Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a The Sea Siren. CHAPTER XVII. THE REFUSAL. HuGu Bronx stood upon the end of a pier, regarding attentively the schooner.of-war Scorpion. She had been pretty well battered up, by her sea service and late actions, but was a very pretty craft withal, and speedy, if not com- pared with the Mermaid. She would make a good BM veaad second to few, he thought, and if Lieutenant Moncrief was to have the Mermaid, and had also the English brig, he certainly ought to be willing to part with the schooner, which Hugh had heard was the especial property of the young asked by Sibyl to go up and see her father, as he wished to talk with him, and he followed her to the skipper’s room, ‘You are a prompt man, Lieutenant Mon- crief, and one who carries out just what he undertakes, and I congratulate you,” said the skipper. And more,” he continued. ‘‘T really felt as though I was in the action, for Sibyl sat in the window there, telling me every movement as it occurred, and seeing the glare of the burning barque, and hearing the firing and the cries of the combatants, it made the attack most real- istic I assure you, though Llay far out of dan- ger here.” > | ‘*T feel flattered that Miss Hurst should have | officer. watched the attack and combat,” and the young | ‘* Admirin sailor colored up like a girl with pleasure, to | ton Moncrie feel that Siby] had watched the whole affair. toward him, ‘“* Now, lieutenant,” continued the skipper, “*I| Hugh started, his face changed color slightly, have a favor to ask of you.” | and he answered with a sullen air: “Tt is granted, sir, before I know its tenor.” ‘* Yes, I was admiring her, for I wish to make “Well, it is about my brig, or rather Sibyl’s, | you an offer for her, sir.” for the craft really penngs to her.” “Indeed! and I have an offer to make you, ‘*{ wished to have a talk with you about her, | and was looking for you when I spied you Captain Hurst, for she is a most remarkable ves- , here.” sel, though, as I said, would make a better one ‘What offer can you have to make me, Lieu- for speed and stanchness were she altered to a | tenant Moncrief?’ asked Hugh in surprise. schooner rig.” ‘You are a sailor, sir, and a good one, and ““1t is just that, sir, and she is now undergo- | your pluck I have seen tried, while Captain ing that change, for, as you know, her foremast | urst gives you a most excellent reputation as was shot away and her ‘mizzenmast was weak- | a gentleman and seaman, so I tender you the ened.” acting junior lieutenancy under me, until the ** Yes, she was roughly handled about the rig- | Government commissions you, which will be ging, though her bull was not harmed.” done, as 1 send your name in at once, with an ‘* Barely scratched, sir. account of your gallant endeavor to rescue the ‘*Now, I drew the model of that vessel and | Scorpion from the British brig.” built a small pleasure craft after it, and the re- ** You offer me this position, sir?’ asked Hugh sult was just as I anticipated—I had a stanch | with intense surprise. and very speedy boat. | ‘Yes, and why not?’ ‘* I tried her in all kinds of weather,andmade | ‘‘I cannot accept it, sir, though I thank you,” what improvements I deemed for the best, and | was the cold response. then built the brig, intending to present her to ** And why not, pray?” the Government as a cruiser, “I have other plans, Lieutenant Moncrief, my craft, Mr. Bronx?” said Man- , who had spied Hugh and walked “But I was asked to use her as a dispatch- | and I was about to seek you also, as I desire to boat, on account of her speed and size,aud made | purchase yonder schooner of you.” several runs in her, dropping everythin that ‘‘ For what purpose, may I ask.” crossed my path in smooth or rough weather. ‘**{ wish her as a privateer.” ‘“Thon I was ordered to bring much-needed ‘* Better accept my offer, Bronx, for then you arms and stores here, and you know the re- sult. | ‘* My days of service are over, and I shall re- | are commissioned in the regular navy.” ‘*T prefer to go as a privateer, captain, to a lieutenant in tue navy under another’s com- tire to my farm and live, so | wish the Mermaid mand.” to still continue her career, and I know of no ‘You know best, sir; but tell me what you one under whom she could win greater fame | wish me to do?” ** Sell me the Scorpion.” oe) | mip Fah had a present of that splen- did brig, the Mer. aid, from her generous owner, I can arrange wih you, | think, Mr. Bronx, for the schooner.” ‘“*He gives to him what he refuses to sell to me,” muttered Hugh, while he seid aloud: ‘** What is your price for her, sir?” **’You are really in earnest?” “T am, sir.” ‘* Well, I can afford to be generous too, so I'll make youa present of the schooner, with the exception of one of her guns, the bow pivot.” ** I do not ask for favorsfrom you, Lieutenant Moncrief.” ‘*T am aware of that, my fine fellow; but I de- sire to bestow the schooner upon you.” **T will not accept her.” ‘* Permit me to urge it!” ‘No, forI will not take her unless you sell her to me,” ‘* What will you ial ‘Ten thousand dollars, sir, on an order on than you, so I beg of you to accept ber person- ally as a gift from me.” “My dear Captain Hurst, you amaze and overcome me with your generosity; but 1 had determined to offer you a big price for her, and would like you to sell her to me, for I cannot accept so valuable a craft,” “ But, lieutenant, I mtended to give her to the Government, as I said, and if I do, some other officer will command her, doubtless, “ But I give her to you personally, and you can fit her out and arm her as you deem best. “She is now being fitted out, as I said, with two splendid masts, a bowsprit of great length and spars that will enable her to spread sai enough for a line-of-battle ship, and my word for it, she will add to her speed one-third under her new rig. - You have a: chance here to get a fine bat- tery for her, and can readily ship a crew in ad- dition to your own schooner’s men, for all will be glad to serve under you, so just set to work whenever you wish, for the Mermaid is your vessel, and you can have Sibyl and mysei¢as | New York, withsome cash down, if you wish it, passengers back home, if so you will.” , and Captain Hurst will vouch for me.” *Gladly, sir, I assure you shall the vessel be | ‘*I donot fear you, sir; but I will let you at your service, and as frankly as you give me | have the schooner at your figure, excepting the the vessel, so I accept it, and when she is ready | pivot-gun, which [ wish to transfer to the Mer- for sea [ shall claim you and Miss Hurst as my | maid, though I will give you @ gun from the estson your voyage home; but there is one | English brig to replace it.’ hing I would like toask you about, Captain “IT thank you, sir.” Hurst.” ‘You can give me the order on New York * Well, lieutenant?” for the money in full, and permit me to say that “T need a good second officer, my officers and | the schooner already has privateer papers, with crew having suffered considerably, and one | the name of her captain in blank, as I retained whom I would appoint in that position the Gov- | her papers when I entered the navy, expectin ernment would confirm, if he is the right sort | to Bee. one of my officersin command when of a man, and I know of no one better than | captured with her a larger vessel, for she is my your young mate, as far asT know him.” own property.” “He would be the very man, Lieutenant Mon- | “This will assist me greatly, sir, and I thank crief, and I wish you would tender him the ete you indeed.” tion, for it may get a silly notion out of his “Do not thank me, Bronx, for I get my head to go as the captain of a privateer.” money, you get your boat, so there is no favor “I shall do so at once, sir, for he is a gentle- | upon either side; but when do you want her?” man and appears to bea good sailor, whilehe; “ At once, if possible.” is brave to recklessness, as his attack cn that ‘You shall have her, for I will place my ba: rque showed. — wounded on the British brig, and remove what will seek him now, and get my crew orgen- | things there are on board that do not go with ized for a cruise in the English brig, while | the craft. awaiting the completion of the Merinaid’s re-| ‘ You will find her a very stanch craft, an airs, and which, sir, with the permission of easy handler, fast when the Mermaid is not iss Hurst and yourself, I would like now to | astern of her, and in a condition to readily re- call the Sea Siren.” | pair and refit, ‘Certainly, lientenant, you are at liberty to | ‘* Come, let us go on board andI will give you do as you deem best,” answered the skipper, and | her papers, and remove the pivot, giving you he saw the yours oe depart with a feeling of | one in its place, for I shall equip the Mermaid real pleasure at having been able.to return bis | with the splendid battery and small-arms on services in part by giving him the brig; and he | board the Englishman, and have half a dozen held the hope that the offer of a berth of rank in | guns tospare, for I shall take asmy prize-money the navy would get Hugh Bronx out of his no- | the armament of the British craft.” tion to become a privateersman, | “What will you do with her sir, may I ask?” Nt ee Y ‘* Take a cruise in her for a couple of weeks, until the Mermaid is ready for sea, and then transfer her battery to my new craft, sending the brig, under a prize crew, to New York, where the Government will be very glad to get her, for she is a very able and fine vessel.” ‘* She is indeed, sir, and will be a valuable ad- dition to the United States Navy, doubtless win- ning for you your captaincy.” ‘*In which case you would go up in rank also, Bronx, if you were with me,” said Mon- crief with a sniiie. ‘*T prefer to take the schooner, sir.” ‘* As you please,” and being now alongside of the Scorpion they boarded her and entered the cabin. The transfer was soon made, and while the ivot-gun on the schooner was being landed to 5 placed on the Mermaid, when she was ready Hugh Bronx went in search of a crew. He secured balf a dozen of the men, from the Mermaid, and whom he knew well, making two of them his mates, and a third boatswain. Then he got some two-score seamen about the harbor, some of them having been with him on the barque, in his unfortunate venture which he had hoped would turn out so much to his credit. The schooner was then hauled inshore and the men set to work to put her in perfect order for sea at the earliest moment, her young captain having already removed his kit from on board the Mermaid, “That young man works as though he had some deep purpose in view, in getting to sea wi h that vessel, and I only wish him success,” said Manton Moncrief, as he watched the rapid work of the crew of the Scorpicn, under the eye of Hugh Bronx. Until the last ¢limmer of light did Hugh keep his men at their work, and then he sprung into a boat and was rowed ashore. Taking his supper at the besf inn in the to he then wended his wny toward the elegant home of Major Perry White. CHAPTER XVITI. THE THREAT. Wuen Hugh Bronx reached the home of Major White, he saw some one seated upon th iazza, enjoying the balmy breeze and the star- it scene out upon the harbor. A glance showed him that it was the one whom he had come there to see, Sibyl Hurst. She recognized him, as the light from the open hall door fell upon him, and she said pleas- antly. ‘“Ah, Hugh, lam glad to see yoy, for I felt really lonesome, for father has droy ped off to. sleep, since supper, Mrs. White is an invalid you know, and the major is gone to the forts ior an hour or so.” ‘** Perhe;s other company than mine might be more agreeatle,” he said coldly, as he took a seat near her. “Tf you are going to be cross, doubtless other company would, for you were really disagreea- ble this morning.” “*T did not worry you with my presence,” “True, and perhaps it was better in the humor that you seemed to relish,’ she said, quietly. ‘“My presence now may be distasteful, Miss Hurst?” ‘‘Hugh Bronx, what ails you?” she asked, sharply. ‘* Nothing.” “You are not your good old self at all of. late.” “* Perhaps you have changed, not I.” ** Not one iota.” “You think so?” **T know so, for I am not one to be friendly to-day and cold to-morrow. | “Tt is you, Hugh, and I wish you would tell me what is the matter?” “Suppose I prove to you that you have changed?” * Do so, if you can.” ‘*Do you not like Lieutenant Moncrief?” “*Tmmensely.” ** And he li’-es you?” | hope so.” ** And Surgeon Bennett?’ ** Yes, he is a splendid fellow.” ** And Captain Bainbridge? you like him too?” “Very much indeed.” ‘* And those three men love you, Sibyl.” “Why, Hugh, what do you mean?” “IT mean just what I say, Sibyl Hurst, those three men leve you, and tkey intend to win you. ** All three?” Well, one of them.” Which one?” *“*T know.” . “Pray tell me, sir fortune-teller?” ** Manton Moncrief.” ** Are you sure?” “ I am.” ** What reason have you for your saying so?” ‘“* He loves you.” ** So you said before.” ** You love him.” ‘Not so f has concocted. <€om Pa (E oKofo) ast, Mr. Bronx, for you Pave no right to accuse me of what your suspicious brain & eles, oo — Ye.” ' ' : oo x , : > ~ mh 7 ~y ‘ - ' >