Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 ---- -- ~—_- — of the Government dock, and discharging her valuable cargo, and upon the other the distant | ance to engage the saucy sea and the forts. It was decided that the brig should go at once upon the stocks for repairs, and to have a schooner rig in place of her other, and as this would take several weeks, both the skipper and Sibyl settled themselves comfortably in their new quarters for that length of time. The Sea Siren. the flag of the States, might put in an appear- nglishman, But no such good luck came, and night fell with the brig and her prize still lying at anchor. After supper Sibyl wandered out upon the piazza. She was alone, for her father lay in his room the major’s duties had called him away, an After a reception the next night by the major | Mrs. White was something of an invalid. and his wife, in their grand parlors, the prominent people of the town attended, and at which Sibyl was made a heroine, she retired to her room at midnight. It was starlight, and, seated in her window, | — gazed out upon the scene of beauty before er. Far out upon the sea she beheld a light, and then another, moving slowly along, and getting her glass, which she had brought with her, she turned it out upon the dark waters, **They are vessels, but more I cannot make out. ** Doubtless they are some of tho English blockading fleet, which were fortunately absent which all | From the piazza Sibyl strolled through the grounds toward a rustic arbor upon the harbor shore, It was upon a point of land, jutting out from the grounds, and was a favorite resort with the inmates of the mansion in the late afternoon and upon balmy nights. From the point she could see the lights of the two vessels in the offing and she seated herself in the arbor and gazed upon them with strange feelings filling her heart. “ Would that I knew his fate. ** Would that I knew whether he was dead or So she murmured, and over her stole the thought that she was becoming deeply interested alive?” | when we ran in, or the Mermaid, after all, might not have escaped.” in the handsome young naval officer. So she said to herself, and watching the lights | **There are vessels in this harbor that could for some time, she saw them remain stationary, | be manned and run out to attack the English- and the more convinced that they were English | man, if some one had the pluck to lead. cruisers that often blockaded the port, she re- | “Te I were only a man [ would throw a crew tired to rest. _on board some vessel, arm them thoroughly, run She was awakened by voices outside, and at | out and board that Englishman before he could once recognized one speaking as Hugh Bronx. | get his anchor up, and fight it out upon his own The sun was shining brightly, and she knew | feck for victory or defeat,” she said, with a that she had slept late, so arose quickly and sternness of tone that was not like her usual dressed herself. | voice, so full of music and richness, What she heard Hugh say caused her to go For a long time she sat there, lost in deep to the window overlooking the sea and throw it thought, and then her eyes fell upon a dark ob- open. ject upon the waters. There were two vessels in the offing, evidently The night was starlight, though clouds were oo whose lights she had seen the night be- ore. Taking up her glass she leveled it upon one of the craft, and instantly her face paled as she muttered: ‘* It is the Scorpion.” ' There indeed was the little American cruiser, but the joy at sight of her was turned to sorrow at the sight of the English flag flying at her peak, with the United States colors beneath, showing beyond all doubt how the fierce combat had ended. “*T feared it; but is he dead?” she murmured, as the tears came into her eyes. Completing her toilet, she ran into her father’s room. Hugh was there, having just been brought up-stairs by Major White, with whom he had been talking out upon the piazza when their voices awakened the young girl. ** Oh, father! the schooner is the prize of the English brig?’ cried Sibyl. **“Ah! you know that, do you, Miss Sibyl?” said the major, poorory “Our young friend here, Mate Bronx, just came over to inform your father of the fact.” ** Gooc-morning, Miss Sibyl,” said Hugh, in a constrained nh ut not noticing his cold man- ner, she took his hand and said pleasantly: **Good-morning, Hugh.” Then she went over to where her father lay, kissed him tenderly and said: ‘*T hope you feel better this morning.” ** Yes, I am steadily improving, my child; but this is bad news Bronx brings us, though not unexpected.” ‘‘ Yes, father; I saw those vessels come to anchor last night, from my window.” **T wish we could learn if that gallant fellow, Moncrief, is dead or alive,” said the skipper. “Could he not be exchanged, sir, under flag of truce? as I heard the general say last nigh that he had quite a number of British officers risoners,” Sibyl remarked, and Hugh bit his p at her suggestion. ‘* A good idea, Miss Sibyl, and I shall speak to the general on the subject to-day, for Mon- crief’s fame has reached us here, and we would ve much to see him again upon an armed eck,” Major White responded. ‘*How does the work on the brig progress, Bronx?’ asked the en of the water, sir, and the ’ ‘* We have her out workmen begin to work on her this morning, while I selected two superb masts and spars for the schooner rig,” was the reply. ‘“‘ff she was armed and ready, and such a man as Moncrief in command, he would go out, retake his schooner, and capture that English- man, I verily believe,” said the skipper, with enthusiasm; and the idea seemed to impress Hugh Bronx, for he muttered to himself as he left the mansion: ** And why should not I do as well as Manton Moncrief?”’ CHAPTER X. FROM OUT THE SEA. Aut day long the angry townspeople kept their eyes upon the vessels in the offing, the defi- ant British brig and its prize, and many bewail- ed that there was no way to retake the American schooner, and prayed that some cruiser, bearing _ could see the object that had caught and she her eyes, sweeping along upon the we ite | tide. Nearer it came, until she heard a splash, and then the object divided in two, one coming to- ward the shore, at the very point where she was seated. ‘** Tt is too small for a boat,” she murmured. ‘*'Yes, it is a swimmer, and he will land here. ‘* He was evidently floating on a spar, ora sunken boat,” and she watched the moving head as it neared the shore. Reaching the sandy point the swimmer stag- gered out of the depths, and shaking himself like a huge Newfoundland dog, stood as though rest- beginning to sweep over the heavens ing. Then he glanced toward the two vessels in the oning and shaking his clinched fist at them said aloud: ‘* Remain where you are, proud Englishman, for a short while longer, and if I find the brave hearts I hope to in this port, I’ll lower your flag for you, or die in the attempt.” e evidently did not suspect that any one was near, and turning, started toward the path that lep y, to the mansion. ‘Captain Moncrief !” The man started, gazed about him for an in- stant, and then said: ‘* Did I hear my name ~ pape by human lips, or was it an angel’s voice?” ‘** Captain Moncrief. I welcome you out of the sea,” and Sibyl stepped forward and grasped his hand, all wet though it was. “Miss Hurst!” He fairly ga the words. **- Yes, I am Sibyl Hurst.” ‘* And the brig arrived in safety, then?” **'Yes; thanks to your noble sacrifice, sir.” ‘**T suppose it was a sacrifice, Miss Hurst, for I lost my schooner,” he said, with a smile. ** After a most desperate battle with a foe double your size.” ‘Yes, it was the worst fight I ever fought; but I was determined the sg Nyro gen escape.” « It looked cowardly in us to run off and leave ou. ‘* Oh, no, for your cargo was not to be risked for human life. ** No, without guns, and with but a few men and crippled craft, you could only run for it, and I am happy you escaped.” ‘** Tell me of your combat, Captain Moncrief.” ** There is little to tell, though my men and vessel suffered terribly, in fact, half my crew were slain or wounded: but f kept pegging away at the brig, hoping to cut away her masts and prevent her pursuit of you, while, with my spars still unharmed, I could get away with my schooner, ** Finding I could not cut down her masts, I determined to board her, or run her down, so as to sink her, and I did the latter, my helmsman losing his nerve, just as he came near, and fail- ing to strike her fair. ‘IT boarded him, but it was a useless fight, and seeing that he could not give chase for hours, as he was in no condition to do so, J stopped the slauchter on both sides and surrendered.” ‘And you were not harmed yourself?” anx- iously asked Sibyl. “Did not get a scratch, as you may know, when I tell you that I swam from the British brig into the harbor, when I came up with a floating spar that helped me greatly, \ (Qe Plus : \ a de etry? ao be , Paik ™ " — a ‘‘T just left it to land here, feeling that fF would find friends to our cause at yonder man- sion. ** But how did you escape, Captain Moncrief?” ‘Tl have, fortunately, a very small hand, Miss Hurst, and they put me below decks with a number of my crew, placing irons on one wrist. of all of us, and chaining us to the decks, The iron on my wrist I discovered, was a large one, so to-night I slipped it off, lowered myself from the open port and struck out for the shore, whispering to the one nearest to me, and who was Surgeon Bennett, that I intended to risk the long swim. ‘*The tide was running in, as I had observed before making the attempt, and 1 thought that I might find men who would go with me and re- capture my schooner.” ‘Captain Moncrief, ae are a brave man in- deed, and Iam so glad that you are free; but how selfish of me to keep you here, wet and tired as you are, when you need dry clothing and food. ‘* Come, my father and myself are guests here at Major Perry White’s mansion, and you will be most welcome, for Captain Moncrief, the Dashing Privateersman, as you are called, is by no means unknown here.” ‘‘Thank you, Miss Hurst, I will accompany you, with pleasure; but, if I can get a volunteer crew and a craft here, I will be better known, for I intend to recapture my schooner,” was the determined response of Manton Moncrief, as he: walked along with Sibyl toward the mansion, ns CHAPTER XI. HUGH BRONX’S PLOT, ° A WARM welcome was give~ to the young officer, by both Captain Hurst and Major White for the latter had returned to the mansion, and were in the skipper’s room when Sibyl] entered with Manton Moncrief, Dry clothing was at once given him by the major, a warm supper was ordered, and while discussing this, with a good appetite, after his few days of hard fare as a prisoner, the lieuten- ant told again the story of his combat and es- ca pe. ‘‘The British brig lost heavily,” he added, ‘*and was so badly cut up that it took a day to- make repairs, before the Mermaid could be fol- lowed, and so we were late in arriving off this ‘*And are your men all on board the brig, Lieutenant Moncrief?”’ asked Major White. ‘**No, the wounded men were left on the schooner, and the rest of us were taken on board the brig.” ‘* And you think the schooner could be taken, as she now lies?” ‘** Yes, I think a boat attack could be made, boarding the schooner, slipping his cable, and etting in under the cover of the forts before the: rig could do us much damage; but my idea was to take men enough to capture the schooner, and then run her aboard the brig and carry her by boarding.” ‘* What force has the brig?” ‘* About a hundred men on the brig, and thirty as a prize crew on the schooner, ‘* She had a crew of a hundred and sixty, and sixteen guns: but her loss was considerable in killed and wounded in the action.” ‘You think a boat attack would be safer than going in a vessel?” ‘Yes, Major White, for a vessel would be sighted, and her object divined, for they know there is no American cruiser now in port, * “* Boats, with muffled oars, could creep well up before being seen, and more, they could board before much resistance could be offered while sending picked men to slip the cable and set sail at once, others could fight for mastery as we sailed for the brig, which would have but little time to prepare for resistance, as she lies but a good cable’s length from the Scorpion.” ne you would need about how many men, sir? **T would risk it with a hundred.” ‘**T will supply you with the boats and men to- morrow night, Lieutenant Moncrief, for your plan is a good one—well orderly, what is it?’ and the major turned to a soldier who just then entered the supper room, ** A large vessel has just passed out by the forts, sir, and Captain Griffin told me to report it to you, sir.” | ‘* Ah! what can she be?” asked the major in surprise. ‘* He said he received this note, sir, shortly be- fore she came down,” and the sergeant handed the major a note. - It was addressed to | *ComMANDER Harbor Forts.” Opening it he read aloud: “Str:—It is my intention to run out to-night and attack the British brig and schooner in the offing, 80 kindly let me pass unchallenged, as | wish my plans kept secret to the last. “TI secured a merchant barque to-day, and a oy _ heavy apes ee agp. upon her rads while I have a crew of seven e s : ing the enemy, hope to take hen. ane “Very Re tfully, “Huan Bacs : “ Second Mate of Brig M. da.” Eomichbooks ———- = i —_— is” 4 ~