Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 429 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 said the squire, as the two horsemen turned oh the grand gateway leading to Hampton all, ‘“They have followed you here, Mistress Dare.” ‘‘For what reason, squire?’ was the calm query. ‘* That fellow Bolls will arrest you for assault and bring damages, without a doubt; but I wi take your case, Mistress Dare, and win it !” In a little while the deputy and Barney Bolls arrived, and the former dismounted, while the latter remained in the saddle. ‘Oh, widow! you have given that fellow something to remember you; look at his face!” said the squire, with a chuckle of delight, as he saw that Barney Bolls’s face and hands had been seamed by the keen lash of the widow’s whip. e Squire [ have a warrant here for the arrest of widow wa! Dare, for damage done Barney Bolls by assault, and [ must take her to prison,” said the deputy. ! Mary Dare did not flinch, while Jessie said, quickly: ‘Oh, what a shame! Bolls.” ‘* 1 do not love him, Miss Jessie, but I must do my duty, and I hope the widow won’t feel hard toward me,” said the deputy. ‘* Not in the least, sir,” was the reply, and then she added: ‘* Deputy Dunn, I submit to arrest, sir, with- out remonstrance, and am ready to accompany you to prison.” ‘‘ And I will go with you, Mistress Dare, for you shall not enter behind the prison walls, as I will give bail in any sum for your appearance to answer the charges of that miscreant,” and the squire gave Barney Bolls a look of withering scorn. I hate that Barney CHAPTER XIX, INSNARED., Ir will be remembered that Constable Nat Kane entered the boat with the five seamen, and who said they were from a schooner-of-war that was undergoing repairs in the lower bay. The constable was a fearless man, one who had confidence in himself and his ability to take care of himself in danger. He clung to the idea that Duncan Dare was on board of the schooner, and that he would find him there. He had his papers of arrest all made out, and meant to serve them on the youth at night. So he got into the boat, ap a no harm from men ke deemed to be United States sail- ' Ors, _ Having passed through the narrows, the wind was found to be fair and fresh for a run across the bay, and so the mast and sail were set and the yawl skimmed along at a five-mile-an-hour ace, ‘* Where is your vessel at anchor?” asked the constable, as he saw that they were heading straight across the bay. ‘‘Down under the Highlands of Navesink,” was the answer of the coxswain. Having no longer use for their oars, the five men lolled about at ease, the coxswain at the tiller, and no one seemed inclined to talk. Constable Kane now and then asked a ques- tion, but he received short replies in return. After running across the Horseshoe anchor- age the yawl was headed up into the mouth ot the Shrewsbury, and kept along under the shad- ows of the Highlands. ** Your vessel seems to be a long way off, cox- swain.” said the constable, : sé Yes. ” ‘+ T thought she was anchored in the Horse- ‘* Call it a mile or so.” ‘¢ In the north Shrewsbury?” sé Yes. ” ‘*Tt is an out-of-the-way place to seek an an- chorage.” ‘* The captain’s home is not far away.” ** Ah, I see,” and the constable kept quiet for some time. At length the boat headed in toward the star- board shore, the sail and mast were taken in, ani the oars were resumed, some of the men having to be awakened to resume their task of rowing. In under the deep shadows of the overhanging banks, whicb walt beavile wooded, and the boat glided into a small cove. e hght was visible aboard, and a voice rung out: rst lle Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee, ‘Boat, ahoy!” ‘* Ahoy, the Spitfire!” answered the coxswain. ‘* Ay, ay, all right,” the voice said from the vessel’s deck. ** That was the voice of the ycuth I seek,” said Constable Kane, eagerly. ! ‘* Indeed!” the coxswain remarked dryly. ‘** Yes, and I shall seize him and carry him back with me, for I have the papers for bis ar- rest. ‘* Ho, the Spitfire!” suddenly called out the coxswain, ‘* Ahoy, the boat!” came the response. ‘** We have a stranger with us in the boat,who wants to come aboard, for he says he is a con- oe from Long Island in search of a runaway oy. ** Ay, ay, bring him aboard,” came the re- sponse, and it was in the voice of the one whom Constable Kane said he had recognized. A moment after the boat ran alongside, and the coxswain stepped on board, bidding the con- stable follow him, As the latter did so, the coxswain turned quickly, at the same moment presenting a pis- tol to his breast, and said, sternly: ** You are my prisoner, sir!” ‘What does this mean?” gasped the amazed constable, ‘* It means, sir, that you have come on board a pirate vessel, and you are a prisoner.” ‘A pirate craft?” Gey Oi,” ‘** No, this cannot be, for surely there is some mistake,” gasped the amazed constable. ‘This craft, sir, is the pirate schooner Spit- fire, from the West Indies, where she has lately made it so hot for herself that she has come north on a cruise to refit and add to her crew. ‘* We would be glad to enlist you as an able seaman, if soit please you; but if not, we will have to keep you in irons,” ‘** But I am an officer of the law, and I came here to capture a fugitive whom I now feel as-. sured is upon this vessel.” ‘*'You are mistaken, sir; but when I saw that you knew of our being in the lower bay, I felt that it was dangerous knowledge, so I determin- ed to bring you on board and keep you until we are ready for sailing. **Our captain is away, as also our first luff, orgs when they come they may make short work of you. ‘* But I will speak to our second luff, and see what he says. ‘* Here, lads, clap this fellow in irons.” The men obeyed, the constable offering no re- sistance, as he saw the utter uselessness of his doing so. ore coxswain then walked aft and entered the cabin. There sat a lady engaged in reading, and standing near the companionway, evidently awaiting his coming, was none other than Dun- ean Dare. The boy had browned up since leaving home, and he had more of a “eee air, learned even in that short time, while his face had grown stern- er and colder in expression, strangely so for one of his years. He wore a blouse uniform and tarpaulin, the latter encircled by a gold cord, and upon his shoulders was the rank of a junior lieutenant, About his waist was a belt, in which were a pair of pistols, and a short sword was suspend- ed by a chain. ‘* Lieutenant Dare, we are back, sir, and I gave you notice that we had picked up a stran- ger, and what he came for,” said the coxswain. ‘* Yes; [am thankful to you. aa Describe the man, please.” and {he coxswain SO. . ‘It is Constable Nat Kane,” said Dare. ‘** Such he said his name was, sir, and though he does not know who we are, some two years ago he captured four of our men, who went ashore on the Sound side of the island, and had them hanged.” ‘‘T remember to have heard of it; they belong- ed to a schooner that had been pirating in the sound,” said Duncan, ‘* Yes, sir, and the captain swore to have the man’s life some day in revenge, for his friend, one whom he loved as a brother, was among the men the constable hanged. y ‘*T was of the party too, but escaped, and the captain swore he would some day be revenged upon the constable, and he will. ‘*He don’t recognize me, for 1 wore a beard then; but I knew him the moment I saw him, and you need have no fear, slr, of him, for Cap- tain Car] will hang him sure, as soon as he and Lieutenant Lennox return from the city.” ‘* Where is the prisoner now, coxswain?” ‘Tn irons, sir, and in the hold.” ‘**Send him here to me.” ‘* Do you wish to have him see you?” ‘He will not know me, for I shall mask my face.” - ‘* Ay, ay, sir,” and the coxswain retired. Soon‘he returned, accompanied by Constable Nat Kane. The officer looked slightly crestfallen, for he was heavily ironed, but he glanced hastily around the cabin as he entered. Duncan Dare sat at the table, a black mask shielding his face from view, and the coat and hat of Captain Carl on, The lady referred to sat on the other side of’ the table, and she was reading. It was the same beautiful woman that had come to the rescue of Duncan Dare the night of the storm, and the constable could not help a start of admiration at her beauty. He looked fixedly at the masked face before him, but did not recognize the youth in his at- tire of the captain of the pirate schooner, and the mask, which so wholly concealed his face. ‘*Coxswain, you can retire, and I will be re- sponsible for the prisoner,” said Duncan, assum- ing a deep tone which the mask aided in dis- guising. ‘** Ay, ay, sir,” and the coxswain disappeared. ‘*My man, do you remember killing several pirates two years ago, by hanging?” Brave as he was Nat Kane started at the question. ‘Yes, they landed in a small boat, to pillage a farm-house, and I had been watching the move- ments of their vessel, so captured them, and they were hanged.” ‘* True, and for that act, it is decided that you shall never be allowed to go free, but shall be hanged as they were.” ‘| did my duty then, and I am doing it now, so I must accept what comes, good or bad.” ‘* It will be bad in your case, sir.” ‘* So be it, I will die doing my duty,” was the bold remark, F * Well, sir, Iam determined that you shal) not ie ‘*'Who are you?” ** Only a second luff.” ** Why do you wish to spare me?” ‘*T hate to see a brave man hanged like a dog.” * It is good of you, but what will your captain say? ‘I do not care, for I am in charge here now, and shall do as I please and take the conse- quences.” ** You are plucky.” ‘** Thank you; but what caused you to come on board this vessel?” ** To arrest a boy whom I believe took refuge on this schooner when she was off the Long Island coast.” ‘* Is he here?” ‘*T have reason to believe so,” ‘* What is his name?” ** Duncan Dare.” ‘** Well, my man, you will have to look else- where for him, and to do so, I now relieve you of your irons, and you can depart by slipping over the stern of the schooner into the water. ‘* You swim, do you not?” ** Yes, sir.” ‘‘Then that is your only chance, for it is nota hundred feet to the shore, and you can readily reach it, but if you remain here, you will be hanged before dawn,” ‘*T thank you, sir, and I will take advantage of your kindness, for I see I have been caught in a tight box.” " ‘* Your life will be the forfeit if you remain ere, ‘* Now, off come your irons, and drop silently over the stern, as soon as you go on deck. ‘You are free, sir,’ and Duncan Dare un- locked the irons, and the constable hastily turned and walked up the companionway to the deck. All was quiet there, and no one was aft, He looked over, and saw that he could readily drop over the taffrail into thesea, and he turned and said: ; ‘* Duncan Dare, you have saved my life, andI appreciate it. ‘*Take my advice and never do you return to your home—good-by!” Sosaying, heslipped quietly over the stern into the sea, and when Duncan Dare came on deck, which he did quickly when peaing. that he was recognized, he saw nothing of the man whose life he had saved. After waiting until he felt the constable had had time to reach the shore, Duncan Dare shouted out: ‘* Ho, lads! aft here, all of you, for the pris- oner has escaped!” | . ——eeEeE—E—EeE—E——— ee ——— 2 ge ge . ae —- a ee a a rae a eee * ' —" * * Cc Ss len com ;