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〃I have already organized two caucuses in a base ball club； and bribed
the delegates of another。 Nay； turn not away。 Let us be friends；
pursuing through various ways one common end。 Farewell！〃 They shook
hands。
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〃But where is Pirate Jim？〃 asked Jenkins。
〃He left us but for a moment to raise money on the watch to purchase
armament for the scow。 Farewell！〃
And so the gallant； youthful spirits parted； bright with the sunrise of
hope。
That night a conflagration raged in Doemville。 The Doemville
Academy； mysteriously fired； first fell a victim to the devouring element。
The candy shop and cigar store； both holding heavy liabilities against the
academy； quickly followed。 By the lurid gleams of the flames； a long；
low； sloop…rigged scow； with every mast gone except one； slowly worked
her way out of the mill…dam towards the Sound。 The next day three boys
were missingC。 F。 Hall Golightly； B。 F。 Jenkins； and Bromley
Chitterlings。 Had they perished in the flames who shall say？ Enough
that never more under these names did they again appear in the homes of
their ancestors。
Happy； indeed； would it have been for Doemville had the mystery
ended here。 But a darker interest and scandal rested upon the peaceful
village。 During that awful night the boarding…school of Madam
Brimborion was visited stealthily； and two of the fairest heiresses of
Connecticutdaughters of the president of a savings bank； and insurance
directorwere the next morning found to have eloped。 With them also
disappeared the entire contents of the Savings Bank。 and on the
following day the Flamingo Fire Insurance Company failed。
CHAPTER II
Let my young readers now sail with me to warmer and more
hospitable climes。 Off the coast of Patagonia a long； low； black schooner
proudly rides the seas； that breaks softly upon the vine…clad shores of that
luxuriant land。 Who is this that； wrapped in Persian rugs； and dressed in
the most expensive manner； calmly reclines on the quarter…deck of the
schooner； toying lightly ever and anon with the luscious fruits of the
vicinity； held in baskets of solid gold by Nubian slaves？ or at intervals；
with daring grace； guides an ebony velocipede over the polished black
walnut decks； and in and out the intricacies of the rigging。 Who is it？
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well may be asked。 What name is it that blanches with terror the cheeks
of the Patagonian navy？ Who but the Pirate Prodigythe relentless Boy
Scourer of Patagonian seas？ Voyagers slowly drifting by the Silurian
beach； coasters along the Devonian shore； still shudder at the name of
Bromley Chitterlingsthe Boy Avenger； late of Hartford； Connecticut。
It has been often asked by the idly curious； Why Avenger； and of what？
Let us not seek to disclose the awful secret hidden under that youthful
jacket。 Enough that there may have been that of bitterness in his past life
that he 〃Whose soul would sicken o'er the heaving wave；〃 or 〃whose
soul would heave above the sickening wave；〃 did not understand。 Only
one knew him； perhaps too wella queen of the Amazons； taken prisoner
off Terra del Fuego a week previous。 She loved the Boy Avenger。 But
in vain； his youthful heart seemed obdurate。
〃Hear me；〃 at last he said； when she had for the seventh time wildly
proffered her hand and her kingdom in marriage； 〃and know once and
forever why I must decline your flattering proposal： I love another。〃
With a wild； despairing cry； she leaped into the sea； but was instantly
rescued by the Pirate Prodigy。 Yet； even in that supreme moment； such
was his coolness that on his way to the surface he captured a mermaid； and；
placing her in charge of his steward； with directions to give her a
stateroom； with hot and cold water； calmly resumed his place by the
Amazon's side。 When the cabin door closed on his faithful servant；
bringing champagne and ices to the interesting stranger； Chitterlings
resumed his narrative with a choking voice：
〃When I first fled from the roof of a tyrannical parent； I loved the
beautiful and accomplished Eliza J。 Sniffen。 Her father was president of
the Workingmen's Savings Bank； and it was perfectly understood that in
the course of time the entire deposits would be his。 But； like a vain fool；
I wished to anticipate the future； and in a wild moment persuaded Miss
Sniffen to elope with me； and； with the entire cash assets of the bank； we
fled together。〃 He paused； overcome with emotion。 〃But fate decreed it
otherwise。 In my feverish haste； I had forgotten to place among the
stores of my pirate craft that peculiar kind of chocolate caramel to which
Eliza Jane was most partial。 We were obliged to put into New Rochelle
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on the second day out； to enable Miss Sniffen to procure that delicacy at
the nearest confectioner's； and match some zephyr worsteds at the first
fancy shop。 Fatal mistake。 She wentshe never returned！〃 In a
moment he resumed in a choking voice； 〃After a week's weary waiting； I
was obliged to put to sea again； bearing a broken heart and the broken
bank of her father。 I have never seen her since。〃
〃And you still love her？〃 asked the Amazon queen； excitedly。
〃Aye； forever！〃
〃Noble youth。 Here take the reward of thy fidelity； for know；
Bromley Chitterlings； that I am Eliza Jane。 Wearied with waiting； I
embarked on a Peruvian guano shipbut it's a long story； dear。〃
〃And altogether too thin；〃 said the Boy Avenger； fiercely； releasing
himself from her encircling arms。 〃Eliza Jane's age； a year ago； was only
thirteen； and you are forty； if a day。〃
〃True；〃 she returned； sadly； 〃but I have suffered much； and time passes
rapidly； and I've grown。 You would scarcely believe that this is my own
hair。〃
〃I know not；〃 he replied； in gloomy abstraction。
〃Forgive my deceit；〃 she returned。 〃If you are affianced to another；
let me at least bea mother to you。〃
The Pirate Prodigy started； and tears came to his eyes。 The scene was
affecting in the extreme。 Several of the oldest seamenmen who had
gone through scenes of suffering with tearless eyes and unblanched
cheeksnow retired to the spirit…room to conceal their emotion。 A few
went into caucus in the forecastle； and returned with the request that the
Amazonian queen should hereafter be known as the 〃Queen of the Pirates'
Isle。〃
〃Mother！〃 gasped the Pirate Prodigy。
〃My son！〃 screamed the Amazonian queen。
They embraced。 At the same moment a loud flop was heard on the
quarter…deck。 It was the forgotten mermaid； who； emerging from her
state…room and ascending the companion…way at that moment； had fainted
at the spectacle。 The Pirate Prodigy rushed to her side with a bottle of
smelling…salts。
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She recovered slowly。 〃Permit me；〃 she said； rising with dignity； 〃to
leave the ship。 I am unaccustomed to such conduct。〃
〃Hear meshe is my mother！〃
〃She certainly is old enough to be；〃 replied the mermaid； 〃and to speak
of that being her own hair！〃 she added with a scornful laugh； as she
rearranged her own luxuriant tresses with characteristic grace； a comb； and
a small