Beadle's Dime Library No. 364 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

~ The Sea Fugitive: of a clear intellect, was yet brave, cunning, good hearted to those in misfortune, faithful to his friends and a bitter foe to those whom he did not like. He performed all duties devolvin Epes him, with good will, haste and well, and he laid aside the larger part of all his meager earnings, until he had a nice little sum put by, of which no one knew anything. As the shadows of night deepened, Silly Sam stepped into his boat and pulled leisurely toward the wooded point on which stood the Hermit Sailor’s hut, It was a wild, bold point of land, jutting out from the main shore, with rocks piled up high here and there, ravines, and heavily wooded with pines stout and rugged. In the entrance to one of the ravines, built against a wall of overhangingfrock, the hut stood, and above it and about it were sheltering pines, gy, ca which the winds played a low requiem in calm weather, and shrieked most dismally when a storm raged. Sixty feet from the cabin door was the beach, and the roar of the waves, when the waters were rough, mingled with the sighing of the pines. A halt of a mile distant was the first house of the village, and the Flag Ship Inn, the center of the little place, was a mile away. But no youth or maiden, in their love-strolls, was ever known to go near the cabin of the Hermit Sailor, and he was left severely alone. He was wont to sit upon a rock, watching the movements inthe village, and the sail-boats or trading-vessels upon the waters, but none came near him. * He was seated upon his favorite perch when Silly Sam left the shore, and he saw him as he headed toward the point. ‘‘Am TI to have a visitor?” muttered the old hermit, and he walked down to the shore as the boat drew near in the gloom. ‘** Ah! you are he whom they call Silly Sam?” es said, as Sam sprung ashore and confronted im. ‘Yes, Iam a fool, and folks make it known by calling me so,” ‘* You are not such a fool as many who so call ou, boy, for you have manliness in your face, if Heaven has blighted your brain; but why have you come here, to the home of one whom men and women alike shun?” ‘* Madge Vernon sent me.” * Ah! and why?” ‘She sent me to tell you that the cutter has not gone, only run down toward the sea to de- eeive the people, and that there is a man on board who saw Master Noel come here last night, and that the crew are to return and search your hut, so I am to take him away.” ‘*‘ This is valuable information you bring, lad, and we will look to it at once. ** Come with me.” The hermit led the way to his cabin, opened the door, and by the aid of a ship’s lantern, the interior was revealed. At was by no means uncomfortable, furnished with what had evidently once been in ships, and was large and inviting as an abode. At a table, reading, sat Noel Brandon, his wounded leg supported on a board placed on two stools before him. His face was pale and stern, and he seemed rather to read mechanically than with interest. He looked up quickly as the hermit entered and seeing Sil Fama; stretched forth his hand with the remark: ‘* Ho, Sam, so you have come to see me? “‘T am glad to see you are able to be out, for I feared you had been hard hit.” ; ‘*My head is a hard one, Master Noel, bu Madeap Madge sent me after you, as the cutter returns soon to search the hermit’s cabin.” ** Ah! then I had better not remain here to be discovered, for I am sure this charge against me is a plot, and it will not be cleared up until after I am hanged. ‘** What am I to do, admiral?’ and Noel Bran- don turned calmly to the old hermit, whom he had dubbed ‘‘ admiral.” ** The lad has his orders where to take you, sir, but—” ** Well, admiral, why do you hesitate?” “*T could hide you here so that no one would ever find you; but—” ** Again you pause.” ** Did I do so, 1 would have to betray a secret I have sworn no one shall know until my death.” ** Do you think I would betray yon?” “Oh no, Noel Brandon, for youare every inch a man, though reckless and wild in the past; yet I feel | owe a duty to myself not to betray a secret [ have long kept, and to hide you here would be to do so.” ‘Then I will go with Silly Sam.” ‘Tt is better so, for that girl has decided what is best, and Sam will do as she says and you could not be in better hands.” ‘Well, admiral, I thank you for what you have done for me, and I hope to meet you again some day. “Come, Sam, you'll have to lend me a hand, for I am too badly crippled to help myself much.” Silly Sam sprung to his side, the hermit got his crutches and other things, and slowly the three passed out of the cabin. Taking his place in the stern of the boat, Noel Brandon settled himself as comfortably as was possible, and Sam seized the oars, ‘* Good-by, admiral], and God bless you,” said Noel in his terse, stern way, and the old hermit waved his hand in farewell, as the oar-blades dropped into the water, and Silly Sam sent the light skiff flying away. ** Which way, Sam?” ‘*To other shore, Master Noel, so as to keep in shadow while the cutter passes.” ** You think she will come then?” ‘* She is coming, see!” and Sam pointed to a dark object in the distance. ‘Your are right; itis the cutter: but she is not showing a light, and has very little sail set, to avoid attracting attention. ‘* Madge was right, Sam,” ‘She always is,” was the quiet rejoinder, and Sam pulled on in silence. Running close in under the shore, into the land shadows that fell upon the water, Sam headed the skiff down the stream. In a short while they were opposite to the cut- ter, which was standing up toward the point of land where dwelt the Hermit Sailor, ‘* They do not see us, Sam, so we are safe.” ‘** Yes, and we'll be in Mystic Cove before she returns,” and Sam resumed his oars once more, pulling with his powerful, sweeping stroke, which seemed never to tire. On the deck of the cutter, near the wheel, stood Mayo Maynard, his officers and the man who was to betray the hiding-place of Noel Brandon. At the wheel stood ‘‘ Nat the Pilot,’ as Madge was called, not one on board suspecting that he impudent boy was other than he claimed to “You know the water close in toward the point, Nat?’ asked Mayo Maynard. ‘* ve got every rock there named,” was the rep ys * Well, be careful you don’t find one you have forgotten, and knock a hole in our hull.” - ** You kin knock a hole in my head, cap’n, if I oes, ‘“*T tell yer I knows these waters from Cape Elizabeth to Penobscot bay, and the Kennebec is my home, while all the rocks knows me, and jist gits out o’ ther way as they sees me comin’. ‘**Does yer wish ter round ther point, so they won’t sew yer land from ther ville ge, and will think yer has gone up the river?” ‘* A good idea, Nat, so hunt us an anchorage and we'll run ashore in a boat with mutfiled oars,” answered Mayo Maynard, and fifteen minutes after, Nat ran the cutter into a snug harbor beyond the point. ‘** Come, Lauderdale, you go with me, and I wish a sergeant and four marines besides the boat’s crew, for there is no knowing what we may find here. ** Where is that guide?” ‘*I am here, sir,” and the stranger stepped forward. As the lieutenant descended into the boat, he found Nat calmly seated in the stern, ** Who told you to come, sir?” ** Hain’t I pilot?” ‘Yes, but you are not needed here.” “That is just where yer don’t know, cap’n, for it’s harder ter put a boat ashore here, and not trip her on ther rocks, then it is ter runa craft in the river.” ‘This is no place for a boy,” said the stran- er. ‘You hain’t cap’n, so take a reef in yer tongue,” said the supposed lad. ‘* I know these waters well, sir,” the stranger remarked to Lieutenant Maynard. ‘*Cap’n, you don’t know him, and you does know me and my family, so you better take me along, in case that_gent don’t turn out right.” ‘You can go, Nat; give way,” and the boat shot away from the cutter’s side. Nat took the tiller without being ordered to do so, guided the boat shoreward, here and there avoiding a rock that just rose to the sur- face of the water, and soon landed on the beach near the hermit’s hut. landed, and without a In silence the sound reached the cabin. , All was still within and no light was visible. A loud knock upon the door with a sword- hilt, brought an instant query: ‘Well, who is it?” ‘Open in the name of the United States Government,” demanded Lieutenant Maynard. ‘““Shipmate, these are troublesome times, and I am but an old man, poor and friendless; but there are those who believe I have got money, and I do not care to open my door until know just who you are and why you have come.” ‘*I do not blame you for that, Sir Hermit, so I will tell you frankly [ am Lieutenant Maynard, commanding the United States Cut- ter Scorpion, and I have come to search your cane for I a prisoner it is reported is hiding ere, ‘My dear sir, you are at liberty to search my cabin, I assure you; but why such a ‘e- SP peso have reached you, I cannot under- 5 *. ‘‘One minute, and I will light a lantern and open my door.” ‘Watch well that no one gets out by a secret door,” cried the stranger. ‘*This hain’t no castle with secret doors and -dungi’ns, man,” sneered Nat. pes ) , n-ne | of In a moment a light gleamed within, and then the door was Tubeired and opened. The hermit Icoked like a patriarch of old with his long white hair and beard, and with a long red gown thrown around him. In one hand he held a Jantern, and in the other a sword, which he lowered upon catch- ing sight of Mayo Maynard, while he said: *‘Had you proven other than you stated, sir, I could but have defended my life and died sword in hand.” Struck with his majestic presence, Mayo May- nard saluted, and responded: ‘* We mean you no harm, sir, as I am simply doing my duty in searching for a noted prison- er.” ‘Walk in, sir, and search my humble cabin— but hold there! you do not cross my threshold, Darke Darrell, for I recognize you, though ears have passed since last we met,” and the ermit Sailor confronted Darke Darrell, for he was the stranger, his sword uplifted as though to strike him down, CHAPTER XVI. FOILED, ‘*Ha! do you flaunt your steel in my face, old man?” came angrily from the lips of Darke Darrell, and snatching a cutlass from one of the crew, inaninstant he had crossed the blade of the Hermit Sailor. A ery arose from the men, and turning quick- ly, for he had entered the cabin, Mayo May- nard would have interfered, but suddenly saw Nat seize the sword from the hand of Midship- man Lauderdale and spring between the two. Thrusting the old hermit aside, Nat crossed the blade of Darke Darrell, and in an instant had disarmed him. ‘* Coward! to attack an old man whose limbs are trembling with age,” cried the supposed lad, and in spite of their discipline the crew broke into a cheer, | ‘**My man, you must havea care how you act, and [am glad you met your match in that lad. ‘* Let me have no more of this, or it will be worse for you,” and Mayo Maynard spoke with angry vehemence. ‘*l was wrong, sir, too; but that man, years ago, caused me much’ worry, and something tells me that I owe it to him that you come here to-night to search my poor little shanty.” ‘**1 do; for he tells me that you have hidden here Noel Brandon, a former naval officer whom I came here to arrest for a crime committed.” ‘* That man Darrell lies, sir, for I have no one here concealed, as you will discover when you have searched my home.” **Do re deny, old man, that Madcap Madge brought here last night Leftenant Brandon?” cried Darrell. **'What! my sister do such a thing? ‘Why, man, you are groggy, and dreaming, too, for ss Madge was with me all the time, for we had some work to do that kept us up until nearly daybreak. **Cap’n, that man is sellin’ you lies,” and Nat burst forth in oy ey ‘*My dear sir, for some purpose of his own that man is deceiving you, as the lad says,” said the hermit. ‘In faith I begin to believe it, and Sir Her- mit, I beg your pardon for disturbing your slumbers. ** Come, men!” ‘*Don’t you intend to search the cabin, sir?” here.” ‘** You will do nothing of the kind, sir, and I warn you to go your way, ere I be tempted to punish you.” ‘*Captain Maynard, I came to you in good faith, for I saw what I said I did last night, and Noel Brandon was surely brought to this cabin. ‘* You may sail, sir, in the cutter, but I shall devote myself to the capture of the man you have failed to find, and when I bring him to you then I shall expect the reward for him I demand. **Good-night, sir; you will hear from me again,” and Darke Darrell strode away in the darkness, while Mayo Maynard returned to his boat with his men, leaving the Hermit Sailor alone once more, ‘ “Well, Nat, Iam glad you came along, as it has turned out,” said Mayo Maynard, as they I'| reached the boat. “Thank you, sir.” ‘*T think you are too fine a young fellow to be a fisher lad in the Kennebec river, and should enter the service.” ‘*T would not leave my sister Madge, cap’n.” **T would soon run you into a middy’s berth and you will work your way up to the command a vessel, I am sure, before many years,” **T wouldn't Ieave sis Madge to be a commo- dore, sir.” ‘** But you'll have to leave her some day.” EoOmiGcdooks (E(@)