Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

The extra men were called and placed, and it took, all of the schooner’s crew, with the excep- tion of the officers, and Hutchins took the wheel. With this extra weight upon the sweeps, the schooner moved forward more rapidly, but the boats were seen to be still gaining. ‘‘ They are pulling as though they meant to risk all to catch us.” ‘Yes, sir, but they will soon have to calculate how long it will take, and how long before the storm strikes, not to speak of the distance back to their vessel.” ‘“T believe they are giving it up, Hutchins,” ) and Bronx turned his glass upon the boats. | “Yes, sir, I think so, too,” and Hutchins glanced astern. “They are putting back,” gladly cried Bronx, The crew gave a cheer and stopped rowing, but with bitter oaths Bronx set them to work again, and when they were ordered to cease row- ing and draw in their sweeps, the storm was al- most upon them, and the brig miles away, To set stormsails and get the Sea Scorpion ready to meet the storm was soon accomplished, and the schooner went driving on through the darkness and gale, her fugitive commander con- gratulating himself upon his escape from his pursuers. ‘‘ Tuck has returned to me, for 1 have killed Moncrief and escaped from his crew, ‘* Now I shall carve out my fortune in my own way,” he muttered, and he told Hutchins to head for New York Harbor, where he knew he could fit out his vessel and add to his crew, CHAPTER XL. THE RETURN. TreRE stands to-day, not far from the sea, upon Long Island, a handsome old mansion which, a hundred years ago, was the first home- stead to be seen along the coast. There, a century ago, was the home of Cap- tain Norman Hurst, which he had found for himself in the New World to which he had come. Broad acres surrounded it, with comfortable houses for the laborers, ornamental grounds met the eye, a broad avenue of cedars and Lom- bardy poplars led up to the door from the high- way, and massive elms protected it from the se- vere gales that swept across the sea. Within all Was comfort, nay, luxury in that early day, and it wasa home where one would be content to spend his allotted days of life. From the broad piazzas a grand view could be seen of the ocean, half a mile away, and an in- let, a secure anchorage for vessels, if their skip- pers knew the channel in through the surf. A couple of miles from Hurst Haven, as Sibyl had named the homestead, was another substantial mansion, though not so grand in its appearance, nor were its acres surrounding as numerous, There had dwelt the Bronx family for severa generations, and there it was that the widowed mother of Hugh Bronx dwelt with her only daughter, Bessie, a beautiful girl of seventeen at the time of the opening of this story. A woman of refinement, she had been left a comfortable fortune by her husband, a sea-cap- tain, and she was wrapped up in her two chil- dren, Hugh and Bessie. Between the families of Hurst Haven and the Bronx homestead there had existed a warm friendship. Mrs. Bronx had been very glad to have Hugh sail under the command of Captain Hurst, though she knew the peril of the voyage. The fond mother had also n glad to know that her son loved Sibyl, and she hoped one day to see the maiden his wife. One afternoon, Bessie Bronx was seated in a front window of Flag Ship Hall, as Captain . Bronx had named his home, gazing out upon the sea, half a mile distant, which was tossed by a fierce wind that was blowing. _ Mother, there is a schooner coming~ along the coast, and close inshore,” she said, as a ves- sel appeared in sight. et N ot a brig?” quickly asked the mother, com- ing over to the window. ‘*No, mother, it is not the Mermaid, but an armed vessel as I can see. ‘‘T will get my glass and have a look at her,” and rising Bessie went out into the hall. There she put on a storm coat and tarpaulin, and taking down a large spy-glass from a beck- it, she went out upon the piazza and took her stand near the window where her mother sat. There was a driving rain, and the wind blew with vicious force, but half protected by the large pillars of the piazza, she turned her glass ‘upon the vessel. ‘It isa large armed schooner, mother, and flies the American flag,” she called out. ‘* She is standing very close inshore, Bessie,” called back Mrs, Bronx. ‘** Yes, mother, and I do believe she is head- ing for the Rockaway Inlet.” ‘Then some one we know must be on board.” “Yes, mother, and perhaps it may be Hugh Coming back, with Captain Hurst and Sibyl, for Jon know, if me gyre A gen to ee the “SR r expected, he inten give the brig ‘to the Government, and then be sent home on a . The Sea Siren. | ‘T hope so, Bessie, for I long to see Hugh,” was the answer. Watching the schooner closely, Bessie saw her suddenly change her course and head directly for the inlet. She then came on under stormsails alone, and after seeing her make one or two changes, which proved that she had a pilot on board who knew the dangerous channel into the inlet, or haven, Bessie called out: ‘‘ Yes, mother, she is coming into the inlet, and I feel that we will see Hugh soon; but it is getting too dark to see much more now,” and the young girl entered the house, ‘‘Tt must be Hugh, Bessie,” said her mother, as she entered the room, *“‘as she runs in by night.” ne al = ' to attend to the wounded skipper, and Siby] fell in love with him. ‘‘Then, when we reached Charleston that she no longer cared for me. ; “This man, Moncrief, was captured by = | British brig-of-war, which chased us to Cher- _leston, and then anchored off the port with hcr | prize, and I raised a crew, placed them on an old barque in port and sought to rescue the schooner’s crew. ‘But the brig was tco strong for me and I was captured with all my men.” **Oh, Hugh!” ** My son!” Such were the exclamations that broke from: the lips of mother and daughter. ‘‘Tt seems that Moncrief, however, had made: I saw | | | | | “Yes, mother, for no one but Hugh, Captain | his escape in some way, and reaching Charles- Hurst and Sibyl, that I know of, could pilot a | ton he led an attack on the brig, with a large large vessel such as the schooner, in by night.” | force, and captured her, and, with the aid of “Then if one has returned, all have; but I up home, so I will have a splendid supper pre- pared for him,” and the good mother went out _ to the kitchen to order a sumptuous repast for _her son, should he return on the schooner that | had just run in to an anchorage in the inlet. Half an hour after the two sat in the room awaiting anxiously for the footsteps on the piazza. The blinds had been left open, and a cheery fire was burning upon the spacious hearth, cast- ing its ruddy rays far out into the darkness, Suddenly out of the gloom a man’s form ap- peared, and he was enveloped in a storm hat and coat. He paused as he reached the piazza, and gazed in through the open window, ‘“There sit my mother and sister,” he mur- mured. ° “Oh! if they but knew all,” and then he stood in silence for full a minute, A sigh at last broke from his lips, and hé eure s hand across his eyes, while he mut- tered: ‘** What a fool love has made of me, ay, more than &@ fool, ‘* But I must not stand here, but go in,” and he ascended the steps, crossed the piazza with a quick step and had his hand upon the huge brass knocker, when the door was thrown open and Bessie Bronx, with a glad cry sprung into her brother’s arms, —— ——— ni i CHAPTER XLI. THE FUGITHVE PRIVATEERSMAN, WHEN Hugh Bronx had thrown off his storm suit, and sat down before the blazing fire, both his mother and sister saw that a great change had come over him. He looked much older, in the few months he had been away, his eyes were deep set, his face haggard, and he had a stern look about his mouth that had not been seen there before. “Why, Hugh, you have been sick,” cried Mrs. Bronx, anxiously. **Or wounded?” his sister asked. ‘* No, I have been neither ill or wounded, but T have passed through a fearful ordeal since I left home,” was the reply. **Oh! when will this long and cruel war come to an end?” said Mrs. Bronx. * Mother, it isnot the war that has affected me. ‘* What then, Hugh?” * My pain is here, in my heart, and in my brain.” ‘* Why, Hugh, what has happened?” ‘It is better to tell ail, 1 suppose,” was his me reply. ‘* Yes, tell all, for here you have those who love to sympathize with you,” his mother re- turned. ‘*Mother, did you believe that Sibyl Hurst could be false?” 6 Fs No, my son, no, I cannot believe it of er. ‘* Well, she is false, false as Hades.” ** Oh, Hugh !” cried Bessie. ‘*T know that you love her devotedly, Bess; pe so do I, and yet I tell you that she is false, ‘* She lured me on to love her, and I feit that IT was one day to call her my wife, but she was trifling with me.” ** You cannot have understood her, Hugh.” ** Yes, mother, I know her but too well.” ‘** Tell me what has occurred.” He was silent a moment and then told how the brig had been sent on the dangerous errand to Charleston, and being chased and captured by Bianca, the Buccaneer, how it had come out _— the pirate was the brother of Skipper urst The reasons for Captain Hurst pose up his home in England, his title and all, he did not tell, nor that the pirate sought to hang his brother. | ‘We were rescued,” he continued, ‘“‘by a cruiser, once a privateer, her captain being a man by the name of Moncrief, and whom you have heard of as the Dashing Privateersman.” ‘Indeed! he has won a great name, and was meee an officer of the regular navy,” said Mrs, ~ Well, mother, he sent his surgeon on board Rr i i ————————————— suppose we will soon know, as Hugh will come | s, and my band in his men, who were prisoner Iso taken, and we: the baraue, those men were a | returned to Charleston.” | ‘**Heisa noble fellow.” Bronx smiled grimly. ‘*Of course, being a naval officer, he was feted | and petted, and I soon found that Sibyl had stopped her flirtation with a young artillery _ captain to devote herself to Moncrief, the lion: of the day.” ‘* This is not like her, my son.” ‘* Still it is true, mother, and I was cast off. ‘“Not wishing to remain under Captain Hurst’s command, especially as he was having his brig, the Mermaid, fitted out to present to Moncrief, [ gave up my berth and determined to carry out a vessel for myself. ‘*T offered to buy the Mermaid, but Skipper Hurst preferred to give her to Moncrief rather than sell her to me, and as his schooner—for the cruiser belonged to him—was to sail, I bought her of him.” ‘You bought her, my son?” ‘Yes mother,” ‘What money had you, my son?” “Well, mother, I got her, with her entire>. armament, stores, ammunition and fittings, for ten thousand doilars.” ‘*It seems remarkably cheap, m¥ son; but I know that you had but a few hundreds with you.” . “True, mother, but I gave an order on cur shipping mefchants in New York, where you know I have some money.” ‘* Yes, but it is cash on interest. and belongs to me, your sister and yourself together, the amount being just ten thousand.” “Tue, mother, but I felt that you would, with Bessie, sign an order to me for your shares’ when I got such a fine vessel for so small a sum, and with her privateering papers, for I have my permit from the Government as a privateer captain.” , ‘I congratulate you, my son, and under the circumstances will, with Bessie, transfer the order to you, so that you may have it to meet our draft, which I hope will not be presented fore you can arrange it with Blake & Com- any, as it would not otherwise be paid, you J ow.” ‘* | will see them before the order gets there, mother, for I will sail for New York to-mor- row.” ** So soon?” ‘Yes, mother, for I wish to refit my vessel. and also ship a larger crew for her, es I am, scant of seamen; but I will return as soon as L_ can. ‘* But, Hugh, do you think you are capable of * being a commander of an armed vessel?” ‘**] consider that I am, mother. and my crew - have perfect confidence in me,” was the some- - what gm ee response. ‘** But about Sibyl, brother?” asked Bessie, ‘* Oh, yes, as I was telling you, she fell in love > with Moncrief, and when 1 urged her to become . my wife she coldly dismissed me. ‘* 1 then set sail, and had not ill-fortune dog- ged me, would have carried several prizes into. port; but I was forced to draw off from a valu- able British vessel that I had captured, to fight this Bianca the Buccaneer, and my prize es- caped me.” ‘Too bad; but you captured the pirate?” “T would have done so had it not been for his - greater speed that enabled him to escape me,” was the unblushing response. ‘* But while on my cruise, mother, I met Mon- - crief in his captured brig, and I saw him si - ing with British vessels, and other things mn ning that led me to believe he was loyal aty in name to the Colonies, and at heartan English- . man. : ** Upon ag vier BS Charleston I so reported ~ to Captain Hurst, Sibyl and others, and I was insulted against Moncrief. ‘“‘ That night he came into port, and I branded . him as a traitor. _ **But he got out of the accusation in some. way. insulted me, and I challenged him,” “*Oh, my son!” . “Oh, brother Hugh!” - ‘Well, 1 would not put up with eve ae > Re ser gel that Sibyl was urging him on 4 what. ° ' | GOMIG > ES REE SALLE AL EE DA OP IIT IER GE Pe FE RE OE Ee eT Ee ee ee eee see ee oar ance ence i em ee OE ee ae a S (/ ossly for my charges of treachery . a 3 &