Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 483 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 —— with lofty masts and long spars for ker tonnage, and yet the hull appeared to be capable of good hard weather work, and of carrying a good spread of canvas in a blow. She carried a United States flag at her peak, and at her fore was an odd little flag, for it was a white field, and upon it two hands, in black, grasping the ends of a chain, the latter in gold, Wpon her deck were about a dozen persons, attired in a uniform of blue jacket, white pants, and white duck cap. At the helm sat the one who appeared to be the ruling spirit of the little vessel, and the only insignia of rank that he wore was a gold anchor and cord on his cap, and an anchor on either shoulwr of his blue jacket, A glance over the crew, from the captain down, showed that there was but one who had reached the years of manhood, and that one was a negro, with white apron and kitchen cap, who was busy about the caboose, a sufficient guaran- tee that he was the cook. The remainder of those on board were youths, ranging in years from twelve to eighteen. They were a bold-looking set of young fellows, with faces that showed they took life as it came, and would dare any danger they might be called upon to meet. The one at the helm particularly possessed a strong face. He was about sixteen, and yet the calm dig- nity and resolution in his dark, handsome face made him appear older. Splendidly formed for one who had not yet reached man’s estate, he had also the look of one who possessed strength above his years. It was a face to win love, confidence and re- spect from young and old alike, and yet one to avoid if aroused, ‘‘The wind is going to leave us, Foxey,” ho said, turning to a youth who sat near him and who was an regen: in his way. He was the only one not in uniform among the boy crew, and wore a Civilian’s suit; some- thing the worse for wear, and which had the appearance of having been wet through, His face was bold, shrewd, full of mischief, and yet, strange combination that it was, with an intensely sad look in repose. His eyes in repose were dreamy-looking, but full of fire the moment he spoke. His form was slight, but wiry and full of sinew, He looked like one who had ‘‘roughed it,” young as he was, for he could hardly be more than fifteen, and one looking well into his face would have remarked: * That is a boy with a history, and a strange one,’ His coat being open revealed several, badges upon his vest, on the left side, and they were the same as those worn under the jacket of the young captain, only the latter had five where the other had but three, Where the jackets of the other boys were open it was observed that each one of -them had a couple of badges like two of those worn by their leader and the comrade who sat near him. The fact is, the yacht was the Sea Ferret, and her captain and crew were boy detectives be- longing to a Secret Service League in the city of New York. The youthful captain bore the name of Will Raymond, but his numerous exploits in a detec- tive way had gained for him the title of Wizard Will, the Boy Ferret, Will Raymond had accidentally drifted into Secret Service life, for he had been seen on the street one day by the captain of a band of bur- glars known as the Land Sharks, and resem- bling in a strange degree a boy who had been kidnapped, carried West, and, dying, had been | buried on the prairies, he had been selected as the one to palm off on the sorrowing parents as their long-lost son, for years had passed since their boy had been stolen, and if he played his part well Will could readily pass for the dead child, and Elegant Ed, the captain of the gang of thieves, would get the enormous reward of- fered for the lost one. But Will Raymond piayed into the hands of the Land Sharks until he could escape, and lead the police upon their den. Though the criminals got away, their hiding- place was raided, and much booty was found. With his mother and sister living with him in most humble quarters, Will had been glad to accept a position. in the Secret Service, offered him by Captain Ryan Daly, a gallant police anes who had taken a great fancy to the Of his past history Will Raymond only knew what his mother had told him, A lovely, sad-faced woman—one who had evi- ee ae ee The Ferrets Afloat. ee a ee ee ee ee ee dently been born a lady—from some cause Mrs, that could sneak through the waters at a lively Raymond had come down in life to struggle for | rate of speed. a living for herself, her brave boy Will, and his sister Pearl, a beautiful little child-woman of thirteen. Mrs. Raymond had said that her husband was dead, and more she would not tell; but she never spoke unkindly of the father of her children, though it seemed that her marriage had been a most unhappy one. One day, when on the verge of starvation al- most, Will had met a gentleman who had just found a gold-piece which the boy had lost, and was going to spend for a Thanksgiving dinner, for it was their all. From that day, in Colonel Richard Ivey,.an ex-officer of the army, and bachelor of vast wealth, Will found a fast friend, and the sor- rows and poverty of the Raymonds seemed at an end when Mrs, Raymond became Mrs, Ivey, and removed to her husband’s elegant home. A short season of joy followed, and then Mrs. Ivey took her children quietly with her, and left the home of her husband. Why she did so she kept a secret from Will and Pearl, and she hid away in the city so that the colonel could not find her, while all the sun- shine went from her face, and her lot seemed a most wretched one. Once more in poverty they were, and then it was that Will Raymond entered the Secret Service as a Boy Detective, and organizing a band of young comrades he won fame for him- self and them, and the services he rendered were acknowledged by all, With good pay he made his mother and sister comfortable at a little cottage home in the country, and life seemed once more brightening for them. The main aim of Wizard Will was to run tu earth Elegant Ed and his band of Land Sharks, but, though four times he had found their den, and each time made valuable captures of booty, and discoveries of importance, the wily chef and his men had each time escaped him. It was in chase of Elegant Ed, who had left New York on a special mission of deviltry, in a yacht, that the Boy Detective’s yacht, had gone, and Foxey, Will’s right bower and lieutenant, had been Udnapped and carried off on the craft of the outlaws. The vessel of Elegant Ed had, however, been run down at night by a steamer, and Wizard Will had found Foxey floating on a spar a few hours after, and from him, learning that all the rest on the craft had been lost, the Sea Ferret had put back for New York, and was cruising slowly along not far from the Virginia shores, where she is presented to the reader. Now, Foxey, the one who wore a civilians’ suit, and who was seated near Wizard Will, was an odd genius. By other name than Foxey no one knew him, not even Will. He had saved the life of little Pearl Raymond once, when she had fallen overboard, from a steamer on the Sound; he had no home, and living in the village near which was the cottage of the Raymonds, he was known only as ‘* Foxey the Waif,” and ‘*the Vagabond!” Serving Will one night at a critical moment for the young detective officer, the two had from that moment become firm friends, and Foxey fairly idolized his comrade and cap- tain. In answer to Wizard Will’s remark about the wind leaving them, Foxey glanced about them and replied: *Tt’s about gone, Cap’n Will, and we'll not get a breath again until sun-up, Pm thinking.” **T believe so too; so we will drop anchor, take in sail, and all get a good night’s rest, which we need, after the rough weather we had last night,” and Wizard Will gave his orders to She was a small schooner, not over thirty tons burden, and might be taken for a Baltimore oyster boat, or a coast fisherman. She was moored in against the bank, a plank running from the deck to the shore, and the trees overhung her so as to almost hide her from. view. From her decks a good view could be obtain- ed of the sea beyond the inlet, and a small ves sel lay out upon the waters becalmed. Upon the shore was a tent, and in front ofita log fire, about’'which were gathered half a dozen men, two of whom were busy preparing supper. A couple of ducks were roasting over the fire, suspended by wires, some fish were broiling upon the coals, a large iron oven, full of biscuit was near, the lid being half off, for they were baked to the nicest degree. In the ashes were some potatoes roasting, a huge coffeepot was sending forth its appetizing odor, and roasted oysters, raw onions and a jar of butter made up the sup;er of the vessel’s crew. A large crew, too, for a vessel so small, one would think, for besides the two negro cooks and four men lolling about the fire, severa others were lying at ease upon the deck of the craft, another was swinging in a hammock ashore, and two, followed by a couple of dogs, were just coming in from the woods, guns upon their shoulders, and strings of game swinging upon sticks, All told there were thirteen men, bronze-faced, reckless looking fellows, with dogged deter- mination upon their faces, and a wicked look in their eyes. From the nets stretched out to dry, and the four boats attached to the little schooner, with oyster tongs and other implements of that na- ture, they would be looked upon as fishermen, while the game swinging in the trees, the numer- ous shotguns and rifles, and the two dogs be- longing to them, gave the idea of a hunting- arty. ae: Sates, that yacht has dropped anchor, to keep from drifting, and she’ll stay where she is until dawn, for there’ll be no wind,” said the man in the hammock, rising, throwing awa his cigar and turning a glass upon the little cra cut upon the sea, ** Some rich man’s sea toy, I guesses,” suggest: ed another, ‘*- Yes, and she’d be good picking for us, I shouldn’t wonder,” the first speaker returned,and he appeared to be the leader of the party. ‘‘ It’s easy to find out, cap’n,” another declar- ed. ‘‘Tt’s risky.” ““ Maybe, but I’m thinking it’s worth it.” “You mean that we should board her and bag her valuables?” ‘‘T means jist that, cap’n, for she’s a prize, I’m thinking, that would put gold in our pock- ets, ‘It?s very risky, Bob.” _ Life is risky, cap’n, for we may die at any time. ‘‘True; but what a row it would raise if we did.” ** Who'd know it?” ‘“ Why, it would get out.” ** Not if we worked it right.” ‘‘ Well, Bob, what is your idea?” ‘‘The Sea Sneak’s gettin’ old, bain’t she?” and the man gianced at their own vessel. ‘¢'Yes, she’s played out, nearly, for her hull is | rotten.” take in sail, let fall the anchor and make all | shipshape for the night. In a few moments the yacht lay at rest upon the placid waters, while t'ecrew, after a hearty supper, sought the rest they needed, and soon all was quiet on board; no one dreaming of a danger that threatened them with death, CHAPTER II. PHANTOM PIRATES, IN an inlet on the coast of Virginia, the pen- ‘We need a new boat, don’t we?” ‘Yes, badly,” ‘* Yonder boat’s a good one,” ‘* She appears to be.” ‘¢ A blind sailor could see that.” ‘* Well?” ‘* We could take her, repaint her, change her _rig so as to fool ber builder even, clear out eve article aboard that belongs to her, and refurnis her, and nebody’d be ther wiser.” ‘‘We could do that, Bob; but about her crew?” _ ‘Dead men tell no tales, cap’n,” was the sig: nificant remark, ‘* You are right, Bob, and I for one am will insula formed by the Chesapeake and Atlantic, | a rude looking schooner was hiding away. _ Her sides were browned from want of paint, turn on t’other lads,” added “Two of us thinks the same, cap’n, so call the ob, who was mate | of the vessel. : her sails were blackened and patched, and her | masts and spars were weather-worn. Still there was a taut air about the craft, the sails fitted to perfection, and homely to the or- dinary glance, there was yet that in the build and rig to indicate a stanch sea boat and one ‘*What say you, lads, for you have heard Bob’s suggestions?” and the captain turned to his men, all of whom had now gathered about ‘ him, drawn thither by the wordsof their com- rade, for be had spoken so as to attract their at- tention.