Beadle's Dime Library No. 364 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

‘12 “ce 97 a She'll fall in love with some fine fellow and marry him.” ** She hain’t no softy.” ** No what?” ‘6 Softy. ” ‘What is that?” ‘* Well, it’s a girl as makes a fool of herself by believin’ what men says to her about lovin’ her and all that.” Mayo Maynard laughed and replied: + Well, I'll wager she'll love some one before long. at was silent, and soon the cutter was reached, the boat was hauled up to the davits, and the fleet vessel] went flying seaward. ‘** Yonder is where I live, cap’n, where you see that light,” said Nat, pointing toa high cliff a league away. "IT thought that was a light-house.” “Tt isa small one, we keeps lighted as a wel- come to father, when he comes home by night.” ‘*'Your father is skipper of a coaster, I be- lieve?” ** ‘Yes, sir.” ‘*They say he is an educated man, and the best sailor in these waters, Nat.” ‘“‘There’s but one knows these waters better than he does, cap’n.” ‘* Who is that one?” “Sis Madge.” ‘* Ah! and how did she come to know them so well?” ‘* Well, father came here to live when we were small, and sis Madge had a skiff and just fished and hunted all over these waters and islands, and when father was home he took us cruisin’ all round here, and she got all down fine.” ‘“‘And your sister studied hard, too, for she appears well educated.” ‘** Guess she’s better l’'arned than the average, though I don’t know much.” ““Youwll learn in time, Nat, from present prospects.” **Shouldn’t wonder, cap’n; but I’m a trifle rough as a boy—hain’t a bit like sis Madge.” ‘* No, for she is very beautiful, and as brave as she is beautiful, and my heart is in danger when she’s around, I frankly confess, though you need not tell her so.” ‘No, sir, I tells nothing; but yonder’s a sail, and when we go a mile further it’s even run- a for you, and Pll take my skiff and go ‘* You have done well, Nat, and I'll reward you well, while I wish also to send a little re- ward to your sister.” ‘‘Cap’n, I don’t serve vessels for pay; and if you want to get sis Madge angry, just send her money. ** No, sir, our services is free, and if you want a pilot ag’in, just run in about here, and if it’s daytime show a red flag, and if it’s night run a r light up to your fore, and some of us will come,” ** But, Nat, you surely will not place me under such deep obligations to you, and give me no opportunity to repay you?” ‘Sis Madge and me don’t take pay, cap’n.” ** Well, I shall secure a midshipman’s berth in the navy for you, and I feel that you will not refuse it; but, Nat, I was told in the town to look out for a trim craft—a sloop suspected of being a smuggler, and yonder craft comin ee as spruce as a yacht, so I'll bear towar er. aoe they tell you the name of the craft, cap’n x Yes, Nat, it was the Blue Bell.” ‘* That’s the craft yonder, sir, for I recognize ” ‘Indeed! then I will bring her to, and board her, then.” ‘*T was just going to ask you to do so, sir, for it’s my fat! er’s sloop, and I wanted to run back with him. ‘*Then it is not the Blue Bell?” “Oh! yes, sir; and my father commands ” r. ‘Indeed! then I sera was misinformed as to her being suspected of Jawlessness.” ** No, sir; people suspects all vessels they don’t see unl as carryin’ smuggled g ; and my father does not escape the same kind of sto- ries about him; but I know he’ll be only tooglad to have you search his sloop, sir.” ‘*No, indeed; I would not think of such a thing, for I am sure it would turn out like the hermit’s hut; but I will signal her to come to, while I will have the cutter luff for you to get into your skiff.” The orders were given, and with a_ hearty shake of the hand with each officer Nat went over the side into the skiff, the painter was cast loose, and the cutter went on her way leaving the little boat dancing in her wake. The sloop meanwhile had obeyed the signal to lay to, and as the cutter swept on lay rolling upon the waters, while the skiff was pullin rapidly toward it, urged by the disgui e. Suddenly a man on the sloo waved a lantern, while he shou ** Cutter ahoy!” ** Ahoy the Blue Bell!” answered Mayo May- nard, as the cutter epcd cn. Kage up and The Sea Fugitive. ‘*Do you mean to stand on and not board this craft?’ continued the man. ‘That skiff will board you,” plainly came back the answer. ‘‘ Ahoy! ahoy the cutter! this is—” but the cry of the man was suddenly silenced by his falling back, or being suddenly dragged down into the cabin companionway, and immediately there followed sounds of a struggle. A moment passed, and out ot the cabin came a tall form bearing a heavy load in his arms, and this was gently lowered over the sloop’s side into the sea, while the man who had thrown it overboard glanced at the cutter, and called out: ‘Forward there! the cutter is putting about and we must run for it.” ‘* Ay, ay, sir,” answered a voice forward, and up from the hold came in haste a score of dark forms, just as a voice out on the waters cried: ‘** Ho the Blue Bell! do not run off from me!” “Tt is the voice of Madge! in God’s name what does this mean?’ and springing to the helm the aker let the sloop again fall off, while he cried in a low tone: ‘** Forward there! down into the hold again!” In an instant all but two men disanpeared from the deck, anda moment after Madge ran alongside and sprung on board, while the cutter was now putting back toward the sloop. CHAPTER XVII. THE SKIPPER AND HIS DAUGHTER. ‘*In Heaven’s name who are you, boy?’ yelled the man as Madge sprung on board the sloop, and walked aft, allowing her skiff to drop astern. ‘*Father, I am Madge, and I wish to speak with you before the cutter returns.” ‘* Madge! what does this mean, that you come in the attire of a man?” and Captain Vernon spoke sternly. ‘*T can explain nothing now, for I have not time; but Iam known on yonder vessel-of-war as Nat, the brother of Madge, and I acted asher pilot out to sea, going on rd of her in this disguise to avoid returning as my proper self; but why did you call the cutter back?” ‘** Curses! I did not do it, and he who did is—” The man 3 pict suddenly, and Madge asked: **Ts who ‘“A fellow I shipped in Portland, and who went mad, for he sprung overboard as soon as he saw the cutter about.” ‘*Oh, father! can he not be saved?’ and Madge glanced over the dark waters. “No, for he went to the bottom like a rock; but here comes the cutter, and what am I to do about it?’ and Captain Vernon seemed strange- ly cae **T will hail Captain Maynard and te]! him you did not see the skiff, and did net brow what todo after he had signaled you to «cme ‘Yes, yes! that is it, so do so, Madge,” cager- ly said the skipper. ‘* You seem strangely excited, father; but re- member, should they board us, lam your son, at Nat. **- Yes, I won't forget; but hark!” ‘“Ho the sloop!” came in Lieutenant May- nard’s voice, as the cutter drew near. ** Ahoy the Scorpion!” returned Madge. ‘Ho, Nat, that is your voice, and you got aboard all right; but what is wanted?” ‘My father didn’t see ther skiff comin’, sir, and didn’t know what you wanted ter do, so hailed yer.” — ‘* Ay, ay, I am glad that nothing is wrong, for I saw your men forward acting as though In mutiny.” ‘*Oh no, sir; they got excited, for they are not cutter’s men.” ‘‘ Well, Nat, I will say good-by again, and I'll not forget the middy’s warrant for you. ‘Skipper, you have a fine boy there, wish him to enter the service, for he’ll make his mark on a quarter-deck.” light from the cabin eae full upon him, while adge crouched in the cockpit. Forward the men were grouped together, talk- ee a low tone. he wind was fresh, blowing a _ ten-knot breeze, and the sloop sped along with the sea parting from her sharp bows. She was a trim craft of thirty tons, witha raking mast running far heavenward for so small a hull, and a bowsprit that projected far out over the bows. Her boom and gaff were also very long, and the sail she spread was enough for a yacht in a race, or a vessel of double her tonnage. The hull was long, with narrow bows and stem, and considerable width just aft of amid- ships. She certainly was a stanch, swift craft, with considerable depth of hold and large carrying capacity. e cabin lamp revealed all within distinctly. A neat carpet was upon the floor, two berths with curtains drawn across them were upon either side, and then there was a table, a shelf of books, a few marine pictures, drawings and paintings, in carved frames, and a desk with writing materials thereon. A door opened into a narrow gangway run- ning forward, but this was closed and barred. The pretty craft had been built on a model of her skipper’s, and Madge had given her the name Blue Bell, from the fact that she had a bouquet of blue bells in her hand the day she first went on board the craft when her father brought her home. She had also worked a flag for her, a blue bell in a violet field. As the lamp’s rays fell upon skipper Vernon, while he sat at the helm, they revealed his face and form distinctly. He possessed a tall, well-knit frame, with broad shoulders, and he was dressed in a kind of undress uniform such as officers of the navy wore at that time. His head set well upon his shoulders, was car- ried somewhat haughtily, and his bearing proud and upright. His face wasastudy. It was full of strength, every feature being thoroughly marked with power and intelligence of a high order. He appeared to be a manof fifty, and yet might be younger, or older by half a score of years, Which, it was hard to tell. His face was now pale and very stern, but he was calm and cold as he said: ‘* Now Madge, let me hear all that you have to ey in explanation of my finding you in male attire.” ‘*The story is soon told, father, and I do not think you will accuse me of committing an eat crime when I tell you all,” she answered, in an injured tone. ‘**T do not now accuse you, Madge, but I can- not understand it.” “The explanation you shall know,” was the reply, and Madge told the story from her race oe the river with the packet schooner to her changing her costume, after what she heard in the cabin and running the cutter out to sea. ‘* Madge, my brave girl, you have acted no- bly, and just as might have been expected of you. “T heard of this ae against Noel Bran- don before leaving port, but could not believe it, from what I know of him as a boy, end, if he is innocent, he can prove it, and doubtless will do so, if he is not hunted down and hanged be- fore he gets a chance, ‘Where did you say that he was?” “T said that when I found out that it was knownthe was at the Hermit Sailor's, I told Siliy Sam to go there and aid him to seek a place elsewhere,” It must be admitted that just here Madge kept her own counsel as to where Noel Brandon and I | was in hiding, for she did not wish to tell even | her father. ‘* Well, Sam will take care of him, I am sure, “Thank you, sir; Nat's a good boy andabrave | for if he is called an idiot he has more sense one,” answered Captain Vernon, and the two vessels were too far off for further conversation. ‘““Now, we'll head homeward, Madge, and when the sloop is on her course once more, Pll listen to your explanation,” said the skipper. ‘Tl tell you all, father, and I think there is an explanation due me, too,” ? What do you mean?” “oT thought you only carried two men on the sir ? sloop, sir. ** Well, so I do.” **And yet I saw half a score forward, and they were also seen on board the cutter—a large crew, father, for a thirty-ton sloop.” “Madge, do you question your father’s ac- tions? than half of those who so call him. ‘Now, Madge, I must urge you to be more careful of yourself, for you have placed your- self in danger several times, by your own con- fession, and, as I will be much away after this, I wish you to take care of « stegng ‘““T must speak to Philip and Phillis, that they may keep a closer eye upon you.” "No, father, I do not need watching, and I am not one to run needlessly into danger; but what will call you away more in the future than in the past?” ‘“‘My business affairs are increasing, Madge, and I intend to extend my voyages.” ‘*T have the little sloop at home in the harbor which Cass Kenedy told me was my prize, and “But wait until we are under way, and I I was in hopes you would find it large enough think I can offer a far better excuse for my large crew than you can for your conduct, for it pains me to see you in the garb of a man,” ene going forward skipper Vernon gave some | for your use, for you remember, father, one of five tons was all you had when you came here, and the Prize is ten tons.” ‘*- Yes, and now I have the Blue Bell of thirty orders in a low tone, while Madge took the | tons, and she is not large enough for my increas- helm, and the men came out of the hold, a dozen in number, and took their places, while the Biue Bell went bounding on her way once | t i more. , As the helm now sat ckipper Vernon, the bb. ing trade.” ‘Father, you know, aS I do, that unkind s are said of you along the coast,” es, men call me a smuggler, Madge,” Cee tad ~~ «. am COmilGbooksico