Beadle's Dime Library No. 364 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

SS a a eas | Ee Ss oa wcapture ee Oe ee Ow - - - —~- 18 The Sea Fugitive. ‘* You were half-drunk, and absorbed in your game, would hear nothing; but come on deck and see what is to be done.” ‘¢ These men must not show themselves, miss.” ‘Why not?” ‘‘ Tt might excite suspicion to have so many men seen on the Blue Bell.” ‘Tt excites my suspicion to find them hiding in her cabin; but you three and Melmer come on deck, and we will try and solve this mystery, while you, men, see to it that there is no more such carrying on in this sloop,” and Madge turned ant left the cabin, to the great relief of the dazed crew. Gaspard and Melmer, the two men belongin to the Blue Bell, and whom Madge had supposec were all there, were on board, followed her on deck, and springing into her skiff, they rowed to where the sloop had ridden at anchor. ‘She did not slip her cable, but got up anchor, set sail, and boldly put to sea; you were indeed dead drunk. ‘But let us see if we can discover her,” and Madge hastily rowed ashore and ascended to the lookout on the cliff. Far away, with her glass, she saw a sail. “Tt is a sloop, but too far off for me to see if it is the Madcap,” she said. ‘‘Guess it must be the sloop, miss,” said Mel- mer. ‘“‘T shall give chase, so get the Blue Bell in trim, while I go to the cottage for breakfast. ‘““ And mind you, I will not be on board for some little time, as I have to make a visit before I start.” ‘‘ Had we not better take the Blue Bell and go in chase, miss?” asked Gaspard. “‘No, for you are all half-drunk now, and would not know what you were after. “‘T will go myself, and when I come on board IT expect to see the Blue Bell in the best con- dition, for she looked like a taproom just now,” and Madge hastened toward the house. She hastily ate her breakfast, and then sent Philip with a note to Joyce Brandon, bidding him deliver it to the maiden only, and to go in haste. Going down to the cove, she then sprung into her skiff, set sail, and stood rapidly up the river. She held on, keeping close in-shore, until she came to the cliffs, and then she took in her can- vas, and seizing her oars, sent the light craft into the pass through the rocks, She soon found herself in{the Mystic Cove, and reaching the other side of the basin, sprung ashore and darted into the cave. It was vacant. ‘““My God! he has gone, and [ll wager high that he is on the sloop. “But who has taken him from here, for ue could not go alone?” i For a moment she stood in deep and painful thought, and then she said: ‘Before I act I must see Silly Sam, for be may have found out that he would be discovered here, and so aided him to escape. Ae Yes, I guess Sam did it, and is now away in the sloop. ‘JT will go to the village and see if Sam is there, and that will show whether I am right or not.” She hastily glanced about her, hoping to find a note, but nothing met her eye, no explanation was left of the mysterious disappearance of Noel Brandon from the cave cn the Mystic Cove, and springing into her skiff once more, Madcap ge regained the river and headed for the little town. CHAPTER XXVI. CAPTAIN KYD OFFERS AN EXPLANATION, Upon arriving at the village Madge discovered that there was some cause for excitement, and beheld men standing about in groups earnestly talking together. ‘‘Good-morning, Miss Madge, what brings you to the village soearly?” cried a cheery voice, as she was passing the Flag Ship on her way to Saunders’s cottage, where Silly Sam dwelt. It was Cass Kenedy, the constable, who spoke, and she stopped as he advanced toward r “JT often run up to town for stores, Mr. Kenedy,” she answered. | . ‘Seen anything icious on the river this morning, Miss Madge?’ asked the young con- stable in a low tone. ** What do you call suspicious?” “ Any strange vessels? ‘*No, I’ve seen no strange vessel on the river; but have they captured Mr. Brandon, for I see there is some excitement this morning?” ee “What is it all about?” “Tt is my opinion, Miss Madge, that we won’t aster Noel Brandon, for his sake I h not, for I always liked him, and cannot believe him guilty, wild though he was. ‘You see, I think he was aided to escape by those who knew just what they were about, and they do not intend he shall be captured, do they?” and Cass Kenedy looked squarely into the maiden’s face. y But not a flush crossed it, nor did a muscle change, as she replied: SNe eee OOOO eee =z ‘*-You seem to imply that I know something of Mr. Brandon’s whereabouts, but I pledge you I do not know where he is; but something has happened in the village, as I can see, and, as you do not seem inclined to tell me, 1 will look up Silly Sam and find out.” “TI will tell you with pleasure, for it is no secret, The fact is, Miss Madge, there was a suspicious character here, and I su ted him; so putting a spy on his track, I found that he wished to ship two seamen fora service that would be perilous. ‘*I shipped as one of those men, my couete being the other, and we arrested the man and locked him up in the Flag Ship, in the same room that the eutanané had escaped from. , “‘T had nothing really against the man, but intended investigating him thoroughly this morning, and left Tap-room Tom to guard m. ‘* Now this man was one who had been years away from home, and was known as Darke Darrell, the son of a poor widow living on the other shore.” ‘“*T have heard of him, and gossip says he has been seen on the deck of a pirate.” “Yes, Miss Madge, and knowing this, is why I had him dogged, and finding he wished to shi two men for some work, I nabbed him, and, as said, left Tom to guard him. ‘But this morning he is gone, and along with him Tap-room Tom, who, though a wretched sot, I felt I could trust.” ‘ This is strange.” ‘* Yes, and this escape is the cause of the ex- citement you see. ‘*T went over to the widow Darrell’s, and she told me that her son had gone to Boston for a short time, so I felt assured he was not in hiding at home, and that his mother knew nothing of his whereabouts,” ‘“*T thank you, Mr. cue but what kind of a looking man is this Darrell?” ‘*A man with a clean-shaven face, the beard having evidently been cut off, for the skin is bain = and not sunburnt, as is the rest of his ace.’ ‘* About what hight, and how dressed?’ ‘* About my bight, and dressed as a sailor.” ‘* Ah!” siid Madge. ‘* Have you seen such a man, Miss Madge?” ‘* When I was acting as pilot on the United States cutter Scorpion, such a man came on board and offered to find Lieutenant Brandon for a given sum; but he did not find him, and left the vessel.” ‘* And you do not know where he went?” ‘SNO, mr.” ‘You are sure it was this man Darrell?” ‘* The description answers perfectly, especially the nowly-shaven beard, leaving the face white; but I must go,” and, with a sweet smile, Madge hastened on to the gambler’s cottage. Silly Sam was seated upon the front door- step, playing with some of the cartman’s chil- dren, but rose with a glad smile, and came to- ward Madge. ‘*Sam, have you been to the Mystic Cove since you took Master Noel there?” she asked, hastily. ‘*No, Miss Madge.” ‘* He is not there.” Y Gone !” and Madge saw that Sam was really rised, ‘Yes, he has gone, and so has my prize sloop,” , ee } oo!” ‘Yes, she, was cut out of the harbor last night, and run off to sea, while no one in the Blue Bell saw it.” ‘‘ Why, Miss Madge!” ‘* Now, Sam, will you go with me to find Mas- ter Noel?” ‘* Certainly, Madge.” ‘* And to recapture my sloop?” “Oh, yes, I'll go.” “Then get ready, and go down to my house and I will join you there; but you had better walk, for to see you go away in your boat might excite suspicion, and I do not wish Cass Kened to know what I am about, for though he is friendly, he yet keeps his eyes open, nl ge now he is watching everything and eve wc and Madge told Sam of the capture and escape of Darke Darrell and the disappearance of Tap- room Tom. ‘¢T"}] walk there, Madge, and start now,” and while Silly Sam returned to the cottage to pre- pare for his trip, Madge ventured on to the cabin of old Captain Kyd, the Hermit Sailor. Captain Kyd sat before his door, enjoying the evening breeze, but rose with a smile as he saw his fair visitor walking ig wey toward him. f: -morning, sweet lady, and I need not ask you if you are well, for your cheeks are rosy and your eyes are sparkling.” **T am well, ages Kyd, but worried, and T have come to tell you why,” and Madge told of her father’s departure, the disappearance of the sloop, the mysterious leaving the cave of Noel Brandon and the escape of Darke Darrell. ‘This is all very strange, Miss Madge, espe- cially the disa rance of Leftenant Noel; but putting the different threads together, I believe that Darke Darrell is at the bottom of it all,” ** "You do so believe?” “Yes, and for the reason that he seemed so ES ee anxious to capture the leftenant, and said he would yet do so. ‘He has gone, the leftenant is gone, and your sloop has been kidnapped. ‘* Now, neither you or Silly Sam know aught of the leftenant’s going, and I think Darrell is the man to find.” ‘*And you think he will be on the runaway pe and with him the leftenant?’ “That is my idea now, sis, through your rea~ soning, so I must find the sloop.” ‘* By all means, and the sooner the better.” “‘T will go at once, and upon my return will see you,” and hastily bidding the old Hermit Sailor good-by, Madge returned to the village made a few purchases, and then rapidly walke down to her skiff. The sail was quickly raised by Cass Kenedy, who saw her coming, and taking her seat at the tiller, she was about to cast off, when the young constable said: “Tf you see anything of a suspicious nature, Miss Madge, you will inform me?” “Certainly, Mr. Kenedy.” ‘‘Tt may be that I shall have to run down to Portland and Boston, Miss Madge, and if so, I would like to get the little prize sloop, the Mad- cap, I believe you call her, for the voyage.” ‘If she is in port, Mr, Kenedy, she will be at your service.” **Do you anticipate using her?” ‘She is away just now, as is also my father.” ‘‘Ah! your father has taken a little run in her—I guess to try her,” said Cass Kenedy, mis- understanding the remark of Madge, as ahs had wished him to do. ‘“Good-by, Mr. Kenedy,” said Madge, and she motioned to him to cast off, which he did, and her skiff bounded swiftly away before a brisk breeze, and was headed homeward, ae more and more convinced that the flight of the sloop, Madcap, had something to do with the remarkable disappearance of Noel Brandon from the cavern. CHAPTER XXVIII. OUT OF THE SEA. Irv was afternoon before Madcap Madge re- turned to the cottage. She saw the Blue Bell lying at anchor, her sails loose and ready to set at a moment’s notice, and upon her deck were Gaspard and Melmer, no one else being visible. ‘Get the Bell under way, and I will come off as soon as I can,” she called out to Gas- pard as she sped shoreward. Arriving at the cottage she found that Phillis had a good dinner preparing for her. ““'Take a horse and go up the village high- way, Philip, until you meet Silly Sam and bring him here as quickly as you can,” she said to Philip, and as the old negro started in the cart to obey her order, she prepared herself for her voyage. ‘*No sails in sight, Phillis?” she asked. ‘‘No, missy, hain’t seen arry sail to-day.” “l’ll be away perhaps for some days, so tell my father upon his return that the Mad- cap was cut out and I went in search of her in the Blue Bell.” ‘‘Yas, missy.” Going into her room Madge selected a pair of pistols and some ammunition, and got to- gether a littie roll of baggage she wished to take with her. Then she went to a corner of the room, raised the carpet and a wooden floor was re- vealed. Standing on the boards the other end tip- ped up displaying a trap, and beneath was an iron box. This she opened with a key and took outa bag of gold, replacing things as they had been before. Just then Philip returned and with him was Silly Sam. ‘‘ What, so soon?” cried Madge, ““*T didn’t lose any time, Miss Madge,” an- swered Sam. “Well, get the dust off of you and we will have some dinner and then be off.” ‘* Any news, Miss Madge?” “No, and yet] have a clew to who has taken the sloop; but I will tell you all I know when we are On the Blue Bell,” and the two soon after sat down to a dinner that would tempt one who really had no appe- tite. Having finished the meal they started for the shore and soon after ran alongside of the Blue Bell, for Gaspard stood in to meet the skiff. ‘Now Gaspard, put the sloop under full sail and head for Portland, and get the rest of the crew to aid you, if they are sober,” said Madge, as she stepped on deck, NIiGDOO (E(@) <S Hl] ” _