Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 483 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

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Stepping to the companionway Kate said softly: ‘* Dare!” 4 The boy started, bowed and stepped toward er. ‘*T would not give you your pirate title of lieutenant, sir, so called you simply Dare.” “It is my name, lady; Duncan Dave,” he ‘said in his pleasant way, adding: ‘* But I did not tell it all to the chief.” ' “ And do yeu like the sea?’ ‘ Indeed I do, for I was born by itsside, down on the shores of Long Island.” ‘* Did you suspect what this vessel was, when “you boldly swam out to her to save ber from wreck?” ‘*Ob no, lady; but even had I known her to be a pirate and could have saved her, I would have done so.” , ‘*You are a wonderful seaman for one of your years, for [am a good sailor myself, and can judge.” “*You lady?” ‘Yes, for I too was born by the water, on the shores of the Chesapeake, where I had a lovely home.” ‘* And you came on board this vessel willing- ly, lady, for you seem not to be treated as a cap- tive? ‘‘I came willingly yes, for I knew not that he ‘whom I then loved was a pirate. ‘*You seem kind, and I would tell you my story, would you hear it?” . 4 Gladly, lady, for I have felt so sad tosee you ere,’ ‘* Then you do not intend to remain?” The boy shook his head, but said nothing, ‘‘Tam so glad, for I feared the offer of rank “even on a pirate craft, might spoil you, and make you belie the look of nobleness and truth ‘on your face.” ‘‘ No, lady, I came away from home to seek my fortune, and I do not expect it if I remain on this vessel or any other that floats a lawless ag. ‘* Circumstances made me act as an officer here, and I only do so for a purpose, I frankly confess to you; but not a hand would I raise, or an order give, did Captain Carl attack a vessel while I was on board.” ‘*T am so glad to hear you say so, and now I will tell you all about myself, and perhaps in return you will give me the story of your life.” ‘What there is to tell, lady, I will gladly “make known,” was the answer of the Jad. “* Will you come down into the cabin?” ** No, lady, I dare not, for I must keep my eyes von the crew, for should they see me enter the cabin, they would at once come here to listen to ~what we said. , ‘They are all tricky, and I would not trust -one of them.” ‘*Then I will sit here,’ and Kate Kenyon ‘threw herself down upon the steps, and turned so she could gaze into the handsome face of the boy as she talked to him. CHAPTER XIX. THE CABIN BOY’S STORY. ‘*You said that you had left home in dis- race, as it were, and yet I cannot believe that act of yours intentionally could have been wick- ed.” said Kate, in a contiding way, as though to fully win the boy’s confidence. ‘*T will tell you all, oe ** As I said, my name is Duncan Dare, and my ‘mother comes from a good old Long Island fam- ily, half-farmers, half-sailors. ‘* My tather was wrecked on the coast, and a ‘stranger, and my mother saved the lives of those on the wreck, and the result was my father and ‘she learned to love each other.” ‘‘What a strange coincidence,” murmured Kate, recalling the similar circumstances of ker “own life. ** My mother was very beautiful, and is yet.” **T can well believe it,” thought Kate. ** And she lived most happily with my father, who went to sea as a captain of a vessel, some years after their marriage. “He never returned, and it was said that his ‘ship foundered with all on board, but somehow I never believed him dead, though I suppose it “was because I did not wish to do so. ‘* Well, another wrecked seaman came to our ‘village, and he was soon made teacher of the little county school. ‘“The school-house was once a church and parsonage combined, the minister having lived in the rooms above the school hall. ‘There isa burying-ground about the school- thouse, and it is not a cheerful eens but we had st batter, and here we chil all attended “school, *“The Dominie, Silas Finn, was a severe man, and I never liked him, though he treated me ert ** He lived alone in the room over the school- room, and kept much to himself. ** AtJast I found out that he loved my mother and thatshe, in some way strangely influenced by him, had promised to marry him. ‘*He spoke to me about it, and I swore that my mother should not become his wife, and the result was he began to bitterly persecute me, as though to show his power over my mother. ‘* She would not refuse to marry him, although I told her that I believed father yet lived, and she was firm in her intentions to marry him, though the thought of doing so certainly made her appear most unhappy. “One day Silas Finn determined to whip me, and though I did not raise a hand, he flog- ged me cruelly aslong as he was able to raise his arm, ‘* It was done before all the school, before one, pretty little Jessie Hampton, my girl sweet- leart lady, so that I did not flinch. ‘*T would have died first, and I have the scars now on niy shoulders and back of his cruel blows. ‘**T did not go right home from school, but re- mained in the woods uxtil late, and I found that he had been to my mother and told his story. ‘**T told her mine, and though she believed me she yet said she must marry that man. ‘*She dressed my cuts for me, and then left me to go to sleep. ‘** But [ got up, and taking the little money I had with me, left home. ‘*T had seen this schooner lying off on the shoals in the afternoon, and so I determined to swim out to her, and seek my fortune by begin- ning as a cabin boy. ‘* When I found out what the schooner was, I of course refused to run her into the inlet, that Captain Carl might rob my friends, perhaps my mother’s home, and then, as you know, he threatened to’ kill me. ‘* But I would have died before I yielded.” ‘**T knew that, my noble boy, and so I came to your rescue, by showing Carl Casandra that he was destroying his vessel and the lives of all by killing you, for he is merciless, and I believe would have taken your life in his fury. ‘* As it is, he has made you his cabin boy, and et you are serving as an Officer also. ‘* He is a strange man, that Carl Casandra, as you will know if you see more of him. ‘** Now, let me thank you for telling me of ourself, and I hope all will go well for you at ome, and that your mother will not marry the schoolmaster, when she finds how deeply you feel about it, while I predict for you that you return home in honor.” ‘*That is my intention, lady, for if I could only go back as a midshipman, gained through my own acts, I would be happy indeed.” ‘* Well, I have some kindred who hold high places in the navy, some relatives of my mother and [ will see what they will do for you, when I return home.” ‘* I prefer to win my promotion, lady, by gal- lantry; but I thank you most sincerely; but will you not tell me how it is that I find you on this pirate vessel, for you seem so out of place here?” ‘* Yes, I will tell you my story, now that I have heard yours,” and Kate Kenyon told of her home on the shores of the Chesapeake bay, of her twin brother, then at a university in England, of their childhood together, the death of their mother, the traveling abroad and re- turn home to what seemed such a desolate life. Then her voice became cold and stern as she told of the storm, and how she had gone out in the life-boat with her negro crew, to save the schooner. All that followed, her admiration, trust and love for Carl Casandra, she made known to the boy, up to the fatal moment of her leaving home, and the agony she felt when she discover- ed what the vessel was, ‘* Now,” she continued, '“‘ Carl Casandra pledg- ed me his word that he would return me by night to my home, if I would promise I would not attempt to escape while the schooner is lying in hiding here.” ** And you promised, lady?” ‘* Yes, I gave him my pledge.” ‘* Do you trust him?” 6s No. ” ‘** Nor do I.” ‘* Well, I will never marry him. ** See! I carey this weapon, which I found in the cabin, and before I would marry him I would drive it to his heart;” and the look in Kate Kenyon’s eyes as she uttered the words er Eee proved that she meant all that she said, and she returned the jeweled dagger to her bosom once more. ‘* Now let us be friends, and,"as we know each other, we can work together to foil this man Carl Casandra,” and Kate held up her hand and the Cabin Boy firmly grasped it. Thus was a firm compact entered into between the two, so strangely met in the cabin of the pirate vessel, and from that moment the boy and the maiden plotted mischief against Carl Casandra the Corsair. CHAPTER XX. ON THE CABIN BOY’S TRACK. THE next day, according to Captain Carl’s orders, the Cabin Boy, acting as an officer, sent a boat with a coxswain and four oarsmen up to Staten Island for certain stores and articles needed for the schooner. The remainder of the crew were set to work repairing and overhauling the vessel, and the day passed in a busy way. Ox the return of the boat the coxswain re- ported secretly to the lad that a very inquisitive man, who had discovered the existence of the Spitfire in those waters, had been making in- quiries regarding whether they had not been cruising on the Long Island shore of the At- lantic, and if there was not on the vessel a youth answering his, Dare’s, description. ‘* He seemed to know so much,” continued the coxswain, ‘‘that I invited him into the boat to go down and see for himself, thinking it best to hold him for the captain, who will either make him ship as one of the crew, or put an end to him.” Dare, the Cabin Boy, was considerably moved by what he heard, for he did not doubt but that it was some one in search of him. Did he make himself known then, as being ou a pirate vessel, it would kill his mother he felt, if it got to her ears. He therefore was determined not to be recog- nized by the visitor, and yet he wished to see him, for he knew if he remained on board Cap- tain Carl would do with him as the coxswain had said. He made known to Kate Kenyon the situation of affairs, and she promptly said: ‘Tf the man means you no harm, is only seek- ing to find you, the sooner you get him away from the schooner the better, for Carl would rather kill him than have him go.” ‘** But I co not wish to be recognized, lady.” ‘‘True. Oh! here isa mask I found among ths traps on board, so put it on, and throw this cloak about you. ‘* There, thet is splendid. “Now I will tell the coxswain to send the man here.” In a short while the stranger entered. He was a frank-faced, fearless-looking man, looking like one who was half-landsman, half- sailor, and he seemed surprised when ushered into the cabin. He glanced from the lady to the youth, and then turned to the coxswain but he had gone and his eyes came back to the masked face and cloaked form. ‘Well, my man, what do you wish on board this craft?’ said Dare in a voice of assumed sternness. ‘‘T came in search of a runaway lad, sir, and I am an officer of the law.” ‘You have come into the wrong place, my man, and if you value your Itfe you will at once depart, for this vessel isthe buccaneer Spitfire, and you had better just slip quietly over the stern and get ashore as best you can, for if you await the return of her captain you will be swung up to the yard-arm.” The man paled a little, but showed no fear, and seemed about to argue the matter; but the masked Cabin Boy said: ‘* Now be off, while there is time to saye your life, ‘* Gently slip over the taffrail and swim for the shore, and none of the crew will see you in the darkness, ‘* Do you understand?” ‘*T do, and I thank you, whoever you are,” and the man turned quickly, bowed to Kate, and disappeared noiselessly over the schooner’s stern. When he had departed the Cabin Boy said quietly, as he removed the mask and cloak, “That man is Constable Nat Kane from my village, and he was indeed on my track, ‘* Now to deceive the crew.” Seizing a musket Dare went to the companion- way, glanced cautiously up and down the deck, and seeing that no one of the crew was near hurled it into the sea. comicboo Eee ee ee : ae —_— ~ af ; : : :