Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 468 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

— g a «"% ——— “See reo rw a me a) = J " 12 - * He trims in his sail now; see! he rounds the S pr Head Rock and has the wind almost ahead. ‘‘ She works bravely into the teeth of the gale, and through that wild sea among the rocks—his decks are swept by huge waves—his hull is out of sight, Ellen, as you see, half the time, and now he rounds Turtle Back Rock, and takes the wind abeam, while he heads for that narrow assage you see between those two spots that ook Jike fountains. ‘‘They are reef ends, Ellen, and between them is a break with fifty feet of water; but you see he has but a narrow space, not thirty feet torun through. ‘‘Tf he gets through he is safe; if the wild sea drags his boom under there, for he has got to let it off and go before the wind, he is lost, and if he loses his nerve and goes a point to either side, he is dashed to pieces, ‘Now pray for him, Ellen, for he deserves your prayers, for braver man I never saw.” So did Louis Everard tell the story of the antlet to be run, while his wife listened breath- essly to every word. The uarrow pass between the reef ends was now in the eyes of both, and the chebacca was we Sgt orn it as a race-horse might the goal. The little craft was sailing almost parallel with the long reef, as marked by the surf-like wave breaking upon it, and to go through the pass must suddenly shove her helm to port, let her large boom run off, and dart away before the wind for the opening, which was frightfully narrow. In a suspense that was terrible the fisherman and his wife stood gazing upon the scene, neither uttering a word, while the brig-of-war luffed up and lay to, firing no longer, as if her officers and crew were transfixed with admiration at the sdesperate pluck of the helmsman. That they could see what the chebacca boat was aiming for was certain, and the pilot on poard told them that the helmsman evidentl knew some secret way through the reef, thoug he had never heard of one being there. So all waited, watched, and held their breath in suspense. Then they’saw the huge mainsail swing off as the bows went round,.and the craft head direct- ly for the foaming caldron. A moment the hull was lost to view, the mast swayed like a tree wrenched by the storm, the waters dashed in torrents nearly to the gaff, and then, rolling, staggering, plunging, lurcb- ing, the little vessel swept out into the open water beyond, while the gallant captain of the brig set his British tars the example, and three long, rousing cheers rung out for the pluck of the daring skipper of the chebacca boat. In the moment of supreme peril Mrs, Everard had turned her eyes away, but a wild shout from her husband’s lips told her that the helm.- man had triumphed over death, and looking onee more she saw the chebacca boat flying away through open waters, and heading for the haven near their home where Louis Everard’s fishing-smack lay snugly at anchor. By this bold deed the brig had been dropped far astern, and darkness was coming on, so that sthe safety of the chebacca boat was assured. CHAPTER XXI. THR WRECK. THERE is no doubt but that, the reader has ‘recognized in the chebacca boat the Fly’ng Fish, and in her daring helmsman Neptune Ned; but to acquaint him with the facts of why the little vessel was chased by the brig I must go back to the night on which the young skipper sailed from Boston Bay for home. He had not gotten far to sea before he discoy- ered that he had two good sailors in Charcoal and Simple Sam, for they seemed more than anxious to do all in their power, and certainly felt proud of their little craft and young skipper. As the craft was running briskly along, a few leagues off-shore, and under a_ seven-knot breeze, the keen eyes of Neptune Ned, who was at the tiller, detected something on the waters off the starboard bow, It was not a sail he was certain, but looked like the bull of a vessel. After glancing at it more closely he saw just what it was, and called out: ** Wreck ho!” Charcoal was on his feet in an instant, while Simple Sam echoed tne cry, having just been o> eames from a very comfortable nap by Ned’s call, ‘“‘That’s a wreck, boys,” said Ned, “ft are fer sure, Massa Ned,” Charcoal re- joined, trying in vain to find what he had af- ~ Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. firmed was a wreck, for to tease him Ned was | watched the men working in getting the eargo looking off the port bow. ‘It’s a wreck, sart’in,” chimed in Simple Sam, also looking for it. ‘* You are both right, for see, as we near it, it looms up, without a stick,” and Ned now looked toward the wreck, which was only a | quarter of a mile distant. ‘* You is right, sah, dere was a storm two nignt ago, and I guesses it hurt her.” * Yes, and there’s another storm will break now afore daylight,” asserted Simple Sam’look- ing around at the skies, as he pretended, while he was searching the seas for the wreck. Having discovered it ke said: ‘Goin’ ter run alongside, Cap’n Ned?” ‘Yes, for there may be some one on board— see! there waves a lantern now, and that proves there are people on board, and we must hurry to get them off, for as you say, Sam, there will be a storm and within a couple of hours too.” So Ned headed for the wreck and upon draw- ing near hailed: ** Ho the wreck!” “* Aho, the chebacca boat!” came back the an- swer in a deep voice. ‘¢T willrun under your lee, so stand by with a ine!” ‘‘ Ay, ay, sir,” and sail having been reduced on the Flying Fish, Neptune Ned went slowly up under the lee of the wreck. It was a sloop, for her single mast was visible, broken off some six feet above the deck, and her bowsprit was also gone, while her bulwarks were badly stove in. About thirty tons burden she was low in the water, and her skipper called out: ‘‘“Wesprung a leak, after we were dismasted | in the storm, and are settling fast; but I have | a valuable cargo and will pay you well to de liver if in port for me.” ‘*T do not care for pay, sir, to help one in dis- tress, so let your men get it aboard as | have ample room, aud we have but little time, as you see that storm rising.” ‘‘ The cargo is light, my lad, and can soon be transferred; but where is your skipper?” ‘‘T am skipper of this craft.” — ‘‘ You are the youngest captain I ever saw; but you look like a good one, and you saved us | at, and the | from going down, for we have no wreck will sink within two hours.” Ned saw that the man was one who had evi- dently been well rea ed, for he bad the air, and used the language of a gentleman. He was dressed in a sailor suit, wore a tar- paulin pulled low down over iis eyes, and was armed with a pistol and knife in his belt. There were six other men on the sloop, a large | crew for so small a. craft, and they were set to work to transfer the freight to the Flying Fish. Ned was surprised to see that the. freight was | mostly in light bales, with an occasional box and cask. ‘Them things bas a suspicious kinder look, hain’t they, Cap’n Ned?” said Simple Sam in a Ta “What do you think they look like, Sam?’ asked Neptune Ned, ‘‘Smuggled goods,” was the reply, while a moment. after Charcoal came aft and said: ‘‘ Massa Neptune, these folks may be honest, but them goods looks stolen.” Ned laughed and said: ‘* Well, the goods; we found the wreck sinking and will take her crew and freight to some port near for the poor skipper, though I admit the cargo | | this.” looks too fine for a coaster to carry.” Just then the skipper of the wreck came up to Ned, and said politely: * Young captain i have a passenger for you, and am going to ask cabin room for her, for it is my little daughter of thirteen. ‘‘ She has been asleep, for we have hed a hard time of it, and I only just awakened her— Ob! here she is—come here Bertie, and let me intro- duce you to our young rescuer,” and a girl, well matured for her age, and very beautiful, as Ned saw by the lanterns’ light, came aft. ‘This is my daughter, Miss Bertie Buckner, young Captain—Captain—” ‘““My name is Ned Everard, sir,” and Ned earners to the young girl, took her hand, and said: ‘‘f am still more glad that I saw the wreck, now that I know there was more than barely sailors on board. ‘‘-You shall have the use of the cabin, so make yourself comfortable there, please.” ‘* You are very good, and we all owe you our lives,” was the reply in a sweet voice, and then the little maiden, dressed in a pretty costume suitable for a sea cruise, stood near Ned and | ys, we have got nothing to do with | on board. Calling to Tom and Charcoal to help, they too set to work, and soon had the sloop’s freight safely stowed below decks on the Flying Fish, which at once swung away from the wreck, | that was now settling fast, while the threaten- | ing storm was now near at hand. ‘Where do you wish me to land you, cap- tain?’ asked Ned, as the Flying Fish, stripped to meet the gale and with the crew of the wreck standing by to be of service, headed off over the black waters. ‘There is a little vessel at Portland which I can get, so if you will run me off that port, young captain, and lend me your boat to run in with my crew to get it, 1 will feel under deep obligations.”’ ‘* Why shall I not run into Portland?” asked Ned, quietly. “Oh, I won’t put you to that trouble, though I will ask you to care for my daughter until my return with the vessel I go after. “The fact 1s, I know of a little harbor on the coast where you can wait for me, and I will leave a couple of men on board to belp you.” Ned did not need such help, but he did not sa so, and was more than ever convinced that all was not right with the crew of the wreck. Still he could not account for the presence of the young and beautiful girl on board the wreck, if it was a smuggler vessel. So he d termined to.keep his eyes open and watch all that took place, at the same time showing no suspicion, and telling Sam and Char- coal not to do so either, of anything that he might think regarding them. So deciding, he set to work to meet the storm, which now came howling along over the sea. CHAPTER XXII, THE SMUGGLER’S DAUGHTER. THe storm that broke upon the little Flying, Fish was a severe one indeed, and the crew of the wrecked sloop at first seemed alarmed for the safety of the craft. But they soon saw that she rode the waves like a cork, while the one who guided her des- tinies was a thorough sailor; in fact, Neptune won the utmost admiration of the men he had rescued, and they watched his handling of his vessel with delight as well as wonder. Bertie Buckner, the daughter of the skipper of the wrecked sloop, also kept her eyes upon him, crouching near him in the cockpit, and refusin to go below either at the entreaty or counter of her father. But the storm, though fierce, was of short duration and soon swept over, and the Flying | Fish held on her way once more. After a rapid run she arrived at a Small curve near Portland, just at sunset, and the skipper told Neptune Ned just where to find an anchor- age, “Do you not think we had best run into Portland?” asked Ned, who, during the stay of the strangers on board had become more and more convinced that they were a lawless set, Still, as he had rescued them from death, and had promised to take them where they wished, he intended to do so. ‘‘ No, I do not care to take the chances of you being overhanled, and having my men impressed by the cruiser Restless, which we would have to ass to get in. ‘She lies a league away yonder, and would surely bring us to, and my idea is to prevent inn she not stop your craft coming out, sir?” ‘¢ No, for I shall run out as a fishing smack.” Ned did not think this a satisfactory explana- tion, for there were plenty of fishing smacks then in ports on the coast that dered not at- tempt to come out; but he remained silent and the skipper continued: ‘‘ Besides, I can dodge the cruiser by running around into Casco Bay. ‘Should I not return before dawn, wait for me of course. for I shall get back to-morrow night, or at the earliest moment,” and calling his men together all but two of them took one of the two boats, with which the Flying Fish was provided, and moved away in the darkness, leaving the Chebacea securely anchored in a curve under the lee of @ Small island. They had not been gone very Jong before one ef the two men left on board of the strange crew came aft and said: “ Young skipper, My mate and me will take the boat and fish around here in the waters for a few hours.” “ Aj] right, my man,” replied Ned quietly, “boc COr Nm enn a -