Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 137 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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19.0 es but him whose ears they are intended for,” re- plied Rankin. ‘*T ask not for your secrets, Captain Rankin; but I mponent if I could do so, 1 would take upon myself the responsibility of concluding your mission for you.’ *You? a feeble woman!” exclaimed Rankin; ‘‘ why you are weary leagues from the military post at Laketown.” ‘*T care not for that,” she replied, with a firmness that denoted her courage and patriot- ism; ‘‘a woman can serve her country as well asaman. Tell me what 1 am to say and I will start!” “I cannot, Margery,” the young captain said, regretfully; ‘‘my manhood shrinks from sending a woman out alone on a wide, watery waste. Perbaps I will be able to strike out sooner than I expect.” “*T know these waters well—perhaps far bet- than you, captain; besides, I am no novice in water-craft,’ sargery persisted. ‘‘To refuse me the conclusion of your journey may bring disaster to our country and entail the loss of hundreds of innocent lives.” ‘*That’s all true—very true, Margery; and if your ability is equal to your persistent desire to go to Laketown you can accomplish the mission. ut then—” ‘‘?’m a woman!” interrupted Margery, with asperity in her tone. ‘I have nothing more to add, Margery,” the young man said; and removing one of his ts, he unscrewed the heel and took from the receptacle therein a small leaden ball, which he handed to her, saying: ‘“‘That contains the message I desire to be placed in the hands of none other than Colonel Miller, the command- ant at Laketown. Had you not been a woman I would never have surrendered it otherwise than with my life.” “You have faith in woman’s honesty, then and so I shall endeavor to strengthen that faith,” replied Margery, with the resolute deter- mination of a brave and noble nature. ‘‘God willing, this message shall be delivered into the hands of Colonel Miller.” Rankin was now highly impressed with the character of this woman. He saw that she was more than an ordinary personage in intellect and was fully aware of the responsibilities an dangers she was assuming for the sake of her country. The two women left Rankin’s presence and went into an adjoining room—Margery to pre- pare for her long, perilous journey. The poppe. caplet awaited their return im- atiently, e soft, brown eyes, the pretty ace, the sweet voice and gentle kindness of Tempy had made an indelible impression upon his heart, and he could hardly help thanking the terrible fate that had thrown her in his way. He had recovered so rapidly, or, at least, felt so much better, since his advent in the island home that his wounds gave him no uneasiness whatever. His heart feasted upon the myste- rious beauty of the angelic Tempy, and his body pow stronger. At the same time there was a struggle goin on within his breast. His spirit of manhoo rebuked him for surrendering his message, which was of the most vital importance, to Margery; while he felt it was a duty that he owed his country to have the message delivered at all hazards. But, while he looked upon | ey as a woman of more than ordinary ability, it was his manly courtesy that rebelled at the idea of placing such a herculean task upon the Pa. a Foe. reg e speculating over the situation, Tempy bom into the room like a sunbeam, her face r t with joy. A little or hat, trimmed with blue, was upon her head. Gloves were upon her hands, and a light, purple scarf was around her shoulders, “Tm going,” she said, with a look of delight, ee beer tact the latter. “To the post with the m e. I prevailed on sister Margery to let Crayne har health is somewhat feeble. Besides, I think I know the lake better than she does.” *‘Tempy, you—” Rankin, but he was interrupted by the m who imed ; exclaimed: **T hope you will not object to my going, Mr. Réikin” ? thought it ot duty oy me ery’s place, since she hadso kindly volunteered ‘conclude your mission. So I wish you a happy sojourn here, Mr, Rankin, and a speedy recovery. Good-by, Margery!” ““Tempy!” cried Rankin, starting wildly up; ‘stay! do not go!” But Tempy did not hear him; she was gone. He attempted to rise and follow her; but his limbs refused to support their weight and he sunk back, unconscious, in his ir. CHAPTER XIV. THE ENGLISH BRIG-OF-WAR. Happy Harry was soon far beyond the glade where he had so cunning}y outwitted the king’s officer and messenger. face was all aglow with joy and trivmph as he sped away through the woods, fas¢ as his legs would carry him, He never ceased running until he reached the lake shore, where, out of breath, he sat down to rest and examine the button that the unsus- pecting Englishman had intrusted to bis care. ‘‘Great hoppin’ hornits, Belshazzar!” he ex- claimed, wiping the perspiration from his brow, ‘this is jest more’n fun, ar’n’t it, ole chum? And, mortal p’izen! didn’t I doit up to that Brit- isher slicker’ a peeled sapplin’/ I didn’t know I war so good reachin’ out with my voice. I didn’t, for asacred fact. By George! he wara kind of a spy, that red-coat, and I’d ort to ’a’ taken him prisoner; but then, what did I want with him after I got the feller’s secret? Ho! out here, ole button. What news from the head- quarters of the ole king’s army? Open, my pretty silver bauble, and let it out.” After repeated efforts, he succeeded in un- screwing the button, which he found to bea mere sbell of silver, the cavity of which was filled with a neatly-folded paper of the finest quality. . ‘‘Sweet Jerusalem! there lays the kernel of the silver nut!” exclaimed the youth, looking at the paper as if half afraid to touch it, for fear it would vanish like a bubble. While thus occupied, Belshazzar: uttered a low, plaintive whine. A twig cracked in the undergrowth not far away, and was succeeded by a rustling of Tee a to his feet, slipped th appy Harry sprung is feet, sli e button cas his pocket, and cocked his rifle. Aman emerged from the undergrowth, and a look of profound astonishment mounted his face as he confronted the young wood-tramp, The man was Long Beard, the Giant Wood- man. ‘* Hoppin’ hornits,” burst from the boy’s lips, and he dug his knuckles into his eyes, as if to remove a mist of doubt gathered over them, ‘‘it can’t be so—it’s a mistake, it is, for an ugly fact.” ‘* Hullo, my little waif! you are safe, thank God,” said the giant, advancing toward him. ‘Safe? why, that’s no name for it,” replied Harry. ‘‘Great hornits! but I’m proper de- lighted and majestically glad to meet you. am, for a fact, govenir. Giv us your ten-acre aw—there! och!—squeeze gently; you’ve a ar’s hug in that fist. But, whar ye been keepin’ your corporosity, gineral?” ‘“In the woods, on the lake, along the shore, looking for you.” ** And [ve been lookin’ for you, gineral.” ‘‘ Well, the objects of our search have been found. What news have you, Harry?’ ‘Nothin’ but some good news; but wasn’t them asmashin’ set of fellers we bunked with t’other night at the cave?” ‘‘ A notorious set of scoundrels, I must say,”’ returned the giant, emphatically. “The hate you haltered up pretty snug, hadn’t they, Big Beard?” ‘* Ay, my boy; and did you know what I do of that.man, Kirby Kale, you would not won- der that I was haltered up so securely,” “You don’t say, do you, gineral? Why, great hornits! arn’t they all Englishmen?” ** Most of them.” “ And is Kirby Kale?” ‘“-Yes; and as mean a man as ever breathed.” “ Wal, by hornits!—but, say, Big Beard, did you see that feller in the cave with his head tied up and arm in a sling?’ **] did; and I saw him spurn your body with his foot when you lay apparently dead in the cavern.” ‘‘That was the traitor, William Mucklewee, Esquire, whom I banged over the head and sent a-bouncing and a-waltzin’ into the lake— the very demon that tried to betray Rankin into the savages’ power. But, Big Beard, 1 think them devils at the cave are waitin’ to do some awfully bloody work, I do, for a serious fact. They are Engli soldiers, I know they are, for I saw their uniforms stickin’ around the cavern one place and another. I think they’re waitin’ there in disguise for some or- ders to strike—in fact, I know they are; and them orders are to come through a mes- senger expected from Canada. And, would you believe it, gineral! sure as I’m livin’, me and that messenger had a little difference awhile ago. He just scooped me right in a prisoner of war, in the name of the king, the sun, moon, and stars. I wasn’t hard to , and Belshazzar, he just tucked his tail atwixt his legs and away we marched. But, sudden- Wy pny friend of the king had summons from ifferent quarters to yield himself up to su- ior force, that war hid in the w not away. Before he could reply, I turned and informed him he war in what might be termed a snap, and soon, Then I told him who he was, and whar he war goin’, and that I b’longed at the cave and was out lookin’ for him, and that I’d let him eapter me for the fun of it, and a whole lot of just sich—sich funny things. This tickled the royal mater of his majesty’s army, and quicker’n wink he jerked a button off his coat and handed it to me, with orders to deliver the same to Captain Kirby Kale. The fool thought he war surrounded by an army of American scouts, though not one of them could be seen, and he thought the jig war up with him. Well, I took the button, Long Beard, the Giant Spy. ‘ and away I went, lickey-te-split, leavin’ the proae English dispatch bearer from across the riny deep, waitin’ for the Americans to file out of the wood and salt him down. But nary scout filed. The fact of it war jist here: there wasn’t a scout within miles of him, and for all I know, that poor, deluded man from the moon is standing thar in the opening yit.” ‘You tricked him with that tongue of yours, did \ ou?’ asked Long Beard. ** Didn’t I, though, general?’ replied Harry, with a sly wink, ‘1 jist had ’em demandin’ his surrender all around, and you ort to’a’ heard the one with a creaky voice. Dogged ifI didn’t like to overdo it on that voice. But, here’s the button, Big Beard, already unscrewed, ready for an investigation of its contents.” He handed the button to the giant, who re- moved the paper therefrom te found the latter to be of the finest texture, capable of being compressed into a very small space. It was nearly a foot square when spread open. Upon the upper half was traced, by a skillful hand, a map of all that portion of the United States. and Territories lying north of the forty-second degree of north latitude, also a portion of Canada. There were red dots upon it, which doubtless represented the location of the American posts of defense. It was also traced with blue lines, suppose to represent the an- ticipated routes of the English.army in their in- vasion of the republic. Beneath this map was an explanation written in cipher, which the iant at once set to work upon to translate. t seemed as pcges he had had some ex- perience in such things before, for in a few minutes he had unraveled the secret of the whole. And what a secret worth knowing it was to the citizens of the American republic! It proves to be a key to the proposed opera- tions of the English army in the United States, and which, if successful, would place the whole northern frontier and the great lakes in British possession! On the back of this map was written, also in cipher, these words: *Capram Kirpy Kate—Mone Hull’s retreat from Canada, and I believe it will se- cure the surrender of Detroit. Try it, at any rate, if your present movement should prove a failure. ** MaJ.-Gen. BROCK.”’ ‘Great hoppin’ hornits!” exclaimed Harry, when Long Beard had revealed the secrets of the paper; ‘‘afore such a thing shall happin, T’llrun my very soul out, Ill start this very hour for the nearest military post. Wouldn't you, Long Whiskers, if you were a little frisky boy?” ‘‘T might, it is true, Harry. But then, this is a matter of such vital importance to our country that no risks must be encountered in delivering it to the proper authorities. There is no great hurry inv the matter, therefore you. can afford to take your time and run no risks. Now, if you will go with me to the Pleiades Islands you can take a boat and reach Lake-: ily in half the time you can go there on oot, ‘‘Just as you say, Long Beard. I’m alers willin’ to obey them as are older than me. There’s my dear ole bunkmate, Davy Darrett, whom I hain’t seen for a month, who’s alers. right on sich things as b’long to the border,” ‘* Then come along with me.” They moved along the shore and in a few minutes came to where the giant’s little schooner was tied up. Boarding her, they at once put to sea. As they pulled out from shore Belshazzar uttered a low whine, and glancing back to- ward the shore, Long Beard and Harry saw the cause of his uneasiness, An Indian 1, whom Harry recognized as the princess ee- lah, was standing on a prominent point of the shore, waving her hand toward them in a vio- lent manner; and the very instant she ceased. she Eareee hareels over gr — ‘a , grea ornits!” ¢ app arry + S Ne. Eeleelah, — she’s errmes hersel 4 ay, nay, Harry, D ng Beard; * that girl is our friend. Those gestures were intended as a warning. Look! she is swim- ming around the base of that rock, evidently to reach the opposite side unobserved. Enemies secured General to us must angrencling the point from mehepce we embarked—ah, there they come now Fully twenty men, with flashing uniforms and bristling muskets, emerged from the great. woods. It was a company of: British soldiers, and at: their, head Happy Harry could distinguish the forms of Repiain Kirby Kale and his late cap- tor, the English major. ‘‘Halt there!” cried Kale, at the top of his lungs, and the soldiers brought their muskets into position. But Long Beard and Harry paid no attention to his order. ‘* Halt, or we'll fire!” again shouted Kale. Quicker than a flash Happy Harry threw his rifle to his shoulder and fred at the foe. soldier fell at the feet of his comrades. The next instant a line of smoke burst from the English ranks and the crash of tw muskets rolled along the waves. Like — A JOO (E(©) inlike S c e om)