Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 483 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

A Cabin Boy’s Luck. 3 “were overcast, so deep in the shadow was his | man, who hac been attentively regarding the ‘boat. Swittly the storm arose, and yet he sat there in his grief. Then the fury of the tempest was upon the “scene, and it recalled him to himself, Instantly he looked about him, and sprung for shelter to a large oak near, whose spreading branches nearly covered the little burying: ground, Even that gigantic oak swayed in the violence of the gale, and fearing that harm might befall some one at the mansion, Cyle Kenyon determin- -ed to face the storm and go thither. The wind stirred the violets fiercely with its breath, but beneath all was still, and the shock -of no storm reached the one beneath the amound. With another glance at the grave the planter ‘started for the mansion, when suddenly the deep boom of a heavy gun came to his ears. ‘* A ship in distress, and firing for a pilot, or aid; but not even my splendid crew of brave blacks would dare this tempest, though I should lead them. ‘*T must hasten.” Sc saying, he walked on as rapidly as he could in the face of the gale, and upon reaching the mansion found all secure, except a window ‘shutter here and there, a panel of fence blown down, or a tree perooted, The old castle had quivered under the shock, but stood firm. But a wailing sound came to his ears, and out -of the mansion darted several negroes, wringing their hands and crying. ‘*In Heaven’s name, what has happened?” the planter shouted. ‘*Oh, master! master! Missy Kate hab gone out in de life-boat!” cried an old negress, who had been the nurse of Mrs, Kenyon and her chil- dren. ‘* Gone in the life-boat!” and the planter stag- ered as though he had been struck a violent low in the face. ‘* Yas, master, she made the life-boat crew go with her, sah, out to de skunner in de offin’.” ‘Then they have gone to their death!” groan- ed the man, and he seemed momentarily stag- gered beyond action. But suddenly he bounded away, and he was followed by a score of negroes, He knew it was useless to go to the shore, for there was no boat there that would live, where he expected the life-boat to go down. So he went to the cliff, to rivet his eyes upon his child, to see her bravely face fate and con- -quer it, or to die, to go down to death in the black waters. Reaching the cliff he stopped, his eyes blinded with tears, and at first he could not see, About him gathered the negroes, men, wo- ‘men and children, as they came up, panting with their run, blinded by the fierce wind. For a moment no one spoke a word, but eyes were rubbed fiercely, ind the gaze of all was turned out upon the waters, which no one there had ever before seen so wild, and whitened with foam. ‘The skunner!” suddenly cried a negro boy, and he pointed out upon the waters, as a flash of fire was seen, and a gun pealed forth. ‘* Yes, and she has had her topmasts blown -out, her bowsprit is gone, and her bulwarks are stove in; but, my God! where is the life-boat?” groaned the planter. ** Dar she be!” yelled a negro urchin, whose bright eyes had sighted the life-boat, and a cry broke from every lip that ended-in a perfect yell of joy, as the long black boat was descried just going out of the harbor channel and facing the fury of the gale, by dashing defiantly into its teeth, Like a hound bounding over a fence, it would crouch low, and then leap over a mighty wave, but the six black oarsmen met her at every bound with their oars, and the brave gir] at the tiller held her on her way. ‘‘Ha! my child is not there! thank God! and Heaven bless those brave fellows for the fight with death they are making,” cried the planter. “Yes, master, she thar! that’s Missy Kate in the storm-coat and tarpaulin, sah, for [ seen her put ’em on,” said a negress. The planter groaned and again turned his eyes upon the life-boat. ; ‘* Alas! it is my child, and she it is who has made the crew face this tempest. ‘‘My God! how that life-boat bounds! ‘“‘ Ah! there goes another gun for succor; they ‘do not see the desperate chances a girl and six brave slaves are taking to save them from <leath,” | ‘They sees her now, master,” said a negro schooner. . a they do! for hear that wild cheer,, will not let yonder life-boat go down!” ‘One of the anchor cables has parted, mas- ter, for there’s none on the starboard bow, and there was a while since, and she seems to be sink- ing lower aud lower,” said the negro. ** Yes, she is doubtless leaking badly; but how many men are there on her, Bent?” ‘*? dunno, sah; I thinks about forty.” ** The life-boat will not hold half of them, and if she sinks before she can return for a second load, or her cable parts those on board are doomed,” : ‘*'Yas, sah, but they is riggin’ a new bow- sprit, sah, and gettin’ ready to set what sail she’ll stand.” ‘* You are right, Bent, and that officer knows his business, for he feels, if the schooner can stand sail enough to steer her, she can run into the cove under a pilot. ‘* But little he knows that the one in that boat who can pilot him in is a young girl, a mere child.” ‘*Child in years, master, but not in sense, sah, for Missy Kate got more wisdom about boats than most dese Chesapeake sailors lias,” said the old nurse, proudly. ‘*True, Cilla, but then Miss Kate has not touched a helm for over a year.” ‘“Makes no dif’runce, master, Missy Kate knows jist what she are about, and ef de Lord hab selected her ter save yonder skunner, she’s xrwine ter do it sure, sah.” ‘‘God bless you, Cilla, for your cheering words,” fervently said the planter, and he riveted his gaze once more upon the lite-boat. It was evident that the life-boat had all they could do, in those mad waters, to keep the boat's head to the tempest, and at times it seemed to be driven backward, instead of making pro- ess, But the little hands grasping the tiller never swerved in the slightest mistake, and the white, brave face looking out from under the tarpaulin wore a look of resolution and pluck that cheered the black faces looking into her Cwn for encour- agement, Had Kate Kenyon shown a loss of nerve, or made a mistake, the doom of the life-boat would follow quickly. Not a word was spoken, and only duty seemed to be the controlling feeling, inthe hearts of the seven who were bravely facing death to go to the rescue of fellow-beings. CHAPTER IV. BY A WOMAN’S HAND, ** JASPAR, one of their anchor-cables has part- ed, and if the other parts, she is doomed; so pull for your lives!” It was the first word that Kate had uttered since leaving the boat-house, and she now saw that the schooner’s danger was doubly in- creased, The crew, with their backs to. the- schooner, could not see or know how far she was off; but they nerved themselves to harder work, and re- lied upon their girl captain, not upon them- selves, ‘* That officer who commands is a true sailor, Jaspar, for he is rigging another bowsprit in spite of the gale, and reefing the mainsail down to a mere ribbon, to try and get sail on her should the other cable part; but she’s sinking lower and lower, it seems to me.” ‘“ Leaking badly, missy, I reckons,” answered Jaspar, ‘* Doubtless— to that cheer!” The wild cheering of the schooner’s crew seemed to nerve the life-boat oarsmen to harder work, and joy shone in their black faces as the felt how their courage was appreciated by those whom they went to rescue. Over waves, down into the trough of the sea, and cutting through foaming crests, the life- boat sped, straight for the schooner, Nearer and nearer she drew, and louder and louder grew the cries of the waiting crew. The sea was lashed into fury, the wind still rushed with relentless force over the waters, and the aepert of the heavens was appalling ; but on sped the life-boat, and praying for her coming were the schooner’s crew, The appealing cry for help from the guns’ brazen throats had ceased, the bowsprit had been rigged, and all on board was ready for the coming of the life-boat; but the schooner was leaking badly, the pumps would not work, and it was a struggle between life and death for mastery, with the odds in the favor of death, Ah! they see us at last. Hark Nearer and nearer drew the life-boat, the girl's hand holding her unerringly upon her course, | though the waves dashed over her, and at times rave fellows! succor is at hand, for God | tossed her about as though she would be thrown keel upward. But the boat was well built and perfectly sea- worthy, and unless swamped or thrown over, Kate Kenyon had no fear of the result. She knew that her skill alone could prevent such a mishap, and that all depended upon her nerve. She had not been lately accustomed ‘to such scenes, such as she then found herself in, but yet she did not falter in the least degree, and her perilous course was watched with the greatest anxiety by her father and the negroes upon the cliff, and with terrible hope and suspense by those.on the schooner. Nearer and nearer she drew to the vessel which now seemed to labor heavily, and soon a wild cheer broke from the crew, as the life-boat ran up under the stern of the schooner, and ropes were thrown and caught. Bravos filled the air for a moment, and then the schooner’s commander cried. ‘* Nobly done, lads! nobly done! but is there a oi among you, for I believe the schooner can run in to quiet water, beached and saved, for she is leaking badly.” ‘IT will pilot her in, sir, and you can send the men not needed on board back in the life-boat,”’ and aided by Jaspar, while she gave her hand to the young captain to aid her, Kate Kenyon sprung upon the schooner’s deck. ‘*A woman!” broke in surprised tones from the lips of the officer, and it was chorused by the men. ‘* Yes, sir, if your vessel is saved, it will be by a woman’s hand; but act quickly, for you have no time to lose, from the way the schooner ap- pears to be settling,” and Kate sprung to the wheel. A half-score of men then hastily got mto the life-boat, Jaspar taking the tiller, while some of the schooner’s crew aided at the oars. ‘* Cut loose!” came: the order, and as the I‘fe- boat was borne away before the gale, there came a loud snap forward, and the schooner crouched low under the shock. ‘*The other cable has parted! now set what sail you can!” cried Kate, and the men sprung to obey. A moment the schooner rolled fearfully in the trough of the sea, but the little sail that was soon set steadied her, her bows swung round, and away she flew before the gale with terrible speed. By the life-boat she drove, Kate Kenyon at the wheel, and the young captain aiding her. To turn into the channel leading into the cove harbor, Kate saw that she must jihe the main- sail to starboard, for she dared not lose time in going about in that wild sea, and with ,the schooner sinking as she was, It was risky indeed, for if the shock of jibing carried away the mast, or broke the boom, the schooner must go upon the shoals and be knock- to pg he explained the situation hastily to the cap- tain, and then they nerved themselves to execute it, At last the perilous moment came, the boom swung over to starboard with a force that was terrific, but, other than the shock the mast, boom and canyas held firm, and a cheer from the crew greeted the successful deed, On through the dangerous channel sped the schooner, the sea tumbling about her in wildest confusion, and then into the cove she d ‘ running in close under the lee of the heavily wooded point of land, ‘‘T had better beach her in yonder creek, for she will not sink deep there, and at low tide you can get at the leak,” said Kate, pointing to a small brook that flowed into the cove. ‘As you please, lady, for you have shown yourself a captain,” said the young officer, try- ing to get a better look at the face that was al- most hidden by the tarpaulin, for Kate had tied the flaps down on each side with a silk sash she had taken from about her waist. Into the mouth of the brook the schooner ‘etn and the anchor was let fall as sconas the <eel touched bottom. At the same moment a tall form bounded over the bulwarks, and clasping the maiden in arms, Cyle Kenyon, for it was’ he, cried in @ voice that quivered: ‘‘ My brave, my beautiful girl! ‘*- You have done a noble act this day; but oht how could you be so rash?” ‘‘ Father, I felt that I could save ihe schooner, so took the risk,” she said modestly. ‘* And save her you did, lady, and we owe cur : 4 =} Tet = HK 4 nS 7 a / , aot Le m