Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 369 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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—) The Coast Corsair. 23 _— me, I cannot tell where he is injured. ‘‘He’s doubtless lazy, and got a fall, so takes it as an excuse to lay up; but girl, you must have good eyes, to see your way through these waters.” ‘‘T have good cyes, sir, and there is no danger—sail ho!” end her voice rung as she uttered the words. There, coming out from behind an island was a vessel, and after a glance at it, Madge said : ‘*It is the Blue Bell's double.” “* What is it, girl?” ““A craft I have before seen in these waters, but I do not know the name of.” A moment more and the Blue Bell had swept by, and the schooner held steadily on until open water was reached, ‘‘ Mr. Mate, you are in open water now, sir, and if you'll lay to I’ll leave you,” said Madge. Then an affectionate parting followed be- tween Madge and Joyce, and Dr. Brandon, breaking for once his haughty and cold man- ner, said : ‘‘I thank you, Miss Vernon, and I would have offered you a liberal fee, but Joyce beg- ged me not to do so. ‘“‘TIf I can ever repay the debt I owe you, call upon me. ‘* Good-by.” Madge bowed, kissed Joyce again, and was soon flying homeward under a stiff breeze, while the Moonbeam held on her way—whither ? CHAPTER XXXIII. THE MOONBEAMS CAPTAIN. ** Has she gone?” The question was asked by Captain Ken- nard, as his mate entered his state-room. ‘She has, sir, and there is every indica- tion of a storm.”’ ‘‘ Where are the passengers?” ‘“* The old lady in her state-room, and her husband with her.” “The young lady?” ‘On deck.”’ ‘You are sure Madcap Madge is gone?” **1 am sorry to say she has, sir, for I felt safer with her in the vessel; but I luffed for her a few minutes ago, and she went off in her skiff, flying away like a sea-gull.”’ ‘*T shall come at once on deck,” and, as the mate left the state-room, Captain Ken- nard arose, dressed himself with great care, and went on deck. Joyce stood leaning over the taffrail, gaz- ing astern at the fast-receding shores, and the red light, which she knew burned in the little arbor outlook on the cliff near the Vernon cottage. She knew Madge would keep her word and wave it to her in farewell, when she ar- rived at home, so sbe kept her eye fixed upon the light. A seaman stood at the wheel, and the mate paced to and fro not far off, while the watch lolled forward, ready for work if called upon. Amidships were the servants of Brandon Hall, half a dozen in number, and seemingly glad of a chance to visit the great city of Boston. Walking aft, for he had come up through the steerage, Captain Kennard limped in his gait, and stopping near where Joyce was de- termined to make his presence known. ‘*How does she head, my man?” he asked in his most sailor-like tones. “*Sou’ by ea’, sir, a little sou’, was the f mrertnge le reply that greeted the ears of oyce, he voice of the captain caused her to turn, and he stood just where the compan- ionway lamp fell full upon him, She saw a fine form, a face that was by no means homely, and, under its best auspices, the sinister look was concealed. He did not look like an ordinary man either, and when he caught her eye he bow- ed low, raised his cap, and said: ‘Have | the honor of addressing Miss Brandon?” ‘You have, sir, and I suppose you are Captain Kennard?” ‘Yes, lady, and it gives me pleasure to welcome you on board sbip, and I regret that an accident, that crippled me, kept me confined to my state-room.”’ ‘‘T hope you are better, sir?”’ ter than I do the mate’s, and, for the life of ~_ —_—— ** No, but I heard there was astorm rising, so came on deck to look out for the welfare of the schooner, for she carries precious freight, Miss Brandon.” ‘“Yes, we have much that is valuable on board,” she answered, purposely misunder- standing him. “I feel like an old friend to you, Miss Brandon, for I was very intimate with your brother.” ‘“* Indeed!” and she started. ‘* Yes, we sailed together upon the same ship.” “Then you were in the navy?” ** Yes, I had that honor;” but he did not say that it was the honor of serving before in a voice and with a look she could not but understand was meant for her. She made no reply and turned away, and he bit his lip with vexation, while he mut- tered: ‘* Last night I thought I had won her; but to-day she seems to dislike me. ‘*] will try ber a couple of days, and then if she refuses io be my wife, she shall have time to repent and change her mind. ‘*Did she behave differently all would be well for her; tut with her airs, she must not expect me to be merciful,” and the man’s face became actually fiendish, and, standing the mast, and naturally Joyce did not hint | at such a thing, In fact she had no reason to doubt the | man, only, after she had spoken with him she did not like him, and somehow the im- pression came over her that she had met the man before. His referring to her brother as a friend, however, interested her, and she asked: ‘* When was it that you knew my brother, Captain Kennard?” in the light, Joyce saw it and shuddered, for a chill seemed to come upon her heart, CHAPTER XXXIV. THE KENNEBEC CORSAIR. SEVERAL weeks passed away after the _ sailing of the Moonbeam from Boston harbor, ‘“‘At the time he was on the sloop-of-war | President, Miss Brandon; but I left just af- ter he did.” ‘*Ah! you were there when he had his un- | fortunate affair with his senior lieutenant?” “Yes, and all of his brother officers upheld him in it, miss, unless it was his captain, and to him did Noel owe his dismissal; but I can never believe that your brother could be guilty of slaying the captain afterward.”’ ““God bless you for those words, sir,” and Joyce held out her hand, which the man grasped warmly. Then he turned to look after the vessel, ordered reefs put in the sails, and all made snug to meet the storm, which was now liable to burst upon them at any moment. ‘*There! see there! Madge is at home, and safe!” suddenly cried Joyce, her words and manner causing the skipper to start in alarm. But looking in the direction she was point- ing, he discovered a red light swinging in circles, ‘‘She promised to wave the light when she returned, and I have been waiting here patiently to see it,” explained Joyce, This settled the skipper, for he had hoped Joyce had been waiting on his account. But he said: ** You like that girl, miss?” ‘“‘T love her, for she is the most noble girl Il ever saw, and as beautiful in character as in face.” ‘Yes, she is very beautiful,” he averred. ‘* You have seen her then?” “Well, I can hardly say that; but I caught a glimpse of her when she came on and she had not returned. Mr. Jacob Bentley, senior, partner of the firm of Bentley & Co., began to grow very anxious and he nearly worried the soul-care out of poor Vezey asking him if he had heard any news of the vessel. Vezey encouraged him with the idea that Doctor Brandon had not been ready, and so had detained the schooner. ‘* But he would have written surely,” said _Mr. Bentley, and so he rushed off to the _ office of the Kennebec packets. | : | | | ee board,” said the skipper in a composed way. | ‘She is a better sailor than many an | officer in the navy to-day, and does not know what fear is; but here comes the storm, and I will go below. ‘*Good-night, Captain Kennard,” and she descended to the cabin. Soon after the storm broke with violence, and the schooner pitched terribly ; } ; ; eat — but the passengers felt that the vessel was in | no danger, for Joyce had told her parents | Bentley hastened back to tell Vezey the that the captain had gone on deck when he heard the storm coming up. “He is a good seaman, I guess, and in fact Bentley would not send him unless he knew him to be so,” said the doctor. All through the night the storm continued, and when the morning broke the schooner was scudding before the enough canvas set to steady her on her course. All day long the schooner was held on the same course, and Joyce asked if she was headed toward Boston. Captain West had just come in, and he told the merchant that he had made several voy- ages since he had sailed that day ahead of the Moonbeam. ‘So that was your craft, was it?” ‘Well, now, why didn’t you know she were for sale, for I’d ’a’ tuckered to her rather than have the one I has built. ‘“Why, she’s the fastest craft I ever seen afloat, and was the second one I ever see get ahead o’ the Queen o’ ther Kennebec, t’other one being a specter vessel, the ghost o the sloop Blue Bell, or she c’u'dn’t hev did it.” “But you have seen nothing of the schooner, captain?” ‘Not gin she showed me her heels that night, sir; but I did hear, when I touched at the village, that Doctor Brandon and his whole family, servants and all, had left, nailed up the house, and there were nobody there.” ‘* When did they leave?” ‘*Oh, over two months ago.” **‘My God! and the schooner has not ar- rived yet.” , ‘* Waal, you is anxious about her?” ‘* Yes.” “You has a right to be,”’ ‘You think she will yet show up?” ‘‘Waal, she sh’u’d have been here long afore this; but I cannot tell, and I did hear talk o’ a pirate on my trip down.” ‘‘A pirate?” ‘Yes, a real out-and-outer, and no mis- take. _“T run across a brig as I was signaling in distress, and her captain told me how he been brought to by a pirate skunner.” ‘‘ A schooner?’ gasped the merchant, ‘““Yes,-and a fast one too, the skipper of the brig said.” ‘‘This is fearful,’ and so saying Jacob news. Vezey was in despair, for he had seen a miniature likeness of Joyce Brandon, and had ordered anew suit of clothes, hat and shoes, for he was determined to make an ale with just | ‘“‘Oh, no, miss, the storm forced us to scud — before it, and we will be several days late in reaching port; but it is better so than to have an accident.” ‘‘By far, sir; but was the blow a very severe one?” ‘*Most terrific, and I have not left the deck all night.” : ‘* You are certainly a devoted commander, Captain Kennard.” ‘‘T am as devoted to my ship, Miss Bran- don, as | would be to a fair lady-love, did I have one to make my life happy,” he said, t | impression upon her, and did not doubt but that he could. As confidential clerk he had heard enough of the financial affairs of the Brandons, to know that Joyce was rich, and he was get- ting tired of toiling like a slave for his daily bread, so had made up his mind to marry Joyce. ‘*] wish I had gone on the schooner, sir,” ne said courageously. ‘‘ If you had the pirate would have hanged you first thing,” was the blunt reply of the merchant. ‘Oh, Lord!” ejaculated Vezey, and he re- mained quiescent, But another day passed and still no news _ of the schooner. Then the packet sailed for the Kennebec, and the next day she put back to Boston, and Captain West reported having been chased, captured and plundered by a pirate. comic ‘S.com — _— - — ~. 2 a ©