Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 674 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

% bade farewel _ Mame, Creola, and a fo A _ you will, 1 hope, change your mind and become _ my wifef” have him Kenton Carr only koped that be could get to sea the day after, for be was afraid of the sor- ceress, the money-lender and his uncle. He believed that his cousin knew more than she had told him, of her visit to the sorceress, and soon after, bidding his uncle and Creola good-night he went to his room, and then slip- ping out quietly, went to the stable, saddled his aad and rode away for the cabin of Red a p . Red Ralph was considerably startled when called up in the middle of the night, and discov- ering who his visitor was asked anxiously: ** What’s gone wrong?” “ All has gone right, Red Ralph; but there is a chance that it may go wrong, and so I came to see you.” ‘* What can I do?” ** Just this, go, as soon as you can pack up, to Boston in your smack, sell the craft and get to work shipping me a crew.” ** A crew?” ‘Yes, for my uncle has given me the schooner, armed and stored, and with ten thousand to be- gin with. ‘*Now we must get away from Boston at all odds within the week, if we go with all loose on deck, for that woman will give us trouble { am sure, and there are other matters I have reason to dread the discovery of, “Once at sea and we will be safe, for I can, out of my prize money, pay back all money I borrowed from that money-lender shark, and thus keep the commodore my friend, and that we kidnapped the girl she herself canuot say, should she turn up, “But the witch means us trouble, I am assured, and the Wizard Sailor will be back soon, may arrive at any time, so we have no time to lose, ‘Do you understand?” ‘* Perfectly.” “* And will go?” “Tl beat sea when the dawn rises, for the wind is fair.” “Tam glad you realize our danger, and as soon as the papers are drawn up to-morrow by old Squire Cheney, I'll follow by the night stage.’ ‘* How many men will you wish?” “She carries four guns to a broadside and two Pivots.” ‘* A hundred men, then?” ‘* Yes, but we'll sail if we only have a dozen and hide in an inlet somewhere until we are ting 2 ‘* And under what flag?” “The American, of course, for I go as a privateer, war having been declared.” ‘*Good! now for salt water once more. ‘“T am a new man again; but your officers?” ‘** You'll be first, as I said, only shave off that horrible red beard, and tho others we must pick up as best we can. ** But you'll not delay?” , Not a moment; but where will I meet you in Boston?” ** At the Blue Anchor Inn.” *“V'll put up there, too—good-by, for I must get ready.” They clasped hands warmly and Kenton Carr rode back to Harborage Hall and regained his room before dawn, But he was up at breakfast, a rarity for bim it was, too, breakfast with his uncle and cousin, and during the morning the squire came, the papers were drawn up and duly signed and wit- nessed, and eg after nightfall Kenton Carr to Harborage Halland took the Stage to Boston. pe His last words were: When I have won a rtune with my sword, ‘Not if you become an admiral and a million- aire, Cousin Kenton,” was the quick reply, ‘wo days after la was surprised by a wie fron” the sorceress, and her first words “y am losing patience, my dear Miss Carr, ; and unless Kenton Carr restores my child to me, or tells me where she is to be found, | will arrested as a kidnapper, and Red ph as a pirate, and so tell him for me, that he may report it to his confederate in crime,” ‘* My dear Mrs, Sweegan, my cousin bas gone to sea 88 captain of a privateer, and did he know where he would not Y @ Bi, have Pete this. was, | am sure | |, “Gone to sea as a privateer, has he? ot ie he. “* Mark my wor¢ ag he Garr, that this power Nn ‘But Red Ralph still remains,” and the now Pe 4 Ue = ee ‘ ? a" a + J te oo? . ree. = . al a “J oy 7. @ . he Og 5 ae a <a The Wizard Sailor. revengeful woman returned to her home, and entering her skiff, rowed over to the cabin of the ex-pirate, Upon the door was a placard which read: _ “T have gone to enter the service of m country. ‘* RALPH ERS. CHAPTYT'’ XXI, KATE’S PLOT. Ir had been Kate Sweegan who had slyly dropped the handkerchief of Kenton Carr in the cabin, having gotten hold of it for that purpose, unseen by her abductor, for she had seen some embrvuidery upon it, when he held it over her mouth, and yet could not tell what the letters were, She had quickly discovered, also, that her kidnapper was disguised, and when placed in the cabin of the smack she had taken observa- tions about her of certain little details, which she could recall if the opportunity offered, for she half suspected that it was the craft belong- ing to Red Ralph, Though blindfolded before the smack entered the basin, she took notice of all that went on, and when released in one room of the cabin, by the ligbt of a ship’s lantern she knew at once that she was in a den of smugglers, But she complacently lay aown to sleep, deter- mined to take matters coolly and as they came, The next morning she was visited by the wife of the smuggler, and Kate gazed at her with interest, She saw a woman, sad-faced, refined-lookin and by no means such a person as she expec to find there, Her face was pale and wan, and she did not appear to be in good health. She was dressed in a silk dress, well-made, and wore a silk turban upon her head, scarlet in color, Her form was slender and graceful, and she said in a low, sweet voice: **T hope you rested well last night, miss?” ** Ah, yes, nothing disturbed me after I got to sleep, and I have a good appetite for breakfast, which I see you have brought me,” ‘* Yes, miss, and I am sorry not to allow you to go out of your room, but my husband says that you must not see where you are, and thero- fore | must keep you a close prisoner.” **T don’t mind it much, for itis for ransom I have been abducted from home, and the price will soon be paid.” ‘You are cool about it, little one,” said a voice without, and Henshaw stepped iato the room. He was a rough-looking man, with a cruel face, marked by ager pee and yet there was 4 look about him of having once seen better 8. ile was dressed as a sailor, and wore a belt and pistol in his belt. ‘‘ Why should I worry over what must be en- dured?” asked Kate. “Tt is well you are a philosopher, fcr it helps you; but my wife there would whine and fret terribly if she was in your place; but then she has no spirit.” “Perhaps you have broken her spirit by your cruel treatment of her, for she does not look like one who should be bound to such as you.” _ “Oh, miss, don’t speak so,” cried the woman in alarm, while the man uttered a savage oath and said: ‘See here, girl, you are my guest, so don’t meddle in my fami y affairs, \ ‘* But there is one thing I wish to ask you?” “* Well?” ‘* Who are you?” ‘* Do you not know?” ‘* Tf I did I would not ask.” “Find out from your comrades in crime then.” | ‘* One thing more?” as Yes,” ‘* What price did they set on you?” **T do not know.” ‘Well, they promised me a couple of thou- Sand, and said it was a third share, and [ believe they are deceiving me,” _, Pll tell you what Pll do.” hat is it, miss?” ou take me to my home and I'll pay you just double that sum.” , A ut a noose about my neck with one with the “ @ you give me the gold Gini worde ASOT ne ith me, for Tam tn too ticklish a position to trust to pledges. cae m . . “> \ Tara bor - s = Ie it, . 5 * » he */ een ‘ that is all,” and the brave girl aa feel as though her daring plot to wae a _ . ~> «ay : ™ - <~ " g ° » re r 7 P . : . . .* i | . ; - ‘ “Well, wait and get your two thousand | } then,” and Kate turned to the table and sat i | down to her breakfast, She was surprised to find the coffee so good and the biscuit, in fact the smuggler’s wife had prepared her a tempting breakfast, and as the man left she said: ‘I will have some nice fish for you for dinner, « for he is going out now in his boat,” Kate heard the boat lowered from the davit, and when the man was out of earshot, she said: ‘* Pardon me, but are you that man’s wife?” eae Cs ‘* He is double your age?’ 6 Yes,” ‘‘ And a smuggler?” ‘* He is the keeper of smuggled goods,” A It is the same; but you do not like this life?’ ‘Oh, no, **Then why do you lead it?” ** Alas! I cannot help it.” a) Thy?” ' - ‘* What can I, a poor woman do, here on this ’ desolate rock, alone with a brute?” ‘*“ Ah! he is a brute then, as I thought. ‘‘ But tell me of yourself, for 1 like you, and I say right now you shall not stay here to live the life you do,” , ‘Oh, miss, don’t talk. so,” and the woman posed and looked out of the door positively fright- ened. ** Will you not tell me about yourself?” ‘‘There is little to tell, more than that my brother and me were left to that man’s guar- dianship, and ke had control of our property. ‘‘Tt was left so as to give him control up to my brother’s reaching manhood; but my guar- | dian, whom I stood in great awe of, forced me / to secretly marry him, and one night when my | poor brother was told what he had done there was a quarrel, shots were fired and one was wounded, the other killed. ‘My brother fell dead, and [I sunk into a a. swoon and went into high fever and delirium, i) ‘* When I recovered he, my guardian, told me s that be had told how burglars had entered the 9 Sm house, killing my brother and wounding him, | and I was compelled to tell the same story, , ‘Soon after, however, when he was on a spree, ! he said something that led people to suspect him 1 Sa of the murder, and so he fled, taking me with him. | ‘*He had been a sailor and got a berth as a captain of a trader, and he took me with him, ie ‘*On one voyage, over a game of cards he = killed his mate, so when we reached port he . went ashure to report, as he said, but again be- ‘sf came a fugitive, cnd I with bim. ‘“* Well, it went from bad to worse until at ‘ last he brought me here, now three years ago, and at night when he is drunk he often beats me until [ run off and hide.” oes ‘*Poor woman! how I pity you, and more, L will help you.” ‘* You will help me?” ‘Why yes, for you can feel only hatred for the fiend who forced you to marry hin, killed our brother, squandered your fortune as you oh hint that he did and row ts you and keeps . it you here, ‘* We will wait awhile, and then I shall act. ‘* You have a boat here?” “Yes, a skiff, in which he is now fishing. ‘‘He keeps it drawn up here on the davite, which swing around s0 as to leave it upon the rocks, and hide it, should any one come into the basin.” ti ‘* Well, we can ask no more, and when he nae next gets drunk, just come and let me out.” ml ‘* But we cannot go to sea in a boat?” Bes ! ‘Ob, yes, we can, for Lama good sailor, and | a you n have no fear.” . ; **But when will I go? what will I do?’ cried "A 1 | c ; - _-= ge ss ~~ the unhappy woman, ‘** Oh, von will for a friend! ‘* Now, «lo as I tell you, please.” '*T will,” said the woman, who was controlled by the strong will of the brave girl. s “T must go now, for he must suspect noth- ” go with me, and never want . a ing. ‘ No, and you must manage to get a pistol for me, as we may need it,” “[ will, but you fairly frighten me,” and the woman hastily left the cabin, while Kate coolly said to herself; | ‘I do not think mother will have 4 very large eh) ransom to pay for me, and I amsure,oncewe et out of this place, it is but a few ae, Fock to M——, and we will tie that man w e078 he is drunk and wait, if the weather is bad, © | began alreadyto