Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 674 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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Uh, father! that would indeed be a noble act upon your part,” cried the delighted Creola. ‘‘{t is but just, for he saved me also, for without you I could not last long. **] will write at once and ask for his com- mission, and also pledge myself for a vessel, which I have secretly started the building of, intending to turn her into a privateer.” ‘* And, father, I feel that he will cause you to be proud of him.” ‘* I know it, my child, for that man is not an ordinary one, and I can readily forgive, for his, and his sweet sister’s real worth, their fanciful dressing and the oddities of that remarkable woman whom they call a witch. “The young man is well named a Wizard Sailor, for I never saw one who could handlea craft with the skill that he does, and he will make a splendid commander of men.” : Creola’s heart beat joyfully as she heard this praise of the man who had so nobly sarved her, — to whom her little heart had already been ost. ‘* May I tell him, father?’ ‘** No, my child, for I wish to raise no hope that may not be realized, for the Government may refuse, though I do not think so, “But if Iam refused, why I shal] send him to sea in command of the schooner as a priva- teer,” That night the letter was written by the com- modore, and went off in the early mail from the town, and the next morning Creola Carr mount- ed her horse and rode over to Overlook Cliff to say farewell to her friends there, for as such she now regarded the recluse trio who dwelt there. Her heart gave a throb of regret when Kate told her that Clifford had sailed the night be- fore for a voyage to southern seas, and to be gone for an indefinite time, and after bidding the young girl and her mother good-by, she re- turned to Harborage Hall to prepare for her journey, leaving word that the Wizard Sailor must not go to sea again until he had seen the commodore, CHAPTER XIV. A BRACE OF VILLAINS. SEVERAL days after the departure of the schooner, with the Wizard Sailor in command, to run for the Treasure Island, and the going of the commodore and his daughter to visit Miss Creola Kane, Red Ralph received a visitor. He came on horseback with a rifle across his saddle, and a couple of dogs trotting at the heels of his horse, ““Ah, Captain Kenton, glad to see you— alight,” said Red Ralph, as the horseman rode up. The latter obeyed, and as the sailor placed a chair for him, he asked: ‘¢ Been hunting, I take it,” ‘‘No, for I am in no humor now for small game; but I came out under pretense of a hunt to see you, and have just had a long ten-mile ride of it.” “‘ Yos, it’sa long way round to head the Inlet; but any news?” sé Yes ” ** What is it?” That fellow Sweegan has gone to sea in command of a schooner,” ‘* How do you know?” *‘ Abe Halley, whom Sweegan once thrashed for insulting him, had his eye on that unknown schooner that was in port for a few days, and he saw the Wizard Sailor and two others leave Overlook and row out to her at night, and she at once spread sail and went seaward, and that fellow was the one who gave the orders to get under way.” ‘‘ Where has he gone?” “That you can guess at better than I.” “The schooner looked like @ good one, and maybe he intends to arm her &S & privateer,” es Maybe so, but there is no war yet, and may not be,’ * Not yet, but it’s sure, for England has done all she can to begin it; but I am glad he has ia) byt “Weil, I was alittle afraid of bim, as he is a dangerous man, as I have reason to know’ but now that he is away we must strike for a for- une, t 4s How?’ **J’ll tell you, and remember, Carr, if you be- tray me I will kill you.” ‘Don’t a fool,’ **T am not One; but to my story.” “Tam all patience” hock * Then let me tell you that neither Clifford or Kate are that WoOman’s children.” ‘The devil!” The Wizard Sailor. **Tt is true; but she knows who they are, and is just keeping them to in the end get a big sum for their restoration, or it may be, for women are as uncertain as April weather, she may have learned to love them as her own and not intend to give them up.” ‘* Well, where is there money in this?” ‘The boy is away?” és es,” ‘On an indefinite cruise?” ‘**T judge so,” ‘‘ Then we must kidnap the girl.” ** What for?” ‘Don’t be a blockhead—for gold of course,” ‘**T see,” ‘¢ We can hide her in the Sea Cavern, ten miles down the coast, with our booty-keeper and his wife to guard her. ‘‘Then you will see the sorceress open up her money-bags and make an offer for her restora- tion that will surprise you,” *6 Good!” ** Of course it must all be looked upon as the work of smugglers, and you must let me mg you up in beard and long hair as a first-class look- ing pirate, and you do the kidnapping.” ‘* But how?” ‘** Well, there is no danger from the lad, for he is away, and the sorceress goes down to the town every Saturday evening for provisions, and she runs there in her skiff. ** [ll be on tha watch, and you can be in hid- ing in your boat, land at the cliff and pretend to have a message from the Wizard Sailor. ‘That will put ber off her guard, and you must be man enough to master her, gag and bind her, and as soon as it is dark, take her away in your boat, ‘*] will have already gone out into the offing in my smack, and will beat you, and we can run down to the cavern, leave her with Henshaw and bis wife, and be back in our beds before morning. ‘** Do you see?” “Tide” ** Will you do it?” ‘Why won’t you do the kidnapping?” ‘Simply because I am suspected of being a villain, and wish to run down to the town in my boat, get some stores and be seen there, and then to stand out for a night’s fishing, you ‘* You would not be recognized, and no one would suspect you.” “The girl might.” ** I will disguise you so she will not know you, and you must put wool in your mouth go as to change your voice,” ** But to catch her,” ‘Easy enough, for you can have a cloak ready to throw over her and smother her cries, while you can easily tie her and gag her.” ‘** You are used to this kind of work and understand it,” ‘If you don’t wish totry the game say so, and I'll do it alone,” ‘* And take the reward alone?” ** Certainly.” ‘** We are partners and should share it.” ‘** No risk, no share, friend Kenton.” ‘All right, I'll agree to do the work; but I am ruined if she recognizes me,” “Keep her from doing so, that is all; but where is your uncle?” ‘*Gone to New York.” ys And your cousin?” ‘Is with him, for he has gone on her account, as she has had another fortune left her.” ‘* Marry her, then.” ‘‘T cannot; but some old flame of the commo- dore’s left her a large fortune, on condition that she should bear her name, so she is my cousin Creola now.” ‘‘ Well, she is lovely by whatever name you call her, and you area fool if you don’t marry her.” ‘‘ She has refused me a dozen times.” ‘‘ Marry her by force, then.” . ‘‘ And have the commodore shoot me—not ” “Well, we must carry out our little plot to kidnap the beantiful Kate, so remember Satur- day morning, I will run down to Cedar Point and on be there. ou can hide in my boat and_come here, and Pll soon have you rigged up, and give you a boat I picked up at sea two nights ago, and which is a sea skiff with sails, and does not belong in this port, ‘“When you bave gone upon your mission, I will sail down to the town in my smack, and then head out in the offing to await your coming, ‘** Do you understand?” 9 a) Yes.” ‘In the mean time I will row down to-mor- row and notify Henshaw to be prepared fora lady guest, and carry him a lot of provisions, for we must not starve the little beauty.” **No, we must treat her well, or we may not get the reward you hope for; but I will ride homeward now, and try to screw my courage up to the point of kidnapping a girl,” and mounting his horse, Kenton Carr rode slowly homeward, his dogs following close at the heels of his horse, and doubtless wondering why their master failed to go in the search for game, CHAPTER XV. THE KIDNAPPER. Mrs, SWEEGAN, with her market and grocer baskets upon her arm, went down to the little wharf beyond the cliff, and entering her skiff rowed toward the town, \. It was about two hours before nightfall, and she concluded she would have just time to get back by dark. Kate never cared to go to the town, always shunning a crowd of curious gazers at her, and so she remained in the cabin, reading a book, after her preparations were made for the even- ing’s work later on. Clouds were in the sky and the night threat- ened to be dark, perhaps rainy, yet it was pleasant then, and Kate enjoyed the sea breeze that fanned her cheek, So engrossed was she in her book that she failed to see a small surf-skiff under sail run in alongside the cliff wharf and a man ascend the hill and come toward ber. He was a man of large build, rudely dressed in sailor garb, a pea-jacket with the collar turned up about his neck, around which he per» a silk kerchief as though suffering from a cold. He had bushy, unkempt gray bair and beard and wore a pair of large iron-rimmed specta- cles, He was almost at Kate’s side before she saw him and she slightly started, for visitors at Overlook cabin were rare. ** Be this the home of the Widder Sweegan, miss?” he asked in a hoarse voice, which further gave the idea that be had_a cold. "Yes, air.” ‘Be you Miss Kate Sweegan?” ‘*T am, and may I ask your business here?” ‘* Tt’s just to let you know, miss, that I bring a message from your brother.” ‘* Ah! is hein trouble?” **Oh no, miss, no more than that his schooner run afoul o’ the brig I was mate on in a fog and were a leetle damaged, so—” ‘* Was any one burt?” quickly asked Kate, ‘*No, miss, only the schooner, and she had to put in for repairs, and fearing you might learn of it, and be anxtous, the capting asked me, when I come inter port to call up and say all was right with ’em.” ‘And it is very kind of you to do 80, sir; but are you sure no one was injured?” ‘¢ Not a soul, miss.” ‘* When was it!” ‘Two nights ago ¢ ff Montauk, miss,” ‘‘ Again I thank you, sir, and may J ask you to sit down and await my mother’s return?” ‘‘Do you expect her soon, miss?” ‘*‘ By sunset, sir, at furthest.” ‘¢] hardly see how I can wait, miss.” = Well, you must let me reward you for your ains.’ pss The capting did that, miss: but I’m a leetle ery and if you’d git me a bite I’d be thank- ful, ‘Certainly, and a glass of good wine with it, so come into the house,” She led the way and as she crossed the thres- hold, the man close behind her, she suddenly felt a hand pressed upcn ber moutb with rude force,and found her arms dragged behind her and made fast in a slip-knot. ‘Keep quiet, girl, and you will not he harmed, but ery out ind struggle, and your’ life is in danger,” said the man hoarsely. Kate soon felt that to struggle was yain, and SO she became qaiet, and the man at once bound her more securely, and placed a kerchief over her neck with a gag attached, to thrust into her mouth at need. “T1| not bind your feet, but you must be made fast to my belt, for you look as though you could run like a deer,” ‘Try me,” was the laconic answer, the girl’s courage having returned to her, Then:she asked; * Who are you?” ‘* A smuggler.” ! ‘4 ; : | + . ed -books.com