Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1128 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

——_—— = =~ Hy —- — ~~ ~ ee —~ ~~ a . — making her preparations for sailing; and the inten- tion of Co,amauJter Berry vy cruide fo: 2 sight oF {he wreck, or the shore where it had struck, was received by ail on board with much satisfaction. Accordingly, additional look-outs were placed at the fore and masthead, and indeed, « very one aboard ship, not otherwise engaged, might have been said to be on the look-out, ; The calmness of the ocean, and the exceeding clearness of the atmosphere, lent for a time fair hope to their efforts. Even the princess, herself, with Uncle Benny and the two young girls grouped by her, and the ship’s glassin the hands of the old sailor, kept, perhaps, the keenest look-out of all. “ih On the first day, however, they saw nothing but the vast troops of sea-gulls that followed in their track. The second day they were more successful. They encountered the long-boat of the Hong Kong, her bow stove, and drifting helplessly, the sport of the wind and waves-—not a sail in or about her. Alas! for the crew that had launched her. Not till the sea gives up its dead shall they ever- more answer to the numbers of their mess. ~ CHAPTER XVII, THE FIRING OF THE BEACON. Ir was the greatest surprise of all to Julian. The discovery of the name of old Benny Haven upon a chest supposed to contain pirates’ gold—on a desert island in mid-ocean,. While they yet pondered over it, wondering and commenting on its significance, they became sudden- ly aware of the fact, that the dense fog of which the captain had spoken, had become almost palpable, Siy and sea and rock seemed to be obliterated in the density of the mist that had come rolling in. They found it impossible to see ten feet away, and even while they looked at each other, they saw their figures assuming a vagueness of outline grotesque and almost alarming, ‘What shall wé do?” asked Julian; ‘“‘shall we at- tempt to take the box with us to the tent, or shall we leave it here? Can we risk opening it?”’ *“The last is a matter for future consideration,” said the captain; ** but we had better leave it where it is for the present, especially if we carry out our purpose of making the rock our future place of resi- dence. ‘‘Ttis safe here, at all events—too safe, Lam afraid. ‘*My appetite warns me, as well as this impenetra- ble fog, aud the necessity of your making some change of clothing, that we had better be getting back to the tent. Let us start at once, my lad.” Suiting the action to the word, Captain James led the way down through the grove and up the slope, thinking as he went how little availed the discovery just made. For, had not the man, whose treasure it appeared to be, been doomed to years of isolation there— years of mingled hope and despair, ending at last in death? In the light of this thought, the finding of the box, and its subsequent guardianship, had no interest for Captain James. to Julian, however, it was a matter of profound interest. His thoughts went ata bound across the ocean to Uncle Benny’s cabin on the terrace, and he pictured to himself the old man’s surprise and excitement when this unknown treasure from an unknown donor, perhaps, should be brought to him from over sca—discovere 1 in the manner it had been by them. They reached the tent in safety, than!ss to the pi- lotage of Captain James, and after Julian had made shift to don some dry clothes, they proceeded to satisfy their appetites. ~o gi 98 the tidal wave has not washed away what stores t cidentally. “T hope not, sir,’’ responded Julian, with rather a | grave face, for this was the first time he had thought of the possibility. ‘“‘Would it move the heavy cask, do you think, sir?’ he added. “Easily enough,” said Captain James, “I re- member a tidal wave on the guif coast once that took a government war steamer with its conrplete armament of men and guns, from its anchorage in the harbor a mile and a half inland, leaving her high and dry upon the broad prairie when the wave re- ceded, ut of course that wave much of its force, as it had probably tra¥elcd thou- sands of miles before reaching here.”’ ‘Tt was terribly swift, at all events,’ said Julian, with the remembrance still strong upon him. ** No race-horse could have caught me as quick.”’ “Certainly not,” was the response, “for the good reason that in the deep and open ocean the velocity of the tidal wave is said to be a thousand miles an hour, though near the land it is much less.” Julian expressed his astonishment. “T sincerely hope, I iy ee that it has not taken ell our rations on the beach,’ continued the cap- tain, “for I believe we have not many in the tent.” ** No, sir,” replied Julian, with a sober face; “not more than enough fortwo days, I think, sir,’ getting up and looking abouf him, “But if the worse comes to worst,’’ he added, brightening, ‘“‘there are the birds, sir.” “*Yes,’’ assented the captain, inquisitively. ‘‘ But how will you get them? Ourammunition was nearly exhausted in the fight. Whatever is left on the wreck is no doubt ruined—if indeed any portion of! the old hulk should still be left.”’ “But, sir,” said Julian, the shadows these words gaast over his young face vanishing away, “it would ' of acable! was far more. | powerful than this, or at least this may have spent | The Sea Serpent. not be necessary to use even what we have on them —anybody who has lived in the country knows how to trap birds, and—’’ ‘* Hark!” exclaimed the captain, suddenly inter- rupting, and starting to his feet, vith one hand up- raised warningly, in an attitude of listening. ‘*Tt is nothing,’ he added, after a moment, with a long breath, almost a sigh.. “‘I thought I heard a sound like the running out of a cable, as if some ship was coming toananchor. Of course it could not be. Goon.” | ‘I was about to add, sir, that in addition to the birds as food, there ought to be plenty of black-fish sea-bass oysters, and no boy would »? 7 Ona starve on those.”’ ‘* Well, well, my lad,’ waz the response, *‘ we shall | make the most of what we have, no doubt, be our stay here long or short.”’ He rose and paced up and down thoughtfully, while Julian stepped outside to take an observation. ‘** Don't go far!’ called the captain, after him. ** No, sir,” most feel my way, sir, if I did, for though the fog appears to be clearing @ little, the coming night makes it fearfully dark.” Julian walked a few paces from the tent, straining his eyes to penetrate the fog and darkness, but the leaden-like opaqueness no glance, however keen, could penetrate six feet away. And as he came to this conclusion, Julian indulged in that habit for which boys from time immemorial, have been noted. He began to whistle. Not to “keep up his courage,” for this was no special oc- casion to call it in question, but from mere lack of thought, perhaps, and the well-known air of “The girl Tleft behind me,” rung out melodiously on the thick night air, for the first time perhaps in the history of that unknown land. For two minutes, the light-hearted lad, whom no past perils could sadden,nor future foreboding dis- turb, whistled as merrily as he had done at home in the davs now so old, when he was suddenly startled by a rush.of wings in the air above his head, and a large bird perched on his shoulder. ‘* Hallo, Jule!” cried a hoarse voice, with a chuckle of satistaction easily recognized. Julian gave a shout of surprise, which brought Captain James speedily to the door of the tent, “What isity’ he asked, as the boy came running toward him. “See, sir; see!’ he exclaimed, excitedly, **‘ Uncle Benny's parrot.” * Are you sure, Julian?” cried the captain, as the boy entered the tent with the bird on his shoulder, * Positive, sir,’’ and addressing the parrot: ** You know me, old fellow? You know Jule?” ‘** Ay! ah!” screamed the bird, at its very hoarsest. ‘** This “Ke everything,” declared Julian. ‘“*How in the world could he have got here, sir?” There Was more excitement visible in the features of Captain James than Julian had ever seen there. “My lad,’ he said, *‘ this means something! That sound that I thought I heard, so like the running out It must have been on shipboard. Our release may be at hand! Let us light the beacon at once?” He seized the tallow candle—a box of which had been found among the stores—and guarding its flame from the wind and damp with his hand, stepped out of the tent. The pile of combustibles which they had gathered ready for lighting were only a few feet away, and, in a moment, the captain was kneeling at its base. “How fortunate,” he said, “‘that the tidal wave wane no higher, or we might have lost our mate- rial. He toueched.the combustibles with the lighted ot W candle. 1e sea serpent left us,” said the captain, in- | The flame shot up instantly, gathering volume as it rose, and ina minute it was towering twenty feet into the air. It dispelled the mist. and vapor about, with the ce- lerity of thought,and threw a light far down the slope and over the water. 1e outlines of a large ship, evidently at anchor a | short distance out, were dimly revealed. “Thank Heaven!” cried the captain, fervently, as he saw it. ; Forgetting everything but the relief it promised, they both swung their hats, and cheered with all the power of their lungs. A commotion was instantly visible on board the vessel, and no doubt several night-glasses were brought to bear upon their figures, defined in bold relief against the bright background of fire. A mo- meut more, and a voice giving orders through a trumpet could be distinctly heard. A boat was lowered, and came swiftly pulled to land. Julian, followed at a slower step by Captain James, ran down to the water’s edge to meet it. It touched the shore, and three or four men sprung out—among them a stout figure—the boy had last seen fading away on the cabin terrace the day he had left home. “Uncle Benny?!’ ** Julian!” And they rushed into each other’s arms, eFor a moment there was utter silence—save the lapping of the waves against the side of the boat and on the shore. ‘God bless you, my lad,”’ cried the old man in deep emotion, ‘“Amen—and Ged bless us all! Uncle Benny,”’ said another voice behind, reverently. The old sailor turned on the instant, Something in the tones he had evidently recog- | . ’ ~« _— ~ . m » * tet, : = ‘. i wef ak a belt , a t a, ... ; r< oe od ad — ya) . . 5 “, 4 > wad 4 eee , off the point there, if not clams and | —— eee eee eee ee 1i ee - — —— —S— eee ——- Captain James was standing near, fully revealed in the light of the boat’s lantern held aloft by one of | the men. re . |. He was holding out his hand and smili a gist recogn#ion to Uncle Benny, while Julian too red, , from one to the other, thunderstruck. “Cantain Kidd!” exclaimed the old sailor, as he rrasped the extended hand in atone which made the boat's crew start—** Captain Kidd!” “Yes Untle Benny—yes, Julian!” was the re- sponse; ** Captain James Kidd!” CHAPTER XVUL AND LAST. Tue story of The Sea Serpent is herein drawing to a close. Julian and Captain James returned with Uncle t Benny and the boat’s crew to the ship, and in a few words before reaching it, the captain explained that he had many years ago legally dischrded the om- responded Julian, “I should have to al- | nous name of Kidd, making his Christian name of | James do doubie duty. He further explained that he had not made him- self known to Julian, heretofore, much as he had de- sired to do so, because of his desire to study the boy’s character without his being influenced by the knowledge of kinship. But he was now, he told Uncle Benny, fully satisfied of the lad’s thorough un- selfishness and noble heart. In which verdict the old sailor promptly coincided. They were received on board the Punjab with quite an ovation, in which, as may be presumed, the rineess and her dauchter, and Maggie were not the thee: active, nor the last to extend their warmest congratulations. They remained on board that night without return- | ing to the island—the time being more than occupied by the explanations on both sides. The discovery of the strong box bearing the name | of Benny Haven, with all the incidental particulars, the location of the rock, the finding of the skeleton, | and other details, were duly made known to Uncle Benny by Julian; the old man listening with rapt at- tention till the conchision was reached. “Poor Ned!” he then remarked, quietly, while a few tears rolled down his sunburnt face, ** Poor Ne Td have never thoucht he’d ’a’ come to such an en as that! for, of course,”’ he declared, turning to | those about him, *‘ you understand, my hearties, all, | that it was my old messmate, Ned Trusthim. ‘9 ‘Why, Uncie Benny, I would never have thought of him,” declared Julian, wonderingly. “*And yet [had your Ictter to him, too, and ought to have thought. Yet how came you to know it was yoar old messinate without seeing what’s in the box?” ‘By the token, my dear boy, thatI never know’d anybody else who had a box that would leave it to me! You will see in the morning I am right.” While this conversation was taking place on deck between Uncle Benny and Julian, surrounded b Maggie, Jesso, and a group of eager listeners, includ- ing Chack-a-block, the parrot, who was perched up behind Uncle Benny, as if conscious of being the first discoverer, Captain James was giving his ver- sion of their story to the princess, Commander Ber- *y, and some others, in the cabin. He had learned of the commander's picking up the two men—indeed, they had been among the first to welcome him as he came aboard the Punjab. And he now learned also of the extended search that had been made for the island, and of the fact that the Punjab owed her present position mainly to the ac- cident of having been struck by the tidal wave, that had swept over the island. The vessel had been driven almost wholly at its mercy for a time, and dropped in shoal water off the island, where they had anchored, the rising fog and unknown soundings giving a decided preference for daylicht. e next morning happily was clear, and, after breakfast, led by the commander, everybody who could be spared was permitted to go ashore. A special party, consisting of Commander Berry, Uncle Benny, the princess, Captain James, Julian, the two girls, and a couple of men, detailed for the pur- pose, went direct to the rock, which was duly in- spected and wondered at by all. The box, under Uncle Benny’s sanction, was then opened with due solemnity. It contained a large quantity of gold and silver, some in coins of various nationalities, some in bars and ingots; enough, altogether, to make Uncle Ben- ny comfortable for life, and to leave his heiress, as he told Magzie, a nice little plum to share with Julian, At which suggestion the young girl blushed very brightly, indeed. The box also contained a letter, and some other papers, wrapped in oil-skin, from Ned Trusthim, ex- plaining brieily his presence on the island, and, of course, proving Uncle Benny's surmise of the night before correct. Peor Ned, it appeared, had been to the coast of ing in furtherance of his intention of becoming a king. Teo had led a wild kind of life, darkly hinted at in connection with the slave-trade. Had amassed this prize-money found in the box, and bad set out on his return to America, to enjoy it. ' The ship had founilered at sea, andhe and twoof his companions only, had reached this island ina boat—a boat that had been stove, in the breakers. Each of his companions, one of whom had beenin earlier life a stone-mason, had successively died dur- ing the four years succeeding; and he himself at the time of the writing, for six months the sole survivor, knew he was dying. This, with some other particulars, for his old mess mate’s eyes alone. He had discovered, while here, as any one else = | ; é . ’ «< . * ? 4 my : re — COoMmiicnooKks.com