Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 483 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

Se sD - ee EE ——- = — mw ee gm cee 14 ‘but he felt that he had become deeply interested in Kate Kenyon, and hefeared to leave Lennox to her entreaties, for he dreaded that he would allow her to escape. Kate, however, had pretended soine friendli- ness, and the seed sown by the Cabin Boy, that she really loved him, but was playing a part, Captain Car! began to believe. **She will not escape,” he said; ‘‘but I will see to it that she does not,” he added. His seeing to it meant going around among the crew and bribing one man to be a spy over Kate, another on the Cabin Boy, and then plac- Bs." other spies upon the acts of his hirelings. hus he departed in the smack, with Lennox and two men, and he felt safe in his mind re- garding both the Cabin Boy and Kate. Dare was again left in charge, and all prom- ised well in the mind of Captain Carl for find- ing the craft in good trim, and all safe upon his return. The very night following his departure, Dun- can Dare determined to act, for he knew that delays were dangerous. Taking the gig, and a fowling-piece, accom- gape by a couple of seamen, he rowed ashore shoot some game, It was late in the afternoon when he return- ed, and he had plenty of game with him, which “8 gave mostly to the crew, to their great de- ight. e had not ordered the gig swung up to the davits again for the night, and the men cared for no extra work, so it remained at the star board gangway aft. As night came on the air became damp and chilly, the forest insects and toads began their songs, and the place was dismal, indeed. The basin was several acres in size, and the schooner was anchored near the center of it; but the tall trees around the banks made it very dark and forbidding. Fastening severel hooks to lines, and knotting them together, Duncan Dare walked quietly along the starboard side, aud dropped them over into the little gig. Then he walked aft, and shivering, as though with a chill, he ordered the boatswain to issue grog all around, for he said: ‘*T fear this place will make us all sick, and below decks is the best place for us.” Back along the port side he walked, as though for exercise, and stopping at the stern, he caught hold of a string that was fast to the taff- rail. ‘* Tt is fast, the hooks have caught,” he mutter- ed, and dropping the line he again went slowly along the starboard side. Hesitating an instant at the gangway, he quickly unfastened the gig’s painter, and let it Hoe into the water. Again he walked aft, and pulling on the string, soon drew the gig directly under the shelving stern of the schooner. Then he went down the companionway and said, in a low tone: “The gig is directly under the starboard stern port, so you can readily get into it. “Tt. is fast only by a string, so be careful. “Take scoops to put in the row-locks, and then go to the spot I directed you to-night.” ‘¢ And you?” asked Kate Kenyon anxiously. “*T will follow you.” ‘‘Ttisa fearful place to Swim in, this black pool,” she said with a shudder, ‘¢] will make it all right, and if you will take the cloak I'll soon get warm.” ‘‘T will take all that we need, and leave at once. ‘‘ Warn me, if any one comes aft.” ‘*T will,” and Dare began to pace up and down the deck again, from stem to stern, walk- ing rapidly, stamping his feet, and slapping his arms about his body, tomake as much noise as ssible to cover up any sound that might come om Kate’s getting into the boat. After awhile he walked aft and quickly glanced over the stern. The gig was not there. Then closed the companionway doors, to 2 oat the light, and once more walked for- ward. The greater number of the crew were below, but the watch was on deck, huddled up in the forecastle, one on the lookout, and the remain- der sathered about a lantern gambling with cards. ‘* A bad place this anchorage, lads, and I don’t care how soon the captain comes back and gets us out of it,” said the young officer, and the men agreed with him, while one said: “ Fighting is better than this kind of resting, Duncan Dare laughed and again walked aft. , A Cabin Boy’s Luck. Then he bent over, seized a rope and lowered himself quickly and silently into the water. Ina noiseless way he swam shoreward, and oace the length of the schooner away, he struck out with a bold, strong stroke. The water was very cold, and he was retarded by his clothes, but he was a bold, swimmer, and soon came to the land. As he touched the shore a voice said: ‘** Thank God!” It was Kate Kenyon, and she sat in the gig, her hand upon the oars. ‘‘T have muffled them well, and you must put this cloak about you,” she said, as he stepped in- to the boat, ‘*No, for rowing will warm me up, lady,” and Duncan Dare seized the oars and the boat was sent along the shore at a rapid pace. Once out of the inlet, and the Cabin Boy waded along the bay shore, and, after rowing a couple of leagues landed where there was a light visible showing a habitation. It was the home of an humble fisherman, and his smack lay at anchor near, so that a bargain was soon made with him to run the fugitives to Castle Kenyon, some leagues down the coast. It was after sunrise when the smack put in- to the little haven of Castle Kenyon, and Kate beheld her father standing upon the pier, for he had seen her coming. A look of joy was upon his white, haggard face, and he folded her in his arms in glad welcome. In a few words Kate told him all, after she had presented him to the daring Cabin Boy, and then Duncan Dare said: 3 ‘* And now, sir, I must beg a horse from you to ride to Baltimore, that ‘1 may warn some war-vessel there and pilot it down to capture the Spitfire.” ‘*T will drive there with you, my brave boy,” said the planter. ‘*No, sir, it is best that you remain, for Miss Kate needs your care now, and I can go faster on horseback.” And an hour after Duncan Dare was on his way to Baltimore mounted on a fleet horse, and anxious to get there in time to have a war-ves- sel capture the schooner before she could escape. CHAPTER XXITI. THE CABIN BOY’S LUCK. In good time Duncan Dare reached Baltimore, and found there a brig-of-war, and to her cap- tain told his story. The brig was unfortunately undergoing repairs and she could not be gotten ready until the next day, and then she set sail for the secret re- treat, Duncan Dare going on board. Just as they came in sight of the secret inlet, as the dawn was breaking, the schooner was suddenly seen to shoot out into the open bay under a cloud of canvas. Instantly the men were called to quarters, a hot fire was opened upon the schooner, and an exciting chase was begun. But the distance was too great for the guns to do much damage, and the shots fell short, while the Spitefire steadily gained upon her pursuer ae swept out into the ocean leagues ahead of er. Returning to port, where he saw his chase ———$— sss —— was useless, to continue his repairs to the brig, | the captain took Duncan Dare with him to Washington to make his report, and also to let the lad tell what he had discovered from papers he saw in the Spitfire’s cabin, that it was the intention of the pirate to make a search for treasure upon the Long Island coast, and, if unsuccessful, to raid the homes of the rich farmers for booty. The naval secretary was very much pleased with the handsome, daring youth, and obtained for him, at once a midshipman’s warrant, at the same time ordering him to New York in all haste, with letters to the commander of every cruiser he might find there, to give him aid in the capture of the pirate and his crew, Thus armed with authority, Duncan Dare went on his way, and knowing at what time Captain Carl had contemplated his raid, he ar- ranged accordingly to meet him with a land force, and at the same time run into the inlet on a small coaster, but with a good force of Government tars, and capture the Spitfire at her anchorage, To make it a success he wrote a long letter to Constable Nat Kane, telling him to secretly or- ganize a band of brave men, and be ready to act. When Captain Carl went back to his vessel and found that Kate and the Cabin Boy had . ORs y 2 “ 7 SQ aoe. Spi a ' = * a * < . Ww. “ar on prs A '< fer 1-4 \ Ran OD _ —— outwitted him and escaped, he was wild with rage, and the heads of his spies would have fal- len, had not a messenger come from the city, warning him that he had been betrayed and a brig-of-war was then in search of him. Quickly he put to sea, and just in time, as the reader has seen. On his trip to Baltimore he discovered, to his horror, that Marks had mysteriously disa r- ed, and along with him the profits of ail th Spitfire’s piracy, and he was left penniless, ‘‘ Heads shall fall for this, and my revenge shall be terrible on Marks, that woman, and that accursed Cabin Boy,” he almost shouted in his wild rage. As he was left poor, he determined to first seek the Long Island buried treasure, and be- lieving that Duncan Dare had returned to his home, he meant to capture him too. So he arranged for his midnight marauding expedition, secured a coast pilot, ran into the inlet, landed his force, and an hour after had been surprised, defeated, his vessel taken, and all by the Cabin Boy upon whom he sought revenge. Hastily the slain pirates were buried that night, where they fell, and it was not known whether Captain Carl was among them or not, but many asserted that they had seen him fall, and he was considered to have thus cheated the gallows. CHAPTER XXIV. CONCLUSION, WHEN Duncan Dare returned to his home, he was not long in discovering why Nat Kane the constable had been on his track, for Captain Carl having killed old Silas Finn that night that he: disappeared, he was considered the school- master’s murderer. Recognising the boy by a ring he wore, Con- stable Kane, knowing that he owed hint his life kept his secret, though bemoaning his fall from honor, and he was wild with joy when Duncan Dare’s letter told him why he was a pirate, and he gladly entered into the boy’s plans to capture the pirates. The meeting between widow Dare and her brave boy, the welcome he received from his girl lady-love, Jessie Hampton, I must pass over; but certain it is, that all who knew Dun- can Dare in after years were proud to claim his friendship, and along the Long Island coast many stories are told to-day of the landing of Captain Carl the Corsair, and the luck that it brought the gallant Cabin Boy. THE END. DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 32 inclusive, 15 to 2% popu- lar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each yol- ume 100 pages 12mo, Speakers, Nos, 1 to 24 inclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo0, containing from 50 to 75 pieces. 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