Beadle's Dime Novels No. 87: On the Deep

This issue contains a serial, "On the Deep; or, The Missionary's Daughter" by Roger Starbuck, a maritime adventure story. The narrative begins as the bark Rainbow departs Maui, Sandwich Islands, carrying eighteen-year-old Grace Greenville, an orphan bound for New York to meet her aunt after her missionary father's death. The first mate Block, a vain man fond of misusing dictionary words, advises the captain that Grace's grief should be met by all officers wearing black mourning suits and hats at dinner. The second mate, Guy Loring—an educated young man of twenty-three from Nantucket—questions this plan but complies. At dinner, Grace finds the officers' solemn appearance baffling though kind. Loring later explains the misguided gesture. As they converse, two waterspouts appear on the horizon, approaching rapidly. Loring orders the crew to reduce canvas, preparing the vessel for the impending storm.