Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 369 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

fl The Coast Corsair. Madge, he placed it where the binnacle light fell | ered rocks, into the narrow pass between the full upon it, and, with the wheel grasped firmly in his hands, he headed for the channel. All was breathless suspense on board, for they knew their daring commander was doing a des- perate thing, in thus running the dangerous gantlet among the rocks, But perfectly calm he stood at the wheel, is- suing his orders in a voice that was resolute and full of confidence. Rowing in to a certain point, where the rocks rose threateningly upon either side, he gra the sails to port and brought the bows rapidly around, catching the wind over his starboard am. ‘There is a remarkably high tide to-night, Ray,” he said quietly. ** How do you know, may I ask, sir?” ‘Because these rocks on our starboard are nearly covered with water, when even after the storm they were visible far more than now.” ‘*T see! and it looks that way to me, as I re- member them; but you are doing splendidly. * “Thank you, and we shall have to remain here all night, in the lee of the island, for another storm is brewing.” ** So it seems, sir; well, we will have a safe an- chorage.” ‘*T am not so sure of that, if the wind comes in here from the eastward, for that will make this place too hot for us.” But Mayo Maynard held on, and without a miss rounded the point, that formed the upper end of the Crescent Isle. There, lying snug at anchor in the cove, and not half a mile distant was the sloop. Her sails were down, and she had evidently been made shipshape for the coming storm, not cunectieg that the schooner could follow her there. But almost instantly the white canvas rose over her decks, and without the slightest sound, and like a frightened bird she flew away from the shelter. But the schooner had crept up pretty near to her now, and Mayo Maynard shouted in a voice that rung like a bugle: ** Ho that sloop!” ot a sound came back in reply, ** Ahoy the sloop, ahoy!” Still no reply. ** Answer, or I'll fire into you!” But no answer came, ‘** Ready at the guns there!” ** Ay, ay, sir,” came in a chorus from the gun- ers. ‘* Starboard battery ready !|—fire!” The helm had been put down, and as the schooner swung around in response, her guns opened in a broadside. Whether it was the ringing sound of the schooner, or the aim of the gunners was poor, certain it was that the sloop did not seem to be hit by the broadside, and flew along on her course in a silent, defiant manner that was weirdly grand. ‘Give her port broadside there!” shouted Mayo Maynard, and again the schooner quivered vase the shock of her broadside, and the echoes ‘were wakened for miles around by the terrific roar of artillery. Yet still the sloop was not checked. ‘* She bears a charmed life, Raymond, or she’s the specter you think she is,” said Mayo May- nard, in an angry voice, as he noted _ the failure to stop the sloop, or even to seem to hit her. " ess she’s a specter, sir; at least I have t so for a long time.” ‘* Well, she’s a wonder; but see! she’s heading directly for the Twin Rocks.” ** So she is, and she seems to lay her course for’ the between them.” ‘True, for Madcap Madge said a vessel could not round the lower end, and to come around the point here would bring her within pistol range of us.” ‘*But no vessel can pass through the place where the Blue Bell was sunk last night.” ‘“‘The Blue Bell did not, certainly, and now yonder craft is erect, Bice the same pass—see!” All eyes were now bent upon the sloop, and just where the Blue Bell had n every one knowi one to pieces, and under br sop a of the Toonéian irl Pilot Madcap Madge, their super- stitious dread of the st ange craft was greatly increased to see her making under full sail for the very same spot. Almost unmindful of his vessel’s safety, Mayo Ma d let her go on, as he watched the sloop, and then, in breathless suspense each man on board the scorpion rive his gaze upon the craft, one and all seemed to feel was a i gghan Nearer and nearer she drew to the pass, unti not a hundred yards separated her from the rocks that wrecked the Blue Bell. Nearer and nearer! Would she never go about? No, she held right on, her sails still set, in spite of the increasing wind, and in another instant was in the foaming waters, in the very ag of the rocks that destroyed the Blue li. But thers came no erash, there was no sudden stop, no cvashing of timbers, no toppling over of the mas*; but silently the strange yacht went on, through the seething sea, past the foam-cov- | islands, and then, still sailing upright and a mass of white canvas clouds disappeared like mist in the trees that there grew on the ends of the island. ‘*My God! she has passed through the very spot that wrecked the Blue Bell,” cried the amazed commander of the Scorpion. “It is the ghost of the Blue Bell, Mayo May- nard, and we have been chasing a specter,” al- most groaned Ray Raymond in deep agony of spirit, at the startling sight they had all wit- n . CHAPTER XVIII. IN DEADLY PERIL. ‘GREAT Heaven! Where are we going? ** Hard! hard down your helm, hard!” It was oy a beak that spoke, and the words fairly burst from his lips in a shout. They awoke the officers and crew from the “— that seemed to have come upon one and Watching the strange sloop, they had uncon- , forgotten the schooner and their own nger. She had held on, the helmsman awaiting or- ders, in chase of the sloop, and then, as the weird craft had disappeared so mysteriously, all stood spellbound gazing at the pass between the rocky island, where her white sails, like a cloud, had seemed to melt away and float among the pines that sheltered the rocks on either island, The young commander was the first to gain his senses, and a glance around showed him that he was beyond the lines marked on the chart, where Madge had said he must not go. So loud rung his command to the helmsman, and in obedience the good schooner swung around as upon a pivot. But just then an inky storm-cloud obscured the moon, the rocks seemed upon every side and in utter dismay, having momentarily los his bearings in the darkness, Mayo Maynard gave his orders to take in sail. This was quickly done, and not an instant too soon, for the storm was rushing down upon the devoted vessel, and but one thing could be done to save the craft and that was to anchor. ‘**Let go the anchors!” came the order, as the schooner’s headway was being checked through being stripped of her canvas. The anchors fell with a splash into the water, and the cables ran out some twenty fathoms. Then the men were sent aloft to house the top- mast, the sails were closely furled, the long, needle-like bowsprit was run inboard, and the schooner was ready to meet the gale, which she must ride out in a position of the direst danger. The breaking of a cable, the dragging of the anchors and all knew that death and wreck would follow. Forward, the superstitious sailors laid it to the specter sloop that had led them into danger, and oft the officers looked grim and doubtful, for they too had a fear that the Blue Bell’s ghost had led them the chase during the night. It was almost dawn, but with the dawn would succor come? Would any pilot come off there, or could she come off to them in that wild anchorage? It was a long way off to the home of Madcap Madge and would not their guns of pleading sound to her ears like muffled thunder? Did any pilot, or fisherman dwell upon the coast thereabout? Brandon Hall was certainly the nearest dwell- ing-place, and it was over a league away, and no one was there to come to their succor. Certainly the schooner was in a desperate situation, and from the cabin boy to the com- mander all knew it. But there was no word of discontent among the men. They believed they had been lured to their doom by a phantom, and they would accept their fate as it came. “*T will risk a A for a pilot,” suddenly said Mayo Maynard. It was yet an hour to dawn, but the storm was coming on in fury, and what else to do he did not know. ‘In twenty minutes the storm will be upon us, and no pilot could board us, while it would take him an hour or more to come off from the shore,” said Ray Raymond. ‘*Some fishermen may dwell upon one of the islands, and it can certainly do no harm, if it does no good, to fire the gun.” ‘*T will give the order, sir; but do you not think you could pilot us out, for you ran in so well?” ‘‘Raymond, I ran in to a certain point all right; then, in watching the sloop I forgot all about the schooner, and blind luck, fortunate accident brought us here, a mile beyond where my knowledge extends, and far past where the chart says I must have a thorough pilot. ‘* Look around you, and you will see rocks on oll sides, and I, nor you, nor any one else who knows not these waters, can tell whether a reef lies hidden between these rocks, or open water; so we can only depend upon the anchors. ‘Tf they fail us, then God have mercy upon the sea, and Mayo Ma Skipper !” us, and upon me for bringing you all here, for I do not shirk the responsibility, as I alone am to blame. ‘‘But fire the gun, and see if it brings us luck.” Ray Raymond turned to obey, and as he did sO ee from out on the black waters came a hail: ‘* Schooner ahoy!”’ ‘** Ahoy!” cried a score of anxious voices in chorus. ‘* Silence all!” shouted Mayo Maynard stern- ly, and then he hailed: ** Ahoy!” ‘* Ho the Scorpion ahoy!” came the voice. “Ay, ay! who are you?” ‘“A pilot; for you are in deadly danger there!” ‘* Lads, give that noble fellow three rousin cheers!” shouted Mayo Maynard to his men, ra such cheers few men ever received before, and they eo over the waters like a gale. **Thank you, lads! ll be with you in a min- ute,” came the same manly voice, and then out upon the dark waters a white object was de- scried, and in it was a single form, and he was pulling a powerful stroke to urge the light skiff over the waves, which were now running high, and breaking in crests of snowy foam. ‘*Pull hard, my brave fellows, for our lives are in your hands!” cried Mayo Maynard. “Ay, ay, sir! I'll reach you,” was the answer in a voice that was calm and full of confidence. Held by her anchors the schooner was driving her bows under like a duck, while the shock as she rose against the iron weight, made her quiv- er from stem to stern. But all eyes were upon that white skiff and its daring occupant. Nearer and nearer he came, until he was noti many fathoms off. ‘Ho the Scorpion!” came in his deep voice. ‘* Ay, ay, sir,” responded Mayo Maynard. **Get your anchors in, and stand ready to sets your mainsail reefed down and fore-stay-sail!” ‘* Ay, ay!” and the men sprung to their posts eagerly. errily they ran around the capstan, and one anchor soon left the bottom. Then the other yielded, and, just as a shout arose, telling that the daring pilot had reached the deck, the second anchor was apeak, and the schooner fell off before the wind. ‘‘Never mind my skiff—let it go!” shouted the pilot, and with a bound he was at the wheel. ‘Here! I want help, for this is no child’s work!” he shouted, and Mayo Maynard sprung to his aid. ‘‘Now every man to his post!” ordered the pilot. As he spoke a glare of lightning spread over ard cried, as he saw the face of the man revealed distinctly within two feet of his own: ‘* By Heaven! you are Vernon the Kennebec CHAPTER XIX, THE PILOT. “TAM Sey a6] Vernon, sir, wholly at your service,” was the calm reply of the daring man who had come out to the schooner in her mo- ment of dire need to serve as pilot. ‘ With the air of one who knew his own skill, and had perfect. self-confidence, he took the wheel, glanced out over the dark waters, got his bearings, and sent the Scorpion on her perilous course. ‘““-You are heading for the Crescent Isle,” said. Mayo Maynard. ies ‘You are mistaken, sir, for it is not in my power to take you there on such a night, from the place I found you at anchor in. ‘“‘Were my daughter here, ske could do it, for * she knows these waters better than Ido. I am heading for the Sunset Isle, where the schooner will ride as safe asin a mill-pond.” | ‘‘T am completely turned around in my bear- ings ” said Mayo Maynard. ‘Tt is a most desceptive coast—there! you see Crescent Island over on our beam, to starboard, and the Twin Rocks lie off our port quarter, while that dark object dead ahead is Sunset Isle, so called from the fact that its summit is lighted up with the last rays of the setting sun, it being © higher than the other isles and rocks here- about. ‘* Between us and the Crescent Isle there is a perfect network of reefs, and but two channels, and how you ever got through I do not see.” The Scorpion knew her danger and steered clear,” said Mayo Maynard, and he watched their course with deep interest, for dangers were thick about them. , But ie eed Vernon was a cool man at the helm, and he held on his way without hesitation rounded the cliff-like point of Sunset Isle, an then putting his helm hard up, shot the schooner into a basin that seemed walled in, so high did the banks arise about it. The entrance was very narrow, and the water very deep, but it was, as he had said, except for the swell, as yb as a mill-pond. ‘* My dear skipper, you have saved the schoon. er. and the lives of myself and crew, and you. have but to name your price,” said Mayo May- <€om Ebooks:com