Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 331) (1890 05 14)
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No, 381, «*¥eur Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams, a Year, No. 98 WILLIAM St., New YorE. Price, Five Cents, Vol. XXVI, TO WINDWARD OF THE LINE OF DANGEROUS ROCKS, ~
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The Coast Detective; THE SMUGGLERS’ SHADOWER. BY ROGER STARBUCK, AUTHOR OF “ BIG HORN IKE,” ‘‘ FIRE-HEELS,” ‘““THE GOLDEN HARPOON,” ETO,, ETC, CHAPTER I. A FOR, ‘WHAT are you doing here, boy? Is this the way you Bitend to your master’s business?” The tone and manner of the speaker were haughty and insolent to young Robert Brown— the person he addressed—a fine-looking Ameri- can youth of seventeen—one of the clerks em- ployed by John Carlos, shipping goods merchant of New York, Carlos was a wealthy Spaniard, who, besides his residence in this city, had a beautiful home in Mexico, about ninety miles north of Tampico, to which he sometimes re- - sorted. Having also a storage agency near Tampico, he usually took young Brown with him to his Southern mansion, to there look over the accounts on piles of ledgers, which often were sent to him from the warehouse, On the day of which we write the boy had been told by his employer that he might have a holiday of ten hours, and he had then strolled along the bank of the Saptander River, which swept past the extensive grounds of the Carlos mansion. Finally he had noticed seated under a tree, on the river-shore, the merchant's daughter, Isabel—a beautiful brunette of fit teen, To tell the truth he loved and admired her; but he had been careful not to make this known, for, besides his having received no encourage- ment from her, he knew that Carlos, who was a proud man, would be indignant and would dis- charge him at once, were he to even guess at his poor clerk’s sentiments toward his daughter. While he stood behind the shrubbery, several hundreds of feet from the maiden, observing her round, lithe form and lovely face, some one touched him on the shoulder, and turning, he beheld Captain Philip Cardiuas, who command- ed a small armed Mexican sloop—a cruiser against the smugglers that sometimes ran up the coast, Cardinas was about twenty—a slender young man of dark complexion, who might have been handsome, but for tha uneasy, shifting glances of his black eyes, He had known John Carlos and his daughter sinco he was a mere child, and Brown had not unfrequently seen him walk- ing out with Isabel. He had never before this noticed the lad, except by a brief supercilious glance; but now, as he put the question, he look- ed at him fiercely and intently. The youth at first was so surprised by the words of the speaker that he made no reply. “Come, answer me,” repeated the captain, sternly. ‘ What are vou doing here, neglectihg your master’s business?” Robert’s eyes flashed. "1 would advise you to mind your own and The Coast Detective. - ams not to speak to me if that way,” he replied.. ‘“*We Americans are not used to having our em-- ployers spoken of as our masters [” “Be careful there, fellow! you forget who you are speaking to. Beg my pardon, or I'll flog it out of you!” And he raised a small cane he held, as if intending to bring it down across the boy’s. back, Robert instantly pulled the cane from his grasp and broke it in two, “Miserable little whelp! you shall have a, thrashing all the same!” cried the Spaniard, He grasped him by the throat, but ere he could strike him, the lad dealt him between tho eyes a well-directed blow, which nearly stunned hitn, causing“ him to let go his hold. “Furies!” shouted the other, as soon as he: eould speak. ‘‘ You shall suffer for this!” Just then a shriek from Isabel diverted {the attention of the two disputants, and both saw tho girl struggling in the current of the river,. which was bearing her further from them every: moment, They ran swiftly along the bank, and, when opposite to the imperiled maidev, Cardinas threw himself upon a log, drifting near the shore, and, pushing it before him, swam toward the young lady, while Robert, who had kept on a few yards further than his companion, leaped far into the river, and, striking out vigorously, was fortunate enough to head the girl off, and seize her as she was sinking, while Cardinas was still some yards distant, Putting a hand under ber shoulder, the boy raised her face above the surface, ‘* Don’t be afraid,” he said, ‘‘ I will save you. The tide will help us to the rock, only a few fathoms off, and the water between that and the bank i3 shallow enough for wading.” pe Isabel could not hear him; she had faint- ed, A few minutes later Robert reached the rock and got upon it with bis lovely burden in his arms, Heedless of the shouts of Cardinas for him to await bis coming, he forded the water, gained the bank, and moved on with the sense- less girl toward the mansion. As tha weight was heavy fora lad of his years, he was soon obliged to pause to rest. He laid Isabel on the ground, and, at the same time, catching sight of asmelling-botéle, which had dropped from her pocket, a few yards bebind him, he ran to obtain it, hoping to thus restore his charge to her senses, Just 9s he turned, Cardinas, who had come up, emerged from the shrubbery through which he bad been running, lifted the girl, and hast- ened on with her toward the house. She was placed upon a lounge, and, restora- tives being applied, she opened her eyes, just as her fatber came into the room. “ My child—” he began, anxiously, when Car- dinas seized his hand. “She is coming to,” he interrupted, “pray, don’t excite yourself.” “Thank God!” cried Don Carlos, “To you then, from what I have heard, I am indebted for the life of my daughter!” Cardinas bowed, Tt was fortunate,” he said, “ that I happened
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to beon the bank. The first notice I received of Tsabel’s peril was her shriek, uttered probably at the moment she fell into the river!” ‘You have acted nobly,” said Don Carlos. “Depend upon it I shall never forget the great service you have rendered me, and,” he added, lowering bis voice, ‘‘I shall not fail to speak of it to Isabel.” Isabel was soon sufficiently recovered to tell how she came to fall into the river. She had reached too far over the edge of the bank to pluck a flower she saw there, and had lost her bal- ance, “Excepting a slight headache, I now feel as wellas ever,” she remarked, in response to her father’s anxious look. Then she arose and left the room to change her attire. The moment she was gone, Cardinas turned to Don Carlos: “You have a clerk here—a little ruffian named Brown?” *T employ a boy of that name,” answered the merchant, looking surprised. “T think you would discharge him if you knew his true character.” “Discharge Brown? Why, I have always found the boy good and faithful to me,” ““The fellow imposes on you. He is at this moment lounging on the river-bank, instead of attending to his duty.” “You are mistaken, Philip, holiday.” ‘*Oh, did you? Well then of course that is all right so far, but I don’t think you would like to hear that i caught him watching your daugh- ter from behind a clump of shrubbery, in a very impudent manner,” Don Carlos frowned, then he smiled, ‘Oh, as to that,” he said, *‘ you know he is a mere boy. 1 have no objection to his admiring Isabel—at a distance,” **Have you not? Well, I did not like bis looks, and I merely requested him to move aside to let me pass, when the little rascal had the audacity to call me ‘fellow,’ in a way which made me angry. I raised my cane and would have given him a flogging had not your daughter’s shriek at that moment diverted my attention.” “You mean to say that he had the impudence to insult a friend of mine?” ** He did so, and more than that, he doubled up his fist, and would, I have no doubt, hare struck me, had I attempted to thrash him.” “T will speak to him about this, and induce him to apologize to vou.” The young captain’s eyes twinkled. He knéw that Brown would not consent to do this, and he also knew enough of Don Carlos to feel sure that he would discharge the lad from bis employ for refusing, Cardinas, soon after, departed to repair to bis vessel, the St. Mary by name, anchored near the mouth of the river. I gave him a CHAPTER II. A SURPRISE. A SHORT time after the young captain was gone, Don Carlos sent for Robert Brown to The Coast Detective. 3 | come to the apartment which he used as a sort: of office in his mansion. “Robert,” said the merchant, “I learn that you have insulted Captain Cardinas, one of my best friends,” “On the contrary, sir, he insulted me, I merely defended myself.” Then he went on to give a frank and truthful account of the whole affair. “Your account differs from his,” said Don Carlos, ‘‘ You were tvo hasty. Unless you are willing to apologize to the captain, you must leave my employ. Take your choice,” ‘“*T will then have to leave you, sir,” an- swered Robert, ‘‘for I will not apologize for de- fending myself.” ‘‘Here,” said Don Carlos, teking out his pocketbook, “is your salary for this month, which ends to-morrow.” Having taking the amount due him, Robert re- paired to his room and proceeded to pack up his clothing. He had not been gonea minute, when Isabel entered her father’s room. The merchant’s grave face lighted up at once, ‘Glad enough I am you were saved,” he said, ““How can we ever repay him for the gallant deed?” “Tt was anoble deed,” said Isabel. “Tsabel, [—I—think you like this young fel- low? He is handsome, brave, and of good family.” ‘““Of whom are you speaking, father?’ in- quired Isabel. ‘“ What a singular question—I allude to Cap- tain Cardinas, of course!” “Then you have been thinking of one person and J of another,” cried the young girl, laugh- ing merrily, ‘‘IT have been speaking of the young fellow who saved vour life—Captain Cardinas,” ‘*Tt was not the captain who saved my life— it was Robert Brown!” “ Robert Brown? Why, Cardinas said, or, at least, permitted me to say that he rescued you. ‘“* That was dishonest on his part.” “Mind, I do not say he told me he rescued yon; only he-—he—did not deny it, nor did be make any mention of the boy, Brown.” “T never thought him particularly honest,” she said, ‘“‘and now I am sure he is not. But let us say no more about bim, What are you going to do for Robert Brown?” ““Well, really, I suppose he does deserve some sort of recompense,” ‘*T will tell you what to do,” said Isabel, put- ting an arm about her parent’s neck, ‘Well, what?” ‘Double his wages.” ‘¢ Tmpossible.” 4c Why?” ‘Because he will no Jonger be in my employ. Three minutes ago I paid him what was due, and discharged him!” “Discharged the boy who saved your daugh- ter’s life?” “'T did not know it at the time.” “Why did you discharge him?” Don Carlos informed her, giving both the captain’s and Brown’s version of the story,
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ane & The Coast Detective. *€ And you believed the captain?” ““T did and do.” ‘Well, I do not. Itis Robert Brown who tells the truth. Come, father, call him back.” “As he has saved your life, I will reinstate him in his place, as he deserves sonie recompense, and I will also increase his, wages. “T have long thought of sending him to try and investigate the mysterious theft of my goods at the Tampico warehouse, I will send him there on this mission, and tell him that, as itisa harder and more perilous duty than I have hith- erto required of him, I will increase his salary.” “ Remember, you have already sent on that errand two persons who have mysteriously dis- appeared.” “Yes, Henrique and Jason—two of my clerks. LTimagine, however, that they were drowned.” ““T know there was a report to that effect, but I have always thought,” she added, with a shud- der, ‘‘ that they were murdered.” ‘*Pooh! I don’t think so.” Isabel tried to persuade her father not to send Brown on the errand he had spoken of, but all to no purpose, The young girl withdrew, and Don Carlos lost ho time in sending for the boy. The moment he entered, the merchant said to im: %T have concluded, after all, to retain you in my employ, if you are willing to stay.” **T should only be too glad to stay, if you do not ask me to—” **No, no,” interrupted the other, ‘‘ we will say no more about your apologizing to Cardinas. My poncipal reason for keeping you is because I ave just thought of something—a task for you, which I would-scarcely trust to any other per- son. As itis a harder and, perhaps, a more per- ilous one than I have ever required of you, I will, from this moment, increase your salary fifty per cent.” Robert stared. He could scarcely credit his good fortune. Tho pleasure depicted on his face Pleased his employer. **You are aware that, for several years past, my warehouse at Tampico bas frequently been robbed. How it is done isa mystery to me as well as to my agent there. Well, I am going to send you to try and ferret out this mysiery. It may be perilous work, but I think I can rely on you.” **T will do my best,” answered Robert, “I shall be glad and willing to go,” “You can then prepare at once to set out in the morning. First, on your arrival, you will take a letter to my agent, Loon Rupo, who will give you a packet of money, which you wil] im- mediately send on to me by Express. Asitisa large sum, I would not like to trust Rupo with it, for I believe the thieves have spies to watch him, as he has been twice waylaid and robbed of cash he was soing to send to me.” Having given his young clerk further instruc- tions, he dismissed him to prepare for his jour- ney. On the following morning the lad set out, taking passage aboard of a schooner which would land him within a few miles of the city. At four o’clock P, M, the schooner, which was a fishing craft, dropped anchor off the cvast a league above Tampico, and Robert was taken ashore in a boat. As he was passing a rock, after leaving tho boat, on his way to the city, he beheld a youth of his own age crouched behind a ridge, where, with a spy-glass, he had evidently been watch- ing the schooner from which the merchant's clerk had. landed. The moment the two saw each other, Robert recognized him as John Lormo—a young fellow employed asa detective at Tampico. As he had often met Lormo, the boys had become ac- quainted. “ Halloa! cried Lormo, who was a small but resolute looking young Mexican, ‘‘ me much glad see you. Where you come from!—from him schoon’?” And he pointed toward the craft. “Yes. Lam going to Tampico,” “Good; me go there, too, now. Been. watch schoon’. Think might be smuggleum, but see now only fish-catcher, Plenty smuggleum been go on of late.’ *T should think Captain Cardinas, with his craft, ought to prevent that.” ‘Only one vessel not enough, Somehow him smuggle git past him.” The two boys, journeying on, were soon near the warehouse, which was within a stone’s throw of the city. Here Robert parted from his companion, after which he entered the build- ing. ft was @ jarge, stone house, which had once been an abandoned convent. It stood near the edge of a, pier, that projected into the water, The structure was almost a ruin when Don an purchased it and fitted it up for a ware- ouse, Entering it, Robert ascended a flight of steps and passed into the office of Leon Rupo, the agent. The latter, a Spaniard with a thin, swarthy face and keen, black eyes, read the letter deliy-~ ered to him. “Tf you burry, you will be in time for the six o’clock Express,” he said, as he gave Robert a package, directed to Don Carlos, ‘ Be care- ful and let no one see this except the express- agent.” “You can depend on me,” answered the youth, as he deposited the package in an inside pocket of his coat, He then hurried off toward the city, On the way he was cbliged to pass a gully, half-concealed by thick masses of shrubbery. He fancied, as he moved on, that he heard a slight rustling in the shrubbery, and turning quickly, be beheld a swarthy face, surmounted by a broad-rimmed hat. He also caught the gleam of a pair of glittering eyes, and fancied he could detect the flash of a knife. “No, you don’t!” he cried, drawing his revol- ver and facing about. f The person, whoever he was, had evidently intended to steal upon him from behind, and stab him with bis knife, but, finding himself discovered, he sprung backward, and soon dis- appeared in the underbrush. Robert hurried on, keeping a good lookout on all sides of him as he went, He fiually reached the Express building, buthe
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The Coast Detective. eee aeeUaEnEInE nD SpyII NEUEN EEE SEER SIRE EERE ERSEESEER REED there found everything in confusion, The house had taken fire, and vain efforts were being made to put out the flames. On inquiry, he learned that nothing could be sent by the company for several days. He then repaired to a lodging-house, and hav- ing hired a room, he locked himself in the apart- ment, and carefully sewed the valuable package in the inside lining of his vest. CHAPTER UI. THE CAPTURE, Havine partaken of a frugal repast, Robert set out for the warehouse. On reaching the building, he found that Rupo had gone home for the day, and had left his watchman in charge of the place. All the doors except one were barred and bolt- ed. The moment Robert appeared at the one which was unfastened, a stout man, with a pis- tol in one hand came forward, and gruffly asked him what he wanted. “T am going to sleep in the warehouse to- night,” said the boy. “No, What is your name?” “Robert Brown.” “ All right, then. The agent said nothing about your sleeping here.” “He can have no objection,” answered the boy, as he entered. He found himself ina large, long room, in which was packed a miscellaneous assortment of goods. “There are other storage-rooms in the build- ing, are there not?” "Yes, up-stairs.” “¢ And is thére no watchman there?” “No, because to reach them, any person would have to pass through the room in which isthe watchman. The stairway leads up from that room,” ‘*T will go and look at it.” The man scowled. Robert moved forward to the door, opened it and entered tae room, which he found lighted Jike the other one. As he appeared rather sud- denly before the surprised watcher there, he detected a suspicious-looking bottle, which the man was thru;ting hastily into the breast pocket of bis coat “Ho! ho!” thought the boy. takes his bitters while on duty!” «Ts all right, Antolo,” cried the other watch- man, putting his head through the doorway. ‘“This young man is one of Don Carlos’s clerks,” **You have no right to drink while you are on watch,” said Robert to the person with the bottle. ‘* Me rheumatiz,” was the reply. much take—vnly a little.” “Ts the door through which I came the only one opening upon this room?” he inquired, Ob! of course. Him only one door,” Robert went up the stairway and entered a room above. Here there was also a dim light, The apartment was one of several in this part of the lofty building. ‘Tt is true that no one could come here with- out passing the watchman below,” thought the boy. ‘Itis plain that the fellow gets drunk, but the other man appears to be steady and “So this fellow ‘*Me never gh Fiat sober. It is a mystery how any robber could enter without being seen by him.” Hours passed, Robert resolved to remain awake all night. He kept a vigilant lookout, moving from room to room above, and now and then going down-stairs to see how the watch- men were conducting themselves. It was about midnight, and the youth was walking to and fro in one of the upper rooms, when he fancied he heard a slight creaking noise in the stone wall, against which some val- uable goods were piled. He instantly concealed himself in a large, empty cask, over which he placed a piece of canvas, picked up from tbe floor. The open bung-hole of the cask afforded him a view of that part of the wall in which he had heard the mysterious noise. He kept his gaze upon it, and finally, to his surprise, he saw one of the squares of stone above the pile of goods swing noiselessly back, revealing an opening at which a dark, swarthy face now appeared. This face, dimly lighted, was evidently that of a Mexican youth of seventeen years. The fellow thrust his head through the open- ing, took a careful survey of the store-room, and then sprung lightly in on top of the piled goods. Kneeling, he turned and silently beckoned, as if to some other person or persons, and the next moment half a dozen men in semi-nautica]l at- tire sprung through the opening and joined the youth, who had now descended to the floor. Upon one of these fellows the gaze of Robert was riveted with the closest attention, for he felt almost sure that in spite of a light cloak he wore and which partly concealed his face and form, he could recognize Captain Cardinas. Then the Mexican youth whom the boy bad first seen said something in a low voice, and all the persons there except the one Robert believed to be Cardinas, who sprung back through the opening after taking a careful survey of the room, commenced to help themselves to the most valuable of the goods and to pass theni through the secret aperture to confederates who were there to receive them. ‘“* Ho! ho!” thought the concealed boy. ‘“‘ How finely itis all done! There must of course be some secret entrance outside leading to a bidden stairway, 5 nase of which these rascals have come up. he mystery is solved at last, and now ther, for putting a stup to the sport, His intention was to spring from the cask, give the alarm to the watchmen below, and with them, rush outside to head off the robbers. He had not taken two steps, however, after leaving the cask, ere he was seen, when the whole party, with drawn knives, bounded to- ward him, and from their position, got between him and the door. ‘“No noise!” said the young leader, his eyes blazing like those of a wolf, ‘‘or me quick blow out brains,” And as he spoke he pointed a pistol at the OY. Robert drew his revolver, and at the same time, resolved to do his duty, was about to shout an alarm, when something descending on his head laid him senseless, The person whom the lad had supposed to be
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j The Coast Detective, i= —— Cardinas had returned through the opening, and it was he who struck down the youth with a blow from the pommel of his sword, As he looked at the prostrate lad, his face, fully re- vealed, was shown to really be that of the St. Mary’s captain, Half a dozen knives were instantly raised above the fallen youth, but Cardinas prevented the blows from being dealt, ‘No, be must not be killed here,” he cried. “Take him to your craft, Pedro,” he added, turning to the young leader, “‘ and then—” He smiled meaningly, instead of finishing the sentence, ‘‘ Ay, he shall go to keep company with the merchant's other two spies—Henrique and Jason,” said Pedro, ‘“‘Good,” replied Cardinas, “better so, than for his blood to stain this floor. There must be no clew to his disappearance.” “Three men are enough to take him away, for he is not heavy,” continued Pedro, The hands and feet of the senseless boy were securely fastened with cords; then he was car- ried off by three of the men, who passed with him through the opening, while the others re- mained to continue their plundering. There was a light, secret staircase in a hol- low space between the thick walls of the build- ing, and down this the outlaws descended with their burden, There were about twenty steps leading to a water-cave to the left of the pier. In the cave, which opened directly upon the sea, was a large boat, containing the goods which had already been conveyed to it from above. There were several men in the boat. Tbe three who bore Robert laid him aft, near the stern sheets, and, in a whisper, explained about his capture to the others in the vessel. Then they returned to the store-room, where they assisted their companions to remove some more goods from the apartment. When they bad nearly loaded the boat with as many of the stolen things as it could bear, they pulled the vessel seaward, having first left Cardinas on shore. “Don’t fail to drown that accursed boy!” whispered the St. Mary’s captain to Pedro, ere he parted from him, ‘* Me see to him,” answered the other in Eng- lish, ‘* Take him out near ‘ Black Rocks,’ where me sure he never can come up again.” A quarter of an hour later the boat was pulled alongside of a small sloop, lying about half a league from the shore. CHAPTER IV. BERTA, “ Wuere is Berta?” was Pedro's first question to his mate, as he came and looked over the gangway. Tne mate, an English youth of twenty, named Bronson, answered rather sullenly: ‘She's in the cabin, just now.” ‘* Me hopo she stay in cabin, till we get near ‘Black Rocks,’ for me got some one here to make food for sharks, and you know Berta was never for killing. You remember whet trouble we had with her, when we went to throw Henrique and Jason in water.” _fAvs I don’t think TU be likely to forget it. He then called the men of the watch, a few of whom proceeded to take from the boat the plundered property, while others lifted Robert to the deck, ¥ The boy was recovering his senses as he was carried aboard. He opened his eyes, when he— was laid on the deck, and stared wonderingly at the evil faces faintly revealed to his gaze in the dim light. ‘“Who are you? Where am I?” he inquired, as Pedro bent over him. “You ask too many questions, where you are, bum-by.” The youth attempted to rise, when he per- ceived that his ankles and his arms were tied. Suddenly the memory of the robbers in the warehouse flashed upon his mind, and he at once realized that he was in the power of the thieves, “What are you going to do with me?” he a as he was now raised and borne into the old. The men did not answer. They placed him on the floor, returned to the deck, and fastened the hatches over him, “There,” said Bronson, who had superintended this task, ‘“‘I don’t believe your sister has a shadow of a suspicion that we have that fellow in limbo.” Pedro, to whom he spoke, looked well pleased. “We must keep it secret from her, till after we throw the boy overboard,” he said. Bronson was about to reply when Pedro laid a hand on bis arm, y ‘* Hist! here she come!” he whispered. ~ In fact a light step was heard, approaching from the direction of the cabin, and the next moment Berta appeared. Her face, of the brunette type, was beautiful, and the hardy sort of life to which she had been trained as her brother’s assistant, had given her splendid health, “So the load has come off,” she said, glancing at some of the things, which had not yet been taken below. ‘Did you make a good haul, Pedro?” “Yes, I did.” Berta laughed, showing her white teeth. At the same moment a pitch of the vassel caused tbe girl to stagger, and Bronson, who was near, stretched out a hand, as if to save her from falling. She pushed his arm violently away. ; “J want none of your help to keep me up!” she cried. ‘‘ I’m as good a sailor as you are, any day!” The mate shrugged his shoalders and walked off. Pedro laughed at his repulse. “T hate that fellow, and I wish he would never come near me,” said Berta, in English, “To tbink of his killing a defenseless Indian child, just to possess himself of a gold bracelet she wore.” “You think too much of such things,” an- swered Pedro; ‘‘too much for a smuggler and robber.” “We can smuggle and rob without killing! Where are the rest of the goods—in the hold?” You know
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“ Ye—yes,” stammered Pedro. “] will take a Jantern, and go down to look at them.” f “ Better wait till morning,” said Pedro. The girl directed toward her brother a quick, flashing glance. Evidently her suspicions were aroused, *T will go now,” she answered decidedly. Aad procuring a lantern, she proceeded to enter the hold, fastening the door in the bulkhead be- hind ber, so that she might not be intruded upon, for she knew Pedro had some reason for not wanting her here, and she was resolved to fathom the secret, She had not taken many steps when she came upon Robert, lying, bound hand and foot, on his back, The boy’s light brown bair having fallen away from his forehead, revealed, just above his left temple, the contusion from the blow he bad received, ‘You have been hurt,” she said, gazing down at the cut on his forehead. ‘t How came you here?” She knew very well that he must have been brought here by her brother, but she wanted to learn all she could, Robert then related to her what he could re- member of tho affair in the warehouse, The girl’s eyes flashed indignantly. She stoop- ‘ed down, and picking up a cup of water lying on a barrel near, she proceeded to bathe the boy’s wound. As she again met the gaze of his eyes, she felt attracted to him more than she had ever before been to any human being. She unfastened the lashings from his feet, and as she helped him rise, she was about to con- duct him to the cabin, when the hatch above opened and Pedro sprung down into the hold. ** Enough of this nonsense,” he cried. ‘* Why have you freed that boy?” Berta sprung between her brother and the prisoner, her eyes flashing. “T will not bave him harmed,” she said, reso- lutely. ‘‘ You would serve him as you did Henrique and Jason!” ‘Come, now, who commands here? You or ad “T have my right here, as well as you. part owner of the craft!” “ Don't be a fool, Berta! If you let that boy go, itis all up with us. He is one of Don Car- Jos’s shipping clerks, and he saw us rob the warebouse!” “T did not say I meant to let him go, but I do mean to prevent your murdering him.” ‘*We see about that,” cried Pedro, and, as quick as thought, he pulled a pistol, which he was about to aim at the youth, over the shoulder of the girl, when the latter seized bis Iam m. ‘* Hold!” she cried, firmly, ‘If ever you kill that boy, you and I will be enemies hereafter, and, as true as there is a God above us I will be- tray youand your band, and our hiding-place to the authorities!” : : “Come, Berta, this is fool work, Besides, Cardinas told me to be sure to make way with him,” he added, in a whisper, ; .. ‘‘Idon't care for Cardinas,” she replied, also in a whisper, _‘‘ He need not know that the boy is with us. He does not often come to cur The Coast Detective. vf rendezvous, and when he does, if will be easy enough to keep the prisoner out of his sight.” Pedro turned and sullenly left the hold. As soon as he was gone Robert said to her: ““'You will help me to escape? We are not far from land, I think I could swim ashore if you would let me drop overboard.” Then Berta smiled upon him. ‘You could not swim so far. We are more than a league from land, and the current would be partly against you. Come with me.” She conducted him into the cabin and gave him wine and refreshments. She appeared to take great pleasure in seeing him eat, When he had finished, she opened the door of a neat little room and pointed to a berth, “You need rest. Go there and sleep,” she said, gently. The moment he had entered the room she closed and locked the door. It was her own bed which she had given up to him. She resolved to watch by the door to proven her brother or any of his crew from arming the boy. CHAPTER V. THE SPY. Aout the time Robert entered the ware- house, Lormo, tle boy Coast Detective, . with four men, all wearing thick pea-jackets, were pulling a boat past Pedro’s sloop, which, as stated, lay at anchor half a league from the shore. Three or four men aboard the craft were leaning over the rail with fishing-lines in the water, ; 5 Ahoy! there!” shouted Lormo, ‘ What uck? “Not much yet,” answered Bronson, who was one of the men with lines, “Hab! hah! fisherman’s luck! Don’t think you get much here,” said Lormo, laughing. “We go fish, too, but we going further out!” “ Well, good luck to you,” said Bronson. The boat was kept on, for Lormo had no sus- picion of the sloop’s true character, In fact this craft, the Maria by name, often seen off the coast, was supposed to be merely an innocent fisbing-craft, as Pedro and bis sis- ter frequently brought'to Tampico a cargo of fish. the young people, well known to the Custom-House officers, always paid for any mer- chandise which at any time they brought to the dock with them, and were therefore supposed to be strictiy honest in this respect. Lormo and bis companion kept on until the boat was about two leagues from land, when they dropped anchor behind a mass of rugged rocks that rose a little above the surface of the sea, Gradually the gloom of night closed about them, Then they got out upon the rocks and crouched behind a ledge, where they lay for a jong time peering into the darkness. ‘Here she comes!” whispered Lormo, speak- ing of course in Spanish, as his companions were all Mexicans. The men slightly elevated their heads to behold the dim outline of a small sloop. ** How do yeu know she is the one?” ‘* By the shape of her mainsail. See! it is the
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very one our spy described as belonging to the suspected craft. Ill wager she now has the cargo she is going to smuggle in on this very night! Quick! Now is our time.” All entered the boat, and Lormo crouched down in the stern-sheets under some canvas by which his small figure was well concealed. The others pulled out from bebind the rocks, and one of them instantly hailed the craft, “ Ahoy! What sloop is that?” “The fishing sloop WINHO, bound in to Tam- pico!” ‘Lie to and let us board you!” A gruff oath, not intended to be heard, was we by the person who had answered the hail, “Who are you, and what do you want to come aboard for? We are in a hurry and can’t stop!” At the same moment the sloop came shooting on swiftly, and would have passed the boat had not one of the men therein flashed a lantern, which showed three companions with revolvers pointed toward the saucy skipper. “ Heave-to, in the name of the law!” cried one of the party. “ Custom-house officers! Why didn’t you say so before?” growled the captain, Then the canvas rattled as his craft swung up into the wind, and in another minute the boat was fast alongside with a rope, and all its oceu- pout except the Coast Detective, who remained idden, were aboard. “Come, now, what do you want of me—a poor fisherman?” inquired the captain. “‘ How is it you showed no light?” said one of the visitors, ‘Because my lantern is out of order, and I must have it repaired before I can burn more oil in it.” “Hah! Well, please to let me see your cargo,” ‘“‘T have none, at present; but I should think you might tell by the smell what it has been, unless your noses are stopped up.” “You will find that our eyes are not stopped, at any rate,” was the answer. “Off with that hatch, and let us see what is below there.” The captain ordered a man to take off the hatch, and the officers sprung into the hold. This was found to contain nothing except some _empty barrels, some coils of rigging ete, The cabin was next examined, and afterward the forecastle. Meanwhile, while the attention of the crew was directed toward the officers, Lormo had clambered about with the agility of a cat, and had dropped into the hold. He got into an empty barrel, behind some coils of rigging. “Now, then, we will see what else besides the smell of fish the little Winho will take into Tam- pico to-night,” he muttered, “Well,” the captain at length said to the offi- cers, ‘‘are you satisfied? I don’t think you'll again trouble yourself about a poor fisher.” “We may often do so. Of late we have heard that, in spite of Captain Cardinas’s craft, a good deal of smuggling is going on, One vessel is not enough to guard against that busi- ness. The Coast Détective. ee ee twinkling. ‘It seems to me that Cardinas _: fron "mot “Right there,” said the captain, his eyes Ze les tere too near the coast, as he even now is doing, not — half a league below the city. We us.” “Ay, ay! there should have been another Government vessel further out.” With these words the speaker, followed by his companions, descended into his boat. A minute later the Winho was speeding on her way, her captain having no suspicion thata yonne cose nes detective was secreted in is hold, Lormo, in the barrel, disposed himself as com- fortably as possible. slender limbs enabled him to sit down in his quarters and rest his elbows on his knees, About an hour had passed when he heard a rough hail on deck, and by the noise which fol- lowed he knew that the sloop had met another craft, and was being hove to. He cautiously emerged from the barrel, and standing on @ pile of rigging, pressed one ear against the hatch, “You are here in good time,” was said, in a voice which he could not hear plainly enough to recognize, but which in reality was that of ~ Pedro, “Yes,” answered the other captain. “TI suppose you have the goods ready for me to take?” “T have. land them in the usual place be- low the city, and there you'll find a wagon to take them to ——” Lormo could not hear the name, which was spoken in a low voice, The noise made by bales and boxes being transferred from’ one vessel to the other was now heard, Footsteps approached the hatch, and Lormo scampered back to his hiding-place, Hardly was he there concealed, when the hatch was opened, and the Winho’s crew commenced to lower the goods into the hold. “‘Good-by, captain!” shouted the Winho’s com- mander. ‘Success to you!” ‘*Good-by!” answered the other skipper. “My best wishes for the little Winho!” All the goods were finally in the hold. Then several of the Winho’s crew sprung down through the hatchway, and carefully covered the articles to be smuggled with coils of rigging, spare blocks and planks. ‘“Humph! Very well done!” thought Lormo, who now and then took a peep over the edge of the barrel. The men finally went on deck, and the boy could hear the sloop forging swiftly on her way. He remained in the hold half an hour longer, when he stole cautiously toward the forecastle, which he entered through the bulkhead, As he had supposed was the case, all the men were on deck. He ascended the ladder, and, looking through the hatchway, he discovered that the sailors were amidships, He erept up, and got over the forward rail, into the knighthead. The vessel was heading straight for land, which, not a quarter of a league distant, faintly show- ed through the darkness. Lormo pulled a ci { hin a | Th His short stature and — passed him hea far enough off in the dark for him not to see gar mai hay ba re i
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, his eyes” ardinas lies s doing, not passed him not to see n another lowed by 3 boat, A ing on her ion thata ecreted in lf as com- ature and wn in his “aS, 6 heard a which fol- st another sautiously ling on a ainst the said, in a y enough s that of ain, + y or ine to place be- vagon to hich was es being iher was | Lormo Hardly tch was need to 10's com- skipper, . Then , down covered Igeglng, Lormo, edge of / he boy on her The Coast Detective. - from his pocket, Jighted it and placed it in his ‘mouth, “They'll see it if they look sharp,” he mut- tered, keeping the lighted end toward the shore, Scarcely had the words escaped him when a heavy club-bammer descended toward his head, Had it struck him, the boy would never have made any more secret signals, as the iron must have crushed his skull. It chanced, however, that a roll of the craft, at that moment, caused him to move one side, so that the implement dropped from the hand of the man who held it, This man was a stout seaman who had been sent forward to keep a lookout, and had espied the stranger, fully revealed by the phosphores- cent light from the water. ; “Dog of a spy!” he now cried, leaning over and aiming a furious blow with his knife at the oung Coast Detective. ‘‘ You'll never leave tho Winho alive!” Lormo nimbly avoided the blow, and struck ' the sailor on the temple with the butt of bis pistol, It was a heavy stroke, and the man, who had bent down very low over the rail, fell headlong, striking against Lormo as he went, knocking him from his position. The boy dropped clear of the sloop’s bow, but the unconscious man struck the water, directly i a the bobstay and the craft passed over m. He was never again seen alive. ** Now for shore!” thought Lormo, as the ves- sel rushed past him. The land was not more than two hundred feet distant, and the boy, who was a good swimmer, finally reached it. ‘4s soon as he had rested he hurried toward the city, which was about a quarter of a mile distant. On the outskirts, looking seaward, he came upon half a dozen stout men. * Halloa! it is Lormo!” cried one, when he was near enough for them to recognize bim. “Did you see my signal?” inquired the boy. ** No,” was the answer. ‘You saw the craft? That was the smuggler, with a cargo of goods.” And he went on to explain. “ We'll have them yet, if we keep the craft in sight. Come on!” ‘ollowed by the men, Lormo hurried along shore in the direction which be supposed the vessel had taken. But all that night he and his companions vainly searched for her, “We are too late,” said Lormo, ‘The goods have been landed and carted off—where to I cannot even guess.” ‘“‘They are cunning rascals—those smugglers!” said one of the party. ‘You will earn no re- ward to-night, my boy!” : ‘No, but I will earn one some other time,” replied the youth, ‘I will not rest until I have found the smugglers’ secret rendezvous!” CHAPTER VI. THE WELL, Rorert Brown, reclining on the bed in the locked apartment, tried to think of some plan for ioakioy his escape. While be was thus ae an irresistible drowsiness stole over him, and he cropped to sleep. He was aroused by Berta. “Come,” she said, ‘*you will have to go with us now.” The youth soon recollected his situation. **So Ll have slept?” he said, ‘“Yes,” answered the girl, smiling. ‘You must be a brave boy to sleep, with men around you thirsting for your life,” “*T could not help it,” he replied, as he sprung from the berth, ‘t Where are your people going to take me to?” “That I must not say. You will have to be blindfolded.” As she spuke, Pedro appeared with several of his men. One of these tied a bandage over the boy’s eyes, Then they fastened his hands behind bis back. i _ ‘* Now, mark my words!” said Berta, as she drew a small pistol from her pocket. ‘‘ The first _of you that offers to hurt this boy will get a bullet through bim!” “We have promised,” said Pedro, sullenly. “For your sake we will not burt the fellow.” Robert was made to go on deck, and was helped into a boat alongside, He finally felt the boat strike the beach, and he was then led on, After prooeeding a short distance he heard a grating noise; then he became aware that he was descending a flight of steps. He was con- ducted on, and when at Jength the bandage was taken from his eyes, he found himself in a Jarge apartment, with cemented walls and a stone floor. The room contained at present about a dozen villainous-looking fellows, in some respects dif- ferently attired, but all wearing broad-rimmed hats and loose sailor trowsers. A sort of fierce “‘grin” met the boy’s gaze, when he was permitted to use his eyes, One group of men were gathered round a table provided with glasses, and were drinking eee obtained from a keg which was placed there, Some of the younger fellows laughed, as Robert stared confusedly about him. Berta now appeared from an adjoining apart- ment—one of several partitioned off from the room in which the smugglers were collected. Pedro then addressed the band. “Men,” he said, ‘all but four of now go to your homes, cause some excitement, and there will be a search for us, Meanwhile we must keep quiet, and venture on no more expeditions for the present,” As the majority of the party were Mexicans, these words were spoken in Spanish, of which language Robert had knowledge enough to un- derstand most of what was said, A few minutes later the dismissed outlaws de- arted, after which Pedro locked the one door eading into the apartment, and put the key in his pocket, ‘Berta now brought refreshments, and request- ed Robert to sit down at the table and have breakfast. The youth complied, and while he was eating, Pedro and his men withdrew to the further side of the room, where they held a con- ference in a low voice. ; **T hope you feel well this morning?” said Ber- a ta to the boy, ou can The late affair will-
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* Well enough in body, but not in mind. My employer, Don Carlos, sent me to Tampico on important business, and my absence will be un- accountable to him, and give him a great deal of trouble.” ' “Why should you want to go back to him?” inquired Berta, giving him an arch glance. fs by not stay with us?” “What! with smugglers and thieves? I do not like such men for company.” ‘¢ We would make you rich in a few years, By joining us you will escape death, and in no other way. Oj will not join you on that account, I can die like a man, if I must.” Berta’s black eyes flashed admiringly upon the speaker, They were handsome eyes; but Robert had noticed from the first that they lacked the depth and softness of Isabel’s. *You may change your opinions in a few days,” she said, tossing her head with a conscious air of power, But if she hoped to fascinate the boy into join- ing the smugglers, she was disappointed, Robert hardly seemed conscious of her charms, His whole mind was concentrated on the thought of making his escape from this den. Butit was so well guarded, night and day, that he could imagine no plan for eluding the keen watch kept up by the smugglers, Hither Pedro or some otber person was always niar the door when he moved toward it, Mean- while he would often place his hand, at night, on his vest, to make sure that the package he had received at the warehouse from Rupo was still safe. Its being under the padding of the arment was what bad prevented its discovery by his captors, One morning Berta persuaded Bronson—Pedro being absent—to permit the boy to go out and walk with her, Robert’s heart bounded at the proposal, for he hoped he would at last find a chance to escape. The girl unlocked the door, and leading the way, the two passed out, to the surprise of the boy, into a large, beautiful garden, Robert now threw a quick glance around him, and, divining his thought, the young girl smiled, oe As their glances met, she slowly shook her ead. “ You seo there is no chance of your getting away from here,” she said. ‘ Besides the men you see in the garden, tho walis also keep you from escaping.” In fact, on four sides of the garden the boy beheld a smooth, lofty wall, which could not be scaled without a ladder, * Still,” he argued, mentally, “‘ there must be a door in this wall—a concealed door, by means of which the smugglers enter the garden from without,” Feeling sure he was right, he scrutinized the wall as he passed along beneath it on each side with Berta, but he could not trace the smallest crevice to show the presence of a secret door. “ Have you made up your mind about joining us, yet?” asked Berta. “IT am of the same mind I was in the first place.” “Stay with me,” she said, softly. ‘Do not The Coast Detective. 4 let them take your life. Is there then noat- traction for you in this place?” ‘* None,” answered Robert, bluntly. “What? not—not even in me?” ‘Oh, yes, you are a handsome girl,” said the boy, frankly. A. look of joy flashed across her face, She grasped his hands with both her own, : ‘Promise to make me your wife,” she con- tinued, hurriedly, glancing about her to assure herself that noone except Robert heard her, ““and—and—we will go together, far from this \ place.” “ Her black eyes were lookin: breath upon his cheek, ‘*T do not want to marry you,” he said, have never thougbt of marrying,” that your death is planned for to-morrow.” “My death?” “Yes, I would save you if I could, but they will contrive to kil] you, in spite of me,” “You spoke of going away from here with me, Why not take me away now?” **T ean only do so by your marrying me, and saying you mean to join our band, which would throw Pedro off his guard, so that we could go away together.” ‘You can leave this place, at any moment?” * Alone, yes, but not with you.” As sbe spoke the youth noticed that she glanced toward a well, a fow yards off. A bucket, suspended by a winch, hung over the cpentie “Can it be,” thought Robert, “that there is some underground passage from this place, and that it may be reached by going down into that — well?” Presently, bidding him wait whero he was | for her, Berta re-entered the apartment the two | had left, saying she wished to speak to Bron- son, Scarcely was she gone, when Robert. resolved to explore the well. He sprung to it while the backs of the men in the garden were toward him and got into the bucket, Down went the latter, with great velocity, and the boy struck the bottom of the well with a loud splas' He clung to the rope, and climbed it, tried to scan the walls of the cavity. But so intense was the gloom, that several minutes passed ere he was able to see the sides of the well, Mean- while, above him, he could hear the voice of Berta, as she called him, thinking he had con- cealed himself in the shrubbery and soon the tones of Pedro were blended with hers. As the boy became more used to the darkness, poh aes seo a cavity in the left side of the well. He swung himself into it. without hesitation, and crept along a passage before him, CHAPTER VII. THE COMBAT AND RESCUR, Somt days after Robert’s departure Don Carlos, not having received the expected pack- age, repaired to Tampico, to learn from his agent, Rupo, of the boy’s strange disappear- ance, into his; she | stood close to,him, and he could feel her fragrant | oT : “You will think better of it when I tell you — | not ex t “ow | persor my & | thoug' | did ne he w ( wateb Ant lookec a | =5 = =~ low cy eo ce
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The Coast Detective. it~ 4 The watchmen were questioned, but they could he | Fats | though ina more unaccountable manner, Seen is oe ‘ee eee ; not explain the mystery. rt { *¢ Well,” said the mercbant, “ here is the third | person I havesent to look into the robbery of ‘my goods vanished like the two others, al- ou did not see Robert come down or go out after he went up-stairs?’ he added, turning to the watchman, Antolo said he had not, but as he spoke he looked so confused that the suspicions of Don Carlos were aroused. He seized him by tha collar and threatened to have him arrested if he did not tell him more about the affair, for he was sure that he kept - something back, Antolo, becoming alarmed, then confessed that he was drunk on the night in question, and that Robert might therefore haye passed him without attracting his attention. The merchant was angry and he gave orders to Rupo to discharge the fellow and hire a better man, Then he returnéd to his lodg- ings, “ Well, father, what success?” inquired Isa- bel, who had accompanied her parent to Tam- co. Don Carlos told her all he could learn, His , daughter turned pale, and there was on her | face a troubled look, which she vainly strove to conceal, “ Did I not say you should not have sent him crue an errand? she said. ‘tl amafraid he | 15 Lost. “T hope not, both for his sake and for mine, I infer either that he has been murdered or that he has absconded with my package, which con- tained about twenty thousand dollars in bills and checks,” “*T do not believe you would have had a sus- pecion like that you have just expressed had not some person suggested to you that Robert had probably taken oe money.” * T will own that it was Derdiwan who put that thought into my head. He appears not merely to think that the boy has absconded with the amount, but to feel swre of it.” ‘© Of course he would think so. I believe he dislikes that boy.” | When several days had passed, and the mer- chant still could glean no tidings of Robert, he believed he would never see him again, Isabel resolved to make inquiries, as well as ber father, While doing so, one day, she met the little Custom-House detective, Lormo, whom she had occasionally seen conversing with her father, on his visits to Tampico. _“] wish you could find Robert for us. I be- lieve he was a friend of yours,” she said, as they talked of the missing youth, “ Robbers are not in my ling, you know, se- norita,” “ Robbers?” “Yes, I think it is robbers who have made away with my poor friend.” st Why do you think so?” ‘Because the store was robbed on the very ‘night he was on watch. Of course it was to the interest of the thieves to kill him and conceal pie iad when he detected them robbing the il - “But my father thinks he may have left the store before that,” “I don’t believe he did, I will look for him as much as my duties will allow, but [ am afraid be has been killed,” Lormo, on leaving Isabel, went ina direction opposite to that taken by the girl. She wander- ed toward the outskirts of the town, ina thought- ful mood. ‘The truth was that she took much in- terest in Robert, and, since his disappearance thought of little else, day or night. As she now marched on, she found herself ap- proaching the ruins of an old stone fort. To the right of this fort, which stood on a. slight eleva- tion, there was a high wall of stone, one side of which was built against the hill. In a clump of sbrubbery on the outside of this wall, three or four crouching figures now were watching the girl. One of these was the smug- gler, Pedro, a few yards from whom, behind a tree, stood Captain Cardinas. All at once, as Isabel approached, Pedro, fol- lowed by his companions, sprung out at the girl, leveling pistols at her head. “Don’t attempt to run or cry out!” cried the smuggler. ‘If you do, we will kill you.” Isabel was too much terrified at first either to move or to speak, “What can you want of me?” sho finally gasped. “You have a gold watch,” said Pedro. “t We will take that, and also the pearl necklace about your neck!” Isabel surrendered these things. _ “Now you will let me go,” she said, turning to leave. “No, senorita, you cannot leave us yet. You are rich, and we intend to get a ransom for you. As he spoke he made a sign to his compan- ions, who were advancing to seize her, when Cardinas came rushing from behind the tree, brandishing his sword. “ Away, ruffians!” he shouted, “The first who lays a hand on that girl, dies!” Isabel recognized him and ran toward him. The smugglers followed her, but Cardinas oe himself between them and the young lady. “Come on!” he cried, fiercely, as they now aused. ‘You shall walk over my dead body efore you offer harm to this sweet girl!” ‘As he spoke he pulled a revolver from his breast-pocket, and there was a rapid exchange. of shots, All the smugglers except Pedro went limp- ing off, apparently wounded. The outlaw sprung at Cardinas sword in hand, Tho wea- pons crossed each other and a fierce struggle ensued, until, by a dexterous stroke, the captain broke the weapon of his adversary, who then took to his heels, tosoon vanish after his com-. panions in the shrubbery. Tsabel, seeing Cardenas in pursuit, called to him not to imperil his life by following. “But he has robbed you!” he called, back, and heedless of her entreaties, kept on his way and soon disappeared in the shrubbery. There, when out of Isabel’s sight, he met Pedro. ‘Here they are,” said the latter, suppressing
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12 : ee eel a laugh, as he surrendered the necklace and the watch, Cardinas smiled, “Tt was well planned, was it not?’ said he. “To her dying day the lady will believe that I rescued her by the most desperate courage.” “Yes, the senorita cannot doubt that the com- bat was real. Sbe has no suspicion that the rescue was a mock one.” “ And, now,” said Cardinas, ‘‘ you will show me the crevice in the wall, through which Isa- bel and I can look into your garden. You are sure that Robert Brown is there, at this mo- ment?” ‘Ho is there with my sister, and when you look, some of my men, the same who attacked you, shall be there, too.” “That is good!” answered the captain, exult- ingly, ‘‘Go, Pedro, and work quickly, If you make way with that little wretch, all the profits from those stolen goods are yours. I will not claim anything.” “We understand each other,” said Pedro. “You will receive word, before to-night, that there is no lonzer danger of Robert Brown’s telling tales against you.” The two then separated, and Cardinas return- ed to Isabel, **T overtook the rascal, and forced him to surrender the things he robbed you of,” said the youth, as he gave her back her jewelry. “You have done mea great service, both by rescuing me and obtaining for me the watch, which is especially prized by me, as it was a present from my mother, before she died,” an- swered Isabel. ‘*What would I not do for you 2” replied Cardinas, warmly. “I would risk my life a thousand times for your sake! Believe me, Isa- bel, you are dearer to me—” ‘Shall we not now return to the city?” she interrupted. ‘You can go with me to father, and i will describe your noble conduct to “Wait a few moments,” said her companion, “T can do you yet another service, I can show to you, in his true colors, one in whom you ap- pear to take a friendly interest—one whom you were probably searching for when you were as- saulted by the robbers.” The young girl looked at him in surprise. “ Surely you do not mean Robert Brown?” “Tt is to that little rascal I allude,” * Rascal?” *‘Don’t be indignant; I would not call him a rascal unless I could prove to you that he is one. Your father has told me that the fellow was intrusted with a package of money for him, and I will own that, for a person like this boy, it may have proved a great temptation, Come with me, and I will show you what I have dis- covered, while searching for the man who took your Vote El Isabel followed him to a certain part of the arden wall, where there was a large crevice tween the stones of which it was composed. “Took for yourself,” said Cardinas, pointing to the little opening. Isabel, gazing through the latter, beheld, to her surprise, her father’s clerk, Robert Brown, stroll- The Coast Detective. ¢ ing through the garden by the side of the hand- some smuggler girl, Bertha!” In another part of the inclosure was Pedro, ‘ with the same men who had assaulted her. Robert seemed to be on amicable terms with the — girl, as the two were conversing together in a low voice, ‘© You see,” whispered Cardinas, ‘‘ that this is a rendezvous of the thieves, and that they are probably the same persons who robbed your father’s warehouse, The boy has evidently | joined them of bis own accord,” “We are not sure of that,” she answered, but. there was a deathly paleness upon her face. “Come,” said Cardinas, taking herarm, ‘IE know now you have seen enough to satisfy you. — {t remains for your father and me to entrap the | whole gang.” Isabel answered not a word, but all the wa to the city Cardinas could feel her tremble upon his arm, ; | CHAPTER VIII. THE PURSUIT. CREEPING along the pte he had discovered f in the side of the well, Robert finally reached what appeared to be its extremity. There was before him a rock, a sort of bowlder, baving crevices at the edges, showing that it was placed over some opening. He tried to move the rock by pushing it, but he was unsuccessful, Looking round him, bh espied a heavy piece of wood, sbaped like a | club, lying on the ground, Putting this under the bowlder, and using it in lieu of a crowbar, he contrived thus to move it from the aperture. Emerging from the passage, he now found himself among a mass of shrubbery, consisting of briers and vines, so thick that be could scarce- ly force his way through them, When, at last, he disengaged himself from the entangling mass, | he perceived that he was at the bottom or a gully—the same, he now believed, in which he had seen the crouching figure, on the day he passed with the package of money he had re- ceived from Rupo, “Wree at last!” he cried, joyfully. ‘ Now all | I have to do is to make my way to the city, and take passage aboard some fishing craft bound to: hes part of the coast near which Don Carlos ives, ? But he was mistaken, He little dreamed . the perils and dangers which still menaced im, Although no one had seen him enter the well —Berta, as stated, having gone into the rendez vous just before he descended by means of the bucket—the voice of the girl, the momen she came back to the garden, brought Pedro and some of hisecompanions there, They instantly | commenced to make a diligent search for the — youth, and finally looked into the well. % ‘“The bucket was not down at the bottom when we were here before,” said one. . “ Are you sure of that?” inquired Pedro, “ Yes,” zs ‘““Why did you not speak before? The boy has evidently discovered the secret passa; leading to the gully, and bas made his escape, ‘*T did not notice that the bucket was missing until just now.”
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Then he gaveorderstohismen. - her. “Four of you burry to the gully. You will get there, if you go quickly, before he has time -in & to come out of it. Meanwhile I will go through the well-passage, with another of our men, to ‘look for him there, Shoot him down the instant you see him!” he added, lowering his your’ voice so that Berta could not hear him. ently He might as well have spoken out, for her keen black eyes were upon him, and she guessed » bué what he had said. aq... Let no one harm the boy!” shecried, ‘The LE first one who does so dies by my hand!” you. The men knew she meant what she said. pthe ‘Don’t hurt him, then,” said Pedro, ‘‘ but waa _ when you capture him, take him to the new a mbl rendezvous, as this one is now of no use to us, The dogs of the law will soon know of this place.” The men then departed, but Berta followed them closely, determined that the boy should not be harmed. As the smugglers drew near the gully, they saw Robert Brown’s head thrust through the shrubbery, on the edge of the cavity. The youth, after leaving the passage, had climbed the side of the hollow, thinking he would find his way clear to the city. To his dismay he now beheld the gang who were ) - approaching, with Berta coming up in the rear, Robert threw a hasty glance about him, but, as usual, the vicinity of this place was deserted except by his foes. He saw nota living soul to call upon for assistance, and his captors bad deprived him of every instrument with which he might defend himself, even to his pocket- knife. True, be had the club with which he had moved back the bowlder, but of course this would be comparatively useless before men armed with daggers and pistols. He therefore drew back into the gully and erept among the thick shrubbery, hoping that, when his pursuers came to search for him, he might find a chance to slip away from them un- observed. Lying motionless, he finally heard the party enter the gully, and commence to beat down the brush. The noise they made enabled kim to elude them by dodging from place to place, and at length, 18 reached the further end of the cavity. _Up this he crawled, and contrived to draw bimself out of the hollow without being ob- served, _He now moved off in the direction of the city, but he bad not proceeded far, when, on looking behind him, be saw the party in pursuit. The shades of night were falling, and the boy thought he miglt possibly escape the outlaws by hiding himself in some hollow. He was about creeping into one, when his gaze fell upon a small skiff tied to a stake, alongside the beach. He sprung into the light craft, loosened it, and finding a paddle in the boat, worked it away from the land. _ ‘*We see you! better come back!” shouted Pedro, as he and his party reached the shore. ‘“* Tf you don’t, we will fire!” The youth did not heed the threat, but kept on, and finally headed the skiff, toward Tam- The Coast Detective. is pico. Several shots were fired at him, but they did not take effect, and soon he heard the angry voice of Berta ordering them to desist, It was now so dark that the youth could see little more than the outlines of the gang, as they moved along the beach. Ahead of him he could dimly desery the hull and spars of a schooner, “ Boat shoy!” came a hoarse voice from the deck, as he approached. Fy ** Ahoy! there!” answered Robert. ‘‘ What schooner is that, and who commands her?” “The Maria, Captain Cardinas!” was the re- sponse, “The last vessel, then; that I should board,” muttered the boy. ‘‘J am not going to put my- self in any such trap as that,” He changed his course, heading past the ves- sel, but, as he did so, he heard a boat lowered, and could distinguish the voice of Cardinas, as the latter ordered bis crew to give way. In fact, the captain, who bad been on deck when the hail was given, had thought he recognized Robert's voice, which, being peculiar, was one that could not well be mistaken. Perceiving that he was thus pursued by water, and, knowing he would soon be overtaken, he made directly for a cluster of rocks, which he saw looming ahead. Cardinas gained on him, but, while he was still some yards from the fugitive, the latter glided among the rocks, and, leaping out of the skiff, concealed himself in a hollow, among the tugged masses, 2 The captain seeing the skiff gliding on, be- ond the rocks, thought that its occupant was ying down in it, and so kept on after the craft. Before he reached it, however, the vessel bay- ing filled, had gone down in a little whirlpool, a few fathoms from the rocks. Cardinas then returned to his schooner, which he had scarcely done, when he saw a light ashore, evidently being waved as asignal. He again lowered his boat, and made for the beach, on which be found Pedro and some of his men. ‘““What are you doing here?” inquired the St. Mary’s captain, as be and Pedro walked to one side. “ Looking for that little rascal, Robert Brown, who has escaped us!” “Then it’s all right!” cried the young cap- tain, rubbing his hands. ‘‘So it was he, as I thought?” **T don’t understand you.” ‘My first officer hailed some one approaching in a skiff, and 1 thonght I recognized the voice of Brown. I gave pursuit as he passed us, and he and his skiff went down in the whirlpool, near the Off Shore Rocks,” “You are sure he went down?” “Tam sure he was lying in the skiff, for I could just make out his hat inthedarkness. He must have sunk, and glad enough I am to be rid of him,” Pedro seemed much relieved. “How about the search for us?’ he inquired. “Did you tell the authorities about our rendez- yous?” j “Yes, and guided them toit. I did not wait ong to witness their discomfiture when they
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found the place deserted, but came straight back to the beach and boarded my schooner,” ‘* How long ago was this?” * About half an hour. They have probably reached the place by this time, and found if empty.” ‘Well, we will go to our new rendezvous, ‘which I would defy all the revenue officers in the universe to find.” ‘Take care! those fellows have sharp eyes,” “They would never think of looking under the sea, Hah{ hah! to think that part of this ocean dungeon is directly under the warebouse! The Jesuits knew what they were about when they built that convent.” “You cannot enter the warehouse from the water dungeons?” “No, not now, owing to the alterations made by Don Carlos. The planks of the lower floor cover the secret door, which used to open into it. The entrance to the dungeon is through a passage in an ojd, disused graveyard vault, far back of the building. No one would suspect there was a secret door there, as the wall of the vault looks like one even surface of stone.” The twain now parted, Cardinas returning to the schooner and Pedro, with his companions, hurrying off in the direction of their new re- treat. Meanwhile Robert Brown was overjoyed with the success of his strategy. He watched for some passing craft, which should come near enough for him to hail it, but he watched in vain, Toward morning he resolved to endeavor to reach the shore on a plank which was among the driftwood that had collected between the openings in the rocks, Stra eens the plank, he paddled with his hands, and finally gained the beach, The light of dawn was just beginning to break, and as the youth looked about him, he fancied he saw a female figure approaching. He crouched behind a bank, and the Joes woman passed so near’him that he was enable to recognize Berta, The girl was walking rapidly, with bowed head, and with hands clas; before her, and as ~she passed Robert heard her say: **T am afraid the boy is lost! The skiff was a leaky one and must have filled before he got far from the shore,” It was evident that the girl had remained all night on the beach in the hope of seeing some- thing of the fugitive. Searcely was she out of sight in the gloom, when Robert started toward Tampico. As he moved on he did not notice a form which was swiftly and stealthily following him. This was Cardinas, who, having been on deck while the young clerk was paddling shoreward on the plank, bad dimly descried his figure, A suspicion of the truth had at once flashed across his mind, and he;had sprung into his gig and sculled it toward the beach, first having told _bis second officer, who had the watch, that he was going ashore to meet a friend with whom he had an appointment, As it was not uncommon for him to thus go off alone in the gig, the officer thought nothing of it. As soon as he reached the shore he secured his * The Coast Detective. gig by means of the warp to a rock and started)'\=— as shown, after Robert. M As he had kept among the sand-bills, he Tadleest not seen Berta, who had passed on the other side a¢ , of them, Ea) veal Pe CHAPTER IX. WOUNDED, “Ay! asI thought, it is Robert Brown,” the me | captain muttered, as the iucreasing lightenabled T him to recognize the figure of the youth, T abo would not have believed I could have made'such « a blunder as I did. I could have sworn he went Ber down in the skiff,” “a Stealthily approaching the boy, he pulled his afte pistol from his pocket as he drew near him. {jose Robert bad now reached a part of the shore tim which formed a small peninsula projecting into was the sea. Not twenty fathoms from this tongue for of land Jay an old sloop, partly keeled over on ifs A side, with its topmast broken off near the truck, mai and its mainsail carelessly furled on the boom. ‘ban Cardinas more than once glanced uneasily to-| T ward this craft. c “I don’t believe there is any one aboard,” he/ thought. ‘*The sloop has been laid up there for| “* several weeks by the pearl-divers who used it, because it needed repairing. Still, there migh possibly be some one aboard, and I will wai until the boy passes behind that sand-hill jus ahead before I attack him, as I could not there be seen from the craft.” A A moment later Robert passed behind the sand-hill, when, taking aim at his head, the cap- tain pulled trigger. j The weapon did not go off, and hearing the’ click of the falling hammer, the boy turned, to behold Cardinas, now within two feet of him, Before be could speak or raise a hand the cap- tain struck him a heavy blow between the eyes with the stock of the weapon, causing him to stagger back, balf-stunned. Robert, confus though he was, quickly recovered himself, and as Cardinas made a lunge at bim with bis sword he knocked it aside with his club, which he still had in his possession. ; “You young dog of an American,” cried the captain. ‘‘ Your time has come. I told you I was not done with you.” And he made another thrust at the boy. “T am not done with you, thief and rascal a: you are!” answered Robert, as he again parri the keen weapon. Then he dealt Cardinas a sounding whac with the club on the back, as the captain half- turned to avoid the blow, which was aimed at his head. “Curse you—you rat!” said Cardinas, as he made a third lunge at the boy. i The latter endeavored to parry it, but was only partly successful. He felt a cold, sharp | pain, as about an inch of the weapon penetrated | his side, The next moment his enemy would have run him through the body, had not the young clerk struck him on the wrist of his sword-arm a blow which benumbed ‘his hand, — so that his weapon dropped from his grasp, He dec picked it up with his left, but ere he could uss 4 it, the sound of quick footsteps approaching was stor heard, and Cardinas burried off, soon disap- tur pearing among the sand-hills ahead, on 4 a Se iS cece <a
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as The Coast Detective. eds a LO ee el le [ Meanwhile Robert felt the blood gushing hadifrom his wound, and as it made him weak he ide sat down. ‘ be footsteps which bad been heard drew nearer, and, a minute later, Berta appeared from behind one of the sand-hills, _ * You are burt!” she cried, anxiously. ‘‘ Tell the me where.” led | The boy had already loosened his clothing about his side, ich ‘1 was Cardinas—was it not?’ continued ent Berta, her eyes flashing. _ ‘Yes, it was he who gave the wound, but, his after all, it is only a mere scratch!” | “It is bad enough to weaken you for some ore time,” she said. ‘Coward! coward! that he n as, to attack an unarmed boy! I willpay bim gue for this!” its. As she spoke, she tore a strip of cloth froma ck, mantle she wore, and proceeded to tightly . bandage the wound, to-| Then she pulled from her pocket a small flask containing liquor, and made the boy drink it. he} ‘Do you feel better now?” for| “Yes, I think I can keep on my way to it, |‘Tampico.” : sht) ‘No, you are not fit togo. Exertion of that ait} kind would be the death of you, in the end. ust’ You need rest. Your wound is worse than you 6) think,” As she spoke, she bathed his head with some he of the liquor, tenderly pushing back his hair as p- she did so, He started back as if to move away from er. ‘What! are my touch and presence then so disagreeable to you?” she inquired, sadly. “Oh, no,” he answered, not wishing to burt her feelings. He was really grateful for her -/ attentions, and: believed that, although she was ed}a member of a gang of smugglers, she was a nd | friend to him, for it was of course plainly evi- ‘d, |} dent that, had she not interfered in his behalf, ill he would have been killed by the outlaw band )soon after his capture, he “Come,” she said, ‘* you shall Jean on me, and | I} I will take you to the craft yonder, in the shal- low water, just beyond the peninsula,” As she spoke, she poin toward the pearl- a ier, e * Will the people there be friendly to me?” There is nota soul aboard. The craft has ck been abandoned for the present, until it can be If- repaired, if it ever is, which 1 think is doubtful, at as the pearl-fishers who sailed it are now using another vessel,” he She assisted the youth to his feet, and putting jan arm around him as he leaned on her, she us helped him to the end of the peninsula, and rp | thence into the shallow water beyond. ed | Within a few fathoms of the craft, the water Id | was too deep to be waded. be “* Wait here,” said Berta, and plunging for- jis ward, she swam like a mermaid. QGaining a vind yan side of the sloop, she climbed to the s# A moment later she launched overboard a as stout plank. Pushing this before her, she re- turned to Robert’s side, Then she helped him _ on the plank, ang getting, on herself, worked it _ \alongside of the vessel. She next sprung aboard * Z - and lowered some gangway-steps, by means of which she finally got bim to the deck. She helped him down into the hold, for cabin the craft did not have, Here there were some chairs, a couple of bunks with mattresses in them, a table, a few coils of rope and some old canvas, In the center of the apartment a large object, shaped like a bell, with strong glass lenses fitted in near the top, riveted his atten- tion. ‘“* What is that?” he inquired. “Tt is a diving-bell.” Robert was helped into one of the bunks, where he lay on his back as Berta advised bim todo. This gave him great relief from pain, and he was soon able to walk a little. ‘¢ Now, then, I think I can make a start for Tampico,” he said. The girl shook her head, ** Not yet,” she answered. “What makes the craft rock so? I thought she was in shallow water, her keel touching bot- tom,” ‘©So she was, but the tide has risen higher than usual and she is afloat, though held by an anchor.” As Berta spoke she ascended the ladder lead- ing on deck to take a look at the water and the sky. ‘When she descended, Robert noticed that her face wore an anxious expression. “We are going to have a gale,” she said, * It will be upon usin afew moments, Don’t at- tempt to come up, but stay here while I go on deck again,” As she spoke, there was a deafening roar, fol- lowed by a wild rush of waters, which latter threw the craft down almost on her beam-ends. CHAPTER X. WRECKED. Berra now hurried on deck. The moment she reached it, the first object that met her gaze was Captain Cardinas, now on the after part of his vessel, spy-glass in hand, watching the damaged sloop, which it was evident he had seen the girl board with Robert. “ Raseal!” she muttered, between her teeth, her eyes flashing, ‘I will be even with you for hurting that boy! Don Carlos shall know from me your true character, He shall know that you are the thief, who, from the first, planned the robbery of bis goods with my brother—that you allow him to you and smuggle his cargoes into the city, sharing the profits with him, The wind was now blowing with terrific vio- lence, and great sheets of spray were driven over the vessel, fore and aft, She was near] on her beam-ends, thumping against the sand- bank on which she lay, with a violence which threatened to soon break her to pieces, ¢ Berta running to the round-house aft, found an old ax, with the help of which she intended to slip the cable, It would be impossible now to take Robert ashore through the raging waters, and unless the sloop could be got adrift, it must break up, “*T will save Robert or die!” cried the brave girl, her eyes flashing. ‘‘Our only hope is in getting the vessel adrift. She will be carried off
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Les SS TYP Te te TR ee ee ee ER Tigi Tampico, and I trust that some craft will come trom the city to our relief if I make a signal!” She soon had the anchor clear off-shore, and the gale bore the sloop seaward, With some dif- ficulty, she partly loosened the mainsail; and then, lashing the helm amidships, she thus kept the craft directly before the wind. Bending ou to the after halyards a strip of blue bunting, she hoisted it half-mast as a signal, but scarcely had she done so, when the rack ot the storm was driven between the vessel and’the city. “God help the boy!” cried Berta, ‘‘They cannot see the signal from Tampico!” On went the damaged craft further out to sea every moment. Through the driving sheets of spray, Berta, springing on the bow, peered ahead. * Allis lost!” she exclaimed, as a mist in that direction lifted, ‘‘ There are the ‘ Black Rocks,’ not fifty fathoms ahead. They extend in a line so that [ cannot escape them, unless I can beat to windward of them, which I believe to be im- possible in such a blow!” } She loosened the rest of the mainsail, sheeted it as well as she could, and took her post at the wheel. A momentary lull in the gale inspired her with hope. She jammed the wheel hard-a-port, and shooting close up to the’wind, the sloop pointed her bow a little to windward of the line of dangerous rocks, Berta’s whole face lighted with joy. She had begun to think she would pass the rocks, when, all at once the gale roared with redoubled vio- lence, and the sloop’s head swung off, pointing straight for the rugged masses, ai She is gone! No hope now!” muttered the irl, She lashed fhe wheel, and compressing her lips, with a look of determination, she descended into the bold. ‘©Well,” said Robert, ‘how did you find things?” ‘Bad enough, In ten minutes from now we will strike the rocks and go to pieces, when in no way can you save yourself, in your present disabled condition.” ‘¢T don’t suppose I could swim much.” “No, and if you could, I doubt if it would do you much good, We are close upon the ‘ Black ocks,’ and the breakers there would interfere with the best swimmer. Come here, she added, as she walked to the diving-bell, “‘ you must get into this.” “Tn the diving-bell? How do you know it eae: go down straight when the craft breaks “J will try to make it go so.” “ How will you do it?” _ Berta seized the end of a strong rope attached to the top of the bell, and secured it to the main- boom on deck, ; Then she returned to the hold. ‘tTt is time you were in the bell,” she said to Robert, taking bis arm. The instrument wag raised on blocks, so that any person could creep up under it, and get into it. Berta assisted the boy to one of the shelves _ in the metallic chamber. “The instrument is your only alternative, under the circumstances, Jt will at least give ‘iste The Coast Detective. | you a chance for life. You will find a lante’ and provisions in the bell, God grant tht?" you may be saved, but there is no certain py its and you must be prepared for th worst. “ Are P he not also going to get into the be! 1? : “No; Tam going to stay on deck, and dom 4, best to keep the bell straight, If I am n0 ;, sre overboard too soon, I think I will su¢ j,. ceed. ‘So then you are risking your life for me?” | “1 would risk it a thousand times for you) }, was the reply. ‘'Good-by!” And as she spoky the impulsive girl pressed her beautiful lips. "4 tl those cf Robert. ey The next moment she was gone. Bs ‘“Dve half a mind to get out of the bel again,” muttered the boy. wa But just then a violent roll of the craft cause 4 the instrument to slip off the blocks, and Apri found ‘himself imprisoned in the holloy vessel. Meanwhile Berta had returned to the ded ¢ She took her position by the diving-bell ropé and securely fastened the upper part of the ho to the boon eet d “This spar will be the first to go when strike,” she thought, ‘Neither the rope n@ the hose will be dislodged from it, and it wil serve as a sort of mark for Robert’s situation,”) The sloop was now within a few fathoms 6 the rocks. A huge breaker came rolling along and gs a. second the vessel struck, with a low crash, She parted amidships, the mainmast at ti same time going over, dragging the boom wi it. Brave Berta clung to the boom, and, eve when among the rushing, whirling waters, sl put her bands on the hose of the diving-bell # make sure it was firm. As she did so, a huge breaker struck her an swept her from her hold, She endeavored to iden | to a rock near he when another sea dashed her against a rugg mass, depriving her of her senses, For a mi ment her dark hair streamed out on the foa: ing water. Then she went down to never aga rise in life, “Do you see her, now?” inquired Carding who from his sloop had, as stated, been wate! ing the damaged craft, He spoke to his fi officer, an evil-looking personage named Bang —some years older than himself, ‘No; the craft has gone to pieces, and it! not likely we'll ever see that girl again!” Cardinas still scanned the water with hi giass, Tho fragments of the sloop were born out to sea, and only the rocks and white wa were visible where she had broken up. TB young fs de breathed a sigh of relief, “The boy is gone, sure enough, now,” thought. “He can never tell tales against me. can that girl, Berta, who lived, would have told ever
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’ The Coast Detective. 2a Herrera been drowned there, have been seen flitting among the rocks,” “Nonsense!” gasped Cardinas, turning as /pale as death. ‘‘ You don’t mean to say that ‘ou think the ghosts of the two young fellows, the bell edro drowned there ever come up again?” = fi a lante rant ¢ “Santa Maria only knows,” answered the rst officer, crossing himself, ‘I shouldn’t like to see the ghosts of Henrique and Jason, as we had a hand in having them drowned!” Cardinas, who, as well as his first officer, was ; Superstitious at heart, shuddered, as he said in a low voice: “ Be careful how you speak about that. BOF. go fam no will suc pel Bis sister and that boy are both lost.” ~ _ Three hours later the gale went down, Car- dinas was then rowed ashore, and he hurried to the secret retreat of the outlaws. Pedro merely shrugged his shoulders when he learned his sister's fate. “She was a good helper,” he said, ‘‘ but her foolish attachment to that boy would, I think, have got us into trouble had she lived.” ‘Fortunately, he is gone, too, so that we have now nothing more to fear,” bi _ “I suppose the custom-house fellows are hunt- Lit w ing us up by this time.” tion, “Yes, but they can never find you if you keep close. The person most to be feared is that young detective, Lormo. He is a shrewd boy, and for that reason he is paid better than any of the ‘force’ employed.” “T willbalkhim, Comethis way,” said Pedro be t Cardinas followed his conductor through the wit vaulted apartment until the two reached a Hee". paved yp pete Then Pedro held up the lan- id vy _ tern he carried, showing a pit, at the bottom of bell | which could be heard the wash of water. ‘“* A body thrown down there,” he said, ‘‘ with a weight tied to it, would be carried out to sea by the under-current, and would never rise to the surface,” CHAPTER XI, THE RENDEZVOUS, WHEN Isabel returned to her lodging, on that day when Cardinas pretended to rescue her, and afterward showed her Robert Brown among the outlaws, she went straight to her room, leaving the Saptatn ae her fat er. is very strange,” the young girl muttered, as she bowed chee head mpon bee hand, ‘I would not have believed it had not I seen him there, He really had the appearance of one who had voluntarily joined the gang. It must have been that wicked girl I saw him with who induced him to become a member of the band.” . . Meanwhile Cardinas was giving an account to he surprised Don Carlos of his rescue of his daughter, and of bis discovery of Robert Brown among the outlaws. a ou saw that boy with those rascals, you ey =a XY did; your daughter saw him, too.” «& Prisoner, of course?” No; he had the air of one who had joined them voluntarily, He was with a girl belong- ing to the party. They were evidently on amicable terms,” “This is very strange. You think those are the persous who robbed my warehouse?” *T have no doubt of it. They robbed the place, and induced your boy-watcher to join them,” ‘They must be smugglers as well as thieves. There has been a good deal of smuggling going on lately, Captain Cardinas, in spite of your watchfulness,” The young captain colored. “Upon my word,” he said. “The Govern- ment would need a whole fleet of vessels on the coast to entirely prevent smuggling. With my little craft I do tae best I can,” “1 have no doubt of it,” said Don Carlos, heartily. ‘‘ And now, about this boy, Robert, Do you know what you have told me has almost destroyed my faith in any human being?” ; ff Pooh! Inever had much faith in that fel- ow! ? As already stated, Don Carlos was naturally of a suspicious nature, and as appearances were against Robert, Cardinas soon persuaded him to believe that Robert was a dishonest thief. The two lost no time in repairing to the quar- ters of the Vigilantes and also to the Custom- House, where they gave informatiom of what had happened, and where Cardinas carefully de- scribed the location of the rendezvous in which he had seen the outlaws. = It chanced that Lormo was lounging near when the captain and_ his companion were talk- ing to the chief. When the former spoke of Robert Brown, having voluntarily joined the smugglers, he could detect the air of satisfaction with which this part of the statement was made by Cardinas, ““T never liked that fellow,” thought Lormo, ‘People who are fond of accusing others of do- ing wrong, are often mean, contemptible scoun- drels themselves. He will bear watching ! And the shrewd boy resolved, from that moment, to keep a careful watch upon Car- dinas, With a number of others, and also with a party of Vigilantes, escorted by the young cap- tain, Lormo was sent to the rendezvous. Ladders being brought, the walls were scaled. and a careful search was made of the vacated eavern, but the smugglers were gone. “T thought so,” said Lormo, loud enough for Cardinas to hear him, - i - The young captain turned quickly to meet the clear, steady gray eyes of the speaker. _ “You thought what?” inquired Cardinas, “ That you wouldn’t find any of those fellows here.” “ Wh ? “ Because they must have known beforehand that we were coming, and so they had a good — chance to get off!” merges B The captain looked relieved, and this did not escape Lormo’s attention. ‘Tt almost looks as if he thought I was goin to accuse him of having warned them,” chuckle the lad, as soon as he left the premises, ‘* Well, T do more than half think he did, but I won’t say it ts so, for people are sometimes mis- taken.” E
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The Coast Detective. A few hours later, Lormo,with others detailed for that purpose, was making a vigorous search for the smugglers, ul The boy had disguised himself so that his own mother would not have known him, He had changed his attire, and had so blackened his face with a burnt cork that he looked almost like a negro, Separating from the rest of the party, he placed himself behind a sand-hill, whence he could watch the schooner of Captain Cardinas, [t was now just after the storm had subsided, and Cardinas had lowered his boat to be taken ashore. As the captain moved off, Lormo kept nearly behind him, shielded from okservation by a ridge of Jand along the base of which he crept. At length, arriving where there were trees and shrubbery, the youth walked upright, keeping himself screened by the foliage. He saw Cardinas finally enter the tomb in the graveyard, and without hesitation, he moved on after him, Just as the captain disappeared, however, in the vault, the boy felt a hand on his arm, ‘* Where are you going?” came a low, stern voice ia his ear, and turning, he beheld a ruffian- ly-looking fellow, with a daep scar between the eyes, et have lost my way,” answered Lormo, dis- guising his voice. “Where do you want to go to?” “To Tampico, I am half-starved, and am * looking for work.” ‘* What kind of work? Are you particular?” * Anything I will do, I don’t care what it is, so long as I can earn money.” ** Whero are you from?” **T don’t like to tell you.” “ Why?” “Tm afraid you might have me arrested.” »“ Hol ho! I believe you are some prison- bird.” “Now you know it, for God’s sake don’t tell.” “Have no fear. What were you put in prison for?” “‘ For—for—stealing.” ‘* Would you like to steal again?” “Try me; but first give me something to “T think you'll do,” said the man, ‘ Come this way.” He opened the door of the vault with a key taken from his pocket, Lormo followed him to the bottom of the vault, looking keenly about him as he went, ‘Now you will have to let me blindfold you,” said the man, “ All right,” answered the boy. Taking a kerchief, the smuggler fastened it about the eyes of the youth; then he led him forward, and a moment later the young detec- tive heard a grating noise in front of him, like that of a door being opened. Lormo was conducted some yards ere the bandage was taken from his eyes, when he found himself in a large, bricked apartment, with a cemented floor, and lighted by lamps in niches on the walls. There were about twenty smugglers present, some of them seated on benches, playing cards and others conversing together, ‘“Here is a boy who wants to join us,” said Lormo’s companion. One of the band called Pedro, who was at that moment showing Cardinas the pit in the outer passage, Followed by Cardinas, who, however was so closely muffled in his cloak that Lormo could not recognize him, Pedro came in and looked at the boy. **So you want to join us?” he said, **]7 do,” answered Lormo, ‘You have escaped from prison?” continued Pedro, scrutinizing the garb of the youth. “T have.” ‘*Be careful,” whispered Cardinas in Pedro's ear; ‘‘make sure he is not a spy.” Lormo looked at the cloaked figure. “‘T wish I could see his face,” he thought. ‘I believe he is Cardinas.” But the latter now passed on and soon left the apartment. “You will swear to serve us faithfully if we take you?” continued Pedro, TY will.” The boy was then made to take an oath, which he dic in a firm voice, At the same moment a noise was heard of footsteps and voices approaching, and a minute later several smugglers entered, dragging with them a man in the garb of a Vigilante. The latter looked pale and frightened. Lormo was sure Le had never seen this person before. ‘“ Who have we here?” queried Pedro, “A Vigilante—one of the cursed people who are trying to hunt us down,” was the answer, ‘We found him lurking outside of our grounds.” ‘* What shall be the fate of this man?” inquired Pedro, addressing his band, ‘‘Dmata!” replied the smugglers, in chorus, “Tt is well. Prepare for your fate,” said the leader of the gang, turning to the Vigilante, ‘Wave mercy!” groaned the latter, piteously. “Remember | have a family dependent on me Lp for support.” “You must die. Having discovered the loca- tion of our rendezyous, you cannot be let off to tell where it is.” “For God’s sake, spare my lifel” cried the Vigilante, “You waste your breath,” cried Pedro, sternly. ‘ And you,” turning to Lormo, ‘ shall be his executioner,” “T did not engage to kill people,” he said. ‘1 took you for smugglers and robbers.” “You have sworn to serve us in any way we might require, The penalty for refusing will be death!” cried Pedro, Suddenly the boy’s eyes flashed. pressed his lips firmly, and then said: “ Very well, I will do it!” The Vigilante was held firmly by several of the gang. Ere Lormo could strike, however, Pedro seized his arm, “Enough!” he cried. ‘This was done to try you! Isee we can rely on you!” “T have hoodwinked him nicely,” thought the boy. “I saw a look exchanged between him the pretended Vigilante, and that showed me just how things were.” The man who wore the garb of a Vigilante, He com- —
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The Coast Detective. 19 how divested himself of the uniform, revealing attire similar to that of the rest of the gang. Meanwhile, Lormo looked about him in vain for his friend, Robert Brown. “ He is not here, that is plain,” mused the lad. “Can it be that they bave killed him? It is likely I will find out before long.” CHAPTER XII, & STARTLING VISION. THE Custom-house officers and the Vigilantes vainly searched for the secret retreat of the smugglers, lt was now believed that the boy, Lormo, who had not been seen by his comrades since he parted from them, had been killed by the outlaws, The truth was that the lad had found no chance to leave the rendeyous since he entered it. Cardinas had informed Pedro of Lormo’s disappearance, and he shrewdly advised him to sharply watch the youth who had lately joined his band. ** Who knows but that he may be Lormo him- self,” he remarked, ‘He isabout the size of that fellow.” “But then he is almost black; and, again, we have tried him.” ‘*'You mean about that pretended Vigilante? That, I own, looks as if he is all right, but he is a sharp fellow, and — have guessed that you were playing hima trick. As to his being black, it is easy to make the skin that way witha burnt cork. Have you seen him wash his face since he joined you?” “No, but he shall do so this very day before me, If the black does not come off, I shall have no doubt of his being what he appears to be.” This conversation took place two days after Lormo’s disappearance aboard Cardinas’s vessel —the St, Mary, Before night, Pedro returned to the rendez- vous. Not seeing the {black boy, he inquired for him. ‘* We sent him to our craft to help work her,” said Bronson—the Englishman—Pedro’s first officer, ‘“Why did you do that? I told youl did not want him to leave the place, alone.” “fe has not left it alone, There are three of our men with him,” “That alters the case; but I shall be glad enough to see him back here,” At that moment Lormo, with his companions, was about a mile from the rendezvous, approach- ing that part of the coast off which the Maria, Pedro's craft, now lay at anchor, The boy watched for a chance to escape, but the three men with him kept close to him. Finally they drew near a small, stone house, about half a mile from the city. This bouse was asort of tavern, the proprietor of which was well known to the outlaws, from whom he had received many a bottle of smuggled wine. “1 am thirsty,” remarked Lormo. **So am I,” said one of the men. “T always am when we get near that house.” _\A little wine would not hurt any of us,” con- tinued the young detective, “No, indeed, but old Bosco, who keeps that place, will not trustus any more, Hehasa long score against us, already.” “T am willing to treat,” said Lormo, rattling some silver in his pocket. ‘tI don’t drink my- self, but we can go in, and you can call for what you want at my expense.” ‘* That’s fair enough,” was the reply. With Lormo the three entered the Casino. It was getting dark, and a lamp had been lighted. The boy sat down on a bench, while his com- panions called for what they wanted. The moment their backs were toward him, Lormo darted through the open doorway. The men had just raised their glasses, “Hold, there!” cried Bosco. “I think you a black friend would pay! He has run ou “The deuce he has!” ejaculated one of the three, in consternation, but they all gulped down the liquor ere they darted off in pursuit. “Pay me first!” shrieked Bosco, sbrieked in vain. Away went the trio, the dim form of the fugitive faintly visible in the gloom, a few yards ahead of them, They did not guess the truth, but thought that the black boy had merely played them the trick of running off so as to escape paying for the wine, “Come back, there, or we'll break your head when we catch you, you little imp!” shouted one. Lormo, however, kept on. Closely followed by his pursuers who were good runners, he finally found himself on a projection of land, hemmed in on three sides by the water, “This is bad,” hemuttered. ‘No chance now for me to get to the city. But there is the light of a craft ahead, and I hope it may prove to be a friend—one of our Custom-house boats,” He sprung into the water, and struck out for a light, which was not; more than forty yards 0) but he Ere long he could dimly make out the hull and mast of the craft, which was a sloop. ‘*T believe it is the smuggler-craft, the Marie, after all!” he thought. He approached the vessel cautiously and finally gained the bow unperceived. At the same moment he beard a hail from the sbore. “Maria, Ahoy!” “ Ahoy,” was answered from the sloop, “Send usa boat, and look sharp for a black boy who has just escaped us and must now be somewhere near the sloop!” Lormo hastened to clamber into the bow and crouched in the knighthead. E He heard the sound of a boat being lowered. As soon as it was gone, he climbed over the vessel’s rail, having first made sure there was no watch forward, and skulked down the fore- hatchway, which was open. , ‘** Good, so far,” hethought. ‘‘ My next move is to swim ashore and get to the city, after the boat comes back,” In half an hour the boat returned, and Lormo rs PES Aa ca dotnet oleh A vias hae Sn ae de ran pei sc * Sa ee ss “y Ae oat
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The Coast Detective. : = , — could hear the voices of his three late com- panions on deck, He waited in vain for a chance to leave the vessel. The men remained near the fore hatch- way, and finally he heard the hatch as it was put over the opening and fastened. Preparations were being made for getting under way. A couple of hours later the boy, who had ensconced himself behind a pile of canvas, heard Pedro, with his gang, come aboard, His angry voice rung sharply through the vessel when the three men informed him of the escape of the black boy, and Lormo could hear what was said. ; “Everything is lost!” cried Pedro, “ with that boy” “Tt is likely he was drowned,” answered one of the men, ‘‘ The last we saw of bim he was in the water.” “If he was the person I think he was, he is too good a swimmer to be drowned. I now be- lieve that he was Lormo, the Custom-house de- tective, in disguise,” “Ob, no! I think you must be mistaken! He was just what ho seemed.” f “Why, then, did he run away from you?” “Merely to escape paying for the wine.” “Pooh! he would not have taken so much trouble for a little silver. You may be sure he was asy.” “Well, then, even if ho was, I am confident he was drowned, There are sharks in plenty off the coast, and I believe he has been nabbed by one of them.” “T hope so. If not, our rendezvous is as good as discovered.” The craft now was under way. In a few minutes Lormo could feel her rolling and rocking violently, which indicated that she had been struck by a gale, “Light ’O!” suddenly shriekel a man, who had been put on the lookout, ‘“ Whereaway?” shouted Pedro, “ A couple of points abaft the weather-beam, not half a mile off!” was the answer. ‘Santa Maria! it comes from a LIGHT-HOUSE!” added the speaker, 1 moment later, “No,” said Pedro. ‘Impossible! That light comes from the ‘ Black Rocks,’ and there is no light-house there |” The captain said this as he emerged from the cabin, but the moment he reached the deck and took a keener survey of the light, he drew back with a ery of horror, : “God help us! THERE IS A LIGHT-HOUSE THERE, BUT THERE NEVER WAS ONE ON THOSE ROCKS BEFORE! What can it mean?” Lormo heard those words, “T must try to got a look at that light,” he muttered, He crept cautiously forward, and entered the forecastle through an opening in the bulkhead. There was no one there, all hands being now on deck, The boy ascended the ladder and looked through the scuttle-opening. 7 The wind was blowing a gale, and the night was very dark, except when it was now and then relieved by a flash of lightning. Looking _ toward the * Black Rocks,” Lormo saw the light which bad been alluded to, Soon an electric flash revealed to him an object projecting from one of the rocks.” “Sure enough, there is a light-house!” he mut- tered, in astonishment, At the same moment he heard a cry of sur- prise from the crew. who were collected amid- ships. By the gleam of a lantern in the rigging, he could see Bronsou and Pedro gazing toward the singular vision with pale faces and wild eyes, The young captain shook in every limb with su- perstitiou : horror. What could it mean—the presence of that light-house on those rocks, where it had never been before? Pedro clutched Bronson’s arm, “Tt is near the very spot where we drowned Henrique and Jason!” : ; “Pshaw! what has that to do with it?” said the Englishman, who was not quite so supersti- tious as the other. “Tt is a sort of judgment upon us!” gasped Pedro. ‘* Nonsense!” Nevertheless, he was much agitated by the sight of the singular apparition, as there cer- tainly seemed to be something supernatural about it. ; S “See! the light moves!” continued Pedro, as it was seen swinging to and fro. “Tt is strange enough!” cried Bronson. ‘‘ When we come this way again we must lower a boat and go there.” ‘“T will never go there!” answered Pedro, shuddering. ‘‘ Besides, the strong surf near that rock is apt to break any boat to pieces.” “T can go near enough, at any rate, to look into the mystery. As the sloop receded further and further from the rocks the light gradually disap- peared, } The mist and rack of the storm now hid the Pranrom Licut-HovusE from view, CHAPTER XIII. SUSPECTED. Lormo returned to the hold, where he again ensconced himself behind the canvas. A couple of hours later the gale subsided. Not long after, the young detective could hear the rat- tling of the cable, as preparations were being made for anchoring the craft. The creaking of cart-wheels fell upon the boy’sear. He again made his way up the forecastle scuttle steps, and, cautiously looking though the scuttle, he saw lights ashore—not twenty fathoms off. “T must look into this thing,” thought Lormo, He glided on deck unseen by the men, who, were busy preparing the boats for lowering. Looking over the rail from behind the windlass, which, in the gloom, served to conceal him from the gaze of the sailors, he beheld a couple of wagons, loaded with cases—evidently of wine, ° “Hol! hol my fine fellows!” thought the lad. “You will not find it quite so easy to get those things into the city as you did the others—that is, if I can prevent it ” : He was about to return to the hold when he saw a boat coming round the bow, This boat
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sy The Coast Detective. 21 must have been pulled with muffled oars, as he had had no warning of its coming. Ere he could retreat from the rail, some one in the stern-sheets held up the lantern, the light of which flashed full upon bis face, He at once recognized the features of Car- dinas, who also saw the boy. “T must get away from here, now,” thought the latter. . He was about to move toward the other side of the rail, when he beheld Pedro approaching. The lad then crouched bebind the windlass. “Ts that you, Captain Cardinas?” inquired Pedro, advancing to the rail, “Yes, I came to tell you to keep as near the coast as you can, and to show no light, asT have passengers aboard who may suspect some- thing.” ** Passengers?” **- Yes, Don Carlos and his daughter, waiting for me to sailin the morning. They are going back to their mansion.” ‘** Are they not below? Would they be likely to see me? And even if they did, would they suspect that Iwas a smuggler whom you were allowing to pass you?” “The deuce take them, yes. Don Carlos is suspicious at all times, and although he was be- low when I came away, be may be on deck when you pass, as he has kept popping up out of the cabin ever since coming aboard. The moment he should see you he would want me to speak you, and might even take a notion to board you, with his daughter, and she would ke sure to re- cognize you as the person who attacked her the other day.” » 4 “True enough; and even if I could heep out of sight, the old fellow would probably scent something wrong, as he is very sharp, or else he would report having seen me, and finally learn that I had not received the Custom-house inspectors.” “Of course he would.” é **So my fine Captain Cardinas, I have you in ‘a trap, at last!” thought Lormo, ‘‘ Your game is up now for certain,” “You think Don Carlos will not see me if I hug the shore?” continued Pedro, “Not if I can help it. By the way, I see you have your black boy aboard. Keep your eyes on him, as I warned you before, [ don’t like his looks, Just now, when I saw him there at the rail, it seemed to me that some of the black had disappeared from his face, leaving it a little streaked!” Here Lormo shrugged his shoulders and crept along nearer to the opposite rail. Cardinas had spoken in a low voice, but the boy bad good ears and had heard every word. “You are mistaken,” said Pedro, ‘The black boy has excaped from us, He ran away from some of my men ashore, about five hours since,” “T tell you I saw him—either him or his ghost—not ten minutes ago, by the rail where you now stand!” *¢ Are you sure?” Yes—as sure as that I now see you.” “The little imp must then have swum to the vessel and got aboard without my knowing it. This must be looked into,” “T will help you search for him. After what you have told me, I feel certain that he is that rascally Lormo in disguise.” As he spoke, Cardinas, seizing the fore-chains, lightly sprung aboard, , Lormo climbed over the opposite rail and dropped into the water, but not before he had been seen, Cardinas was back in his boat in a moment, and heading it for the other side of the vessel, he pursued the swimmer and overtook him ere he had proceeded far, “Bring him aboard!” shouted Pedro, as the lad was bauled into the boat. “Let us have a good look at you, my fine fellow,” said Cardinas, as several of the men held the boy down on his back. Enough of the black had now, owing to his submersion in the water, left his face for the captain to recognize Lormo, “As 1 thought!” he cried. ‘ Pedro!” he ad- ded, raising his voice, ‘it is that rascally imp of a detective, after all,” ‘Bring him aboard!” repeated Pedro. But even as he spoke, the noise of another boat approaching was heard, and to the con- sternation of Cardinas, he saw that it contained Don Carlos and his daughter, “Captain Cardinas!” cried tho merchant; “what is the meaning of all this? I see wagons ashore loaded with goods. I fear that things are not exactly right here. Your first officer told me, when I came on deck, and asked for you, that you were not aboard at present, and that was all I could get out of him. Isaw the lights ashore, and at once concluded you had gone to investigate the matter.” “You were right,” said Cardinas. ‘Seeing the lights, I feared that smuggling was in pros- pect, but I find that I was mistaken.” ‘“T have come on purpose to hear about it,” said Don Carlos, ‘‘ Your officer would not take me in one of his boats, so I concluded to take myself,” and got into one alongside, with my daughter, who insisted on going with me. As you see, I have sculled the boat this way. You say there is no smuggling intended. [ must own that to me it looks like it. What vessel is this, near which we now are?” “Tt is the Maria—a fishing craft. Thv things you see ashore are cases of wine destined for the house of Martinez & Co, in Tampico.” “ Humph! those fellows, I have beard, are not over honest. You are sure the wine is not to be smuggled?” “Certainly. I have looked into the affair, and found it is all right.” Meanwhile Cardinas had whispered to a couple of his men, who, in spite of Lormo’s struggles, held the boy down in the bottom of the boat, while one kept a hand over bis mouth to prevent his crying out, “ So you are sure it is all right?” * Yes, sir, I am sure,” ‘What is that commotion in your boat? You ,bave some One there a prisoner have you “Tt ig nothing. My men are ‘skylarking? that is all.” ‘A strange time for sport, it seems to me,” : sai ie anere eu £ = deb MPI be aes, ’ OF leetaies UG
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22 The Coast Detective. As he spoke Don Carlos sculled bis boat to- ward the other, “Give way!” said Cardinas, in a low, quick voice to his crew. All except those who held Lormo down, then took to their oars, and soon the boat, leaving Don Carlos many yards astern, was alongside of the St. Mary, Ina few minutes Lormo was dragged aboard of the craft, and thrust into the hold, When Don Carlos arrived, he found Cardinas and his men hauling the boat round toward the starboard gangway, looking as if nothing un- usual had happened, ‘““Why did you pull away from mo?” inquired. the merchant, “ ou might have wallet and. taken my danghter and me into your boat.” “T thought you would like the exercise of sculling, as you said you did.” He and his daughter were soon after below in the cabin, A. few hours later the St. Mary got under way and Stood to the southward, It was not quite dawn when the vessel passed within about two leagues of the “ Black Rocks,” Z “Ts not that a light?” inquired the first officer, pointing toward the rocks, Cardinas, to whom he spoke, uttered a cry _ surprise, Then he looked through a night- glass, “Santa Maria!” hocried. *‘*Thereis a LiGHt- HOUSE there! What can it mean?” The first officer, looking through the glass, also saw the object, ‘«'lhere never was one there before,” he said. Cardinas turned pale. He thought of Hen- rique and Jason—also of the reports which he had heard of the ‘‘ Black Rocks” being haunted, A few hours later the breeze fell away toa ealm, As the wind had been very light, the St. Mary was still not more than seven miles from the “‘ Black Rocks.” ‘We will go there to look into this strange vision we saw,” whispered Cardinas to his first officer, A boat was lowered, and the young captain was soon speeding toward the rocks, When ho was within half a mile of them the fog cleared. Thero was the white surf rolling and breaking as usual over the rugged masses, which now, at high tide, were mainly under water, but there was no sign of the PHantom Ligut-nousre—that strange vision which had been seen on the night before! Cardinas shuddered. Thero certainly was something supernatural about the affair, and it occurred to the villain that perhaps the appari- tion had appeared, and would again appear, to mark the spot where his and Pedro’s two vic- tims, Henrique and Jason, with weights attach- ed to them by chains, had been hurled into a watery grave! CHAPTER XIV. A FRIEND IN NEED, In the hold Lormo vainly struggled for some time to free himself from his bonds, Af last, however, his hands, as he rolled over, came in contact with the edge of a piece of iron, which he concluded by the feeling was the blade of an ax. He tried to bring his cords over the edge of it, and at last he was successful. Drawing the ropes to and fro until they parted, he first severed those about his wrists, Then he unfastened the gag from his mouth, ee which he untied the rope around his ankles, « He advanced toward the forward bulkhead, but hs found no opening here as aboard the other craft. Turning, he went to the after bulkbead, which, aboard this craft, separated the hold from the cabin. Here he found a door, tightly closed and locked. He fancied he heard the breathing of some person on the other side of the partition. He pressed his ear to the boards . and listened. Finally he heard some broken words, evidently uttered by a girl. ‘*Tt is the merchant's daughter, Isabel, talking in her sleep,” thought the boy, ‘‘ This part of thepartition separates me from her room, Now, can I make her hear me?” He picked up a piece of wood, the fragment of a broken block, and rapped gently oa the parti- tion. In a few moments a gentle voice inquired: ‘¢What is that? Who is there?” ** It is I—Lormo, the detective,” There was a slight cry of surprise, followed by the noise of the girl leaving her berth, **Make no noise,” said Lormo, ‘'I am herea prisoner,” and he went on to explain, ** You shall be saved,” answered Isabel, ‘t Now that J know you are there, no one shall harm you, “Have you the key of the door?” “Tbe key is in the lock,” was the answer, “*T will let you in.” She unlocked the door, and the boy entered her room, “You say that Cardinas tied you and put you down there in the hold?’ “ Yes,” ** What was his motive?” ‘* Te did not want me to tell tales. Doubtless he is only_waiting for a chance to make away with me. I have discovered that he is in league with the smugglers—that ke assists them for the sake of a sbare of the profits.” “Can this be true? Can it be that the one who acted so nobly in rescuing mo from the thieves is such a villain, after all?” “Tt is my opinion that that rescue was a planned affair, Ho rescued you from the very man with whom he is in league!” A light seemed to break upon the girl’s mind, “T don’t know why it is—but that thought oc- curred to me more than once. I have known Cardinas since he was a boy, and have heard of his being guilty of many mean and despicable actions,” i Bx “Believe me, senorita, a greater villain does not walk the earth.” “*T think so too, now.” “Tam sure that he slandered Robert Brown— that the boy did not join the smugglers of his own accord, but wasa prisoner among them.” Now, then, she added, quickly changing the subject, ‘t you must escape from this vessel,” ** Yes, and Irequest you not to say a word to Cardinas or any other person of what I have told you, for that would enable him to escape
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The Coast Detective. 23 [ase ee ETE an yy sa SSIES TSI nnn me, and I wish to lay my plans for his capture, Believe me, he knows what has become of my friend, Robert Brown, who isnot now among the smugglers, and when he isa prisoner, and not before, will we be able to forces him to tell where the boy is—if indeed ho is alive,” * How will you get ashore?” “Ts not there a boat, alongside?” “T don’t know. I will go and see.” Tsabel then went on deck, She soon returned, to report that there was a boat alongside, under the counter.” *€ And who is on deck, aft?” “Cardinas and bis first officer. They are on one side of the deck, and the boat is under the other.” “Then I will go at once. senorita, for your kindness,” He ascended noiselessly to the deck, and as Cardinas and his first officer now were busy Many thanks, examining the lighton the “Black Rocks” he |- contrived to slip unseen into the boat alongside, the same one which had been used by Don Carlos, Unfastening the boat, the boy allowed it to drift off some fathoms in the gloom,, ere he used the oars for sculling. Two bours later, just at dawn, he gained the shore within half a mile of Tampico, It was not until after Cardinas had gone to investigate the strange affair of the Phantom Light-house, that his first officer missed tbe boat which had been lying under the counter, Now a suspicion that Lormo had escaped crossed his mind, He opened the hatch, and entering the hold, found that the prisoner was not there, ‘ The moment Cardinas returned he informed him of what had happened, The young captain was much excited over the event, “We should have made away with the fellow, last night, Bango,” he said. ‘‘ Now he will go to the authorities, and tell everything!” “But how do you think he got out of the hold?” “Tn my opinion, either Isabel or her father had a hand in helping him off.” “Then they must now know everything.” “T fear so.” ‘“‘ What are we to do?” “They must not be allowed to go ashore on this coast.” “You don’t mean to make prisoners of them?” “For the present—yes. We must go to some out-of-the-way place, disband our crew, and burn the craft.” Half an hour later, as Isabel was preparing to come up, she found her door locked. Don Car- los also found himself shut upin bis room. He pounded at the door and shouted, but no atten- tion was paid to him. - “ How long is this accursed calm going to con- tinue?” said Cardinas, impatiently, as he looked around him. : “Tt may Jast all day,” was Bango’s consoling reply. ve Budden! , glancing at the barometer, Cardinas clapped his hands, i * We are going to have a gale,” he said, “Tf it only comes from the right quarter, it will be good for us,” answered Bango, Both anxiously watched for signs of the gale, All at once heavy black clouds were seen in the south and west. ‘* Tt couldn’t have been worse,” said Cardinas, gloomily. ‘Tbe wind may drive us asbore.” Roaring and shrieking, the gale, soon after, pounced upon the craft, At first she was driven straight toward the ‘Black Rocks,” But, by dint of bard work, the young captain contrived to weather them. As the sloop went rushing past the white breakers, he fancied he heard a strange, wild ery coming up from the roaring waters, Bango heard it, too, and both men exchanged glances, The gale raged for hours. Finally, Cardinas contrived to run the sloopinto a bay, where headlands sheltered her from the wind, and dropped anchor, It was now afternoon, and the young captain ordered a good watch kept. “T will blow up the craft,” he said, ‘ sooner than have her fall into the hands of the Custom- house officers,” Pedro also had been obliged to seek shelter for bis craft, the Maria, in a bay below. He went ashore with Bronson to see if any Government cutter was in sight, The two as- cended a promontory, but no sail could be seen through the drifting fog and rack, CHAPTER XV, THE CHASE. LEAVING the boat, Lormo hurried to Tamp.co and soon reached the Custom-house, where he described bis late experience to his chief, A. cutter named the Petrel, provided with four guns, and a good crew, was kept in readi- ness for service, near the dock. Orders were sent to her captain to get under way, when the gale blowing shoreward came up, with clouds of driving mist and rack, putting off her departure. ‘* How long is this going to last, Captain Ban- cos,” inquired the boy, Lormo, who had come aboard to join the expedition, ‘For some hours, You had better go and get some sleep while we are waiting.” Lormo went below, threw himself into a berth, and, in spite of his late exciting adventures, he was soon in a profound slumber. In the afternoon the wind changed, and the cutter was got under way. Lormo was on the alert. He climbed to the mast-head, to scan the waters and land along shore, ‘* What do you see?” cried the captain, “Tho weather is foggy, but I see two vessels standing to the south. I can’t make them ou very well, but I suspect they are Pedro's craft, the Maria and the St, Mary.’ “Good!” As much sail as she could carry in the wind now blowing, was put upon the cutter, She was a swift craft, with a bow like a needl2 and a clean run. : She gained upon the vessel astern, which was discovered to be Pedro's, The latter was heading straight for the ‘‘ Black
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r The Coast Detective. Rocks,” and the gathering gloom of night almost concealed her from the,gaze of the watchers, ‘He is going to run his craft on the rocks!” cried Captain Boncos, ** Don’t be too sure of that,” said Lormo, In fact the Maria now was seen to sheer away from the rocks, and head further out to sea, Bang! went a gun from the cutter’s bow. The smugglor paid no heed to it, but sped on. Another shot whistled on its way from the cutter, and the Maria’s topmast went by the board, The crew of the Government vessel cheered. *“We havo the fellow, now,” cried the cap- in, “Té is so dark, I cannot see him,” said Lormo, peering through the gloom, The cutter kept on, for many hours, backing and filling, but no sign of Pedro’s craft was dis- covered, ** Light ’O!” yelled the man on the lookout. Sure enough, there was a lantern, apparently shining on the “ Black Rocks,” which were about a milo abaam. “The rascals have sunk their craft, and taken to the boats,” said the captain, to his first offi- cer, Porsino, “‘ but they have stoven on the Black Rocks, and are signaling to us for assist- ance, It may be a ruse, and they may show fight. Clear away the quarter-deck and man her with about twenty men!” Lormo buckled a cutlass to his waist, and thrust a pistol in his belt, With the armed crew of the boat, he also sprung in and took his place forward, “Give way!” was the order, and the boat seemed to fly. As it drew near the rocks, a cry of surprise escaped Porsino—the officer in the stern-sheets. The cutter had sent up a rocket, which describ- ing a curve, went hissing far above the boat, lighting up the sea for some distance. In this transient glare, a light-house was distinctly re- vealed on one of the “ Black Rocks,” and from this shone the lantern which the crew had mis- taken for a signal from the smugglers. Instantly, with cries of superstitious horror, they stopped working their oars, Pull ahead!” yelled the officer, “No! no! The light-house! the light-house!” was uttered by many terrified voices. ** Wools, lam not going there!” said Porsino, “There are those smuggler rascals, now, pulling along shore.” As he spoke, he pointed toward the coast, on the left of the ‘* Black Rocks,” and whirled the boat’s head round in that direction. The crew pulled with a will, and the boat rapidly gained on that of the smugglers, hen within speaking distance, Porsino shouted: ‘** Hold up, or it will be the worse for you!” The smugglers’ boat, almost a barge in size, and crowded with men, had evidently been in- jured while it hung from the davits of the sloop, y one of the shots fired at the vessel, for sevy- eral of its crew were busy bailing it out. Pedro tte folded his arms, ordered his men to stop pulling, A minute later the cutter’s boat came sweep- ing alongside of it, anc Porsino pointing a pistol at the head of the smuggler chief, ordered him to surrender, “We cannot do otherwise,” answered Pedro, gloomily,as one of his foes now lighted a lantern, revealing a swivel in the bow of the Govern- ment boat, with a man by it, ready to discharge it at the outlaws, in case they offered resistance, “You are wise there,”said Porsino, ‘ We could cut Age to pieces in a few minutes,” “Tt is all up with us, I suppose,” said Pedro, ‘* A cursed prison for us now,’ “Ay, my man, and the gallows, too,” cried Porsino, ‘‘for we have learned from Lormo that it was you who drowned the two young fellows, Henrique and Jason, near the ‘ Black Rocks,’” Pedro turned pale and cast a spiteful glance at Lormo. ‘‘Own that it was you who pretended, as a black boy, to join our band,” ‘Town that cheerfully,” answered Lormo, ‘Now, then, be so good as to tell me what you and Cardinas have dono with my friend, Robert Brown, “He escaped from us, and we afterward learned that he was drowned while with my sister aboard a damaged craft, which was wrecked off the ‘ Black Rocks,’” “Who told you that?” ** Cardinas.” The news of his friend’s loss surprised and saddened the boy. “You say he escaped from you. So then he did not voluntarily join your gang?” ‘*No. We could not persuade him to do that, although my sister tried hard to induce him to become one of us.” Lormo felt much relieved, for here was posi- tive proof that Cardinas had slandered the youth to Isabel and her father—that he had been true ~ and faithful to the last. The band were finally in the cutter, ironed and in the hold. When asked what had become of his craft, Pedro said that he had scuttled and sunk her, ‘Captain Cardinas was ahead of you. Have you any idea of his destination?” “No, He will escape you. His vessel is a swift one, and you can never overtake him,” “We will see about that,” was the reply. The cutter was kept on in pursuit of the St. Mary, which could no longer be seen through the loom, All at once, however, the voice of the lookout was heard: ‘Sail ’O, right ahead!” : The cutter’s captain sent up a rocket, and b’ the gleam the St, Mary was discovered not half a mile off, with only half of her mainmast: stani- ing. The truth was, Cardinas, in bis eagerness to escape, had crowded too much sail, which had resulted in the loss of his topmast. A shot was sent toward the fugitive craft, which sent back one in return, “* Curse the fellow’s impudence! we will give him all he wants!” cried the commander of the cutter, Bang! went another gun from the latter, to which Cardinas replied by sending a well-aimed shot at his pursuers,
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The Coast Detective. - 8B This shot passed through one of the cutter’s rt-holes, and Bronson, Pedro's first officer, Being in range of it, received the missile straight in the forehead. He fell, stone dead, by the side of Pedro, who coolly remarked: “No gallows for him; he has met a better fate than he deserved!” The cutter kept banging away, but Cardinas no longer responded.” About five minutes later a broad, lurid fiash lighted the sea, and the fugitive vessel blew up with a deafening report, its fragments flying up in a stream of fire to the very clouds. ‘‘There’s the last of the St, Mary!” said the cutter’s captain. ‘‘ By the flash I saw her boats making for shore!” “Don Carlos and his daughter were prisoners aboard the craft. I hope they were not left to their fate. Cardinas is villain enough to do it!” cried Lormo. A search was made for the St. Mary’s crew, but they could not be found, although one of their boats was discovered near some rocks ashore. ‘They have run off, but they cannot long es- cape the law. They will be found before many days,” said the captain of the cutter. “Fark!” said ormo, who was in the boat with the captain, ‘‘I thought I heard a voice, ashore.” Seizing a lantern, the captain sprung to land, followed by Lormo, but he had not proceeded many steps, when two forms were dimly seen approaching. hey soon were near enough for Lormo to recognize Don Carlos and his daughter. “Thank God! we have escaped the rascals!” cried the merchant, as he came up, “* So you know now, senor, that Captain Car- dinas is a villain?’ said Lormo. “One of the blackest kind,” answered Carlos, eae “* Just before blowing up his ves- sel, he set Isabel and me adrift in a small boat, which I had the greatest trouble to prevent from capsizing. At last, as the wind was to- ward the land, we struck the shore, a few hun- dreds of yards below here, but we might have been drowned in so rough a sea.” ‘*T hope now, father, you do not believe any of the statements which Cardinas has made against Robert Brown,” said Isabel. ‘Humph! I don’t know, It seems he was ee the smugglers. You saw him your- self. ‘Yes; but I believe he was a prisoner there,” ‘*Tt has been proved that he was!” cried Lormo, “The chief of the smugglers has heen captured, and is now aboard the cutter. He will tell you about it.” “ And is Robert there, too?” inquired the mer- chant, eno “No,” replied Lormo, sadly. ‘I wish he was,” “You have learned what has become of him?” said Isabel, turning pale. ‘He has been drowned,” replied the boy. ** Drowned!” gasped the young girl. She staggered so that her father feared she would fall. On the way to the cutter she said not a word. “—" Both Isabel and her father were kindly treat- ed aboard the vessel, which now headed for Tampico, From Pedro Don Carlos learned all the particulars of the rebbery of his warehouse. The detestable villainy of Cardinas, from first to last, was thus brought to light. When the merchant returned to the deck, he found his daughter there listening to Lormo’s account of Robert’s fate as it had been related to him by Pedro. Ere he could say a word, the voice of the man on the lookout was heard: “Light 701” “ Ay, thereit is again—that lighton the Black Rocks!” cried Porsino. ‘““You say you saw a light-house there?” re- marked the captain, “Yes, sir, not only I, but Lormo and all the men saw it, too.” ‘A light-house?” said Don Carlos. ‘‘ How could that be? Could you not senda boat to look into the affair?” ‘‘ My men would be afraid to go.” “7 will go with you,” said the merchant, ** And I will go, too,” rejoined Lormo, ‘‘ Be it so,” answered the captain, He headed the cutter toward the rocks, and when she was within half a league of them, he re a boat provided with a mast and sail. Don Carlos and Lormo were soon in their . places. “May I go?” inquired Isabel. ; Her father consented, and she entered the oat. The mast was stepped, the sail sheeted home, and away went the boat, bounding along on the starboard tack. The mysterious light could not now be so dis- tinetly seen as before; as the boat approached it, it seemed to become dimmer every moment. The roar of the surf dashing against the rocks was distinctly heard. “That surf is dangerous,” said the captain, “There is a whirlpool among those rocks, and so we must not go too near them.” “ We are close enough to see the light-house,” remarked Don Carlos. ‘‘ Where is it?” The captain held up his lantern, which shed a lurid glare over the rocks, but no light or light- house now was visible! CHAPTER XVI. PRISONERS, ‘Tas is very strange!” cried Don Carlos, “There certainly was a light here,” “Yes,” answered the captain. ‘‘ You will now own that there appears to be something supernatural about the affair.” “Tt does seem so; but I have no doubt the thing will be explained in time.” “T believe we have been drawn into the surf!” eried Isabel, in alarm, The captain sprung to the sheet and slackened it. “ Pull—pull for your lives!” he shouted, Don Carlos could handle an oar, He and Lormo pulled manfully, but the boat could make no head against the whirling rush of white water. All at once, with a crash, the frail craft struck a reck and capsized,
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Isabel clutched a spur of the rugged mass near her and drew herself upon it. She heard the voices of her father and his companions, but she could no longer see them, as they had been swept, with the overturned boat, from her sight, % Help! help!” she called. father!” In her excitement, she forgot that she could not be heard by the people, so far off, aboard the eutter. Meanwhile, Don Carlos, Lormo and the cap- tain clung to the capsized boat, ‘My child—my Isabel is lost!” cried the mer- chant, who in the gloom, had not seen her climb upon the rock. Lormo, however, had been near enough to the girl to catch a glimpse of her form as she drew herself up by the projecting spur, ** She is safe,” he said, ‘on one of the rocks.” * Thank God!” “We may find it hard to save ourselves,” said the captain. ‘* We carnnotright the boat, which you can see is going down as it fills.” ‘How far are we from land?” inquired Don Carlos. “ About a mile, “ A little.” “If we can once leave this current, then, which is drawing us toward the whirlpool, we may contrive to reach the shore.” They soon let go, the half-sunken boat and struck out for the Jand, : Lormo and the captain, on each side of Do Carlos, helped him to get out of the current, which was not very strong at this place. At last the three, in an exhausted condition, reached the shore, “Can you not signal the cutter?’ inquired Don Carlos. : “Yes; we can make a fire with driftwood, and light it.” Some driftwood was soon after collected, and the fire was lighted with a match from the cap- tain’s waterproof safe, Before the blaze could spread, however, about half a dozen men rushed from behind some rocks, near the beach, and while one of them stamped out the fire, two others pointed pistols at Don Carlos and his companions, Held firmly by some of the gang, the three could not have offered resistance even had not the charges in their pistols been spoiled by the water during their swim, “Follow us, or we will blow out your brains,” said one of the men, “These are Cardinas’s followers,” remarked Lormo. ‘‘ We have got into a hornets’ nest.” They followed the rnffians, who led them to a thicket about half a mile from the beach. Tv a hollow there were some more of Cardi- ic erew, and the young captam himself was ere, ‘* Ho! who have we here?” he cried, asthe gang appeared with tke prisoners. * Rascal!” cried Don Carlos, as soon as an ac- count of the capture had been given, ‘‘ what are you going to do with us?” “Have nofear. We will not harm you, but these other two wretches must die!” You would not dare to kill them!” “Save my Can you swim?” The Coast Detective, “Yes, I would,” answered Cardinas, coolly; ‘and that I will do, unless the cutter’s captain promises to wait three days before sending the hounds of the law upon my track.” ‘*T will not consent to that,” said the captain, spiritedly, “Then I will kill you, and this little wretch, too!” cried Cardinas. ‘Now, men!” he added. A ring of raised cutlasses gleamed about the heads of the captainand Lormo, But the two stood firm. ‘Will you promise?” continued Cardinas, “No!” both the cutter’s commander and Lor- mo answered, simultaneously. Cardinas made a sign to the gang, who re- placed their weapons, which it was evident they had so threateningly raised only to force the two to make the required promise, The hands and feet of the three prisoners were _now bound with cords, and they were dragged into a small cavern, the mouth of which was then hidden with branches and leaves. ‘Tt will be more than three days—perhaps a week, before you are found, as few people pass this way,” said Cardinas. ‘‘Had you given the promise, I would have set you at liberty.” “Villain!” cried the enraged Don Carlos, ‘Care you going to leave us to starve?” ‘Here are your rations,” auswered Cardinas, as a man thrust a small bag of sea-biscuits into the cave. ‘* You cannot use your hands. You will have to eat as the pigs do. Good-by, Don Carlos!” And with these words, the youth turned away, laughing, and the receding footsteps of himself and companions were heard. “JT will have that heartless scoundrel ar- rested if I have to search for him to the ends of the earth!” cried Don Carlos, enraged. ‘I am 30 sorry this bas happened. {ft will give the fellow a ckance to make good his escape.” ‘* When they perceive that we do not return, my men will send a boat for us,” said the cap- tain. ‘Tbey will look for us till they find us,” Hours passed, but no sound was heard to indi- cate the approach of any person to the relief of the three.” Meanwhile Lormo, by working his arms and legs vigorously, had contrived to draw himself out of the cave. He had so loosened his cords by these movements that he was able to creep still further, and finally he arrived upon the edge of the hollow, He looked seaward, but to his surprise he could no longer detect the lightof the cutter. A strong wind was blowing shoreward, and it finally occurred to him that Porsino had stood further out to sea to give the shorea wide berth. ‘* He will wait for a change of wind before he approaches the coast again,” thought the boy. The sky was now overcast, and an hour later, flashes of heat lightning darted along the clouds. “Your men have not come to look for us yet,” remarked Don Carlos. **No, but we will probably see them in the morning. The wind is this way, and Porsino has been obliged to give the coast a wide berth.” Now and then the three made efforts to work themselves clear of their bonds, but without suc- cess, -
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“T hope Isabel has not come to harm,” said the merchant. “T am worried about her. Remember we have not seen ber by the flashes of lightning, which I think should have revealed her to us.” “The rocks have many hollows, Probably she has kept behind some ridge, which has hidden her from us.” CHAPTER XVII. THE METAL TOMB. Asalready stated, the damaged pearl-divers’ sloop, when it struck on the “ Black Rocks,” in the gale, parted amidships. Between the gap in the riven timbers, the diving-bell, held in an up- right position by the rope attached to the main- boom above, went down in the roaring waters, “Halloa!l what a racket!” muttered Robert, when he heard the crash of the breaking craft, and felt himself descending with the bell. Through the glass windows on each side of the upper part of the instrument, he could see the dark, green waters of the ocean, and multitudes of long, black weeds, which were swaying about like living creatures, All at once, the bell stop- ped. Ithad evidently landed upon an under- water rock, not many feet beneath the surface, Good!” cried Robert, ‘‘I don't believe I’ve gone down far enough for the top of the bell to be submerged. It will be seen by some passing eraft, I hope, when I will be helped out of these narrow quarters. Poor Berta! I wonder what has become of her! I fear the girl has sacrificed herself for me.” He called, thinking she might bear him if she had saved herself, but there was no reply. Suddenly he uttered a ery of horror, Through the glass window he bebeld an enormous shark darting past with the form of Berta, held by the ribs between his teeth! The long, black hair of the dead maiden streamed out from her head, which was partly turned toward him, so that he caught a glimpse of her glazed, staring eyes, to which the motion of the water gave almost a lifelike expression, “No doubt about her fate, now,” the boy mut- tered, sadly. Although his quarters were rather close, he was at present able to breathe without much difficulty; but it was not long before the rub- ber tube which communicated with the air be- came choked up with sand and weeds, so that at length his brain seemed to whirl, bis vision became dim, and he knew that he was suffocat- ing. Suddenly bis gaze fell upon a pronged iece of iron, on the shelf, where it had evidently Bes placed for the use of the divers, Seizing it, Robert struck vigorously with the blunt end, one of the glass lenses or windows, which, as stated, were in the upper part of the bell, and which remained above the surface of the water, the apparatus not having sunk far enough for them to be submerged. The boy's efforts were finally successful. He succeeded in breaking the window—in making a small opening in one part of it, and thus obtain- ed a constant supply of fresh air. He was unable, however, to enlarge the opening, as the pronged iron was now bent nearly double! He felt very thirsty, and, from a water-keg \, The Coast Detective. a —— ———— ORT which was on the shelf, he took a deep oe after which he helped himseif toa couple of bis- cuits, “Thank fortune,” he muttered, us he passed his hand over his vost: * through all my trouble, i have contrived to keep possession of Don Car- los’s precious package.” Hours passed. The boy became drowsy, and in spite of his efforts to remain awake, he fell asleep. When he opened his eyes and recalled past events, he Jocked about him in surprise. “What does this mean?’ he muttered, “T am_ stillin the diving-bell, but I am no longer under water!” In fact there was light enough outside, although it was night, for him to detect the line of rocks extending along the sea, and also the surface of the water for some distance. Afar off he could even see the light of a passing vessel! “Halloa! what mysterious power has all at once lifted the diving-bell from under the water?” be cried aloud, As he reflected, however, the truth broke up- on Lim. “T understand,” he muttered, with a smile. “Tt is now low tide, and as all of the bell was not under the surface, the water receding from it, has left the whole of it exposed. This is good for me! Surely the bell will be seen, and I shall be taken out.” Then he remembered that it was night, and that probably the craft whose lantern he could see throuyh the glass windows of the bell, was not near enough to detect the instrument in the gloom. Suddenly a ery of joy escaped him. He re- membered that Berta had put a lantern in his quarters, “T will light it, and no passing craft can help seeing that signal,” he thought. He placed the lantern near the window, and taking matches from asafe in his pocket, he lighted it. _ ‘Ho! ho!” he cried, ‘Here is a patent light-house! I shall be seen before half an hour longer!” But he waited in vain for his rescue. When an hour had passed, he began to think that for some reason, owing, perhaps, to the mist or the clouds of spray flying up from the surges near the rocks, neither the light nor the bell could be seen, While still hoping that he was mistaken, and that aid would yet reach him, he resolved to ex- plore his quarters, The receding of the tide had left under bim a dark cavity, on the edges of which the bell rested, for its mouth had de- scended directly over this hollow in the rock, which at high tide was full of water. “The cavity cannot be very deep, and I will lower myself into it,” thought the boy. There was a small coil of rope near him on the shelf, and, attaching one end of this to a hook, he fastened the other part about bis breast un- der the arms. As already stated his wound was not a very severe one, and, thanks to the care Berta had bestowed upon him, he now suffered little pain, Without much difficulty he there- fore lowered himself into the cavity with his lantern over one arm. The hollow was about six feet deep, and in one side of the rock, near |
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i i ! the top, there was a crevice which would admit the water when it should again rise. As hoe looked about him, be was suddenly startled by the horrible spectacle of two ghastly skeletons, in a rocky rift, which held them near- ly upright side by side. } They were in one corner of the cavity, and as Robert took a nearer view of them, he perceived that heavy iron weights were attached by chains to their legs. Instantly it flashed on his mind that these were the skeletons of Henrique and Jason, drowned by Pedro among the Black Rocks. “‘Yos, it must be so,” muttered he, ‘* These are all that remain of the two unfortunates, who were sent by Don Carlos, a year ago, to probe the mystery of the warehouse robberies.” There was nothing else of interest in the cavity, and after the boy had gazed for a long time at the unsightly objects he had discovered, he seized the rope to climb back to the shelf of the diving-bell. It was, in fact, full time he should do so, for the water was rapidly rising, and was trickling through little openings in the rock. In Jess than an hour after he had reached the shelf of the bell, the water had risen to within a few inches of it. It came up no further, for the shelf was about on a line with the surface of the sea outside, at high tide, the bell having sunk about two-thirds of its length ere it lodged on the under-water rock, The waves, however, kept breaking over it, and Robert could hear them roar and hiss around him, It was low tide again at about two o'clock the next day, and Robert saw below him, as before, the cayity over which the mouth of the bell rested. Something resembling smoke now rose from it, and the boy knew it was the fog, which was very thick outside, finding its way through openings in the rock. ‘‘T had hoped that the bell would be seen in the daytime, but it seems I am doomed to dis- appointment. No person can see it in the mist.” The tide was up again atdusk. After munch- ing some of his biscuit, and taking a drink of water, the youth fastened one end of his line about his breast, s0 as to make sure he would not fall from the shelf, and dropped to sleep. He must have slumbered until the next ebb of the tide, ere he awoke, for he could now plainly see through one of the windows the lantern of a boat some fatsoms off, “He called, hoping to make himself heard, but instead of approaching, the boat rapidly re- ceded, “Oh, when will I be taken from this place?” he cried, impatiently. He kept his lantern burning until near dawn, when, the tide having again risen, he put out the light, which could not have been seen through the thick masses of weeds hanging outside over the windows, To his chagrin, this day also proved to be foray, but he hoped it would clear up on the next, When night came, and the tide again fell, he relighted his lantern, The Coast Detective. CHAPTER: XVIII, QONCLUSION. At the time when Isabél, Don Carlos’s daugh- ter, clambered up on the rock, after the boat in which were her father and his companions, had capsized, as described, the tide had just reached its bighest level. The young girl ascended to the summit of rock, and peered through the gloom, vainly loox= ing if she could see some sign of the overturned craft and its occupants, Unable to do so, she gazed in the direction of the cutter’s light. “Tf I could only make a signal!” she cried, de- spairingly, “but that cannot be done here, in the ark, Soon after the wind came on to blow almost a gale toward the rocks, and the fair watcher saw the light of the cutter receding. She crept along the rock, and finally reached another in which there was a hollow, sheltered from the wind and spray. Here she sat down, feeling very uncomfortable in her wet garments, with her back resting against the side of the rugged alcove. This alcove faced the further extremity of the ebain of rocks, over which the girl could see the spray and the breakers, as they swept up high on the jagged masses, Hours passed when, all at once, the gleam ofa lantern directly ahead of her, near the end of the line of rocks, caught her attention. She called, thinking the light was that of some boat from the cutter, but there was no re- ply. “ They do not hear me on account of the roar’ of the surf,” she thought, ‘‘ but as the tide is: falling, I think I can creep along to the light.” She found it very difficult to make her way over the slippery rocks, covered, in many places, with lovg, trailing masses of seaweed, and finally she paused, hesitating whether to ' proceed or not, for she could now perceive that the light, which she had supposed was a boat's, , appeared to be stationary, and resembled a great round red eye glaring angrily at her from the water, “Can it be that this is the eye of some sea-- monster?’ she muttered, ‘‘I have heard of luminous fish—but no,” she added, quickly. ‘‘ No fish could look like that.” The eye seemed to grow larger, and gradually the girl could make out, by the lurid glare, the upper part of something resembling a light- house! As the tide continued to fall, the form of the» light-house showed more distinctly, until every part of it, looming up from the top of a rock,, which the ebb of the water had left bare, be~ came visible in the gleam of the lantern! ““Yos, there it is!” gasped Isabel, in surprise;, and not without a feeling of sunerstitious terror. “There, sure enough, is that PHANToM LIGHT~ HOUSE!” For some time she stood gazing toward the singular apparition, not daring to approach it to obtain a nearer view. Suddenly the lantern moved, and peering through the window facing her, the girl now be- held a human face. She saw it only for a moment; the next, a ce 9
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thick mass of fog drifted about the light-house, “almost biding it from her gaze. _ “T will solve this mystery!” cried Isabel, who, although not entirely free from’ superstition, possessed a very resolute spirit. She crept along toward the vision, and when he pin a few yards of it she fancied she heard a Aye “That voice sounds familiar,” she thought, * although it is partly smothered.” She was soon close to the object, when, the fog having drifted to one side of it, sheagain obtained a view of it, As it was but a few yards from her, she could see it plainly enough to perceive that it was not a light-light house, after all, but merely a huge diving-bell. At the same moment the face again appeared at the window, now near enough for Isabel to recognize in it the bright light. ‘*Robert Brown!” she cried. “Who calls?” came the voice of the boy from the inside of the bell. i -“Tt ig I—Don Carlos’s daughter!” she cried, in clear, ringing tones, which could not fail to refich him. * Thank God! then I shall be taken out, at last!” responded Robert, ‘‘ and your father will get his packet of money, which I have here safe with me!” ‘* How did you come in this situation?” The boy made a fuil. explanation through the glass window. 4 “The wonder to me,” he continued, ‘is that the bell has not been seen before, as I have light- ed the lantern every night since I have been here. I suppose your father is near, with some men, Please to call them.” The girl mow explained about the accident, “T think my father has been saved,” she add- ed anxiously, “for he could swim a little, and those with him were good swimmers.” “] have no doubt of it, if Lormo was with -him, for he islike a fish in the water, and isa brave boy, too, Yes, senorita, you can be sure that he is safe!” “Tf so, 1 am glad that the accident happened, since it bas been the means of your discovery. Seen, at low tide, rising from a rock, the diving- bell looks larger thanit really is, and has the appearance of a LIGHT-HOUSE. I don’t believe any sailors could have been tempted to go near it, as they imagined it was a PHANTom LiGcHut- HOUSE, and were terrified at its appearance,” The girl remained near the bell until dawn by which time the rising of the tide had completely hidden it from view. Although only two-thirds of the bell was under water yet, when the tide rose, a riff ina rock near thé instrument, was filled, causing a huge mass of seaweed to stream out and hang over it, thus coricealing it, and giving it the appearance of being merely the top of a rock, projecting from the'surface of the sea, The wind had now changed, and thegirl saw the cutter not a league distant, Looking toward the land, she saw another spectacle which gave her great joy—three human forms evidently 4 on a rising point of land, These persons, she rightly judged, were her father and his two companions, : ‘The Coast Detective. She signaled the cutter with her kerchief, and half an bour later, Porsino, with a boat’s crew, arrived, to hear, with surprise, the story of the diving-bell, In another hour Don Carlos and his companions were also picked up, and freed from their bonds, : j The merchant, on bearing explanations, was much pleased with Robert?s courage and fidelity, Before night, with the help of tackles and ropes, brought to the rocks, just at the ebbing of the tide, the bell was hoisted sufficiently for its occupant to crawl out from under it. Robert’s first. movememt was to rip open the lining of his vest and present to the merchant the valuable packet he had so long kept there. ‘“You are both brave and honest, and I think more of you than ever, my lad!” remarked Don Carlos, ‘He is as true as steel. cried Lormo. The party returned to the cutter, which now sailed for Tampico, ; A week later some of Cardinas’s crew were arrested, but their captain escaped. A few os afterward, he died of yellow fever in aba, Don Carlos finally took Robert Brown shipping- clerk, into partnership with him and permitted dae to woo Isabel, who eventually became his ride. She had long loved him, and her father had at last wisely concluded not to keep the young people apart. Lormo, the young Coast Detective, at the solicitation of Don Carlos, resigned his office to accept a responsible position in the shipping merchant’s employ. He is a frequent visitor at the Carlos. mansion, and a life long friend of Robert and Isabel. THE END. DIME DIALOGUES. AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. I always said sol” Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 87 inclusive, 15 to 25 popu. lar dialogues and dramas in each book, Each vol- ume 100 pages 12mo. Speakers, Nos. 1 to 2% inclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo, containing from 50 to 75 pieces. YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES, Dime Book of Winter Sports. Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports, Dime Gents’ Letter Writer, : Dime Book of Etiquette. Dime Book of Verres, : Dime ae is beast ri ime Fortune-Teller Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. Dime Lovers’ Casket. Dime Ball-Room Companion. Dime Book of 100 Garhes, Dime Chess Instructor, Dime Book of Beanty, For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post-paid, on receipt of price—ten cents.. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pus.isuera, 98 William Street, New York,
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tickers aepesnenanes Greanpenc ¥ — ak BEADLE'S POCKET LIBRARY. Spe terre eee weer ee a ES 82 pea ane or, The Captives of the Frontier. y HS. is. 88 Canada.Chet, the Counterfeiter’Chief. By E. L. Wheeler, 84 The Dumb Page: or, The Doge’s Daughter, By Captaid Frederick Whittaker. 85 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. By Edward S. Ellis. 86 Jack Harkaway in New York. By Bracebridge peroyas. 87 The Hussar Captain; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 88 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty. By Edward L. Wheeler. 89 Lill Biddon, Tra pper, or, Life in the Northwest. By Edward 8. Ellis. 90 HAPPY the Texan; or, The Young Charipion. By George Gleason. 91 Mustang Sam, the King of the Plains. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 92 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, the Red Pirates of the Caribbees. By Samuel W. Pearce. 93 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy; or, Thé Mystery of the Stronghold. By Charles Morris. 94 Deadwood Dick as Detective. Ey E. L. Wheeler. % Buck Buckram; or, Bess the Female Trapper. Bt Captain J. F, C. Adams. 96 Gilt-Edged Dick. By Edward L. Wheeler. 97 The Black Steed of the Prairies, By James L. Bowen. 98 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan Lewis. 99 Bonanza Bill, the Man Tracker; or, the Secret Twelve, By E. L. Wheeler. 100 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. By E. 8. Ellis, 101 Daring Davy, the Young Bear Killer; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf. By Harry St. George, 102 The Yellow Chief; or, The Balf-Blood’s Ven- geance, By Capt. Mayne Reid. 103 Chip, the Girl Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. 104 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. By Roger Starbuck. 105 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective. By Charles Morris. 106 Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. By Joseph KE, Badger, Jr. 107 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune, By Edward L, Wheeler. 108 Rocky Mountain Kit, the White Mustanger. By T. C. Harbaugh. 109 The Branded Eland, or, The Man of Mystery. By Frank Dumont. 110 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. By George W. Browne. 111 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks, By Edward L. Wheeler. 112 The Helpless Hand. By Capt. Mayne Reid, 113 Scar-Faced Saul, the Silent Hunter, By Ol Coomes. 114 re Paul, the Mountain Boy. By T, C. Har- augh, & 115 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gor- ‘on’s Gulch, By Edward L. Wheeler. 116 Jabez Coffin, ares or, Lost in the Polar Regions. By Capt. F. Whittaker, 42? Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trappers Trust. By ‘“ Buffalo Bill.” 118 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred; or, The Win- ning Hand. By Chas. Morris. 119 Blonde Bill; or, Deatwood Dick’s Home Base. By Edwari L. Wheeler. 120 Gopher Gid, the Boy Trapper, By T. ©. Har- baugh, ¥21 Harry Armstrong, the Captain of the Club, By Bracebridge Hemyng, (Jack Harkaway). 122 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman of the Prairie. By Edward §, Ellis. 18 Solid pore the Bey Road-Agent. By Edward L. r Wheele $4 Judge ch, Jr.4 or, The Boy V: te. By T. 34 fad Lyn § or, y Vigilan’ iy 1% The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 1% Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rocky Bar. By Frank Dumont. 127 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job, By Edward L. Wheeler. 128 Will Wildfire’s Racer; or, Winning Against Odds. By Charles Morris. 129 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. By Ol] Coomes. 130 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avengers. By T. OC. Harbaugh. 131 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. By Edward L. ‘Wheeler. 132 Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 183 Wild-fire, the Boss of the Road. By Frank Du. mont. 184 cree es, the Harbor Police Boy. By Chas. orris. 185 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. By Edward L. Wheeler. 136 Old Rube, the Hunter. By Capt. Hamilton Holmes. 187 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas. By G. Waldo Browne. 138 Bob Rockett, the Boy Dodger. By Chas. Morris. 139 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. , 140 Captain Arizona, the King Pin of Road-Agents. By Philip 8. Warne. : ° 141 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. By BH. L. Wheeler. 142 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. By Ol Coomes, 148 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. By Jos. Wi. Badger, Jr. 144 Little Grit, the Wild Rider. By Col. Prentiss In- raham., 145 The Tiger of Taos; or, Wild Kate, Dandy Rock’s Angel. By Geo, Waldo Browne. 146 The Cattle King; or, Cortina’s Right Bower, By Frank Dumont. 147 Nobby Nick of Nevada Sierras. a Edward L. Wheeler, 148 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Wolf-Herder of the Rockies, By Harry St. George. 149 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, By Charles Morris, 150 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. By G. Waldo Browne. 151 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 152 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. By W. H. Eyster. 158 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. By E. L. Wheeler. 154 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War- Path. By Jos, EB. Badger, Jr, 155 Gold Plume, the boy Bandit. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, : 158 Will Wildfire in the Woods. By C. Morris. 157 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. By T. C. Har- augh. 158 Desiwoud Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane's Last Adventure. By E. L. Wheeler. 159 Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat; or, The Lady Road-Agent, By Philip S. Warne. 160 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed Thirteen, By Col. P. Ingraham, 161 Bob Rockett, the Cracksman. By C. Morris. 162 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. By, Oll Coomes. 163 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, the Rivals of the Road. By E. 1. Wheeler. 164 ee te Ls Injun Jack from Red Core, y T. C. Harbaugh. , 165 ee Bala Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, By Jol, P. Ingraham. 7 1 166 po Wildaire, Wins gna Loses; or, “A Triump ‘ard, arles Morris. 167 Dandy Rook's Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, sy _ George W, Browne. ; or, the Scamps of the
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ea Se BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. eS 168 Deadwood _Dick’s arene one Black Hills Jezebel. By Edward L. Wheeler. 169 The Boy Champion. By Edward Willett. ; 170 Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life; or, Shadowed in New York. By Charles Morris. 171 Frank Morton, the Boy Hercules, By Oll loomes. 172 the Yankee Ranger; or, Dusky Darrell. By Edwin Emerson. ‘ 173 Dick Dingle, Scout; or, The Frontier Angel. By Edward §, Ellis. 174 Dandy Rock’s Scheme; or, The Golden Hand. By G. W. Browne. 175 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp By Edward L. Wheeler. 176 Will Wildfire’s Pluck; or, The Hidden Hand. ‘By Charles Morris. 177 The Boy Commander; or, The Maid of Perth, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, a 178 The Maniac Hunter; or, The Mysteries of Night Island. By Burton Saxe. 19 Dainty Lance; or, The Mystic Marksman. By J #B, Badger, Jr. : 180 The Boy Gold-Hunter; or, Navajo Nick’s Scout. By T. CG. Harbaugh. : 181 The Scapegrace Son. By Charles Morris, 182 The Dark-Skinned Scout; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. “By Lieut. Col. Hazeltine. 183 Jabez Dart, Detective; or, The Hermit Trapper, By Oll Coomes. E 184 Featherweight, the Boy Spy. By Edward Wil- lett. 185 Bison Bill, the Overland Prince. By Col. Pren- tiss Ingraham. 186 Dainty Lance and His Pard. By Joseph HE. Badger, Jr. 187 The Trapped Tiger King; or, Dark Paul’s Plot. By Charles Morris. 188 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues. By Edward L, Wheeler. 189 Old Rocky’s Boys; or, Bonito, the Young Mus- tang-Breaker. By Maj. Sam. S. Hall. 190 Sim Simpkins, Scout; or, The Faithful Mountain Mastiff. By James L, Bowen. 191 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Mysterious Wolf Rider. By Geo. Waldo Browne. 192 Hickory Harry; or, Roaring Ralph, the Ventrilo- uist. By Harry St. Georze, 193 Detective Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator’s Game. By Edward L. Wheeler. 194 Prospect Pete, the Boy Miner. By Oll Coomes. 195 The Tenderfoot Trailer; or, Plucky Phil, of the Mountain. By T. C. Harbaugh. 196 The Dandy Detective; or, The Abducted Boy Mystery. By Charles Morris. 197 Roy, the Young Cattle King; or, The Texan Sport Unmasked. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 198 Ebony Dan’s Mask; or, The Rival Leagues of the Mines. By Frank Dumont. 199 Dictionary Nat, Detective; or, Bill Bravo, the Bear Tamer. By T. C. Harbaugh. 200 The Twin Horsemen; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 201 Dandy Darke’s Pards; or, The Hawks of High Pine. By Wm. R. Eyster. 202 Tom, the Texan Tiger; or, Old Luke’s Luck. By Oll Coomes. 208 Sam, the Office Boy; or, The Tables Turned. By Charles Morris. 7 204 The Young Cowboy; or, The Girl Trailer’s Tri- umph. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 205 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme. By BE. L. Wheeler. 206 White Lightning; or, the Boy Ally. By T. C, Harbaugh. 207 Kentuck Talbot’s Band; or, The Red Lasso. By Captain Mark Wilton, 208 Trapper Tom’s Castle Mystery; or, Dashing Dick’s Disguise, By Oll Coomes. 209 The Messenger-Boy Detective; or, The Tables Turned, By Charles Morris. 210 The Hunchback of the Mines; or, Reckless Ralph, the Road-Agent. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 211 Little Giant and His Band; or Despard, the Duelist. By P.S. Warne. 212 The Jimtown Spathe or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado, By BH. L. Wheeler, 213 The Pirate’s Prize; or, The Mysterious Yankee Schooner. By C. Dunning Clark. 214 Dandy Dave, of Shasta; or, The ’Frisco Flash o’ Lightning. By T. C. Harbaugh. 215 Daring Dan, the Ranger; or, The Denver Detec- tive. By Oll Coomes, 216 The Cowboy Captain; or, Ranger Ralph’s Ruin. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, 217 Bald Head of the Rockies; or, The Ang’! of the Range. By Major Sam 8. Hall. 218 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam’s Claim, By Edward L. Wheeler. 219 Buck, the Detective; or, Paul, the Boy Pard. By Albert W. Aiken. 220 Crack-Shot Frank; or, Bill Bounce, the Moun- tain Bravo, By Charles Morris. 221 Merle the Middy; or, A Waif of the Waves, By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 222 Rosebud Ben’s Boys; or, The Young Prairie Rangers. By Oll Coomes. 223 Gold Conrad’s Watch-Dogs; or, The Two Pards of Vulture Bar.. By T,. C. Harbeugh. 224 are Fergus, the New York Boy. By G. L. ken, 225 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent. By Edward L. Wheeler. 226 Dakota Dick in Chicago; or, Jack, the Old Tar. By Charles Morris. 227 Merle, the Boy Cruiser; or, Brandt, the Buc- caneer. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, 228 The Preacher Detective; or, The Boy Ventrilo- quist. By Oll Coomes, 229 Old Hickory’s Grit. By John J. Marshall. 230 The Three Boy Sports; or, The Sword Hunters, By Captain Frederick Whittaker. 231 Sierra Sam, the Detective. By Edward L, Wheeler. 232 Merle Monte’s Treasure; or, Buccaneer Brandt’s Threat. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 233 Rocky Rover Kit; or, Davy Crockett'’s Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. 234 Baldy, the Miner Chief. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams, 285 Jack Stump’s Cruise; or, The Montpelier’s Muti- neers. By Roger Starbuck. 286 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female De- tectives. By Ed. L. Wheeler, 237 Newsboy. Ned, Detective; or, Two Philadelphia Gamins. By Charles Morris. 238 Merle Monte’s Sead oe) or, Little Belt’s Droll Disguise. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 239 Ben’s Big Boom; or, The Boss Miner’s League. By Capt. Mark Wilton. 240 Sharp Shot Mike; or, Columbia Jim on the War- Path. By Oll Coomes, 241 Sierra Sam’s Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough Ranch. By Edward L. Wheeler. 242 The Denver Detective; or, Dainty Dot at Gold Gulch. By T. C. Harbaugh. 243 Dutch San’s Dilemma; or, The Mysterious Mountain Monster. By Maj. L. W. Carson, 244 Merle Monte’s Disguise; or, The Capture of Brandt, the Buccaneer. By Col. P. Ingraham, 245 Boldy’s Boy Partner; or, Young Brainer1’s Steam Man. By Edward S. Elis. 246 Detective Keen’s Apprentice: or, James Jumper the New York Gamin. By Charles Morris. 247 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise. By Edward L. Wheeler. 43 Giant George’s Pard; or, Arizona Jack, the Tenderfoot. By Buckskin Sam. 249 Ranch Rob’s Wild Ride; or, Old Winch The Rifle King. By T. C. Harbaugh. 250 Merle Monte’s Pardon; or, The Pirate Chief’s Doom. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham,
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| > . 251 The Deaf Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. ; 295 White Wing, the Ferret Flyer. 296 Govinda, the Tiger-Tamer; or, 252 258 254 255 256 > Fred, BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. By Edward Willett. Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen. By Edward L, Wheeler. The Boy Tenderfoot; or, Roaring Ben Bundy of Colorado. By Cant. Mark Wilton. Black Hills Ben; or, Dutch Jan Path. By Maj. Lewis W Carson. Jolly Jim, Detective; or, The Young Protege’s Victory. By Charles Morris. Merle Monte’s Las rise; or, The Sea Robber at Bay. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. The Boy Chief of Rocky Pass; or, The Young California Pards. By Maj. E. L. St. Vrain, Denver Doll as Detective. By BE. L. Wheeler. Little Foxeye, the Colorado Spy. By Oll Coomes, Skit, the Cabin Boy. By Edward Willett. Blade, the Sport. or, the Giant of Clear Grit Camp. By T. C. Harbaugh. Billy, the Boy Rover, By Col. P. Ingraham, Buster Bob’s Buoy; or, Lige, the Light-House Keeper. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport, By E. L. Wheeler. Billy, the Baggage Boy; or, The Young Railroad Detective. By Charles Morris. Guy’s Boy Chum; or, The Forest Waif’s Mask. By Capt. Comstock. Giant George’s Revenge; or, The Boys of *‘ Slip- up Mine.” By Buckskin Sam, The Dead Shot Dandy; or, The Rio Grande Marauders. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. The Quartzville Boss; or, Daring David Darke. By Edward Willett. Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little’ Bill’s Big Loss. By E. L. Wheeler. Ebony Jim’s Terror; or, Ranger Riinbolt’s Ruse. By Oll Coomes Kit, the Girl Detective. By T. C. Harbaugh. Tne Girl Rider; or, Nimble Ned’s Surprise. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Dead Shot Dandy’s Double; ar, Benito, the Boy Pard. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. the Ocean Waif; or, The Protege. By Charles Morris Deadwood Dick Trapped; or, Roxey Ralph's Ruse. By Edward L. Wheeler. : The Idiot Boy Avenger; or, Captain Wild-Cat’s Big Game. By Albert W. A ken Arizona Alf, the Miner; or, Little Snap Shots Lueck. By T. Colorado Ja Trailer. Dead Shot New Role. By Ned, the Boy Pilot; or, Doom.. By Jack Far Buex Hawk, Detecti Fortune. By Edward ler. Roving Sport Kit; or, The Ghost of Chueckaluek Camp. By Edward Willett. The Showman’s Best Card; or, Tamer. By Capt. Fre!. Whittaker. Old Rocky’s Pard; or. Little Ben’s Chase. By Buckskin Sam. Dick, the Dakota Sport By Charles Mor Ned, the Boy Skipper; or, The Sea Sorceress’ Cruise. By Jack Vs ut. Deadwood Dick’s D se: or, Wild Walt, the Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. on the War- Old Sailor’s bam: + Lieutenant’s The Mad Animal 9 Colorado Nick, the Lassoist; or, Old Si’s Protege. 290 291 By Major H. B, Stoddard. Rube, the Tenderfoot; o-. The Boy’s of Torpedo Gulch. By Major EB. L. St. Vrain. Peacock Pete, the Leadville Soort: or, Hawk, the or, Keno Kit’s | * Messenger Boy’s | 26 Rov Chas. Morris. , The American Horseman Abroad. By Captain F. Whittaker. 297 Arizona Giant George; or, The Boyees of Sardine- Box City. By Buckskin Sam. Daisy Doll’s Dash; or, The Ten Colorado Pards, By T. C. Harbaugh, 9 The Balloon Detectives; or, Young Pard. By Harry Enton. Deadwood Dick’s Mission By E. L. Wheeler. Dandy Duke, the Cowboy. By Major EB. L. St. Vrain. Big Benson’s Bet. By T. C. Harbaugh. The Hotel Boy Detective; or, The Grand Central Robbery. By Charles Morris. Bald Head’s Pard; or, Creeping Cat’s Cunning. 3y Buckskin Sam. = Dusky Dick’s Duel; or, The Demon’s Trail. By Harry Hazard. . Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Decoy. By E. L. Wheeler. Nick, the Boy Sport; or, Three Plucky Pards. By Maj. E. L, St. Vrain. Double-Visted Mat; or, The Mystie California Giant. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Old Graybeard’s Boy; or, The Girl's Ruse. By C, Dunning Clark. r Kit, the Girl Captain; or, The Mad Sailor’s Legacy. By Col. Brent ss Ingraham 3y Buc s-in Sam. fhe Miners of ‘red in Texas. Che Detective Road-Agent; or, By Edward L Wh ele Jack Slasher’s 1 Frio F Sassafras City. 3° Honest Jack's Protege; or, The Dwarf’s Scheme, By Philip 5S. Warne. Clip. the Boy Sheriff; or. The Two Crooks of Montana. By Edward Willet. Tom, the Arizona Sport; «r, Howling Hank from Hard Luck. By Major E. L, St. Vrain. The Street-Arab Detective; or, Dick Dorgan’s Do tble Dealing. By Charles Morris. Buckskin Ben of Texas; or, Single-Eye’s Plucky Pards. By Buckskin Sam 3 Colorado Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The ‘attle Kings. By Edward L. Whevler. y Frank in Idalo; or, Old Skicflint the c By Roger Starbue*, Cool Sam’s Girl Pard; or, Captain Dick and His Texans. By T. C Harbaugh. the Kid from F- isco; or, Silver Mask’s Cowdrick. Blizzard on Deek, ad Shot Ike in Mentana; or Hez Helper, the Yankee Pard, - By Ro arbuck Kit, the Denver Sp yo, The Bonanza Miner King, By Ed«ard L. Wheeler Dusky Darrell the Camp Detective; or, The Dandy’s Daring Dash. 1. toy, the Boy C Wolf Wreekers. By Cc Ne, the Roving Miser Mateh By Harry Hazard, Roe <y Ben’s Band; or, Big Pete's Big Haul. By W. J. Hamilten. Dave, the Colorado Wrestler. By Moj. E L. St. Vrain The Denver Sport's Racket; or, Kit’s Big Boom. By Edward L. Wheel: The Coast Detective; or, Ths Smuggler Shadow- er. By Roger Starbuck, Dakota Dan in Canyon City; or, Colorado Kate’s Uheck. By Philip S. Warne, Bootbisck Ren, the Detective; or, Pooler Jim and His Pard: By Anthony P Morris Ready May 2. or, Arkarsuw Jack’s Boss Miner, iken. By Albert W. 292 Joe Morey, the Night-Hawk; or, Rider. - By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 293 Dwarf Jake, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Man Hunt. By Edward Willett. ceipt of six cents each. : 294 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold BEADLE AND _ApAms, Publishers, Miner. By Wd. L, Wheeler, 98 William Street, New York, 234 Frisco Tom on Deck; or. The Golden Gate Smug- glers. Pv George Henry Morse. Reary June 4, Brapue’s Pocket Lrrary is for sale by all News- dealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on re- The Black