Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 483 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

re _ ————————— eae ee — —— Tt fell with a loud splash, and then rung out the words: ‘“‘Ho, men! man overboard! “The prisoner has escaped, for he went up the companionway and over the stern into the sea. All was at once excitement, and a boat was launched and pulled rapidly about the little harbor. But the darkness prevented those on the “vessel from seeing what had become of the fu- itive. ‘Tt will not do to remain here now, for we will be discovered, so I will go to the other ren- dezvous, the captain appointed, should we have to depart from here, and there he will join s. ‘*Order two men to run up in a boat to Staten Island, and wait the captain’s eoming to the White Tavern, so he can come direct to the rendezyous.” The schooner was in bad shape for moving, for she was, as I have said, undergoing repairs; but did she remain where she was Dare knew well enough that she would be taken, did the constable go to the city and report her presence, as he did not doubt that he would do, Why a constable had been sent after him, he could not tell, but he set it down to some of Silas Finn’s work, little knowing that the school- master was in his grave, having been killed, as the reader will remember by Car] Casanda, -who had kept theact from his crew through some reason or other. If the vessel was taken both he and Kate Kenyon would be found on board, and _ this Dare the Cabin Boy by no means wished to be the case. Also, by running off to save the schooner, he would gain the confidence of Captain Carl, and thus open the way for his future efforts to es- cape, and at the same time aid Kate Kenyon, Thus it was that he called the Sandy Hook pilot, who was one of the crew, to take the wheel, and the schooner moved slowly out of her secret retreat, Down the Shrewsbury river she went, through the waters of Navesink, around the Hook, and out to sea. Then she headed down the coast, keeping close inshore and coming to Manasquan Inlet, just before dawn, ran buldly into it. A league away was a heavily wooded island, and in a cove in its heavily wooded shores, she found the anchorage which Carl Casandra had directed her to. When the sun arose she was safely hidden away, the Jersey farmers not far distant little dreaming that a pirate vessel was so near their hearthstones, With farm-houses not more. than a mile dis- tant, the repairing of the schooner could not be kept up, for fear sharp ears would catch the sounds, so after setting a watch out on the isl- and, Carl Casandra sought the rest he so much needed and the vessel], whose decks had been so often sta grave. ined with blood, became as still as the CHAPTER XXTI. AT THE POINT OF THE SWORD. THE day passed away without an incident, but some hours after dark one of the jookouts on the island reported a small vessel standing up the Manasquan toward the island. Going ashore, for the schooner lay against the bank, the water being of good depth, the Cabin sal? turned his glass upon the approaching cratt. ‘She is too large to belong to any of the farms, and it must be Captain Carl coming, ora message from him. ‘¢ T will soon know, for I shall display the sig- nal. “Bring me a red and green lantern,” Dare’s order was promptly obeyed, and when he held the lanterns above his head, one in each hand, he saw an answering signal from the ead which displayed a blue and white light, “The signals are correct; but then traitors are numerous, and we must be ready for friend or foe,” and Dare called the,men on board and go a fox action, though he had Ba inten- ion of resistine. onlv being anxious to appear ~well with the en. ’. . rh In a short while.the coming sloop rounded the island and shot into the cove. “Sloop ahoy!” hailed the Cabin Boy. ** Ahoy the Spitfire!” “s “Ay, ay, sir!” called out the lad, recognizing the voice of Captain Car]. Taking in sail, the sloop glided quietly along- side of the schooner, and aptain Carl sprung upon the cutter’s deck, followed by Lennox, . in ———— LE, LSS — A Cabin Boy’s Luck. while a score of men were visible upon the other vessel, ‘* Well, my gallant Cabin Boy, you did well to get out of the Navesink waters, for our pres- ence was known there, and we must depart from here too, as soon as I have gotten the car- go on the sloop transferred to the Spitfire. ‘* Set the men to work, Lennox, and let them lose no time, for we must have both vessels two leagues at sea, and far apart when dawn comes, ‘*Ah, Kate, my beautiful, you have not yet retired?” and he turned to the maiden, ‘** No, I waited up to see if you brought any tidings for me?” ‘‘ Yes, I went to the post-office, for somehow I had an idea that your father would write you to every seaport, urging your return, and I wish- ed to be sure if he would welcome you as my wife,” ‘Well, did you get a letter?” ‘‘Yes, and read it, and it begs you to come back to him and he will forgive all, so you see he will forgive me too, if he does not know me as a pirate, and of course we will not tell him,” ‘*Wretch inhuman, give me my letter!” ‘* Here it is, and kindly read it by the binnacle light, as I wish to see this lad alone in the cabin, ‘* Come, sir!” and Captain Carl called to Dare, who quietly followed him, ** Be seated, my lad, and I will join you soon,” and the captain left the cabin; but in a few minutes he returned and sat down, his face wearing a look of deviltry. He was flushed with drinking, Dare at once observed, and he seemed in no very pleasant mood, But the youth satin calm silence awaiting the pirate’s will. ** Well, my boy, you have proven yourself a good commander, and I suppose are willing to cast your lot with us, when I promise you that you shall be my junior luff?” ‘*T came out, sir, to be a sailor, and though I did not expect to turn pirate, the force of cir- cumstances seems to have led me that way,” was the cautious answer. ? Wells gar high notions of honor will soon be blunted as mine were, and then you'll be as wicked as. I can be when I please. ‘* But let me say now that, finding our pres- ence in New York waters was known, I left the city with but half the needed articles for put- ting the schooner in shape, and I shall have to sail for the Chesapeake, hide in some inlet, and run to Baltimore for what is needed, so we will depart to-night; but did all go well while I was away?” "Yes, sir.” ‘*' The crew did not show ill will at my leaving you in charge 9” ‘No, gir,’ ‘* Nothing of moment happened?” ‘* Yes, sir, the coxswain eartit a man back in the boat with him, from Staten Island, and he proved to be a constable, on my track, ‘*I did not wish to be reccgnized by him, as being on a pirate vessel, so put on a mask and cloak the lady gave me, and had him taken to the cabin. ‘* Finding out that the schooner was a pirate, he went up the companionway and over the stern, and all effort to capture him was fruit- less. ‘You have told a straight story, my lad, for I heard this from the men who came to tell me you had departed for this rendezvous, ‘*'Now tell me what you think of the fair Kate?” ‘*The lady, sir?” ‘¢ Yes,” ‘*She is very lovely, sir.” ‘‘T know that; but does she seem to fret much?” ‘‘She came with you willingly, sir, did she not?” innocently asked Dare, ‘‘Oh, yes; but I was afraid she fretted at be- ing on board cg ‘She told me tat you had won her love, and you were to be married.” ‘¢ Oh, the sly minx! she is fooling me after all and really wishes to remain with me, only is anxious to make me give up my piratical life,” said Captain Carl, a pleasant look upon his face. ‘Now, my lad, there is another thing.” “Yes, sir.” ‘¢'You remember that I went to the Long Island coast, where you joined us, for a pur- “So you said, sir.” “That purpose was to find a buried treasure, and if I failed in that, to take a look into some of the rich old farm-houses, there, where I have ed there. is a great deal of silver plate. “*T was thwa by the storm last time, and J eS rr ess i 13 your persisting in not running me into the inlet, and now, as soon as I have gone te the Chesa- peake and fitted out, I will return there. ‘It is my intention to go into the inlet by night, and make a thorough search for this treasure, for I have information that I believe will lead to its discovery and you must be my pilot.” ‘‘ No sir, I cannot do that.” ‘* But you must.” ‘IT cannot lead you against my own home and people.” ‘*] say you shall.” ‘* No, Captain Carl,” ‘* Boy, I shall make you my junior officer, and if I get the treasure, you shall have a share equal to my own.” ‘No, Captain Carl, I will not do it.” ‘* Boy, if yourefuse me, I will kill you,” ‘* T will die before I betray my own people, sir,” ‘‘ By Heaven you shall die then. ‘¢ Here, stand there against that mast.” The youth stepped to the mast, and stood with his back against it, . Going behind him, Captain Car] seized his: hands and quickly pinioned him to the mast. ‘‘ Now boy, your minute of doom has come, unless you do as I demand!” announced the cap- tain of the Spitfire. ‘*T am ready to meet death, rather than to do . as you demand, sir,” was the bold response. he pirate slowly drew his pistol, meanwhile looking the boy firmly in the face, and calm] — imself at the table with his watch in his: hand, ‘* Now, my gallant Cabin Boy, disobedience on this vessel means death, and you have but one minute to live,” and Captain Carl the Corsair gazed with sneering face straight into the fear- less eyes that met his own without quivering. “Will you obey?” asked the pirate, glancing: at his watch, ‘* Never, sir, will I do what you ask,” was the: reply, in a firm voice. ‘Curses on you, boy, over me, for useful to me, ‘‘There, you are free, and I will get another: | to serve as pilot into the inlet I seek. ( “Now go on deck and help get the schooner ' out of this as quickly as possible.” ‘“‘T thank you, Captain Carl,” said the boy, his face flushing with joy as he got out of his: perilous situation and the pirate released him, ‘‘ No thanks; go on deck,” was the gruff re- ou have won a victory will not kill you, as you will be: ly. 7 Out of the cabin the boy went, and as he reached the deck he beheld Kate Kenyon stand- ing there in the light of the companionway. She was as white as a corpse, and in her right. hand she grasped a pistol. ‘‘T have seen and heard all, my noble boy, and I would have shot him dead ere he could have: sent a bullet into your heart,” and Kate Ken- yon fairly hissed the words, in her hatred for the pirate chief. ‘* Bless you, beautiful lady,” said Dare, and he added quickly: ‘* Put up your pistol and pretend to be friend-. ly with Captain Carl, for I have a motive im asking it.” : Then Dare bounded forward to aid the crew, and half an hour after the schooner and the sloop sailed out of the Manasquan, the latter heading for New York, the Spitfire turning her row toward the secret inlet in Chesapeake ay. CHAPTER XXII. THE CABIN BOY’S PLOT. Tuk inlet that the Spitfire ran into was one that was certainly most secluded, and the ap- proach to it was such that no one would sus— pect: that. other than a yawl could get into the deep harbor where the pirate craft dropped an- chor. The shores of the little haven were wild and heavily wooded, the trees towering above the: masts of the schooner, and the place was most: dismal by day even, for no habitation was with- in leagues, It was just the place for a retreat for the pirates’ craft, for no ears were near to hear the sound of carpenter work, and thither no. one but an outlaw would care to go, In running up the bay the schooner had over--: hauled and captured a small fishing-smack, and, utting her crew of five men in irons, Captain Parl had taken the little craft in tow. Once in the secret retreat he set the men tor work, and again ordering Lennox to accompany him, he started to the city for what things were needed for the schooner’s re He had faith in his liew FF > tas an officer, : cboo