Beadle's Dime Library No. 364 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

NE The Sea Fugitive. ~ told up in the village to look out for the Blue Bell: but when we sighted you, and I told him it was your vessel, he said no more, only that people would focsip, ‘* But, facher, I distinctly saw that man sig- nal the cutter, and heard his words, and you drag him down into the cabin, ‘Then I saw you come on deck, and you held a laree object in your arms, and you dropped it overboard, ** What does if mean, father, when added to he fact, that instead of three, as I supposed you have a dozen men in crew, and I noticed that they were armed and went below when the cutter put back. ‘**¥ather, dare I believe the stories about you?” and Madge laid her hand upon his arm and looked earnestly into his face, as she arose and stood by his side. A quiver seemed to pass over the strong, handsome face of the skipper, and Madge con- tinued: ‘Father, I know there are temptations to do wrong, for money can be made by breuking the laws of our land. ‘‘T know that we were very poor when we came to the Kennebec, for, though I was young, I know you had only one sloop, Philip and Phil- lis, what we had on board, and a few hundred dollars. ** Now, father, you seem to be rich, for you have given me fine clothes, jewelry, and all my heart could desire, yet our home is plain, while we live like aristocrats. ‘*Pather, what does it all mean, again I ask you?” Again the quiver passed over the stern face, and Captain Vernon was very paie; but with a light lauch, he said: ** My child, it just shows how appearances are so often deceptive. **I came to the Kennebec a poor man, yes; but I struck a lucrative run with my little sloop, and money was made rapidly, and instead of building a fine mansion like Brandon Hall, and buying thousands of acres, I have been content to live in our snug little home, get a few com- forts around us, and spend my money on our- selves, and give to you what it was a pleasure to give, and allof which you are most deserving of. **¥ortunately, having an education myself, I have been able to teach you, so that you would not grow up in ignorance, and the few weeks I have given you each year in the cities, have en- abled you to learn music and see something of the world, so that to-day, though you are as good a sailor as is on this coast, and a better pilot; though you can ride like a Mexican, win oll the prizes at rifle-shooting at the barbecue, and can fence like a master of the sword, you still are an accomplished lady.” ‘‘ But, father, you talk of poor little me, and not of yourself.” ‘What shall I say of myself?” **Tell me about these men on board—that man who siynaled the cutter, and—” ‘* \Madee, now I must tell you a secret.” ** 'Yes, father.” ‘On our run out we came upon a wreck, a vessel that had been dismasted in a storm, and was sinking. ‘Upon her decks were her captain and crew, fifteen in all, and I stood down to them and took them off. “The captain had a bundle of luggage he seemed anxious to save, it being all that he had time to get off of the wreck before she went down, * This bundle I put in my cabin, and gave the nen quarters forward, the captain going with me. *'Then he told me just who he was; that he was &@ Smuggler, and asked me to land him at a certain point upon the coast, from whence he could make his way in a boat to his retreat. ‘** Picking him and his crew up as I did, I could not do otherwise, for I would not deliver smugglers up who were wrecked, and thus take blood-money, there being a price upon them.” ** Certainly you could not, father.” ** So I promised to land him, as he had asked, and then he told me that there was one of his ay who was a traitor, and we must watch m. “‘ This man I ordered aft, tostay in the cabin, and made him take his trick at the helm. ‘We have had rough weather of late, and I was worn out, so went to sleep, ordering them not to call me until we were near shore, and I was awakened by the sloop laying to, ‘*T heard the voice of the man hailing the cutter, and it was the traitor smuggler, so I hastily dragged him below, ‘The smuggler captain then ran into the cabin and feeling that the fellow had betrayed us, for the capture of the sloop meant their death, he struck the traitor down with his sword, and in sheer fright the wounded wretch sprung up the companionway into the sea, while I, knowing that the bundle brought on board by the outlaws, contained rich laces and other smuggled pias took. it upon deck and quickly dropped it overboard, , ‘Now, Madge, you know the circumstances that caused you to look with suspicion upon your father.” a ‘** Forgive me, father; but these smugglers?” a Te ae oe 13 Then he took up his lantern and returned to “*T shall land them, as [ promised, and cer- | the boat. tainly | did not wish the cutter men to see a large crew on board, so ordered them below.” **T understand all now, father—but look out for Foamcrest Rock, for your bows are almost upon it.” **You are right, Madge, and I had forgotton [ held the helm even,” and the bows swept swiftly away from the danger, while Captain Vernon said: ‘* Take the tiller, Madge, while I go forward and see just where those men wish me to land them,” and leaving Madge at the helm the skip- per went forward and joined the group of men standing there. Soon he returned, and said: “They wish me to land them a league down the coast.” ‘**T'll go with you, father.” ‘* No, Madge, you take your skiff, as we round Spear Rock, far go home, so as to welcome me in petticoats and not breeches upon my coming, and have Phillis get me a good breakfast, too, for lam very hungry.” Ten minutes after Madge was in her skiff fly- ing shoreward, while the sloop held on up the coast, gliding in among the reefs, rocks and islands in a way that showed an experienced hand was at the helm. CHAPTER XVIII THE MYSTIC COVE. THE small sheet of water bearing the name of the Mystic Cove was one of Nature’s freaks, and the appellation was certainly an appropriate one, To the observer, even the close observer, fo- ing along the shores, a ruzged wa'l of rock only was presented to the eye, with scomingly natural breaks here and there, To row to the base of this rocky cliff, was to find indentures here and another there, but they seemed not to extend far, simply being fissures in the rock. Following one however, by pushing with the hands against the rocky sides, for it was not wide enough for the use of oars, a boat would wind in and out, still going further inland, un- til it came out into a small basin, perhaps an acre in size, This was the Mystic Cove, its depths being al- most unfathomable, and its sides appearing as precipitous cliffs rising high into the air, and the summit crowned with a fringe of pines. Again was the eye deceived here, for, upon crossing the cove, or basin, to the other side, a foothold was obtainable upon the rocky cliff, and a small crevice penetrated into the seeming- ly solid rock. The crevico was not two feet in width, and looked like a huge split, but beyond it was visi- ble daylight, showing that the cliff there was not as thick as it looked. Following this for a few yards, one came to an opening like a weil, only some thirty feet in diameter, and in the rock before them was a cavern entrance. This cavern did not penetrate far, was simply but two rock chambers, dry, airy and by no means uncomfortable. The well-like pit that penetrated the rock, to the distance of nearly eighty feet, had its edges at the summit fringed with pines, so that a more weird, secluded and safe hidingcriane could not be readily found. This place Madge had one day found in her wanderings, and the secret she had kept to her- self for a Yong time, One day, however, Silly Sam had walked down the village to see her, and she had deter- mined to take him back in her skiff, On the way a fearful storm sprung up, and there being no landing on the shore for her skiff, Madge had run into the channel leading to the Mystic Cove, as she had named it, and to seek shelter from the drenching rain, had crossed the basin and led the way to the cave. ‘*Don’t you tell, Sam,” she had ‘said to the amazed youth, “No, I won't tell, if you don’t want me to, Miss Madge; but what a place it is for smug- glers, if they only knew it,” was Sam’s practi- cal way of looking at the discovery of Madge, When the rain storm blew over, Madge took Sam on his way to the village, and never had she heard anything to show that he had betrayed her secret. It was therefore to this retreat that Silly Sam had been directed by Madge to carry Noel Brandon. Sam had not forgotten the way into the cove, nnd readily went there, with his skiff, ne discovery greatly surprising the young sailor. Once in the cave Sam lighted a ship’s lan- tern, and taking some bundles from the lockers stepped out upon the rock and sought the cavern, bide ing Noel Brandon to await his return. The bundles that he had brought were blank- ets, a couple of pillows, and other things to make the Sounded man comfortable, while he also had a basket of edibles along. By the light of the lantern he selected a good spot for the bed, and hastily spread it upon the rocky floor. | the cavern. ' “T’'m ready, Master Noel, and though this ' haint ther Flag Ship Inn, it is safer,” he said, as ‘ he tenderly aided Noel Branden on his way to ‘This is a remarkable place, Sam,” said the young sailor, glancing around him. would have found it; but you must never tell, for it’s her secret, and she told me to bring ycu here, so you would be safe.” ‘* God bless her; but you have made me most comfortable, Sam.” **She told me what to do, and she got a basket of victuals in the boat yet.” The basket was then brought, and after making the wounded man as comfortable as he could, Silly Sam told him he would come again the next night, and see what Madge had decided to do. ‘**T will owe my life to you and that sweet girl, Sam,” said Noel Brandon with a tremor in his yoice, ‘*1’m but doin’ as she tells me, Master Noel; but now I must be off, so as to get home before daybreak,” and Silly Sam started upon. his re- turn to the village leaving Noel Brandon alone in the cavern of the Mystic Cove—alone with his conscience, a bitter thing indeed for a wick- ed man to have as a companion. Weakened by his loss of blood from his wound and his exertions, Silly Sam rowed with an ef- fort, and his boat went slowly along. Suffering as he was, he paid no heed to aught else than getting home, and failed to see a boat near, The occupant had rested upon his oars at see- ing his approach, and then had rowed rapidly back toward the village. As Sam landed and made his boat fast, the man stood eying him from the shadow of a house, and muttered, as he walked on up into the village: ‘That is Bily. Sam, and he it is who carried Brandon from the hermit’s cabin, for, wounded as he was, he could never have gone alone, ** Aha! Iam on the track, and now to watch Silly Sam, and I find Noel Brandon.” As the man spoke he returned to his boat, and sped rapidly away, heading across the river, The man was Darke Darrell. CHAPTER XIX. JOYCE MAKES A VISIT. It was dawn when Captain Vernon came up to his cottage. He had left his sloop in the harbor below, and but two men were visible upon the decks. Madge sat in a large easy-chair upon the little porch, fast asleep. Human nature had claimed the needed rest, and she had dropped into a peaceful slumber, while awaiting the coming of her father. Old Phillis had built a fire, and had all ready for breakfast for her master, and she too had gone to sleep, her head upon her arm, her arm upon the window sill, while Philip, who had gone out to the little stable to feed the ponies, was fast asleep in the hay. The fact is, the negro couple had been anxious about Madge the past few nights, and had lost much-needed rest. ‘Well, Madge, fast asleep I see,” said Captain Vernon as he drew near, and in an instant she was on her feet, while Phillis, awakened by her master’s voice, began to fly around the kitchen to make up for lost time. Something in the air seemed to arouse old Philip, and he began to whistle away at his work, as though slumber was foreign to his nature. In the trees the birds began to trill their matin songs, the wind blew briskly, and sighed through the pines, the roosters crowed good-morning, — and all nature, human and brute, were awake. ‘Father, I am so glad to see you home, for I had such a fearful dream about you,” cried Madge, kissing him affectionately, while she shuddered at the remembrance of what she had been dreaming. ‘* A bad dream, and about me, Madge?” “Yes, father, T saw you a prisoner, in heavy irons, and you were doomed to death as a pirate. “You were to be hung at the yard-arm, when suddenly a man came forward and stayed the execution. ‘* That man was Noel Brandon, father.” The stern face of the skipper did not move a muscle at this, but he said: ‘* You have been overtaxing yourself of late, Madge, and seeing those smugglers on m sloop caused you to have pirates in your mind. **T was not born to be hanged, and Noel Bran- don, a fugitive himself from the gallows, would hardly be able to save me. ‘**Come, let us goin and see what Phillis has for ns in the way of breakfast, and then you must seek your room and rest.” ** But ‘he crew, father?’ **T landed them, as they desired, and only just returned.” ** You do not go out soon again?” ‘So it is, and nobody but Madcap Madge ° SS) Gomiichdoo (Eo) . = — — = — ti a ee — eee Se ee rae =