Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 982: "The Girl Storm-Pilot" — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ing breeze, sent outalong train of glittering sparks which left astern a fiery track. The mainmast was now enveloped in a sheet of flame. That, too, must soon go by the board. Walf and Dean came to the surface near to- gother. The dip of the boatmen’s oars could not be heard, Here was a dilemma. Whichever way they should swim, it might ‘bein the wrong direction! However, they struck out in the course first taken by the boat. They were lusty swimmers, and knew the ‘value of prompt action. Toough it was like battling in a hopeless strife, they pressed boldly ahead out of the course of the burning ship, which was still rush- ing. on, a terrible yet grand spectacle. he mainmast soon fell crashing over the lee ars leaving the ship little more than a flume-lit ell. Away into the darkness of tho night, beyond the glistening circle of water, lit to a mid-day brilliancy by the burning wreck, swam the in- trepid twain. 4 Vainly they tried to pierce the gloom of the night, that they might catch a glimpse of the longed-for boat; in vain they listened for the swish of oars or the sound of human voices, ‘* Must we give up?” exclaimed Walf Ranger, as courage began to fail them. ‘*Hoaven have mercy upon poor Lena River- ton!” said Dean, ‘‘ We must find them!” On and on they swam, bearing up in the hope- less struggle with a fortitude that seemed more than mortal. Tne burning ship was still seen by its own light, though the orbit of its illumination grew smaller and more dim, Suddenly the flames leaped higher and the air was filled with flying sparks, A loud, hissing noise was borne over the wa- ter, followed by an ominous swirling and boiling of the sea drowned by a sullen roar, A minute later darkness settled over the scene, telling plainer than words that the doomed ship had gone down beneath the waves which had close over it forever, A feeling of utter loneliness weighed down the spirits of the castaways as they saw the ill-fated wreck sink into its watery grave, to realize more fully than before the hopelessness of their own situation. ‘*] fear it is no use to keep up longer,” said the brave-hearted Walf Ranger at last, ‘I have faced death too often to be a coward now, but we can only meet our fate like men, At the most we can only keep afloat a few minutes longer.” CHAPTER XIlfl. SPIRIT OR MORTAL? LITTLE wonder if the hearts of the brave ‘men an to fail them. Adrift at night upon the trackless sea, with only their own strong arms between them and the dark depths of an ocean grave. Aud the strongest of arms must grow weak at last. ‘Ig your strength baabinine to fail you, my boy?” asked Ranger, after several minutes of silence. } ‘*T must confess that I have gained nothing.” : ae up your courage a— Hark! that sounds like the swish of the tide against a float- ing timber, If we should be fortunate enough to run across a loose stick, if would be a god- send tous, ‘Pon my word, there is one coming, right into our hands,” alf Ranger proved correct, for a minute later a floating object came within his reach. Catching hold of it, he found it to be a loose spar from the lost ship. ‘‘Cheer up, Dean. There, can you get hold of it? Throw your arms over itso your weight will rest upon it. Thanks to a kind Provi- dence, there is hope for us yet.” With the aid of the spar they found that they could keep above the tide with little effort, They had given up the hope of finding the boat, at least until mIORTNG. Thus they drifted away into the night, going ‘they knew vot whither. Perhaps each moment found them further from tbe ob ject of their search. Beitas it might, they were powerless to ar- rest their fate, Never did hours drag themselves more wearily away. Toward midnight the clouds broke che somewhat, but it did not become light enoug for them to see for any considerable distance, ST The Girl Storm-Pilot. A little later they fancied that they heard voices in the darkness to their rigbt. Eagerly they listened, but with no satisfac- tory conclusion, ‘*T could attest that I heard the voice of Mark W ildbell,” said Dean. ‘*T thought so, too, my boy,” declared Ran- ger, wiping the briny water from his lips. ‘* But | fear it was only our imagination,” ** How [ lung for the morning light!” ‘‘Ay, ay; even the worst would be prefer- able, it seems, to this suspense,” Nothiag more was heard, or thought to be heard, save the ceaseless beating of the sea, un- til at last the gray light of dawn began to break on the distant horizon. As the darkness began to die away before the coming day how eagerly they scanned the dreary expanse of water encircling them. ** Alas!” exclaimed Dean, ‘‘ they are nowhere to be seen! ‘¢ We are alone upon the sea!’ ‘* Havecourage,” brokvin Ranger, more cheer- fully. ‘‘if I mistake not there isa dark object astern, Itlooks to melikea boat!” A glad cry 1 ft Dean's lips as be, too, saw the dark outlines of a boat looming up in the semi- darkness less than two hundred fathoms away. ‘* Boat ahoy!” he shouted joyously. To their disappointment no response was made to his hail, ‘‘ We must be mistaken,” ssid Walf, and they watched the scene with feverish interest as the light slowly dispelled the gloom, /ith each moment the object gathered shape, until to their unbounded delight they saw a veri- table boat. ‘* Boat ahoy!” cried Walf Ranger, ‘‘ Lay to and pick up a couple of castaways,”’ As before no response was made, third time they hailed with no better re- suit, ‘*There doesn’t seem to be a soul on board,” said Dean, ‘* And the boat is drifting with the tide. But that needn’t hinder us from taking possession. ‘* We will wait unil it comes a little nearer and then take our chances,” In a few minutes the distance between the boat and themselves had been reduced one half, Still no one seemed on board of the idle craft. Without waiting any longer they relinquished the sper and struck out for the boat. Quickly reaching the latter they seized upon its rail and pulled themselves up out of the wa- ter over its side, Half-way over, when they paused with looks of dismay. Six or eight men lay in the bottom as motion- less as if dead. At first they thought they were dead. They recognized them as a portion of Mark Wildbell’s party. Among them lay the burly ruffian as insensible as his confederates. Empty bottles lying about, as well as other evidences of a nigbt of drinking, told that they were under the stupor of the liquor which they had brought from the Sea Jewel, ‘* We can do no better than to board now that we have gone so far,” said Walf Ranger, ‘*though it is like entering a bornets’ nest,” No better course seemed open; in fact, it was that or a wat ry grave. ** As a precaution we will take away whatever weapons they have,” said Walf, ‘‘so that our chances with them will not be quite so un- equal,’ W ben this had been done and they had secret- ed the weapons where they could have them for use, Dean took his position at the tiller while his companion took a tion in the bows 80 that they commanded the ends of the boat. ‘brio could only wait further developments then, Anxiously they scanned the surrounding sea for a sight of the other boat, or the sail of some ship. Neither broke the monotony of the scene. Then as the sun crept up the eastern sky, they looked almost continually for the missing boat, In vain! They helped themselves to a liberal quantity of the bread and meat which the mutineers had been provident enough to take with them as well as the liquor. It was nearly noon before the outlaws showed any signs of awawening from their drunken stupor. ** We are in for it now,” said Walf. ‘“ But show no sigts of faltering and I think we will manage to hold our own, The result was different from what they had expected, Ambushade was the first to recover. Starting up on his eibow and rubbing his “ered blood-shot eyes with his other hand, his gaze fell directly upon Walf Raager. He stared wildly at him for a minute or so then closed his eyes, rubbed them, and opene them again, Still the motionless figure was before him, ‘Hore God and marcy!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ it’s bim |” Then as his gaze wandered over his slumber- ing companions, he discovered Dean Hammond sitting in the stern of the boat us unconcerned as if nothing had happened, ‘‘Gracioue earth!” shrieked the frightened wretch, ‘* they’ve both come!” Upon this he hit Mark Wildbell a furious punch, crying: ‘* Git up, cap’in! wake up! here!” W ildbell had so far recovered from his stupor that he started up at the vigorous blow dealt by his confederate, < * What in—” ** Look there!” cried Ambushade, pointing ex- citedly to Ranger. ‘* His spook!” In an instant the other’s looks changed. ‘* Good God!” he gasped, and sunk back in a swoon. The teeth of Ambusbade chattered, and his form shook as if with the ague. ‘\ Man, or spirit,” be exclaimed, ‘‘ speak! I— Their spooks are Tied But speech failed him, ‘‘Have nothing to fear,” replied Walf. ‘‘ Though we bave come back as from the grave, we will returv good for evil and use you well as long as you are true to us,” ‘*We will,” answered Ambushade, in a thick, maudlin tone, ‘* s’help m’ death!” Then, as a new idea came into his muddled brain, be caught up one of the bottles of liquor, and, passing it to the other, bantered : s Hey a swig, old feller! D’ye pile o’ good.” But Ranger shook bis head at the risk of of- fending the bewildered seaman, ‘* Strange chap, old boy; butsay, mebbe spooks don’t licker, hey?” Walf Ranger shook bis head, ‘That s-ttles it!” And as if to prove the matter still further, be took a libera) portion himself, Had their situation been one of less horror, it would have been amusing to note the effects of their appearance upon the bewildered and star- tled wreckers, not one of whom did not think he was gazing upon a veritable visitor from the other world. Little wonder, either. One by one they returned to a vague realiza- tion of their situation, Mark Wildbell was the most self-possessed of the gang when be had fairly thrown off the ef- fects of a night of drink. But not one believed, or could be made to be- lieve that the twain who had come so on eons them were other than spirits who had come back from the sea to punish them for their wrong-doing in leaving them up»%n the burning ship. iP Take my hand,” said Walf Ranger, ‘‘ and prove for yourself that I am flesh and blood.” The outlaws shook their heads, In their dazed state the lawless gang turned to the liquor, beginning to drink deeply in spite of the remonstrances of Walf and Dean. “‘Thrink!” muttered Ambushad®, ‘0’ course sich as ve don’t want nothin’. Weare men, and —hic—hbi there, Jim, lemme ’lone!” ‘‘ Look there!” cried Dean at this moment; ‘what is that dark object floating to our lee- ward?” Walf Kanger turned from the wrangling sailors to scan the sea upon their right, hoping oo ha again had discovered the looked-for Instead he saw what appeared in the distance _ a huge log tossed on the billows of the eep. As they continued to watch the strange object and it gradually grew into a tangible shape, vague fears filled their minds. It was an upturned boat! ‘Ay, my boy,” said Walf Ranger, while his voice grew husky. ‘That is the other boat which put off from the Sea Jewel, It must have met with a misbap, and those on board have heer lost!” ‘‘Then she has perished with the rest!” ex- claimed Dean, thinking of poor Lena River- ton. ‘‘ Ay, but a more merciful fate than to have been cast into such a crew as this,” declared Ranger. | : ; —— ee — — 7 a a io - ee Se — I at ne, ee oe a