Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

os The Sea Siren, 5 It was twilight now, and the wind, freshening briskly, was sendin the brig swiftly along. The Scorpion had maneuvered so as to lead the British brig away from the Mermaid, but seeing that the Englishman seemed to divine his mo- tive, and considering the crippled brig a valua- ble craft, held on after her. Manton Moncrief at once headed back so as to throw himself be- tween the two. As he did so he opened fire upon the English- man, who, anxious to end the little schooner’s career, gave a broadside in return, and once again held on after the Mermaid. But Manton Moncrief still held on his course, to cross the bows of the British craft, and saw that he would do so, unless he was greatly dam- aged, and thus give the Mermaid over a league start, This maneuvering Sibyl saw from the deck of the Mermaid, and it was very plain to her that Manton Moncrief meant to save the brig and its valuable cargo, even at the sacrifice of the schooner. ‘* He is a plucky fellow, that young captain, for he must know that he has no chance with that British brig,” said Bronx, admiring the courage of his rival, for such he was, as the young mate’s words had admitted. The fact was that Hugh Bronx was a young sailor whose mother’s farm adjoined that of Captain Hurst, and he loved Sibyl from the time she was a little girl of twelve, and always looked upon her as bis especial property. They had been ‘‘ sweethearts,” as it were, and Sibyl had always liked hira, though the idea of real love for the fine-looking young sailor bad never entered her heart or brain. Hugh Bronx had been a sailor six months in the year from boyhood on his father’s coasting- packet that ran from Boston to New York, going through Long Island Sound and touching at Newport, New London and Sag Harbor. Skipper Bronx was a farmer as well asasailor and left his wife and son acomfortable home en be was lost at sea one night of storm, when Hugh, by a fortunate accident was not on board, and thus became his mother’s protec- tor. Hugh was a fine young fellow, devoted to his mother, whom he idolized, and was very con- tent to give up the sea to be near Siby). When Skipper Hurst built his briz at Sag Harbor, Hugh Bronx was of great help to him in many ways, and when the Mermaid sazl- ed with the valuable cargo on board, he had been offered the position of second mate, and gladly accepted it, Captain Hurst remark- ing: z Sibyl is my first mate, Hugh, for she goes with me, and the Mermaid belongs to her; but if you care to go as second mate the berth is yours,” Hugh Bronx was delighted, and in fact would have gone as an ordinary seaman, or cabin steward, to be near Sibyl, and thus it is that the reader finds the young sailor on board, yielding to the fair commander of the Mermaid perfect obedience in all things. But Bronx was by no means blind, and des- perately jealous, and so he found himself wish- ing two such dangerous individuals as were Lieutenant Moncrief and Surgeon Bennett out of the way. ‘‘These fine manners, brass buttons and rank will turn her head from poor plain Hugh Bronx,” he muttered to himself over and over aguin, until he grew really revengeful toward them in his deep-seated jealousy. CHAPTER VIII, THE SACRIFICE. Wiru his manliness asserting itself, Hugh Bronx had openly ae the pluck of Manton Moncrieff, who so boldly threw himself in the way ofthe English cruiser as a sacrifice to save the Mermaid and her valuable cargo. As the shadows darkened upon the sea, and the Mermaid held on her way as swiftly as her limited rig would admit of, Sibyl went into the cabin, leaving Hugh Bronx at the wheel. The wounded skipper lay there, gazing out of the stern cabin ports upon the English and American cruisers, both of which he could see, and Sibyl took a seat near him and where she could watch them also, “Who has the deck, my child?” asked the wounded man. * Bronx,” answered Sibyl, who had dropped into her father’s way of calling the young sailor ronx on board ship when ashore it was Hugh, ‘**Is the Mermaid doing her best?” “Yes, father.” “She is really seeming to make wonderful time for the rig she has.” “She is, father. The Mermaid is a remark- able boat, and you deserve the greatest credit for your model,” sas Por an idea of making her intoa schooner, ibyl.” ‘Lieutenant Moncrief seemed to think she would do better under such rig, father, and be more easily handled and go far faster.” **T shall have her changed then as soon as we reach port.” “But you certainly will not command her, father?” *““No, my sea life is over, my child; but I would present her to that gallant young lieuten- ant, who richly deserves her, and, my word for it, he will win a name in her; but of course you have the say as to whether I shall do so or not. ‘“*T do not think she could serve our country in better hands, sir, and from present appear- ances, I believe he will need a vessel very soon.” ‘** Ah! you refer to his present daring attack upon the pirate to save us?” ‘“* Yes, sir,” “They are both opening now, pretty hotl7, and the schooner’s fire is coolly delivered and with good aim,” “Yes, sir; but the Englishman is double the schooner’s tonnage, her armament is twice as heavy, and she carries two to one in the number of her crew, for I examined her closely through my glass,” and there was anxiety in the voice and face of the maiden. ** Then he has no chance.” ‘*T do not think that he expected to, father.” ‘** Why should he risk such a combat, thea?” **To save this brig only, sir.” ‘* That is it, you may depend upon it, for he is just the man to do such a thing; but Tam glad ran ti the surgeon back to his post of duty, ibyl. ** Yes, sir, for there will be work for him to do; but see, the schooner gives the brig a broad- side,” and as Sibyl. spoke the broadside of the Scorpion was turned upon the Englishman, It was too dark to see the effect, but the brig returned the fire promptly, and at once the fir- ing became hot and rapid. The flashes of the guns showed Sibyl and her father just where the two vessels were, and that the schooner would not leave her position be- tween the enemy and the escaping Mermaid. The Englishman fired furiously and fast, and it seemed strange that the little schooner could take such punishment; but the esa American kept up his slow but steady fire, and still held his own, it seemed. Further and further away sped the Mermaid, until at last the fire of the two vessels seemed to mingle together, as the flashes were visible, and Sibyl said: _ Father, they are broadside to broadside now. ‘*It can end but one way, Siby!, though the American is making a fight I did not believe ssible. ‘* Ha! that was a broadside from the brig at short range!” ** Yes, sir, and the schooner replies feebly,” answered Sibyl. ‘* There, see those flashes! that means small- arms now, and the heavy guns have ceased. ‘* Wark! hear those cries at even this great distance— No! that was the schooner’s broad- sid2, ay, and the brig answers, so they have not yet boarded,” and Captain Hunt seemed so greatly excited that Sibyl, ever watchful of him, said: ‘* Father, you must not endanger your own life, sir, so please lie back upon your pillow, or I — have to close the ports and shut ou‘ the sight. ‘*True, I was too excited, my child; but I cannot help it, when I see such superb pluck as that noble Moncrief is showing. “Go on deck, please, and see that the brig does not lose an inch, wet the sails and make her fly, for it will be too bad, after Monecrief’s sacri- fice, to have this craft captured.” ‘*Then you think the schooner will be taken, father?” ‘* Tt cannot be otherwise, my child. ** Hark! there comes the rattle of small-arms again, and the heavy firing has ceased, so they must be boarding.” **T will go on deck, sir,” and Sibyl hastened from the cabin, and bade Hugh Bronx to have the sails wetted, and do all hecould to increase the speed of the brig. Taking the helm herself, she held the Mermaid on her course unswervingly, while the firing far across the sea gradually died away, the flashes became Jess frequent, and then darkness and silence reigned. ‘She is making eight knots, Sibyl, and can do no more,” said Hugh Bronx, coming aft and joining the fair girl as she stood by the wheel, ** No, she can do no more, come what may, Bronx; but the fight has ended between the Scorpion and British brig.” “Yes, and a superb fight it was for that brave fellow to fight the Britisher, Sibyl; but ‘it is over, as you say.” *“ Yes, and one of those vessels is a prize to the other now.” : ‘* It can only be the schooner that has struck her flag,” was the disconsolate reply of the young seaman, while through his brain flashed the thought: | **T wonder if Moncrief and his surgeon were killed?” ° CHAPTER IX. A PRIZE IN THE OFFING. 4 As the night passed on, and: the best glass could not show any vessel in chase ef the brig, Sibyl began to feel that perhaps the+Engli i , man had not triumphed, and she so expressed herself to Hugh Bronx, who shook his head as reply. When the sun arose the following morning and no sail was visible in their wake, not a bit of canvas upon the vast expanse of water, Sibyl told her father that perhaps, after all, the schooner had proven the victor. ‘**No, my child, that could not be,” was the answer. ‘* Then why has not the English brig come on in chase, for we have not changed our course?” ‘* True, but the Britisher bas good reasons for not overhauling us, Sibyl.” ‘** And those reasons?” ““Moncrief punished her so, even if he was forced to strike his flag, that she was unable to pursue us without repairs.” ‘* That seems reasonable,” said Sibyl, while Bronx remarked, for he was at breakfast in the cabin with the skipper and his daughter: ‘Yes, Captain Hurst, the Englishman won the fight, without a doubt; but he was in no condition to crow over it, after the terrific fire the Scorpion pores u him.” “*T sincerely hope that Lieutenant Moncrief was not killed,” and Sibyl’s face paled at the thought. at a Bronx saw this, and it came into his mind: ‘*Ab! it is the lieutenant then, rather than the surgeon. _ **T will see.” So he said aloud: ‘* I would not be surprised if the loss on the Scorpion was fearful. ‘* In fact it could not be otherwise under such a fire.” ‘*We could afford to lose men, Hugh, and many of them, to save this brig’s cargo; but I do not think Lieutenant Moncrief could be re- placed very soon to the navy,” said Sibyl. ‘** And his surgeon is a fine fellow too,” sug- gested the young sailor. ‘“Yes, a good commander makes a good officer; but Surgeon Bennett is not to be named with Lieutenant Moncrief.” ‘*Ah! -he cat is out of the bag,” thought Bronx. . ‘‘Tsee ow that it was the young commander of the sc.ooner, and not the surgeon, as I half thought. ‘Well, [hope that Manton Moncrief fell un- der the fire of the Englishman, though I[ can almost hate myself for the thought; but no man must come between me and my love for that girl,” and, impressed by his jealous, revenge- ful feelings the young sailor arose from table and went on deck, while Captain Hurst remarked: ‘What ails Hugh of late, for he does not seem himself?” ‘‘ He is anxious about you, father, and for the safety of the Mermaid, well knowing what a dire calamity it would be did her cargo not reach the Carolinas,” Such was Sibyl’s explanation, but she too had noticed the manner of Hugh Bronx, and into her woman’s mind was stealing the thought that she was the cause, for the young sailor had shown to her the same gloomy nature several times before, when other beaux were attentive to her, for, beautiful and an heiress, the maiden had many admirers among the sterner sex, and her lovers covld be numbered by the score, though she had never stown a preference to any ee Sa that one wes the mate of the Mer- maid. So the good vessel held on her way, all anxi- ously watching for a sail in chase, and rejoic- ing when none was seen. Toward the afternoon of the next day land was sighted, and by sunset the crippled brig had passed in 4 the forts and dropped anchor in Charleston Harbor, the gantlet having been safely run, while it becoming known that the vessel brought much needed arms, ammunition and stores for the American forces in the Caro- linas, the whole town was illuminated, and guns were fired in honor of the brave skipper and his crew. Captain Hurst had in Charleston an old mer- chant friend, who dwelt in a lordly home upon the shore of the harbor, and he at once boarded the brig and insisted that the skipper and his daughter should be the guests of his mansion while they were in the town, and so it was de- cided, greatly to the joy of Sibyl, who knew that her father would receive far better care ashore than he could on the Mermaid, and be most comfortable besides. Poor Hugh Bronx urged against it, as he said it would be dangerous to remove the skipper in his then weak condition; but his real reason was that he feared to have Sibyl go where she would sa surrounded by the young officers stationed ere, But the skipper was safely moved, and that night rested comfortably in luxurious quarters in the fine mansion of bis friend, Major Perry White, the commander of one of the water bat- teries near. The grounds were extensive, beautifully or- namented with trees, shrubs and flowers in pro- fusion, and from her windows Sibyl could see on one side the Mermaid, hauled in alongside Eomicbooks s (exo) a¢ pst