Beadle's Dime Library No. 103 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 and the bows swept away from the danger, though not a moment too soon, for, from hun- dreds of throats broke a startled cry: ‘*The wreck! the wreck!” “There, not five fathoms away, and riding on a a wave, as every eye beheld it, was a vessel’s hull, for the masts were gone, and above the roar of the tempest arose shrieks and howl- ings infernal, as though the wreck was peopled by a crew of lost spirits. Though every face on board the frigate was blanched, the ashen hue deepened as those wail- ing, demoniacal yells smote their ears, and in the darkness each man endeavored to read what was the thought of the other. Down between two mighty waves sunk the wreck from sight, and remy it toppled high, as the quarter-deck of the frigate was off its quarter. ‘* Frigate, ahoy!” The voice thrilled all who heard it; in the midst of those devilish howlings it seemed hu- man. ** Ahoy the wreck!” cried Captain Grenville, above the storm. ‘*Keep me in sight until daylight,” came in the same voice that had hailed the f ; “That boy’s voice among a million! It is the schooner!” almost shrieked Captain Grenville to Commodore Brainard; and then, through bis silver trumpet he continued: ‘‘ Ay, ay; we will keep near you.” As he spoke the frigate dashed on out of hail- ing distance, and the wild laughter and shrieks from the wreck were no longer heard, to the reat relief of the superstitious seamen, who elt assured that the storm-tossed hull was man- ned by Fe gn crew—the spirits of men long yahs . and damned, forever drifting to oom CHAPTER IV. Ww h frigate had we t furiously past HEN the te swept furious the wreck, Captain Grenville gave the order to lay to, and ere long the dismasted hulk drove by, now on the summit of a wave, now lost to sight far down in the trough of the sea. _ Upon the vessel-of-war every eye was on the watch to hold the wreck in view, and to every ear came the weird and wild sounds, as if of mad revelry, over lost souls, by fiends already pag loys Bon torments of the accursed. Thus gh the long hours of that night of storm did the frigate keep near the driving hulk; but toward break the fierce gale be- gan to blow itself ou , and the dark clouds skur- rying away, left the blue sky visible. But the wind still swept the waters, the waves ran high, and as the sun came up from the sea the wreck was visible a quarter of a mile away, to the great surprise of the superstitious seamen, who had firmly believed it would disap with the darkness, to haunt them again with night coming on. Commodore Brainard, and Captain Grenville, in spite of his wounds, had remained on deck during the entire night, and, as the sunlight streamed across the sea their glasses were level- ed at the wreck. ‘*Tt is the schooner’s hull, I am confident— long, low in the water, gaunt greens and the stump of the foremast visible, rakes idly,” said Arthur Grenville, slowly, as his glance took the different points of the dismasted vessel, Yes, it certainly looks like the hull of the schooner; but we shall soon know, at least when the sea runs down so that we can board him. Do you see any one on board, Grenville?” re- plied Commodore Brainard. “No, sir, and I have searched the deck from stem to stern. I hope to Heaven the youth was not washed off in the night,” said Captain Gren- ville, anxiously. “Tt is very possible; our decks were swept by the waves, and the wreck must have been drowned most of the time; the bulwarks are shattered badly, I observe.” * Yes, sir; it is where the pane broke through when torn loose from their fastenings. If mor- tal man is alive on yonder hulk, he has had a fearful night of it.” " And the shrieks and mad laughter, Gren- ? “JT do not understand it, commodore. As soon as I dare venture, I will on board the wreck, and then the mystery will be solved.” But through the day the wind still blew half rving, as night drew near, that ospect of another storm, Cap- tain Grenville determined to make the attempt to board the wreck. ‘‘T would prefer that you should not go, Grenville; the sea is very wild,” said Commo- dore Brainard. ‘*T fear the men would not go without me, sir, or Sebastian, and I will vot risk his life. ‘Chey are convinced that the wreck is the Flying Dutchman,” averred Arthur Grenville. ” ck! turn your glass on the wreck, Gren- ville! Is not that a human form?” suddenly SE et , yth ay, sir, it is; it is the Ps Eivaky: lads, and lower away that boat! Volunteers, ahoy!” called out Arthur Gren- Merle, The Mutineer. ville, with some excitement, and he again turn- ed his glass upon the wreck, ‘It is the boy, sir! I saw his face distinctly, as the sunlight pierced that cloud and fell nit. He is lean- ing over the taffrail and quietly gazing at the frigate. Ho! fellows, where are you that are to man my boat?” and Captain Grenville turned sternly toward the crew, for not a man had of- fered himself. But, at his question, an old weather-beaten seaman step forward and saluting with one hand and pulling at his trowsers with the other, he said, yg mg & “Ef it’s ter fight a human, Capt’in Grenville, we're ready, sir; but bein’ as we didn’t ship on ther frigate ter cruise against ther Devil an’ a crew o’ speerits, or ks, we’d ruther you’d excoose us, sir, ef it’s the same ter yerself, ’kase yonder wreck hain’t o’ this wurld.” ‘* Why, Craig, do you fear to follow where I lead?” asked Arthur Grenville, reproachfully, rather than in anger. ‘You is goin’ then, sir?’ sé I am 1”? ‘‘Then I’m one as is with yer, sir, ef it’s ter tackle ghosts, or the Devil hisself!” firmly an- noun old Craig. “ An’ Tis another.” ‘Count me in, capt’in.” a eee ' “ll lay aboard Satan’s own craft, ef you | swiftly away from the frigate, saw it approach goes with me, sir,” cried a fourth; and so it went on, until a full boat’s crew had volunteered, and all was in readiness to go. It was now just sunset, and the clouds were darkening and the wind momentarily rising, while the sea ran fearfully high; but the brave officer and his men were not daunted by the d rs they had to face, and the boat was low- ered away. But a sudden lurch of the frigate, a huge gest ing wave, a tierce gust of wind, and the t was bottom upward, and the crew struggling in the wild waters. Ropes were quickly thrown and every assist- ance rendered, and Captain Grenville and the eater number of the boat’s crew were drawn k on board the frigate; but the fearless old seaman, Craig, and several others were lost, the mad waves dragging them off to die in the cruel waters, and their shrieks for help rising above the howling gale. Once more on his quarter-deck, and undaunt- ed by the desperate danger he had just met, Ar- thur Grenville again called for volunteers to man another t; but no response came at his command, and he felt that no earthly power could move the men to attempt to board the wreck now, as they were more than ever con- vinced that it was a specter craft, with lost spirits for a crew. Again the vail of night was cast over the sea, and again the gale howled savagely and dismal- ly, and drove the frigate on through the tem- pest-lashed waters. Feeling confident that the men would not keep a look-out for the wreck, though they pre- tended to, Arthur Grenville and his officers re- mained on deck, and for hours the dismasted hull was held in view, once or twice the frigate running close upon it, and again hearing the diabolical laughter and demoniacal shrieks, as on the night before. ““Tt seems like a very mad-house; in God’s name what can it mean?’ asked Wilber Sebas- tian, anxiously. “T cannot solve it. Stand as close as you dare on this tack, Sebastian, and I will bail,” commanded Captain Grenville, and, speaking- trumpet in hand, he sprung into the rigging and waited. Nearer and nearer came the frigate to the floating hull, dashing the waves high in air, and bounding like a chip in a whirl ; nearer and nearer, until the gallant vessel rushed by, not half a dozen fathoms away. Then to every ear came the mad sounds on board, and it did indeed seem as though the wreck were the abode of souls in torment. “Ho the wreck! ahoy!” cried Arthur Gren- ville, hoarsely. sé Ahoy pr The reply came quick and short. ; r What wreck is that?’ yelled Captain Gren- ville, as the frigate swept on. “The Fl ing Dutchman! bound from Heaven to Hell! Beware !” A moan broke from the crowded decks of the frigate at the wild, startling reply, and with a muttered curse upon his lirs, Arthur Grenville sprung from the rigging, and joined his officers on the quarter-deck. ‘Well, Sebastian, this is wonderful.” _ ‘“Wonderful, indeed, Grenville; but did you note anything peculiar in the answers to your hail?’ asked Commodore Brainard, who had just come on deck, as tne frigate passed the wreck. “T thought I noticed more than one voice in answer to my hail, sir.” “That was it; the second voice was low and indistinct, but it certainly answered you.” ‘“‘T observed the same thing, commodore,” re- plied Wilber Sebastian. ‘Well, the mystery will soon be solved; for see, the storm is breaking away and we will have pleasant weather,” and Arthur Grenville SS t= ——_ to where the stars were visible through he black clouds. It was now midnight, and as the gale died away the rain descended in torrents, shuttin out from sight the wreck, to the great joy o the crew. But the frigate was held on a course in which the wreck was supposed to drift, and all waited with intense anxiety the coming of the dawn. At len the wind, beat down the sea, and the gray of dawn appeared in the east, promising that the aE ae dismal night would soon pass away. en the rain ceased; the clouds drifted away ; the blue sky was visible; and as daylight came the frigate lay almost becalmed upon the sea, ‘Wreck ho!” It was the cry of a midshipman in the fore- top, and not a mile away was visible the strange craft that had professed to be that weird and havenless vessel, the terror of the superstitious sailors—the Flying Dutchman. CHAPTER V. A STARTLING DENOUEMENT. Wir# the calm, and the bright sunlight, the crew of the frigate were less superstitious, and Captain Grenville found little difficulty tin get- ie, Se boat’s crew to board the wreck. mmodore Brainard watched the boat pull the schooner and the crew board, and then cried quickly: ‘“Mr. Sebastian, Grenville is signaling us; what says he?’ ‘*He wishes more men, sir.” ‘““Ay, ay! Call away my gig andI will go to his aid,” and the old commodore descended into the cabin, to emerge, a moment after, armed with sword and pistols. The boat was already alongside, filled with men, and when the commodore had taken his seat in the stern-sheets, the oars were let fall, and the gig flew rapidly over the waters. In the meantime Arthur Grenville had, as be- fore said, boarded the wreck, and came upon a startling and strange scene, which at once caus- ed him to signal for aid to the frigate. As he approached the wreck the same wild i were heard, and springing upon deck, cut- in hand, Captain Grenville was followed by his men. The hull indeed was a perfect wreck from stem to stern. The mainmast had been shivered to splinters down to the deck, and the foremast was broken off, leaving a stump of ten or twelve feet, while the bulwarks were shattered and’ full of huge holes. The deck was seamed and gashed allover, and but one gun remained on board, and this the pivot thirty-two on the forecastle. Beneath the shadow of this, and securely lashed to it, was a human form, with white face, wild waving hair, and great hollow, somber eyes. The broad collar of the sailor-shirt was thrown back, and a circle of dark blue, evidently a bruise, geet ieee Ma bi pects perp cut was upon the head and a deep as if from a knife, on the bared breast. Pair The small feet were bare and lacerated, the shapely hands bleeding; but in the face was a look of indomitable pluck and resolution. ‘‘Great God! it is you I find thus?’ and Cap- tain Grenville rushed forward, and quickly re- leased the form from the lashings that held him to the gun. - = sir, 1 was too weak, with loss of blood wakefulness and no food to hold on: so I lashed myself securely to the gun,” was the reply, in a weak voice. ‘*Poor fellow! Drink this and you will feel better,” and Captain Grenville placed a flask of brandy to the white lips. After a few eager swallows of the liquor, the youth said, with a smile: _ “We are quits, sir, for you have saved my see DO hot speak of it; but, tell o no of it; but, tell me how is it I find you here, and is the schooner peopled with howling demons?” “It would seem s0, sir, to hear them, and in fact they are little better, for—” ‘* Ah! here is the commodore! Now you can tell us your ee? vd Commodore Brainard advanced quickly, glan- cing curiously around him. ‘Well, Grenville, who have you there?’ and he gazed upon the youth’s handsome, though haggard and suffering-pinched face, with ad- miration. “It is the youth who saved my life, sir, in the attack upon the schooner; he was just about to tell me his story. on, my fine fellow, and 6 HB pyr Fan is Nort nape Alfred r , of the frigate an “ship Constitu- Sm Weems de - spe oe OD 4: ‘ ‘ e youth politely salu ® commodore and replied, ng A i “My name is Merle, sir, and I was second- lieutenant on board of this schooner, which was the a of cay cme 2 nf buccaneer,”’ ! you are a confe irate, then?’ . 1 I age, es, sir,” fearlessly replied the youth. “9j months ago I was picked ! Gave: “a h the heavy rain, and dying out of . ke. (EC) Omicboo << ——