Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

' pirate might have been taken, or at least beaten off?” persisted Sibyl. - either, Iran up t _running from her. _ other ony in effect that there was, beyond the e dent, and that together, the three of us might _ **The sloop signaled that she would go on to the attack, and for me and the schooner to come on after her and join in the combat. headed close inshore around the northern join me in an attack upon the sloop, for we - might have been successful; but, as it was —— ee The Sea Siren. —_——— — -——_ whose captain knew he was unable to cope with a pirate, and took the wiser course and ed. ‘Do you not know what schooner it was, Lieutenant Moncrief?”’ ‘*Miss Hurst, you seem to imply that I do ‘ know.” ‘*T am sure that you do, but will not say.” **'Why should 1?” ‘¢ You do not wish to say aught to reflect upon a brother sailor.” ‘* Well, to be frank, I believe I do know the vessel, but I prefer not to mention her name until the captain has made his report.” ** And that he has done, for he says that he was not strong enough to fight the pirate.” ‘* Then you know who it was, Miss Hurst?” “Yes, Lieutenant Moncrief, it was Captain Hugh Bronx.” ‘*Tt was then, as [ supposed, that his crew had been depleted in action, or from other causes, and he dared not venture a combat with the famous corsair, and I think he was wise, though if he had known the value of the cargo of the barque, he would have made a stand to save her for our forces.” **Do you not think, Lieutenant Moncrief, that he might have told the crew and officers on board the barque that their foe was a pirate and offered them their liberty if they would join in with him and capture the pirate?” ‘You put telling questions, Miss Hurst,” said Moncrief, with a smile. *“*Do you not think by such an alliance the ‘** Both might have been possible, Miss Hurst, but it is hard to say.” ‘*You are generous, lieutenant, more ous, I may say by far than Captain would be to you.” **T hope you po sy bim, Miss Hurst.” “Tf you are willing to explain the circum- stances of your meeting with Captain Bronx at sea, we will all be able to judge.” ** He told you then of our meeting?” ‘Yes, sir, and we would like to hear story,” and Sibyl smiled, while the others look- ed on in silence, with intense interest at the manner in which the maiden was working up to the denouement of how Moncrief could refute the charge of treachery. As for Mrs. White, who knew not the circum- stances, she wondered that her husband and Captain Bainbridge were seeming to encourage the questioning by Sibyl; but they were glad not to have to ask the young commander for an lanation. ‘ A story loses its merit by being retold, Miss Hurst, and Bronx has doubtless told you all as he saw it.” ‘* Permit me to urge the story from your li also, Lieutenant Moncrief,” said the skipper, coming to Sibyl’s aid. ‘* Certainly, for there is something to tell after all which Captain Bronx did not know of. ‘‘The fact is, when I rounded the headland, where the Sea Scorpion had been becalmed over night, I not being very far distant from her, I sighted first, the British sloop-of-war. ‘** Then schooner came in sight, further in- shore, and cen 9 that we were not seen by e king’s flag and fired a gun ener- roux our to attract attention. “T recognized the sloop-of-war as one that had often chased me in the little schooner, and seeing the great danger of the latter and that Bronx evidently meant to beach her, I fired the shot, intending by a trick to save her. ‘‘This trick was to be the British private sig- nals I had found on board the Brimstone, an thereby rescue the schooner from her peril. “So I signaled the sloop that I was the British brig-of-war Brimstone, and that the schooner ‘was my prize, the young commander evidently not knowing the sloop as a friend, and therefore ‘* My device worked to a charm, and to get the sloop out of the. way, so that the schooner could escape to sea, I made the signals tell an- frigate Presi- southern headland, the American ‘*T then signaled to the schooner to cross my wake to windward, and was glad to see that Bronx understood me, and at once doin os ead- land and escaped. ‘‘Had the schooner been a trifle stronger, I would have been glad to have Captain Bronx per- haps it was better that he should not risk his vessel, she not being a regular cruiser, and thus made good his escape. ‘*Such is my story of the schooner’s escape, iss Hurst.” ** And your escape, Lieutenant Moncrief, you do not refer to?” | “ Ah, yes,” and the young sailor smiled; but all saw that there was something back of the smile that he cared not to make known. | CHAPTER XXVIII. FOR ANOTHER’S SAKE. SIBYL was persistent, that all present saw and | Manton Moncrief felt. | “‘ He asked what I wanted, and I sent thesig~ nal up that the schooner was the American: cruiser Scorpion, which the British brig-of-war- Brimstone had captured, and carried to an She was not disagreeaby so, but in her pleas- | anchorage off Charleston. ant way showed that she was anxious to all that there was to tell. She had discovered a phase in Hugh Bronx’s nature which she had not before suspected. That he loved her she felt, and yet he had no right to wish to crush all opposition, to put his foot, so to speak, upun the neck of all rivals. He bad shown himself a dangerous man, and ee to know just what to expect from im. He had threatened her, and she was not one to idly live under a threat. She loved his dear old mother very much, and she had loved Hugh Bronx as though he had been her brother, while, not wanting others to show her her mistake, she might have one day become his wife, believing that she loved him as he wished her to do. But, meeting Lieutenant Moncrief and Cap- tain Bainbridge both, had proven to her thatshe could.never love Hugh Bronx asa wife should love her husband. Frankly she had told him so, and she had seen the evil nature that was his. She knew that he owed his life to Manton Moncrief when rescued from Bianca, the Buc- Ow | ‘* That I had been the schooner’s commander had escaped and recapturing the Scorpion had also captured the Brimstone, and, to.allow the ' Scorpion to escape him had signaled as I had. ‘* All this took some fifteen minutes, and he pores heard all, and then gave me another roadside, which did but little damage however. ‘*T had gained a quarter of a mile in distance, by my signaling, and so had not so much fear of his fearful broadsides, and ran for all the brig was worth, firing upon him from my stern guns, and doing him some injury, as I could see ‘* After a chase until nightfall, when I was. out of range, the sloop gave it up and I went on my way; but what became of the schooner I did not know, and was glad to hear from you that Captain Bronx had arrived in port im safety.” Such was Manton Moncrief’s story, and it drove from the minds of his hearers, who had. listened to Hugh Bronx’s charge, all idea of treachery. He saw that there was some cause for the looks passing between the party, but said noth- ing that exhibited any curiosity to know what. caneer, and again, that he had tried to rescue | they meant, and soon after remarked: Manton Moncrief simply to repay the debt, and | ‘With the Scorpion in port, the schooner I had been taken prisoner and again saved by the | have just captured, and the Brimstone, I think man he sought to save, This had maddened Hugh Bronx, Sibyl well | British sloop-of-war, should she appear o knew, and made him hateful in the extreme, though he had been given the schooner by Lieu- tenant Moncrief at one-half her value, though he would not acknowledge the favor. Going to sea in the Sea Scorpion as her com- mander, his career would have been quickly over but for the coming of the Brimstone upon the scene, and when saved again by Manton Moncrief, Sibyl saw that Hugh Bronx had re- turned, and with seeming pleasure charged him with being a traitor. His whole conduct had so incensed her that she was determined to get at the bottom facts and let Hugh Bronx know that she understood him as he y was. Thus it was that she urged so persistently for Manton Moncrief to tell her all that had hap- pened, while her father and the others, from va- rious motives, were anxious to have the truth, as the charge against the young officer of treach- ery had left himin a very painful light to other eyes. ‘Yes, Moncrief, with Miss Sibyl, I would like to know how you escaped from the sloop—in fact, all of us would,” said Major White. “Tt is soon told, sir, for the sloop saw the flight of the schooner, and at once signaled to know the cause. ‘‘T was too near her dangerous broadsides to attempt to run also, so abe signal back that she had gone around the headland to pick up two boats’ crews which had been on a raid for fresh provisions. ** You see, Miss Hurst, one who tells a false- hood must cover it with another, and 1 had to make the signals tell untruth after untruth—but it was in a good cause, as you know. ‘“‘This answer seemed to satisfy the sloop’s commander, and he held on around the head- land, I still following in his wake; but he sig- naled tome to have the schooner come to our aid as soon as possible, and I sent such signals to Captain Bronx, feeling that he would understand them; but he returned no answer. The sloop pow began to round the head- land, and I had all ready to put about and run ould disappear from view. for it as soon as she ‘In the wind that was blowing I had gain- ed on the sloop, and I felt that I could out- run her, once 1 could get out of near range, so as not to be crippled by a broadside. “The schooner kad already disappeared around the northern headland, and twenty min- utes after the sloop went out of sight. ‘‘Hardly had her stern disappeared, when I gave the order to go about and head seaward, though on a course that would not bring me in view of the sloop again, or at least until I had gained quite a start. ‘Tt seems, after rounding the headiand, until she could get a fair view of the entire shore for miles, the captain of the British vessel did not discover my American frigate, and, havin waited a reasonable time for me to appear, an 1 not doing so, he became su icious. ‘Such is my idea, for he put about, and when he rounded the headland again he was ready for action. ‘‘He saw the Brimstone making all haste to sea, and the schooner of course was not in | sight. Me He saw too what showed him that he had n deceived by a Yankee, the flag of our navy flying at my peak, and he luffed quickly and let me have a broadside, . ‘* Fortunately it did no damage, and to gaina little more time, for I was increasing my lead steadily, with him. i i the this ee! as I feel assured that she will, in hope of nding either the brig or the schooner, and I shall make the attempt.” ‘* There is another vessel to aid you, lieuten- ant,” said the skipper. ‘* Ah, is there another American cruiser in port?” he asked. ‘* There is one soon to be made one—your Sea Siren.” ‘Ah, Captain Hurst, you remind me that your beautiful vessel is ready for sea.” ‘*' Yes, and a beauty she is, while it will be a good chance to try her speed with the Sea Scor- ae so that we can judge if her change of rig as improved her.” ‘‘T am sure that it has, Captain Hurst; but, as you say, with the Sea Siren, armed from the battery on the brig, to aid us T would not fear to attack a line-of-battle ship close inshore, where we could have a port to run into if worsted.” Just then the knocker resounded again, and the negro butler ushered into the rcom Hugh Bronx, who had learned of the arrival in port of the Brimstone, and returned simnnp Fe th mansion of Major White for a purpose the eck chapter will reveal. CHAPTER XXVIII. CONFRONTED. Tre entrance of Hugh Bronx was a surprise, and all who saw his pale face felt that his com- on was for a purpose. he major arose and greeted him, presented his wife, and then said: ‘“The rest of my guests you know, Captain Bronx.” ‘*Pardon me, Major White, but there is one here whom I am sorry to hear you call your guest, as I came to ask you for a force to go and seize his vessel, having learned he had entered the harbor. *“*T need not say that I refer to Lieutenant Moncrief.” And the voice of Hugh Bronx fairly trem- bled with the rage that he in vain tried to sup- ress. ‘And why seize my vessel, Captain Bronx?” asked Manton Moncrief, with a pleasant smile. ‘*T would seize her, sir, as the vessel of a treacherous American, and her commander as a traitor!” was the reply. Moncrief’s face became serious, and he turned to Major White, who said quickly: ‘* Captain Bronx, my house is no place, sir, to make charges against a brother officer, charges which we now know cannot be sustained, as Lieutenant Moncrief has fully explained all cir- cumstances which to you, and through your story to us, seemed suspicious.” ‘Can he explain away his having engaged an American frigate with a British sloop-of-war as an ally?” ‘* My dear Bronx, you are not well, surely, or you would know that I am no man to accuse as you do,” and Manton Moncrief smiled, but it was a dangerous smile, ‘‘ Hugh Bronx, you are no longer under my command, sir, but through my friendship for you, you were introduced to this mansion, and I command you to at once depart, before you bring more disgrace upon yourself,” and Cap- tain Hurst arose and confronted the young pri- vateersman. ‘Ts ita disgrace to accuse a man of treach- ery?” he asked gis € ‘Tt is to do so in the manner that you do, and to accuse one who is above suspicion, sir,” re- we have a splendid chance of capturin I signaled him that I wished to speak | torted the skipper. ‘‘Then, Major White, do you decline to give JOO (E A COutL cS com