Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 137 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16, Long Beard, the Giant Spy. nf aug ‘“That’s her — that jade of a brig; things appears still, too. In course, they’re anchored ieee with their rags of sail taken in to wait for ‘fair weather and fair wind.’ But, boys, if we find the sullen-browed rip deserted by all but one or two, she won’t be a circumstance tous. And if we git her, we'll weigh anchor, spread skirts and send her promenading over the lake like Julia ah ia racks it off for style down to Cornfield Corner. Now, boys, I’m goin’ to pull straight for the English hussy and if I git aboard without getitin perforated with a composition of metals kicked from a ten-pound cannon, and find the English lady deserted, or nighly so, Pll whistle Cap’n Kidd smartly, and then you come on down and board her. ray direct you then, and if we're likely to have a fight, you shell know it in due sea- son. Sonow hold your tongues and keep yer- selves ready to march at the tap of the drum.” The next instant Happy range is story gone, e darkness grew more intense. he ped | around could be seen save the occasional flas of a light on board the brig. All was silent but the ripple of the waves circling outward from the wake of Harry’s boat. In dire suspense, Lieutenant Reeder and his men waited the movements of the young ad- venturer. Boldly the youth pushed across the water and alongside the brig. A voice hailed him, and he answered. “Who are you?” demanded the watch on the brig. iy obody but a small specimen of a boy,” re- plied Harry, boldly, in his reckless, whimsical way of spoesing. ‘What are you doing here, then?” again de- manded the watch. “Why, ’m run away from home, and call myself Captain Kidd, and I’m out sailing on the sea. [ma irate—that’s what I am, come to think; and jigger my buttons if I don’t believe Vl board you. Got any treasure?—surrender, or 1’ open fire on you!” ‘Keep your mouth shut, or I'll put a bullet throngh your pate!” was the response of a gruff, savage voice, that came from above, It was the captain of the brig who spoke so au- thoritatively. “Whew!” whistled Harry, softly, ‘‘he’s a regular ole blurterin’ hurricane. ‘Spect he’ll knock me baldheaded when I git within his reach, but, blest if I go back without first ing the deck of this old galavantin’ tub. Bay, up there,” and he spoke in a suppressed tone, ‘* would you have any objections to takin’ me aboard?” Witbout further parleying, Harry was taken aboard the brig and straightway conducted to the captain’s room, which was lit up by the dim rays of a lantern. e captain was a true of the English bully, with dark, morose, and savage features. form was short and stout and clothed ina naval uniform, that lent an additional air to his blustering bravado. He received Harry with a fierce searchin ance, and a disdainful toss of the roun ullet-head, while the lad, hat in one hand and rifle in the other, bowed humbly to the soldier of the sea, _“‘Humph!” sneered the officer, ‘‘a blarsted litte Yankee! Who sent you here, sir?’ * Who?’ ejaculated Harry, in apparent as- tonishiaent; ‘* why, commodore, cy I’m a rover-boy—I'’m a pirate—I’m Captain dd, I am, for a fact.” * You're & young idiot, that’s what you are. Your looks tj]l1 me that. But, sir, tell me whether you heard that firing off among the islands awhile ago?” ‘“T reckon I’m no deaf, ‘ when I sail, when I sail,’” was the laconic reply. “ Don’t you know something about that dis- turbance over there?” worth mentionin’, commodore,” y. **Don’t lie to me, boy, or Pll put this blade 1 as ag body,” said the captain, drawing his swo ““Great hoppin’ hornits, commodore! don’t murder me, ‘when [I sail, when I sail,’ for I am Speakin’ the truth, as fur as I possibly can. **How long has it been since you left the shore?” demanded the captain, still fiercely. “Several days ago, and I never expect to return n. f do not like the shore, gineral. It’s not the place for a pirate. I like the salt salty sea, with its howlin’ old breakers and waves and treasure. Oh, I’m a bull rate, and never goin’ home again till I git a shipload of gold. Hurrah for Captain Kidd, the rover of the seal” and he gave utterance to a shout that might have been heard a mile, and which raised the ire of the British captain to such a pitch, that he seized the youth by the Oollar and shook him savagely. ; **Didn’t I tell you to keep still?” he roared. ** And didn’t I tell you I was a pirate?” The officer slapped him in the face. He colored deeply, but in his usual good-natured way replied: - “Great hornits, commodore! old salt—rough as a wounded old pi- youre a rou h uck, A bue gineral, when he gets wounded, is an awful old butter. I war out huntin’ with my dear old god-father, Davy Darrett, when he shot and hurt a lammin’ big buck. The animal keeled over for dead, and Davy shouldered arms and marched up to tap the critter’s throat; when, what should that buck do but jump up, face Davy, shake his head that way,” —and Harry illustrated the movement by taking oi his hat, lowering his bead and shaking it fiercely; ‘‘then,” he continued, ‘*the buck started to’rds Davy this way, and slap he took Davy in the paunch, that way,” aad with all the force of a young bull, Harry drove his bead into the plethoric stomach of the unsuspecting officer who went down like a log, completely breathless. Guicker than a flash Harry snatched the key from the lock on the door of the room, and running outside, locked the captain in. Hur- riedly ascending to the deck, the youth uttered two or three shrill whistles that were imme- diately answered from out the darkness. ‘What does this mean?’ asked the watch, approaching Harry. : ‘It means that I’m Captain Kidd, the pirate, and that I’m master of this brig.” The mate drew his short sword, but, before he could use it, Harry dealt him a blow that laid him prostrate upon the deck. ; Five minutes later Lieutenant Reeder and his men were aboard the brig. Before the mate had fully recovered, he was bound and gagged. Then they descended to the captain’s quarters, unlocked the door and pushed it .open. ea hurricane the enraged skipper s toward the door in blind fury, but the muzzles of seven American rifles caused him to recoil with sur- prise and horror. It required but a moment to convince him of the situation, and he sheathed his sword in token of submission. He was at once bound and gagged and locked in the room. This success suggested a second stroke, and arrangements were made for the reception of Long Beard’s captors, Each man took his position to await their arrival, A deathlike stillness settled over the brig. That dim light still hung in the rigging, a guide to those on‘the dark waters. Half an hour went by. Still those a al shadowy forms on deck wait and watch with bated breath. Suddenly the dip of oars breaks upon their ears—the ts are coming! The Americans nerve themselves for the or- deal. A severe struggle is imminent. ither and thither, like a dusky shadow, flits Happy Harry, trying to catch a glimpse of the boats. One of them soon came alongside the brig. The murmur of voices could be distinctly heard below. In a few moments five soldiers ascended from their barge to the brig’s deck, with three captives in custody. The guard was conducting its prisoners across deck, when eight forms rose up before and around the English with leveled rifles, and a voice cried out: ‘‘Srender, every mother’s brat of you!” It was the voice of the Wild Boy of the Woods The English, so lately flushed with victory were stricken almost speechless, They saw at a iglance that the brig had been captured, and not knowing how many of the enemy were aboard, surrendered without a word. And Long Beard, Margery and Captain Ran- kin were free again! ‘‘ Harry, Harry, my boy, is this your work?” asked the giant, advancing to his side and lay- ing his hand upon the lad’s head, ‘Well, not all of it, gineral. I done some figurin’, a bit of fightin’, more runnin’ and skulkin’, and finally came to with my head in the grub basket of this brig’s pussey old cap- tain, and [ ‘““’Sb! hark!” cautioned Reeder, “the other boat is coming.” True enough, the other boat could be heard approaching, and it is quite probable that its crew would have met the fate of the first boat, had it not been for one thing—the first mate ed in getting his mouth free, when at the top of his lungs he shouted forth a thunderous warning to his friends. Lieutenant Reeder sprung forward and de- manded the surrender of the party, which was already within hailing distance; but ‘the crew, seeing the trap into which their friends had fallen, resolved to avert a similar fate, ong, carning their boat, fled away over the water, This left the brig in the undisputed sion of the Americans, and without a dissent- ing voice it was declared the prize of Happy y et CHAPTER XIX. WHERE WAS SHE? THE captive crew of the ‘‘ Scout,” this being the name of the little brig, was at once se- curely bound and lodged below deck. Then attention was given to Captain Rankin, who was still suffering severely from his wounds and late captivity. He was placed in com- fortable quarters and his wounds attended to with all the surgical skill and tenderness that those around him possessed. The faithful NE EL LSE ae ae re gees a RE Sa Seer eS ee ee ae eee ee oe) Margery, although a sufferer herself from the mental tortures and horrors of her late cap- tivity, rendered every kindness in her power to make those around her comfortable. Long Beard, fortunately, was an old sailor, and made himself at home aboard the brig. To him all now turned for further directions, and he suggested that, as the wind was favor- able, they weigh anchor and make for a south- ern port. ‘*But, look a-here, gineral,” said Harry, **couldn’t you be induced to drop down to your is‘and, and see if all’s right there?” ‘‘T care nothing about the island, Harry. When my children are safe, then I may look after our home,” ‘But, see here, Big Beard, I’ve news for you,” replied the youth; ‘‘an angel fluttered down onto that island after you were cap- tured, and she said her name war Temple, and that she war your gal.” ** Harry, you’re jesting now.” ‘ “Tr can prove it; these soldiers came with er. “Tt is so, stranger,” affirmed Lieutenant Reeder. | ‘‘Then, of course, I will stop at the island for her; but how does it come that she is back so soon?” “*T will tell you,” answered Reeder. ‘‘ Colonel Miller sent me out with eight men to reconnoi- ter the coast, some fifty miles north of the fort, and fortunately met your daughter. When we made ourselves known, she told us where she was going and for what P I offered to relieve her of the dangerous journey, when she gave up the dispatches, and | sent two men in er boat back to the post with them, while I took her in our boat and brovgbt her back to the island. We landed a few minutes after your capture.” “Thank Heaven! thank Heaven! Then Tempy is_safe, too,” said the old father, joy- fully. ‘‘ Yes, of course we'll touch the island a take her aboard. d you leave Tempy one? ‘* Yes,” replied Reeder; ‘‘ we dare not weaken our little force a single man. We thought if we made sure of the brig, all would be well otherwise, and if we failed and were ourselves captured, she would be safe. That’s why we her alone on the island.” “‘ Allow me, lieutenant,” said Harry, polite- ly, ‘‘to say that Miss Temple ure not alone. y dog, Belshazzar, are with her, and you know, gineral, that that’s as much ‘as to say that half a dozen mi hty good men guarded her. Bell will fight as long as be’s able to wag his tail, and so I think we’ gel all right.” “Then we will move at once.” It required but a few minutes to weigh an- chor, hoist sail and put the brig in moticn. The giant, assisted by the soldiers, manned the little craft with remarkable skill, and in an hour’s mae mi stood off the island—the home of Long eard. A boat was lowered, and Harry and a couple of soldiers were sent ashore for Tempy. They were ne nearly two hours, and when they re- turned they were accompanied only by the youth’s dog, which bore many bloody marks— evidence of a terrible encounter with a terrible oe. But Tempy—she was not to be found—she was gone from the island! THIS news well-nigh crazed the father. He walked the deck and wept tears of bitterest agony. gery, too, was almost prostrated by the news, while Captain Rankin seemed in- wardly suffering the tortures of death. He Le = Sib his couch, his feeble body stimu- lated by the sad tidings, and rusbed on deck; but this strength was unnatural—the force of excitement, and he soon sunk under a relapse of the most aggravating nature. ¢ * “(oe she ron tp tnerel ren know what has become of her, eral, ry said, after discussing the matter. ‘® ‘*No, no, never!” cried the father. ‘‘I can- not leave my child, dead or alive, in the hands of the foe!” “Tm of the ’pinion that that ornery Kirb Kale and his crew come back to the island af- ter we chased ’em from the brig, and captured her,” averred Harry. ‘‘ It is hardly likely that a apy: of red-skins have got off here, though sich a thing is possible.” _ They cast anchor and spent the night off the island, and with the first streaks of early morn find the young an- Happy Harry and his dog, accompanied b Long d, entered a boat and oreustl to the island. When the rising sun had dispelled every trace of the eventful night, they an the search. They went to where Harry had left her, and there found strange tracks in the yielding soil. One was a very small footprint, and had been Imade with a moccasined foot. This discovery gave Long sions, and further search served to strengthen his fears. They found other moccasin-tracks in abundance, which proved beyond doubt that a ph em id been upon the island. ald Ger their- investigations still further, they found a spot that had been the scene of a / Beard cause for alarming .apprehen- - micboo Us (EO) (E SS) Eco)