Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 320) (1883 09 11)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
Aesosste ce ee » A eam a ma {The tc! at te Y i ‘ we MOM NUE 3 sid lj ON : ———————EE - Sac, Or). \ RS ~ Sr mee ae bt afl TiN Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. September 11, 1883, /; Copyright, 1883, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, Single PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, Vol. XIII. Number. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 320. THE SEA SORCERESS: or, LIEUTENANT NED, THE BOY SKIPPER, A Companion Story to “Ned, the Cabin Boy; or, The Witch of the Haunted Fort.” BY JACK FARRAGUT, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ NED, THE CABIN BOY,” ETC,, ETO. o> — “STAND READY, ALL) INTO THE SEA, MEN! NOW, NORA, SPRING WITH MRM” —
Page 2
} The Sea Sorceress ; Lieutenant Ned, the Boy Skipper. A Companion Story to ** Ned, the Cabin Boy; or, The Witch of the HMaunted Fort.” BY JACK FARRAGUT, AUTHOR OF *‘ NED, THE CABIN BOY,” ETC. CHAPTER I. THE HAUNTED FORT. * Ha! ha! ba! he has hired me to light the deacons on this coast, that hisson may arrive in safety by night, or in storm, and he expects me toserve him well. ‘¢ But he little dreams who I am, and that I have plotted to destroy that very son. ** And have I not cause to wish him dead, he and his lily-faced wife, who holds the place thak my child should bave had, my poor child who sprung from this very cliff into the sea far be- low, and took her ownlife because that man had deceived her? ‘Ha! ba! and I am expected to light beacons to bring him home in safety! ** Well, we shall see, we shall see!” The speaker stood upon the very edge of a lofty cliff jutting out from a ridge of rocks, whose summit was clad with mountain pines, far out into the sea, The scene was wild and picturesque in the ex- treme, for the coast was one to be dreaded by the careful mariner eyen when no fierce winds swept the sea. It was upon the Maine shores, whose inlets, rivers and islands have sent forth the best sailors that ever trod a deck, trained as they have been from infancy amid scenes of danger, and where cool heads, brave hearts and strong arms can alone guide a prow in safety through innumerable perils. A chain of islands, a mile off-shore, served to break somewhat the fury of the ocean in its wrath, but here and there, seemingly every- where, were reefs that had proven the destruc- tion of many a gallant craft. Through a narrow channelway, between the reefs further out, then onward through two islands, a vessel had to pass to reach the harbor- age inside, when it was comparatively safe sail- ing down to the river mouth, a league further along the coast, where the aspect of the country ut On a more hospitable and inviting look, for ere and there were visible substantial farm- houses and barns, where abode men of means, With a beacon light on a certain point, a good pilot could get his. bearings the darkest and stormiest night and run through the reef with- out, while a second beacon upon another situa- tion would guide him through the channel pass- ing between the islands, after which it was open sailing to the river entrance, All along the coast there was not a wilder spot than where the speaker stood, whose words open this story. It was a natural fortification, and years be- fore, when, the ‘‘ oldest inhabitant” could not recall, it had been a sea fortress, and the guns, on their rotten carriages still remained to add to the picture of desolation about it. A natural embankment in front, with em- brasures and ports in the rock, were upon the seaside, while back of them were towering rocks that looked like turrets, caverns and in- numerable nooks and corners such as an old castle might have, The entrance to this vast ruin, which nature and man’s art’ bad done so much to make im- _ pregnable seemingly, was through a tunnel-like f cave that was dark and forbidding. Strange stories were told of this old ryin, and the country folk and coast fishermen shunned it as they would a graveyard by night, for early in the presentcentury, kind reader, super- stition beld sway in our land. The garrison, it wassaid, had all been found sourdered one morning by an officer bearing dispatches there. Who were the slayers none knew. Some said Indians had done the deed. Others asserted that a mutiny had occurred, and the garrison had fought among themselves 40 the death. Again it wasrumored, and perbaps with more truth, that a pirate chief had hidden treasure there long before it was a fort, and bad come to The Sea Sorceress. claim his ill-gotten wealth, and had massacred the entire garrison. After this terrible fate, and with the slain soldiers buried within the fort, it was no won- der that the simple country folks shunned the spot. And more so was it dreaded of late, as it was said to be the favorite resort of a witch, who had her home back in the pines, a pleasant, cosey little cottage, strangely unlike what the abode of a sorceress was expected to be, and where she had lived for years with her two children, a girl and a boy, both of whom are destined to figure in this romance, Within this fort stood the old man, who had been hired to attend the beacons, and which lights were to be simple fires of fat-pine knots built at certain points, when a vessel coming along the coast by_ night gave the proper sig- nals to show that she wished to run in, and was not a foe, for at the time of which I write the ‘* war of 1812” had just begun between England and the United States, The one who stood in the Haunted Fort, as the place was called, was an old man witha darkly bronzed face, a gray beard, and the few locks of hair visible beneath his broad-brim- med tarpaulin were snow white. He was dressed in a pea-jacket of blue cloth, white duck pants, and wore them stuck in the tops of boots, that looked as though they might at some time in the past have belonged to a Luccaneer chief. He had a belt about his waist, in which was stuck a clasp-knife and double-barreled revol- ver. His eyes were black and piercing, his face stern, and he appeared like one who had known better days, Whatever others might think of the Haunted Fort, and shun it, he certainly felt no dread of it, although night was coming on, and a tem- pest was raging out upon the sea, hurling huge waves against the et base of the cliff, while the pines sighed requiems, as the winds swept through them, to the dead lying in the old ruin, CHAPTER II. THE MASTER OF RIVERVIEW. RIVERVIEW MANSION was one of the grandest pons in the State of Maine at the time of which write, The house was large, rambling and comforta- ble from cellar to attic, while its grounds, slop- ing tothe river bank, bad been laid out with walks and flower-beds that added to the beauty of the scene. A thousand acres of well-tilled land stretched away inland about the mansion, and above on the river was a little hamlet of cosey homes, where dwelt the tillers of the soil. The pastures were dotted with sheep and cat- tle, the stables were well filled, and upon all was an air of thrift which told that it was the home of a rich man. Within all was comfort, yes, and luxury, and the master of Riverview Mansion certainly should have been a happy man, if being sur- rounded with this world’s goods in abundance would make him so, The mansion stood half a mile up the river and a league from the Haunted Fort, and. from nee piazzas glimpses of the ocean could be ad, Jutting out from the river bank in front of tho homestead was a stout wooden pier, and anchored about it were several pleasure craft, with row-boats lying upon the sbore, Within the mansion, upon tho very afternoon upon which the beacon-tender at the Haunted Fort is présented to the reader, sat the master of Riverview. He was a man of striking appearance, had lived half a century, and had the respect of the neighborhood, In his early years he had been poor, and a lawyer, he bad risen to a judgeship; but wealth eoming to him, he had given up his profession and settled down to the enjoyment of his later years. A son only had he to cling to in the world, and he was a gallant officer in the navy of his country: but having lost bis vessel some time be- fore by capture, he was awaiting the building of a new one, which his father. the iudge, had presented him with. Alone in his elegant home, Judge Elmore was awaiting the return of his son with his young bride, who were to pass the bleak winter months at Riverview. Yet, gs Judge Elmore sat alone in his library that afternoon, with the shadows of coming night creeping about him, be did not appear to be happy. . ” eer wr _ With an impatient imprecation he arose from his easy-chair and approached the window which looked seaward, while he said in a low tone; ‘*The storm is a wild one, and Heaven grant that no harm befalls my boy and his beautiful bride in running in. P ‘**T did hope that the ship would arrive during the day; but darkness is coming on now, and, as she certainly must come to-night, she will have to run in with the beacons as her guide. * But then my son knows these waters well enough to come in with the aid of the lights, “J do hope that old sailor will make no mis- take and do bis work well. ‘‘T suppose I should have sent Caleb to aid him; but then Caleb would never go near that Haunted Fort by night, I am sure, and it is well the old seaman did not know about the stories told of the weird old ruin, or he would have tailed me, too. ‘¢ Somehow I feel strangely blue to-night, and I cannot drive a presentiment of evil out of my heart. ‘I do hope that 1 am not to be punished at this late day for my crimes toward my brother and his family. “Bab! I am silly to think of the past, for if 1 did hire an assassin to end his days and keep from his wife aud children the wealth he in- trusted to me for them, amI not repaid for those sins by the riches I now possess and the luxuries I have about me? “* But one other knows of the crime and he is my ally in guilt and has enriched himself as I did, se that he will not botray me, ‘* As for my boy, ho never suspects that this home and my wealth was stolen and that it cost human lives. ‘* Whateyer became of the wife of my half- brother I cannot ‘tell. ‘““They fled from my persecution, though they did not suspect me, and it is better so, or I should have had their lives upon my hand, ** Somehow I have a dread of that old Elsie the Witch of the Haunted Fort, as though t expected to find in her and her brats the wife and children of Norcross, ‘* But I am foolish, for his wife would not now be forty, and that old hag is over sixty, if she is a day, for her hair is as white as snow. ‘*T sbould not fear for them either, for the woman sold her home, and certainly had a sup- port so that they were not left beggars. .“*No, no; I must cast the haunting spirits down, and enjoy that which I possess— Oh! Caleb, Iam glad yuu have brought the lam for this is a dreary night out,” and the judge turved away from the window with a shudder, as his butler entered with lights. “Yes, sir, it’s an awful night, and I do hope the ship with the lieutenant and bis young wife won’t come to-night,” answered Caleb, ‘ T hope so myself, Caleb; but then, with the beacons lighted, Ido not think they will find any great difficulty in running in, unless the night is intensely dark and the tempest in creases.” ‘* Well, sir, it is going to be terribly dark and the storm has been getting worse since sun- set. ‘‘ Heaven protect my boy then in the pas he will have to face; but, Caleb, would you mind spending the night on the coast with the “ae i to see that the beacons are proper ight Caleb started avd turned quickly toward the judge, while he said in solemn tones: ‘Your honor, I have never disobeyed you in one thing, sir, have I?” “You never have, Caleb, for you have ever been most faithful.” ‘¢ Well, your honor, you'll forgive me if I de so now, for I would not go near that old fort to- night for a pirate’s gold,” “Very well, Caleb, I will not ask it, snd J guess the old beacon-tender will do his duty.” ‘*T guess so, sir, and [ hope so,” and Caleb was about. to depart, when the deep boom of a gun at sea rattled the windowsin the mansion, ‘‘Ha! there is the signal-gun, and now the beacons will be iit. ‘*May Heaven help that vessel now, and save those on board,” cried the judge, and he peues to pace to and fro with nervous step; while storm increased in fury, as though it had taken ~ the signal-gun asa defiance from the vessel to do its worst, CHAPTER IIl. THE FALSE BEACONS. Hap Judge Elmore known who the old man was, that hac come to him with the story he had sailed with his son, and whom he bag ~ ian a
Page 3
4 _her being the looked-for ship, as she was head- + Instantly the beacon-tender whirled a lantern _ sheltered corner of rocks, and these were kin- ee dled, as bad been the others, _ the crew of the sbip. _ to destroy. | “Come on, brave shin, to your fate, and God engaged as beacon-tender opposite the channel, he would have been in utter dismay that night of storm, instead of dread that all might not go | wel He had taken the old man to the cliff, near | the Haunted Fort, and to the entrance to a | ne, where the two beacon-fires were to be | it. He had told him the signals that the vessel must give before he should light them, and then had taken Inm to a fisherman’s cot that over- hung the waters, and which was to be his home, Stores in plenty had been sent to the cot from the mansion, and pine-knots bad been placed upon the spots selected for the beacons, with nothing to do but to light them. Several days had the old man been on duty, fishing and sleeping by day to pass away time, and watching a greater portion of: the night. ay the looked-for ship had not hove in s ° hen the storms which sweep along that coast in the autumn set in, and the lone watcher in the cot kept constantly on the alert. At last he spied a vessel late one afternoon, and he knew she must be the long looked-for craft, for she was certainly not a war-ship, as his practiced eye at once told him. earer and nearer the vessel came, and as she was now headed for the point where the channel was, there could be no doubt but that it was the geen bearer of Lieutenant Elmore and his wife, With her coming the storm began to increase in fury, as though to make her passage through the dangerous channel more difficult, and the old man smiled quietly as he noticed 40. “Blow, you good winds, toss, you reckless sea ‘waves, for you bavs work to do this night, “Tt is too tiresome waiting for my revenge through long years, so you strike together, and the man who killed my child, and the woman who lured him from her, will go down together in your depths, “Innocent ones must suffer with the guilty, but that has been the way of the world from its beginning, and I will bear their lives on my conscience to punish Elmore and his bride.” The shadows now began to deepen, while the winds howled more furiously through the ar and the roar of the surf became almost eafening. Watching the ship attentively the beacon- tender saw now that there was no doubt as to ing directly for the channel entrance. urning upon her a glass which he carried hung over one shoulder, he muttered: “ 1t cannot be other than the craft. Set hal now m yes Sa soon be done, and you, my poor Nora, will be avenged.” Night had now fallen, but off mi the sea the lights of the vessel could be seen, Then a burst of flame came from her bows and soon after there followed the deep boom of a gun, the same that told Judge Elmore that his son was off-shore and about to venture in through the dangerous channel. pores times around his head, forming a circle of e. It was a signal, and on board the vessel came ap answer with a red lantern. **Bravo! itis the signal, Now for the next test,” and the lantern was whirled twice about his head. S Again came an answer, this time with a n lantern, and three times it made a circle n the air from the ship’s deck, “Ha! ha! ha! the signals are correct, and now to light the beacons,” cried the old man, ' Instantly he darted along the ridge until he came to a rocky point, and here he paused, In a sheltered nook was a pile of fat-pine knots, and to these he quickly touched the flame of his lantern. Instantly there flared up a bright blaze in the intense blackness of night, and a lucid pathway was cast off over the dark waters, to be greeted by a cheer from the ship’s crew, and their voices were borne upon the wind to the ears of the old man as he hastened on to another point. Here was another pile of pine fagots in a With this second pathway of light flaming across the waters another cheer was heard from _* Ay, cheer on, my gavent fellows, but you to your doom, little believing that these two you deem beacons of safety are lurid lights a The Sea Sorceress. have mercy upon all who perish, excepting those two, tor whom I make many suffer, “See! my fires burn up grandly, and Elmore believes that they mark the course through the reefs and islands which he is to steer; but little does he dream that they lead him directly upon Graveyard Reef and Wreckers’ Island. “ Tf chance should cause bim to miss the one, the other he can never avoid. ‘Ha! ha! now I will stand here by this pile of fagots, which Judge Elmore told me to light, and await the end.” So saying the old man took his stand by the ile of fagots on the cliff near the Haunted ort, and which if he had lighted instead of the false beacon, would have guided the vessel safely through her dangers, if under the guid- ance of skillful bands, Out over the black waters flamed the two false fires, and trusting in them the noble craft came flying on while every heart on board beat high with hope. CHAPTER IV. A STRANGE SCENE IN THE HAUNTED FORT, ‘‘ THERE she comes, hastening to her doom. **God forgive me for making the innocent suffer; but perish who may, I must destroy Elmore and his bride, ‘*Tfa! ha! see how bravely her pilot rushes on, trusting in this bright firelight! ‘*No! by Heavens! she changes her course! od just as the breakers foamed beneath her Ow. ‘* But she is too far in to extricate herself now; but it was a quick eye that detected those reefs ahead, and a bold, strong hand that put her about, ‘Ha! she luffs up from the Wreck Reef! ay, and rounds Lizard Point—now if she changes her course dead before the gale, I will know that she has a pilot on board whom my false beaccns cannot deceive even in the blackness and storm of this night. ‘Heaven have mercy! she has a pilot at her helm, for now she heads for the cliff through the channel in the reefs. ‘* Now she passes safely through, and heads for the island channel, the man at her helm dis- regarding utterly my lights and steering as he should for safety. ‘He passes the islands, ay, and puts his helm hard down to run for the river haven. ** He has saved the vessel, and cheated me of my revenge, **In God’s mame who can he be? “ There is but one living being that I know of upon this coast who could do what yonder pilot has done, and he—no! no! no! it cannot be that he is on board that vessel, Great God! should he be, and my act have sent him to his death!” As though appalled at the thought the old man covered bis face with bis hands, and thus stood for an instant, Then he said quickly: “1 must be off, for when they tell the story of the false beacons I will be hunted down.” Away he darted through the darkness, and yet made no false step as be burried along the ridge in the direction of the Haunted Fort. Reaching the cavern entrance to the old ruin he entered it without hesitation, and soon after a light glenmed in one of the cave chambers in the rear of the for ress. The roar of the waves and the howling of the winds still were beard within, but unheeding them, the old man seated himself at a rude table and buried his head in his hands, The cavern-ehamber was large, and the walls were evenly hewn, In one corner stood a rustic cot with neat bed- clothing upon it, and an open chest near by crates wearing apparel that had a feminine ook, A table, a chair, bench, a few cooking utensils upon a hearth, for a chimney was built up there to the roof, and a shelf upon which were dishes and provisions completed the furnishing of the dismal retreat, for dismal it was in spite of the ruddy glow of the lamp. For along time the old seaman rested with his face in his hands; so long in fact, that one would have deemed bim asleep, But suddenly he started, for a slight sound was beard in the court of the fortress, which the wind and waves bad not made, again it was heard, and the old seaman sprung to his feet, his eyes bent in seeming horror upon the exit from the cavern, which led out into an arched tunnelway opening upon the interior court of the fortress Before this tunnel were the graves of the murdered garrison, and to gain the inner cav- ern, one had to pass in among the little moundg that marked the last resting-place of those wly had so mysteriously lost their lives. ‘‘Tt is a human step,” said the seaman in 4a hushed tone, and he gazed toward the cavern exit. Along the tunnelway came the sound, and then into the rock chamber stepped a slender form. lt was a boy, or rather youth of perhaps fifteen, with a well-knit figure, broad shoulders, upright form, and a face that was frank, fearless and full of intelligence and conscious power. {t was a handsome, striking faco, seldom seen in one of his years, He was dressed in duck pants, a jacket of blue cloth, and a tarpaulin shaded his dark curls, ‘* Ah! who have we here?” cried the youth, placing his hand upon a knife in bis belt and stepping toward the old seaman, who stretched forth his arms and said in thrilling tones: ‘Oh, Ned, my son! my son!” “Mother! Mother! can this be you?—and in that dress! the dress of a man!” cried the youth in amazement, Instantly the tarpaulin was taken from the head, and a mass of white hair fell over the shoulders, while a false beard was jerked off the face, and a woman stood revealed, A woman with a dark, stern face, piercing black eyes, and the look of one who had become old before her time. Traces of beauty yet rested upon every fea- ture: but the beauty of the past had been marred by the traces of sorrow and trouble which later years had left there. Her form was graceful and slender, and she seemed to shrink from being seen by her son in mau’s garb, “Yes, Ned, my noble boy, I am ao mother, though you see me in a disguise [I meant not that you should know that I had put on,” and she stepped once more toward him, as though to embrace him, but he said with strange stern- ness for one so young: ‘Mother, I landed but a short while ago from a noble vessel, and learned that seege lmore had engaged an old reaman to attend to light- ing the beacon fires upon the coast. ‘That man lighted false beacons, to lure her to ruin and death, and men came bere to find the one who had betrayed his trust, ‘The beacon-tender they could not find, for he bad suddenly and mysteriously ral ger ** Now I came on bere, where I knew I would find you as you dared not live in your cottage, and I find you in the disguise of an old seaman, with white hair, a gray beard and sailor suit, just as the false beacon-lighter was described to be. ‘““Oh mother! what does this mean?” He stood before her, drawn up to his full hight, his face stern, yet sad, and gazing upon her with a look from which she seemed to shrink, Twice she attempted to speak before she found utterance for the words: **'Ned, my son, I am the guilty one, **1 lighted the false beacons.” CHAPTER V. SAILOR BOY NED, “Mother! you lighted those false beacons?” said the youth in a low, earnest tone, “1 did, Ned,” was the firm reply. “To lure that noble vessel to destruction?” iy Yes. ” «To cause her crew and passengers to perish, mother?” “ Yes.” **Oh, mother! what can have tempted you te commit such a crime?” ** Revenge !” She fairly hissed the word, **Revenge? Ah! I remember, Elmore was on board.” ** Yes, and his wife.” “ And you sought their lives?” *“*\ did, for he murdered your sister Nora.” ** But what had his young and innocent bride done?” “She tured him from Nora,” ‘**No, mother, for the lieutenant was engaged when he met Nora. ‘* My sister saved his vessel from destruction, by piloting it into the river haven, and Lieuten- ant Elmore became her acknowledged lover, “He gave her up and married another, and or Nora took her own life by apringing from his old ruin into the sea. ‘For her life I hold him as guilty, and one day I shall ny ¢ my oath, mother, and hold him to account for his erime. Lieutenant did Co We aa —
Page 4
“But, oh, mother! to think that you plotted to destroy him at the cost of so many lives! Yes, vou would have even sacrificed the life of rt and one other who has returned with m. “TI did not know that you were on board the vessel, my son,” and the woman seemed utterly crushed. “Yes, mother, I took passage on her with one other, my friend, to come to you and tell you glad tidings.” “ And you ran that vessel in, Ned?’ said the woman quickly. ‘Yes, mother.” You discovered that the beacons were not where they should be?’ “ec Yes.” **T should have known that it was you at the helm, and the thought did flash through my brain, but then I believed you in Boston. **Ob, God! what if I had sent you to death by my act, Ned?” ** Mother, it would have been no worse than to have sent those other innocent ones to de- struction, simply to punish one who was guilty.” ** Oh, Ned, my boy, do not upbraid me for now I see the full enormity of my crime. ‘But, boy,” and she spoke fiercely quickly: “T saw the beautiful face of poor Nora upon the crest of every wave that rolled ashore. “*T heard her cries mingling with the howling and winds. Ns the sighing of the pines I listened to her sighs, “1 saw her stand in spirit upon the cliff from whence she sprung, every night, until I was mad, ** And, as they had accused you of wrong, of desertion from the navy, and driven you from me, and had hunted me down asa witch until I was forced to live in this den, [ became mad in my thirst for revenge, and forgetting all else, sought to destroy that man. 13 orgive me, Ned, my son, for now I realize sayeth have said that my father was lost at sea ‘* He was.” ‘Did you ever suspect that he was mur- dered?” ** Murdered? In Ged’s name what do you mean?” “Did you never suspect that some enemy might have wrecked his vessel?” ‘Ned, I have had strange thoughts like these, for, when your father sailed on his last voyage, some unknown person began to persecute me and mine. “First, your sister was stolen, and it was weeks before I found her. ‘¢Then you were thrown into the sea, from a ier in the little seaport where we lived, and a Falverouais in his boat saved you, and said that he saw a man burl you into the water. ‘** After this persecution, after persecution was visited upon me, and I wrote to your father’s half-brother, telling him all. ‘* But he did not reply, and selling my little home, I bought the shallop, and a sailor from my girlhood, I set sail from the hated spot by night, and went to seek another home. **To escape a storm I ran in here, guided by a fisherman, and finding the little cottage over the hill was for sale, I purchased it, and there we have lived in peace, until the serpent whom 4 to-night tried to destroy, trailed across our oor. ‘But, mother, did you never feel that my father might not be dead?” ** Yes, Ned, I have had that feeling too; but alas! it is too much joy to hope, for joy bas not come to me since he set sail long years ag0. ‘See, my hair is white, for losing him, and the dread that you and Nora were to be taken from me made me almost mad, and at times I believe I am mad.” ‘* Mother, then the madness must go from you, for my father was not lost as you believed.’ ‘Oh, God! is this Thy punishment for the crime I would have this night committed? “Ts this Thy showering joy upon me, when the thunderbolts of Thy anger should strike me!” and the poor woman dropped upon her knees and raised her hands toward heaven. Then, out of the shadow of the tunnel-like way came a tall form, and he clasped her hands and waised ber up, while he said softly: * Bisie, my dearly loved wife, I am here.” The Sea Sorceress. She sprung into his arms with acry of joy, for in the dark-faced, gray-haired man, with a look so brave and so strong, older by years than when last she saw him, she recognized the hus- band she bad so long mourned as dead. For a long time no word was spoken between the three, and then the returned sailor said: ‘* Elsie, after long years I have come back to want and I find changes have come to those I oved. ‘From our noble Sailor Boy Ned, I have heard of all your sufferings. “* Accidentally I met bim, and from that day we were friends, although neither of us then knew who the other was, ‘That you have suffered deeply I know, and I too forgive your mad attempt of to-night, as our son does, for I know what it is to be revengeful. ‘*I too am on the track of revenge, for my half brother, Judge Elmore, whom 1 trusted with aJl my wealth, which had come into my possession, and bade him to give it over to you should harm befall me, has sp the trust. ** He was to be heir to all, should any strange circumstance take you and our children off by death. “The wealth I possessed, and which I got through the finding of a mine in a foreign land, I did not tell you of, for I waited to be able to give be all at once, a vast fortune upon my re- turn bome. ‘‘ But, as I said, I trusted all to my half- brother and one other, a Mr. Curtis—” ‘* Of Boston?” asked the woman, “ec Yes.” ** A friend of Judge Elmore?” “ Yes,” ‘* He had one daughter, an only child?” ‘* He had.” * Tt isshe whom Lieutenant Elmore made his bride?” ‘*It is, for they leagued together to murder me and share ay fortune. ‘“They senta hireling upon my vessel to kill me, and he wrecked the vessel; but he was severely hurt, and I aided him to the shore. ‘* There we two lived upon a desolate island all these years, and I learned from his lips the story of what he had been bribed to do, “At last we were rescued We 4 a passing vessel, and returning, I could not find you; but I traced those two men in all their villainy, and believed that they had killed you and my children, too, ‘* At last I met, on my way to face Judge El- more, our noble sailor boy, and you know the rest, *‘He came to Boston to meet me, and we sail- ed for this place, for I have come to claim m own from the hands of the man who stole it from me. ‘* Now come, this den of rocks is no place for ou. “Come to your pleasant little cottage, and to-morrow I will force that man from the home he has so long lived in, and which, bought with my money, is mine.” With joy in their hearts at being again united, the three left the Haunted Fort and wended their way to the cottage which the country folks had avoided as the home of Elsie the Witch, CHAPTER VI. THE FISHERMAN’S STORY. In his anxiety to discover the seaman, as he supposed it to be, who had lighted the false beacons, Judge Elmore was disturbed by _a vis- itor on the day after the arrival of the ship in the river haven, who at once made known who he was and the nature of his business, To bis horror, Judge Elmore found not only that bis half-brother, Norcross Evans, whom he believed dead, to be alive, but that every dollar of the vast fortune he had stolen was to be taken from him. The son, too, learned of his father’s crime, and was glad to give up the fortune rather than have the disgrace become public by that father’s having to go to prison, And more, Lieutenant Elmore having mar- ried the daughter of the man who had been the ally of the judge in his crime, saw the riches of his young bride swept from him, too, and knew that he had only bis pay with which to support them, when before he had been envied by his brother-officers for bis wealth. Out of Riverview Mansion then went the El- mores, and rumors were at once set afloat by the cunning judge that the husband of Elsie, the Witch bad returned from a foreign land, where he had accumulated vast riches, and offering him a fabulous sum for his estate, he had sold it. Captain Norcross Evans smiled grimly when he heard the rumor his step-brother had started and let the story go for what it was worth and with his wife and son settled himself comfort- able in his new home, with but one sad memory to darken the joy of the household. That memory was that poor Nora had been driven to snicide by the act of the man whom she had so'madly loved. The second evening after the arrival of the onan and his family in Riverview Mansion, a fisherman from down the coast came up the river and landed his lizht skiff at the pier, upon which stood Ned, the Sailor. ving “Does the widow Norcross live here, lad?” he asked, ‘¢ The one who was supposed to be the widow Norcross lives here; but she is now Mrs. Nor- cross Evans, ber husband having returned and not being dead, as was believed,” answered Ned, glad to tell the story of his father’s return. ‘‘T mean the one we called Elsie, The Witch of the Haunted Fort?” said the fisher- man, “Yes, my mother; she lives here,” “T went to her cottage and a man told me &. would find her here at this great house.” “She is there, and if you wish to see her I will let her know you are here,” ** Are you her son?” “ ] am.” “Then I guess I’d better tell you the news first, so you can break it gently to your mother.” ‘* What news have you to tell?” ‘** News you'll like to hear; but as they say joy kills sometimes same as grief does, you'd etter let it be known quietly so as not to shock. your mother.” ‘¢ But what have you to tell?” ** You have a sister Nora, who—” ** T bad a sister Nora, but she is dead,” sadly said Ned. ‘‘ There you are just out, young man.” ** What do you mean?” **T mean just what I say, and I say that your sister Nora is not dead,’ Ned turned deadly pale and gazed at the man with a look that seemed to read his heart, Then he said hcarsely: ** My man, you do not mean to trifle with me in telling me this?” **T am not one to trifle about a matter so serious, and Ill tell you the story. ‘* T was fishing some time ago close in under the cliff on which stands the old ruin. ‘*T bad a sbhipmate over on the island off which our little smack was anchored and I had ventured pear the Haunted Fort to throw in. my line, while he wouldn’t come so near. ‘ While watching a fine vessel stand out to sea from the river haven'I suddenly heard @ fluttering sound over my bead same as angels might make flying through the air, and I can tell you I was frightened, that frightened L dared not look up, tor I bad beard so man stories of the old Witch and the Haunted Fort. * But just as I was seizing my oars to row away there came down into the water with a. tremendous splash a human form. **Tt sunk down deep into the waters and then rose to the surface and I dragged it into the boat, for I saw it was a young girl, and a pretty one, too, and I thought she was dead, she was that pale and still. ‘““T rowed quickly over to the island, told my shipmate, and we put her on the shallop to bring ber up the river to the village where we thought a doctor might bring her to, ‘But the wind was ligbt, and the t'de carried us down the coast against all we could do to revent, and so we continued on to our own sland where we lived. “TI gave ber in charge of my wife, and the women on the island congregated together and fetched her to, while I and my shipmates set out for Portland with a smack-load of fish, intend- ing to take the poor girl home when we returned, for, shough she had come out of her swoon, she seemed ill. “But we were captured by a Britisher, and it was some time before we managed, to get away from ’em and could get back to our island. **There we found the young girl just recover- | ing from a long attack of brain fever, but she was all right once more, though terrible white and thin, ‘*My wife had nursed her through all, and the ay girl seemed almost sorry to be alive. “But we cheered her up, and she told me where she lived, and I came off in ny skiff to tell you, for the Britishers have not left usa shallop or a smack on the island out of twenty we had before the war began, and some sixty
Page 5
The Sea Sorceress. good lads are left with nothing to do and mouths to feed, so they wanted me to look for a berth on 4 privateer for them while I was up here.” * Ly man, the news you bring us is joyous indeed, for we all believed my poor sister dead. “*T will at once go and break the news to my mother and father, and then you must come up to the mansion and tell them your story as you toid it to me, while as to your getting berths on a privateer you need not look further, for I + know of one that will sail in a couple of months ‘or so, and will need a lot of good men fora crew,” With this Ned hastened off to the mansion to tell the good tidings which he had heard from the lips of the fisherman, CHAPTER VIL. LOST NORA, THE story of the fisherman was told by Ned to his parents, and their hearts were filled with Poy, while the boy sailor was made doubly glad y being allowed to go after his sister in the ‘pretty little pleasure sloop which Lieutenant Zimore had had built for himself. The fisherman was to goalong as crew, and he promised to return with the yacht, along witha -Shipmate or two, and they could have a talk with Captain Evans and then go back to their island-home to await orders from him as to when he would need them for the new vessel. So anxious was Ned to get off on bis cruise to bring back Nora, that he could not be persuaded to wait until morning, but started with Leander, the Fisherman, as soon as the little sloop was ‘stored with the necessary provisions, The night was clear, and a good breeze'was blowing, and Ned ran out to sea by the upper ‘channel through the islands, which was equally as dangerous as the one in front of the Haunted Fort; but the boy knew every fathom of water near his home, as in his sail-boat he and his sister had passed hours cruising about, fishing and enjoying themselves, and thus learned while mere children, lessons that served them well in after years. *“You are a cool hand at the tiller, sir,” said the fisherman to Ned, addressing him with a respect which the boy commanded in spite of his youth. ‘* Experience has taught me to be cool,” was the modest answer; and to the admiration of Leander the youth ran his vessel through the dangerous gantlet of reefs and islands, “This craft is a goer, Leander,” said Ned, greatly pleased with the behavior of his little vessel. “Yes, sir; she sails like a witch,” and then, as though feeling that be had made an unfor- *tunate comparison, he hastened to add: ** What is her name, sir?” *The Sea Sorceress is the name that Lieu- ‘tenant Elmore gave her, and I do not care to ‘change it.” “It is a good name, sir—but there is a breaker just ahead,” and Leander pointed to where the water was foaming violently, as though washing upon a sunken reef, ‘Let me show you something about what you vcall a breaker,” said Ned, and he held on, as before, straight for the foaming waters, which covered a space of fifty feet wide, while upon either side the sea was comparatively calm. ‘Don’t you see the breaker, sir? It dashes upon a sunken reef,” said Leander, as the bow- sprit of the sloop was almost over the caldron of the waters. “Yes, I see it,” and the next instant the yacht was rocking in the rough waves, while, to the astonishment and joy of the fisherman, she did not strike, as he had expected, hard upon a sunken rock. / “See, Leander, this rough water happens to be the channel, for on each side, not the length of this craft away, are sunken reefs, “nis is what I wished to show yon, for there is no bottom here, that I ever could find with a fi'ty-fathom line, while there is not five feet of water yonder over the reefs. “My sister Nora and myself fcund this out three years ago; but what makes the water so wild here I cannot understand.” Once out at sea, the sloop went bounding - along on her way; but as the wind was ahead and she had to tack, it was dawn before they » came in sight of the fisherman’s island. _- At last, shortly after sunset, the sloop ran into a little cove, Leander now being at the _ helm, and as Ned sprung on shore he was met - by Nora, who, with a glad cry, rushed into his arms. “Nora, my sister!” “Ned, my noble brother!” 2 ve Pa ea id tpi It was all that they said for some moments, for their hearts were full. She had seen the sloop coming, and recoz- nized it, while bitter memories swept over her, as the same little vessel had been the one in which Lieutenant Elmore had made many a visit to the cove near the Haunted Fort, where she was wont to meet him. With a glass banded her by the good wife of the fisherman, she had recognized her brother, and she wondered how it was that he came in the Elmore yacht, ‘*Ob, Ned, Iam so glad to meet you again,” said Nora, after a few moments of silence, Ned gazed upon her with joy, and answered: ‘* And we are so happy to know that you are yg Nora, after your fearful fall from the cliff.’ She colored quickly, but remained silent, for his words led her to believe, as he had intended they should, that it was believed that she had fallen from the cliff, instead of having deliber- ately attempted to take her own life. ‘* Oh! it was terrible, Ned, and I have suffered so all this long time since, though all here have been most kind to me.” ‘¢ Well, Nora, your sufferings are ended now, for you return home with me,” and Ned gazed into the lovely, though pale face of his sister, and thought how soon the roses would come back to her cheeks. “Oh! I almost dread to go back to that cot- tage,” said Nora, remembering how happy she had been there, and how the one who hed made her life joyous bad cruelly deserted her. ‘We won’t go back to the cottage, Nora, but to a grand house, for we are rich now,” and Ned spoke with an air of excusable pride, ‘Rich, Ned?’ asked Nora, opening wide her beautiful eyes. ** Yes, and I’}l tell you all about it as we sail homeward; but now Jet us go and see the kind people who have taken such good care of you, and I have a purse of gold bere for them, and a bundle of clothing mother sent you.” The fisherman had hastened up to his cot and quickly told the news of his visit, and the hope that himself and shipmates would get a berth on a privateer. Then his wife set about preparing as good a breakfast as her larder could afford, and a pleasant party sat down to the meal, while Ned handed over the purse of gold to the good woman, and some stores which his mother had sent by him, Early in the forenoon the yacht started on her return, four of the fishermen besides Lean- der accompanying her. Nora had dressed herself in some of the cloth- ing brought by her brother, and already looked better, the prospect of soon being with those who loved her cheering her greatly. On the way back Ned told the story of his father’s return, and Nora wept with joy, for most devoted had she been to him, and bitterly had she mourned his loss, ‘Oh, Ned! we will be so happy, now,” she said in a low, earnest tone, But, as she uttered the words, out from be- hind a pine-clad island glided a vessel-of-war, and a shot was sent flying over the deck of the little yacht as a signal for her to lay to. CHAPTER VIII. THE WRECK. “I's a Britisher, as 1 live!” cried Leander, as his face paled, when he beheld the strange vessel, “Yes, her rig is English, though she flies the American flag,” answered Ned, calmly, as he headed his sloop in toward a group of islands. Just then came another shot from the war- vessel, which passed uncomfortably near over the heads of those on the yacht, ‘*She’s in earnest for us to lay to,” said Ned, “Yes, sir, and you don’t look as though you intended to take her hints,” responded a frank- faced fisherman who was one ot the crew, ** Not unless I am compelled to, will I,” and Ned glanced at his sister with a look that plainly said to the fishermen that his sister was the one that kept bim from running the hottest fire that the vessel could pour upon him. It was a large sloop-of-war, carrying a heavy armament and a full crew, ard in spite of her flying the American flag, Ned was sure that she was a British vessel, Nora had elso understood the look of her brother, that it referred to her, and sbe said pluckily: ““ Now Ned, you know well what captivity to a British vessel means, from ali we have heard from those who have been prisoners, so I would say hold on under all circumstances,” ““You are a brave girl, Nora; but he. may knock us out of the water.” ‘‘Then we can swim ashore to the island,” answered the girl. ‘¢' Yes, and then we would have a mile and a half to swim to the mainland,” ‘“‘I can make it with a little help, if I get tired, for I am not so weak as I look, having bathed in the surf daily of late. ‘*Den’t mind me, Ned, but run for it.” “Ah! Ihave an idea! Here, Leander, take the tiller while I get an English flag that is in the cabin.” Ned ran down into the cabin and soon re- turned with a British flag, which he ran up to the peak just as a third shot came from the ves- sel, which was now in full chase. As soon as the colors fluttered out the Eng- lishman hauled down the Stars and Stripes, and ran up the British flag, at the same time firing a gun that was not shotted, “Aha! Mister Britisher, that made you show vourself as you are,” cried Leander, and turn- ing to Ned he continued: ‘** Now, sir, we’ve got to run for it, or our friends won’t see us until the end of the war.” *“T shall run for it, Leander, so haul dowy those colors and run up the Stars and Stripes, was the bold reply. ‘* Ah, but is will make him hot to see how wé found him out,” cried Leander, and, as thougy to prove his words, a moment after the sloop of-war luffed sharp, and sent a broadside flying after the little vessel. Over them, about them, dashing the spray over them came the iron balls, but not a shot touched the Sea Sorceress. ‘* Bravo! we were not bit that time, and may we have the same at the next broadside,” cried Ned cheerily. ‘*Brother, we cannot escape them if we hold on, for in this rough sea the yacht staggers, while the large vessel does not mind it, and is gaining fast,” said Nora. * Yes, sis, that is true; but I intend to hold on to see if I can reach yonder stretch of beach on the island, ana then, if they have not given up the chase, I shall run her ashoro.” ‘* Just like you, my brave Ned,” said Nora. ‘*Tt will be better than becoming prisoners, Nora, and we can escape with you to the main- land if they pursue us upon the isjand.” The fishermen crew of the yacht seemed to think that this was the best plan, and they gloried in the boy’s pluck, which made him wreck his vessel and take such a hazardous way of escaping his foe. But the sloop-of-war was determined that the little vessel should not escape, and crowded on every stitch of canvas in pursuit. Her commander evidently suspected that the skipper of the yacht was running for some channel in the island chain, and he called away several boat crews to be ready to continue the chase, should they seek refuge in a retreat where the sloop-of-war could not follow them, Again and again the guns sent their shots flying after the little Sea Sorceress, now and then coming dangerously near, but yet missing, to the great joy of those on board. At last Ned found bimself just off the small stretch of beach, his helm was put hard uP, and the Sorceress darted away like an afrow befors the wind, while the sea was whitened by the iron hail of a broadside sent from the British vessel, and right in the spot which the little craft had just left. . A cheer broke from the fishermen at their es- cape, while Ned turned his gaze upon his enemy, “She is sending boats, for she divines our purpose,” he said, It was true, for the Englishman had quickly luffed up and lowered away a couple of boats filled with men, and they came dashing on in chase, while the sloop continued firing at the yacht in an endeavor to cripple her, ‘Stand ready, all! Into the sea, men! Now, Nora, spring with me!” The command came from the Boy Skipper, in his clear voice, and, as the little yacht was about to dash upon the beach, under full sail, those on board sprung overboard into the surf, A mighty breaker carried’ the doomed craft high upon its bosom upon the beach, and it came to a sudden halt with a crash that shiv- ered her timbers to atoms, sent her mast over her bows upon the sand, and she became a wreck, With strong strokes her crew reached the shore, Nora striking out boldly with the rest and land- ing by the side of her brother, ‘Come, we must lose no time, for the boats are upon us almost,” cried Ned, and the party started at a quick pace across the island.
Page 6
es. ripe . The Sea Sorceress, CHAPTER IX. A FOE’S FRIENDSHIP. WHEN the party from the wrecked yacht reached the other shore they found it rocky and precipitous, and were forced to go along the coast in search of a place where they could in safety reach the water. This took time, and upon coming ey from a point where they had hoped to find a spot where they could gain the water, they saw their pursuers coming across the island. There were over a score of them, and upon their shoulders they carried a boat, while an officer led them at a quick pace. “That young officer is determined not to let us escape, lads, and we can only surrender,” said Ned, as he saw the boat and the ardent pursuit of their foes. ‘Halt or we fire!” cried the English officer, as he caught sight of the fugitives. But they had already come to a stand-still, realizing the hopelessness of their effort to es- cape, and stood awaiting the approach of their ursuers, Nora leaning upon the arm of her rother, Approaching, aud his eyes falling upon Nora, the young officer raised his cap politely, and sald: ‘* Ah! I have a fair prisoner itseems; but who commands this party?” “*T do, sir,” said Ned quietly. “‘Tndeed! you are young for a commander, and one who has led us such a daring chase. ‘¢ But are these all that were upon the yacht?” * They are, sir.” ‘*T hope our fire did you no harm, and, had we known there was a lady on board, we would never have fired.” ‘My sister took the chances with the rest of us, sir, and fortunately none of us were burt; but may I ask what is your intention regarding us? ‘““You are Americans, of course?’ *¢'Yes, sir.” “Tn the service of your country?” “T am, sir, or was, on a vessel-of-war that was captured, but my comrades are simply fishermen.” ‘¢T am sorry, but I must carry you on board the vessel and let my commander say what is to be done with you.” sh You are the stronger, sir, and we can but obey. ‘““From your determined flight, and the char- acter of your craft, which we saw was a yacht, we supposed you carried some important per- sonage or Government dispatches on board, so were determined to capture you at all haz ards. ‘‘T am sorry, miss, for the inconvenience and alarm we bave put you to,” and the officer turned to Nora, while a young middy muttered to another regarding the maiden: “Lovely as a picture, though a trifle pale and sad-looking.” “She is a beauty, and looks as though she had been ill,” returned the other in the same low none while in response to the officer, Nora said: ‘‘-You caused me no alarm, sir, and the in- convenience I fear my brother and his crew must suffer even more than I.” “You look pale and tired; may I offer my arm to the boat?” said the officer, ‘No, thank you; my brother will aid me,” and the party started upon the return for re beach, the British seamen carrying their at, ' Arriving there they launched it, and with their prisoners, started upon their return to the vessel, which was lying to off-shore awaiting the ag back of the boats sent after the fugi- tives. As they ascended to the deck of the British vessel, all eyes were turned upon them with evident curiosity; and seeing a lady among the captives, the captain of the sloop-of-war ad- vanced politely to meet them, But as he did so his eyes fell upon Ned, who caught his glance, and the recognition was mutual, for the Englishman said quickly: ‘*What! my gallant boy pilot, is ic you that I have captured? “From my heart I regret that I have given you all this trouble,” and he held out his hand Ned, who presented Nora, and then the two were invited into the elegant cabin of the ves- sel, and the captain called for wine and refresh- ments. Turning to Nora he said earnestly: “T assure you I little dreamed that I was turning my guns upon a lady, and also one who once proved himself a true friend to me, for your brother swam off one night, when I was ip Mer lying off his home becalmed and a storm threat- ening, and piloted me to safety. ‘“‘T did not command this vessel then, and never would have done so but for him, for we would all have been lost that night; and you may feel assured I owe himaservice I can never Ris Sh é ed did not think it necessary to explain to the Englishman that when he so boldly swam out to save bis vessel he thought she was an American cruiser, but he said: ‘*T must thank you, sir, fora vopre of gold which I found in my pocket, and it served me well, I assure you. But as I then refused to accept money for my services I must doso now, and beg that you allow me toreturn the indebt- edness as soon as I can do so,” “Certainly, if you wish it so; but let me re- lieve your minds at once and say that I will cruise down off your home and land you, while Iam sorry that I caused you to wreck your pretty pleasure craft; but toa certain it car- ried some high dignitary of the American Gov- ernment, or dispatches of importance, as you paid no attention to my shots. “‘T can account for if now, when I am aware that you were her commander, my gallant young friend.” As the British commander intended to set his prisoners free, returning them to their home, the sloop-of-war was put for the Haunted Fort channel under easy sail, for Ned did not care to land until after nightfall, as he feared busy tongues would at once make harm of it. CHAPTER X. THE ARREST. As Nora was still weak from her long illness, the British commander, upon hearing the story of how she came to be on board the yacht, at once said: ‘‘ Now, Miss Evans, I will send for our act- ing surgeon, who is also the young lieutenant who captured you, as our man of medicine was lost overboard in a storm some nights since, and fortunately Sir Lucien Lonsdale having studied medicine for his own pleasure, is able to.take his place. “You doubtless found Sir Lucien a. gentle- man, and ever will do so,” and, although Nora hae phar the captain insisted and the same andsome young lieutenant, who had so per- sistently' pursued them, came in to see the young girl, and soon gave her the medicines which she really needed to build her up. At sunset the vessel-of-war came in sight of Fort Cliff, and an hour after dark lay to off- shore, while a boat was ordered alongside to send the party, who had become guests, rather than prisoners, on shore, Lieutenant Sir Lucien went in charge of the boat, and seemed most attentive to Nora, who could not but appreciate his unpresuming kind- ness, shown her in many little ways. Ned took the helm to run through the chan- nel, and the night being dark and blustering, the seas were falling with terrific roar upon the reefs and rugged edges of the island, causing the Englishmen to admire the cool courage of the boy as he guided the Jaunch through the numerous dangers that beset its way. Arriving in the barborage between the isl- ands, Ned wanted to land on the nearest shore: but Lieutenant Lonsdale insisted that the fatigus of the walk home would be too great for Nora, and said that he would go right on to the river dock. For Nora’s sake then Ned said no more, and the launch soon after arrived at the pier in the river, Riverview Mansion loomed up grandly back on the hillside, and lights were visible in many of its windows, as though the captain and his wife were waiting to welcome home their long-lost daughter. Fancying the young Englishman, and not for- getful of courtesy, Ned invited him up to the mansion; but Sir Lucien would not intrude upon the happy reunion, and, after giving Nora some more advice as to her health, and the medicines to take, which he had carefully pre- pared for her, be raised his eap in farewell, Instantly she held out her hand and he warm- ly grasped it with the low words: ‘We shall meet again.” ‘‘Leander, you go up with my sister to the mansion, while I run the boat back through the channel. ‘« Sis, Pll soon be back, and tell father not to forget to look after Leander and bis shipmates,” called out Ned, as he returned with the English officer to his boat. ““It-is a shame to take you away from your home at such a time,” said Sir Lucien.” “Oh, no, for I will soon be back,” and taking a small surf-skiff in tow, to return in, Ned once more took his place at the tiller of the launch, and gave the order, in seamanlike tones; ‘* Give way, lads!” Out of the river glided the launch, urged. by its twelve oars, which Ned had asked to kave muffled, so as not to attract attention, and pass- ing through the island and reef channels, was soon after alongside of the sloop-oi-w ar. The night had now come on to be stormy, the waves were running wild, and the English com- mander and lieutenant urged Ned to remain on board all night, and not attempt to run back in his little skiff. But he made light of the danger, and, having borrowed the money from Leander, who had his purse of gold along which had been giver. his wife, as he intended to buy stores af the vil- lage, Ned gave it to Sir Lucien to hand to bis captain, saying simply: “This will square a little debt Iowe your commander.” Then, with a wave of his tarpaulin, Ned raised his tiny sail, and went flying away on his rup homeward. Safely he went through the channels and ar- rived at the river dock. With a light heart he sprung on shore and started to join those at the mansion whom he knew to be anxiously awaiting his return. But hardly hud he taken a dozen steps, when out from behind a row of cedars, sprung two men, and he was seized in a grip which he could not shake off. ““What does this mean, Constable Drake?” cried Ned angrily, as he recognized in the dark- ness the village officer and his deputy. “Tt means, my young gamecock, that you will get your neck stretc ed for being a spy for the Britishers. ‘Ob! we have watched you, and we can prove what we say. ‘Come along quiet now, or we’ll drag you.” Ned said nothing inreply. His heart was full, and it almost crushed him to feel the irons upon his wrists. To resist, he knew would be useless, and, though he was well aware that a loud call for help would bring bis father and Leander and his fishermen to his aid, he refrained from doing so, as he felt that the result would be that they would get into trouble. So he remained silent and passive, and was taken off by the officers who told bim that they would give bim quarters in the village jail. CHAPTER XI. ACCUSED OF TREACHERY. Nep was not one to bewail his fate, though he was a boy in years, and his captors had not the satisfaction of seeing him made wretched when they placed him in a cell at the village jail. Disappointed at not hearing the boy beg to be et go, or ask regarding his fate, Constable Drake said rudely: ‘“Now, boy, this is the cell where your mother passed some time when she was up for a witeh, and the devil came here and released her; but I guess you won’t be that lucky. ‘““They say as how your pa has come home awful rich and bought out Judge Elmore; but bis money won’t save you, for you have been spying for the Britishers and that’s hanging, that is.” ‘* You lie, Constable Drake, and you know it, when you call me a spy,” said Ned. “Oh! you may talk, for that is cheap, but you won't talk enough to get off this time, for you are a deserter and a spy.” Ned laughed lightly to show his indifference and responded: “* Do you know why I think you arrested me to-night?” “ No.” ‘To make money.” ‘“* Well, boy?” “You thought, as my father had returned home rich, you would make me beg off by pay- ing you a large sum; but you don’t know me, old man, for Iam innocent of wrong and shall take the consequences.” The constable muttered an oath at havin been so clearly read by the boy and left the vale which was nothing more than a strongly-built room upon the upper floor of the little jail, which during the troublous war-times had been garrisoned by a company of home troops. A guard was placed at the door of Ned’s room, to whom he handed a note, accompanied by a gold piece, with a request that he would send it to his father at Riverview marsion,’so Dag a 7% mA ha qe fe hb F g ; Ac. 4 4 : . ee". 7 +7 a fit ee
Page 7
that they would not believe that he had been lost in returning from the English vessel. The guard called up a comrade, gave him a piece of silver, while he pocketed the gold-piece, and told him to mount a horse and ride over to Riverview mansion with the note, and thej re- sult was that Captain Evans and Leander put in an appearance at the jail shortly after dawn. Going to the superior officer, Captain Evans hg what was the meaning of his son’s ar- rest, Knowing the wealth of the new master of Riverview, the officer treated him with respect, and explained that there was a very serious charge against his son, ** And what is that charge, sir?’ : “it is the charge of being a British spy, sir, “te ame Evans turned pale and said in angry nes: * You are a lot of fools, whodo not know an honest boy when you see one. ** Who are my son’s accusers?” ** Constable Drake and his deputy had war- rants to arrest him as a deserter from Lieutenant Elmore’s schooner-of-war, on board of which he was a cabin-boy. “*In their search for him they discovered that he was in communication with a British vessel off the coast, and they arrested him both as a deserter and a spy.” ff They have their charges to prove, Sir Of- cer, “They say that they have the proof and will produce it at the trial.” ‘* When is he to be tried?” ‘As soon as Lieutenant Elmore can be brought here from Boston, for he is a witness against him.” “Then within a week the trial will take place?” ** Yes, sir.” * I suppose that I can see my son?” No, sir; you cannot, I am sorry tosay.” With an imprecation upon fools in general, Captain Evans turned away to seek Constable Drake. But that worthy could not be found, and the captain was forced to return to his home and report to his wife and daughter what he had discovered, and also to let them know that he feared Ned was ina very bad scrape, for no one in the village seemed at all friendly to him. CHAPTER XII. THE TRIAL, Tue village where Ned the Boy Skipper was to be tried for his life was a place half-seaport, half-country, and its denizens were not remark- able for any very great degree of intelligence, though they were a good, honest people in their ay. In those days superstition held considerable sway, and Ned, as the son of a woman who had been know as Elsie the Witch, need expe § little favor from the half-soldier, half-sailor militia company that were to be his judges. It is true all knew that Elsie, the Witch of the Haunted Fort, had eels become a changed woman, throwing aside her weird attire and ways for a dress more becoming to her position as the wife of Captain Norcross Evars and the mistress of Riverview Mansion, But there were many who believed that Elsie had conjured up the luck for herself, and still “looked upon her with awe and superstitious dread. From the time of Ned’s capture by the con- stable, the officers of the militia company swelled up with importance, and the capturer became a hero in the eyes of the community, It was certain that he did have papers of ar- rest for Ned as a deserter from the navy, and his zeal had enabled him to fasten upon *he dade serious charge, as a spy for the ritish, and, young as was the accused, there were those who were willing to take oath that he would hang, if found guilty, and that he would be proven innocent no one believed, after Constable Drake had said that he would prove his accisation against him. As it was feared that an attempt would be made to rescue Ned, from the fact that a num- ber of strange fishermen had come to the the sei a double guard had been placed over e jail. But no such an attempt was made, and the day of triail.came round and the boy prisoner was still sate in the clutches of his enemies. The trial was to be held in the town hall, and the village was crowded to overflowing with people from the adjacent country. As it was time, the local authorities yielded to the military, and a court martial of officers CAS eae y a 2) ~ “ — de ete verte tor NTS ATT) CMT RPS Pa Le Le See ee SaaS The Sea Sorceress. was already called upon the case, and the wit- nesses were ready to give their testimony. Captain Evans, his wife and Nora were early on hand, and although Mrs. Evans looked little like the woman they had known as Elsie the Witch, the crowd stood in awe of her, and freely allowed the little party to pass on to good seats in the front. Then the major, who was to be the judge took his seat, tne officers of the court-martia came in, the prisoner was led to his seat before his accusers, and the trial was begun. Ned was calm as a man, bowed pleasantly to his parents and sister, glanced indifferently over the crowded room, and then turned his gaze upon the witnesses. ‘*Your name is Ned Norcross, boy?” began the major, in a pompous manner, meant to awe the youth, But the reply was prompt: ‘You are mistaken; my name is Ned Evans.” ‘Ah! yet you were once known as Ned Nor- cross,” “Yes, it was my father’s Christian name, and my mother assumed it to escape from her foes, who sought to destroy her that they might en- joy the fortune they would inherit by her death!” ** Aha! your mother is the one whom they called, hereabout, Elsie the Witch?” ‘Yes, because my mother’s sorrows and suf- ferings had affected her mind and she acted somewhat strangely, a lot of superstitious fools called her a witch,’’ was the sharp reply, and it struck home to many. ‘‘ Well, as there is no doubt as to your iden- tity, boy, I will go on to ask you other ques- tions.” ‘I am ready, sir, to answer any question you wish to ask.” ‘*Then tell me if you were ever in the United States navy?” ‘J was, and suppose I am yet.” ‘* You shipped in the service?” phil PS bo Ps “Where?” ‘*Tn Baltimore,” “Tn what capacity?” “That of cabin boy.” On what vessel?’ “The brig-of-war, Boxer.” ‘‘ Why did you desert from her?” ‘**T did not desert from her,” ‘You left her?” ‘*T was ordered from the Boxer, with a num- ber of others, to go as a crew upon a schooner- of-war just fitted out at Portland.” ‘** ‘You made your mark as a seaman upon that vessel’s papers then?” ‘Oh no, for I am not so ignorant as that, thanks to my good mother, so I wrote my name,” ‘You can write then?” * Certainly, sir.” ‘*Who commanded that schooner-of-war?” ‘* Lieutenant Elmore.” **Do you see him in this room?” ‘*T do not,” ‘Had you ever seen him before the day he sailed in the schooner as commander?” “T had not, nor did I see him on that dav, for I was sick in my bammock when the schooner sailed, and we were off this coast when I got up. ‘¢ The schooner ran into the river haven that night, I believe?” ‘Yes, sir, I piloted her in.” SOs ‘Yes, sir.” ‘* Why, you were cabin boy on board.” **T was pilot that nigbt, for we were chased by an English sloop-of-war and would have been captured had we not run into the river harbor, so, as I knew the channel, I ran her in.” This was evidently news to many present, and the major glanced at a letter he held in his hand and said: “Thave here a letter from Lieutenant El- more, who was unable to appear as witness against you, and he does not speak of you as other than a cabin boy.” - Paha hy should he?” was the blunt question of ed, ‘‘ He says,” and the major read aloud from the letter. “**The boy you speak of is the same who was with e ‘*** He was cabin boy on the schooner, and desert- ed the night we reached the river haven. “*Tf, as you say, he has been discovered to be a British spy, he is without doubt, the one who piloted the sloop-of-warin that captured my vessel, and I heard from a seaman that he was really the Eng- lishman’s pilot. ‘**Tf found guilty, he should certainly be hanged, and his fate will be an example and warning to oth- ers along the Maine coast who can be too e bribed by gold to aid our foes.” ‘Now this is whcé the lieutenant says, and. you can see that his testimony is sadly against ou. a Yes, sir, I see it is,” said Ned with a smile. ‘Tt seems to please you,” angrily said the major, nettled at the boy’s indifference. ‘*T do not care one way or the other.” “You will when this trial is over.” ‘*Tf it is decided that I am guilty beforehand, why try me?’ came the pat question, and the major and bis officers winced under the shot, and Constable Drake was called as a witness against the young sailor, CHAPTER XIII. THE CONFESSION, “ConsTABLE DRAKB, who is this prisoner?” asked the major, when that officer had taken the witness stand. ‘* He’s a boy terror, your honor, that is known as Cabin Boy Ned, the Boy Skipper, and the Pilot of the Isles; but his real name, as I knows him, is Ned Norcross, or Evans.” ‘You have held a warrant for his arrest for some little time, I believe?” ** Yes, sir.” **On what charge?” ‘*Desertion from the great American navy, your honor.” ‘* And you arrested him on this charge?” **] arrested him on my papers for desertion, sir; but I have another charge to make against him, which is worse than deserting his ship.” ‘Well, sir, what charge is it you have to make?” “T accuse him of being a British spy.” ‘*TIndeed! Will you state upon what grounds you make this very serious charge?” **T will tell you, sir, “Me and Pindar, my deputy, your honor, has been looking for the boy for some time, and tother night, sir, we was watching up near bis new home, where Judge Elmore once lived, ou know, and we seen a large launch come into the river, “We had previously noticed a Britisber coming along the coast before dark, and seen bis lights as he lay to off the Graveyard Reefs. ‘Well, sir, Pindar and me run down to the Riverview pier, and from the bushes where we hid, we seen the prisoner talking to the officer of the boat, “Then they got into the launch, and with the boy’s surf-skiff in tow, went out of the river. ** After some time the boy came back alone in his skiff, and so we just seized him.” ‘““You are sure the vessel was an English craft?’ asked the major. ‘Yes, sir, certain; for we seen her the next day, when she went in chase of an American privateer that hove in sight.” Pindar, the deputy, then gave his evidence, which was the same as that given by the con- stable, and then the major turned to the young risoner with the air of a man who had made up is mind that the boy was guilty, and there was nothing too bad to accuse him of. ‘* Well, young sir, you have heard the testi- mony of ‘these honorable gentlemen against you, so what have you to say against it?” asked the major. ‘*T have to say that appearances seem to be against me, sir; but I can explain all,” was the calm reply. ‘*T do not see how.” “Am I to be permitted to say a word in my own defense?” “Certainly, for we hold the seales of justice here, and we are, like Justice, blind.” ‘‘Then, sir, to begin, I will say that I asked permission of Lieutenant Elmore to visit my mother, upon arriving in the river; but, although I bad saved his vessel, he refused, and even rudely refused when be knew who I was. ‘He went on shore then, and I asked the second officer, but he too was forced to refuse, as Lieutenant Elmore had given orders that no one was to leave the ship. ““T knew that the schooner was to sail at dey- light, and that there was no telling how Jong it would /be before I could again see my mother and sister. “T bad run off to sea, and I wished to beg their forgiveness. ‘*T had just saved the schooner, and the lives of all, and yet was refused permission to go ashore, and it burt me, ‘So, as I was allowed to turn in for the night, I determined to go home, and be back before daybreak. + tee
Page 8
& **Y slipped over the side into the river, and 6wam ashore. “Then I ran te my home to find my sister, as all supposed ‘then, to be dead, and as she was believed by my mother to have been murdered by Lieutenant Elmore, for his act drove her to attempt suicide, as all now know, so [ need not keep it secret, I could not return to his vessel, oile his refusal to permit me to go to my home, when he knew who I was, I then understood. ‘Before dawn the English vessel was piloted by some one into the river and captured the American schoone™ while her commander, who was on shore, alone escaped.” ‘Were you that vessel’s pilot?’ asked the major. “T was not.” ** Do you know who it was?” All breathlessly awaited the reply, for though some believed that the boy had been the Eng- lishman’s pilot, many more did not so believe, and not one suspected Elsie of having been Calm and pale she sat between her husband and daughter, her gaze riveted upon her son, Once she was almost tempted to arise and state that she had urged him to be the pilot of the English vessel to get revenge upon Lieutenant Elmore, and that, he refusing, she had herself acted as the pilot; but her husband restrained her, saying in a low tone; “Be calm. Elsie, for one is enough, in our small circle, to be under the ban now,” “Do you know who was the traitor that brought that British vessel in to capture Lieu- tenant E]more’s schooner?’ repeated the major, ** T do know who was the pilot.” A deathlike silence fell upon all present at this confession. ‘““Who was the traitor?” cried the judge, in angry tones, after a pause and silence that was painful. “The person was no traitor.” * Who was he, I asked?” **T will not tell you.” * Ha! you refuse?” pe: ORY “You insult this august court-martial of hon- orable and distinguished gentlemen and officers?” cried the military judge, working himself into 2 rage * IT mean no insult in refusing, sir, «| simply decline to answer your question.” **T demand it,” * And I still refuse,” was the cool reply. “You confess that you know?” ** Yes, sir.” “Then, gentlemen, this confession will con- demn this prisoner without other charges being made against him,” almost savagely said the major, turning toward the officers of the court- martial CHAPTER XIV THE STRANGE WITNESS. Parpon me, but 1 do not intend that this ghall be a one-sided trial to hang a boy. * He is entitled to a full hearing, and to wit- nesses in his own behalf.” The clear voice of the speaker fell like a thun- derbolt upon all, especially the court-martial. All eyes were turned upon him, and the major slightly winced under the charge that he was trying to hang a boy. ‘“*Who are you, sir, that dares interrupt this g@ugust court?’ he cried, though he knew well who it was. “Tam one, sir, who sought to see that poor boy in prison, and was refused. ‘I am one who has here in this room eminent fawyers from Boston and Portland watching your criminal management of this trial, and my name is Norcross Evans,” The words were delivered in clear, measured tones, and the major turned pale and glanced quickly over the assemblage to see those ‘‘ emi- gent lawyers,” He had noticed strangers present whom he was fairly paralyzing by his importance; but uow he felt small when he discovered that they were sitting in judgment upon his conduct of éhe trial. He knew that Captain Evans was rich, very mich, and bad certain influence with Govern- ment, for he had obtained a commission as a seo hpacie captain, and he was alarmed that he ad allowed his dread and hatred of Elsie the Witch, with a desire for self-aggrandisement to earry him to such extremes against a boy, who, after all might be innocent, in spite of appear- ances against him. To use a homely, but old and appropriate ex- ression, the major was thoroughly seared, and etermined to ‘‘ crawfish,” so he sa d quietly: The Sea Sorceress. ““T do not wonder, Captain Evans, that you take deep interest in your son, but he has got- ten himself into an awkward box, and we must not let him escape, if guilty.” “ No, sir, if guilty, | would myself many him to the yard-arm of my own vessel, son though he be of mine ‘‘But he is not guilty of the crimes you charge him with, and I demand that he be allowed to tell his own story.” An applause greeted these words, which showed that the tide was turning in behalf of the hitherto friendless boy. ‘¢ He shall give what testimony he likes. ‘¢ Arise, Master Ned, and explain your being with the officer of a Bricish vessel-of-war the other night,” and the major turned upon Ned with a smile that was meant to be patronizing and kind, but which missed the mark sadly, “Tf you wish a witness to state that I was not the pilot of the British vessel in to attack the schooner, my mother can testify that I vis- ited her that night in her cottage and never left the shore.” ‘¢ Your mother, the—” But the major did not speak the word, witch, that was upon his tongue, for he caught the eye of Captain Evans. ‘Yes, sir, my mother,” repeated Ned. “ Ah, yes; well, madam, may I ask you, under oath, you know, if your son was the pilot of the Englishman that night?” ‘“ He was not, sir,” said Mrs, Evans calmly, “Ah! and may I ask, under oath, remember, if you know who was?” “T believe that lam not on trial,” was the contemptuous remark of Mrs. Evans, and the major flushed, and again turned to Ned. ‘“Now, sir, the question is, what were you doing with the English officer?” “T Jeft my home, sir, on a yacht, to go after my sister, who had been ill for a long time at an island up the coast. “ Returning,:we were chased by an English vessel, a sloop of-war, and to escape, I beached my craft, “ But we were hotly tee by a party in boats and captured, and the English commander was kind enough to bring us off our home and land us. ‘‘He sent his launch ashore with us, and I piloted the boat out through the channel, re- turning in my surf-skiff. “That, sir, is the story of my being a British spy, as Constable Drake tries to make me out, and of which you would never have heard, any more than of my being a deserter, had I bribed the constable and his deputy to release me.” “The Lord forgive bim,” groaned Constable Drake, while Pindar fervently gasped. “ Amen!’ ‘ ‘‘Have you witnesses that the British com- mander captured and released you as stated?” asked the major. **T have.” ** Who are they?” ‘* My sister and the fishermen from the islands, who were with me on the yacht.” ‘Ah! will you testify to the case as stated by our brother, miss?” and the major turned to ora, and observing her beauty mentally ob- served. ‘Pretty as a satin slipper, and rich, too, TI guess, Major Ezra Norton, you bave made a mistake in pushing the boy, for you are not too old to marry yet.” Then he smiled his sweetest, which, however, was but a grin, and waited for Nora’s reply. ‘“‘The facts are as my brother bas stated, sir,” she said in her soft, musical voice. ** Aha! thank you, miss. ‘‘T will accept your testimony as verbatim, without seeking to question the fishermen on this point, but, not being with your brother, Miss Evans, when he returned with the English officer, you cannot give an account of what then occurred, and that is when Constable Drake swears, yes, swears, that he boarded the Englishman, and, aJone as he then was, gave testimony of a detrimental character regarding our glorious Government and country.” The major glanced around for an approval, feeling that he had made a few clinching and eloquent remarks, and turning to bis colleagues he held a short conversation with them, the re- sult of which was that he said: ‘This court-martial would be glad to find the prisoner guiltless of the charges against him, but, it being asserted by an officer of the law that he returned on board the British vessel and there remained some. time, it bas the ap- pearance of guilt, and nothing short of a reli- able witness from the said British vessel, swear- ing in his favor, could clear the accused of this re serious accusation, for which we will be bound to hold him as guilty.” ‘Permit me to testify in the behalf of young Evans, sir, and to the falsity of the charge made against him by those narrow-minded offi- cers of the law.” At the first words of the speaker Nora Evans uttered a low, startled cry and Ned’s face be- came very pale. ; Upon bim every eye was riveted, and other than the young prisoner and his sister, no one seemed to recognize him, unless it was some few of a group of women over in the corner of the room, ‘““Who are you, sir, for you are an utter stranger to this court?’ asked the major, fixing his eyes upon the strange witness, CHAPTER XV. A SAILOR’S SACRIFICE, Tue stranger was a tall man, elegantl formed, and attired in an undress naval unl- form. His face was darkly bronzed by exposure frank, fearless, and the features were refine and well cut, while he had about him the air of one ‘‘ to the manor born,” His eyes were dark-blue, his hair wavy and golden, and his face was beardless, as was the fashion of that time. As he advanced toward the major’s seat, Ned arose and made a sign, as though in warning to him, but unheeding it, and with a pleasant smile, the stranger walked up to the witness- stand, where had stood the constable and his deputy in giving their testimony. ‘Who are you, may I ask, sir?” repeated the major, gazing with considerable deference upon the stranger, whose mien certainly commanded respect, “‘T am a witness, sir, in behalf of that gallant Boy Skipper,” was the reply. “* What have you to say in his favor, sir?” ‘*T have to say that the man who accuses him of being a traitor to his country, utters a lie in his false throat,” was the ringing reply, amd the words created a sensation. “This is strong language, sir,” said the major, standing in a certain awe of the witness. “Tr is the truth.” “You are in a position to know, sir?” “ T am,” ‘¢-You are a naval officer, sir?” ‘¢T am a sailor and an officer, sir, holding the rank of first lieutenant,” was the cool reply. ; “Then your testimony is worthy of credence sir. “T certainly never have bad my word doubted.” ‘* And you assert that the boy is no traitor?” ‘¢T assert that this trial is a farce, and that some base motives have prompted his accusers et bringing the charges against him which they nave, ‘‘He was no more the pilot of the British sloop- of-war, thatranin and captured the American schooner, than I was, and be has stated wholly the truth in regard to bis chase and capture by the English vessel, and his return to run the boat out to sea again, “Not aseaman of that boat landed, though an Officer did do so to aid Miss Evans asbore, and her brother did not go on board the British vessel, but returned in 2’ bad piloted it through the channel,” ‘May I ask, sir, how you know all this?” ‘1 was an eye-witness to the entire affair.” ‘¢ Ah! as an American naval officer?” ‘No, sir, 1am an Englishman, and the senior — lieutenant on the British sloop-of war which you accuse that noble boy of going on board of as a SPY. Had the sloop-of-war sent a broadside from the sea, miles away, crashing into the Jittle town-hall, it would not have created a greater confusion than did the bold words of the Eng- lishman. ae the major could find words tospeak, he said: “‘-You are, sir—” ‘‘Sir Lucien Lonsdale, sir, a senior officer in his British majesty’s service afloat,” was the calm reply. f ** And what do you here, sir, in this free land of America?” shouted the major, and he looked as though he expected to see « party of British seamen dash into the room and whisk him off of bis judicial seat. “Two days ago, sir. while cruising along your coast, in search of a prize, we captured a fisherman, and he gave us the information that you were ahout to try the prisoner there as a traitor, for having boarded our vessel, ‘‘ Knowing his innocence, as I was the «Mcer is skiff as soon ashe |
Page 9
. z 94° EU Stints *f: ~ ie SE 20 —. 5 2soM ~ : ange Pre oie tee = . - - —_ - ee on at i? didi ei 7 Re Sean 7 “ ay ay ie x rey e Pant ayy ; AT Fou . rey + 7 ing CLE < 7 “OF res Sra vr — 4* J * *- - ~ H, 2 ; f t . * ; ta 7 re dhs ; - : : vir Lr a aoe 5) 4 " : 5 Ae The Sea, Sorceress. 9 the British officer had surrendered, to come to aid Ned by his testimony, and who had been awed by the crowd from protecting him. ‘Ho, sailors, to the rescue!” cried Ned, as he saw this support, and seizing a musket from one of the two guards over the prisoner, he moved forward, while with bim advanced the solid line of seamen, who were determined to protect the British officer, enemy though he was, This bold front scattered the crowd in all directions, and many, cooling down from their excitement, were anxious not to have been thought among the rioters, As Ned acted in self-defense, and wholly in the right, even Constable Drake dared not at- tempt te arrest him for the killing of the ring- ee who captured him and then landed him and his | alarmed and jerked away from the groom, to party, determined to save him if I could, for | run galloping about the "sip nr my informant said that you intended to hang “Ther Britisher will be strung up afore you bim, and from what I have seen of your con- | git there,” shouted Tip, and bis words caused duct of this trial, 1 do not doubt but that you | the captain to call out: did so intend. “Go, Ned, and I will follow; but do not be “T therefore landed upon an island, where | rash.” there is a fishing-hamlet, took the man with me “Ay, ay, sir,” cried Ned, and his horse who had told us the story of the prisoner’s dea away like an arrow from a bow, leaving danger, and then surrendered myself to them ip far behind. to be brought here to testify in behalf of the ike the very wind Ned rode on to the vil- youth, lage, dashed up the street, and into the back “Back there you see my fishermen guards, | yard of tbe tavern, before which a large and and you already have heard my testimony as | excited crowd had gathered. to the falsity of the charges against this gallant Ned instantly sprung to the ground, and was boy, who, willing to serve his country, is ham- | met by the host of the tavern. — and persecuted by a party of stay-at- “Glad you have come, boy, for you’ve got | leader of the mob, and Captain Evans gave him ome militia who have not the courage of the | the nerve of a dozen men. to understand that he would stand no moré opinions they flaunt so grandly.” ‘ Where’s your pa?” trifling, while he said: ‘In your hands, sir, I Jeave this prisoner, and you will do well to keep him from harm, as you will find that you will be held strictly accountable for your actions.” This cowed the constable, for he began to feel that Captain Evans was going to be a power in the land, and that he was a man to wish the friendship of, rather than the ill-will. So he said: “Tl see that be is cared for, captain, ard no harm comes to him, until I turn him over to the guard that goes with him to Boston to-morrow,” ‘‘Keep him here at the tavern, and remain with him,” ordered the captain, and turning to the English officer, he continued: ** Sir Lucien, I have to thank you, sir, for your kindness to my children while on your vessel, The major and his colleagues turned deathly “* Coming.” pale at this, and there was war in their eyes “‘ And my son Tip?” against the bold Englishman, who had certainiy *¢T distanced him; but the crowd seem wild.” won the admiration of the crowd. , “They are, and between you and me, lad, I “Well, Sir Britisher, I will take your testi- | think the major wovld just as soon see ’em mony in favor of this boy, and upon it find him | string up the Englishman, though he pretends not guilty of the charges against him; but you, | not; but you see he has got but two men to having placed yourself in our power, I shall | guard him, and he’s gone up home, hoping hold as a prisoner, and send you to Boston | they’ll hang him while he’s away.” under a strong guard where the chances are “And they’ll do it, for listen to that!” cried that you will be shot as a spy, for having come | Ned, as a loud voice shouted: into our great and glorious Jand to see what ‘‘Come, men, we lose time! let us hang the you can find out regarding us.” cursed British spy now!” ** As you please, sir; I submit myself to you as A shout greeted these words, and the crowd a prisoner of war,” was the calm reply of the | moved toward the piazza of the tavern, the Englishman, and while Ned the Boy Skipper | prisoner and his guards being upon it. was set free, he was held as a captive to take As for the two guards, in spite of their flaming the chances of his noble self-sacrifice. wilitia uniform, they looked terribly fright- | and more lately for your noble self-sacrifice in ened, and held on to their muskets as though | coming to save Ned from the ugly scrape he CHAPTER XVI. they were afraid they would go off and hurt | was in.” SAILORS TO THE RESCUE, them. ““Do not speak of it, Captain Evans, for Ned has more than returned the favor, I assure you; and if he wasa British boy the king would soon send him a commission,” After conversing a short while longer with | the Englishman, Ned and the captain mounted their horses and started homeward, the latter telling Leander and his shipmates to remain in the village until the guards bad departed with their prisoner, and ordering the host of the tavern to entertain the lads with the besthe had . at his expense. “Should there be any further trouble brew- ing, Leander, send for me with all speed,” said the captain, as he rode off with his daring son, of whom he seemed so justly proud, for he re- marked warmly as they left the village: ‘“‘Ned, my boy, you did work to-day that few Nep was certainly most deeply worried at the The prisoner, however, was calm and un- turn affairs had taken, for he disliked to owe | moved, though a trifle pale, and gazed into the his escape to one who he felt would be sacri- | faces of the excited crowd with a look of per- ficed through bis noble act of friendship to save | fect fearlessness, and a sneer at their efforts to him. frighten him, He bad not expected such nobleness in a foe, Seeing how matters stood, Ned was glad to and it touched him to the heart, while Nora | discover, coming in at the back door of the was deeply moved by the Englishman’s daring | tavern, Leander the fisherman and his ship- deed to save her brother, mates, who had been on the yacht. with him, ‘*He said we would meet again; out lit’le he ‘Leander, just stand in the hall there ready dreamed then how soon it would be,” murmured | to support me, for that crowd shall not kill Sir Nora, as she drov: homeward with her parents | Lucien,” said Ned. and Ned in the carriage. ‘‘No, sir, they shall not, the cowards, and Ned had wished to remain with the British | we'll back you with our knives and hands, officer, to see what he could do for him; but his | which are all we have.” father bade him come alovg to Riverview with “They willdo— Ah! they are coming, I see!” them. and Ned sprung out upon the piazza, directly in “ But he will think that 1 have deserted him,” | front of the Englishman and his guards, and | men would dare attempt.” urged Ned. confronted the excited crowd, who were at last ‘Tam sorry, father, that I had to take life, “He will discover to the contrary when we | led on to their cowardly work by a huge fresh- | but I would have died rather than that they act,” was the caim reply of te captain. water boatman, who shouted: should have harmed that splendid man, our “Then you do intend to do something to save “Come, messmates, and help me string up | enemy though he be,” was the response of the him, father?” asked Nora, the Britisher! We have already lost too much | brave boy. «T shall start for Boston to see whatIcan do, | time.” and will see the President and lay the facts be- ‘* Back, my man, if you don’t wish to die!” CHAPTER XVII. fore him, if necessary, while the ‘wo lawyers I | cried Ned, confronting him, a pistol in one had here to look after your interest, Ned, and | hand, a cutlass in the other. ; who return in the stage this afternoon, will For an instant there was dead silence, and make their report, before the garbled state- | the crowd gazed upon the daring youth in a ments of that big-headed major arr v4,” an- | startled kind of way. swered Captain Evans, Then the huge boatman, having recovered As the carriage reached the steps les1g to from his astonishment, again advanced to the the front piazza, a horseman was seen «..wing | steps of the piazza, for be had shrunk back at at full speed along the highway borders, the the unexpected obstacle that had so suddenly river bank, and which led from the village. barred his way. ; He was urging bis horse hard, and the animal ‘What! Does you interfere, when it hain’t was covered with foam and dust. been long since you come near being strung up “Tr is Tip, the son of the tavern-keeper,” | too?” cried the boatman. / cried Ned. “‘1 do interfere, and you will find it out if you The next instant a youth dashed up to the | press me,” was the calm reply. oor. ** Come, lads, let us board the tavern and seize His face was pale, in spite of his hard exercise, | the Britisher!” yelled the riverman, who, like and it was evident that he had ridden at top | most fresh-water sailors, affected sea terms. speed all the way from the village. ‘Back all! This is no deck, but the first man “Ned! cap’n! Pasays come a-runnin’ back | who boards it, as that bully says, I will kill!” to the town, for they is stirrin’ up a riot, and cried Ned, in a voice that reached every ear. says they intends ter hang ther Britisher,” As he spoke he leveled his pistol full at the cried the youth in breathless haste. breast of the burly leader. “ Ah! who is doing this!” calmly asked the “Come, lads&he wen’t dare fire, and he’s captain. nothing but a boy,” shouted the bully, and rais- “The folks, and they is red hot ag’in’ the | ing his sheath knife threateningly he sprung Britisher, and they swears they’ll hang him.” toward the daring boy. E “Come, Ned, we must return at once, and But Ned kept his threat to the letter, for his Jose no time, so get your belt of arms and we’. | finger touched the trigger, the flash and report oe off, for that brave Englishman shall not cie | came together, and the riverman fell dead at his if we can save him. ‘ feet, ? *‘Quick, Dan, throw the saddles upon the With cries of horror the crowd shrunk back, horses.” until a voice in the rear, oat of danger, cried _ be servant addressed ran to the stables to | out: “ Avenge our leader !” _ obey, while Ned and his father hastily armed Then, with yells, they moved toward the brave themselves, and were ready for their ride by | boy once more, but again came to a sudden the time the horses were brought round. halt, as there glided out upon the piazza, from __ Ned at once sprung into the saddle, while the | the tavern hallway, Captain Evans, Leander horse Leld for the captain suddenly became | and his shipmates, and tue fishermen to whom WAYLAID BY GHOSTS, Tur excitement following the arrest of the English officer was so great that the major, who feared he had made another mistake in urging on the mob, as he really had done, was anxious to get the prisoner off his hands, so detailed an officer and two men to go in the stage with him to Boston. Major Bounce, as he was inappropriately named, did not wish to do one act to anger Cap- tain Evans any more than he had done, a the first place he admired a man who was rich. The richer a man was the more he possessed the major’s admiration, and he had taken pains to find out, and discovered that the captain was by far the wealthiest man of whose acquaint ance he had ever boasted, Then, too, he had an idea that the captain had some influence with the Government, while the host of the tavern told him that bis belief was that the new master of Riverview Mansion was secretly an officer in the United States service, “J made a mistake in pushing the boy as I did; but [ let him off so nicely that I am sure I won the co ptain’s gratitude and the admiration of bis lovely dsughter, too, ‘‘ How beautiful she is, and how she seemed to hang oe my every utterance. _ “Well, ~ he Bounce, you are not so bad-fook- ing after all,and you may some day win a pretty wife, and a rich one to boot, for there are but two children to divide the property! **Go in and win, you sly dog,” and the major gave his own ribs a punch with his Jong, bony fingers, and smiled in complacent self-cone it, The hour arrived for the departure of the stage the following afternoon, aud all of *e vils es ee ee , PS TS ete a ary ee be bate tk ' i- ; bath i Ate eit AMAT elie Sea thy OBA ih sah sas aad ei. a” , (wf
Page 10
au } i 10- The Sea Sorceress. Kita, lagers were gathered about the tavern to see the | end of the route by telling of the ghosts he had prisoner start. The major was there in full regimental uni- form, and his sword dangling about his long — nearly tripped him up several times. e looked self-important, and tried to look austere, but the effort was a failure, the stern- ness about his mouth had the appearance of one who has eaten unripe persimmons. ** Constable Drake, is your prisoner ready?” called out the major to that worthy, who stocd at an open window on the second floor of the tavern. “ He is, sir.” “Then bring him out, for my aide-de-camp and his escort are ready to receive him,” was the pompous command. The aide de-camp was a fat young man who did not have a bappy look. His uniform set in wrinkles about his body, his sword was longer than his short legs, and his hat was too small for his bullet shaped head. His escort consisted of two militiamen armed to the teeth, for they carried a musket, a sword and a dragoon pistol each, and they also had an unhappy look, for some wag had hinted that a mob was on the highway awaiting to riddle the coach with bullets, being perfectly willing, as atriotic American citizens, to kill a trio of sol- iers so that they might also slay an enemy. “Lieutenant Van Voost, there is your pris- oner. ‘* Prisoner, there is your guard,” said Major Bounce, as Drake and his deputy appeared with Sir Lucien Lonsdale between them, A flush was upon the face of the young officer ashe held out his hands, which were ironed, and asked: “Ts this the way, sir, an English officer is treated by Americans?” **You come under the head of a spy, sir, and should not complain,” returned the major. “And you, sir, come under the head of a major of militia; and I should not complain, for »an American officer of the regulars knows the courtesy due a prisoner,” was the retort of the Englishman. ‘* Lieutenant Van Voost, here is the key to the manacles, and you are to be careful that your prisoner does not escape. ‘** Also, sir, you are to defend him with your life, should any effort be made to release him or to harm him, for remember, sir, he is a prisoner of our glorious country.” ‘Yes, major,” said the lieutenant nervously, taking the key and thrusting it in the holster of his dragoon pistol. ‘* Now, coachman, here are your passengers, and drive through with haste, for no one else goes along; and mind you, lay on the whip if any one attempts to halt you.” “Yes, sah,” said the stage-driver, who was a runaway negro from Virginia that had drifted up into Maine and become a whip on a stage route, A crack of the whip and the stage was off, Sir Lucien seated upon the back seat alongside of the fat lieutenant, and the two soldiers con- fronting him with a look of boldness upon their faces that they were far from feeling. Charcoal Sam, as the negro stage-driver was called, sent bis horses along at a lively pace for the first relay, where a halt was made for supper. Then just a little while before sunset the eoach started again, and the road led toward the sea. Charcoal Sam was always anxious to pass one spot on the road before darkness should over- take him. This was where the highway ran along in view of tha sea by Gay, and where once had stood a fishing-bamlet. But those «ho had once lived there had nearly all been massacred by Indians one night, and the others had fled to safer quarters. Some of the huts still remained, desolate and decaying, with the windows and doors swinging about with a creaking noise that sounded like the shrieks of the dying. Upon one side of the highway was the ham- let, and upon the other, dotting the slope of the bill, was the village of the dead, There rest«d fully a hundred bodies, and above their beads the pine trees sighed a requiem. The place was wild and picturesque by day, but at night, with the roar of the surf near by, the deserted hamlet. the windows and doors Phoaking in the wind, and the sighing pines, it wags a place of desolation and solitude to be avoided by the timid. Never but once had Charcoal Sam allowed himself to be caught there after nightfall, and then ke got free drinks at the taverns at each seen, All looked lovely for bim to get by on this occasion before the shadows began to lengthen a gloom, and he sent his team whirling along. But suddenly one of his horses went lame, and Sam was compelled to come down to a slower pace. This delayed him, and he was pained to see nightfall before he reached the old deserted hamlet. With the nightfall the moon rose, and Char- coal Sam muttered: ‘‘ Now de ghosteses walk sure,” He wished he could turn back, wanted to be back in Old Virginia, and would bave been will- ing to go back into slavery, rather than go through that hamlet by night. But he knew that he had to go on, and he nerved himself to the task. Suddenly the hamlet came in view, then the white head-boards above the graves on the hill- side, and the pines sighed more mournfully, the surf fell with a hollow, sepulchral sound upon the shore, and Charcoal Sam was utterly wretched. Could he have sent his horses flying along the rough road he would gladly have done so; but the off leader was going almost upon three legs and could not be hurried, so he was forced to go slow. He reached the hamlet upon one side, and had just begun to cross a little rivulet that ran across the road, when suddenly a white form stood in his way an’ even the lame leader shied violently. ‘“‘De ghost!” fore gracious dis am a_warnin’ o evil, an’ I is a gone nigger,” cried Charcoal Sam. Could he have turned his team in that narrow road, he would have done so quickly, and that lame horse would have been lashed into a speed that was terrific. But he could not, and he sat like one para- yzed. Then, to his horror there glided toward the stage upon either side a white-robed form. Turning his gaze Sam beheld a fourth ghost in the rear, and more weird forms in sigbt. “Oh golly! de jedgment day hev come, and dey is all risin’, do [ didn’t hear Gabr’el blow he horn,” groaned the poor negro in an agony of terror. ‘‘What is it, driver?” called out Lieutenant Van Voost. : ‘« Jist look out an’ see, boss.” “S-e what?” “Do graveyard hev bu’sted loose, boss, an’ de zhosteses is waylaid us.” ; One glanes out of the window, and aide-de- camp Van Voost uttered a terrific yell, which was echoed by his soldiers as they too saw the ghastly forms coming toward them. CHAPTER XVIII. THE BOY SKIPPER'S RUSE. Wirnovrt a thought of other than the horrid objects upon which they gazed, and a Cesire to get out of the way as quickly as possible, Lieu- tenant Van Voost dashed open the doors of the stage and sprung ¢ut, just as Charcoal Sam had nerved himself for fligut and jumped down from his box. \ The lieutenant and his soldiers were tripped up with their first bound, by their swords, and this caused them to unfasten their belts and cast them away, and then a foot-race was begun that was ludicrous in the extreme, for, fat as he was, as was his duty being an officer, Lieu- tenant Van Voost led the way. Upon each side of the coach they beheld what certainly appeared to be a sbrouded form, and back on the hillside were more coming slowly toward them, and waving their arms in a most weird fashion. Back up the road tore the frightened quar- tette, either most equally matched in speed, or keeping close together from the belief that in unity there is strength. v4 : And, amazed at the conduct of his guards, the English officers also glanced out and the weird forms were revealed to bim, too. ; Sir Lucien was above superstition, and his was a fearless nature, so he did not flinch at the sight, but muttered: ‘This is some horrid mockery of country boys, to frighten the negro and his passengers; Xa I will take advantage of it to escape, if pos- sible. ‘* Ah! there lies the lieutenant’s sword, and I remember that be dropped the key of my man- acles into his pistol-holster. ** Now I am free.” ————-—- --—-——————————————————_—__——_ i —————————————————————————— ———————————————— Stooping quickly he soon found the key, and managed to get it into the lock of his irons and release bimself. Then he grasped a pistol and sword, just as the nearest white-robed form halted near him. ‘““Well, do you attempt to bar my way?” coolly asked the English officer, as he presented his pistol. “No, indeed, Sir Lucien; but I could not speak before for laughing at that fat lieutenant, his soldiers and the negro, the way they did run, si Hark! you can hear the patter of tueir feet yet. This strange remark came from one of the ghosts, while the others gathered around, seven in all, and presented certainly a most ghastly crew. “The voice of the gallant Boy Skipper, as £ live!” cried the British officer. ‘** Yes, Sir Lucien, and I played my little game to save you. ‘Here, this ghost is my sister, Nora, who knew of this deserted hamlet and graveyard, and proposed the plot, and that midnight prowler is Leander, while the others are hi shipmates. ‘* We came down the coast in two surf-skiffs, and Leander went over to the stage station and pulled a shoe off of one of the horses so that he would quickly go Jame on these rocky roads and fetch Charcoal Sam along here after dark. “So now you have our little ruse.” Sir Lucien had listened in silence to the quick- ly told story of Ned, but now he said, earnestly: “From my heartI thank you all, my friends, for such I may call you, though our lands are at war with each othen, ‘“‘ But now, give me a small boat, let me put to sea and give youno further trouble on my account, for you will only place yourselves in peril by befriending me.” “No, Sir Lucien, we have a plan for your escape, and you must be governed by my brother until you can regain your vessel. * As for to-night, we will be back home be- fore daybreak, and no one wili suspect us of playing ghost; but let us not delay here,” and ora led the way toward the shore. ‘““What shall I do with the horses, sir?” called out Leander to Ned, ** Oh, yes; just unhitch them and turn them loose, and they'll return to the station,” answer- ed Ned, with another hearty laugh, as he re called the race of the gallant soldiers. At the beach Leander and his men got into one skiff, while Ned, the British officer and Nora entered the other, and the former called out: ‘‘- You can make your is'and by day, Leander, and when the sloop comes along after Sir Lucien tell the captain to lay to one week from to-night off the Haunted Fort, and I will bring the lieutenant out to bis vessel.” “ Ay, ay, sir, and luck to you,” answered Le- ander, as he started on bis return to bis island home, while the other skiff, urged by a pair of oars in Ned’s hands, went close inshore on its way toward the Haunted Fort. CHAPTER XIX, LIEUTENANT ELMORE MEETS A FRIEND. ‘* Wer LL, Elmore, I learn that you have sold your place up in Maine.” The speaker was a young man who had been a purser in the navy and whom Lieutenant El- more knew well. They bad met upon the street in Boston, when after a greeting the ex purser had addressed the uestion to the young officer regarding tbe iverview Mansion. “Yes, my duties keep me here, and my father was tired of living alore up at River view, so I sold out and came to the city.” ‘“‘Then you can tell me all that I wish toknow about getting there, for I take the stage to- night for your old home, as I understand it was.” “Indeed! What can carry you there?” asked Elmore with considerable interest. ‘TI don’t mind telling you, though itis a se- cret; but you know I left the navy to accept a position in a large mercantile house.” “Yes, Rodney, I do remember it.” ‘¢ Now the house failed, and that ruined me; but one of the partners bad some property be- longing to his wife, which he is to get money on, and we are to put it in a privateer, for there is more money in privateering now against the English than in anything else.” : ) ‘“Tf you are successful, there certainly is.” ‘So we think, and we have a schooner now building that is just what we want, and I »m now going up to Maine to get the money for her.” ne i onan em TF Ene" = r 4
Page 11
“7 ENG, get the money in aa ty =< | Vax /anv doraviod tor tho BUIK Hack fhe, Sk, Glass i eR ea oe “From whom there, pray?’ “The purchaser of your home,” ** Norcross Evans?” ‘* Yes, the captain is an old friend of my em- ployer, and he wrote him for a loan of the money on his notes, secured by property.” * And his answer?” “That he would invest the money for him that was needed, without security, in case he was to have one-third interest in the profits. “Of course, my partner in the enterprise jumped at this, and Captain Norcross, who, it seems, keeps his gold in his mansion, wrote for a messenger to come after the sum needed, and [start to-night, and wish you would tell me ust how to get there.” “7111 tell you what I will do,” said tbe officer suddenly. “Well?” “T will take you with me.” ‘**No—are you going?” Yes, I was going up to the neighborhood to collect payment upon a small farm my father sold, and you can easily reach tbe village from there and drive over to Riverview. “TJ will not promise to go to the homestead with you, for I had some little trouble with Captain Evans, and do not care that he shall - know when I am in his neighborhood, “ But I will take you within a. league of the place.” “This is splendid for I dreaded the trip alone; but do you go in to night’s stage?” *€T do not go by stage, but in my own stiff pees pleasure-sloop, which lies here in the har- or.” **So much the better, for I dolove the water.” ‘Do you mind being sailor for the voyage?’ “No, indeed, I would rather like it; but we will have to keep our eyes open for British enemies.” ‘*Oh, there is no danger as we can bug the coast, which I know well, and run into any of the coves if we are in danger.” ‘Good! but when do you start?” aa was to go this afternoon: will that suit ou ‘“Yes, and I will let my partner know the cban e in my plans.” o, do not speak of it, for he may think it “pre = you to go by stage, and I want your itr een i ‘Il not desert you, Elmore.” “Then we'll get off soon, and I’ll meet you at the Bull’s Head Inn in a couple of hours,” “‘ Agreed!” and the two parted, Rodney Vail to make immediate arrangements for his trip, and Lieutenant Elmore to hasten to the piers. “i want the best small craft you have,” he said toa man seated in a small office upon the end of a pier. ‘Well, sir, I have some good pleasure-craft to hire and sell, for I suppose that is what you want?” “It is, and I want a boat that can stand ee, weather and be handled by two men easi “‘ How do you like that little sloop off there?” and the boatman pointed to a graceful craft of some five tons burden. “‘She’s a beauty and looks like a goer.” “She is fast and can stand up in a blow, while, if need be, she lays to in a gale likea line-of-battle ship. “Then she has a cabin for four and all com- plete.” “Her price?” “To buy?” ** No, to hire.” “War bow lon *, “Say two wee “Well, you can ae her for twenty-five a week,” “T will take her.” ** Will you give me the name of some one to whom I can refer, for you are not known to me, erie you do look the gentleman,” “T will give you a deposit, which is better, as Tama “eae here, ‘*‘ How much do you want?” “She cost me a clean thousand, sir.” “Here is your money, and take this and store her well with the best provisions, for say, two weeks.” J will, sir.” ** And have her ready for me at once.” With ths Lieutenant Elmore turned away and walked rapidiy toward the house where he had established himself in the city with his father. wife and fathe he would be out ot the Simply stating that eity te a week oe so, and seizing his cloak and < re The eS ee ne ee ee a eee eee Sorceress. arms he departed for the Bull’s Head Inn, and, meeting Rodney Vail there, they were soon after on board the little pleasure- sloop, flying swiftly out of the harbor on their cruise to the coast of Maine. CHAPTER D.@:« HAUNTED, THE moon streamed brightly down upon the coast of Maine, making its rugged shores stand out in bold and picturesque relief. “That is a forbidding coast to be off in a storm, Elmore,” said nary, Vail, as he sab by the side of bis friend in the little pleasure- craft which had safely made the run from Boston. “Yes, but to one who knows its inlets, chan- nels and harbors, the coast is a sate refuge. Li “Is that not a fort yonder?’ and Rodney Vail pointed to a cliff that towered up grandly in the moonlight. “It was an old fortification, but was long ago deserted, **Here, I shall run in now and we will anchor in a cove round yonder point. ‘‘Rrom there it is but four miles to River- view, and five to the village, but [ would ad- vise that you go to the village and stop at the tavern to-night, driving out to Riverview after breakfast.” ‘¢ That would be best, I guess,” “Yes, and you can dine at the homestead, return in the afternoon to the village, and leave the vehicle at the hill upon which stands an old tower. Then take the road leading from the vil- lage by the tower and it will bring you to that old fortification on the cliff there and I will be there awaiting you.” “ But if I should be delayed?” ‘“‘T will be there when you come; but, re- member, do not speak of how you came, or ‘that I am with you, for, as I told you, the y sum- moned me to appear at the trial of Evans’s boy and as I did not go, not wishing to get him into trouble as I could have done, I might be held for ‘contempt, you know.” “Yes; I will not speak of it, but lead the captain to think I came by stage; but come up to the cliff with me first and start me well from therv, and then I can readily find my way back even if I come by night.” Landing inv the little cove, the two friends went up the ridge pathway to the cliff and Lieu- tenant Elmore showed Rodney Vail just where he would meet him and then walked on with him for a mile or so toward the village. ‘‘ Now, the man I wish to see lives over there, Rodney, so I will leave you here, and go and collect my money,’ ‘¢ We will have to be careful on our way back, Elmore, as we would enrich an Englishman who captured us, for I expect to get, as I told you, twenty thousand dollars from Captain vans,” “« Yes, it would be a nice sum for an English- man to grasp, ‘* Weil, luck to you, and I'll expect you by this time to-morrow night.” The two friends then parted, Rodney Vail continuing on toward the village, and Lieuten- ant Elmore, standing where he had parted from him. For some moments he stood still and then slowly retraced bis way. He had nearly reached the Haunted Fort when be stopped suddenly. ‘¢ Fool that I was! why'did I bid him meet me there? ‘The spot ever was hateful to me and now it is terribly so, since, from the vessel’s deck that day I saw poor Nora spring to her death from the old fort, and dash into the sea, ‘‘ Will I never shut that horrible sight forever out of my mind, I wonder? ‘¢ Tt bannts me fiom day to day and nightly I see her in my dreams. ‘Fool! fool that 1 was to tell him to meet me there, ‘‘Ttis haunted, they say, and they tell the truth. * And I, too, am haunted, haunted with mem- ories that will never down at my bidding. ‘*Tf 1 could catch him, I would hasten on after him to tell him; but no, I will head him off before he gets phere, for I dare not visit that spot. ‘* No, no; I dare not go there, for she would reek before me in spirit, as [ saw her last in esh “Ah! butI made a mistake, a fatal mistake, in not marrying Nora, for I loved her, and did not love the one to whom I am bound. **T married her to gain some wealth, and now she is a pauper, and I have but two "thousand } 7 ae Ee Wh eke Megha iy thy len ai Rit i . po Pr ew —_ MF: | ee aes 11 dollars in the world, and I owe twice that for gambling-debts that must be paid, ‘* Had [ taken Nora, whatever Ca tain Evans might have bad against my father, be is not the man to visit upon me the sins of my parents, and I would have been rich and happy with the woman I loved, ‘But alas} the die is cast, and T made the fatal mistake, sc must drift with the tide of cir- cumstances, be they what they may,” and Lieu- tenant Elmore, a man with a haunted heart, hastened back to bis sloop, little dreaming that Nora, whom he believed dead, was so near him in flesh and blood. alive and well, CHAPTER XXII. THE ASSASSIN. WHEN the shadows of night began to deepen the following evening, Lieutenant Elmore wended his way slowly up the ridge apie a from the cove to keep his appointment wit Rodney Vai He had cat his boat bidden in a little creek all day, and kept quiet, not desirous to attract the attention of any fisherman that might pass the cove in bis béat. Now, as he walked slowly along bis face was pale, and wore a set look. At last he reached the roadway, and in the distance he saw glimmering in the moonlight, the white cottage where had dwelt Elsie and her children, Some uncontrollable feeling drew his steps thither, and he stood at the little gate gazing upon the cottage. It was dark and tenantless, and yet it did not wear the air of neglect that generally hangs about a deserted house, Some kind band bad kept the weeds out of the "ape and walks, and tenderly cared for the flowers, which were rapidly feeling the bit- ing breath ‘of the coming winter, From the cottage Lieutenant Elmore involun- tarily went toward the Haunted Fort. Some power which he seemed unable to resist drew bim thither, The old ruin loomed grandly up in the moon- light, and following the impulse that drew him on, he boldly entered the tunnel entrance and stood within the fortress. The moon shone brightly down, revealing the old guns, the graves over in the corner of tho plaza, the cavernous rocks in the background, and the towering moss overhead and upon either side, Walking to the very spot where he had seen Nora Evans stand, the day she took the suicidal leap into the sea, as he was sailing away with his bride, be too stood there and the thoughts that. worked upon bim almost overwhelmed bim, Then be turned and was just about to sprin over the rocky breastwork, when he ental down upon his knees, transfixed with horror, while from his quivering lips came the words: “Great God! can such things really be? It is Nora’s ghost! the spirit of her I murdered haunting the spot from where she took her fatal leap to death!’ And it was no wonder that the guilty man,,. whose desertion of poor Nora had caused her to wish to die, was borror- struck, and trembled in mortal agony, for, slowly crossing the fort plaza, was tbe form of a young girl, and the moonlight falling full upon ber revealed the face of Nora Evans! She passed on into the larger of the caverns of the rocky background and ia ype Then the almost fear-maddened man sprung to his feet, bounded over the parapet of rock, and rushed toward the tunnel exit, But again he started back, for a form gsud- denly BPP eared before bim, Imore, I am here, and delighted to meet neice ” cried Rodne Vail, tor he it was, ‘‘Did you get the gold?” hoarse ly demanded the officer. “Yes, I got the money in gold and bank- notes, and have all here in this sachel, and a heavy weight it is to carry, I assure you,” ‘Then die! for what more fitting place than this for me to kill you, ‘*Die, I say, and lie bere, for uo one will ever seek your body in this spot. ” And deep into the heart of the young man sunk the knife, beld in the hand of one he had believed his friend. A loud cry of agony and despair went from the pallid lips, as a second time the knife was buried to the hilt, and Rodney Vail sunk down. upon the rock, crying out; **Elmore, you have killed me!” a lay: and 1 did it for your gold, Rodney ai ‘I did intend to hur! you into the sea on our
Page 12
run back, but this is the very spot where such a oe should be done by me, and I have done ‘* And you are my prisoner, sir.” The stern words fell like a cannon’s discharge upon the ears of Lieutenant Elmore, and para- lyzed with fear he turned, while his knife dropped with a loud ring upon the rocks, the ma abate taking all power from bis nerve- ss hand. CHAPTER XXII. CAIN-ACCURSED. SrTanpDiInG before him, when he turned at the stern words that fell upon his ear, Lieutenant Elmore beheld three persons. One was a tall, handsome man in uniform, and he held asword with the point toward the heart of the assassin. The second one was a youth, whom the reader knows as Ned, the Boy Skipper, while the third, upon whoin the eyes of the lieutenant were fixed with horror, was Nora, looking wondrous- ly beautiful in the moonlight. “Great God! am I dreaming?’. gasped the murderer, “Tf you will look down upon the body of the man you but now killed, to get his gold, or if ou attempt resistance, sir, you will discover hat you are very wide awake,” said Sir Lucien sternly, for he it was. *¢ And, Nora, are you then not dead?” ** No, I was spared that I might live to dis- cover what a fool I was in ever believing that I joved such as you,” was the scathing reply. “And you, sir, who are you?” haughtily de- manded Elmore, gaining courage, when he dis- aoe that he did not havea ghost to deal with, ‘*T am, sir, an officer, and you are my pris- oner,” was the reply. “Your words bave an English ring to them and—” ‘It matters not, Lieutenant Elmore, who, or what I am. ‘“T heard your words, saw your act, which I was too late to prevent, and, as an assassin and highway robber, I make you my prisoner, * Resist, and you die,” ‘One moment, I pray you,” and Nora stepped ouserd the speaker, and then continued earn- estly: ‘This man won, as I believed, my love. ‘Now, I know that [ was only fascinated by him, as a bird might be by a serpent. ‘But in his veins and mine flow the same blood, and for the sake of the past, I would not see him hanged. *¢ Let him go, I beg of you, sir, and maybe from this night he will lead a different life. ‘*What be has done cannot be undone, and the world must know of his crime, and eternal disgrace come upon him, ‘But I would not see him die at the yard- arm for his crime, and so 1 say to you now, Lieutenant Elmore, go and sin no more, and hide yourself from those who will track you down for the murder you have this night c_m- mitted. “Ned, my brother, do you not say as I do?” and she turned to Ned, who stood calmly by, a pistol in his hand. ‘Yes, sis, let him go; but let him hide out of the State of Maine. “Go, Lieutenant Elmore, and do not forget that you owe your life to the one you so cruelly deserted!” “But, Nora—” ‘‘Go, sir, or I will be tempted to save the hangman trouble, and burl you over yonder cliff,” sternly said the English officer. Lieutenant Elmore loved life, and shuddered at the thought of dying upon the gallows, He had committed murder for gold. He saw disgrace staring him in the face, and death if he did not fly. But life was offered him, and the world was before him, and without a word he turned and walked quickly away. Then Sir Lucien knelt by the body of Rodney Vail, and said sadly: ** He is dead.” “Poor man, he is the one who left Riverview only a few hours ago to return to Boston. “He did not say that be had come here by sea; but led us to believe that be had arrived in the stage; but the words of his slayer showed the plot against bim. ‘Ned, a fisherman came to the mansion at sunsef, and reported that a pretty Jittle sloop was lying concealed in Hideaway Creek, and krowing that you were here with Sir Lucien, I monnted my horse to ride over and tell you.” “lt was the craft that they came in, sis; but The Sea Sorceress. now, will you return home, and send the car- riage after this poor young man, and ask father to drive, for it must not be known that he was killed here, as then some busybodies might invade the old ruin, and find Sir Lucien.” ‘True, brother, and—” ‘Light ho!” suddenly called out the British officer, as he spied a light off at sea. All turned their gaze in that direction, and placing his glass to bis eye, Sir Lucien said: “Now, my good friends, I will relieve you of your kind care of me and my troublesome presence, for yonder vessel is the sloop-of-war— yes, there she displays the signal agreed upon. “‘T owe you, Ned, my life, and both of you have been most kind to me, and I will not for- get it. ‘‘ Miss Evans, again I say we will meet again, and Ned, I trust never to meet you upon the seas while this unhappy war is raging between your country and mine. “ Now, good-by, and I will go down to the place where you hid the skiff for me, and depart,” A few more words of farewell, and the noble Englishman departed, Scon they saw him glide away from the shore in his skiff, and head for the sloop-of-war, now lying to not far from the reefs, for the sea was not fretted by any wind. As the sloop-of-war glided away a blaze shot out from her side, and then another, and the tel ig of two heavy guns came rolling land- ward, It was the British officer’s last good-by to the brother and sister standing in the ruined fort. Then, as they were about to turn away, they beheld a small sloop shoot out from the shadow of the land and head seaward. It was the little craft bearing Lieutenant Elmore in his flight for life. Then Ned took up the sachel of the dead man, and, with his sister, left the fort, Nora, having come on horseback, mounting and riding rapidly homeward to tell the sad tidings to her parents of the tragedy in the old ruin, and who it was that had to wander a Cain-accursed man through the world. CHAPTER XXIII. HOISTING THE BLACK FLAG, MipwINTER has passed, and the snows are melting from the Muine hills and valleys. The thunders of war yet resound upon land and sea, and the cruisers of England are almost daily seen along the coast. Changes have come to some of the scenes and characters of our story, for a garrison has been placed in the Haunted Fort, and new guns re- place the old ones, and command the entrance to the dangerous channels that run into the river, while a small fortress has been built on the river near Riverview Mansion, so that the inmates of that pleasant home had a lively win- ter of it, wich gallant young officers so near at hand, and an occasional vessel-of-war lying at anchor in the river. The home of Captain Evans always had its latch-string hanging on the outside of .the door, and a hospitable welcome awaited all; but many a young officer’s heart got a wound there from the eyes of Nora, who, friendly to all, seemed to love no one in particular. Captain Evans had gone to Boston with Ned just after the death of Rodney Vail, and the youth had made his report of the scene which his sister and himself had witnessed, keeping back, bowever, the fact that there’ was an English officer as a third witness, yet stating the scene of the murder, as, Sir Lucien being gone, there was no reason for keeping that secret any longer. The result of this report was that Lieutenant Elmore was dismissed from the service, branded as an outlaw, and a reward placed upon his hend, In the village near Riverview changes had also occurred, for the militia had given place to a few companies of regulars, so that Major Bounce found his occupation gone, and was forced to retire to a quiet and obscure life, But the denizens of that sleepy hamlet were still troubled in mind over the affair of the ghosts waylaying the stage-coach, The fat aide, with his two soldiers and Char- coal Sam, had returned to the relay station with their startling story, and nearly stampeded all that lived in that vicinity. With dawn a party visited the place, for no one would go by night, and found the stage with the borses bitched to it, but no sign of the ghosts or the prisoner, The closest search also failed to discover either the former or the latter, and Charcoal Sam drove the valiant guards back to the vil- lage, and resigned forthwith his situation as river. Through the whole winter this was a weird topic of talk, as also the other numerous rumors how the war was progressing on sea and shore. ‘“ Well, Ned, next week we leave to take charge of our vessel,” said Captain Evans, as he opened his mail at breakfast one morning, and read a letter from his agent. 6 “T am glad of that, sir, for now we will have a chance to see lively service,” responded Ned joyfully, while his mother and sister looked sad at the news. ‘Ah! what is this?” cried Captain Evans, as he opened a letter, and then he read aloud: **¢The sensation here is the cutting out of the new schooner built by Foley for a privateer, by youn Elmore, who, you remember, was once a lieutenan in the navy. ‘“* He boarded her by night with a large crew of hips eat men, threw overboard the half-dozen men in charge, and boldly sailed out to sea, *** Vessels coming in the next day reported that at sunrise the schooner ran the black flag up to her pom and saluted it with minute-guns, so that now 1e is Elmore the Pirate.’ “This Foley is the man who was poor Vail’s partner, so, Ned, Elmore has stolen a vessel that I advanced the money to buy, and we will have to look bim up and put a noose about bis neck, if be is kin to us, for such kindred as he is had better be hanged,” said the captain sternly. As for Nora, she said nothing; but most deeply thankful was she that she had escaped being the wife of a man who bad raised the back flag of a pirate above his decks. CHAPTER XXIV. THE FIRST PRIZE. At last the privateer was finished, and, with every rope in place, a crew of seventy-five men on board, the Sea Sorceress, as Captain Evans called his new vessel, set sail on her cruising for English foes, Her guns were of the very best, and her crew was made up among the island fishermen, Leander being second lieutenant, while Ned was next in rank to his father, a position the cap- tain considered him fully cape of taking, for he had proven bimself competent on many ocy casions of doing the duties of a man, Once at sea, and every seaman on board turned his eyes anxiously upon the graceful hull and taper rigging of the new vessel She was a beauty, that was certain, from keel to teuck; but would she prove herself as good as she looked? The wind was stiff, and the sea rough; but after regarding the vessel for half an hour, one and ail burst forth in a hearty cheer, for they saw that the Sca Sorceress was stancb, carried her sail splendidly, and flew like the very winds over the waves, Hardly had the cheer died away when the cheery cry came from the mast-head: ** Sail ho!” ‘*Whereaway?” called out Captain Evans. *‘ Dead ahead, sir.” Soon after came the question to Ned, who had ascended to the cross-trees: ‘“ What do you make her out, Ned?” * A schooner, sir, and armed. ‘‘ Perhaps I can tell you just what she isin a little while,” answered Ned, who was examin- ing her closely through bis glass. n a little while he returned to the deck, and said quietly: ‘‘ Wather, I know that schooner!” ‘Indeed! what is she, Ned?” ‘She flies the English flag.” ** An Englishman, eb?’ ‘No. sir, an American schooner, but at pres- ent under English colors.” ae Ned, you have something else to te “Yes, sir, it is the vessel I would give much to take, for it is Lieutenant Elmore’s schooner.” ‘* What! the Pirate?” ** Ah, no, sir, but the one on which [ was a Cabin Boy, and which was captured by the British sloop-of-war that mother piloted in, hoping to capture Elmore on board.” “Ned, we must retake that vessel, and, my son, as you were accused of having been the pilot that brought the English vessel in to cap- ture her, you shall command this schooner now, so take charge at once, for the Sea Sorceress is in vour hands.” Ned’s face brightened at this, for ha was most anxious to recapture the schooner, knowing that it would delight his mother to know that | | |
Page 13
The Sea Sorceress. 13 what she had lost in seeking her revenge, had been regained by her son, Instantly ho took command, gave his orders in a clear. ringing voice, and had. the schooner quickly bounding away toward the other ves- sel, while he had her covered with canvas. The English schooner had also sighted the American, and finding that she was a foe worthy of ber steel, she squared away to meet her, anxious to ae another fast-sailing Amer- ican craft to add to the British navy. The two vessels were well matched in size and guns; but the Englishman seemed to have the advantage in crew as far as numbers went, for she showed fully a hundred. But the Americans cared little for this, and Ned ordered the first gun of defiance to be fired and the Stars and Stripes to be run up. The English schooner replied by showing her colors and sending a broadside upon the Sea Sorceress, but as she fired while in stays, she sent her shots flying wild. Instantly the Sea Sorceress fired a broadside, and a cheer broke from her crew as they dis- covered how true had been their first fire upon a foe, for the bowspri! and fore-topmast of the enemy were cut away, Taking advantage of her success the Sea Sor- ceress now fired rapidly, and her iron hail was so hot that it drove the Englishmen from their work repairing damages. _“ Boarders ho!” cried Ned, who had thus far given every order that was issued, his father not opening his lips and acting simply as an under officer. Ned eres at him to see what he thought of bis call for boarders, and determination to board the enemy; but Captain Evans gave no ae that he either approved or disapproved the ac “Do you think it wise, sir, to board her?” asked Ned, feeling some doubt upon the subject as he saw his enemy had the largest crew. ‘* You are in command, my son; use yourown discretion,” was the non-committal.reply. Thus left to his own judgment wholly, Ned at once gave orders for a broadside to be deliv- ered at close quarters, the guns to be loaded with ti With the rebound of the guns he saw the wis- dom of this act, for the grape cut down num- bers of the English crew, and before they could recover from its effects the two schooners were alongside. The sea was rough, but both were well handled, and spricsging on board with his boarders, two-thirds of his crew being at his back, the Boy Skipper showed his nerve and forethought by at once ordering the Sea Sor: ceress to haul off from the enemy, as the pound- ing of the two together might injure their hulls seriously. Captain Evans had purposely remained on the schooner, and sung out an affirmative reply at Ned’s order as the two vessels swung apart. In the mean time the fiercest fight was raging upon the deck of the Englishman, and Ned, fol- lowéd by his unresistible boarders, was driving all before him. Once on the deck of his foe, Ned determined that nothing should prevent the capture of the Englishman. ; This the enemy seemed to realize, for they be- gan to ery for quarter, and stepping forward, 6 commander of the schooner called out; *“*T am forced to haul down my colors. “To whom do I surrender my sword?” ‘To me, sir, if you please,” modestly returned ed. “To you, a boy?” said the officer, with canes in look and manner es, sir. **Do you command that schooner?” ** At present, yes, sir.” ve gee that you wear an officer’s uniform; but ou— * Pardon me, sir, but this delay is not neces- mary and the wounded are suffering for care,” said Ned, haughtily. “True, I was wrong; here is m yours sir, and I must certainly say er it to a gallant youth indeed.” “Thank you, sir, and permit me to return your sword to you,” and Ned banded back the weapon with a kindly smile, for his heart was fouched for his brave enemy. In a short while the dead had been buried ana the wounded cared for, and Ned was placed on board the prize to run her into port, which he did, surrendering ber to the admiral of the fleet, who at once said to him: - word for it, my Boy Lieutenant, that ou will win your way to a captain’s be- ore this war ends.” sword, surren: CHAPTER XXV. THE TWO FLAGS, AGAIN did the Sea Sorceress spread her sails and fly seaward, having already gained for ber- self a name, for her first prize was not only an English cruiser a Jittle her superior in the num- ber of her crew, but an American vessel that had been recaptured from the British. The battle, in which numbers had fallen anes both sides, and in which the Sea Sorceress had sought the conflict, proved that the privateer had not started out only as a seeker of defense- less prizes and gain, but was willing to strike a blow for ber country when need be. As vessels coming in from Southern waters had lately reported ravages committed by a pi- rute schooner answering the description of the vessel sent out by Elmore, Captain Evans de- termined to look him up and capture him, if in his power, and said to Ned: ‘“‘If we capture Elmore, my son, we can do the country a service by hanging a pirate, avenge ourselves for every wrong be has done us, and at the same time I can get back the twenty thousand it cost me to build and equip the schooner which he stole.” “I hope we can capture her, for, father, I fear all the time, while he is afloat as a pirate, that he will gD and pay them we love at River- view a visit.’ Captain Evans turned very pale at this, and said with emotion: “T never thought of this wickedness on his part, Ned, and now that you suggest it, and it is very possible for him to carry out sucha thing, I am determined to hunt him down.” Then the Sea Sorceress was put away upon her southward course, and the next day a sail was sighted. The schooner was pe away for a nearer look at the stranger, and soon the lookout at the mast-head reported her to be: “A large schooner with masts raking far aft, a narrow, long hull, and heavily armed.” ‘‘What colors, Ned?’ called out the captain, ‘She does not show any.” ‘Is she larger than we are?” “ About our tonnage, sir, and her decks seem crowded,” ‘‘ Let me hear from you if you make any new discoveries.” ** Ay, ay, sir,” answered Ned, and he kept his eye steadily upon the stranger. As the two vessels drew nearer together, Ned placed his glass once more to his eye, and after a long look called out: “Hol the deck!” “« Ay, ay,” answered the captain. ‘1 notice that her sails are patched in many places, as though to cover up ball-holes, and her masts and spars have niches in them as from the same cause.’ ‘*She has seen hot work then, and her rig looks American.” **] think she is an American, sir, but I can- not make her out yet.” Nearer and nearer the two vessels drew to each other, and then Ned again hailed the deck. ‘* Ay, ay, sir,” responded the captain. ‘‘An officer with a glass has Just ascended to the mast-head, sir.” ‘*Keep your eye on him while he takes a look at us, Ned.” “T will, sir,” and almost immediately the Boy Lieutenant continued: “ He is g ving some order to an officer on tho the deck, ‘“‘There! the schooner goes about and is crowding on sail. ‘She is running from us, sir.” **Ay, ay, Ned, and no brave Englishman would do that, nor would an American pri- vateer run off before she knew what her foe was,” ‘“‘Tt looks suspicious, sir,” remarked Leander. **Of what?” asked Ned, joining them. ‘Tt looks as though she was in search of easy pion and wanted no hard knocks,” continued ander. “ You are right, she isin my mind a pirate, and | trust the one we wish to find, ‘*Square away in chase, Ned, and run up your colors.” ‘“'The Sea Sorceress was at once put away in chase of the strange schooner, which had a league start, and, as she crowded on sail, the stranger was seen to do likewise. “Now up with the colors, Leander,” called out Ned, and the Stars and Stripes went flutter- ing to the Almost instantly, and while every eye was watching, there came a puff of smoke from the stranger’s port bow, and a gun was fired in de- fiance, while over her deck fluttered the black flag of the lawless sea rover. “Ha! he is not ashamed of bis hideous ensign,. though he does run off, ‘* Crowd on all sail, Mr. Leander, and we will see if we cannot replace his sable flag with the Stars and Stripes.” Under the tremendous pressure of canvas: upon her masts, the Sea Sorceress fairly flew over the waves, and began to gain, though very slowly upon the pirate, “* He has a fleet craft at any rate, and it will be a long chase; but I do not like the looks of the sky, and fear we are going to have a stormy night,” said the captain, glancing anxiously sea, both under all the canvas that they would ar. But in that time the Sea Sorceress had not gained more than a quarter of a mile, so that it did indeed threaten to be a long chase, With the going down of the sun the wind in- creased to balf a gale, and an bour after dark it was blowing a gale, while the skies were black with clouds and the darkness became al- most tangible. The pirate had shown no lights at dark, and the Sea Sorceress had followed her example, so that there was not a twinkle to be seen upon either vessel as they sped along over the wae ters. Then in spite of every eye being on the look- out, the pirate was lost sight of, and the Sea Sorceress was at a loss which course to pursue, ‘* He is likely to lay to and ride out the storm until morning, and we might as well do the same,” said the captain. ‘* May I make a suggestion, father?” * Certainly, Ned.” ““T eyed that vessel pretty closely, as long aw there was a ray of light.” **So I noticed.” “ And I discovered that she was about the size, build and rig of the vessel that Elmore cut out, and which you had that pretty model of,” ‘* Well, Ned?” ** And I believe it is the same craft.” **Such was my opinion, Ned, when I first saw her: but it seems we have lost her now.” ‘*We have lost sight of her; but did you no- tice the course she was heading when we caught. Bi of her?” 77 8) ‘Ske was on acourse that was northward, and she may bave been bound to the Maine coast.” ‘By Heaven! Ned, you may be right.” “] fear that I am, sir, and I think it would be a good idea to crack on what sail we can and hcad for home as quickly as possible.” ““T will do so, Ned, so give the necessary or. ders, my boy, and the Sorceress shall lose no time in getting there, I assure you.” Five minutes after the fleet schooner was bound upon her trip northward. CHAPTER XXXVI, THE TREACHEROUS SIGNALS, Ont blustering afternoon, some ten days after the Sea Sorceress was headed for Riverview Mansion, a party of half a dozen persons stood in what bad been the Haunted Fort, gazing sea-~ ward and watching the maneuvers of a pretty schooner that was in the offing. The party consisted of seversl officers ot the. fort and as many ladies, among the latter being Nora Evans and her mother, who had gone to the fort to spend the day with the wife of the. commandant, “It is certainly a beautiful vessel,” said Cap~ tain Routh, the commander of the fortress, ‘“Yes, and her rig is American, so if she fliew English colors, she has been captured from us,” rejoined Nora, “You seem to be a perfect sailor, Miss Evar to know = rig of a vessel as you do,” remarke a young licutenant, who was desperately ip lov with the fair maid of Biverslosn 2 + 4 ** Living on the sea as | have so long, and seeing 80 many vessels of different nationalities, 1 have come to know their rig and build, as one recognizes a German, an Englisiman and am American by his face,” modestly responded ora, “Well, she stands in as though she wished te run in,” remarked Captain Routh. “You will soon know, sir, for if she doep you will find her fire a signal for a pilot.”
Page 14
The Sea Sorceress. ‘* And, Miss Nora, it will be in vain, for there is not one on the coast that I know of.” ‘* And none who would dare attempt to run a vessel in with the sea as rough as it is, and half a gale blowing,” said Mrs. Evans, “Oh, mother! what if it should be father’s schooner?” suddenly cried Nora. ““T hope that it is; but see, she lays to and fires a gun for a pilot. ‘‘She wants a pilot, that is certain, and see, she runs up our flag,” remarked the captain. ‘““Have you a signal-book, Captain Routh?” cried Nora. The captain had such a book, and the lieuten- ant darted after it and soon placed it in Nora’s hands. “Oh, mother! it is the Sea Sorceress!” cried Nora. “Then why does not Ned bring her in? “Great God! can harm have befallen my boy?” said Mrs. Evans turning deathly pale. “ Have you signal flags, captain?” asked Nora calmly, though she too became pale, The flags were soon brought, and hauling down the flag, and stepping to the halyards, Nora ran up the signals, asking: ** Why do you wish a pilot?” “To run in,” came the answer. Where is Ned?’ asked Nora with her sig- nals, Breathlessly all gazed upon the maiden to await her reading of the signal response, It soon came: ‘“* We captured a prize and he took it into Portland.” ‘¢ Thank God,” cried Mrs, Evans fervently. ‘*Can you send us a pilot?” again came the signal from the schooner. *¢ Mother, I will go myself, for night will soon be here, and father must not remain in sight of us when I am able to bring the schooner in,” But a cry arose from all at this, all but Mrs. Evans, who said calmly: ** You are right, Nora.” “ But Mrs. Evans, will you permit Nora to do such a thing?” asked Mrs, Routh anxiously. “Oh yes, for she knows the channel well.” ‘* Have you any surf-skiff in the cove, cap- tain?” ‘* Yes, madam, there is one there, and if Miss Nora is determined to go, I will accompany her,” said the captain. ‘*No, I must risk the danger alone, “Tet me signal that I will come,” and Nora sent the words: “Watuer:—I will come out and pilot you in. ‘* NorRA Instantly came back the signal: * Bless you, my child!” Then Nora, throwing about her a wrap left the fort and descended to the cove, accom- panied by Captain Routh. There she found the surf-skiff, and again Cap- tain Routh urged to go, But Nora was firm, and springing into the little craft, she seized the oars and sent it spin- ning out of the cove. Going back to the fort the captain joined the others, and all of the party anxiously watched the little skiff as it headed out from the land, Out through the dangerous channels she held her way, and never resting upon her oars, they saw her reach the schooner, and run under her lee side. A gangway was then-lowered for her, and she was soon on board, Then the schooner was at once gotten under way again, and, instead of standing in toward the channel, she turned her sharp prow about and neaded seaward, while up to ber peak sud- denly went the black flag of the pirate. A cry of horror broke from every lip, and Mrs. Evans sunk down in a swoon, murmur- ing: ‘God have mercy upon my poor cbild, for she is in the power of Elmore, the Pirate.” CHAPTER XXVIII, THE BOY LIEUTENANT’S REVENGE, In the excitement attending the flight of the schooner, with the black flag flying at her peak, and Nora Evans upon ‘her deck, it was some moments before any one noticed a second vessel coming at a tremendous pace along the coast. That an island hid the one vessel from the other was evident to those who watched them from the fort. The stranger was a schooner of graceful build and rakish look. She was also armed, and carried at her peak the Stars and Stripes. ac here came along, and straight for the ehannel between the Graveyard Reefs she head- Sis. » SS ed, and when those on the fort. listened, expect- ing to hear the crash and shrieks of her drown- ing crew, they saw her lights pass safely through a dangerous channel and head for the island ass, Through this, too, she glided, and then put her helm down aud steered for the river haven. ‘*1t is my husband’s vessel, and my boy ran her in,” said Mrs. Evans when, recovering from her swoon, she heard about the strange schooner. Then she got into her carriage, and, accom- panied by Captain and Mrs. Routh, was driven rapidly homeward. As the carriage drew up at the door, Ned sprung to meet her. But she could not utter a word, and the Boy Lieutenant said: ‘Well, mother, we have come to see you; but Iam sorry that father is slightly wounded, ‘‘*We had a runniog-fight with a pirate the other day, and for the second time he escaped us at night and in a storm, while father got wounded in the leg, but it is not very severe.” Mrs. Evans bounded into the house to the side of her wounded husband, while Captain Routh quickly told Ned of the capture of his sister. Without waiting to hear more the boy darted away toward the river. Springing into a boat he rowed on board, and startled the crew, who were expecting a quiet night of it, by ordering the anchor up and all sail set. All saw that the Boy Lieutenant was terribly earnest, and in a few minutes after his arrival on board, the Sea Sorceress was under way and heading out to sea through the storm aad the perils of the channel. Once clear, of the land, search was made by every eye on board, and from the mast-head came thecry: ** Light ho!” ‘* Whereaway, Leander?” called out Ned, for it was the second lieutenant who had gone up to tbe mast-head. ‘* Off-shore, and dead ahead.” “ Ay, ay, [ll head for her.” The light soon was seen from the deck, and it was evident that the vessel that bore it was ap- proaching in the direction of the Sea Sorceress. Seeing this, Ned ordered every light on his vessel put out, and away she si in the dark- ness. After some time had passed, Leander came rapidly down from aloft, and said in a burried tone: ‘‘T believe without doubt that it pirate!” **T hope so,” said Ned, Then the men were sent quietly to quarters, and the Sea Sorceress was brought up into the wind and allowed to lay to. That she had not been seen from the pirate’s deck was evident, for the coming schooner held on her course, running along about a league off the land, Nearer and nearer she came, until but a quar- ter of a mile divided them, and then Ned order- ed the Sea Sorceress gotten under way once nore, The creaking of her blocks and flutterfng of her sails was the first admonition those on the stranger had of her near vicinity. Instantly loud voices were heard, and a tor- rent of profanity was poured forth upon the head of the lookout, ** That sounds piratical,” said Leander. *¢ It is Elmore’s vessel,” answered Ned. Following the excitement on the pirate came the drum calling the crew to quarters, and then Ned called out: **T,ads, I do not intend to fire upon him, for my sister is on board that craft, and the sail on the schooner now is all she will need, so every man go below until I call you to carry yonder pirate by boarding.” The men demurred at this, but Ned was firm, urging that they should not risk the fire of their foe and not return it, and the crew were sent below decks forward and aft, armed to the teeth, and to there await a call upon deck, But Leander was firm and would not go, and stepped to the wheel by the side of Ned. Just at that moment came a broadside from the pirate, and some of the shot sent showers of splinters over the deck while others cut through the sails, But the Sea Sorceress was held firmly on her way in hot chase of the pirate. It was evident that the Sorceress was the bet- ter sea boat in rough weather, for she carried more canvas and forged ahead more rapidly through the waves, The pirate felt that he dared notecarry more is the Ee eee sail, as he feared he would run his vessel under, and gave orders to bis crew to cripple their pursuer or they would be taken. A hot fire was therefore turned upon the Sea Sorceress, and she did not by any means escape unscathed, for her fore-topmast was cut away and her bulwarks were badly riddled. But no vital part was struck, and not one of her crew was burt. Nearer and nearer she crept, until her prow was even with the stern of the other scbouuer, and a loud voice shouted: ‘** Boarders to repel boarders!” ‘¢Tt is Elmore’s voice,” said Ned, and then he cried in clarion tones: ‘‘ Boarders, ahoy! ho, boarders, I want you!” Just then a broadside from the pirate went tearing over the decks of the Sorceress; but, fired an instant too soon, not a man was hurt, while up from the cabin and steerage poured the gallant crew. Hard down then went the helm of the Sor- ceress, and with a hard thump she was laid alongside of the outlaw craft, and grapnels were thrown to make them fast. Then over upon the deck of his foe leaped Ned, his crew ot his back, and the mad rush of the privateersmen beat the pirates down before them, and in ten minutes the deck was won by the Boy Lieutenant, and Elmore, the Buccaneer, was in irons. Dashing into the cabin, Ned found his sister white as a corpse, and throwing herself into his arms, she cried: ‘‘Ob, brother! he intended to run into the river to-night, burn the mansion, kill mother, and then force me to become his wife.” ‘‘T was just in time, then, sis, but he'll trow ble us no more after this night,” and Ned left the cabin. ‘‘ Leander, get a noose ready, and burn a blue light, for I intend to show Captain Routh and his soldiers that the days of Elmore, the Bucca- neer, have ended.” The order was obeyed. The doomed man, when led forth, uttered no cry or prayer, and was the next instant drawn into mid-air, while as the blue light made the two vessels stand out as light as day, the soldiers broke forth in one prolonged cheer that was heard by all on the Sorceress, Then darkness followed and the two beau- tiful vessels were headed inshore, Leander at the helm of the pirate, and piloting her in by following close in the wake of the Sea Sorceress, whose wheel was of course under the master , hand of the Boy Lieutenant. CHAPTER XXVIII. CONCLUSION, A ¥Ew words more, kind reader, and the romance of Sailor Boy Ned’s early life is ended. His capture of the pirate Elmore, added re- newed fame to his name, and he became the idol of the dwellers about Riverview, where once he had been hated as the son of Elsie the Witch. : The Sea Sorceress was found to be pretty well shattered by the hot fire of the ana rt so she was laid up for repairs, as was also the bucca- neer craft, which was sent to Boston with the prisoners and to undergo an overhauling there, By the time that the two vessels were ready for sea, Captain Evans’s wound was healed, and he ut once placed Ned in command of the captured pirate, getting privateer papers for him, and the two vessels sailed together as con- sorts, the one named the Sea Sorceress, the other the Sea Wizard, and their daring exploits ttrough the war caused many superstitious peo- ple to believe that their commanders were in- deed possessed of powers beyond the human. When at last the long war ended and Ned and his father returned to Riverview, they were accompanied by Captain Sir Lucien Lonsdale, who had wona distinguished name during the war and was respected and adinired as a gallant foe. But, with the war’s close, he came to River view to tell Nora that he loved ber with all his heart, and ask her to become his bride. Nora confessed her love in return for the noble English officer, but said that she wished ever to remain an American, and rather than lose the idol of his heart, Sir Lucien consented to make her bome bis home, As for Ned, being a natural born sailor he could not leave the service he loved so well, and accepted a lieutenant’s commission in the navy, where he rose to a high rank, and died at a ripe old age, respected by all, while the boys of generations after read with pleasure his gallant career as Ned, the Sailor Boy. THE END.
Page 15
“ , , n et . % ‘ . ¥ Ie nr . i : vl ’ ie ote qi 4 a a, af Pp. ora ie ' 7 <—et Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME«[_ IBRARY. No Double Numbers. ‘BY PHILIP 8S. WARNE, 6T Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Captam Arizona; or, Petent-Leather Joe’s Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Lesther Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vompires, BBS A’ ough Boy ; or, lhe Dwart’s Revenge. B68 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. BIS Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little Oh-my ¢ or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-F ly ; or, A Race fora Ranch. 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda, 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. 647 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down. 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. B74 Old Weansel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 598 Keen Clem, the Kanch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy, the No-Name Sport. BY CAPTAIN FRED, WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Pages or, The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider, 150 Lance und Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154,The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea. 200 The Boy Bedoutnsy; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfrang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World 265 The Tiger T e er Tamer; or, The League of the Jungle. $81 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. . . 895 California Joe's War Trail. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) ' 284 Old Rocky s ** Boyees; Breaker. 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George's Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 op hdabeiy Ker-whoo}3 or, ‘The Tarantula of Taos, B27 Greening at, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, 882 Frio Fredy; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. $44 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. B49 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. B57 The Ranch maior or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. B75 Chiota, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. B81 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. B92 Romeo and the Reda; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lartat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsy from Denver. 427 The Three Trallers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bills or, ‘The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star} or, The Belle of the Cibolo. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum. 228 Ozark Alt’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws, 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phils or, The King of Quartzville. 811 The eving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp. 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta, 840 Clip the Contortionist: or, Tha Montana Vigilantes. BY J, 0. COWPRICK, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, tne Gold Kings or, For Seven Yoars Dead, 420 Zhe petective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a ame, A24A Cibuia John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. A490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 606 Redlight Rely » the Prince of the Road, 514 Broadway LBilly’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Diflikilty.” 548 Mart, the Nicht Express Detective. BS? Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 571 Alr-Line Luke ‘the Young Engineer. 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 605 William 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. BY JO PIERCE. B9T Bob o’ the Bowery} or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Wotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow ; or, Luke’s Legacy. A72 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective, 504 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Jageersa, the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie. 526 North River N at, the Pier Detective, 588 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, 541 Jeff Flicker, the Stuble Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 577 Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. 608 Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Blue Dick: or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil’s Island, 187 The ete lons Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Gold-secker Guide; or, The Lost Mountain, BY MAJOR ITENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-8cout. B06 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Duog-Out Pards. 846 Rapier Raphael; or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, B91 Kid-Glove Cit, the Dandy of the Rockies, 898 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King, 406 The Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of Golden Guleh, 505 Powell’s Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant. BY HARRY ST. GEORGE, 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattlin Rubes or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky, 59 Old Hickory}; or, Pandy Ellis’s Sea ao Daring Davy ; or, The Trail of the or, Benito, the Young Horse- Herder Wolf. Hickory Harry; or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy, 172 Thunderbolt Tom? mz or, the Wolf-Herder_ BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ZY Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 268 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince, 498 T'noa Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!l-Breed Detective. 515 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. . 90 ‘The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Tuos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 116 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Kock’s Doom, 181 The Golden Handy; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death. 178 Dandy Kock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos, BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS, B84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 64 Ned Mazel, the Boy Trapper. B6 Nick Whililes’s Pets; or, In The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, 20 Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram } or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and Hila Peta; or, The Wild Huntress, 251 Light-house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 7 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Sealp King; or, The Human Thunderbolt, BY ROGER STARBUCK, 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter, 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoons or, Lost Among the Floes, 848 Fire-Heela: or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Rig Horn Ike, the HL] Tramp; or, The Odd Pards. B6L The Phantom Light-house, 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM RF. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine, 210 Faro Frank} or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler's Big Game, BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim: or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies. A Story of Texas, BY ©. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy_ of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef, BY GEORGE C. JENKS, 4855 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. 5bS1 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 8. A. 191 Ry ffele Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed Thirteen. 194 Buffalo BIWs Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES E. LASALLE, 560 Burt Runker, the Trapper. 562 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest, BY JONUN J. MARSHALL. 40 Roving Ben, A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes, BY WM. G. PATTEN, 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed 7 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. Roc BRI Dalay Dare the Sport from Denver. B87 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective, 604 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire. BY MAJOR E. L. 8ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit, B01 Lendville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimatone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand,” B59 Duranro Dave, the Y ung Chron on Wrestler, 871 Kingbolt Chria, the Yeung Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS, 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tie Frontier, 10 Nat Todds; or, The Fate of the Sloux Captive, 21 The Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island, 182 The Hunted Hunter}; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plaina, 271 The Muge Hunter}; or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Trappers; or, The Mountrin Monster, 288 Indian Joe; or, The White Spirit of the Hills. BY FRANK DUMONT, 120 The Branded Hand; or, The Man of Mystery. 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rozky Bar, 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eye; or, The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentuck; or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfvot. BY BRACEBRIDGE NEMYNG, 89 Taland Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Narkaway in New York. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat 65 Hurricane iin 3 or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 129 Mustang Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-llawk Kits or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Loy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Duinty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy ‘Trailers ¢ or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf; or, The Beautiful Decoy, 819 The Black Rider 3 or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, B85 Old Double Fiat 3 or, ‘The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or Daniel boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective, BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Hands or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop, BY JACK FARRAGUT, 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEFUT. i. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Traller; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY HARRY WAZARD. 828 Arkansaaw Jacek; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin Ed | or, The Demon's Trail. 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw. BY COL, A, F. MOLT. 899 Black Buckakiny or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lack, BST Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner, BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shete, 478 Tangemund, tho Desert Detective. 5642 The Canyon Parda. BY ARTHUR ©. GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowle Kid. 5668 The Sure-Shot Parda, BY LIEUT, A. K, SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow. 589 Tom-Cat and Pardy or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Vidocq; or, Red-Hot Times as Round-Up. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-lorse Munters, By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift, 14 Aladding or, The Wonderful Lamp, 16 Robinson Orusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sallor. His Seven Voyages, 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan Lewis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhounds or, The Red Pirates of the Carribewa, By S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Queen ofthe Arena, By Frank 8, Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rifies; or, The Underground Camp. By Arehle C, Irons, 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gilderaleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texany or, The Young Champion, By George Glerson. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate's Stronghold, By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Samy; or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J, Alexander Patten, 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowatone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By George L, Ai ep. 266 Killb’ar, the Guides or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff, By Captain Comatock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lien- tenant Alfred Thorne. B28 The Sky Ire*ective; or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honow By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover}; or, The Brother's Re venge. By xe Bun 7 ag Cay 865 Raltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris B74 , ate a Tom} or, Ben’s Double Match. "By eae H Morre, 876 California Joe’s First Trail. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cum CHimt y_ Bombshell, the © ‘limber. By F. 8. Winth 475 The Black Ship. By John 8, Warner. seit 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinelblea. By nes penty en .D zard-Arm, the Dandy Sport. By Arthur S, Ho 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Fawn rooke Forrest. ~ BS2 Ariel the Athlete. By David Druid, 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H, Enton, A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Walf-Dime Library i» for sale by all newad cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six conta pest, eee BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yorks By Colonel) Thomas
Page 16
ae ai San ac, Nagle he x , ER a, BEADLE'’S* H ALF- DIME« LIBRARY. ‘Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers + or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Butfalo Keng or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 85 Wild Ivan, te Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miner}; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza. 4” Omaha ig or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. bz Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine, 77 Corduroy Charlie 3_ or, Deadwood Dick's Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Guich. 188 Blonde Bills or, Deadweod Pick’s Home Base. 49 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike, 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood} or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 The Black Hille Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. 217 Captain Orack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Samy3 or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducate; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- rings. 851 fhendwood Dick Senteneed; or, The Terrible Vendetta. B62 2 gap Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro ate. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan Porter. 7 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “ Cute Case,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Duat; or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Ditk, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance, 458 Sunflower Sam, o! Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full Hand, 459 gana Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- De 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10, 471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. 476 Humboldt Marry, tie Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s ing Detective. : 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 Busnes Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick r’s Compact. 496 Monte Criato, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance. B3t Bendwond Wk Mpen cP Data Ban eadwoo ck’a Deliverance, 615 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 629 Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducks, 5684 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt, 689 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Texas. BAO Genduecd Dick oc his Manis... endwo ek on * Mettle,. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Gotham. 661 Deadwood Dick in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Philadeiphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr. In Chicago, 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Afloat. BbS4 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Denver, 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin. 600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island, 606 poses eos Diek Jr’sa Leadville Lay; or, Bristol and neke Loon, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York, 45 Old Avalgnene) or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix, 61 Buekhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob ggir, Nuweet Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phetogravh Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 96 Watch-Eyey or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City, 18 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. 7 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 1 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport, 5 Bonanza Bill, Miner. 8 Boas Bob the King of Boetblacks, 1 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. & Captain r Boas Job, 1 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 77 Nobby Nick of Nevadas or, The Sierras Scamps. 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Giadiator. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam’s Seeret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Angel of Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the }oy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 281 Denver Doll’s Victory. 255 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. 299 A No. 1, the Bashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Sirl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & ©o., the Petectives of Philadelphia. B80 Little Quick-Shot 3; or, The Dend Face of Daggeraville. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, 889 et, apart Kit’s Racket, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. rr First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. aen~ alll eleed-etetertart 2 >> 8 8 Life. 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. B78 Nabob Neds or, The Secret of Slab City. BS2 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 885 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Bicycle Ben; or, The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective, 16 High Hat Harry, the Base Sa ee ag am Slabaid e Beggar- etective, Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. Sante Fe Sal, the Slasher. Sam, the Sparkler. erret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s Vreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer 3 or, The Lottery of BY OHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildlire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods. 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner. 188 The Hidden Tiand or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett}; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed}; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner} or, The Biack Sheep of the Flock, 25 Sam Charcoal the Preuium Darky. 285 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ¢ or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Mounds or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakotas or, A Western Lad in the Quaker City. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizaard, B67 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Levelers or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective, 428 The Lost Finger; or, ‘The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, A79 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman; or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret -ervice Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. B1 Keen-Knuilfe, the Prince of the Prairies. Al Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 8 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. Delaware Diek, the Young Ranger Spy. HMawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 4 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter Silver Star, the Boy Knight, 8 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texna, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Proapect Pete 3 or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps, 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror, 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disgulsed Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Shurpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon ¢ or, Ruinbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Mose, the Tramp Detective, 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckskin, the Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedtoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac ‘Vom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. BY T. C. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night or, Th: Boy Spy of 776. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, 47 ba a am, aps 2 Nat? or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dand ack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trait, 82 Kit Warefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper, 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.z or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Tom; or, a id Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw 3 or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topkno’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phils or, Rosa, the Re | Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apolin, the King-Pin of Bowie, 267 The Buckskin Detective, 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 dong pais Dany or, The Bowie Blade of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eclipse, Tromp Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret, BSG Cool sam and Pard¢ or The Terrible Six. BE6 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 8X6 Captain Cutlass; or, Ihe Brceaneer’s Girl Foe, 896 Rough Robs or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes. 411 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, ‘Ube Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt, 47% The Excelsior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Kyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective, 521 Dodger Pick’« Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows. 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’« Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodger Dick’s Deaperate Case, 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq, 578 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’a Drop. 694 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. meee Th we KeINIT td BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Piying Yankee}; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lientenants, 7% The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier, 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The IMussar Captain 3 or, The Hermit oF Hall Gate. 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter 4 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport, 216 Bison BIll, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Grit, the bravo Sports or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson abet or, The Cowboy’s Triumph. 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 fe Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure sland. 269 The Gold Ship} or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 mee Monte’s Crulse; or, The Chuse of “The Gold Ship.’” 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Lilly Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benite, the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 ihe Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail, 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover}; or, The Flagless Schooner, B88 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, B87 Warpath WHI, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Consplrator ; or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Inaurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtaman; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly; or, A Middy’s Vengennes. 446 Haphazard Harry ; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea. 450 Wizard WIIl; or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts. AG62 The Born Guide}; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer. 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster, 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will's Last Case. AS? Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 49? Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman. 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 580 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Buckskin Rovers, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marander of the Rilo, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. + s 550 Lafitte’sa Legacy; or. The Avenging Son, 555 The Creole Corsair, 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective, 580 The Outenst Cadets or, The False Detective 586 The Buckekin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea Rover. 59? The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon, Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie, 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trtst. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Double Curve Dan’s Double Play. By Geo. C. Jenks, 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective; or, Little Lightnin Invinelsles. By John W. Osbon. crak vbtainge 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. By T. C. Harbaugh. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules; or, The Tussle at Table Mountain. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. 612 Deadwood Pick Jr. in Detroit; or, Turning the Tablee on Satan, By Edward L, Wheeler. 618 Billy Blazen or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. By P. 8. Warne. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid; or, The Queer Com- y bination. Jo Pierce. 615 Fighting Harry, the Chief of Chained Cyclone; or, The Heathen Chinee’s Mission, By J, C. Cowirick. 616 The Ocean Detective; or, The Last Cruise of the Black Bear. By Geo. C. Jenks. Ready May 14. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scouts or, The Raiders and the Red Rider's of the Kio. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Ready May 21. 618 Dendwood Dick, Jr. in Cincinnati; or, The Clineher Campaign. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Rendy May 28. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Wit- ness. By Wm. G, Patten Ready June 4. le Lightning’s League or, The Mystery of the Island, — Pitfle hig Oenomee Resdy » Se A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library 's for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street New York, . S B., are lee tne ee ~ mae.