Beadle's Dime Library No. 111 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4. eon by midnight, I shall have to heave to!” ne muttered to himself “It is blowing like the devil now, and this is only the first of it. I’d give a hundred dollars for five or six hours more we daylight!” “When ‘Il you have supper, cap’n!” said the steward, a neatly-dressed mulatto, touching fhe Scotch cap which he wore, respectfully, as lie spoke. “ Right away, Sam—right away. I must be be on deck at dark, for I have the first watch!’ The steward hastened his preparations for the evening meal, and the captain took his chart from the table and went into his state-room. And that room, with ifs ornaments, told more of the nature of Captain Hewlet than six months of outside acquaintanee would have done. There is nothing more certain as a test of either a man or @ woman’s taste than the choice of ornaments for their most private apartment. Not the things they show to the world in the parlor, but those kept for their own eyes only. Thus we see the gentleman who is fond of sporting, hanging his very bedroom full of hunting and fishing pictures. The lady who Helongs to sewiny-socleties, and goes to church three times on a Sunday, often hides very wicked novels under her pillow—she weeps over sinners before folks, and cries over her novel in her bedroom. But to return to Captain Hewlet’s room, and to an inspection thereby of his character. The room was large, and well lighted by a swinging- lamp in its centre. Its sides were hung with pictures not only Frenchy and voluptuous, but such as most grand juries out of New York or Boston would have pronounced obscene. In those cities, grand jury-men wear thick specta- cles, and seldom see obscenity either in books or pictures which are laid before them for con- demnation, though they sometimes carry the articles home, in order to take time for reflec- tion on the subject, probably. Dice and three or four packs of well-worn playing-eards on the table. Also Fielding’s novels—some of Paul de Kock’s works, ete. These things, I repeat, would and did tell what Captain Hewlet really was, better than a six-months’ acquaintance with him as he ap- peared in the outside world. He was a libertine andagambler. To be a thief and a murderer is no worse; for a gambler is a sneaking thief who steals your money on the false pretence of playing fair, and a libertine’s study is to mur- der virtue, thus damning innocent souls while ue prepares his own for eternal perdition. Yes, Captain Frank Hewlet, with his fine figure, his bold, handsome face, his easy and winning address, was an accamplished libertine, and in city cireles a successful gambler. For he did not dare to try that kind of business in Ledgetown. Beyond a game of checkers, now ind then at the tavern, no play had ever been known in that quiet lawyerless, doctorless, and therefore, healthful and peaceful village. ‘I suppose I shall have to take these pictures down if [ ever get the beautiful. Rosalette aboard the ‘Seud !’” said Hewlet, as he glanced complacently at the nude nymphs that looked lasciviously down from their gilt frames upon him. ‘ And hide these pape’s, too!” he anded «8 he laid his hand upon a pack of cards. For she is squeamishly virtuous, and T have heard her say that she had a horror of gambling. She had read that infernal lie, the iivetivics and Miseries of New York,’ and it painted gam- blers and libertines so black that old Nick’s boys down below couldn't be blacker! Maybe ehe’ll think better of the class when she is Mrs. Frank Hewlet, as she shall be, by fair means or foul—I don’t care much which! She don’t.seem to like me, but the old man does, and that is more than half the battle. And what is better vet, | know his secret, for I got the old devil boosy once, and he let the cat out of the bag. But he was so drunk that he didn’t know it, and forgot all about it before he got sober. I must yo over to England myself one of these days, but not before Rosalette is my wife ; for the nest she sleeps in will bring golden eggs to me. Fler fortune will be worth more risk than I shall ran, if there is another Mrs. Hewlet drifting about in a far-off city |” “ Supper’s rendy, sir,” said the steward. ‘Very well. Go on deck and tell the mate to let Sherwood take the wheel till after sup- per.” “é Ay, ay, sir Hewlet seated himself at the table and began eating, without waiting for the mate. ‘The steward came back in @ minute or go, and paid: y7? . The Smuggler Captain. “ Mr. Alden says, sir, that it is blowing fresh- er, and he bad rather wait until you are done than to leave the deck. It is very black up to windward, and looks very squally, he says.” “Poh! it’s only growing dark because night is at hand,” said Hewlet, as he cut into a huge piece of salt, beef, * But louder than the dash of raging waters, louder than the shrill piping of the gale, he heard the elear-vuiced mute shout : “Clear away and let go all the halliards! Let everything come by the run!” " “ By Jupiter! there must be something com- ing when Alden yells that way!” said the cap- tain, rising from the table. The next instant, he was head down t» lee- ward on the floor of the cabin, with a coufused mass of broken dishes piled on him, aud salt water dashing Gown through the cabin-skylight by the barrelful over him. “Thunder! She’s ou her beam-ends!” he spluttered, half-choked with brine, as he seram- bled toward the cabin-door. A fearful crash fell on his ear the next mo- ment, and the schooner partially righted, though her hull shook as though it would come to pieces. “Great Heaven! are we on the rocks?” he shouted to his mate, whom he found clinging to the combing of the cabin-hatchway, when at last he reached the upper deck. “No, sir; but both masts are gone. If they hadn’t went, the schooner would have been un der before this. She must be half full of water, The forehatch was left open to let air into the hold, by your orders.” “Yea. Get it on—quick !—for the sea breaks all over us!” said Hewlet. ‘*} will, sir, if I can find a man to help me. I’m afraid most of the men were swept over- board when the masts went. I sawthe cook and his caboose go, and there were two or three men in the water astern then. And we must get them masts adrift, they'll thump holes into our sides in no time.” ‘ Yes; it was their thumping that made me think we were ashore. I'll get axes from below. Try and find some men.” And Hewlet got down inte the cabin, where, groping about, knee-deep in water, he found the axes, aud giving one to the steward, told him to come on deck and help to clear the wreck. Who he got there, he found the mate with one man only—all the rest had been swept over- board in the terrible dash of wind and water which had left the schooner a helpless wreck. At the risk of their lives—for the sea swept ceaselessly over the water-logged hull of the scliooner—the four survivors now cut away such rigging as held the spars in dangerous connec- tion with the bull, and at last got the hatches on, whieh had fortunately been so secured that they were nol swept away, as were the boats, caboose, spare spars, and almost everything else on deck, After this was done, Hewlet sounded the pump-well, and found less water in the vessel than he expected—only three feet below. It the vessel did not leak badly, this could be pumped out, and they could keep afloat until help came, or they should drift ashore. And the last was the most to be dreaded. Without a single a to set canvas on—for there were spare sails below—how could the vessel be kept from drifting upon reefs or rocks where she would instantly go to pieces? Well Hewlet knew the character of the const under his lee, and that if the storm held on the vessel would surely be forced on to it. ‘Luerefore, though half fithabelavad. 4st fertile in expedient, he got up some tables, chests, and other furni- ture from tae cabin, and lashing them securely together, fastened a kedge anchor to them to sink them deeper into the water, and then hitching the end of a long and strong hawser to the whole, had it put ont over the bows to act as a drag to keep the schooner’s bead to sea, and to impede her drift as much as possible. * Well, we've done all we can with the schoon- er; she must work out her own salvation now!” said Hewlet, when they had finished their work and stood on the quarter-deck by the cabir- door. “God help ns! T bad hoped to see my wile —my poor, dear Kate—by morning, at least!” said Alden, gloomily. ‘I was bragging of that at sunset; but I think this doesn’t look like #1,” ‘“Never mind, Cheer up! We are aflcat yet, and all may turn out smooth. Steward, ight the main sabia, and get out the ruin and sugar. A glass or two will do all of us good. There is no use in erying for a matter asd whieh eannet be helped! Come, Alden—and you, Ramsay — come down and take something to warm you. We can do no good by staying on deck now. The schooner has got to take care of herself.” They gloomily followed Hewlet below. CHAPTER VI. Roselette Drummond, on entering the parlor of the “Golden Anchor”, was greeted respect- fully and modestly by Nehemiah Hunt's dangh- ter Betsy, who looked as unlike her hnge whale of a father as it was pose for one whose blood ran akin fohis. She wasaslend-r, delicate, beautiful girl — looked like anything but “a chip of the old bloeck”—looked aif she were better fitted to adorn some wealthy and luxuriant home than to be as she was, chicf chambermaid and waiter at the table, while her mother and a little thin, pale woman, who could werk and talk as fast asa little tug-boat can puff and swash along, acted as ebief-cook and bottle- washer. ‘True, there were not a great many regular boarders, or any extraordinary number of transient guesta to wait upon or cook for, atill there was a great deal of work to do for two such delicate females. But they had “ Na- poleon” for an aid. He brought wood and wa- ter, emptied the slops, and even swept ont when they would let him ; for he prided himself on bein’ kind to the “‘ wimmen folks”. “I’m so glad to see you, Miss Drummond !” sried Betsy, who was dusting the last chair in the room. “ Do take off your riding-cap and sit down. I am so thankful to you for the books you sent down to me, though I have but little time to read, except at night, when our folks are in bed. I read ‘Ivanhoe’ through in a single night ; for I could not sleep until I had got over the last page !” “Tam glad you are pleased with the books, my good Beisy; [ will send you some others when you have read alll sent you. But excuse my taking off my cap and gloves. Brother is only going down to look at his boats, and then we are to resume our ride.” “ Betsy! you Betsy!” cried the well-known vuice of her father from the bar-room. “Excuse me a moment—Iather calls we,” said Betsy, as she glided out of the room with a@ grace which many a one in a higher station would have been glad to possess. She returned in a few moments, with ber beautiful face radiant with joy. ‘Father says your brother is going to stay to dinner, Miss Drummond!” ghe cried. “ Now do, please, take off your things, while I go and give mether some directions from father. Fatb- er is making a nice iced lemonade for you, which I'll go after as soon as I come from the kitchen.” ‘* Your father is very kind,” said Rosalette, as she laid aside her riding-hat and gloves. Betsy soon after brought the lemonade, aud found Miss Drummond looking at some daguerre- otypes which were arranged upon the mantel- shelf as ornaments. “ Looking at my pictures, I see, Miss Drum- mond. Do you recognize any of them?” “None except that of yourself and Captain Hewlet, You make a very handsome couple,” replied Rosalette. ‘““He would have me sit and have our pie- tures taken together, when the daguerreoty- pist was stopping here!” said Betsy, blushing. “T admire his good taste!” said Rosalette. “You are verv fair, and he is rather dark. The contrast is splendid. He is a fine-looking man, and every one knows that you are the belle of the village!” ‘“‘O Miss Drummond! how can you say so! If I was only half as handsome us you are, I'd be glad,” said Betsy, not displeased, however, at the compliment paid to her beauty. What woman ever was? * Rumor eays that rp and the captain are soon married one of these days,” said Rosa- ette. “Then Rumor knows more than I do,” sai Betsy, quietly. “Though Captain Hewlet js always telling me that he loves me when he js here, he never has said a word about marrying me. an! I'm afraid he never will!’ Ati Beisy sighed as she said so, “That sigh tells me that you love him Betsy,” said Rusaletie, with a smile. “ How ean I help it? Ue is very handsome, and so kind to me. He never comes from abroad without bringing me some present,’ re. plied the honest-bearted and unsophisticated girl. “But please, Miss Rosalette, don’t tell any one what I am se feelish as te say te you. comilcbooks.c ete we = . ‘ buns ‘ ~ R.