Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

ot - -_ -< --- - - ee en OSS eee ~ 16 the same genial gentleman, with no shadow resting upon him of the occurrences of the night before. ** But for you,smy dear Bainbridge, I would not be enjoying breakfast this morning, as I should not have submitted to the demand of that precious trio to surrender, without resis- tance, and doubtless they would have killed me, ** So you see [ owe you my life.” **{ hardly believo that these men would have billed you, though I think they would have tarown themselves upon you to capture you,” was the reply. ‘* And my capturo would doubtless have en- ded in my death, at tho hands of my unknown ——se — — + ——— — eS = r => - = The Sea Siren. ‘“T will gladly serve you, Moncrief; but if this man is what we fear, L will be sorry to have you meet him.” ! ‘*[ may place him under further obligations,” was the quiet remark. ‘‘] know your courage and fighting ability with a ship, Lieutenant Moncrief, but as a swordsman, or shot, I do not, so pardon me if I tell you that Bronx has the credit of being a deadly marksman, and he disarmed our sword- master at the forts several times, in a f.iendly bont, I was told.” ‘*Lam neither a poor shot nor a bad swords- man, Baipbridge, so care not which weapons are chosen, nor when or where you decide upon for . — -— — - ~— gr _ tion, and soon after Manton Moncrief too _ departure, -to turn the barque and her cargo +. <= alk - : a? enemy: but how was it that you followed me 60 | closely for my idea was that the major detained | you for some special instructions?” | ‘* So he said, and he went up-stairs to get some | crief; and as Captain Bainbridge was about to the meeting,” was the indifferent reply of Mon- | So rae) ashore to make his peace with the major, a | boat came alongside, and Rossmore, the first — papers for me; but Miss Hurst came over and said she had a fear of evil to you, and begged officer of the Sea Scorpion, came on deck, re- questing to see Lieutenant Moncrief. No one said aught for or against the Sea Scor- pion’s going in response to the skipper’s sugges- his over to the port captain as a prize, and the ma- | jor and Robert Bainbridge vent down to the forts to attend to thew cfiicial cuties, the youn captain intending to return soon, for Sibyl ha vhispered to him that she wished him to do so, as she had something to ask him. In a couple of hours Ca,tain Bainbridge re- turned to the mansion end Siby) met him in the grounds, leading the way to an arbor where they would be free frcem intrusion. ‘*Captein Bainbridge, 1 wish to thank you for so promptly obeying my request last night,’ she said earnestly, extending her band. ‘* I feel that I am more than repaid, Miss Sibyl in what occurred, and in receiving your thanks,” was the low reply. ‘* May I ask you if you recognized the assail- ants of Lieutenant Moncrief?” ‘* No, I had not seen them before.” ** And they were taken prisoners?” “é Yes. ” mt |) me to follow you quickly. He was ushered into the cabin, and stated that ae ‘“‘T had had, strange to say, a like dread, re- | he came for an answer to the note left some two ey, garding you, and, leaving Miss Sibyl to make | hours before. — impli eo _ . > =" 4 7 - 2s behavior upon se where he Thank you for your frankly my peace with the major I departed, and was just in time, I am glad to say.” ‘‘ Heaven bless that sweet woman,I say, as well as you, Bainbridge; but what a remarkable girl she is, as good a sailor as [am, brave as any man, with a nerve of iron, a heart all nobleness, and a spirit and wit that is to be feared.” ‘* My sentiments exactly,” said Robert Bain- oe with a sigh. ‘* Well, captain, here is an epistle I wish you to read, and to place it in your hands for what use you deem best. ‘* Tt came before I got up, and was left by the bearer, who is to return for a reply,” and Lieu- tenant Moncrief handed a letter to the soldier, the seal of which had been broken, It was addressed to: ** LIEUTENANT MANTON MONCRIEF, On board Brig-of-war Brimstone, Charleston Harbor.” The handwriting was bold and legible, and ning it Bainbridge read aloud at the request of Lieutenant Moncrief, the following letter: * Srr:—Upon my return to this port, I made known facts that had occurred at sea of a suspicious nature against you, picating as they did your loyalty as an American and your honor as a naval ofiicer. . “IT need not refer to your taking sides with the British sloop-of-war against the American frigate Present. for you understand the case inpoint. “ Aiso. your denials of my statements regarding ou, imply falsehood upon my part, while your neuage last night to me, in the presence of others, that I shrunk from facing dangers. “For these reasons, sir, Iam foreed to fling my glove in your face, demanding that you grant me a mecting. “ Your obedient servant, * Hve@n | Ronx, ** Commanding Privatver Sea Scorpion.” A postcript followed this strange epistle which read as follows: * DPonot consider me ungrateful, asyou have ren- ‘dered me services in the a in now challenging you; but I cannot and will not overlook what has occurred, as it places me in the light of a falsifier, | and believing you to be a traitor, | feel that I will e doing a greet good, should | rid the naval service of a man who is piaying a d uble part.”’ ‘‘ Well, Lieutenant Moncrief, this is a most remarkable communication,” said Robert Bain- ridge, Fes, it is a strange letter, but Bronx strikes me as being a very strange man.” “He certainly is; but what notice will you _ take of it?” _ * What would you advise?” -* Well, you can get out of it very readily.” ‘Tn what way, should I desire to do so.’ “By making acharge against Bronx of hiring men to assassinate you.” **Ah! you think he was the one who hired those men?” **T regret to say that I do,” of your motives?” “ J] can think of no one else, and, havite lis- tened attentively to all that has been said, by Captain Bronx, regarding you, recalling his the time of your rescue of him, his conduct last night, I cannot but feel he is the guilty one. _ ** The same belief is forced upon me; but what * could be his motive?’ and Moncrief gazed earn- - _estly into the face of the young soldier. — *T may be wrong, but I think he is jealous our reputation, your achievements failed, and lastly he has looked upon you as one that might step between him and his claim for the hand of Miss Hurst.” . **Oh! you deem him than an aspirant there?’ ‘*T am sure of it, from what I have seen.” spoken words ——_ ‘* Are you acquainted with the nature of that note, sir?’ asked Moncrief. ‘*] am, sir.” ‘* Then permit to say that I shall grant the de- mand of Captain Bronx fora meeting, and I refer you to my friend here, Captain Bain- bridge,” and Moncrief went on deck. Soon after he was joined by Robert Bain- bridge, while Rossmore entered his boat and rowed to the Sea Scorpion, lying half a mile | repairs, for | distant and already undergom workmen were busy upon her decks and rig- ging. of arranged for sunset this evening, Mon- crief, weapons swords, and the place a bit of woods on the river shore above the town.” ‘** All is satisfactory, my dear Bainbridge, so I will now accompany you ashore, as I desire to see Captain Hurst,” and soon after the two friends ascended the broad steps of the White mansion, and were met by the major, who was at once. told of the occurrence of the night be- fore. sp CHAPTER XXXII. BETRAYED BY A VOICE. Tae arrival of the Brimstone in port, and with her a small British cruiser and a barque as prizes, the latter with a valuable cargo, which the American forces in the Carolinas stood | greatly in need of, added to the fame of the young naval officer, and loud were the cheers given for him. Seeing that the citizens had been so demon- strative, he had been anxious to escape into the house of Major White. The skipper soon came out upon the piazza, and Sibyl was with him, gently aiding his steps, for he was still quite weak. Sibyl glanced quickly at Robert Bainbridge, as though to read in his face if aught had hap- pened the nivht before, but the soldier’s counte- nance betray d not the secret, and that of Mon- crief was as placid as a millpond. But out the major came with the story in his blunt way, though he ha | not heard it suggest- ed to him by the young man that Hugh was the guilty one, so said nothing of him. ‘** The rascals! said the major, adding: ** But you think you have a clew, you say, Robert? ‘* Yes, major.” ‘“*Then follow it up, and I'll relieve you from duty at the fort. ‘*Egad, you are one to depend u could not understand your moving off bat Iam very glad you did.” ** And I believe Miss Hurst was the prompter, so I owe my life to her as well as tomy gallant defender,” said Moncrief. Sibyl turned crimson to feel that she was known as having sent Captain Bainbridge to follow Moncrief, and said quickly: “Somehow I feared trouble, and Captain Bainbridge willingly went at my suggestion, so all credit is due t» him alone,” ‘*T called, Captain Hurst, to ask you when you would be ready to sail in the Sea Siren, and to ask Miss Hurst 1f she would not recbristen the pretty craft after herself, for I learned from the men who were her crew as the Mermaid that you had the name of the Sea Siren?’ ‘* A verv pretty compliment, Lieutenant Mon- crief, and [accept the honor with pleasure,” said Sibyl, while her father said: “Yes, Sibyl was called the Sea Siren by the seamen of our craft, who often saw her in her little pleasure boat facing the fiercest gales and running in and out through the inlet, where the breakers threatened to swamp her, and I Pongnt the Mermaid’s name was well changed, when you told me what you wished to call her, Lieu- tenantMoncrief.” n, and I t night, ronx | I hope we can trace them,” | —— —— or. ** And where are they now?” ‘On beard the Brimstone.” ‘* Were they seamen?” ‘*'They were.” ‘Pardon a woman’s curiosity, but did you question them?” ** Lieutenant Moncrief did.” ‘* And they made known their motive?” cs Yes,” ** Please tell me.” ‘** They acted for gold, intending to capture the lieutenant if they could easily do so, but kill him if he resisted.” ‘** What will their punishment be?” ‘They have been rel pag and have shipped on the lieutevant’s vesse ‘* Dare he trust them?” ‘1 think so, for they were but tools.” ‘* Ah! and their master?” ‘* They did not know him,” ** They saw him?” ** Yes, but not his face.” ‘** They described him?” ** Yes, but it was of no use, for he was envel- oped in a sou’wester, had his hat pulled down over his eyes, and evidently disguised his voice.” ** You told Major White that you thought you hada clew?’ se Yes. i: «at ‘** Will you tell me whom you suspect?” ‘*Tf my clew proves right you shall know; but I would not wrong the one I have reason to sus- pect should he prove innocent.” ‘** Let me tell you what I saw.” “You?” asked Bainbridge in surprise. ‘** Yes, for I came out soon after you did.” ‘** Alone?” “Oh, yes.” a Cb did wrong in these dread times, Miss ibyl.’ ES ace no fear, and I wished to see what hap- ned. : ‘**T had a presentiment of evil, and I knew I could not sleep, so 1 threw a cloak about meand came out in the yard. ‘* All was still and I went toward the shore. ‘*T felt that nothing had gone wens, and was about to return to the house, when I heard the dip of oars out upon the water. ‘It was very foggy as you know, and very dark, so I waited, for I could not see a boat. “Soon a boat SPpeened near shore, and, crouching behind yonder cedar I watched what it would do. ‘Tt held but one occupant, and he landed and walked up and down the shore, as though search- ing for something. ‘Then I heard him say: ‘** Their beat ig not here; can they have land- ed at some other point? ‘“Then he walked toward the mansion, pass- within two feet of me. ‘He must*have gone quite up to the house, and seeing that the lamps in the library were out, returned, for he said as he passed me; ‘“** Yes, he has gone, and they have either aniseed bim, or I passed them out upon the river. f ‘** T will return and search for their boat out on the waters.’ ‘‘With this he walked down to his boat, and entering it, rowed tie A ‘‘He was the man the three men referred to, Miss Hurst, and he missed them by our allowing their boat to get adrift and taking them out to the brig with us.” ** This man was enveloped in a storm-coat, as you state the men said he was?” ‘* Yes, Miss Hurst.” ‘** And no one would have recognized him, but for one thing.” ** And that?” *€ His voice.” _ Captain Bainbridge, and I knew that you would have me make a charge against this man, _ Bronx, and thus avoid trouble with him; but, yey’ as he feels that I have wronged him, though it _ owas far from my intention so to do, I will ac- ** Ah! you heard him speak?” ‘Yes, and knew him by his voice,” “Will you tell me who he is, Miss Hurst?” ‘‘Yes, [ regret to say that it was Hugh Miss Hurst, in a couple of days, and we wil take arun out to sea in her, incompany with the brig, which is a rapid sailer, that we may see if ‘* Then I will have her armed and equipped cept his challenge.” the change of rig has improved her.” Bronz !” . we . ** Would you Lieutenant Moncrief?” ‘Perhaps Bronx will go in the Sea Scorpion ‘Then it is as I suspected, for he is the one ae \s _ © Yes, and ask you to be my friend in the af- | too, for we know just what her speed is, and it | that I had suspicion of.” a : fa ek a, | : will be a fair test.” é‘ ‘Then warn Lieutenant Moncrief, for Hugh on Ne a a hy Es ¥ ‘s , ‘ ’ 5 a, | . | ’ : me ie is comicbooks.com