Beadle's Dime Library No. 162 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

p aehington and Baltimore, and await the Not only had Carl Carter carried cut the or- | regarding her until ‘dawn when a search party would be sent out. ders of Clarice Bona uiest tierougbly: but he | Tim Burns, the driver, drove round to the | had also made bimselr acquoinicd with tre ‘stables, just as he saw a man come up with a | shortest and best roads, and quickly turned off bundle on a stick, and whom ata glance he re- cognized. * Hullo, Ben Towsey, where from?” he asked. “Annapolis, Tim, and I’m glad to see you, for I guess you'll give me a lift on to the city, ‘was the auswer. “Come here, Ben,” and the driver drew his friend aside. ‘You always consider that you owe mea great debt?” he said. **I do indeed, Tim; o pulled me out of the Patapsco once, when I was about gone, and I haven’t paid for the funeral of my mother yet, whom you buried when I was away from home,” answered the man, with feeling. “Well, Ben Towsey, you can pay those debts this very ree by doing me a favor.” ‘Indeed [ will.” ‘Mind you, no questions, only do as I say, and no talk about it, and you don’t owe me a cent, and can get a little gold in your pocket besides.” “'W bat is it, Tim?” ‘Listen to me: 1 am just in as an extra from Balt:more.” 7) Yeas. ” “I bad a navy officer, six marines and a bats sei took in at the Basin dock.” es ’ ~e got off the end of the causeway back in the bog, by my wheelers shying; you sec?” * Yes ** All inside got out but the prisoner, and you and me on the box.” ** Mo, Tim?” * Yes, you, Ben Towsey; you was on the box with me, and when we started the critters up the brake broke, and they ran away, going two mile before I could draw ’em up.” ** Did they, Tim?” “They did; well, just as I got em down toa walk, the stage dvor flew opeu, and out jumped the prisoner, having gotten his irous cff bis ankles, but not off his wrists, and away he went.’ “* He did?” “Yes, and you, when down and went in chase.” “Me! why, Tim—” “Im talking, Ben Towsey, and you is listen- ing; yes, you went into the forest after him, and not being able to pas him, you came on to the tavern here, and I now want you to go in and tell-the officer sa.” “ But what good will it do, Tim?” “it will get me out of a scrape.” “Then I'll do it.” “ You see I was not allowed to take anybody with me, the Government having chartered the stage; but the company, knowing you used to work for ’em, and my laving a wild team, wouldnt mind my asking you, when I saw ycu in Baltimore, you see, and got into trouble with my critters.” * Ti do it, Tim.” “Asd I'll not forget you; here, friend, luck hasn’t a to you o’ late, and’ this will ive you a lift,” and the driver gave the man a Ton pieces of gold, which he received with a most thankful heart, for fartune had been down on him of late, as he expressed it.” Into the tavern they went, and calling the lieutenant aside, Tim the driver told him that Ben Towsey was the man who had come over with him, and pursued the prisoner, but could not catch him, and so came on to the tavern. Then Ben told bis story as if it were all true, and the lieutenant said: ** Now, my man, if you wish to make a good round sum, carry dispatches back for me to Bal- timore, and on board the sloop-of-war Dolphin.” ** Pll do it, sir,’ was the ready response, and fifteen minutes later, mounted on a fleet horse Ben Towsey, with whom the tide of luck had changed, started for Baltimore, just as another messenger left for Washington. And with the dawn a search party, well mounted, started in pursuit of the prisoner, and all day long bunted diligently for him. But night came and no trace of him could be found, aud the messengers returned to the tavern, with orders to the lieutenant to give up the search, and the Government would proclaim Duke Gregory a deserter and an outlaw. Tim Burns drove the party back, and Ben Towsey, richer by a golden reward from the lieutenant, went on the box with him, and three days after the escaped prisoner was posted by his Government as a deserter and outlaw, and upon his head, dead or alive, a reward of ten usand dollars was offered, and Duke Greg- ory the disowned son, became an outcast and a hunted man, with no flag and no country, de- spised by those who had once admired him, and hated by those who had once loved him. CHAPTER XXVIJU. THE FLIGHT OF THE FUGITIVES. I wILL now return to the vehicle, in which Duke ry was driven rapidly away, from the spot where it met the stage. I told you, jumped “fhe Mad Marinor. of the post bighway into a couniry Way ieauing | to the lett. Along this the borses were urged at their | fastest trot, Carl Carter driving, and Clarice Bond by bis side, while on the back seat sat Duke Gregory silent and stern. For some time no word was spoken, other than a question of the woman about the roads, and then came a question from the prisoner: ‘Why have you done this?” ‘*To save you from the rope.” “Tt will be useless.” + Why?” ‘*The whole country will be scoured formeand I will be retaken, or—”’ “Or what?’ “Or take my own life to prevent.” ** Nonsense,’ ‘*] mean it,” ‘And I say nonsense, for you cannot be re- taken.” rT Why?” “‘T have laid my plans too well” ‘The reward offered will cause those who conceal me to betray me.” ‘You wiil not remain on land, Duke.” ‘What mean you?’ “You will be on a vessel’s deck within two ours.” “ What?’ “‘ITcannot say how good a craft it may be; but Ihave secured a v.ssol, and we are now driving to the inlet where we hope to meet her. ‘You are a wonderful woman,” said the son. ‘*“f{ am not &@ woman to see my son hang, and I hope you did not think I would desert ou. ‘* No, but I did not see how you could aid me.” ‘*T had to flyto save myseif, and this person is our good friend, Carl Carter, who put you on the Arrow that fatal night; the one vow in charge of the vessel we seek, is his shipmate, Maddocks, and both are good men and true.” "I do not doubt it, and [owe them more than 1 can ever repay,” said Duke Gregory, sadly. “TI am repaid in serving Mrs. Bond, Sir,” was Carl Carter’s response, and then he added: ** And Maddocks serves me,” ‘Well, I fortunately have plenty of money with me, and diamonds that wiil bring more, as [invested my ye money that wey, somy good lad you will not want for financial pay- ment [ assure you.” Now me, can I not get rid of these irons?” ‘* Hal woman-like I have forgotten some- thins. I have no key, or file,” cried Mrs. Bond. ‘*Bat | have; try these,” and Carl Carter: handed biok a bunch of keys. Seizing them eagerly, Ciarice Bond tried one after the other in the irons, and aé last a cry of joy broke trom her, as sto found one to fit, at from thefips of Duke Gregory, as the chains dro off, cama fervent: ° Thank God | now I am free.” Just then Carl turned the horses into an opening leading into the forest, and drawing rein gave a long, shrill whistle. It was answered from further on in the w and in.mediately after a vehicle was heard ap- proaching. ‘** Now wo change, for our horses are well- nigh fagged out,” said the young sailor. ® two velicles were now side by side, and the prisoner and Clarice Bond got into the other one, While the driver of it took Carl’s seat just vacated in the other. ““AsI told you, this team is yours for your work and silenco; this team, hired from you, I will leave where you directed, for you to get,” said Carl. ** Yes, at my uncle’s; Peter Lowell is his name, and his farin & not far from where you said your boat would meet you. ‘Just ask uucle Peter to take care of them for me, and tell Lim you are going across to the eastern shore for a Lunt afier ducks,” replied the man, a ‘s sremeniber, silence is the word,” again urged ar. ‘““P'm dumb as an oyster, and you've paid me well, and I’lt not forget it. “Luek to you, and good-night,” Tie man drove away on the road to Annapo- lis, and Carl, taking the reins of the new team sent them off at a swift pace toward the inlet where they expected to meet the vessel with Maddocks on board, Not sparing the team they were not long in reaching the farm of Peter Lowell, which Carl Carter recognized by the description given bim of it, and out over the dark waters, just coming into an inlet above, a small vessel was dis- cerned. While Carl Carter drove on with the 2 py em to the farm-house, Duke Gregory and mother took their baggage, and the chains which the man clung to tenaciously, and started for the shore. The vessel had in the mean time run close i shore, and lay to, and the mother and son st eee Se ee ee ec rm __c e a ee 13 —_—- eee rejoined by Carl Carter, who said: “The eam is ell right; row to get on board tha craft.” ‘** We waited for you, Carl, to hail,” said the woman, “Ho the Maddocks aboy!” sung out Carl Carter in seamanlike tones. ‘‘ Ho the shore!” cani+ Lack the response. ‘**Jt is Maddocks’s vy. ice.” ‘‘And we are safe,” eagerly cried Clarice Bond. ‘Don’t anchor; but send a boat ashore, Matt,” cried Curl, and instantly the order was obeyed, and five minutes after the ftyitives stood on the deck of astrim a craft as any yachtsman would care to cc mmand. ‘You have done nobly, Maddocks,” oried Clarice Bond eagerly. ‘Yes, she’s a beauty, and kard luck made her owner Jet her go cheap.” ‘* Now, Captain Duke, be good enongh to take command of your vessel,” and Clarice, with tears in her eyes, which the darkness oniy hid, and a voice, with a quiver she could not control, laid her band on the shoulder of the tall, splendid-looking but hunted man at her s.de. “From my beart I thank ycu, motber—” “You mistake, Captain Duke, my name is Bond.” ‘“Ah! well, all the same I owe to you, and to your brave friends my Jife, and as yon ask me to be cuptain, Mr. Carter shall be my first, and Mr, ocks my second officers; now how many in crew have you?” and Duke turned to Maddocks. 7 for I could not work her well with “ You can, trust them?’ , Sassen Ik manage Mr. - oh: now how to them. x Carter, please t the—the—” ** Mischief is her name,” put in Maddocks. “She is well named; please get the Mischief under way, Mr. Carter, and for Baiti- more.” ‘* For Baltimore !” The ery broke simultanecusly from the Hps of the woman and ber two allies. “* Yes; I will not be sought for there, and in disguise can evade all suspicion and search. ‘Y«@, to Baltimore we go, for I have a solemn duty to perform there,” was the stern ly of Duke Gregory. bere was no remonstrance from any and under a cloud of canvas the fleet vessel aot back for the port from whioh ber daring com- mander had escaped only a few hours before. CHAPTER XXVHL " WHY THE greeny a T was noon, and eight beils bad just pealed forth from the schooner-of-war Arrow, as the Mischief sailed slowly by, on her way up the harbor, and not her deck’s length away from the saucy craft. Lieutcncnt Artbur Nevil vas on the quarter- decx, aud the crew leunged fcrwaid, and all gazed wich admiration upon the pretty oa as she sailed by, little dreaming tbat ‘the tal form at her heim, dressed in pea-jacket, white duck pants and tarpaulin, and disguised by the beard whica his mother wore the night before, was Duke Gregory, the gallant young captain, who had so suddenly fallen as it were from mearen 0 Hell. m ‘5 onfident in his disguise Duke Grego gazed grimly at the schconer, and ordered the flag of the Mischief dipped three tines in her honor, and then, in sheer recklessness, held on a course that would carry bim directiy under the stern of the lofty sloop-of-war. ‘**Be careful, Duke,” said his mother, from her stand in the companionway; but he made no reply, and keeping on beld near the vessel which he had lett eighteen hours before in double irons, and now beheld a free man, even if he was branded with the curse of desertion and outlawry. : Running up to a sec’uded part of the harbor, _ the Mischief dropped anchor,and then Duke > Gregory called the crew aft, and said bluntly: ** My lads, lam sailing this craft urder secret orders, and it is my command that no one goes ashore without my permission, for I may Loist anchor at any moment. ‘‘Serve me well and your pay shall not be governed by seamen’s wages; act to the con- trary of my commands, and you'll regret it.” The men received this little speech with favor, for they were of a class that cared to ask no questions, so that they got liberal pay. Going into the cabin, where bis mctbher was, Duke Gregory, or Ceptain Duke as all on beard called him, called to Carl Carter to follow bim, and said: ; ‘Carter, it is my desire to get a thorough dis- guise, for I have work todo on shore, and I wish you to land and procure it for me. " docks will set you ashore, for I can not risk those fellows antl I have learned more of them, and if they land they may hear that a certain pean has escaped from the guard of the Dolphin, who had him in cha ‘Here is money, and remember, with a dise (E(@) cS Mmicboo iGOK