Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 148 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— > 10 never thought of such a resort. Ill take your blanket, and we’ll be off. We've already spent too much time here now.” The service of the two Indians having been secured only to this point, they were dismissed they were all right, and finding they were, both from further duty, and permitted to go where | the Englishmen settled down midships into a their pleasure dictated, while Kruler and Bel- | position of ease and rela into silence to den took the captive aboard the little boat and | await the coming of morning, or such an event at once pushed out into the lake, taking a | as would determine their course. el TS STS SS” SES ee” = ee eee ee eee eee —_——— One-Armed Alf. - 2 ee poor, shoeless, bruised feet, bearing evi- dence of their journey having been a hard and rapid one. Andso it had been. They were re- latives of the American soldiers stationed at Mackinaw, where they had been staying, but the day before we introduce them, the garri- son had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and they, the fugitives, having escaped, were fleeing toward Detroit. a ee — ee — oe about in a,troubled sleep,” and er laughed heartily at his own conceit, as most Englishmen will do. Belden felt of the prisoner’s bonds to see if —_——-— —_—s ) —— - —- —-— northward course. Darcy Mayfield did not regret this change in mode of travel, for two reasons. One was of his being almost exhausted, and the otber, was the hope of being released by friends. It is true, the water left no trail, but out on the open lake they would not be apt to escape the eyes of some friendly scout who might bring him assistance. that the owner of the craft might be a friend, and finding his boat gone, would make such search for it as might lead to a discovery of his helpless situation. e made a close examination of the boat, and was not a little surprised at the taste and He also entertained a hope | customed to his | a dreams by a sound like the crack of a | tol. Despite the pain induced by the ligatures around his ankles and arms, and the agonizin thought of an unknown fate, Darcy ayfield sunk into a refreshing sleep. The perils and exposures of the previous night had about ex- hausted his strength and power of endurance, and nature sought rest and relief in slumber. He slept soundly after he had become ac- sition; but far in the silent e was suddenly awoke from 18- In dreams he had been fighting over the battle at the cabin of One-Armed Alf, and when startled from his slumber by the sharp re- port, he arose to a sitting posture and gazed depths of night mechanical skill displayed in its construction. | around him into the mist and gloom that en- It was sharp at stem and stern, and was made | shrouded the lake. | before he could recall Lis situation, and when ona plan entirely different from any thing he had ever seen, carrying a heavy ballast, yet re- quiring no more effort to propel it than an or- dinary skiff. Besides it was rigged for a con- siderable breadth of sail. There was an air of neatness and inviting comfort about it, the thwarts being cushioned with furs, and the ae covered with dried moss and layers of reeds. Kruler took the oars while Belden guarded the prisoner, in the stern, and in this manner they glided softly over the bosom of the lake. The wind was blowing directly from the east and quartering inst them. is had ana- tural tendency to bear them ually out fur- ther and further from shore, making the labor at the oars a little more toilsome than they had at first calculated upon. Knowing, however, that they werein no "yd they determined to stick to the craft and lighten the labor by tak- ing, turns at the oars. he journey before them would, nothing to delay them, occupy at least two days. They had a small supply of dried venison which they could make out with, for now that they were n the lake, it would be dangerous to ven- ture ashore short of their destination. They journeyed on in comparative silence, keeping a constant watch on all sides, for they were aware of there being American as well as English vessels cruising upon the lakes. The day wore gradually away, and by the time the sun had set, the voyagers found that they had permit themselves to drift out from land until they were now surrounded by one vast, illimitable ocean of water, and would have nothing but the stars to guide their course. The wind had shifted around, about sunset to the southward, and by improvising a sail out of the Indian blanket, they were enabled to dispense with the oars, save to keep the head © the proper course. To their te of Same cig ap however, the night closed in with a heavy fog, envelo the lake and shutting out every ray of light. made the gloom almost impenetrable, and to add to the misfortunes of y, the wind went down, and within two hours after dark they f themselves becalmed unknown leagues from shore, and surrounded by a wall of dark- ness. This necessitated recourse to the oars again, but this mode of voy soon became too laborious for the Englishmen to keep it up: ially, when they suddenly discovered that were bewildered—actually lost upon the night enshrotded bosom of Lake Michigan. CHAPTER XIII. THE PHANTOM OF THE BOAT. * Lost, by heavens!” exclaimed Kruler. ‘* Yes, and the first thing we know,” replied Belden, ‘*some Yankee craft will be afoul of us. Darcy Mayfield could not repress a smile at the Englishmen’s fears and stupidity, but the darkness concealed his emotions from his cap- tors. He occupied a position where he could recline and sleep if he desired so to do; al- though he was nd hand and foot, and, to prevent escape from the boat, the ends of his thongs were attached to the thwarts. Kruler plied the oars vigorously, ever and anon stopping to take breath and give expres- sion to his ——e ina string of oaths, heaped upon their own heads for having taken to the eae and then permitted themselves to be- come lost. “There’s no telling,” he said, ‘‘ whether we will come up at Maskionw or Fort Chicago if we keep on in this blind way. It’s true we hadn’t ought to lay idle, but I’m of the opinion we’d better lay still and wait for daylight.” **T should favor the idea, Kruler,” replied Belden, “but for one thing: when morning dawns we may find ourselves a to some S “Yankee. To lose our prisoner now would be ‘ito lose a fortune; but P’ll swear I can’t see how we can well help our situation—hullo! the boat ‘rocks! the must be “ig “Not a bit of it, Belden. It was only our eee the dim outline of a female figure, misty white, standing erect in the prow of the that he was not vn ny It was several moments he did, he found all silent as the grave, save the winnowing of nocturnal wings along the un- ruffled surface of the lake. He could just see the dark outlines of his two captors ee in the seat in front, apparent- ly asleep; and this discovery suggested the idea of escape, and he at once threw all his strength into the effort to free himself. But he found that his feeble strength could have no effect upon the cords that bound his wrists to his back and he was forced to give up all hopes of escape. Then again he sunk down with despon- dency and despair, and soon fell into a restless sleep that was filled with visions of demons, conflicts and tortures that were almost as ag- onizing as reality itself. At length, however, he succeeded in shaking off this horrible night- mare and in rising toa mene ture. Then the first t oy Bt he became con- scious was of a light fanning his feverish brow, and a slight motion of the boat led to the discovery that it was under way and moving at a rapid pace. He now glanced along the craft and was greatly surprised to see that his ca tors still maintained their silent, inert attitude, apparently sound asleep; but surprise was turned into hless wonder and amazement when the lig t flap of sone like that of a great wing led to the pak A hat a white sail was attached to the mast a bellying to the wind, while just beyond this he coul = prs ro n boat. The helpless man bit his lip to assure himself still, and then he strained his eyes through the gloom and mist in vain endeavors to discover whether or not the white-robed fi was a Vision oran actual being. But the longer he the further away the figure appeared to float, and at length his eyes became so blurred with their ng that the furm faded altogether from ht. 7 horrible fear now rose in the young man’s mind—a fear that his brain was wan a that all he had seen was but tbe illusion of his failing senses. But this absurdity was sudden- ly discarded when he saw that strange female again a from behind the low sail and ap- proach him with soft footsteps. In breathless suspense Darcy Mayfield lay, a strange sense of fear stealing over him. He sees the form pass the sail and the megs # ing eR on and pause directly by side. Then he sees its over bim, and he feels the cold blade of a knife pass between his fettered wrists. He feels the pressure of the keen etge oar his bonds; they are cut asunder —he is free The young man knew that there was human agency in all these eyiee oa Laden aaneny ¢ Ry as soon as the numbness had passed from his limbs, and he was enabled to stand, he arose to his feet, and was about to address his strange, un- known deliverer, when, to bis amazement and horror, he saw that she had vanished. ‘Ah! by Heaven!” Darcy exclaimed, as a ray of light burst suddenly upon his bewildered mind. ‘I see into it now; we aré aboard that haunted skiff, the home of the Maid of Michi- an! one But why were Kruler and Bender so silent?” Darcy asked himself this question; then a shudder of terror passed through his frame like that which we all feel when we enter suddenly into the presence of Death. CHAPTER XIV. BELEAGUERED. - THe sun was scarcely down when a little band of white fugitives debouched from the forest into an open glade on the summit of a bold ae some twenty miles south of Macki- naw. ere were about twenty persons in the y, and half of these were women and chil- n. All were nearly exhausted with travel, their tattered garments, their pale and bleed- ing faces, torn with briers and brush, and their A murmur of thanks escaped the lips of some of the tired and terrified women as they entered the opening, for reef had been cheered up for long bours with the bright promise of rest and a haven of temporary safety at this point. The object which attracted them there was an old building, or fort, which had been erected by the French soldiery during the first con- quests of America by that nation. The outer walls bore an ancient and ruinous appearance, while the very air seemed rife with the spirit of decay and desolation. Yet despite all this, the old defense was a pleasant and welcome object to the eyes and hearts of the fugitives. The entrance to the fort gs way ofa gate, which had long since rot from its hinges, and now lay, damp and moldy, in the entrance through which the fugitives passed to the interior. ere they found another scene of desertion and desolation. In one side of the in- closure stood a row of tumble-down log cabins overgrown with moss and ivy. The groun was covered with a dense growth of tall grass, while moss and parasites crept up and over the crumbling stone walls which composed the main defense of the fort. Two of the male fugitives set about prepar- ing one of the old cabins for the night bivouac. They were assisted by two bright-eyed girls of about eighteen summers, and upon whose gay young spirits the eae. and hardships of the day’s journey made little impression. ellice Arvine, the older of the two, was a dark-eyed damsel, whose every form and fea- ture were grace and beauty, and whose move- ments were as light as the fawn’s, Full of life and of a naturally kind and vivacious spirit, she was a source of joy and blithesome yety even upon such a journey, During the ay she ‘had shown more true hercism than some of the stronger sex. She was fully aware of the dangers t menaced them, yet she never gave up to her fears, but with exemplary coolness ecision spoke words of cheer to her companions, and assisted those who were incumbered with little children. Although an orphan, without brothers or sisters, Hellice bad something in the world to live for, and a re- membrance of the fact had much to do in keeping up her young spirits. She loved Cap- tain Philip St. John, and to him had she plight- her love. Still she had her fears resting —< her young heart. Her lover had gone to oint Michigan, a short time before the attack on Mackinaw, and she was afraid that rg ad would befall him, or, if he escaped, would fail to hear of her own flight in time to assist her a year youn handsome, although her beauty was of a differ- ent type. She was loved and admired by all who met her, as well for her beauty as for her meek and gentle modesty. Her nervous tem- ent and delicate organization were not nded to withstand enduring hardships and constant fears; still she had borne up well under the day’s flight, and now, with light footstep and fingers, she assisted Hellice and the men to arrange things for the night’s encampment. Colonel Robert Bliss, ’s father, as- sumed command of the little of fugitives, and being @ great, kind-h man, whose life had spent upon the frontier, where he had received his title of colonel as the com- mander of aregiment of militia, all the fugi- tives gladly acceded to his superior judgment and knowledge. Itis true they had a guide to whom the colonel yielded the nce of ex- rience in woodcraft and Indian cunning, his person was an Indian, who had been sens back an hour or so before they reached the fort, to ascertain whether or not they were be- ing followed by enemies, t did not require many minutes to put the a in the best ade possible for a temporary efense: but when this was accomplished it was found that another and still greater defense was wanted. This wasa defense against hun- ete oma They had had but little provision ane A = now, as the pe! a of mental xcitement began to wear away, hunger began to be felt, especially by the children. But there was no help for them now. The sun was already down, and there would be no possible chance of procuring game, even if some One ventured out in Gost of it. ere was water in abundance within the fort to slake their burning thirst. It welled cool and clear from beneath a great rock near the center of the fort, and this spring i prohably. been the es feature that led to the erection of the fort ere. ; , Darkness soon set in; then a fire was struck to dispel the chill, damp atm ere from the moldy old cabin. Malagua, their Indian guide ONONO) com cS (Sc (E()