Pluck And Luck (no. 46) (1899 04 19)

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Seah Se Se ‘ 4 : se en AN 3 Issued Weekly—By Subscrrption $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York Post Office, by Hranke Lousey. RR Silo lata tad AE eh A ER SAPO AOI ATE SLADE AEE REI OT A i SAE ONG we Be No. 46. NEW YORK, APRIL 19, 1899. Price 5 Cents HA Wii ail aN TATA EME TAT WSS — osu Suddenly Larry gave a twist that sent his assailant reeling over the railing of the balcony. A wild shriek escaped Blake, and the next moment he was hurled into the roaring sea below.

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PLUCK AND LUCK. Complete Stories of Adventure. Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office, November 7, 1898. Hintered according to Act of a ee ress in the year 1899, in the office of the Librarian of Congr 8S, Washington, ., by Frank Tousey, 29 West 26th St., New York. No. 46. NEW YORK, April 19, 1899. Price 5 Cents. ——— — LARRY LEE, THE YOUNG LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER, ee | BY CAPT. THOS. H. WILSON. “i ; : CHAPTER I. |‘ Well, we'll soon get used to it. You look after the things below, THE MANATER LIGHT. and I’ll go up and see what kind of a lamp they have given me.” -And In the year 1868 there were many vessels wrecked on the Florida | Larry turned and begsn to ascend the spiral staircase which led up to Reets, and several captains of vessels claimed that they had been de- | the top of the lighthouse. BE: “ceived by false hghts, which led them to believe that vessels were He had to ascend some eighty fest of the heavy stone structure ere A unsafe in those localities. So numerous were the wrecks during thut | he reached the top. - year, aud so heavy the losses of marine insurance companies, that the The lighthouse was built of heavy blocks of stone, with the walle _ Government was urged to build several additional lighthouses on that | very thick in order to withstand the terrible assaults of old Neptune. dangerous coast for the better protection of sailing vessels. | About thirty feet above high water mark were the dwelling room— One of these lighthouses was built on a reef of rocks which ran par. ; very comfortable and cozy—with a storeroom, where the provisions, allel with the coast down near the famous Florida Keys—the most oils, lamps and everything necessary to Keep the light i in perfect order by F wasgorous coast of all America. were stored. . It was called “ The Manatee Light,” and was placed in charge of On reaching the top, Larry found the great lumps in position andin ' ‘Larry Lee, a son of old Tom Lee, one of the best known lighthouse | perfect order, ready to be used that evening if he saw proper to light ie keepers on the southern coast. up before the day named by the officials. ‘Larry was born in the old Tybee lighthouse, on the Georgia coast, But the weather was fine, and Larry proposed to take his time to nd had spent all his life in lighthouses. get the new light in good working order, What oh Tom didn’t know about li pao no other man did, and From the baleony of the lighthouse Larry saw several little huts back from the beach a couple of miles south of lim. By the aid of the Spyglass he saw several men with weather-beaten faces lying around one of the huts, mending nets, smoking pipes, and apparently taking life very easy. py Ha Ri ctibes: and therefore the Government had but a small number to make selections from. The | pay is small—only about six hundred dollars 9 year, which is a il sum for one to shut himself off from all the world for. The choice of the Manatee Light fell to young Larry, and he was he happiest youth in the world. He was to have old Lem, an old ey man as black ag the ace of spades, as help. Lem had been with Tom Lee for thirty. years, and was noted for his fidelity, strength ad common: Ai | to guard against. « Those fishermen live a lone way froma market,” he muttered, ‘ ands for curing fish. Ah! now I understand. T dido’t think of it before. They are wreckers.” Larry gazed at the half dozen bronze-faced men through his apy- | glass, and watched their movements for some i “ Ah!” he exclaiined again. ‘* One of them is taking a squint at me | with aghip’s glass. Well, I can stand it as long as they can, I reckon.” After looking for nearly an hour Larry laid down his glass and turned — his attention to the great lamp. He wound up the great spring | pies, like an immense clock work, wag to revolve the light. It is a mistake that many people have that lighthouses use pean! ; ing lights, The sun ‘is said to rise and set, but we all. know that it it does — Bo with the Manatee Light. f : The great lamp remained stationary, but gitrne: revolyed pre } it, shutting: off the light once sited bis seconds for the Space of ty seconds, i a Along the beach could: be seen portions of vessels which had been wrecked on the treacherous reef the haan sae Lighthouse was intended _ surely don't make much money at the business. 1 don’t see any place | | not move. The earth revolves. That’sall, tie Wat i apt

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2 ; LARRY LEH. “« How do you find things, Lem?” he asked of the faithful black. '“ Dey hab gib us ’nuif ter lib on a yeah, Marse Larry,” said Lem, dat’s er fac’.” ‘* How about fresh water?” “De tank am chuck feil.” +¢ Then we are all right—the rowboat is a good one, I see.” <* Yes, sah.” \ ' **Do you know where the oil can is?” “* Yes, sah,” and he went into the storeroom in search of the can. ** Bring it full of oil, Lem,” said Larry, as he turned to the window to gaze out on the illimitable waste of water. In a few minntes Lem returned with the can of oil, which Larry took and carried up to the top. Whilst Larry busied himself in filling the lamps, trimming the wicks and cleaning the glass, api began to prepare his first meal at the lighthouse. The old .darky had been thirty years in lighthouses, and knew just bow to work. le threw out a hook and line, and in a few minutes drew in a fine bass, which he at once prepared for the pan. In ten minutes after leaving the water that bass was frying in the kitchen of the lighthouse. Very few people except fishermen can appreciate the sete be- tween a fish only ten minutes out of the water and one which has been dead ten hours. If the young reader wanis to know what fresh fish means, let him take a live fish, kill and cook it immediately, and then he will always know something about fresh fish. Otherwise he will not. When he was through with the lamps, Larry came down just as old iLem put the fish, coffee and bread on the table. ‘“« Ah!” he said, ‘* that smells good, Lem.” ‘ Yes, sah, an’ { reckon youse tink ’em ‘ood, too, Hiacss Larry,” replied the old darky. ‘ Dat bass was erlibe jes now.” *¢ Where did you catch him?” i « Down dar by de rock.” 8 ; *¢ Well, I’m hungry enough to eat haif of him,” and Larry sat down + to the table to make an attack on the fish. “7 kin eat de udder half,” said Lem, grinning and smacking his - thick lips. Larry fell to and ate heartily, but before he was half eneavars with his meal he heard the splash of oars outside. He looked up at Lem and asked: “« Who is that!” ‘Lem went to the window and looked out. ‘+ Dere’s fo’ men in er boat, Marse Larry,” said Lem. .** Coming here?” ** Dey is come already.” Se ‘Larry got up and went to the window. « = ‘“ Hello, mate!” called one of the men in the boat on seeing Larry |) at the window. “ Let us come up and see the light.” “* Who are you?” Larry asked. ‘« Fishermen,” was the reply. ‘* We live in those huts back there,” and the man stood up in the boat and pointed in the direction of the “bute on the beach. “Go down and open the door for them, Lem,” said Larry, and the old darky obeyed. ' In afew minutes the four men followed Lem up into the dining _toom, where Larry received them. Take seats,” he said. ‘We are not in good ship-shape yet. ‘Have you had supper?” «Oh, yes, an hour ago,” was the reply. ' the new light. We never was in one afore.” “ Well, if you will wait till I finish my supper I will go up with you and show you how it works.” *k Yos—yes, we'll wait,” said a stalwart, bronzed man, whom the others called Captain Blake. ‘‘ We are in no hurry, you know. The’ sea is smooth as glass and little wind.” ; arry thought he was educated above a mere fisherman, and po- ticed that he was carefully inspecting everything he could get a glimpse ate ie he made no remarks that would make his visitors think he “We come ayer to see turned in—each having ¢ a small room to himself. — ¥e ‘«You are not going to light up to-nigtit?” Blake asked. *"No; Thursday is the day appointed by the Government to com- mence,” replied Larry. Blake went out on the little balcony, which extended all round the lighthouse, and looxed down at the water below. “ How high is it?’ he asked. “ The licht is eighty feet above high water,” said Larry. He looked again, The water covered the rocks to the very base of the lighthouse ex- cept on the south side. From that height they. seemed like huge black monsters in the water. j Larry then explained the working of the light in a very lucid man- ner. ‘« How long have you been a lighthouse keeper?” Blake asked. ‘«T was born in the Tybee Lighthouse,” was the reply. “Oh, you know all about them, then?” “T think I do.” “ You feel lonesome at times.” \ ( “*No; I have always lived in one, and therefore never get lonesome, I generally keep books on hand fo read.” ‘ Alt yes, I see. You have no other help than the colored man downstairs?” ; “Thats all.” \ Larry thought he saw a significant glance pass between Blake and one of the men, and inwardly vowed that they should never be admitted again. ‘ | CHAPTER II. fi ER ‘ THE OLD| NEGRO's STORY OF A WRECK. *¢ Do you sit up ail night to watch the isa Blake asked, after a pause of several minutes. ‘I see that it burns steadily all night,” was the reply, and then! | Larry turned to lead the way downstairs again. The men foflowed, and out on the rocks, at the base of the lights house, Blake said: ey ‘* We are much obliged to you, mate; come over and see-us some day. We are sociable, eh, mates?” ‘ i : «« Yes—come over and see us,” said the others, ‘‘ Thanks,” said Larry, ‘‘ but Iam not allowed to leave here unless by express permission, or the exigencies of the service demand Good-night,” and ere the men could reply, he had passed inside and ce closed the door, the heavy bar dropping into the massive brackets — with a dull, heavy thud. ; Blake and bis three companions glanced at each other in some sur- Bi prise, and then entered their boat without ‘uttering a word, for rd Lem’s woolly head was seen at the little window some thirty feet ab ve ; them. Larry returned upstairs and found old Lem still at the window. © Well, what do you think of them, Lem?” he asked. ‘« Don’t tink puffin ob dem, Marse Larry; dey is Dad. uns.” “ Why do you think so?” : ““« Kase dey is. Dat big man wif de brack beard am got er rae look, | Marse Larry.” «* Just what I think, too, Lem. I don’t like their looki at all.” oH Old Lem said nothing, but went on with his work, and when he : was through, went up on the balcony to look upon the sea under that soft tropical starlight. ‘¢ Dis am jes lubly, Marse Larry, said the faithful old black, as he gazed out upon the mirror-like expanse of old ocean, “¢ Yes,” said Larry, “ it is indeed beautiful; but you ON, terrible storms prevail in this latitude sometimes.” “Jt kain’t blow down dis heah lighthouse, Marse Larry?” . “ Of course it can’t. It was built to stand the worse. storms of latitude. There’s no danger of this thing blowing down.” ee ' They stayed up at the top till bedtime, and then went below a 1 alt The next morning vem jwas up early, Leste all the stars bh lio

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LARRY LEE. 3 t % ye ing directly over him, and not very high above the light. He aimed and fired at it. The fowl gave a ‘* quonk ” and dropped on the bal- eony at his feet. 3 “That's a goose for dinner,” he remarked, and then he fired at another. The more he fired the more he seemed to have around him. Several came near enough for Lem to kill them with a pole, and in a few minutes he had a dozen lying on the rocks below. \ “T'sé gwine to tab some goose ile for my roomertiz,” he said, ag he looked down at the dead and wounded geese on the rocks, The tide was very low, and the long line of reefs gould be traced distinctly with the naked eye. There was a gentle swell, and as the water rushed through and over the rocks, a long line of whitefoam could be seen for miles stretch- ing away to the south and north, Lem finally grew tired of striking at geese and went below to gather up his spoils. There were nearly a score of wild geese which he had brought down with the pole, ‘Fedders am waff er halfa dollar a poun’,” he said, ‘‘ an’ goose meat am good to eat,” and he smacked his lips in anticipation of a fat: / goose for dinner. During the forenoon Lem was sitting on one of the rocks.at the base of the lighthouse, when he was astonished at seeing an old negro man as black as himself coming toward him from the mainland in a dugout. He was amazed, because the swell of the ocean threatened «every moment to swamp the clumsy craft, ' ‘* Bress de Lor’!” exclaimed Lem; ‘‘ whar youse gwine, nigger?” ‘* se gwine fo’ ter come Ober dar,” replied the strange negro. The old darky shot forward, and his canoe wedged in between two sharp rocks and stuck there. eB “Wi, hil” exclaimed Lem, fool nigger!” “ What call’s you got ter call me er fool niggah?” demanded the visitor, rising and walking forward to the rock as easily as if he were on terra firma, ‘* Kase youse canoe am stuck in de rocks,” replied Lem. “Let her stick; who keers? Whar’s yer boss?” Lem stared at the old man, whose wool was almost white with age, and wondered What the old negro could want with Larry. Just as he was going ie reply to the old negro, Larry came down and asked: ‘* What do you want, old man?” \“* Am you de keeper ob dis yer lighthouse?” the old man asked. ‘Yes, Tam the keeper. What can I do for you?” -~ “ Yer can’t do nuffin’ fo’ me. I’se ole now, an’ bime-by I'll lay down an’ doan’t wake up eny more,” ‘* Dat’s er fac’,” assented Lem, who was listening. } Larry saw, however, that the old man had come over on business, and therefore concluded to wait until he was ready to divulge it, The old man looked Larry over from head to foot and said: “« Youse don’t want no mo’ fishermen ober here?” » - “ No,” said Larry. ‘‘ We can catch all the fish we want.” “ Dey ain’t fishermen—dey’s wreckers, dey is.” Instantly a flash passed through Larry's mind that the old negro ‘had come to reveal sas character of the men in the huts on the beach to him. ie - Just what I thought, old man,” said he. ‘* Do you know anything about them?” \ » Yes, sah, I does.” Z _. Come over fo tell us about. ‘em?” — ; a: Yes, sah, kase dey is bad uns, sah!” replied the old darky. _« Where do you live, old man?” *¢ Ober dare in de swamp.” - “ In de swamp!” exclaimed Lem, ; The old man gave hima look of contempt, and made no reply to his ejaculation, Ther, turning to Larry, said: “Dem wreckers am bad uns, massa, Dey kill my Ned kage he ’ in’t bury a purty young gal in de swamp.” a young girl in the swamp!” sents et beaded re ested in the ik hak Uaig tote wink ** youse come fo’ ter stay heah, too, yer Bp in the dining room or up under the light.” Ps es | rocks of the reef on which Manatee Lighthouse. stood. | the best. the mainla The old man took the tobacco and cut off a good chew, and gave the plug back with a— ‘ “Tank yer, massa,” Then he told, in his own way, how a vessel was wrecked one night on the reef below where they were sitting, in a gale. Nearly all night the wreckers paced up and down the beach, carrying lights on long, limber ash poles, waving them so as to make them resemble the lights of a ship. These lights deceived a vessel which was caughtin the gale, and her doom was sealed. pie struck the reef and went to pieces. The beach was strewn with the wreck and cargo, several dead bodies and four half-drowned persons—three men and one beautiful young girl. The old negro was the first one to go to the assistance of the young girl. He saw that she was yet alive, and gave her to his son to carry away out of reach of danger, The white wreckers came along, killed the men, and told Ned to bury the girl in the swamp. He swore he would not, and they shot him. Then the old man was ordered to bury her in the swamp, and he said he would, He took her in his arms, carried her into the swamp, and, instead of burying her, carried her to his cabin, hid her away, and had his old wife work on her to resusitate her. He reported to the wreckers that he had buried her, and then went to work to bury his son. Fear of the wreck- ers prevented him from taking any exceptions to what they had done. But he had never put in an appearance after that when there was a wreck on the reefs, The wreckers had lots of buried treasure some- where around there, as they secured large prizes from the wreck, « Where is the young girl now?” Larry asked, with interest. “Tp a hut im de swamp,” replied the old man. ‘« Has she been there ever since the wreck?” “ Yes, sah. She was afraid to go away from dar,” : “ She will be safe here,” said Larry, quickly, ‘‘ and when the Gov-. ernment vessel comes with supplies sho can go with it to any port she wants toreach. You may bring her here, old man.” _ “ Tankee, massa, She'll be eber so glad o’ dat.” i ae ‘Be careful and don’t let the wreckers see you,” cautioned Larry. r “Yes, massa. I'll fotch her in de night.” i «« Can you bring her here to-night?” Larry asked. ‘© Yes, massa.” f “« Then take the lighthouse boat and go for her. Tell her she shall receive the protection of the United States if she comes here,” and — Larry at once ordered eH to assist him in launching the boat for the old man. The canoe was still stile in between the Jagged edges of two rocks, and was held fast. When launched, the old man got into the beat and pushed off, going direct for the mainland, till he was lost in the gloom of the night. j — ‘ CHAPTER III. THE MAIDEN CAST UP BY THE SEA—THE DEATH STRUGGLE ON THE BALCONY. ea Larry gazed after the old negro till he and the boat were lost in the darkness, and then turned to old Lem and asked; 1 “ Well, what Go you think of it, Lem?” “‘T tinks him er sassy ole niggah, sah,” replied Lem, who could not forgive the old man’s impudence to him when he first Tanded atthe — lighthouse, ie “But what do you think of the wreckers?” ~ oe ‘* Dem wreckers am de wustest people in the worl’, Marse Larry.” i “T think they are about as bad as the pirates on the high seas.” “Yes, sah. And old Lem wondered if any human beings could be worse than men who mardered helpless shipwrecked sailors as- they were cast up by the sea.” “Lem,” said Larry, ‘ we must give her my room, and I will sleep “ Yes, gah,” a Both waited till near midnight listening for the sound of oars, They could hear only the gentle marmur of the sea as it caressed “ Dar!” whis ered old Lem at last, whose eyes, and ears wel ‘Dar he comes.” — Larry listened, and soon heard see: faint sound iy oars coming

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LARRY LEE. Two persons were in it. «« Be careful,” said Larry; ‘* don’t strike the rocks, old man.” “ Yes, sah, se keerful,” and he brought the boat alongside the rock on which Larry was standing. A young girl, tall and slender, stood up, and Larry extended a hand to her, “Are you the lighthouse keeper?” she asked in a low, sweet voice, as sbe placed her hand in his. 4 Yes, miss, and everything here is at your service,” "Oh, yours is the first white man’s voiceI have heard in seven months! Ihave been in the keeping of this old man for seven months, and he is the kindest manI ever knew. I will never forges you and your good wife, old man.” “Tankee, missus. Bress de Lor’ man’s voice trembled as he spoke. “Qld man,” said Larry, grasping the old negro’s hand, ‘if you - ever want afriend or protection for yourself or wife, come to Larry Lee at the Manatee Lighthouse.” i *Tankee, Marse Lee. Old Sancho will ’member dat. ‘missus. I’se glad youse safe, an-——” “You can’t go now, Sancho,” said Larry. ‘* You will ava to wait for the tide before your canoe will be loose from the rocks.” Yes, sab. I'll wait for de tide.” “Take him into the kitchen, Lem, give him something to eat and a bottle of brandy.” “Yes, sah—come erlong, ole man,” and Lem led the way behind Larry and the young girl. She held tightly to bis arm as she agcended the stairs. «This looks like a massive prison,” she said, looking around at _ the solid stone walls. ; «So it does, It is made to withsiand the assaults of the ocean. Here we are. I know you will like a glass of brandy to strengthen your nerves. Take this seat, and I will fetch you a glass,” and he hastened away to bring her a glass of brandy. e He had not seen her face. When he returned she was standing by the table, her bonnet off, nd a wealth of raven hair hanging over her shoulders and down yer back. He thought her the most beautiful creature he had ever beheld, Her face was dark—almost olive in complexion, and he thought at first she was Spanish. He stopped to gaze upon her loveliness. “1am sorry to impose on your kirdness, air,” she said, ‘ but my father will repay you for all your trouble,” a“ Ini un do anything. that you will appreciaie, miss, your father youse safe now,” and the old Good-by, SRT tk 4 ne sir, Ido appreciate your g generous offer. This is a palace in compat ison to the hut in the swamp, and this brandy is the nectar of the goda, Heaven has sent mea see in you, and Heaven will re- ts Hl and was on my way back home with my uncle i in one of vessels when. the storm cauzht us. Oh; it was terrible. went to pieces” on the rocks about daylight. 1 was washed and swallowed ‘up in the water. I knew nothing more ne to and | found ‘old Sancho and his wife banding over me ite hut in the swamp.” "3 | i was. indeed terrible, Miss iharciasa, * said Larry. wy have y vessels wrecked, for fave y always | hived i ina lighthouse— born 0 one,” | rh : Pinon something about. the horrors of a wreck?” — do. You may dismiss all your fears’ now. This. place | as a fort, and the wreckers cannot get at. you her 3 4 rill call here in ‘three ‘months, when 0 take pena for neater ; eral vessels low down in the gd could be seen from the balcony / “Just as you please,” said Larry, ‘* only don’t have any fears. logae' how Lem and old Sancho were getting along. He found both old ne- groes enjoying the bottle of brandy together, and growiug more com- municative every minute. ‘« The tide is up now, Sancho, *' said Larry, ‘ and we'll try to get your canoe out i! you.” ‘Yes, massa,” and the two old darkies, now good friends, tollowad him downstairs to the rocks where the canse was fastened. It required considerable work to get the canoe loose, but they suc- ceeded at last, and the old darky struck out for the mainland, The next morning the sky was overcast with heavy clouds, and the: sea moaned as if in trouble. ‘« We will have a blow within twenty-four hours, Lem,” said Deate: on taking observations, ‘ so.look out for everything.” “ Yes, sah,” and the faithful fellow did look out, and left nothing lying around loose for the mad sea to claim. { Anita Narcissa awoke in time for Lem’s breakfast, which he bad prepared with usual care, and complimented him highly on hia skill a3 a cook, As the day wore on everything pointed to a storm that night. Sev- of the lighthouse. The young girl came timidly up to the balcony and gazed round at the threatening clouds, and listened to the beating of the waves against the base of the lighthouse. “Oh, chis looks just as it did on that fatal evening the Navarro was wrecked!” she exelaimed. ‘Yes. I think we are going to have a blow,” said Larry, ‘ but we have no fears of it here.” « This is like a solid rock,” she remarked. ‘Oh, I feel that I am up above the cruel waves now—that they cannot reach me.” «Nor can they. This lighthouse is as strong as a mountain, Miss Narcissa.” ‘“¢ Will you light up the lamps to-night?” she asked, “ Yes—though it lacks two days of the time set by the Government. I think it will be nothing but right that { should, ag it may be the means of saving some vessel, and it may be many lives.” ‘Oh, yes—how noble and humane you are!” Larry blushed like a schoolgirl and turned away to ela up the lamps, as the sun was setting. She stood by and watched him as he lit the lamps and set the revolving flame to going. 2 | ** Now,” he said, prepping oe from the lamps, ‘‘ that light ¢ can be seen Lwenty miles at sea,’ i 5 Anita had picked up the Penh and was gazing round at every — sail in sight, of which there were five, and then along the beach. «Oh, Mr, Lee!” she exclaimed, ‘just see how excited these men are over tne light!” Larry turned and took the glass. He leveled’it toward the wreck- ers’ huts on the lower beach, and saw the men gazing at the light and gesticulating excitedly, as though in an angry discussion over it, “They are simply surprised at my lighting: up. two days ahead of — time,” said Larry. .‘ Let’s go down to supper, as I hear Lem’s whis- j tle below.” ; He led her downstairs to the ‘Jiule dining room, where old Lem had a fine roasted wild goose waiting. for them. Of course they enjoyed | the meal. Who wouldn’t? “«T don’t want to see or hear the storm,” said Anita, when they had finished the meal. “It gives me a feeling of horror which IL cannot shake oe I will lock yayeels in my room and stay there till morning.” ves ever. Good-night.” a4 Good-night, »” she replied, and they both if to ae and slay to the

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LARRY LEK, — 5 «‘ Till cut your heart out, you black imp!’’ hissed the man, rushing upon him with a formidable knife upraised, Lem only uttered a growl as he caught the arm as it descended with the knife. In another moment the knife fell to the ground, and the two men were on an equality. _ * Youse ain a bad man!” cried Lem, giving him two or three blows - that stunnec him into insensibility. “ Guess dem sharks’ll tink youse good ’nuff ter eat,” said Lem, pick- ing hin up and tossing him into the sea. Then, thinking of Larry and the young lady, he dashed up the Stone stairs, after closing the door, to the assistance of the young lighthouse keeper. Larry was standing by the light, admiring the working of the re- volving frame, when he heard footsteps behind him, Turning sharply around, he found himself face to face with Cap- ' tain Blake, of the wreckers. Bilake’s eyes were all ablaze. “You are two days ahead of time!” hissed the wrecker, ‘ Pat out that light or die!” and he held a long knife threateningly in his hand. Larry caught the situation in an instant. ' The wreckers expected two or three wrecks on the reef that night and a rich harvest of plunder, He had no weapon in his hands, and yet he defiantly replied: “« Never!” With a serpent-like hiss Blake sprang upon him. Larry caught his wrist, gave it a sudden, powerful wrench, and the knife fell to the floor of the balcony. Then came the death struggle, ‘Hach strove to hurl the other over the balcony into the boiling depths below. Round, round, they went, every muscle drawn to its utmost tention, for it was life or death to them. Suddenly Larry gave a twist that sent his assailant reeling over the railing of the balcony. A,wild shriek escaped Blake, and whe next “moment he was hurled into the roaring sea below. ‘ CHAPTER IV. THE. FIRST LIGHT AT MANATEE—THE TERRIBLE STORM AND RAIN OF i FOWLS. : Faiturut Lem ascended the stairs as fast as he could, and reached the top just in time to see the wrecker hurled over the balcony into the raging-cepths below. ~ ** Good Lor’! he exclaimed, | ‘‘Dat’s de way I done toder one.” ears Was there another one?” Larry asked, breathing hard after his | nose, and made a dive for the stairway that led to the room below. ~ desperate struggle. esl ‘Yes, sah—dere was two on’em, an’ I frowed one on’em in desea.” That was right. The scoundrels hoped for a wreck or two to- i, night, and this light was in their way. How did they get in?” me. Good Lor’, Marse Larry, but dey was bad uns!” «Of course they were. . “alter this, as the Manatee light will break up their business and make ; hy em desperate.” { Yes, sah. { don’t lef de door open no more arter dis.” , : secainen no oeshipal from the struggle save in having his work, ina the event of resistance in the lighthouse. this in the Kitehen, Lem?” he. asked, handing the Ks y jig to the young indy/ about it! ey PS ik this. Visit.” t the entrance — ‘but er ole fool goose ’d eber fly agin er nigger’s head. “TJ opened de door for ter see ef eberyting was dar, an’ dey run in | and he quickly followed the faithfwl black down the stairs. You must keep a sharp lookout for them | wateh the light. Tt was ably sharpened: rer ic jatinded for de- | took the knife come. next. ‘Hope it won't blow any sharks out of the water.’ ip to the light to. | kept dropping down iuto the open stairway, | til at least half a hu ee ‘ Ms } ae sa were puss up there, Lem came ny le ‘nose swelled consider. The rain came down in torrents and blinding flashes of lightning Hluminated the surrounding darkness. It may have thundered, bat Larry Lee did not hear it. No thunder ever equaled the roar of the waves over the lurida reefs in sound or fury. Larry was standing near the light watching its steady work in the wind and rain when he imagined he felt something whiz by his head, He looked around and saw Lem standing close to the light on the land side. He moved round to speak to Lem when, whack! something took him on the back of the head and he went down like a log. Lem stooped and picked him up. He was too confused at first to know just where he was. ‘« What’s the matter, Lem?” he hoarsely asked. *« Ax dat ole goose, Marse Larry,” answered Lem, pointing to a dead goose which was lying on the balcony floor at his feet. Larry looked at the goose for a moment, and then took it up. was a heavy one, “Abt In was # hard thump, Lem,” he said, aroening the goose. , “ Hard enough to knock a horse down.” 5 Whack! came another against the revolving frame, and a googe fell 1 to the floor, fluttering in the agonies of death. ne “Tbe gale has stirred them up, and they are flying for the light!” cried Larry at the top of his voice. Whack! and a big gander came plump against the woolly head of Lem causing him to stagger forward. fe Hole on dar!” cried Lem, catching at the railing to sustain him- self. “* Who dat hit me?” Larry laughed in spite of himself. Lem saw the grin on his face and ingtantly knew that a goose had — hit him, But the blow was death to the guose, for he was found dead where Lem had been standing. Lem picked him up and guessed his weight at ten pounds. «Tank de Lor’ yer broke yer cle neck,” ke muttered. It ‘* Naflin Sarbs yer right,” and he put his hand to the back of his head to feel the extent _ of the damage, when another came plump against his face, on He went over like a circus performer habia a backward somer- sault. 1 Larry roared, and Lem yelled with all his might: “Let go dar! Hole on, I tole yer! Lemme up! Lor’ gorramitey!” He scrambled to his feet, the blood streaming from his battered Two more struck the balcony a moment later, and Larry said to Ane himself: “ T guess I’d better go down too, or ru get knocked over. They may come pretly fast after awhile. This light is a new thing to them,” But he stopped at the foot of the stairs and seated himself there to He knew the glass was an inch thick, yet a heavy thump of a ten pound goose might break it, and in that case he must be ready to put in another and relight the lamps. : He had been seated there five minutes ere several geese fell futter- — ing down upon him, having struck the Abdi and Weta tis bgt the open stairway. “ We'll have geese enough to send to market to-morrow morning,” he said, ‘‘ if there was only a market within reach of us. Lem can — get feathers enough, however, to pay him for those knockdowns,” ‘and again he was compelled to luugh at the old /darky as he went over backward, yelling as though a tiger had seized him. he A few minutes later a half dozen ducks tumbled down upon clit { “They are coming fast,” he seid, kicking them out of ‘the way. ‘All the water fowls are on the wing—blown off their rooste. Helio “There ome some of Mother Cary’s chickens. I wonder what » ‘Hour after hour passed and still the storm raged. Geese and du

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/ 6 LARRY LEE. “ Yes—if we had easy communication with a market we could make ‘ Something surely made me think so,” she said, ‘‘ for it made me a fortune on ducks and geese,” ; shudder when J heard it, It rings in my ears yet.” ‘¢ Yes, sah—dat’s er fac’,” and he commenced clearing the place of Lein’s whistle announced breakfast, and Larry led her down into : the deac fowls. the little dining room, where tea, bread, cheese aud duck awaited But the storm continued to rage till near daylight, and the wild | them. roar of the waves was fearful, Ducks and geese continued to kill '* How is your noge, Lem?’ tar y asked, on entering the dining themselves against the light until there were nearly two hundred ly- | room. ing around, ‘* Dat nose am all right, Marse Larry,” eaid faithful Lem, The storm suddenly ceased and the wild, fierce wind died away. ‘*JT see it’s still on your face,” said Larry, laughing, ‘{ hope it th But the roar of the angry ocean was heard for hours after. won't grow out in the shape of a goose.” is When daylight came the sky was bright and clear—not a cloud to “ Dat ain’t no gouse nose,” replied Lem. ‘‘ It kin smell a goose . be seen anywhere; only the high rolling waves beating over the reef | cookin’ a mile. off, Marse Larry.” ; - and against the massive walls of the lighthouse indicating that there *‘T believe you there, Lem,” and Larry and Anita voth laughed as “s had been a storm. : they seated themselves at the table, ‘‘ for if aman ever loved roast a { pee eS goose you do.” i CHAPTER V. **Davs er fac’,” assented Lem; and he grinned broadly at the es: THE HARVEST OF GAME, thought of the feasts of roast goose he would have for three or four x _ Just as the sun was peeping over the everglades Anita Narcissa | days to come. f % came tripping up to the balcony, where Larry was engaged extinguish— After breakfast Larry weat down to see if he could find any traces : ing the lamps. She looked bright and cheerful, though very poorly | of the two men who bad been cast into the sea the night before. dressed—baving had nothing saved from the wreck of the Navarro— | «© Of course he could see nothing of them, but he believed that both and gazed in unfeigned surprise at the dead ducks, geese, and sea- | were drowned, gulls that were thickly strewn over the floor. ‘The fall would kill one, and the other must fare drowned,” he “Oh, yes, Lem will cook a brace of them to-day for our dinner, | amit? there had been a clear space at the vase he would probably have — found a thousand there this morning, ‘but the sea washed them away.” “Oh, I wish I could setae seen ‘the storm, ‘Theard it last night, but I was afraid to get up.” ** You could not have seen’ much if you had, It was too ey and ailings “ Close up below, Lem!” cried Larry, and in a minute the faithful old black had the massive door bolted and barred. ¢ He then went up to see what the trouble was, Larry pointed to the hoat coming in, and Lem shook his head. if 1 Anita came up and asked: aie 2 What. are those men in the boat coming after?” “ They are wreckers—bad men,” replied Larry. ‘TI will thems They can’t get in, so you need not get excited in. t “The boat came and touched at the base of the lighthouse. “ Hello, mate!” cried one of the party. ‘ Hello, yourself!” returned | Larry. “ What do. you want?” eard it daly once, It must have been a | haman voice.” | ‘Come down and let us in,” answer the aaa “ We wan e quite” HeEYORS at night, were you not?” Be Nh ‘ " me ungallant old goose would have punee you over the to the sea,” 4 honght I heard & ‘wild shriek in ‘the early par of the night, the hie became so furious.’ ” > ‘‘Why, Mr. Lee!” she exclaimed. ‘* What in the world are you go- | said to himself, ‘‘ so they are done for at least.” _._ ing to do with so muny ducks and geese?” Returning 10 the top of the lighthouse, he took the spyglass and ; “Throw them into the sea as soon as Lem plucks them of their | looked along the white beach in search of the bodies of Captain Blake < feathers,” he replied. and bis man, , “ How did you kill them?” He saw nothing of them, and so he glanced down the lower beach “ Tnever killed one of them, Miss Narcissa,” he replied. ‘‘ Every | at the wreckers’ huts, The wreckers were standing ina group atthe fowl you see there is a suicide.” upper end of one of the huts, talking and gesticulating quite excit- — ‘A suicide?” j ingly. e * Yes —they killed themselves.” «Great Heavens!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ that muat be Blake!” | hae oo She looked at him. 4 He gazed loug and eagerly at the little group, and noticed the mam 4 “J don’t understand,” she remarked, looking him fallin the face. | he took to be Blake slip away and enter the hut. The others soon tee *« J will explain in afew words. There was a great storm last | followed, and then they were all out of sight. \ f id night. Did you hear it?” ‘« How in the world did he escape last night?” Larry asked himself a Yes." a dozen times. ‘ He fell eighty feet into the water, which was ~ é : “The lamps were lit for the first time last night.” enough to kill any ordinary man, unless he struck the water feet fore- Se Cong most. How did he miss striking the rocks? I don't understand it.” ; «‘ The wind blew the fowls from their rest, and in the darkness they He called Lem up, and asked: _ flew at the light. It blinded them so that they knew not when they ‘* Would you know the men who came here last night?” “” yeached it till they struck it. Of course everyone that struck it was ** No, sah; it was too dark.” killed. One struck me on the back of my head and knocked me down, “T thought I recognized the man I Auer over the balcony standing _ Another mashed Lem’s nose all over his face, and sent him a complete | by those huts down there this morning.” ol somersault backwards. He got up, said he had nothing against the “ Bress de Lor’! Dat war his ghost, ‘aves, Larry.” ge re geese, and went downstairs in disgust. He hasn’t been up since.” «‘T don’t think it was any ghost, Lem, I can tell full well a “live is She could not help smiling at his description of Lem’s retreat, and | man from agkost. It was that Captain Blake 1 eat with last ; 4 said: fy night.” ey a Why, I never heard of Buch things before. Is it a common a “© But, Marse Larry, dat fall would kill de debbil!” exclaimed Lem. currence?” i | © Nonif he missed the rocks and struck the water feet foremost.” “Oh, yes. I’ve known: sea-fowls, ducks and geese to strike old | ‘“ Wish he'd broke him neck,” growled Lem, locking over toward _ ‘Tybee Light on a still summer night.” the huts on the Jower beach, pens) “Tam sorry Lem was jhurt, Maybe he is too ill to get up ‘this They went to work to remove the ducks and geese and clean up the 4 _ morning?” : : upper part of-the lighthouse. Lem gathered up the fowls, carried 3 “Oh, no, He is all right.” ti) : them below, and picked feathers all day long, except when he stopped He “ Have you seen him this morning?" to look at the brece of ducks in the oven, ! ee “No, but I have heard him.” Just before sunset a boat pushed off from the huts and pulled for “These ducks are good to eat, are they not?” i the lighthouse. Thera, were seven men in it. * Tears may h have made you think | ib was a 6 ae Se . ies

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t . | LARRY LEE. 7 « Talk away, I can hear every word you say.” They consulted a moment and then the leader asked, “What's the matter? Why won’t you let us in?” *« Simply because I know who and what you are, Sheer off now or Vii fire on you.” “What for?” ‘* Because you are here without my consent. United States I command you to leave at once,” His tone and language startled the wreckers; but there was no other recourse for them, and they retired to their boat again and _ shoved off, In the name of the CHAPTER VI. THE WRECKERS AT WORK, Ler us now go to the wreckers’ huts, on the beach below the light- house, and note events on the evening of the storm. It will be remembered by the reader that the occupants of those huts claimed to be fishermen; but the quick mind of young Larry saw that fishing was only a blind—that fish caugkt in that out-of-the-way place could never reach a market except as salt-sured. The visit of old Sancho to the lighthouse, and the revélations he madeto Larry, confirmed him in his suspicions in regard to their calling. , When Captain Blake, as the leader of the wreckers was called, and two of his companions paid a visit to the lighthouse, it was for the . purpose of mentally measuring the young lighthouse keeper, and as- - certaining the time the light would be pot on. On learning that it _ Was not until the Thursday following, they went away to consult about What they would do. : In one of these huts nine sialwart, bronzed men gathered that even- _ ing on Blake’s return from the Manatee Lighthouse, lit their pipes, ; and listened to the meyers of their leader. : “He isa young man,” said Blake, in apeaking of young Lee, ‘‘ who_ _ knows' his business. He was born in is old Tybee So ab he Mh Gs and knows all about such things.” ah? ‘“ How many people are with him?” one of the party asked, ~ “Qne old negro man,’ who seems to be his cook and housekeeper. _ He willruin our business, and force us to leave this part of the coast, if he puts up the light. It can be seen twenty miles out, and that would warn away every vessel that passed. I think three of us could go over there, tie up him and the negro, and then smash the lamps r throw them into the sea. It would take the Government three or six “months to put it in working order again, tonnes which time we can - continue to work the decoys during storms,” _ ‘ Bat how long would it take the Government to hang us for doing that thing?” one of the wreckers asked. _ * Wreckers never ask such questions,” was the reply. “ We have putting two men out of our way. Who will remain to accuse us? The lighthouse keeper and his nigger\will be dead.” © That's so,” added one of the party. ‘ We can put them out of the way, and no one will know who did it. If any of us are arrested we can swear each other out.” “That’s the idea,” said Blake. ‘If we stand by each other the Government can do nothing with us. We must throw the lamps and oe two men into the sea,”" nt met Yos—that’s 80.” Bets OF course it is. uN »~ _ We’ll have no more wrecks if once that light is We'd have to give up and move away.” peo go over on Wednesday night and do the work,” said Blake. won't light up on Thursday night. The Government will bye ais sie it for any weeks.” done enough to be hanged a dozen times, and should not stop at | most, Two feet nearer the base of the lighthouse and he would have en | lighthouse keeper ano ae had ‘thrown over. to the 1 he , the him: mith an ‘Caden cluded that it was his duty, under the circumstances, to anticipate the Government by two days, and so he lit the lamps just before sun- Bet. The flash of the great light over the water in the gathering twilight astounded the wreckers, who had been eagerly watching the approach of the coming storm all the afternoon. They had even been gazing at the sailsin the distance from the tops of their huts, perhaps men- tally calcuJating the value of the expected wrecks. ‘Great whalesl” ejaculated one of the wreckers, ‘just look at that light!” Blake gazed at the great light in infelgoad surprise. His face changed color and his eyes flashed fire. ‘* He has no right to light up before Thursday,” he hissed through his clenched teeth. ‘‘He is going beyond his fnstructions, and is altogether too officious.” ‘«Tt will ruin our business to-night,” remarked another. *« So it will,” assented a third. ‘¢ Two of you get the boat,” said Blake, quietly. him or ruin to us, We'll soon see which it is.” ** But we can’t get there now,” said one of the wreckers. ‘© We must get there,” said Blake, with startling emphasis, The boat was sooy drawn down to the beach, where half a dozen _ “Tt is death to men held it till Blake and two of his comrades could get in and wait for another wave to come in and give them a chance to ride out on it. Blake armed himself with a murderous-looking knife, as did Ken- nedy, one of the two, and there was a look of determination in his face that told of desperation within his heart. ° “Now lei go!” he cried, as a huge wave came in and lifted the boat above the sand. | They seized their oars and made a desperate pull as the others re-' leased their hold, and the boat went out with the receding wave into deeper water. It was a desperate undertaking, but the light guided them; the boat was a good one, and the men strong and well used to bufleting the waves. , “Pull hard, men!” cried Blake, and all three laid themselves to the task as men seldom worked. The waves were coming higher every minute, If they could only reach the lighthouse they could put out the light and remain till the storm had dove its worst. Puil—pull—pull, anc at last they succeeded in striking the east side of the lighthouse, where the force of the waves was broken, and were able to effect a landing without much difficulty, “* Stay here and hold the boat, Saggers,” said Blake, ‘till we come down again,” and he and Kennedy went around to the one door at. the base of the tall stone tower. Just as they reached the door old Lem opened it and peered out ‘ into the darkness. ‘ They pounced upon him, Kennedy grasped him from behind, and, thinking he was well able to handle the black cook, cried out to Blake to go up and attend to i Larry. Blake sprang away and ran nimbly up the stone steps, leaving Kennedy to struggle alone with old Lem. Kennedy, as the reader already knows, never made a greater mis~ take in his life than when he undertook to get away with old Lem. Seeing his danger, he promptly turned the tables on, bis assailant, knocked him Jown, and threw him into the sea—almost into ‘the boat that Saggers was holdiog, 5 ani then rusbed upstairs to the assistance wa of Larry. He reached the top in time to see young Larry hurl Blake ‘over the _baleony into the raging depths eighty feet below. Down, down he went until the wrecker struck the water feet fore- been crushed to a shapeless mass on a rock. As it was, he rose to the surface’ unharmed to any great extent, and — called out: | “Saggers! Saggers!” loud enough to be heard above the roar of ene waves. 4 Just then Kennedy struck the boat aud climbed into it. Bye ‘Saggers, who. heard Blake calling him, thought he was the } ot eS"

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8 - LARRY LEE. Kennedy heard and recognized the voice, and thrust out an oar. Blake grasped it and was soon in the boat. ‘* My God, Blake!” exclaimed Kennedy, ‘‘ how came you here?” ' * He thraw me over the balcony,” replied Blake. ‘‘ What are you doing here?” ‘« He threw me into the sea,” was the reply. For a couple of minutes only the roar of the sea was heard. h Blake eried out: j ** We can do nothing more to-night. ean, and try it some other time.” Seizing their oars they made a shove, and the waves carried them away from the lighthouse toward the beach with race-horse speed. { ) Then We must save ourselves if we * CHAPTER VII. CAST UP? BY THE WAVES, THE waves had increased in volume aud fury since they left the beach, and the desperate wreckers found themselves in the grasp of the very elements that had been aiding them in plundering unfortu- nates who had been wrecked on the treacherous reefs. There was one chance only for them, and that was in the fact that each wave carried them nearer and nearer the low, sandy beach, where there were no rocks for them to be broken upos. They knew this, and, instead of rowing forward, they used all their skill to keep it afloat, trusting to the wind and the waves to land them safely on terra firma. When within two hundred yards of the beach a huge wave lifted the boat high up and threw it into the trough of the sea, bottom ap- wards, — The wretches struggled solely to keep their heads above the water and let the waves carry them to land. $ Wave after wave came and hurled them about with pitiless force, At last they were pitched up on the beach, unconscious, and more dead than alive. The boat was also thrown high up on the sand. Kennedy was the first to recover consciousness. He sprang up and _ glared around him in the darkness. He could not see twenty feet _ away, The rain was coming down in torrents. A faint glimmer of light through the cracks of one of the huts over a mile below told him _ where he was, He ran with all his might, though feeling deathly sick from having swallowed nearly a gallon of sea water, but sick as he was, he ran all ‘the way till he reached’ the nearest hut, the one with the light in it. i ‘Seven wreckers were in the hut, awaiting the return of their com- fades. Kennedy burst in upon them with: ie “Quick! Get your lanterns! Blake and Saggers are on the beach _ somewhere!” The astounded wreckers ran to the door and ‘looked out at the still brilliant glare of Manatee Lighthouse. ‘You couldn’t reach the lighthouse?” one of them asked. “ Yes—and we were fired out into the sea. the baleouy. Come, quick, or it may be too lace!” mr the time he was fotincd ae of the reception the expedition bee and Saggers. _ Saggers was soon found lying where the waves had cast him, Two reckers took bim up and carried. him back to the hut, whilst he others went in search of Blake, pr lowed. — ee ot rs that he had path him, d, va Ww iere are the others?” 5 and Saggers has ‘been carried. to the hut? m sisted tom his. foot and led oe to the hot. Blake was thrown over to Bigatia some of the sea water be nea ioe swal- | 8 Voice. He had to wave his lantern es his head to signal the ; , ; | them off in very peremptory terms. : . | Anita. Narcisea ala window, bee a : At the hut they found that Saggers had been restored to conscious- ness, but he was awfully sick from the quantity 0! water swallowed. The boat was also found upon the beach near where Saggers bad been picked up. Thus were the wreckers defeated in their attempt to extinguish the Manatee Light, and on that awful night several vessels were saved from wreck by means of the warning given by the light. “« We won’t get any wrecks by this gale,” said Kennedy, after tak- ing a drink of brandy to take the chill out of him, ‘*so we may as well go to bed and wait till we can put out that light.” i “« But won't Lee have you and Blake arrested for this right’s work?” one of the party asked, : ‘*Wecan keep a watch on the lighthouse,” said Blake, ‘‘ and if he or the nigger leaves it, we can make fish bait of them. I’m not afraid of arrest.” me They all went to bed, to rise in the morning, only to find dead ducks and geese strewn along the beach, having been killed by contact with the lighthouse, There were scores and scores of them, but nota sign of awreck. The Manatee Light had done its work well, and the vil- lains made the morning air sulphurous with their oaths. A “Our business will be ruined,” said Kennedy, ‘ unless we can put out that light.” bi ‘‘ We must put it out,” said Blake. ‘‘ This is about the only place : where we can doa good business on the reefs. Once out, it will be six months before they ty it in order again, That's the ey all government works are run.” “Why didn’t you put it out last night, cap'en?” one of the Fae asked. *« Because I was thrown over the balcony into the sea,” was the frank: admission of the leader. “ But why didn’t you throw him over?” ‘* Because I couldn’t. When he is thrown over, it will be done by © two men, not one,” ‘And you want four men to put that nigger out,” said Kennedy, at which the others indulged in a laugh at his expense. ; “Just have your laugh now, pards,” said Blake, ‘‘ for you won’b — have any ma you tackle that nigger. I’yehad hold of him, andknow _ what he is,” The laugh subsided, and the wreckers gathered up the died fowls and Suried them. Then they held a council to devise ways and meuns : to put out the light. 1 ‘* Seven of you must go over there this afternoon,” said Blake, ‘and — try to gain admittance. Once inside you can do your work with ease, Shoot them down, smash the lamps and throw them into the aoe 8 f ** You won’t go yourself?” Saggers asked. abe “No. Ifhe saw me returning with half a dozen friends he would ‘ not be foo] enough to admit us. If he doesn’t see either Kennedy or me in the crowd, he might let you in, Then your work will be easy.” y) “ That’s so, mates,” said one of the party, an old man who had been — a sailor in his younger days, \ ‘* Then you had better make ready to go over as soon as the sea gels smoothed down again,” saggested Blake. “I think so, too,” added Kennedy. *« But do you know, I think bo is looking at us now through a glass.” He “No.” j “ Well, he is.” 3 «Phen I will g0 ‘inside and not let him know that I am atill alive,” is and Blake hastily. re-entered the hy and shut the door. Mo Gi ( CHAPTER VIII. is : | THE cite ane paue AT THE LIGHTHOUSE WINDOW. with ai ae lighthouse. ‘They retired, of course, because they could not do otherwise, i On their way back they looked up and saw the dark, sweet fa “B cried | one of the men, “there's a ‘you ee

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The wrecker took the glass and pointed it at her. He turned ashen pale and gasped: “‘My God! It’s the face of the young girl old Sancho buried in the swamp!” ; ‘* No!” ejaculated the others in a breath, their faces paling at the mention of the young girl. * Yes,” said the first man. for yourselves.” Anita stood at the window and gized at tis boat, as though they were something new to her. The others took the glass and gazed at her, and each man recognized her face. They were so sure that old ‘Sancho had buried her in the swamp that inst insisted upon it that it was the ghost of the young girl. Ee Their faces were serious, and they pulled at the oars as if anxious to get as far away as possible from the lighthouse. It was too dark for Blake to be recognized from the lighthouse when they reached the beach, so he met them at the beach when they landed. What’s the matter?” he asked, as they landed, seeing the serious _ expression of their faces, “* We couldn’t get in,” replied Saggers. What did he say?” -_ * He said he knew all about us, and wanted nothing to Go with us, and ordered us away.” - “ And who do you think we saw there?” one of the party asked. «J don’t know—Kennedy’s nigger was there, I guess.” «Yes, and your white man,” retorted Kennedy. “ Well, we saw the ghost of the young girl that was buried’in the - swamp five months ago.” «Phe dence?” ‘ Yos—we all saw her as plainly as we see you now.” ‘« Then old Sancho didn’t bury her, and she wasn’t dead,” replied Blake, who was too well advanced in worldly knowledge to believe in such things as ghosts. ‘ * But she was dead,” said the others, ‘‘ for we saw her with our wn eyes, and know that she was dead.” “Yes,” added Kennedy. ‘I don’t know as much as you do, ; - tain, but I know a dead person when I see one,” ‘* Ay! so do J,” exclaimed four or five at once. Then it was not her face you saw. There is no such things as ts in this world.” : You may call it what you please,” said Saggers. ** T saw the dead irl, ‘and. that was her face to-night in the window of the lights “It’s either her or her ghost. Look cap- an ir etinee on the eoasatie: of his first viait there, , 't understand it,” he muttered to himself, “There was no there when he came, for I saw him land there from the '. No other vessels have been here since. Where, then, could @ have come from? That girl that Sancho carried into the swamp bury was dead, for I saw her myself. I must look into this and see hat Ican find out, There’s a mystery about it somewhere.” i That night the wreckers sat round the fire in one of the huts, smok- tog their pipes and discussing the mystery ‘of that young girl’s pres- nee in the Manatee Lighthouse, ie: go. and see old Sancho in the Swamp to morrow morning,” _ Said Kennedy, * and make quia show us where he baried her.” te Yes—that : 1a At ; sin | lagoon, gazing efter them with a puzzled expression on his kiya LARRY LEE. 9 stitieus, and had always believed in such things as ghosts and other supernatural apparitions. They went to bed at a late hour and pondered over the situation till they finally fell asleep, to dream of the mysterious young girl. Some of them dreamed that she followed them, pointing an accusing finger at them, till they started up with yells of terror. But morning came at last, and two of the wreckers—Kennedy and Blake—started out to visit ola Sancho in his home in the swamp. They knew that his cabin was on ao little island some distance in the interior of the swamp, but had no idea of the difficulty they would have in reaching it. It took them at least two hours to find it. Old Sancho heard his dogs barking, and went to the edge of the island to see-who it was, To his surprise he saw the two wreckers making for his cabin. The wreckers had murdered his son, and now he feared the worst for himself and his old wife. Running back into the cabin, he cautioned his old wife to pretend utter ignorance of any young white girl ever having been on the island. He then armed himself with a huge knife, and awaited their coming. “ Hello, Sancho!” greeted Blake, as he and Kennedy came tp to the cabin door, «How do, marsa,” he responded. Sancho, come out here. I want to see you,” said Blake. The old negro grasped his knife resolutely and came out. ‘What youse want wid me, marsa?” he asked. «I want to know where you buried that young girl, Sancho.” “Ober dere in de lagoon, marsa,” he replied, pointing to a sluggish pond of water on the south side of the little island. ‘*Why, you said you buried her, Sancho,” said Blake, looking he him sternly. ‘“« De water ’d come inter any hole, marsa; so I frowed her in dere, an’ de ’gaters eat her up right away. Ugh! Dey tore her up in no time!” And he gave a shudder of horror that fully convinced Blake and Kennedy that he was telling the truth, “Come and show us the place, Sancho,” said Blake, and the wily old negro led the way to a spot on the edge of the lagoon, ‘Syst a huge alligator was sleeping in the sunshine, ‘¢ Heah’s de place,” he said. ‘1 frowed her in Gere, an’ dat ole ’gater dar help eat her, suah,” The huge alligator swam lazily away, and the two villainous whites stood there and gazed upon the spot as if trying to recall the horrors of the scene they believed had orce occurred there. «« What do you think of it, Kennedy?” Blake asked, arene to his companion, “<7 believe he is telling the truth,” replied Kenedy. “ So do 1.” © Ob courseIam. Who says I ain’t?” exclaimed old Sancho. “* Some of our men gay they’saw her at the Lennie last night, or her ghost,” replied Kennedy. ‘* Bress de Lor’!” fervently exclaimed the old negro, crossing him- self with religious fervency; “dat am her ghost. She comes heab an’ calls me ebery night, an’ tells me de ’gaters an’ de debbil) a er | waitin’ fo’ me, ugh!” Kennedy and Blake exchanged: significant glances, Blake. tonehed: Pi his forehead, shook bis head, and then ‘turned away. Kennedy followed, leaving old Sancho standing by the side of ‘the countenance. ; CHAPTER IX, 1 | ‘THE STORM—A WRECK ON THE REEFS. “gah! and Kennedy returned to their huts to report to the diana | «The girl is. dead and was thrown to the alligators by old Sancho, i said Blake, ‘go it was not her you aw at the lighthouse.” : | We knew: that before, capen,” said Saggers. ; “a We knowed it ape 2 nee ghost, ’ cause we saw her dead ourselves.” f “ “Did old Sancho say he had ever ‘seen her. ghrost” cs of them Sigh i$ af iN a ghee AD. not giving Kennedy a

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ay _ swamp.” do. wily old negro at once began to tell a horrible story about the ghost ae of the young girl hovering around his cabin nearly every night. | superstitious fears. i eae of artillery. BA a ey Anita Narcissa beheld it from the baleony of the lighthouse, er struggling helplessly in the trough of the sea, her masts gone by ‘the ** Yes, that’s so.” Tbe wreckers glanced at each other, and seemed puzz'ed what to think about it. Nothing could shake their faith in what they had seen. ' «« There may be another who looks just lixe her,” said Kennedy afier a pause. ‘ Such things often happen, you know.” “«T’ve heard of such things,” said one, ‘* but never knew of any.” «That's just what it is,” added Blake, anxious to break down the idea that it was her ghost they had seen, as he knew he could never get them to go near the lighthouse again as long as they believed it, «*and I'll prove it to you some day.” « How will you do that?” ‘« Show you the girl or womav,” he angwered. ‘Then we will believe it,” remarked one, ‘ and not before.” ‘« Well, don’t say anything to old Sancho about it,” he cautioned, *« till I have had a chance to produce the woman.” He knew that Sancho would confirm their belief that it was the ghost of the murdered girl they had seen—the very thing he wanted to avoid. They promised to keep the matter quiet, and Blake in turn prom- ised to get up a disguise and visit the lighthouse, and see if ajc woman was there, They went outside, and one of them turned a spyglass at the light- house. «* There she is now!” he exclaimed, and every man made a rush for the glass. Blake got it, and looked at Larry and Anita, as they stood side by side on the balcony of the lighthouse. “ Yes,” he said, after taking a good look at the young couple, “and she is a real live young woiman—or girl. The man that would take her for a ghost would take his graudmother for the Goddess of Lib- erty.” The others lookéd, and gradually came to the conclusion that the young girl, whoever she was, did not act like a ghost at all. «« She is no ghost,” remarked Kennedy, ‘ bul as near as Ican judge she rae very much ‘like the young girl who was buried in the Sol think, ” said Blake, ‘‘ but that is only a resemblance. Of course it can’t be her.” “Oh, no, of course not.” The party then went fishing for the purpose of paaniite away time —all but Biake. He had a plan to mature and put into execution, by which he hoped ‘to land himself into the lighthouse, and thas have a chance to shoot down Larry Lee aud extinguish Manatee Light, Ah!” he muttered, ‘4 have it now. I will disguise myself and ‘ “pay him a' visit; gee who the woman is, and then make short work of him with o revolver. That will be the easiest way.” But he would have to go to Key West to get his disguiso—maybe to Havana, but he would go there. He called a council next day and told the wreckers what he would They agreed with him that it would be the best plan for him to adopt, and he only waited for the opportunity to get off to Key West vor Havana. : j _ In the meantime one of the wreckers had met old Sasene and the It made their hair stand on end, and, of course, confirmed all their . A few days after this another storm came up very suddenly, sweep- a in from the. sea with terrific force. The waves came with booms that exceeded the roar of a thousand The storm reached its height at noon, aud young Larry Lee and From that elevated position young Lee could see a small schooner rd, and the hull in danger of sing down AL moment. ttoutd live a omehete such a sea a8 that.” ill,” he replied. . God | help. th: when they will all be drowned, ” said Anita, who: was standing by. his” is Te wind: end: the waves will LARRY LEE. ‘at the bottom, where the angry waves dashed high upon the walls, On came the ill-fated schooner. Suddenly it seemed to take a turn, The wind veered around two or three points, and the helpless wreck started direct tor the base of the lighthouse. «Oh, mercy!” cried the young girl, her face paling. ing here, The shock will kill us all!” ‘« By no means,” said Larry. ‘* 1t will strike the reef some fifty feet from the base. Ah! There it is now.” The doomed vessel struck the solid rock with a crash that was heard above the roar of the elements, : ‘Stay here,” cried Larry to Anita, ‘‘ and Lem and I will go down and see if we can render any assistance,” and he dashed down the stone stairs, calling to Lem to follow him, The faithful negro followed, and in another minute they were down ‘Tt is com- Just as they opened the lower door ahuge wave dashed an old sailor straight into it, knocking him senseless against the stone wall on the other side of the room. ‘* Help here, Lem!” cried Larry, running waist deep into the water and lifting up the sailor in his arms. Lem took him and ran up the steps and laid him where the water could not reach him. Then he came back to .see if any more un- fortunates needed assistufice. Two more bodies fell against the light- house, but they feli back into the water and the sea swallowed them up. That was all they saw. There might have been more. ‘« We can do no more,” said Larry, and then they put forth all their strength and closed the door, but ere they could fasten it the waves. dashed it open again, Larry motioned to Lem to follow him and then led the way upstairs. They took up the sailor and carried him up fo a room, where they did hard work to restore consciousness. He soon showed signs of life, and then they redoubled their efforts. ‘“ Ab! he'll come to a right, Lem,” cried Larry, rubbing be vigorously. f The sailor commenced vomiting the sea water he had swallowed, and then he felt better. ‘* Bring some brandy, Lem,” ordered Larry. up and put new life into him.” — aoe Lem got the brandy, and, drawing the cork, put the bottle to the — sailor’s mouth. The old salt took a strong pull at it, and then smacked his lips over it with supreme satisfaction. « He's all right now; watch him, Lem,” balcony to overlook the wreck. E He found Anita learing over the baleony, gazing down at the — doomed vessel, and watching wave after wave sweep completely over it. The wind kept veering round till it blew almost in an opposite ais me rection, thus checking the fury of the waves and calming the tem pest. The clouds broke and the clear sunshine illumined the scene, The storm soun ended, and the waves began to subside. The wreck remained perched upon the reef at the base lof the lighthouse, verribly wrenched, but with her cargo all inside of her. Ere sunset the waves had so far subsided that Lem was able to. board the wreek and search for more people. None could be found, ; The old sailor had so far recovered a8 to be able to give an necount of himself. ““2Pwag the schooner Leonidas, pound from New Orleans to Naw: York,” he said, “ with a cargo of sugars, wines and hquors. Where am [?” : In the Manatee Lighthouse, where the schooner struck.” ** Anybody else saved?” he asked. «*« No—you are the. only one, I think.” i “ That's’ bad—but it was a terrible ie pe me another glass o grog, mate” Larry gave | him another drink of the nsaney ant then the tea coursed down his bronzed face, is _ ‘A boat is coming off from the shore, Mr, Lee,” cried Anita ping down from the balcony. “ What!” exclaimed Larry, gazing up ather sf A a with sbe¥en. aor in it is ia out from the “That will warm him — and Larry ran up ‘to the ae

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J a ee cars CHAPTER X. THE WRECKERS BAFFLED. On reaching the balcony, Larry took the spyglass and leveled it at the boat with seven men in if. It was coming direct for the lighthouse. « They’re wreckers, coming; to plunder the wreck,” he said to Anita, who was standing ‘by his side. “« What will they do?” she asked. «* They will try to plander the cargo, and kill anybody that stands in their way. But I don’t think they will succeed in this case.” Lem came up with the two rifles, and Larry said to him: ‘Light the lamps, Lem. Miss Narcissa, please go below. There mey be shots exchanged, and you will be in danger.” *+ IT would rather stay if vou will allow me,” she said. ‘¢] cannot allow you to be exposed to any unnecessary canger,” and with that he took her by the hand and led her to the stairs. She smiled, and passed down the stone steps to the little room that had been assigned her. Then fe turned and assisted Lem to light the lamps. In a few min- utes every lamp was lit, and the great reflectors sent their rays many miles out to sea, as the setiing san sank down in ihe deep bosom of the Guif of Mexico. Then Larry and Lem took their rifles and stood on the balcony fac- ing the shore, watching the boat full of wreckers. When the boat was within hailing distance, Larry cried out: ** Ahoy, there! What do you want here?” *« We want to help you with the wreck,” was the reply. *¢ We don’t want any help,” said Larry, ‘*so you better stand off.” *« Do you mean to say that you will not allow us to aid sailors in distress?” “Ob, no. There is but one sailor in distress, and he is inside here being well cared for. The others were drowned, The cargo is in the hold of the schooner yet, unharmed except the sugar; that you shall not touch,” ‘© You want it yourself, eh?” ** No; I will keep it for the owners,” ‘* We have as much right to that ag you have,” they replied. “ Well, if you really think so, you had better see about it. shoot if you come any nearer. You have your choice.” The men in the boat seemed to be undecided, as they appeared to be consulting among themselves for some time. “He can shoot us from behind the window,” said Kennedy. - “ And the black can shoot, too,” added another. , * And we have nothing but knives and revolvers,” said a third, ot Lev’ s go back and wait till midnight,” suggested a fourth, and it was promptly agreed to. They took up oars again and pulled away. ‘You have more sense than I gave you credit for!” Lary called out as they stood off. _ Don’t put us gown as fools, young man!” cried Kennedy. ‘* We'll I will attend to you yet. a _ Come over at any time,” said Larry, cheerfully. catch me napping.” They made no reply, but pulled away and retarned to the beach, “You won’t where they relieved themselves by swearing at the young lighthouse keeper who had so effectually bafiled them. Here was a cargo lodged on the reefs within easy distance of them, and yet he and his black servant had kept them away. «Ten thousand maledictions on his head!” hissed Kennedy, who was in command of the wreckers in Captain Blake’s absence. “We ought to get a cannon: and batter down. hea lighthouse,” re- marked Saggers. i { ia ae It we don't do something to get rid of him we e will have to st ” this coast.” “Yes, and that very goon.” (ee “« He dares not come ashore in bis. boat.” 5 No—of course not.” “Hello! There goes a canoe towards the lighthouse!” ein: one of 18 ‘men, looki bg vest through ah Te twilight. ; ‘LARRY, LEE. | yer”, said ‘the old m: “Then we must stop him! He must not go there to-night! will warn Lee of our game! Back to the boat! down and give him to ng sharks!” With a hurrah the sevén wreckers rushed back to the boat, pushed it back into the water, sprang in, seized the oars, and pulled away with all their might. They sent the boat flying through the water, and made a rapid gain toward heading off the old negro. ; Sancho saw them coming, and at once realized his danger. He knew that certain death would be the result of his capture if they sus- pected him énough to warrant a pursuit. His safety lay in 1 reaching the lighthouse before they could overtake him. = He vent himself to his oars, and pulled hard. What the old black 2 didn’t know about rowing no sailor ever did. Bat one man pulling against seven is hard work. a “ Annoy there, Sancho!” cried Kennedy, as they came within hailing ; distance of the canoe. “« What youse want?” demanded Sancho. “ Where are you going?” «To de lighthouse,” he replied. *¢ What for?” “« After medison for de ole oman,” he answered, ** Gome back and we'll give 'you all the medicine you want.” **Can’t do it, marsa; yer medison done gone an’ killed me boy, nt and he pulled away with all his strength, sending the canoe skimming — over the water like a thing of life, “Sancho, if you don’t come back we'll sink you to the bottom!” cried Kennedy. ‘« Better lef me be, marsa!” cried Sancho, in very determined tones. Pall hard, men,” gs Kennedy. ‘* That old rascal meang mis- chief. It’s time we sent him to Davy Jones! Pull away, my hearties!” — They did pull, and the boat shot through the water with the speed of a race horse, In a few minutes they were again within hailing distance of the lighthouse, and, fearing the old negro would escape them, the wrook ers commenced firing at him with their revolvers. *¢ Hi, dar!” screamed old Sancho, ‘ What tor yer shootin’? me? Hi, dar, I tole yer! Lef me be! Whoop, Marsa Lee!” a Larry was on the lookout on the balcony of the lighthouse, rifle in hand. He raised the weapon to kis shoulder, took deliberate aim. at the foremost man in the boat, and fired. “a The man clapped his hand to his hip and sat down. i ‘ ««That got him,” said Larry, ‘* but the distance is too great to do much harm. Give me the other gun, Lem, and reload this one, I'll» give them a taste of what they may expect when they get nearer,” — He took the other rifle and took aim a second time and fired. Another wrecker was hit, and then they dared not come any — nearer. Old Sancho pulled through and reached the lighthouse, and — the baffled wreckers hauled off, venting their rage in curses loud and a deep. t He We must run him ae eee i iy fyb eee, tT en ee Fe oi a sting tuts 4, pe” eoeeh Rev Re CHAPTER XI. THE FIRE IN THE SWAMP, ‘* Pout straight for the swamp up there!” cried Kepnedy. “ We show the old rascal what it is to go back on us. We’ll burn his h and his old woman in it,” f : “Ay! and the old raseal, too, when we catch him,” and th pulled away with all their might, leaving old Sanclio to land at hi leisure at the lighthouse. . “Dat yer, old man?” Lem asked, , before opening the door for him. “Yes, dig am me.” “Come in den.” Sancho walked in as dignified as if he owsied the lighthouse. ‘* You made a narrow escape, old man,” said Larry, graaping | his — hand as he came up the stairs. ‘“‘Yes, marsa, but youse war good ter de ole man.” ; “ Why did they chase you?” : “Dunno, marsa, /Mebbe_ dey didn’t want fo’ ter tell on ’g “ Well, they snow by this time that I know all about th | want to get at this wreck out there, but f won't let them © Dat’s right, marsa—dat’s net Dat’s what I come fo? steal eberyting d dat old

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LARRY LEE. oan young girl; ‘‘ and return [ will as sure as the stars are shining above the lighthouse.” «JT will wait there and pray for your safety,” she said, ‘* for you are now the only friend in the wide worid who can help me, Mr. Lee.” ‘Then I shall be sure to return, Come, Sancho, I will be ready to go in a minute. We shall go in the lighthouse boat.” : Larry got down a repeating rifle, saw that the charges were all right, buckled on a brace of revolvers, and then led the way down- stairs and out on the rocks of the reef. Lem and old Sancho dragged the boat out and launched it, Larry aud Sancho got in and took up the oars, ** We'll go north a mile or two,” suggested Larry, ‘80 as not to run into them,” ‘Yes, marga, dat’s de best way,” and they turned siaktheied: rowing parallel with the shore for nearly two miles. When above tke spot even with old Sancho’s cabin they turned in toward the land, going very cautiously, watching on ey side for signs of the wreck. ers. They succeeded in making a landing without seeing anything of the wreckers, drew the boat upon the sand, and then made their way jnto the swamp by a pathway well known to the old negro. “You know the way, Sancho?” * Yea, sah; all ob it.” ** Lead on, then, and we'll soon come to the light.” Sancho did lead on, and the two soon reached the little island on which his little hut had stood so long. s ] Just as they expected, they found the hut a heap of ashes and cin- 1 ders, with no signs of life about the place, aa Old Sancho crept up to the pile of smoldering embers and gazed, 7 ‘ the room and grasping the old negro’s hand in both of hers. ‘* Why, Uncle Sancho! How glad I am to see you. How is auntie?’ af ‘« Bress de chile!” exclaimed the old man, the tears filling his eyes. “** Ole Sancho am right glad fo’ ter see yer. Is yer well, chile?” _* Never better in my life, Uncle Sancho,” she replied. ‘‘ Mr. Lee and Lem are so kind tome. They do everything they can for me.” *¢ Bress de Lor’ for dat, chile,” and the old darky laid bis band on _ her head as affectionately as though she were his own child. © * You came over to tell me to watch out for them, did you?” Larry asked. x ‘* Yes, marsa.” ‘* And they tried to stop aay “Yes, marsa.” «They will give you kniable after this, wou't they?” - ** Spee’ dey will, marsa.” ** You won’t go back to-night, will you?” ' ‘* Yea, marsa.” “* Why, they’li be waiting for you to murder you!” © Gan’t help dat, marsa.” “ Well, don’t go till very late. They may think you have come to " stay all night and go home.” “¢ Yes, marsa.” ‘Larry went up on ihe baleony to see how the light was woiking’ and found everything going smoothly. ‘Two hours: passed, and then he noticed a bright light in the Famp. _ What does that mean, Sancho?” he asked of the old negro. Sancho gazed in the direction of the light, and saw cinders go up ‘skyward, He gave ao groan of anguish ond exclaimed: «Dats es hut. Dem wreckers been gone an’ burn it!” and he a re i ie el ee Res ko eagerly into them in search of the remains of his old wife. Larry watched him in the light of the burning coals, and thought of the “ De: 68 really think it is your cabin, Sancho?” Larry asked. faithful heart that throbbed in the old man’s bosom. He had risked — “ Yes, marsa,”. ve replied, gazing mournfully al the blaze, which | life and limb to come to the rescue of his old wife. Ry ‘now could be plainly seen from the lighthouse baleopy. ‘‘ An’ dey am “ Am dat you, Sancho?” asked a voice in the swamp beyond the bi 1 ' smoldering embers. ; iy The old man recognized it ag the voice of hia faithful oid wife, and flee sprang forward with the speed of a deer, crying out: : ; “Tank de good Lor’ ole oman! Bress de Lor’ an’ Marsa Lee!” and Poe the next moment he had the old woman clasped to his heart in a pas- at sionate embrace, Larry remained on guard, concealed in the bushes, with his a segente ing rifle. Saneho listened to bis wife’s story of how she plunged into the swamp and remained there when she heard the wreckers coming. ** Dey burn up our sen Sancho,” she said, ber voice choked by sobs, ny Marsa Lee done his us er home wid him in de lighthouse, ole ‘oman, an’ dat am de best place, whar dem wreckers can’t come. We’s gwine dar now. Tank de good Lor’, Marsa Lee! Marsa Lee, heah my ole | "oman!” Larry came out of the thicket and congratalated the “ole ‘oman Ne | on her narrow escape, and said; ~ ‘* We'd better hasten back, as the wreckers a8 take a notion to mers iss may J nebber git ter Heaven ef I don’t make dem wreck- wisht dey hab nebber seed old Sancho!” Amen, Sancho!” cried Larry Lee, grasping the old man’s hand, may I never get i Heaven if I don’t stand by you to the You can make your home here with us, Sancho,” added Larry. can more than pay for your board by fishing and hunting and go to the lighthouse in our absence.” “« Bress de Lor’!” ejaculated the om wife; ‘‘ we ain’t gol no home now.” Re “You. will find a home in the lighthouse, auntle,” said Larry, ‘* ones i Anita is there waiting for you.” Wero Dat chile am er angel!” exclaimed the old worn, ag she turned away from the smoking Boog her home to follow: her husband to e oe the beach. CHAPTER XU. ssa : THE FUGITIVE STRANGER—OLD SANCHOP Wnt ce NT Atay ; THEY made their way to the beach where they had left the ss i ; pulled it back into. Ge water, and ah, entered and pulled for t 1e lighthouse, co : On the way back they saw nothing ot the, wreekers, and then—I—will—have no ilar | out that, ‘Miss ‘Narcissa,” he said. ey was by such infamous piace. ag these, - will : “myself,” © ! a, aad: old Lem was told to ‘stand guard | Wi

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LARRY LEE. 13 ‘¢ Bress Ge Lor’, I’se glad ter see yer, chile!” said the old woman, hugging her to her heart. ‘* We ain’t got no home now, honey.” «* Oh, auntie!” exclaimed Anita. ‘* When I get home I will make my paps send for you and Uncle Sancho, He will do anything for me, and ll tell him how kind you have been to me, and you shall have a home with me as long as I live!” ‘« Halleluyah! Bress de Lor’!” cried the old woman, chile, and de Lor’ lubs good chillun!” “You have a kind heart, Miss Narcissa,” said Larry. ‘‘ These old people have been kind to you. I hope you will uot forget them in their old age,” **Y will not, Mr. Lee,” she replied, disinterested kindness.” *« Please say nothing about that, as you and I have had advantages that this old couple bave not. The pleasure of seeing your face, and hearing your voice, repays me for all, and even more.” Anita blushed like a rose, and looked bashfully down at the floor. «Tt is now very late,” Larry added, “and you all need sleep. Lem and I will have to stand guard all night, to keep the wreckers from boarding the wreck of the Leonidas.” “Jam sorry I cannot stand guard, too, and thus render some as- sistance, Mr. Lee,” said Anita, ‘‘for I would be so glad to do some- thing.” “Tf you will keep cheerful and keep house for us, with uuntie’s help, I will be the happiest man in the wide world!” Oh, I will do that!” ‘‘ Marsa Lee,” said Old Sancho, ‘‘de ole man am strong yit, and got lots ob work in him, Don’t lef me ont.” “Oh, T'll give you plenty of work to do, Uncle Sancho. I'll call you up if we want you. Weare crowded for room. You and Lem will have to lie on the floor in the storeroom, and auntie stay in the young lady’s room till we can provide better accommodations,” _ Larry then went to relieve Lem of guard duty, and made a thor- ough examination of the surroundings. ‘The night was a clear starlit one, and the sea calm. ’ «They may not attempt to come back again to-night,” he mut- “Dat’s a good “Nor willl forget your own tered to himself, as he stood his repeating rifle against the wall, “but I won’t take any chances on it. They are a treacherous get, and can- not be relied on to do things like any other set of men.” He kept a close watch on everything, and daylight found him at his ‘post as faithful as the stars idmdelven: Oid Sancho was up before the stars had faded away, and before ‘gunrise had caught fish enough to give them ail a hearty breakfast. OF course there were plenty of provisions in the storeroom, but fresh fish is always a welcome dish on any table. 3 ‘fry fish only as one of her experience knew how, ana way she dida’t know about it no one else did, Anita was happy at havi ng the old couple with her again, and Larry was glad that she had one of her own sex with her. As the sun rose above the everglades the great light was put out, _ the lamps trimmed, filled and put into position again. During the “, day the wreckers kept very, quiet, much to the surprise of the young “ lighthouse keeper, . They seemed to hav ignored the wreck of the Leonidas alto- gether, and appeared to De: waiting for something more profitable to 7 ry was not the man to. relax : any of his energies on account havior of the. wreckers. ‘He knew, or rather believed e scling some kind of deviltry, and that it would ner pie patie ae : ” be muttered, His old wife could | the same time: eae e¢ and will teach them a les- | org it they ‘make an ateran to board the y dimly trough the gloom a small boat with one man in it, pulling for the light; beyond it came the flashes of two more shots, 2 ‘Run down, Lem,” he said, ‘* and open the door, while I keep the — pursuers off. Shut and bolt the door as soon as you let him ip.” ‘4 Lem sprang down the stone steps, and in a few minutes was stand- ing at the base of the lighthouse waiting for the fugitive to land. ; Bang! came another shot, and the ery of: 5 “ Help! help!” came over the water agaia, followed by the hoarse cry of: : “* Stop, or we'll riddle you!” *« Ahoy there!” cried Larry. eg The pursued and pursuers came on as fast as oars could bring them, and in a few minutes the boat of the pursuers came into good view. 4 *¢ Ahoy there!” eried Larry again, ‘* Sheer off or I'll fire into you!” : They paid no attention, made no reply, and did not appear to have the fear of the young lighthouse keeper in their minds at all. ‘ T'll see if a shot won't stop them,” said Larry, bringing his rifle to his shoulder and taking deliberate aim, 3 The sLot was followed by an exclamation of; “ Oh, God! I'm shot!” —- boat steered short around ae pulled for the shore neers retreating oar strokes of the wreckers. ; it be they were pursuing? This is not an asylum for fugitives. We'll be overrun his people after awhile. Ab!I hear Lem coming up with him now.” : whose bronzed face was well covered with a heavy black eats « You are the lighthouse keeper, are you, sir?’ the man dsked, on approaching Larry. ‘ ‘ Yes, sir, that’s my business here,” was Larry’s reply. +¢T have to thank you for the assistance you rendered in driving back those wretches, I lost my way while out hunting with a camp-— | ing party, and for two days have. been wandering about so confused — that I could not tell where 1 was going. Those people out there at- tackeil me and pursued me go close that 1 was forced to drop my gun and take one of their boats, which I was fortunate enough to reach before they did. My only hope was to reach the lighthouse before the could overtake me.” “You were fortunate, sir. Ihappen to know those wreckers out there. They are a murderous set. Iam glad to be able to give ‘pe p protection.” : “ Thanks, sir. I hope I can get on some passing vessel and mal my way to Key West. There I can take a steamer for New York. ” «You must be very hungry, sir, after your wanderings,” said Larr ‘Ofcourse I am. I would not be human if I wars not.” : Just chen old Sancho come up and Jooked at the stranger in a P ~ ‘culiar manner. Something ja the stranger’s voice made him glare at him in a mapner unusual with the Scuthern blacks, «< What's the matter, Sancho?” Larry asked. Old Sancho made no reply, bul walked up to the iranges ad -anatehed his beard off his face, and Captain Blake, the leader of | the s _wreckers, stood before them. : intEy Re at “ i ss CHAPTER XIII, — POT, CAPTAIN. BLAKE'S ESCAPE. ‘THE moment he saw that he was discovered, Blake drew and made a desperate lunge at the breast of old Sancho, hi ne ‘You i Sa old penton a have. your heart's bloo

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Ls "my boy! : swim out to him. seh ‘* Fair play!” hissed Blake. ‘* No—not to such as you—at him, Sancho!” and the daring young i. lighthouse keeper pressed him hard. “ Perdition! il see you again, when the best will win!” exclaimed Blake, and flinging his knife at the breast of Larry, sprang over the balcony into the sea. “My God!” cried Larry, in dumfounded amazement, a desperate escape!” ‘‘Pse gwine arter him, Marsa Lee!” cried old Sancho, preparing to ‘spring over the railings of the balcony. * Hold oa, Sancho! Why kill yourself with him?” and Larry caught «That was BS the old negro just in time to keep him from going over in the ter- rible leap. “Let me go, Marsa Lee!” cried the old man. ‘* Dat man killed Lef me be, an’ ole Sancho ‘ll make fish bait outer ’im.” ** But don’t kill yourself!” cried Larry. ‘* Run downstairs and Lem has gone down already.” The old man sprang away and rushed downstairs with all the speed of a youth, and in a few moments was at the base of the re. lighthouse. Lem was there before him and was dragging the boat, in which = the wily villain bad played fugitive, up on the rocks so as to pre- yent him from using it as a means of escape to the shore, “ Where 1s he, Lem?” cried Sancho, glaring wildly around. “ I dunno,” replied Lem. ‘He ain’t showed hisself yit.” They watched eagerly for him in the water on that side of the _ lighthouse, but could see nothing of kim. “Larry came down and found them stil) watching. You haven't seen him?” he asked. Be: a 4 tell d de ole ’oman ’bout dat,” and the old man went back upstairs to ** No, sah!” _ “Then you may give it up. will have a dinner off of him.” ‘Tank de Lor’!” ejaculated the old man. r lick at him myself.” The fall killed him, and the sharks it But I wanted ter hab _ Well, it’s no matter, since you had a hand in making him take the leap. _ Yes, Marsa Lee; I’m That is some satisfaction to you, or should be.” lad I was dere. Ole Sancho am gwine ter his old wife. : ‘Do you think the fall killed him, Lem?” Larry asked him, et I dunno, Marsa Larry,” said Lem. ‘I ain’t seed nuffin ob him.” ‘ Well, if he escaped this time, I shall regard him as a wonderfully sky man,” and Larry gave another searching piace over. the waters | around the reef. It was growing so dark now that objects in the water could be seen ta short distance, All three searchei carefully for the daring nan’s body, and failing to find him, Larry returned upstairs to the 3. j ee, soon Lem and old Sancho came up. Dat man beats de debbil,” ejaculated Lem. Rist; ahi er fac’,” asserted old Sancho, looking considerably mysti-, ’ fied by the disappearance of the daring wrecker. et hs § guess he’s gone to the bottom this time, though,” remarked uit | hope ter de good. Lor’ dat he is,” said Sancho, : Bu they were all mistaken in regard to the fate of Captain Blake. n Bi nN. Wi m he found that certain death threatened him on ‘the balcony, tween the knives of Larry and old Sancho, Blake did not hesitate 0 leap over the balcony, from the very spot he had been hufled by oung Hee the-week before. d nally he went, foot foremost, into the water, striking wwiters Lae mia ten fathoms deep, hey would look for him, and before he came to the sur- | > conceal himeelf behind one of the rocks « by no means dead, thougli his chances of eacape were exceed- | away with the boat he came in. LARRY LEE. When they went back upstairs, Blake raised his head above the rock, looked around and then swam to the main reef on which the lighthouse stood, walked across to the other side, and approached the wrecked hull of the Leonidas. ‘**T will now see what isin the hall of that wreck—or rather feel what is there, as I cannot see anything in there now,” he muttered to himeelf, as he scrambled up on the deck of the wreck. He crept for- ‘ward and made his way down into the hold, where it was so dark he could not see his hand before his face. After moving and feeling his way about as best he could, he became disgusted and said: “ This is all a wild-goose chase,” He started up the ladder to the deck again, but crept cautiously back on looking up and seeing Lem leaning over the railing of the balcony, looking down at the wreck. ** Oh, if it was Lee and I had a rifle!” he hissed, as he drew back into the darkness. ‘‘If I could send a bullet through his cunning head, I'd be willing to make that leap a dozen times over. And that old Sancho! Til burn him alive yet, the old traitor!” He waited another hour, and then found a chance to creep up on deck and climb down over the side of the wreck. The boat he had come in was still up on the rocks where Lem had left it. Being strong as well as courageous he managed to get it down into the water and then got into it. Taking the oars he pullec gently away from fresh danger, making as little noise as possible. He got almost out of sight when one of the oars slipped, making a noise unmistakable to those familiar with rowboats. - Instantly Larry ran round on that side of the balcony, and peered out over the water. Seeing his danger, Blake made a desperate pull and sent his boat flying through the water. Larry caught a faint glimpse of the boat, however, ‘and called out: * Boat ahoy!” : Of course Blake made no reply. He only pulled the harder. | ‘ Bang! went Larry’s rifle, and the ball struck the water some ien feet to the left of the boat. Blake bent himself to the oars, and pulled for the sbore witha | vengeance, Bang—bang! went two more shots, and still the sound of the oars was heard, Lem and old Sancho ran up to the balcony to see what the trouble was, ‘‘ What’s de matter, Marsa Lee?” old Sancho asked, very excitedly. ‘* Blake has got away with the boat,” was the reply. «Oh, Lor’!” and the old man darted downstairs to’see if the boat was gone, only too true, The boat and both oars were gone. ‘¢ Js the boat gone?” Larry asked from the balcony. « Yes, sah.” + It was a blunder on our part in not putting the beat in the light. house.” “Yes, sab, Dat man is de debbil sah,” and both Lem and old Sancho devoutly crossed themselves. ' CHAPTER XIV. * A BOLD STROKE. “ Dip ever man take such desperate chances and pull through?” | “There are but few men who- Larry asked himself a dozen timea. could make that leap and live. He is the devil for luck. Why didn’t I shoot him down as he stood before me? He came to kill me and smash the lamps. 1am a fool for being so slow. I could have drawn my revolver and shot him down as he stood before me, Vl try to do ‘it the next time, and not be surprised at anything that happens. _ “What's the matter, Mr. Lee?” the soft voice of Anita asked as she came up on the balcony. “Blake was concealed somewhere below,” he replied, “and “got” ‘I shot three times at him, but I gness: I missed him, as I heard him rowing till he almost reached Me shore,” x “That man seem Lem followed him and they soon found out that it was

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‘ LARRY LEE. 15 ' “No; he rowed hard to get as far nea into the dark so I could not get a good aim.” “It was very daring in him to come here as he did.” “a Yes.” ‘You would not have known it was he?” “No. Sdncho recognized his voice, pulled off his beard, and thus revealed bim.’” ** How fortunate!” “‘T should say so. He saved my life.” *s Well, yon have done as much for him. We would all do as much for you, Mr. Lee.” “Thanks. I know you would, and that is why I am willing to do it _ for others,” | ** Do you think they will come back again to-night?” “1 don’t know. I will watch for them and be ready for any emerg- ency. You may rest easy, however, for they’ll never get in agaiu. This will learn me a lesson 1 will not soon forget,” She bade bim good-night and retired, and the young lighthouse _ keeper resumed his guard duty, in which he was finally relieved by _ Lem and old Sancho in succession. Morning found everything all right, and the regular routine duties of the day were gone through with. Long before noon Larry was up fpom a sefiacinue sleep, and taking his spyglass, scanned the horizon in every direction. On the beach were half a dozen boats belonging to the wreckers. ** Why can’t we destroy or capture those boats?” he asked himself, ‘and immediately he began to consider the feasibility of doing so. ‘* By the grip of old Neptune!” he exclaimed, ‘* we can do it, and Pil talk to Lem and Sancho aboutit. That will take all the venom out of their sting.” _“ What in the world are you talking about, Mr. Lee?’ Anita asked, - coming unexpectedly upon him on the balcony, where he was talking _ to himself about capturmg the wreckers’ boats. _ « Why, you little witch!” exclaimed Larry. shy when I least expect you. | "were not here to talk with me.” i “* What’s the subject under discussion? Maybe Ican help you eluci- date it.” ** Do you see those boats out there under the beach?” “« Yes.” _ Well, we are going to take them away.” «Who are?” - “Sancho, Lem and J.” She looked at him in great surprise. « «How can yon?” she asked. ‘‘ There are adozen men in those huts—all armed, too.” __ #* So there are, but don’t you see they are more than rifle-shot dis- ~ tance from the boats?” - Yeg, I suppose they are,” Well, my repeating rifle will carry a ball bese as far as theirs.” va Will iv?” _ * Yes--I know it will.” © Well, what will you do?” ** You come upon me i. q a and Sancho can gather their boats, "You would have to kill two or three of them.” use Yes, I know that.” ; « Well, will that be right?” — s hd eh to be killed for the Bins vessels, they have « Then do it.” / He looked pt her with a pleased expression on his. face, and said: “Jam glad you approve of it. You can sit up here and watch us this glass,” and he handed the spyglass to the young gitl, who took it and scanned the entire length of the beach. — Th jun was coming down in its fiercest heat, and the wreckers ats, venting their rage in curses loud and deep. — old ‘Sane 0, and gave them his plans. and shook their heads. t “on68, ee aud Larry, “y I was talking to myself just because you~ Lie “and saw the slender form of Anita leaning forward. “Keep them back in their huts with my-repeating rifle till Lem They finally agreed to go, and Larry started them down to prepare the boat at once, lest their courage should cool off. Taking his repeating rifle with him, he entered the boat and shoved off, making direct for the boats on the beach. Anita sat on the balcony of the lighthouse and watched them, and frequently waved her handkerchief at them. As they neared the beach the wreckers ran out of their huts in utter amazement at the young lighthouse keeper's daring in thus. coming right into their clutches, 4 Tbey ran into their huts again, and soon returned with guns in their hands. Larry did not wait for them to commence the attack. They were at war with him, and he with them, so he did not stand on ceremony, but opened fire at once. The first shot took effect in the shoulder of one of the wreckers fully half a mile away, and sent him in the hut howling like a hyena, “Dar!” cried old Sancho, almost beside himeelf with suppressed excitement. ‘' Dat’s good for yer. Shoot agin, Marsa Lee.” Crack! went the rifle again, and the-next man was hit in the side, He doubled up like a jackknife, and west yelling back into the hut. ~ The wreckers now fired a volley at the three daring men, but their balls struck the water a little over half way. < Crack! and another wrecker was hit. Larry took good aim each time. ~ ‘ : “Good Lor’!” cried old Sancho, ‘‘ ef dey ain’t er runnin’ inter Gere hats!” “ Row hard, men,” said Larry. Make for that first boat out there,” They reached the boat and made fast to it. A volley was fired, from the hut, but no bullet reached them. ‘Shoot ’em, Marse Larry!’ cried Lem, ‘if dey comes outen de — door!” « Never mind them, old boy,” said Larry. boats. I'll keep an eye on them.” = They pusked on, and gathered everyone of the half dozen boats that were along the beach, and made fast to them. The wreckers dashed out of the huts, and rushed toward the beach. Crack! Crack! went Larry’s rifle, and two of their number tumbled over on the sand, The others wheeled and returned, leaving the twe “Til keep ’em in the hut now. wounded men on the ground. The wounded finally got up and stag- gered back. ‘Now, pull for the lighthouse,” said Lave: ** we've got all their boats. Maybe they won’t bother us any more now.” With a ringing shout the two old negroes pulled away at tick eae and the string of boats followed in their wake. When they were a mile from the beach, the wreckers came out of their huts and gazed after the daring young lighthouse keeper, shak- ing their fists in the air, and swearing themselves hoarse in their rage. j CHAPTER XY. tie THE PARTIAL REVELATION. : WHEN almost under the balcony of the lighthouse, Larry looked up. She waved a handkerchief, and called out to him: » Bravo! He lifted his hat and waved it above his head... A few minutes later the two old blacks landed him at the foot of the lighthouse, Leaping ashore, he turned to Lem with: *« Take the boats inside, Lem. Don’t taice any more chances, bat "1 lock ’em up.” te “ Yes, sah,” replied the old black. ‘I don’ lef no more boats: ont. heah. Dat Cap’en Blake am de debbil for nee I’se gwine to pat ’em all inside.” “That's righi. visits.” - Yog, sah, an’ den de sharks ‘li git tem.” ‘ Ny Oh, Treckon they more undertake ie swim shee returned F si will have to awinr if pa pay us any mor When na pian ae beehes yaa was there ‘to. rece ith a smile and said: do: af ** You look after the — Bravo!” , f fy

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16 LARRY LEE. ! Anita,” he said, interrupting her ‘«They could have no show “ That fellow is badly hurt,” said Larry, ‘‘and I’m gomg to see against that, you know.” how it is with him,” and going inside he-called out for Lem. : ‘Yes, but they were more than ten to one!” ** Sah?” responded the faithful black, ‘i “That made no difference. It would have been death to the whole “Come down, you and Sancho.” : party had they exposed themselves. I don’t think we will have any ‘Yes, sah,” and in another minute he heard the two old darkies more trouble with them after this. They will have to go to Key West | descending the stairs, for more boats, or else leave this coast altogether.” ‘Get out a boat and row me out to that fellow. I think I have put ; «Oh, I do hope they will go away.” @ bullet through him.” $, “« So do I.” The boat was soon dragged out to the water. ;, ‘You must have killed several of them.” Larry got in and ordered them to row him out toward the shore. ‘I don’t think any were killed, but they are no doubt very badly | The two negroes obeyed tremblingly, and in a few minutes they came burt.” within sight of a dark object on the water, which looked very much “They must suffer then, for they have no surgeon to dress their | like a log. wounds,” They drew up to it and found it to be a canoe, or dugout, which ‘« Those kind of characters have a rude knowledge of surgery among | Sancho instautly recognized as one of his he had used in the lagoon themselves, and seem to get along with very primitive treatment of | over in the ewamp. wounds. How is the old sailor getting along?” In the bottom of the canoe lay 8 man groaning feebly—only one “He is doing well, I think,” she replied. ‘* His fever has left him | man—and Larry asked him: and he is in his right mind again, but very weak.” ‘* Are you the man who was firing at the light?” ‘¢T must go down and see him,” and putting his rifle away he pre- “ Yes,” was the weak reply. { pared to visit the old sailor, who had \been suffering terribly from the ‘ You are one of Blake’s wreckers, are you not?” effects of injuries received in the gale that wrecked the-Leonidas. He * Yes, buc I am Gone for now.” found him very weak; his mind clear, but unable to do much talking. “« Where are you hit?” , ‘* Ah, you are better now,” he said to the old man, as he felt of his *« In the chest.” ‘ia . pulse, “ and a little food in your locker will do you good.” ** Then I guess you are done for,” said Larry. “How is it that only «Tt was a close run, commodore,” said the old sailor. one of you came out to-night?” _ “Yes, but I think you will find it smooth sailing after this,” said |) ‘‘Some of ’em are hurt,” was the reply, ‘and I was chosen to Larry, soothingly. come.” ' "WAY, Sit, I hope so.” He groaned again, as ifin great pain, and gasped out: Larry then ordered proper food vl for him, and went up to “Curses on you! You have killed two of our men and ruined our attend to the lamps again. t business!” That night it was very dark, but the water was as smooth ag glass. ' Then another spasm of pain seized him, and Larry really thought he- The light shone as bright as ever, and was seen many miles at sea. | would die in a few minutes. _ Larry was busy attending to end watching the working of the light, Bat the spasm passed, and, though much weaker, the man hurled. when he was startled by a rifle shot between him and the shore, and | anathemas on the head of the young lighthouse keeper. a bullet crashed through the thick glass that screened the lamp. « You really don’t blame me,” said Larry, **for doing my duty and _ He wheeled around and glared into the darkness beyond. Of course | defending myself. You'd better unload your gonscience thaa lose he could see nothing. Only a pall of intense darkness was before | any more time heaping curses on me, fire down soon, you him. , : know.” j ge Where in the world did that shot come from?” he abuses ** Yes—yes—I’m going down. Breakers ahead!” and then he grew ty Flak Can it-be that they had other boats concealed in their huts? I'll 20 quiet for a few minutes, : ; down and i Lem and Sancho at work to watch for them, and——' Suddenly he spoke up and said: Tibet a Crack! came another shot the moment bis head was turned, and a “Pm going down. The ship is sinking. The waters dash over me! oullet whizzed through his hat, just grazing his head. Do you see the white beach out there?” s : “By the great light!” gasped Larry, picking up his hat and run- “No,” said Larry.‘ It's too dark. I can’t see anything but that R ~olng. his finger through the hole made by the bullet. ‘* That shot was | light up, there.” { intended for me! Two shots, and yet I haven't had a glimpse of the The beach is there—it’s there,” said the aying wretch. ‘ tiled flash of their guns. [am exposed in this. light, and the darkness con- | rock—which is seen—only when—the tide—is—out—is buried—a—_ -ceals them. Good Lord! There’s no more safety for me about the ugh! ‘Save! save me——” and a gurgling sound in his throat like one et balcony of nights!” — strangling in water interrupted his speech. He gave a convulsive He had dodged down the stone stairs, and gone into his room, Veni a stiffened out and was—dead. where he took down his repeating rifle. Then instructing all in the { EAE . ‘ place to keep. quiet, he went below to the outside, and took up his | _ CHAPTER XVI ts { stand on the rocks to await another flash of the gun. THE DEAD WRECKER—RETURN TO THE LIGHTHOUSE. i He had ‘not been five minutes there ere he heard another shot ak Me TEE young lighthouse keeper gazed at the face of the dead ‘man, a saw the flash. Quick as Hebtntg he pees his rifle and fired at the | if waiting to hear him say more, Bae eins silence continuing, he la flash, hand on his heart. fy : of Acmaoking lau was beard not more than one aude: fathoms i ere « He's dead, ag fo said. him.” Lem > crossed himself, ‘and wore ‘iD at the brilliant edt on tower, as if longing to b be there instead of where be was. ec What shall we » do with him?” Larry asked, looking first at 9 @ Lwo old negro men. eaebancin uf x suggested Lem, the first to speak. vines at y, didu’t yout” Larry‘a asked, te missed that. time,” ‘said the young lighthouse | keeper, 6 ‘but you | @ once too often. Just. blaze away again.” ; minutes later and another flash startled him. He. fired as 0 @ and had the wien of ses bie axotiier ok

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fee fF LARRY LEE. 17 ‘¢ Yes, sali.” “ Well, don’t forget it,” said Larry. ‘‘ And above all things don’t say anything about it to anyone else, till we can find out what it is.” ‘* No, sal.” ‘« Tf i’s a treasure it may be that we may findit and have enough to make us all rich, for 1 would divide it with both of you,” ‘¢Dere money ain’t dere, marsa,” said Old Sancho, shaking his head. ‘How do you know it isn’t?” *'Oase dey hide it in de swamp,” replied the old man. *¢ Have you ever seen them hide any there, Sancho?” *¢ No, sai! I seed ’em gu in cere wif fings an’ come away widout ‘em. But dey shoot niggers ef dey look roun’ too smart.” “Then they must have marked some tree in the swamp as a guide by which to find it again. Some day when there are no wreckers about we will go in there and look for any singular mark on the trees Or logs.” Sancho shook his head. “¢ You won't go, eh?” “ Bad place for nigger ter go, marsa,” he said. “ How so?” “De place is haunted, Dere’s ghosts in dat swamp, marsa.” «Oh, I don’t think ghosts ever hurt.anyone, Sancho, and——” “De Lor’ Gorramighty!” gasped Lem, starting back, his eyes almost popping out of his head, “ What's the matter?” Larry asked, “Dat was er shark, you nigger!” said old Sancho, looking over the side of the life boat into the water, “Breas de Lor’,” groaned Lem; ‘it gin me a look in de face an’ spit in my eye, sual!” “ Ah! there he is now, on the other side of the canoe!” said Larry. ‘«T guess its tail knocked a little water in your face, Lem. A shark doesn’t chew tobacco nor spit.” But Lem was demoralized. He felt very nervous whenever he was near a dead person. The sight of the dead wrecker lying flat on his back, with wide open eyes, staring up at the silent stars, was too much for one of his super- ' gtitious nature. ««Le’s go home, Marse Larry,” he said, shaking as if convulsed with an ague, ? Yes, yes, in a minute,” replied Larry. ‘* What shall we do with “this canoe, Sancho?” ; ' “Take it wid you, Marsa,” replied the old man, « Help me give this man to that shark, then.” *¢ Yes, sah.” f ‘The old man, assisted Larry’ in throwing the body of the dead "wrecker into the sea, He had not the same fears that troubled Lem. The body had not more than touched the water than there was a - swift rush of sharks, and in a few minutes it was torn to pieces by those voracious tigers of the sen, Sancho secured the canoe to the lifeboat, and then he and Lem took the oars and pulled for the lighthouse, } - They had made about a half dozen strokes when they heard signals from the beach. “ Hark!” exclaimed Larry; 4“ stop—listen!” "They held up the oars, SN shrill whistle came over the water to them, ‘Thena silence of five minutes or more ensued, then followed another A whale very like an ordinary boatswain’s whistle. © Can you answer that, Sancho?” Larry asked. 5c Yas, sab—I kin rakes like dat.” i a oe an it ee as * | Sunder ’ the rock.” | If we can once get rid of them we can do much toward recovering many things they have either hidden or buried,” “some things cleared up,” said the beautifal you! ng Spanish gi ‘ i , ned Lem, is “aa skeer ae whales!” fe “ Now put the boat in again,” said Larry. “« Yes, sah.” “ But what will you do with the old cande, Sancho? You can’t get that in. [vs too long and too heavy.” ‘Pull it up on de rocks, sah.” e ‘The tide will carry it ashore again,” said Larry, ‘‘anlessyouchain it fast.” E ‘* Yea, sah. I[’se ewine ter tic her up hard an’ fast.” | He went into the tower and brought out a cable, with which he and Lem proceeded to tie up the canoe so i could not get away through any action of the Ses “ Now come in and shut the door,” ordered Larry. fasten the door, Lem.” ‘Yes, sah,” and the negro shot the heavy bolt in its ‘de iin render- ing the place as secure as any bank safe, i ‘s What in the world is the matter,” Anita asked, when Larry came 4 up into the bright little room, where she was sitting reading a book, He told her the story of the rifle shots and the result of his random — shots in the dark. : ‘Oh, it is horrible!” she exclaimed shudderingly. wound you yet.” , ; “JT don’t think they will,” he replied, ‘or they would have done — so long ago. I think we will yet drive them away. When the supply ship comes I will report them, and the uaa cy will send a com- ie pany of soldiers to arrest or drive them away.’ Re. . * Oh, I hope they i They are be cruel, igh a Shed men.” ‘Be sure you “« They'll kill or somewhere about ira which is why they will not leave,” “« Indeed!” . ‘Yes, That wretch in the canoe was telling me of something — buried under a certain rock which was bare at low tide, when death — cut him short.” “Then there must be something buried there,” she ibs bbe cy “Bu do you know the rock he spoke of!” “There are a number of rocks along the beach at low tide,” he said, ‘* But I don’t think it can be a very large rock, for he a ys 1 “Then you ought to be able to find it.” ; “So it would seem. But there are too many desperate men ot shore there yet for me to hunt for any treasure, It’s as much as I ca de to keep them from destroying the light. But I will remember what he said, an@ when they are driven away ‘I will hunt the whole beach over for the rock he spoke of.” I ‘Oh, yes! You could take all the time you wanted then, without any danger, too.” “Yes. Do you know, I think that whatever it is that’s buried there it has some connection with you.” ; ~~.“ Oh, do you?” * Yes, and I cannot say why I think 80. But the ieapeeaetend strong on my mind that I cannot shake it off. 44 “Oh, I wish [knew what it is,” she sighed. ‘I’ve always believe: that something was wrong—that everything had not been se red to me; and now the same impression is on your mind. mystery never be solved?” rf “ Time will solve,” said Larry, ‘ and I ‘wil do all i in my power a3 unearth it, That man intended to tell me all, | but < death came tor quick. Old Sancho thinks they concealed treasure in the swam yi *©Oh, I would be naling to wait for years if I was sure of s¢ Well, those cee Sanne Tema long on thi const aft

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3 beanie LARRY LEE. —oeeeeeeooeoaaoaooeeeeee_ueuw_weeeeeeeeeooeoeoeo®oaaeooeoeooeeeeeeeeeee OS ooo : = = t ‘Indeed I don’t know. That laugh sounds just like the man who Gied in the old canoe out there to-night.” “Oh, Mr. Lee!” « What?” ‘*Can dead men laugh?” **T never knew or heard of one langhing,” he replied. *« Are you sure he was dead?” ** Yes—cead as a dried herring.” ‘* Maybe he was only feigning death,” she suggested. . “« Not much, I guess. The sharks tore him to pieces in less’n two | inutes, and I guess there wasn’t. any feigning about that,” " ** Do you believe in ghosts?” «7 never saw one in my life,” he replied. ‘* Neither have I, but I have heard of such things.” ** Oh, so have I, but I1——” ‘* Ha, ha, ha!” came in mocking tones from below again, and the ‘ young girl shuddered as ue a blast from the North Pole had enveloped her, ‘« You had better go to your room,” he said. “ ibs will only make you nervous, and drive sleep away from you.” “Oh, I couldn’t sleep,” she replied; ** please don’t send me away, Mr. Lee,” and the young girl looked so pleadingly into his face that he had not the heart to insist on her retiriug. Besides he preferred to have her with him anyhow. ‘*Oh, you can stay as long as you like,” he said, ‘‘ only I didn’t know but it might unstring your nerves to remain.” They relapsed into silence and listened to the sound of the oars, which kept up a steady pull for hours. » Larry got up at the regular time, and made the circuit of the light, to see if everything was all right. Then he came back to where »° Anita was sitting, and said: : ‘Tam going down on the rocks to see if I can solve this mystery of the oars.” i She sprang up, and said: a “You will let me go too, will you not?” Not ae * Yes, if you wish.” : Lem and Sancho were both soundly sleeping. They were to watch in the mornings, when the young’lighthouse keeper was sleeping. Larry led the way downstairs, and the young Spanish girl followed close on his heels. She was so nervous and excited that she dared not let him get out of her sight, She believed him capable of pro- “It won't hurt the light to-night,” he said, as he stopped and gazed ] at the tiny holes. ‘‘ It didn’t do the damage he thought it would. It must have been a splendid rifle he used to make such small holes at such a distance. Had he been a good marksman he would have ended my career to-night. He must have dropped his rifle in the water, as I tlidn’t see it in the canoe.” Going round the light several times to see that everything worked well, he descended to his room toarrange some instruments he wanted Lo use in the morning. He was busy for more than an hour, after which he went up to the lightagain to make the usual inspection. Suddenly he stopped and listened. The sound of oars came up from below. : ** My God!” he gasped, “they are right under us!” and he stood still and listened to the steady pull of oars in the row-locks, The knowledge that they could not get in, however, ealmed his fears, ‘and he laid down on the balcony to be ont of the light, and thus avoid being made another target for some miserable wrecker to shoot at. As he Jay there he heard the sound of oars, as though a boat was right at the foot of the tower. Yet it did not seem to advance or re- cede, Full ten minutes passed, and still the sound continued. «This passes my understanding,” he muttered, and then he beard” 2. soft voice on the other side of the light cail: ' “Mr, Leel Mr. Lee!” He recognized the voice of Anita Narcissa, who had come softly up the narrow stairs to the balcony. «Did you call, Miss Narcissa?” he asked, in a low tone, just loud enough for her to hear. E Yes, yes!” she replied quite excitedly. ‘* Where are you?” - « Ohb, I’m here—on this side.” She ran around and found him lying flat on the floor of the baleony. ** Are you ill?” j ire 46 No, ” “Do you know there is a boat right under my window?” she asked. S Please sit down on the floor here so you will not be exposed in ‘the light.” She dropped down on the floor by his side. _“ Have you seen the boat?” he asked. “No. Idared rot look out.” : _ Well, I’ve heard it, too,” he said, ‘‘and have bsen listening for ver ten minutes, but can’t see anything, though it’s bard to see any- hing on the water so close under the tower.” tecting her against all the world. * Oh, can’t they get in?” Down, down they went through the narrow, winding staircase, “No. IVs utterly. impossible,” he said, ‘so don’t be uneasy about | Larry carrying his never failing rifle and a lantern. ud ha! Zi. don’t ‘understand it, though.” At the baQiom he gave the lantern to Anita to hold whilst he = “Don't understand what? barred the heavy iron and oaken door, 4 Chey keep rowing and remain in the same place all the time.” “ 'There’s no one here,” he said, as he opened the door and looked i lovked puzzled and made no reply. She listened in silence | out on to the rocks. for another ten minutes, and then saw that the sound neither advanced He stepped out and looked around. eceded. — The sound of oars stopped and naught but the gentle murmur of Ha, ha, ha!” came a mocking laugh from out on the water, per- | the waters, a8 they caressed the rocks of the reef, was heard, haps a hundred yards away, between the lighthouse and the shore. Larry peered out over the water as far as vision could penetrate ‘Oh, mercy!” gasped Anita, ‘They are coming!” the gloom of the night, and failed to make out anything like a boat. Larry looked out on the dark waters vainly trying to pierce the The old canoe in which the wrecker had been slain, lay moored to — gloom, but coul:l'see nothing. The sound of the oars continued. the rocks, just as old Sancho and Lem had left it. _ Be quiet and don’t get excited,” he said. *‘* A thousand of them *« Ah, I remember it well,” Anita said, as she gazed down at the *b. get in, The door is fire-proof, water-proof, and proof against | familiar old dugout. ‘* Old Uncle Sancho has Bae it for (many years, thing bat lightning.” I know he must have been glad to see it again.” Ob, I’m so glad of that! Do you see any boat?” -« | know he was very much surprised when he saw it,” said Larry, ‘No. _Isee ‘nothing, and yet I can distinctly hear every rape of | ‘for he left it hidden in the swamp, where he supposed no one but himself ‘knew where it was,” He looked around again to gee if any object was Agating near, es F minutes paieed, during which time the two listened in profound | then said: : s ilence to the. steady oar strokes somewhere in the waters below them. a We may as well go up again. I don’t see anything. wrong enly they were startled by. that horrible, fo a laugh again. below.” shudder passed through both. “No one could swim from the land here, could he?” Anita asked. — never heard such a devilish mocking laugh haloes in et ‘my yak "Oh, yes, very easily, if the sharks would let him, but they won!’ iets 4 en the sound of laughter passed. away. | was the 6 10ply. 1 ! urned Anita, ste * But why in the world can’t we see the | She turned and foll wed him inside, and eld the lant ; j ces a secured the : : ‘ ude their F uy, : a * 4} ey What ee ene: f

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a 4 LARRY LER. ** Good-night,” she said softly, nnd entered her room. Larry wended his way upstairs to look after the light. But the moment he entered the balcony he was startled by the sound of oars again, eS CHAPTER XVIII. } i THE HORRORS OF A NIGHT. ’ He stopped and listened. _ |The same measured strokes of the oars came roliing up to the height where he stood, and, as before, seemed neither to advance nor re- cede, _ ‘There itis again,” he muttered to himself. ‘ I can’t understand i it. I may know something about it to-morrow. It’s very strange I couldn’t hear it down on the rocks. I'll try to find it out to-morrow.” He looked after the light and then turned and gazed out to see, where several lights in the distance told of vessels, freighted with a merchandise and precious lives, were riding the deep, guided by the } great light at his back. He felt the great responsibility of his posi- - tion, and inwardly resolved to defend his trust with his life if neces- gary. : After awhile he walked around to the land side and turned his at- _ tention to a small light on shore, which seemed to be a lantern wi the ~ hands of some one—a wrecker, probably. 4 It seemed tu be moving slowly toward the swamp. Larry watched __ it for nearly an hour, and then saw it disappear about where he judged the edge of the swamp to be. Just as it disappeared that mocking laugh came up from the sea so ~ suddenly that he almost fell over the balusters of the balcony, so muck did it startle him. He stopped and listened. ‘Ah, by the great hurricane!” lhe exclaimed, on recovering himself, -“T know that laugh now! I don’t understand it, but it’s the same laugh I heard when I shot at that fellow in the canoe to-night. I’ve heard of such things before, but I never believed them. It’s the same Jaugh—I can’t be mistaken about that. I hope Lem and Sancho “won't hear it, for negroes are very superstitious about such things. I don’t mind it myself, though I would rather it wouldn’t do that way. It would seem to me as if Iam the one who is entitled to the laugh. He got wiped out. I didn’t. Hanged if I haven’t a mind to laugh back at him, I will, if he comes back again another night.” oi - He then turned to the light again, and was looking at the bullet hole in the glass when, whack! something took him on the back of the head and staggered him forward, almost Banning, him to uncon- sciousness, On recovering himself he wheeled around and drew a revolver, for he thought he had been attacked in person, Bee Bat he saw no one, At his feet lay a large mallard duck, dead. ihe, A it was a duck!” he exclaimed, a feeling of infinite relief com- _ ing to him, “ Ha, ha, ha!” came that mocking laugh again, as if jeering him for his fears, «Oh, laugh away!” he fared. ‘IT can stand it if you can!” airs he picked up the dead duck and threw it far out into the water, where t struck with aloud splash. The moment it struck the water the rowing of the mysterious boat- an stopped, ‘More surprised than ever, Larry stood still for ten minutes and lis- ened. He could hear no more rowing, and he breathed easier, for the mystery.of the thing troubled him not a little. he night passed and daylight came. As the sun rose over the land 3 SL ay, Rh Ae Bee is A fins \ red for him nd the young Spanish girl. he table Larry: ald her about the duck k knocking him across the upa eee later, as if enjoying Nol ry put out the lamps and went down to breakfast, which Lem had et,” he anid, “ remains to be told.” | pected him to furnish a solution of the whole mystery. But he re- sumed his eating and quietly remarked: “Tl tell you of a discovery 1 made after 1 have had my nap.” “* About that rowing?” she asked, ‘* No—about the laughter.” She grew more and more interested, and asked: ** Won't you tell me before you go to sleep?” « Yes—after breakfast.” She ate in silence after that, and finished her meal as soon as he did. Accompanying him upstairs to the balcony, he turned and ex- plained to her the mocking laughter that followed his shots at the wrecker in the canoe in the early part of the night, ««Tt was the same laugh I heard then,” he said. “ Then it was 2 dead man’s laugh!” she said, turning pale. lighthouse is haunted.” “Oh, no. Such a thing is utterly impossible. ghosts, and am not afraid of them,” She looked at him in a puzzled sort af way, and asked: **Do you think it was the dead man?” “No. A dead man can’t laugh.” ‘* Who was it, then?” ‘© Ah, Idon’t know. We'll get at it after awhile, though, I guess. ie He scanned the horizon and then turned to the beach. j ‘s Tne wreckers are looking for the man they sert out in the canoe,” he said, ‘‘ and are puzzled to know what has become of him. Don't you see them out there by their cabins?” *: Yes, but it’s so far away I can’t make out what they are doing. They look like little children at this distance.” “ Wait till 1 get the spyglass,” and he ran down the narrow stairs to his room, where he got ne glass. Returning he gave it to her, and Said: ** Now, look and tell me what you see, if you can.” “* She leveled the glass and looked through it for a minute or two. ** They are looking at us through a glass,” she said. “ Just as expected. They are looking for their man,” said Larry. ‘«T’ll bet they are a sick set of rascals this morning.” i “Oh, I do wish they would go away,” said Anita. they will do something terrible.” ‘*T he I don’t believe in i Tam so afraid “They will if they can, but I don’t think they are going to get very ; * far ahead of Larry Lee.” The young girl remained on the balcony enjoying the fresh goa breeze, whilst Larry proceeded to take out the glass containing the bullet holes, and put in another whole one, This work done, he went below and turned in for 9 nap. The young Spanish girl remained a long time on the balcony, spy- glass in hand, watching the movements of the wreckers, She had nothing else to do, and so she did it well. The character. of the wretches on the beach wae such that she would have contrib- uted all in her power to sweep them from the coast forever. As she sat there watching their movements she saw two of them go — off together toward the swamp in which old Savebo had lived untilbis cabin had been destroyed. One of them carried a small box under his anime the farther side of him. rege DY, ees a ee OE te mL mee tN She kept the glass leveled at them till they entered the swamp, and aoe: mentally marked the spot where they disappeared from view. “Ah!” she said, “I can find that very spot again. Ji ast the other side of that old cypress. I can "t fail to remember that, and I know Mr. Lee would like to know it. How glad Iam I kept up this watch for him! They think he is asleep, and no one cares ‘to watch them.” Just then oli Sancho came up to the baleony. . ‘Oh, Uncle Sancho!” she exclaimed, “ {saw two men go into. the swamp just now, carrying a small box with them.” «Dey am de debbil, for sual, honey,” the old man said. upt ler mischuff agin’, I speck.” ‘Of course they are; bus what kind of mischief can it be now?” + ‘1 dunno, honey. I’se gwine tu g0 ober dere ter-night, | suah,” ‘Dey is in once stood. irl and the old man» relapsed ito, a “allel and the old darky gazed wistfully over in the aor pict of the bape th : where his little ¢:

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20 At noon Larry waked up greatly refreshed, and went up to look after the lamps, His daily duty in respect to them was soon per- formed, and then he went below to examine the canoe in which the wrecker had breathed his last the night before, ' Old Sancho came down and was telling him how long he had been the sole owner of the old dugout, when he suddenly started back with a ery of horror. ‘¢ What is it, Sancho?” “Oh, look dere! Oh, de Lor’ sabe as! Look dere—ugh?’ And he pointed to the other end of the canoe, which was farthest out in the water, hia eyes almost popping out of his head. Larry looked over that way, and was himself horrified at seeing a human hand jerked back under the water, as if to prevent beirg seen. CHAPTER XIX, A MONSTER SHARK AND HIS LITTLE GAME. Tue sight sent a thrill of horror through ‘the sinewy frame of ,the young lighthouse keeper. - He was not one to be frightened by any danger he could understand, possession of him. Somehow or other he became possessed with the idea that the hand showed signs of life, for it seemed to open and then close quickly as it was jerked under the water. second time, Larry sprang into the canoe and ran to the farther end, where he knelt down and leaned forward so aa to look down into the clear depths. ‘‘ Look out dere, marsa !” cried old Sancho, frightened almost out ‘of his senses; ‘‘dat was de ebil one. Lor’ save us!” . _ Know if you see it again.” , «Yes, sah,” was the il reply. -. Yack no more.” ‘They both looked in vain for the hand to reappear—one wisiing to gee it rise to the surface and the other inwardly praying that it would not. At last, after the lapse ofa half hour, Larry rose to his feet and glanced around and along the reef of rocks, hoping to find some clew the the mystery of the hand. fe ‘Suddenly he felt the canoe touched by something underneath it which ‘eaused a cold chill to ran down his spine, for the first thought that flashed through his brain was that il was the human hand again. .. He looked down, however, into the clear water, and saw there an immense shark swimming lazily about, as if waiting for him to fall from the canoe into his spacious jawe, v “Oh!” he said, drawing a breath of -relief, ‘It was a shark, J ‘thought it was that hand again. I am giad Miss Narcissa is not here to see this.” Sancho heard him talking. to himself, but could not understand what ‘he said. ‘A few minutes later he saw the shark himself, and called out: “Look dere, marsa! Dav’s a man-eater, suah!” tf Yes, Ive been | watehing him,” was the quiet reply. Hope it won’t nebber come “ He's a big swallowed ‘that hand.” tree tarsal” aka the old ‘darky, crossing himself and old he was gone ria tie harpoon, Larry kept his eye i sight of him. Te had no difficulty low was a crue one, and did not eo it a sharp. Ae } Then he went down, to geo ee of his ction. nor was he afraid even now, but a feeling atrange and undefinable took | held it in position till he saw the monster rise again, and then let To make sure of seeing it again, should it rise above the water a | went headlong into the water. “ Keep a good lookout yourself, ats Ye he said, ‘and let me | close sailing. That fellow was laying for me all the time and came i “ just as { harpooned a shark.” Run up and tell Lem to send me the harpoon. T’ll-get bim and | The monster plunged about, seeming determined not to leave the duge_ |} “Ugh! Aa Lem and old Sancho took hold, and the three finally. suc LARRY LEE. ———————— NT, “« Dere he is!” eried Sancho, as he caught a glimpse of the mon« ster under the canoe, ““T see him,” said Larry. ‘I want to see what he'll do,” “He'll go away ef he sees dat harpoon,” said Lem. sharks is drefful smart, dey is. Dey know er harpoon an—— look out dar! He am er comin’ up, Marse Larry.” The monster came up under the canoe, and struck it a sharp blow, as if trying to capsize it, and then darted below again, where he waited in plain view, as if to see if he had knecked anything out of it. ; The two negroes were utterly dumfounded. It was evident that the shark was trying to throw Larry out of the canoe, “De Lor’ Gorramitey!” gasped Lem. ‘Jes look at dat debbil! He done gone an’ butt him head agin dat dugout! Afo’ de Lov’ dat am de ole Nick. ‘Git. outer dat dugout, Marse Larry!” “Never mind, Lem,” said Larry; “ just wait till I give him a taste of this iron. He'll wish he had been butting the rocks instead of this canoe.” , Larry was equal to an old whaler in throwing the harpoon, «Dem He him have it with all the force be could put into his arm. . ! It struck him about three feet behind his head, in the thick Bah, of his body. There was a sudden dash. The canoe was struck, aoe Larry A ery of horror went up from both Lem and Sancho, vaste heard them, and came running down to see what the matter was. i Just as she reached the rocks, Larry scrambled out of the water — in time to escape another shark which made a dash for his legs. _ “By Neptune!” he exclaimed, as hé got on his feet. ‘ That was hear getling me at last,” “ Whar dat harpoon, Marse Larry?” Lem asked, looking at ‘tha? young man and then at the water, bs “Ask the shark,” said Larry. ‘I gave it to him. I guess he’ll have F trouble in getting rid of it.” Y «“ Dere he am!” cried old Sancho, as the monster made a run and struck the harpoon against the side of the canoe. His plunges were - terrific. He was in his death agonies, and seemed to have a special — Spite against the old dugout. hs « Bress the Lor’!” ejaculated Lem, hia eyes like saucers, “ dats. de tA “shark dat looked me in de face las’ night and frowed water in pee eyel” ‘Try to catch that line, Sancho,” said Larry, as the long Maes attached to the harpoon followed 03 man-eater as he plunged and | dashed about, | cr * Ob, Lor’, marea!” groaned the old darky. Aah “ What in the world is the matter, Mr. Lee tw aan asked, ag she be came near enough to see how wet he was. — hse “T fell out of that canoe,” he mente laughing good-naturedly, Oh! Where is the shark ?” lephere he is now!” The water about the canoe grew red with the blood of the man-eater, out. He made a desperate attempt to bite. the end, and ‘succeeded in cutting off a good- -sized piece, What a horrible. mouth he has!” exclaimed Anita, with a ‘shudder. “ He's a big. one,” romatked Larry. “TE want to. eaten binder purpose, ” and he again entered the canoe for the purpose of trying to catch the line. Pat He succeeded, and, in a few minutes, he had, the line in his bands, bat. was unable to manage it by himself, é t io killing g him, ‘ r } j He was a very large one, over fifteen feet in length.

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Vee LARRY LEE. . QT Larry ordered Lem and Sancho to turn him over on his back. They did so, and he then cat him open. Inside his stomach he found several bits of cloth, a whole shoe, and a piece of leather belt. _ Just as I expected,” he said, as he looked at the contents of the - man-eater’s stomach. ‘ This is the fellow that helped eat the wrecker _ whom we threw ont of the canoe Jast night. He has been hanging " around the dugout ever since waiting for another meal.” Lem and Sancho shuddered. _ Larry went on with his investigation of the contents of the fish, ~ taking up the pieces of rags and searching them one by one. - Suddenly his hand touched something hard in one of the rags. He _ took it out and found it to be a gold locket, set with diamonds, inside of which was the picture of a man’s face. ia Oh, my poor muther, my poor mother!” groaned Anita, bursting into tears. She wept long and hysterically, but the tears relieved her. ‘« Tell Mr. Lee to please let me have that locket again,” she said to the old negress, and the old woman went out in search of him. She found him in the dining room talking to Lem and old Sancho, He gave her the locket, and the old woman returned with it to the young girl’s room. A few minutes later Larry heard heart-broken sobs, and knocking at the door of her room, asked: «‘ What’s the matter? Please tell me.” She called to him to come in, and then she told him the locket con- tained the portrait of her father. ‘“My God!” he gasped, ‘* Is that so?” i { ** Yes, Mr, Lee, and now you can anderstand my grief.” : *« Indeed I do,” he said, ‘‘ and my heart bleeds for you. But let ¥ me tell you that the wrecker who died in the canoe last night had ‘ that locket ir his possession.” ‘Oh, how do you know that?” ‘* Because it was found in his clothes in the shark’s stomach. I am sure, now, that your parents were washed ashore, their bodies robbed by the wreckers, and then buried somewhere in the sand on the beach. «Oh, if I only knew that,” she said. ‘Tam sure of it. If they had not been washed ashore how could they bave had this locket in their possession?” “Ah! That's so, I am satisfied now. I am so glad they were noteaten by those horrid sharks. I may some day be able to find them and have them carried home, ‘© Yes, and I will do all in my power to help you find them. Maybe } we'll catch one of the wreckers some day, and then we'll make him BR CHAPTER XX. (i THE STORY OF THE LOCKET. ’ “ An!” he said, on looking at the trinket. ‘‘ The sea gives up its _ secrets sometimes in a manner least expected. This came off the wrecker, as the contents of tne stomach show a recent meal. I won- der who i: can be—this face? Lem, look in that rag over there and _ see if you can’t find something there.” Lem did as he was ordered, and in a few moments Larry heard a | ery of surprise from him. “ What’s the matter, Lem?” he asked. | J'ge foun’ some yaller money, Marse Larry,” exclaimed Lem. ‘¢The deuce you have! Let’s see it.” | Lem held up three twenty-dollar gold pieces and four tens—one undred dollars, “+ By the great guns!” he Evisioed as he gazed at the coins, ‘That old man-eater was worth something. x ‘Bress de Lor’!” exclaimed Lem, * dat was a bad un.” tell us something about them.” : i Sancho looked at the dead monster and crossed himself most de- “Oh, you are so kind!” and she burst into tears again. Larry left * joutly. He was so superstitious that he did not dare to touch the | the room. He was too tender-hearted to stand by and listen to the ra contents of the fish’s stomach. sobs of a pretty girl without joining in himself, and that was what he a ' Asstill farther search brought forth a man’s arm and hand com- | didn’t want to do. MM te. arry looked at it scrulinizingly, as if trying to identify it, ead then turned away, saying to the two negroes: Cut out the harpoon and then throw him into the water.’ * Yea, sah,” said Lem, who went to work to cut out the iron. As soon as he got the iron out he and old Sancho threw the re-— ins of the mneerer into the water and then went into the tower, Going ip to see the old sailor who had been rescued on the Leonidas, he sat down and stared out of the little window for sarees minutes before speaking. “Tam better this afternoon,” said the old man, “ and have nearly got my sea legs on again.” H ‘Tam very glad to hear that,” said Larry, ‘* but take your time about getting up again.” ‘Thanks, commodore,” replied the old salt, “ but I want to gel a whifl of sea air, aad am going up on deck to get it.” «Oh, you can go up on the hurricane deck if you like. We've got i five decks on this craft, you know.” we ‘ Shiver my timbers, commodore,” the old ase ejaculated, is ae you carry the highest headlight on the main.” “ Still you couldn’t keep away from it,” said Larry, laughin ng. “It was blowing great guns, and it took our mast away. I heard rowing nearly all night under me windows there, Se but couldn’t see anything.” iy} 9 ‘ Yes, I heard it, too, bat’ could ‘not find the boat.” “ Did you hail 10?” “cc No. ” ; “T heard some one laughing several times,” added the. old sailor. i ; Yes, but still I could see no one, ‘There are a lot of 3 wreckers. on the beach out there, who try to annoy us because we won't let em plunder the hull of the Leonidas. Before this light was put here they | had a rich £arvest of wrecks cr t this reef, Since then they have done but little business, and have tried to destroy the lamps. Last night they tried to kill mg, I think, as two ‘bullets whistled close ie my head | and broke the glass that protected the Jight.” bis “The cowardly lubbers!” hissed | the old salt; ett grapnels on’em I’d make wrecks: of em in Tess. ‘ime. fly a skysail!”, 4 ‘ They deserve to be wi wrecked,” sai : be hanged at ‘the yardarm.’ a “ Ay, ay, sir, that hey. do, an oe Juek Pulver! ‘is the sea ae ry} would like to do it, too!” and the jome old rags in bis stomach,” the firet glance at the locket she sprang forward, snatched it out hie bands, quickly opened it, and gazed. at the face in it. on fe ‘floor in a deathlike swoon. Larry was thunderstruck. nN He. rushed forward, raised her in his arms, and gazed into er face. Y he moaned, ‘sho is dead! Oh, what shall I do?” sb, de chile is dose gone. dead!” wailed the ak negress. Henke rat's de ones Sancho pees f

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22 LARRY LEE. sisted him to the top of the tower, where, seated on the balcony, the old man drank in the fresh salt air and viewed the magnificent stretch - of sea view that was spread out before him. ‘Ts that where the wreckers live?” he asked, as he gazed at the primitive log cabins in the distance on the beach. * Yes,” replied Larry. ‘« How many of ’em?” ‘¢ Nearly a score, I guess,” was the reply. died since I came bere,” ** Yellow fever?” the old man asked, innocently. “No. It was a meddling fever that killed ’em, I believe,” replied Larry. *¢What’s that? I’ve tackled everything in the way of fevers.” “« Well, no ons ever takes it who doesn’t meddle with other people’s business,” said Larry, The old sailor stared hard at him for several minutes, and then gave a low whistle, plainly indicating a vast amount of xstonishment in bis unsophistocated mind. “ There's a Captain Blake over there,” Larry said, ‘‘ wloseems to be the head man of the wreckers, He came over here one evening and paid me a visit up here, When my back was turned he attacked me * go suddenly that it came near being my last night on earth. I re- covered however, and a desperate struggle ensued. I got the lock on him at jast, and hurled him over the balcony here into the pa belew.” The old sailor leaned forward and looked down at the water Mead black rocks below. ** And the sharks got ’im?” he exclaimed. **No, I saw him the next morning as lively as a monkey in a cocoanut tree.” Another whistle, and the old sea dog stared at the young man with an air of innocent incredulity. \ “ Three of ‘em have . CHAPTER XXI. OLD SANCHO GOES ASHORE. Larry was concious of the fact that old Jack Turner did not believe : as and remarked: ' «+ Lem, the black man downstairs, saw him when he went over, so you can make up your mind to accept it as truth, He happened to miss the recks, you see, and so he escaped, but how he managed is “more than I can tell. At any rate, I found him with the wreckers the next day on the beach out there.” Old Jack looked down at the black rocks at the base of the tower and mentally calculated the distance. He shook bis head, as though the yarn was too large for him to swallow. *« What did he attack you fone he finally asked, looking hard at Larry. *¢ Because this light ta raining. their business,” was the reply. they can kill the keeper und put out the light on stormy nights, they would soon strew the beach with wrecks.” — “ Why, shiver my tin.bers, mate!” exclaimed the old sailor, greatly excited, ‘‘that’s what’s the matter with the cowardly lubbers, eh? Smash my binnacle light, but I'd like to get my flippers on ’em!” “ Oh, they’ve got the worst of it so far. My good rifle has laid out three of ’em, and 1 guess that now they will let me alone.” They spent two or three hours up there talking over the situation, * during which time the old man bs geil more fully aha wreck of the - Leonidas. ‘ Just ns the sun began to sink down into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Larry proceeded to light the great lamps. The old sailor ay looked on with the greatest interest until the job was finished, Then ; he watehed how the revolving machine was set in motion. going, “is the best life-saving thing in the world!” vented.” _ # Indeed it is.” ai mopeig handed it back to him. yf ing away. ¢ In a few minutes he was ont of sight, though Larry could hear his ‘« Blow my tarry top lights!” be exclaimed, when he saw the thing Yes, it is the greatest nfeseipes to mariners that was ever ins _ Just then Anita ‘came: /up on the baleony with that locket in her He could see that she was i r ie She tried to thank him, but burst into tears, He took her by the hand and led her to a seat near old Jack Turner, who looked on the whole proceeding with great interest. In a few minutes she regained ber self-possession again, and said ‘*T will never forget your kindness, Mr. Lee, and——” ‘Shiver my timbers if I do either, lassie!” exclaimed old Jack, ‘‘ and I'l fight for him till Davy Jones boards my hulk!” She looked round at the weather-beaten old man and said: _ ‘* Yes, we both have much to thank him for, sir, and I hope we may be able to show our appreciation of his kindness some day.” ‘© Oh, I know how you both feel,” said Larry, laughing pleasantly. “But don’t talk about it. You make me feel as mean as a pirate. Just see how the light shines now.” * Splendid!” exclaimed Anita, as she looked at the light, * “T think so, too,” said Larry. ‘ It can de seen ten or fifteen miles at sea.”. : “It’s going to be a dark night, is it nol?” she asked, ‘Yes, a very dark night, I think, and yet old Sancho says he's going to go ashore and see what is going on among those wreck- ers,” ‘*Tsn’t it a dangerous thing for him to do?” “ Yes; but still he knows every inch of the country around here, lb ST tl and can handle bis canoe as well as any old sailor. I don’t know that — it is very dangerous after all.” * When will he go?” ‘¢ As soon aa it is dark enough to conceal his movements from the wreckers, I guess.” “T’m ofraid he won’t be able to keep out of harm’s way. old, yon know.” * Yes, he’s old, but he has a keen, shrewd head on his shoulders, Old Sancho is no fool.” ‘ Lem came up and told them that supper wags ready. Larry led Anita down the narrow iron staircase, and old Jack followed close be- hid her. After supper old Saiicho went down on the rocks to look ufter his canoe, Larry followed him, oh bs It. looks” 5. “ Sancho,” he said to the old man, “find out all you can, as if it might blow before midnight. If it does, don’t try to come back to-night, but hide in the swamp till a better time.” «Yes, massa.” ‘Here's a revolver and some cartridges, use it.” ; «* Yes, sab.” “ You had better take some rations with you, for fear you may needs - them,” ‘ is “Tankee, massa.” « Be careful and try not to lat em gee you or your canoe, they try to catch you, shoot and kill as long as you'can. afraid to do that, are you?” : **No, sah.” iy y" « All right, then, You can guide yourself byt the light, you know.” | “Yes, sah.” Larry went up in the kitchen and got some Biben which he put. in 4 a bag and brought down to him. “ Here you are, enough for two days,” he said ag he dropped the bag into the canoe, “Tankee, massa,” replied the old man, taking up the oars and pull cautious strokes for some time after be left. But when he could no longer hear him, Larry went up to the baleo- ny under the light to wait and listen. After awhile Anita came up and sat with him, She was too ional , iow below. The air was so cool and pleasant up on the balcony, ae Old Sancho has gone,” he said to her, as she came up, beacli.” “Wye “ Why, you surely don’t exbeut to hear ot him, do you?” ; « Well, not if he | gets through without any trouble,” he repli “« But if those wreckers hear from him and try to stop him, ] tainly | hear his revolver, Tor the old bag id Bema He'll shoot He is so You know how to But it Youare not ‘a and I | am sitting here waiting to see if I can heat anything from dia on ‘the

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\ ; ae ey LARRY LEE. 935. . — A t ; = the swamp one day and killed a big black bear with nothing but a Of touraa Sancho beard every word that was said. as knife.” He quickly drew his hand in and laid low in the bottom of the - ws *« Indeed !'? canoe, determined to give them no chance to hurt him if he could “ Yes, eset we lived on bear meat for nearly a month.” *« How did you like it?” ** On, [ liked it very well. and was a welcome one.” ** T suppose it was,” Let us now follow old Sancho in his trip to the beach. He pulled steadily, keeping his face to the light, and in due time came in view of the low, white, pebbly beach. Bat there were three wreckers there to meet him, They suspected that some one would try to reach the shore under the cover of night, particularly old Sancho, who was so familiar with the country about there. Having no boats left, they resolved to watch and capture anything that came from the lighthouse. As they were walking the beach, they heard the sound of his oars and quickly ran to the spot where they expected him to land. But, luckily for the old man, he saw dark forms on the white sand and drew back just before the canoe stuck its nose on the beach. a A second look revealed to him the presence of three men. He knew they could be no other than wreckers. There were no other people there at the time, so he could make no mistake as to their character. He looked and thcught he could see guns in their hands, dark as it was. ** Come ashore!” commanded a harsh, gruff voice. Sancho qvietly laid down at full length in the canoe, with one hand over in the water, with which he tried to paddle back into deep water and out of sight of the wreckers, + Come ashore!” commanded the same voice, very roughly, again, “or we'll fire!” Sancho made no reply, but kept using his hand as an oar. s Bang! went a rifle. x The bullet struck the canoe, but the old darky was wbharesed: He continued to use his natural oar, and ead drew back from the beach. “« Carambal” growled a Spaniard on the beach. “ Perdition!” hissed another, ‘* He is getting away from us! him the other two!’’ 7 Bang—bang! went two more rifles, and the bullets went so low over the canoe that Sancho felt the wind of them on his neck. _ * Here, hold my gun!” cried a voice, ‘and I'll wade in and bring him ashore!” A moment later Sancho heard a man rushing through the water. Nearer and nearer he came, and deeper and deeper in the wrecker _ waded till the water was up about his waist. 'j He laid a hand on the canoe and pulled it towards him. - Crack! went a revolver from the middle of the canoe, and the wrecker staggered back with an oath and a groan. It was a change from our regular fare ‘ Give CHAPTER. XXII. , BRAVE OLD 8ANCHO. - with him save n knife, - The idea of meeting with resistance under such circumstances never once occurred to him. But the bullet from old Sudbno's revolver had not been sent toa ‘vital: ‘part, and so as soon as tle wounded wrecker recovered from his - gurprise the struggle was renewed. _ _He seized the canoe, and, savagely jerking it forward, peered into ‘itto see where the shot came | from. Old Sancho did not wait to let him find out his foexllig: He ‘raed his revolver and fired Beale), this time not more than five feet his hand again. THE wrecker had waded into the cunoe without taking any ie the 5 neho | Sacied over the side of the canoe and commenced paddling help it. Crack—crack—crack! came the revolvers, and the bullets whistled all around the old darky. Several of them strack the canoe, but old Sancho remained unharmed, By and by the firing ceased, and Sancho knew that their revolvers were empty.” He sprang up, seized an oar and made several vigor- ous pulls, whicli sent him out of sight of the wretches in a few sec- oncs. “ Bress de Lor’,” said the old man, ‘‘I’se got away from dem dis time. I’se gwine to go up de creek, where I kin hide de canoe in de a swamp.” g oe Looking back at the light, so as to get his hearin the old man” pulled for the upper part of the beach, where a creek connected the swamp with the sea. He knew evéry inch of the locality, and had vo fear but that he could make the mouth of the creek without any difficulty. After pulling for an hour, he concluded that he must be near bis destination, and turned toward the beach to make sure of his calcn- lations, He had not gone far before the canoe grated against a pole stuck i in the mud at the bottom. a8 He caught hold of the pole and made an examination of it with his hands, and pretty soon recognized it as one he had stuck there toat- tach a fish basket to. mg Of course he knew just where he was then, for he bad planted the pole directly in the mouth of the river, or creek, and now made it his — guide to reach the point he had started for, 2 Pulling carefully, so as to make no noise, he made his way up the = creek till he reached the bushes and high grass, Theh heran intoa — spot he knew by an old dead cypress tree that he saw outlined sealies 2 the sky and landed. “ V’se gwine ter go down by de ole place now,” he muttered, and, . securing the canoe go It. would not get away from him, ke wended his way through the bushes (o the sandy beach. ' But he knew enough not to go along the open beach and run the risk of meeting some of the wreckers. That was what he wanted to avoid. — He didn’t come ashore to fight or kill anyone. He came for another — purpose altogether, so he kept back from the beach and made his way - along the edge of the swamp, which ran parallel with the beach about ” @ quarter of a mile inland. When he came to the path that led to the little spot where his little cabin had once stood, he could not resist the temptation to see 33 the place. Oreeping along with his revolver in his hand, ready for any emer- gency, he soon reanbed the spot. Every inch of the locality was fa- miliar to him, dark as it was, and he took a melancholy pleasure i “moving around among the trees and in the very ashes where his cabi ohce stood, Suddenly he heard a fierce growl on his left. : It was too dark for him to see any wild beast, so he quickly re treated towards the open, not yeu tly to fight a panther or bear in the dark. Much to his delight, the benst did not parsue him. that he cared to see, and so went away satisfied. Ont on the sand again, he crept southward toward the: cabins of th wreckers, some two miles below. When he had gone a half mile or go, he thought he caw ve light in the swamp. He was perfectly familiar with the “wi wisp” light of swamps, and knew that this was not of that kind. The ‘* will-o’-the-wisp ” light is always oblong in shape, but this ( was smaller and more like a candle or a small lantern. BS He stopped and gazed at it, and noticed rhe it was moved about if in the hands of a man. : “e Dat’s dem wreckers, suah,” be mattered, seit his curiosity 7 He ca seen al the nye tud aati Somnath noise as he pailed his feet ok ter ; | step that he knew he would be. discovered and murdered, ‘80 oF | solved to hold back and mee until any, came out, local

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iO see E ays 24 LARRY LEE, ' Concealing himself in the edge of the swamp, he waited till they | tern following steadily on his trail. He well knew the relentless feroc- came out. ity of those men, and so he made haste to get away. There were four men. They carried a small ship’s lantern, which He reached the creek some distance below the spot where he had ; gave suflicient light for them to see how to travel. left his canoe, and bad to run along the margin of the swamp till When they passed near him he saw that an ax and spade were car- | he saw the old cypress which had acted as a guide in effecting a ; ried by two of them. landing. | “ Yes,” said one, ‘it’s safe enough till we move it altogether.” When he reached the canoe the wreckers were not more than an e '«*Yes,” added another, ‘‘ but how will we ever be able to move it in | eighth of a mile from him, ’ sight of yonder light and the young fiend in charge of it?” Jumping into the old dugout, he pushed off and made his way downe 4 ‘‘ We've got to move it,” anid a third, ‘or lose it. I, for one, will | stream as fast as the oars could send him, 4 not lose my share.” i As the wreckers followed his trail along the margin of the swamp, “Neither will 1.” | they came within pistol shot of him as he floated towards the oatlet. - Another said something, but they had gone to far away for old | He rested on his oars, however, so as not to attract attention. Sancho to catch it. He moved on after then, however, resolved to In a few minutes they reached the spot where his canoe had been, gee and hear all be could, now that he was on land with them. Yet | and then discovered that the spy had escaped. : he dared not go near enough to them on the beach to overhear their They swore like pirates and bewailed their lack of boats, for then conversation. If they should turn and discover him, nothing could | they could pursue and destroy him before he could give away the in- save him from their revolvers. " They would literally fill him with | formation that he had picked up. lead. In the meantime, old Sancho pulled a8 hard as he could for the ee on heel”. Se Bet we _ He kept Rem in sight, or rather! the light, till they reached the | light, knowing that he would not really be safe until he reached that -eabins. place. - Then, when they entered, he went up and peeped through the crey- When he came within hailing distance he looked up and saw Larry ices and saw more than he had ever before seen of the wreckers of the | and Anita sitting on the balcony under the light, and called out: Florida reefs. ‘* All right, massa!” - He saw in one cabin seven men, bronzed by sun and wind, sitting ‘© Ts that you, Sancho?” Larry called out from the baleony. around a large sea chest, which answered the purpose of a table, talk- ** Yes, sah! Ole Sancho come back!” ingi in low tones. “ All right. I'll be down in a few minutes,” and then turning to Qn a bed in another room two men lay wounded. They were groan- | Anita, Larry said: ing and cursing their ill fortune in being laid up with wounds, and ‘¢ Stay here till come back. I think the old man has some news, vowed to wreak a terrible vengeance on the young lighthouse keeper | or he would not have returned so soon.” ee as soon as they got well again, ‘« T will wait,” she said, ‘* but come back soon.” i _ But the party at the sea chest attracted the old man’s attention He ran down several flights of stairs and opened the door for the ola . _ the most. ; man. 3 He saw Captain Blake give two men a sum of money in bright gold Lem was called down to help him secure the canoe so the tide would _ eoins, saying us he did so: not take it away, and then the old darky related the story of his ad- “Go down the coast till you find some way of getting over to Key | ventures with the wreckers. West, and buy there a sailboat large enough to take us and the box to Larry was a patient listener, and only interrupted the old man to soma other point.” ask a question about a puint on which he was not particularly clear, a When he had finished, Larry grasped his haod and said: f * Sancho, I wonldn’t take a thousand dollars for your trip to-night. You donft know how much good you have done, 1 guess you laid out tay awe after that young fellow over there makes his report to the | that fellow on the beach there.” vernment? I’ve got better sense than to have the government send “Guess I did, massa,” said the old man. oa detachment of troops to arrest me and then swing for work a “ Well, you did right, anyhow, and did just as I would tave ree here. Oh, no, I’m not a fool, Donald.” and you did it bravely, too, You are good game, old man.” There was a silence of several minutes, during which time old San- | ‘‘Tankee, massa. I didn’t want dem wreckers to git a aK onme - ebo heard several oaths harled at young feats Lee for having ruined | Dey’s de debbil on poor niggers, dey is.” Py : “th usinéss of the wreckers, |‘ Well, we’ve found out one thing that we wanted to piometting are -“ When shall we start?” one of the two men who had received the | going to leave this coast just as soon as they can get away.” ee g 1a asked of the captain of the wreckers. “« Yes, sah—dat’s fac’.” Y “At daylight,” was the reply. | «© Well, we won’t hinder them from going, ‘but we'll see if we can’t All right. We'll fix up our rations to-night then,” and they at | find their treasure first and get it before they do. I guess it would . Sant and began to prepare rations for a week to take along with | make us right well off in this world’s goods.” tah **Yes, massa, I spec’ it would.” : of them came out of the cabin so suddenly that the old man was | «Well, we'll talk it over to-morrow, and then see if we can’t iecate Hed to take to hie heels” to prevent being seen, the spot where you saw them go into the swamp.” id th Wade’ got a glimpse of. a dark form i away, and «©T knows whar dey come out,” he said. ‘* Dunno whar dey went oh AAI a in, sah.” riyes a Oh, one will do as well as the “other, I guess,” said Larry. “If at he only ran the faster, and the seeasert drew a revolver and you can locate the spot where they come out I think we can find the . } " reat without any trouble.” } as eaiiey ito =H r A «J knows de spot, massa,” said the old man; “put youse got 4 CHAPTER XXIII. ‘ ter wateh dem mmreckens, suah. Dey am de wustest people in de : OLD SANCHO’S ESCAPE, worl’.” ; ori i Sak whistled uncomfortably. close to old Baiehe'y head. “I know they are yeity bad, Sancho,” sailed: el “but then we Bae only made him run the: faster, ‘In the soft sand he made ng are a pretty hard crowd ourselves, you know.” — d ise, and in a minute or two he was out of sight. PRON eve “The old man gave him a smile that told how well he was tiadcameds e stopped to lo back and saw the wreckers following” his ‘aati in fe recollected how badly the wreckers had fared. at the hands of an fa ship's lantern, Hira Se ay Lee since he had been placed in charge of the lighthouse, and won- ‘he are “190 ginter go bese) to. de light. it "dered if the wreekers didn’t ‘really think he was a ‘hard crowd.” wine r _ Larry went ‘back. up to the fe awed where Suits was waiting i “«Jg it settled then that we must leave here, captain?” one of them } x

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LARRY LEE. eee 1 “JT will give him a pension if I ever get home to my people. He and his cld wife have been more kind to me than I can tell.” ** Yes, and your keen appreciation of their kindness shows how kind you are,” he said, ‘I join you fully in your kiud feelings toward the old couple. Their home has been destroyed, and they are too old to build another. I think, from what he has told me to-night, that I can find the hidden treasure of those rascals, and if I do the old man shall have a, share of it, no matter what the amount may be.” “Oh, Ido hope that you may find it, and that it may make you rich gnough to leave this business and live a life of ease and comfort,” “So do I;” was the candid reply of the brave young fellow. “ Hush-sh!” said Anita. ‘#1 hegpa boat coming,” Larry listened aud heard the sveady pull of a pair of oars between him and the shore. Ten minutes passed, and still the mysterious oars- man neither advanced nor receded, ‘Ah!’ he said. ‘*I know that fellow. He'll not come any closer, but will keep up his interminable rowing until daylight, as if trying to tempt me to row out and meet him. But I won't go, ard he laughs mockingly at me.” “ Ha, ha, ha!” came a mocking laugh from below. *« That’s him now,” said Larry. “Oh, you won't go, will you?” she cried. «Ob, no! Lam not to be caught in a trap like that,” he replied. She really believed it was a man in a boat who had come to tempt the young lighthouse keeper from his post in order to murder him, and felt great relief when he informed her that he would not be tempt- ed out. The)roaring continued for another hour, broken at intervals by the harsh, mocking laugh, of which the reader already knows. But the incessant roaring began to aunoy Larry. It grated harshly on nis ears, and he grew restless, Last night,” he’ said to Anita, ‘‘ when I threw that dead duck over into the water the roaring ceased, and I heard nothing more foe OL Tt’ cia ‘‘ Maybe he came after something to eat,” suggested Anita, Larry smiled and wondered if the ghosts of dead wreckers ate wild ducks. «“There’s two ducks down in the kitchen which Lem killed this after- noon,” she continued. ‘* Suppose you throw one of them to him and see if he will go away.” ’ « Yes, I believe I will,” and he ran down into the kitchen, whence he returned a couple of minutes later, bringing one of the ducks with him. ** Here a is,” he said, ‘*all dressed and ready to cook for dinner to-morrow.’ : cae of it.” ** Well, here goes,” and, taking the duck “et the leg, he hurled it as tar out in the direction of the mysterious Trower as he could. They listened, and the moment, it struck the water the rowing ceased. — c “ There!” exclaimed Anita, greatly relieved, ‘he ane stopped! Now he will go away. He ought to be thankful that he got a duck all tat dressed for the oven.” iat They waited to see if they could hear anything of the mysterious eat “rower, but he remained silent. Larry was as much surprised as Anita ‘was gratified, and said: ‘‘ Now you'd better go down to your room and get some sleep, ag it | i is after midnight.” she ran down to her little room, and was soon in the land of dreams. pital ‘Hanged if I cun understand this thing,” said Larry, when he was alone. a "just because he knows it ia not pleasant to have such unpleasant j Ri laughter breaking in on one at all hours of the night, and when I throw a de d duck: ab him he gets up aud scampers back to Davy ones’ as fast as Old Nick will, let him. I don’ ‘t understand it, nohow. Maybe a duck makes ’em sick. Maybe it doesn’t agree with” om: Bertoni + give “em a bit lonts hereafter and put . stop to this MELOY } | and they racked vou ‘«Oh, no matter,” she said, ‘we can have something else in the iat On, I didn’t know it was so late!” and, ‘bidding him good-night, “That spook comes rowing around bere and laughing at me liquid mirror. Larry looked around on the quiet scene, and knew that he would have but little work to do that day. Lem anvounced breakfast, and he went down to find Anita pre- siding at the little table like a veritable queen of the breakfast table, “« Good-morning!” she greeted. ** Good-morning!” he returned, thinking her the prettiest picture he had ever seen, ‘* Such a lovely morning I have seldom seen.” “ Yes, I was admiring it from the window when dressing,” she said, “How I wish I could run in the woods and gather flowers this morn- ing.” i He gazed at her a minute or two, and thought how much pleasure it would give him to escort her to the forest to see her gather the wild flowers, none of which could be more beautiful than herself. ‘« How I would like to tuke you to the woods,” he remarked, ‘ but it is too dangerous, you know.” i ‘“Oh, yes. I wonldn’t think of going while those bad people re- mained on the beach out there.” rs ‘ Well, they won’t remain there always,” he said. ‘‘ They are pre- paring to go away, for Sancho heard their leader instructing two of them to go down the coast and get to Key West as best they could, and buy a sail vessel large enough to take them and vheir plunder away. Evenif they don’t get off that way, the government supply boat will look after them when it comes.” *« But when will it come?” “* Next month.” ** Oh, that will soon be here.” ** Yes—all too soon for me,” “What do you mean by that?” , “ Why, I shall lose you, and be so lonesome after you are gone.” : Anita looked down at her plate and made no reply. Larry himself j relapsed into a silence that was broken only by the contact of knives id and forks with their plates. 4 ; bs 3 Both were thinking, and both had thoughts they were afraid to to give utterance to. The meal ended, Larry arose and went up to the balcony, exam- ined the lamps, as the regulations required, and then went down to his room for the sleep he was so much in need of. In the meantime Lem and old Sancho, under the supervision of old Jack Turner, were busily engaged in removing portions of the cargo. ‘of the wrecked Leonidas, and storing it in the lower part of the tower. They were engaged at that work when the young lighthouse keeper awoke, Anita busied herself in helping old Sancho’s wife put Huinga.: to 4 rights in the little rooms in the tower. } Ms Larry came down and found everybody busy, and made po useful in many ways about the wreck. Old Jack Turner managed to get, the manifest of the ill- fated venules it though aa damaged oy water, and gave it to Larry for safe-keep- a ing. “ You can take better care of it than I can, commodore,” he said. ; ‘‘T can keep it as long as the lighthouse stands,” said La Ty, tak. ; ing the papers and laying them away in a safe place, after drying” them. But Larry was thinking about the baried treasnre of the wreckers, which, he was now fully satistled, was buried in two places. 4 ys The report made by old eure and the eoRtennton of the dying could rightly Gal it. It was upon this he now bent all the energies of his mind. ay ae Taking his spyglass ay f to the ae with him, he got old San ho ' wrecKers came out of ie swamp. ‘Sancho located the spot by pointing out a wréb under which standing when they emerged from the | ‘swamp. “ They'll turn ont all their strength. to-night,’ "he said to Sancho, eee {hy guard ugainst another visit, They have good reason to fear you were Watching 80 as to locate their box in the swainp, a f conceal themselves all about the creek to-night to watch for yo me, or some of as.” a ify rhs Yes, sab; reckon dey will,” said the old ‘man, a ree course: they” will, for you” Baye | them a a big 1c: way back. up to the cree

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BRO es there after this. Now, I’m going to land away down there below the cabins to-night when the tide is out.” ** Good Lor’, masga!” ejaculated the old darkey, his eyes opening as wide as saucers, ‘‘dey’ll kotch yer, shuah!” “Oh, no danger. ‘You and I will go together, and take Lem along to hold the poat off.” Old Sancho was proud to be thus chosen. as a faithful body-guard, and was much more than willing to go, He was anxious to go and “show the daring young hero how true he could be in the hour of danger. He took all the afternoon to prepare the rifle and revolvers for the expedition. Larry took Anita up to the balcony, and explained to her the whole plan he had mapped out for the night’s work. “71 will leave you in charge of the light,” he said, “‘ with Jack Turner as your man-of-all work. I will be gone only three or four hours. All you will have to do will be to sit “Up here and listen for our signal, when you can send Jack down to open the door for us. Will you take charge of the light for me?” *¢ Yos,” she said, “and will do all I cas to aid you. Butif you do not return—if you—get—killed? What shall I do then?” ‘ Take charge of everything till the supply boat comes. Lem will work the po en He knows all about them. But I’m not going to get hurt, I'll come back all right. Never fear about that.” © Ob, I will hope and pray for you ull I Lear you returning,” she said. * Don’t get excited about anything, but keep cool. Remember that 0 one can get inside unless you open the door. If you hear any 5 _ ‘more of that rowing we heard last night, throw out another duck and he will go away,” a ‘But there isn’t another duck in the tower.” “ Oh, weil, we'll get half a dozen this afternoon,” and he went down and got his duck-gun, wilh which he returned to the balcony, where ¥ ~ ducks were constantly passing on the wing. He did not have to wait long ere a flock of ducks came by, and a - shot brought down four of them. ‘bey fell into the water. Lem rau é down, launched a small rowboat, and secured them, “Now you will have ducks enough and to spare,” he said, as Lem j _ brought them into the litte kitehen. ee Oh, yes, and Pl give them all to the man if he wants them,” she 821 ‘*Give him one at a time, and see if he will leave with the first _ She promised to do just as he told her, and then Larry took old Jack Turner into his confidence, and told him his plans for the night. ‘The old salt wanted to go with him, but Larry told him he must - remain behind to protect the young lady. Fe His gallanyy thus appealed to, he consented, and then the young lighthouse keeper explained the case to Lem. ‘“« De Lor’ Goramity!” exclaimed Lem. ** Youse'll be a dead phe white man fo’ suah, Marse Larry.” “ Now don’t think I don’t know what I’m doing, Lem,” said prs I tell you there’s no danger. Sancho will go with me, and you stand with the boat ready for. any danger. They will all be off up the ae to-night, watching for Sancho and his canoe.” _ he night set in very cloudy and dark. Low tide was reached at ten ock, at which time the three set off in a lifeboat, rowing so as not ss to make any noise in the row-locks. 1 _ It took them nearly an hour to reach the spot where they wanted to land, arry and old Sancho got out and crept forward to the cabins, and d them deserted except by the wounded, who lay upon their bedg g to each other. The otbers had gone up towards the creek and opposite the light. and ag sin. Pp Saito on that point, Larry touched old Sancto’s arm ‘and whis- ere: ome away to the ‘beach, ” and led the way himself. ho followed, and soon they were walking together along the water’s edge in search of a rock that would look. as though placed ere by the hands of man. Z nee > ae a dozen rocks, and at last Larry found one that at, Meant the end of a sharp rod of iron underneath it, This must be it!” he said, “ as it simply lies under ney sur- and he ran the pointed iron underneath again, t stuck in some kind of hard wood. tash-sh!” cautioned Sancho, aud both men laid flat down on @ CHAPTER XXV. THE WORK OF A “NIGHT. é Croventna low, neither Larry nur old Sancho could see the two though they could hear them talking. the strangers’ voices tie ore distinct with slmost every word, it was plain that they approaching the spot where the daring Hetihonse: keeper and Sancho were squatting. ae ev to settle’ em i | rh they come too close upon us.” ete was not onl olver, Sancho,’ ” whispered Larry to the old man,. reeset Br ouse, hoping to be able to capture old Sancho should he attempt to | ered the taithtal old black, ‘‘I’se ready for | the box. “it get back! LARRY LEE. game, but had nursed an undying hatred against the wreckers for the murder of his son: Dark as it was, Larry could locate the two men by the sound of their voices, He could have raised his revolver and shot down one of the speakers without much trouble, so near were they to him. ~ But they came nearer still, so near, in fact, that they could be seen in the gloom of the night. Their dark forms were outlined against the sky of the horizon and the white sand of the beach. They walked up to the flat stone which Larry and old Saneho had just been examining, and stood still for several minutes, One of them stood on the stone. ‘Tis all right, Larry heard one say to the other. ‘* No buried treasure ever concealed its traces more than this, The high tide cov- ers it, and the low tide leaves only smooth sand and a stone to tell of ils existence. When the i Sota ts will take it up and go away.” “Yes,” added the other, ** and I think we'd better be conten! with what we have, and go t some other part of the world and enjoy i.” “« Just what I was thinking,” remarked the first speaker. It’s very plain that this Manatee Light will kill the business.” “ Of course it will, It has done that already, but I would give half of my share fo get one good shot at that keeper over there.” * Ah! So would I! effort to get one. lam quite sure I can “bring him down on a dark night, when he 1s attenuing to the lamps. Had that fellow been a good Shot, Lee would have been dead, and the light in our posses- sion.’ « He’s a sharp chap, though.” ** Yes, he has to be. That “old rascal, Sancho, has given him many points on us, which he is smart enough Lo makg use of, but we'll get aboard of him yet. Let’s go back to the hut and have some rum. Everything is all right here.” The two men theu strolled off up the beach towards the huts. Larry and old Sancho remained in their crouching positions till the sound of their voices could no longer be hear. ‘They have gone back,” whispered Larry to the old man, glad they came, "for they have located the treasure for us. have to do now is to dig it up and carry it to the lighthouse.” ‘Yes, margsa.” ‘* Well, let's see how deep down inthe sand it is,” and Larry led the way to the rock again, where he probed the sand. He found that there was a box or something scarcely three feet down below the surface. “Wecan’t get it up before the tide comes in again,” whispered Larry to old Sancho, “ T’se mighty good at diggin’ , Marse Larry,” replied the old man, ‘¢ an’ Tse strong, too, I is.” ‘*Do you think you can get down to it in an hour?” “Yes, sah, sooner’n dat.” ** Well, letv’s try it, then. If we can’t, we can cover it up and let the water smootly it over again.” Old Sancho waded out to the boat and got picks and spades, whieh had been provided, and returned to the spot. The first thing to do was to remove the stone, which they did by their united strength, and then the old man went to work with the spade, He made the sand fly. No ditcher in the bogs of old Ireland ever threw such spadefuls of earth in such rapid succession as he did. Larry watched him with the greatest interest, till he heard the spade strike against a hard substance, “Dar it am!” whispered the oid man, scooping up spade after spade full of.water, which oozed from the sand very fast. ‘Go ahead—don’t stop!” said Larry, ‘‘ The tide will be coming in presently.” Old Sancho laid himself down to the ‘work, and soon cleared all the sand from the top of the box—Wwhich seemed ‘to be an iron-bound chest some three feet in length by two feet in width. i “ Can you clear the sand from around it?” Larry asked, “Tam All we ‘Yes, sah,” answere Sancho, wiping the great drops of perspira- tion from his face, and going at it again. It was hard work, but the old man threw the wet sand as be had never thrown it before. When he had got down pretty low around the chest, he put a point of a pick underneath of it and ludsened it in its place. “«Git de boat hook, Marse Lurry,” said Sancho. Larry waded out to ‘the boat, gol the hook, and towed the boat to the beach, where he ordered Lem to get out ‘and assist in raising the , heavy chest to the surface, # Quick, "he said, ‘‘ The water will be in the hole in ten min- utes.” Lem and old Sancho gol down and got the two picks underneath Then Larry took the boat hook, and the three put their united strength to the task, a Up it comes!” said Larry, in a whisper, ‘ Look out! Don’t let Steady—steady—there! Roll it over—that’s it!” and the cliest was turned over on its side, on the brink of ae excava- tion, ie: ts Here comes the water,” said Larry, as the water from the rising: oj Sel) may come a8 fust as Ab ye tide began to ae down into the hole. wants to now.” It began to run faster, and in & very few minutes it was. s tiled with: oe | Water. ae Bat I am not going away without making an | ‘ f Vi

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( Rs 4 i : | LARRY LEE. f f vas He took another spade, and in a few minutes the hole was pretty well filled with sand. ‘ Now, let’s place the rock right back where it was,” They lifted it back to its place, and distributed the sand so as to leave no traces of their visit behind them, *¢ The waves will smooth it over,” said Larry. that chest into the boat.” ‘¢ We kin do dat,” said Lem, dragging the spot where the trensure lay. « Be careful now,” cautioned Larry. ‘The least noise will be heard and will excite suspicion. We must not let it strike against the boat, nor drop into it.” i They took hold of it and lifted it up. It weighed over two hundred pounds, but all three were strong, hearty mev, and their united strength was equal to the task, They lifted it into the boat and let it down easy till it rested safely “We want to get the boat on the sand toward on the hottom. - © Now, let's pull it off the sand.” All three caught hold of the boat and pulled—pulled hard, and to- gether they moved it till ic floated in the rising tide. ** Ah, we ere all right now,” said Larry. “Get in, and we will pull ‘for the light.” They vot in and took up the oars. Of course they pulled so as not to make any noise, and in less than one hour they were under the Manatee Lighthouse, ‘¢Is it you, Mr. Lee?” Anita called, from the window of her room. * Yes, and we have been successful,” he replied, She sent the old sailor down to open the door for them, following a minute or two later herself, “Oh, Lam so glad!” she exclaimed, as she came out on the rocks to meet him, ‘* And you didn’t have any trouble with those horrid people?” ‘« No, they didn’t see us,” he replied, as he stepped out of the boat and grasped her hand. ‘* We found their buried treasure and dug it up. It’s in the boat, there, in a strong box.” ‘¢Ob, Heaven be praised!” she exclaimed, sake.” ‘Thank you, Miss Anita,” he sald, and then turned and assisted Lem and Sancho in landing the box, ' They succeeded in getting it out on the rocks, and then attached ropes to it, and dragged it inside the tower, After that they brought in the boat and fastened the door. “Now, get the chisel and hammer, Lem,” ordered Larry, ‘‘ and we will see what we have got here after all our trouble. It must be valuable, or so much pains te conceal it woul not have heen taken.” Lem sovn procured the necessary tools and brought them to his young master, who took them and ‘proceeded to open the strong box. But it was not an easy task. The salt water had rusted the iron bands till the ends could not be found, so he had to ent through them, which was a tedious task. But at last the opening was made, and heads were bumped to- gether in UMPIE eagerness to see the contents of the box. “Tam so glad, for your CHAPTER XXVI. ‘ THE WRECKERS’ TREASURE BOX—VrHE MYSTERIOUS OARSMAN AGAIN, | Excriamarions of surprise and wonder burst from everyone, o aud silver and precious stones lay in a glittering pile before them, None of them had ever seen such a sight before. No wonder they were dazzled, Diamonds flashed back tne light of the solitary Jantern, only making it a thousand times brighter, _ Just see how it sparkles! Oh; whata beauty it is! Af Only Anita Narcissa had seen diamonds before and knew something of their value, 3 Larry had only heard of them, and was elated beyoud expression — when he heard her exclaim: “Diamonds! Ob, look at the diamonds!” “Which are the diamonds?” he asked, for there were rubies and emeralds and other precious stones among them. “Why, these bright ones!” she exclaimed, picking up a large one and holding it up to the light so its flashes flooded the room with light, Why, it’s worth two or three thousand dollars!” “© Good Heavens!” exclaimed Larry, in profound amazement. soT hat; little thing worth three thousand dollars!” “ Why, yes—maybe more. _ I've seen diamonds about twice as large sell for ten thougand dollars.” “© What is one of that size worth?” he asked, taking up a smaller one, and holding it up to the light. _ Tt must be worth ate @ thousand dollars,” she hie * And this?” He held up aruby. That’s a ruby. They are very valuable, but not so much as dia- onds. This is an emerald, and this an amelhyst—all precious stones, hy, these stones are worth a large fortune alone,” And the gold and silver is another one,” he remarked. ik Lor,’ ” murmured old Sancho, as he looked on the glit- | t Dem mrgokery ain" t done got nuffin’ lef” for | n the box. n about that, Sancho,” said Larry. | mens about th T think.” Gold | heart. it yet, and get it as we did this. You and Lem shall have enough to take care of you in your old age, so you will not have to Work.” ‘* Bress de Lor’!” ** Glory) hallelujah!” sung out Lem, ‘* We are all rich together,” added Larry, as be took up a handfal of gold coins and let them fall back into the box with a clear ring that only gold sends forth, ‘* There’s money enough here for all of us.” The old sailor, who was the sole survivor of the ill-fated Leonidas, looked up and asked: **Do you mean me, too, commodore?” ‘Of course I do, old man. I wouldn’t leave you out. your duty where I placed you.” Tears came into the old man’s eyes, and he grasped Larry’s hand. ** Commodore,” he said, ‘1 will sail no more, then. The old salt wili anchor in some snug port and rest.” “Tam glad you can do that, old man. You've sailed long enough. You ought to have some rest. We must now carry this box gobs to my room,” Sancho and Lem, aided by Larry and the old sailor, siioséeia) after a deal of hard work, in getting it up to his room, where he intended to count the coins as svon as he could get the chanee, or have Anita count them, When he reached the balcony of the lighthouse he found the sky overcast and the sea moaning disMmally, as if some elementary change was about to take place. Anita went upstairs with him. She, too, detected the sudden change that had taken place in less than an hour’s time, “Is it going to storm?” she asked. ‘Yes, [ am afraid it is.” ‘* Afraid! Is there any danger?” she asked. “Oh, no—noi Lo us; this tower is a8 safe as the everlasting hills. You need not have any fears as to our safety. I only used the word ‘afraid’ because J dislike inclement weather, you know.” ; You did ** Oh, yes—so do J,” and she was satistied ‘with his explanation. ! **T came up to talk with you.” “Thank you. I will examine the lamps, and will be through ina few minutes,” She seated herself on the little, low seat, just under the great’ reflec- tor, and waited for him to join her, which be soon did. *«T wanted to ask you,” she said, as soon as he was seated by her side, ‘“‘ when you think the supply boat will be here?” i ‘It will be here in three or four weeks,”’ he replied, “but really I could wish it would not come for as many months,” ‘Why, Mr. Lee?” «7 know it’s selfish in me to talk that way, "he said, ‘ bat when I think about you going away, I cannot help it.” A brieht, happy Took came into her face, : ** Oh,” she said, ** you can come and see me in my home, where I will tell everybody how kind*you have been tome. You will comé 1 see me, will you not?” & “Do you want me to?” he asked. ‘Yes, of course Ido. You have been 80 goud to me, and-——” “Then I will come,” he said. ‘ You—you—won’t—get married before I come, will you?” ‘No, indeed. I will wait till yon come, so you can be at the wed- ding,” and she gave a merry, silvery laugh that made his heart BUCH like a bira in a cage, Poor Larry loved the sweet girl with all the strength of his strong: Me manly nature, but he could not muster up Courage enough to tell her 30. He wanted to, but dared not. How many brave men in all ages have thus trembled before the idols of their hearts, when they would have fearlessly charged a bat-— tery belching death at every discharge! / “© Oh, you'll be rich enough to leave the lighthouse now,” ste gaid, after her little laugh, and. you can come over to Cuba to see me. | How happy I will be in showing you my beautiful home, and . return the kindness you havé shown me here. Poor old Sancho and his wife! I never want to part from them! I want to ask if you w will let them go with me when the supply boat comes?” ¥ ** Oh, yes, if they want to go.” A They will go with me. But for them I would haye beak sleeping in the muck of yonder swamp to-night.” ** Yes, yes! I don’t blame you. I am glad, for their sakes, that you | will take care of them in their old age.” «* They will have enough to keep. them comfortable all their lives,’ » she said. ‘* Bat they will need somebody to look after them to keep them from being deprived of their money.’ “ Why, what a business head you have!” he exclaimed, laughing — good-naturedly, “Oh, yes, Ireally think I have a tact for business,” and she avai indulged in a little merry laugh, that seemed to come from her very Suddenly a blinding flash of lightning came, followed almost | mediately by a peal of thander that shook earth and sea. 0 Oh, merey!” she exclaimed, darting to her feet. He grasped her by the band and held her. — get sou he said, holding “tie seat again, lightning, 8 ne said, iden ¢ and in)

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28 LARRY LEE. 4 ‘* Yes, and because you are more delicately constituted than men are. ‘‘] suppose so. Just listen how the sea moans!” “ Yes, the waves are beginning to run high. Pretty soon they will be dashing over the rocks below there, and “ending the spray almost up to the light, but this tower is like the eternal rocks on waich it stands, and can stand all the assaults of the ocean.” “ How glad I am thatIam not in « Vessel to-night!, Ugh! I {shudder at the very thought of such a thing! I never want to go on board a ship again, though I suppose I will have to, else I can never |. reach my home in Cuba.” “Oh, you might go to sea a dozen times again without experiencing uny rough weather, I——” ‘*Hark! Do you hear that?” ‘« What?” ** Listen! I hea: oars—some one is coming from the shore!” Larry listened, and distinetly heard the sound of oars, as though some one was really pulling for the lighthouse from the shore. ‘«Oh, that’s the nysterious oarsman; noboby would dare come out here just now. In fact, no boat could well live in that sea now!” ‘* Please let me go downstairs,” said Anita, trembling from head to foot, and looking very pale, ; “Of course; { think you have been sitting up too late, anyhow; _ sleep will do you good,” and he led her to the top of the stairs, where he bade her good-night. She hurried down to her little room, and closed the small window that looked out upon the guif, in order to shut out the glare of the lightning as well as the sound of the oars. CHAPTER XXVII: DIVIDING THE TREASURE. Once more alone in charge of his light, young Larry Lee stood on the balcony and gazed out over the dark waters of the Gulf of Mexico. »The waves were breaking over the reefs with a wild, furious rush ‘that covered the aurface with a snow-white foam, The sound of oars grew louder with the roar of the waves, as if to be sure of being heard by the young lightiiouse keeper. The roar of the waves ineressed with every minute, and still the ~ gound of those mysterious oars continued to come to the ears of Larry Lee, accompanied at times by a mocking laugh. Said Larry: Oh, pull away! Laugh as much as you please! I’ve got the treas- ure box. That’s all I want. I can afford to laugh myself now,” The mocking laugh came up to him, though, through the roar of old ocean, and Larry could no: but wish that the mystery would be drowned in the wild waves, and never be heard from again, Suddenly he thought of the duck, and went below to the kitchen in -seurch of one. He found several, which had heen killed or caught by Lem. Taking one in his hand he reascended to the balcony and hey ‘led it as far out into the raging 8ea us he could, he moment it struck the waler the mocking laugh subsided, and the sound of oars was heard no more, _ * Hanged if you don’t risk more for a duck than I would,” muttered Larry, ‘ug he listened to ascertain if the mysterious rower was satisfied with his git, ‘I don’t understand it, but’ I'll have a duck for you every night if I ean get one.” ~The storm ‘increased in tenfold severity during the next hour. _‘V'm glad this has come,” he muttered, after. examining the light again. “Tt will wash away our tracks on the beach where we got | the treasure box of the wreckers; they will not suspect its loss nor ndertake to dig it up till they are ready to move’ away from this coast; that will’ give me time to hunt up that treasure in the swamp. Iam sure they have soniething concealed there which they guard very -elose » long-headed old darky, and isn't afraid of the devil himself if he has anything to fight him with.” ‘The night passed, and the storm passed away with it. Larry saw ia number of ship lights, and knew that the Ma a ae Light had saved ei" several vessels from being cast into the hands of the wreekers, ; un rose bright and clear, but the ocean was still lashed into y angry waves; the water rushed over the reefs with a mighty ie young lighthouse keeper looked on the scene like one ared to regard it as an everyday occurrence. i n was well up vhe light was turned off, and Larry went quarters to get the sleep he so much needed. found ha treasure box of the wreckers just where he had left it, i been near it, even to gratify idle curiosity. Taking K at the treasure he rolled himself in bed, and was soon slept til high on, hud then came upon the balcony, where he | r ading n old book he had given her, and enjoying the | er day. ust | think of a storm was Fagin last ane tas it did at aunaet, yeaiorday." ut the sea was roari . Qld Sancho can help me find it or he can do it himself; he’ 's. lively smile. i j n’t this a. vely day!” she. exclaimed, as. goon, as she saw so, Phe pleased him, and he was ready to take a hand in, “* Yes, it completely wiped out all traces of our work on the beach, so the wreckers will not suspect that we have been there.” ““They won't know what they bave lost, then, till they go to remove , it theinselves?” ‘“No. Then they will be more likely to suspect treachery among their own number, for they don’t know that we havé any idea where it was buried.” ** How fortunate you are! 1 declare I think you are the most lucky man in the world!” ‘| sometimes think so myself,” he remarked, “ for I’ve been shot at a great many times, and once had a terrible death strugele right here on this balcony with the desperate leader of yonder gang of wreckers, [ am inuedéd a lucky man.” ‘‘Tam glad you have come through so many dangers unharmed, for your eril has been great.” “Thank you, Miss Anita. I sometimes think your presence in the lighthouse is the cause of my good luck.” She gave a soft silvery laugh, and said: ““ Why, woman, they say, is at they bottom of all trouble!” “ Just as you will be at the bottom*of mine when you go away, for I shall be in constant trouble till I see you again.” “Then you will have to come to see me in order to get out of trou- ble. Oh, I’m sure of seeing you again,” and again she laughed that joyous, merry laugh which he so loved to hear, « Of course I will. Now will you come and help me count the money in that box?” “Yes, | am quite anxious to know how rich yon are,” + Come on, then, and we will soon find out,” and he led the way dowustairs, where he sent Lem up to the lumps to clean and burnish them. They spent several hours counting the gold and jewels and precious stones, which Anita, from her knowledge of diamonds aud rubies, valued at over one hundred thousand dollars. ** Oh, that makes you rich!” exclaimed Anita, “No; only one-fifth is mine,” he replied. ‘‘ There are five othors, you know,” ‘Why, Mr. Lee! Are you counting me, too?” **Of course Lam. Why should [ count Lem and Sancho and the old sailor, and net count you? Why, | always count you first.” She looked at him till her great brown eyes were filled with tears, ‘“« [—I—cannot—take it,” she finally said, her face crimsoning with blushes. ‘Why not? Did you not take charge of the lamps while we went. after it?” ** Because I do not need it,” she replied. ‘Ihave a fortune suffi- cient for all my life. You may veed it, for you have your way to work in the world. J will aive you my share—there, that’s the way we will do,” and the idea seemed to please her so much that shesmiled through — her tears and looked really happy in what she had said. ‘* Miss Anita, I consider that you have made ine ¥) pha hae of twenty thousand dollars, I would insist on your keeping it; only | know you do not need it. present of some diamonds,” *« Just one—just one,” she said, as she saw him taking up a handful of the precious stones, ‘‘I will take just one to remember you by. I will call it by your name, and think of you every time I see 1t.” “Then I will take the biggest one of tha lot,” said he, making choice of a very large diamond, which was one of the finest she had ever seen. How it sparkled and flashed in the sunlight which came in through the little window! «« Take this one; iv’s not half as bright as your eyes, and——” - * T appreciate the compliment,” said she, laughing heartily, as she” took the magnificent diamond, * and will have this put ina selling for a ring that. will make me think of my experience in Manatee Light- house.” She then left the room, and Larry proceeded to set apart the share of the others, after which he went up to the balcony, where he found Lem and old Sancho at work on the lamps. “ Sancho,” he said, turning to the old man, ‘‘ can we go over to the swamp to-night?” ‘* Yes, marsa,” he replied, looking away over toward the swamp, and then down the beach at the hut of the wreckera, “ Do you think we can find their treasure over there?” **] dunno, marsa; it am mighty dark ober dere in dat swamp, an’ de ‘gators an’ b’ars an’ painters is mighty sasoy.” Larry looked thoughtful for a minute or two, and then added; * Yes, and our light would give the wreckers notice of our pene there. “We must go in the daytime, Sancho?” «Yes, gah, but den dey will see us ov de water!” « We'll go just before daylight and conceal ourselves in the swamp, 7 where - -we will stay till the sun is up; how will that do?” — “Dat’s de way, marsa!” and the old man’s face lighted up with a Anything that promised injury to the murderers of his “Then we will go before daylight to-morrow and see what we can ‘find out,” and then he went downstuirs to look alter’ his. repesans rine ; and aaa HAPTER X XXVIII. THE TOUNG: ee: KEEPER I will take it, provided you will let me make you a : ire eT Eee Oe Se oe RE Le an Ng ern ee —— ‘

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LARRY WUE. sailor to be up to attend to the light, when he and old Sancho were (vu slip away under cover of darkness, and pull for the great swamp in which the old man had lived so long. Anita had begged to be allowed to attend to the light, but Larry Baid: ‘*No; you sleep on till long after sunrise, There’s no use in break- ing into your sleep at all. Lem has been with me all my life, and knows a8 much about the lamps as Ido. Just let him and the old salt attend to it. You might see or hear something that would make you nervous. Sleep on; get all the sleep you can,” and he spoke in such a hearty, cheerful way, that she could not iosist on her request. ' $0 she went early to bed, so she could be up early in the morning to learn what had been done, _ Larry remained with the lamps till near daylight, and prepared to go down where old Sancho was waiting for him. The old man had everything that would probably be needed already in the baat, Larry had his revolver and repeating rifle, and the old man was armed to the teeth, Hi * Are you ready, Sancho?” he asked of the old darky. * Yes, marsa,” «© Oome on, then. We must row lightly so as not to be heard.” “Yes, sah—we kin do dat,” and the old man got into the boat and took up an oar. F Larry followed and did likewise, both dropping the oars in the water ks without striking the oar-locks, ; ; i “ Now, pull away.” Both used one oar each without touching the boat, and the boat ' glided silently through the water toward the spot where the waters of the swamp connected with the gulf, The great light shone out resplendent over the dancing waters, and at times lit up the surroundings of the little boat. “7 guess no one is on watch on shore,” remarked Larry in an undertone to the old man, ‘« No, sah, deygfnebber watch when dere ajn’t no storm.” Vi, ‘*Then we can have a Chance to search the swamp, I think,” ‘Yes, sah. Day is breakin’ now.” *« Pull steaty—that’s it. We'll get into the creek before the dark _ goes away. Miss Anita has pointed out to me the very tree under - which they passed into the swamp, I think I can find it without any difficulty.” “Dat won't do no good, massa,” said old Sancho, “ ’cause dey - don’t go in twice at de same place.” “Ts that so?” “Yes, sah, dat am er fac’.” ‘‘ Well, then, we must take our chances, “ Yes, sah.” _In due time they reached the mouth of the creek, and pulled up- stream ad least a quarter of a mile. “ You know all about the swamp, Sancho,” said Larry, ** so I will _ trust you to find a landing place. You know this place, do you?” ** Yes, sah,” J *¢ Well, are there any alligators about here?” “ Dey’s all ober-hyer, marsa,” and the old man glared around as if to indicate his meaning. It was still very dark, though, as the old darky said, day was reakin’, Gray streaks began to climb up the eastern horizon, sure ‘precursors of coming day. _ ** We must. stay in the boat till we can see which way we are go- ng,” Larry said. / _' Yes, sah—you can’t go froo dis hyer swamp in de dark.” ** We don’t want to fire at anything unless we are obliged to, Sancho, for the wreckers might hear the shot ana suspect something wrong.” “Dat’s er fac’, Marse Larry,” responded the old man, running the at up a barrow arm of the creek, where the overhanging mass made 80 dark that they could not see each other, though only five feet and do the best we can.” “Do you know where you are going?” . ry mt i i, Pe Le ae So wes was a little Wwe ure?” ; ja “ Dis am er islan’, marsa, whar we kin wait till de sun am up in de 7 i b ; : sre—{ wouldn’t have known it in the dark,” and his tone sarenstic. ‘ Cau you tell me whereabouts in the swamp pat’s all right,” and Larry felt quite rejieved on hear- It’s as dark as Egypt.” Eri ey E ‘pafe place, too, maresa.” of wi ** What do you mean, Sancho? Js this place haunted?” ** Yes, sah,” was the cool reply of the old man. ‘* Then how came you Lo come here? I thought you were afraid of ghosts?” “*} ain’t erfeard o’ puffin, Marse Larry, when you is wid me, dem ghosts allers go home afore midnight.” ** Oh, they do, eh?” and Larry felt very glad to hear that. ** Yes, sah, dey does.” ‘““They are very good ghoats, then—don’t stay out late o’ nights?” - “Yes, sah.” 4 They waited an hour, during which time the light of day made con- siderable progress in penetrating the shades of tbat part of the great swamp. By and by Larry could see through a small opening that the sup was up, as it shone brightly on the tree Lops and hanging moss. ‘« We may as well land now, Sancho,” said Larry, ‘and begin our search,” “Yes, gah,” “Is this a safe place to leave the boat?” ** Yes, sab.” ««Come on, then,” and he arose and atepped ashore on good, solid ground, : Sancho followed him, drawing the boat up to and secnring it te the bank. “‘Now, which way is the lighthouse from here, Sancho?’ Larry asked, ‘Iam completely out of my bearing.” Sancho very promptly pointed in the rigtt direction, and then the young lighthouse keeper was himself again. “Then we want to get out in this direction,” said he, pointing to- ward that side of the swamp they had seen the wreckers enter sey- eral times, | , He started off, with the old man at his heels, and pushed straight southward. f They had not gone fifty yards ere Larry discovered a mark on a tree, evidently made with the point of a knife. His keen sight de- tected it, not looking for it, aud he halted. ‘‘Look at that, Sancho,” he said, pointing to the mark with the muzzle of his rifle. Sancho glared at the mark, and seemed puzzled to know what to make of it. The mark seemed to be a representation of a square with a handle Lo it. ‘* What’s dat, marsa?” the old man asked. au’ Larry looked ut tie mark again, and discovered the figure thirteen dik underneath it. : ‘© Al!” be exclaimed, ‘I think I understand it now.” ‘¢ What is it, marsa?” ‘Jy means that something is buried within thirteen feet of this tree,” replied Larry. - ; : ““Den we kin find it,” returned Sancho, looking quickly around at every space of ground within fifteen or twenty feet of the marked — Wigs tree. x ““T think the handle probably points in the right direction,” mut- tered Larry to himself, measuring the distance and direction with bis — Mm eye. Mt Something in the peculiar formation of the tufts of grass attracted his attention to a certain spot. He ran to it and pulled up one of tne burelies of grass, sp ‘“« Ah!” he exclaimed, and he pulled up another. Underneath was a plank surface, He cleared away several tufts of that the planks were simply the lid ofa box! f ‘ Here it is!” and he seized the edge of the lid and raised it. Tt was not even fastened. , a o The wreckers had kept it as a place of deposit for treasures as they ‘accumblaied, It was half full of A rings, and precious stones. Old Sancho was amazed. 4 é {eis ‘* We can’t take up this box, Sancho,” said Larry. ‘‘ It’s too large — and would take too long to getit up. We want to get away as quick | as possible. Get down on your knees here, and fill your hat and mine, while I stand guard for you.” _ 1 far ee “ayes ‘* Yes, sah!” and in a moment the old man was down.on hisknees, filling the two hats with bis treasure. When they were fullhe ranto the boat, emptied them into we bottom of it, and returned for an. — other load. This he repeated a dozen times—carrying two hats fall — each time. xe a anes NE At the last turn Larry carefully pat down the id of the box, ree placed the tufts of grass, and then went away, leaving but little trace of his visit save by the empty box. ; BY eae Leh at “Ah, Sancho, you struck it just right, old man. You'll have — enough to live on the rest of your life without care,” and Larry shook hands with the old man as he entered the boat. | ; VOBAPTRR: RRIR A $2.5) y THE NE (GER TO THE LIGHT. — la fe o’s heart was too full for him to trust himself to speech. r ook up the oars, and commenced wh of the bayou, — { : te | move swiftly | grass, and found — P gold, silver and jewelry, with watches, ," x y y .

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2” ee oe ae 30 PPL ee, ee LARRY LEE. — * Yes, sah,” and old Sancho bent himself tu the oars like a man pulling for life againgt an adverse current. _ Pretty soon they passed the mouth of the creek, and pulled out into the gulf. They could see along down the beach clear to the wreckers’ huts. As they pulled for the lighthouse, they could see Anita Narcissa gazing at them through a ship’s spyglass, Larry waved his hat to her, to which she replied with her hanid- kerchief. ‘Look dar! Dem wreckers am er comin’ suah!” exclaimed old Sancho, looking in the direction of the huts on the beach. _ Larry looked and saw the wreckers, with rifles in their hands, run- ' ning along the beach in the direction of himself and Sancho. “Oh, they are coming up to get a shot at us,” said he. *¢ Yes, sah!” and Sancho looked hard at the young lighthouse keeper as if to see what he would do under the circumstances. “1 don’t want to kill any more of them,” added Lurry. ‘* We've hurt ’em worse by taking their treasure than we could do by shoot- ing ’em.” ; g. Shoot ’em, massa—shoot ’em!” said Sancho, his hatred of the murderers of his boy being uppermost in his mind. es live, dey ain’t.” f ‘© Oh, we've killed half of them already, Sancho, and when they find out that we have got all their treasure they'll give us chances enough to kill ’em.” The old man looked sadly disappointed, and pulled away at the oars A without saying another word. Ere the wreckers reached the beach opposite the lighthouse the boat was out of range of their rifles. They gazed at the young light- house keeper through a ship’s spyglass, as if to try to make out just what he wasupto. Of course they could not see what was in the boat besides the two men, but it was very evident that they were ex- cited over the visit to the swamp. ‘ “** They don’t know what to make of it, Sancho,” remarked Larry to the old man, ‘© No, sali, dey don’t,” was the reply. “‘They’ll find out some day, though, acd then there’ll be some hard swearing going on, I guess.” ** Yes, sah.” They pulled for the lighthouse, and the wreckers walked leisurely along the beach toward their huts, But before the wreckers arrived at 6 their homes Larry and Sancho reached the lighthouse and displayed the treasure they had found to the inmates. yy Lem was almost beside himself with joy, and Anita’ congratulated » the brave young lighthouse keeper on his success, . by ‘« It was the luckiest thing I ever saw,” he said, when telling ker of the circumstsnces of the finding of the hidden bux. ‘ It seems as if some higher influence led us to the very spot. Just think of it, the wreckers don’t even suspect their loss.” Old Sancho chuckled as he listened. Hig hatred of the murderers of his boy was a second nature with him. Were they given into his | hands to do as he wished with, they would die a horrible death—every- one of them. ; The next day, as Larry and Anita were sitting on the balcony of the lighthouse, they saw two of the wreckers go into the swamp. _ ° © They will find out about our visit now,” he said to the young girl. ‘They have probably gone to visit the treasure and will discover their loss.” . ‘‘Oh, won't they be angry!” | ‘7 guess they will,” said Larry, laughing, ‘but I don’t think it will do ’em any good.” _. ‘¢Qh, no, they can’t help themselves, but they will be desperate for all that.” : ‘ “Of course they will. faster than they went in.” A half hour passed, and the young couple watched for their ap- pearance again. ‘« Oh—there they are,” exclaimed Anita, the first to see them, as the two men burst out of the swamp, and ran toward the huts two He miles away, as. if some terrible danger pursued them. a Ah! they have found it out, and are running to tell the others,” ‘The others saw them coming and ran to meet them, They seemed to know that some terrible danger menaced them. _ When they came together violent gesticulations were seen, and then the whole party hastened back to the swamp, as if to ascertain the fall amount of their loss. peareii from sight. “ Ob, they are mad enough now,” said Larry, chuckling over the situation, ; ‘the lighthouse, They have shot at me and tried tomurder me. Iam glad I haye gotten their gold. They shall never have it again.” | Pretty soon they saw the wreckers come out again, and that they |} were ina terrible state of excitement. They seemed utterly bewil- dered, and made their way to the huts. 4 We'll wait and see if they come out any “They are in trouble now,” said Larry, watching their movements — through the spyglass. ‘As soon as the tide goes down they will ex- amine the spot under that rock. Oh, they will find it has not paid to wage war against the Manatee Light. I have no sympathy for They ran which made | They entered the swamp and disap- — ** Dey ain’t fit to, Sl ee NY “¢ Those rascals have tried in every way to get me out of |. | thenight. Hejlit them up and set them going, rifle in band, all through the night. side of the glass of the light “IVs a good, substential craft,” said Larry, ‘ and capable of stand- ing a rough sea. Tuey must be preparing to go away to some other coast.” The little craft cast anchor and sent a boat ashore. party then went aboard, as if to inspect the craft. In the afternoon the tide went down, leaving the rock bare which had marked thespot of the buried treasure. Larry watched them with his spyglass. : One of the men went ashore and stood on the rock. He beck- oned the others, They followed him, and then the stone was raised, a sone thrust into the wet sand, and the discovery of their loss was made. “ Ten thousand maledictions!” yelled Captain Blake. of ten years have been taken from us! That old nigger, Sancho, has given us away. Our treasure is in that lighthouse, We must have it back at every hazard! Swear to have it, or die, men!” «« We swear to have it?” they cried. ‘*We have a boat,” said Blake. ‘We can build a protection against his bullets and sail around the light and pick anyone off who attempts to light the lamps. Look to your rifles, men. We must fight for our treasure,” The wreckers now had but one idea—one desire—one thought—and that was to kill the young lighthouse keeper, and regain their ill- gotten treasure, They accordingly went to work, taking many pieces of ship timber, which innumerable wrecks had strewn along the coast, building a breastwork to protect them from the bullets of : the young lighthouse keeper’s repeating rifle. This they compleced by the next day and erected on the craft. 4 Larry was watching them all the time without being able to divine : their real object. : But when they had placed the broad flat wooden structure in posi- tion, with numerous auger holes, through which to run their rifles, F. he was no longer at a loss to understand their game. « By the great whales!” he exclaimed. ‘They are going to be- siege the Eghthouse! They will give us some trouble, too.” : ‘*Can they get in?’ Anita breathlessly asked. i | “No, but they can destroy the light, or at least keep me from a lighting the lamps.” ‘©Then you must not try to light the lamps,” said she. light them for you. They will not shoot at me—a woman,” ‘Yes they would—besides, you shall run no risk for me, or any- one else, Lem! Lem! Sancho!” “ Yes, aah!” came from old Sancho, below. ; “Come up here, both of you, quick.” i The two old blacks lest no time in obeying the call of the young / lighthouse keeper. ‘¢ Do you see yonder boat?” Larry asked, as s90n as they came u to the balcony. z if ** Yes, sah.” ; ‘ Well, they are going to attack us from behind that barricade you see on deck there. We must get up those iron shutters downin the atoreroom, and Jash them tothe balcony, on the land side. The ~ light is not necessary on that side. They dare not go outside the reefs —or, if they do, it will be a long sail and great risk for them. — Go down now, and bring them up, quick!” Z The two darkies hastened to obey orders, while Larry continued to watch the movements of the wreckers. CHAPTER XXX. ‘ CONCLUSION, ae Sancuo and Lem lost no time in getting the iron shutters up to the balcony, where Larry had already provided ropes for the purpose of lashing them into position, 2 caps ft seems the wreckers were also watching with a glass, and soon discovered what was going on up on the tower. They spread sails The whole “ Our labors “T will Larry kep: quiet till some half a dozen shots had been fired, when one of the wreckers carelessly exposed a leg. The next mo- ment the young lighthouse keeper sent a bullet through that leg, and immediately there followed an avalanche of profanity from the wounded — wrecker, < Ba “ Ha, ha, ha!” chucked Larry, ‘“¢I am not go bad off as I thought _ I would be. If they stay on the land side I won’t have to leave the light unattended. Ah! There was another chancel” He kept watch, and when the wreckers thonght themselves out o range of his rifle, they proceeded to shift the barricade and turn abot to go past the lighthonse again, But they had miscalculated the rang: of that death-dealing repeating rifle, for Larry wounded three of them in rapid succession, which sent a panic into the whole crew. They ran the craft out of range and waited for night to close in for betier protection. : : ; ; U Larry Knew they were inside the reefs when the sun went down, and therefore had but little fears for the safety of the lamps during keeping astrict watch, Several shots were see i : shattere bullet. Oth: and came along up the coast between the reefs andthe shore. Nees, But before they came within range the four shutters were up and . Larry was safe from their rifles on the landside, at least. f aa Sending Anita below out of barm’s way, Larry took his repeating ~~ rifle and laid in wait for them, peeping through a crevice aninch or two in width. bs “ eae _ The craft came within rifle shot, and the wreckers fired several shots against the shutters, as if to test their ability to resist them. z oo ic th

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LARRY LEE. 31 ’ F ; 5 ae ! When morning came a vessel was seen about a mile away riding at anchor. {t bore the United States flag, indicating the service to which it belonged, “It’s the supply ship!” cried Larry. “Tank de good Lor?!” exclaimed old Sancho, “« Bress de Lor’!”? cried Lem, beside himself with joy. ‘¢The wreckers are leaving—they are going away!” shouted the old sailor, as he saw them cast overboard their barricade and hoist every sail to the breeze. «Let ’em go. They will never come back again,” said Larry, ‘¢ Our troubles are over. We will not be bothered any more.” A boat was lowered from the ship anc an officer got into it, fol- lowed by several sailors. They soon reached the lighthouse, when they were welcomed by Larry and Lem, to whom tlre officer was well Known. Lieutenant Nelson was surprised to find so many people at the lighthouse, and asked for an explanation, He was astouished when Larry told the story of his three months’ war with the wreckers, “ There oes the last of them,” said’ Larry, pointing to the sail which was making good time down the coast. ‘* They are trying to make good their escape from capture.” He then explained the history of Anita Narcissa, the young Span- ish girl, to whom the officer was extremely polite. . *« Please return to the ship and pursue those rageals,” Larry asked, * else they will return when you vo away and wage a war of extermi- nation against all connected with Manatee Licht.” The officer returned to the ship and reported to the captain, who promptly commenced pursuit of the little sailing vessel. The two vessels passed out of sight, but the next day the supply ship returned with the report that the wreckers had got entangled among the coral reefs and were all drowned, ‘*Tank de Lor’ for dat!” ‘ervently ejaculated old Sancho, “* Ob, I am so glad for your sake!” said Anita, turning to Larry. “Thanks,” said he. ‘I don’t think we shall have any more troub.e now.” ” : ; f) Coren; Je ah ey oth WL «oy Go Ea ETS RE EO ES ee ee ’ HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART—Containing a complete descrip- tion of the mysteries of Magic and Sleight-of-Hand, together with many wonderful experiments, By A. Anderson. Illus- trated. Price 10 cents. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York. HOW TO BECOME A WEST POINT MILITARY CADET— “) Containing full explanations how to gain admittance, course of Study, Examinations, Duties, Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Police Regulations, Fire Department, and all a boy should know to become a, Cadet. Compiled and written by Lu Senarens, Au- thor of ‘‘ How to Become a Naval Cadet.” Price 10 cents, For sale by every newsdealer in the United States and Canada, or will be sent to your address, post-paid, on receipt of the price. Sig Frank Tousey, publisher, 20 West 26th Street, New York. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET—Complete instructions of how to gain admission to the Annapolis Naval Academy, Also containing the course of instructions, descriptions of grounds and buildings, historical sketch, and everything a boy should know to become an officer in the United States Navy. Compiled anda written by Lu Senarens, Author of “ How to Become a West Point Military Cadet.” Price 10 cents, For sale by every newsdealer in the United States and Canada, or will be sent to your address, post-paid, on receipt of the ON ita g Frank Tousey, publisher, 29 West 26th Street, | ew York. ‘ HOW TO MAKE A MAGIC LANTERN—Containing a deserip- tion of the lantern, together with its history and invention. Also full directions for its use and for painting slides. Hand- somely illustrated, by John Allen. Price 10 cents. wr sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or will be sent to your address, post-paid, on receipt of price. Address a Frank Tousey, publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York. ; HOW TO BECOME A CONJURER — Containing tricks with ~ Dominoes, Dice, Cups and Balls, Hats, etc. Embracing 36 illus. trations, By A. Anderson. Price 10 cents. Address Frank i Tousey, publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York. ; HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS—Giving complete informa- _! ~~ tion as to the manner and method of raising, keeping, taming, ets; also giving full / breeding, and managing all kinds of instructions for making cages, ete. Fully explained by 28 illustrations, making it the most complete book of the kind ever ; published. Price 10 cents, Address’ Frank Tousey, publisher, —--:99 West 26th Street, New York. ‘ HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY—Containing full ; instructions for writing letters on almost any subject; also rules for punctuation and composition; together with specimen thers. Beigel 10 cents, Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 29. “West 26th Street, New York. co Tt a tires ] Useful and Instructive The ship sent in the supplies that were intended for Manatee Light, and then Anita opened negotiations for passage to Mobile for herself, old Sancho and his wife. Having plenty of coin, which Larry had pressed upon her to pay her way home, the young lady was deter- mined to go. : “«T have a splendid home in Cuba,” she said, ‘and will take care of the old couple ag long as they live. Of course they have plenty to keep them comfortable, but I will look after them. I want one promise from you, Mr. Lee.” **] will give it,” he said, promptly, ‘‘ even if it is to jump from this — baleony into the sea.” ‘* Oh, I will not ask that,” she said, blushing rosy red. simply ask you to cgme and see me in my own home.” **T give you my word and honor I will,” he replied. ‘I am going to send my resignation as lighthouse keeper by this very ship, ‘and as soon as Lam relieved I shall visit Cuba. Now Iwant a promise from you. Will you give it?” ‘© Yes, with all my heart,” she replied. ‘* Ah, that dear little heart is what Iam after!” he exclaimed, seiz- ing ber hand and pressing it to his lips. ‘I love you, Anita, and want you to promise to be my wife. Will you promise me that?” . ‘* Yes, Larry,” she said, softly, “for I have loved you from the — rat. : He dropped her hand, and taking ber in his arms, pressed her to his heart and covered her blushing face with kisses. “«T will Reader, our story ends with a few more lines. Three months after Anita and the two faithfal blacks left the Manatee, Lighthouse, a suc- cessor came to take the place of Larry Lee. Larry showed him through the tower, and taking his faithful Lem and his fortune, went aboard tie ship bound for New Orleans. The old sailor, with bis share of the wreckers’ fortune, settled down to pass his days in quiet, whilst Larry and Lem took ship for Havana. Anita received him with a loving welcome, and married him a week later. Thus ended the romance of the Youne Licgnraouse KEEPER. 4 t ‘ [THE END.] ° Books. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS—Containing a large col- lection of instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, — together with illustrations, By A. Anderson, Price 10 cents, _ For sale by all newséealers, or sent, 1A ate gS receipt of — the price. Addres Frank Tousey, Publisher, West 26th Street, New York. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND COINS—Containing valuable — information regarding the collecting and arranging of stamps and coins. Handsomely illustrated. Price 10 cents. For sale _ by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or sent-~ _ to your address, post-paid, on receipt of price. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS—Containing full directions for _ making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. By A, Ander- _ son. ‘Fully illustrated. Price 10 cents. For sale by all news- dealers, or sent, Beer by mail, upon receipt of price. Ad- - dress Frank Tousey, Publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York. — HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR—Containing complete instruc- tions how to make up for various characters on the stage; — together with the duties of the Stage Manager, Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property Man. By a prominent St an- ager. Price 10 cents, Address Frank Tousey, Spiblinber, 29 West 26th Street, New York. : HOW TO DOSIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS—Embracing all of the latest and most deceptive card tricks with illustrations, — By A. Anderson. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it to you by mail, postage free. upon receipt — of price. Address Frank 'Tousey, Publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York. HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEER—Containing full instructions _ how to proceed in order to become a locomotive engineer; also directions for poder a model locomotive; together with afull — description of everything an engineer should ‘know. Price 10 # cents, For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it to you, — Bee free, ee receipt of the price. Address Frank Tousey, — publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York, — 7 HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER — Containing u information regarding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies, Handsomely illustrated. By Captain W. De W. Abney. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada or will be sent to your address. - post-paid, on receipt _of price. Address Frank Tousey, Pu Loner 29 West 26th Street, New York. = e id

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An Interesting Weekly tor Young America, 32 PAGES. COLORED COVERS. PRICE 6 GENTS, ISSURD BVERY FRIDAY, BG Every number will contain a well written story, detailing the interesting, startling and humorous adventures of FRED FEARNOT, a bright, honest, independent sort of chap, whe has made up his mind to make his own way through life, and in doing so see everything to be HK F - geen, do all the good that can be done, and have all the fun possible. Nothing will be allowed in these stories that can give offense to the most refined minds, and we feel assured that the old as well as young will find both pleasure and profit in following the harmless adventures of this bright young man who always tries to do right, at the same time using every effort to keep on fi _ top. \ ; READ ONE AND YOU WILL READ THEM ALL. Be ES ae a Se at - 1 Fred Fearnot; or, School Days at Avon. 2 Pred Fearnot, Detective: or, Balking a Desperate Game. 3 Fred Fearnot’s Daring Rescue; or, A Hero in Spite of Himself. _ @ Fred Fearnot’s Narrow Escape; or, The Plot that Failed. i 5 Fred Fearnot at Avon Again; or, His Second Term at School. G6 Fred Fearnot’s Pluck; or, His Race to Save a Life. 7 Fred Fearnot as an Actor; or, Fame Before the Footlights. 8 Fred Fearnot at Sea; or, A Chase Across the Ocean. —_ 9 Pred Fearnot Out West; or, Adventures With the Cowboys. | ‘Fred Fearnot’s Great Peril; or, Running Down the Counterfeiters. ; vile Mdina pe Double Victory; or, Killing Two Birds With One §$tone. — . ae 2 Fred Fearnot’s Game Finish; or, His Bicycle Race to Savea Million, — 3 Fred Pearnot’s Great Run; or, An Engjneer fora Week. _ oe ead 4 Pred Fearnot’s Twenty Rounds; or, Hfs Fight to Save His Honor. 5 Fred Fearnot’s Engine Company: or, Brave Work as a Pireman. ~ 6 Pred Fearnot’s Good Work; or, Helping a Friend in Need. 7 Fred Fearnot at College; or, Work and Fun at Yale. | ‘ Pred Fearnot’s Luck; or, Fighting an Unseen Foe. _ ee Sed Fearnot’s Defeat; or, A Fight Against Great Odds. Yi he red Fearnot’s Own Show; or, On the Road with a Combination. Address on Receipt ‘ For Sale by All Newsdealers, or will. be Sent to Any Price, 6 Cents Per Copy, by Saar

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