Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 210 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

’ 10 nnn nn oo twice on going about, the brig staggered fear- fully, and her decks drowned with water, it was feared she must founder; but each time the nerve and skill of the young girl brought her out of the danger in safety. Having gained an offing, Captain Bess laid her course south by west, and the brig went flying along at a terrific pace. ‘‘May 1 ask, miss—I mean cap’n—which "Way you are going now?” said Binnacle Ben, ; J politely, when the vessel was bowling along like the wind, evidently bent on some direct course toward a given point. “Certainly, sir, for I wish to have a talk with you, and with the boatswain—” ** Bo’sen Brail?”’ **Yes. Ishall make him my second officer, if he’s a good man.” ‘Oh, he’s a good man enough, cap’n, only a little restive of restraint, and was a li'tle out of humor because the lads made me chief.” “Then call him, and come with me to the cabin, after you have placed two good men at the wheel, for it is impossible to talk bere in this gale.” She quietly walked away from the wheel, while Binnacle Ben ordered two men to the post, and calling to Boatswain Brail to come with him, joined her as she was about to de- acend into the cabin. “Say, cap’n, the passengers are all confined down there,” said Ben, *‘ Ah, yes, I had forgotten that you told me you seized the vessel upon her voyage out, ‘‘How many passengers are thero on board?” “‘Twenty-seven now, including cbildren, but there was thirty one.” ‘* What became of the other four?’ ‘You see thay showed fight when we seized the brig, and we had to cut them down,” Captain Bess shook her head at this, and asked: ** What crew had the brig?” “Twenty men in tho forecastle, cap’n, and then her three officers, and four stewards for the cabin,” ** Were any killed?” ** The cap’n showed desperate fight, and was slightly wounded before we could take him prisoner, and five of the men were killed.” . “This is a bad business, Binnacle Ben, and I must remedy it all in my power. ** How did you seiza the brig?’ “ We went on board as Government marines, going to New Orleans, and were all dressed up as such, while I acted as sergeant in charge, and when off Horn Island, we just surprised the captain and his crew, and after a sharp fight took charge. “The passengers are all in the cabin safe, except those we had to throw overboard, and the captain and crew are confined in the hold, and in irons, for we wanted to see your father before we decided what to do.” -Captain Bess was silent for a few minutes, and seemed buried in deep thought. Then she said calmly: “Well, I have decided what to do, and I expect your aid.” ‘* You'll get mine to the end of ther rope, fer ef yer hain’t got a brave man’s heart and knowledge, then I am a-falsifying,” bluntly said Ben. * And I'll back you up too, miss—” ** Captain Bess—” “Beg pardon, sir, I meant Captain Bess,” aaid Boatswain Brail. “T thank you both, and as Ben here is to be my first officer, | will make you, Mr. Brail, my second.” “Thank you, captain,” and the seaman touched his hat. “Now it is not my intention to start upon my cruise by capturing a vessel that flies our country s flag, and is a regular packet, so I will take the brig to New Orleans, and use her as a decoy to capture the Skeleton Schooner, which lies at the docks there, undergoing repairs, and which has never yet raised the Government colors, or been put in commis sion.” “*But can we do this, cap’n?” asked Ben, with glee, struck with admiration at the bold “Certainly; but I will need more men to handle the schooner.” “TJ can get you half a hundred.” “When?” “Within two days,” answered Ben. “Where?” ‘“‘We'll pick them up at Barrataria, where you may know bcth pirates and smugglers have their retreats.” ‘¢- You know these retreats, Ben?” **T do, cap'n.” ‘1 want good men, not those who live only to kill and get gold.” “Tl get you good lads, that will be glad to be better if they get a chance to.” ““Tben we will pick them up on our way to the city, arrive there at night, drop anchor near the Skeleton Schooner, cut ber out, and leave the brig in charge of ber captain, with regret at the delay and trouble we have put him to.” ‘*Cap’n, you has a level head; but bas you decided on the flag you intends to run up.” ** 1/1 let you know my flag, Ben, whenit goes up to the peak of the Skeleton Schooner,” was the quiet reply, and then Captain Bass added: ‘For the present: I am to be known as a young man, so I will seek a state-room and put on a disguise which I brovght with me. ‘“‘Then come with me into the cabin, that I may see the passengers, and address me sim- ply as Captain Juan.” Bessie, so suddenly metamorphesed from a lovely girl into the bold, plotting, revengefvl woman, tbe head of a crew of desperate men, then sought a state-room in the ward-room to disguise herself in man’s attire. CHAPTER XVII. CAPTAIN BESS OFFERS TERMS. WHEN, after balf on hour’s absence in her state-room, Bessie Gito appeared on deck, both Binnacle Ben aud Boatswain Brail, who bad their heads together in earnest conversa- tion, failed to recognize ber and started with alarm, as she suddenly confronted them, fear- ing that in some way the passengers had man- aged to escape from the cabin. A smile crossed the sad face of Bessie, as she saw how complete was her disguise, and she said: ‘“‘Tam glad tosee that Iam so well meta- morphosed.” ‘‘That word’s too big for me to pull the meaning cut of, cap’n; but I don’t fear to say that your father wouldn’t know you in that rig,” said Ben. Bessie sighed at the mention of ber father’s name, and answered: ‘‘ Well, I will then pass muster as a young man?” ‘*‘The han’somest I ever seen, from ther heel o’ yer little boot, to ther top o’ yer proud head; you looks the boy, and a dare-deyil one at that,” frankly said Binnacle Ben, and his criticism was a just one, for Bessie bad slipped off her luxuriant masses of hair, until only short, clustering coils clung around her haughty bead, and wholly discarding her female attire, was rigged out in the picturesque uniform of the Mexican navy, which set off her elegant form two perfection. It was a costume which she bad once worn at a Bal masque when at school in New Orleans, and was certainly most elegant, and became her greatly. In the sash of silk about her waist, were two gold-mounted pistols, and a short sword, the hilt and ecabbard of which were set with pre- cious stones, hung at her left side, Her pale face bad become stern, from grief and all she bad passed through, and though beautiful, yet looked manly enough for her sex to remain unsuspected. ‘‘Now come with me into the cabin, gentle- men,” she said in a courtly way, and unlocking the companionway, she entered, followed by the two smugglers, who were more and more delighted at the chief they had so unexpected- ly gotten to guide their destinies. Upon entering the cabin Bessie paused, and a strange, sad scene met her gaze. Before her were congregated the passengers of the brig, the men in irons, and the women and children seated bere and there, all with fear depicted upon their faces, and many weeping and wailing from terror. Like the very wind the brig was driving along; laying far over on her side, and the fury of the tempest was sufficient to awe the stout- est heart, even had not their befng prisoners to pirates, as they believed, done so, and the uncertainty of what their fate might be prey- ing upon them, As Captain Bess and her companions entered the cabin, all looked up at them, wondering and dreading, for why bad they come, was the question in the older minds, while the children Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. shrunk closer to the sides of their parents, as they recognized in Binnacle Ben and Boatswain Brail the two leading spirits of the attack of the brig. Bessie saw the shrinking attitude, and well knowing what sorrow and su:pense were to en- dure, wished to relieve their minds as quickly as possible, so said: ‘* My friends, have no fear, for no barm is intended you.” A sigh of relief went around, while one of the male passengers asked: ‘‘ Have you authority to say this?” ‘*T am captain here, sir,” was the calm re- y- ‘‘Then where were you when those two brutes and their comrades seized this vessel, and for which act they shall bang?’ ‘*You are inno position, sir, to talk of hanging those in whose power you are, and [ warn you to keep a civil tongue between your teeth. _ “T was ashore when this brig was captured, and finding that my men have made a mis- take—” “One that will ccst you your life, young man,” put in the talkative passenger. But unheeding him, Bessie went on in her quiet way: “Finding, as I said, that my crew had made a mistake in seizing this vessel, it is my inten- tion to release the craft, her crew and passen- gers, upon my arrival at New Orleans.” ‘‘ After you bave robbed us of our valuables and gold,” sneered the passenger who had be- fore spoken, unbeeding the sigos of his fellow unfortunates for him to remain quiet. ‘‘- You are mistaken, sir, for not an article of value shall be taken from this vessel,” “That wil not save your neck, my fine fel- low, as the capture of this brig, and killing of some of ber passengers and crew, will bo enough to bang you.” Bessie turned her flashing eyes upon the speaker, and said: ‘*Ben, put that man in double irons, gag him, and take him to the hold to remain, until I order his release!” “* Ay, ay, sir, I’d have filled his mouth with iron long before this, sir, for he’sa tough cus- tomer,” answered Ben, while Bessie continued: ‘* And you, Brail, knock the irons off of the rest of these prisoners, if they will give me their paroles of honor not to interfere in any way with this vessel, or to leave this cabin.” The paroles were gladly given, and while the passenger, whose tongue bad gotten him into trouble, saw Lis companions set free, he found bimself in double irons and gagged. He begged lustily to be spared the punish- ment, and others pleaded for him, until both Ben and Brail feared Bessie’s beart would yield; but she was firm as a rock, and the man was taken away and put in tbe brig’s hold, where were the crew and their cflficers, who were suddenly surprised by the entrance of the two leaders, in the attack upon the brig, their prisoner, and the very elegant youth who accompanied them. “You are Captain Hart, of the Lioness Packet brig, I believe?” said Bessie, walking up to the commander of the vessel, a frank- faced man of thirty-five, who was fretting greatly over his capture, ‘‘T am, sir,’ was the stern reply, and then he added: “What new deviltry is going on now, that you put that passenger in irons, and gag him?’ ‘‘ He could not appreciate kindness, sir, was insulting, and while I set bis companions free, I punish him, as you see,” was Bessie's cool re- joinder. “Set his companions free?” cried Captain Hart, in surprise. You, or.” ‘* Why how can you do that, when we are driving along like a tornado in mid-ocean?”’ ‘*T knocked the irons off the prisoners, and bade them dread no harm being done them, for they should be free upon our arrival af New Orleans.” “What, do you say this vessel is going to New Orleans?” said the amazed captain. ‘‘Yes, Iam now bound for that port.” ‘‘ Well, you bave the temerity of Satan, to capture a vessel and then run her into the port for which she was bound.” Bessie smiled, and answered: ‘*And shortly after I arrive there, Captain Hart, you and your crew sball be left in com- mand of your vessel, which I have merely chartered to take myself and men to the city, (E(0) AME <S JOO Pe (E (©)