Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 674 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

— Ne ba ~ ) * + © ths | ** What for?” **T’ll rouse the sorceress and tell her that her daughter is there in the boat, and you can then rouse the girl, and have her call to her mother to satisfy her.” ** Well?” **] will then tell the sorceress to get her ran- som-money and come with me in the boat and meet you, and while the girl gets into her boat I will go with you,” **But can we escape?” “Sure, for the woman will pull back to the shore, and in the darkness we can cross the har- bor, land, sink our skiff and make our way around to my cabin; but you must tell the ser- vants you are going to Boston for a few days.” ‘‘T understand; but if the woman refuses to pay ransom?” ““Then she can have the girl, for I wish to end this and get rid of her.” ‘‘And so do I,” and having told the butler that he was going totake the night stage to Bos- ton, and taking his hand carpet-bag as a blind, Kenton Carr went on with Red Ralph to the smack, which was soon flying out to sea before a stiff breeze. The night was starlight, and the wind in their favor, so that the run was made to the smug- glers’ basin by ten o’clock, The smack was anchored under the davit, and Red Ralph gave the signal hail. But no answer came, Again and again he hailed, but with the same result, Then the smack was hauled in until her top- mast touched the davit and up the mast he went and was soon upon the shelf of rock. ‘‘Come up, here, quick!” he called out, and his tone caused the dignified young aristocrat to climb up the mast, step off upon the davit and walk to the shelf. ‘“ By Heaven, Carr, see them!” “A dead poy gasped Kenton Carr. “Yes, it is Henshaw, and he has been shot; but we will soon know more,” A ship’s lantern was found and lighted, and it revealed the smuggler booty-keeper dead, a bullet wound in his forehead, But neither his wife or Kate were to be found, The rocks were strewn with booty, and it was very evident that some one had robbed the re- treat, killed the man, carried off his wife and captive and then gotten away. ‘But who?” That question they asked each other over and over again, but could find no clew to solve the mystery, here was but one way to leave the retreat, and that was down to the water by means of the davit and the box, so that no one could be in hiding there. But they reached the cabin, rocks and cavern, and then felt sure that some one who knew the secret had betrayed it, and had come to plunder ae retreat, and hence had rescued the cap- ve, But the keeper’s wife, where was she? That question also remained unanswered, and unable to do more the two now terribly fright- ened worthies returned to their boat and sailed homeward. The smack dropped anchor just at dawn and they went ashore, for Kenton had accompanied Red Ralph to his cabin, They had removed their disguises, and were only anxious to know what the day would bring to them. After sunrise the sorceress was seen upon the cliff, and often during the day she went back and forth, between the point and the cabin, In the afternoon Red Ralph went down alone to the town; but not a soul yet knew of Kate’s having been kidnapped, or of ber rescue, That night Kenton Carr returned to Harbor- Hall, and promised to ride arround to see Ralph the next day but one, to See ff aught had been discovered. This he did, and he found the smuggler very lue, for not a word had he heard, te tell you, Red Ralph, this suspense ig awful,” said Kenton Carr. ‘ ;¢ 77 “ How you how we can end it, 2 : row t int up the inlet and you go.tothecabin—” sé No.” “Tsay yes, for you say your uncle is to be home in 8 day or two, so go and carry a pre- tended message from your wisi to the girl.” ‘*My cousin will know about it.” ‘‘ Tell her you sorely wished to see the girl ard beg pardon for rudeness, so made that an tae excuse, that you & message from her.” . - ~~ DSTO a i Ba Ss NSE OEE OO EEE LL, ———— $$ ______ ee The Wizard Sailor. ** And then?” ‘You can then find out if the girl is really there, and see just what the sorceress has to say.” ‘‘ It is better than suspense,” ‘* Far better.” “Well, Pll tell you what I'll do.” ** What?” **T’ll go to-morrow, if nothing turns up in the mean time ” ** All right, and come through the town to see if you hear anything, and lll row you across the inlet tp there where she cannot see us.” ‘* Very well, to-morrow,” and the young kid- napper mounted his: horse and rode homeward in a very unenviable frame of mind. That night he did not sleep much, and the next morning called for his horse and started for the cabin of Red Ralph. He rode through the town but heard nothing about Kate’s capture or rescue, and so kept on, Red Ralph had no news, so they entered the latter’s skiff and rowed across the inlet to a point above the cliff. ‘* Brace up, man, for you are as white asa ghost,” said Red Ralph. Kenton Carr made no reply, and landing, walked slowly on toward the cabin on the cliff. The sorceress was seated in her door, and as he advanced arose and faced him, gazing fixedly into his face, as though to read bis soul. Both he and Red Ralph had an idea that she had rescued Kate, or had others do so, but the first words of the woman undeceived him, ‘* Kenton Carr, where is my child?” He was white-faced now, and stammered while he said with an effort: ‘‘l have come with a message for Miss Kate from my cousin.” ‘*Thy cousin is away, and thou hast come with a lie upon thy lips, ** Man, | read thy guilty soul!” ‘“*Upon my honor, good woman, I know not where thy child is.” Then followed the words that opened this story, and before the curse of the sorceress Ken- ton Carr fled in terror, as the reader has seen, and regained his boat. But both he and Red Ralph felt convinced that the sorceress had not been the one to rescue Kate, and that the woman ueld suspicion of them, but added to their fears and made them the more anxious to get out of barm’s way on the deck of a good schooner which the commo- dore was to be persuaded to place his degenerate nephew in command of, CHAPTER XVITI. AN INTERVIEW. COMMODORE CARR and his beautiful daugh- ter were once more at home, They arrived at noon and found Kenton Carr ready to welcome them, He bid his nervousness, and felt that from his sweet cousin Creola he must learn the truth about Kate’s rescue, and where she was. He recalled with regret that he had, in his visit to the sorceress, appeared to know that Kate was away, for he had shown no pretended surprise when told that he had taken her away. ut Creola would soon set it right, or at least relieve higsurprise. The first moment that he could do so, after her return, he asked her to accompany him for a walk in the flower garden, and when they were seated iu an arbor he asked pleasantly : ‘Did you enjoy your visit, sweet Cousin Creola, for so I must call you now?” ‘Yes, [have taken the name of that good and noble wonian, and she has left me her large fortune.” ** it is large, then?” “Yes, the family have been very rich for many generations, ‘They are English, you know, and Miss Kane’s brother was a baronet, and was called to England to claim the title and estates in- herited by the death of his eldest brother. ‘* He lives there now, but Miss Kane said he was a thorough American in his views, having lived here since he was a little boy, and married ere too. ‘* But he is broken in health and cannot last very long, she said, for the sorrow for the loss of his wife and children, who were lost at sea, has broken him down completely.” And Miss Kane left you all her wealth— I con ; ate you, Creola.” ‘ r a0k you} rich enough wi t it, Cousin Denton Zam 4 4 Oe ‘* And she died while you were there?” ‘Yes, she rallied for a couple of days and : oUt ~~ Cee” -* Phe! me Cm 1 d that gan ta we had long talks together, and I ho she would get well; but suddenly she fail and went off rapidly.” ** Well, you are in luck, that is certain; but now I have something to tell you.” ‘‘T was sure of that when you asked me to come here with you.” ‘*Now, Creola, 1am half in love with that little beauty, Kate Sweegan, and I wished to go to her and beg her to forgive my rudeness. ‘*So to get an excuse I went there to say I had heard from you, and that you would soon be boma, ‘* The sorceress met me and at once accused me of kidnapping her daughter—” ‘‘Oh, Kenton! has harm befallen that beauti- ful girl?” ‘¢T only know what her mother said, that she had been kidnapped, and she drove me from her presence with a terrible curse upon me, ‘Tt was terrible.” “Tell me of it, Kenton; tell me what has hap- pened to poor Kate?” ‘* How can I tell you what I do not know, ‘‘ Don’t be unreasonable, Creola, for I know nothing, and not a soul in the village is aware of any kidnapping.” “And Clifford—her brother?” and Kate blushed, a fact which the young man did not fail to observe. ‘‘He is off on a cruise somewhere; but I think if you went to the cottage of Overlook you could find out just what has happened,” “T will go at once,” ‘‘No, wait until after dinner, for there is no need to fret much about it until we knowif she has been really kidnapped or not.” ‘‘T fear something terrible has happened there, and after dinner I will drive over there— will you drive me?” ‘“T! Not for a fortune would [ have that woman put another curse upon me.” ‘Very well, I will ride over on horseback.” ‘‘ Now, Creola, | bave something more to say to you.” “ Well, Cousin Kenton?” ‘*T have determined to go to sea,” ‘**Go to sea?” ‘Yes, I am going to ask uncle to use a part of my inheritance in building, or buying for me, arming and equipping a schooner, which shall be an American privateer. ‘*T will command her, and besides serving my country I can also make a fortune, you see, with prize money.” ‘You have a fortune now, and I would rather put it to serve my country, if I were you. ‘‘But it is the best thing you can do, and L will tell you, or rather give you a hint, that father has a vessel ready now, or nearly so, and wrote to see what he could do to get Clifford Sweegan made a naval officer, on condition that he would give him an armed craft to cruise in.” ‘“‘ He does this for that fellow?” ‘‘- Yes, he meant to do so, for you must not forget that I owe my life to Clifford Sweegan, as you do yours,” ‘ Well, the Government would not commission him of course?” ' “On the contrary, it was reported to my father that Clifford Sweegan, for gallant and most valuable services rendered to a vessel-of- war years ago, bad been appointed by the President a midshipman in tae United States Navy.” ‘«' Phe deuce!” “‘T know it surprises you, Kenton, but it is true, and he was allowed to report for duty at will. ‘* Now father met his old friend, the Boston Be merchant, Theodore Lynn. “He was going home from New York in his carriage, and he rode with us all day yesterday, and he told father, who spoke of the Wizard Sailor to him, that kis sons, Harvey and Clarence, owe their lives to the courage of . Clifford Sweegan, who took them from a wreck ' at the risk of bis own life, and his sister aided him in the rescue.” ‘He seems quite a life-saver,” sneered Ken- ton. ‘Yes, and Mr, Lynn said that his two sons had now gone with the Wizard Sailor, as officers of his vessel, in a fine schooner that wa; to be fitted out as a privateer, as he understood it,” ‘As a pirate, more likely,” growled Kenton Carr. ‘ou forget that Clifford Sweegan already holds rank as a naval officer, and that those who are his officers are Harvey and Clarence Lynn?” ** Well, what is all this to me?” “Simply, that as father does not have to offer the schooner to the Wizard Sailor, he might: