Beadle's Dime Library No. 307 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

————— ———— SS ee, SE a —_ _* Ba 8 ‘Ah, yes, [see it now, and there goes her flag—the American,” and the American colors which | we must:see what be is.” went flying to the peak of the stranger, came on at the same dashing pace she had held since she bad been first discovered. ‘* He seems to want to speak to us, and if he does, he bas. got to do what no other craft can do—catch us.” ‘*] believe that he will do it, captaia,” re- | _ turned the youth with a smile. ‘*T believe you are right, my boy, though I would not have believed it possible,” and the captain now. narrowly watched the race, for such it had become, between bis pretty brig “and the saucy yacht, that was outfooting her in such fine style, CHAPTER XV. THE SEA CHASE. , A-PEw hours after the discovery of the stranger, the captain of the Fiying Feather -bad the mortification of seeing the yacht forge within easy hailing distance of him, in spite of all be could do to make bis fleet brig hold her own. )» The stranger was certainly a beautiful craft, from bow to stern, hull to truck, and had the appearance of being as stanch as she was. fast, The Phantom Pirate. craft to help them out; but yonder fellow | comes on as though he meant business, and ‘‘T know the craft, sir,” said the man at the wheel. . ‘‘ Well, Trinon, what is he?” ‘“You remember the schooner that belonged to that pirate known as the Sea Ghoul, cap’n?” asked the helmsman., “Yea, she was captured, and turned into a Government craft,” ‘* So, cap’n, and then cut out of her avchor- | age by another pirate, and yonder is the craft,’ “Take the glass, captain, and you'll see a giant form upon her quarter-deck,” and the outh banded the ceptain his glass, who, tirn- ing it upon the schooner, said quickly: “You are right, my lad; he towers far above eS EE G. the heads.of his helmsmen, as he stands near ; | j them; and he it is that is known as the Sea Monster. ‘Now we willsee what the Feather can do to drop bim,” At once orders were given to set all the can- vas the brig could make draw, and she went bowling swiftly along. The sun was now nearing the horizon, and its for she stood well up under a heavy pressure of | rays fell brightly upon the schooner, now less canvas, that might have Jail a much larger | than a league astern. vessel well over on her side. . ‘There were four guns visible on board, two of these being eighteens, one forward, the other ae and mounted on pivots, which gave the vantage of aiding a broadside. | | « Amidships, for broadside guns, were two | twelves, and the masts were encircled by racks, in which there were small-arms of various A crew of some thirty men, in the American navy dress, were visible forward, with here and there the black face of a negro, who evidently served as cook, steward or cabin-boy on board. _ Upon the quarter-deck were four persons, the three, besides the man at the- wheel, being in officers’ uniform, though not one of the trio had seemed to reach the age of twenty, and wore no bigher rank upon his shoulder than that of mid- shipman., ‘be striking one of this trio of young officers was a. youth, seemingly in bis teens, but, with a pas sea physique, and a face that was noble, winving and fearless. That he was every inch a man, in spite of his years, his every feature revealed. He was armed with a pair of pistols in his belt, and a handsome sword swung at his left ip. The eyes of all upon the brig rested on him, for his fame was known to them as the Mid- shipman Plaster, who bad been commissioned in the navy, and ordered in bis own yacht, armed and manned, to serve as a coast-guard in . When but a short, distance separated the two vessels the "en ang sprung nimbly upon the bulwarks, and, seizing the ratjines, called out, ina voiee as clear and ringing asa bugle-note: |... ** Ho, the brig, ff the % ahov » bith ea Owl!” answered the brig’s capitate. 4". '*T recognized you asa packet between New Orleans mar se hint towns, so ran down to marp you to. keep'a bright, look-out for the Sea nster, a pirate that is now making the Gulf the scene of his red deeds.” ‘‘T thank you, sir, and I have heard of the fellow; but 1 am bound for Mobile, and my brig is too fast for any of the nimble rovers to eatch, though I again thank you.” ‘Your brig iss fas: one; but the Sea Mon- ster’s schooner is also fleet as the wind, for I was myself chased by him for a day and part of the night, and bareiy escaped a \ ron 2 thank you, sir, and w peony guard, for if he can burry that flying-machine you command, he can catch the Feather, and no mistake,” | . “It is well to give him as wide a berth as you ca ° n. ‘** Good-day, sir!” and the yacht glided ahead, coolly crossed the bows of the brig, and held on her way as before. ’ : _Assbe grew dim in the distance, the youth again called out: ** Sail, bo!” : Pe Whereaway this time, my sail-sight- er “Dead astern, sir: and it is a schooner that has crept pry us pape y while we have been watching the Sea Owl.” oi es eptune’s beard! but you are right. * Ho, aloft there!” Bin pnd girl”, “PH get you a pair of tacles, as you seem blind!” shouted the cap in angry tones; and lookout, half duzing under the influence of e, afternoon sun, awoke to the fact that he had wofully neglected his duty. The strange craft was at once seen to bein chase of the brig, and she was coming on at.a sepping pace, a“ Fee is the poem in a ema HS w feet vessel, young sir; the crew get careless, and ne- glect their duties, trusting in the speed of their It was a craft that no seaman could fail to admire, and sbe drove through the water with- out a “‘ bone in her teeth,” her bows cutting the waves like a knife. Jibs, mainsail and foresail were set, and with them she had been gaining upon the brig. It was to be seen what she could do, after the brig set her extra sail, ‘“The brig bclds her own, my lads,” said the captain, merrily. ‘Yes, sir, but the schooner is sails, and—” ‘And is. gaining; by Jupiter! that I should meet two craft in one day that show their heels to the Feather. ‘*Ho, men! the brig must do| better than this, for yonder fellow in our wake is the Sea Mon- ster, and woe be unto us if be catches us.” The words of their captain set the crew to work, the sails were trimmed more closely, the lower canvas was wet to make it better, three men went to the wheel, and everything that could be done, was done to make the brig do her ins, sir,” said Mark Bonodel, setting her top- best, **She still whom the reader will remember bore the name of Bono, when he had been in the money-lend- er’s employ. ‘“‘You are right, and it looks black for us,” sadlv said the captain. . Se have not foree enough to resist him, s “No, my guns are small, as you see, and my crew just enough to man the brig. ** We have always trusted in her speed, and done so now, I fear, once too often.” “You might set ber afire, sir, and take your boats, so that the Sea Monster would not get the vessel or her freight,” ‘*Tf the land was near, that we ht reach it, 1 would do this; but here we would be picked up and every one of us strung up to the yard- arm for losing the prize to the pirate.” ‘* Yes, sir; but if report says true of him, he’ll hang us anyhow.” * Ah! ee again, and, if it comes to the worst I will fire the ship and take to the boats, trying to dodge the accursed pirate in the darkness, so omy! that night may come rapidly on: but see! he gains rapidly on us, and by dark will not be far astern,” and the captain again turned his glass upon the rover craft, that was coming in his wake like a bloodhound on a , and as merciless as one. CHAPTER XVI. THE YOUNG SAILOR’S PLOT. It soon became a question with all on board, how short a timeafter darkness fell upon tha sea, before the schooner over bauled the brig, and what doom would tere befall them. All on board felt their danger, and their faces showed it, with one exception, and that one was Mark Bonodel. If he realized that the pirate might put him to death, he did not show the realization in his face, and the crew could not but speak of his wonderful nerve, _ As he stood by the side of the captain, watch- ing with him the coming schooner, the youth said tion, sir?” ‘*Can a boy make a su ; ‘* Yes, certainly, my lad, for you are a boy with a very old bead, and you have a nerve that many a man might envy you. ‘“So out with it, Master Bono,” ‘* Well, sir, it ig very evident that the schooner will catch us.” ‘Tt is about an assured fact, my lad,” ““We may have an hour after dark, and per- haps mot along,” “It is clouding up, and the night will be dark.” 2 “ True, “ Then, sir, as soon as it is dark, you can get two of the boats ready, with provisions, sails and all you will need, and, as we sail along drop one, and then, lasbing -tbe helm, and put- ting out a drag, to hold the brig on ber course as long as possible, drop the other boat; but be- fore departing set the vessel on fire in the hold and cabin.” ‘The very thing, my boy,” cried the captain with entbusiasm. ‘‘The two boats will readily escape the eyes of the pirates, sir, who will be watching the brig, and when sbe luffs up and lays to of her own accord, they will think you have surren- dered, and in this sea will not attempt to board, but run down pear, lay to, and send a boat to the brig, when, finding her deserted and on fire, they will try to save ber, giving us all this time to escape toa distance where they can bot see us, ‘Bono, you were born for tbe quarter-deck, and your plan shall be carried out to the letter. ‘* You shall command one boat, and my mates shall go with me in the other, and we’ll try and keep together. “You go in the boat that first leaves the brig, aud I will send with you the pick of my crew,” avd the honest old captain grasped the band of the boy, ina manner that sbowed he was not above being guided by one bis junior by two- score years, It was now nearly sunset, and to gain all tLe time he could, the captain pushed the brig in every way that was possible, and made every effort to secure as long a time after dark as he was able to do, The plan of the boy was made known to the mates and crew, and Bono was given credit for it by the gallant captain, while the men could hardly be restrained from giving him a cheer, The stores, sails and oars for the two boats were all brought on deck ready tu be put into them as soon as it grew dark, and all small ar- ticles of much value that could be taken were gotten tegetber. Then men were sent below decks to prepare materia! for setting the brig on fire in a dozen different places, so that once the flames got headway there would be no checking their pro- ress, As the cabin companionway and hatches were to be left firmly closed, tbe fire would not burst out until the boats had gottema long way off from the brig. By ‘‘ It séems a cruel way of ending even a pi- rate’s life, sir; but the powder on board might be placed in the companionway, so that when it was opened the flames would burst out that Sg and send the brig to atoms,” suggested ono. ‘* Bravo, my boy! We can kill even in our dying agony, and perhaps send the Sea Monster himself to the depths below!” cried the captain, and then he added: “You and I will at once arrange this little game ourselves, and then woe be unto the red sea rover that sets his foot upon the dear old Feather’s deck!” Instantly Captain Gray and Mark Bonodel set about carrying out their little plan, and when they had completed it to their satisfac- tion, darkness bad fallen upon the waters, They had so laid a train that, from the place where the fire would be kindled, the moment the companionway was opened the flames would find vent that way, lick up the powder, and —_ reaching the kegs would blow the brig to atoms. ‘Tt seems bard, sir,” said Bono, almost re- penting of bis plot. ‘Tt will be a more merciful death than they would give us if they caught us, Bono, and their red deeds demand a fearful punishment. But, oh! bow it hurts me to meet two vessels in the same day that can outfoot the Feather, when I ee not believe the keel was laid that could o it!” And the captain’s sorrow was greater that his vessel had been beaten in d than for the fate he had laid for the Sea Monster and his crew. ' As it was now dark, the boats were stored with the things laid on deck for them, and the crews of each were assigned to them. They were to be lowered from the forward davits, and the crew to be ready, with their oars muffled, to dash them into the water the moment the painter was cast loose. | They were to pull with all speed directly away from the course of the brig, and trust to luck not to be seen by the pirates. As he stood watching the schooner, which was now less than half a league astern, and dimly in the brig’s wake, Bono said: ‘Captain, if you opened fire from your stern guns on the pirate, after each flash our decks would be cast in deeper gloom for an instant, ame en the better conceal the departure of the ats. be towing with all in it ready, so that the man who lights the match could rush amidsbips «od spring in.” ‘Right again, my lad.” “Clear those stern guns Captain Gray, and it was done at once, crew working with a will, ; SGOmMIGc ne : . * » . F << Ke r. 5 < = ee = iz CPR D Kat "atk 522 sbi . a ‘‘When you fire the last gun, the boat might for action!” cried the =r