Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 369 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

; : —— - poet . * 4 ° ae ™ ee _— oe my —— ae To <a * ! ae = - - <— or “ > an — 28 your vessel ?”’ ‘I don’t care to sell.” ‘“‘Speak quick, for we are going up the harbor.”’ ‘‘] really would not like to part with her, Miss Madge ” ‘* What did she cost you?”’ ‘* Eight thousand dollars, miss.’’ ‘‘T’ll give you ten.” The captain shook his head. “ll do more. I'll give you ten thousand, and what is more, when I have finished with her, I'll give her to you as a present. ‘‘If she is sunk or harmed, I will give you five thousand more.” ‘‘ It’s a bargain, Miss Madge. ‘When do you want her?” ‘“‘ Just as soon as you can throw the cargo out of her. ‘* You can take your old schooner back on the return trip.” ‘* Done!” said the pleased old skipper. Arriving at the dock, Melmer disappeared hastily ashore, and Madge told the freight- shifters they should have double wages to un- load the schooner in such a time. Then she went to the parties her father had given her letters to. She was well received, her requests promptly attended to, and that very night ' all was in readiness for the combat. | order given him. Soon the three stood on the schooner’s away to obey the | deck and her sails were spread in search of | ' the pirate schooner. BROUGHT TO BAY. ‘* HARK!” } CHAPTER XLI. | | | It was Madge who spoke, and she stood on | the deck of the Queen. | In the still night air the sounds of firing | and shouts of combatants came to their ears, ‘It is the pirate,” cried Madge. ‘“‘ And those are the cheers of the kidnap- pers, miss, for I know their yell. “Your father has crossed the pirate’s track,” said Melmer. In among the islands the schooner was headed, Madge at the wheel, while Noel Ver- non went forward, and called the crew si- lently to quarters. Melmer acted as a second officer, and soon Among the islands they cruised, led by the sound of fighting, and soon the Kennebec Queen swept out into an open bay. There, in the star-light was visible, a large schooner, and alongside of her a sloop. A desperate fight was going on, but the eS “T shall hang him at once,” sternly said Noel Brandon. “Do so!” was the quiet reply. ‘* He is your prisoner.” CHAPTER XLII. CONCLUSION, OVER the tragic scene of the pirate’s death a vail is drawn, Defiantly he met his end, along with Tal- bot and his other officers, while his crew were sent to the hold in irons. The meeting between the son, supposed to _be dead, and his parents was deeply affect- a the Kennebec Queen began to get her guns | voices of the pirates were triumphant, for aboard. Carpenters were busy cutting ports in her | their assailants into the sea, for with his bulwarks, a pivot-gun was being mounted | band a score and a half of men, Captain forward, sailmakers were at work on her | Vernon had daringly run aboard the outlaw canvas, the bowsprit gave place to one much | craft in his little sloop the kidnapper. longer, as did the mainboom and gaff, and | As the Queen drew near, the pirates’ shouts the topmasts were supplanted by others some | became filled with triumph; but their cries ter. feet higher. changed suddenly, as Madcap The heavy figurehead on her bows, which | the schooner skillfully alongside, and Noel retarded her progress under full sail, was taken off, and her cut-water was left as clean | outlaw deck. As a razor. In thirty-six hours the Kennebec Queen was ready for sea, and Melmer had a crew of fine men on board, some of them appearing to eats come from the Government navy- ard. : Then out to sea the Queen was pointed, and Madge Vernon felt that her cruise of revenge had nearly ended. Straight to the Kennebec she ran; but her father had not been there, though the pirate schooner had been seen that afternoon com- ing down the coast. n chase went the Queen, but after a few leagues’ run she luffed up, a boat was lower- The approach of the Kennebec Queen had | not been seen by either the pirates or the band of Captain Vernon. With a sweep that was irresistible, the | ay crew drove their foes aft, and Noel ernon, cutlass in hand, forced Darke Dar- rell upon his own deck. Each recognized the other, by the flashing of the firearms, and the pirate fell back a step in surprise. Instantly his weapon was struck from his hand and Noel Brandon said sternly. ‘‘T spare your life now—to hang you!” nee he was seized by Melmer and Captain Vernon, and the defeated pirate ed, and Madge was pulled ashore to a small | crew threw themselves into the sea, except- island. It was the same where poor Sam had been left that night with his bundle, while Madge went on to discover the Secret League’s re- treat. | Landing, she hastened into the island, but had not gone far before she met one who came quickly toward her. ‘“Madge, [ have anxiously looked for you to come and free me, for | am well now, and fully able to begin the work of clearing my name of its stain.” ‘*'That is done, Mr. Brandon, for the mur- derer has confessed, and the village notary has his confession .”’ ‘* Heaven, I thank Thee,” and Noel Bran- don lowered his head. ‘‘Madge, when you sent me ashore that | night, with Tom, | felt that you intended to do something desperate. ‘‘Sam told me when here, how you had Be yp who were taken prisoners, hen cheers of triumph arose on the air, while, dragging Darke Darrell into his cabin, Noe] Brandon hissed forth: ‘‘ Where are my parents and my sister?” ‘“} know nothing of them.” ‘‘ Liar! you shall swing for this. ‘Ho! on deck, rig a rope to hang this wretch. ‘“ Now will you speak?” ‘Tf you spare my life I will tell you.” ‘*T will make no terms, sir.”’ ‘Then I refuse to tell.” ** Sail ho!” All started as the ery came from on deck. Then followed: “It is the Seorpion!” Again cheers were heard, and soon after | Mayo Maynard came into the pirate’s cabin. “Ha! you are run down, you sea-devil; but I'll be in at your hanging—ho, Brandon! wrecked the Blue Bell, to let all believe I had | Great God!” been lost along with Tom, and I owe to you | | Offer my hand, for the stain upon my name my life. “‘[ am Noel Brandon, Maynard, and can ‘“My wound has healed, and I am a free has been cleared off by this noble girl,”’ man, thanks to you.” “Come, there is work for you to do, for ‘an armed schooner awaits your command. “Thank God! and I take your hand gladly. ‘But, Brandon, I have on board my vessel ‘Call ‘Tom, and we will go on board at | your parents and your sister. once, for your family are in the power of Darke Darrell, who has turned pirate. ‘*T gave chase to this fellow, but lost him among the islands, and Captain Vernon: met ‘Come, | will tell you all when we reach | me in his sloop, and directed me to the the schooner.” Noel Brandon was deeply moved by what he heard, and he said quickly: pirate’s retreat. , ‘There I found your parents and sister safe, but in dire distress, for this devil had ‘‘Gladly will I go,” and aringing shout | given Miss Brandon thirty days to decide brought Tap-room Tom to their side. ‘Get our traps from the cave, Tom, for we leave at once.” Tom was no longer the despicable drunk- ard, for he had gotten back the semblance of his former manhood. He kissed the hand of Madge in a reveren- whether she would become his wife or not. ‘‘ Your mother is ill, but this good news will cheer her. ‘1 captured the retreat and the booty, and have some eurarnem and you have finished up the good work. ‘* Now let us decide as to that wretch.” far superior in numbers they were driving | ing, and in broken accents they begged his forgiveness. The meeting between brother and sister no one who witnessed it ever forgot. Madge, too, came in for a warm welcome, and then, too, Skipper Vernon’s story was told, how he was not a smuggler, but an of- ficer of the law. And back to port sailed the vessels, the Scorpion, the Kennebec Queen, the Corsair, and the Kidnapper. . Into port they sailed, and such a scene as greeted them was never witnessed before. True to her word, Madge gave the Kenne- bec Queen back to Captain West, who at once changed her name to Madcap Madge, the Siren of the Sea. The Government heard the story of Noel Brandon, and reinstated him again; but he quickly resigned, and Madge Vernon became his wife, and.a rich wife she was, for the old Madge laid | Brandon led two-score men over upon the | Hermit Sailor had left her his fortune, as he had promised, Joyce Brandon was married to Mayo Maynard at the same time that Madge became Mrs. Noel Brandon, and thus the curtain oes down upon the actors in my Drama of a Ffundred years Ago. THE END. Half-Dime Singer's Library 1 Wnoa, Eamra! and 59 other Songs, 2 CapTrain Curr and 57 other Songs, 8 Tue GAINsBORO’ Hat and 62 other Songs, 4 Jounny Morean and 60 other Songs. 5 ut Starke You WITH A FEATHER and 62 othera, 6 GeorRGE THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs, ? Tar Bette or Rockaway and 52 other Songs, 8 Youne FEeLLAn. You’rReE Too Fresx# and 60 others. 9 Say Youne Grru and 65 other Songs, I’w« THE GOVERNOR’S ONLY Son and 58 other Songs 11 My Fawn and 65 other Songs. Comin’ THRO’ Tur Rye and 55 other Songs. Tue ROLLICKING IRISHMAN and 59 other Songs. Otp Dog Tray and 62 other Songs. Waoa, CHariie and 59 other Songs, In THIS WHEAT By AND By and 62 other Songs. Nancy Lee and 58 other Songs. I’m THe Boy THAT’s Bound To BLaze and 57 otherse Tae Two OrpHans and 59 other Songs. WHAT ARE THE Witp WAVES SAYING, SISTER? and 59 other Songs. Inpianant Pouiy Woe and 59 other Songs. THE Otp ArmM-CHair and 58 other Songs, On Coney IstaAND Beacn and 58 other Songs, OLp Summon, THE Hot-Corn Man and 60 others, I’w rv Love and 56 other Songs. PARADE OF THE Gusrps and 56 other Songs, Yo. Heave, Ho! and 60 other Songs. 98 *[Tw1rtL NEVER Do To Grrr uP So and 60 others, % BLUE BONNETS OVER THE RORDER and 54 others, 9) ‘Tae Merry Lavcnine Man and 56 other Songs, 81 Sweet Foraxt-mE-Not and 55 other Songs, 92 T.epTLE Bany Mrye and 53 other Songs, 88 Der BANJO AM DE INSTRUMENT FOR ME and 53 others: % Tarry and 50 other Songs. 95 Just TO PLEASE THE Boys and 52 other Songs. 86 SKATING ON ONE IN THE GUTTER and 52 others. 37 Kotorep Kranks and 59 other Songs. 88 Nu. DespeRaNnDUM and 53 other Songs. 99 Tur Girt I Lert Besryp Me and 50 other Songs 40 Tis nut A LirTLe Fapep Frower and 50 others 41 Prerry WHILHELMINA and 60 other Songs. 42 DANCING IN THE BARN and 63 other Songs. 43 H. M.S. Prvarors, compiere, and 17 other Songs Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents per copy, or sent post-paid, to any address, on ree ceipt of Sra cents per number. BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, 98 WituiaAM STREET, New YorE, GOmicsoo 21 22 28 24 25 23 Be 27 cS “i ‘ 7 ¥ 2 eee ee er aa Dede!