Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 674 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

The Wizard Sailor. Reared upon a vessel’s deck, she wasa thor- ough sailor, and she could handle the little yacht, for it was really sucb,as skillfully as - could its master. The yacht had been built after a model which Clifford had himself cut out of a block of cedar, and she had proven herself a most thor- ough sea-boat, dry on ceck in a gale, and as fleet as the wind. Clifford knew well what her speed could be made under larger spars, but for safety he kept her under cruising canvas, She was two-thirds cabin below deck, and a most comfortable home did the trio find her ina cruise. But she was too small fora out at sea run, that was to be quickly made to the Bahamas, and so.Clifford decided to charter a suitable vessel in Boston. So Kate became his “crew” for the run to Boston, and she bad been so anxious to go that her brother bad laughingly told her that he be- lieved she was anxious to see handsome Harvey Lynn, and the blush that overspread her face seemed to indicate that he was not far wrong. The run to Boston was quickly made, with a fair wind, and dropping anchor just off the shipping house of Theodore Lynn & Co, Clifford hailed a shore boat and sent a note addressed to: ‘* HARVEY LYNN, E:quire.” In half an hour there stepped upon the deck ‘of the sloop a young man whose handsome, frank, cheery face would make his fortune in any call of life, He was about the medium height, well form- ed, scarcely out of his teens and in his blue eyes was a look full of fearlessness and his whole face bore the stamp of manhood, two such young men as Officers Clifford Sweegan could not but feel satisfied. He heard Clifford’s proposition with marked pleasure, and said: ** Just in time to prevent ay going as mate on a schooner soon to sail, and which has just been built with the idea of making her a privateer as soon as the war opens, which must be soon, ‘Now tell me, captain, just what kind of a craft you want for this trip to the Bahamas, and I'll find her for you and have her at M—— by your return.” When told just what errand the schooner was going upon, Clarence said: ** { will be careful toget a craft which can out- foot all pursuers, and a crew that can be thor- oughly trusted, forthe temptation to mutiny and seize the treasure will be great, ** Yes, dnd there will be but me there to face them, and there must be no drawback in our getting to saa upon an armed deck, for there will be fame and fortune to win in this war, and England must again be taught a lesson by Amer- icans— Ah, there comes your brother now,” and a boat came alongside pretty well Joaced with what Harvey called his “‘traps”; but then he had an idea that the cruise could be made more pleasant by filling the larder with certain delica- cies and a few things to add to the comfort of Kate, As Clarence Lynn left the sloop’s deck, she swung clear of the anchor and started down the harbor, Kate at the helm and her mother and Harvey Lynn spreading the pretty craft with clouds of canvas, Of the run to the Kennebec and back to M I need only say that 1t was made with dispatch, while the builders to whom Clifford Sweegan had been directed expressed themselves as more than delighted with the model of the young He greeted Clifford Sweegan warmly, calling | sailor, and, with a bonusin hand paid, bad or- him ‘‘ captain,” and blushed to the roots of his olden hair when he grasped Kate’s hand, a lush that was reflected in her own face, “What Iucky wind blew you into Boston Harbor, Captain Sweegan, and Miss Kate, my sieter will come aboard and take you home as her guest,” he said. ** No, thank you, Lynn, for we sail almost im- mediately, as the lucky wind that brought us here must hold until we reach the Kennebec, when I am going to order a schooner built with all dispatch, and second to no class afloat for speed and an armed craft.” ** Ah, Captain Sweegan! do you mean it?” ‘*T do, most certainly, and if you are not al- ready booked I would like to ship you for the war as her first officer.” The joy at this proposal shone in the young man’s face, and he cried, eagerly: “Gladly I accept, and don’t you wish Clarence, too, for he is about to ship as mate of a craft they speak of putting out as a privateer, as soon as the war begins?” “ Yes, the berth of second officer is open to him, and more, I wish you both to go on a cruise with me to the Bahamas, * The truth is, I am going there on a most im- portant mission, and I desire a suitable vessel to charter, a good sailing schooner, with a picked crew of a dozen men. **T will ask you to find me just such a craft, and crew, and have her ready to sail by the time I returu from the Kennebec, where I am going to start the building of my war-schoaner,” ‘Say, Captain Sweegan, that is a long cruise for you to take with only Miss Kate as mate and crew, so why cannct Clarence charter your schooner and get your crew, while 1 ship on your sloop here as foremast hand?’ ** Will you go?” ** Gladly.” “Then pray see Clarence at once and have bim come on board, and we will talk it over, ‘*Tf he is willing be can charter the schooner and get the men, but they must be men who live here with their families, for [ am going on a somewhat dangerous mission to trust the secret to too many. ** When he has all ready, hecansail for M—, and I will run there direct in the sloop from the Kennebec.” ** When do you wish to sail?” ** To-night.” ** Good! I’!l see Clarence and send him aboard and then get my traps and will be ready,” and Harvey Lynn hastened ashore, and soon after Clarence came off in a shore boat. He was younger than his brother by a couple of years, but had served as a midshipman in the navy and won distinction, while be had been severely wounded in an attack on a pirate stronghold on an island of the Caribbean iia, His face was very like bis brother’s, and with ee eee ee ders to spare no expense in making the cruiser all that she should be, Upon their return to M—— they found the schooner at anchor above the town, and were welcomed by Mrs, Sweegan, over whom a great change had come, for she no longer dressed in her weird costume, and her face seemed to have lost its wild, haggard look and to be regaining much of its former loveliness, The coming of the strange schooner into port, and holding no communication with the shore, had excited the good people of M—— greatly. But, though it bad anchored further up to- ward Overlook Cliff than vessels were wont to do, they did not connect it with the sorceress, Parposely did Clifford sail by in the slsop without any sign of recognition to Clarence Lypn who was pacing the schooner’s deck; but after nightfall he boarded her and carried the young officer up to the cabin, where a pleasant evening was passed, and the next morning the townspeople discovered that the pretty craft of Overlook Cliff was at her anchorage in the inlet, while the unknown vessel, which had been at anchor several days in port, had mysteriously departed in the night. FS iw CHAPTER XIII. A FORTUNE IN A NAME. HARBORAGE HALL, the home of Commodore Calab Carr, was the pride of the town of M-——. It was situated about the same distance below the town that Overlook Ciiff Cottage was on the other side, and it had been built with an eye to a home of luxury. The grounds sloped to the harbor shore upon one side, and there was a pier, with several sailboats ancbored off of it, and upon the other MS many acres of woodlands and cultivated elds, Within these was comfort upon every hand, The commodore had been « gallant command- er during the war of the Revolution, and had lost a leg in battle, so that he had a wooden leg to replace if. He was a man of stern integrity, and was wrapped up in his only child, a beautiful maiden verging toward eighteen. And no wonder, for she was loved by all who knew her, and a more lovely little maiden was not to be found in the State. The commodore was a rich man, for bis nu- merous prizes had brought bim riches, and then, too, all bad prospered under his manage- ment, He was the sole guardian of his nephew, Ken- ton Carr, whose inheritance had been left wholly to the discretion of the commodore, as to when he would give it over to the heir. In his keeping it had doubled, and though al- lowing the young man a liberal income, he had held on to the principal, for he well knew how athe ne - ee ee a ee Tee =, ™ eskintie contin wild and extravagapt Kenton Carr was, though “ daly he did not suspect him of being a reprobate and gambler as well, In fact the commodore did not suspect one- fourth the truth about his nephew,who had been driven to herding with the smugglers to get gold to gamble away. t was evening at Harborage Hall, and the old commodore sat in his easy-chair smoking, his dressing gown folded about him and his one foot in a slipper which his daughter had made for him. A servant had just brought in the weekly mail, and the excitement produced by one letter which he was reading, caused his daughter, who sat near, to ask quickly: ‘“‘Is there any bad news, father?” ‘Well, I should say not, my child, I should ay not,” and the commodore laughed, Then he asked quickly: ‘* How would you like to change your name, my child?” The maidcn turned crimson, and a moment after her face paled, She kad suitors by the score, and yet she had not given her heart to any one, whatever might be her feelings upon the subject. ‘‘ Has some one done me the honor of asking me to bear their name, father?” ‘* Ah! that is good, very good, but it is not a proposal,” ‘* What can it be then, father?” ‘*T will not keep you in suspense longer, poor, dear child, but tell you that | have here letters from the lawyer of one of my old girl sweet- hearts, when we were children together, ‘*‘ A misunderstanding parted us, caused by the act of a rival, but she found out, after I went to sea, that I was not in the wrong, ‘Poor girl, she never married, though she was an heiress and had many offers. ‘* Now, she says, in a letter which her lawyer has written at her dictation, that she cannot live but a few months at furthest, anc’ that she de- sires you, my child, to be heiress to her fortune, which is large, only she makes the stipulation that from the receipt of this letter you bear her name, with mine—Creola Kane Carr.” ** Oh, father!” ** Now, my child, this links poor Creola Kane’s name with mine after her death, in you bearing it, and she leaves me the executor of her will and your law guardian. ‘‘ Now, my child, henceforth you are Creola Kane Carr, remember, and there is a tortune in your name,” ‘ The young girl arose, her eyes filled with tears, and she said, earnestly, as she bent over her father and kissed him: ** Poor, dear Miss Kane! it is her miniature that you have in your desk, and which mother was never jealous of, you said, for on its back is engraved the name, Creola.” ** Your name now, Creola.” ** Yes, father; but I have a fortune now, you have said, and so much riches will spoil me.” “Never fear, Creola, for you cannot be spoiled.” ‘‘ A pretty compliment, father; but tell me if : cannot go and see the dear lady before she dies? ‘*T would so like to do so.” . ‘‘ Just like you, Creola, to propose it, and you shall, fcr I shall take you there, ‘‘ She lives on the River Hudson, in New York, and we can drive there by easy stages in our own carriage, so when do you wish te go?” ‘‘T will be ready, father, on—” she glanced from the window as she spoke, and muttered to herself: ‘‘There comes the sloop, so they will be at home to-morrow,” and aloud she said: ‘‘ Day after to-murrow, father, I will be ready. ‘Then day after to-morrow we start, Creola; but vow let me talk to you about this youn man who is called in the yillage the Wizar Sailor.” , Creola, as I must cal] her, started and blushed, for her eyes just then were upon the sloop of Clif- ford Sweegan, which was coming into the_har- bor, just returning from its run to the Ken- nebec. “What about the Wizard Sailor, father” she asked, quietly, but she kept her tell-tale face turned away. 3 ‘Why, Ihave racked my brain to find some way toreward him for saving your life, and that wild fellow Kenton’s, and in vain, ‘*‘] dare not offer him money, So [ think I shall write on to the Government and secure for him a commission in the navy, promising to build bim a vessel and arm it at my own ex pense.” } ae. rd chooks.com a ee mc ‘ a ~w & F BA AHA — wee eS —_—. = | jan a) 7. 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