Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 982: "The Girl Storm-Pilot" — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 ‘*My friend here has been wounded,” said Lena, quickly, ‘‘and as your—” ‘* Come in,” said the old man, hastily, antici- pating her wishes. ‘“‘ Lay him on the couch yonder. Is he ks ing! jured?”’ ‘“T fear so. There, Robia, I think that will do, Now we will see to his wound.” ** Better let me do thet, missus,” said Robin, ** I’se 'fraidyso much blood—” . ‘Don’t be alarmed for me, Robin. Do you not see how calm [am? I truly believe there is nothing that would daunt me to-night. ‘*But see! He breathes more regularly! He opens his eyes! [amso glad. Can you speak to me, Will?” He raised his hand ever so slight!y, and a smile rested on his wan countenance, The old fisherman had returned to the door. **Do you suffer much pain? He has fainted, His wound is bleeding again.” Robin began at once to bathe the wound, and, assisted by’ Lena, succeeded in making a credit- able job. The wound was deep and they feared dangerous. The ball bad entered the left side just below the heart, and turned from a direct course by striking a bone, it had passed downward to come out a little below on the back. It had been a close shot, and his life had been spared by only a hair’s-breadth. The amateur surgeons had the wound well bandaged ere the old fisherman turned back to notice them, ‘‘ Pardon me,” he said, **if I act not the part of a good host, Iam nervous on account of the absence of my daughter. She started out to the ship outside, before dark. I could not say her nay,and I pray she may be spared to return. But_a worse storm never hung over St. Julian.” He had begun to pace the floor while speak- ing, and his excitement was fearful, ‘Ha! tho gun is stopped!” he cried, suddenly pausing at the door to listen intently. “It is silent! That means that she will try to make port. God have mercy upon them! Oh, my child! you havea task upon your hands a’‘man might well shrink from undertaking. _ Ay, the gun is silent; but the bell—the bell! no storm can silence that! I1t is time that I did may work, I will not fail her.” He seized a brand from the fire as he spoke and rushed out into the night. Lena and Robin sitting beside the wounded man watched the old fisherman with wonder. His action to them was an enigma. She thought that he must be crazy, and began to fear bim. Unknown to them he had gathered, ere the storm had set in, a pile of brushwood, dried grass, etc., near his door, and to these he now applied his torch, ut, soaked with the rain, these failed to ig- nite; and sputtering, hissing in his hand, the blaze upon the brand expired. He grew more nervous, and rushing into the house seized another faggot from the pile to apply it with no better result, ** Must I always fail?” he cried, ‘* Their lives —hers—depend upon me. Ha! I will do it,” Bounding into the house again, he caught up another brand to carry it to the shed adjoining his house. A minute later a jet of flame sprung up which kindled rapidly. mga turned pale as she witnessed his wild work. Then a gust of wind swept in at the open door extinguishing the sputtering candlo leaving them in the dark. The old fisherman watched with keen delight the burning building, andas the flames leaped higher his joy seemed boundless. He threw some of the brush upon the fire which bungrily licked them up. Hark! the report of the ship’s gun is heard, “They sea it! they sesit!” he cried exultant- ly. “16 will save them! it will save them!” Utterly lost to the storm which raged about him, tossing bis long disbeveled hair in the night air and drenching his tattered garments, he gazed alternately from the fire into the gloom asif by persistent watching ho could penetrate its darkness, Wilfred Morland bad again opened his eyes and even spoken in a low tone to Lena something which she failed to understand, He seemed quite comfortable and she bade him to remain as quiet as possible, “Whar dey t’ink yo’and me gone? up-to de house’n s’pose?” asked Robin witha hard grin upon his dark countenance, The question startled Lena, for she had not ee of the possibility of their being missed ore, . | The Girl Storm-Pilot. While she hesitated in her reply, the old fisher- man rushed into the room with a scared look upon his bronzed face, ‘Quick! fly for your lives!” he cried, ‘* The fire has caught upon the house and the building is in flames!” CHAPTER VI. AN UNBIDDEN GUEST, AcTON MARBLE, when satisfied that Walf Ranger was really drowned, instead of return- ing toward Cliffwood started toward the ruined abbey. With considerable difficulty, in the blinding darkness, he reached at last the entrance to the old building. Threading the dark hall, with which he seemed familiar, he soon found his course stop by a heavy oaken door yet in a good state of preser- vation, Upon giving three peculiar raps and a low whistle a muffled voice from within demanded: ** Who's there?” * The Spirit tPA ora or ‘* Spirit, give the countersign, else thy uneasy form aubare not this sacred abode,” d ‘* Nothing venture, nothing gain.” ast (tood.” A moment later the door swung open and Ac- ton Marble stepped into a dimly-lit apartment, large in its extent, with rows of high-backed seats running across its floor and a finely- mounted desk upon a high platform in front, A glance was sufficient to show that ic was the holy precinct once consecrated to the worship of God, and where the fallen Wolana had exhorted his listeners, not one of whom was so great a sin- ner as bimself. In'the corner of the room, now desecrated by the presence of men bent upon evil, were three rsons seated at a table, from which the fourth ad risen to admit their visitor. As they recognized the new-comer a murmur of pleasure arose, ‘““What news, Cap? It must be something unusual to bring you out on such a night.” ‘‘Soit is, but the foul fiend’sown, Boys, we have been betrayed,” ‘* Betrayed!” explained they, leaping to their feet to a man, ‘Show us the traitor!” end a cutlass flashed in the hand of each, ‘Tis a womau—curses upon her! ‘The Sea Jewel will safely make the prize you are waiting for has slip your fingers.” A look of amszement rested upon the bru faces of the little group. , ‘*Explain yourself, Marble, Is there work for us to do?” ** Toco late to talk of work!” sneered the other. “You know old Whitehead—Old Neptune they call him, Well, his girl for some unac- countable reason went out to-night to pilot the ship in. The old man has started a beacon, and ten to one if the girl does not bring the vessel in. What can be their motive I do not understand, but it’s for no ordinary purpose, The scowl upon the sinister faces of the listen- ers d ned and bitter maledictions against the brave Girl Pilot were uttered, ** Tis not the first time either!” growled one. ‘Who is this old man and girl?’ asked another, ‘‘The gods know,” muttered Acton Marble, ‘* He has come to St. Julian a stranger, associ- ates with no one, and isa small, inoffensive-look- ing man, His girl has the face of an angel, but the heart of a lioness, ‘*T remember of speaking to the girl once in a jesting tone of her father, Ye stars! you ought to have seen her eyes snap, and her white face turned as bleck as a thunder-cloud,” ‘* So our game is up this time,” said he of the gang, who seemed spokesman, being indeed its leader. ‘*' Well, boys, what course is open to us now?” A long and stormy discussion followed, in which Marble joined only occasionally until at last he said: ‘*Now I don’t want to interfere with your work, but it seems to me you all fail to see the proper course open to you.” They looked up, inquiringly,. ‘* In the first place,” continued the arch-sche- mer, ‘‘ how many of you are there who can be depended upon every time?” ‘ Well, besides ourselves,” replied the chief, ‘there are Williams, Morey and Rob Rane, and Black Mike, Don’t you say so, boys?” ** To a man,” chorused the others, ** That would make eicht,” declared Marble, ‘*Too many it sesms to me for so small a field.” rt, and through for me to beat round the bush, The game is for you anyway. Then listen,” and he lowered his voice to a whisper, but loud enough to be heard distinctly. ‘‘ The Sea Jewel will remain at St. Julian’s a few days at the most, when she will put to sea again with a full cargo. ‘* Nothing would be easier for you than to ship as a part of the regular crew, or manage to secrete yourselves on board. Once open sea is reached and—” He purposely left the sentence unfinished, but its meaning was clearly understood. lt seemed a long time before the others spoke, and Marble trembled lest he had misjudged hig men and gone too far. But he was quickly put at ease. ‘* By Jove!” exclaimed the chief; ‘‘ just what has been in my mind. A broad field and a merry race forme! Are you with me, boys?’ ** But the risk,” ventured one. ‘‘Not half what you are running now,” inter- posed Acton Marble, ‘‘I see nothing in the way of your success; and the business—work, L sbould say—properly done and you are rich,” ‘*Tt’s so, boys,” said their leader, ‘‘!] have thought of suggesting such a plan to you. It will be a sure thing,” eA Will the others who are not here agree to it? ‘*T’ll warrant you we can count upon them. So you are ready to take hold? Let each man speak for himself, ** Redlaw?” ‘* Ready for the work,” ** A mbuscade?” ‘‘ T reckon ye’ll find me on deck.” ‘* And you, Mark Wildbell, I know we can depend upon you.” The dark-faced man smiled. ‘*T calkilate I helped scuttle one ship in my day, and can help send another one to Davy Jones if called on, Cap’n Gilroy.” a) Good.” ‘And that settles it as far as you are con- cerned,” said Marble, finding it hard work to conceal his exultation. ‘'I haveno doubt about the others. They must be fools to let such an opportunity slip by.” ‘* They won’t,” affirmed Gilroy, confidently. Following this, the details of the plan were discussed, i seg y, Acton Marble, the wily schemer, said: ‘* It is a pity to let so good a chance of re- venge go by. Why not inveigle that girl on board, and once at sex you can feed the sharks: with her precious body.” The wretches, hardened as they were, looked agbast. ie It will make us a pile of trouble,” said Gil- roy. ‘*T will look after the capturing of her, Once she is in trouble to you.” “‘ Co-rect,” replied the chief, ‘* And it will pay os old debt handsomely, What do you say, s a Oh, we'll leave it with you, cap’n.” ‘Then that is settled,” declared Marble, promptly. In secret he was gloating over his triumpb. He well knew that his half-brother, Dean Hammond, was intending to go away on the Sea Jewel, and thus by one well-devised plan he would rid himself not only of his ene- mies but the tools with which he did his work, for Gilroy and his gang would oever dare to re- turn to disturb him, The minor parts of their work were arranged, Acton Marble being careful to enthuse them with all the flattery he dared use. In the midst of their conyc>:ation a low sound fell upon their ears, ** Hist!” warned Gilroy. “’T was only the rats,” said Mark Wildbell contemptuously. ‘* Tt sounded like a footstep,” affirmed Gilroy, anxiously. ‘ ‘‘ Hark! there it is again!” whispered Marble, ** Some one is—” Before he could finish his sentence a crash sounded over their heads, They sprung to their feetin alarm just as a rtion of the ceiling fell upon them, half-bury- g them in the ruins. Before they could recover from their surprise, a man sprung from out of the debris to confront them, ag pren as surprised asthey, ~ Acton Marble uttered a sharp cry of terror as. he recognized the gray cloak and piercing eyes: of Walf Ranger! va ic p . " i) > Vary . - Reka s! ¢ :" “ Pia ’ A The four opened their eyes wider than beforerec ‘* Look here,” Marble went on, ‘“‘it’s no use ~ our power and there will be no- - ete Se 4 os . es Oe ts