Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 108, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1904 — The Sea Scourge [ARTICLE]

The Sea Scourge

CHAPTER Vlll.—(Continued.) “Did he tell you that?” uttered the joutb, indignantly, nnd with much surprise. "Then he deceived you. Mary, most wickedly deceived you. On that occasion our vessel, lay at our rendezvous at Ma,iiiTa. Six of our men lay nt tiie point of death, and when they heard Hint 1 meant to leave them they wept •Ike children', and begged me not to-for. aake- them to deatli. Wliat could I »lo? Those men had been friends to me. and 1 know that some of them would have laid down their very lives for me in etise of need! I asked Laroon to run the brig to Silver Bay, but Ire would not. 1 asked him what was to become of our sick men. His answer was this: ‘Let them die if they will. We.can get ■ew men more easily than we can cure them.' I told him to come, and to tell you that 1 had remained behind to save • the lives of some of my suffering fellow ores tu res.” “Ohl" murmured the maiden, once more throwing her arms . about, the youth's neck. "I could not believe all •that he meant for me to believe, but yet -I was sad and unhappy. But I bless you now. Ah, Panl { I should have been Happier had I kuovtn* all befdre.” “Then you may be happy that you Inbw all now, And if the knowledge of my truth will ..make you happy, be so •ver.” , “Yes. Paul —ihappy now." she exclaimed: “but how shall the future be?” "T know what you mean.” And holdtiig his tonjpanion so that he could look into her face. Paul’ continued: "It was ipbn this subject tlq.it ,1 desired most to •peak. I know that I am not safe here. But I have resolved not to reihain aiiy Kroger than I can help. Many a time could 1 have jled from the wicked man, >ut 1 had ratlier die than go alone. Sometime —some time when I can take you with me—then I will flee from them. Do jor. understand me. Mary?” “Yes, Paul.” ' “And would you flee with me?” “Oh. how gladly—how quickly!” “And when we have fled, would you 3e mine for life?” “Everything everything for you, jPaul, so that I might be free from the vale of our dark master.”

CHAPTER IX

For some moments after this the twain mt there locked in each other's arms. At length the young man spoke: “Mary,” he said, "we liave a strange mnr. on board our vessel. He knows ■where we used to live in America.” The maiden started up and looked her •ornpaniou almost wildly in the face; but ■She extreme emotion soon passed away, and she was more calm. ; - “He told me some things,” continued Paul, "which I remembered. Do you remember ..the name of Humphrey?” . Mary repeated the name several times, and a sort of intelligent gleam rested up»n her countenance. “Surely. Paul, there is .so.me.tld.ng faui’.iar in the sound of that name, but I ratinot call it to mind.” “I sTiohld not suppose you could, for you were not over three years old when we both came with Laroon. But this mar of whom I speak has seen us both, in years gone by—when we were both very small—at,CoL Stephen Humphrey’s; «nd I remember of calling some one Uncle Stephen.’ I remember it well. Oh. Mary, we must escape from here' I know that Marl Laroon has no right to us. and I cannot divest myself of the sden that he did a great sin when he took us away from our home,” said Paul. “Then he is not your father?" uttered the maiden", with some energy. “No.'" answered Paul, quickly and energetically. "I know he is not my father. Not only does every feeling of my sou! assure me that such is not the case, "Silt Marl Laroon’s own manner proves S. And then this man—Buffo Burningion. he calls himself —assures me that 5e is not. Thank heaven, I owe no spark ♦f being to that dark-souled man!'’ There was another silence of some moments. at the end of which Paul resumed : “Marl Laroon was here last night. Of course, you saw him? What did he say?” “I could not tell you. He talked very strangely at times, and—you may laugh at tne, and think me very foolish—but certainly he did talk more like a lover Ann a guardian.” Paul started and turned pale. “Marl Laroon does love you—all he capable of loving. If we remain here you are lost. Now, I know what his strange words to me have meant. He aieans that you shall be his wife'.” The fair .girl gazed into her companion’s face for some moments without speaking, and" the fixed, vacant look of Obe eyes showed she was thinking sf something past. “Heaven have mercy on me!” she at length uttered, clasping her hands together. "It is for that perhaps tllsit ho las called the miners—four of them—to Ae castle, and bade them remain here. It is for that he has given directions for Ae nightwatch doubled, and for baking ao soul pass out from here save the crew of the brig, and the fishermen and' hunters.” “And how has it been with you since. Se war* here last? Have you been •Uictly watched?” “I have been but a prisoner, Paul—int a mere prisoner. B have not been allowed to go outside of these walls without two attendants, and one of those :nu»t be from Laroon’s blind followers. His negroes have kept an eye upon me all the time, and I do not think that during the past year I could have escaped, even had 1 bent my whole energies the purpose all the time. But do you —oh, do you think that he means to — .» “I fear he means to make you his wife.” The maiden bowed her head, and her tfruino shook with strong emotion. It was now growing dusk, for the sun had Mt some time tdnce, and the shades t night were beginning to gather over ■things of earth. 'Mary turned to the window and looked out. Patil arose walked several times across the Mean, and when he stopped it was close to the door which opened to the corritor by which ho had entered. Just as to stepped ho waa sure he heard some «M at the door. Without waiting to wSect, he opened it and saw a black

woman just Hurrying from the spot. His first impulse was to spring out into the coriidor and catch her. and he obeyed it bn the instant. '■ "What nre you doing here?" was his first question, ns ho seized the negress by the arm. She was one'of Laroon's slaves, some fifty .or sixty years of age, with, a face upon which were marked cunning and cruelty. "What are you doing here?" repeated Pan], in no verygentle term’s. "Noffen!" was- the short reply."Then why are. you here?” “ 'Cause I have to be here—nil ober the house jits’ iriiftt I’m a'mind to." ■ As the woman gave this answer she freed herself-by a jerk from the youth's grasp, and then hastened away. Paul returned to the room wherfe he had left Mary, and found her just coming (ownrd him. - '

“Paul," she said, “I thought you told me that Marl Laroon would—remain on 'boarcMhe brig ’fintil yob returned.” “So I did,” said the young man, with some surprise. “But he is here now.” "Impossible!" •> “I am sure I saw him in the garden but a mdniehf ago, and he was gazing most closely up at my window.” Paul .started to the window and looked nut. but be could see nothing. The windon overlooked a small garden which wasenclosed within the wall, and Mary pointed to a clump of orange shrubs, where she had seen LflToon. But it whs now too dark to see objects plainly at such a distance, and Paul gave up the search. But lie was not easy. First, he beli'eved that the old slave had been set to watch him, and if Marl Laroon had really come up*from” the brig, th4n there was something serious in the wind. Mary ordered her attendants to prepare supper in her own apartment, and candles were brought and the.meal was served. Paul ate almost in silence, for he was very uneasy, and he wished not tft force doubts upon his fair companion: and Mary, too, was far from being easy in her mind. ‘ CHAPTER X. While Paul and Mary were eating their supper, there was a scene transpiring in another part of the building that war not wholly-unconnected with their interests. Marl' Laroon had come up from .the brig,- though he had not come in a boat. He had administered a powerful dose of opium to the old gunner, am] as soon as the invalid was asleep, he had been set on shore for the purpose, as he said, of taking a look at the country, As soon as his boat had returned, ami he had got out of sight of the crew, he had started for the castle. Il was an out-of-the-way apartment in which the pirate -captain now was, and -he had one companion—the very woman whom we have seen at the young people's floor, and whom Paul caught in the .very act. ‘-Now. what hard you heard?” asked Marl, with much eagerness. "Oli, I heard lots,” returned the old negress, showing the whites of her eyes prodigiously. "Paul said you wasn't his father, and .Miss Mary say she was drefful ghid. Den dey tolc—or rudder Mas’r Paul tole ’bout a man ’board de brig as tole him you for sartin sure wa'n’t his father,” "That is some of Mr. Buffo Burnington's ” “Dat’s um, dat's um. mas’r,” Interrupted the slave, clapping her hands. “Dat’s his name, ’cause 1 heared Mas'r Paul say so.” “But tell me, Hagar, what else did Paul say about this follow?” “Oh. he said lots. Fust, dis man tole him whar he was born, and who he lib wid when he was a little picanninny. Den be tole him ’bout —’bout de man what lie call uncle. It was Humphrey. Dat's um for sartin sure.” The pirate's black eyes now emitted sparks of fire. He walked up and down the narrow apartment several times like a chafed tiger. At length he stopped, being somewhat cooled down. “Now, tell me what else the boy and girl talked about.” “He Inbs her and she lubs him, an’ dey talk ’bout runnin’ away.” “Did they make any plans for so doing?” “No. not as I knows on. But dey was boss of um drefful 'fraid you war gpin’ to marry wid Mary.” Marl Laroon w-alked up and down the room, and when he stopped there was a dark smile upon his face. "Hagar,” lie said, “yon hare done well, and you shall be rewarded for it. Yoh must watch them carefully, ami be sure that they move not into the garden without you are close upon them. Follow them everywhere they go and hear every word they say. And, mind, not one lisp that I have been here to-night —not a word to a living soul. I shall be here to-morrow night, and then you shall tell me what more you have seen and lizard." * ' | Ha gar "promised to obey, and shortly afterward the pirate captain left the place. He passed out through the garden, and thence he made his exit by way of a postern, and then hurried off by the upland path to the bay, which he reached about 9 o’clock. At a given signal a boat came off for him, and his patient was not awake, so he fancied there would be no trouble on account of poor Ben. After I’aul nnd Mary had finished their supper and the things had been removed, they sat down and commenced to converse once more. The'young man had thought much during the meal, nnd he was now ready to go ahead with his investigations. “Mary,” he said, “are you sure that was Marl Laroon whom you saw in the garden?” “Just as sure as I nm that I see you now,” replied the maiden. “Then of course he has come to watch us. I know him well. Is there any one in the castle whom you have occasion to think ho would select in preference to another for a spy?” “Oh, yes; be would take old Hagar for. that business.” "And she is the one whom I found at the door. Does she answer your summons ?” “Yea, always; but you will get nothing from her, for she la as crafty as a fox, and as cunning as mortal can be.”

’“Nevsr mind. I may not get any words from her to that effect, but I cap read much from her lookss tVlif you call her?” J' Mary arose and pulled a cord that hung near her, and ere long a young Indian girl appeared, and Mary requested her to-send Hagar up. The girl disappeared, and In a short "time afterwards Hagar made her appearance. 1 “Hagar,” said I’aul, speaking kindly and with a smile, “I forgot to tell you before, but the captain wants ydu 1 to have everything ready for him to-mor-row night as he will be here at that time.” “Sartin,” replied the old woman, with a twinkling of the brown eyes that I’aul at once understood. ■ ; ' * .-•■ ■ “That was the order lie sent by me, snLfor the sake of doing my duiv I give it, but yots needn't make the-prep-arations, for lie. will not come. Thi? afti rnoon he fell and broke his leg.” “Hi, hi,, hi—yah!” laughed tlib old slave. “Guess MsT Paul don't know noffen 'bout it.” “But I do know. The poor man is suffering the most excruciating agony, and he cannot bear to, be" brought up here." The old woman smiled, but spoke hot a word. -i <*. “What do von think about it?” asked Raul. ; /’ • 1 “1 think i’l> do same as--you do. ‘I get ’um all readv. so to obey^orders.” , Hagar went but, and as soon as Paul was sure she was. out . of hearing, he said: ? “So she has seen him. How’ did she know his leg was not broken, if she had not seen him. do not. fear, for Marl Laroon will have his hands "nnd head both full when he attempts to come directly to the antagonistic with me. Very fortunately, I know as much as he doos, and more, too; for I know just.how much ho knows, whije he will pot dream that I mistrust him.” “But how much’ do you think *he dots know?” asked Mary. • ? ...... £_. “Why, I feel confident he knows nearly all we said befdro'ybu‘saw him in the garden. lam confident Hagar heard it all, and if she did, then the captain knows it all now. I am’more sorry for Burnington than for myself; but I will put him on his guard as soon as I go on board. T wish I knew more' of that man.”“Why?” uttered the maiden. “Is there anything peculiar about him?” “Of course, there must be; and since I have been here I have thought more of him than I ever did before. His face is before me, and I see it plainly—l see it as something that I have already seen befc rc; and yet. so strange is that face that even an infant should not seem to forget it. And then his voice, too. But I cannot think—l cannot call up clearly, or even dimly, anything of him in the past." “But what is he, Paul?” asked Mary, much interested. “What sort of looking man?” "At first sight he is one of the most homely, repulsive men I ever saw. He has but one eye. and the yellow socket is very much disfigured. His face is very much disfigured and is- very dark, his hair red and short, and crisp, his brow very low and overhanging, his face all distorted and grim; and beside all this, one of his legs is, much shorter than the other.” “Surely,” returned Mary, with a smile, “you have painted not a very inviting figure.”" * “So he appeared to me; but since I have talked with him he seems different. When three stout men had set upon me, lie came up and overcame them. When not another of my shipmates noticed me. he sought me out in my need and saved me. He stuck bravely, too.” “Oh, how I shall love him now,” murmured the fair girl, while her zeal* brought n bright teardrop to her eye. Paul understood her meaning, and his grateful look was reward' .enough. (To be continued.!