Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 369 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | pes ~ ae hl to Brandon nard, earnestly, as he seized the hand of the pie and drew him down into the cabin with im, motioning him toa seat at the table and calling to a steward toplace brandy and refresh- | ments before them. ‘‘Captain Maynard, I do not serve my | country’s ships for gold, but from a desire to do | my duty. ‘*Thereis a brand upon me that I have borne for years, that of smuggler, and yet you, and no ' other officer have not been able to catch me in acts of outlawry.” ‘‘Skipper, in keeping an eye upon you as I nave, I have but done my duty: but I assure you I do not believe you to be a smuggler, and I owe to you and to your beautiful daughter, more tan any other human beings. **T am rich and you are poor, and most gladly would [ do something for you to prove my ap- preciation, for otherwise you place me under a debt of gratitude I can never repay.” ht! gpa the debt should remain unpaid, sir, though I appreciate your generous offer.” “Skipper Vernon, you are not one whom 1 should expect to find commanding a coaster, for you are a man of refinement and education, and a finer lady I never met than your daughter, though she has the nerve of a man and is as reckless as a middy. * Still, 1 know you are not what and wish to be friends with you, for hand in all good faith.” ‘* And I accept it, sir, in friendship.” ‘Now tell me, Captain Vernon, how it is I found you to-night, or rather you found us?” ‘‘It is easily explained, sir, for I left home this morning in my skiff, or rather yesterda morning, after my daughter’s return from this 2? ** Ah! she told you then of the loss of the Blue Bell, and also of poor Brandon’s death, alon with a wretched, drunken fellow who was wit him? ‘* Yes, sir, I heard ali from her, and she went Hall to break the news to Master Noel’s parents and sister, while I came away in my skiff to see some fishermen friends.” ‘ But aoe surely will allow me to replace the Blue Bell for you?” ‘Not I, sir, for the craft was lost with Madge at the helm, and yet she could do nothing else than to try and run the pass between the isl- ands as she could not round the island, and hoped against hope to run through.” ‘Tt was most daring in her; but she knew that it could not be done, did she not?” ‘*The pass, sir, is very peculiar, and at very rare times there is water enough there to run through, and, it being the only chance for Madge, she took it, and drove the sloop to pieces.” ‘‘And yet, Captain Vernon, I saw a vessel pass through to-night.” The pilot shook his head incredulously. ** Indeed I did, sir.” ‘* Tt must have been a phantom craft that did it, then.” Mayo Maynard started in spite of himself, and asked quickly: ‘*T)» you believe in such things?” ‘7 try not to be superstitious, sir; but I have rou seem, offer my seen strange things in my life, and there are few, if any, sailors who do not believe in specter -vessels,” “True; and my crew, ay, and officers, too, are ready to swear that the sloop to-night wasa phantom.” ‘* Where did you see her, sir?” ‘‘ First, tell me if there is another Blue Bell in these waters?” ‘‘T never heard of but one Blue Bell, sir.” “Well, to-night I had headed for Boston wee we saw flashes in the distance, and heard ring, ‘*We stood in the direction under full sail, saw a schooner far away running southward, and beheld, lying without sail set, a mile from us, a sloop. ‘We gave chase, when suddenly her sails were set, and she glided swiftly away—so swiftly, in fact, that she was dropping us, and I ordered tire opened on her. ‘But all our firing did no good for us, or seemingly harm to her, though I aimed three shots myself, ‘She made a kind of a semi-circle, reached these waters, and disappeared around one end of Crescent Isle, while I, with a chart your daugh- ter gave me, came around the other end. ‘‘We surprised her, gave her a broadside or two, and yet she sped away from us seemingly unhurt, and the result was our running into the Jeopardy in which you find us.” ‘“ Yet the sloop escaped?” ‘“ Yes: she ran through the pass between the Rock Islands ” : Again the siippes pons his head. “She certainly did, sir, and what is more, she was the exact counterpart of the Blue Bell.’ “Why, Captain Maynard, the Blue Bell was lost just at that point!” eagerly cried the skip- per, evidently excited. \ ‘“ Yes, she struck right there. ** And went to pieces?” ** She did, utterly.” ** Then—” aaa eeaeecemmmmcemacamncaaeacaacaaaaacaaaaaaaaacacaaaacaaaaaaaaaaaaacaaaacaaaaasacaaaaaaaaaasaaaasaaacasaaaaasaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacaaaaaaaaaaammaamasamaaaseamaaaaamamaasaaamamamaaaaamaaammaaaasamacaamaaaammaaamataaaaaaaaaaa aaa -- rrr ——— The Coast Corsair. ‘** Well, why do you pause?” ** You were chasing a phantom,” impressively said the skipper. ‘*I do not wish to believe such things, sir, in | this enlightened age.” ‘Then explain what she was, Captain May- nard,” ‘*T cannot; but did you see nothing of the Blue Bell?” ** You mean this phantom?” ‘* Yes, if so you call it?” “‘I told you that I started out to see some fishermen, after my daughter’s return, and on ny way back I landed upon the island astern of which you lay at anchor, and concluded to re- main all night, and I had walked over to the seaside to have a look at the beach, when I spied you coming around Crescent Island.” ‘* Did you see the sloop?” ** Yes; the sloop ran ahead of you up through the Twin Rocks and disappeared.” **'You saw that?’ ‘Yes, sir.” “ And yet you say she was a phantom?” ‘It was the very appearance of the craft ge- ing there, that makes it look as though she was for Madge is the only one I know who could have run in there, other than myself, and the sloop did look like my Blue Bell, even in the darkness.” ‘* Well, this is remarkable.” ‘“*Tt is indeed, sir, and until the Scorpion wore around and dropped anchor, I would not but be- lieve that she must be a specter to go safely through those waters. ‘** But I recognized her, and going back for my skiff came off to you.” ‘* And thank God you did; but can you offer no solution regarding this mysterious sloop?” ** None, sir.” ** Well, Captain Vernon, let us look over the pass in the morning, and see if we can find any evidence of a wreck there.” ‘*T am at your service, sir, and yet the bones of the Blue Bell will be all that we find.” ** Doubtless; but now seek what rest you can, and after a late breakfast, I will get you to cruise around among these islands with me, and we will see just what they are.” ** With pleasure, sir, if it is not too rough, for this is a bad blow to-night.” ‘It is indeed,” and the two parted just at dawn, to seek their bunks.” After several hours they awoke, and, after a hearty breakfast went on deck to have a look about them. The sea was as wild as sible, the heavens threatening, and Skipper Vernon advised that the Scorpion go to sea, and not remain longer in such a dangerous locality, for he had to return home, as his daughter would be most anxious re- garding him. So it was decided, and the Scorpion set sail, pars te Vernon at the helm, and running down within a couple of leagues of his own cottage, he bade farewell to Mayo Maynard and was landed upon an island from whence he said he could row home, as he always kept a fishing- boat there. Then the Scorpion once more headed for Bos- ton, all on board deeply impressed with. the chase and escape of the Blue Bell’s double. CHAPTER XX. A VISITOR TO THE SCORPION. I must now return to the time when the Scorpion was seep coming into Boston har- bor by the boy who was waiting for her. She ran up to her customary anchorage and let fall her mud-hook, furled her sails and put on the appearance of a vessel that had come to stay longer than a day. ‘Well, my lad, you watch yonder man- of-war as though you’d like to be a sailor,” and aman in sailor garb stepped up to the youth, as he was gazing at the Scorpion. ‘Oh, sir, I would, only I cannot leave home.” ‘We don’t know about that until we get an offer to tempt us; but come, are you not a harbor boat-boy?” ‘Yes, sir.” ‘Then put me on board yonder schooner as soon as you can, and you shall have a double fee.” ‘The war-vessel?” we Si “Then I shall have a chance for a near view ?” ‘You will,.for I guess they'll let you look around her while I am visiting the captain.” ‘*Get in, sir,” and the lad ran down the pier steps and sprung into his boat. With a quick stroke he rowed out to the schooner, rested on his oars while the man answered the hail from the Scorpion’s deck, and then ran alongside as directed. ‘““Here isa lad who would like a look at your vessel,” the man said to the boatswain, and while the boy was invited on board the ET LL Se ae SC Oa eee 13 one in sailor attire walked aft under the guidance of a middy to see the commander. Mayo Maynard was at supper, ~~ Ray- mond being his companion, and he lookcd up as the visitor entered his cabin. ‘*Ah! we have met before, Mr. Darrell,” he said. ‘* We have, sir, and I have come to ask if you have captured the prisoner?” ‘*Noel Brandon?” “Te. ar. “Yes, we captured him.” The man’s eyes fairly glittered with de- light, but it seemed a revengeful joy he felt, and he said quickly: ‘* Then the reward of ten thousand dollars is mine?” “On what grounds, Darrell?” * Tt was I that sent you after the sloop, on board of which was the prisoner.” ‘*My dear fellow, you told me when we were in the Kennebec, you knew just where to lay your hands upon Noel Brandon. ‘‘] believed you, and we made a night ex- pedition to the hut of an old Hermit Sailor, whom the villagers there call Captain Kyd. “But Mr. Brandon was certainly not there and you departed. “Again, when last in port AeA came to me with a tale about having kidnapped the prisoner and brought him here, and that you had him on board a sloop. ‘‘[ went with you, and lo! the sloop and prisoner were not there.” ‘*But the skipper of © brig told you that another sloop had run in and the two vessels had sailed away together.” ‘True, and [ sailed in chase, overhauling first one, and then the other of the sloops.” ** And found the prisoner?” “No, for our search on both was fruit- ess.” “Then he had been left in this port?” **Oh, no, for I afterward captured him.” ** Ah?’ ‘* Yes, one of those who had him in charge turned traitor, and he was delivered over to me.” “Then I should have the reward.”’ ‘*No, the other fellow says he should; but, after all, 1 have not got the prisoner.” “I thought you said that you had?” ‘*T did have, but he left the schooner.” *“* Escaped?” ** Well, it was the wreck of the Scorpion, or his life, so I let him go, and the vessel he was on went to pieces on a rock before our eyes, and he was lost.” ‘“Captain Maynard, I cannot believe that Noel Brandon is dead; this was some trick.” ‘*On whose part, sir?” ‘* The one who had him in charge.” ‘* My dear man, we all saw the Blue Bell strike on the rocks and go into kindling- wood in a very few minutes,” ‘Ha, the Blue Bell?” ‘e Yes.” ‘* Vernon’s craft?” ‘ee “Who was in command?” “Of the Blue Bell?” “Yes, sir.” ‘*Miss Madcap Madge.” . ‘“By Heaven, I thought as much; but, did she go to pieces, too?” ** No, she escaped.” ** And who else?” **One Silly Sam.” ** And were there others on the Blue Bell?” “Yes, Mr. Brandon, and a drunkard an- swering to the name of Tap-room Tom— but what ails you, Darrell? ‘Have you been drinking too much, or not enough?” The eyes of the man had seemed to start in their sockets, his face became livid, and he clutched at the air as though about to fall, while he hoarsely said: ‘*'Tap-room Tom.” ‘Yes, and you seem as bad off as he is, and you aout give up village rum,” ‘1 do not drink, and I was surprised, be- cause I heard that he was dead,” and, with an effort, he controlled himself. ‘* Well, he is dead, I tell you, for he went down with the Blue Bell and Mr. Brandon.” ies Captain Maynard, there is some trick in this.” ‘*T cannot see wherein lies the trick. Dar- rell, for the sloop went to pieces, and in the mornirg we took off of the rocks the lady and Sam.” ' Eomicbooks (E “Ti « a © Fini @S