Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

-~ace a ee ee ee ee ee ee ee they had gotten out of the hold a fine cannon and mounted it astern, and this piece it was that had done my crew so much damage. : ‘‘T had hardly learned what a splendid prize I had, and looked after the number of my pris- oners, when a sail was sighted. ‘‘ She had come down upon us, enveloped in the morning mist, and was near at hand when seen. ‘* Ata glance I knew her as the Sea Torch, under the command of—well, you know who Miss Hurst,” and Hugh Bronx gave a wicked smile, feeling that he had the power to make Sibyl and her father fear him. But the maiden instantly said, and in the most indifferent manner: ‘Yes, under the command of my uncle, Bianca the Buccaneer.” : Then turning to the surprised major, and Cap- tain Bainbridge, she continued: ‘‘ There is one thing 1 must tell you and Cap- tain Bainbridge, Major White, and that is the fact that my father had a brother who went wholly to the bad, and whom he recognized in Bianca the Buccaneer, when his vessel the Sea Torch captured the Mermaid. ‘* We did not — of this before, as it was a painful subject, but as Captain Bronx has re- ferred to it, it is best that you know the facts.” ‘* We can only be responsible for our own actions, not those of others, Sibyl,” said Major White promptly, while Captain Bainbridge re- sponded: ‘* That Captain Hurst should be the brother of Bianca the Buccaneer, is his misfortune, not his fault.” ‘‘T so feel it, gentlemen, though I bewail deeply the fact that my poor brother has become what he has.” ‘* No one need know the circumstance, for my lips are sealed, as are yours, Brainbridge, I am sure, while Captain Bronx being your devoted friend, Hurst, will certainly keep silent upon a matter so painful to you and your lovely daugh- ter,” and Major White spoke in a manner that conveyed more than did his words, while he riveted his eyes upon Hugh Bronx. The young privateersman was astounded. He had expected to humilate Sibyl, and she had frankly told the secret and thus foiled m. Having thus gained the advantage, and seen how the major and Bainbridge took it, Sibyl said: ‘* Now, Captain Bronx, tellus more fully about your flight before the ire of my piratical uncle, lease.” 7 Hugh Bronx bit his lips with vexation, then d: ‘*T saw that I must fight the pirate, though my crew were greatly depleted, and ordered the . English prisoners below decks, in their vessel, and my men back on board the Scorpion to quarters. ‘* But, as I have said, the prize had a number of officers on board, and they at once saw their chance, for they mutinied against my control, and refused to leave the decks, while 1 was forc- ed to retreat to my vessel to defend her; as the red-handed pirate was coming down savagely upon us. ‘He opened fire upon me, and the result, a broadside, was terrible, for he strewed my decks with dead and wounded. ‘Then he wore around and gave the British barque a broadside, heading down to board her. ‘‘T saw that my men were demoralized, and I had but one course to pursue, and that was to fly, as with but a score of men fit for work I was no match for the pirate. ** So I ordered sail crowded upon the schooner and we gained a good lead while the pirate was capturing the barque, which it did by boarding. ‘Having placed a prize crew on board the barque, the pirate set sail in chase of me, open- ing at long range, though without damage, ex- cept from an occasional shot. ‘Thus the flight continued, the pirate gradu- ally gaining upon me, until his shots began to tell, and I trying allin my power to reach this rt are The resvlt you know,” and he ended the re- cital abruptly. ‘*Barques seem to be fatal to your success, Hugh,” calmly observed Sibyl. _ ‘*T am sure, Miss Hurst, Captain Bronx acted for the best, to save his vessel, for those pirates are all heavily armed and manned,” said Robert Bainbridge, really pitying the young sailor un- der the battery of Sibyl’s sarcasm, more than he had under the fire of the buccaneer. Seeing that he had no sympathy from Sibyl, Hugh Bronx arose, and refusing the invitation of the major to stay to tea, took his departure, he said to quickly repair damages, ship addition- al men and go in search of the Sea Torch. ‘** Better stick to running down merchant ves- sels, Hugh, for pirate-hunting is dangerous work and Uncle Bianca is a desperate man,” called out Sibyl with provoking sarcasm, which the young sailor could not but feel; but she meant tc make him feel. , CHAPTER XXV. AN UNLOOKED-FOR ARRIVAL. Arter the departure of Hugh Bronx, there _— a The sea Siren. ———— —_—_—— was a silence of some moments between those he left upon the piazza. He seemed to have left an unpleasant sensa- | tion upon all. At last Major White said: oe cannot understand this story about Mon- crief.’ ‘* He will come round all right, sir, 1am sure, for treachery can never be charged against Man- ton Moncrief my friends,” Robert Bainbridge remarked. ‘*He has certainly overstayed his time, for , he hardly expected to be gone half the time; but his explanation, if he returns, will doubtless put a different light upon his conduct, from | what our young friend Bronx gives it,” the major said. As for the skipper and Sibyl they both re- - mained silent, the latter glancing far out toward the sea. eeeey from her lips broke, in real maintop style: ‘* Sail ho!” All eyes were turned seaward, where, coming | up the coast had suddenly shot into view the white sails of a vessel. It had been noticed, that when the pirate | schooner had started out to sea she had at first headed down the coast, and then changing her course quickly, had gone directly in an opposite direction, soon disappearing from the view of those seated upon the piazza. Now, from the direction just opposite to that — the pirate had taken, the ane in sight. elaine her glass Sibyl] leveled it upon the stranger, and the cry that escaped her lips proved that she had made some important dis- covery. ** Well, my child?’ queried the skipper. ‘* Tt is the brig.” ** 'W bat brig?’ ** The Brimstone !” All were upon their feet in an instant, and the several glasses of the mansion were quickly leveled. ‘*'Yes, it is the brig, and she is under a tre- mendous pressure of ‘canvas,” said the skip- | per. _ ‘Can anything be in chase?” asked the ma- jor. ‘‘Ts she not in chase of the pirate?” Sibyl a said. ‘*'You are right, my child, as you ‘most al- “eye are, for the—the—well, | might as well call him such, as he is nothing more, the pirate, started down the coast, and then went about, crowding on sail as he did so, and without doubt saw the brig, which caused him to do so,” said the skipper. ‘** Yes, she holds on by, so is not coming into the harbor,” said the major, who well knew the | course a vessel had to take to run up to the town, though he was no sailor. All > ays were now upon the brig, which, crowded from truck to deck with canvas, was going with ail speed in chase of the pirate schooner, it was very evident. Hardly had she glided by out of of sight, in the direction the Sea Torch had taken, when the | te said: *’ There is a bank of fog coming in from sea- | ward, so I think the Brimstone will have to give up her chase, as she will not dare hold on near | the coast in a mist, ; ‘* But will Moncrief dare enter this port?” the | major asked. ‘* Why not, major?” ** Well, Miss Sibyl, if he should be the traitor | Bronx reports him, it will be a very bad place for him to come to.” ‘*He will come to prove that Bronx 1s mis- taken,” was the ready reply. ‘**T hope so,” Captain Bainbridge said, and he | added fervently: “And I believe so.” | ** Sail ho!” Again the cry broke from the lips of Sibyl, and all eyes turned upon a large schooner, evi- dently armed, that came boun along into view, following in the wake of the brig. ‘‘Is that the brig flying from her, after all?” asked Major White. ; ve does appear so,” the young soldier captain said. “s Is le At cr not rather one noe our a of-war, ing to get into port ore the fo strikes them ?* was Sibyl’s inquiry. ’ ‘**'We will soon know, my child,” and then quickly following the skipper’s words came in his ringing voice: ** Sail ho!” - ** Yes, I see her. ‘* She is dead in the wake of the schooner, and a barque,” cried Sibyl. ‘*They carry the American flag, both the barque and the schooner,” remarked Captain Bainbridge, who was regarding both atten- — eee ae eee ee tively. ‘‘And did any one observe the flag at the peak of the brig?’ asked the major. : No one had, and all wondered at 1t. The schooner was now seen to round up to- | ward the town, and that was a proof that it was | not an Englishman under American colors. Soon after tue barque did the same, still hold- 5 4 , Pos « . at ¢ a a | more Sibyl! cried: | how coming on. _ Mrs. White, who sat there, was joined by her husband and guests. ; _ tell me if you have seen or heard aught of the — a 13 ing in the schooner’s wake, and in a moment — + = ‘* There comes the brig!” It was true, the Brimstone now came into view, heading for the harbor entrance, and in a short while her prow was pointed toward the town. Behind her rolled a great bank of fog, and she seemed anxious to keep ahead of it and gain an anchorage. Overhauling the barque she passed her in grand style, and was abeam of the schooner when the forts were reached. Then the fog-bank proved the victor, and the three vessels were shut out from the view of those on the piazza of the White mansion. As the mist swept up toward the town, the party heard the plunge of the anchors, signify- . ing that the brig, the barque and the schooner had anchored, and then ali entered the mansion to escape the damp and chill air, as night was A blazing wood fire Bate the spacious hearth of the library made cheerful within, and Hardly had they become seated when a quick, firm step was heard on the piazza, and the brass knocker clanged loudly. The major stepped to the door, and a moment after returned to the library accompanied by Manton Moncrief. CHAPTER XXVI. AN EXPLANATION, THERE was certainly no look upon the hand- some face of Manton Moncrief, as he entered the library of Major White’s mansion, that would lead one to believe that he had really committed a treacherous act toward his coun- try. : He looked a trifle haggard, as though he had seen hard service, and wore his left arm in a sling, as though wounded. He had been warmly greeted at the door by the major, who had ushered him at once into the library, and there Mrs. White and the others — all gave him a kindly greeting. es ‘* We saw your vessel pass the harbor, evi- . dently in chase of the schooner that had goneon = up the coast, so hardly e ted to see you back — so soon; but you are welcome, Moncrief, and we are most anxious to hear the story of your cruise,” said the major. ‘*]T will give it to you with pleasure, but first Sea Scorpion?” 4% a Yes; she came into porta few hours before _ you. | 2 ‘*Tam glad of that, and I hope he hadasuc ~~ cessful cruise; but you ask me of my voyage, — and I may say that |ran bytheharborentrance — in chase of a vessel I recognized-as the Sea Torch, under that noted pirate, Bianca. : ‘I saw that I was to be caught in a fog-bank and, as | saw the schooner disappear in it, I recognized the uselessness of holding on, so put back to port and followed my prizes in.” ‘* Your prizes?’ asked the major. ; “Yes; for I captured the schéoner several — days ago off the Bermudas, and placed a-prize crew on board, while the barque 1 caught to- ~—— day. oa ‘** Was the schooner an English vessel-of-war, _ lieutenant?” asked Major White. i ‘‘No, a British privateer though, anda splen- did prize, while the barque was a swift sailer, sent out as was your vessel, Captain Hurst, los 4 ed with supplies. x ‘‘She was on her way to find the British squadron, with arms, ammunition and stores — of all kinds for the English troops and the fleet, _ and is as valuable a capture as we could wish,\ | while she has a colonel of infantry and ascoreof — junior officers on board, coming to join their commands here. oe Se ‘‘The colonel told me that they had been chased by an American schooner-of-war whic had just captured them, when a second sch spo came up and drove the American off. ‘*This second one proved to be a pirate,infact the Sea Torch, and it threw a gh crew on board and then went in chase of the American, which put off in flight from some strange rea- _ son. te ‘“‘Tt was several hours after that I came up with the barque, running upon her almost,ina fog-bank, and made her my prize, and the pirate © crew who had her in charge, ia pum- ber, I have in irons in the hold of the Brim- stone.” a ‘* So you made two valuable captures, lieuten- — ant, on your cruise?” rie ‘Yes, Major White, forthe privateerschooner — is a good vessel, and like the Brimstone, will bea valuable addition to our navy, while the barque, put in good trim, will also make a good cruiser, as she is a fleet craft.” = ‘‘ Have you any idea, Lieutenant Moncrief, of — what American schooner it was that captured _ the barque, and then had te run from the | a pirate?’ asked Sibyl! quietly. oa “T tried to get a correct description of the — or her name, but could net, but I sup- — it was some privateer. cut down in its crew oT. “ tis. 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