dark lines which pee told of evil ee not restrained, and hours of wild de uch. On the Dey’s right hand stood his minister of war, a tall, stately man with iron-gray hair and a saturnine face, smoothly shaven. This was El Boro, pasha, and he was also commander-in- chief of the army—almost a sinecure this office, for Algiers was strong only on the sea. On the left hand of the Algerine ruler was the minister of finance and of the navy; the first oo was almost as much a sinecure as El oro’s second, but as the head of the navy, the very back-bone of the Dey’s kingdom, and from whence the funds to carry on the government were mainly derived, the portfolio was one of the most important in the Dey’s gift. El Tokar this officer was named, a withered, dried-up lit- tle man, quite old and with a ferocious shock of prey hair and a tangled beard of the same hue. e most popular officer in the kingdom was this El Tokar, and by the oe Sgr he was generally termed the Holy Man, because he made ie professions of his religious faith, and he had made a couple of pilgrimages to the tomb of the Prophet at Mecca. A more unscrupulous, wily, shrewd, and yet ignorant old rascal it would have been difficult to find in all Africa than this same Holy Man, for religion was with him but a cloak to mask the most designing erste Before the throne of the Moor stood the Eng- lish embassador, Sir Edmund Bolingham, a thick-set, stoutly-built gentleman of medium hight, middle-aged, of courtly bearing, and yet with that air of resolution apparent in his face, so common to the natives of the tight little island. Sir Edmund held in his hand a number of of- ficial-looking papers, to which he referred every now and then. The Englishman looked firm, the Dey appear- ed angry, El Boro’s face was as impassive as the face of a marble statue, while the minister of finance had _ his thick nose elevated in the air in supreme contempt. A delicate and dangerous mission Sir Ed- mund had come upon—no less than to remon- strate with the tyrant in regard to the seizure of certain English ships and to demand not only | the release of the prisoners, who had been taken, , : but a money payment for damages. tants in the evening walk or sit upon them to | Few men would have dazed visit Algiers upon such a mission, _Courteously, but with t firmness, the Englishman had made known is errand. The Dey, amazed that any mortal should pre- sume to speak so plainly and so bluntly, burst into an explosion of rage. **By the beard of the Prophet!” he cried, “do you Englishers take me to be a dog that I shall yield up my prisoners and my spoils at your demand?” ‘**Let me point out to your highness that no war exists . England and Algiers, but that your ects, in a time of peace, and‘in | defiance é law of nations, have seized upon our trading ships, peaceable merchantmen, stolen Went
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2 _ govereien, Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and I demand justice for the subjects of : eee 6 the goods contained in those ships and made slaves of the passeligers and crews.” * Algiers is the mistress .of the, sea,” replied | the Dey, proudly. ‘No flag has a right to float on the Mediterranean without our permission. If your traders desire to sail in my sea they must pay for the privilege!” “You refuse the just demand I make?” “By the green turban of great Mahomet!” cried the tyrant, rising in a rage, ‘‘who gave you the rigut to question me? Insolent Frank! you are not wise to bandy words with me in mine own palace! Are you eager to rush to death that you dare to brave me?” The Englishman was not at all appalled at this outburst of passion, and, although there was a fierce light visible in his keen gray eyes yet he restrained his temper and answered calmly as the envoy of so great a power as Bri- tain should answer. “‘T stand here as the representative of my my king!” ‘And if I refuse, Sir Embassador—if [ laugh at your demand, what then?’ “Then, as the herald of England, J declare war !” The Dey burst out into a hearty fit of laugh- ter, in which the minister of finance sycophan- tically joined, but El Boro smiled not. ‘*England declares war!” the Moor exclaim- ed. ‘‘ Bah! what care I for England? Are her arms long enough to reach across the seas to Algiers?” *€ You may find them so!” Sir Edmund retort- ed, quickly. “Not all the nations of the earth combined can conquer Algiers!” the Holy Man declared, grandiloquently. The. minister of war seized upon the chance to speak, “Tf your most magnificent highness will listen tomy r counsel,” he said, ‘‘ you willtake time to think this matter over, and not reply in haste. This gentleman, I am certain, will give us time to debate the subject and not force us to an im- mediate answer,” aud he bowed courteously to Sir Edmund as he spoke. “Certainly; any reasonable time.” The Holy Man pursed his lips in contempt; it was plain that his voice was all for war, but boo Hassan, weak and irresolute as he was cruel and tyrannical, after glancing from one minister to the other fora moment, yielded to the influence of El Boro. ‘Be it so,” he said, at last; ‘‘ we will delibe- rate upon the matter, When we arrive at.a decision we will send for you.” The embassador understood that he was dis- missed, and so retired with his train. | At the Dey’s command the council-hall was cleared and the Moorish ruler left alone with his two councilors. “In Allah’s name! El Boro, why did you wish e to think over the matter?” the Dey cried. ‘I will not yielda single prisoner without ran- som, no—nor a pound’s weight of their goods! What are these English dogs that I should crouch and whine at their command?” ““Your highness, I have advised you only for the best!” the minister of war declared. ‘‘ I have secret information that an English fleet of over thirty sail are gathering at Gibraltar under the command of Robert Blake, Lord High Admiral of England, the best_sea captain that the world has ever known, and that itis his intention, if you refuse to arrange this matter, to storm Al- ers, The Algerine turned fairly black in the face with rage. “‘Storm Algiers!” he cricd. ‘‘ Are we then children to tremble at this threat? Are our forts of paper, our men straw, our guns useless? Bah! Ali, Pasha Blue Beard, with his single frigate would rout a whole fleet of these Eng- lishmen!” Hardly had the boast left the lips of the Dey when the door opened and gave entrance to the sea-rover himself, who was a privileged charac- ter at court. Ali, with his garments in disorder, just as he had been were from the sea, horrified the Dey when he told the story of the sea-fight and the loss of his ship. The Dey, with many a bitter oath, swore that he would be f»arfully avenged upon the darin Lion Captain, who had put to sea and succeed in escaping from the Algerine fleet. Little fitted was the ey now to take part in any council, for he could only rave of venge- ance and curse the Greek rover d so the was plain, though, meeting was dissolved. It o The Lion of the Sea. from the temper that the Dey was in that he | would not yield to the demands of the English embassador. CHAPTER VII. THE STORY OF HAMET, WHEN the Algerine fleet sailed out and the unknown was forced to fly from the overpow- ering force, after having so bravely beaten the ferocious Ali, the lugger at once made sail straight for the Moorish ships. The sailors tore their hair, rended their gar- ments and swore ina dozen different tongues, but the skipper and the helmsman, drawn pis- tols in their hands, overawed the rest. As for the lady she paid no heed to the lug- ger’s course or to the turmoil around her, but kept her gaze intently fixed upon the fast re- treating ship of the unknown. ‘* He loves me—he loves me!” she murmured a hundred times, in dire perplexity; ‘‘ why should he love me, a stranger; and who and what is he?” One of the Algerine vessels overhauled the lugger, a boat boarded her, and the crew were at oncetaken off and pressed into the service, despite their e stulations; then four Algerine sailors replaced the crew and the lugger con- tinued on her way toward the harbor. It was plain that the skipper and the helms- man were no strangers to the Moors and that the oy ay arrival had been expected. The lady had resumed her So pee after the lugger again ieee under way, the two English- men proceeded to the little cabin and in a short time emerged from it ony ae! er gar in Moorish garbs, and from the ease with which they wore them it was plain that the dress was not an unaccustomed one. The lady never noticed the transformation or if she did, heeded it not; in fact, she acted like one in a trance, perfectly passive. The ingnee made the harbor and came to anchor off the mole. The lady was at once conveyed to the Kasbah and placed in a sumptuously-furnished apart- ment in the right wing of the citadel; the = bah was built in the form of a hollow square with narrow wings stretching out to the north and south. Some slave women were in attendance to re- ceive the lady, and a owes repast, served in the peculiar style of the East, was in readi- ness. But the girl had no appetite; she only hunger- ed to come face to face with her father. At last a bell tinkled, and the slave women, understanding the signal, withdrew; the cur- tains, which concealed the entrance at the fur- ther end of the room, were drawn aside and a tall figure clad like an Englishman in sober ory entered the room. The lady rose and extended her hands; the man advanced and pressed her warmly to his breast.. It was her father. The greeting over he seated himself on the low couch by the window that looked out upon the fortifications that guarded the Kasbab, and the lady knelt by his side. Carefully she surveyed the costume, that he wore, then raised her eyes to his face. “You are dressed like an Englishman, fa- ther,” she observed. : “Tt know what you mean,” he replied ly. ‘*My faithful Tendrell has related to me all that occurred on board of the lugger. I do not blame you, child, that you look with appre- hension upon my face, but I trust that, with a few words, I can remove all your doubts and fears. The action of this unknown captain, who disguises himself so strangely, puzzles me: his knowledge, too, is wonderful, although I can in part account for that. He takes great care to conceal his features from the world and et I know as well who he is as he does himself. e thinks that he is my foe and that I am his, but never did a man in this life labor under a greater mistake, for I am the best friend he has in all this wide world, and in the time to come none will do more to aid him. The girllistened in astanishment to this dis- closure. ‘‘And now to clear myself,” be continued. ‘Part of the story that this Lion-head told you about Lo brig and fortunes was true and part false, and the false part made black all the rest. I am your father, Thomas Craven, once Earl of Crofton and Knight of Engleboro; I did hold an important commission in the royal army; I did desert that banner and join with Cromwell but I carried no papers, received no bribe. i that I gave was my own right arm and the poor influence of my name. I joined with Cromwell because I became satisfied that the royal cause quick- was hopeless and that to longer continue the struggle would be only to bring fresh misery upon a suffering country, already bleeding at every pore. I left England and came abroad because I hed lost all in the royal service; money, lands, all were gone; I had naught but my sword, and when the war ended in England my occupation was ended. I will not weary you with the details of the lifeof adventure that I led in my search after fortune, but at last fate turned my steps to this country. The Dey wanted Europeans to teach his subjects the art of war; I entered his service, and have risen high in his favor. I wear the Algerine garb to — the prejudices of the people, but am at eart as good a Christian as when I led a uad- ron of horse in the royal service. Am I doing wrong to earn my bread by aaa this Algerine prince, Moor though he be?” ‘Oh, father, it is not for me to sit in judg- ment upon your acts!” she exclaimed. ‘ What- ever you say, I must believe.” ‘*And now for the last accusation; this un- known declares that I have brought you here to sell you to the Algerine tyrant in order to strengthen my own hold upon him. Now, listen attentively while I unfold secrets of state to you and show you really what my purpose is and what I design todo. Ever since I enter- ed the Dey’s service I have had great influence over him until lately, and my influence, I de- clare before Heaven, has not only been exerted for the good of Algiers, but for the good of the world at large with whom these Algerines are perpe y at war! But, within the last two months a new man has arisen—a fanatical knave, who trades upon his religion—a shrewd rogue enough, but utterly ignorant of the outer world. He foolishly believes that these little petty Moorish powers are strong enough to cope with the kingdoms of Europe, and he is urging the Dey on to steps that must not only lead him to utter ruin, but will be almost certain to bring the whole country to the very brink of destruction. The Dey is urged to bid defiance to England, although the great admiral, Blake, witha powerful fleet is not three days’ sailaway. Now then, supposing that this story is true, what an utter idiot am I to give you toa man who is blindly bent upon rushing headlong to ruin! Now listen to what my plans really are, and keep the secret locked securely within your own breast; breathe it not even in the solitude of your chamber, for in this land the ver walls have ears,” and the speaker lowered his voice almost to a whisper as he spoke. ‘Some years ago there were two brothers, both claimants to the throne of Algiers; the younger murdered the elder and seized the scep- ter of state. He was the father of the present ruler, Aboo Hassan. It was believed that that elder brother left no issue, but he did; he had a son by a Greek woman, one of his wives. When he was murdered that Greck woman fled with her child, aided by friends, and took refuge in Tunis, and from there passed to the Greek isl- ands, her home. _ “The child whom she bore so carefully away is now a man; his name is Hamet, and he is the rightful lord of Algiers, for this Aboo Hassan sits in his father’s place, and that father had no just claim to the throne. Aboo Hassan is a usurper; already he is unpopular with the mass of the people, for he has sag be the tyrant most thoroughly, and now, if he keeps on in his mad career, there is nothing on earth that can save Algiers from ruin. The break between myself and the wo 6 must soon come, for I will not be a party to this mad war with England. [I shall eave his service—leave it as lentered it, open] and with honor; but when I am free, then if join Hamet in his attempt upon the throne of ‘Algiers, can any one accuse me Of a dishonest action?” “Tt would not be just!” ‘“‘Hamet has the t right to the throne; in every way he is the superior of the tyrant,” the earl continued. “As a naval commander his equal sails not upon. the Mediterranean; he is a free, bold fellow with a soul as noble as the name he bears. Already the four winds have spread his fame, and the world that knows him have learned to look upon him with respect. He will make a ruler such as Algiers never has had since the time of the brothers, Barbarossa. And, mark ye, as yet he dreams not that any. such high fortune is within his reach; in his wildest hour of triumph the bright thought that some day he might sit upon the throne of Al- giers and wield the scepter of the Dey, has never occurred to him. When I leave the ser- vice of this tyrant I will seek him; I will unfold to him my plan; I will tell him how ripe the city is for revolt—how gladly the Moors will
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7 The Lion of the Sea. throw off the yoke of the tyrant, Aboo Hassan, and how gladly yield to a milder ruler. In him- self Aboo Hassan is nothing! He isaman ut- terly without ability. He cannot lead a squad- ron in the field, command a ship upon the ocean, nor plan with wisdom in»the council- chamber. Hamet can do all three. And now, daughter, for the part which you are to play. You are now of age, and it is time that you were wedded; you are heart-free, are you not?” “Where have I seen any man to win my love?” “True, and it was to keep your wondrous beauty from the rude gazo of the world that I decreed that in public you should always wear a vail. Well, I have a husband for you—no turbaned Moor—no follower of the Prophet—no Algerine with half a hundred wives, but a Christian like yourself, although in the future, for certain reasons, he may be forced to keep that fact concealed. What think you of this Hamet? He isa good Christian—was so reared by his mother, and although his life has been one of wild adventure yet still he has stuck to his creed. What say you, girl, will you wed with him and queen it over Algiers after his strong arm, aided by m wits, has wrested the scepter from the tyrant?” *‘One question, father!” cried the lady, tre- mulously, ‘‘this man—I have met him, have I mot?” od CHAPTER VII. THE RENEGADE’S QUEST. “©ouLpD you name him?” the renegade Eng- dJishman observed, with a peculiar look from un- der his heavy, overhanging brows, at the face of his child. de Yes, from soa description I feel sure that I could!” and the girl spoke with the impulsive- ness common to youth. “Perhaps you could; but of that no more at present, Now that I have fully and freely ex- plained my position and my aims, will you give me the a and faith that a daughter should give unto a father?” . “Oh, gladly, sir!” she cried, longing to cast herself into his arms, yet restrained by some influence, but what it was she knew not. “My child, confide in me, trust wholly to my guidance and I will you in a position from which you can look down upon a kneeling world!” Then he folded her to his broad breast, imprinted a kiss upon a white forehead, bade her be of Lae cheer, assured her that her every want should be attended to, and withdrew, promising soon to return. In the outer apartment tho skipper of the lug- ger waited. Not now, though, was he attired in he rude garb natural to the sons of the sea; on the contrary, he was arrayed like an Algerine and a Moor of quality, too, for his garments were of the richest description, and the hilt of the Turkish saber he wore sparkled with costly ms. A man of rank in Algiers was this renegade son of the British isle. uley Mahomet he was called, and he was chief of the mercenaries who formed the body-guard of the Dey. So uncer- tain was the grip: that Aboo Hassan had of the Algerine scepter, that he dared not trust to his subjects, but surrounded himself with soldiers of fortune whose fidelity he believed he could rely upon, because he. paid them well. ‘The tyrant was nota shrewd calculator, and did not take into account the well-known fact that these desperate blades who sell their services for gold, always go to the highest bidder, and that in time of trouble his mercenaries could hardly be depended upon to back his quarrel to the death. “‘ Well, is she reasonable?’ Tendrell asked. A most faithful follower of Thomas Craven’s for- tunes was he, not for gold or worldly advantage, but because he was a foster-brother to the once roud earl of Crofton, and had grown up from babyhood with him. ‘*Oh, yes; she has perfect faith in me, and will follow my bidding to the very letter.” ‘‘ By Satan and all imps!” cried Tendrell, suddenly, ‘I can’t get over the meeting with that fellow with the lion’s head! It is the stran- gest and most mysterious affair that I ever saw or heard of! The knowledge that he was wonderful, and the way he handled his ship was most marvelous. Never in all my life did I witness such a complete and overwhelm- ing victory. Why, Ali Blue Beard stood no more chance with him than if he had been a country lad who had never smelt blue water. He pounded his frigate to pieces, in no time,” Craven came up close Tendrell, laid his hand upon his-arm, and then, in a cautious tone, as if afraid the very walls had ears, said: ‘‘ Dick, I am, not sorry for it. Ali-was no friend of either yours or mine. I believe him to be secretly in league with El Tokar to over- throw us, and behind both of them stands a wo- man.” ‘‘- You mean Gulnare, the Dey’s favorite, the queen of his harem?” ‘Yes; she hates us both.” ‘But why?” ‘‘Because she cannot rule us. She is a fool and dreams that the time will come when her will shall be as law to the Dey. Through him she would queen it over Algiers, From the con- fident manner of El Tokar Dhave suspected for some time that he felt certain of some powerful backing. I knew that the scum—the dregs of the city, were at his beck-and-call because he is a ‘Holy Man,’ and these ignorant wretches, big- oted and fanatical, think that they serve heaven in serving him. The Dey, thanks to her counsel and the advice of El Tokar, is mad to bring on a war with England. Admiral Blake even now with a powerful fleet is at Gibraltar. Aboo Hassan this very day has openly defied the English embassador, and but for my interfer- ence would have at once declared war.” ‘* Algiers is strongly fortified,” Tendrell sug- g , “Yes, and it has stood many a siege in the last two hundred years, Charles the Fifth was wofully defeated when he essayed to storm the city, but that was over a hundred years ago, and while the defenses of the city are_no stron- er now than then, the art of of war has great- y improved. Algiers might succeed in repuls- ing Blake, but it is doubtful, fur a better commander than he does not now exist in the world, either on sea or land.” ‘‘Gulnare has great influence over the may “‘ Yes, greater influence than any woman that has ever stepped foot within the walls of Al- giers; and she is crafty, too, and knows how to use her power,” ‘‘ But when the star of the new beauty arises, Gulnare’s power will ily vanish.” “T trust so,” the other replied, and then changing the subject of the conversation ab- ruptly, he said: ‘But in regard to this Greek rover—my cu- riosity has been strangely excited. I would give much to come face to face with him. Do you think that the matter could be arranged?” Tendrell looked at his chief in amazement, but the calm, grave face of the renegade was like a mask, and fully concealed his thoughts. ‘*-You would like to see the Lion-head?” he de- manded, in astonishment. ‘“Yes; can you arrange the matter?” ‘*Oh, I presume so, although when I last saw him his ship was flying before the wind with a dozen Algerine cruisers sharp at his heels.” ‘“‘If report speaks true, there is no craft in these waters that has the heels of him.” ‘*So I have heard.” “‘T must see the fellow!” Craven —— “Tt is important to my plans that he and I should have a conference. Again Tendrell stared; this disclosure was al- toge her unexpected. ‘Faith, my lord, the fellow is no friend to you, but rather a bitter enemy.” ‘Tf he is an enemy then the quicker I dis- cover how powerful he is and how much mis- chief he may be likely to do me, the better. In this life the prudent man is wary how he defies the malice of an unknown foe.” “That’s true enough.” “And, therefore, good Tendrell, you must search this Lion of the Seas out; bear him a message from me; say that I have heard of him; that his daring deeds have excited both my ad- miration and my curiosity, and that I most ar- dently desire an interview with him. You can find him?” “Oh, yes; there is little doubt about that. If I take the lugger and put to sea the chances are that I shall not have to go far to find him, for I feel sure that he is hovering near the coast some- where. The fellow’s knowledge puzzles me though. Why, my lord, he knows all about you —all about your daughter and the purpose for which you bring her here, as I related to you when I first got in; and it was plainly apparent to me that he had been on the watch for us; it was his intent to reveal your plans to the girl, and so induce her to accept his protection.” A quiet smile came over the face of the out- cast lord, and he nodded his head carelessly. ‘‘ He is well served, that is all; his spies have earned their pay as my men earn theirs: but, one thing, Tendrell, you may rely upo., and that is, that his knowledge of me and of my | sorts of wives, but a French daneci, plane are not half as good as my knowledge of 1im and his schemes. But; encugh of this; you must set out at once and return not to Algiers until you have held speech with this so-called Greek, no matter how great the time that elapses. Tell him from me that I desire:an in- | terview with him, and as scom as possible, as I have some weighty matters to communicate.” ‘¢Will he not suspect that it isa trap?’ the other questioned. “Undoubtedly; and so, to remove his sus- picions, inform him that he can arrange all the details of the interview; let him take all the precautions that his active mind may gest—throw around the meeting such safe that treachery on my part will be impossible. Impress upon his mind that vital consequences maybe the result of our conference—the fate Algiers even may depend won it.” endrell listened in amazement. Used as h was to the schemes of the } «:1iished earl he full realized that some momentous and gigan plan occupied his mind, but:he was too well a uainted with his chief to press him to a dis- closure until the time was ripe for it. “Tl be on the sea and free of the h:rhor within the a of an hour!” he cried, prepar= ing to withdraw. ‘ And, hark ye, Tendrei!, take men with you whom you can trust; but even to them breathe not a word that you seek the Greek pirate at. _ my bidding!” the renegade cautioned. ‘Oh, have no fear of that, my lord!” the other replied; ‘‘I’ve lived long enough in the world to know the value of a still tongue. The man who keeps his own counsel is always the wisest, and if his plans are betrayed he will have no one to blame but: himself,” and them Tendrell departed to prepare for his quest. “Right, my bold Dick!” the rene : e mutter- ed, after his follower had: departed. -‘‘ A man. should keep his plans to -himself, and so I will, in this matter, until the moment of execution arrives. Cleora is the only soul in this world who has the slightest suspicion of the vast enter- prise in which I am about to risk not only for- tune but life itself, but if lam _ successful, then secure for life I will be. But I must avoid this war with England; the Dey must not dare the wrath of Britain; at any pe the English em- bassador must be satisfied, but, if Aboo Hassam is madly bent.on war, might not the English at- tack be turned to my advantage, particularly if it should be a successful oe?” And musing intently upon this difficult = blem, the renegade returned to the grand where the Dey of Algiers;was busily planning’ how he might capture the bold L-on-head, THE QUEEN OF THE HAREM. Wiurxovut the walls of Algiers, nestled under” the shadows of the grim towers of the strong defensive work known as the Emperor’s Fort, was an elaborately-built country house—a man- sion of the most sumpiuous description, sur- rounded by a magnificent garden, that in turn being encompassed by a high and strong wall, almost stout enough to resist cannon-shot. Carefully guarded was the portal, and en- trance could only be gained after cautious scru- tiny on the part of the sentinels who, both day and night, kept watch and ward at the gate. This palace-like mansion was the abode of the reigning favorite of the Dey’s harem, Gulnare, and the retreat of Aboo Hassan when he threw aside the cares of government and sought for- getfulness and rest. a The night of the day which had witnessed the stirring scenes on the sea, as we have described, had arrived, and the ebon shades of eventide falling alike on both land’and sea, had wra the rural palace of the Dey in a mantle of gloom. Gulnare, the’Queen of the Harem, as she was commonly termed, sat, or rather reclined, im her apartment upon a luxuriant couch, clad like: an empress—no Turkish girl, no fair slave from the Georgian land, but a veritable ‘‘ Frankish” woman, and not over young. A history, indeed, she had. She was French, captured by one of the Dey’s iratical cruisers on board of a small craft und from Spain to Italy; by name, Marie de Rohan, or, at least, that was what she called herself, although itis extremely doubtful if she had any right to that most notable appellation. By occupation she was a singer and dancer, and in pursuit of her calling was making a prefes- sional tour when captured by the Algerines, The master of the Algerine galley was a rene- gade Frenchman, who instantly perceived what a prize he had sectred. The Dey brd had all a lithe; [os CHAPTER IX. a el ae ee ee —————
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“22 al The Lion of the Sea. “bounding gazelle of a woman, one to whom the ~*arts of fascination were as familiar as the rings i pon her fingers—why, she could not fail to in- “amnare the indolent and somewhat satiated ruler .«He reckoned shrewdly, fpr the Frenchwoman andde an almost immediaté conquest. She fair- ty danced herseif into the affections of the Dey, “et Algiers. smand the barbarous master of Algiers fell com- by v \ : ; £ i j f gq = .4 ly into the power of the wily and unscru- i ous Frenchwoman, who in her nature strong- resembled a tiger-cat, being as graceful and vas fascinating in her wild beauty as the pride of the jungle, and fully as artful and dangerous. During her life of adventure—for the French girl had been fairly born in the gutter and reared in the streets—Marie had acquired some # few habits which she found it difficult to shake — though now she wore the queenly 2. e was of a passionate nature, and when ex- generally ‘‘swore like a trooper.” ‘boo Hassan was noted for his fickleness in rd to his wives; the favorite of this year very seldom the woman who had occupied that place the previous one. With per every mew moon the Dey had had a new wife, until the advent of the Frenchwoman—a new wife, who, for a time, completely outshone the rest; but Marie, with her wonderful art, changed all ‘“Ghis. Now wives the Dey had as usual, after D ther-arrival, but he very soon tired of them and Tféturned again to Gu re. No matter how \semany new beauties entered the harem, its ‘queen, the Frenchwoman, always remained. And why? Because sc was a “‘ Frank” and not a Turk; because she used her wits, had her spies and her allies; intrigued and fought with terrible ear- nestness to keep the proud position which she won. No friend was she to the English renegade— the dark, stern minister of war. In the first place, she ha‘ed him because he was an English- nan, and, like a true Gaul, she believed that every native of foggy Britain was a natural foe from birth, to sunny France. In the secon place, she knew that she could not use him to serve her purpose; he had his own views—his own ends to attain, and he was not the kind of man who would be content to be subordinate to @ woman. But with El Tokar, the Holy Man—a cunning, greasy rascal, who cared not by whose aid he elimbed, so long as he still kept going upward— her relations were more than friendly; they were confidential. El Tokar was her creature spoke with her voice, carried out her will an served her to the utmost extent of his power, “fer he had faith that in the end her influence would prove superior to any that could be Srought to bear upon the Dey. @And so, having explained the intimate rela- tionship whi ‘h existed between the two, it is no “matter for wonder that, on the night of which awe write, El Tokar was seated by the side of Ghe Frenchwoman, engaged in busy conference her. “**She has come, you say?’ Marie demanded, a ‘very unladyiike scowl upon her mobile fea- ‘tures “Yes.” ™ And is she beautiful?” "As one of !Iahomet’s angels, they say.” ™ They say!” cried the Frenchwoman in con- “temptuous ancer. “ And is not that what they say of every new face that is brought to tempt the Dey?” Ah, but I have this from one of the crew of the vessel, a knave of a Frank whom my spies brought because they thought that he would be able to give me some information.” *< Bl Boro feels that his power is on the wane, and so he brings this girl to make his hold over the Dey more secure; but, it will be for a little while only. The Dey will soon tire of her, and then he will come back to me, as he has done twenty times before.” “Do not be too sure of that, this time, my princess!” El Tokar warned. ‘This girl 1s no common beauty, glad to bask for awhile in the favor of our lord and master. She is Eng- lish, and if she consents to reign she will reign supreme, and that will settle you.” * Mon Dieu ! Iwill drive a knife to her heart!” exclaimed the Frenchwoman, leaping to her feet, her face black with passion. ““Would you do that, my princess?’ the Hol Man asked, speaking very cautiously and cas ing a careful glance around him ere he spoke. ‘Indeed I would! child to let this stranger usurp my place?’ iat I say,” the old rascal con- e near to the angry beauty. ** Pay heed to w! f° ope Do you think that I am a | | / | rounded by diamonds, the signet-ring of Aboo “This girl’s success means ruin not only to you but tome. El Boro bears me no good will. If through the aid of this girl he secures the ear of the Dey, my power is gone forever. AmIa dog, then, that this hound of a Frank, who has forsaken both his eee and his God, shall kick me from the palace? Oh, no! Iam the Holy Man; the people at large believe in me; I carry the odor of sanctity about my person; I have climbed high, and no man shall shake the lad- der upon which I stand without danger of feel- ing the weight of my fist. It was just by acci- dent that I learned of this girl. One of my spies was on board of Ali’s vessel, escaped the wreck and came in contact with one of the Frankish dogs who came in the lugger with the girl. When my man heard the fellow’s story of the vailed lady and in the captain of the craft recog- nized El Boro’s right-hand man, then to his | acute mind the plan of the minister-of-war was at once apparent. He had sent for the girl on uurpose to fascinate the Dey and so secure a new old upon him.” “No doubt—no doubt!” the Frenchwoman murmured, her dainty hands clenched tightly | together and the fire of rage flaming in her | cheeks, ** What would you do to prevent this English girl from taking your place?’ the Holy Man asked, craftily. “Do? Anything!” “The Dey has not seen her yet; he does not know that she exists.” Few and simple words, and yet there was a fearful meaning back of the speech. Marie was quick to catch the idea. ‘Can we not arrange it so that Aboo Hassan shall never see her?” she asked, sinking her voice toa whisper and looking fearfully around her as though she was afraid that the very walls might listen and reveal the horrid suggestion. Tokar gave a low chuckle. It pleased him to have the Frenchwoman enter so readily into moh it might be arranged.” 1, yes; it mig’ arranged. “Tt must be!” she cried, decisively. “T know a secret stairway built within the solid wall which leads directly to the room where El Boro has placed the girl.” “A secret stairway!” cried the woman, in pleased surprise. “Yes, the secret of the stairway is a sacred one known only to Holy Men like myself. With- out the apartment the followers of El Boro keep vigilant watch.” ‘But by means of the stairway a small force of well-armed, resolute, discreet men would gain access to the girl!” Marie cried, her active mind quick to devise a plan. ‘*Yes, yes, it could be done!” the Holy Man exclaimed, rubbing his hands and chuckling gleefully. ‘*Tt must be done!” ** When?” **To-night! If the blow is to fall the quicker the better.” ‘*But, where is she to be carried?” “Here!” and the Frenchwoman drew herself up, her eyes darting angry fires. ‘‘I must look upon her face—I must see how beautiful this charmer really is, and then— “What then?’ El Tokar asked, in a whisper. ** Death!” Marie responded. CHAPTER X. THE BLOW IS STRUCK, At twelve that night, when the clouds of heaven hung darkest over the earth, for there was no moon, forth from the gate of the | Frenchwoman’s palace rode a small troop of | horsemen, five men all told. Well mounted, | well armed, and the Greek renegade, Selim, the most trusted servitor of the Frenchwoman was at the head of the band. Straight for the walls of Algiers the part rode. it was but a short fifteen minutes’ gal- lop and soon they drew rein at the western gate of the city. The warder peered forth from his grated win- dow as the renegade Greek knocked loudly with the butt of one of his pistols on the gate. ‘© Who is there?” the warder calied aloud. “Friends to Algiers!” Selim responded. ‘Show a light, and behold the signet-ring of our great Dey.” The warder brought a light to the window and Selim flashed the huge carbuncle stone sur- Hassan, in the eyes of the guardian of the gate. “Oho! is it thee, Selim?’ the warder cried, recognizing the features of the renegade by the light of the lamp. ““-Yos; hurry and open the gate, and look ! — i | that you keep awake for we shall want to pass out in a couple of hours,” the Greek replied. **You are late to-night,” the Algerine re- marked, as he removed the fastenings of the gate and admitted the horsemen. ‘* Yes; our great mistress has had a dream to- LRP it troubled her so that she could not eep. ‘* Indeed!” cried the warder, in wonder. ‘She dreamed that the English dogs had | made a sudden attack upon the harbor and that | our mighty master, in repulsing the attack, had ' been terribly wounded, and so nothing would content her but my taking to horse, riding to the city and assuring myself with my own eyes that all was well.” h “Glory be to Allah!” cried the guardian of* the gate, in amazement; ‘‘ but what imagina- tions these women have!” ‘* So keep awake until J return, for not a wink will the peerless Gulnare sleep to-night until she is assured that our great master is well, and that Algiers is safe.” “ All right; I will watch for you.” The Greek and his party passed on, going straight to the palace, and on arriving there Se- lim sought the proper officer and made known to him the dream of the fair Gulnare. Of | course assurance was at once given that the dogs of Franks had not essayed the storming of Algiers and that Aboo Hassan, in ect health, slept the sleep of the just. And then the of- ficers of the palace, not to be wanting in hos- pitality, took the messengers into a private. apartment, and there, under bolt and bar, they entertained their guests with the rare, heady wines of the Franks, a drink denied to the fol- lowers of the Prophet, but more or less in- dulged in by the majority of them in secret. And while the debauch was at its hight Selim: = a companion withdrew, promising soon to: return. The Greek and his confederate went at once to the apartments of the minister of finance, where El Tokar was in readiness for them. The Holy Man had completely disguised him- self in coarse clothing, and he also had dark hooded cloaks in readiness for the renegade and. his assistant. And when they had arrayed themselves El Tokar led the way through a secret door into a narrow, winding way which led down into the ba center of the earth apparently. e Holy Man was no stranger to the under- ground region and he had provided himself with a wax taper to afford light. After descending as it were into the very bowels of the earth the party commenced to ascend. Before starting El Tokar had sworn Selim and his companion to secrecy regarding the secret. way, but so full of twists and turns was the sage—an alley here and an alley there, that it: was extremely doubtful if either the Greek or the other would have been able to find their way out of the passage if they had been left te- their own devices. Again the winding path went up through the- solid wall of the castle and at last came to an abrupt end, a heavy mass of solid masonry blocking the way. _ But upon El ‘Tokar touching a secret spring in the stone a portion of the wall rolled noise- lessly to one side, affording ample space through: which to pass. As the walls of the room into which the pas- sage led were hung with heavy silken hangings of course the door was concealed, even when open, from the view of any one within the apartment. ‘ Motioning to his companions to move with the utmost caution, El Tokar stole forward, ei through the door, and, parting the silken. angings, carefully looked into the room. A waxen taper, burning on a stand within, afforded light, and there, reclining carelessly upon a low divan whither she had, in dreamy reverie, cast herself, soundly wrapped in slum- ber’s chain, was the beautiful English girl. A look of triumph appeared on the fat and greasy face of the Holy Man as he gazed with gloating eyes upon the face and figure of the; sleeping =e “Bishmillar!” he ejaculated, ‘the Frankish girlis indeed beautiful! What a pity that death will sosoon claim her! Ah! if I could only con- trive to carry her off and keep her for myself” —and the ugly little rascal chuckled at the bare idea. ‘“‘ But, that is impossible,” he continued. “Dangerous it would be, too, for some one would be sure to betray me. It is lucky that the Dey has not seen this fair beauty for he would never | forgive the hands that tore her from him, if he had ever looked upon her lovely face and per fect form.” |
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The Lion of the Sea, 9) ** By the beard of the Prophet! she is a splen- did creature!” Selim exclaimed in the ears of the Holy Man. He had taken advantage of his = rior hight to peep over the shoulder of El ‘okar. ‘* Yes, as fair as one of the angels of paradise.” bs se “apa oe my — eee asked the Greek, a difficulty in the way of carryin out the mission upon which he had been sen suddenly occurring to him. ‘*Oh, yes.” . “Tt is not to kill the girl, but to bring her bodily and unharmed to her.” “T know—I know!” the Holy Man answered, hastily. ‘Woman-like, Gulnare wishes to gaze upon the beautiful face of her rival. She will look and then kill.” “ Ah! but how are we going to carry this girl away? She will most surely wake and give an alarm the instant we lay our hands upon her.” El Tokar chuckled a moment before he spoke: “Selim, thy head will never endanger the peace of Algiers!” then he answered: ‘‘ Of course if you should attempt to seize her as she is, most certainly she would squall loud enough to wake the d But you’ve come on no fool’s errand; all has been provided for; see!” And then, with a step as noiseless as the pan- ther stealing in upon its prey, El Tokar stole forward until he reached the side of the slee sleeps the young and honest soul, innocent as r from the vial and a oated on the air. Selim and his ———— looked on in amaze- ment meee ae with awe. Ho. an as El Tokar was, and redolent with the odor of sanctity, as naturally should cling to the lucky mortal who had made two aoe to the tomb of the Prophet at far-off Mecca, yet it was commonly believed that he had some knowledge of the black art, and at a pinch could raise a devil or two from the uttermost fires be- low. And this action of El Tokar, letting loose the strange perfume, rather impressed the with the idea that something unnatural and unholy was about to take place, and so, ready to retreat upon the first signs of danger to th —— rsons, Selim and his companion withdrew in- the passageway, their heads alone being visi- ble through the parted silken hangings. El Tokar poured the contents of the vial upon the sponge, and then, with a dextrous hand, applied it to the nostrils of the sleeping girl. trong in the full flush of youth, even in her sleep the maiden resisted the strange attack. But, El Tokar was wonderfully strong; he threw himself upon the girl and held her quiet until her senses yielded to the influence of the werful narcotic, and then helpless in every imb she lay 2 meen ney at the mercy of her foes. From his shoulders the Holy Man stripped the dark cloak he wore and carefully wra it around the maid so as to completely ise her. This ormed, he beckoned for the two pt fully convinced now that no fiends from the upper air were to figure in the scene, the two Th v= a gh lin ti earaee arms, and the in , and, guided by El Toker, proceeded th h the un- “ee , not rerio as they came. but by another winding path which proceed for at least a mile under ground and finally reached the surface of the earth aa in a dense grove, evidently without the walls of Algiers. A trap-door, cunningly covered with earth, concealed the entrance to the passage. “Push straight on!” El Tokar commanded; ‘‘three or four hundred yards will bring you to the edge of the grove, Wait there and I will send your €s with the horse to you.” And then the Holy Man disappeared in the un- a und way, and the astonished messengers their prize walked forward direc- tion indicated. ae tite CHAPTER XI. ON THE BEACH, | As El Tokar had said, a scant four hundred yards brought the party to the edge of the — and then Selim at once recognized the spot. The secret passage had carried them under the walls of Algiers, and they were a good mile to the east of the city, close to the beach; in fact, just about half-way between the town and the princely palace of the Frenchwoman. The sea was in plain sight, for the round, full moon rising slowly, cast a dim light over the scene. On the hill the walls of the Emperor’s Fort looked down grimly upon the scene, while be- hind the grove to the eastward appeared the roof-tops of Algiers. But not on the grim walls of the strong forta- lice on the hill, not on the roof-tops of the city, were the eyes of the trusted renegade of the Frenchwoman fixed. No! his ores rested on the sea—on a strange craft which, with all sails set, was gliding over the glassy, shimmering waters. The vessel was standing in to the land, and both the renegade and his companion gazed with astonishment upon her. Well known to them was every Algerine ves- sel, and at the first glance they saw that this craft was a stranger. No peaceful merchantman, judging from the outward signs, and, indeed, what trader would dare, even in the “dead waste and middle of the night,” to venture so near to the nest of the pirates. Halting just at the edge of the grove they laced the girl carefully on a grass hillock, be- ind a thick clump of bushes, and then, ste through the foliage of the grove, earnestly they watched the movements of the strange craft. A presentiment of danger had fallen upon them; what harm the single vessel could do they knew not, nor could they imagine; still they ap- prehended mischief. And then, as they watched, graceful as the ~ of a sea-bird on the wing, the vessel rounded in its course, showing its broadside to the beach, and at the same moment a boat was dextrously lowered, the ship never losing its x oomph and commenced to pull stoutly for the shore. Straight for the lurking-place of the abduc- tors the boat headed, and by the aid of the dim light afforded by the moon, the two watchers were enabled to discover that the boat con- tained, besides the six oarsmen, whose muscular powers propelled it, two dark figures, well wrapped in cloaks, the persons who were evi- dently coming on shore. ‘* See!” exclaimed the Greek’s companion, an Algerine, Hafiz by name, ‘‘ they will land quite near tous. Will we not be discovered?” “Very little danger of that,” Selim replied. “After they land they will keep to the open ground, hat should bring them into this grove?” “True enough; but, what should bring them on shore at all? and what is this strange vessel?” ‘** One question is enough without the other,” Selim replied. ‘ By my hand, I swear the mys- tery is too great for me!” teadily the boat parted the glistening waves, the drops of spray falling from the bows shining like molten silver. At last her bow grated on the sandy beach, and the cloaked men landed on the strand. Although Selim and his companion were quite near enough to the water to distinguish the faces of the strangers, yet the two men had so arranged the hoods of the cloaks they wore that it was impossible for the watchers to get a look at their features. ‘“* What are they?’ the Algerine exclaimed, in the ear of the renegade. The sailors could be plainly distinguished, al- though the passengers ed recognition. “Franks, | think,” Selim responded, a little coaateaty, as if he was not quite certain of the act. “Are they not Greeks?’ asked Hafiz; his keen eyes had detected some peculiarities about the dress of the strangers which led him to this ase a i n and ” Selim ere: ; eat se “ y hey are dressed like Greeks.” ‘Yet their heads—such h I'll swear, ie sat on Greek shoulders!” he replied, de- cidedly. ; f The two strangers exchanged a few words with the men in the boat, and then came straight up toward the grove. Hafiz grasped Selim by the arm and drew the long, heavy apes which he carried. “Do not alarmed, and above all avoid hasty action!” Selim cautioned, at the same time drawing his pistol so as to be ready for action. “They do not know that we are here—why should they suspect that any one besides them- selves should be abroad at such an hour as this? We must keep perfectly quiet; they will pass us by and go on their way; and if they discover us, there are but two of them against us two, for the boat has put to sea again and Set ae for the ship as fast as possible; wes have the advantage, even if we are discovered, for our weapons are out.” ‘“'That’s true,” the other muttered, and then they both crouched down close to the ground. The strangers came straight on, evidently in- tending to enter the thicket at a point not ten feet from where the Greek renegade and his companion with the captive girl were con- cealed. Selim chuckled in his sleeve and nudged his companion as the two unknowns walked right by them and their tall figures disappeared amid __ the dark shadows of the trees. It was plain that the strangers had no sus- picion that any one was concealed within the wood. Fate seemed resolved that the beautiful English girl should be the prey of the jealous Frenchwoman’s passions, and the two abduct- ors felt perfectly secure against the chances of ill-fortune. But, neither Selim nor his companion knew — of the subtle drug which the Holy Man had used to insnare the senses of the sleeping girl, and as the wily El Tokar had neglected to inform them that, in time, she would recover from the effects of it, and that they must keep their eyes upon her, he supposing that they would naturally do so; therefore, they had not the slightest suspicion that little by little she had been recovering from the por into which her senses had been plunged by the use of the powerful drug, and that, awakening to a consciousness of what was passing around her, she had been shrewd enough to remain per- fectly quiet and so conceal the fact from the renegade and his companion. Wonderful self-possession had the English 1 and a strong and resolute will; and so ying perfectly stil, listening to the mutte conversation of the two abductors, she formeda plan of escape. She waited until the two strangers were fair- ly within the wood; then she sprung suddenly to her feet, and with a shrill ery for help ran rapidly in the direction from whence came the sound of their footsteps. Who and what the strangers were she knew not, more than what she had gathered from the disjointed remarks which had fallen from the nee of her two captors, but she had faith that, whoever they were, they could not be any. worse than the two men into whose hands she had fallen. For a moment Selim and the Algerine were taken utterly by surprise, for the sudden action on the part of the girl was entirely une by them; but then, realizing that a desperate effort must be made to recapture the maid, they sprung to their feet and dashed after her. The two strangers halted at the shrill cry on the moment; then, alarmed by the noise of the abductors rushing through the bushes, and be- lieving that an ambuseade was at hand, rushed from the wood back into the open space, draw- ing their weapons as they ran. e girl, guided by the sound of their foot- steps, followed, and the Greek renegade and the Algerine came close behind. n the open gs midway between the sea and the wood, the disguised men halted and turned about, prepared to give battle. The girl rushed to them and fell exhausted at their feet. ‘““Save me! for the love of Heaven, save me!” she. cried. An exclamation of astonishment came from the lips of the taller of the two as his eyes fell upon the girl; it appeared asif he had recognized her. Weapons in hand the renegade and his com- nion had burst from the wood, but, upon be- folio the strangers prepared to receive them, they halted. : In truth it did not seem wise for the two to rush upon the leveled weapons of the unknowns. The t’s crew, too, which had been pulling lustily away from the shore, were at once at- tracted by the strange scene transpiring upon the strand, and, laying upon their oars, gave earnest heed, ready to return and take a fand in the fray if there was need of their services. Brave men were the trusty servitors of the Frenchwoman but no idiots to rush to certain death. They hesitated to advance. They were two to two, now, but if the boat’s crew returned the odds would be overwhelm- ing.
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a ee The Lion of the Sea. 2 ———___________ The stratigers perceived the indecision of the | From their words I learned that stran the odds were ‘sd fearfully against them they could not have hoped to eu off the Algerines. Moors and were prompt to act upon it. ‘‘Dogs! throw down your arms and yield!” cried the taller of the two in a voice that plainly showed that its owner was a man used to com- mand. And with the word the two advanced upon the oors, A couple of shots Selim and his companion fired, and then, without even waiting to see the effects of their discharge, flung down their long ot and took to their heels with a swiftness hat argued well for their running powers. A single shot only one of the strangers fired, more to frighten the agile gentlemen than with a thought to harm them, but the pair plunging within the wood were soon lost to sight, althoug the noise of their progress throug: the bushes could be heard for a few minutes. “This is the strangest chance meeting that I ever knew!” the tall stranger exclaime “It is indeed wonderful!” “The girl will surely believe that it is the finger of fate.” What will you do with her?” ‘She shall decide.” And then the two walked rapidly back to where she stood. ‘‘ Have no fear, lady; you are safe,” the tall stranger said, and casting aside the hood of his cloak the lion-head of the Lion Captain appeared. CHAPTER XI. AN ATTACK IN FORCE. A ory of amazement broke from the lips of the girl as she recognized her preserver. “The Lion Captain!” she cried, filled with wonder at the unexpected meeting. “The same, lady, and your poor servant ever, " the unknown replied, with a gallant bow. “ Heaven seems to will that we should meet in strange places,” the maiden observed. ‘“‘ Heaven seems to will that 1 should be the humble instrument to rescue you from deadly peril!” the Lion Captain answered. “On the sea I warned and would have saved you, but you were deaf to remonstrances and rushed blindly to your fate, but now that chance a second time has placed you in my power, I trust you will listen to my words and allow me to place you in safety, far beyond the reach of your enemies.” *$ ——— whom you count my father?” ‘“‘ Alas! it grieves me to say that he, who should be your protector against all, I am forced to consider the worst enemy this world holds for you,” the Lion-head replied, and it was plain from the way in which he spoke that it pained him je make the ha oink oe ol , youare so stra y preju that unfortunate man!” the lady declared, with evident feeling. ‘Would to Heaven that such was the case, but it is not.” ; ‘You ee rightly informed in regard to his:d “ You will discover one of these days that I am only too well informed; but, enough of this; why should I persist in warning you when you disregard my words? It is but useless labor. Be it my task in the future to watch over you as diligently as possible and leave to cruel events the disagreeable performance of proving to you how unworthy your sire is of the trust that you repose in him. But, tell me how comes it that I find you in the power of these Moors, and without the walls of Algiers?” “Indeed I can hardly explain,” the lady re- plied. ‘In dreamy meditation this evening I cast myself, all clothed as you behold me now, u a divan; to the meditation suc ed sleep—a sweet sleep, full of pleasant images; how | in this state of repose I lingered if know not, but the bright dreams were abruptl ut to flight at last, and then a sensation as if t wn strangling succeeded; I seemed to be swimming in a sea, as black to the eye as a gloomy, coffin’s pall; then, within my head, a uge wheel seemed to revolve at tremendous speed, and at every revolution a shower of bright and glittering sparks were cast off. From this I into a stupor like death, and I knew nothing more until a few minutes ago my senses returned slowly to me and I found myself lying upon a hillock within the wood onder gazing up at the starry skies. I believe he life | have led has given me unusual self- possession, for — my senses returned to me and I fully reali that I was the victim of some terrible plot yet I refrained from cryin out—in fact lay like one bereft of speech an listened to the conversation of the two men who were apparently the authors of the outrage. were near at hand. I chose my time, made a bold dash for liberty, and you know the rest. ae The Lion Captain was sorely puzzled at the recital, although well versed in the intrigues of the infamous court of Algiers. ‘Have you seen the Dey yet?” he asked. “é No.” “That is strange! Iexpected you would be presented, almost immediately.” “You wrong my father!” the gu aan pro- tested; ‘‘ he does not design that I sh; fall the prey of this insolent Moslem. He has far high- er and better views for me.” The Lion-head regarded her for a moment evidently surprised. “ Higher views!” he exclaimed, “is the throne of Aboo Hassan then tottering on its base—the scepter trembling in his hand, and is some am- bitious soul plotting in secret to overthrow the Dey? El Boro controls the army; possibly he has undermined their loyalty so that he can pledge them as he lists in the event of a strug- gle? If the army is solid at his back ese | e can say who shall be master of the city ut, what say you to this scheme? Are you willing to be used asa lure to attract some ambitious soul to seize the deyship of Algiers?” The girl flushed scarlet at the [eee -put question; for a moment she seemed con sed, but soon she raised her head and looked proudly at the keen and blunt questioner. “JT will not give myself to any one unless m heart sanctions the choice, and when I love shall not care for the station of the man; he may be as high in rank as any king on earth or as lowly in station as the simplest sailor in the English fleet; it will be all one to me. I am not for sale by anybody or to any one, or at any rice. : Here the companion of the Lion-head broke in, speaking for the first time. “Pardon, sir, but the boat is on the beach Cy coer orders.” The boat’s crew attracted by the fight had put back again to the shore. ‘‘A moment, and they shall have them,” the captain papliaes and then foc ba he turned to the lady. ‘‘ Please you to decide as to your future course,” he said. ‘‘ Will you accept the protec- tion of my pretty ship yonder, or will you re- turn to Algiers?” ‘Return to Algiers?” she repeated, mechani- cally, as though pondering over the question. “Yes, if my surmise is correct, you were brought from the city by means of a certain se- cret passage which, tunneling a way under the city walls, has its exit in the wood, yonder. Myself and companion were about to enter the city by way of the secret pomee> when your cries for help attracted our attention. 4 the aid of the underground way we can put you right back into the Dey’s palace itself—into the th bg wn ret from wine Yee came.” ly believing that she had penetrated the secret of the Lion Captain, and that, if she wished, she could call him by name, his knowl- edge of the mysteries of Algiers did not sur- prise her in the least. “Take me back to my father,” she said, at last; ‘‘and, sir, I assure you upon my honor, that you have wronged him by your suspicions. He is much better—not half so black as you have painted him.” “For your sake I hope so,” the Lion-head re- pie’ earnestly, but a certain something in his ne plainly revealed that he had no faith that such would be the case. Then he turned to the t: “Bend to your oarsand make for the ship,” he commanded. Obedient to the word the oarsmen headed for the ship. “ And now, lady, if you will accept my arm, we will proceed onward to our destination,” he continued. ip pst t The lady at once accepted the invitation, and the three proceeded toward the wood. About one-half the distance that intervened between the spot where they had stood and the shrubbery that marked the confines of the wood, they had traversed, when, suddenly, a troop of Moorish horsemen who, concealed by the grove, had advanced with noiseless caution, burst around the edge of the wood and with loud cries rode rapidly forward, There were thirty Moors at least, and so cun- ningly had she managed their advance and attack the assailed ones saw at a glance that escape was impossivie, No hope could be expected from the boat’s crew, either, for they had made rapid progress out to sea, and, even if they could have return- ed in time to take an active part in the fight, “ Resistance is useless!” cried the Lion-h poaey as he beheld the advancing force, an then, with wonderful dexterity he doffed the lion head and dropped it na co of bushes which happened to be right behind him. He stoo to execute this maneuver, and so con- pee the action from the sight of the advanc- ing foe. And when he rose again, his head hooded in the cloak-cap, any one would have been puzzled to have told him from his companion. With loud cries'the Algerines rode up, bran- dishing their weapons, growing more and more savage in their bearing as they discovered that the men upon whom they were advancing in such warlike array did not manifest any inten- tion of resisting. At the head of the Moors rode the Greek ren- ogade, Selim, and his companion, the doughty afiz, who had fled with such vigor but a short time before. By a lucky chance the two in their headlong flight had encountered an escort troop returning from up the coast, and had at once made known the landing of the tv7o strangers upon the beach, and suggested their surprise and capture. “Glory to Allah!” eried the, leader of the horsemen, flourishing his curved saber in tri- umph; ‘you are our prisoners! Yield, Chris- tian dogs, or die!” , r The maiden with characteristic modesty had vailed her face with the folds of the light cloak she wore, and so her dazzling beauty did not excite attention. ““We surrender,” said one of the men, but whether it was the Lion-head or the other, the girl was puzzled to decide, for, as she had no- ticed before, their voices were strangely alike, and they were also very much alike in appear- ance. The lady fancied that it was not the Lion- head, but his companion, although it was always the other who took the lead, but the Algerines naturally took the speaker to be the prominent man of the two. The Moors disarmed the prisoners, and then one of the horsemen ha ing to pass through the clump of bushes, discove the lion’s head which the Lion Captain had essayed to conceal. Great was the wonder of the horsemen as the fellow held up the strange head-dress. One of the prisoners, then, was the great Greek pirate; but which one? That was the question! CHAPTER XIII. WHICH IS WHICH? “THe Lion of the Sea!” cried the renegade, and the rest of the horsemen reéchoed the ex- clamation. Not a man was there in the but knew the Greek sea-rover by reputation; hence, great was their glee at the unexpected capture. And Selim and his companion, too, under- stood now the character of the strange ship which had, in the darkness and silence of the night, run in so close to the Algerine coast. proud feather, indeed, it was in the caps of them all to have achieved so great a capture and secured so valuable a prize. , “We are all made men!” cried the captain in command of the party. “The Dey, our great and mighty master, will surely give us a capful of gold apiece, to say nothing of other honors, — we present this dog of a Greek pirate to m. “You are quite right!” Selim chimed in. “At this present moment, I’ve no doubt that our illustrious master, the Dey, would gladly vea turban full of diamonds for the Lion of he Sea, dead or alive. Why, fellow-soldiers, this rascally pirate had the daring to give battle oa the high seas to the mighty Ali, of the Blue eard! ‘A hum of wonder resounded on the air at this announcement; the fight with Ali was news to the soldiers. “Ah, indeed, it is the truth,” Selim continued ; “ nor is that the worst of it. He sunk Ali’s ves- sel after a bard and bloody fight—actually whipped the great pasha, the terror of the goes and sent him home like a drowned rat to the story of the slaughter.” In wonder the soldiers looked upon each other, and then gazed curiously upon the two tall, dark figures, standing as motionless as statues, their faces masked by the hoods of the heavy cloaks which they wore. ‘But, thanks to our good swords, the career of this pirate will be brought to a sudden close!” the captain of the horsemen exclaimed, grand- iloquently, as though it were a deed of desperate a
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daring for some thirty to assault and capture two. ‘‘ This is the prisoner of whom I told you,” the renegade said, pointing to the lady. ‘ and comrade were conveying her through the wood, when we were assailed by this Lion-head and forced to fly for our lives.” ‘By the beard of the Prophet, os brother, ou and your fellow are not made of the stuff that warriors are composed of, or else, being two to two, you would not have allowed your- selves to be overcome,” cried the captain, val- —_: ‘Ah, but he hada boat’s crew, ten men or more, at his back,” Selim explained. ‘‘Oh, that alters the case, then.” “Well, your fortune is made by this capture, captain; and [envy you!” the renegade exclaim- ed, and as he spoke, the soldier, impressed by his words, swelled out like a turkey-cock. ‘‘ And now, with your permission, I and my comrade will take our prisoner, this slave, and om gk while you go to Algiers and claim the rich re- ward that awaits you.” “Certainly; and if I thrive, friend Selim, rest assured I shall not forget that I owed the lucky chance to you,” the soldier penned already, in his mind’s eye, the captain beheld himself pro- moted to one of the ~ offices of the state, and ruling in almost kingly grandeur over a host of meaner creatures. “Thanks; I shall remember to remind you of the promise,” the renegade remarked, and then he advanced toward the lady. She, perceiving the movement, and determin- ed at all basards to escape from her captors, suddenly forward and addrionat the captain of the troop. ‘Do not believe this man!” she cried. ‘‘I am not a slave, but the daughter of the Minister of | War, the great and mighty pasha, El Boro! I am the victim of a foul and most horrid plot. This man in my sleep abducted me from the apartments of my father in the Kasbah—the palace ~ the Dey. For some dee gn awful urpose he is carrying me away, an upon ron as a soldier and a man to lend no aid to his ase design! Carry me with you to the city—re- turn me to the arms of my great and powerful father, and claim your own reward.” The soldiers listened in amazement, and as for the captain, his eyes fairly stuck out with wonder. The Lion of the Sea so suddenly unmasked was a great surprise, indeed, but in the same haul of the net, as it were, to bring up a lady nent to be the daughter of the stern El Boro, was truly wonderful! Selim, the renegade, was a crafty fellow; few men in or around the palace more cunning than he, a fact well proven by the trust that the Frenchwoman confided to him, for she was a shrewd judge of human nature and rarely made am ein regard to her tools; and he = ted the troo h : im, e r, who was a Tatered’ tort of a fellowand who saw no arm in answering the question. ‘Selim?’ repeated the prisoner. “ Yes, Selim, ee Neds wn = is - ht-hand man of the wonderful, gazelle-eye Goinare the Beautiful, the sunlight of our great Dey’s harem.” A long-drawn breath came from between the
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firm-set teeth of the questioner as the soldier spoke. POnly too well did he, understandthe nature of the peril which threatened the unfortunate girl. The reputation of the queen of the harem was well known to him; merciless by nature— more tiger-cat than woman, he knew that she would not hesitate at any means and at any cost to remove a rival from her path. In some way Gulnare had learned of the ar- rival in the city of the beautiful English girl, and at once her jealous fears had jumped to the conclusion that in the stranger she would find a dangerous rival, and so she had planned to ab- duct her before she should be brought before the Dey. Te, to what fate would jealous Gulnare consign the girl when once her eyes rested upon the beauty of her almost perfect face? Had not the prisoner been a man of wonder- ful nerve, and one used to concealing his emo- tions behind a stony face, he would have froen ed aloud in anguish as these thoughts floated through his brain, and he reflected upon the terrible peril that menaced the lady. And he was. helpless, too, to aid her now. Cruel For- tune had frowned and fate itself seemed leagued nst him. e walls of Algiers were soon reached, the sleepy warder roused to unclose the gates, and then passing through the portal the heavy gates clan; to, and the Lion Captain was fairly within the grasp of his foes. The Moorish captain was too well acquainted with the habits of the a Dey to venture to disturb him at such an hour, though bearing with him such a prize, and he was ee too this lowly captain, and he knew right we that if any of the great ones of the court discovered how important was the capture he had made the chances were large that they would attempt to ignore him in the matter altogether and lay claim to the credit of the deed themselves, Therefore the captain cautioned his men and in- structed them nof to breathe a word toa soul in regard to the prize which they had secured, and with his troop proceeded to their barracks where they remained until the hour of ten next morning, at which time the Dey was usually visible; then he proceeded with his troop, the prisoners in the center, to the palace. With a grand flourish the captain demanded admittance to the royal presence. “T bring a most important ote geal he de- clared, ‘‘and must have immediate speech with his serene highness.” Now, although the officers of the palace look- ed with disdain upon the plainly-attired prison- ers, and with sun ry incredulous gestures indi- cated their disbelief in the captain’s statement, et they did not dare to refuse his request, for the Dey, like all the Eastern rulers, often found time to hang heavy on his hands, and was never sorry when some interruption to the regular or- der of things occurred. Therefore, with great ceremony the captain and his troop was ushered into the great hall of sta te. The Dey satin his place as usual; by his side, amid the other officers in immediate attendance upon the royal person, was the crafty “ Holy n,” but iY Boro, the minister of war, was missing. Early that morning, for the gy ie English- man was no sluggard, he had ove the absence of his daughter, and at once set out in search of her. The captain, ushered into the presence of the ruler of iers, at once advanced to the throne and humbly prostrated himself before it. ‘“‘ All glory to your illustrious highness, Al giers’s t Dey, the ruler of the world!” he cried, after the Oriental fashion; ‘‘ and confu- sion to your enemies, whether they be on land or sea! “Your humble slave, with his own right arm, has performed a mighty deed and van- ished a foe who has long dared to brave the displeasure of your royal frown.” “The Dey glanced from the speaker to the pris- oners, and he was somewhat puzzled at the iloquent tone of the speaker, for the un- flown captives quietly gazing around them with placid faces, evidently, if one could judge ae heir features, not at all affected by the ition. If the prisoners were criminals their self- com e was asto ing. “Atlah be thanked that I am so well served!” the Dey exclaimed. “Terror of the land and ocean, pour poor servant gives into your royal hands the mighty Greek pirate, the Lion of the Sea!” All within the hall at the announce- ment; the captain rose to his feet, made a sign The Lion of the Sea. to one of the soldiers, and the fellow, advancing drew.from under his cloak the grizzly lion-head and laid it down before the feet of the Algerine monarch, who stared in amazement at the strange sight. “By the beard of the Prophet! this is most wonderful!” the Moor exclaimed. And the whispered title, ‘‘ the Lion of the Sea,” went, round the hall from lip to lip, Great was the exultation of all. * And which one of these two is the Lion Cap- tain, the Greek pirate? Let him step forth!” eried the Dey. CHAPTER XV. A FINAL TRIAL. NEITHER one of the two men moved. **Dogs!” cried the Algerine ruler in a rage, “do you dare to brave my wrath? Let who calls himself the Lion of the Sea step forth at once, or on his head will I launch the bt oe of my royal displeasure!” The Moor was somewhat illogical in this threat, for until he discovered which was the Greek it would be impossible to punish him. * Pardon me, light of the world!” exclaimed one of the men, stepping forward and prostra- pi Ae canara ore the throne. “ Your illustri- ous highness is deceived, as is also this noble cap- tain,” and then, in a plain, straightforward manner, he related the tale which he had told the Algerine officer. Plain, honest fishermen, he claimed that. both he and his companion were, blown by contrary winds off the coast of Tunis, then at sea picked up by the unknown ship, which, as he frankly con essed, was no doubt the ship of the notorious Greek pirate, but as to there pee connection between the pirate and ae and companion, why, the idea was absurd. ‘*But the lion-head?” cried the Dey, pointing to the grim and fantastic disguise. “We know nothing of it,” the man answered, humbly. ‘This noble captain will tell you that we it not.” Thus called upon the officer was forced to ad- mit that some of his men had found the lion- head hidden within a clump of bushes near to the spot where the So had been taken but ended by confidently assert his belief that one of the captives had placed it there. “Confess!” cried the Dey, loudly, and with anger in his tones; “‘ confess, and so save your- selves from the consequences of my wrath. One of Phe is the Greek pirate; let the other speak and reveal which he is, and so save himself from fearful torture.” And then the other prisoner stepped forward and bowed his head before the throne. ‘“‘Tam the man you seek; let my companion go free!” “No, no!” cried the other, springing to his feet; “‘7 am the man; take me and let him go!” In dire perplexity all within the council hall stared at this unlooked-for announcement. There was but one Greek pirate, but lo! here were two! ‘* Base sons of unclean dogs!” roared the Dey, in a rage. ‘‘Am I bereft of reason that you think to impose on me in this way? First, you declare that va know nothing of the Lion of the Sea; and then, in the next breath, each claims to bethe man. Inshallah! you shall both die, and there is an end to the matter!” “Most illustrious monarch!” cried El Tokar, a brilliant idea occurring to him. ‘Summon great Ali of the Blue Beard; he knows the pi- rate—he has met him in single fight—he can eat tell which of these two men is the true eek. ““By the white tomb of our holy Prophet!” averred the Algerine monarch, “there is wis- dom in your thought. Let great Ali be called at once.” Pasha Blue Beard was not far off; he came in haste at the Dey’s call, and when the nature of the business was explained to him, he at once declared that no doubt he could detect the pirate at a glance; but when he came to examine the two men, who bore the scrutiny unflinchingly, the veteran sea-rover was puzzled; he shook his head gravely, and was about to declare that in his judgment neither one was the famous Lion Captain, when, happening to glance at the Al- erine ruler, he saw an expression upon Aboo assan’s face that warned him that he was ex- pected to identify one of the men, and so, like a skillful courtier, he at once laid his hand upon the shoulder of the man nearest to him, and ex- claimed: “By my head! I believe this is the man!” El Tokar, in the meanwhile, had been whis- pering words of counsel in the ear of the Dey, and so when Ali had declared his opinion, t — Dey proceeded to put into execution the plan that the wily Holy Man had suggested to him. ‘* Let the prisoners be removed at once to the dungeon and placed in separate cells, and under pain of death let no man hold communication with either of them.” The order of the Algerine monarch was obeyed at once. Dark and gloomy indeed were the cells to which the captives were conducted. Men of iron they seemed to be, for neither one uttered even a word against the harsh command. Into these damp and noisome dens the blessed light of the all-glorious sun never came; so chill the air—so foul the vapors that arose on all sides, that few prisoners ever spent mnny hours as captives to the Dey without showing traces of these terrible dungeons for many years af- terward. The prisoners were placed in separate cells; the heavy doors clanged to; the rusty bolts shot home in their sockets, and they were left to their own meditations. But not for long, for within fifteen minutes the guards conducted El] Tokar along the dark assage, and behind him came two dark and sinister forms; negroes, black as jet, and bearing ominous silken cords in their hands. One used to the ore ga court would, at a lance, have recognized these two dark, muscu- ar men. They were the stranglers, the stern ministers alike of justice and of vengeance. El Tokar paused at the portal of the dungeon where the first prisoner was confined. The jailer unlocked the door and the Holy Man entered, the stranglers se soem without. The captive sat on a low stool, the only piece of furniture within the cell, gazing wistfully up at the little window, through which, between its bars, the light stole in. The fat and greasy Moor came close up to the 1) pe and peered with eager curi into is face; the captive, with a questioning glance, returned the look. ‘*Tt is an unpleasant duty that I come upon,” the Algerine remarked, with a shake of the head. ‘Yes?’ said the prisoner, questioningly. ‘* Without the door wait the chief stranglers of the court.” “The stranglers?” “You are doomed to die.” Tt is Allah’s will,” replied the other, with true Moslem indifference, but there was a pecu- liar ow in his eyes which gave the lie to the cen, El Tokar was not a keen observer, and did not notice it. is ‘“ Ali, of the Blue Beard, has said that your a is the Lion Captain; is it true?” “No, it is not.” ‘You are the Greek pirate then?” ‘*Bah! what nonsense!” exclaimed the pris- oner, impatiently. ‘‘ If the Dey had the wits of dog he could have seen at once tiiat Ali Pasha pak neither of us, but he feared to speak the ‘Well, be that as it may, the Dey has deter- mined to give both of you to death, so which- ever one of you is the Greek his vengeance will be satisfied; but if you are only honest fisher- men, as you claim, why did both of you own to being the Greek?’ the Holy Man asked,shrewdly. A smile came over the dark face of the cap- tive. “ Old friends are we, great lord, and willingly proms ay of us would peril much to help the other. El Tokar shook his head, doubtfully; this sort of thing he could not understand at ali, for such sentiments were entirely for to his nature; not to have saved his own father from peril would he have taken the slightest bit of blame upon his shoulders, broad and fat as they were. “s Oh, no, my friend, I cannot believe that story,” the Ho M Man replied. ‘‘T am not quite such a fool as that. I have lived some time in this world and never yet have I seen a man will- ing to suffer for another.” 4 look of en passed across the features of the captive, but he did not trouble himself to reply. 2 if And now at this moment, with death staring ee in the face, you have power to avert your ate if you are only inclined to act like a sen- sible man,” El Tokar continued. ‘My royal master, the Dey, would give much to really know the truth in regard to the Greek pirate, for to strangle the Lion-head quietly in his dun- n is very small satisfaction, considering that e fellow as destroyed the best frigate in our “Ah, yes, I see; the great and munificent ruler of the sea and land would like to make a public show of the man whom accident placed 5
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eee —* . The Lion of the Sea. 13 within his power; he would like to exhibit him to the gaping crowd in the public square and give the a multitude a chance to exult over the downfall of the man who, on the sea, had laughed to scorn the power of Algiers.” “Yes, yes!” exclaimed El Tokar, rubbing his hands gleefully as he spoke, as though already he was gloating over and enjoying the scene of triumph. ‘Well, I can hardly blame the Dey,” the pris- oner added. ‘‘ It would be too bad to miss such a raree show.” ‘‘ True, true; you will k then?” cried the Rely Man, eagerly, not able to repress his de- ight, aT Oh, yes, Pl speak.” ““ Your companion—” ‘6 Yess" ‘Ts the Greek pirate?” ‘*No, no more than I am,” replied the captive, se in the face of the ed Moor. ‘Beware! Remember the stranglers!” “Bah! I laugh at your threats! Callin your murderers! A man can die but once!” CHAPTER XVI. THE RIVALS. Srraicut for the palace of the Frenchwoman the renegade rode with his beautiful captive. Although he had fully succeeded in his expe- dition, yet the mind of Selim was ill at ease. True the girl was helpless in his power, yet there had , son altogether too muc publicity attending the capture. She had loudly pro- claimed in the hearing of the soldiers that she was the daughter of the powerful minister of war, El Boro, and although he had attempted to weaken the force of the announcement b quietly stating that she was a harmless mad- woman, yet the odds were great that some cun- ning dog of a trooper would take it into his h to seek out El Boro and tell him of the strange adventure on the sands. But, as well as though he was her second self, the renegade knew the character of his mistress; her orders were at all hazards to bring the Eng- lish girl to the beyond the walls of the city, and Selim knew that it was as much as his life was worth to attempt to disobey. Yet on the other hand, by obeying he took upon him- self the bold pose of braving the anger of the posrertul El Boro; something not lightly to be curred, for the stern minister of war was a dangerous man when roused to action. The rem e wasin a dilemma; was his mistress, the nchwoman, powerful enough to protect him from the rage of El Boro, or would he, the humble instrument, be sacrificed in the event of open war between the man whose daughter he had stolen and the woman whose orders he had so faithfully obeyed? Selim, like a prudent man, kept his own counsel and said nothing to his companions of his fears, but a hundred times during the short ride from the beach to the palace he cursed the evil chance which had so publicly connected him with the abduction of the rl. ‘“‘ By my head!” muttered Seli \, as the walls of the palace rose fair before him, “I think that I had better ask leave of absence and decamp for awhile until this affair blows over, other- wise I fear that I may suffer. My lady is pow- erful; El Boro is powerful, too, and in the event of a desperate quarrel there is no telling who would get the best of it or how it might end. Decidedly I will transfer my precious person elsewhere for a short time.” " And as the renegade came to this wise con- clusion he drew rein in front of the palace. All was in readiness to receive him; the gates opened instantly and after the party passed tavot h closed with a hollow clang. Now surely was the hapless girl completely helpless in the power of herenemy., What arm strong enough to tear her from the gripe of this female tiger, with the paws of velvet and claws of steel? An apartment had been prepared for the re- i cat of the maid and she was at once placed in it. The luxury-loving Frenchwoman had not troubled herself to remain awake to await the arrival of her prey, so fully confident was she that the renegade would succeed in his enter- rise. Gulnare usually rose late, and on the morn- ing succeeding the girl’s arrival she was later than ever, much to Selim’s disgust, for he was up betimes, eager to relate the success of his mission, receive his reward and be gone, for with every new minute he feared to hear the engry hand of El Boro knocking loudly at the rate. At last the Frenchwoman arose; performed her toilet, which took some time, for Gulnare was not as young as she once was, and to ef- face the marks of old Father Time’s withering hand chin skill, care and patience. Then she breakfasted—no careless, the Frenchwoman was an epicure by nature; and all this time Selim was cooling his heels in the anteroom and swearing under his breath in a most ferocious manner. Every now and then, too; he would saunter to the window which commanded a view of the road to Algiers and glance nervously out of it, as if he expect- ed to see the dark minister of war at the head of a powerful force riding straight, with hostile intent, toward the palace. At last the Frenchwoman was graciously pleased to indicate that she was ready to re- ceive him, and the renegade hastened to her presence. Gulnare listened with languid indifference to his story of the expedition, and when he ex- | pressed his fears that some one of the soldiers might hasten to El Boro and inform him of the circumstance she laughed in contempt. ‘“Well, well!” she exclaimed, ‘‘what if he asty meal, for | fact, as, with her angry, envious eyes, she look- ed upon the fresh young beauty of the peerless English girl. ncertain truly would be her power over the fickle heart of the turbaned ruler of Algiers if | this matchless woman chose to exercise her fas- | cinations. | ‘Well, young lady, no doubt you are sur- prised at the strange situation in which you find yourself,” Gulnare at length remarked. “Tam.” ‘* What is your name?” **Cleora Craven.” ‘You are the daughter of El Boro, the rene- gade Englishman?” “‘T am his daughter,” Cleora replied, ber lips | trembling, for the word renegade applied to her | father pained her much, for she knew that he | deserved the title. | Do you know that your father has destined | you for a most vile purpose?” asked Gulnare, bluntly. ‘*No; I do not know it.” “He intends that you shall become an inmate does know that I have had his daughter carried , of the Dey’s harem. Your father is minister of off?” war, and has been the chief counselor of the “He may be mad ke to attempt by force | Dey, but he finds his power is on the wane, and to take her from you,” Selim suggested. ‘* You are right; he would be mad to go . ter he sacrifices you.” 1 ss } such a thing!” she replied, haughtily. in order to find new favor with his royal mas- “You are wrong; he has no such p se in urpos wish an English girl to wait upon me and this | view!” Cleora replied, firmly, although this ac- | cusation, now for the second time repeated to ay pleases me and that is all there is about i . her ears, troubled her greatly. “Might not my lord, the Dey, be displeased ‘Oh, of course, silly child, he has not unfold- that you should select the daughter of his chief | ed his plans to you, but I know them well counselor?” the renegade said, humbly. “The Dey is my slave, and it is not the first time I have stretched out my hand to brush a rival from my path!” Selim perceived that the Frenchwoman was bent upon carrying out her p , and that remonstrances would only provoke her ange r. -and so prudently he abstained, but with great tact he presented his petition for a short leave of absence. No one’s fool was the imperious Gulnare, and therefore at once she guessed the reason why Selim desired to go. “So, so, you are afraid!” she exclaimed. ‘Oh, no, Master Selim; I cannot spare you; you are too useful tome. Besides, in this mat- ter, if El Boro is more powerful than I think he is, and I find that he is likely to gain the advan- tage over me, why, I can easily enough retreat from m tion by ¢ ing him the girl, swear- ing that you were to Diane in the matter, and allowing him to seize you as a victim.” The renegade trembled from head to heel and his face became deathly white. ‘Oh, most powerful mistress!” he cried, “surely you would not sacrifice your faithful servant? “Faithful?” she replied, in contempt; “and you wish to desert me in the moment of dan- ger! Selim was about to stammer out an excuse, but the Frenchwoman stopped him with an im- perious wave of her hand. ‘*Enough!” she cried; ‘‘ you can take choice; Pe and join El Boro and see if edd” er— ‘*Oh, noble mistress!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ not for the world would I encounter your resentment. I merely wished for a few days to attend to some business along the coast—’ “¢ And give time for this affair to blow over!” she interrupted, quickly. ‘‘No, no; in this mat- ter you are either for or against me; there can be no middle course.” The rogue saw that he wasin a trap, and so resolved to put a good face upon the matter. “Oh, no, most noble mistress; I will follow thy fortunes and seek to serve no other.” ‘ Wisely decided!” she exclaimed, with a toss of her imperious head; “and new, bring in the girl and let me see what she is like.” Selim withdrew, to find the maid in her prison apartment, calm and self-possessed; no trace of agitation in her manner, no fear upon her face. A bold and dauntless heart had this English girl. ‘You are to follow me,” announced the offi- cer, briefly. | The maid inclined her head; resistance in such our e is enough to protect you from my an- a case was fruitless; besides, now she would | learn the reason why this outrage upon her liberty had been committed. Selim conducted the girl at once to the apart- ment of the Frenchwoman, and Gulnare, re- clining upon her soft couch, looked with eager eyes upon the marvelous beauty of the maid. Yes, indeed, she was beautiful. jealous tiger-cat of a woman had to admit the Even the | } ' enough, and therefore I have attempted to save you from a fate which, to an honest English girl, must be worse than death. You can re- main here with me. Noone will know that you are here. I need a companion, and you s live like a princess.” ‘* And who are you?’ asked the girl, a peculiar look in her large eyes. ‘‘f am Gulnare, the Queen of the Harem,” re- plied the Frenchwoman, ony ‘‘Oh! and you are afraid that I will take your place!” exclaimed Cleora, in scorn. Before the enraged Frenchwoman could open her mouth to reply, an attendant came hastily into the room. “Your highness, an armed body of men are at the gate!” he cried. CHAPTER XVII. 4 ~oe sptess-ite! ‘i. N expression of joy passed rapidly over the face of the English Mi An stsned torch knock- ing at the gate of her prison—did not that mean release? Transient as was the expression it did not es- ae the keen eyes of the Frenchwoman, and it: only served to inflame the anger which burned in her heart the more. The same thought which had come to the girl had also oce toher. Had El Boro learned thus quickly the whereabouts of his daughter and come in arms to claim her? ‘‘He would not dare!” she murmured to her- self, but then the reflection at once came: did she really know how much the minister of war would dare if his rage was excited? El] Boro, on two or three occasions, had shown Algiers that he held his life as lightly as tho he valued it not at a pin’s fee, and what would be more likely to enrage him to madness than this gross outrage? The Frenchwoman had paid but little atten- tion to Selim’s story, and had laughed at the idea of El Boro paring to attempt to invade her palace; but, if the minister of war really had come—if he had come with armed men deter- mined to force an entrance, and Gulnare knew well enough how blindly the average Moslem soldier obeyed the orders of his leader! No mat- ter if she was the favorite of the Dey, in Algiers one might bask in the smiles of fortune one day and be driven forth in disgrace the next; if he had come, determined to have his daughter at any cost, how could she oppose him, what force had she to meet El Boro and his ruthless body- guard? for the personal following of the minis ter of war was noted throughout Algiers as be- ing composed of desperadoes of every nation, men who boasted that they held their lives as lightly as they did the money in their purses. There were fifteen or twenty men attached to | the palace, supposed to be soldiers, for they wore swords and carried arms, but they were | holiday troops, no match for E] Boro’s stalwart bravos. As cunning as she was bold, the Frenchwoman saw that if the armed force was indeed El Boro’s men the time had come to act upon the maxim of the crafty Greek, Lysander, ‘‘ When ae eee +h
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14 The Lion of the Sea. =I the lion’s skin falls short eke it out with the | one side as though she was naught but a lowly fox’s.” She looked at Selim and nodded significantly toward the girl. The renegade was very pale and no wonder; more than any one else he had reason tofear. Gulnare was a woman; El Boro might disdain to strike her; but for himself, he had no reason to expect mercy. Selim “yore the girl, and bowing low, requested her to follow him. Cleora complied, for she saw no other course open to her. Selim conducted her to the apartment which she had Shdbdeipsay Mises agua and then immedi- ately returned to Gulnare. ‘*Tt is El Boro!” the Frenchwoman exclaimed. A second officer had recognized the minister of war. ‘‘What is to be done? Shall we admit him?” “No, no!” cried the renegade, hastily. ‘‘ Once he is inside our walls we are lost, if he come on hostile intent.” ‘*He has only ten men with him!” ‘*We must refuse him admittance, and fire upon him if he insists.” The Greek was pale and nervous as he gave this counsel. Never, in all his life, had he encountered greater aie ‘*He will not dare to insist!” cried Gulnare, Fries, at the very thought. “Am I a dog that El Boro dare to brave my anger?” ‘* Most gracious mistress, this Frank is a man terrible in anger, and if he believes that his daughter is detained here, he would not be apt to hesitate at any risk to release her.” “T have ordered my followers to arm them- selves and prepare for a conflict, and now I in rson will go to the wall and hold speech with im. By my life it will be an unlucky hour for El Boro when he dares to provoke my wrath. Come!” Three steps the Frenchwoman took toward the door, the Greek ee close upon her heels, when there came a sudden and violent crash, followed by a few scattering shots, and then a fierce and vindictive yell. Gulnare paused in alarm, while the Greek be- came as pale as death. ‘* The ruffian! has he dared to use force?” the Frenchwoman cried, hardly able to believe that such could be the case. The question was speedily answered. Along the corridor sounded the noise of hur- ried footsteps: then the doors of the a ent were flung violently open and half-a-dozen of the attendants of the palace came rushing in, pale and breathless, while, hard at their heels, with leveled guns and brandished swords, fol- lowed El Boro and his rough-whiskered body- guard. El Boro, at the gate, had demanded admit- tance; the warder at first had attempted to par- ley with him, then grew insolent, relying up- on his mistress’s protection, and never believ- ing for a single instant that El Boro would dare to brave the wrath of the Queen of the Harem; but the blood of the renegade Englishman was up, and in an instant he vance. His bull-dogs liked no better fun; in a twinkling they had battered in the gate and were masters of the entrance, for the frail bar- rier which had interposed had never been fram- ed to stand such rough usage. Then, alarmed by the warder’s cries, and sus- pean that the intruders came on no friendl errand, some of th3 soldiers of Gulnare had a tempted, by force of arms, to dispute the pas- sage of the assailants, but El Boro and his rough blades had by a single charge sent them flying in terror dismay, and, following close upon their heels, came with angry shouts and glit- tering weapons into the very presence of Gul- nare. The Frenchwoman was no coward, and being terribly enraged, too, at the boldness of the movement, she started forward and resolutely confronted the armed intruders, with the air of an empress. ‘Halt, ruffians!” she cried. ‘‘What want you here with brandished weapons? Are you weary of life that by this bold outrage you pro- voke the anger of the Dey?” ‘*Your pardon, most noble lady, that I thus Pe pon and hastily intrude into your palace,” El Boro replied, with stately politeness, ‘‘ but 1 come in search of my daughter, who has been abducted from my apartments in the Kasbah, and who, I am informed, is now secreted here,” and then at this point his eyes fell upon the Greek renegade skulking behind his mistress. In a second his rage flashed forth. ‘‘ Yonder is the Greek!” he cried. ‘‘Down with him! Bind him hand and foot!” Like eager dogs released from the leash and hounded upon their prey, the soldiers seized upon the Greek. Gulnare in vain attempted to ave the word to ad-’ | shield him. The rough fellows pushed her to slave instead of san. Selim was seized, bound, forced to his knees, and then over his head gleamed the curved sa- bers of the soldiers, ready at once to drink his blood. Almost frantic with rage, the Frenchwoman gave vent to her indignation. ‘* Villains—monsters, do you dare? Oh! you shall pay dearly for this outrage—your heads shall roll in the dust—the Dey shall avenge me! “My daughter!” exclaimed El Boro, advanc- ing with uplifted saber; and so fierce was the determination expressed upon his face that Gul- nare, believing that her last hour had come, in terror fell upon her knees and threw up her hands to ward off the deadly stroke. There was nomistaking El Boro’s looks; blood was in his eyes. ‘*My daughter!” he cried again; ‘‘ give her to me, or by my head I swear I’ll let loose such a torrent of blood that all the waters of yonder ocean will never be able to wash out the stain,” ‘*Yonder—in yonder apartment!” stammered sing the favorite of Aboo Has- nare. sia may great lord!” cried Selim, in the same breath; ‘‘ 1 but obeyed my orders me!” beats Setar te 1 Boro spurned the grovel- ing wretch with his foot as he advanced rapidly toward the room indicated by the Frenchwo- man. A slave in terror led the way, and soon the captive was gladdened by the sight of her stern sire. ; With the maid El Boro returned to the main apartment. ‘“Woman!” cried the Englishman, addressing Gulnare, ‘“‘ for the first time in your life you have dared to openly brave me, and now you behold the consequences of the act, Let it be a warning to he cross my path no more, _Con- fine yourself to your intrigues; plot with the Holy Man as much as you please, but never again dare to use the sword of power, for if the chance of fortune piace you a second time within my clutches, there will be a chance for our t master the Dey to choose another fa- vorite. And as for yon Greek slave, I scorn to strike worm that he is. Let him go!” Obedient to the command the soldiers released their prisoner, and never in this world did mor- tal man thank his lucky star more fervently than Selim, at this unexpected piece of good fortune. Without further words El Boro departed, his daughter and his rude soldiers bearing him com- ny. Pood with rage was the Frenchwoman at see- ing a Boro thus carry matters with so high a nd. ‘You must mount and ride at once to Al- piers, Selim!” she cried. ‘‘See El Tokar and id him come to me instantly. Say nothing of this scene except that El Boro has been here and taken away his daughter, Leave all the rest of the explanation to me!” Selim started at once upon his mission, but a grave face he wore as he rode forth. He had escaped El Boro’s anger once, but he was not eager to risk the chance a second time. CHAPTER XVIII. A SECOND FAILURE. ‘Cant in your murderers!” Bold and ringing was the defiance of the cap- tive, and for a moment El Tokar glared at him in silent anger. The Moor, with all his craft. was baffled and beaten at every point. He had expected by means of his threats to bring the | prisoner to terms; he had thought that the ap- pearance of the stranglers would at once have reduced the stranger to a condition of abject supplication, but instead of prayers for mercy he was met by a bold defiance. ‘* Reflect—reflect!” he cried. ‘‘ By great Al- lah! I swear that your life hangs upon a thread!” ‘*Cut it then, and the quicker the better!” re- plied the captive, scornfully. ‘*Has lifeno charms for you—the grave no terrors?” asked the Holy Man, in amazement. “Come—come! hag wasting time with your questions,” the prisoner answered. ‘If you mean to kill, be ee and have done with it. If the gates of Paradise are yawning on their hinges to receive me, don’t keep the dark angel waiting.” 1 Tokar was amazed. What manner of man was this who made a jest of death and laughed in the face of the exe- cutioner? Although cruel by nature, as such cowardly, crafty fellows generally are, yet El Tokar hesi- tated to carry out his threats. So far his scheme had proven a total failure; the captive had baffled him at every point, and he had not gained a single bit of information. And then, as the crafty Moslem, perplexed, cudgeled his brains to know what sindbets to do, an idea occurred to him. : What if this man whom he had taken to be the servant was in reality the master? It was not impossible—nay! it was more than likely from his bearing and manner. No one but a man used to command would be ao defiant. Good reasons had he then for not betrayi the Greek pirate, since he himself was the Captain! 1 Tokar wondered that this idea had not oc __ curred to him before; if his guess was correct. and he felt perfectly sure that it was, perhaps his plan might succeed with the other prisoner. At any rate it was worth a trial. “T will give you time for reflection,” he said, addressing the captive. ‘‘ When you come to think upon the matter you will see that life is better than death, and that a man isa fool to throw away that which he can retain.” “A hun years of solitary confinement would not change my opinion in regard to the matter!” the captive retorted, ‘‘ Ah, well; we will see,” El Tokar remarked. “ A trial will do no harm, and if your spirit is so lusty and your will so stout, perhaps a little judicious dieting may help you. Bread and water, and a scanty supply of those two articles in the bargain, has been known to accomplish wonders. Starvation is a hard taskmaster, as you shall find before you are many days older.” And with this threat E] Tokar withdrew. ‘Starvation, eh?” muttered the prisoner, as the heavy iron door ae to after the Holy Man. “By all that’s evil, it will bea bad day for you, my greasy Moor, if Bee that game on me and then trust yourself wi my reach after. If I don’t strangle you before your Wea can save you then my name is not what it is e fastenings, gave him admittance. The captive was stretched at full ea, 28 gE his pallet of straw, but as El Tokar en » he raised himself upon his elbow and looked in- quiringly at the Moor. ‘* Aha!” muttered the Holy Man, as he gazed upon the clear-cut, resolute features of the cap- tive, ‘‘this is the man, sure enough! I was a fool to believe the other was the servant. How do you find yourself, my fine fellow?” he con- tinued aloud, addressing the prisoner. “So badly suited that I would be glad to . change my quarters.” ‘‘Well, that you will do and very speedily.” ~ ‘* Yes?” replied the captive, in “e' tone of oa on. ‘Your companion has confessed.” ‘*Confessed what?” the man exclaimed, in a tone of surprise, and if his amazement was not real then he was a most excellent hand at de- ception. ‘Why, that you are the Greek pirate, the Lion of the Sea.” ‘*Oh, he has?’ and the man, apparently, was not at all astounded at the intelligence. ‘** And that settles your fate.” “My fate?’ and the captive stared with a blank face at the Moor. . : es 7 his confession he sealed yourdoom. Be- old! El Tokar waved his hand as a signal to the jailer, and that worthy, stepping to one side, allowed the stranglers to appear in the door- way. The second captive was fully as strongly nerved as the first, for he never betrayed the slightest sign of agitation at the appearance of the muscular blacks with their silken cords of slaughter pendent from their arms. The prisoner rose slowly to his feet. “Death must come some time,” he observed; ‘‘ perhaps it is as well soon as later.” or the second time El Tokar was thoroughly astonished. Many brave and fearless saan lead he seen in his time, but never any that surpassed these two captives. ‘*You are prepared to die?’ he questioned, in wonder. ** What does it matter whether a man is pre- = or not, so long as his time has come and e cannot escape his fate?” replied the other, philosophically. “But if there was a way to escape the death—” “That depends a great deal upon what the way is,” the prisoner answered, discussing the
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7" yiatter as coolly as though he personally had no aterest in the affair. ‘Oh, it is as simple as simple can be!” El To- kar exclaimed, with a cunning leer, and he | came quite near to the captive as he spoke. ‘Simple things to one man are sometimes ter- ribly hard to another.” “Your comrade has denounced you!” ; “So you say,” the captain retorted, and it was very plain from the way in which he spoke that he believed that the Holy Man lied. “Oh, but he has!” El Tokar was quick to un- derstand the capers’ meaning. ‘‘I swear to you that he has!” § ““You need not swear,” the prisoner observed dryly; ‘“‘ I would just as soon believe your word as your oath.” . “ But I think that he has lied in order to pur- chase his freedom.” “Men will do such things sometimes.” “Now I believe that you will speak the th. ” ‘You flatter me!” The captive was ironical. “Your comrade is willing to sacrifice you to save himself.” “Tt is the way of the world.” : es 1 will give you a chance to get even with him. ‘You are extremely kind!” ’ *‘ Denounce him!” cried El.Tokar, emphatic- ally. ‘‘ You are not the Lion Captain, but he is. ee him then, and by so doing save your- self.’ ‘“ Yes; but why should you believe my word against his?” ‘* But will you not be able to present some proof that he is the Lion-head—some eg piven: cannot be denied?” asked the Holy 3 eagerly. he prisoner laughed contemptuously in the very face of El Tokar, much to his amazement. ‘“Why do you laugh?” he asked. ‘* At your foolishness,” responded the captive, in his sarcastic way. ‘‘ My comrade has not con- fessed, for he has nothing to confess. I cannot denounce him, for I know nothing to denounce. You are playing us, the one st the other. You tried him first, failed, and now you come to me.” ‘Beware, beware!” exclaimed the Holy Man, in a rage at finding his cleverly-planned scheme sO pti detected; ‘‘do not provoke my wrath or it may cost you dear!” ‘**Can you do more than kill?’ questioned the captive, in scorn, ‘But I can kill!” retorted El Tokar. ‘I have but to raise my finger and these black fel- lows will soon make an end of you.” ‘“ Why all this talk? Why not proceed to the last extremity at once?” El Tokar hesitated; he hardly knew how to answer this plainly put question. He did not intend to put the prisoners to death; he had no authority to so dispose of them, but he had re- resented to the Dey that he felt sure he could, »y the use of threats, backed by the presence of the stranglers, force the captives into a confes- sion. He had failed—most ingloriously failed, and now, what action to take he knew not. And while he stood glowering in impotent rage at the defiant prisoner, the arrival of a new-comer interrupted the scene. Into the cell strode the tall figure of the min- ister of war, El Boro. In his hand he bore a pa- .r impressed with the royal seal. This he de- hveead to El Tokar who perused it with amaze- ment. “ Retire and leave the prisoner to El Boro.” It was written by rae Dey’s hand and signed by his own royal signet. ; "The Holy Man wondered, for this scroll would seem to indicate that El Boro had been restored to favor, and, with the rise of El Boro’s for- tunes, fell his own, but he was too shrewd to complain, He bowed low, bade the stranglers follow him and departed, ‘Leave me alone with the prisoner,” com- manded El Boro to the jailer, and he at once followed El Tokar’s example, clanging the heavy door to after him, CHAPTER XTX, EL BORO’S MISSION. Et Boro and the captive thus left alone to- gether, looked upon each other. Upon the face of the minister of war curiosity appeared. while the features of the prisoner were stern, and evidently he looked upon the other with no very friendly feeling. Boro was reputed to be extreme] sharp- eyed, and at the first glance he believed that he The Lion of the Sea. 15 had detected the truth in regard to the captive. This was the Lion Captaina—the master, not the | | servant. The minister of war was the first to speak. ‘** You are the Lion of the Sea?” he said. ‘“* Prove it,” replied the other, laconically. ‘Nay, I care not to do that,” bl Boro an- swered. ‘‘ It isenough for me to know the truth. Look not upon me in the light of an enemy, for fam no foe to you, but rather the best friend you have in all this wide world.” The captive looked incredulous. “Tt is the truth,” the other continued; “ and my mission here to-day is to do you a service.” ‘ A service!” demanded the captive, incredu- | — ‘* Yes, as you will find before this interview is ended. Dismiss all doubt and give me in its | place perfect trust. You know me, do you not?” | ay E Boro.” ‘** Right! El Boro, the English renegade, in the old-time called Thomas Craven, Ear! of Crofton and knight of Engleboro.” The Sk omaccon cast a sharp, quick glance at the face of the speaker, as though he was in doubt as to the meaning of the h. “Ob, you know me well enough, although I confess lam somewhat puzzled as to how you ained your knowledge,” El Boro continued. * And then, too, how comes it that you were so eager after my daughter—how happened it that you knew anything of her at all, and why did you so pereistouittye attempt to inflame her against me?” ‘You ares ing in riddles, and losing your time,” the prisoner replied, carelessly. ‘* What know I, either of you or of your daughter?’ ‘*Do you know where she is now?” asked El Boro, abruptly, paying no attention at all to the question of the other. ** No, how should I?” ‘* Your capture on the beach threw her again into the hands of the men from whom you res- cued her, and the leader of these abductors was Selim, the Greek renegade, the trusted servitor of G e, the Queen of the Harem.” Despite his iron-like nerves and wonderful habit of. self-control, a shade passed over the face of the captive. Cleora in the hands of the merciless Frenchwoman was bad news indeed. ‘** And you, who appear to beso well acquaint- ed with all the secret intrigues of the court, you of course can guess why Gulnare should dare to peeve sy rage by thus forcibly abducting my c : ‘*Perhaps,” replied the other, evidently much affected by the news. ‘“The riddle is easily read!” continued El Boro, in his cold, mechanical way. ‘ Gulnare feared that Cleora would prove to be a danger- ous rival to her. The beauty of the Frenchwo- man ison the wane; she wasafraid thatthe fickle fancy of the unstable Dey would be captivated by the fresh young face of Cleora; at any risk she was determined to remove the girl from her path. This greasy impostor, who makes a trade of his religion, and who calls himself the Holy Man, is no doubt in league with her. Either through bribery of my attendants, or through some secret passage, unknown to me, by means of which access can be gained to my apart- ments, Cleora was dru: and forcibly abduct- ed. Now then, supposing that Iam not strong enough to pluck her from the Frenchwoman’s clutches, to what fate is she doomed?” “Death!” replied the captive, in a low, deep voice, evidently much affected. ‘“You are right; unless wrested from Gul- nare’s power, there is no hope for her.” ‘*No, no hope.” ‘But the means of rescue are near at hand. Despite all the precautions that Gulnare took to keep me in ignorance of the part which she aa dy in the seizure of my jewel, thanks to the ucky chance which sent you to the rescue, her | = : > Z ° ct 2 =] 2 a S co co 4 8 ° > ct = @ | 4 to in Algiers that El Boro pays with a princely fs news | Dey and say to him, ‘Royal master, I have a | daughter—a fresh, fair ‘young English girl, | whom I have brought over the seas from the | Frankish land expressly to serve your princely | pleasure; Gulnare, jealous of the maid, has stolen her away.’ What think you would have been his answer?’ ‘He would at once have ordered you to bring her back.” ‘Yes, at one single stroke I would have avenged the insult put upon me, and dealt the | woman, who is my deadly foe, a fearful blow.” | And did you so?” ‘“* No!” cried El Boro, quickly. . ‘‘ To this pre- sent moment the tyrant of Algiers knows not that such a maid as Cleora lives upon the earth. I took my own followers—my own. bull-dogs, and with the strong hand of power I tore Gul- nare’s prey from her grasp. Complain, she dares not, for that would reveal her own treach- ery to the Dey and bring to his knowledge the existence of Cleora. Now then, if I designed to sell my girl to the tyrant, as you have boldly charged, and thus cement my own hold on pow- er, why have I acted as I have?” ‘‘ The riddle is too deep for me; I cannot solve | it.” ‘**T can easily explain it. I do not intend to sell Cleora to the Dey; I have a better fate in store for her than to become the slave of this vile, fickle-minded rem who, misled by his ignorant and bigoted counselors, imagines that all Europe trembles at his nod, and that he is absolute master over both land and sea, al- though from that dream he is likely to be awakened soon, and cas f too, for Blake, the world-renowned English admiral, with a power- ful fleet, is already off the coast, and the thun- der of his guns, Neageece | the city of Algiers to ruins, will soon be heard. I am playing for a erent stake, and I come to you to offer both ame and fortune.” ‘‘Fame and fortune to me?” cried the ca tive, in vast astonishment, which was clearly ee a “Yes, to you,” El Boro repeated, firmly. ‘* Already you have made a name upon the wa- ter second to no man the keel of whose ship has ever ever cut the waters of the Mediterranean, In single fight, and inst overwhelming odds, ou vanquished the captain that Algiers ee Mtca i, of the Blue Beard; took his ship and sent him home, dripping likea drowned rat, to tell the story of your triumph. You are the very man I want; you love my girl, Cleora, and she, I fancy, already returns your passion, and I, her father, come to you to offer not only her beautiful self, but a throne besides,” ‘‘A throne!” cried the prisoner, hardly able to believe that he had heard aright, reluctant to give credence to the evidence of his own ears. ‘*'Yes; my hand can give it to Z, The captive gazed earnestly at El Boro, and apo face astrong expression of doubt ap. peared. The Englishman, skillful at reading faces, un- derstood the meaning of the look at once. **You doubt me,” he said. sa! rs aos truth I do, and I fear a trap, too.” **T will soon remove all doubts and fears!” ex- claimed El Boro, confidently. ‘A year ago I was high in favor with the Dey, for I had com- pletely reorganized his army and placed it upon a better footing than it had ever been before. The navy, too, I had entirely remodeled and made it what it now is, far superior to that of any other African power; but when my work was done, Aboo Hassan, ever jealous and sus- picious, began to fear that I had grown too great, had acquired too much power, and he lis- tened to the croaking of jealous rivals who represented to him that it was not wise to allow astranger—a renegade—to gain so much u- larity, and so, during the past year, little 'y little, he has encroached upon my privileges un- til now, at last, I find myself a minister of war, with no authority over the army—the com- mander of the navy, yet deprived of the right to command the sailing of a single ship. And how strong in power is the man who has dared to put these affronts upon me? He has but the shadow of an ig at his back, and both offi- cers and men, badly paid, badly treated, would | be glad at any moment to transfer their swords to a more liberal master. The fleet is the same. Two or three, perhaps, like Ali, of the Blue Beard, who have acquired riches in the Dey’s service, might be depended upon to remain true to him until they discovered the strength of the revolt, and then they, too, would come over. Everything is ripe for the movement, and the English fleet of Blake, now so rapidly approach- ing with the design of attacking Algiers, will be a most important prs The Dey is determined to defy the power of England. Blake hasorders to attack the city if visable, and most surely he will do so unless the Dey releases his prisoners and pays the money demanded by England for damages. When the citizens of Algiers find their houses tumbling about their ears, most certain is it that they will roundly curse Aboo Hassan, and denounce him as the author of the mischief, although the are now blatant in defiance. That is the auspi- cious moment to seize upon. Everything will be arranged in advance for the outbreak; we'll seize upon the palace and the citadel simultane- © thinks that it is ad- -
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16 The Lion of the Sea, ———« ously, tear the Dey from his chair of state and | not all bad. In my heart there has always lin- thrust him into a dungeon, as his father thrust ered a father’s tenderness for his child, al- his brother when he seized upon the throne, long | though you did not give me credit for it, and ago. I have hoodwinked the tyrant completely. | believed that I brought my e is eaten up with curiosity to know who and | ters solely to sell her to this dusky what you are, and I procured this interview with you by representing to him that I could most certainly succeed in inducing you, either by threats or fair promises, to reveal yourself.” The captive for a moment or two looked at El Boro, a strange expression upon his face; then he spoke: ‘From what you have said I should be led to believe that you know, and yet Ido not think you do.” ‘““You are wrong, for my spies have served me well,” El Boro replied. ‘‘ You are Hamet, the rightful heir to the throne of Algiers!” CHAPTER XX. TRICK FOR TRICK. THE prisoner burst into a loud laugh, much to the astonishment of the minister of war, who could not see any cause for mirth. ‘Oh, [am Hamet then, the rightful heir to the throne of Algiers!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ And if I am Hamet will you tell me who Hamet is, and how comes it that he has any claim to the throne of Aboo Hassan?” El Boro frowned; this levity and questioning did not please him, but he believed that it was only. s trick on the part of the prisoner to try his knowledge, and so he answered: “You are of the elder branch of the family. Aboo Hassan of the younger; his father seize upon your father’s birthright and intended to y you, but your mother, who was a Greek woman, managed to save you from his power, and fled with you to her own land, where you were reared. In time you took to the sea, be- came the Lion Captain, and did all in your cde ty. injure the man who had usurped your ace * “Ah, that was the reason I wore the lion’s head then—to escape recognition until the fa- Missed moment arrived for me to assert my ights. 1 Boro looked at the speaker in wonder; was the man losing his senses to talk thus strangel ? ‘* By my faith!” the captive continued, ‘if I were Hamet, the man you take me to be, I would jump eagerly at the chance you offer, for I will own to you, frankly, that I do fancy Cleora, whom I met two years ago at San Tropez, and whose image has remained imprinted on my heart ever since. A wife and a throne ata single bound!—it is not every day in this life that a man has such an offer, and right sorry am I that I am not the man you take me to be.” ‘You are not Hamet?”’ cried El Boro, in as- tonishment. ** No, Iam not.” “Your companion then is—I am wrong—he is the Lion Captain?” “No, [am the man that wore the head and bore the name. It wasI that fought and con- quered Ali of the Blue Beard, yet, for all that I am not Hamet; Iam not an Algerine by birth; I am not the son of a Greek woman, and I have no more claim to the throne of Algiers than I have to the chair of the Prophet at Mecca.” El Boro’s face fully displayed the disappoint- ment which he felt at this unexpected revela- tion. “What is the meaning of this riddle?’ he cried. ‘'My spies, who seldom deceive me, as- sured me that the Lion Captain was Hamet.” “The Lion Captain might have been the man you speak of, but he who wore the lion’s head on the day of the fight with Ali was no other than myself, and I am not Hamet, and never was.” “But who then are you?” ** A simple soldier of fortune who owes all he is in this world to his own good right arm.” ‘* Assume then the place of Hamet, since, as I gather from your words, he lives not; take his name and grasp the fortune which awaits the | bold hand and stout heart.” ‘“‘ Half the spoils I will gladly take,” the pris- oner replied—‘“ your daughter, Cleora, if the girl is willing to link her fate with mine, and if you contrive to arrange my escape from this dungeon I will pledge you my word to do my ’ best to aid the English fleet to batter down the walls of Algiers if the English Admiral, Sir Francis Blake, will accept of the poor assistance of my dainty craft.” * Be it so; I will procure your release, but it must be done by craft and stealthily accom- plished. As to Cleora, the girl shall be free to choose. I had designed her as a bait to lure on a daring man to seize Algiers; but, renegade and traitor to my country as I have b een, Lam irl across the wa- tyrant; but I trust now you will believe that although I in- tended to use her as a tool to accomplish my own ends, yet I had not designed her for quite so bad a fate as you believed.” Before the captive could make reply to this statement there came upon the air the sound of many feet in the corridor without; the door of the cell was rudely opened, and the Dey of Al- giers, backed by the wily El Tokar and a score or more of armed men, appeared in the entrance. The face of Aboo Hassan was inflamed with anger, and he shook his fist fiercely at El Boro. “Dog of a traitor!” he cried, in wrath, ‘vile renegade! outcast wretch! tlying in terror from your own land—from the vengeance of your en- raged countrymen, is it thus that you repay the protection and shelter that I have bestowed upon you? You would strip the crown from my head and tear the scepter from my hand, and now I in turn will strike your treacherous hand from your body and your head from the neck! Dog! I knew that you were a traitor, only waiting for an opportunity to do mischief ; and when you, with crafty thought, craved for an interview with this captive, I mistrusted your object; I granted be your wish, for it was the very chance I sought. This is the ‘ear’ cell, the ceiling is constructed like an ear; even a whisper given to the air here is in- stantly conducted to the watching room above. There are some secrets in the palace that have not been confided to your care! I have heard every word that has been spoken, and with eer own lips you have pronounced your doom. ou will snatch me from my throne and tbrust me into a cell! I will snatch you from the world and thrust you into a tomb, and that so quickly that small time will be given you for either prayers or curses, and this English beauty, whom you have kept so closely hidden from my eyes, she shall be one of the jewels of par eres ize him! away with him! Strike off his head at once! El Tokar, be that your charge!” In a trice El Boro was seized and bound. He did not attempt to resist; indeed, it would have ae madness against such overpowering num- rs. “Away with him!” again shrieked the en- raged Moor. ‘Bring his head, El Tokar, or yours shall answer for it!” ‘Blake and the English fleet will avenge my death, and when he rains hot shot upon ister and the city is in flames, from the grave will I look back and laugh with glee!’ cried the rene- gade, as they bore him away to die. Never before had any of those present seen Aboo Hassan give i such wild and fear- fulrage. He seemed like a man fast verging into madness. ‘* Withdraw, all of you!” he cried, after the soldiers, headed by El Tokar, had borne the minister of war away. The attendants were quick to obey, for they knew the nature of their master well, and in his present state it was dan- gerous to trifle with him. With his own hands the Dey closed the heavy iron door, and then he ——— and looked eagerly into the face of the prisoner, who bore the scrutiny without flinching, al- though utterly in the dark as to the reason that impelled the ruler of peers to the act. “Was El Boro mad that he took you to be my cousin?” the Dey cried. ‘‘ Why, there is not : : sin le feature in your face that resembles im. “T haven’t any idea why he believed that I was Hamet,” the captive answered. ‘*He was mad—mad to injure me. Itisa lie that Hamet lives; he died, ao ago, and if he were living not all the powers of the world com- bined could shake me from the throne of Al- giers!” he declared, arrogantly. ‘“‘ And now, my bold fellow, what fate do you choose? Will you let the silken cord of the stranglers encircle your neck—will yoube tied up in a bag and be cast into the sea—give your neck to the keen edge of the ax, or walk forth a free man to take your place on the deck of one of my ships and help to give battle to these English bu'l-dogs who are barking so loudly? Come! I’ll make you a fair offer. I will forget the past—forget that you destroyed the best frigate that I had in my navy if you and your companion will enter my service.’ ‘*Put me on board of the ship and when we are at sea on the blue water you shall have my answer,” the captive replied, promptly. ‘*By Allah! you choose wisely, and if you fight for me as well as te fought for yourself you shall not regret having entered my ser- vice. ‘Stay a moment. Ihave not agreed to en- ter your service yet,” continued the other. ‘TI said that on the open sea I would give you my answer.” ‘‘Oh, you will consent,” replied the Dey, with the faint ugly smile peculiar to him, which so strongly resembled a tiger’s gri “You will consent,” be repeated, ‘‘ because I will give - officers orders that if you refuse to fight when the enemy beats to quarters to tie you to one of the guns and blow you into atoms.” “‘ Quite a convincing argument,” observed the captive, in no wise appalled by the threat. _ “In an hour you shall be on board; the Eng- lish fleet is reported off our shores, and I intend to give them battle the moment they draw near. This ab eka captain, Blake, comes to beard me in Algiers, but I will meet him on the 5 and in fair and open battle destroy his eet. ‘How astonished he will be,” remarked the other, and so quietly delivered was the sarcasm that the brutal and ignorant Moor never ob- served it. Aboo Hassan summoned his guards, gave his orders, and in obedience thereto the two prison- ers were at once taken from the prison and placed on board of a frigate in the harbor com- manded by Ali Blue-Beard, who grinned fe- © rociously as the two came up the side of the vessel, CHAPTER XXI. THE ATTACK, THE Dey returned to his own = ere and at once sent an officer to bring the daughter of the dead El Boro from his a ents in the The doom of the minister of war had en immediately carried out; the keen-edged! ax had severed the head from the body wit. in| ten minutes after the order had been given. In a foreign land, afar from the country which he had betrayed, the bold and daring spirit of the Englishman had found rest at last. After the departure of the officer in search of the girl, Aboo Hassan waited in ill-concealed impatience. His imagination had been inflamed by the accounts given of her, and therefore great was his rage when the messenger returned and announced that she was not to be found. He at once had all the attendants of El Boro summoned, and one and all stoutly denied all knowledge of the girl’s de . Among his followers the minister of war had had one faithful friend, and the moment he had heard that El Boro had been seized and was being led to execution, he at once hurried to the daughter. told of the danger which impended, and guided her, all muffled up like a female slave, to the house of the English embassador. That gentleman, having delivered the defiance of England to the Dey, had demanded his pass- ports and was preparing to embark on a ship which he had chartered to convey him to the English fleet, now momentarily expected to heave in sight. To the a a ai of England the faithful servant told the story of El Boro’s downfall and the claim that the dead man’s daughter had upon him for protection, and the envoy of Great Britain at once promised to be to her as a fa- ther and to see her safely conveyed to England. The embassador embarked, and the vessel, grtting under way, ran past the wall, under the Loman Algerian guns, with the lish displayed at her peak, and then, getting clear of the harbor, made for the blue water outside, heading toward the north-west, from which di- rection the fleet of Admiral Blake was ex- pected. , As soon as the Dey discovered that he could not gain any information from the attendants, he sent for the chief of his spies, and this sa- gacious individual at once suggested an examin- ation of the palace guards, and so after three or four hours’ delay, it was at last discovered that a vailed woman had left the palacein com-. pany with one of El Boro’s men. This fact ascertained, the spy chief suggested that the girl, being English, would most probably seek the protection of the English embassador. The Dey was quick to act upon the idea. An armed force was dispatched to search the en- voy’s house, and the officer in command had strict injunctions to bring the girl, if he found her, even over the dead body of England’s re- presentative. Little regard had this ruthless ruler of Algiers for the Jaw of nations which renders the house of an embassador sacred from search, except in criminal cases, = Se.
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But, as we have stated, the bird had flown, his beard that he would retake the fugitive at any cost. o Ali, of the Blue Beard, was directed to make sail with all possible haste in pursuit of the embassador’s transport. But the Englishm im had nearly two hours’ start, and although Ali’s vessel was by far the best sailer, yet the adage that a stern chase is a long chase proved to be true in this instance, for it was fully five hours ere Ali came near enough to use his guns upon the fugitive; and then a strange sail, coming rapidly down from the windward, seemed likely to prove a foe, rather than a friend. Ali thought that he recognized the craft, as she came up, capitally handled, and in a man- ner which plainly indicated that her sailing- master knew his business. Ali had given up his chase of the embassador’s transport and was maneuvering to meet the stranger, who evidently was bent on mischief. The two prisoners—the Lion-head and his companion—stood together on the quarter-deck, and although their faces betrayed not their emo- tions, yet it was plain from the sparkle in their eyes that both of them had recognized the strange craft. Ali turned abruptly to them. “You know her, eh?” ‘*Tt is the Lion,” was the answer. And then, as if the noble craft had heard her name pronounced by her master’s lips, a puff of white smoke came from her side and the heavy ball of her long gun bored an ugly hole throug the side of the Algerine vessel, just at the water- sine, in hot rage the pasha swore: “By Allah!” he cried, ‘I’ve half a mind to string you up to the yard-arm as a warning to this rascal!” and as he spoke he shook his clenched fist in the face of the prisoner. “A sail—a sail—a fleet!” came loudly from the look-outs at the bow, and there, sure en- ough, with their spars rising dark against the western horizon, were ten or fifteen heavy sralts ‘“ Tt is the fleet of Blake!” cried the Lion Cap- tain. ‘* Now, Ali, look to yourself, or England’s power wiil pluck you by your blue beard until your chin is sore!” The hand of the pasha sought the handle of his saber, intent upon taking immediate venge- ance upon the bold speaker, but, ere he could pluck forth the weapon, with a terrible buffet the Lion Captain laid the Moor prostrate upon the deck and then both of the prisoners, before the astonished crew could collect their senses and avenge the insult offered to their chief, leaped boldly over the quarter into the sea, and the vessel which was running at full speed before the wind soon left them behind, A volley of musketry the Algerines fired af- ter the fugitives, but the balls glanced harmless- ly over the surface of the waves, the swimmers diving like wild ducks the instant they saw the flash of the guns. The Algerines could not put their craft about to pursue the: fugitives, for the Lion was bear- ing down right upon their quarter, already hav- ing them ata disadvantage, and it would have been mere madness to have “ gone about.” The Lion altered her course slightly, so as to pick up the two men struggling bravely in the water, and passing across the stern of the Al- gerine sent a we l-aimed ball at her which raked the decks, dismounted three guns and killed or disabled a dozen men. The two were none the worse for their bath, and after donning dry suits came again on deck and the Lion Captain took command. The Algerine had taken advantage of the action to go about and now was endeavoring to beat back to the harbor of Algiers, The Lion was by far the better sailer, though, and soon recovered the slight advantage which she had lost, and then came a game in which the Algerine craft suffered terribly. Keeping well off, the Lion pounded her with her heavy gun, every shot, almost, telling, while from the inferior ordnance with which she was equipped a tad was unable to retaliate with any se- verity. The deck of Ali’s craft was slippery with blood and the crew were almost on the verge of mutiny, for slaves fight not like free men, and naught but Ali’s threats that he would slay the first man that flinched from his duty kept the men to their guns. , Slowly the line ef the coast grew more and | more distinct. * Courage!” cried the Algerine coinmander ; and when the tidings were brought to the Dey his anger flamed out afresh, and he swore by | The Lion of the Sea. 17 ‘‘a mile more and we shall be free from this devil!” But, hardly had he finished his speech when a well-aimed shot cut away his mizzen-mast, which, going by the board, reduced the Moorish craft to the condition of a helpless hulk. A torrent of curses rolled from the lips of the Algerine. In truth it was hard; this was the second time that Ali had suffered at the hands of the Lion of the Sea. The victorious craft was quick to improve the advantage which she had gained. Under full sail she bore down and raked the Algerine fore and aft. Feeble indeed was the fire the Moor returned, and a loud wail went up from the lips of the crew—a cry to surrender. ‘ Never!” cried Pasha Blue Beard, in utter desperation; “let no man dare to lay a hand Ps ad _ flag. We'll go down with our colors ying But, even slaves will turn if the be too great, and the crew of the sick of slaughter. A solitary shot—fired no one knew by whose hand—struck the Algerine commander full in the center of the forehead. The saber dropped from his grasp; he clutched convulsively at the air and then fell lifeless to the deck. For a moment the crew glared upon each other, and then, as another death-dealing ball from the enemy came tearing its way through the bulwarks, the shock roused them from the stupor into which they had fallen, and three or four simultaneously rushed to the flag and haul- ed it down. A ringing cheer, which resounded over the waters, went up from the deck of the Lion, which was now bearing down upon the Al- gerine’s quarter, with intent to grapple and board her, as the Crescent flag came sliding down. The Lion came up alongside and the un- known, at the head of a boarding-crew, came on board. The eat ship had commenced to fill, hav- ing been badly injured at the water-line by the heavy tire of the Lion, and as the Lion Captain stepped on the deck his experienced eye at once perccived that the frigate would soon sink be- neath the waves. ‘To the boats, men!” he commanded. ‘I give you your lives; pull at once for Algiers and warn Aboo Hassan that, with the rising of an ther sun, we'll batter his city about his ears!” unishment rigate were CHAPTER XXII. ‘““ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY.” A RESTLESS night indeed the Algerine mon- arch passed after having received the warning oi the Lion of the Sea, Who'and what was this mysterious man, and how came it that he joined hands so readily with the English fleet, as his words indicated that he had, Was he indeed Hamet, the outcast heir? Had he a claim to the throne of Algiers, and had he gladly joined hands with the Turkish foe so that he might have their aid in his endeavor to seat himself in the place of power? Few were the hours indeed that the Moorisb Dey devoted to sleep that night, or, for that matter, few within the city slept. The English fieet, piloted by the Lion craft, had come up in battle array, and, with springs upon their cables, all ready for action were riding at anchor just outside the harbor. It was plain that with t.::e coming of the morn a terrible fight would ensue, and although the Moors had arrogantly boasted, with all their usual pride, that the fleet existed not that could harm their city, yet now, as they gazed upon the powerful men-of-war riding at anchor just beyoud cannon-shot, and each and every craft with the exception of the Lion, dispiaying the well-known ensign of old Engiand, mistress of the sea, a dim foreboding struck them that Al- giers was about to encounter the brunt of the most severe attack that she had ever expe- rienced since the Barbarossa brothers, the fierce and bloody-handed pirates seized upon the throne and unfurled their standard upon which hostility to all the world was emblazoned. Even E] Tokar, the most arrogant of all, be gan to shrewdly suspéct that it would be far | cheaper and better to yield to the English de- mands than to risk the peril of the fight, but for his life he dared not say so, for Aboo Hassan was absolutely bent upon war. ‘We'll give these Frankish dogs a lesson that sha ! } oy clared. ; nd them howling to their homes?” he de- | : All night long the Moors worked to prepare for the coming struggle, and with the appear- ance of the dawn, which came bright and beau- tiful, they gazed anxiously out to sea where rode the fieet of the enemy. It was not for the first time that morning that the people of the city of Algiers had risen from their beds and looked upon a foe in battle array. a attacks had Algiers withstood, and therefore it was not without foundation their arrogant boast that the captain did not exist who could compel them to sue for quarter. Bright and early the Englishmen beat to quarters, and with the rising of the sun the at- tack began. Contrary to all recognized rules of battle the fight was waged by the English commander, and the Algerines, taken completely by sur- prise, found that all their preparations had been in vain. It was the custom of the age in the case of a naval attack upon land batteries to warp the vessels in within range, put springs upon their cables ar.d there remain stationary until they had either silenced the shore defenses or had suffered so severely themselves as to be obliged to retire. And therefore, relying upon this fact, the Moors had trained every gun to bear upon the exact spot where they expected the vessels of the enemy to ride at anchor, and in these days it was no easy matter to alter the position of a gun, all the modern appliances for that purpose Gaing unknown. Admiral Blake, the English commander, was a captain far in advance of the generation in which he lived, and he adopted a maneuver which completely upset all the plans of the Moors. Instead of coming into line one by one and at a certain ac ygecen dl range seeped fire, he ran up the signal, which, in an after age was to be- come famous, “England expects every man to do his duty,” and then crowding on ali sail, came round ina ee circle, the Lion in the lead, close in to the land right under the bat- teries, so that their fire passed harmlessly through the light top spars, and as each ship passed it poured an almost point-blank fire, nota — -shot away from the forts, into the land defenses, then standing out to sea passed around the circle to repeat the operation. It took just a single hour to silence every in the Moorish defenses; at the end of that time the forts were a mass of smoking ruins; the de- fenders had fled in dismay, scores of them hey- ing been slaughtered at their guns; the vessels in the harbor were blazing, the city was on fire in a dozen different places, the ships having used red-hot balls; in brief, Algiers was helpless, at the mercy of the foe. The white flag was run up in a terrible hurry from the most conspicuous point, and as this evidence of victory appeared, a ringing cheer came rolling over the waters from the vic- tors. The haughty Algerines cried for quarter! The Lion stood boldly into the harbor, follow- ed by the rest of the fleet and anchored off the mole, their double-shotted guns bearing full on the defenseless city. But there was no danger of further resistance. Algiers was prostrate at the feet of the con- querors, Aboo Hassan, now thoroughly alarmed for the safety of the city, and believing that the English meant to complete their ries J by utter- ly destroying the town, took a boat, and with some of his chief officers, came in person to beg for mercy and arrange terms of surrender. The defeated Dey was now as humble as he had been insolent. The Lion was the first vessel that the barge reached, and as the boat came up to her, intend- ing to pass by and proceed to one of the English ships Lt ly a file of marines oo at the side with leveled guns menacing the Moors, “A flag of trttce!” cried the Dey, in person, pointing to where it floated from the stern; ‘‘ we wish to arrange terms; Algiers surrenders.” “*Come on board!” was the answer: and the Algerines obeyed, although unwillingly, for it was gall and wormwood for the Dey to tread the deck of the Greek pirate. And as the Dey ascended to the deck of the Lion, the English embassador, accompanied by Cleora, made his Spemrence on the other side, having just come by gig from his own vessel. _ Aboo Hassan stared in astonishmetit at the girl, for, seeing her in company with Sir Hd- ward, he recognized at once that she was the maid, the daughter of El Boro. On the quarter-deck of the craft stood the Lion Captain, not arrayed now in the seaman
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— a 18 garh of of the Greek pirate, but resplendent in an nglish uniform. Aboo Hassan was amazed as was also the girl, for it was plainly apparent that the unknown was a man of rank. ‘*Does Algiers surrender, or shall I tumble aean walls down about your ears?” the unknown aske ‘*T seek the commander of the English fleet,” the Dey answered, sulkily, for the tone of the man whom he had so completely at his mercy only a short time ago cut him to the quick. ““Youare addressing him, sir,” said one of the English officers, pointing to the Lion Captain. «This i is Sir Fr ancis Blake, Lord High Admiral tu 9h England.” speckhe. Dey could only stare, utterly amazed, while. a joyful look came upon the features of eg you, eh?” exclaimed Blake, with , isla “Well, your mind is easy upon one (point, ; ‘Hamet the: Greek: pirate, ithe Lion of sti nth Sea, is dead ; -you.need have no:fear of his ., attempting to.dispute withcyou the title of the . dirty,little throne of Algiers... Cruising in ad- _ vance of my fleet, inone of my lightest vessels, Hamet overhauled me;.and mistaking my craft for a-merehanfman, sought to capture,it, and f \the result was that his erroricost -him both ~ 1 ship. and-his life, for whem he grappled me, I arded- him, instead: of :his boarding me, and ,on-his own deck mastered. him.» sAnd from ‘the: papers of the Greek: 6 pT lady;*che continued, ~ burning to Cleora, ‘ discovered bil:the facts re- { to. you, for this; Hamet had his spies in ~rAdgiers, and«he, designed tovseize: you and so: « foree.yeur father, lil;Boro;:tédend him a hand in his design upon the throne. He little guessed , » that but there was-& certain ‘something in his‘vdice uithatamade the givrbbhush crimson, © 1%! Lax ‘\Z anvef England; and would sooner die: than! = pind in this vile land, with these barbariqas For: ions.” 371% Saretoussy \\ Wires Bi 5 ete. Dey: departed: im wrath: ‘he dieits revoivdd:|:0 his answen; and:so) teo,shad Sir Brancis Blake: ‘ | _ Cleonaowasuhis, despitesof .all the! world) ant f seman, Howat: Wos-nede’ vetheibestd oe on Ha pyiness: rietagland, adventures in! in the years to come, whens | Growned: their wedded ‘lite: inv .o neither one regretted: theestrange” _ the southern ocean, when to win a nemal con. | rinaas range mask of the kiomotthe Sea te 4B, “Hola oo yee -brave deedsiow ont the olay of | 38 "Twang EVER noimo Kime wr a. peed iba ob Ry | ¢ adn ade PSOMESoU Oo. » tf BRE BONNETS. (ONE men Bowen aint sothers Jad e wort | ean ESTATE TOE © i oy Mania ot ao ER «) and: Sam Enepes. 19 amit ouae cis bas Yvon 17 ies sosmd es wor ea vol botsoish oA f THE ENDrsiouti agen fast | sah Pa £ : :}907Rae Mera yviLiwerne Man auth 56 other Songs, 0 pe : aso ta a HE _ a8 DAs .waitoe = 1 ¢ USL Swat VPOnce?-ste NoF avid 55/6tlie Poon | ) tor sea eee nt 88 eth HORRE Salt | ste aTOTseL .” atiroineh ot to) O40 OF bse aA aad OD wi “ess st iw } & MHS BGT sro Firesi le] rary ' vere mt esi e Of notte. ech by: notable HATTON? Bean illy) eee aa “6 Natick Sdnf oe a Bet, 46 Prete a THE, Hove andi? othee $01 BES. _ The Lion of the Sea. 16 Tue QvapRoon. By Catharine A Warfield... 10c. 17-18 Uncte Sitas. By J, 8. Le Fanu sad ORS 19-20 Dreap-Sza Fruir. Miss M. E, Braddon..... 10e, 21-22 Lirrte Kate Kirpy. F. W. Robinson...... 10c. 23 SowIna THE WIND. Mrs. Mary R. Crowell.... 10c. 24-25 Brrps of Prey. Miss M. E. Braddon ..... 10e. 26 Tuat Boy or Norcort’s. Char les Lever. 16, | 27-28 CHARLOTTE’s INHERITANCE. By Miss M. E. Braddon cat ter bed Sh. dels oct ecb 10e. 29 A Giri's Heart. ‘By Rett Winwood . 10e. 30- 31 Rep As A Rose 1s Sa#e. Rhoda Broughton 10e. & Tue Litry or St. Erne. By a Crow......7.. 10¢. 33 STRANGELY WeD. By Mrs. ws . Burton..... 10¢e. 34 Tue Gipsy BRIDE. > M. E.'0. Malen ... 10e. 35 ANNIE TEMPLE. By Rev. J. H. Ingraham.... 10e. 36 Wrrnovt Mercy. By Bartley T. Campbell... 10c. 37 BLAcK Eyes AND Bior. Corinne Cushman... 10c. 38 BRAVE Barsara. By Corinne Cushman...... 10¢e 39 A DanGERous Woman. By Margaret Blount.. 10c. 40 OurA’s Love. By Henrietta E. DeConde.. . 10c. 41 Lost: A Wire. By Corinne Cushman., ..... 10c. 42 Winninac Ways. By Margaret Blount. . 10c, 43 A Woman’s Heart. By Mrs. M. V. Victor .. 10c. 44 THe Dead Lerrer. By Seeley Regester .. 10c. 45 Lorp Liste’s Daventer. By ©. M. Braeme. 10c. 46 A Woman’s Hann. By the wathor of ‘‘ The DOA SoCtees. Wiii b ss dea binwenaietiirad hn 10c. 47 VIALS oF WRATH. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell, 10c. 48 A Wiip Girt. By Corinne Cushman.. > 220, 49 Tur MAppEsT MARRIAGE Ever Was. By rs. Jenny Davis Burton.......... .- y . 10c. 50 Love iN A Maze. By Mrs. E. F. Ellet......... 10e., 51 Gamo or, WALLED up Autive. By Dr. J. PROMOAON. 05.79 04-<-nseacest® dieanapentioe 10c. on weeeipt of twelve cents, Kriy . BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, y 201 THE oy Wilds, apie and 59 dther Songs. 2 CAPTAIN SURE, and 57. 1 Biber § Songs. % THE GalNSBORQ’ Har ‘and 62. other Songs. ‘4 JOHNNY MORGAN and 60_ other Songs. , : Bengs., ry olen ws Hae Pas DIvrect | 6 Guonaz THE CHARMER and 50other Songs. ‘« Songs’ 9 Suv Yoonc Grex anid 65 &tller sated ' 11 My Fan and-65 other-Bongs; 12. Comzn’ 'JHRO" PRB Rye, and-b5 other Songs: 14-Oum Doc Tray and 62 other Songs2o%1 / ii" WHod, ‘Caadrni arid 59 other Songs. tt Nixty Teyana. bs othr ‘Sone * ; Fen edn a Ot Os re, Typ, ORPHANS qnd 59 pier. 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\tyat wa : Daan, By 0 pete ayne- y inok Be The WhiteMizardeon/TH# @ivar 32 Large Three-Column Pages, Each Number Complete, Price 10 cts. 1.4 Hard Crowd : oR, GENTLEMAN Sam’s Sister. By Philip 8. S. Warne. 5 55. The Scalp Hunters. A Romaxce oF o THE PLarns. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 2. The Dare-Devil: or, THE WINGED : 56. The Indian ay or, THE Wirca oF THe SeA. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. a 7 : 4 Map MAN OF THE PLAINs. rt’ W. "Aiken. 3. Kit Carson, dr., THE Crack SuHor or - sf SS | 57. The Silent Hunter; or, THz ScowL THE West. By Buckskin Sam, fe i -» Haut Mystery. -By Percy B. St. John. 4. The Kidnapper: or, THE Great . 68. Silvers Knife: : arp WiexvirrR; THE SHANGHAI OF THE NoRTHWEST. By Philip S, Warne. Rooxs MovunTarm: Rancer. ’ By Dr..J. H. Robihson. 5. The Fire-Fiends: or, Hercu.es, THE 459. The..Man. From, Texas; org THE HuncHBack. By A. P. Morris. OvTLaw oF ARKANSAS. By Albert W. Aiken. 6. Wildcat Bob, Tue Boss Bruiser: 60. Wide Awake; or, Tux Ipior oF mm, THE Borper BLoopHounps. By Edwardes. Whee; “ore Brack Hints. **By Frank Duniont, “ D ad l ah) 194 ler, ‘sesh - nit Dick, ouble baggers. 61. Captain Seawaif, THE PRIVATEER. 7. Death-Notch, Tae Destroy ER; OR, ? By’ Ned Biinttline. Tue Spirit Lake AVENGERS. ‘By Of’ Coonies. 62. L Oyal Heart ; or, THE TRAPPERS OF 8. The Headless Horseman. A armige 7: ARE ANGAS; ¢ By Gusteme svdienaed> story of Texas. , By Capt, -Mayne Reid: e' A. ~ 2 ae ‘9. Handy Andy: By Samuel Lover. ie inged Whale: y 10, Vidocq, Tux FRENCH s POLIP® SPY. ' 64. Double- Sight, the Death Shot. Writtr ~ by himself. By Joseph E. Badger, 11. Midshipmen: Basy. : By Capt.Mar- ‘| 65, Thé' Red’ Rajah: or, Tie ScouRGE | ow rae INDIES, By Captain Frederick Whittaker. ‘66. The Specter Barque, A Tata OF THE 'Pacrric) “By Captain. Mayne Reid. 67. The, Boy-- Jockey: oof, Honesty VERSUS CROOKEDNESS:,,; By Jeseph:E. Bafiger, Jr. 12. The D gath-Shot : : OR, p2agyp TO 13. Pathaway : 08, Nick Winrryxs, rap) | Op: TRIPPER OF THE’ Nownurwesth By Dr: a. Rob- Se Thazendan ‘i Tae S maf oli oe, wid ’ . ‘ 68, The Fighting : ert ony Kir : Re T y } B s88, T ack: T ARSON TO THE ESCUE y apt, ams, bd au mye ‘of * seats WwW FORA pee: Bunt VAoENT 6 . Tees ere ‘Ta’ Sachi tah Ree 69. The Irish Ca hese A TALE oF 14) The Tigert®li fer : | dr, vt dot. Ly te depen Bee E, Badger Jit sais. # FoNtenoy, “By Captain’ Predétick Whittaker, (Ehean 52. Death Trailer, Tue Cumr or Scours;.or, Life and, Love in edrontier Fart, By © Hon. Wm. ¥. Cody, (Buffalo Bill), (ai 53. Silver Sam; or, THE Myeranr OF >DeadwoobCrty By Cok’DelleSara. ©’ / 54, Always on Hand, or, THE Spoative ie imran Sport of THE Foor Hrs. By Phillip 8. Warne HANDY ANDY.—No, 9, author of ‘‘A Hard Crowd,” “Patent Leather Joe 8 | MIDSHIPMAN EASY.—No, 11,
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His Life and (27 illustrations.) Robinson Crusoe. Surprising Adventures, Ralph Rey, The Boy Bucca- meer. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Sindbad the Sailor. His seven voy- ages. From the Arabian Nights. af) The Phantom Spy; or, Tre Prior OF THE PRAIRIE. By Buffalo Bill. DRraD- | shi) The Double Daggers 5 $ Or, Kot woop Dicx’s Dertancs. By B. L. W heeler, faq Frontier Angel. A Romance of Kentucky Rangers’ Life. By EH. 8. Ellis. D2 The Sea Serpent: or, THe Boy Roprson Crosoz. By Col, Juan Lewis. Nick o’ the Night: or, Tur Boy Spy or 76. By T. C. Harbaugh. §. Diamond Dirk: or, THe Mystery or THE YeLLowsToNnE. By Col. Ingraham. The Boy Captain: or, Taz Pinate’s Daveurzr. By Roger Starbuck. Cloven Hoof, the Demon. Edward L. Wheeler. Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By Of Coome.s Buffalo Ben; or, Deapwoop Dick IN Disevisz. By Edward L. Wheeler. The Dumb Page; or, THs Doan’s Davenrzn, By Capt. F. Whittaker. Roaring Ralph Rockwood, Tux RECKLESS Ranegwr. By Harry St. George. 3 Keen-Knife, THe PRINCE oF THE Prairies. By Oll Coomes. 32 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian: or, Tae Great Deap-Suor, UY. L. Wheeler. 33 The Ocean Bloodhound: or, THE Rep PrraTes OF THE Carreneus. 8. W. Pierce, 34 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Wuirvies’ Boe Spy. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams, 3D Wild Ivan, Tre Boy CLaupr DuvaL; By Edward L. Wheeler. By 28 29 The Boy Clown; or, Tite QuxEN oF ae Angna, By Frank S. Finn. 2 wel BEADLE’S HALF-JIME LIBRARY. Every one of them ** Live” Stories by *‘ Live®» Autnors. a Complete Novel, at the extraordinary price of a HALF-DIME, 39 Death-Face, the Detective. By | Edward L. Wheeler. Roving Ben. A story of a Young American. By John J. Marshall. Lasso Jack, THz YounG MUSTANG- ER. By Oll Coomes. The Phantom Miner: or, Drap- woop Dick’s Bonanza. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. By Capt. F. Whittaker. Ratt Rube: or, Tue NIGHT- HAWKS OF CKY. By Harry St. George. 4. 5 Old Avalanche, the Great An- nihilator. By Edward L. Wheeler. 46 Glass Eye, the Great Shot ofthe West. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. A ir Oe Nat: orn, THE Forrest APTAINS. By T. C. Harbaugh. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 49 Omaha Oll; or, DEapwoop Dick 1n Dancer. By Edward L. Wheeler. Burt Bunker, THE Trapper. A Tale of the Northwest. By C. E. Lasalle. 49 41 4 &. The Boy Rifles, or, THz UNDER- aroonp Camp. By Archie C. Iron, The White Buffalo. A Tale of Strange Adventure. Charles E. Lasalle. Jim Bladsoe, Jr., THz Boy PHENIx; or, TwRovG# To THE DraTH. E. L. Wheeler. Ned Hazel, Tur Boy Trapper; or, vax Poantom Princess, By J. F. C. Adams, Deadly-Eye, Tue Unknown Scour; By Buffalo Bill. Wick Whiffles’ Pet, Vauuey or Deatso. Capt. Deadwood Dick's Eagles 3 or, Tur Parps oF FLoop Bast Whoeler. 5) a5 58 7 or, IN THE J. F.C, Adams, AS The Border King; or, Tus Szorer For. By Oll Coomes. Dd Old Hickory, or, Pandy ELtis’s Scatp. By Harry St. George. The White Indian; OF THE YELLOWSTONE. or, Tux Scout By J. F.C, Adams, Buekhorn Bill, or, THe Rev Krrie Tram. By Edward L. Wheeler The Shadow Ship. or, THE Riva P Liecrewants. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. The Red Brotherhood, or, THE Twrivs Avencrrs, By W. J. Hamilton. Dandy Jack, or, THe OvuTLAW or ngeoo¥ Tram. By T. C. Harbaugh. Hurricane Bill, or, Mustana Sam AND nis “ Parp.”’ By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Single Hand, or, A Lirx ror 4 Lire. By W. J. Hamilton. Patent-Leather Joe: or, OLD Rar TLESNAKE, THE CHARMER. By P.S. Warne. The Border Robin Hood; or, Tus Pratrntme Rover. By Buffalo Bill. Gold Rifle: or, THz Boy Drrecrive or THE Brack Rancw. By E. L. Wheeler. Old Zip’s Cabin; or, THe Grien- HORN IN THE Woops. By a F.C, Adams, Delaware Dick; Tur Youna Ran- Grr Spy. By Oll Coomes. Mad. Tom Western, THE RanGer. By W. J. Hamilton. 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 TEXAN 12 wy 3 Deadwood Dick on Deck. By e Edwari L. Wheeler. 4 4 Hawk-eye Harry, THz Youne TrRaPpPeR Rancer. By Oll Coomes, 37 The Hidden Lodge; or, Tie Lirrie | & &, The Boy Duelist; or, Thr Cruise Hunrer or Tur Aprxonpacks. Harbaugh. 4D oF THE Sxa Wor. By Col, P. Ingraham. 38 Ned Wylde, Tux Boy Scour. By " £% Abe Colt, the Crow-Killen By Texas Jack, | év Albert W. Aiken. fach number + Corduroy Chavlie; or, THz Last Act or DEapwoop Dick. By E. L. Wheeler. VENGEANCE. By Captain Mayne Reid. ” Sol Gin ger, THE GIANT TRAPPER, By Albert W Aiken. 80 aed or THE GuicH. By E. L. Wheeler. ightning Jo, THE TERROR OF THE »* Captain J. F. C. Adams. 82 OLp Powprr-Face. By T. C. Harbaugh. 83 Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, THE Hermess or rae Gotpen Horn. Oll Coomes. &5 Buck Buckram: on, Bess, THE FE- MALE TRAPPER. By Capt. J. ¥. C. Adams. fe: Dandy Rock, THE-Man-rrom-TEx- y G. Waldo Browne, he) 7 The Land Pirates: or, tHe Leaaur 8 Pactograp ph Phil: or, Rosesup Ros’s PEARANCE. By Ed. L. Wheeler. &Q9 Island Jim: or, THE PET oF THE Famity. By author of “Jack Harkaway.” 90 Durst. By George W. Browne. The on tain of the Club. By 92 Canada Chet; or, OLtp ANnaconpa IN Srrrine Buiw’s Camp. By E. L. Wheeler. 9g 3 The Boy Miners; or, Re, ENCHANTED seo Jack, Tnz Roap-Acent. By T. C. Harbaugh. Q The Rival Rovers. By Lieutenant Oo¢ Watch - Eye, tHe Drrncrive. By Edward lL. Wheeler. 9 The Outlaw Brothers: or, Tur Rebin Hood, tur OuTLAwEep HAR, 29 The Tiger of Taos. By Georg Waldo Browne. } GO Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 1 ) 1 Jack Harkaway in New York. By Bracebridge Hemyng. 1 0 GLER. By Col. -tiss Ingraham. The Lion of the Sea. By Col. 10 4 Deadwood Dick’s Device, By Edward L. Wheeler. 10 Crow Captive. By Capt. H. Solmes. T. O. Harbaugh, 107 One-Eyed Sim; or, Tue Azan. 108 Daring Davy, THE Youne Bra 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. By Edward L. Wheeler. 1 10 ries. By James L. Bowen, The Sea-Devil; or, Tut Mipsurp- man’s Lecacy. By Col. P. Ingraham, Ready September 16th. } 1 | Jack Hoyle, THE Youne SPrecu as. Ae Lavon, By Edward L. Wheeler, 7 &§ Blue Dick; or, THE YeELLow Curer’s Rosebud Kob; or, Nuccret Nep, Tne ae Fhe THE Woop-Hawk; or, 4 a i the Girl Miner; or, Rosrpup B ON Hany. By Edward L, Wheeler. AS. oF Drviu’s Isuanp. By Capt. Mayne Reid. The Dread Rider: or, tHE TEXAN 9 1 Braoebriy dge Hemyng, (Jack Harkaway.) Istanp. By Edward 8. Col. Hazeltine, Caprivk or THe Harpzs, By J. J. Marshall. g ee & By Prof. Stewart Gildersleeve. By Edward L. Wheeler. Dick Dead-E how Tar Boy Smua- 10 Delle Sara. Old Rube, tHe Hunter; or, Tar 106 Old Frosty, the Guide. By ponxeD Forest Home. By J. L, Rowen Kuuer. By Harry St. George. The Black Steed of the Prai The Mad Harter: or, Tun Cavz or DeataH. By Burton Saxe. Ready September 2d A new issue every week. The Halt-Bime Library is for sale by al) Newsdealers, five cents per « py, or sent by mai! on rece rea of six cents each, BEADLE & ADAMS -ublishers, #8 William Street, New Yor