Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 137 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Pf — — ‘*) ‘bas not befallen that brave ‘trie | girl who ' end, Ee little schooner, but Long Beard and Harry having sought shelter in the cabin escaped un- harmed. The giant at once ran up another sail and soon they were out of reach of the enemy’s guns. Then the two again went on deck, and, to their surprise, saw that a number of savages had joined the English, and all together were holding a consultation. With his field-giass Long Beard scanned the allies closely, and while thus engaged he hap- pened to run bis eye along the coast, when to his surprise and astonishment, be discovered a small sail bearing down the wind toward them. It was over a league away, yet he could see distinctly that it was a brig carry- ing a gun fore and aft and flying the English colors! “By heavens, Harry!” exclaimed the giant, ‘fan English vessel has gained our lake! Look off here and you'll see her.” Happy Harry took the glass and, having amet the sail, confirmed his friend’s state- ment. ‘* Strikes me, gineral,” he said, ‘‘ that we’re in a fair way for a bit of naval engagement.” ‘The chances for a fight are good, but our condition to stand up to a brig carrying heavy are is not very promising of good results. best hold lies in flight, and I shall press every inch of canvas into service and attend promptly to the helm and ourcourse. It is now one o’clock, and it will take us until evening to reach the Pleiades.” ‘* Well, all right, gineral; drive on your gig, and if thar’s anything that we can assist you in doin’ make a clean breast of it and we'll be on hand like a dozen warts.” ‘Keep a watch on the brig, Harry.” ‘Tl do so, gineral; I will, for a solemn fact.” Half an hour had in silence when he suddenly exclaimed: ‘*There, by hornits! Captain Kale has suc- ceeded in bailing the brig and two boats have been sent ashore,” ‘“‘Then depend upon it, every effort wil) be made to overhaul us, Harry,” said Long Beard, *‘and you in that English messenger’s {hands and [in Kale’s, we would fare badly.” Suddenly the boom of a cannon came down the wind, and glancing back, the fugitives saw a cloud of smoke hanging upon the brig’s row, : Long Beard took the glass and brought it to — upon the enemy. A cry burst from his i Mt She has sighted us, and is giving chase! Now for liberty, an English prison, or death, Harry!” he exclaimed, a stern, desperate look kindling in his eyes, and his great form grow- ing majestic with the firm resolutions that strung every nerve and inspired his soul. The race now began in earnest between the little schooner and the brig-of-war. Silent and firm the giant woedman stood at the helm, while Happy Harry stood aft gazing away at the pursuing enemy with a kind of a vague fascination, at the same time humming softly to himself: a name was Captain Kidd hen I sailed, when I sailed.” CHAPTER XV. THE PLEIADES NIGHT-WATCH, CapTaIN ROBERT RANKIN could not forgive bimself for having made known the secret, or rather giving up the dispatches, that led the fair little Tempy to brave the dangers of a long journey by and water. He walked the floor in feverish agony. Mar- gery endeavored to calm his emotions. *Tempy is not in half the a are, Captain n,” she said, ‘‘and I pray you ill not worry yourself into a fever over her , She is well acquainted with the lake, and I dare say will reach her destination in safety.” ‘** Not before night, though.” ‘She will do well if she reaches it by to- morrow night.” “ Wel), I cannot rest easy until I know harm virtually saved my life. But, kind soon do you expect your friends in?’ ** Not before evening. Father usually returns about sunset,” ‘Ts your father a fisherman?” ‘‘ Simpiy a recluse,” replied Margery, evasive- ly. ‘*He bas a penchant for secluded places, hence tho reason that we dwell here among the romantic Pleiades.” * And is this secluded life agreeable to you and your sister feney ¥’ ‘We love our father, and are contented wherever he is happiest.” > Around this lonely island cabin and its lovely inmates there hung a mystery to Captain Ran- kin. He would have had it solved, for already he had become anor interested in the family’s history. He did not hesitate to admit that he had desperately in love with the fair Tempy, although he tried, at first, to convince himech? that it was but a momentary infatua- tion, and that the women might be the children of some old outcast hiding there, away from how their bullets pattered against the side of the Long Beard, the Giant Spy. the hounds of the law. But his better judg- ment would assert itself, and the exalted inno- cence and honor that surrounded the women stood confessed. Margery extended every kindness in her power to alleviate the suffering of her guest, and in her gentle administrations there was a ower as of magic. To him, she and Tempy ad been good Samaritans—Sisters of a reserved in nothing that makes woman noble, gentle, loved and companionable. The hours dragged wearily —— to Rankin, He watched the sun changing in the doorway, and at times it seemed as though an hour made no difference in the position of the light and shadow. But, despite his impatience, the sun was gradually sinking westward, and finall dropped behind the tree-tops. Then the twi- light shadows began to gather in the cabin. A light breeze, sweetened with the perfume of wild flowers, stirred the green drapery of the trees, Away out along the margin of the island a bull-frog sent forth his harsh, rasping croak, while a solitary cricket chirruped shrilly under the door-step, its ungrateful music harmonizing <i the gathering gloom and depressing soli- tude. Margery sat down at the open window, and, gazing out over the lake, hummed a low, plaint- ive tune to herself. Her thoughts were far away; she was soon in deep meditation. Meanwhile Rankin’s thoughts turned upon his own situation. The silence and shadows filled him with vague forebodings. Both were suddenly started by the boom of a cannon breaking upon the silence. It rolled down from the north with a stunning shock. “Oh, my God!” cried meng td and she sprung to her feet and ran out of the cabin. Rankin rose and followed her, tottering al- most as he went. From a point where they could obtain a par- tial view of the twilight-enshrouded lake, they beheld two sails. One of them, a little schooner, was already within a few rods of the island. The other, a brig, carrying the English colors, and a gun fore and aft, stood on the northern extremity of the ce of islands, over a mile away. It had evidently been anchored there, for all sails had been lowered. ‘That is father’s sail approaching there,” ex- claimed Margery, in delight. **Do you know that other one off north?” asked Rankin. ‘ “TI do not; it’sastranger. Father will know, perhaps.” The little schooner soon turned into the shore. A tall man, with a long, snowy beard, stepped ashore, followed by a boy anda large dog. It was Long Beard, Harry and his dog. Long Beard, then, was Margery’s father, Having secured his little craft by means of a heavy rope, he turned and re goon with the boy and his dog toward the cabin, to be met by Margery and Rankin. Before a word of greeting had passed be- tween the father and daughter, Harry shouted, as his eyes fell upon Captain Rankin: ‘‘Hurrah for glory! vt in’ hornits! there he is, gineral; the very identikul chap that war in the big fight with us on the raft.” “Yes, I am the man, my good fellow,” re- wig Rankin, extending his band toward the youth. ‘‘I remember you very well, my brave and peerless youth. The last I saw of ae was during the fight on that trap of a raft. ‘‘T have a distinct remembrance of that raft, captain, and a little onpleasantness we had on it. That were a gory old fight, it was, for a stubborn fact.” ; ‘Yes, and I have wondered a hundred times how you and Mucklewee came out of the fight.” ** Mucklewee!” exclaimed H , indignant- ly; ‘‘darn his hide! he got off with a d head, I’m sorry to say.” **‘You speak severely of my guide, Peek: ** Your guide!” the youth replied, with dis- dain. ‘Captain, didn’t you know that he wer a traitor?” “T did not, Harry.” J “It’s a holy fact, captain; it war him that got you into a confused muss with the red- skins. He is a British emissary.” Rankin was confounded by this intelligence, and but for the sober look on Harry’s face would have disputed his word, He hurriedly coDnected different events that had occurred since he and Mucklewee bad been together, and out of the links thus collected he gathered sufficient material to construct a chain of strong evidence corroborating Harry’s story. Meanwhile Margery and her father had stepped aside, when the former at once in- formed her parent of what had been going on since his departure. The giant seemed deeply affected by the news of Tempy’s departure; at the same time, however, he expressed bis approval of her going forth on a journey of such importance to their country. **But at the same time she may be in less danger than we are in,” he said, in concluding his remarks on that subject, and introducing another, ‘“ Why so, father? Does that sail off to the north menace our safety?” 13 “Tt certainly does; it is an English brig-of- war, and has chased us since one o’clock, sev- eral times firing upon us.” ** How does it come that English war-vessels are on this lake father?” ‘*Why, Margery, war has been fully inau- irated, and the armies are moving. Hull as relinquished the conquest of Malden, and retreated on Fort Detroit. The English are already across the frontier; but our greatest danger, Margery, does not come from that source”—he spoke inalow tone. ‘Night be- fore last 1 was a prisoner in the stronghold of acompany of British soldiers under command of none otber than Captain Kale, alias Sir Eugene Nealmurry.” ‘*Oh, God of mercy!” cried Margery, clasp- ing her brow, while her face turned ghast ‘ e and her form reeled as if about to fall. er father drew her arm in his to support her, and then narrated the story of his capture by Kirby Kale, and his release by Happy Harry. Finally matters were explained nl around, when Long Beard led the way to the cabin, He introduced Harry to Margery and his se- cluded home. The youth was welcomed by Margery in words that filled his young heart with joy. He had never before received such praise and thanks as Margery bestowed upon him. He pes he was a a hero. argery soon had an ample supper prepared for all, when Harry and Rankitt vey" invited to the board, The Wild Boy and his host did justice to the meal, for they had fasted since morning. Before night had closed in Long Beard made certain of the brig-of-war’s position. He found it was still standing off, north of the Pleiades, But he knew that the enemy would not remain idle during the night—that they would, in all probability, send out a boat to reconnoiter and scout among the islands. To defeat the success of such an expedition was the main object with the giant, for if his cabin was discovered, he knew its destruction would be inevitable. Happy Harry, ever ready for adventure, volunteered to keep on the move with his do during the night, venturing the assertion tha no boat could approach undiscovered. The night was dark—extremely dark, the sky being overcast with a heavy, y mist. Everything was as still as though the heavy gloom subdued the very pulses of the air Like two shadows, Harry and his dog t through the undergrowth that skirted ‘the margin of the little green clad islands; like shadows they stole along the beach. Now and then they i abe to listen—the master with his hand upon his dog’s head. The animal’s hearing was most acute; did he detect a suspi- cious sound, a toss of the head, or a low whine would announce the fact to his master. _ Thus for hours they continued their watch around the island. Harry was growing drowsy and careless for the want of excitement when his attention was suddenly attracted by the surging of the waves along the bank. “There’s no wind to make them Ato a a s —_————— oe the youth reasoned with himself, ‘and’ makin’ them tickle the shore is more’n I car tell, "less thar’s sumthin’ in the strait bet the two islands. If it wasn’t so wickedly dark a feller and his do at see sumthin’, Ob, t hornits, Bell, I hope nothin’ will be- all these folks here. That poor woman looks sad encugh anyhow, and then the old gineral’s& takin’ on so "bout his t’other gal that’s Fone to Laketown. Gracious! if we ever git through this bald-headed darkness alive, I'll strike out after that little gal of his. And we'll find her, too, or expand a blood-vessel in the at- tempt. ’Sh!—harkee, ’Shaz—ar!—jiggered if there isn’t—if there doesn’t come & canoe Ga ing through the darkness like a spell of death! And now who is it?-and whar are they goin’? Dog their riggin’s, they’ve got muffled oars, and that means deviltry the world over. They're a p’'isen pack from the brig. They’re ot rs come down here to reconnoiter, and I'll be con- fusticated it I know whether to git ’em over here and exterminate ’em, or fire into em and let ’em slide. But then I guess I'll do neither i Pll trick ’em,” and so saying, he called out: ‘** Boat ahoy !” The voice seemed to come from the opposite island, six rods or more away. ts + ay!” was the response from the barge. “Who goes there?” demanded the voice on the island. The crash of half a dozen muskets was the response. <A groan issued from the island. The boat turned in toward the shore, and Harry laughed to himself. **Guess we laid him out,” he heard one of the - unknown boatmen say. Quicker than we can record the fact, Happ Harry had stripped off his clothing, and, wit his knife between his teeth, ente the water and struck out directly toward the enemy’s a Belshazzar at his side, both swam in si- nce. The boat, a six-oared barge, belonging to the brig-of-war, reached the bank, when all "thd oc- cupants but one landed and went to searching comichbooks ico