Beadle's Dime Library No. 16 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

And the copie gave orders to turn the boats toward the island, leading the way him- self, close followed by Clarence and Ona. CHAPTER XLIV. It was almost impossible, in spite of the strong orders for silence, to prevent the offi- cers and soldiers from cheering, when it was found that their favorite lieutenant, Clarence Febiger, had arrived safely in camp. The ace officer at once sent for him, and, accompanied by Ona, he at once confronted that important individual. “Well, sir, 80 you’re back! A pretty cursed mess you made out of your scout—lost. your men, and made us lose more, by hunting after yor !’ was the characteristic welcome which ne received, To these words, so rude and ungentlemanly, Clarence made no reply. “You've got a devifeh pretty squaw with ou!” said the officer, as he looked with a old and licentious gaze* upon Ona, who in- stinctively clung to Clarence for support and protection. “This /ady is under my protection, and as such, shall be defended from insult, sir!” said Clarence, flushing up with anger. ““Lady—she looks very like a lady, in her blanket and leggins, and short petticoat! You've very good taste, but as all squaws, whether they come in or are taken, are to be detained as prisoners, until they ean be sent west, I'll relieve you of your charge of the prisoner !”’ “Sir!” cried Clarence, in a tone of thun- der, “this lady is as white in face as any of your blood, and ten times as pure! She will soon be my wife! Dare but breathe another insulting word, and I will make you answer for it at the sword’s point!” “God, sir! what do you mean? How dare you insult your superior officer? Dll have you court-martialed, sir, shot, sir—blast you, shot !” “‘ You are my superior in rank no more, sir, ;for from this moment. I am free from the dis- Brace of serving under a brutal blackguard. resign my commission, sir!” and the youn officer threw the commission which Fulton had returned to him, at the feet of the colonel. = By thunder, sir, you shall not resign!” “You cannot prevent it, sir. I am now a priate citizen, and shall at once aequaint the ecretary of War with the facts, and my rea sons for it !”” “If you get the chance, curse you, if you get the chance! I suppose that you've just come from some camp where you have been treated like a lord |” ““T have come from those who have cured my wounds, and shown humanity which would shame some of those who hvnt them!” replied Clarence, firmly. = “Meaning me, I suppose a “Meaning you, sir!” was the response. “More foundation for charges, gentlemen. I call upon you all to remember his words !” cried the enraged commander to his officers, who, with one or two “toady” exceptions, were as much disgusted with him as Clarence was. “T suppose,” continued the commander, “ that if f Tet ou keep your squaw, you'll not object to guiding us to the Indian camp which you've lately come from?” “ Betray those who spared my life, treated me with every humanity, and when I was cured of my wounds, so as to be able to travel, set me, unconditionally, free? The proposi- tion is as base as the heart which prompted it. Never, never will I so sink my manhood !” “You hear his mutinous words, gentlemen. Treason, rank treason! I would be justified in shooting him down on the spot!” “You would find it a dangerous experi- ment,” said Clarence, with a calm smile. “ What, rureats, sir! Tarrest you! Seize and bind the mutineer, and tie up thabequaw, too. Put both under guard, but keep them separate |” The hand of Clarence was on his pistol, and Ona, whose flashing eyes spoke her scorn and indignation too, grasped her weapons, ready to die by his side bravely, if need came. *The reader may think that the character of this officer is overdrawn. Far from it! Some officers yet tive, who remember the fate of a beautiful young daughter of Chikika, while she was 4 prisoner in his hands, and other corroborative matters, which I cannot aow refer te. ‘The White Wizard. But neither officer or man starred to execute the brutal order. | “Captain Fulton!” thundered the tyrant— “Captain Fulton, did you hear me, sir ?”’ “ f dia, sir!” “ Why, then, do you not obey my orders, sir 2” “TI do not consider that I have any right to ley my hands on a private citizen, sir!” “A private citizen—h-ll! Consider your- self under arrest, sir! Ill see if I am to be held in contempt for nothing—consider your- self under arrest, sir! Deliver your sword to Lieutenant Inge !” “ Lieutenant Inget will never take the sword of his captain, under such circumstanees |’ said the last named officer. “Then, by thunder, sir, I arrest you! Ill ar- rest every mother’s son of you, and appoint officers from the ranks!” he shouted, “And the divil a one wud serve! Ye'd betther arrist the rigiment!” said a voice from among the men who had clustered around the group of officers, and were listening to all that. assed. ee Who spoke then?” asked the colonel, fairly boiling over with rage. ’ iddy O-Grallagan |” said some one, and then a titter ran through the crowd. “By Heavens, this mutiny shall be the death of some you. Lieutenant Snip, take that woman to my quarters, and have Febiger tied up and put under guard!” cried the com- mander to one of his toadies. Olarence, who knew Ona well, and what she would be apt to do, said nothing, as the sud sppronehed her, with the intention of putting 1e order into execution, so far as she was con- cerned, for he had been a tailor, and wasn’t afraid of a woman. He got within about two yards of her, when he very suddenly halted, and, turning as white as his pipe-clayed belt, he stammered, with a trembling voice, ‘ Don’t shoot—don’t shoot, for the Lord’s sake!” For Ona stood with one foot advanced, and a long barreled pistol in her hand, aimed di- rectly at. his eye—her finger on the trigger, and a look in her, face so ealm, that he knew that death was his doom, if he advanced but one step. “ You cursed coward, I'll take her myself!’’ eried the colonel, springing forward; but he stopped, too, when the pistol barrel was as quietly and steadily turned to his eye. “Why don’t you take her, sir?” said Clar- | ence, bitterly. ‘So brave an officer ought not to fear a woman !” “ By the eternal! she shall die!” shouted the infuriated. man—‘“ she shall die!” and he half drew his sword. ‘‘ Shame, shame!” eried officers and men. “Let him go on, gentlemen!” said Ona, whose voice of melody now fell upon their ears for the first time. ‘ When he has drawn that weapon, and advanced one step toward me, he will have taken his last step in life, and I will be justified in sending him down to meet his master !” A cheer broke from the lips of the "wae soldiers, when they saw how bravely the heroine held vs “We will break up this camp, and return to the fort at once!’ said the colonel, whose rage was only equaled by his mortification, and he turned away to his tent. “As I am free, I will proeeed at once! Come Ona!” said Clarence, turning to his eanoe. “Tam under arrest, and not required with my company ; permit me to go along and help dle your canoe!” said Fulton, ‘“ Certainly, captain, certainly !” said Clar- ence, and soon the three were on their way te the Miama. “ By the gods of war, Miss Livingston, 700 i said the -cooled the colonel down in a hurry captain, after he had paddled some time, “Clarence will never have oceasion to fight your battles !” “Nor any other, I hope, hereafter, sir! His resignation brings joy to my heart, for I shall have him all to myself!” “But his comrades will regret it, lady! He was the life of the coatmentt “My snly wonder js, that all of them who are men, do not follow his example, rather than to serve under a brutal tyrant, said Ona. «T thought none but gentlemen held commis- sions in the army. How could such a man as he get his high position?” ¢ Killed at 223: te -mme to break u 27 * By political influence, lady! Made right from the cotton-tield—a nigger-driver there, and not much better here! Our graduates from the military academy are gentlemen, so are res of the citizen appointments, but such men as he will sometimes get in !” They soon entered the little river, and went rapidly down its swift current, and, long before midnight, were at the fort. Observing that one of the transport steamboats, used to bring stores, ete., from more northern ports, was at anchor off the mouth of. the river, Clarence determined to go on board at onee, for he did not wish to give the brutal tyrant another opportunity to insult either Ona or himself. his he did, and was warmly welcomed b the captain; whom he. knew, and whose wite being on board, could render many attentions to Ona, which she required, and also furnish her with different clothes, which would not attract. so much attention. “When do you leave, Captain Duke ?” asked Clarence, after he had explained his position, and his recent adventures, “For Savannah, to-morrow just as svon aa the quarter-master has put soine wood aboard for me, and signed all the receipts!” said the captain. ‘“T shall go with you—IT and my sweet wife that is to be!” said he. “I’m glad of that. If you feel in a hu to get married, I’ll run into St. Augustine, an find a priest for you!” | “Thank you, my dear Duke, thank you! I do not feel'so anxjous, now that my bride- elect is in safe quarters !” said Clarence, smil- ing at the kind-hearted a aps and re« signing Ona to the care of Mrs. Duke, for the exhausted girl much needed rest. ' “You must come to my private state-room. and take a toddy with me, in honor of the occasion!” said ths captain. “Fulton has rone ashore, for he expects a breeze when old riek-to ets down the river. The old heathen had better not put on any of his hifa- lutin’ airs aboard this boat, or he’ll go over board as sure as my name is Jim Duke!” Clarence eould not well refuse the invita- tion—therefore, he followed the warm-hearted captain to his “ private state-room,” as he call- ed it, which was almost ona filled with jugs, bottles, demijohns, small kegs, and ai: ger-boxee—and there they both ‘ smiled.” —— ee . CHAPTER XLV. Moving much more elowly than Clarence, th the light canoe, and also taking some- camp, for the .'iscontented men worked sulienly and lazily, it was near! dawn when the colonel reached the fort wit his forces. His first inquiry upon landing was for Clar- ence and Ona, for while his bad heart burned with fury against the first, the beauty of the last had added a more fiendish passion than rage to his nature. ‘He instantly ordered an officer of the garri- ‘son to go on board and bring them ashore. The officer soon returned, and of course with- out having accomplished the object of his mission. . weny the dence didn’t you bring them ashore, dead or alive, sir!’ cried the colonel, who had got rum enough in him to make him more brutal than ever. “He has resigned from the service, sir, and I dare not risk my commission by placing m oe upon a private citizen!” rephed the of- ‘ficer. “But the squaw—the squaw !” cried the colonel, showing his “full hand ;” “she is a prisoner, and by Heaven shall remain go!” “If you mean the lady who is with him, you are mistaken, sir! She is a lady, as fair and well-bred as the first in the land! = * “ You lie—eurse you, you lie!” “ Your rank shields you alone from punish- ment, sir, and your conduet would disgrace a brothel !” said the officer, retiring in disgust from his presence. “ By the eternal, I'll go myself!” he cried. “ Orderly! send Lieutenant Snip here !” The orderly obeyed, and soon the ex-tailor made his appearance. He looked a very good « pattern” of the ninth part of a man, and any one would wonder how he could have got into the service, who did not understand how some officials pay their tailor bills in Washington. The son of a tailor, dressmaker, bootmaker, hatter, or milliner, ean always find inflnence fur an office, ox commission. which the wor com ‘4 ebooks (qo)