Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1128 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

— we rye Pc Just there the shore had a rocky and shingly sur- face, the rocks being flaked off from the ledge, and the sand thrown up by the sea, and being within reach of the high tide, would have obliterated all footprints had there been any. “Tl ean’t make it out,’’ Julian at length declared. “T can’t think what sort of an animal it can be—if it.has legs it has left no trace of them here.” “ All that menin any circumstances can do, Julian,’ said Captain James, “ must bedone at onee. A dan- ger unknown is the more to be dreaded, and I see enough to warn me that we must protect ourselves as strongly as possible fr this. We must first s i@ {rom look after the stores and provisions; the loose pack- ages and a few small articles we must take to our camp, and those in bulk we will secure by timbers, stones and ropes, as well as we can where they are.”’ In accordance with this programme they labored until they went to dinner, when Julian reminded Oaptain James of his purpose to explore the island. “T had not forgotten it,” said the captain, “and we may as well start at once. If there is anything else The Sea Serpent. ee - sides, “Ithink, Julian,’’ he continued, “there are other discoveries to be made here. That rock must be accessible; it would seem to furnish a better out- look. Let us see.”’ Julian followed him around the base of the rock, and they forced their way through the undergrowth of small trees and shrubbery that grew at the back. In front, as we have seen, the rock was precipitous, rising with a perpendicular face to the hight of the tallest tree; but at the back it sloped with a gradual descent toward the sea. They made their way up this slope till they found themselves cut off by an irregular fissure in the rock, separating it at the top entirely from the larger half in front—a fissure which might have been made by some convulsion of nature, or some violent upheaval of the whole island. It must have been twenty feet in width, by consid- erably more than that in depth. There seemed at first no way of crossing it, till Julian suggested the felling of trees, many of which, | the size of a man’s arm or larger, grew in the crev- besides the visitor here last night to endanger our | residence on the island, it will be best for us to know it without delay.”’ This was Julian’s opinion also, and arming them- selves, as best they could, with two knives each, and the small ax, they started. They were not long in reaching the east or wooded end of the island, and entered the grove. There were many birds lodged therein of various kinds and sizes, who, startled by what they evidently considered these stranger birds, took wing, whirring away with a great noise, some circling along the coast, and others flying toward the other end of the island, giving the signal flag at the camp avery wide berth, as something new and suspicious, Julian and the captain penetrated this grove a short distance, and were surprised to find in its interior a broad inlet like a small lake, with a odrrow opening to the sea beyond. ‘On the north shore of this inlet, there were sev- eral huge rocks rising steep and precipitous from the water, evidently a continuation of the same ledve upon which the island was formed—with the green foliage which skirted the background, and the still, glassy surface of the iniet in front, and the sun just gilding the tops, which were on a lével with the tallest trees—these brown, baid rocks pre- sented a fit study for an artist. “Tf we onlv had a boat here!’’ exclaimed Julian, enthusiastically, ““what a splendid sail we could have.” The captain smiled gravely. They were standing on the margin of the inlet, its shelving bank of shingle showing here, as outside, the action of the tide. “‘ While wishing for a boat, Julian,” said the cap- tain, “we might as well wish for a ship, for one could anchor here in ease and safety, and in high tide there would be no difficulty in getting over the bar opposite, if indeed at any time.”’ ‘““Yos.* said Julian, ‘“‘and that rock yonder, the lower one I mean, would make a capital wharf; let us go around to it, please.” The captain followed him as he eagerly led the way, but Julian reached it first, and suddenly turned toward him, waving his hat and uttering wild ex- clamations of surprise and delight. “What is it?’ said the captain, as he guickened his steps, and in a moment more he was alongside of him. Julian was pointing at something at his feet, by the edge of the rock, near the water. It was a large iron ring, such as is used by vessels in making fast—passing through a staple—which staple was driven hard and fast into a hole drilled in the rock. Ring and staple were incrusted with rust, and had evidently been there a century at least. ‘““You were right, Julian,” said the captain, as he surveved this evidence of past Occupation of the island. ‘“‘Others besides you have thought this a capital wharf, for this inlet has certainly been at some time a ship’s harbor and anchorage. ** Whose sould it have been, sir?” | As Julian asked the question, still looking about him, he suddenly added a shrill exclamation. , Captain James turned quickly toward him. / The boy was looking up at the perpendicular face of the tallest rock, and pointing upward. Ten or twelve feet above their heads was &@ name, snd figures, done in old English: * OAPTAIN KIDD, 1698.” CHAPTER X. THE SKELETON OF THE ROCK. For some moments they stood in silence, staring upward at the rock and its inscription. A terrible name! How came it here on this solitary island? This was the question that was in Julian’s mind. But Captain James did not seem especially startled at the discovery. Perhaps the disaster which had overtaken his own stanch vessel and his stout-hearted crew, and his reservation here, left no room for further wonder- ment at the mysterious dispensations of Providence. “You have found Captain Kidd, my boy!’ he said, at lengt Julian turned quickly toward him. ‘But not my uncle,” he replied. “No,” said the captain, in a tone half inquiry, half assertion; “‘ the date yonder conclusively shows that.” ‘‘But I may find him yet; this makes me more hopeful.”’ “ Very likely,’ said the captain, who was looking ~ Nisily at the top of the rock, and examining its t af ¢ oi ae & + 62 al Ps Ate : be 4 rd of ro BC Bh ae a 7 oy Se a , Bi P cee a ” ms ? * ' ié \ *h Yet rm) ae 2 a e “j a oo me i aa. és ices of the cliff. The suggestion was at once acted upon, and two | or three of these being felled across the chasm, they made their way over it, continuing their ascent of the rock, and were soon at the top. It was very irregular, one site appearing much higher than the other. There were small trees growing on one side of the summit, which at*first effectually hid what was des- tined to subsequently prove one of their most impor- tant discoveries. A closer examination of the higher portion of the rock proved it to be an artificial wall, having a rude | doorway opening into a small apartment, partially hewn out of the solid stone. Only asmall portion was sheltered by a roof—about one-half—the other half having apparently been sup- plied by canvas or wood, of which, however, no trace remained. There was a small round window, like a port-hole, commanding a view of the little harbor below, and the outlet to the same, as well as the sea beyond. Evidently this had once been the dwelling-place of man. Many of the stones were hewn, some of them had fallen, and all were more or less overgrown with Inoss., In asmall recess, on the sheltered side, hewn out of the solid rock, like a berth on shipboard, they saw where the former occupant had slept. Yea! where all that was mortal of him still slept, for in this recess were the bones—the skeleton of a human being, Bleached and Whitened by storm and time they glared ghastly in the sunlight. Julian, who, boy-like, had rushed eagerly through the low-browed doorway of this apartment, fell back in awe before this revelation of the past. Captain James’s face retained its usual tranquillity, He would not show to Julian the discouraging aspect this gave to their hope of escape from the island. ‘*Who could he have been?’ asked Julian, going around and looking in at the small window. “itis useless now to inquire,’’ said the captain, ‘whether he dates back to the year engraved on the rock, or whether he was a castaway, like ourselves, at a later period; it would be impossible to know without further discoveries.” “Tt may be he was marooned. A careful search may furnish more particulars of his history.” Julian was already looking about him. On the very highest point of the rock he discover- ed ahole which must hve been drilled with infinite labor, probably for the purpose of holding a flag- staff or signal pole. The area of the whole top of the rock was not much greater than that of a large house, and Julian did not take long to examine it; meanwhile the captain inside had made a further discovery. Beneath the skeleton was a movable slab, wherein, no doubt, would be found, he suggested, whatever treasures or information the unfortunate had left be- hind him. Eager as Julian was for new discoveries, he hesi- tated now. He asked the captain if it would be right to move the bones, me ee Se ee ee he took two or three hasty steps forward anc | 2 ~~ —_——— S~ —— | They had nearly reached their camp before it oo curred to him, and he mentioned it to the captain. “T had not forgotten it,’ was the response; “ in- deed it was strongest in my thoughts isons at the top of the rock.”’ ‘* What do you think it could have been?” asked Julian; *‘ not turtles nor birds?” ‘** No,” said the captain, ‘‘ whatever it is it does not come in the day, but makes its visitsin the night- time.”’ “Tf it were something dangerous to us,” said Julian, thoughtfully, ‘“‘ would we not be safer our selves living at the top of the rock, especially as that chasm would keep almost anything from reaching us—like the moats of some old castle?”’ “Thave already thought of that also,”’ said the captain, “and to-morrow we may put itin force. It will be a bright moonlight evening, and nothing is likely to disturb us to-night, at least not without my knowing it,”’ he added, in a low tone to himself. After supper they sat up and talked till rather a late hour, ason the previous night. The captain going out several times to look at the sea and sky, and gaze somewhat anxiously toward the east end of the island. Though they listened attentively from time to time they heard nothing of the sound that had been so ominous, and wondering drowsily what strange, fe- rocious thing it could have been, Julian fell asleep, and in his sleep had a singular dream, 7 CHAPTER XI. JULIAN'S DREAM—THE TERRIBLE EYES, Ir was the first time he had dreamed of hame since leaving it, and it was astonishing how vividly the whole scene came back to him. The old homestead, the house wherein he was born, the ever-changing sea, upon which he had so often gazed. He looked in expectation of seeing the old house lonely and deserted, for even in his dream he re- membered he had Jeft it, but to his ag! ch os he saw the rooms lighted up; figures were flitting to and fro, and strange faces he could not recognize looked. from the old, familiar windows. While he was wondering what this meant, he saw the well-known figure of old Benny Haven, but look- ing younger, coming vigorously down the roadway. He walked like a man arcused to unusual energy, like one having a clearly defined purpose in view. He went straight toward the house and had nearly reached it when the cottage-door opened from with- in and Squire Lawson stepped over the threshold. His brow Garkened at the sight of Uncle Benny, but in a | moment they were standing face to face. | their Though Julian, in his dream, in defiance of all po- liteness, strained his senses to the utmost to hear what was said, no word came to him. But that both men were angry and excited he could easily see, for their hands were clinched and ir gestures violent—particularly those of the squire. Vhile Julian, in his dream, was wondering what the issue would be he saw the airy figure of a young girl come running from the white sea beach, where he had so often walked, and hurrying toward the two men, she appdared to utter some remon- strance. But the angry disputants heeded her not. How well he knew that lithe figure! Not even in a dream could he forget it. It was Maggie Lawson, She was yet a dozen paces away when Squire Lawson raised his heayy cane, and struck old Ben- ny a violent blow. It made Julian recoil in sympathy even in sleep. The lion-like nature of the old man was at once aroused, and with an activity that would have been surprising even in a younger man, he Seized the Squire by the throat, shaking him to and fro like a man of straw, and hurled him with one final effort prostrate to the earth. Maggie threw up her hands with a cry of terror and so intense was Julian’s sympathy with the act “ Certainly,” was the response; ‘‘ we will come to- | morrow, bringing a spade, and give them burial.” “They must have been here a long time,” said Julian, *‘ for with the exception of what seems to be the metallic buttons, there is not a fragment left of anything he wore.” The captain, who had come out and was walking | up and down outside with an air of abstraction, made no immediate a6 056 “It is growing late, Julian,’ he finally said, “and we must return to our camp.” As they were returning, a more careful examina- tion of the chasm in the rock revealed niches, cutfor the hands and feet like a narrow ladder or staircase, hewn in the side of the rock, difficult to any- but a sailor, in getting down or climbing up. They deseended this way, as it made the distance much shorter, and in a minute more were standing on the shore wharf. “Tt must have been this man,” said Julian, as they set out ov their return to camp, ‘“*‘who made the stone steps at the great natural cistern,” ‘‘No doubt,” said the captain, thinking how hope- less was the prospect of relief when this man’s long imprisonment here was considered. For it must have taken years to have accomplished that work. The extent and surprise of th® discoveries just made, of the skeleton, of the rocky dwelling, and of this having been a haunt of Captain Kidd—the world famous Kidd—drove from Julian’s mind all thought of that strange, wild cry they had heard there the previous night, 4. * ‘3 4 } ;* we A ~ pugs,’ « = a ¢ 7 . oe Ld ge? > ¢. — iy cP ¥ e134 sR * 74a hes a . = s ei and actor that he uttered a loud cry. That cry awakened him. He sprung to his feet confused, bewildered, amazed to find it all a dream. To his additional surprise, he found the captain sitting up and intently looking out of the opening in the tent as if watching. At Julian’s outery he sprung to his feet and com- ing toward him seized his han« “A dreain! a dream, my boy,”’ he said, soothing- Vv “Yes, sir,” said Julian, drawing a long breath, - still looking about him as ifehe half-expected to see | Uncle Benny and Maggie again, so vividly did they appear to him. “Try and sleep again,” continued the captain. “I find I am a little restless myself to-night, and will walk up and down outside.” He parted the canvas, which served for a doorway, and went out. Julian lay down again, but for some time could not sleep. The vividness of his dream, the remarkable dis- tinctness with which it had all come to him—like a picture upon the wall—had turned his thoughts in a new direction. He was not superstitious, but he began to wonder if ina dream like this there might not be mudk truth; and he sought to recall matters at home, an@ to think what had transpired from the moment of his leaving there. He wondered if the Squire had attempted to en- _ force his authority as guardian—if he Aad actuall taken possession of the homestead—and if old Dew | : . - J . a | 4gtty * :