Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 933 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

“he ) wir, m7) 8! s 4 ay 7) ‘ yeas” BW ; eet | Wiha Bo ' les . D Pad | ovr Aa oa 7 PP vig é Oh TINS Ge Ps) | as i) “at wa \ Salt ayes. i ee ee Wh ahr rh =! ; rudy ; ; s ry Pees |)" - oe *- 2s | 1 ab saw Vernier standing at the entrance, For the first time in his life, as Vernier ‘or ‘ -Grece, the abductor was not at ease, and it was mA | ‘ 4 . oe ‘ 4“ ” re oe : 7 ans P ; Kr ad Ms yy Foking sad and depressed, to invite her to go sailing, he bad mentioned his aunt as Mrs. Lawrence, and Emily, therefore, took no notice when he introduced his companion simply by that name, PT Mrs. Lawrence was a beautiful woman of about thirty-five, with Jarge mournful eyes that won Emily’s sympathy, but she was all ready when they called; and there was no time for talking. Little was said on the way to the schooner, but Emily remarked that Vernier, who did most of the talking, never addressed his aunt. At the water front, they found Smith with a small boat—so small that there was room for only one oarsman and one passenger. Vernier looked and spoke very angry, on see- ing this. ‘You should have known better than bring this boat, Smith!” he said, and then to Emily: ‘*Please step in. 1 will put you aboard, and then come back for my aunt.” Emily would have objected, but Mrs. Law- rence was talking to Smith, and not wishing to interrupt ber, she obeyed. On going aboard the schooner, Vernier led Emily below to the after-cabin, where, to her surprise, she found a young colored girl. ‘* Dora will give you a glass of wine, while I Ss back for my aunt,” said Vernier, and before mily could reply, he was gone. She noticed that the door closed after him with a peculiar click, but gave it no attention at the time. There were two small windows in the stern of the schooner, and through these Emily could see Vernier rowing leisurely ashore. Just as he was about toland, Dora, the colored girl, offered her a glass of iced sherry. The day was warm, the walk to the beach— (there were no piers in the upper part of the river)—a long one, and Emily was glad to accept it. Glancing through the window again, as she raised. the glass to her lips, Emily saw Mrs, Lawrence crying and wringing her hands, ap- arently’in great agony, and a vague feeling of ear took possession of her. She sct the glass down beside her, and watched the group ashore—not two hundred yards away. ' Suddenly Vernier raised his hand, and in- stantly Emily heard the men raising the anchor, What could it mean? She had sailed often enough in Dare’s cutter, lying near by, to know that this meant they were about to sail at once, and was wondering why the others did not come aboard, when she was horrified to see Smith strike Mrs. Lawrence a brutal blow in the face. : As the unfortunate woman fell, Emily uttered a piercing shriek for help and fainted. hen she recovered consciousness, Emily found Dora bending over her, and the tender, pitying expression in the colored girl’s eyes cha her hope, although causing her tears to ow freely. **Oh, what does this mean?” cried Emily, springing up. | So shook her head ominously, as she re- ‘¢T do not know—TI cannot understand.” Emily’s heart supk. She half-suspected the truth, and wailed: ‘‘ Wor God’s sake, tell me, if you know!” **I do not know,” repeated Dora, sadly, add- ~“ Your husband—” es y husband!” cried Emily, interrupting her, ‘**I have no husband! I am not mar- ‘* Ah! Sum | Now I understand!” exclaimed Dora, her face lighting up. ** Heis a villain! Your - wine must have been drugged—that was why he was angry because you did not drink it! © ** But hush! Lhear him coming down, Take this—you may need it!” _ With the last words, the excited girl took from her bosom a small dagger, which, together ifs the scabbard, she thrust into Emily’s i CHAPTER IX. THE OLD SEA-DOG ON THE TRAIL, _ THx footsteps descending the companionway, which had attracted Dora’s attention, grew ceased, and raising her eyes, Emily ‘slower gad slower as they approached, until at Tength¢ ey | witisa forced smile he said: ey “You have been a little frightened, Miss - aad, * « ' * Fe xe ® . he Two Midshipmen, —————— — —— King. I trust we have—that is, that you are fully recovered?’ ‘* T shall be when you set me on shore—and I must ask you to do so at once!” The words were firm enough, but the tone showed the speaker was frightened. Vernier, who had been drinking to nerve himself for this interview, Jaughed hoarsely. ‘* Impossible, my dear Miss King. We are now running before a half-gale, and standing out to sea!” ; ‘It is impossible!” gasped Emily. ‘* You cannot be so mean, cowardly, treacherous, as to take advantage of my trust in you!” , ‘*Go into the outer cabin, Dora,” ordered Vernier, and with a significant glance at mers the girl obeyed. ‘‘My dear Miss King—Emily—” began Ver- nier, advancing as he spoke, ‘“Stop! What you have to say can be said where you are!” cried Emily, clutching more hightly the dagger concealed in the folds of her ress, Under any other circumstances, with any other person, Vernier would have laughed at the command, but his love for Emily was hon- est and true to a certain extent, as yet—the only honest feeling or passion he had experi- enced for many years, if at all, ‘You can say nothing to palliate your con- duct,” continued Emily, as she stood confused where she had stopped him, ‘‘ Take me home at once and I may forgive you.” ** Never until you are my wife!” cried Ver- nier, coming together suddenly, and then, as the pane began to work, he advanced again, say- ng: **Come, Emily, it’s no use fighting against fate. One kiss before I leave you.” ‘*Back! Stand back, you coward!” cried Emily, raising the dagger. He fell back a yard or two, and stood staring at her in surprise. | ‘Very well—you may be glad to— Never mind, you'll change your ideas before long,” and turning on bis heel Vernier left the cabin, while Emily sunk back almost fainting. Half a minute later, Dora entered from the outer cabin, rpm on a tray in one hand, and in the other a small carving-knife. ‘**Don’t be afraid, miss, I would have killed him if he Jaid a hand on you,” she said, her eyes glowing like coals of fire, ‘*Come, you must try to eat something,” she continued, ‘‘and drink a cup o’ tea. I know that ain’t doctored, ’cause I made it myself.” Emily thanked her with a look of gratitude, and obeyed her injunction as far as the tea was concerned. “Oh, you mus’ eat somethin’,” said Dora. “If ye don’t, you'll get so weak ye won’t be no ‘count ’tall,” “Thank you, Dora, Vl try,” said Emily with a faint, sad smile. The cabin was neatly finished in maple and walnut, and furnished elegantly, with two cur- tained berths, a table, two easy-chairs and a small lounge. A number of books stood in a rack in one corner, and on top of these Emily saw some- thing shining, which, on examination, proved to be a silver-mounted pistol—loaded. When the two girls retired for the night, the pistol was under Emily’s pillow, and the dag- ger under Dora’s, but they were not troubled by any one until the steward, a West Indian negro, knocked to ask if Emily would breakfast with the captain in the outer cabin. ‘* Not if 1 have any choice in the matter,” was the prompt reply. Shortly after Dora was called, and when she returned she carried a tray containing Emily’s breakfast. ‘“* He’s comin’ soon as you’re through,” said Dora, ‘* Very well—I can’t Emily, quite calmly. She had the pistol in her pocket, and felt confi- dent in her ability to protect herself. More- over, Dora hai given her some comforting information, namely, that her (Dora’s) brother, full of boyish curiosity, bad been hidden among the trees near the spot where Mrs, Lawrence was 80 brutally stricken down. He had declared his intention of seeing the ni = od sail, and must have witnessed the as- sault, | _ There was little doubt but that he would assist Mrs. Lawrence, who would undoubtedly notify Mrs, King and Captain Adams. \ That the latter would pursue the schooner, was as sure as fate, | When, therefore, Vernier entered the after- prevent him,” rejoined cabin, he found Emily cool and confident, en ee -- . ~ 7 * ' ' eee) Lt et pee tty ee By J bbecce ab B= po + Ot ey e4 ; ' i me S 1 ' \ —_——_- as eee ee 2 cme 7 OTR KEEL OEY TE instead of in tears and full of reproaches, and he looked suspiciously at Dora, to whom he | said: **'You can leave us!” ‘* Miss King,” he began, in a very respectful tone, “I trust I did not frighten you last vight?’ Emily’s eyes were full of scorn, but she did not reply. Vernier had a wicked temper. He saw the scorn in her eyes and about her mouth, and his next words were in a sullen, defiant tone; ‘‘ Well—I’ve come to apologize. That’s all I can do.” ‘‘' You are forgetting that you can return me to my home,” ‘* That I will not do until you return as my wife,” ‘* Very well,” said Emily, calmly. ‘‘Is that all you wished to say?” er coolness alarmed and angered him. ‘¢ You are taking things pretty easy.” The sneer accompanying the words irritated Emily, but, restraining her temper, she re- lied: ar Why should I not do so? My uncle is already in pursuit of you.” yee started, and then, with a harsh laugh, said: ‘*The Marguerite can show her heels to any- thing afloat. Besides, your dear old uncle don't know where to look for me.” ‘* Don’t be too sureof that!” , Again Vernier started, but, remembering the speed of the schooner, recovered himself. ‘* Granting he does know—how can he over- take us? As I told you, the Marguerite is supe- rior in speed to anything afloat.” ‘* Don’t be too sure of that, either,” said Emily “ y, adding: , ‘*] don’t think you ever tried your speed against Captain Dare’s cutter. That is the fast- est boatin or about New York, and remember you were watched going away, and she is now on your track. ‘* Your only chance to escape my uncle’s vengeance is to put me ashore somewhere at once,” For a moment Emily thought he was consid- ering the advisability of doing so, but she was wrong, “If the cutter is armed, and I cannot get ° away,” he said, quietly, ‘‘ I’ll scuttle the schoon- er and sink all hands,” There was no doubt of the sincerity of Ver- nier’s horrible threat, and Emily shuddered. Vernier, pacing the floor nervously, noticed the effect of his words, | ‘* It is not pleasant, and [ hope it will not be necessary,” be said, slowly, ‘‘ but, much as I love you, 1 would rather sink with you in my arms than surrender you to be the bride of an- other— and especially—that other.” ** And I would ruther sink to the bottom of the ocean than become your bride!” was Emily’s spirited reply, adding: 4 eh; ‘* As for sinking in your arms, you can rest eset that there is no danger of my doing a . ‘‘There’s something like that cutter — you | know, the one I wanted to scuttle—climbing right up on us!” said Smith, sticking his head into the cabin, 3 ‘Allright! Ill be up in a minute!” replied Vernier, and turning to Emily: ‘Instead of looking so joyous. you should be praving that it is not that cutter /” Emily did not reply, and calling Dora from the outer cabin, Vernier locked tbe door lead- ing into it. Then, with a weesge ony. pee about the cabin, be ascended to the deck, and Emily could hear the companionway-slide lock- ed after bim. Vernier was more troubled by Emily’s words than he cared to acknowledge, ; A strong gale had sprung up during the early part of the previous night, and he had been com- elled to shorten sail, and at times heave to. His light-draught schooner would not stand it, while the deep cutter, with a half-ton of lead bolted to her keel, would derive all the benefit of the gale, which had not yet entirely subsided. ‘** It looks like her, sir!” said Smith, as Ver- nier came up. © ‘“‘ I’m afraid it is,” replied Vernier. ‘‘ Crowd on every rag she'll carry, and curse the spars!” CHAPTER X. ; ESCAPED—THE THREAT, NOTHING but a rapid decrease in tae strength of’the wind saved the canvas of the Marguerite from being blown out of the bolt-ropes. 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