Beadle's Dime Library No. 341 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

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His vessel was dearer to him than all else —— ae ' —_—, ee for a ship of the line,” said Lord Stanwix, ‘‘ An oath, or a pledge, forced from one is | in the world, and, a favorite with the British regarding the pirate carefully through his not binding.” ‘*it is with me, sir.” **And you persist upon keeping your word?” “*1-40;" ‘Have you any idea when the pirate will call upon you to Fulfill your promise?” ‘‘My month of probation will be up in just two weeks from, to-day,” said Helen, sadly. ‘‘Do you expect the outlaw to call at your home for you?’ ‘‘T know not what he will do.” ‘* Should he do so?” ‘*T will not betray him.” ‘And will you go with him?” < ¥ Ca... ‘You knew him before he took to piracy, I believe?” 06... ‘* He professes to love you?” ‘*He says that he does,” ‘‘This is remarkable; but I will see just what can be done for you, Miss Hayward.” ‘* Nothing can be done, Lord Stanwix, and I must accept my fate.” ‘Will you not promise to communicate with me when you hear from this pirate?” ‘* No, I cannot.” ‘© You will not let me aid you then?” ‘* Not by treachery.”’ ‘By treachery?” ‘Yes, and I wish you to understand me, my lord. | ‘‘We were wholly in that man’s power, and he spared all, even releasing me, upon my pledge to sacrifice myself for others. ‘*T gave the pledge, and he trusted me, and I will not be treacherous to him, though gladly would I have death intervene to save me from him.” ‘‘T fully understand your position, Miss Hayward, and I will do all that I can for ou.” ‘As the pirate expects to claim you with- in two weeks, he must be now somewhere on this coast; in fact, vessels coming in report him as in this neighborhood, so lt will hasten to see and try to have death intervene be- tween you and the cruel fate you have pledg- ed yourself to.” ** You mean his death?” ‘* Of course,”’ ‘Oh! if it could only be, and if not his, mine, for I am so tired of all this agony of heart and soul.” Lord Stanwix left the mansion and hasten- tened down-town. When Mr. Hayward returned home that evening he said that Lord Stanwix Sedge- moor had gone on board his vessel that morn- ing, hurried repairs through at a tremendous rate gotten what supplies and ammunition he - needed, and sailed at dark, sending his ex- cuses to Mrs. Hayward and Helen for not being able to say farewell. Helen knew that the brave young English- -man had gone on her account, and she mur- mured: ‘* God bless and protect him.” Mr. Hayward also reported that a New York packet-ship bound to Portland, had been chased into port just at dark, by the peas Witch, and that the British brig layful had spoken her in the offing and gone in chase of the pirate, and the town was wild with suspense hoping that the daring Sea Desperado would be taken, and Helen’s fearful fate thus averted And Helen, as she lay tossing upon her pillow that night remembered the promise of the English commander, that ‘‘ Death should intervene to save her from becoming the bride of the buccaneer.” CHAPTER XXVIII. ON THE TRACK OF THE ENEMY. Tuoven Lord Stanwix Sedgemoor had hastened his preparations to get to sea, he had not slighted an important item in fitting out and supplying his vessel. It is true that his officers would have been glad to have taken a week in the pleasant port to fit out their craft, but they were ready to obey the command of their idolized captain at any time. And Lord Stanwix, feeling that not a mo- ment was to be lost if Helen Hayward was to be saved trom the buccaneer, at once de- termined to put to sea. Admiralty, he had been given a free commis- sion to cruise ad libitum, so he was bound by | no time or orders, and could do pretty much | as he pleased. Captain Morte had proven a great the merchant marine of Great Britain, when cruising in his lateen-rigged vessel, and the young English captain felt that it would be a feather in his cap to capture the noted sea-rover, aside from his desire to aid Helen. “Men, I am going on a cruise after Morte, the Sea Desperado, and | wish every man to be on the alert to do even more than his duty,” he had said, as his vessel got under way. On the run out of the harbor the crew vere busy putting things into shipshape, and by the time blue water was reached the Playful | was in splendid fighting-trim. She was a beautiful vessel, with not aton’s difference from the Winged Witch in size, while her armament was equal in guns, though the pirate’s caliber was a trifle larger. In men, too, she was about equal, so that if | the buccaneer was brought to bay, it could | not but prove a close combat, Captain Stan-_ wix Sedgemoor well knew. The Playful, too, was a very rapid sailer, never having met her equal in her own ser- vice, and holding her own with several of the swiftest roving cruisers on this side of the Atlantic, when friendly bets had been in- dulged in. By bending on larger canvas which he had on board, Captain Sedgemoor felt that the Playful would match the pirate in speed, and | once he sighted him, he was determined never to let him get out of his way. Seeing the packet-ship sweeping in under full sail, Captain Sedgemoor ordered his helmsman to pass near, and hailed: ‘*Ho, the ship!” ‘Ay, ay, sir, what cruiser is that?” came in a hoarse voice from the ship, anticipating the question that Lord Stanwix would have asked. ; 2 His British majesty’s brig-of-war, Play- ul! ‘What ship is that?” ‘The Carrier Dove, out of New York for Portland, and chased in here by a pirate brig, which you can just see in the offing.” The answer brv-ught three hearty English cheers from the crew of the Playful as she swept on, and the men of the Carrier Dove responded to them as they saw the British cruiser fairly flying through the waters. ‘Ho, lads, we'll rig our larger canvas,” cried the young captain; and it being brought from the hold, sail by sail was bent on, as the brig dashed along merrily, urged by a nine-knot breeze. The increased size of the sails, though the difference was hardly noticeable before, sent eee SSS —, board feel that the Winged Witch would be fast indeed if she could keep ahead of her. The course of the channel had prevented yet awhile a test as to whether the cruiser was gaining on the pirate, which had squared his sails when giving up his chase of the packet-ship, and was sailing leisurely along on asoutherly course. At last the Playful gained the open water and headed on a tack that would bring her across the bows of the pirate a few miles on- ward, if he did not increase his rate of sail- ing. It was a moonlight night, and the brig was visible a league or more distant, and flying considerable canvas, It certainly did not seem as though she was, and Captain Sedgemoor ordered every stitch of canvas set that would draw a cap: ful of wind. The pirate, however, was not seen to set, more sail, which he would do if so inclined, and yet seemed to hold his own. Anyhow, it was very certain that when the two vessels came together, at the point for which both were heading, it would be seen which was the faster sailer. Nearer and nearer they drew toward the given point, and the Playful, though doing splendidly with all her canvas, was not gaining an inch upon the other brig, which, with less sail, certainly proved her superiori- ty. | ‘‘He is rigged with spars large enough foe to. the Playful along at a pace that made all on lass. “It would be a great thing, sir, to capture that beautiful craft,” said the first luff. “Tt would indeed, Vane, and I shall hang to him to the bitter end.” ‘* You think there is no doubt then as to his being the pirate, sir?” ‘No; it is the same sail pointed out to us by the packet, and his brig is certainly the counterpart of this one, as everyvody in port told us that it was.” : ‘* He seems in no humor to run from us, sir. ‘‘ He knows his speed, and sees that we are doing our best in this light wind; but I be- lieve in a blow we can beat him carrying canvas, With those heavy spars of his.” ‘‘He seems to have the depth to uphold | them, sir, with all the sail he chovoses to spread on, for you notice he sails on a level keel almost, while we are lying well over.” “You are right, Vane, but we will soon be near enough to give him our compliments, | so order the men quietly to quarters.” The order was promptly obeyed, and in ten minutes’ time the Playful was in full fighting trim, and another quarter of an hour must bring the two brigs to close quar- ters, unless one or the other of them changed its Course, CHAPTER XXIX. THE BATTLE OF THE BRIGS, AL was silent on board the Playful, as the two vessels neared each other, and every eye was turned upon the pirate, as the stranger was certainly set down to be. The men knew enough of Captain Morte to feel that he was a man who would not run away from afoe, where he had equal chances, and that he still held on his course, appar- ently taking no notice of the Playful, showed that he either looked upon her as an armed merchantman, or an antagonist from whom he had little to fear. The crew of the Playful, at their guns, were stripped to the waist, and the marines stood ready to pour in a hot fire of small- arms, While there was a band of gallant bor- derers gathered aft ready to follow their young captain should the fight be alongside. Not a man spoke forward, and aft only a word was heard now and then, as Lord Stan- wix addressed an officer, or gave an order to his helmsman. On the pirate all seemed equally silent. Not an extra sail had been set since the Play- ful was sighted, not a port had been opened, and only the lookout at the mast-head and the two helmsmen could be discerned with the glass by the closest scrut.ny. Ascending to the mast-head, Lord Stanwix bent his glass upon the vessel and gazed for along time at her, searching the deck fren stem to stern. ‘““Well, Vane,” he said, as he descended, “the brig is certainly a beauty, and | am convinced can outsail us easily, fast as we are.” ‘‘What do you make of her, sir?” ‘‘She mounts the same number of that we do, only | think her stern and pivots are of heavier metal.” ‘«* And her crew, sir?” ‘¢ Not a man over four is to be seen.” ‘This is strange, my lord.” ‘Yes, but be has them on board. “There are two men at the wheel, a look- out at the mast-head, and theicisa hammock, swung between the mainmast and the car- riage of the stern pivot-gun, in which a man, evidently an officer, is reclining. “Once I saw a form glide to his side and then disappear, and I am confident he was giving him points as to what we were about.” ‘He takes it easy, sir.” ‘* He does indeed; but we are near enough to open on him now, and I shall see if I can rouse him from that hammock, ‘Send a shot across his bows, Mr. Vane.” The officer gave the necessary orders, and the deep boom of the gun quickly followed. But not a movement on board the other vessel indicated that her crew had even heard the report. —s_y. “Try it again, sir!” moor. Again the gun boomed forth its deep note, and still not the slightest notice was taken of it on board the stranger. ns OW ordered Captain Sedge- eom (E eee JOOKS “a a ‘ea : > ‘ . a ” ¢