Beadle's Dime Library No. 162 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER III, WELCOME VISITORS. Tue clipper-ship Monarch lay at anchor in Mobile Bay, the waves, fanned into motion by a six-knot breeze, hardly moving her massive hull. Upon her decks, besides the watch on duty, were several passengers pacing to and fro, or leaning over the taffrail and gazing out over the dark waters, and thinking of the morrow which would place them once more on land afer a long sea voyage. ** There’s a sail coming down upon our star- board bow, sir,” said the look-out, addressing the. officer on duty. “Ay, ay,” and the night-glass was leveled at the stranger. ‘Tt is a small fishing smack, I think; but she seems heading cirectly toward us,” said the officer, closely examining the craft. All on deck now attentively watched the stranger. which was visible a quarter of a mile | “wh and heading directly for the ship. “If she was larger, and came from seawnrd, I’d be suspicious of .her in these waters, Mar- tin,” said the captain, coming on deck and closely eying the little vessel, from whose decks a short while after came a hail in a low, but clear voice. “Ship ahoy!” “‘ Ahoy the smack!” answered the captain. ‘Ts that the clipper ship Monarch?” — “A , ay, sir.” “‘T have a message for you, sir.” ‘*Come alongside!” The smack ran close in, was skillfully laid alongside the ship, over whose bulwarks clam- bered a man in the uniform of a naval officer, and who, after saluting Captain Bruno of the Monarch, said in a low tone: “Tam ‘Midshipman Marmaduke Gregory, sir, of the American schooner of war ing, and having learned of an intended attack on ey to-night, have with me two-score gallant to aid in the defense of your vessel.” ‘You surprise me, my dear sir,” said the amazed captain. ‘*You will be more curprised, sir, soon, so pray let my men at once board and below, while the smack runs inshore, and | will ex- plain more fully.” The merchant captain looked fixedly into the face of the officer, as the binnacle light shone upon it, and seeing that it was a face to trust, he said frankly: ‘“As you please, Mr, Gregory, for I am con- fi ont you have a good motive in your request.” ‘* You shall soon see, sir,” answered the offi- cer, and going to the ship’s side he called over io those on the smack to come on board. Instantly over the bulwarks clambered a number of sailors, all armed to the teeth, and going forward they descended into the steerage, while at an order from the midshipman, the smack swung loose from the Monarch, and headed toward the nearest shore. “Now, captain, if you will order your look- outs to watch for a lugger coming from the shore off your port quarter, and report it to you as soon as sighted, 1 will make known to you “7 I have paid you this unceremonious visit,” said the midshipman. ‘*Come, sir, into my cabin, please,” and Cap- tain Bruno led the way into the ship’s large and comfortable cabin. There was but one occupant there, a maiden seated at the table reading, and who, upon be- holding a stranger, arose and retreated to the state-room followed by the eyes of the midship- man, who seemed evidently impressed by the vision of loveliness upon which his gaze had so une tedly and but momentarily rested. ‘““Holy Neptune! but is she not beautiful?’ he muttered, and hearing his words, the captain, with a smile said: “You but express the universal verdict, Mr. Gregory; it is Miss Eva Raymond, the daugh- ter of owner of this vessel, and a wealthy merchant of Baltimore; but Iam ready, sir, to hear what you have to say.” ‘““Ah! yes, captain; as 1 told you I am a midshipman, and acting lieutenant on board the schooner of war Red Wing, whose special orders are to find and capture the famous pirate known as Captain Cloud of the Arrow. “Yesterday, desiring to visit a friend, who has a bea a romp a few leagues down the coast, I was landed near where he lived, intending to ra with him in a day or two and rejoin my vessel. , , But, after the schooner had sailed, to my chagrin, I found my friend and his family “usent, soT obtained a horse to ride on to the city, and to-night accidentally made a discovery of anim it nature. “Sbortly after dark I bailaiag, that a tave leo The Mad Mariner. the landlord of the place, and the other Captain Cloud himself.” “You surprise me, sir,” cried the merchant captain in amazement. ** And what I heard, Captain Bruno, will sur- prise you more, for it was a plot to take your vessel to-night. ‘Finding out thus their plan, I retreated to my horse and dashed at full speed along the shore road until I came in sight of the lights of the Red Wing, which I hailed, and a boat was sent for me, and I made known to Lieuten- ant Donald in command, what I had heard and asked to take some men, board you, and lay in wait for the pirates. ‘“‘He readily granted my request, and a fish- ing-smack lying near, we pressed it into service, and here J am.” ‘And right glad am I to see you, Mr. Greg- ory, for I know well that daring, red-handed pirate, and I could not bring mors than twenty men toresist his attack, as some of my crew are cown sick. “But with your force, and myself and men are und. r your comm nd, sir, we can—” ‘‘A Jugger is in sight, sir, coming from the port quarter,” called out the mate down the companionway, and his words brought the ome and the midshipman quickly to their eet. CHAPTER IV. THE ATTACK. Upon reaching the deck both Captain Bruno and Midshipman Gregory saw the lugger com- ing slowly toward tho ship, and the merchant commander asked: “Do you think that is your friend, Mr. ory?” ‘*Yes, I am confident of it, for he comes directly out of the mouth of the lagoon, on which stands the old tavern.” “Then, sir, arrange your forces to suit yourself, and I report with my crew for duty and am confident some of the passengers will volunteer to aid us.” Midshipman Gregory at once laid his plans to resist the attack of the pirates, and at the same time to capture the entire party. Under the mate he placed twenty men, of his own crew, to be ready to board the lugger as soon as the freebooters had boarded the ship, and thus cut off their escape, The rest of the defenders, consisting of the remainder of bis own men, the ship’s crew and the passengers, he divided into two companies, one under the command of Captain Bruno and the other to be under his al charge, while he also was to answer the hail of the lugger, and bid them come alongside. As all the arrangements were now completed, and the three parties concealed and ready for action, Midshipman Gregory walked aft, and gazed calmly at the approaching lugger, now not many cable-lengths away. ‘* Well, sir, I believe you are the one to whom I owe the safety of my vessel, sol beg you to permit me to aid you in any way,” said an elderly gentleman, who had just come from the cabin, and carried a cutlass in his hand. ‘*T learned of an intended attack upon the Monarch, sir, and hope it will be not only re- ulsed, but the assaila« ts captured; ycu are Mr. ymond, I believe?” was the midshipman’s answer. ‘* Yes, sir, Walter Raymond, and I am happy in meeting you, Mr. Gregory, and trust you will assign me to duty.” “Then it shall be to guard the cabin, sir, as some of the pirates will be certain to make for that point, and if I mistake not the most precious freight the ship carries is there.” “True, sir, for my child is there, and—” “Ship ahoy!” The sharp hail broke off further conversation between the merchant and the middy, and the latter replied Bees oe : ‘** Ahoy the lugger!’ ‘ We have lost our spars, and beg you to let us have some if you can,” came the reply ina hoarse voice, The 1 r was now me near, and upon her deck in the darkness only three persons could be seen by the keen eyes of the midshipman; but he felt confident that beneath her decks were half a hundred red-handed pirates ready for the vilest deeds, * Ay, ay, [ will see what we can do for you,” was the calm response, and then added: “Send a boat alongside.” ‘* We have no boat; we lost it in the storm two nights ago, when our s went too.” ‘‘ Then lay alongside with your lugger.” ‘Ay, ay, sir,” came with almost deck promptness, and skillfully handled, the lugger came alongside the huge ae in- nen pects eo Aree e Pirate Throw your grapnels, men! now follow me iron grapnels were cast at the word and ton the ship, and then over tbe bul- came a Aye wy dark - dee ing his cloak, ready for —_—_—_—_—_—_— Ed . 3 fee tn deck and all came to a sudden There was not one of the ship’s crew visible and rot an alarm had been given. What could it mean? Had the vessel been in charge of one man, and he in terror fled? But out of the shelter of the poop deck came a stirring cry: ts Fire 1? Lying flat on the deck the well-trained crew of Midshipman Gregory obeyed the command, and a dozen pirates fell in their tracks, “* At them, lads!” This order, too, was quickly obeyed, and from fore and aft rushed the ship’s defenders, while the mate with his force threw themselves on board the lugger and took ion. Taken wholly by surprise, the pirates at first seemed dumb with amazement, But their chief soon rallied, and loud his voice rung out: a * Devils, ve are caught in our own trap, but ght it out.” A yell answere., and the pirates met the at- tack bravely. But a that they were being pressed hard from both fore and aft, and that he was out- numbered by far, the pirate lead.® called out: ‘*One hard blow, ye devils, and then to the lu ger, for we’ve caught a Tartar.” : e pirates did deal a severe blow, and then turned to retreat, when those who sprung upon the bulwarks to jump down upon the lugger fell dead upon its decks, for and his band met them with a hot fire. ‘“* Fight it out! die by steel and bullet rather than by the rope,” shouted the chief, and he sprung forward, cutlass in hand, and dealt a pavage blow at Midshipman Gregory, who was pressing bim hard. | But with eonsummate skill the blow was caught on the blade of the midshipman, and at once the fight between the two leaders became hot and fierce. Hie But only fora moment did it last, and then the buccaneer was disarmed. . ‘*Complete your work, sir,” he said, calmly, folding his arms, as the midshipman struck his cutlass from his grasp. . ‘* No, I prefer to leave that to the hangman, Captain loud,” was the cool reply. “Ha! you know.me?”’ ‘Yes, as a bloodthirsty monster whose red career is about ended. ‘‘ Hold! men, cut not those down who cry for quarter,” he called out in loud tones, and in- stantly a chorus of cries for mercy went up from the beaten buccaneers, and the victory was won. CHAPTER V. A DOUBLE REWARD. _ “WELL, Midshipman Gregory, your Meso” is most complete indeed, and from my heart thank you,” and Mr. Raymond advanced and £ the hand of the young naval officer, who answered modestly: ‘Oh, no, sir, it is not half finished yet, for the pirate schooner remains to be taken, and then there is a den ashore I shall visit.” ‘* Ab, you have a chance then to capture the schooner?” said Captain Bruno, coming aft. ‘* Yes, sir, for I know where she lies at an- chor, and I shall go at once in the lugger. ‘* Before you go, sir, permit me to offer vou my hand in friendship for what you have ihLis night done.” Marmaduke Gregory started as the low, sweet voice met his ear, and turning, bebeld the beautiful face and form of Eva Raymond bc- fore him. “T but did my duty, Miss Raymond; but T am more than happy that in so doing 1 bave won your friendship,” he answered, with feel- ing. & Mr, Gregory, you know not from what vou have saved me, for I know well the main nio- tive in Captain Cioud’s attacking this vessel]: it was to revenge himself upon my father and myself, and I shudder to think of all that ght have happened but for you ” “Captain Cloud sought revenge on you, Miss Raymond?” asked the young officer in sur- prise. WS Rag three years ago he was a man in or Baltimore, and supposed to be honor-. able. ‘‘But he committed the crime of for using my fatber’s name, and use I yéfuend his love swore to be revenged upon me, “He knew this vessel, as he was on board of her as a guest, when she was launobed, and meant that we should be the victims of his cruel bate, and againI thank you, Mr. Greg- "D i with what the maiden pabddadeeecesd taecens some half aa. ble reply, and turned to the captain, whom eka oo bart behead eal for be as soon as he had would