Beadle's Dime Library No. 103 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

en —- ee i — —_—_— _ nothing but the mainsail and jib set, in this spanking breeze,” said Arthur Grenville. “Dere’s mighty few fokes on de deck, sah,” called out one of the negro crew from the fore- By Jove! you are right, Joe; what can it mean?” “The flag is half-mast, sir, and union down,” cried Merton Ainslie. ‘*Oh, Heaven! are we too late?” It was Mildred that spoke, and she turned her eyes upon the distant schooner, The yacht was now flying so as to head the schooner off, and with all sail set that would draw. As they drew nearer, Captain Grenville sig- naled the vessel-of-war who they were, and the schooner immediately lay to and awaited the yacht’s approach. Sweeping close under the stern of the Sea Ser- nt, the yacht was brought to, and Captain renville hailed: ‘‘Ahoy, the schooner! Sebastian, in God’s name what has happened to you?’ All breathlessly awaited the answer, while they gazed at the almost vacant decks of the schooner, for not a dozen men were visible on board. ‘There has been a mutiny and a number kill- ‘Merle Grenville was the mutineer leader.” CHAPTER XIX. THE CAT-OF-NINE-TAILS. WHEN the schooner-of-war Sea Serpent pass- ed out of the murky waters of the Mississippi river into the blue depths of the Gulf of Mexico, a sudden change was visible in the face of Wil- ber Sebastian. Before, it had been pale and anxious; now it was flushed, and a look of triumph shone in the eyes while a smile of cruel deviltry rested upon the lip. It vin his first separate command, and as cap- tain, he felt himself undisputed ruler of his ship and crew—upon his deck he was whatever he chose to be, and he was determined that those under him should know it. The senior lieutenant, Otis Alden, and an old- time friend of Wilber Sebastian, seemed to par take of the same feeling as his commander, for, whenever he could, upon the frigate, be a petty tyrant, he had never allowed the opportunity to escape. Lucien Bethune, the surgeon, seemed also of the same mind as his captain and the senior Luff, for he had always been on the side of cruelty when naval iscipline had been dis- é :; Hence it was, that Merle found himself the only one of the superior officers whe believed in tempering discipline with mercy; but his views were laughed at by his comrades, and he felt that the schooner’s crew were destined to have no easy time of it. In this conjecture he was wholly right, for, once in blue water, Captain Sebastian had all hands called aft. His short address to the crew was a forebod- ing of what they might expect: ‘Men, this is a vessel-of-war, and I am her commarder. My discipline shall be such as to allow no disobedience or laziness among my crew, If you would keep scars from your backs fly at my command; goforward to your duties, % The crew went forward to their duties, but many a brow lowered and many a face paled. “Jist what I said he was—a cruel tyrant. Shipmates, yonder is ther devil, an’ we is in his power,” growled Jack Buntline. ‘* Now up into the rigging there, you devils!”’ yelled oy aac Sebastian, suddenly, and the men flew to their posts. Then for an hour the crew were kept upon the run, shaking out reefs, reefing again and reset- ting, and every time descending on deck to be cursed as a pack of lazy lubbers. Of course this incessant work broke the crew down, and those who were utterly winded fell under the eye of the captain for punishment. ‘“ Rig the gratings, Mr. Grenville, for punish- ” ent. With a white face and stern lips Merle obey- ed, and the crew were mustered to see their un- fortunate shipmates punished for no offense whatever. . Forward of the gratings stood the marine guard with loaded muskets and bayonets fixed, facing the crew, and further aft the officers with drawn swords, while the surgeon was standing on one side, with the boatswain and his mates near by. Fronting the gratings stood the: master-at- arms he prisoners—five in number. With cruel’ calmness Wilber Sebastian in- spected the arrangements, and said, sternly: — nf Strip the first prisoner, boatswain, and seize him up. Quietly the boatswain obeyed, and a young man, a mere youth, was dragged to the grating, and his arms — legs made fast, as he stood in a nearly upright position. ’ His shire wits then dragged from his shoul- ders, exposing his naked back, and Captain Se- bastian read the “articles of war,” charging the prisoner with neglect of duty. m Merle, ‘Uhe Mutineer. os ** Now, boatswain, let your cat wag its tails!” he ordered, with a smile. ‘How many, sir?’ asked the boatswain. ‘Give him a dozen!” ‘““ Ay, ay, sir,” and the boatswain seized the cat-of-nine-tails.* Measuring his distance well, the boatswain rolled up his shirt-sleeve, to give the muscles of his arm fair play, and separating the “tails,” so that each one might spread and do effective work, he brought the lash down upon the naked back with terrible force. Blood-red lines crossed the back as the whip was raised again, and the voice of the master- at-arms was heard counting: ‘*One!” Again fell the cruel lash, causing the poor man to writhe in agony, but no groan escaped his set lips. és Two p? ES TE SR 15 He had been goaded to madness by all he had witnessed, and, had his life been the forfeit, he would have spoken as he did. ‘* Hand me your sword, sir!” and Captain Se- bastian held forth his hand. “You are not fit to receive it,” and Merle drew the blade, snapped it quickly in two, and threw the pieces into the sea. ‘“‘ By the Virgin! but this is mutiny!” ‘“*Call it what you please, sir; I refuse longer to serve under such a tyrant.” The words were calm and fearless. ‘* Ye gods! you shall suffer for this; master-at- arms, seize that man.” It seemed at first as though Merle intended to resist; but he thought better of it, and quietly submitted to the arrest. Had he known what was to follow he would | have died rather than have submitted. A hellish look now crossed the face of Wilber A third time fell the “‘ cat,” and the blood | Sebastian and he turned to his officers. spattered those who stood near, ‘You see, gentlemen, that this man is a mu- “Three!” called out the master-at-arms, and | tineer?” yet no cry for mercy. “¢ Four!” Had Wilber Sebastian no mercy? 4¢ None! ‘* Five!” and as the lashes were withdrawn they dra ged the minced flesh with them. ‘* Six! And thus it went on until the master-at-arms reporved that the dozen blows had fallen upon the naked back. . Still he uttered no groan. ‘‘By Heaven! Pll dragac from his stubborn lips,” cried Wilber Sebastian, in a fury. ‘* Release him now, and seize up the others! then his turn shall come again.” ‘The r wretch was taken from the grat- ing, his back dripping, his face as white as mar- ble, and his lips gashed, where his teeth had pierced them in agony. Another prisoner was then lashed up, and, re- membering that his shipmate’s pluck, in not crying out, had condemned him to another dozen, he yelled lustily, and was let down at the end of the twelve. Then followed the third, each with their al- lotted twelve, and the fourth wretch shrieked for mercy ere he was seized up to the grating. ** Oh, ! what have I done?’ he asked, and as the cruel lash cut deep into his flesh he cried: ** Captain, oh! captain, for the love of God! mercy !” ‘* Give the bleating calf another dozen for his howling,” yelled Captain Sebastian, and the or- der was obeyed, the wretched man fainting several times, and each time revived by Lucien Bethune, to undergo his torture. ‘* Now, boatswain, seize up that dumb brute again, and strike hard! hes cry me mercy,” said Captain Sebastian, grimly. Again was the first prisoner lashed to the | They both bowed in assent. ‘*T could have him shot dead for this; but I will be merciful and spare his life. ‘* Boatswain, seize him up for punishment— he shall feel the cat!” A groan broke from the crew, and grim smiles rested on the faces of Otis Alden and Lucien Bethune; as for Wilber Sebastian, his hand- _ some face was now fiendish in its look of hellish | | | | ' | ' | JOY: | _ Merle distinctly heard the base order, and his for mercy yet | face turned to the hue of a corpse. ‘** Do you mean it, Wilber Sebastian?” The tone was deep and suppressed, and there was a strange glare in his ose ‘““T do, by the Eternal! ize him up for pun- ishment, 1 say, boatswain!” The crew moved nervously, as the boatswain stepped forward to obey, and Wilber Sebastian turned toward the officer of marines, and mo- tioned him to be ready for an outb All expected Merle would resist; but instead, 4 mi with a forced calmness that was ter- rible: **T am ready, boatswain.” CHAPTER XxX, _ THE MUTINEER, Wits his own hands Merle threw aside his uniform coat, and then his pallid face flushed as he bared his back to the las ‘Will that powerful, mp, ae ne man submit to the degradation of the ” Such was the thought of all, and scores of hands clenched upon their clasp-knives, Every face was white now; every man’s breath was hard drawn. It was bad enough to see an ordinary seaman lashed, for an offense committed; but, to behold an officer, one who had rebuked inhumanity, one who, if he had erred in addressing his com- ting and upon nist puma back fell another | mander as he did, had erred upon the side of ozen cruel blows; no cry for mercy. ‘* He has had two dozen, sir,” and the master- at-arms politely saluted. ‘*Boatswain’s mate, take the cat and give him another dozen.” ‘‘ Captain Sebastian, this is inhuman.” Wilber Sebastian turned quickly, a wicked look in his eyes, and met the indignant gaze of Merle fixed upon bim. ‘* What mean you, sir?” The silence of death rested upon all; even the sufferers ceased their ns. Calm, distinct, fearlessly came the answer: “ Just what I say, sir; this is inhuman—those men have been ty of no offense.” ' ‘*T will attend to you, anon, sir; boatswain, give him another dozen, I say.” There was an evil glare in the eyes of Wilber Sebastian; there was a reckless, defiant look in the eyes of Merle. Again the whip fell heavily; but the form did not even flinch—not a muscle twitched, and mo- tioning to the boatswain to hold, Lucien Be- thune stepped forward, and laid his hand upon the man’s pulse. Then he felt his heart, and shook his head. ‘** Proceed, boatswain!” ordered the inhuman captain. ‘ He is dead, sir.” It was Lucien Bethune that spoke. Wilber Sebastian turned livid; but he said, quickly: ‘*Not_ so, Bethune; a little blood-letting will not kill him; but cut him down.” The vey form was lowered from the gentinaees all saw that the surgeon had told the , The we fellow was dead; he nee died with- out a cry for mercy, or a groan of agony; his brave heart had broken beneath the costed lash, and Wilber Sebastian was his murderer. ‘‘Captain Sebastian, you are an inhuman wretch—a coward, and a murderer!” ‘*Ha! by the heavens above! you shall suffer for this,” and Wilber Sebastian ed upon the one who had made the bold charge against him. But Merle stood calm and firm. * Nine fails, or ro eighteen inches long, each, and as thick as the little finger, and made fast to a handle twelve inches in length; a cruel whip indeed, | ht. This sight was horrible indeed. Would not the other officers step forward to his relief? Would they see him humiliated, when by re- monstrating they could prevent it?’ Yes, they were but the tools of their captain; he had selected them knowing he could use them. The marine lieutenant had attempted te speak in remonstrance, but a stern rebuke si- lenced him. It thus lay with the men—the crew. They stood in a silence that was wan Og The four men who had been punished ceased to feel their pain; they crouched down on the deck, awaiting what would follow. The man who had been killed lay stark and stiff before them. Were his white face and wild, staring eyes not a warning? It seemed not, for the work of preparation went on, and Merle was tied to the grating. A sigh ran through the crowd of seamen; one word from the doomed officer, and Wilber Se- bastian and his tools and supporters would be hurled into the sea. But he spoke not that word, and the lash whirled around the boatswain’s head. Had he no pity? No; he gloried in the power to let fall his whip upon the back of a superior; Wilver Se- bastian knew his man when he made him his boatswain. A swish through the air, and down came the savage blow upon the scarless white shoulders, A of agony burst from the crew, sound- ing like the muttering of a coming storm; yet no word came from the lips of Merle. ‘* Silence !”’ It was Wilber Sebastian who shrieked forth the word. [ Again fell the whip, and red ridges crossed the back looking like network. A third time the lash fell. A fourth, a fifth, a sixth; still no groan from the sufferer—not even the quiver of a muscle. And thus it went on, until the twelve were struck, and the back was seamed with gory ridges. ’ Feel his pulse, Bethune, and see what he can Ebooks (El) A A li A a I I a TT a ey