Beadle's Dime Library No. 16 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

That a gale was coming, all could see, but from what direction no one could say. ‘* Crowd on the steam, crowd on the steam !” eried Captain Duke to the engineer, who looked up from the engine room to cool his burning face. ‘God, sir, she will not bear another ounce, nor can fire make it for her!” replied the of- ficer. “Thank God! the bluff of St. Lucie looms up in sight at last!” said he. ‘Give us only three hours more of calm, and it may blow all creation up by the roots, for all that I care. I'll be at snug moorings then.” As he spoke, a low but distant rumbling rolled across the water. It was the sound of the thunder-car of the spirit of the storm. And now more rapidly did the cloud-belt rise, which so darkly cinched them. The captain ealmly ordered all the light spars sent down, the boats to be secured with extra fastenings, and everything loose on deck and below to be made fast. And he bade the engineer keep up the steam and look well to his machinery. This done, he calmly stood by the helmsman, and waited for the gale. And near him stood Clarence and Ona, for she had heard the rapid orders, and intuitive- ly knew that danger was apprehended. But she did not tremble nor pale, though she clung closely to the arm of Clarence, for her eyes were on his face, not upon the sky, and that face was as quiet and calm as if he was sleep- ing. ‘Everything was Mend still now, except the clang of the engine and the dash of the pad- dles in the water. The crew were silent; there was no wind, even the distant thunder ceased to roll, while the clouds gathered thick and dark overhead, until the scene wore almost the gloom of oe In the west, the white outlines of a sandy beach, with tall pines for a background, could be seen—all else around was sombre water. Suddenly, a gleam of lightning shot athwart the whole sky, seeming to tear the huge dens- ity of cloud into a thousand ragged fragments. And close upon it followed a terriffie peal of thunder, as if an hundred batteries of cannon had all at once belched forth their tremendous fire. Then from the rent clouds came vast torrents of rain, so dense, so heavy, that the erew sought refuge below, svar i those on immediate duty, and Ona was glad, with Clar ence, to seek shelter in the roomy wheel-house by the side of the captain. ever had she seen rain pour in that way before. Meantime, the steamer held her course, steadily plunging through the black and seeth- ing waters, as if endued with life; and the brave captain, witb his favorite steersman by his side, watched the con. pass, add prayed that no worse than rain would come. “ Are wenot near the port ?’’ asked Clarence, at last. : “Only an hour’s or two hours’ rum from it, at the furthest, if it holds calm!” replied the captain. 5 ust as he spoke, a tremendous concussion was heard amongst the machinery below, and the next moment the wheels of the steamer stopped. “‘(Jood God, what is the matter now ?” ask- ed Clarence. The engineer rushed on deck at that instant, and reported to Captain Duke that the main shaft was broken short off. “Damnation!” was the only response of Duke, as he hurried below to look at the dam- e. He soon returned, and, though he assum- oa a foreed calmness, he could not conceal! that he was annoyed and troubled “ Well, what’s the damage ?” asked Clarence, who had persuaded Ona to go into the eabin, promising to call ber if the danger increased. “If we had a fair wind, and not too much of it, I wouldn’t care?” said Duke. ‘ We have got to depend upon our canvas now, for we cannot get the shaft repaired on this side of Savannah.” While he was speaking, the rain ceased al- most as suddenly as it had come on, and the darkness began to clear away. “I think a breeze will soon spring up!’ said Clarence. “More than a breeze—an infernal gale, I expect !” muttered Duke. And then he gave aaa to reef the fore-and-aft sails of the steamer, and to double the sheets, and get up additional stays for the masts and chimneys, Having seen this done, and knowing that he could do no more, but must in patience await the issue, whatever it might be, the captain Diiameetc-nn9 amma invited Olarence to visit™his “ private state- room ” once more, “ for,’ said he, “ it is likely that I shall be too busy for such matters in a little while, and a drop or two won’t hurt me just now, it isn’t likely.” Clarence silently complied with his request, for he had not the heart to refuse him, go sor- rowful did he seem in his trouble. They soon returned to the deck. Night was now approaching, and they were slowly drift- ing in toward the beach. Captain Duke now ordered the anchors cleared, and the cables ranged, and then, the thought striking him that help might be sent out from Indian Rivas, if his signals of distress were heard at the fort there, he caused his pilot gun to be fired seve- ral times. “What sound is that?” asked Clarence, as a low and sullen roar came up from the south- eastward, sounding like the distant clamor of an angry multitude of men. “It is that which I most dreaded, a gale, and blowing right on shore!” said Captain Duke, uneasily, as he glanced to windward. “Tf this were a staunch elipper, stout sparred, and with a good hold below water, and but little above it, we might claw off, but, as it is, with our heavy upper works, and seanty sail, we cannot. I fear that I shall have to beachher.” “There would not be much risk in that, while the sea is smooth!” said Clarence. “We could reach the land safely, over the bows of the boat!” “ But the safety after we get there would be the question!” said Duke, earnestly. “The coast swarms with Indians, who watch for every wreck, and pounce on their helpless crews |” “But your crew numbers twenty men or more, good and true, and we have plenty of arms and ammunition !” “What will twenty men be against a hun- dred or two savages, who have the advan- tage of a knowledge of the country ?” “They must be all in all to us! I have something more than life to fight for!” sighed Clarence, as he thought of poor Ona. The sound of the rising gale came now, louder and louder, on their ears, and the watchful captain trimmed his scanty sails so as best to meet it A little longer only had they to wait, and then it eame with fearful force. At first, the steamer careened so that she appeared to be capsizing, and Clarence hastened to the side of Ona, to relieve her of fear, and to aid her when it became necessary. The captain saw at once, that the only way to save his crew would be to beach the vessel before the sea became too rough for the crew to land, and, with a heavy heart, he gave the order to hoist a sail forward, and to put the helm up so astorunin. Forno captain looks upon the approaching loss of his vessel but with grief. Orders were given to the crew to get out provisions, ete., and to arm themselves well, and prepare plenty of ammunition Some tents, and other necessary articles, were or- dered up, and then all was ready. Clarence and Ona stood on deck, ready, like the rest, to meet the shock wher, the vessel should strike the shore. She aow moved swiftly on before the howling gale—the white beach and its crumbling breakers were close on board, and in a short time, just as the sun was going down in the west, the ill-fated ves- sel struck. By her own foren, and the swift- following purgee, she was forced high up on the beach, and it was an ensy thing to Sand from over her bows, and to take on shore the articles which had been selected. But they were obliged to hasten in this, for the storm rose with fearful rapidity and strength, and they soon heard the heavy seas crashing in the bulwarks and strong timbers of the boat. “Now that we are ashore, you must take eommand,” said the captain to Clarence. “I will shoulder my musket, an@ do a soldier's duty for the poor steamer is » gone-in fact!” Clarence, thus arged, took charge, and with a soldier’s ready tact and skill, formed his en- campment in a thick grove, a short distance back from. the sea, where the tents could be pitched easily, and safe from the force of the ale, and at once posted sentinels at a proper istance around the camp, to avoid @ surprise. Darkness came on by the time that the camp was pitched and the provisions stored, but camp-fires were lighted, and the men felt cheerful, while they listened to the tempest which waged over the wild waters, for they felt that they had escaped a great danger, the almost certainty of perishi Fg at sea. ‘around him, cast himself down on the Lr ‘in front of Ona’s tent, and was soon soun 29 “How far do you think we are from Indian River?” asked Clarence of Captain Duke, after the sentinels had been posted, and all wae ight in the camp. “Not more than thirty miles!” said the latter. “Then, to-morrow, we can easily go or send there |” ) ‘It is a hard country to travel over, lieu | tenant!” { “Not so hard as the Big Cypress, and I've traveled many a mile in that.” “Not when you had a delicate woman to take care of!” “Oh, you need not fear for Ona! light of foot, and as fleet as a fawn!” “ And will tire as soon, maybe!” said Duke, gloomily. “What is the matter of you to-night ?” asked Clarence. ‘You are generally so gay and light-hearted, that you Kelp everybody out of the blues!’ _ “Do you hear the poor old steamer break- ing up?” replied Drake. “ Before morning there won’t be one timber of her left stuck to another. And what's to come next I don’t know, but I feel as if something terrible was coming, and I can’t help it. You know, Iam the last to whine without a reason, but there is a feeling on me which I cannot shake off!” “Well, turn in, captain, and try and take some sleep. I shall act as officer of the gaard for the first half of the night. I will call you for the next watch !” : The captain went in gloomy silence to the tent which had been pitched for him, and Clarence, after visiting Ona in her tent, and telling her to sleep without fear, took his round of visit to the sentinels, So loud was the noise of the dashing surf and violent wind, that all other sounds. were drowned, and it was only when close to each other that their voices could be understood. In consequence, the sentinels were cautioned to be very attentive, for at such a time, a sur prise could most easily be effected. And none but those who have been engaged in warfare with the wily and treacherous savages, can imagine their cunning, how much like the panther they creep upon their victims, how merciless thax axa whan thu ome successf | She is as CHAPTER XLVI. The ni ht wore slowly on to Clarence, but he passed it away in his rounds to the senti- nels, visits to the front of the tent of his be- loved, and in thinking of the singular adven- tures which he had lately passed through. Unlike the captain, his heart beat high with hope, and joyful anticipations of the future. He looked forward to the hour when Ona should be his bride, and when he should have the happiness to present her as a daughter, to his beloved mother. At twelve Clarence aroused a fresh guard of men from their slumbers, and proceeded to relieve the guard. The new sentinels were cautioned particularly to be on thealert, espe- cially toward the approach of day, for it ie supposed that men sleep most soundly just at the end of night, and that time, more often than any other, is selected for an attack. True it is with those who are not used to be for- ever on the watch for a surprise, that when the greater part of the night has been passed in safety, they relax in vigilance and caution. When Clarence went to arouse Captain Duke, he found him already awake. “TI heard you when you changed the guard,” said he, “but I did not leave my tent, for I knew that rp would come here when I was wanted. I have not yet closed my eyes, nor can I. There is a weight upon my heart which I cannot heave off—I am sure there is more trouble ahead |” “ Pshaw, don’t let such thoughts enter your brain; take ‘a drop of comfort’ from ‘that Schiedam case, and @ walk in the fresh air, and you'll feel as lively as a cricket!” The captain sighed, and ‘for a wonder), re- fused the “ spiritual consolation” indicated b Clarence ; but he went out, and with the la ter visited the different sentinels, so as to learn the locations of their posts. Then Clarence and wrapping his military cloak asleep: How pte lay in this slumber he knew not but he a fearful dream. He thought NIGDOOKS (E(0) (eco)