Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 369 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

r | : ' ; / : ; | ~,, “he, _ . following Mr. — the arbor on the cliff I will tell you all,” was the | answer of the maiden, and leaving Silly Sam and Melmer to look after the boat she walked on with her father. Silly Sam was a village youth, having been reared in a hundred different duties, from sailor work to carting, and finding his home with an old cartman who had fancied him and cared for him, for the boy’s parents had died when he Was a mere lad, and left him, with a simple mind that won him his name, alone in tke world. A large form, powerfully built, agile as a cat, and brave as a lion, Silly Sam was a man whom no one cared to anger, while his big- hearted nature won for him many friends. In years gone by he had been defended’ by Noel Brandon, the disgraced officer, and that had bound him to him with the strongest friend- ship. He had often met Madcap Madge, and loved her, so that he became, as it were, her slave. Melmer, a small-sized, stern-faced man, was one of the mates of the Blue Bell, Skipper Ver- non’s sloop, a man of few words and prompt action. As the two just described lingered on the shore, Madye walked on up the hillside with her father. : Her clothing showed that she had been utter- ly drenched, and her hair was matted and wet. Still, for all that, she was very beautiful, and seeming not to regard her appearance, threw herself down upon a rustic seat, that was be- neath a small shelter on the very verge of the cliff, and said: ‘‘ Well, father, I have since you have been away. ‘‘Tt seems evident that you have, Madge; but tell me what has happened?” was the gruff re- sponse, ‘‘ Well, father, to begin, you know that one man escaped the night that three attacked Lef- tenant Noel Brandon, when Silly Sam was dri- ving him home?” ‘* Yes, one escaped, you told me,” ** Tt was Darke Darrell.” ‘‘ Ah! I have heard of him as a never-do-well fellow, whose widowed mother lives on the river above here.” ‘‘The same, sir, and he attempted to kill Mr. Brandon, for some reason, years ago, and fled, believing he had done so, ‘* Now he appears here on the scene, evidently randon from Boston, to kill him, and made his escape when I went to the rescue. ‘* Tt was doubtless his sloop that I took as my prize and named the Madcap. ‘¢ Now, when the Scorpion gunboat came here to take Mr. Brandon back on the charge of kill- ing his captain and robbing him, you know I went out as pilot, and finding out just what was to be done, warned the leftenant and aided his escape. fe his fellow, Darke Darrell, found out his hiding-place, told him I sent him for him, and accompanied by that poor drunkard at the vil- lage, Tap-room Tom, took Mr. Brandon with him, cut out my little prize-sloop, the Madcap, and carried him to Boston.” ‘‘ Where was the Blue Bell?” ‘¢ At anchor here, sir.” ‘“ And her crew did not see the Madcap cut out?” “No, sir, although, father, I found half a score of men on board, besides Gaspard and Melmer, when I went on board the Blue Bell to go in search of the little sloop.” Captain Vernon started, his face flushed, and he said: ‘You found then other men than Gaspard and Melmer?” ‘* Yes, sir, and surprised them, for they had been carousing during the night.” > t were those men on the Blue Bell for, Madge?” asked the skipper, glancing in a nerv- ous way at his daughter. ‘“‘Gaspard said, father, that they were the crew of a wrecked smuggicr vossel that you had at up, and meant to tceke them to their ome.” ‘Oh, yes, so they were. ‘* You see, Madge, as they were wrecked men I could not give them over to the law, so told them they could have a boat and make their way to any point they wished. “But 1 was called off up country, as you know, immediately after: coming into port, and it seems they had not left the sloop.” ‘So it seems, sir; but I was glad, as it was, for they proved useful as a crew, as I started in the Blue Bell to find the Madcap, when I found she was gone, and that Mr. Brandon had been kidnapped from the cave where I had him in hiding. —— to Portland, then to Boston and found the Madcap, with only Mr. Brandon on board, and he was so badly wounded he could not help himeelf. “This Darrell, it seems, was determined to avenge himself on Noel Brandon, and .also to et the reward of ten thousand dollars offered or him, and had gone on board the Scorpion to sell out, when I ran in, threw Gaspard and four men on the sloop, took Mr. Brandon on the Blue Bell, and then set sail. played the mischief TS Oe The Coast Corsair. “The Scorpion came in chase, searched the Madcap, then boarded the Blue Bell, and searched her—” ‘* And found Brandon?” ‘*Oh, no, father, for it was night, and I had | him lowered over the bows in a hammock, and they did not find him. ‘* But Gaspard, lured by the reward, turned traitor, found me in the Madcap at Monhegan Island, the rendezvous I appointed, and getting the crew to aig tf took Mr. Brandon on the Madcap, leaving Melmer, Silly Sam and Tap- room Tom with me to bring the Blue Bell home.” ‘‘ And Melmer remained true?” ** He did, sir.” **1T shall not forget him for this.” ‘‘Nor I, father.” ‘‘ And Gaspard proved a traitor?” ‘* Yes, sir, with the rest of the crew, and though we fought them, they took the pris- oner.” ‘*T shall not forget them for this.” ‘Nor I, father.” ‘* And then?” ‘* Well, we started right off in the Blue Bell for I determined to collect more fishermen an take Gaspard and his crew before he found the Scorpion. ‘*T sent Tom, Silly Sam and Melmer to look up the men, when, from the cliff here, I spied the Scorpion and saw the Madcap run alongside, after which the little sloop headed for Boston.” ‘‘ And the Scorpion?” quickly asked skipper Vernon. ‘*She headed inshore, fired for a pilot, and I went out to her. ‘* Lieutenant Maynard Mr. Brandon on board, Gaspar him up.” ‘*‘ And gotten the reward?” ‘‘ No, but he was to receive it when the Scor- pion returned to Boston. ‘*The lieutenant had granted Noel Brandon’s request to let him see his sister, and I ran the Scorpion into the Punch Bow! harbor and went up to Brandon Hall. ‘*Miss Brandon returned with me, and I came home, while she went on board the Scor- actin captain, had having given pion, ‘* Here I found that you had not yet returned from your ee up the country, so I told Melmer to take the Blue Bell, with Sam and Tom, and run to Crescent Island and await me. ‘*' Then I went back to the cutter, Miss Bran- don was put ashore, and I took the wheel just as the storm broke.” ‘‘It was a fearful storm, Madge, and I am glad I did not know you were out in it,” ‘*Oh! I was safe, for I made no mistakes, I can assure you, although I ran the Scorpion through the Devil’s Caldron.” **On such a night you did this?” cried skipper Vernon, springing to his feet. : “+o, or.” ** But why?” ‘* Well, father, I showed the lieutenant what kind of a place it was by daylight, and in pleas- ant weather, so in the storm ran him into it, and leaving the wheel told him I would not touch it again unless he pledged himself to set Mr. Brandon free.” ‘* Ha! this was bold, and just like you, Madge; but did he agree?” **He did, and kept his word, for I ran in under the lee of Crescent Isle. ‘* The Blue Bell was there; I hailed, and took Mr. Brandon on board, and then, after more delay, started home.” ‘** In that storm?” “Yes, sir, and I left Melmer on the Scorpion to Ligh her out, but the tide was running in, and, as I could not weather the Twin Isles, I de- termined to run between them.” ‘‘Good God! it was impossible, except at high- est tide and then in quiet weather.” ‘*So I found out, father, for the Blue Bell went to pieces in just two minutes after she struck,” was the cool re ly ‘* And you were saved, thank God.” ‘Yes, father, Sam grasped me, and, as we were both fine swimmers we reached the shore, though I think Sam saved my life, and it was a fearful ordeal to through.” ‘*The noble fellow; but the wounded officer was drowned? Well! better so, than to die on the gallows. ** And Tap-room Tom, the poor drunkard, also was lost?” ‘“‘T have not seen them, father, since the Blue Bell struck,” was the quiet reply. ‘* Poor fellows! well, you had better rig up, and take your pony and go over to Brandon Hall, for I like Miss Brandon, and it will bea relief to her to know that her brother was lost at sea, rather than have to die on the gallows, for, Madge, there were some bitter foes who were determined he should swing at the yard- arm, ‘Yes, father, and if guilty of the crimes charged against him, it would be but justice that he should hang; but I do not believe he was guilt bP — I, Madge; but let me see how we stand, for the Blue Bell is lost?” ) Tos, mr” rr anne ncn cnn cn cnn nnn nnn nnn nner renner — —————ee > 3 ‘“ And the Madcap has been run off with by that fellow Gaspard?” ~~ ee oe ‘Then I’m ashore?” ‘* So it seems, father.” ‘* Well, my child, you are safe and that is everything, while I have the money to purchase me another craft, and I shall go to Boston and do so, as soon as I have attended to some little business matters here on the coast, in connection with my trading.” ‘* And I, father, will take the packet to-night for Boston, along with Melmer and Sam, and simply get the Madcap back, for that Gaspard shall not have her.” ‘‘ Better leave that to me, Madge?” ‘‘ No, father, for I shall tell Gaspard I shall report him as a mutineer, unless he gives the sloop up, and then I will return home.” ‘But how was it, I fcrgot to ask you, that you got off of the islands after the wreck? ‘“The Scorpion sent a boat ashore under Mel- mer, the next morning, and, after running the cutter out to sea, we took a skiff and came re, ‘* And the Scorpion has sailed for Boston?” ‘* Yes, father.” ** You are sure?” ‘So Captain Maynard told me, when I left him several hours ago, and he was to look in at Portland and Portsmouth on the way.” ‘*Then you will doubtless reach Boston ahead of her, by ypoing in the packet to-night, ape om can have Maynard hold Gaspard for the stealing of the Madcap unless he ys her up.” ** Yes, father, and I will do so; but now I will change my dress and go over to Brandon Hall to see Joyce,” and half an hour after Madge was dashing along through the pine forest, mounted upon her shaggy little pony, that was as wild as a deer, yet found it impossible to un- seat his fair rider, as she was as perfect a rider as a sailor. CHAPTER IV. THE SECRET RENDEZVOUS. AFTER Madge held her interview with her father, telling him all that had occurred, skip- par Vernon remained in the rustic arbor, or ookout, while she went up to the cottage and started upon her ride to Brandon Hall. The skipper’s face wore a troubled, anxious look, as soon as he was left alone, and rising he paced to and fro upon the very edge of the cliff, where a misstep would hurl him to his death a hundred feet below, But his was a firm head, and he knew no such thing as fear. ‘‘ Well,” he muttered, ‘“‘I am glad that young Brandon escaped the gallows, guilty or not ilty, and I am not sorry that he is dead, as [ eared Madge was prey. deeply interested in him, and she should not throw herself away upon one who was under the brand of murder. ‘‘But I must have been wrong, for she takes his death most coolly, not a tear or a regret, and doubtless only acted from a love of adven- ture and daring which seems born in her, ** Well, [am eC she is going after the little sloop, for it will give mea chance to get out that buried cargo, which it would be hard to do under her sharp eyes. ‘* Now to go up to the retreat and let the crew know of Gaspard’s dastard act, and see what is best to be done.” So saying skipper Vernon called to Melmer, who with Silly Sam was on the way up to the a ‘‘-You had a hard time of it, Melmer, you and Sam,” he said. ‘Sam had, sir, along with Miss Madge, while the fugitive officer and poor Tap-room Tom got the worst of it,” answered Melmer. ‘‘ Well, Melmer, you did nobly, and I make you my chief mate, in place of that traitor Gas- pard, while Sam, I wish you to make this your ome, and you are to be a kind of protector to Madge, so go up to the village, get your traps and come here to live, for rill give you more wages than you can earn with Saunders the cartman,” , ‘It’s so kind of you, skipper; but it’s not wages I care for, only a home, and as you say I can come here I will do so, and you won’t bave cause to complain of me,” and Sam seemed de- lighted at his pr ts, for he would be near ge, and hastened off to the village as fast as he could, the skipper telling him to return on the packet schooner, which Madge and Melmer would board off the harbor, and join him, for the run to Boston after the sloop. ** Now, Melmer, what does Gaspard’s treachery mean?” asked Skipper Vernon when he was alone with his mate. ‘‘ Gold turned his head, sir,” ‘¢ Yet he was making good money.” ‘*'Yes, captain, but not ten thousand in a lump, and it made him wild.” **Do you think he’ll come back to the retreat?” ‘* He won’t dare to, sir.” | *¢ And do you think he'll sell us out?” “That I don’t know, sir; if he could get his on and a handsome sum, I would not trust im. ‘* Nor I, so the retreat had better be moved.” **T should think so, captain.” Eomichboo S.