Beadle's Dime Library No. 364 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

we know that we can trust you, and there is a delicate mission I wish to ask of you.” ‘Well, sir?” ‘Now, while you go down to the shore, [ will turn off here and go to my home. ‘The cutter cannot leave without me, ‘‘T have on board, as prisoner, Mr. ae andl will be back within three hours at Brandon—” and Mayo Maynard looked straight into the lovely face before him. But not a change of color came, not a muscle quivered, and she met his eyes square- ly. * “ He is to be taken to Boston where I fear asad fate awaits him, and he is anxious to see his sister, so 1 have run in to have her come on board and meet him. ‘‘ Now will you go to Brandon Hall and ask her to ope owed you here?” Madge glanced around at the skies, then at the sea, and shook her head ominously ; : but she answered: “Yes, I will go, but a storm is threaten- ing and these are dangerous waters for your vessel,” ‘It looks hazy, but the storm, if it comes, will not break for hours, perhaps not until | late at night. ‘*T will risk it, sir. ‘*Shall I take the helm?” ‘Tf you please,” and the young officer es- corted his fair pilot to the wheel, and under her guidance the Scorpion went on her peri- lous way among the dangerous rocks that here threatened destruction upon all sides, did not the one at the wheel know the cir- cuitous channel. CHAPTER XXXIX. IN THE DEVIL’S CALDRON. ‘‘Do you see yonder large circle of reefs, Lieutenant Maynard?” asked Madge, as she skirted around what appearea to be a rocky wall sunken under water. ‘* Yes, it is a most remarkable formation. ‘* At very low tide, before a storm especi- ally, nearly the whole reef is visible, and it forms, as you see, a circle, half a mile in. diameter. ‘‘There are cutter can go through, and were it high tide now, we could cut ‘off a league in distance by doing so; but I’m afraid there is not water enough now, so circle around it.” “Tt is best, for that is a fearful place for a shi ae is, indeed, and in a storm it presents a most awful and dangerous appearance, and which has given toit the name of the Devil’s Caldron.” ‘*T should think it was fittingly named.” two breaks in it which this | = furthest.” ‘“ Madge, you have some daring game to play to save my brother,”’ Madge smiled grimly, waved her hand and walked rapidly away through a path jn the forest. Joyce Brandon in the mean time walked on down the hillside to the waiting boat. Leo Lauderdale met her, raised his cap | politely, and asked: ‘* Where is our fair pilot?” ‘“‘She had ‘to go to her home, she said, but would return as soon as it was possible.” Upon arriving on board Midshipman Lau- derdale explained regarding Madge, while Joyce entered the cabin and threw herself into her brother's arms. What was said none knew, for they were alone together, and, as long as Madge did not reappear, Mayo Maynard would not break in on the interview. Anxiously the young officer paced the deck, for he now realized that the predic- tions of the Girl Pilot would be verified. There came to his ears the distant roll of thunder, the sea beat mournfully upon the rocks, and the skies were becoming over- cast, while but a cat’s-paw of wind was blowing. Night was but an hour away, and the storm breaking from seaward, would have the cutter upon the lee shore, and the end would be total wreck and death to all. ** Would Madge return?” Surely she would not desert them. In his anxiety he went below and ques- _ tioned Joyce Brandon. ‘*She will come,” was the answer. “She will not fail you, Maynard,” Noel. ‘But the storm is rising rapidly, and I have half a mind to fire for a pilot to come off, in case she should not return. “Tt would be best, for I tell you frankly, said | Maynard, if this storm, coming from sea- _ ward, breaks upon you in this vicinity the hangman will never put his noose around my neck, and every one on board this vessel will xo down with me, ilots are scarce on this coast, but yo might signal for one, in case Madge chould _ be detained.” The ominous words of Noel Brandon fell ‘* You would think so did you see it in a like a knell upon the ears of Mayo Maynard, storm, and from present appearances you are | and he hastened on deck and gave orders to | ‘*T know it, but we have ample time to run in, and I know these waters so well you | likely to do so.’ ie “You think a storm is brewing? need have no fear for your vessel, blow as it ma the calm confidence in her powers com- pletely won the heart of Mayo Maynard, and fire a gun for a pilot. Loud boomed the gun; and again and again it resounded, but no boat was seen putting r off, “There she comes!” shouted Ray Ray- mond, and down the hillside Madge was seen coming at a : Brand pace, ) he gazed at the young girl with intense re- | spect, as she eee the cutter on her way to the haven of was only safe as an anchorage when the wind was from certain directions. andon Hall, and which haven | A run of an hour and the anchor was | dropped near shore, while Madge hastily landed and walked away toward Brandon Hall. To her joy she met Miss Brandon at the large gateway leading into the park, and_ with a cry Joyce threw herself into her arms, ‘‘Oh, Madge, what has happened?” “As we walk to the shore, Joyce, I will tell you all, for you must come with me, as your brother is on the cutter, and has sent | for you.’ ‘“T will go, and at once,” and the two started together, Madge telling Joyce all. that had occurred as they walked along, adding: “Tt was my intention to raise a crew of fishermen and cae the Madcap, and take your brother fr ‘Tell Miss Brandon she must return now, Lauderdale,” said Mayo Maynard. The message was delivered, and soon after blinded by her tears, Joyce Brandon almost staggered upon deck, for she felt that she hac Bidder: arewell to her brother forever. Silently Mayo Maynard aided her into the boat, accompanying her himself, and Madge met them as they landed. ‘Farewell, Miss Brandon, and hope against hope,” said Mayo Maynard, his voice quivering. X64, “J oyce, hope is the word,” whispered Madge, and kissing her she sprung toward the boat. = We thought you had deserted us, Miss Mad e,” h no, sir, I never break my word, es “This looks very black for us.’ ‘It does, but I know the channels and the cutter is in no danger unless she loses her _ sticks,” was the cool reply. om his captors, and father | and two others went along the coast to find | the men, most of whom are away just now; but I saw the Scorpion, and ran out to her, and found that the sloop discovered her, and gave your brother up. ‘Then there is no hope?” ‘* There is, but I shall say no more.’ ** Madge, what peril would you ae now for my poor brother’s sake?” ‘*7 will say no more than that I have not given up hope, and to-night you will know | all. _ things below decks, As Madge reached the deck of the cutter the crew received her with a cheer, and with a bow she walked to her post. ‘“Get up anchor, please, and reef down the mainsailand jib, for it is all that she will stand when the blow comes, and have the News and staysail ready for use also, reefed close.” In the quietest way she gave her orders, and Maynard reissued them in aloud voice. ‘*Batten down hatches, put all movable house your topmasts, and double lash your guns, for this isto be a fearful storm, Captain Maynard, and you do not wish to hamper the cutter in the least.” oa Sy a The e: 1 [Whe oalaatteeibin were issued and quickly obeyed and under a mere breath of wind the cutter moved out toward open water. The heavens were now utterly black, and from seaward came the storm, looking like a moving mountain of water, ‘threatening to wash away the earth, The sun had set and darkness rested upon the sea, but far away up on the cliff a white- robed form was seen, daring the elements to watch the cutter’s struggle for life, It was Joyce Brandon. Suddenly, out of the clouds of inky dark- ness came a fiery serpent of flame, and the peal of thunder that followed rocked the sea. Then the winds swept down in fury, the waters rose to meet them, and the Scorpion’s battle for life had begun. At the same moment there flared up along the rocky coast three separate lights, and over the hilltops came the glare of a red light, while close to the shore a blue light was visible. ‘‘What do those fires and lights mean?” shouted Mayo Maynard in the ear of Madge, who stood grasping the wheel, aided by two strong men, 4 They are what I ordered to-day when I went home—lights to aid me, for this is a black night; but they guide me well.” “ Thank God! you were most thoughtful.” ‘‘T knew how it would be.” And on bounded, swerved, dived the cut- ter, through walls of water, snowy foam, and with the winds how ling over her. Every man stood at his post, every man knew dangers surrounded them, though they could not see them, and all depended upon the strange girl who held their lives in her little hands, ** My God! the rocks were not twenty feet distant on either side of us then,” cried Mayo Maynard, as he saw walls of water upon either quarter. “The pass is a narr ow one, sir, for we are in the Devil's Caldron,” was the reply. ‘Good Heaven! why did you come here on such a night?” ‘I came, sir, for a purpose, “You saw to- -day the reef-circle, and you can now judge where you are. ‘‘ Those lights guided me in, and they will guide me out. “‘It is but a short run from here to the lee of an island where the cutter can ride in safety, and there I will go, but upon one con- dition,” ‘* Name it!” ‘That you pledge your word to release Noel Brandon as soon as your vessel is in safet nas God! I cannot do this!” groaned Mayo Maynard. “Then | swear to you, Captain Maynard, I shall not again touch the wheel but let your vessel and all on board go to destruc- tion unless you release the prisoner in your cabin!” ‘What! would you do a deed like this?” cried the horrified officer. ‘“‘T will; so, save your vessel and crew, all of us, and release Noel Brandon, or refuse and lose all, Take your choice, and think quick,” and Madge ste a ay away from the wheel, while the terrified men who were aid- ing her held the vessel on her course as she was heading. $1:Ob, what shall I do? Come, aid me in my decision, Raymond and Lauderdale.” ‘f Be quick, for a few cables’ length ahead his death, and you know the Devil’s Cal- dron, sir,” said Madge. ‘‘T give the prisoner up to you,’ cried Mayo Maynard, for all of his officers had urged it, seeing that Madge was in deadly earnest. ‘Thank you, sir, and I shall save your vessel, for 1 have your word— Hard a-lee!"” The cutter swung away from the danger ahead, bounded along madly, rushed through the second opening of the reef, and was soon quietly riding at anchor under the lee of an island. ‘* Your vessel is safe, sir, and yonder lies the Blue Bell, which I ordered here to meet me, i I will claim the prisoner,” said Mad fe Will ou not wait until to-morrow ?” ‘No, for here comes a boat from the sloop, and it contains one who will pilot you out to sea whenever you care to go, for I shall depart on the Blue Bell.” CoOmicbooksscom > . “esas