Beadle's Dime Library No. 162 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

The Mad Mariner. 11. CHAPTER. XXII. THE COXSWAIN’S STORY. ‘‘ BREAKFAST is a little slow in coming, Cox- swain Roe, so let us have another brandy and mint,” ested Clarice, and nothing loth the seaman of the Dolpbin agreed, and after a second glass he was as merry as a clam, and set to, to discuss the really tempting breakfast set before them with evident relish. To gain the greater confidence of the cox- swain Clarice said: ‘That you may rot feel you are getting what your lads miss, IJ] just have the host fix some chickens, and in fact fix up a good break- fast for you to carry to them,” and turning, she gave the order, adding to it a couple of bottles of grog. ‘*'You’re a true son of the sea, shipmate, and we must have you on board-the Dolphin, for I never saw a freer man,” said the delighted cox- swain, dispatching steak, chicken and eggs with a rapidity that would have driven a dyspeptic mad with envy. Clarice ate sparingly, and “4 degrees bent the conversation into the channel she wished to have it. ‘I tell you, shipmate, if I may so call you—” ‘Call me Roe—no, Dick, for Dick Roe is my name, and | feel as if 1 had known you a life- time,” said the champion eater. “Well, Dick, you touch my heart when you speak of Captain Gregory as poor fellow, for he’s the man to win a true sailor’s regard, and I owe much to him, I can tell you, and am more sorry than I can tell that he should have gotten into trouble.” ‘“So plenty of the lads say, and some even regret that his sister didn’t die, and then the sscret about him would not have come out; but he’s got some friends, that’s a fact, for they played a bold game on shipboard for him last night.” "Indeed! friends on board the Dolphin has he?” asked the woman with eager interest, while her heart almost ceased to beat, ‘* He has for a fact, and I’ll prove my words: it seems the guard saw him reading a letter late in the night, and fearing that all was not right he stepped into the state-room and told him to hand it to him. ‘* The captain refused, and the guard insisted, so that the prisoner turned quickly and crump- ling it up, thrust it into the flame of the lan- tern. ‘* Well, the guard sprung forward to get it out before it should burn, when the captain knocked him down. “But he got up quickly and made a second omy ee when the captain seized him, and then they had it. ‘* Now, Marine Mike is the biggest man on board our ship, and he is a giant for strength; but he met bis match in that elegantly-formed young captain, although he had an iron chain upon one wrist and one ankle. ‘‘ At it they went, the captain having Marine Mike by the throat, and by sheer strength keep- ing him away from the lantern, for the paper had not immediately ignited, and the noise of the fight, with the rattling of the chains, and stifled calls of the guard for help, soon brought officers and men to the scene. ‘But the captain poe around at the paper, and seeing that it was not all burned up yet, just keptevery man out of that state-room, by knocking ’em back with Marine Mike. “It wasin vain they tried to get in, for back they were sent, until at last, seeing that the last scrap of yu nol had burned up, he threw Marine Mike out after them. *‘ All thought his troubles had made him go mad; but Marine Mike, as soon as he got breath, told the cause of the trouble. “« He impertinently demanded a letter I was reading, and I burnt it up; he tried to seize it, at punished him,’ was the captain’s cool re- mark. ‘‘ And punish Marine Mike he did, for he was cut up and joked went and said he would as soon fight an African lion as that slender, hand- soine young Officer, whose was like steel.” “So they did not see the letter?’ asked Clarice oes — eh niitons ‘No, indeed; ey searc is gage and they found there a letter his father had written him telling him who he was, and more, they discovered weapons, and tools for getting free of his irons and escaping with. ‘*Then they sent an officer over to the Arrow to ask the lieutenant in charge why he had sent him such implements, and he came back with the boat, and reported thet a gig, with a cox- swain and two men had come to the schooner, saying the captain had sent for his baggage and that the leather roll of arms and tools had not been in it. “ Then the officers of both vessels knew they had been tricked by some friends of the captain, and they determined to keep a closer watch, and all say they are glad he is to be sent to Washington to-night.” ‘| thought they were going to hang him to the yard-arm of the Dolpbin?” said Clarice. ‘**Oh, no, shipmate; they send him to Wash- oo yap for the aa Department wish first to ge a full report of his crime from him, and then he is to be tried there; but the trial will be but a sham, as he will be we ar sure.” ‘‘T expect so; does the Dolphin take him there?” “Oh, no; be goes by an extra stage, half an hour after the regular coach, and an officer, coxswain, perhaps myself, and four marines 4 as guard, and we'll run through during the night.” Clarice Bond’s eyes flashed, and her cheeks burned; but outwardly she was perfectly calm, and the coxswain baving at last tired of eating, she paid the score, gave him the bas!-et with the breakfast for his men, and promising to come on board and sbip, left him, having already de- termined upon her course of action. CHAPTER XXTIT. A WOMAN AT WORK. STRAIGHT to the stage ofiice went Clarice Bond, for railroads were not known then, kind reader, and by inquiry she learned at what time the coach depar for Washington. ‘*There’s a good lot of passengers going to- night, so we will run three coaches out, and or- ders were left here for an extra to follow,” said the landlord of the tavern from whence the stages started, and who was the agent of the line, ‘* And they leave at seven, you say?” ‘Yes, just after supper; all but the extra, and that goes at eight; if you want a seat you had betier buy now.” ‘Tl come in again,” said the woman, and leaving the tavern she wended her way rapidly to her own quarters, and waking her two allies, made known to them all thatshe had learned. ‘‘ Now, my friends, I have already formed a plan of action, and it will take the three of us to carry if out successfully, and it is our only chance to save the lad.” ‘You know you can depend upon me,” said Car! Carter. “And me,” added Maddocks, ‘“*T know it, and feel it; now, Maddocks, you know this town well, you say, having often been in port before, and I wish you to go and buy at once a fast-sailing fishing-smack, of from fifteen to thirty tons, as you think best; engage then about four good seamen, who are not par- ticular as to what they are shipped for, and s.ore the craft with provisions for a long cruise, and get arms and ammunition for a dozen. “Do this at once, and set sail down the bay, and by this chart I purchased as I came along, we will see where you are to go.” She spread the chart out before them, and all eagerly examined it, ‘‘ Here,” she said, pointing with her finger, ‘is an inlet about two leagues this side of An- napolis, sorun in there; the wind is fresh from the northward, and if you get off by noon, you can run there by sunset at furthest. ‘‘Now do not delay a moment, and we will join you there at midnight; if not, wait there until you hear from me.” Maddocks quickly rigged himself out for his trip, received the money for his purchases from Clarice, and departed. ‘* Now, Carl, I have something for you to do, and there is no need for my epee | you to act prom tly, for I know that you will.’ **T ll do my best.” ‘*T know it.” Well, what am I to do?” “Go to a stable where they sell horses, and buy two good horses and a vehicle that three of us can crowd into, ‘* Drive to the cross-roads nearly half-way to Washington, and where the Annapolis road branches off. ‘There leave your horses at the tavern, to be well cared for, and hire an animal to ride down to Annapolis, “IT am told that you can hire good horses there, so secure a good pair and a driver, and bribe him to keep his mouth shut, and drive rts toward the tavern at the cross- roa ‘There leave the driver and his team, with orders to go to a certain point you select, and there await your coming. ““Then mount your horse, and ride back to the tavern, pay P her score, get your team, and meet me six miles-this side of the cross-roads; do you understand?” *" Yes, if I am to meet you in the road.” “You are to meet the three stages bound to Washington, and continue on until the fourth appears in sight; if you see a lantern whirled once around from the box, instantly turn back and keep ahead, just out of sight, until you are hailed, I will be in that stage, or on the box, and so will be Duke Gregory. ‘“* Now is all clear?” 4s Yes. ”? ** Here is the money.” “Tlltot waste it,’ **Gold must not be like water.” ‘**T’ll do my best.” ‘*Get good mules that can stand a run.” “Twill.” “If I do not come to-night, wait at the cross- oe tavern until you hear from me.” spared, Carl; let it flow four blocks from the tavern; vous, made with the stage-driver, hand. her disguise, for she feare thwart her plans after all. rangements completed; an was most thorough. she felt of wheels caught her ears. that the driver h under the box seat, and u her heart almost at a standstill. said the delighted “* You will have a ride and drive of over sixty miles, and it is now nine o’clock and after.” ‘“*T shall lose no time.” She saw the man depart, and then at once set to work to change her own appearance, for the secret of her visit to the Arrow and Dol- phin having been discovered she feared she might be recognized and arrested, and tbus thwart all her plans. A falsa beard, which she had purchased of a hair-dresser, and some dark powder on ber face, with a change of costume from sailor garb to a civilian’s suit, did wholly change her be- yond all recognition, and with deft hands she arranged the whiskers to look wholly natural. Then she packed uer luggage and left it in the room until she should for it. Going to the stage office, she looked about the stables, until she found out that the extra coach had really been engaged by the Govern- ment, to convey a prisoner to Washington, and was to leave the tavern at seven o’clock and drive down to the basin wharf where the boat. from the Dolphin would meet it. This was all to be kept secret, but a gold-. piece to the driver who was to take the coach, to the Capital, eked out the information, ‘‘I say, my friend, could you not take a pas-. senger on the box with you?” asked Clarice. ‘It would be against orders, this being extra. for Government,” said the driver. ‘‘ But I can’t get a seat in one of the regulars, and they won’t run out another coach for a sin~ gle passenger.” ‘The boss would storm.” “‘He need not know it, for I will after you leave the tavern.” ** You might be seen.” | ‘Say I’m one of the party, a detective, or whatever you like; and mind you, I’ll pay you the entire fare and more too.” ‘Well, I ought to have an extra hand with me, for I drive out a mighty wild four to- night, that will give me all I can do to manage em, ‘Good! then I'll be on hand, join you and join your here is your money.” the driver slipped the tempting gold into bis Some and Clarice Bond strode back to her gings, fully satisfied with her morning’s work, CHAPTER XXIV. ANOTHER ALLY, PROMPTLY Clarice Bond was at the rendez- carpet-bag in ced to and fro in something might Somewhat nervously she Perhaps the prisoner might not be sent that night. Perhaps new orders had come from Washing- ton regarding him. Perhaps Maddocks might not reach the inlet on time; and yet the northerly wind had held good all day. Perhaps Carl might not get the desired ar- yet she knew he Perhaps the officer in charge of the prisoner would prevent her going. In that case she would hasten to secure a team to follow, and if she could only see the ene driver she would make him carry out her plan if money would buy him. All these fears floated through her brain, and as the market bell tolled seven o’clock she became almost wild. Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed a way, and herself growing faint, when the oe ble Soon the stage appeared in sight, and she saw ad hhidieed a ‘ ted team. Catching sight of Clarice, he drew up, and ‘Here, my man, put that rein in a lower curb called out: on my leaders, please, as they pull hard. Quickly Clarice o , ** Now, if you’ve nothing to do, youcan mount The carpet-bag quickly found a restin clambered with me, and help me a trifle.” ~place larice, “*My man, you have kept your word; here is more gold for you.” ** Jewilikens! ae you spend your gold free,” ebu. ““T have a motive, and if you wish to makea couple of hundred dollars, and not get yourself in trouble, you can do it. 4 ‘‘ It’s more than I make in the year.” ‘Will yon do as I ask?” ° yn is it?” “Let your team run away at a given that I will point out to your” af ui: ‘* Jewilikens! they’d tear the town up.” ** But it is not in the town,” ** Where then?” ‘On the road, some miles before you come to the Annapolis cross-roads.” ‘*They’d kill us all.” “No, you need not let them run away, only ap to do so,” What in thunder’s up?’ com Ghooaks