Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 320 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

a ry ““Y slipped over the side into the river, and swam ashore. “Then I ran te my home to find my sister, as all supposed ‘then, to be dead, and as she was believed by my mother to have been murdered by Lieutenant Elmore, for his act drove her to attempt suicide, as all now know, so [ need not keep it secret, I could not return to his vessel, «. oile his refusal to permit me to go to my home, . when he knew who I was, I then understood. % ‘‘ Before dawn the English vessel was piloted by some one into the river and captured the American schoone”™ while her commander, who was on shore, alone escaped.” ‘‘Were you that vessel’s pilot?’ asked the major. ‘“*T was not.” ** Do you know who it was?” All breathlessly awaited the reply, for though some believed that the boy had been the Eng- lishman’s pilot, many more did not so believe, and not one suspected Elsie of having been Calm and pale she sat between her husband and daughter, her gaze riveted upon her son, | Once she was almost tempted to arise and state that she had urged him to be the pilot of the English vessel to get revenge upon Lieutenant Elmore, and that, he refusing, she had herself acted as the pilot; but her husband restrained her, saying in a low tone; ‘‘Be calm. Elsie, for one is enough, in our small circle, to be under the ban now,” ‘Do you know who was the traitor that brought that British vessel in to capture Lieu- tenant Elmore’s schooner?’ repeated the major, ‘‘ ldo know who was the pilot.” A deathlike silence fell upon all present at this confession. ‘““Who was the traitor?’ cried the judge, in angry tones, after a pause and silence that was painful. “The person was no traitor.” * Who was he, I asked?’ **T will not tell you.” ‘Ha! you refuse?” “T do.” ‘You insult this august court-martial of hon- orable and distinguished gentlemen and officers?” cried the military judge, working himself into % rage * [| mean no insult in refusing, sir, “| simply decline to answer your question.” **T demand it,” » * And I still refuse,” was the cool reply. «You confess that you know?” ‘Yes, sir.” “Then, gentlemen, this confession will con- demn this prisoner without other charges being made against him,” almost savagely said the major, turning toward the officers of the court- martial CHAPTER XIV THE STRANGE WITNESS. “ Parpon me, but 1 do not intend that this ehall be a one-sided trial to hang a boy. ** He is entitled to a full hearing, and to wit- nesses in his own behalf.” The clear voice of the speaker fell like a thun- derbolt upon all, especially the court-martial. All eyes were turned upon bim, and the major slightly winced under the charge that he was Si 28 to hang a boy. ‘*Whoare you, sir, that dares interrupt this gugust court?’ he cried, though he knew well who it was. “T am one, sir, who sought to see that poor boy in prison, and was refused. | “T am one who has here in this room eminent lawyers from Boston and Portland watching your criminal management of this trial, and my mame is Norcross Evans,” The words were delivered in clear, measured tones, and the major turned pale and glanced quickly over the assemblage to see those ‘‘ emi- gent lawyers,” He had noticed strangers present whom he was fairly paralyzing by his importance; but uuow he felt small when he discovered that they ; were sitting in judgment upon his conduct of éhe trial, He knew that Captain Evans was rich, very rich, and bad certain influence with Govern- snent, for he had obtained a commission as a rivateer captain, and he was alarmed that he ad allowed his dread and hatred of Elsie the : Witch, with a desire for self-aggrandisement to y carry him to such extremes against a boy, who, bs after all might be innocent, in spite of appear- fet. ances against him. ae To use a homely, but old and appropriate ex- += ression, the major was thoroughly scared, and etermined to ‘‘ crawfish,” so he sa d quietly: ~~ uw a Be * . i ~ Cit * The Sea Sorceress. ‘“T do not wonder, Captain Evans, that you take deep interest in your son, but he has got- ten himself into an awkward box, and we must not Jet him escape, if guilty.” ‘‘ No, sir, if guilty, | would myself hang him to the yard-arm of my own vessel, son though he be of mine ‘* But he is not guilty of the crimes you charge him with, and 1 demand that he be allowed to tell his own story.” An applause greeted these words, which showed that the tide was turning in behalf of the hitherto friendless boy. ‘¢ He shall give what testimony he likes. ‘¢ Arise, Master Ned, and explain your being with the officer of a Bricish vessel-of-war the other night,” and the major turned upon Ned with a smile that was meant to be patronizing and kind, but which missed the mark sadly, ‘“‘Tf you wish a witness to state that I was not the pilot of the British vessel in to attack the schooner, my mother can testify that I vis- ited her that night in her cottage and never left the shore.” ‘¢ Your mother, the—” But the major did not speak the word, witch, that was upon his tongue, for he caught the eye of Captain Evans. ‘Yes, sir, my mother,” repeated Ned. “ Ah, yes; well, madam, may I ask you, under oath, you know, if your son was the pilot of the Englishman that night?” ‘‘ He was not, sir,” said Mrs, Evans calmly, ‘Ah! and may I ask, under oath, remember, if you know who was?” ‘L believe that lam not on trial,” was the contemptuous remark of Mrs. Evans, and the major flushed, and again turned to Ned. ‘‘Now, sir, the question is, what were you doing with the English officer?” “T Jeft my home, sir, on a yacht, to go after my sister, who had been ill for a long time at an island up the coast. “ Returning,:we were chased by an English vessel, a sloop of-war, and to escape, I beached my craft, ‘* But we were hotly parts by a party in boats and captured, and the English commander was kind enough to bring us off our home and land us, ‘‘He sent his launch ashore with us, and I piloted the boat out through the channel, re- turning in my surf-skiff. “That, sir, is the story of my being a British spy, as Constable Drake tries to make me out, and of which you would never have heard, any more than of my being a deserter, had I bribed the constable and his deputy to release me.” “The Lord forgive bim,” groaned Constable Drake, while Pindar fervently gasped. 66 Amen !”? ‘4 ‘‘Have you witnesses that the British com- mander captured and released you as stated?” asked the major. 66 I ha've.” **Who are they?” ‘* My sister and the fishermen from the islands, who wers with me on the yacht.” ‘‘ Ah! will you testify to the case as stated by our brother, miss?” and the major turned to ora, and observing her beauty mentally ob- served. ‘Pretty as a satin slipper, and rich, too, I guess, Major Ezra Norton, you have made a mistake in pushing the boy, for you are not too old to marry yet.” Then be smiled his sweetest, which, however, was but a grin, and waited for Nora’s reply. ‘‘The facts are as my brother bas stated, sir,” she said in her soft, musical voice. ** Aha! thank you, miss, ‘‘T will accept your testimony as verbatim, without seeking to question the fishermen on this point, but, not being with your brother, Miss Evans, when he returned with the English officer, you cannot give an account of what then occurred, and that is when Constable Drake swears, yes, swears, that be boarded the Englishman, and, alone as he then was, gave testimony of a detrimental character regarding our glorious Government and country.” The major glanced around for an approval, feeling that he had made a few clinching and eloquent remarks, and turning to bis colleagues he held a short conversation with them, the re- sult of which was that he said: ‘‘This court-martial would be glad to find the prisoner guiltless of the charees against him, but, it being asserted by an officer of the law that he returned on board the British vessel and there remained some. time, it bas the ap- pearance of guilt, and nothing short of a reli- able witness from the said British vessel, swear- ing in his favor, could clear the accused of this ————$———————— ee eee for which we will be bound — serious accusation to hold him as guilty.” ‘‘ Permit me to testify in the behalf of young Evans, sir, and to the falsity of the charge made against him by those narrow-minded offi- cers of the law.” At the first words of the speaker Nora Evans uttered a low, startled cry and Ned’s face be- came very pale. Upon bim every eye was riveted, and other than the young prisoner and his sister, no one seemed to recognize him, unless it was some few of a group of women over in the corner of the room, ‘‘Who are you, sir, for you are an utter stranger to this court?” asked the major, fixing his eyes upon the strange witness, CHAPTER XV. A SAILOR’S SACRIFICE, Tur stranger was a tall man, elegantl formed, and attired in an undress naval unl- form. His face was darkly bronzed by exposure, frank, fearless, and the features were refive and well cut, while he had about him the air of one ** to the manor born,” His eyes were dark-blue, his hair wavy and golden, and his face was beardless, as was the fashion of that time. As he advanced toward the major’s seat, Ned arose and made a sign, as though in warning to him, but unheeding it, and with a pleasant smile, the stranger walked up to the witness- stand, where had stood the constable and his deputy in giving their testimony, ‘‘ Who are you, may I ask, sir?” repeated the major, gazing with considerabite deference upon the stranger, whose mien certainly commanded respect, ‘‘T am a witness, sir, in behalf of that gallant Boy Skipper,” was the reply. ‘* What have you to say in his favor, sir?” ‘¢‘T have to say that the man who accuses him of being a traitor to his country, utters a lie in his false throat,” was the ringing reply, amd the words created a sensation. ‘This is strong language, sir,” said the major, standing in a certain awe of the witness. ‘Tr is the truth.” ‘You are in a position to know, sir?” é< if am.” ‘¢-You are a naval officer, sir?” ‘¢T am a sailor and an Officer, sir, holding the rank of first lieutenant,” was the cool reply. “Then your testimony is worthy of credence sir. ‘“T certainly never have bad my word doubted,” ‘ And you assert that the boy is no traitor?” ‘¢T assert that this trial is a farce, ana that some base motives have prompted his accusers bringing the charges against him which they ave, ‘‘He was no more the pilot of the British sloop- of-war, that ran in and ip A hie the American schooner, than I was, and be has stated wholly the truth in regard to his chase and capture by the English vessel, and his return to run the boat out to sea again, ‘Not aseaman of that boat landed, though an officer did do so to aid Miss Evans asbore, and her brother did not go on board the British vessel, but returned in his skiff as soon as he had piloted it through the channel.” ‘‘May I ask, sir, how you know all this?” ‘‘ | was an eye-witness to the entire affair.” ‘+ Ah! as an American naval officer?” ‘No, sir, 1am an Englisbman, and the senior — lieutenant on the British sloop-of war which you accuse that noble boy of going on board of as a spy. Had the sloop-of-war sent a broadside from the sea, miles away, crashing into the Jittle town-hall, it would not have created a greater confusion than did the bold words of the Eng- lishman. ie lop the major could find words tospeak, he said: ‘You are, sir—” ‘‘Sir Lucien Lonsdale, sir, a senior officer in his British majesty’s service afloat,” was the calm reply. ** And what do you here, sir, in this free land of America?” shouted the major, and he looked as though he expected to see « party of British seamen dash into the room and whisk him off of his judicial seat. “Two days ago, sir. while cruising along your coast, in search of a prize, we cap da fisherman, and he gave us the information that you were ahout to try the prisoner there as a traitor, for having boarded our vessel. ‘‘ Knowing his innocence, as I was thecr™Meer - 7 : fs; “ - ‘ , ’ : € > ° - es * , ~~ 4 hes a - - P “~~ fT = —— ae - - Sa = Pe or os a ; . _* ‘ o ¢ a a rain Ne : 2 : mt ~~ ~— x = a ay Em : +0 7 3eL ~ ¥ _. 25 . 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