Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 210 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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16 don, of the United States, and only lately es- caped from the power of Forrester the Free- boocter, who sails yonder craft. ‘This gentleman is my friend and shipmate in misfortune, Mr. Henry Harding.” Bessie bowed, and said: ‘“‘“You were then fugitives from Forrester the Freebooter?” ‘¢ Yes, Captain Bess, and I warn you against allowing him to capture your vessel, for he has no mercy.” “T well know that, sir; but what can we do?” ‘lf I mistake not, you were firing from your stern gun at the schooner, awhile since.” “Yes, but without effect, as the wild sea prevents aim.” “Permit meto act as gunner, for I have had some experience in firing in a heavy sea,” said Raoul Langdon, quickly. “‘ Certainly, sir. ** Boatswain, call the crew of the gun back to quarters!” ordered Bessie. They instantly sprung to their posts, the gun was quickly loaded, trained, and fired by the young officer, and a cheer broke from every lip upon the brig’s deck, as the shot was seen to tear through the mass of men amidships on the schooner. With great rapidity the gun was reloaded, and again discharged, the iron messenger this time cutting through the mainsail of the Red Rover, but doing no other damage, while a third shot brought another cheer from the men of the brig, as the slender foretopmast of the schooner was cut away. As the schooner luffed up to fishthe swing- ing topmast, the brig gained quite a little time, and, after a hot chase, glided into the Lost Lagoon just the eighth of a mile ahead of the pirate. - But, understanding Bessie’s ruse to escape, for she explained it to him, Raoul Langdon, quickly taking charge of the boats had them allin readiness, and as the,brig drove into the lagoon, they were lowered into the water, with towlines already attached, and the crews _ at their oars, and almost the instant the vessel ceased to feel the wind, she began to move for- ward under the impulse of the oarsmen. In her own gig ahead, Captain Bessie, who knew the intricacies of the lagoon perfectly, led the way, while Raoul Langden and Hard- ing took the wheel of the brig, and guided her so%as not to lose a fathom of vantage. Once in the Lost Lagoon and the densely- wooded banks, with their draperies of moss, seewed like walls on either side, while in- numerable bayous soon shot out from the main stream, one of which Captain Bessie turned into just as the sharp nose of the schooner ap- peared below, ber crew rapidly lowering the boats to go in pursuit. Boatswain Bessie and Binnacle Ben were botb, in the mean time, up in the rigging lowering away the yards, and having accom- plisked their task, the brig was pulled intoa bayou, hardly double its own breadth, and with the masts almost brushing the moss-covered tops of the trees arching over from either tank, In s lence, excepting the occasional splash of an oar, the brig moved on, turning into one bayou and then another, for they were like a perfect network, until, after a hard pull of an hour, upon turning a bend in the narrow stream, the men could hardly refrain from a cheer at beholding blue water only a short dis- tance away. Quickly the brig was gotten in trim once more, and, by the time she felt the roll of the sea, sail was set, the boats were called in and hauled up to the davits, and away darted the fleet craft, leaving the schooner a league up the coast, lying at anchor, and with her crew in vain reaching the lagoon for their longed- for prize. As the Lioness gained an offing, in defiance Captain Bess fired a gun to attract the atten- tion of those on board, and the scene of excite- ment that followed on the schooner was plainly visible with the naked eye. Quickly gun after gun pealed forth, to serve the double purpose of wounding the brig, and recalling the boats which were then searching for her in the Lost Lagoon. _ But the schooner was at anchor, and the shots flew wide of the mark, and those on board the Red Rover had the chagrin of seeing their coveted prize stand swiftly out to sea, and put away on ber course for New Orleans, while their chief and two-thirds of his crew eee SS. 7 meres it Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. were roving about in a bewildered way in the crew who had captured the brig accepted my mazes of the Lost Lagoon, into which trap the | services, clever ruse of Captain Bess had led them. CHAPTER XXVIII, A COUNCIL OF WAR, WHEN the Lioness was once more fairly upon her way, leaving danger for the present behind her, Captain Bess felt that it was due to the passengers and real crew of the brig to make known to them what had occurred, so that their fears might be calmed, and, in jus- tice to herself, that they would not feel that she had broken her word to them. In a few words she told them of the sighting of the Red Rover and the chase, and that she was now on her way to New Orleans. They were certainly relieved by this infor- mation, for they feared that the vessel in chase had been an American cruiser, and had been given the slip by the clever pirate, for such they looked upon Captain Bess as being. Returning to the deck, Captain Bess found Binnacle Ben and Boatswain Brail in low and earnest conversation together, and asked, pleas- antly: ‘* Well, gentlemen, is anything wrong?” “You do the talking, bo’sen,” said Ben, Well, cap’n, Ben and myself were having a little talk together, and Pll tell you what it was all about. **'You see, both Ben and I are good sailors, first-class, and know a craft from keel to truck, and from rudder-post to bowsprit; but we don’t know the water. “That is, we hain’t navigators, and if a cannon ball were to knock your pretty head off, why then we would be at sea for certain. ‘*Wecan creep along off-shore with a craft, but when we drop the land we don’t know how to get back to ib. ‘*Now we have seen that you know your business, and we don't want any better cap- tain, for certain; but you do want better luffs,* and Ben and I can’t fill the bill. *“T am a good bo’sen, I know, and Ben wouldn't make a bad sub-cfficer; but you want two good Juffs, and my opinion is you’ve got the men on board to make ’em.” ‘And who are they, Mr. Brail?’ asked C.iptain Bess, wbo had listened most atten- tively to the barangue of Brail. ‘The two strangers.” “ Ah, Mr. Langdon and his friend?” “Tne same, cap’n.” ‘“‘But I do not know that they care to serve.” **Tt’s easy enough to find out.” “ True.” ‘* They are sailors, and we have seen enough of ’em to know that they understand their work, so just put ’em in our shoes, cap’n, and let us step back to the forecastle, where we belong.” “You certainly are most modest, both of you, and I appreciate your desire to have matters go right on board.” ‘‘Oh! we bain’t so modest as we look, cap’n, for I know if we happen to be caught, and there’s any banging to be done, the officers, not the crew, are the yard-arm jig-dancers,” frankly put in Binnacle Ben. Bessie laughed lightly at this, but said: ‘Well, Brail, ask Mr. Langdon to come here, and also Mr. Harding, and we will hold a council of war.” The two young men promptly advanced at the request of Captain Bess, and saluted politely, while the young girl said: “Gentlemen, may I ask if you have formed any plans for the future?” “‘In what respect, Captain Bess?” and Raoul Langdon smiled. *‘T will be more explicit, if you will bear with me,” They both bowed in silence, and Bessie went on: ‘Circumstances, wholly unexpected to me, placed me in command of this brig. “To be frank with you, the vessel was cap- tured with the view of placing a certain person in command of her, and, as I under- stand it, making a free rover out of her. “That person was dead, had been cruelly murdered, and I was just about to start upon a cruise, that had for its object revenge, and against one who had bitterly wronged me and mine, and, a trained sailor from my earliest girlhood, I cffered myself as captain, and the * The old style of speaking of lieutenants. ‘“‘T am alone in the world, and from my good friends bere I learned that I have a foo who intended my destruction, and, as com- mander of a good vessel, I not only could thwart him in his purpose, but bring him to justice. ‘‘That person is Forrester, the Freebooter, and it is my intention to take this brig to pors, return her to the command of her proper cap- tain, and then cut out the Skeleton Schooner, and in her hunt from the seas her former master. ‘“‘The world may call us buccaneers, but the end will prove just who and what we are. “To cut out the Skeleton Schooner, and carry out my purpose, I need more men, and Binnacle Ben informs me that I can secure these at Barrataria.” ‘From the pirate rendezvous there?” quietly asked Raoul Langdon, who with Henry Har- ding had listened most attentively to all that Captain Bess had said. sé Yes.” “They are a treacherous, cowardly set, with not the courage to go to sea as pirates, but content themselves with pouncing upon unarmed vessels near shore, and then retreat- ing to the bayous and swamps to hide.” ‘¢ Still [ must have more men.” ‘‘T can get you what you need in New Or- leans.” ‘‘ Ah! that is better then; but now, as both Mr. Brail and Ben, here, decline to act as my lieutenants, I beg to offer to you, sir, the posi- tion of first lieutenant, and to your friend that of second luff.” ‘You certainly honor us, Captain Bess, when we are wholly strangers to you; but with your explanation of your cruise, so frank- ly given, Iecan but say that I will as frankly accept your generous offer,” said Raoul Lang- don, earnestly. ‘““ And I will also accept with thanks for the honor,” returned Henry Harding. ‘Then it is settled; and, Mr. Brail, you will be my boatswain, while you, Ben—” “Make me quartermaster, for I can steer by compass, and be allus on board when want- ed; but I am like a boat without an oar when I’m depended on for duties of an officer, and my head won't let merun on a level keel,” frankly confessed Binnacle Ben. All laughed at his reply, and Raoul Langdon and Harding entered upon tbeir duties as readily as though they had not accidentally drifted into their berths on a vessel that yet dared raise no flag to its peak. CHAPTER XXIX. TRAPPING FOR. A LAMB AND INSNARING A LIONESS. Wren the brig Lioness arrived in sight of the Delta of the Mississippi, it was nigbt, and following the storm which had been go inces- sant and violent for several days, a light breeze had set in, which barely forged tbe vessel along two knots to the hour, Suddenly, out from inshors the lookout sighted a small vessel coming, and instantly the always startling cry rung out: ‘Sail ho!” Captain Bess was silently leaning over the bulwarks, lost in deep and evidently painful meditation, while Raoul Largdon had charge of the deck, and was pacing to and fro, a cigar between his teeth. At the wheel was Binnacle Ben, wholly ‘‘at home” there, and these were all that were on deck, excepting the watch, who were forward. ‘““Whereaway?’ called out Langdon, in quick, terse tones, while Bessie aroused herself from her reverie, aud listened for the reply of the lookout in the fore top. ‘‘ Dead ahead, sir, and heading for us,” ‘*T see her. “Tt isa large merchant ship, I think, Cap- tain Bess, and with every sail set tbat will draw,” said Raoul Langdon, handing the glass to Captain Bessie, who had hardly leveled -it before she cried: “ And she is pursued, for there is a schooner close under her stern.” ‘‘ One of those Barrataria pirates, 1 wager my commission. “See! she bas forged alongside the ship, and hark! they are fighting. “With your permission, Captain Bess, I'll take two boat crews to the rescue, for those pirates go full-handed,. and the ship has not over a score of men at best.” Gom Ebooks..com |