Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

~ _ wheel by the iron messenger and hurled to the - from her course. _ lips é * ° 2 The Sea Siren. . Along the weather bulwarks crouched her crew, a dozen gallant tars, clinging for their lives that they might not be washed into the sea, and their eyes were bent alternately upon the clouds of canvas set, and which threatened to tear the sticks out of the brig, and the wheel, where stood their brave skipper, holding his | Standing at her wheel the fair helmswoman ‘stanch craft upon her way with a hand that | faced the double danger, of the tempest and the never swerved, a heart that never qu vered at | schooner’s fire, with a nerve that was remark- the peril about them, as in their wake wasa | able. peril far worse than death in the cruel sea. Her skill in handling the vessel was wonder- Near the skipper, clinging to the taffrail, and | ful, and many a time the crew held their breath glancing astern at a rakish-looking schooner that | as the brig made a fearful lurch, expecting was coming swiftly onin pursuit, also spreading | never to see her rise again; but Sibyl knew the an amount of canvas that threatened to run her | craft, and her strength was equal to her skill, under, was a young girl of eighteen. and she would ease up upon the helm just in the Her face was bronzed by sunshine and wind, | right time, and bring the Mermaid back to a and her hair of red-brown hue, was loose, torn | level keel once more, from its fastening by the fierce winds, and was Pale, with features set as though carved in floating about her like a huge vail. | marble, the young girl would glance each mo- Her form wasslightly above the medium hight | ment toward her wounded father, with the of lovely womanhood, but perfection in mold, | group of seamen about him, while he, brave graceful in every movement, and showed | man that he was, would repress his groans of strength and beauty combined. agony that he might nct distract the attention She was attired in a stylish suit of sailor blue, | of his noble daughter from the sacred duty im- trimmed with gold-lace across the bust, upon the | posed upon her of saving the brig. sleeves and collar, and upon her head wore 4 The schooner coming on so swiftly in the jaunty blue cap, also embroidered in gold, and | wake of the brig, was a vessel of decidedly with a tassel hanging on the left side. wicked appearance, belonging to the style of Beautiful in face, yet, as in her form, her | craft known in those days, a century ago, as beauty was alive with strength, for character, | “long, low and rakish,” and which were the ac- fearlessness and resolution were stamped upon | cepted class for both pirates and privateers, every feature. he carried a reef in her foresail and main- “ Father, it is an English privateer, for she | sail, and her topsails were not set, but her jib carries British colors,” the maiden had said, | was up, and this canvas drove her through the after closely examining the pursuer through her | water at a tremendous speed. lass For long hours the chase had been kept up, at first in a light wind, when both vessels seem- ed equal in speed, and then, as the storm swept down upon them, a summer thunderstorm, the schooner had gained slowly, yet steadily. 7 The skipper of the brig had hoped to keep out of range until night, and then dodge his enemy. Hie knew the wonderful speed of the Mermaid, and as the schooner began to gain on her, he had muttered: ‘‘ There is but one craft afloat that can catch the Mermaid, that I have ever heard of, and I will soon know if that is the one.” He had called to the young seaman, Bronx, to take the whecl, for his caughter was then in the cabin, while he turned bis glass upon the schooner. For a long time he watched the schooner and then muttered: CHAPTER I. BIANCA THE BUCCANEER, THE brig that was flying through the storm, from her pursuer in her wake,showed her stanch- ness by not running under, or going over in the the severe blow, glass. Her father made no reply, while he kept his vessel as steadily on her course, as he could in that wild sea and savage wind, and the girl once more turned her glass upon the schooner, which came so swiftly on in chase, Then, as she looked there camo a huge burst of white smoke from the schooner’s bows, as she rose on a mighty wave, the deep roar of a heavy gun mingled with the thunder of the heavens, and the daring helmsman was torn from the deck with one arm shattered to the shoulder. Then it was that he had uttered the words that open this story, as he lay limp and bleeding upon the deck. But already had the one he addressed sprung to the helm, some strange impulse causing her to seize the wheel, instead of going to her father’s aid, while she called out in a voice tnat reached the ear of every seaman: ‘* Yes, that is the craft I feared it was, for I *‘ Ahoy, men! take my father into the cabin, | can distinctly sce her strange figurehead, as and you, Bronx, come to the wheel!” | her bows rise, the red hand grasping a flaming ‘‘No, no, leave me here! lash me to tke | torch. weather bulwark, and you, Sibyl, keep the | ‘‘ Yes, it is the pirate craft Sea Torch.” helm, for you know what the Mermaid can do Soon after his daughter had come on deck, better than any one else on board,” cried the old | but until he was wounded he had not made skipper, and the seamen who had rushed to his | known his discovery. side, drew him under the shelter of the wind- ‘‘Do not yield an inch, but hold her on her ward bulwark, and, crouching about him made | way, Sibyl, for she had better go under than his position as comfortable as was possible, become the prize of the Sea Torch,” called out ‘“ Let me aid you, Sibyl,” said a young sailor, | the wounded man. stepping to the side of the maiden. ‘‘The Sea Torch, father?” cried Sibyl, and ‘*No, Bronx, but go to my father’s side, for | her words were echoed in a chorus by tbe the Mermaid steers easily, and I know her every | crew. movement, and a strange hand may throw her ‘¢Yes, my child, that schooner is the Sea over or run her under, and you know how pre- | Torch, with Bianca the Buccaneer her master, cious is our cargo,” said the young Ya so you know the inhuman bloodhound that is in ‘““Ay, precious indeed, my child, for, better | our wake.” my death a hundred times over than that we The small hands did but clinch the wheel lose this fine cargo more valuable than gold,” | spokes more closely at this, and the pretty called out the wounded skipper. mouth become more firmly set. ‘*Go, Bronx, and do roe can to save my Thus the chase continued, the schooner stead- r father,” commanded the girl in a low, | ily gaining, and firing when she could at the tremulous voice, as she held the brig on her | brig. perilous course. n a short while the storm had swept over, The young seaman turned away, and, as ho | but the wind still blew fresh, though, etting did so, again came a shot from the vessel in| out of the path of the tempest, the sea was chase, and the iron ball went tearing along close | less rough and the brig seemed to hold her to the deck, splintering the mainmast as it did | own. Then the schooner shook the reefs out of her main and foresail, and once more began to walk up on the brig. ‘* Ahoy, lads! set her topsails, for she’ll bear them now!” cried Sibyl, and the crew of the brig sprung to work, and with this reserved sail the brig held her own, though at the risk of her spars. Seeing this the schooner also set her topsails, and a cheer broke from the men on the Mermaid as the fore-topsail was cing ate off. A moment after, as she heeled frightfully, the maintopsail was taken in and the brig merely held her own. Seeing this the schooner’s commander opened a steady fire, and thick and fast the shot fell about the brig, now and then cutting through her sails or striking the deck. : But the brave girl never flinched, and her si- lent prayer was that night might come on cark and stormy, and thus allow the brig a chance to 80. But the fair helmswoman never flinched, never looked back at their foe, but kept the brig on her way without the swerve of half a point Again came a shot, and this time if tore along the deck, killing one man and wounding another, while the splinters flew in all direc- tions. Still those small hands upon the wheel trem- bled not, nor did the bronzed, beautiful faco blanch with fear, as her wounded father’s voice was heard: ‘‘ Sibyl, do not give up the brig, for remem- ber the cargo we carry, and above all remem- ber that yonder craft in pursuit is a pirate.” ‘‘ Father, rather than surrender the brig, I will set her on fire and take to the life-boat with all on board,” was the reply of the beau- tiful helmswoman, and a cheer broke from the of the half score of brave seamen, while the wounded skipper said fervently: ‘“‘God bless you, my noble girl, for now, if die [ must, I can die content, and my words to you are, before you allow yourself to fall into the hands of that cruel pirate, drive your stiletto to your heart.” the foremast. ‘TT will do it, father,” was the low response, The vessel reeled under the terrific shock, and and the resolute face showed that she meant all | then came the crashing of timbers, snapping of that she said. ropes and flapping of canvas, as the mast went escape. But vain the hope; in vain the prayer. As a solid shot came shrieking after the brig, just as the shadows of night began to deepen upon the sea, and with a crashing sound buried itself in ——— ep ee over into the sea, the strain tearing the main- —— from its hold and carrying it with the wreck. A cry of dread arose from the crew, but the young girl uttered no word of alarm, but simply let go of the wheel and stepped toward her father as the brig lay to. ‘Father, I have done my best,” she said, in a voice of perfect calmness. **Then take to the lifeboat and set the brig on fire!” shouted the old skipper. ‘*The lifeboat hangs shattered at the davits, and the other boats were swept into tbe sea, father,” was the response. The old skipper groaned in agony of spirit, and fora moment was silent, while, crouchin by his side the young orl laid her hand upon his wounded arm, which Bronx had dressed as best he could, At last he said: ‘You have your stiletto, my child?” ‘Yes, father.” “ And will use it, if need be?” **T will, father.” **Enough! then we can only wait the coming of the buccaneer, and Heaven have mercy upon And thus the wrecked brig lay with her wait- ing crew while the schooner came swiftly on. The sea tossed her about, while the wreckage was not cut away and hung over her side. Coming up to leeward the buccaneer schooner lay to, end a boat was soon after launched, and came bounding over the rough waters toward the brig. ‘* Brig aboy! What brig isthat?” cried astern voice from the boat, ‘¢*The merchant brig Mermaid, C-ptain Nor- man Hurst, commander, bound South,” called out Sibyl, in quick, seamanlike tones. It seemed tothe young girl that her words caused some excitement on board the boat, for there came the order for the oarsmen to cease rowing. ‘Then, after a moment, the order was given to give way, and the boat came in toward the brig. As she ran under the lee a tall form sprung on deck, cutlass in hand, and advanced to where Sibyl stood near her father, the crew grouped about them. The one who boarded was a man of fifty, per- se A with iron-gray beard and hair, both worn ong. He was dressed in the uniform of a British naval captain, which carried out the idea that his vessel was an English cruiser, from the flag flying over her decks. He looked surprised at sight of Sibyl, raised his cap with a quiet dignity, and said: : ‘* Where is the captain of this brig?” 4 **T command now, sir, for my fatber was od wounded by your fire,” was the reply of Sibyl. ‘‘ A fair commander, surely: and now I see that I was right when I thought I saw a woman at the brig’s wheel; but where is your father, young lady?” The men ni one side, and revealed the wounded man, lying against the bulwark,and supported by cushions brought from the cabin. ¥ ‘Are you Norman Hurst?” asked the captor, gazing intently at the wounded skipper. ‘‘Tam; and somebow your voice and your face are strangely familiar tome,” answered the skipper, suppressing @ groen of agony. “They well should be, for I am Ore Great God! gest broth reat G you are my youn rother, Bianca Hurst?” cried the siioper. Over the face of the captor came a look that was dark, sinister, and revengeful, as he an- swered, in a voice that was full of sarcasm: ‘Yes, I am that curse of English aristocracy, a younger brother, while you, Sir Norman Hurst, were the first-born, and inherited title, estates, and all.” ‘* Ah, Bianca, do you still hold that against me, after all that I did to step aside for you and mt Rafael?” 4 ‘What did you do?’ sneered the man, as he . down upon his brother. | ‘*T left England forever, and came to America to seek my fortune,” was the brave skipper’s an- swer, ‘You did not die?” ‘*No: but I led all to believe me dead, that you might fall heir to the title and estates you so craved.” ‘““There was Rafael yet between me and the prize,” said the pirate, scowling vengefully es he e, gi I thought that our brother Rafael had been lost at sea.” ‘‘Oh no; he turned up again, and s0 stepped into the place you had vacated for me, curse ! ‘‘ Thank God! Rafael is not dead!” ** Ah, yes. curse you! you are rejoiced to keep me out of my rights, are you?” ‘‘ Your rights when both Rafael and I are dead, Bianca. I fear I soon will be, for your shot shattered my arm, as you see,” sadly added the wounded skipper. ‘* Would to God it had killed you, and that | Rafael Hurst had been in range of thesame shot,” was the fierce rejoinder. your sv (E(0) JOO im cS (E OO CIN tae a a - = “+ i | com » * ' - @,' ‘ - t ~ . a -