Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 369 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

—_—_ = oe + 24. ———— The Coast Corsair. a -_--——_——_—_—_ — — ——_ees oe This was startling news indeed, but there | The two men went together on board the | and the rain beat with ceaseless patter upon was a more horrible side to it still, when Captain West went to Jacob Bentley and said: **T seen your schooner.” ‘*Ah! where?” ‘* At sea.” ‘*Coming in?” ‘* Guess not.” “ Why?” ‘It hain’t healthy in here for her.”’ ‘| wish you would explain.” ‘Your schooner was the craft that raced out with me some few weeks ago?” “Yes,” *« Extra tall masts?’ ‘*She had.” ‘“Very long and narrow?” Yes.” ‘* And lean swallow-tail stern?” ‘The same.” **Had a red belt around her from bow to stern?” ‘* Yes, a crimsom band.” ‘«] see, and carried a boom as long as her mainmast?’ * Yes, nearly.” ‘* And bowsprit as long as her foremast?” ‘* 4S Imost.” “Was named Moonbeam?” ‘“‘She was, she was!’ ‘* She hain’t named that now.” **No, what is her name?” ‘* The Serpent.” ““No!’ ‘Yes, and she has a figurehead of a ser- pent, and a large black flag with a red ser- pent in the center.” ~My God! that is a pirate emblem,” ) “Certain.” _ ‘That man has turned pirate.” ‘‘The schooner has.” ‘*Did you see her captain?” ‘‘T did, for he boarded me and robbed me.” ** Describe him.” ‘Well, as nigh as I cun.” ‘Was he handsome?” ‘‘Handsome be durned! do you think I could see anything handsome in a man who had robbed me?” ‘* How did he look?” ‘‘Like the devil, for he had a face that was wicked clean through, and I know it well, for I have had him on board my craft before, and it’s not the first time his figure- head has been seen on a pirate craft, for Kennebec folks as knew him when a boy have told how they have seen him on outlaw _ decks, boarding with the rest of the cut- af throats. ~~ ***T: didn’t want to believe it, for his old -- - mother’s sake; but he’s bad clean through, ry tried to commit a murder years ago, and thought he had; then he ran away, went to gambling, served in a man-o’-war, and then turned common pirate; but now he goes in deep, steals your schooner and waltzes out as a corsair of the worst kind.” }« ** Pescribe him.” 3 ‘‘’Tain’t no use, for he’s the same man I Bf seen on the Moonbeam when she sailed out _ so’ port that afternoon four weeks ago.” . ‘* And he boarded you?” “Now did he; but he outrun me first, boarded me, took my cargo, and then sailed away telling me that for old friendship’s sake he would not harm me, my passengers pi”. or crew.” & ‘* But has he guns?” ibe ‘ Well, now, he has,” ‘* How many?” _ “He has four to a broadside, then two if tte! stern guns that are eighteens, and a bow ia pivot, a thirty-two, eleven all told.” Be 2 and ae _._ * **§ome four-score, and hard-looking fel- -_ Jows they were.” ae ‘‘But where is Doctor Brandon and his ‘‘That’s what I asked him, knowing you was anxious about them.” rae ‘‘ And what did he say?”’ “a “He laughed.” oy ‘‘ And made no reply?” That laugh was reply enough for me, as it made my flesh crawl.”’ ‘‘My God! what has become of my poor friends?” ‘IT wish I knew.” -“ Well, come with me on board the Scor- pion, and tell the commander all you know.” 4 « ‘ ' ae ¥ Ye ° Ba -_ Scorpion, and Mayo Maynard received them | the shingled roof. in his cabin and bade them be seated, | Had the villagers heard the old hermit’s In a few words Jacob Bentley told how despairing cry, they would indeed have be- the man had come to him to buy a vessel, cyt! om they had a right to call him Cap- tain Kyd. had shown good testimonials, paid a thou- | sand dollars for repairs to bedone, andasked | Some said he had sailed with that famous pirate, others were certain that he knew to sail the vessel to the Kennebec after Doc- tor Brandon, that he might try her, and | where were buried treasures, and a few look- ed upon him as a wizard, since then nothing had been heard of her, until Caj;‘tain West told his terrible story. He had come to the village long years be- ‘‘Where did she overhaul you?” asked | fore. Mayo Maynard. He had bought his land and built his cabin, ‘Off the Isle of Shoals, sir, a league to | and seemed very poor. the south.” One night he had been attacked by some ‘When?’ one and left for dead, and Madcap Madge ‘Last night early.” had found him, and had cared for him since in many kindly ways. ‘‘Pardon me a moment,” and Mayo May- \ nard stepped upon deck and gave orders to His lips were silent as to who had been his assailant, and this silence but added to the get the schooner under way at once. Then he returned to the cabin, and asked | mystery surrounding him. | Now, as he sat there by himself, alone in both men all manner of questions regarding 'the world, with but two beings in the world the pirate craft, making note of their an- swers. who were friendly to him— Madcap Madge and her father—the old man’s existence seem- ‘‘Now, gentlemen, I thank you, and, as the schooner is under way, I shall have to | ed desolate indeed, and he murmured; ‘‘ How long ere the end will come?” bid you farewell, and I hope to return with > A tap upon the door caused him to start. your Sea Serpent Corsair.” When the merchant and Captain West He seldom had a visitor, and in fact no went over the side, the schooner was moying | one except Madge, and now and then the and the old skipper remarked: skipper, Vernon. ‘That young officer is all business,’ ‘ Who can it be?” he asked himself; but he ‘‘Yes, he means to capture the pirate if he | remained seated. can, and it will be a big feather for him, if Again the tap came. he can do so; but Lordy! what can the Cor- ‘* Who is there?” ‘‘Madge,” said a low voice outside. sair have done with the Brandons?” ‘‘ Ah, girl, is it you? What bings you ‘‘T don’t know; but I know what they did out on sucha night?” ‘*T will unbar at once,” said the old man, and he walked to the door, took down the bar, and it was suddenly thrown open and a man stepped in. The Hermit Sailor started back, covering his face with his hands, and cried: ‘* You here?” ‘*Yes,” was the sullen answer. , ‘* How strange that you should find me ere.” ‘‘TIs it strange that a son should find his father? | ‘‘Come, old man, give me welcome, or re- $< your seat and let me welcome my- self. ‘‘T will bar the door again, for the night is chilly, and I need the warmth of your fire, for | am wet.” As he spoke, the intruder, for such he seemed, threw more pine knots on the fire, and then hung his wet cloak upon a rail. His tarpaulin, for he was dressed in sailor garb, was thrown upon a chair, and then he said: ‘Any grog?” ‘Yes, there is some in the cupboard,”’ was the answer of the old man, as he sunk back in his chair once more. ‘Tam wet without, and dry within, so I'll treat myself to some of your grog.” He found a flask and a glass and poured out a generous drink. ‘‘Ah! this is good; but you always were an epicure in liquors, old man,” and the seaman again threw himself into a chair be- fore the fire. He was a man of large stature, heavy shoulders, and the look of one who possessed great brute strength. with my cargo?” ‘* What?” ‘‘ Stole it.” ‘‘ When do you sail again?” ‘Soon as I’ve loaded up again.” ‘‘Well, captain, bring me back all the news youcan from the Kennebec, and come see me as soon as you arrive. ‘Now let us go into the Inn here that I may drink your very good health.” *‘T’]l do it, for I need to splice the main brace,” was the reply, and the two worthies took several tipples together and parted the best of friends. ’ CHAPTER XXXY. THE PIRATE AND HIS SON. ‘“‘CAN my years of repentance wash out my past crimes, I wonder? ‘‘ Heaven grant it! oh, Heaven grant it!” The words were uttered by a man whose pear might be beyond the allotted span of ife, for he seemed nearly four-score years and ten. He was a man of majestic presence, tall of form, broad-shouldered, and with long white beard and hair, a venerable patriarch in ap- pearance. His eyes were black, and had not wholl lost their fire, but his hands trembled, and it was evident that before very long the totter- ing feet would walk into the grave. e sat alone in a log hut, not uncomfort- able inside, and yet not filled with luxury. There were two rooms, one opening into the other, the one a sitting-room and kitchen, the other a bedroom, for bunks -vere visible against the back wall in the second chamber, A few pine knots blazed upon the hearth, . for the night was chilly, and a lamp swung His face was cast in a strong mold, ana yet over a table, shedding a soft light in the | it was the strength of wickedness that was room. stamped upon every feature. ; The old man sat in an easy-chair, and his He had a face that might have borne the eyes were gazing upon the burning pine | imprint of nobleness of nature, and yet it knots, as though he saw pictures in the | was one that a demon might possess, flames. ‘* Well, what brings you here, boy?” asked He was dressed in an undress uniform, | the Hermit Sailor, calling him boy though that looked as though it belonged to the | he was fully forty-five years of age, quarter-deck. ‘To see my old father,” was the reply. Such was the old Hermit Sailor, who dwelt ‘*No filial duty caused you to come.’ alone in the vicinity of the village on the ‘*No, I came for ducats, old man.” Kennebec, where we laid many of the scenes ‘You know that I am poor.” of this romance. ‘*T know that you say so.” His cabin stood among tle rocks, upon a ‘You will get nothing from me, boy.” point of land against which the waves wash- “You have got gold, ay, and jewels, and ed with mimic roar of the ocean’s surf. I believe you keep them hidden in this old The cabin was strongly built, and its rear | rookery.” was against a rocky wall, the cliff rising | ‘‘ You failed to find any when you search- above and overhanging it. | ed for them.” The words that open this chapter broke in- ‘‘T failed to find them?” and the man stinctively from the old man’s lips, as though | wheeled suddenly toward his father. called therefrom by some bitter memories | « *‘ Yes.” that flooded upon him. | ‘‘ What do you mean?” Without, the night was dark and stormy, ‘* Just what I say.” ecoim Ghbooks