Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

_—— would not have lived a minute, and she gave up all hope, when suddenly a man’s form ap- peared near her, a firm hand grasped her arm, and a voice cried cheerily: ‘Do not fear, for we can make the Jand.” She saw a handsome face near her own, a face that was full of courage and confidence; the voice cheered her, the grasp about her was strong, and she gained hope and nerve. A good swimmer, she aided herself all she could, and after a desperate struggle she felt her feet touch bottom. ‘‘ We are safe now,” he said. But the voice had lost its strength, and the brave man having saved her, fairly staggered out of the sea upon the sands, he having exhaust- ed his great strength in his mad battle for her life colt his, bet dp Sinking upon the sands he said with a smile: ‘“‘T will soon be all right; but it was a hard fight against big odds, miss.” ‘‘ Tt was, indeed, and you won the battle nobly, ‘‘Heaven reward you for the life you have saved, for I cannot;,I can only remember you in my prayers,” and her voice quivered as she spoke. Pe Isaw you go out, and feared for you, miss, so lay yonder in the sand dunes and watched for your return, ‘¢ T saw, too, that you could not manage your boat in such a wild surf, so | came to the shore and just in time to see your skiff go under, so I plunged in to your aid. . . ‘See, yonder is my boat, and I will sail you across to your landing, for I suppose you are Miss Bessie Bronx?” ‘¢ Yes, 1 am Bessie Bronx, anc you are?” ‘‘ Allen Rossmore, miss, first officer of the American schooner-of-war Sea Siren, that lies in the cove beyond the timber yonder.” ‘‘ Captain Moncrief is your commander, is he not?” ‘¢ Yes, miss.” ‘‘ Has he not lately received a severe wound?” ‘“Yes, one that well-nigh cost him his life, Miss Bronx; but shall we go now?’ and Ross- more was anxious to change the subject; but, though Bessie started for the boat, she con- tinued: ‘“Was it not my brother that shot Captain Moncrief by accident?” “Tt was no accident!” blurted Rossmore, quickly, and then he added, hastily: ‘s Yes, miss, yes, it was Captain Bronx.” ‘Did you say that it was not an accident?” and the large eyes opened wide with astonish- ment. ‘‘ Pardon me, Miss Bronx, if I decline to talk on this subject,” he said, frankly. “ But I urge it, and beg you to tell me.” “1 spoke hastily, for I feel strongly upon the subject, Miss Bronx, and I regret to say that no one considered it an accident. ‘*T seconded Captain Bronx in the duel he fought, for I was then his first officer, and I saw that he was very angry because Captain Mon- crief disarmed him and gave him his life,” ‘Did Captain Moncrief do this?” ** He did.” ‘Go on, sir.” ‘¢ He demanded another meeting, with pistols, which Miss Hurst, arriving upon the field, pre- vented, and, feeling that your brother was in the wrong, I urged him to give it up. ‘‘ He was angry with me, spoke severely, or- dered me to go on board the schooner under pain of death, and I declining to obey, he fired, not at me, for be is a dead shot, but at Captain Mon- crief. ‘¢ Pardon my frankness, but you forced me to explain, and 1am frankin all I say, though I regret deeply the pain I give.” ‘And then, sir?’ and Bessie was white-faced and stern. “Then your brother fled to his schooner and set sail.” ‘‘ Will you answer me a question more, sir?” ‘* Tf you demand it.” **T do.” “Well, Miss Bronx?” ‘‘ Miss Hurst visited my home some days ago, and, angry at my mother’s greeting of her, she said that she pitied the mother and sister of an outlaw. ‘* What did she mean?” “Your brother refused to come to, when fired on by a vessel sent in chase, and has been out- lawed as a Fugitive Privateersman by the Col- onial Government.” ‘*God have mercy upon him! ‘‘T almost wish that you had allowed me to die in the surf,” moaned the poor girl. Then she asked: ** What do you think of Sibyl Hurst?” ‘* One of the noblest of women, I think her, Miss Bronx.” ‘** And of her treatment to my brother?” ‘‘ She loved him as a brother, not as he wish- ed, and his own rash temper caused all the trouble.” ** What do you think of Captain Moncrief?” ‘¢ A more noble man never lived. “Why, he saved your brother from being hanged ~ a pirate, rescued him from an Eng- lish vessel on d of which he was a prisoner, _e tr. a ™ =e" mm a a SSS er a RR RR eS eee eS: OOO OO The Sea Siren. gave him, almost I may say, his vessel as a pri- vateer, and did offer it to him as a gift. ‘* Offered him the position I now hold, as a regular naval officer, and gave him the papers that allowed him to go as a privateersman, so he could not be his foe, and tried to be his friend; but two men cannot love the same woman, Miss Bronx, and be friends.” ‘* Lieutenant Rossmore, your words surprise me, even as much as they amaze me. ‘* You saved my life, and you now open my eyes to see that which I did not see before. ‘* Yours is a frank nature, and I thank you for your frankness. ‘Yonder is my home, and I will be glad to have you visit me ere you sail, that my mother may thank you; but I pray you do not say to her what you have to me, even though she should ask you leading questions. ‘‘T thank you again and say good-by; but come to-night and see us,” He held her hand, as she would have drawn it away and said: ' “Miss Bronx, if I pained you, forgive me; but I saved you from death, I risked my life know- ing who you were, and I feel that Thave aclaim upon you. ‘What I said of your brother, I said on pur- pose, that you might know that he was not all that your sisterly love believes him to be. ‘*In a very short while it must come to your ears, from ruder sources than from my lips, the | full story of your brother’s career since he left | your home as mate of the Mermaid. ‘*His jealous love for Miss Hurst seemed to make him a different man, and if you wi.i let me tell you all I know of him, it may save you from a little shock, to hear it from others.” There was something in the face and manner of the young officer that seemed to fascinate Bessie, and she said in a low tone: nt : Sit there on that arbor bench, and tell me all. He led her to the seat, and in his frank, kind- ly ways told all that he knew of Hugh Bronx, from his first jealous madness, after the capture of the Mermaid by Bianca the Buccaneer, to his fitting out the Sea Scorpion at the Goverment’s expense under false colors. He also told about the money-order, and how Moncrief had hauled off from chasing the Sca Scorpion when he recognizéd her, that he might not have to obey his orders and hang one who had been Sibyl Hurst’s friend, before her eyes. ‘* Now, Miss Bronx, you know the truth, and from the lips of one who will befriend you, come what may ; $0 command me assuch if ever I can serve you.” Bessie was deeply affected, and for a while could not speak. At last she held forth her hands and said: ‘¢- You are very kind, for had this come to me differently, it would have killed me or driven me mad. ‘* Now I know how to act with my poor bro- ther; but I must prepare my mother for the worst, and I beg you to come to-night.” ‘*T will come,” was the answer, and they greg. yes she going slowl homeward in a dazed ind of way, and he, after watching her along the path until be saw her reach the house, turn- ——, going back to his boat. rriving on board the schooner he said, in excuse for his wet clothes, that he had gotten a ducking in the surf. CHAPTER LIUI. EXEUNT OMNES, THE position in which Hugh Bronx found himself was not an enviable one. He was strangely unfortunate in finding Brit- ish merchantmen, and his men soon began to grumble and show a mutinous spirit dnce more, In his distress Hutchins became his adviser. ‘‘ Better strike a craft that will pay, cap’n, and never mind the flag.” ‘““You mean capture a craft of any nation?” *¢ Certainly, sir.” ‘‘That is piracy.” ‘‘ Weare not much better now, can’n, after what you did in Charleston and New York.” “That is too true; but I hoped to have wiped out those stains.” ‘““You can never do it; and something must be done.” ‘What shall we do?” ‘‘ Get money.” se ye q”? 4 “ n way. e Flutchina?” ‘* Sir to you.” ‘*T bave a way,” ‘S Vos, sir.” ‘‘ There is a mansion on the coast that is own- ed by a very rich man ‘‘ He is said to keep fifty thousand in gold in | _ ask a favor of you, not for the man, but for his his cellar, and his silver pe is very valuable. “Now Pll give you all points, you go in and rob the house, get the silver and we are made. ‘*T say you, for I must not be seen. ‘You are also to get a treasure for me in the _— of the young lady of the house, for she is an heiress, and with her in my possession, you & 27 see, her father will give half his fortune as ran- som. ‘* Then, Hutchins, we can keep the men easy, and I’ll make a name for myself that will soon wipe out the charges against me. ** What do you say?” ‘* Where is this mansion?” **T will pilot you in to a harbor and direct you to it.” ‘* How many servants?” ‘* About a dozen on the farm, I guess.” ‘* Where is the gold?” “*Tn an iron box in the cellar. ‘‘T have seen it, and know it is there.” *¢ And the plate?” “Is kept on the mahogany shelves in the dining-room.” “Tl do it.” ** All right, we will head for the place at once and reach there soon.” But Bessie’s going out in her skiff, at the risk of her life, changed the plans of the young out- law just then. Putting back along the coast, as the reader knows, he sighted a sail and gave chase. It proved to be an English merchant ship, and after a long chase he captured her, She was a store-ship, and a rich haul, so he ut a prize crew on board and sent her in to ‘ew York as his first peace-offering. This raised the spirits of the men, but only for aday or two, and then they began to fret again. 7 So Hugh Bronx headed for the coast near his ome. It was night when he arrived, and he saw no red light in the sitting-room window, and he knew all was safe, So into the inlet he ran, and Hutchins with twenty picked men went ashore on their maraud- ing and kidnapping expedition. mpatiently and anxiously Hugh Bronx paced the deck. Half an hour passed and then he heard shots and shouts up toward the Hurst Haven man- sion, Then came the shots more frequently, loud orders, oaths, and cheers. But from whence came the cheers he did not know. He had not Jong to wait in suspense, though it seemed hours to him, and then was heard run- ning fect, and he saw through the darkness men springing into the boats. They were soon alongside and a voice cried: ‘* Cap’n, the Sea Siren lies in this basin some- whar, for her cap’n are up at ther house and he kilt officer Hutchins, and some of the boys is dead, sir.” This was enough for Hugh Bronx and be slip- d his cable, crowded on sail, and stood for he inlet. But, as his vessel began to move he knew that the man had told the truth, for he heard voices around the point, and loud orders given to get up the anchor and set sail. , And well he knew that voice, for it was in- deed Manton Moncrief’s, he having run into the inlet just after dark that evening after a week’s cruise, so that Bessie knew not of his presence there and hence did not show the red light in the window. With the start she had the Sea Scorpion was a league at sea, when the Sea Siren came through the inlet. But she was in sight of the keen eyes on the cruiser’s deck, and a hot chase was at once be- gun. At the request of Allen Rossmore, no fire was —_——. opened upon the Scorpion until the two vessels. were leagues away, far out of hearing of those back on the shore. Then the Sea Siren began to creep up rapidly upon the Sea Scorpion, the latter opening a hot: fire upon her, But the beautiful cruiser seemed to bear a charmed life, for the shots of the Fugitive Pri- aid flew wild, while her fire hit hard every ime. It was not long before the Sea Scorpion’s men were driven from their guns, and the vessel was. carried by boarding. When Mantcn Moncrief sprung upon the deck of the schooner. cutlass in hand, his eyes at once fell upon the form of Hugh Bronx, lying dead on his quarter-deck, having been killed by the fire of the Sea Siren. The Sea Scorpion had been so badly hurt by the fire of the Sea Siren, that he was found to be sinking, and she had to be quickly deserted, going down to her grave in the deep with her commander and his sluin crew with her. ** So let her perish,” said Moncrief, and then he headed for New York. Arriving there be held a conversation with the admiral, who had a few days before receiv- ed the store-ship prize from Hugh Bronx, and was getting in a better humor with him. ** Admiral,” said Moncrief, ‘‘I am going to mother an sister. “T have told you how we took the Sea Scor- pion, and that Hugh Bronx went to the bettom of the sea with her, and as he has sent you in that valuable store-ship, and no one knows that he bas been outlawed, that you allow it to be ICO Eomiel KS * " @ (E(@) V q ‘ ' ‘ « '