Beadle's Dime Library No. 364 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Ee, 45) : ce You ?” ‘* Yes: for I can do so, and will, for I owe to him my life. ““T came first to you, Miss Brandon, but as I see that you are powerless, I will act.” ‘* But how can you save him?” ‘‘T will devise some way,” and Madge arose to depart. ‘* Noel is now at the Flag Ship Inn, you say?” ae Yes. ” ** Wounded?” 4s Yes. ” ‘Tt is now after eleven o’clock.” ‘*Tt is nearly midnight.” ‘‘ And the village is miles away!” ‘True, but it can be reached in an hour’s time by hard riding.” ‘*T will go with you, and Sam, the stableman, I can trust, for he idolizes my brother.” ‘* No, it would excite suspicion, did any one see you on the road, or in the village, so I will 0, for I can cross the point of land to Fisher rank’s cottage, take one of his skiffs, run up to the village, and get your brother away from the inn.” ‘‘ What courage you have; but where would you take him?’ ‘*} do not know; but anywhere away from the inn so he will not be found there to-mor- row. ‘** But he is wounded.” ‘““That must not prevent his escape; but now T must be off. ‘7 will walk with you to the fisherman’s cot, for it is but a mile, and I am too excited to be afraid. ‘Come, we will talk over some plan as we go,” and as silently as specters the two maidens stole away from the mansion, and crossing the ornamental grounds, disappeared in the heavy pine forest beyond. CHAPTER VII. THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR. In one of the pleasantest rooms, on the ground floor of the Flag Ship Inn, lay Noel Brandon up- on a cot, which had been placed there for him by his attentive host. The bullet had been extracted from his leg, the wound dressed, and Captain Buntline the landlord had offered to sit up with his guest, who had ever been a generous patron of the inn, But Noel Brandon had preferred to be alone, and midnight found him lying upon his cot, his eyes wide open and his brain busy. The sounds in the village had died away, the lights one by one had been put out, and a ‘was darkness and silence about the inn. Silly Sam, not severely wounded as had been feared at first, had recovered rapidly and had gone to his humble home, after being refused permission to remain as a nurse to Noel Brand- on, He had been stunned by the bullet, but it had proven to be but a scalp wound, and Silly Sam made light of it. At length, perhaps from bitter thoughts that ferced themselves upon him, when alone with his conscience, Noel Brandon grew restless and he tossed and turned in his cot. Suddenly his eyes fell upon a face at the win- dow. The room was in a wing of the inn, that pro- jected into a flower garden, and the windows ooked out upon a small porch, It was here that the face appeared. Noel Brandon was a man of iron nerve; but he started in spite of himself as he beheld that face, and he glared uponit, as though he saw an apparition. hen he saw a finger rise to the lips, as though to warn him to silence, and next the sash was slowly and noiselessly raised from without, and the midnight visitor entered the room. ‘* Madge Vernon, you here?” cried the young sailor, in a hoarse whisper. ‘Yes, and you must go with me,” ‘“Why, Madge—” ‘‘ You must come, and at once, and I will ex- plain as we go.” “ But I cannot walk, Madge.” “T have made youa pair of crutches of oars —see!” She drew into the window as she spoke, two oars, the handles of which had been sawed off to the right hight, and over the blade ends had been tied canvas to make them comfortable for the arms. “ But Madge, what does all this mean that I should steal away in the night?” ‘‘ Do you wish to swing at the yard-arm, Noel Brandon?” ‘God forbid! but I have been dismissed in punishment for my killing—” ‘You are accused of a far worse crime.” ec 7” “cc Yes »” ‘But I am falsely accused, Madge.” ' Then come with me, and free you can prove it; but in irons in a vessel’s hold you cannot.” ‘‘ Ha! there is some deep mystery in all this,” ‘* Solve it by going with me.” ** And whither?” ** Come and see.” ‘¢ Not to Brandon Hall?” _—_-——seeeimt “ L E —— a — ——- = The Sea Fugitive. ‘No, for your father would not receive you.” ** Go, Madi e, for I follow, and Heaven bless ou,” he said, sadly, as he rose from the cot, She left the room and awaited him out upon the porch. Dressing as rapidly as he could, and taking his weapons, he left the room by way of the window, cautiously descended to the garden, and led by Madge came to the little gate that opened upon a small pier where the boats were kept. He walked slowly and painfully, for he was unused to crutches, but at last he was seated in a small skiff, and seizing the oars Madge sent it flying over the waters. She held close in-shore, and at last landed upon a wooded point. It was the desolate spot whereon stood the humble cabin of the mysterious old Sailor Her- mit whom the villagers called Captain K yd. A dim light burned within the cabin, for the old hermit seemed never to love darkness, and springing ashore, while she bade Noel Brandon remain in the skiff, Madge ran up to the hut and knocked, ‘* Well?’ came the yoice of the hermit in re- sponse, and in a way that seemed to indicate that he was wide awake. ‘Tt is Madcap Madge, Captain Kyd; open your door quickly,” she said. A moment after the door swung open, and the old hermit, fully dressed, stood before her,while he said: ‘“Has aught gone wrong with your father, Miss Madge?” ‘‘ No, Captain Kyd; but I have come to ask a favor of you.” . iy You have but to speak to have me grant it. ‘‘T have a friend who is accused of a foul crime. ‘*Tn irons he cannot prove bis innocence, but free he may do so, and they seek to hang him at the yard-arm, ‘Tf taken his life must soon end, and be is wounded and in distress, so I have come to ask yoo to give him shelter for a short while, until Tee se ct care ot ig sy ga ee illingly, youn y; but who is he ** Noel RAS eat og : ‘A Brandon accused of crime, and a fugi- tive from the yard-arm,” said the old sailor in ‘“You say he is with you?” ‘‘ Yes, in the skiff along shore.” ‘‘ Let him come here.” ‘*T thank you, sir; but remember, not even my father must know of this,” ‘* No one will ever know through me, Madge.” ‘* Again I thank you,” and Madge returned to the skiff and said: “You are to seek shelter with the Hermit Sailor, Lieutenant Brandon, until you are able to make your escape from this dangerous local- ‘‘ Madge Vernon, I owe you more than ‘ife; but there is no time to speak of it, or to thank ou. ‘‘T knew the old Hermit Sailor years ago, but ou must indeed. have won his heart to cause im to give me shelter in his cabin,” ‘* He will give you shelter and protect you, so that you will be safe; but let me ve you the package I received from Constable Kenedy.” ‘No, keep it for me until I come for it, and Madge, have Captain Buntline, of the Flag Ship, look after my traps for me, if you can ask him to do so without exciting suspicion.” ‘‘ Write him word to do so, and let the her- mit the letter. ‘* Now you must hasten,” and she aided him up the hillside. ‘Lieutenant Brandon, you are welcome to a refuge in my humble cabin, for Miss Madge so asks it, and I can refuse her aie iag There was that in the words that told the young sailor that he was welcome only through Madge; but he said: ‘“T thank you, Captain Kyd, for your kind- ness to one who is under a cloud just now, and some day I hope to prove my appreciation.” ‘‘Task for no return, sir—but come in, for I have a bunk for you, and as you are wounded, [ will be your nurse, for [ am something of a phy- sician—come, Miss Madge.” But Madge had quietly stolen away, and was already in her skiff, running rapidly down the river. Past the sleeping village she went, and hoist. ing her sail she glided swiftly away for nearly an hour. Then she ran into a small cove, and as she touched the shore a form came forward to meet her. ** Well?” ‘“* He is safe, Miss Brandon.” ** Where?” ‘Tt matters not, but he is safe, «nd you had better hasten home, for within an hour it will be dawn,” and having made the skiff fast, so that Fisher Frank, who lived in his cabin not far away, would not suspect it having been used, Madge led the way through the dark forest. At a certain point the path divided, and Madge said; ““That is your way, Miss Brandon, and this mine,” wr ‘T will soon go over this two miles to the Hall, and I sincerely hope my absence has not been ‘Gi discovered; but you?” ‘*T shall go home, and have Philip row me up to where I left my skiff, and in it I will go out to the cutter and pilot a boat to the landing at Sha Brandon Hall.” “Thank God they will not find my poor | brother.” | ‘* No, they will have come on a fruitless er- 4 rand,” ** And he owes his life to you, and I a lasting friendship,” and Joyce extended both of her hands. ‘*T am glad to have saved your brother, and I appreciate your friendship, Miss Brandon, such as it can be between you and me. “Good night,” and Madge walked rapidly homeward, while Joyce Brandon, left alone, hastened toward Brandon Hall as fast as her tired feet would bear her. CHAPTER VIII A MYSTERY. TRUE to her promise made to Lieutenant May- nard, Madge Vernon visited the cutter the fol- lowing morning. After parting from Joyce Brandon in the for- est, she had rapidly walked home, thrown her- self upon the bed for an hour’s rest, after hay- ing told Phillis to call her and have breakfast ‘ ready at sunrise, and Philip to be prepared to go with her up the coast. Springing to her feet when called by Phillis, and making a neat and hasty toilet; the young girl ate her breakfast, and went down to the shore, whither old Philip had preceded her, Springing into the skiff that he had in wait- ing, she said: ‘Pull hard, Philip, up the coast.” r ‘Yas, missy: but whar am your skiff?” ‘‘Tt is there that I am going, where I left it last night.” > You walk home then, missy?’ tee vesy ie when you come in, missy.” ‘‘ No, Philip, it was very ‘early,” answered Madge, with a mental reservation, regarding the early morning hour at which she had return- ed home. ‘** Phillis and me thinked you would stay on the cutter.” ** No, Philip, I would not do that.” ‘What was the matter, missy, about your running in, for you kept her backin’ and fillin’ c for awful long time, and we thoughted you had forgot the channel? ‘*No, I knew the channel well enough, but I ( did not wish to drop anchor until some time af- ter dark; but mind you, Philip, if any one should come to the cottage and ask about me, you might say I came home early, and left my skiff up the coast as I had a head wind, and ee walk back quicker than I could row or sail. ** So 50 could, missy,” and soon after the boat glided into the little cove where Madge had left her surf-skiff. Springing on board the maiden set sail, and waving her hand to Philip, who started upon his return, she glided out of the cave toward the cutter, which lay half a league distant. “All ready for you, my fair pilot, for I be- lieve you said you would guide us to Brandon Hall,” said Mayo Maynard, advancing to the gangway to meet her. | ‘Yes, sir, I will guide you there,” was the an- \ swer, and a boat cones Lieutenant May- P nard, Midshipman Lauderdale and half a score of sailors left the vessel’s side and followed in the wake of the surf-skiff. | Running in among the inlets and caves, ) Madge piloted the boat toa small haven, frcm | whence in the distance, could be seen the hand- . some mansion of Brandon Hall. She pointed out the house, and the road lead- ing to it, and said: ‘That is Brandon Hall, sir, and I will await here to pilot you out to sea again.” ‘“-You will not accompany us to the mansion then?” ‘No, sir; for as a poor skipper’s daughter, I am not cn visiting terms with the aristocratic : Brandons,” was the response, In a tone that seemed bitter. ‘‘T will not ask it, then, and as my business: is of a painful nature, I will not keep you wait- ing very long. ; | ‘Come, lads!” and Lieutenant Maynard led the way up the path leading to the house, As he approached the mansion he could not but admire its solidity and grandeur, and was lost in admiration at the beauty of the surround- ing scenery, with flower-gardens, lawns and parks encircling the abode, and here and there rustic arbors and little retreats inviting to repose. Upon the piazza he beheld an elderly gentle- man smoking and watching his approach, while a young girl was pacing to and fro. : ‘*There is Brandon’s father—yes, and his sis— ter, too: but I do not see him, Leo, and I assure. ou_I shrink from this painful duty,” said the d-hearted Maynard, addressing Midshipmam Lauderdale, as they drew near the mansion. MIE OOOKS (E(0) com,