Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 137 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 Long Beard, the Giant Spy. owth for the body of their supposed ‘he one left to watch the boat re- mained seated within it. His musket was lean- ing against the side. . The oars hung loose in the rowlocks. The stillness was unbroken save by the noise made by the men among the rustling bushes. . Thus several moments passed; then a tiny wave broke against the side of the boat and chafed the bank. The soldier noticed it. In- stinctive precaution made him a good soldier. He recognized, in an instant, the fact that there was no air tostir a ripple on the lake, and very naturally concluded that the water had been disturbed by something in it. He bent his head and listened; he heard the very faintest noise like that which is made by the breast of a small animal cleaving the waters as it glides along. He peered into the deep, dark night around him, and upon the bosom of the water; not two feet from the side of the canoe, he imagined he saw a round, spherical object resting upon the waves. Mechanically he put out his hand toward it, when to his horror he felt a pair of sharp fangs close like a vise upon it. A ery of horrible agony escaped the man’s lips, but Belshazzar held on to his hand, while ppy Harry, springing up into the boat, pitched the man overboard, The youth was instantly warned of other dangers by the hasty approach of the men on shore. Seizing an oar he pushed the boat out upon the bosom of the night-enshrouded waters. His dog followed him. The unfortunate soldier swam ashore and briefly as possible told the story of his mishap. Then the party discovered that they had been entrapped—at least enticed ashore upon an isl- and—from whence they could not escape, The soldiers heard the boat with the unknown enemy retreating, and discharged their muskets in the direction of the sound, but in the dark- ness they shot at random and y escaped untouched, the under victim, CHAPTER XVL THE BESIEGED CABIN, Happy Harry having crossed the channel and made fast his boat, hurried to the cabin of Long Beard and reported his adventure, The giant at once became very uneasy, for should the enemy discover bis location escape would be impossible. 5, “T must get away from here,” he said. ‘It will be death—yea! more than death to me and my children, should we fall into the power of e En We must escape under cover of t. I will move our effects most ne e house and place them on board the schooner, and then we will embark for some southern port,” “T am afraid, friend Long Beard,” remarked Rankin, “ that if you once get away from these islands, the frigate will run you down. Per- haps we could dodge the enemy here, at least until your daughter Tempy returns from the post. Of course, Colonel er will give her a ay a and this assistance will enable us /O. Tempy may not get back for a week, and not at all,” answered the giant, half Sestond nding. niet tell you, gineral,” said Harry, his face aglow with joy and boyish excitement; ‘‘if you'll jist stay here and stick to the island like es tOa boy’s hair, dog my cats if I don’t either kapte: or sink that British brig—me and Belshazzar w We'll jist get into the lake and h’ist her right Over—we'll be a torpedo to that 20at; we will, fora fact.” 6 h he questioned the youth’s ability to do even as much, Long Beard’s main re- i was centered upon the Wild Boy of the Woods. He had seen the lad tested under the most trying circumstances—he had seen him orm deeds of daring that none but Happy could have accomplished. So the giant recluse sent the you borderman to watch that the enemy did not effect a landing on his island; and this precaution was not adopted a moment toosoon. Those at the brig had : the firing of musketry down among the Plei- ades, and at once dispatched another boat to the scene of action with half a dozen armed men. This boat bad just effected a landi when Harry discove it; and having pick up those left upon the opposite island, a force of a dozen armed men were now ready to in- Vv e retreat o e mysterious Long ade th treat of th te Lo Beard, Hurrying back to the cabin, the youth made known his second discovery. Long Beard, now thoroughly alarmed, at once proposed to evacuate the island. He could not be induced to attempt a defense, although his cabin had been constructed and provided with every requisite for defensive measures. Something besides a fear of the result of an English in- vasion seemed to prey upon his.mind and that of his daughter, like some awful horror. To Rankin there appeared to be some secret underlying tbe whole of this man’s fears, and be was at once led to believe that there was a significant mystery connected with his seclu- sor It required but a few moments for the father and daughter to prepare for departure. change or two of raiment, some cooked food and a few articles of bedding were all they at- tempted to carry away with them; and even these would not have been taken had they not been absolutely necessary for the comfort of the party during the journey. They left the cabin in no disorder. On the contrary it was in its usual primness, so that the invaders would not suspect it of being deserted, Harry led the way along the dim path to- ward the point where Long Beard had left the boat—Margery and Rankin following, while the giant brought up theyear. As they neared the water aslight noise arrested Harry’s at- tention. Stopping still, he cautioned his friends, and requested them to remain standing there until he crept forward and reconnoitered. Softly he moved away, and for several min- utesa deathlike stillness reigned. . Finally the lad came back with the startling intelligence that the schooner was in possession of the enemy and that all escape from the island was cut olf. ‘‘Then let us go back and do last what we should bave done first—intrench ourselves within the cabin,” said the giant in a husky tone. ‘*Govenir, we—that’s me and Bell—don’t keer about coopin’ up to fight. We'll stay out- side and .bushwhack on the corner—kind 0’ split the attention of the foe should they at- tack the cabin. If you fellers ‘ll do your duty inside like a dose of p’isen, we'll be a red-hot blister outside, and Ill bet we'll doc- tor the red-coats up magnificently. They can’t catch me, that’s certain, if ve got elbow- room. This island’s a little cramped for me to operate on without crowding upon the lake, and the water there’s so tarnal thin that it lets afellerin. But go ahead, govenir; scoot back into. your cabin and then let into ’em_ bald- headed jayhawks like a swarm of hornits with fresh sharpened javelins. I’ve hearn say that a British soldier can’t stand fire half as well as an average Yankee-doodler, and I . propose to test. the matter. Yes, Pll keep outside and run a side-show of my own, gineral; and l’J1 bet we'll make ’em think we’re runnin’ a little dgment-day, too, of our own. Bet you'll ear somethin’ drap ev time little ‘Brown Chick’ here chirps,” and he patted the breech of his boy’s rifle significantly. And so Long Beard, Margery and Captain Rankin returned to the cabin, which had not yet been found by the enemy. Hastening in- side, the recluse barred the door, and at once proceeded to put the cabin in the best possible shape for defense. The plugs were removed from the loop-holes that pierced all the four walls of the house. A quantity of water was placed in the middle of the room ready for Gny SMCEBONED, in which it might be needed. A p was lighted and placed behind a screen only on an unexposed where its rays would spot. The face of Long Beard wore aserious yet determined look. His voice was low and firm, his movements like that of the lion. Margery’s pale face and heavy, mournful eyes evinced the deepest emotions, yet with resolute step she moved about the room ar- mens things se as to afford every facility for ense, ** Now I am ready,” said Long Be finally, as he looked to the priming of bis rifle. ‘Give me a rifle, friend,” said Rankin, ‘‘ that I may assist.” And the giant brought him a rifle and brace of pistols. Fiye minutes later there came a sharp, vio- lent rap, rap upon the door. “They are come, father,” whispered Mar- e enemy were at the door. ‘Who is there?’ demanded Long Beard, ‘Persons desirous of admittance,” was the nse. fon Beard turned to Margery and ina husky tone asked: ‘Daughter, did you recognize that voice?” “Oh, my God, yes! it is his—Eugene Neal- murry’s!” Nealmurry’s, alias Captain Kirby «Yes; Kale’s.” Fear seemed to hold the father and daughter spellbound for awhile, Rap, rap, rap, came the summons at the door again, . ‘‘T cannot admit you,” Long Beard replied, rallying from his momentary stupor with the look of a lion starting from a nap. ‘* We seek admittance on peaceful measures, bak cannot accept a refusal,” came from witb- out. ‘Then you threaten,” we eg Long Beard. “We must be admitted; if you refuse we will be compelled to force an entrance.” ‘* You will do so at your peril.” ‘‘ We demand admittance in the name of His Royal Majesty the King of England!” and the speaker emphasized his words with a thunderous rap upon the door, ‘And I refuse to admit you in the name of His Excellency the President of the American Republic.” The violent crash of musket-butts against the door was the only response. The door, being made of heavy oak boards, however, re- fused to yield. to the terrific blows. Long Beard thrust the muzzle of a pistol through a loop-hole, and fired into the crowd in front of the cabin. Evidently the shot was witbout effect, but a violent exclamation of surprise and the rush of feet followed. The party retreated a few pacesand poured a volley of shot into the door, but notone of the leade missiles pierced the hard, oaken barricade. A deep silence succeeded the crash of mus- ketry, and the English were wondering what effect it had had upon the inmates of the cabin, when they were suddenly surprised by a loud, shrill ‘‘chirp, chirp,” like that of a half-grown chicken when lost from the rest of the brood. It issued from the thicket to the right. One of the men laughed and said: ‘* We're disturbing the hen-roost.” At this instant a tongue of flame leaped from the thicket to the left, a rifle rung out on the air, and a cry of mortal agony escaped the lips of one of the soldiers as he fell dead at the feet of his comrades. ‘* Charge the thicket,” thundered the voice of the commandant; ‘‘ bayonet the assassin!” With fixed bayonets eleven men charged into the thicket, through the thicket, straight on- ward until they reached the water’s brink. But they found noenemy. They turned and hurried back to theside of their dead comrade. Four men carried the body down to the boat, Then the party held a consultation as to their further movements, which resulted in sending to the brig for reinforcements. In an hour’s time five more men landed upon the island, and the attack was renewed upon the cabin. But the defenders were upon the alert, and met them with a sharp and deadly fire, forcing them to retire under cover of the woods with three men killed and wounded, Here they again held a short deliberation over their repulse, and the probability of success. should they attempt to force an entrance by attacking the cabin on both sides—at the door and window. In the midst of their talk that ominous ‘chirp, chirp” was heard again, this time coming from the direction of the cabin before them; but it was immediately followed by the whip-like report of a rifle behind them, and another of the soldiers fell dead. “‘Search the island till that murderous devil is found!” commanded Kale, and he launched away, sword in hand, through tho undergrowth, followed by his men. ike so many hounds just freed from the leash, they beat through the shadowy grove in search of the enemy. e island was not more than three acres in area, but being overgrown with dense vegetation, it afforded the s er every advantage over his enemy. The noise made by the soldiers advancing through the thicket enabled Harry to deter- mine their exact position, and getting into their rear, he kept along a few paces behind them. Accustomed to the woods, the youth — along without creating a sound above e rustling bushes stirred by those that pre- ceded him. An hour’s search proved fruitless. The sol- diers had not seen nor heard one thing of the enemy, and, under the impression that he had left the island, they returned to the cabin and renewed their demand for its unconditional surrender. As usual, they were promptly met with a refusal, when a vigorous and determined as- sault be The soldiers were more careful and took a ition close in against the wall where the defenders could not reach them. The only decisive resistance now came from that enemy skulking in the darkness outside. No sooner they renewed their attack upon the building than that hidden foe be his work of death. Three soldiers were detailed to watch, with cocked rifles, for the flash of bis rifle, and shoot him. But they were always de- ceived by that ominous “chirp.” If they sought the enemy at the point whence the sound came, death was sure to come from some other direction. Captain Kale concentrated all his force ainst the cabin door. With the heavy butts of their muskets they hammered away unceas- ingly. At first it was like pounding upon a heavy wall, but the door finaliy began to rattle Ss its huge wooden hinges. This encouraged the tay and they worked away all the harder, e door grew more and more shack- ling, and finally burst from its hinges and fell inward with a crash. The tall, majestic form of Long Beard con- fronted the soldiers in the doorway. He dis- charged his pistol in their very faces, then he threw the worthless weapon aside, and with bis huge fist fought the enemy. aptain Rankin came to tho assistance of his host. Margery crouched with terror on the floor, murmuring a prayer. The B The sledge-hammer fist of the giant beat them down. seized a musket, and wrenching it. from a soldier’s hand, swung it around him with deadly effect. The enemy tumbled and ; ritish troops crowded into the room. - >, comireboo (G KS cor Sel —