Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 320 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

> al * ‘ > - aa _ ~ ~~ -_ = Fer, ~~ += ~~ —" ee ae aR, i + ._» . zee — _ that they would not believe that he had been £ - oa ee > & iar . we, lost in returning from the English vessel. The guard called up a comrade, gave him a piece of silver, while he pocketed the gold-piece, and told him to mount a horse and ride over to Riverview mansion with the note, and thej re- sult was that Captain Evans and Leander put in an appearance at the jail shortly after dawn. Going to the superior officer, Captain Evans puree what was the meaning of his son’s ar- rest. Knowing the wealth of the new master of Riverview, the officer treated him with respect, and explained that there was a very serious charge against his son, ** And what is that charge, sir?” “pt is the charge of being a British spy, sir. oe Evans turned pale and said in angry nes: ** You are a lot of fools, whodo not know an honest boy when you see one. * Who are my son’s accusers?” ** Constable Drake and his deputy had war: rants to arrest him as adeserter from Lieutenant Elmore’s schooner-of-war, on board of which he was a cabin-boy. ‘“*In their search for him they discovered that he was in communication with a British vessel off the coast, and they arrested him both as a deserter and a spy.” i ‘* They have their charges to prove, Sir Of- cer. “They say that they have the proof and will roduce it at the trial.” ‘* When is he to be tried?” **As soon as Lieutenant Elmore can be brought bere from Boston, for he isa witness against him.” : “Then within a week the trial will take place?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ** I suppose that I can see my son?” * No, sir; you cannot, I am sorry tosay.” With an imprecation upon fools in general, Captain Evans turned away to seek Constable Drake. But that worthy could not be found, and the captain was forced to return to his home and report to his wife and daughter what he had discovered, and also to let them know that he feared Ned wasina very bad scrape, for no one in the village seemed at all friendly to him. CHAPTER XII. THE TRIAL, TuHE village where Ned the Boy Skipper was to be tried for his life was a place half-seaport, half-country, and its denizens were not remark- able for any very great degree of intelligence, though they were a good, honest people in their way. In those days superstition held considerable sway, and Ned, as the son of a woman who had been know as Elsie the Witch, need expe § little Savor from the half-soldier, half-sailor militia company that were to be his judges. It is true all knew that Elsie, the Witch of the Haunted Fort, had lalely become a changed woman, throwing aside her weird attire and _ ways for a dress more becoming to her position as the wife of Captain Norcross Evars and the mistress of Riverview Mansion. But there were many who believed that Elsie had conjured up the,luck for herself, and still “looked upon her with awe and superstitious dread. From the time of Ned’s capture by the con- stable, the officers of the militia company swelled up with importance, and the capturer became a hero in the eyes of the community, It was certain that he did have papers of ar- rest for Ned as a deserter from the navy, and his zeal had enabled him to fasten upon +he outh a more serious charge, as a spy for the ritish, and, young as was the accused, there | were those who were willing to take oath that he would hang, if found guilty, and that be would be proven innocent no one believed, after Constable Drake had said that he would prove his acctisation against him. As it was feared that an attempt would be made to rescue Ned, from the fact that a num.- ber of strange fishermen had come to the the fei a double guard had been placed over e jail. But no such an attempt was made, and the day of triai.came round and the boy prisoner was still sate in the clutches of his enemies. The trial was to be held in the town hall, and the village was crowded to overflowing with people from the adjacent country. it was time, the local authorities yielded to the military, and a court martial of officers aaa a LLL, CL, ee ee eee eee Tren RNa, Pa 1 LM er ch Eye ap ae ae vipa Wer ‘ ten f . roy a = ns E tres teben, | te a _ ‘ The Sea Sorceress. was already called upon the case, and the wit- nesses were ready to give their testimony. Captain Evans, bis wife and Nora were early on hand, and although Mrs. Evans looked little like the woman they had known as Elsie the Witch, the crowd stood in awe of her, and freely allowed the little party to pass on to good seats in the front. Then the major, who was to be the judge took his seat, tne officers of the court-martia came in, the prisoner was led to his seat before his accusers, and the trial was begun. Ned was calm as a man, bowed pleasantly to his parents and sister, glanced indifferently over the crowded room, and then turned his gaze upon the witnesses. ‘*'Your name is Ned Norcross, boy?” began the major, in a pompous manner, meant to awe the youth, But the reply was prompt: ‘* You are mistaken; my name is Ned Evans.” “‘ Ah! yet you were once known as Ned Nor- cross,” ‘‘ Yes, it was my father’s Christian name, and my mother assumed it to escape from her foes, who sought to destroy her that they might en- joy the fortune they would inherit by her death!” ‘Aha! your mother is the one whom they called, hereabout, Elsie the Witch?” ‘Yes, because my mother’s sorrows and suf- ferings had affected her mind and she acted somewhat strangely, a lot of superstitious fools called her a witch,’’ was the sharp reply, and it struck home to many. ‘Well, as there is no doubt as to your iden- tity, boy, 1 will go on to ask you other ques- tions.” ‘IT am ready, sir, to answer any question you wish to ask.” ‘*T hen tell me if you were ever in the United States navy?” ‘J was, and suppose I am yet.” ‘You shipped in the service?” SL ayoue ‘Where?’ ‘*In Baltimore,” ‘In what capacity?’ ‘* That of cabin boy.” ‘On what vessel?’ ‘The brig-of-war, Boxer.” ‘‘Why did you desert from her?’ ‘**T did not desert from her,” ‘You left her?” ‘*T was ordered from the Boxer, with a num- ber of others, to go as a crew upon a schooner- of-war just fitted out at Portland.” ‘* You made your mark as a seaman upon that vessel’s papers then?” ‘Oh no, for I am not so ignorant as that, thanks to my good mother, so I wrote my name,” ‘You can write then?” ** Certainly, sir.” ‘* Who commanded that schooner-of-war?” ‘* Lieutenant Elmore.” **Do you see him in this room?’ ‘*T do not,” : ‘Had you ever seen him before the day he sailed in the schooner as commander?” ‘*‘T had not, nor did I see him on that dav, for I was sick in my bammock when the schooner sailed, and we were off this coast when I got up. ‘‘ The schooner ran into the river haven that night, I believe?” ‘Yes, sir, I piloted her in.” 66 You ]” ** Yes, sir.” ** Why, you were cabin boy on board.” **T was pilot that nigbt, for we were chased by an English sloop-of-war and would have been captured had we not run into the river harbor, so, as I knew the channel, I ran ber in.” This was evidently news to many present, and the major glanced at a letter he held in his hand and said: ‘‘[ have here a letter from Lieutenant EI- more, who was unable to appear as witness against you, and he does not speak of you as other than a cabin boy.” a ZS should he?” was the blunt question of ed, ‘‘ He says,” and the major read aloud from the letter. ‘**The boy you speak of is the same who was with me ‘*** He was cabin boy on the schooner, and desert- ed the night we reached the river haven. ***If, as you say, he has been discovered to be a British spy, he is without doubt, the one who piloted the sloop-of-war in that captured my vessel, and I heard from a seaman that he was really the Eng- lishman’s pilot. ‘**Tf found guilty, he should certainly be hanged, v- wee and his fate will be an example and warning to oth- ers along the Maine coast who can be too e bribed by gold to aid our foes.” ‘* Now this is whcé the lieutenant says, and you can see that his testimony is sadly against ou. me Yes, sir, I see it is,” said Ned witha smile. ‘‘Tt seems to please you,” angrily said the major, nettled at the boy’s indifference. ‘*[ do not care one way or the other.” ‘You will when this trial is over.” ‘Tf it is decided that I am guilty beforehand, why try me?’ came the pat question, and the major and his officers winced under the shot, and Constable Drake was called as a witness against the young sailor. CHAPTER XIII, THE CONFESSION, “ ConsTABLE DRAKE, who is this prisoner?” asked the major, when that officer had taken the witness stand. ‘* He’s a boy terror, your honor, that is known as Cabin Boy Ned, the Boy Skipper, and the Pilot of the Isles; but his real name, as I knows him, is Ned Norcross, or Evans.” ‘You have held a warrant for his arrest for some little time, I believe?” ‘* Yes, sir.” **On what charge?” ** Desertion from the great American navy, your honor.” ‘* And you arrested him on this charge?” ‘*] arrested him on my papers for desertion, sir; but I have another charge to make against him, which is worse than deserting his sbip.” ‘Well, sir, what charge is it you have to make?” ‘*T accuse him of being a British spy.” ‘*Indeed! Will you state upon what grounds you make this very serious charge?” **T will tell you, sir. ‘‘Me and Pindar, my deputy, your honor, has been looking for the boy for some time, and t’other night, sir, we was watching up near bis new home, where Judge Elmore once lived, you know, and we seen a large launch come into the river, “We had previously noticed a Britisber coming along the coast before dark, and seen bis lights as he lay to off the Graveyard Reefs, ‘Well, sir, Pindar and me run down to the Riverview pier, and from the bushes where we hid, we seen the prisoner talking to the officer of the boat. ‘*Then they got into the launch, and with the boy’s surf-skiff in tow, went out of the river. ‘* After some time the boy came back alone in bis skiff, and so we just seized him.” ‘‘You are sure the vessel was an English craft?” asked the major. ‘‘ Ves, sir, certain; for we seen her the next day, when she went in chase of an American privateer that hove in sight.” Pindar, the deputy, then gave his evidence, which was the same as that given by the con- stable, and then the major turned to tke young risoner with the air of a man who had made up is mind that the boy was guilty, and there was nothing too bad to accuse him of. ‘* Well, young sir, you have heard the testi- mony of ‘these honorable gentlemen against you, so what have you to say against it?” asked the major. ‘‘T have to say that appearances seem to be against me, sir; but I can explain all,” was the calm reply. ‘‘T do not see how.” ‘‘ Am I to be permitted to say a word in my own defense?” ‘Certainly, for we hold the seales of justice here, and we are, like Justice, blind.” ‘Then, sir, to begin, I will say that I asked permission of Lieutenant Elmore to visit my mother, upon arriving in the river; but, although I bad saved his vessel, he refused, and even rudely refused when be knew who I was. ‘‘He went on shore then, and I asked the second officer, but be too was forced to refuse, as Lieutenant Elmore had given orders that no one was to leave the ship. ‘‘T knew that the schooner was to sail at day- light, and that there was no telling how Jong it would /be before [ could again see my mother and sister. ‘“T bad run off to sea, and I wished to beg their forgiveness. ‘‘T had just saved the schooner, and the lives of all, and yet was refused permission to ge ashore, and it burt me, ‘So, as I was allowed to turn in for the night, 1 determined to go home, and be back before daybreak. wet * - te os as ——e ° . “<x i} ~ +e ott © Je tal 4p Sri *, SRP mm O¢ }" op d vita) me : x. | ‘“. @ NM \ ) | - roe @ , EOS ie a2 ESE NA rh diet alah a i , te 7 ted 3h ees Ss et Naa + Geto a