Five Cent Wide Awake Library (vol. 2) (1891 02 25)
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> with three rousing cheers and a tiger, by the orew. Taking the girl in his arms, Dick carried her down into the cabin, to a vacant state- room. z Wrapping her in warm blankets, and man- aging to get some bandy down her throat, he had the satisfaction of hearing her gasp sev- eral times, and then seeing her open her eyes and gaze around in a bewildered manner. ‘* Where am1?’she asked, in a weak voice. ‘Among friends. Don’t talk now, but drink some more of this. There; that'll do you good, Now, I'll leave you, and when I return, which will be in ten minutes, I shall expect to find that you’ve removed your wet oe and are snug in the berth.” Dick left the state-room and went on deck. -**Put her beforeit!” thundered the lieu- tenant, who was pacing the deck, raving in impotent fury at the raging of the elements. “Tf we try to work we the coast in the teeth of this nor’easter, we'll take the sticks out of her. We'll have toscud, Put her to it, and be d——d to her?” This maneuver was quickly executed, and the cutter dashed away before the gale. “ How’s the girl?” asked Brott, slouching up. ‘‘ Has she come to yet, thrown her arms around your neck, and called you her pre- “server? That’s the model style, I believe.” “Mind your business, Brott,’ said Dick *““Tf you don’t, ’ll make you, in a way you won’tlike. You've had a specimen of it once to-day.” Brott colored and turned away. Dick descended to the cabin, changed his clothing, and then returned to the girl’s state- room and knocked on the panel. z There was no response, and after repeating the knock two or three times, he pushed open the door went in. The girl was lying in her berth in a stupor, from which he could not rouse her. Occasionally she would start up, utter wildly some incoherent words and then re- lapse into a state of inanition. ick hastened on deck and informed the lieutenant of this state of affairs. . “Well,” said the lieutenant, ‘Sit can’t be helped. We can do nothing for her until we get into Barnegat Inlet and send to the main or a physician; which will be some time, I’m thinking, if this infernal hurricane continues. You'd no business to bring her aboard.” “What would you have had me do?” de- manded Dick, indignantly. “Leave her in the sea to drown ?” “Keep a civil tongue in your head, sir,” rowled the lieutenant. “It’s your watch on eck, and you'll not get down in the cabin again till your time’s up.” “Tl just step down and give the young lady a little brandy and water first, sir.” “You'll do nothing of the kind; you'll at- tend to your duty. ere, you, Kitt Cutlash, take your lean carcass down into the cabin, and see if the female you were fool enough to risk your life to pick up, wants anything.” “ Ny—ay, sir,” said Kitt, shuffling off. “Stay with her as long as you can—she shouldn’t be left alone,” whispered Dick, as Kitt passed him. Slim Kitt answered with a nod, and diving eee the companionway, disappeared from sight, : Snapem, who by this time had partially re- covered, had about made up his mind to go on deck in search of his indulgent master, the lieutenant. But when he saw Kitt his tail whipped between his legs with an audi- ble click, and he slunk under the table, where he lay eying his enemy out of the corner 0 his right eye, the left having been effectually closed by Ben Bowline’s foot. “Don’t you come for to go for to cut up no more of your eee about my calves, you warmint,” said Kitt valiantly, shaking his sya at bim, ‘for ’ll make a finish of ye next ime and heave ye overboard as dead as a marline spike.” With this admonition Kitt passed on to the state-room, where he found the girl in much the same condition as that in which Dick had left her. : He could do nothing but sit.and watch her. at which pastime he had not been engaged more than five minutes, when Brott entered. “By George, Cutlash, she’s a beauty, I Swear,” he exclaimed. ~ " ‘“ Which it’s easy enough to see that, sir, if _ _you’ye only one sound eye,” replied Kitt. Now, as Brott’s right eye, owing to the hardness of Dick’s fist, was in the same con- . i DICK DART. dition as Snapem’s left, he looked hard at Kitt, who was placidly staring at the deck beam overhead and twirling his thumbs in accompaniment. “Do you refer to me?” he angrily demanded. “Not any at all, whatsomeyer,” said Kitt, solemnly. At that moment, Brott, glancing over Kitt’s shoulder, observed in the pocket of the girl’s dress, which was flung over the back of a chair, a piece of paper, a corner of which was visible. “There’s a bottle of chempaene in my ante- room,” he observed. ‘It will be better for the girl, no doubt, than brandy. Go get it and give her some when she’s able to drink it. It’s in the locker.” No sooner was he alone than he took the paper from the pocket of the girl’s dress, and put it in his own. merely said : “ Give her a little of the wine quite often.” Without waiting for a reply, he went to his state-room, and taking the stol his pocket, carefully examined it. “Tt was a large yellow envelope, bearing the address in a bold, round handwriting, which although somewhat blurred by thesea- water, was still legible : “GREGORY DART, Esq., “New York.” “Why, that’s Dick Dart’s father,” said Brott. “I wonder for what reason this girl is bearing a letter to him. Tl see, for the mucilage is so softened by the water that it can easily be opened without destroying the envelope, and resealed if I find it necessary to return it.” ; He unsealed the envelope, and found that ib contained several legal-looking documents, and a smaller envelope unsealed, and on the sheet of note paper inside was written as follows : “ GrecoryY DART, HsQ.—DEAR SiR: You will find, on perusal of the inclosed papers, that you are appointed sole executor of the last will and testament of your old friend, Alfred Harding, late of Rio de Janeiro, deceased. It was the desire of Mr. ROS on his death-bed, that his daughters shou d immediately be sent to the United States, where he wished their educatien to be finish- ed under your care and guardianship. It was my intention, in compliance with the wishes of the deceased, to have both daugh- ters sail on the ship Arminia, but to-day, as the ship is about anes port, [have received. information that Miss Jennie Harding, who is eS a friend in the country, cannot complete her arrangements for leaving the country in several days. It has been deter- mined, however, to send Miss Nellie Hardin to you by this ship, the Arminia, accompanie by her old nurse. Miss Jennie Harding will take passage on the Hyperion, which sails in three days. It was the desire of Mr. Hard- ing that no expense should be spared in the education of his daughters, and their fortunes will warrant such expenditure, Mr. Harding having left property to the amount of a little more than a million dollars, as you will see by the accompanying inventory of his effects. T hope, my dear sir, that you will assume the responsibility Ce eae to you by Mr. Hard- ing, and care for the two orphan girls as if they were your own. With great respect, I am your obedient servant, a“ “Joun R. THoMpson.” One of the other papers spoken of wasa copy of the will, by which the testator bequeathe all he died possessed of to his two daughters, £| Jennie and Nellie Harding, share and share alike. Another document was an inventory of the late Alfred Harding’s possessions. “ This girl, then, must be Nellie Harding,” said Brott to himself. ‘She is delirious, and likely to remain so until we reach port, and she is placed in the hands of a physician, which latter I will take care shall not trans- Bee until I have things fixed to my liking. he’s going to Gregory Dart; Dick Dart’s father. Well, we'll see about that. In the meantime, I will take care that neither Dick nor any one else knows who she is, and these apers I willfor the present look after and peheo myself. And now let me think, for if the knowledge is to benefit me, as I intend it shall, and perro great deal of head-work must be indulged in. : He placed the PEpECS in a drawer, and then sat down to think. : x of a diabolical plot, all directed against Nel- lie Harding and Dick Dart. ‘ CHAPTER III. THAT night, in a dog-watch, Dick Dart and a companion were under the lee of the jolly- boat, engaged in a conversation which was destined to lead to results more graye and threatening than either could have dreamt of. Charlie Hisher was a well-educated young fellow of Dick’s own age. He was the only son of a widowed mother, and had been foolish enough to enlist in the United States Navy, a folly which he had since bitterly repented of. He was very poor, and was obliged to send nearly all of his slender pay to his mother, for her support. “Charlie,” said Dick. “T haye a plan by When Kitt returned, he | which we can make some money.” “What is it ?” ‘Let's write'a sea story.” “Write a sea story! ‘Why, Dick, we can’t en paper from | do it: “That’s all nonsense. We are both well- educated and_ possessed of fair imagination, and ought to be able to do as well as Jand lub- bers who never saw the sea, and don’t know the difference between a kedge anchor and a reef gasket. Ive got part of the plot jotted down, and it’s in my pocket.” “Tet’s hear a little of it.” “Allright. We'll jump into it all at once, make the crew mutiny in the first chapter while the schooner’s off Hatteras in a gale o” wind, murder the lieutenant, and such of the officers and crew as won’t join us, pitch ’em overboard to the sharks, turn pirate and run for the track of Spanish treasure sbips. That’s enough for the first installment, and we can think up as we go on for the second.” ‘Will it sell?” asked Charlie, doubtfully. At this instant a dark figure, which had been eee on the opposite side of the jolly boat, cautiously arose and walked aft. S Sua down into the cabin, he ap- proached the lieutenant, who was sitting at the table. “Lieutenant,” he exclaimed, “‘ there’s a mu- | tiny afoot on board this cutter!" us Anas re that you say? Why, Brott, you’re cra. “Crazy or not, I heard Dart and Fisher - planning it. They are to murder you and such of the crew as will not join them, hoist the black flag and commence a career of pi- racy. They are behind the jolly boat arrang- ing the details, and if you don’t believe me, come and listen for yourself.” ; Sticking a brace of pistols in his belt, the lieutenant sprang up and went on deck, fol- lowed by Broitt. Walking cautiously to the jolly boat, they listened. The first words they heard were these : “We'll: kill the lieutenant first, and then the midshipman, if he won’t join us. And the sooner we're about it the better.” ‘“‘ Are you sure it will go through ?” “Certainly, if it’s well done.” The lieutenant waited to hear no more. He retreated to the mainmast. “Call up the marines,” he whispered. “We'll arrest the rascals.” Without attracting the attention of Dick and Charlie, Brott went to the forecastle, gave the order to the marines, and soon had them on the spot. The first intimation Dick had of anything wrong was when the guard filed around the jolly boat and drew up in front of him and Charlie and the lieutenant touched him on the arm, with these words: “Consider yourself a prisoner.” “What for?” demanded Dick, springing to his feet. “You already know. Hold up your hands while Isearch you. Guard, upon the slightest offer of resistance, fire.” - Wondering what on earth it all could mean, Dick submitted to the search. - The lieutenant removed everything from his pockets. “Now take them to the run and put them in double irons,” was the next order. Before Dick could utter a remonstrance against this treatment, the lieutenant and Brott were disappearing through the com- panion-way. They sat down at the table, looked the pois over and found a paper which read as ollows: “Schooner off Hatteras. Gale of wind. And then and there he arranged the details ! Murder the lieutenant in a way to be here-
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after thought of, and possibly midshipman. Corrupt the crew, a majority of whom can be won over, and the rest Fill. Sail southward to the Spanish ships, hoist the black flag——” Here the paper ended. “The villain!” exclaimed the lieutenant. “Murder the lieutenant! The killing is likely to be on the other side, eh, Brott ? “Tt’s a fearful plot, sir,” said Brott, hypo- critically, ‘And would have been likely to succeed had I not fortunately overheard the rascals. What action shall you take in the matter, lieutenant ?” “‘Action !” roared the lieutenant. ‘‘ The infernal villain shall stretch hemp! He shall swing from the yard-arm to-morrow. Go on deck, Mr. Brott, it’s time for the watch to be changed.” When the lieutenant was alone he gave free vent to his passion, ; “The dog!” he exclaimed, striking the table violently with his fist, *‘The hound— the upstart! Now at last I have him on the hip and will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Ever since he has been on board this cutter he has been a thorn in my side. I hate him! And I hate that lean fool, Kitt Cutlash. Dart shall swing to-morrow, and I will soon find an excuse for sending Kitt Cutlash on the same road.” “Beware !” The sound came from the forward end of the cabin, where a large flag was looped up in the form of a curtain, With a start of dread the lieutenant looked up. oe the folds of the flag was a figure which was calculated to strike terror to the stoutest hearts. Its face was as the face of the dead, and its glassy eyes stared fixedly. ot long and flowing robe of blue envelop- ed it. One bony hand was pointed upward, and the other straight at the lieutenant. “ Beware |” The warning was repeated again in a sepul- chral tone, and then the figure seemed to sink within the folds of_the flag and fade from sight. : he lieutenant uttered a ery of fear, and then darted forward to the curtain and drew it aside. \ Nothing was there. ~ : He returned to the table, and pouring out a glass of raw brandy, drank it at a gulp. ‘‘That awful presence again !” he gasped. “This is the third time it has appeared to me, and each time it had uttered that one aw- ful word, beware! Has it come to warn me of some papene ie calamity and bid me pre- pare to die? Just Heaven! I think the sight of it again will kill me |” rapa He drank another glass of brandy, but it put no courage in his heart. Another and another he drank. and at last staggered into his state-room and fell into his berth in a drunken stupor. At ten o'clock in the morning he awoke with a headache, and fit for any piece of dey- iltry that should first present itself. Staggering on deck he found that the gale had abated, and he ordered the cutter to be put about and headed up the beach. Then he ordered the two prisoners to be brought out of the run. Heavily ironed, Dick and young Fisher were led to the quarter-deck by the guard. Dick looked straight into the lieutenant’s eye, undauntedly. seek ~‘* Now, sir,” he said, “‘perhaps you will be ood enough to explain why we have beet treated like criminals.” : “With pleasure,” said the lieutenant, ironically. ‘‘Do you recollect the fate of a young midshipman—son of a man who was then secretary of the navyy—who plotted to murder his superior officer and part of the crew, and run off with the flagship on a pirat- ical cruise?” P “T do, sir. Heand two otherof the ring- leaders were’hanged at the yard-arm.” “Well, that is to be your fate.” “What! hung at the yard-arm ?” “You have said it.” “You are in a jesting mood this morning, “Tt will be rather a practical joke,” said the lieutenant, grimly. ‘Boatswain, pipe all hands aft.” x The shrill notes of the boatswain’s whistle sounded through the cutter, and her crew came tumbling up from the forecastle and hurried aft. DICK DART, “Men,” said the lieutenant, sternly, “I have summoned you to hear the evidence against these two arch traitors, who were plotting to murder their officers and seize the cutter for piratical purposes.” An ominous murmur ran through the crew. * “Mr, Brott, give your evidence.” Brott gave his evidence to the effect that he had heard the two arranging the details of the meeting, and added as much as he could think of that was damaging. Ha—a!” laughed Dick. ‘ You’ve made a jackass of yourself this time, Brott, sure enough, Why, you lunkhead, all that fiend- ish plot was simply the details of a story we were about to write.” “So that’s all you have to say?” asked the lieutenant, Certainly, sir, that’s all there is of it. Brott will tell you that we were talking about the story.” “JT heard nothing of the kind,” asserted Brott. ‘You were plotting to murder the officers and part of the crew of this cutter and no other.” “That's a lie, Brott. And if my hands were free I’d make you eat your words, if they choked you.” “That's enough,” said the lieutenant. “Bravado will not ayail you. Your excuse about the story is as flimsy a one as any I ever knew concocted.” “But it is true, for all that, sir,” said Char- lie Fisher, speaking for the first time. “No doubt,” said the lieutenant sneeringly. “It’s a lie you invented in the run, I suppose. But if you couldn’t have thought of a more lausible one, you might have saved your ces Fortunately, however, I have further proof.” He produced the paper that had been taken porn Dick’s pocket and read aloud its con- tents. “And if that is not as fiendish a plot as was ever invented, then I don’t stand on the quarter-deck of this cutter,” he ejaculated. Amore ominous murmur than before was heard among the crew, and one or two cried : “ce ahaa ““There has only been one case similar to this in the history of the American navy,” contin- ued the lieutenant. “And that was the case of the son of the Secretary of the Navy. He too was a midshipman, and he was hanged at the yard-arm ofa flag-ship by orderof the com- modore. I shall follow my superior’s exam- ple, and hang the ringleader of this meeting. tis companion I shall keep in irons and take him into port. Reave the whip!/ At the sound of this ominous order Dick pop ae to see death stare him in the face. e and Fisher united in protesting ‘their innocence, but it was of no avail. A small single tackle was attached to the shrouds about a third of the way from the deck to the cross-tree. A rope with a running noose at the end of it was then run through the block. Despite his protestations of innocence the noose was tightened around Dick’s neck and half a dozen sailors were stationed at the end of the rope ready to run him up when the word was given. : At this point the lookout hailed the deck : * Sail-ho!” “ Wherewaway ?” i * Deéd ahead, sir, She seems to be a large gait dismasted.” e execution sin Dick was postponed for a minute, while all eyes were directed ahead. Her hull soon came in view from the deck, and in half an hour they were within a quar-, ter of a mile of her, At this moment the wind, which had been aN falling for the last hour, ceased en- irely.’ =: The strange ship presented a most peculiar po eerenuas , Ter foremast was broken off close to the deck, and was held alongside by the rigging. The mainmast was broken about one-third of the way up, and it and the yards and canvas hampered the deck. The mizzen mast was standing, but the sails were hanging in shreds from the yards. Her bulwarks were broken in, and such of her boats as remained on the davits were stoven, and no one was at the wheel. The deck presented a fearful sight. It was covered with bodies, all’ of whom at first appeared ‘to be dead, for they made no movement. : Through the glass they seemed as thin as ee eee eee een was geet anata oemeoneenin meee EE Ee ANTS and their faces were of a peculiar color. But they were not all dead was eyident, for suddenly one sprang to his feet, waved his arms wildly, and then sank down again. Then several raised their heads and glared savagely at each other. Then several Biageered to their feet and rushed upon each other, reeling and swaying as they went. Others crept upon their hands and knees and, seizing Upon each other, rolled over an over in a death struggle, while others still re- mained extended upon the deck, as though already dead. “That's a fearful craft, sir,” exclaimed Brott, with a shudder. ‘‘Can you make her out, sir?” “T can read her name on the quarter, She’s the Hyperion.” : Brott gave a quiet start, The ern was the ship on which Jen- nie Harding was to take passage. “Lower the pinnace!” exclaimed the lien- tenant. ‘‘Mr, Brott, you must board that craft and see what in the devil’s name is to pay there.” No sooner had the pinnace struck the water than her crew sprang in. “Pull away!” ordered Brott. ‘Pull lively !” As the pinnace left the side of the cutter, the lieutenant turned and observed Dick whom, for the moment, he had forgotten, and who was still standing with the noose around his neck. , ‘Ah, my friend, I quite forgot you,” he ob- served. “But we will attend to your case without further delay. Man the whip, men, and run the traitor up as high as Haman !” CHAPTER IV. . ‘LIVELY, lads !” exclaimed Brott. ‘‘ There’s the deyil to pay on board that ship !” Bendin pinnace through the water with a rush. ‘When they were within a cable’s length of the ship, a man who had taken no part in the fighting, but who had lain as if dead on the deck, staggered to his feet. : The flesh had wasted from his form until the clothing hung upon him as it would upon a skeleton in a doctor's office. His face was yellow and haggard, and his eyes burned like coals of fire. He staggered to the rail. Three times he attempted to speak, but as often failed. At last he managed to utter the words: “ Back—back ! For your lives, go back, If you would not die horribly, pull back to your ship !” ‘* What's the trouble?” asked Brott, “Death and destruction, ‘There’s a foul fiend on board this ship. Yellow fever has seized us all. The men are delirious and fighting each other like wild beasts with what little strength still remains to them. Half of us are dead—the other half are dying. Leave ns, before the foul contagion seizes you. Pull back-to your ship. Oh, I—am—dying.” He fell back upon the deck, where he writhed in agony. The delirious .men, having exhausted the eee remnant of strength, fell back upon the eck, And then nothing was heard but groans and moans, and sighs and muttered curses, Brott turned white. “My God!” he exclaimed. ‘ That’s awful. We can do nothing for them. It’s death to go aboard, and by remaining here longer, we run the risk of carrying the contagion back to the cutter. Give way, men, and get away from that infernal pest-house.” The sailors needed no second bidding. : They had rather face a hailstorm of grape and canister than Yellow Jack. Bending to the oars, they sént the foam hissing from the bows of thé pinnace as they forced her back towards the cutter, i Meanwhile, on the cutter, the most excit- ing scenes had been transpiring in the ab- sence of the pinnace. ‘ Several men had manned the whip and - were about to run Dick Dart up, when Kitt Cutlash darted up and with a blow of his sheath knife severed the rope. ; “Shame on xe for a_ pack o’ ungrateful dogs!” he shouted. ‘‘ Would ye murder the officer who's been the kindest to ye?” Abashed by this bold act of Kitt’s, which anounted to open mutiny, the men looked on in consternation, to their oars, the men sent the- “ 5 ae
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d i 1 : into the midst of you!” The lieutenant drew his pistol. His face was purple with rage at having his authority thus openly defied in the presence of his men. “You mutinous rascal!” he exclaimed. ‘Tl a even give you a farceof atrial. You shall ie!” Just as his finger was about to press the trigger, old Ben Bowline strode forward and knocked up his arm. The pistol fell to the deck. Ben picked it up and thrust it in his belt. “You old fool!” roared the lieutenant, “vou shall hang for this.” “Tf so be I was born to stretch hemp then T'll hang for this here, no doubt, cap’n,” said old Ben, coolly. ‘And they say it’s an easy death enough. But I’d rather hang fifty times than have Dick Dart hang once, and so I tell you, cap’n.” ; “And hang you shall, you old imbecile!” shouted the lieutenant. ‘* You need have no fear of that, and that lean traitor Kitt Cut- lash shall grace a hempen halter at the same time. Man the whip, men! Rig another noose and run that mutineer up!” ‘* Hold hard, messmates,” said the old man, solemnly. ‘‘Don’t add the sin of murder to your souls. I tell you Mr. Dart never plotted no mutiny, and that I'll swear to.” “That's so!” exclaimed Kitt Cutlash. ‘‘ He’s as true to the flag as any man aboard this “ere cutter. Don’t you come for to go for to swing him up when he ain’t done nothin’.” “Will you pber orders?” raved the lieuten- ant. “Do you all intend to mutiny? ‘Tain’t a question o' mutiny, cap'n,” said Ben Bowline, respectfully. ‘It’s a question o' swinging aman from the yardarm when |’ he’s done nothing’ worthy of ’t. yous pardon, cap’n, but Lsay Dick Dart ang.” “And I say he shall! Reeve the nose and man the whip!” Perceivin Climax old Ben sprang in front of them and proceeded to harangue them. ‘* Lads!” he exclaimed, ‘who among the of- ficers of this cutter has been the kindest to ye all |” ; “Mr. Dart.” “Right youare! Who's paid the most at- tention to yer comforts ?” “Mr. Dart.” “Right again. Now did it ever enter yer minds that Mr. Dart would go agin the old tlag and turn pirate?” * No—no !|” “And I say he wouldn’t. The case ain’t made out agin him, an’ it’s the cap’n’s duty mee him into port and let him stand his rial.” “That's so!” exclaimed several of the men, who had Brent respect for Ben’s enoeledge of the articles of war. ‘‘ That’s so, Take him into port. Give him achance.” oe Right you are agin’, my lads,” said old Ben. ‘Now all of you who are in favor 0’ takin’ Mr. Dart into port and lettin’ him stand his trial, come over to me.” Fully two-thirds of the crew went over. Old Ben had swayed them as no other man could have done. With a roar of rage, the lieutenant spran: forward to the forecastle gun, whirled i around so that its muzzle pointed full at the sailors, and seized the lanyard. “Obey orders, you mutinous dogs!” he shouted, ‘‘ or Pll send a charge of grapeshot “Let it come, cap’n,” said old Ben, “It won't kill us all, that’s ‘sartin, and the ones that escape’ll have your life for the murder.” “Ay, ay!” responded Ben’s party. The lieutenant hesitated. He saw that the odds were against him. If he proceeded to extreme measures his life would probably pay the forfeit, in the state to which Ben Bowline’s eloquence had reduced the crew. He concluded to temporize. Quitting the gun he walked back to the quarter-deck. ; “You will have it your own way since you Begging shan’t _are so set about it,” he said in a voice which. he yainly tried to render steady, but which rage made tremulous. ‘‘Do you wish me to take the man into port?” : “‘ Ay, ay, sir! Give him a show.” ‘* Very well.” But the lieutenant had no intention of tak- ing Dick Dart into port. n the contrary, he determined that he, Ben Bowline and Kitt Cutlash should die by that matters had reached a|n DICK DART. the halter before the cutter crossed the bar and entered Barnegat Inlet. At this moment the pinnace returned, and Brott and the crew came on board. Brott exhibited some surprise at seeing Dick Dart standing on deck alive and well, but he made no remark, He made his report as to the condition of things on board the ship, and then took the lieutenant aside. r ‘*Of course you'll not try to board her, sir,” he said. ~ : ; it would be certain death to any man, “ How is it that Dart’s alive yet?’ The lieutenant explained. “Tl tell you how you can kill him as cer- tainly as by the noose,” said Brott. “How 2” *¢ Send him aboard the fever-ship.” “Tl do it!” The lieutenant walked Bp. plained the condition of t to Dick and ex~ ings aboard the ship. Now, Dart,” he continued, “I am rein- forced by Brott and the crew of the Pinnace, and am strong enough to have my own way. At any rate, I shall try it, But Ill give you a chance for your life,’ “‘Name if, sir.” “Those poor fellows on that yellow fever | ship want relief. I shall not send any of my men on board. But you can take your choice of hanging or going on board of her.” “Tl go,” said Dick, quickly. ‘I’d prefer to die of fever and escape the disgrace of death by the rope.” “Understand, I don’t order you to go.” “T understand.” _ “You can take some quinine and some dis- infectants. AndI shall send Ben Bowline and Kitt Cutlash with you. They have mu- tineered and I’ll have them no longer on board ,Lhis cutter, except at the end of a oose. “And Charlie Fisher? What will be his fate?” “TY shall take him into portin irons. Bow- line and Cutlash, are you ready to go aboard that ship?” “Tf so be I can do the'poor critters any good, I’m willin’ to go and nuss ’em,” re- sponded Bowline. *‘ And you, Cutlash ?” ‘“* Ay-ay, sir.” “Go below and get your traps ready, then.” “We'll not take much,” said Dick. ‘It isn’t likely we'll ever come out of that pest- house to need ’em,” “As you please, Man the pinnace!” In five minutes they had got together what they wanted, and the lieutenant handed Dick a stock of medicines. “ You'll have to swim to the unas you j get within a cable’s length,” said the lieuten- ant. ‘‘I daren’t trust the men much nearer, and you can’t have the pinnace.” “ All right.” “Good-bye, then. Shove off.” Instead of halting at a cable’s length from the ship, the men rowed. so near that they tossed the things aboard, “We daren’t go any nearer, sir,” said the boatswain, when this was done. ‘You'll have to swim for it.” «Allright. Come, Ben—come, Kitt.” Leaping over the side of the pinnace, they swam to the chains and climed on decle, CHAPTER V. A cHorus of groans greeted them, From the fore-castle to the taff-rail lay the living and the dead. Their color was frightful to behold. It was a dull, leaden yellow. 3 Picking their way among the debris of the wreck of the bodies of the living and the dead, they made their way aft to a man who was sitting on deck, leaning against the mizzen- “mast. He did not seem to be delirious, and was the only one in whose eyes the light of reason ane telp, help !” h d, as th “He elp !” he gasped, as they came near him. ‘ Water, fraten ie ; Running to the water cask, Kitt drew out a cupful and held it to his lips, “We're all down with the fever,” he gasped. “It commenced when we were five days out from. Rio. Oh, the terrible scourge! Go down in the cabin—there’s females there— whether dead or alive I do—not—know——" The man fainted from exhaustion. Dick laid him down on the deck, and then all three hurried to the cabin. The utmost confusion prevailed there. Chairs and tables were overturned, giving evidence of the late storm. On the floor was a woman. They bent over her and felt her pulse, She was dead, though yet not cold. Separating, they commenced to search the state-rooms. In the state-room into which Dick went lay a young girl. She was not dead, but so weak she could not move. : As she saw Dick, her lips moved. Bending down, he heard this one word: “Water !” 3 There was a pitcher by the side of the berth, Seizing it, Dick ran to the deck, filled it from a, water cask and returning, held it to the girl’s lips. : She drank deeply. eon e some medicine into a glass, Dick Ete ely. diluted it with water, and held it to her lips. ‘ ae drank it, and shortly afterwards went ‘0 sleep. By the side of the berth lay a handkerchief. ee: was a name worked in the corner in silk. Taking it up, Dick read the name: ‘Jennie Harding.” The sick girl was Nellie Harding’s sister, who, according to John R. Thompson's letter, was to sail on the Hyperion. But Dick knew nothing of these circum- stances, and consequently the name excited no surprise. Going out into the saloon, he found that Bel Bowline and Kitt Cutlash had completed their examinations of the state-rooms. The had found three women and five men ~ passengers all dead. Carrying the bodies on deck, they threw them overboard. : Going on deck, they performed the same of- fice for the dead there, thus removing a part of the contagion, and making better the chances of those who still lived. The officers and passengers were easily dis- ‘tinguished from the crew by the difference in their Clones Carrying them one by one into the cabin, they put them in berths, and making each swallow a large dose of quinine, mixed with the juice of some lemons, which they found in the cabin locker, and URS a pitcher of cold water within reach of those who were strong enough to raise it to their lips, they went on deck to attend to the crew. These they attended to in the same man- ner, after placing them in their hammocks. Their thoughts now reverted to the cutter. A breeze had sprung up while they were at work, and she was hull down on her way up the beach. Ben Bowline shook his fist at her. “You're a tight craft, my lady,” he exclaim- ed, ‘‘and ye sail like a witch, but there’s one aboard of ye as the devil ‘ll get one day for sartin’, and that’s the cape ; ‘Tl see your hand and go one] better, Ben Bowline,” ejaculated Kitt Cutlash, ‘‘There’s one aboard as the devil’s got a’ready and that’s Brott.” “Forage around and see if you can find something to eat,” said Dick. Old Ben knew exactly where to look, and soon returned with the information that the larder contained plenty of provisions. “Good, there’s no danger of our starving hefore Yellow Jack takes us. If we've got to take fever, we'll getit on full stomachs. Ben, what’s your opinion we'd better do next?” ‘Head her up the beach and try to make port. The wind’s shifted to the south’ard, and we can run afore it.” “What pore had we better steer for?” “ Norfolk.” “But there’s only one mast standing, the tera and the sails are all blown from at.” “Tt’s only. blown from the bolt ropes. We can haul it up and bend it on ag’in, We'll have torig up a uy anast on the stump of the forewast, and get some head rigging on | her, in case the wind changes to east’ard, so that we can keep her off the beach. How- somever, as the wind’s dead after us on the course we want to run, the mizzen’ll answer for the present. You take the wheel, sir, and square her away, as I see there’s a wind enough now to give her steerage way. Kitt
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y “pairing the ships jol i DICK DART. an’ me’ll go aloft, and see what we can do towards getting some canvas on her.” By the time enough canvas was bent on the mizzenmast to make it move through the water briskly it was dark, and operations had to be suspended. Relinquishing the wheel to Ben Bowline, Dick went below to attend to the patients, while Kitt went into the galley to prepare something to eat. Dick found that Jennie Harding had just awakened, - She was much better. The fever had broken and left her very weak. ; Giving her some more medicine and some lemon juice and water, he spoke a few encour- aging words to her, and then went his rounds to the other patients, some of whom he found much better apparently, and others much worse, Two were already dead. ® Alternately watching, sleeping and at the wheel, the night was passed. At daylight they found they had passed Hatteras and were making fair headway up the beach, considering the small amount of canvas that was carried. At sunrise, a three-masted schooner bore down to them. : ‘Are you in distress?” shouted the captain, through his trumpet. ‘‘Do ao want help? If so, we'll send a boat aboard.” “Keep off!” Dick shouted back. ‘‘ Don’t come nearer for your lives! ON ot ere ellow fever aboard. Crew all down. Lote for Norfolk.” : Under less distressing circumstances, it would have been amusing to see how quickly the wheel of the shcooner was jamed hard up, paying her off before the wind with every rag of canvass set. he was soon far up the beach, away from the dangerous locality. Te eet to the cabin to attend to his patients, he found the girl able to talk. He then learned that her sister had sailed on the Arminia. Going on deck, he communicated this in- eres to Ben and Kitt. “Phew !” whistled old Ben. “She’s in mighty bad hands, the leftenant’s and Brott’s,” volunteered Kitt. ‘To say nothin’ of that imp, Snapem, prowlin’ aroun between times.” aren _ “Town I’m anxious about her,” said Dick. “And if the feyer spares me, I’m off for the cutter as soon as I get ashore.” “And get strung up at the yard-arm,” growled old Ben. ““No danger of that when we’re in port. The lieutenant wouldn’t dare, and if. he pre- sents our case to the navy department, it’ll be worse for himself when the affair’s sifted’; the idea of hanging a man for writing down the plot of a story. “Just as you say. But if you go back to the cutter I'll go with you. Kitt, let’s see if we can rig a Jurvemast for’ard.” Before noon they managed to rig the mast and hoist some canvas. This helped them ae considerably, and on the afternoon of the fifth day they enter- ed Norfolk harbor. The schooner that had spoken to them was also bound for Norfolk, and she had warned the health authorities of the port of the ex- pected arrival of the fever ship. When they arrived, they were at once seiz- ed and placed in quarantine, with no prospect of being released under a month. ~~ At the expiration of a week, Jennie Hard- ing felt so strong and well that Dick told of the foundering of the Arminia and Nellie’s rescue. 2 ; He also announced his intention of leaving the ship by stealth and making his way by some means to the cutter. ~ 3 : Jennie implored to be taken with him. | He promised to dosoif it were possible, and went on deck to consult Ben Bowline and Kitt. / x Old Ben had ployed his spare time in re- ly boat, which was now in good condition, and was fastened under the stern by her cable. It was agreed that that night if the nurse fell asleep—which was almost invariably the case—they would make their escape into the boat through the cabin window. Night came. : _About midnight the nurse fell asleep, as predicted. seer ok x Dick tapped lightly on Jennie’s door. She was awake and on the watch, and in- stantly made her appearance with a small package, containing some money and some valuable jewelry, and also a larger bundle containing some changes of clothing. - peo Bowline and Kitt were already in the oat. Handing Jennie to them through the win- dow, Dick followed. Drawing a knife across the painter it was severed, and the tide carried the jolly boat down the harbor. As still as death they sat, until the black hull of the pest-ship was lost in the gloom. “We'll make sail now,” whispered old Ben. ““ And we'll be outside and miles up the coast afore morning.” When the sun arose they were out of sight of land, heading for the breakwater, steering ‘by the ship’s compass, which Ben had man- aged to smuggle into the boat. Toward evening of the third day out they sighted the coast some distance above the cape. el a bad enough lookout it was. The sky was lowering, and everything pres- aged a ene, gale of wind. As night fell the wind increased. Before ten o’clock it was blowing a gale, They were now in a situation of the utmost danger. To advance further up the coast would be suicidal, for the wind was due east, which brought them broadside to the sea. To turn about would be equally as bad, for it would be presenting the larboard instead of the starboard side to the sea. The jolly-boat commenced shipping water OUR “What's to be done?” asked Dick, anx- iously. - “Beach her,” said Ben, promptly. ‘If so be asa craft can’t go out to sea, nor up the beach, nor down the beach, she must go on the beach, and my advice is to beach her afore she founders and sends us into the sea, five miles from land.” ‘“‘ Which if it’s to be done at all, it had bet- ter be done in ahurry,” volunteered Kitt, who was using the baler, “‘for Davy Jones is right under the keel of this here jolly-boat, and his jaws is a gapin’ to swallow us. “Tt’s our only chance. We must run her on the beach, and trust Heaven to cast us high up on the shingle.” utting tiller up, Dick swung the bow of the boat off until she was before it. On they dashed toward the beach, which could not be seen on account of the darkness. But an ominous roar to leeward told that the easterly wind had knocked up a heavy surf. In half an hour a long white line of foam loomed up ahead. : “Breakers ahead !” sang out old Ben, who was on the lookout. A moment later they were in the surf. Just before the breakers were reached the sail had -been taken in and the mast un- shipped. ey were now dashing ahead without can- vas, but impelled by an irresistible power which has hurled many a noble ship to de- struction. The water seethed and hissed and roared around them, but Dick kept her straight be- fore it, and so far no waves had broken over the stern. A low, white line loomed up ahead. It was the white sand of the beach. — An instant later the boat was lifted high by an immense roller, carried along for a second with the speed of a race-horse, and then dashed down upon the shore. The boat had broached to as the wave broke. 3 ; She filled and capsized, sending them all into the undertow. — : , Dick, with his arm around Jennie, braced himself, and held on until the force of the undertow had exhausted itself, and then scrambled for the firm sand. Before he had taken two steps, the succeed- ing roller caught him, whirled him over and over, and broke his hold on Jennie. Struggling to his feet as the wave receded, he braced himself in the undertow, and dash- ing the water from his eyes, looked around for the girl. : CER An object was whirled past him by the un- dertow. ; It was Jennie. Sickens Clutching at her, he held on with a grip of determination. Exerting eyery muscle, he ran for safety. Before the next wave broke, he was so far ap the beach that only the spray touched im. uanin gs uD the.beach, he sat down on the sand, perfectly exhausted, and looked around for Ben and Kitt. “Look—look !” exclaimed Jennie, in a voice of terror, ‘‘They’re down in the undertow, They’re drowning iad CHAPTER VL. ‘By Heaven, there’s something wrong there |” exclaimed Dick Dart, ‘‘ Remain here while I help them.” : : Ben Bowline and Kitt Cutlash were strug- gling in the undertow, seemingly without power to extricate themselves. Ben was making no effort whatever, : He hung limp and apparently lifeless on Kitt’s arms. There was something queer about Kitt’s ac- tions also. No sooner would he get upon his feet than he would be dashed off them again, even when the force of the undertow did not seem to be very great. Dashing into the surf, Dick seized Kitt by the hair. Bracing himself on a large shell which hap- pened to afford a lodgment for his feet, he succeeded in holding them until the undertow from the preceding wave had passed. 3 Then, by almost superhuman exertion, he crseed them.both upon the beach. ° o sooner did he feel himself on dry land again, than Kitt broke forth in a torrent of invectives, chiefly directed against his un- mentionables. ‘“‘Blast them ’ere breeches !” he exclaimed, looking down at them with unspeakable ¢on- tempt. “If ever I come for to go for to get where I can buy, beg or steal another pair, ae tear’em into rags and burn ’em, out o spite.” : ‘What's the matter with them?” ; “Matter!” roared Kitt, “ They came mighty suet Sheena me, and that’s a fact.” How?” “They allus was too long for me, blast ’em, and so Bop ’em rolled up about a foot at the bottom. o sooner had the jolly-boat cap- sized than down they comes, ketchin’ around both feet, and the lining filled with sand. “T might a got out all right, though, but just then along comes old Ben, hurled the undertow, and slap he butts me with his head right in the stumick, knockin’ me back into the middle of the next breaker, **T seed somethin’ war the matter wi’ Ben, or he’d never a done that there nohow, an so I grabbed him, ¢: “ An’ we'd both a-been drowned if it hadn’t been for you.” “Why didn’t you let go of Ben and shift for yourself? You could have got out alone, couldn’t you?” : Ee *“Humph! make suppose I was a-going for to let Ben Bowline go out to sea as long as there was a chance save him? No, siree! If old Ben had a-gone to sea Kitt Cutlash ’ud peau to Davy’s locker wi’ him, an’ that’s a act.” ; : A low groan from Ben directed their atten- tion to him, ; He sat up and looked around in a bewilder- ed manner. ‘ ““Ts it possible I’m ashore?” he gasped. ‘*Sartin, old ’un,” said Kitt.. ““S’pose you ae us how on arth you came for to be in such a fix.” ‘The jolly-boat struck me on the head as she tuernd over. That’s all I know about it. Who saved my life?” : “ Kitt,” said Dick. ** Dick,” said Kitt. The story was told. “Ye both had a hand in it,” mattered the old sailor. “Ifit hadn’t been for Kitt Dick couldn’t have done it, and if it hadn't been for _ Dick Kitt couldn’t have done it, Ye’ve both of ye got a friend in old Ben Bowline till he slips his cable. Is the gal safe?” § ; “She is, and answers for herself,” said Jen- nie, who had BPEL Sie unperceived, “The good Lord’s on our side, sartain,” muttered old Ben, reverently. ~ Flash—fiash! Crash—crash ! The lightning flashed, the thunder roared — —the heavens opened and the rain came down | in torrents. A fierce hunter stoma ia which noth- ing is more terrible by the side of the sea— was full upon them.
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‘ rough voice, ‘don’t you knock the door off the hinges?” It was as darkas Erebus. “Run for the sand-hills!” exclaimed old | ye Ben. Off they went to the westward. Suddenly Dick stopped. “Tsn’t that the glimmer of a light ahead?” he asked. ss pent you are!” exclaimed Kitt. ‘‘ Hoo- ray be 3 * Away forit!” cried Ben. ‘Marlin’ spikes and reef-gaskets, how it blows and rains !” Across the beach they went, through a cut in the sand hills to the door of a rough wreck- er’s cabin. Dick knocked loudly on the door and lifted the latch, but the door was fastened on the inside. “What the devil’s the row?’ demanded a i ‘““Why in the fiend’s name “Bela in the door, there !” cried old Ben, who was not est humor imaginable. ou bloody land-lubber, or we'll knock gaye t through it blasted quick.” * Who in thunder are you, anyhow?” “Take a reef in your ‘tongue !” exclaimed Kitt. ‘It’s blowin’ big guns out here and a- raining like the very devil.” “We've 1 been wrecked on the beach,” explained Dick. ‘‘ We're about used up. There’s a female with us. Don’t keep us out here in the rain.” “Why couldn’t ye a-said that afore?” growled the voice. A moment later a flood of light shot out as the bar was withdrawn and the door opened. It disclosed a large room with bare floor. Although it was carly summer there was a large fire kindled in the fireplace, and its warmth was very comfortable, as the night, on account of the storm, was chilly. By the fire sat a young man about Dick Dart’s age, He was a low-browed, broad-shouldered fel- low, and his face was villainous looking enough, © On the other side of the fireplace sat a wom- an of middle age. She was bony and angular, her features were sharp and her black eyes glittered like twin beads. The man who had opened the door was a rough, bearded fellow, a little older than the woman. : In his mouth was a short, black pipe. Instantly he laid this on the chimney piece, and without saying a word took down a sou’- wester and put it on. * Come, Dan, hurry!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ Come along, old woman.” , ss Where are you off toin such a hurry?” asked Dick. ‘ “To the wreck, in course.” ‘“There’s no wreck on the beach.” “There ain’t! Then how did you get here?” : «‘ We escaped from the Norfolk quarantine. came up the beach in the ship’s jolly-boat and ran her ashore here.” “What wur ye quarantined fer?” ‘Yellow fever.” ‘The devil !” exclaimed the ge starting back, ‘Then what in thunder did ye come here fer? Didn’t ye know any better’n to come out’n a pest ship to this here house? Say, didn’t ye—hey ?” pase) We've brought no fever with us.” «The d—l ye ha’n’t! Come, get out o’ here. Confound yer! D’ye want to give us all the fever?” . Dick saw that he had made a mistake in saying a word about yellow fever. | ut he determined not to go out in the storm again that night if he had to fight} ¢. for it. > “Come, out with ye !” repeated the wrecker, opening the door. “Hold hard there, messmate!” said old Ben. ‘Ifso be we had the fever about our togs when we started, I kalk’late it’s washed out of ’em by this time.” : , * Which if ’tain’t, there’s no vartue in salt | water.” - F ‘And what’s more, we don’t intend to be turned out in the storm this night,” said Dick decidedly. y ‘Thunder and lightnin’!” roared the wreck- er. ‘Ye mean to say ye'll take possession 0’ a man’s house, whether he will or not?” _He reached up to the floor beam and took from its hooks a heavy, double-barreled gun, loaded with 3B. ~ “Now, get out o’ here, ye beggarly raft!” he Open the | & -DICK DART. yelled, ‘or I'll put a load o’ goose shot into| The young man who was sitting by the fire- place arose and took his stand by the wreck- er’s side. ¢ Matters were beginning to assume a very serious aspect. Jennie Harding now interposed. She sprang to the wrecker’s side and caught his arm, *‘Ton’t!” she cried. ‘Oh, don’t shoot them! See! we’re not beggars—we'll pay you well.” She took from the pocket of her dress her jewelry box, and opened it. Diamonds, rubies and pearls glittered. “Took!” she cried, ‘‘ we’re able to pay you. eet us to-night, and I will give you one of ese.” : She took from the box a diamond. The wrecker's wife looked oyer her shoul- ders, and the fire of avarice gleamed in her es. NTs worth a fortin’ to us, old man,” she exclaimed. ‘‘Keep’em over night, and run the risk of the fever.” She gave her husband a peculiar look. CHAPTER VII. “Waxkrup! Quick! Turnout, or you'll be murdered in:your beds!” . This exclamation was from old Ben, who stood over Dick ‘and Kitt, shaking them soHety. ; ‘What's the row?” demanded Dick. “The wreckers are plotting to murder us,” “Heavens!” ° Dick sprang out of bed, tollowed by Kitt, whose bones rattled as he struck the floor. “They'll be up in two minutes,” continued Ben, excitedly, OL, do you know? Why do you think so?” **Never mind, There’s no time to explain. Let’s think how to save our lives and that of the young gal in yonder, Draw your pistols.” «They're useless—the powder's wet.” ““We must use the butts. Knock’em on the head as they come up-stairs. Be lively— take your places!” ; ; They stationed themselves at the head of the stairs. 3 Three minutes passed. “They're coming,” whispered Ben. The wrecker and his son came up first, abreast of each other, The old woman followed after with the ax, urging them on. oming from the light room into the dark, the would-be murderers could not see the fate that awaited them, Crack! erack! The butts of the pistols in the hands of Dick and old Ben descended simultaneously upon the heads of the wrecker and his son, ‘They dropped as if they had been shot. The knives fell from their hands. Tumbling over, they fell against the wom- an who was at their heels. “After ’em, boys!” shouted Ben, Bowline, Don’t give the villains a chance to recover. Upon ’em while they're down and the wits knocked out of’em,” They ran down-stairs. , They were just in time, for the woman had struggled out from beneath the two men, - The wrecker had already arisen to a sitting positions and was looking about him in a ewildered manner, The son lay senseless upon the floor. As Dick made his appearance, backed by his companions, the woman seized the ax and swung it around her head. > “Stand back!” she exclaimed, in a voice of ury. ‘‘Lay a hand on me or mine and Ill split yer skulls.” She stood like a lioness at bay. Kitt dashed upon her. . Avoiding, with wonderful agility, a blow from the ax—for the Amazon struck out viciously—he flung his long arms around her body, contiing her arms to her side. The woman fought viciously. : She snapped at his face with her yellow angs. : She was a perfect tigress, roused to fury. Kitt dodged his hea: backward and escaped. her teeth. ‘No ye don’t, old-woman!” he exclaimed. ‘When Kitt Cutlash gits his flippers onto ye, ye'd batter caye in. Come along_here, you she-devil, and lemme tie ye' up |” He dragged her across the room, still kick- ing and biting viciously. ~ , veus Had her hands been loose, so that the wom- an’s natural weapon, her finger-nails, could have come in play, Kitt would have got the worst of it. Upon a nail, driven in the floor beam near the door, hung a number of squid lines. Holding her fast by wrapping one of his long arms around her, Kitt succeeded in tak- ing one of the lines down and winding it sey- eral times around her, confining her arms tightly to her sides. ext, he threw her down on the floor and tied her ankles. “There you be, old ’oman,” he ejaculated. “Snug as a bug in a rug; an’ sich a warmint fer fightin’ I never see.’ Her resistance being overcome, the woman broke forth into a torrent of invectives, inter- larded with curses. “Ye slap-sided pirate, ye can’t stop my tongue !” she shrieked. ““Can’t I, ole’oman? Don’t pride yerself on that ’ere,” said Kitt, catching up a squid. “Shut yer onery mouth, or [ll punch this wakes o lead down yer dirty throat, hook an’ all.” , : He advanced upon her as if he really meant to execute the threat. Her teeth closed with a click, and she con- tented herself with glaring fiercely at him. He couldn’t stop that, at any rate, unless he blindfolded her. In the meantime, Dick and old Ben had thrown themselves upon the wrecker. He fought desperately, But he was dazed by the blow on his head with the pistol, and they had the advantage of him.. ; They threw him flat on his back. ‘Bring a line, Kitt!” panted Dick. Seizing another squid line, Kitt ran tothem, and while Dick and old Ben held the wrecker, he bound him hand and foot, By this time the young fellow showed signs of returning consciousness, He was speedily secured in the same way, At this instant Jennie Harding entered the room. Her hair was disheveled and her face was very pale. “Oh, what is it?” she exclaimed. ‘‘I was awakened by the sound of a terrible struggle. What does it all mean ?” : “Tt means that we all came very near bein. murdered in our beds by these wretches. An we would have been if it hadn’t been for Ben Bowline.” “Which I’d like to know how Ben Bowline knowed as how they was a-goin’ to butcher us?” said Kitt solemnly. ‘“‘How in thunder did ye diskiver it, Ben? Ye must aslep’ wi’ one eye open.” “No, I didn’t,” returned Ben. “TI didn’t, Kitt, and that’s wharI kim mighty nigh a- letting ye all be murdered, kas I had a warn- ing.” P How's that?” exclaimed Dick. “Tl tell ye. Ye see, gentlemen an’ ladies all, the old woman who Kitt took the starch ou uy so handsomely made my bed on the oor. “Now, though the bed was made good enough 1 allow, and an’ eyen better’n cud be expecten. o’ sich a critter, somehow I cudn’t get asleep right off. : ““Mebbe it was’cause I missed the rollin’ and the heayin’ o’ the sea, but anyhow, though I was a’most tired to death, an’ my head wasachin’ from the crack it got when we come ashore, I cud do nothing but toss and pitch and tumble, for all the world like I tossed and pitched and tumbled when I wur in the surf. : “In one o’ them rollins I cotched a glimpse 0’ a light shining through the floor at the side o’ the bed, an’ fer want o’ somethin’ better to do, I put my eye to the knot-hole and looked down. into the room beneath. “The woman was sitting between the two men. “She was a talkin’ to themin alow tone, and although I couldn’t hear what was said, | I s’pected mischief at once, and made up my mind to watch. “After a while they stopped talkin’, and commenced to look straight into the fire. “Not likin’ to wake ye if there was nothing — wrong, I crept back to bed again, puilin’ the © rigging a little nigher to the hole, so’t I cud lay on the pillow an’ look down upon’em, _ ‘An’ now comes the part for which some- body ought to keel-haul me, sartain. ** Lads, I went to sleep. **Old Ben Bowline went to. sleep in the face o’ danger, and when the lives o three per-
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y DICK DART. sons, an’ one on ’em a ‘woman, depended, probably, on his keepin’ awake. “What made me go off quick I dunno, ‘cept it mout a been that lick I got on the head, which made me first mighty wakeful an’ | d then niighty sleepy, all of a sudden, but any- how the fust thing I know’'d arter that, was that the she-fiend yonder was a bendin’ over my bed. x Then I seed her go to yours, and then go down-stairs, soft as a cat. “Lookin’ down, I seed the two men a- standin’ by theffireplace, each wi’ a big knife in his hand. : «Then the woman picked up that ax yon- der an’ started for the door. . **Hold on a minute,’ the old man says, in a louder tone than had been used afore. ‘I feel kind o’ sick over this bizness.’ ‘He went out. xs “The woman muttered something [ could- n’t understand, “The man was gone about five minutes, an’ that there five minutes saved our lives, fer it give us time to prepare fer ’em. “Had they kim right away, afore I had time to wake ye and get ready fer ’em, they mought a got the best uv_us arter all. “« An’ that’s the tail end o’ the yarn.” * ae ae horrible enough it is,” exclaimed CK, - He turned to the wrecker. “What have you got to say to it all?” he de- manded, ; ‘*Nothin’,” said the wrecker, sullenly. ‘© What were youafter—the diamonds?” ‘* What the good o’ talkin’?’ muttered the wrecker, ‘‘ Least said, soonest mended, We failed in what we was up to, and that’s the end on’t.” “And what made us fail?’ shrieked_ the woman. ‘It was you, ye coward! If it hadn’t been for your whiteliver, what makes ye sick at the thought o’ lettin’ blood, we’da ad ’em buried in the sand hills afore this, an’ we'd a been rich! Rich, ye white-livered coward—rich |” “Which, if ye don’t take a reef in yer blasted tongue, ye she-devil, I’ll go a fishin’ for it an’ hook it out!” exclaimed Kitt, seiz- ing a squid and approaching her, with the hook foremost. The woman’s teeth click fast together. “T’ll take yer advice next time,” muttered the wrecker, looking daggers at them all. “TI never was much o”a hand at managin’,” “Belay there!” roared old Ben. “So help me, if [hear another word out of ye till yer BOOKS to, Pll gouge yer eyes out wi’ a marlin- spike.” Pre wrecker became silent. . The son considered discretion the better part of valor, and did not open his lips. “Now what's to be done?’ asked Dick. “Stay here till morning and take a lay o’ the land till daylight,” returned Ben. “ What’ll we do wi’ these here warmints?” inquired Kitt. “Till stand watch over’em till morning,” said Ben. : He took the shotgun down from its hooks and placed it ready to his hand. Seating himself in a chair by the fireplace, he stuck the knives in his belt and placed the ax across his knees. “Now go to bed,” he ejaculated, ‘and I'll go bail that ye’'ll have no more trouble in these wretches atween this an’ daylight.” \ Knowing that old Ben would keep his word, and that there was no further danger to be po Peg nonuere they took his advice, retired to their rooms and were soon asleep. : As soon as he was alone in the room, old Ben appropriated a piece of navy plug which he found on the chimney-piece. He bit off a chew. < i . Now, gentlemen and ladies all,” he said, looking sternly around him, ‘‘ I’m fixed to my likin’, And ifso be as you make a move- ment or say a word afore daylight, you'll be fixed—but not accordin’ to your likin’, wot- somdever.” 2 Old Ben kept his eye on the prisoners all night. fie seemed to enjoy the vigil and the navy plug. ' At daylight Dick and Kitt came down. Kitt went out in the shed to knock up some* breakfast, and Dick took a stroll out on the beach. ; The storm had passed away, the gale had abated, the wind had come around to the westward, from which point it blew a stiff breeze, knocking the surf down to a smooth sea, and thesun shone out brightly as it arose above the horizon. 4 Altogether, it was such a morning as few localities except the Jersey sands can pro- uce. The jolly boat lay where she had been cast up on the beach. i Her keel was broken, and she was split in wo. Clearly, she could be of no further use to them. “ But her sail, which was at the foot of the sand hill, was not injured. A hundred yards to the right was a surf boat which evidently belonge er. Dick examined the craft. It was clinker built, and would take them to Barnegat in safety. ‘He determined to have the boat, with or without consent of the wrecker. When he returned to the house, old Ben had monopolized the wrecker’s pipe, and was puffing away on some navy clippings at a great rate. Jennie Harding was down, and Kitt Cut- lash had breakfast ready. The wrecker looked daggers, and the old woman was foaming at the mouth at the as- surance of the four who had taken possession of the house. “Now, you three wretches on the floor, we'll attend to you,” said Dick, after break- fasts “Ben Bowline, what shall we do with em 2” “Tar an’ feather ’em and set fire to ’em,” muttered old Ben. “Which, if justice is to be done, we'll sarve ‘em the same as they was a-going to sarve us,” said Kitt Cutlash. ‘‘ Cut their throats, dig a hole in the sand. hill and put ’em into it, throw a lot of quicklime on ’em and kiver ’em up. Oh, you don’t like it, don’t you, ole 7oman 2” “What do you say, Jennie ?” “Tet them go.” Allright. But on one condition. Doyou hear, you three cutthroats ?” “We ain’t deaf!” shrieked the old woman, whose enforced silence had nearly been the death of her, and who now made the most of her opportunity. ““We want your surf-boat.” “Take her and clear out,” growled the wrecker. ‘“ We don’t intend to return her.” “Ye may go to the devil in her, for all I care—and good riddance.” “Thank you,’ said Dick. ‘‘How much is she worth?” ° “What's that to you? You ain’t likely to buy her.” : “Set a price on her, and you'll see.” The wrecker named a price. “Show up, boys,” said Dick. They all went down in their pockets and fished up the amount in gold and silver. ““T have plenty of money,” said Jennie Hard- ing, ‘let me pay.” d © Not much,” said Dick. “‘ We have plenty of rocks between us to buy the craft, and we'll sell the boat when we get into port and get our money back.” “Not much,” growled old Ben. ‘He's charged us two prices.” ‘* Never mind—the overcharge shall the lodging, for I swear the woman shan’t have the diamond after her hellish plot. There’s no use, Jennie, I say it, and I mean Oo on 2 Sf “That's the talk,” said Kitt. be a-going.” “Wait; let’s load up.” They drew the old loads out of their pistols and reloaded and capped them. Then they took the wrecker’s shot-gun and fired off both barrels. ; Telling Kitt and Ben to keep them covered with their pistols, Dick went up to the wrecker and his son, and cut the squid lines that bound them, Get up ! he ordered. “What’s the racket now?” asked Kitt. . ae want ’em.to help launch the surf- oat.” ‘Don’t leave me—don’t leave me—untie me —they’re no better to be untied than Iam,” exclaimed the wrecker’s wife. } “That's a fact, old woman, but you'll stay on the floor a bit longer yet. Come along, you two rascals.” “Which you'd better mind yer eye,” ad- monished Kitt. ‘‘Don’t come for ter go for ““Come, let’s to the wreck- | to kick up none o’ yer shines nuther, or Vil plug ye as sure as my name’s Cutlash.” The wrecker darted a fiendish look at Kitt, and muttered a low grow! down in his throat, but he made no resistance as they marche him past the sand hills to the surf-boat. “Catch hold, boys! Here she goes! Away with her !” Down the shingle rattled the boat, the sea was favorable, they scrambled in, seized the oars, and shot her out beyond the breakers. They were not out tifty yards when the wrecker’s wife was seen running across the beach. ; _ By strenuous exertions she had succeeded eee the squid line and releasing her- self. _ Seizing the gun she had loaded and capped it in a hurry, beset with a desire for vengeance, and ran with it on the double-quick towards the wrecker. Dick saw the danger. “Pull for your lives,” he exclaimed. must nicel Kitt threw all the strength of his longarms upon his oar. The row-pin gave away, and he tumbled ule over head into the bottom of the surf- oat. aerate he could rise again the boat broach- “We get out of range or they'll pepper us e 3 Luckily there was very little, or they would have filled and capsized. By this time the wrecker’s wife had reach- ed him. She thrust the gun into his hands, pu iroly she shrieked. ‘‘Shoot’em! Shoot “ What's it loaded with?” “Swan-shot—two ounces in each barl— eight drachms of powder behind it,” “Hal Good fer a hundred and fifty yards.” He prepared to take aim, . Old. Ben threw himself down in the bottom of the boat, : pick did likewise, dragging Jennie with im, ““Wa—ha !” laughed the wrecker, taunt- ingly “These swan shot ’ll go through her sides like paper.” _ Bang—bang! He discharged both barrels. : Like hail the shot rattled against the sides of the surf boat, but none came through. ‘‘}Tail and thunder!” howled the wrecker. “The gun was loaded with number eights.” He turned upon his wife with a torrent of oaths. : “TJ got ’em out of the big pouch !” she ex- ge “That's where you keep the swan- shot. ““T changed ‘em yesterday, you foo) !” ; Kitt Cutlash raised his head over the side of the boat and took an observation. Seeing that the woman had brought no extra ammunition, and that the fusillade was over from the shore, he determined to doa little shooting on his own-account. Resting his pistol! on the side of the boat, he took a careful aim and fired, The wrecker uttered a roar of pain and fell. The shot had splintered his knee cap. *“You won't go snip shootin’ in a hurry wi’ them ’eré number eights!” shouted Kitt. “Tf you walk agin in six months, call me a porpoise.”. ; ‘Away she goes,” said old Ben, seizing his oar. “‘ Let’s get her over the bar,” , : ’ “CHAPTER VIUII. WE must now return to the cutter. It will readilly be imagined that the lier- tenant and Brott were overjoyed at the suc- cess of their maneuvers. They supposed the three they hated were heehee to certain death on board the fever ship. And consequently they were in the best of spirits. : Not so, howeyer, with the crew. : With the majority of them Dick, Kitt and Ben were prime favorites, and they did not like the idea of their falling victims to the dreaded Yellow Jack. : But the lieutenant and Brott were so over- joyed that they went down into the cabin, and opening a bottle of wine, drank to the certain death of the three doomed ones, “They drank deeply. : e ee SURE ‘they soon became “Oh-be- joyful. ; it was at this stage of the proceedings that
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he ‘10 a _ of wee some irresistible impulse caused the lieuten- ant to cast his eyes toward the curtain. Instantly he uttered a shriek. “My God!” he exclaimed, ‘will it never leave me?” “ What?” > “Tt—it! Just Heaven! It points its finger at me warningly. It’s there—in the curtain —in the flag—see—see !” - With a cry of terror he fell from his chair to the floor, insensible. Brott looked toward the flag. There was nothing there. Hé walked to it and drew it aside. Nothing unusual was visible. j He walked back to the table and looked at the lieutenant, who still lay on the floor in- sensible. “Del. trem., old boy,” he said, significantly. “You've got ‘em bad.” ; ; Lifting the lieutenant from the floor, he carried him to his state-room and tumbled him into his berth, dressed as he was. ** Another county heard from,” he muttered, with a laugh. ‘‘Now, I'll go and see Nellie Harding.” He found her so far recovered from the shock of the shipwreck as to have regained her senses. “T’m glad you're better, miss,” he said. “Thank you. How came I here?” “You were picked up by the captain’s gig, in a gale of wind,” A “ After the ship went down?” se Yes.” “Who saved me?” “TY had that honor.” : He counterfeited great modesty, and looked away from her. “We don’t know your name, miss,” he con- tinued. : ‘Nellie Harding—and yours ? “ Dart—Dick Dart, at your service.” ‘Ts it possible!” exclaimed Nellie, sittin, up in the berth. “ Do you know Gregory Dar’ of New York?” *T should think so—I’m his son.” “Oh, I’m glad of that, for Gregory Dart is the name of the gentleman to whom I am going.” ss Halloo !” exclaimed Brott. ‘‘ That’s news.” “He is my guardian. And Iam going to New York to finish my education and to live in his house. And you, his son, saved me from the sea? How strangely things come “7 ‘about !” “They do, indeed,” said Brott, suavely, and then he continued, under his breath, ‘*‘ more strangely than you think, my lady.” He commenced giving a highly-colored ver- sion of the rescue, putting himself in Dick Dart’s place, and leaving out Kitt Cutlash and Ben Bowline altogéther. Then he gave the girl some wine and a sleeping powder from the ship’s medicine chest, and left her. ; When the lieutenant made his appearance, Brott took him aside. ' “Lieutenant,” said he, ‘you and I are very poor men. We have nothing but our silm meant to depend on.” “That's so, Brott, and worse luck, I’ve often ‘thought it’s that which constitutes the bond athy between us.” *‘‘And we both love money, lieutenant.” “T do, that’s certain.” * And I, lieutenant. Would you like to make half of half a million dollars ?” --Weavens! whab are you taking about? Give me a chance.” **-You have it.” “Don’t joke on so’ Rave a subject, Brott.” “T’m not joking. Come into my state-room and I'll convince you.” : They went into the state-room, and Brott took'the stolen papers from the locker, “Read ’em,” he said. ; The lieutenant looked them over. ; “Then the girl Dick Dart picked up is an heiress!” he exclaimed. : : «She is, and her money must be ours.” “ How?” - “Tam going to marry the girl. You assist me to this much-to-be-desired result, and I _ will give you half the money.” “* How do you propose to go about it?” Brott then informed the lieutenant that he had assumed Dick Dart’s name, and taken to himself all the credit of her rescue. “That,” he continued, ‘‘ will make her very patty to me, and gratitude is akin to ove. ” * ~ “Then Ane word, aS commander of the cutter, w. have great weight with her, You x /Sadoteh Lotte de AT a a a ES es a a a DICK DART. must constantly je in my favor, and tell her I am the best fellow alive. . ; “And Sup poae me to be the son of her guardian will be another spoke to my wheel.” “But suppose it all fails? Supposing she refers not to take the step between grati- ude and love, and declines to marry you; what then?” «Then you must give me a leave of absence to conduct her to New York.” ‘** Shall you take her there ?” : “Not much. The whole of New Jersey, from Barnegat to Perth Amboy, is a vast forest of pines.” “Well?” “There are houses and cabins in those pines, and in the vast cedar and gum swamps which border the creeks and rivers that emp- ty into Barnegat Bay, an army might search for months for us and never find us. Once let me get her in such a place, andI shall find means to make her glad to marry me.” “Tt’s a good plan,” mused the lieutenant, ‘and it can hardly fail.” “Tt cannot fail. But not one of the crew must have access to her. If she finds out that I’m not Dick Dart, and didn’t save her after all, there will be the devil to pay.” “Allright,” saidthelieutenant. ‘I'll take hold of it with you—and I must say the out- look for a fortune is favorable.” The conspirators arranged their plans more in detail, and then separated, Brott going on deck, and the lieutenant into Nellie Harding's state-room, where after she awoke he busied himself for the nexthour sounding Brott’s praises. In due time the cutter arrived in Barnegat Bay, ran in on the flood tide and dropped an- chor between the North Point of Beach and a large, boggy island called the Great Sedge. The lieutenant busied himself obtaining news of the smugglers. He was not very successful. The reason was that most of the inhabi- tants of the beach:on both sides of the inlet were wreckers in league with the smugglers, and pretended to know nothing about them or their doings. The people who lived on the main were principally fishermen, and they would give no information. The light-house acesher a shrewd fellow by the name of Horney,declared he knew noth- ing about them, but the lieutenant surmised that he was one himself and decided that he would bear patching. For some time nothing was accomplished. At length, one afternoon, a small boy was observed to paddle a skiff out of one of the small creeks that indent the bay shore of the beach above the inlet. : He came out to the ciitter and asked for her commander. “T am he,” said the lieutenant. ‘* What's wanted ?” : $ “I must see you alone,” said the boy, shrewdly. The lieutenant led the way into the cabin. ep state your business in a hurry,” he said. “Here's a letter,” said the boy. He produced a letter, of which the lieu- tenant broke the seal, and read as follows: “Tf you wish to obtain information of the smugglers, come at four o'clock to the gulley that runs through the barberry bushes below John Allen's tavern.” No name was signed. ‘* Who sent the letter?” : ; Dunno,” said the boy, twirling his cap. ‘Where did you get it?” “Dunno.” “You must know, else how came you by it?” ° “Took-ee here, cap'n,” said the boy, decid- edly. ‘Him as sent that letter told me to answer no questions about it, and you couldn’t get anything out o’ me if you pulled me to; ieces with red-hot pincers. If you want to <now all about it, do as the letter says, and I reckon you'll find out.” ‘Where is John Allen’s tavern?” ; “T)’ye see that house?” asked the boy, point- ing to a frame structure two miles or so up the beach. “ Well, that’s John Allen’s tavern. Gi’ me a dollar, cap’n, and I'll go there and drink yer health.” f The dollar was SOT NCO UE and the bo; made his way on deck, entered his skiff an departed. The lieutenant called Brott. ‘Take this letter, man the pinnace and go ashore and meet this man,” hesaid. ‘* You'd better land opposite the cutter and walk up the beach, so that you will be less likely to be observed from the house. If the man knows where the hiding-place of the smug- glers is, make any reasonable terms with him you choose.” In ten minutes the pinnace was manned and Brott and the crew had rowed ashore an were walking up the beach toward John Al- len’s tavern, ee ; A quarter of a mile below the house was a large scrub of barberry bushes. ollowing the path, they had gone about half way through the clump, when suddenly a sous was heard from the bushes. “ yp Brott stopped. 3 “ Hallo! are you the man that sent this let- ter?” he demanded. “*Send yer men back, and I'll tell ye. D’ye hear? Send every mother’s son o’’em back to the boat, or not a word'll ye git out o’ me. What I have to say is fer yer ear alone.” Leaving Brott and the crew in the barberry bushes, we must again return to the cutter. About an hour after Brott left, the lookout hailed: ** Halloo, the deck!” “What's wanted?” growled the lieutenant, who was on the quarter. “There’s a ES a si South Point of Beach, sail set.” “Well, what of it?” ‘Nothing, sir, only the three men that’s in her look like Ben Bowline, Kitt Cutlash and ne Dart. And there’s a woman aboard, 00.” Seizing his glass, the lieutenant sprang up the rigging. ‘“By Heaven, it’s they!” he exclaimed. - And then he muttered, under his breath: “How in the fiend’s name did they escape ? Isupposed I had doomed them to certain death on board the fever ship. The foul fiend seems to favor them. If they arrive on board the cutter, Dick Dart willat once expose us to Nellie Harding and upset all our plans.” “The ebb tide’s running out at the inlet, ars and a heavy westerly wind’s blowing,” said the lookout. ‘‘They won’t be able to beat the surf-boat in till the flood sets and the wing goes down, which won't be till after ark.” “That’s so, by Heaven,” exclaimed the lieutenant, descending the rigging and re- turning to the cabin. 5 He commenced pacing nervously up and own. “T must get the girl out of here,” he mut- tered. ‘“Howisittobedone? Hold! Ihave it. I'll forge a letter from her guardian (she don’t know his handwriting or mine), saying that he had heard of her arrival in Barnegat ay, and has sent a messenger from New York for her. On the plea that the messenger must return this night, and that the Hype- rion has arrived in port, and her sister is safe with her guardian, I'll get her in the skiff, under the pretense of taking her to the main- land across the bay, and on the pretense that stat oes are about to attack the cutter, I'll leave her on the Sedge, promising to return for her before dark. By that time Brott will be back, and can carry her over to one of the swamps, where they'll not find her if they ~ look till doomsday. When Dart comes aboard I’ll tell him the pir has gone to New York, and then I'll find some means to put him out of the way, too, without arousing suspicion.” , e sat down to the table and wrote a letter, put it in an old envelope addressed to him- . self, postmarked New York, carefully blotted out the date, and took it to Nellie. She expressed her willingness to go at onc sé craft off agin the surf-boat with a e. : Come, then,” said the lieutenant; ‘‘ there’s’ no time to lose.” Going on deck he had the skiff lowered. Nellie soon made her appearance. Assisting her into the skiff, the lieutenant took the oars and rowed rapidly towards the Great Sedge. CHAPTER IX. ; Ir was about a mile from where the cutter lay to the Great Sedge. ; The lieutenant sent the skiff spinning across, and skirted the north side of the meadow.
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As he was rounding the northwest point, and about to disappear from the sight of the cutter, he shipped his oars, and raising his spy-glass, took a look backward. os By heavens!” he exclaimed. ‘There is going to be the devil to pay aboard ship in Tess than ten minutes.” : *© What is it?” z “T see the recall signal which I ordered to be made in’ case an attack by the smugglers was apprehended, Miss Nellie, I shall have to land you on the Sedge.” be AY on this island? What will become of me? “You must stay here until I-return from the cutter.” “But suppose the smugglers happen to vis- it the island in your absence?” _ You must keep hidden in the reeds,” said the lieutenant cunningly, his aes: be- ing to prevent the girl showing herself to the crew of the cutter. “On no account must you leave your place of concealment among the reeds.” : He rowed the skiff close to the bank and peered through the grass. He could see nearly the whole of the shore line of the westerly side of the Sedge. A quarter of a mile to the southward of the point lay a small sloop of about eight tons. The sloop was at anchor, but her mainsail was set, and the jib, although hauled down, was not tied up. It was evident that most of the crew were on shore, for only one man was visible on deck, and her boat was drawn up on the bank. = Nellie partially arose in the skiff to look over the bank. : . “Sit down,” whispered the lieutenant, <* Here’s danger ahead.” - “ Where is it?” “A sloop. Peer through the grass and you can see her.” Nellie did so. : “© Why can’t you engage a passage for me to the mainland in the sloop?” she asked. “Heavens, how rash you are! “Would you fallinto the hands of the smugglers ?” “Mercy, no.” “Then be careful not to let them see you. That sloop is one of the smugglers’ crafts. I can tell her character by that black stripe over red painted around her sides.” The sloop was a fishing craft, and the lieu- tenant knew it. It would have been perfectly safe to engage a passage for Nellie in her. But ws course this would not have suited the rascal. A diabolical idea entered his mind. He would leave back in the skiff and say that he had procured her a passage to the mainland in the sloop. Shoving the skiff from the bank he pushed _intoa small cove that ran afew yards into the meadow. “We'll skiff and make out.” They crept into the reeds, and peering through watched the sloop. In about twenty minutes four men came out of the reeds, got into the boat and rowed out to the sloop, which then made sail, hoist- ed anchor and stood across to the mainland. “That's fortunate,” said the lieutenant to himself. ‘That'll give color to the yarn I'll tell aboard the cutter.” ’ Then he continued aloud : : “Tmust gonow. Becareful you don’t stir from this spot, for if you do lwon’t know where to find you when | get back. And don’t show yourself or make a noise, for there’s no telling whether any more smug- glers are on the Sedge or not. As long as you remain in the reeds you're all right. ood-bye. If I’m not back before dark don’t _be frightened.” “Tl try not to be.” “ “That’s right. Good-bye again.” ** Good-bye.” The lieutenant got into the skiff, shoved off and rowed back to the cutter. *T put Miss Harding on board the sloop that’s standing across the bay,” he said to the crew. In the course of half an hour the sloop en- tered Forked river and was soon lost to view. The lieutenant noted her disappearance with satisfaction. “Good! the plot works well,” he exclaim- ed. ‘Now, if Brott only gets hersafely away to-night, we may consider success assured.” et out here,” he said, ‘‘ conceal the ide in the reeds until the rascals DICK DART. He waited anxiously for Brott’s appear- ance, but no sign was visible until dusk. The lieutenant began to grow Weary, not on account of Brott’s absence, but of Nellie’s situation on the Great betes in the night. ‘*She mustn’t be allowed to remain there much longer alone,” he muttered. ‘‘Con- found Brott ! what’s heup to? Why don’t he come ?” To answer this question, we must return to where we left Brottand his crew in the bar- berry bushes. It will be remembered that the concealed person who hailed the party ordered Brott to send his men back to the boat. This Brott hesitated to do. It would be placing himself entirely in the powerof the person who hailed. Fe Come out and show yourself,” he demand- ed. “Very good,” was the answer. ‘‘ But may I be hanged if I say a word about the smug- glers till you send your men back.” There was a rustling of the bushes, and a man stepped out. He was a very peculiar-looking individual. His shoulders were square, chest expanded, and as faras half way down—that is, to where the legs are inserted into the human frame— he was a well-made, well-proportioned man. But what a falling off there was! For some reason, some accident, it is sup- posed, in his infancy, his legs had never grown in length since he was five years old. They were stout, as well as his body, but os more than twenty inches’ from hip to eel, ox He consequently waddled about, a very ri- diculous figure, for he was like a man razed, or cut down. His hair was red as blood. His full and bushy beard, of the same color, grew almost up to his eyes. Add to this a rough, slouch hat, pulled down low, and his features were almost concealed. ** Are you the captain of the cutter?’ asked this individual, addressing Brott. ‘*No; Lam senior midshipman.” “The devil! I sent for the captain.” “T'll do as well,” said Brott. ‘‘He sent me.” “* Well, I didn’t send for you. Good-day.” The man turned on his heel and waddled off, when Brott sung out: **Halloo! don’t go off in a huff. It’s all right, I tell you. Any bargain that’s made by me will be sanctioned by the captain.” “Why didn’t he come himself?’ growled the man. M He's sick,” said Brott. ‘‘Can’t leave his Nellie on the Sedge, row} bunk “‘Oh, thet’sallus thecase. Come aside from your men a minute.” Brott did so, When they were alittle apart the man said: “Wow much'll you pay me if I’ll give you information whereby you can capture the smugglers and all their booty at one blow?” «he government will give five thousand dollars.” ; “T'll do it,” said the man. ‘ But you must never expose me, or I'll be torn in pieces by the smugglers, and the wreckers, too, that’s the reason why I didn't want to be seen by your men, for fear one of 'em might afterward turn traitor and expose me.” ‘*No fear of that,” said Brott. “All right. I’ve got to risk"it now, of course. Dare I trust you with my name?” “Certainly. It shall be known to no one but the lieutenant.” “Good. I’m called Bill Binks. Now, if you'll come along with me, I’ll show you where the stronghold is.” : Brott hesitated. ** Afraid?” asked Binks, with a sneer. “No. What shall Ido with my men?” — “Leave ’em here. ‘They'll be within call in case the enue less make their appearance. I don’t want to take tod many with me, for we might be seen from John Allen’s tavern. Come along.” Telling his men to remain where they were, and come forward with all haste if he blew his whistle, Brott followed Binks into the barberry bushes. The latter led him through the bushes until they came to the strip of open meadow which skirted the bay shore. _ A small creek ran into the bay, Its edges were lined with low bushes, Bending downso as not to be seen from the tavern, which was about a quarter of a mile TS above the creek, they made their way to the bay shore. 4 * Binks took a spy-glass from under his coat. He handed it to Brott, “Look up the bay about eight miles,” he said. ‘‘ Do you see a low strip of meadow ex- - tending from the beach more than a third of the way across to the mainland ?” 0. “That's the Pelican,” said Binks. ‘‘ You'll see that the meadow on this side juts out from the beach almost in the form of a sickle.” The part the furthest out in the bay that you can see, and the furthest to the south’ard, is an island called the Little Sedge. Between that and the meadow above, which is called the Middle Sedge, is a shallow thoroughfare. “Directly opposite this thoroughfare, on the beach, is a small house, which cannot be seen from here, py reason of the sandhills. “Tt is situated by the side of a swamp. “That house is the rendezvous of the smug- glers, and in the cellar is stowed thousands of dollars’ worth of their booty, and that of the wreckers.” *“ What is their force?” asked Brott, “Not more than four or five men will be there to-night. The rest of the gang have gone on an expedition to the head of the bay, which you can’t reach to-night in time to cap- ture them, But you can stay at the house and surprise ’em when they get back.” ** A good plan,” said Brott. ‘“ Now, listen while I tell you how to get there. It will never do to attempt to take the cutter up, for you’ve no pilot, and you’d be certain to run the Egg Island Flats, if you missed the others. Besides, the smugglers conan very well help seeing the sails of the cutter. «Take to you boats, and run up the bay, keeping well on the west side, so as to avoid the shoals, till you reach the mouth of Toms iver. *“Row directly across the river, which is two miles wide, until rou come to Coate’s Point, which is where the river joins the bay. “‘Then pull due east across the bay and you will strike the thoroughfare between the Peli- can and Middle Sedge. “About half way through the thoroughfare is an island a few yes in diameter, called the Little island. Then you will take me on board, and I will pilot you the rest of the way.” ““T understand,” said Brott. ‘Is that all?” ““Yes—hold on, though, there’s one thing more. If the tideshould happen to be low, as it’s likely to be with this westerly wind, you'll find it necessary to get out and tow your boats through the thoroughfare.” “*Tsn’t there deeper water in some other direction ?’ asked Brott. “Yes. But a watch is always kept that way. You'll hayeto go through the thorough- fare, or you'll be discovered. Be on hand as near midnight as you can. I'll meet you at the Little island.” Without waiting fora reply the man turned away, and disappeared in the bushes.skirting the creek. Brott turned back to rejoin his men. As he entered the barberry bushes he was confronted by three men. ** Halt!” said the foremost, in a low tone. “We've some business with you.” ' The Bppparante of the men was suspicious, especially as the upper part of their faces were concealed by masks, leaving nothing but their rough beards exposed. Brott paid no attention to them, but at- tempted to pass. “Hold!” said the one who had first spoken. ‘You are our prisoner.” Brott was a blustering, swearing coward, like his captaih. When he could not brow- beat, his influence was gone, as was the case with the lieutenant. 7 His courage oozed out at the ends of his aneres as each one of the masked men drew ~ a pistol. “Who are you?” he gasped. “ What do you want of me? 5 “The first question shall remain un- answered. The second you'll soon know without our taking the trouble to tell you.” The men spoke in such a threatening tone that Brott was alarmed for his life. Taking his whistle from his pocket, he put it tohis lips. » — ‘ The three men simultaneously raised their pistols and pointed them at his heart. 4 ee Oe it,” said one, calmly, ‘‘and then fe |” 5 ;
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12 DICK DART. X< Brott dropped the whistle. ** Would you murder me?” he gasped. The question was not answered. Brott was instantly seized and bound. He was disarmed and a gag thrust into his mouth, “ ; “Now strip him,” was the next order. In five minutes Brott was lying among the bushes, as naked as the minute he was born. He could not say a word, but lay looking at . them in terror and despair. At a signal from the leader he was lifted up and carried out into the meadow. Down he was thrown on his back into a mud hole, and tied by the wrists toa stake. Then each of his captors uttered a low, taunting laugh. 3 “Tf the mosquitoes don’t have a full meal off you, I miss my guess,” said the leader. *‘Good-night, Mr. Midshipman Brott.” They turned away, and eae among the barberry bushes, disappearedin the direction of John Allen’s tavern. CHAPTER X. Ir will be remembered that Charlie Fisher was confined between decks at the same time that Dick Dart and Ben Bowline and Kitt Cutlash were sent on board the fever ship. In the run he had remained ever since. He was ironed hand and foot. When the guard brought him his food, the irons on his wrists were removed just long enough to en- able him to swallow his food and then im- mediately replaced. Charlie had no knowledge of where the cut- ter was, except from the guard, who told him that they were at anchor in Barnegat Bay Just at dusk on the evening when Nellie was on the Great Sedge, the guard brought - Charlie his supper as usual. He unlocked the handcuffs, waited until he had eaten, then locked them again and went away. He had not been gone long when Charlie, whose: eyes had become accustomed to the ‘darkness, saw something shining on the floor at his feet. He managed to raise it from the floor. _ A cry of joy escaped him. It was the key uy theirons. The guard had dropped it in his urry. But how to use them was the question. He soon solved it. ; Taking it in his mouth he managed to in- sert it in the lock and turned it with his teeth. His heart beat phe she He determined to desert the cutter and ’ make for the nearest land. 3 To remove the irons on his ankles was the workofamoment. — He es free from his irons, but could he es- cape ' He was confined within a few feet of the cabin bulkhead, through a crevice in which a aay of light now streamed, showing that the cabin was occupied. Moying noiselessly to the bulkhead he Bee plied his eye to the crevice and looked through. The lieutenant was sitting at the table. He had a bottle before him, and by the self-satisfied expression of his face he seemed to be well contented with the world. As Charlie looked, the lieutenant filled his glass and drained it. Then he arose from the table. “‘Tt’s queer Brott don’t come back,” he mut- tered. “ What can be keeping him? If he don’t come soon the girl will kick up such a devil of a row that she'll be heard on board the cutter, I’m afraid.” . He went on deck without saying more. “What wickedness is he up to now?” said Charlie. z As he could not answer the question, he ap- lied himself to devising means of escape » from the cutter. He was about turning away from the bulk- head, when his hand came in contact with a wooden button. Turning it, he found that one side of the wood-work moved a little. This led him to suspect that there was a button on the other side. He found that such was the case. Turnin this also, he easily lifted out a small pane that communicated with the cabin. The place had been cut as a means of egress from the cabin to the hold, and it was doubt- ful if any one on board the cutter had ever discovered it except himself. — - eee : ree through, he stood erect in the cadin, sila . . n He was at a loss as to his next move. One thing was certain; he must leave the cabin, or the lieutenant might return at any moment and discover him. Replacing the panel as well as he could, he raised his eyes and saw an object that came near causing him to utter a ery of terror. A being that was certainly not of this world stood there. It was the spirit which had so terrified the lieutenant on several occasions. As Charlie shrank back from it, it raised its hand and pointed to the cabin windows. “Depart through them,” it said, in un- earthly tones. ‘Stay not, for danger threat- ens. Swim forthe GreatSedge. There is one there who needs you. It is dead astern. Heed my warning.” The figure continued pointing toward the window. Unable to take his eyes off it, Charlie backed away from the fearful presence, descended feet foremost through the window, and dropped noiselessly into the bay. The wind had fallen, and the flood tide had Byung the cutter’s stern around toward the west. Charlie heeded the specter’s warning. He struck out astern, in a line with the cutter, nob knowing in darkness where his course would Corn ats He had not been gone five minutes when the lieutenant entered the cabin. On the table Jay a folded paper, Taking it up, he read these words: “Beware! The day of retribution is not far distant!” : He shuddered, and looked around fearfully. .- * My God!” he exclaimed. ‘That was not on the table when I entered the cabin, and no one has entered since. It must haye been that invisible presence. Just Heaven! I am a haunted man!” There was a slight rustling of the curtains as of a poaue wind. A soft, sighing sound pervaded the still- ness of the cabin, and then these words were whispered : **Beware—beware! The day of your doom is near!” Staggering forward, the lieutenant lifted thecurtain. No living thing was there. With a low cry of fear he reeled back to the center of the cabin and fell senseless on the floor. Charlie Fisher swam steadily onward. He was a perfect master, and could have remained in the water for hours where there was no seaway. Presently he saw a low, dark line looming up ahead. It was the easternmostisland of the Great edge. He climbed out on the low bank and looked around him. ‘The interior could not be seen, for it was hidden by the line of reeds that lined the margin of the bay. Z Pushing his way through the reeds, he saw by the dim light of the stars that he had landed on a low boggy place, covered thickly with pond-holes. Su poring this to be the narrow strip of meadow which in Barnegat generally inter- oses between the water and the pine woods, e proceeded across it. is progress was soon Bop pes by another line of reeds. On the other side of them was again the fark waters of the bay. He now found that he was on an island. How far he was from the mainland or in which direction it was he could not tell. But he must get off the island, for his es- cape svould soon be discovered, and in the morning he would be searched for and found. The penalty of desertion might be made death. And he knew enough of the lieuten- ant’s vindictive nature to be aware that he would not hesitate to enforce the extreme penalty. Scanning the heavens, he soon found the north star, Z : This gave him his bearings. He knew that the mainland must be to the westward. How far off it was he did not know. But he determined to swim for it and reach it or die-in the attempt. Setting his face to the westward, he made his way across the meadow, plunging through the pond-holes, and occasionally miring in the mud above the knees. A reed bunch checked his progress, i Forcing his way through it, he found him- selfon the edge of a marrow thoroughfare, across which the line of reeds that grew up- on the other bank could be dimly seen. Becoming desperate, he did not stop to think of finding a way around the thorough- fare, or even looking for the narrowest part, but plunged bodily in and succeeded in wad- ing across. = Continuing westward, he crossed a large tract of open meadow, interspersed with pond-holes and covered with grass about a foot high. Again he came to a line of reeds, Pushing through them, water again met his gaze. He was on the western shore of the Great Sedge, and a body of water miles in extent lay between him and the mainland. He had no idea how far it was, and he de- termined to try to reach it. xe Anything was preferable to being taken on board the cutter, and tried as a deserter. 5 He preferred to drown, if he could not reach the mainland. He was about to plunge in when he imag- ined that he heard a faint cry to the north- ward. Listening intently, he heard the ery re- peated. It was a cry for help and it was in a woman’s voice. Charlie Fisher never allowed an appeal of that nature to pass unheeded, a ery seemed to come from the north- ward. Striking across the meadow, he hurried in that direction. He had reached the reeds on the northerly shore of the Great Sedge, when a dark figure suddenly arose and confronted him. A pistol barrel faces in the air a moment and then descended. With a low moan Charlie fell. We must now return to Brott, whom we left naked in the mud-hole. He struggled hard to release himself, but it was of no avail. Piles, Neither could he cry out, for the gag stopped his mouth. e mosquitoes troubled him yery much. As it began to grow dusk their stings were fearful. j As it grew darker they settled upon him in swarms. Brott was in great agony. He could not endure the torture much long- er. He would die long before-the night was over. Why did not his men look him up? r The truth was, he had made himself so ob- noxious to them by trying to ingratiate him- self into the favor of the lieutenant that they cared very little what became of him. If he were in trouble, he might get out as best he could. Their orders were to remain in the barberry bushes, and they were not going to leave them to go out on the meadow among the mosquitoes to hunt Brott up. The rope by which Brott was fastened to the stake was fastened with three or four half-hitches. Under these was a nail to prevent the rope slipping down. bright idea entered Brott’s mind. He knew that if he couldremove the gag he could make his voice heard by his men, and he thought he had found a way to do it. Raising himself by almost superhuman ex- ertions upon his knees, he found that he could reach the nail with his mouth. Opening his mouth wide, he placed it over the nail. : It had a large head, and easily dragged out half the gag. The second attempt was fully as successful, but did not result as pleasantly to Brott. As the nail, with the gag attached, was leaving his mouth, his knees slipped on the soft mud, and he fell forward. The end of the nail caught on his front teeth, breaking off at the root and cutting a deep gash in his lip. Brott fell forward at full length, burying his face a foot deep in the mud. When he managed to scramble out his face was the same color as his disposition. Oh!” he roared. ‘‘ Oh-h-h-h |” Then he commenced to curse everything and everybody black and blue, and ended by shrieking at the top of his voice for his men. They were presently heard tumbling through the barberry bushes. When they reached the spot he was still roaring, 5 z
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- you'd better hold a par’ oy 0) paney rushed up. to the mud-hole and halt- ed. Brott’s face presented a terrible appear- ance. The mud had made it, and his body was as black as jet, which was streaked red with the blood that had flowed from the cut in his lip. y Billee,” to his chum said old Sam Sawyer, the carpenter's mate, who knew perfectly well it was Brott, fens a mongrel—half an’ half—streak o’ black an’ a streak o’ red, an’ a streak o’ the same mixed. Billee, it’s the devil wi’ his tail cut off an’ tied toa stake and ochred, Let’s git,” « * CHAPTER XI. ‘**ComE back, you fools!” yelled Brott. ‘You dolts, you idiots! don’t you know your own officer?” ; “*Billee,” said old Sam, “is the devil a os- sifer aboard this cutter?’ : “As near that as anything, Sam. Mebbe wi’ that striped critter. Mebbe he wants to engage the spare bunk next the cap’n ?” “"Tain’t likely he can do much damage,” said Sam. ‘*’Cause why, he be tied to a stake. Isay, you warmint, be you the devil or be you only a imp?” “T’m neither, you lunkheads. I’m Brott.” “Yiord love us,” said Sam. ‘‘I believe it does sound like Mr. Brott’s yoice. The Old Harry’s swallowed him, sartin.” “You dolts!” roared Brott. “You curs! You jackasses! I’m Brott, [tellyou. I’m tied to a stake in this mud hole, the mosquitoes are devouring me alive. If you don’t release me this instant I'll have you all lashed to death with the cat if ever I live to get back to the cutter.” At this one of the men dashed in and quickly cut the rope that bound Brott, who ran out of the hole. “Tord save us!” said old Sam. “ You're all turned black. You're. not long for this world, sir, you’re a-mortifyin’.” “Tt's dirt, you old fool!” roared Brott. *“Mud! Mud out of that infernal hole! Give me something to cover my nakedness or these ~ cursed mosquitoes will be the death of me.” : One of the men took off his coat and threw it over Brott’s shoulders. “Oan’t gi’ ye our breeches, sir,” said old Sam. ‘‘’Cause why, we can’t spare’em, Like- wise, it ain’t necessary, sir, ’cause why, you’ve ot a very good linin’o’ mud, an’ the hide don't show.” ‘Go to the devil!” roared Brott. ‘“ Back to the boat in a hurry—I’ve important infor mation to communicate to the lieutenant.” They hurried back to the boat. i Before they rowed back to the cutter, Brott threw himself into the bay, and by hard work managed to scrub the thickest of the mud off his skin. On the trip back to the cutter he related the circumstances of his capture. Outwardly the men sympathized with him, of course, but inwardly they laughed de- lightedly, and swore that if the smugglers ee done it, the smugglers were very good fellows. : : When the cutter was reached Brott hasten- ed down into the cabin. : He was surprised to find the lieutenant ly- ing on the floor in a swoon. Fitting him up he seized a glass of whisky from the table and poured a part of the con- tents down his throat. Then he bundled him on the sofa and left him. “He'll come to, I reckon,” he muttered. ** And if he don’t he may die and be darned.” Going into his stateroom he dressed himself, When he returned the lieutenant was re- covering his senses, “Whisky!” he gasped, : ; Filling another glass with whisky Brott sera ed it to the lieutenant, who drank it at agulp. The specter!” he groaned. “My God, will it never leave me in peace? Must I al- ways be haunted by its awful presence ?” “Have you seen it again ?” “Yes—yes! But just now it appeared to me. It pointed its long hand DAN at me and spoke some terrible words, Oh, it was awful!” é The lieutenant hid his face in his hands, Presently he looked up. ““Make your report,’ : he said, in a hoarse voice. , DICK DART. ’ ate .* 13% Brott related the information that Bill Binks had communicated. “Hah !” exclaimed the lieutenant. ‘‘'That’s news! At twelve o'clock, he said, we must be at the Pelican, eh?” Yes. d as it is nearly nine now, we must lose no time,” “You're not to go, Brott.” The lieutenant then related his actions in regard to Nellie Harding. You must take the skiff and go off to her,” he demanded. ‘She will be frightened nearly to death if she is left alone on the Bede much longer.” SOs long a leave of absence will you grant me?” “You had better return some time to-mor- row to avoid suspicion. I will say that you are gone to the mainland after information about the smugglers. You can return under the same pretense, and visit the girl as often as may be necessary. Where do you intend to take her?” “To a place I know of. <A place so farin the center of a dense swamp that she can never find her way out, even if left un- guarded.” “But she must not be left unwatched. She night wander so far that you couldn’t find her.” “Have no fear. She will be placed ina hut and guarded by an old hag who is so lynx- eyed that she seems never to sleep.” *“Very good. Lose no more time. That rascal Dick and his chums may come on board at any minute, andI would have you gone before they arrive.” Brott went on deck, entered the skiff, took up the oars and pulled away towards the Great Sedge. The lieutenant went among the men and informed them that they were to make a night attack on the smugglers. ** Lower the pinnace,” he ordered. ‘“ Hight men besides myself will be enough, and they can each pullan oar. Be lively now, for we’ve no time to lose.” In a few minutes the men were armed and in the boat, which pulled off in the darkness up the bay towards the Pelican. rott pulled a lively oar in the skiff. But he had not accomplished half the dis- tance to the Sedge when he heard the creaking of oars. , : A moment later the hull of a boat loomed up in the darkness. The skiff was low in the water and could not as yet be seen by the approaching craft, which was headed for the cutter. Brott’s mind was filled with the smugglers, ss ee naturally took this to be one of their oats. ; Since his rough treatment by them a few hours before, he had no wish to fall into their hands a second time. If they were about to make an attack on the cutter the lieutenant might bear the brunt and danger of it. As for himself, he preferred to be out of harm’s way. : Quick as thought he changed the direction. of the skiff until it was going at right angles to the course of the approaching boat. A few strokes would take him out of harm’s way. But fate was not kind to him, In his haste he unshipped an oar and fell sprawling to the bottom of the skiff. ** Boat ahoy!” hailed a voice. Brott made frantic efforts to ship his. oar and get to rowing position upon the seat. ‘SBoat ahoy!” growled a rough voice, in a different tone from the first. “Lay on your oars. Pull another stroke and we'll send a shot into yeatween wind and water” CHAPTER XII. “Goon Lord,” groaned Brott, “it’s the smugglers! They'll murder me this time cer- tain. What shall Ldo?” . As he dared not do anything else, he rested on his oars and waited for the strange craft to come up. As it drew alongside he saw that it was a large surf boat. : _ T'wo men were at the oars and a third sat in the stern, handling the steering oar. “ Boat ahoy !” hailed the person in the surf boat. “Are you from the cutter?” 5 Brott recognized the voice. A sigh of re lief escaped him. : “Ts that you, Dick Dart?’ he exclaimed. “Yes. What are you doing out here, Brott?” =o a | |i “On secret service. Who's aboard of you!” Ben Bowline, Kitt Cutlash and Miss Jennie Harding.” : “Heavens!” muttered Brott to -himself, “Nellie’s sister! Now there will be the dickens to pay.” ** All well aboard the cutter?” asked Dick. “Yes. But I must be off. You'll get all the news when you go aboard.” They parted company, Brott pulling off in the direction of the sedge, and the surf-boat towards the cutter, whose lights could be seen in the distance. : They were still some distance from the cut- ter when the pinnace dashed across the bows. “Boat, ahoy!” sang out the lieutenant. “What boat’s that?” _ *Surf-boat, sir, with Mr, Dart aboard.” ‘© Row up here.” *Ay--ay, sir.” . Dick steered so that the pinnace and surf- boat lay side by side. “What woman have you got aboard?” growled the lieutenant. ‘Miss Jennie Harding, sir, from the Hy- perion.” af “Glad she’s safe. Hey, you fellow in the pore of the pinnace, go aboard of the surf- oat,” “Come on board the 1 Mr. Dart,” continued the lieutenant. ‘‘ We're about to make an attack on the smugglers,” ** Ay—ay, sir,” said Dick. + Gone Jennie,” he continued. “TI sup- ose we'll be backsome time to-night, though have not an idea where we are goin ae “Good-night,” said Jennie, ‘‘and do be careful of yourself.” “* All right.” ““Come—come, Mr. Dart,” said the lieuten- ant, “ We'reinahurry. Be lively!” Ts Realy: . Dick went into the cutter and took his seat in the bow. : “Give way.” The lieutenant looked at his compass and shaped his course about northwest, so as to avoid the Egg Island flats, and struck the meadows a mile or so to the southward of Sheepshead Point. Then he intended to skirt the meadow to Goodluck Point, cross the river to Coates’ Point, and then row east for the Pelican thor- aR and take Bill Binks off the Little island. * : He eyed Dick Dart viciously as the latter _ sat in the bow. - “Tf some fatal accident don’t wos to you before we get back to the cutter, it won’t be my fault,” he muttered. ‘Give way, my lads! anore her through the water and be darned to er!” He relapsed into silence, while the pinnace darted up the bay at a lively rate. Meanwhile Brott had rowed the skiff towards the northwest point of the Great Sedge. ; Landing a hundred yards or so to the east- ward of the point, he hauled the skiff up on the bank and listened. Not a sound was heard. : There was no evidence that Nellie Harding was on the Sedge. f He was about to proceed to the point, when he heard a faint cry. : ; It es the same that Charlie Fisher had heard. : Brott could not exactly make out the direc- tion. ; He listened a moment, and the cry was re- peated. | : It seemed to be two or three hundred yards to the eastward. Brott hurried in that direction. In his haste he did not pay sufficient attention to the nature of the soil. tas He had not-gone more than half the distance when the bottom seemed suddenly to fall out. He had stepped into a bog-hole, Do he sank, hip-deep, in the soft, black mud. It was cold as ice at the bottom, and made his teeth chatter. g ‘ He was some time working his way out, and the air was not sweetened by his ejaculations. He went ona few yards further, Then he stopped by the edge of the reeds and listened. é heard a sound, but it was not in the di- rection he expected. " The sound of footsteps was heard hurrying across the sedge from the southeast. : Brott crouched down by the edge of the” reeds and listened. ae The approaching person came directly to
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aN 4 DICK DART. ‘< the spot, paused a few feet off, and listened. Brott, partially hidden by the reeds, could not be seen. But the form of the other was outlined against the sky, and could be distinctly per- ceived. : Brott gave a start as he recognized the features. “It’s Charlie Fisher,” hé muttered, under his breath. ‘‘How came he on the Sls when I supposed he was in irons in the ho of the cutter? There’s some mystery here. “He must be put out of the way. Ifhe comes across Nellie Harding all is lost.” Brott drew a pistol from his belt. He did not dare to fire it, for fear other per- sons might be on the Sedge, and the report sould alarm and bring them to the spot. But it might be used as aclub. He would knock Charlie on the head. No sooner was the resolution formed than it avas poy in execution. Taking the pistol by the barrel, he noise- lessly arose, and brought it down on the head of Charlie, who was bent forward in a listen’ eats e fell with a groan. “That settles you!” muttered Brott, with a low and triumphant laugh. ‘‘And now to dispose of the body.” Lifting Charlie in his arms he carried him back to the bog-hole into which he had fallen. Throwing him in he pushed him down with his foot until his body disappeared. “Dead men tell no tales,” he muttered. **You are a deserter, and no one will have any suspicion of foul play. So perish all who undertake to interfere with my plans. With a low, taunting laugh, the brutal, cowardly bully, who would not for an in- stant have dared to stand before Charlie Fisher in a fair fight, turned away and re- sumed his search for Nellie Harding. “He retraced his steps toward the spot whence he had heard the cry proceed. When he thought he had gone a sufficient distance he BucP ped and uttered a low call, “Nellie—Nellie Harding!” ‘‘Here—oh, here!” “In the reeds ?” “Yes—yes!” ro “Come out this way—don’t be alarmed—it’s I, Dick Dart.” It will be remembered that Brott had from the first deceived the girl, and she supposed his name to be Dick Dart. Ina moment a crashing of the reeds was ‘heard as she worked her way through them. In an instant more she appeared. She rushed to Brott’s side. “ Oh, why have you left me here so long?” she gasped. ‘‘I have been almost frightened todeath.” : “T’m sorry, Miss Nellie,” returned Brott, hypocritically, ‘‘but an attack on the cutter by the smugglers was every instant appre- hended, and neither the lieutenant nor my- self dared leave. But you're all right now, and we will go if you are ready.” - “Ready? Of course I am, and only too glad to leave this terrible place.” “Come on, then,” said Brott, ‘‘ we'll be off in a jiffy.” Going along the aes hic Sedge, he found | be eft it. the skiff where he ha Assisting Nellie on board, he entered, and selzing the oars, rowed rapidly-across the UY : On the west shore, a stream called Forked river puts into the bay. ° Entering the stream, Brott rowed up against the current until they entered a dense cedar swamp. It was crooked and tortuous, and in some places so narrow that the oars almost touch- ed the banks. It was dark and gloomy, and objeets could not be distinguished twenty feet ahead. eu Brott appeared to know the ground well. It seemed that he had been there before, for he proceeded straight ahead without hes- itation. ; Nellie shuddered as the place became darker and darker. pate * Are you sure you are going right?’ she asked. ‘This is a terrible place through which we are passing.” “It's all right,” said Brott, easily ; “Pve hunted quail and rabbits through these swamps dozens of times before. I know every - inch of ground, You can’t lose me.” Nellie said no more. But it was evident that she was very uneasy. At length they came to_a landing-place. “Here we are at last,’ said Brott. ‘‘ Now, Miss Nellie, we'll leave the boat if you please.” He assisted her out-and fastened the skiff. « We'll have to walk through the swamp by. A path I know of to the solid land,” he said. Taking her hand he Jed her through the swamp. ? Suddenly he left the direct path and turned into a very narrow one that branched off toward the east. For two or three hundred yards he followed this until a light was observed glimmering ahead. » ‘ Here we are,” hesaid. ‘This is the house where the messenger was to meet you. You stay right here while I go and see if he is there. Be very careful not to moye a step until I come back, for there is a perfect bog- hole all around us, and if you step off the solid land you will immediately sink out of | bl sight in the mud.” te went to the door of the house and knocked. CHAPTER XIII. In due time the pinnace reached the mead- or abous a mile and a half below Sheepshead. oint, ; SIRS the bank, they reached Goodluck Point, where the southerly shore of Toms River joins Barnegat Bay. Striking across the mouth of the river in a northerly direction, they reached Coates’ Point after a row of two miles more. This was the spot at which, according to Bill Binks’ instruction, they must turn east. Pulling in an easterly direction across the bay, they had the good fortune to strike the thoroughfare. q They had only rowed a short distance through it when they heard a hail. ** Ahoy—ah—o—o—oy!” It was Binks, who was on the little island. They rowed up until the bow of the pinnace grounded, when Binks waded out and came on board. $ “Yer a little late,” he EG sowing his bandy legs in the stern-sheets beside the lieu- tenant. ‘‘It’s well nigh onto one o’clock in the mornin’, or 1m mistaken.” “Tt took us longer to row up than we ex- pected,” said the lieutenant. ‘‘ The route you mapped out for us to row is a regular black snake’s course.” “Tt was the safest. A good pilot would have come ee peteieny up the bay, inside the flats by Phillip’s channel and the like. pene arun aground twenty times if you’d tried it. The only way for greenies to find the Pelican thoroughfare in the dark is to take the bearing from Coates’ Point. How many men haye you got, cap’n 2?” “Nine, beside myself.” “Then there’s ten of ye—levyen, countin’ me. That's enough. By geebaw! how we'll wipe them smugglers out. aking the, tiller, Binks steered the boat ueoneh the thoroughfare into the deep water eyond. A row of ten minutes brought .them to the ach, : “ Ton’t let yer oars make a sound when ye take ’em in,” weet eat Binks. | ‘‘ The least sound will alarm the pep ers ‘ As’still as death they unshipped their-oars, and hauled the pinnace alittle way up on the shore. es aa «‘ Where’s the house?” whispered the lieu- tenant. “A hundred yards or so up from the land- ing,” returned miniees in the same cautious whisper, ‘‘ They’re all gone to bed, for there’s no light showing.” - ‘Get your weapons ready, men,” said the lieutenant. ‘‘We’ll surprise the rascals and ‘capture ’em all without striking a blow.” ““Come on,” croaked Binks. As still as death they crept up from the landing toward the house. ; In a moment the outlines of a small frame building loomed up. “Here we are,” whispered Binks. “Ive ot a key—I'll unlock the door, and we'll cap- ure the rascals in their beds.” Inserting the key in the lock he pushed open the door. 3 : «Come on,” he whispered. ‘‘ For your lives don’t make a sound.” ; The whole party entered noiselessly. N “They sleep up-stairs,’ whispered Binks. “ Be as still as mice, and I will lead the way.” He opened the chamber door. Up they crept stealthily. ‘* Have your pistols ready while I strike a match,” whispered Binks. ‘The instant the light’s made, cover ‘em with your pistols.” : Click—click! The pistols were ready cocked for any emergency. Fi nap : The match flamed. The room was a blaze. of light. They gazed eagerly around. They saw—nothing, ; ‘The room was empty. So was the house. The prey, if it had been there, had flown.’ The lieutenant had turned upon Binks. “You have deceived us,” he said, angrily. “Thaven’t,” said Binks, sullenly. ‘‘'They’ve gone out for BOD n Is I suppose. Let's. wait—they’ll soon be back.” He led the way down-stairs and lighted a. tallow candle that stood on a rough pine ta- e. ““What are you doing that for?” asked Dick Dart, suspiciously. ‘‘ You're making a very ood mark of us’for the smugglers if they epuen to return suddenly.” e instantly extinguished the candle. ‘*T’ll take a cruise around and see if I can find out what the rascals are up to,” croaked. Binks. He went out, closing the door after him. The men stood still in the darkness, “Tieutenant, I don’t like that fellow’s ac- tions,” said Dick. “Nonsense,” said the lieutenant, who would on no account agree to anything Dick could say. “What do you dislike in him?” ‘All his actions.” “You think he is playing us false?” “e I do.” “ Well, if we wait, we'll see.” And they did see, in a hurry. The lieutenant had hardly finished his sen- tence when the quick rush of a large body of men was heard. Instantly a rough voice called out : “Surrender, you government dogs!” The clicking of musket locks was heard. The sound proceeded from every door and every window. ; The house was completely surrounded. “‘There’s twenty-five of us,” continued the voice; ‘‘you can’t escape. We're wellarmed, and have got you well covered with our rifles. Make a single effort to escape and we'll shoot. every mother’s son of you dead. Do you sur- render?” In the presence of real danger the lieuten- ant was as great a coward as Brott. ; His teeth chattered with fear. fs pias or we fire,” continued the person outside in threatening tones. ‘Do you sur- render?” “Yes!” shrieked the lieutenant. **No!” exclaimed Dick Dart. _ ‘Make ready!” hoarsely cried the voice out- side. ‘‘ We'll teach the government dogs to break into honest people’s houses. Fire into the hounds and be darned to ’em!” **Hold—hold!” shrieked the lieutenant. “We surrender, I tell you. Don’t murder us in cold blood. Ground your arms, men.” “Coward!” said Dick Dart. “Obey orders!” roared the lieutenant. *“D'ye want us all to be shot down here in the. dark? D’ye mean to mutiny ?* “T’ve never heard it called mutiny to es- cape when you're in danger of capture,” said Dickhotly. ‘‘ Mutiny or not, I’m going to cut mu way through those smugglers. Come on, all you who dare to follow!’ “Ay, ay! we'll follow,” cried one and all the crew. ‘Lead on, sir. We're after ye to the death |” “Hurrah! Come on, and down with every smuggler who tries to stop you !” Dick sprang toward the door, , He threw it open and rushed out, followed by the men. The lieutenant was in the midst of them for he did not dare remain behind. In an instant they were in the midst of the spinels: “Have at the dogs!” shouted Dick. ‘Cub your way through them, my brave boys !” A determined rush and the thing was done. Singularly enough not a shot was fired by the smugglers. . ; They seemed to be taken entirely by sur- prise by the suddenness of the maneuver. Through them rushed the cutter’s men, few blows that did no particular damage be-
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4 DICK DART. uN x ing exchanged on either side, and ran toward the landing. ; Some one was there before them. It was one of the smugglers evidently, and he was trying to steal the boat and cut off their retreat, for he was making frantic en- deavors to shove off the pinnace. : “Stop that, you rascal !” shouted Dick. He fired his pistol. The man let go his hold of the gunwale and took to his heels. “It looked surprisingly like Bill Binks. But no one could positively identify him in the darkness, for they had only a glimpse of him as he disappeared in the gloom. Pell-mell the men tumbled into the boat, the lieutenant being in the midst. : They had not gone ten yards from the land- ing when the smugglers, who had by this time recovered from the stupor into which: Dick’s sudden dash seemed to have thrown them, came rushing to the shore. ** After them !” cried he who seemed to be the commander. ‘“‘ Don’t let them escape! Take them alive.” There was a large, flat-bottomed boat with a sharp bow, built for shallow water, on the shore. To shove it into the bay was the work of a moment. Four brawny smugglers, whose muscles syere hard as iron, caught up the oars and the chase began. Had the course of the pinnace been directed to the southwest they would have pece ped with little difficulty, for they would have had deep. water until they rounded the southerly oint of the Pelican and struck into the open ay. The flat boat not being built epee for speed, but for shoal-water work, where a light draught was required, in order to carry well and cross the flats at all hours, would haye been distanced by the pinnace,. which was constructed on the most scientific principles. But her bottom was sharp, and with ten men aboard, it required at least fifteen isiches to float her. The lieutenant cowered in the stern-sheets, nearly frightened to deathylike the coward that he was. Dick seized the tiller. “Give way, men!” he exclaimed. ‘The rascals are too many for us in a fair fight, but we can outrow ’em.” Between the beach and the Pelican Island, between which and the Middle Sedge the thoroughfare ran, was a stretch of several hundred yards of deep water. Across this, and heading for the thorough- fare, Dick unfortunately steered, for he knew nothing of the deep water passage around the southerly shore of the Pelican. His ignorance was destined to get him into trouble. ; ; The pinnace went through the water almost two feet to the flat-boat’s one. When they entered the thoroughfare the smugglers were out of sight, although their shouts and the sound of their oars could still be distinctly heard. . The pinnace cut through the water, dis- tancing the flat-boat, until they were half wa: through the thoroughfare, when it met wit a sudden check. The tide had commenced falling. There was no longer water enough to float the pin- nace, es For a few strokes she dragged heavily through the water, and then ran hard aground. : ““Give way, boys!” eried Dick. ‘* Perhaps it’s a bar, and well drag over.” It was a useless exertion of strength. It only succeeded in forcing the pinnace harder aground at every stroke. z ad they struck the deepest water in the thoroughfare they would have floated, but as it was there was no hope. z Every instant the flat-boat.in pursuit now lessened the distance between them. ~~ *‘Qverboard!” cried Dick. ‘‘ We must wade her through.” : Overboard dashed the crew and tugged at the pinnace. The smugglers appeared through the gloom. “By Heaven! they’re stuck!” cried the leader. ‘‘At them now! Now we have them on the hip!” : The lieutenant had no idea of exposing his precious body toashot. _ He crouched down low in the bottom of the oat. : “Ooward!” muttered Dick Dart. 6b The lieutenant made no answer. He con- trolled himself with a low growl. But even in the extremity of his terror he Bor a swift and deadly vengeance on Dick art. The crew rushed along over the flat with the pinnace with a will. ~ The flat-boat gained a little, but not much. The water was so shallow, that, although the flat-boat floated without lightening, the oars would not take deep enough hold of the water to make swift hea We Suddenly Dick caught hold of the gunwale and lifted upward. His object was to careen the pinnace so far that the lieutenant would tumble out. He succeeded to a charm. of the thoroughfare. It was not deep enough to give him much of a ducking, but he fell face forward, and got ne mouth full of sand and mud from the bot- om. He arose, blowing sand and salt water from his mouth like a porpoise, and rushed for the pinnace. By great exertion he succeeded in catching up. . Grasping the stern, he held on like grim death The smugglers were now within easy pistol shot, and a volley from them must have done fearful execution among the crowded crew of the pinnace. But strange tosay they did not fire. By this time the pinnace had nearly passed through the thoroughfare, and the water was oo penne The lieutenant began to think that as for- tune had favored him thus far, they might, after all, eeepes With this thought came renewed courage. He suddenly found his voice. ““Give way, my lads!” he exclaimed, “ We'll give the rascals the slip yet!” “Hurrah!” exclaimed Dick Dart. ‘Glad you’ve found your voice, lieutenant.” The sound of Dick’s voice, and the manner in which he spoke, aroused the fury of a de- mon in the lieutenant’s breast. A fearful thought entered his mind. He was the furthest astern, and Dick was next him. What was easier in the confusion than to shoot Dick dead and swear it was a ball from the smugglers ? , All that was needed was a little noise to partially deaden the sounds of the shot. “Three cheers, my lads!” he exclaimed. “A tiger aye ae government, and a groan for the glers!” d “Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Grack! While the cheers were being given, the lieu- tenant had drawn his pistol. It was loaded with copper cartridges, and his bath had:not wet the charge. Placing it close to Dick’s head, he fired. . Without a groan, Dick fell face downward. ‘The waters of the thoroughfare closed over Tiger!” im. “Shot through the rain,” muttered the lieutenant to himself with a feeling of vindic- tive joy. The ices of the crew were all turned the other way. No one had seen Dick fall. “The smugglers have commenced firing!” cried. the lieutenant. ‘‘The water’s dee enough to float us now. Jump on_ board, take your places, and pull like the very devil!’ CHAPTER XIV. We must return- to Brott, whom we left knocking at the door of the cabin in Forked River swamp, while Nellie Harding stood waiting a short distance from him. The door was soon opened by an old hag. She appeared to recognize Brott, for she gave a quick start of surprise and seemed about to speak. ; _ But Brott made a negative motion with his lips, and going in, quickly shut the door. He stood in the presence of a woman past middle age. Her figure was spare and bony. Her gray hair was thin and floated uncon- fined about her shoulders. ; Her mouth was toothless, with the excep- tion of a few blackened crags, which showed horribly when she laughed. The room was simply a den and nothing + more, The lieutenant fell sprawling into the water | b] The floor was so dirty that itlooked as if it had not been swept for weeks. Only a single window lighted it, and that consisted of but two small panes of glass. The ceiling was covered with cobwebs, in which lurked the horrible black swamp spiders. . ; Into the filthy place Brott strode. The old woman’s thin lips parted into a horrible smile. She approached and put a hand on each shoulder, and fawned upon him. “My gallant son! My noble boy! You've come back to see the old mother once again,” she croaked. “Yes, and I’ve brought company, mother.” “Bring them in—bring them right in— there's enough for all—and to spare, my no- e. 5 ' “Tt’s a young lady, mother.” “Eh! A young lady? I hope she’s rich, Brott, if you’ve been’ getting married. Yes —yes, she’s rich, I know, for my son thinks too much of money to marry poor trash—and you could have your pick among the rich ones, I know.” “Nonsense ! she’s not my wife, mother, al- though I hope soon to make her so. And she’s rich enough to satisfy even your craving after gold.” In a few words Brott described the situa- tion of affairs. : “She is to be kept a close prisoner here, mother, until she becomes my wife,” he con- cluded. ““Yes—yes, my son,” croaked the old wom- an. ‘Tl keep her.” : “ And she must not know that you’re my mother.” . : “*No—no, I'll keep the secret. Trust me, my son.” : “Yes, you can be trusted to keep a secret when it’s to your interest to do so,” said the | dutiful and affectionate son. .‘‘ You had better call yourself Mrs. Steady.” ~ The old woman rubbed her skinny hands together, ' “Steady by name—steady by nature,” she croaked, chuckling horridly. ‘“ Yes—yes, ’m Mrs. Steady. Call her in, my gallant son, call in your bride that is to be.’ “Mind you play youn part well,” said Brot’ as Be went to the door, opened it and passe out. é “You must excuse me for remaining so long absent,” he said, as he stood by Nellie’s side. ‘‘The truth is that Mrs. Steady wanted to make her place a little more presentable.” He led her into the house. A dim rush light burned upon the table, and by the faint view of the room which it afforded, Nellie enCue as the old woman’s en- deavor to make the place presentable had not ‘proved a decided success. 7 The old woman commenced bowing and scraping. ; : “This is Mrs. Steady,” said Brott, ‘* Glad to see you, deary,” croaked the hag. “Dear—dear—dear! it’s a horrid place pons such as you, to, but I'll try to make you comfortable while you stay.” ‘“‘T—I don’t see the man who was to come for me—who was to wait for me here,” said Nellie, after she had glanced around the room. ; “No,” said Brott. ‘The fact is, he thought as it was so late that you were not coming, and so he drove back to thé town.” As : “Ves, deary, that’s it,” said the old woman, ““ A nice man is the man who came for you, © and quite the gentleman, too, if he is the | coachman.” “He wasn’t the coachman, Mrs. Steady,” — said Brott, giving the hag a warning look. “‘The coachman remained on the outside of the swamp with the horses. The gentleman who came to your house was the friend whom Gregory Dart, my father, sent for Miss Nel- lie, and not the coachman at all.” ; “*No more he wasn’t,” croaked ‘the crone. “What a treacherous memory I’ve got, to be sure. But I'm getting old, deary—old and lorn and worn, and that accounts for it. But it’s all the same—he’s gone and won’t be back till morning,” : : *©Oh, dear!” exclaimed Nellie. ‘‘ What are we to do?” : “Stop here till morning, deary,” said the hag. “ll give you_a nice bed made of the sott feathers of wild geese. It’s as soft as down, deary—will you stay with old Mother Steady this one night ?” Nellie shuddered at the thought of remain- ing in the vile place. *
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16 DICK DART. ——t “Tt's really the best thing you can do,” said Brott. “No—no! I really cannot stay here. Can't we goto the town where the gentleman is who came for me?” ‘ “T might go, but you can’t,” said Brott. The swamp is very wide, and I don't exactly know the path to the:uplands. Ill tell you what I'll do, though. Ill go alone to the vil- lage and find the man and haye the coachman drive to the edge of the swamp. 11] bring with me a guide who knows all the ins and outs of the swamp, and he can pilot you through safely. Good-bye for an our or two, and make yourself as comfort- ” able as possible until I get back. Not heeding Nellie’s Pronest that he must not take so much trouble on’her account, he walked to the door. 3 “Sit down, deary,” croaked the hag. “Sit down and make yourself comfortable while I show the gentleman out.” She hobbled to the door and stepped outside with Brott. “<T leave her in your charge, old woman,” he whispered. ‘Don’t let her escape, or Til aSier come to see you again as long as I ive.” : “Tm very strong,” croaked the old crone. “Very jstrong am I, though I don’t look it. If she attempts to escape I'll beat her so that she'll never try it but the once. When will you be here again?” 7 «To-morrow night. Good-night, mother.” “Good-night, my gallant son. Oh, whatan honor you are to your aged parent! You've got blue blood in your. veins, and it shows in your every action—your every——” Brott.waited to hear no more, but plunged ae the swamp, into the direction of the skiff, At this instant a marine came up the com- panion way. _ He was very much excited. “Wisher has escaped !” he exclaimed. “Hades and fury!” exclaimed the lieutenant, ** Are you sure?” “Yes, sir. He isn’t on the cutter.” “Then he must be eitheron the Great Sedge or on the beach. Leta party of three go to each place. D’ye hear? Get you gone, and you shall have forty lashes with the cat for every hour he’s away.” Three men sprang into the gig, three more into the skiff, and pulled away to their re- . spective destinations. Just then Brott came out of the cabin. ‘“¢ What's the row?” he asked. The lieutenant explained. “Never trouble yourself about Wisher,” said Brott, mysteriously. “He'll interfere with our plans no more. If I’m not mistaken, he’s lying face downward in a mud-hole in the Great Sedge.” He spoke in solow a tone that Ben Bowline and Kitt Cutlash, who were standing near, could not hear. At this juncture Jennie Harding came from the cabin, : “ Mornin’, mum,” said old Ben, pulling his air, ‘‘Good-morning. Where is Mr. Dart?” Ben's face grew pale, ‘Ask him?” he muttered, pointing to the lieutenant. ‘‘He knows more about it than anybody else, I allow.” “Tam sorry to.say, Miss Jennie,” said the lieutenant, ‘‘that Mr. Dart was killed last night.” Oh, my God!” The girl put her hands to her temples and looked around wildly. She tottered to Ben Bowline’s side. “Oh, tell “Tt isn’t true!” she shrieked. me it isn’t true?” ; Old Ben drew her to him with a tenderness that was not to be expected from a rough tar like him, His voice quivered as he said: “The best. officer that ever lived is lying dead at the bottom of the Pelican thorough- fare,” ** Oh, God help me J” _ She uttered one’shriek and then sank sense- | less in Ben Bowline’s arms. Without asking leave to enter the cabin, he carried her down to her state-room. + Jt would have been dangerous for any one _totry to stop him. The lieutenant and Brott saw that by the flash of his eyes, and neither attempted to prevent him, ; Ben tee er in her berth, and then came up to the lieutenant who still sat on the lazy- dard. 55 Beis He immediately asked leave to go on shore. seh “We and Kitt Cutlash would like to walk up thebeach to the thoroughfare and search for Mr. Dart’s body,” he said. “Go to the devil if you choose,” said the lieutenant, crustily. “Can we row ashore in the surf-boat, sir?” “No. If you go ashore you'll swim.” «Then swim it is. Come along, Bones.” “ All, right,” said Kitt. “Overboard we Z0es!” ‘Suiting the action to the word he sprang over the side into the bay. Both struck out for the shore. “Ourse them both for a pair of hounds!” groaned the lieutenant. ‘I believe they'd as soon mutiny and shoot me dead as look at me. Come up close to me, Brott, I’ve a plan bywhich we can make a full million instead ot half.” And the two villains commenced in a low |}. whisper to weave a second plot. CHAPTER XVI. In is time we returned to Charlie Fisher, whom we left at the moment when Brott pushed him down into the water and mud and ooze of the pond-pole in the Great Sedge. He was not, as Brott supposed, dead. The blow of the pistol stock had not been hard enough to break his skull. It stunned him for the time being only. - Had Brott turned to look back he would | ai have seen that a small portion of Charlie’s face remained above the water. This saved his life. For hours he lay in the same state of in- sensibility. Then little by little he recover- ed. ; At last “his senses so far returned that he realized his position. : Creeping out of the hole, he staggered a few feet upon the meadow and fell prostrate. As the day broke and sun arose, its warmth reanimated him. He staggered to his feet and gazed around. : On all sides was the meadow of Great, Sedge, surrounded by its dense fringing of reeds. Towards the beach, to the, eastward, the tall masts of the cutter could be seen, The sight of these alarmed him. - Suppose a boat should be sent to the pecee —if he remained on the open meadow he would inevitably be seen and captured, and hanged at the yard-arm as a deserter. He must hide himself away until night, when he would make an attempt to leave the ‘| Sedge and escape to the main. Skirting the edge of the reeds, he kept on until he reached the western side of the Sedge. Making his way through the reeds, he look- ed across the bay toward the mainland. The sight discouraged him. The distance across the bay seemed to be several miles. Could he swim so far? _ But a longer examination caused the situa- tion to assume a different aspect. A mile or so out into the bay was a long line, whose peculiar appearance told that it was a flat of shallow water, It seemed to reach well over toward the mainland. Tf he could reach that, he could wade to the channel on the other side and swim to the Bere which he could see jutting out into the ay. Te determined to make the effort as soon as it became so dark that he could not be seen from the cutter. If he failed, it was only a matter of drown- ing after all, which was not a very painful death, so it is said, and at any rate it was better than starving on the Sedge, or being | captured and taken to the cutter. aving determined upon his plan of action. Charlie again entered the line of reeds an peered through across the meadow. -It was well for him that he did not expose himself. The crew of the skiff had just landed in search of him and ebpenied on the meadow on the eastern side of the Sedge. They came straight across the meadow. Charlietrouched down low among the reeds. Approaching within a hundred yards or so, they halted. i ‘He ain’t here, that’s certain,” said one. “Let's sit down here, boys, and take a bite o’ backy and have a drink.” The speaker had smuggled a bottle of whisky out of the cutter, and they proceeded to make away with it. Sitting down on the meadow, they drank to their heart’s content. Consequently they soon became ‘‘ Half seas over,” and as the liquor got into their heads their conversation became very animated. All this time Charlie lay at full length among the reeds, not daring to move, for fear the crashing of the stalks would betray him. Suddenly his throat was grasped by a hard and sinewy hand, “Tush !” whispered a voice. or you die!” A knife in the hand of the speaker was held at his throat. “The ropes! Quick !” whispered the man Looking up, Charlie saw that there were three of the fellows. Before he could hardly realize what was happening he was tightly bound and gagged. The men paid no further attention to him. Like snakes they wormed their way through the reeds. a At the edge of the reeds Hneye stealthily to their feet and muskets to their shoulders. “* Surrender!” said one. The crew of the skiff staggered to their feet. Their muskets were several yards off in the ** Nota word, halted, arose rought their Tass. “Stand!” exclaimed thesmuggler. ‘“‘ Make a movement and you’re dead men, We have you swell covered, and we never miss our m. : “Who the devil are you, anyhow?” de- manded ‘the ship’s carpenter. “The smugglers that you're hunting down. There’s twenty more of us within call. Do you surrender ?” “We can’t do anything else.” “That's sensible. Bob, go out and tie ’em, while we keep ’em covered with our rifles,” This was soon done, and they were tightly gageed, Then they were all carried to a mud-hole three or four hundred yards out into the meadow. They were thrust down feet foremost to uae bottom of the mud, which was about hip eep. : “ky owre anchored for one while, my hearties,” chuckled one of the smugglers. ** Now, fellows, we'll go for the other one.” i With a laugh of derision the smugglers left hem. The men presented a comical sight, with only their bodies showing above the mud unable to mové, and their mouths distende ble t 1 thei hs distend by the powerful gags. The smugglers returned to Charlie. “ **Now, my hearty, let’s hear about you,” said the leader, removing the gag. Fite Charlie put them in possession of all the facts. ““ Deserter, eh?” 7 Yes.” “Well, you've got pluck. such men aS you among us. us ?” “ No.” “All right. Well, youre having a tough enough time of it as it is. We'll not pileit on thicker.” ’ : -The smuggler drew his knife across the ropes that bound him. ~ : ** You're free,” he said. “Thank you.” “ Are you hungry ?” «é we - coy, ai go the boat and get him something 0 eat. Charlie devoured the food with a relish. “J don’t think there’s much danger of you pulling those fellows out of the mud,” said the smuggler. ‘‘ You'll hardly do that and have ’em capture you for your pains. So we'll not tie you. Come along, fellows.” : Leaving Charlie some bread, meat and a bottle of water, they prepared to go. ~ “Much obliged,” observed Charlie. “‘ You silane are not half such bad fellows, after a »” 2 We want just Will you join ‘No, we only want to be let alone. Come on, fellows. oung fellow, if ever you'd like to become a smuggler, go to the lighthouse and ask for Hiram Horner, who can play the best game of seven-up of any man.on the Jer- aM coast. Good-bye and good luck to you.” he smugglers entered their boat and pull- ed away for a low sandy flat called the Clam island. f Late that afternoon the jolly-boat pulled over to the Sedge from the cutter ia search of the missing men. ~ ‘ Landing on the east shore, they eft a couple
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- DICK DART. of men in charge of the boat, and the rest pushed across the Sedge. ‘They were not long in finding the three sail- ors. Unbinding them and pulling them out of the mud, they heard their story. “Those fellows have got the impudence of the devil,” was the verdict. ‘‘ You say you heard one of’em say ‘let’s go for the other one?” ** Sartain.” “That other must be Charlie Fisher, for the men who went ashore on the beach could get no trace of him. You three mud roosters get in the skiff and take her back to the cutter. Mr. Brott wants to use her after sundown. We'll beat the reeds for Fisher, and capture him if he’s on the Sedge.” From his hiding-place in the reeds Charlie saw the party divide and commence beating the reeds in different directions, one party going toward the south and the other to the north. He would be taken between two fires. He managed to keep out of their way until ares when he saw that it could be done no onger. ; They were about meeting from opposite directions, closing him like a wedge between them, The supreme moment was come. He must leave the Sedge. Crouching low down, he ran noiselessly to the water’s edge and waded out into the bay. Soon the water was upto his arm-pits. ~ Observing the direction of the north star, he commenced swimming toward the west. On—on he swam, sounding occasionally to see if he had reached the flat, and then strik- ing outagain with the same steady, ceaseless stroke, Suddenly the sound of oars broke upon his ears. He ceased his stroke and listened. At that moment he was seized with cramps. Terrible pains ran through his limbs. His Aepseyere istorted and drawn up underneath - his body. Tle telé himself sinking. He could not re- main above water a minute longer, The approaching boat was within hailing distance, “Helphelp !” he shouted, ‘I’m drown- ing! The boat came rapidly alongside of him. He caught hold of the side. The occupant ot the boat leaned over and looked down upon im, It was Brott, who was rowing across the bay on his visit to Nellie Harding, _- “Hah !” he exclaimed, in his astonishment. **Charlie Fisher, is it you? I thought you were dead on the Great Sedge.” ‘“No—no! I didnot die. Help me on board, for Heaven's sake !” “Ha—ha! Tllhelp you. Yes, todie!” Charlie suruBeled to get into the boat. “Back !” cried Brott. ‘‘ Back, you dog, and drown !” s \ Raising his oar he struck a heavy blow on Charlie’s fingers. wat a cry of agony he let go his hold and sank. For a brief period we must. visit the cabin in the swamp and see how it fares with Nellie Harding. After Brott went away and the old hag re- turned, the latter took a seat on the opposite side of the stove and commenced to entertain her guest with conversation, of which the subject was Brott. She did her best to instill into Nellie’s mind the beauty and perfection of both his person and character. “He’s so handsome, deary,” she croaked, leering her bleared eyes at Nellie. ‘* And he’s good, too, the best man that ever lived. «Say, why don’t ye marry him, deary?” “Ym not thinking of marrying any one, madame.” “But you ought to, deary,” croaked the hag. ‘“ You're oldenough, and ye want some- Rea to take careof ye. And he that brought ye here is a nice man, deary, as nice a man as lives.” In vain Nellie protested that she was not thinking of marrying at all—the old woman would have it that she must, and at last she worked herself into such a rage that she be- came furious. “Don’t go agin me,” she screamed. ‘I go crazy sometimes, when people go agin me _ hard, and I’m afeared it’s coming on now.” _ Her face was purple with rage. She com- menced gesticulating violently, and her eyes snapped. Nellie’s heart beat fast with fear. Why had she been left alone with this ter- rible old woman? She could stay no longer. She would go, trusting to the mercy of the swamp rather than the fury of the crazy hag. She arose and walked towards the door. ‘* Where are you going?” demanded the old woman. “T am_ going out.” “You'll do no such thing,” shrieked the hag. ‘‘ Back with ye to your seat!” Nellie continued on to the door. ““Come back, I tell you!” shrieked the woman. “Ye'li not? Then you shall die! I’ve got one of the fits, and you’ve brought it onme. I'll pay ye for it, ye jade!” She caught a pistol from her bosom. Cock- ing itas quick as a flash, she pointed it at Nellie’s heart. “Ha! ha!” she shrieked, ‘you drove me crazy with yer contradictions, and 'm going to pay ye for it—for revenge—revenge—re- venge !” CHAPTER XVII. HAp the flat-boat of the smugglers drawn as much water as the pinnace, it could hardly have avoided fetching up on Dick Dart’s body, we it passed directly over the spot where he fell. Although the smugglers had heard the shot they had not observed the execution it did, for they could not distinguish objects through the darkness, and the lieutenant was between Dick and them. The first sensation Dick felt was a horrible pain, as though: his head had been rent in twain. He knew that he was under water, but for the life of him he could not make a move- ment. For a moment he was paralyzed, For fully half a minute he was motionless. Then the sensation partly passed away, and he staggered to his feet. | * iy The pinnace and flat boat were both out of sight, but the sound of oars could still be heard. : Looking around, he saw a low, dark line a few yards to the southward. Making his way there through the shallow water, he reached a low spot of meadow, Tt was Pelican Island. Going some distance from the shore, he sat down upon the grass. His head pained him badly. Putting his hand to the spot, he found that the bullet had plowed its way through the flesh, but had not injured the skull. Had he been familiar with the locality, he could have crossed the thoroughfare to the Middle Sedge and made his way to the beach by land. Nothing would have been easier then than to have walked down the beach until he came opposite the cutter. Not being aware of that fact, he concluded to remain on the Pelican all night and look about him by daylight. His wound now produced a kind of stupor. Sinking back upon the grass, he fell into a deep sleep which lasted until morning. The rays of the sun awoke him. Staggering to his feet, he looked around. The first object his eyes encountered was a boat, with four men, coming through the thoroughfare. Se “Wal Itold youso. Didn’t Tsay I saw a body, from the house, lying on the meadow ?” They were the smugglers, They rowed ashore in a hurry. Escape for Dick, except by way of the thoroughfare, was impossible, for that was the only shallow water. ‘ ae was ona small island, and could not re- reat. He determined ta stand and fight it out. “Halt!” he exclaimed, as the foremost smuggler came within a few feet. ‘‘Halt, or Tl fire!” But he had men to deal with who were ac- customed to close quarters, and to whom the word fear was a strang.er They paid no attention, but continued ad+ yancing. Taking aim at the leader's head, Dick pulled the trigger. . : There was no report. The cartridge was ruined by the water, which had worked through between the lead and copper. Ha! ha! | fir: 1 “Ha—ha!” laughed the smuggler, in de- rision. ‘Try again, my hearty.” 3 Dick threw the useless pistol at the smug- gler with all his strength. It struck him fullin the forehead, knock- ing hin down like an ox. Fi ' rawing his cutlass, he struck out vicious- y: ¢ But he was too late. é The other three had closed upon him before he could use his sword arm. He struggled bravely. But it was useless. He was weak still, and they were too much for him. f “Surrender, you government hound!” hiss- ed the man who had him by the throat. eer cried Dick, defiantly. ‘I'll die st!” “Then die!” cried the smu gler, drawing his pistol from his belt. ‘‘ Ha! you will have it? Then say your prayers, for your time has come.” ’ CHAPTER XVIII. “Hop hard!” exclaimed a voice. The smuggler who held the pistol lowered his hand. ‘The man whom Dick had knocked down with his pistol arose to his feet and came forward. **One live man is worth half a dozen dead ones,” he continued. ‘‘ We'll get some infor- mation from him about the cutter,” “Doubtful,” said Dick. “We'llsee. Let him up now.” Dick was lifted upon his feet. A man held each arm. He was hard and fast in the toils. ; ‘How came you here?’ asked the smug- gler. ‘*None of your business.” * Sulky, eh?” s-vreg,” “Well, we'll find a way to take that out of you, I guess. Bundle him into the boat, men, we'll take him to the house.” Dick was led to the boat and placed amid- ships, with a man on either side. he other two smugglers—one in the bow and the other in the stern, apa ned through the thoroughfare and paddled across the ey water between the Pelican and the each. Dick kept his eyes open for a chance to es- cape. When they were within twenty the landing, he made a movement that sur- prised the smugglers. With a free from their grasp, knocked one of them into the bottom of the boat and sprang over- board as quick as a flash, His spring broached the flat-boat, too, so that she lay broadside to the beach. Before she could be brought around again Dick was malin the best of his way to shore. He succeeded in reaching the land- ing. a Ha—ha!” he laughed, tauntingly. ‘‘ Catch a weasel asleep!” ; “The devil!” roared the smuggler, “ After him, men!” Two strokes brought the flat-boat to the landing. Leaping ashore, the smugglers commenced the chase at full speed. Three men who had been standing in the door of the house utter- ed a shout and joined the hue andcry. ~ Dick ran directly down the beach. It was his only plan. If he attempted to reach the swamp back of the house, he would be cut off by the smugglers from the house. If he attempted to make for the barberry bushes or the sand-hills, he would be inter- cepted by the same parties. His only course lay in running due south along the shore of the bay, and outfooting his pursuers. - In this he might have been successful had it not been for an unforeseen obstacle. This obstacle was in the Epa of two men, who arose from a bunch of tall grass quietly in his path. - He . Throwing themselves upon him, a terrible struggle ensued, Dick fought desperately. But the battle was interrupted and decided by the arrival of the four smugglers from the flat-boat, who came upon the scene at this moment. “ * Dick saw the folly of further resistance, “T surrender,” he said. “That's sensible,” said the leader of the smugglers, “‘ You'rea brave fellow, and ta S ¥ >) \ 7% yards of - quick movement he forced his arms . . x
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DICK DART. XN give the devil his due, I must say you fight very well for a government hound. But aman must learn to know when he’s whipped. To the house with him, fellows.” | hen they reached the house Dick was seated in the middle of the room and the suing elere arranged themselves in a circle around him. Escape was impossible. “Now, I want to know how you got on the Pelican,” said the leader. Dick reflected that it could do no harm to the cutter to answer the question. There was no need to anger the smugglers any more than was necessary, and so impair his chances. He told the story of the shooting. “That’s a straight enough story,” said the smuggler, ‘* But in one point you're wrong. You didn’t receive that wound from us. It panies from your own craft. We saw the ash.” Dick opened his eyes wide. Could it be possible the lieutenant had done the fiend- ish act? He did not mention his suspicions to the smugglers. “*Now I want some information,” said the leader. ‘‘How many men haye you got aboard the cutter?” “Find out.” “You refuse to tell?” “ I do.” “Then we'll torture you.” “Go ahead. You may tear me limb from limb before I'll disclose a’single secret relat- ing to the cutter.” ‘Young fellow,” said the smuggler, “you are very brave, and as such are entitled to some respect. But I give you fair warning that unless you answer our questions you shall be put to death in the most horrible -manner our ingenuity can devise.” “Sail your course,” said Dick. ‘I’m ready.” _ “Tie him hand and foot,” said the smuggler in a voice of rage. “‘ We won’t want to use the information for some hours yet, at least. In the meantime, let him be thrown into the room above for an hour or so to see if he will come to his senses and find out what’s good for him. At the end of that time, if he is still obstinate, he dies.” In another moment our hero found himself lying at full length on a low bed in the other room. It is time we returned to old Ben Bowline and Kitt Cutlash, who, it will be remembered, * leaped overboard from the cutter to swim ashore and go in search of Dick Dart. They swam ashore easily, and retreating to the bushes, sat down to arrange a plan of operations. } It was determined to keep to the cover of the barberry bushes as much as possible, and when open spaces were reached to cross them in a hurry, taking the risk of observation. They had no doubt that Dick was dead, and _their object was merely to recover his body sO He crabs and fishes and give it adecent urial. Keeping a good lookout for danger, the _moved through the bushes to the northward. «© Stl” aes pore Ben, suddenly. _ He crouched down low in the bushes, “What is it?” whispered Kitt. ‘© Somebody’s coming. Listen.” The tramp of feet could be heard as a body of men made their way through the bushes from the opposite direction. Old Ben parted the bushes cautiously and looked through. Suddenly his rough features relaxed their pele RDE ce lOny and expanded into a broad smile. 2 “e—he !” he chuckled, “It’s the party that went ashore on the beach to hunt up Charlie Fisher. And they hain’t got him, -nuther, which is a werry good thing.” “Tt are,” said Kitt. ‘‘ D’ye think I’d cap- ture him if I ran across him? No, sir-ee.” Kitt slapped his wet breeches by way of em- phasis. - Old Ben stepped out and confronted the arty. Pa What luck, my hearties? he demanded. ““Werry good,” said old Sam Sawyer, who commanded the searching party. . ‘What! You'm got him ?” ‘No, sir-ee!” said old Sam, shifting his quid. “And that there’s what I calls the best luck in the world. If we found him ~ we'd have to take him in, I s’spose, which ud ..+be uncommon hard lines to my thinking.” - “Right you are, Sam-ee,” said Ben. ‘* Haye you got such a thing as a pistol or cutlass you ain’t a-using ?” ** Desartin’ ?” 3 “No, we're in s’arch o’ Dick Dart’s body. The leftenant he give us leave, but no weapons or boat.” “* Couldn’t gi’ ye no cutlash, Ben,” said Sam. *’Cause why, it ud be missed as soon as we got back to the cutter. But a pistol apiece ye shall have, by gun!” — The pistols and a limited supply of ammu- nition were at once furnished. ‘So long, Sam-ee,” said Ben, moving off. ** And much obleeged.” No further obstacle was encountered until they reached the open space in front of John Allen’s tavern. How were they to cross this without being discovered from the house ? ** Bones,” said old Ben, “ that’s a settler.” “Tf IT come for to go for to get around that there place without showin’ hide nor hair RPh eyOu say ?” demanded Kitt. “That yer smarter’n old Ben Bowline.” Kitt led the way to the edge of the meadow that skirted the bay shore. Throwing himself down, he commenced creeping through the grass like a snake, fol- lowed by Ben. When the center of the meadow was reach- ed they turned off at right angles. In this way they wormed themselves through the grass until they were at least two hundred yards above the tavern, when they crept toward the barberry bushes. “ Hurrah!” exclaimed Kitt. “Bones, yer a genius,” said old Ben. ‘But Imust say as how one more creep like that ud put more kinks in the spine o” yer back than thar is in the tail 0’ a chimpanzee.” “Unkink ’em then, old man, and come along.” Kitt now led the way. They ran into no danger, and saw not a liy- ing soul until they arrived opposite the Peli- can. « Crouching down low, they ran around the sand. hills on the east side of the house and reached the swamp in the rear. ~ Working their way to the westward through the edge of the swamp, they secured a position es commanded a view of the west win- ows. There was one on ‘the lower floor, and a smaller one above, which was a half story. Peering through the bushes, they watched the house. ‘ Suddenly Kitt uttered a quick cry. “Fe ain't dead!” he exclaimed. “Who?” whispered Ben. Dick Dart. It’s either him or his ghost a-looking out of the up-stairs window.” Old Ben dashed the bushes aside. “Reef gaskets an’ marlin’ spikes !” he mut- tered, ‘“ He’s thar, sure enough.” “How does he come for to go for to be a-looking out o’ that there winder when he was shot as dead asa red herrin and drownded arterwards?” soliloquized Kitt. “Never you mind how. That is occupied by the SUE tes and if so be as how that there’s his live body, and not his ghost, we must find some way to get him out. “Sartain,” said Kitt. “‘I don’t see nobody a-moying around. Let’s sneak up.” Gliding back through the swamp towards the sand hills they reached a point in the rear. Falling flat on their breasts, they crept noiselessly across the open space, Undiscovered, they reached the rear of the house. ‘ There was a door there, but it did not seem to have been often used. There was a crevice, caused by a knot hay- ing partly fallen out, and to this crevice Kitt put his eye. . He saw something which gave him to understand that he and old Ben. were in a position of grave peril. n the room were at least a dozen smug- glers, holding a consultation. ate were all fully armed, and were a fierce enough looking set, who gave the impression that it would be dangerous to be caught play- ing the spy upon them. ust as Kitt looked, the consultation ap- peared to be ended. “Then we're all agreed that the cutter must be destroyed ?” ‘°-Yes, yes.” ° - : ‘“Very good. Now we'll go out and take a look around to see if there’s any spies about. ‘Then we'll go to the sea and see if we can signal the sloop. After that we'll come back and attend to the young fellow up-stairs.” Kitt’s eyes vanished fr quick as a flash. “We're goners!” he ejaculated. “‘If we run we'll get shot before we're half way to the swamp. If we stay here we'll be cotched an’ murdered, There’s death in the pot both ways.” Before old Ben could make a reply, the at ofa smuggler was placed upon the door- atch, . CHAPTER XIX. THE blow of the oar upon Charlie Fisher's fingers sent a thrill through his entire frame. The shock seemed to break the cramps, for ne he sank to the bottom he felt it leave im. He did not dare arise to the surface in the same spot where he went down, for he knew that Brott was eas for him, and would strike again as soon as his head ¢ Dita Swimming under water a considerable dis- tance, he arose to the surface to breathe. Nothing but his face appeared above water. © But he could see Brott, as he stood up in the skiff and peered around in search of him. Brott appeared to be satisfied at last. He sat down in the skiff. “He's dead this time, sure enough,” he said, in a loud enough tone for Charlie to hear. ‘‘How on earth did he manage to es- om the knot-hole as. cape when I first knocked his brains out, as I - thought, and then shoved his body down under the mud? Some of those fellows have more lives than a cat. But he’s finished now —there’s no doubt about it. And nowI must hurry to the old house in the swamp to see if the old woman has succeeded in keeping Nel- lie Harding safely.” He took up his oars and rowed away, soon disappearing in the darkness. oN No sooner was he out of sight. than Charlie proceeded in the same direction, After swimming half an hour longer, he sounded, and to his joy, touched bottom. He was on the flat, and the water was no deeper than his shoulders. It grew shallower as he went on until it was hardly waist deep. Crossing the flat he struck out again in deep water, and after a swim of an hour longer he struck the meadow at the end of a long point. Sitting down on the duck-grass he took off his clothes and wrung them, put them on again, and was ready for future operations. One remark of Brotts had caused him a ee: deal of anxiety. Itwasthis: ‘I must urry to the old house in the swamp to see if the old woman has succeeded in keeping Nel- lie Harding safely.” What was Nellie Harding doing in an old house in the swamp ? And what swamp was it? y Charlie made up his mind that he would not quit the locality until he could answer both questions, , “Yet me but place hands on that villain Brott,” he muttered, ‘‘and if I don’t kill him Til give him cause to remember me to his dy- ing day.” The opportunity was to come sooner than he imagined. He had struck theshore at the mouth of Forked river. Not knowing anything of the locality he concluded to follow the bank of the river until he came to a bridge. ; Following the shore almost due west he presently found that he had crossed the meadow and entered upon the boners of the swamp. The stream became very crooked as he pro- ~ ceeded. It was rough traveling, and the swamp became very dark. There was one consolation. It would make asecure hiding ples until he could find means of escape from the country. : Suddenly he heard the sound of oars. The stream was so narrow at this point that the boat of the oarsmen would be obliged to come within reach. A low, muttered curse was heard up the stream. : “What a cursed hole this swamp is:” ex- claimed a voice. ‘I'll have to take in my pare or they'll be splintered against the roots. ‘* By Heaven! it’s Brott !” muttered Charlie. “Now, Mr. Brott, you and I have, this in- stant, an account to settle.” : e * * * * * *
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How did Nellie Harding fare in the pres- ence of the old hag who seemed bent upon her murder? The glare of her small, ferret eyes was dreadful to behold. Nellie uttered a shriek of terror, Why had Mr. Dart—for by that name she still knew the villain Brott—left her to the mercy of this horrible old woman? Why did he not return and save her? ‘Don’t murder me!” she paspe “Oh, in the name of mercy, don’t shoot me! What have I done that you should seek my life?” ‘“You’ve gone agin me,” shrieked the hag. “You've put one of my spellsupon me, And you shall die, you jade—you shall die !” “Spare me! I will do anythingyou wish.” She crouched down behind a chair and drew it before her as a protection against the bullet. “Come out!” shrieked the hag. out, Tsay.” : “T dare not! Mercy—mercy !” ‘Will you promise to do as I say ?” “Yes—yes! I promise to do anything! Only spare me !” - “All right,” prowled the old woman. “Now you're talking sensibly. Come out from behind that chair.” Nellie came out and stood trembling. “Ton’t go agin me any more,” muttered the hag. ‘It’s dangerous. I’m desperate when T’m roused. Now, do you intend to marry Mr. Dart or not?” ‘‘Hfe has never asked me. He has not said a word to me about marriage, I don’t suppose he wants me to be his wife.” * Bosh !” hissed the old woman. ‘“‘ You’re pretty, ain't you? And yon aS rich, ain’t you? And you've got good blood in your veins, haven't you? Why in the name of sense shouldn’t he want you, I'd like to know?” “‘T’m sure I don’t know.” ut) seats you have him if he asks you ?” 1S pre —t ey, “Come “JT don’t want any ifs about it,” shrieked | B the hag, he face again becoming purple. “Will you have him—will you have him— will you have him? Say yes—yes—yes! Speak! or I will senda bullet through your brain.” She raised the pistol. _ : Faint with terror, Nellie sank down upon a stool. : : “ Yes—yes!” she cried. ‘If he asks me.” The hag put the satel in her bosom. “Now you're talking sense,” she croaked. *Tt’s for your good, deary. He's anice man and he'll make a splendid husband—he will indeed. Now sit you quiet, my -dear, an forget-that the old aunty. has said anything disagreeable to you, and we'll have a cup of The tea was drank. Nellie dared not re- fuse to do the bidding of the horrible old creature. For several hours she sat on the stool wait- ing for the return of Brott. : ‘ he old woman kept her basilisk eyes upon er. Presently the hag began to nod. Nellie’s heart leaped. Oh, if the wretch would sleep. Her eyes closed; her head fell forward upon her breast. Her breathing became loud and steady. $ Rising as still as death, Nellie made her way toward tie door. : She placed her hand upon the latch and lifted it. s The latch clicked. Tn an instant the hag was wide awake. With a cry of rage she sprang forward. Uttering a shriek of terror, Nellie threw the door open and ran outside. Her foot slipped on the doorstep and she fell prostrate. Before she could arise the woman was upon her, . “Wal ha!” shrieked the hag. “You'd es- cape, would ye? I'll pay ye forit. Ive got another of my mad fits on me. I'll choke ye to death, ye jade !” Goaded to madness, Nellie struggled des- perately. ‘ $ But she was a child in the hands of the old woman, whose muscles were as hard as iron. Her bony fingers closed around Nellie’s neck. d The girl felt that she was choking. She could not breathe. i “Ho! ho!” shrieked the hag ; ‘‘ will ye take advantage of me while Isleep? Ha! ha! I’m Mrs. Steady, and I hold a steady grip.” Nellie felt that she was dying. DICK DART. But suddenly the grip relaxed. The old woman arose, seized Nellie by the arm and dragged her into the house. ; “Vil not kill ye this time,” she muttered, ‘because he that brought ye mightn’t like it. But the next time you try to escape you die! D’ye hear? Yedie!” Trembling with fright, Nellie sank down upon the chair into which the old woman thrust her., In the morning the hag prepared breakfast, and. again, late in the afternoon, what she called dinner. It was a revolting meal enough, but the woman ordered Nellie to eat and she was ob-' liged to do so. Some time after dark a knock sounded on the door. _ : “He's comin’,” said the hag, ee ‘ST his night he'll ask you to be his wife. Mind you say Tes for if you don’t I swear I’ll murder you!” The door opened and Brott appeared. CHAPTER XX. Kirr CurTLAsH and old Ben were in a posi- tion of great danger. The instant the door was opened they would be seen and there would be no escape for them. Fortunately, just as the smuggler lifted the latch, the leader called out: “Don’t go out that way. The hinge is out of order. It’s liable to break any time the door is opened.” The latch fell again in its pee Kitt Cutlash drew a long breath of relief. Twenty yards back of the house a short strip of fence was standing. By the fence was a line of tall grass and weeds. : Springing across the open space, Kitt ‘threw himself down in the grass followed by en. Hardly had they done so when the smug- glers emerged from the front door. Part of them passed to the rear of the house, and looked carefully around in all directions. Perceiving nothing unusual, they returned to the front, and the whole party, with the pacenuon of one man, who was left to guard the house, walked across the beach to the sea. ‘ we No sooner had they disappeared than Kitt dragged his lank body out of the Bees and crept towards the house, followed by Ben Bowline, Reaching a position directly underneath the window, he cautiously arose and peered through. t Only one person, the smuggler who had been left.on guard, was in the room. He sat there with his back to the window. Kitt dropped down by Ben, and communi- cated the situation of affairs. It was determined to spring through the ‘front door and Surpree and capture him be- kK fore he could ma’ alarm. Walking noiselessly around the corner of the house, they suddenly opened the door, sprang upon the man, and had him down be- fore he could hardly realize what was happen- e resistance or give the ing. The hard hand of Ben Bowline was upon his throat. - Kitt knelt beside him with a pistol in his hand. “Tf you come for to go for to move or epee squeaked Kitt, “Tll put a bullet through ye, sartain.” “Gag him, Bones!” said old Ben, holding out a handkerchief with his left hand. “Open yer mouth, you Sand Spaniard!” said Kitt. ‘Give us that bit of tarred rig- ging, Ben.” : The smuggler was soon bound and No time was to be lost, and they up-stairs in search of Dick Dart. : He had managed to roll off the low bed, drag himself to the window, and raise him- self to the chair. “Turrah!” he exclaimed, as soon as he saw them, “Kitt Cutlash and Ben Bowline for- ever! ‘Ay, ay, my hearty!” returned old Ben. “They're a hard team to beat when they pull together. Which I’m glad, sir, to see you a-looking so pert and hearty arter being shot through the brain and then drownded.” “Tikewise so be I,” said Kitt, drawing his gagged. urried knife and setting Dick free. “Take a reef in your tongue, Ben Bowline, for them Sand é Spaniards ’ll be back and shoot us all through the brain and drown us.” They went down-stairs in a hurry. On the hooks above were several muskets. Finding some ammunition in a cup-board, they stowed, it away in their pockets and started to leave. ‘ They were none too soon. The smugglers, returning from the sea, were just appearing through the glade. They uttered a shout as they saw the party. “Governments, by gad!” exclaimed the eer “After them! They must not es- CARON ‘Sand Spaniards, by gum!” roared Kitt. “Away from ’em, fellows! To the swamp !” Springing from the low porch, they ran ‘around the west side of the house and dashed at full speed toward the swamp to the north- ward. - The smugglers dashed around the east side — of the house and ran in the same direction. It now became an exciting race for life. Much depended on which party reached the : swamp first. The fugitives did. With a rousing cheer they dashed into the thicket. Kitt led the way, his lank body sliding easily through the bushes, breaking the pa for the others. ' Suddenly they emerged from the swamp arog a Jow but solid piece of ground, upon which grew several large trees. : aire the bushes were too open to admit of hiding. 5 They must cross it. But before they could get to the other side the smugglers would make their eb vent ance at the edge and have a fair shot at them in the open. : They must not risk it. They had reached the middle when a yell’ from the smugglers told they -wére discoy- ered. fire | ““On—on !” cried Dick. An answering cry came from the opposite side of the open place, the direction in which ghey, were heading. alfa dozen men stepped out of the edge of the swamp. ** A chase—a chase !” 2 “Stop ’em!” roared the pursuing smug- glers. The men advanced on a run. The three fugitives halted in consternation. urrender, you government dogs, or we 9 They were between two fires, either of which ~ would be fatal. “Surrender, you government dogs !” cried the party of smugglers from the north. ““There’s no chance for you to escape. Sur render, or we'll fire into you!” ““Never ! cried Dick. ‘‘ Never shall you get me in your clutches again, unless you ay hands on my dead body. Kitt Cutlash, O] eae: here we stand and fight and ie!” ** Ay—ay !” roared Old Ben, planting his feet firmly in the sod. ‘‘Come on, ye b. oody. thieves, we'll gi’ ye a taste o? what men-o- war’s-men can doin the fighting line. And tote we knock under some 0’ ye shall bite the dust.” : ; We must now return to the cutter, on board of which are to transpire some exciting events which are destined to entirely re- verse the order of things in that direction, As night closed in nothing unusual was ob- served on shore. But had the cutter’s crew been gifted with the faculty of seeing through the darkness, about ten o’clock they would have observed two long and narrow boats filled with men approach the Great Sedge and hug its east- ern shore until they arrived at the point near- est the cutter. Running the boats ashore, the crews landed on the Sedge, Passing through the reeds, they sat down on the meadow. iow. ; ‘‘Men,” said he, in a hoarse voice, “are you all agreed that the cutter must be got rid of?” a3 Yes ” ““And I am with you. Does any man gmone you prefer to lead the attacking arty ?” oe o—no! You are the leader—we follow.” “Very good. Now let’s havea consultation as to the best plan to pursue.” ‘ The succeeding events are unfolded. . The leader was a large, long, muscular fel an agreed upon will appear as the ~ :
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DICK DART. N A few minutes after twelve each man pro- vee ed to lash his pistol fast to the top of his lead. : Then they seated themselves in their boats and rowed out until they were within a hun- dred yards of the cutter. ! : The boats drew together, side by side, and stopped. “Herring and Miller will remain in the boats,” whispered the captain. ‘‘ When we give you the signal that the cutter’s ours, come alongside. Overboard with you, men; you have your orders.” The smugglers dropped noiselessly into the bay and swam towards the cutter, holding their heads high above the water, to prevent wetting their pistols. In a few minutes ‘the sides of the cutter loomed up in the darkness. “Steady, men!” whispered the leader; “make for the fore-chains.” ~ d Keeping well together, with noiseless stroke, they reached the spot indicated. “T must master the watch,” whispered the captain. “If I can do that without giving the alarm, the cutter’s ours. Be still as death un- = bil Hive the signal. Ifyou hear me fire my pistol, make for the boatsfor your lives, for you may know I’ve failed.” Grasping the chains, he climbed up noise- _ lessly as a cat until he reached the bowsprit. Flattening himself out upon it, he creptlike asnake to the deck. Raising himself cautiously, he peered around. All was quiet on board the cutter. / Only one man sppeated to be on watch, and he was sitting carelessly on the windlass. _ His back was toward the bow. The smuggler reached down and took up a marlinspike that lay on the deck, ‘All depends upon the chance of a sin- gle moment,” he muttered. ‘If he looks around all fails and the cutter’s safe; if not, she’s ours.” = He crept, steadily toward the unsuspect- - ing man, CHAPTER XXI. “OQ, nwo! my gallant lad!” croaked the old hag. ‘‘So you've come at last to see your lady love. Ha, ha! She’s ready to yer hand,” Brott glared at the old woman angrily. “Shut up!” he exclaimed. ‘What do you mean by such talk?” . “Nothing at all, my gallant lad. It’s only the old aunty’s talk—she don’t mean any- thing —no, no, nothing at all——” “Tf you don’t keep quiet ’'ll pitch you out of the window!” roared Brott. ‘* What d’'ye mean? Are you drunk? Say, what dye mean?” fe was the only human being whom she feared and loved. She made no reply, but fawned upon him, Nellie rushed to Brott’s side. “Take me away from here!” she cried. **Oh! for Heaven’s sake, leave me no longer in the power of this horrible old woman !” The hag glared angrily at Nellie, as if she » could have murdered her on the spot. Bau contemplated them both in astonish- ment. , ““You she-fiend !” he hissed, turning fiercely upon his mother. ‘“‘ Have you been abusing the girl ?” ; * No—no, my gallant lad,” muttered the crone, fawningly. .‘‘ I’ve been very kind to her. I’ve been’as ipoog as good could be.” “* She lies !” cried Brott. ‘‘I must have an explanation of this. Let nie hear your story, Miss Nellie.” ; Nellie related what had occurred. Old woman !” said Brott, ‘‘ you’ve behayed like the very devil. What in the name of Satan got into you?” “She wouldn't promise to marry you, my aulant lad,” croaked the hag. ‘I know you oved her.” , _, “That's. true enough, And now that the ice is broken, Imay as well continue. Nellie, ~~ Llove you.” - Ha—ha!” chuckled the hag. — **Be quiet, wretch !” PORTE TORT ** Nellie, I want you to become my wife.” “That I can never be. And I insist that you take me away from here this instant.” » “That I shall never do until you marry me.” “Ha, hal” chuckled the hag. ‘“*Now the blue blood shows. That's the talk, my gal- “lant lad.” ; i _ What!” exclaimed Nellie, horror-stricken, “Is it your intention to keep me here in the power of this terrible crazy woman until you force me to marry you?” “That is just it. And to prove that I am in earnest, ? will tell you something else. No one sent for you from New York. It wasa plot invented by the lieutenant and myself to get you in our power.” “Oh, Heaven!” “ And in this dismal, unhealthy swamp—so filled with malaria and miasma that few can live here more than a few. weeks—here you shall remain until you perish of disease, unless you become my wife. The instant you marry me, I'll take you to New York to my father and your sister, who will bevery well pleased with the arrangements.” ' “Very well, [ promise.” Brott was astounded. He had expected re- sistance. Instead, he found compliance the instgnt the subject was mentioned. He hard- ly knew*what to make of it. “Do you really mean it?” he asked. “Certainly. You need not have taken all this trouble, for I should have promised just | tions, ! cowards that ever lived?” } the same without that.” “Then you really cared for me all this time?” 2 “Of course—what girl could help it?” “Ho, ho, my gallant lad!” chuckled the old hag. ‘Of course—of course, what girl could help loving my gallant lad?” “But you must give me three days.” ‘Three times three, if you wish,” said Brott, in high glee. “Three days will be time enough.”. “Very well. At the end of that time the marriage shall be celebrated. Shall I bring a justice of the peace or a minister ?” ‘Oh, either,” said Nellie, carelessly ““Preachers I don’t like,” said Brott. ‘‘T’ve got no use for’em. <A justice ll suit me.” “He, he!” chuckled the hag. ‘‘ Preachers are no good. They’re a lazy, good-for-nothing set, I don’t like em either, You'll do credit to my teachings, my gallant lad.” Shut up!” roared Brott, shrugging his slouchy hunched-up shoulders. ‘If you don’t keep quiet, you wretch, you'll get put out of here, and hoof it alone through the magnolias. My dear Nellie, I must leave you, but I shall certainly return by to-morrow night.” “To,” said Nellie, j Brott then took his departure in high spirits. Under the pressure of circumstances, Nellie had promised to become his wife. Did she mean to keep the promise? We shall see. We left Charlie Fisher crouching down in the darkness on the bank of the stream that runs through the swamp, lying in wait for Brott. In a moment that worthy pushed the skiff so near that Charlie could have stepped on board. jae As the skiff passed, he suddenly leaned for- ward, caught Brott by the throat, and dragged him out of the skiff. ‘ Throwing him on the bank, he held him down with a grip of iron. “My God! who are you?” asked Brott, in a voice that shook and trembled with fear. **T’m Charlie Fisher, you scoundrel, whom you twice tried to murder !” “Just Heaven, have you escaped again?” “Yes, to punish rou for your crimes! Lie still; you villain, while I relieve you of your pistols !” : Not daring to stir, Brott lay quiet. Charlie removed the pistols from his belt, and searching his pockets, found a small- bladed knife. He opened the largest blade. : “Good God! don’t murder me!” groaned Brott. : ‘A fine feliow you are to talk about not murdering an Ody when you've twice at- tempted my life. Hold your horses a minute, and you'll see what I’m going to do.” Putting his foot on Brott, harlie arose and cut a whip from one of the trees. ‘Now, Brott,” said he, ‘in return for your fiendish actions, ’m going to give you the very worst Hickingiyou ever had. And if you sing out for help, I swear I'll shoot you dead!” Drawing a pistol, he cocked and pointed it at Brott’s heart. Then he commenced to administer the castigation. Swish—swish! ” Every. blow struck the mark, and that mark was Brott’s face. Hach lash left.a long, red mark. : “* Oh—oh—oh!” he roared. oe “Shut up! Grin and bear it.” “ Oh—oh! Youre taking my life! For Heaven’s sake, let up !” Charlie delivered one more lash and then he rested. “Now I want you to answer a question,” he said, “and mind you tell the truth. What have you done with Nellie Harding?” “ T put her in charge of the man Dick Dart’s father sent for her.” : Swish—swish—swish ! Down came the switch three tinies. Brott’s face was covered with blood. **Oh—h—h! Oh—o—o! Ic—c—h!” ed the coward. “My God! let up! cutting my face to pieces !” “Tl cut it off if you don’t tell me the truth. Where is Nellie Harding ?” “In the swamp !” screamed Brott, “ What swamp?’ “This, In an old cabin. Good Lord! Don’t whip me any more!” “ Brott,” asked Charlie, suspending opera- **Do you know youre one of the worst moan- You're ““Yes—yes! I’m anything you wish. Only don’t whip me any more.” : “J don’t intend to. I think you have had enough of the swish. I’m now going to use the knife on you!” Oh, Lord! Do you intend to murder me?” “Not quite as bad as that. I’m only going to slit your ears.” Brott caught his breath, **You don’t mean that!” he gasped. *“As sure as you live. You're such a ter- rible villain that you ought to have a mark on you for people to distinguish you by. The Lord put a mark on Cain’s brow for murder, and I’m going to put a mark on one ears for twice attempting to kill me, besides your other crimes. Now, Brott, if you want to save your worthless life, hold still, for justas sure as you commence to kick up a rumpus, Tl put a bullet into your heart, and the knife into your throat instead of your ear,” Brott commenced the most abject appeal, “Shut up !” Holding the pistol to Brott’s heart, Charlie put his knife to one of Brott’s ears and made a long slit entirely through the lobe. Brott roared like a mad bull, ’ The same seryice was instantly performed for the other. Brott yelled like a hyena. ‘Charlie arose. “T want to give you a piece of advice,” he said. ‘Don’t cut up any more deyiltry. The next time you try it I shall catch you and slit your nose. Now get up, you confounded ras- cal, and go!” Brott arose and sprang into the skiff. Taking up an oar, he pushed like mad until the creek became wide enough to admit of rowing. Then he bent to the oars, and did not stop his stroke until he rounded up alongside of the cutter. The men on deck started back in astonish- ment at Brott’s appearance. It was frightful. His face was gashed and covered with blood, and that, together with his slit ears, presented a terrible appearance. “What’s the matter, sir?’ asked old Sam Sawyer. “ Ye look as if you had been wash- ing your face in cranberry sass.” _ ‘Cranberries be hanged!” roared Brott, who dared not tell the real cause of his injur- ies. ‘‘It was the cursed smugglers! They’ve cut me! They've hacked my face all to pieces! They’ve murdered me!” He dashed past them with a howl and ran down into the cabin, **Bilee,” said old Sam to his messmate, — “that there’s an awful fate to overtake a hu- man critter. But as Providence ordered that there should be a little hackin’ done, I can’t say as I’m sorry that Brott was the one as catched it.” Charlie Fisher did not lon the bank ofthe creek after moniously left him. “One villain at last has received a small part of his merited punishment,” he said, ‘TI am not.at all sorry that I served him so, for it was nota tenth part of what he deserved. «And now. how can I find Nellie? Ihadno business to let Brott go until I made him pilot me to her, but in the excitement of the moment a fellow can’t think of everything. “She must be further up the Sep Oy: Brott came from that direction.” He groped his way along the edge of the stand still on rott so uncere-
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& a Goose DICK DART. stream until he had gone neasly half a mile deeper into the swamips. Then he turned abruptly and plunged into its heart. In order to understand the success he met with in his search we must return to Nellie Harding. The old hag and she got on very nicely to- gether after Brott left. : The crone chuckled and grinned and fawned upon Nellie, and seemed to feel unable to do enough for her. ** Now, deary,” croaked the old woman af- ter awhile, ““we'll go to bed. We got no sleep last night, and we're both tired and Sleepy now. We'll sleep together, deary— come along.” Sleep with that horrible, hideous wretch! The thought was torture, but Nellie pre- tended to acquiesce with perfect willingness. “T am very sleepy, Mrs. Steady,” she said. “Come along then, deary.” Taking the tallow candle dip in her hand the hag led the way up the ladder into the apartment above. : It was nothing but a garret with a triangu- lar roof. Nellie could not stand upright in it. The bed was the most squalid that could be imagined, and the original color of the blanket could not be este A for dirt. te shuddered at the thought of sleeping there. The hag commenced disrobing, bidding Nellie follow her example. After seeing Nellie to bed, the old woman extinguished the light and followed. Taking the outside of the bed, she drew Nellie closely to her, placing both arms around her and prepare to go to sleep. In a few minutes she was successful, for she soon commenced snoring loudly. This was the opportunity Nellie had been waiting for. She determined to risk everything and make the attempt to escape. - Little by little she disengaged herself from the shriveled arms of the miserable old hag. The old woman was wrapped in sound slumber. She never stirred. Creeping from the foot of the bed, Nellie stood upon the floor, and groped around in the darkness for her clothing. Dressing herself hastily, she caught up her shoes and crept stealthily towards the ladder. As she stepped upon the first rung it creaked, giving out a shrill, sharp sound. Instantly the old woman sat up in bed. “Ha!” she muttered. ‘* What was that?” Thump—thump! went Nellie’s heart, as she descended the remaining rungs of the ladder. The hag uttered a shriek of rage, and sprang out of bed. : » Nellie dashed across the room to the door, just as she made her appearance at the top of the ladder. ‘Oh, Heaven help me now!” cried Nellie, as she worked at the fastenings of the door, The door flew open. **Come back—come back, ye jade!” shrieked the hag. “Ill pursue ye! I'l kill ye in the » swam With a cry of terror Nellie sprang out and fled away in the darkness. She had not gone far when she heard the hag in swift pursuit. ooking back, she perceived that she car- ]. ried a lantern. : “‘Ha—ha!” shrieked the hag. ‘I'll have ye! Oh, how I’ll make ye suffer! : Anto the dense swamp plunged Nellie, On—on she ran. 3 Miring in at every step, she still kept on, and the vile hag kept up her infernal shriek- ing in the rear.. uddenly a man stepped before her, __ “By Heaven, I believe it’s Nellie Harding !” he exclaimed. ; ‘¢ Yes—yes, save me—oh, save me!” **So I will!” eried Charlie Fisher. epee, not to ask by whom she was pur- sued, he threw an arm around her and hurried on. . Suddenly the soil became more soft and yielding. In an instant’ they both sank down above their knees. ; Floundering on, and. assisting Nellie, Char- lie took another step forward. _ Down they sank again, this time nearly to their waists. Every exertion caused them to sink deeper. + They were.in a treacherous quagmire of un- known depth. “Oh, it is terrible that you should die such a death !” groaned Charlie. Crash—crash—crash ! Regardless of scratches or bruises, the old hag forced her way through the bushes. She aimed at the edge of the quagmire and stopped. She saw them. Swinging the lantern around her head, she jumped up and down in fiendish glee, a “Ha, ha!” she shrieked. ‘“‘ You’re caught in a snap, ak: jade! you and yer pretty lover. You'll sink—sink—sink! And the more ye try to get out the deeper down ye'll go. Down—down to the bottom, full sixty feet— full sixty feet! And Pll stay here and see ye sink ! Pll stay here and hear ye beg for mercy, I'll stay here and see ye die, ye jade! Not a firiger will I lift to pull ye out. And Tl stay here and sing and'dance at yer funeral while yer buried alive, Buried alive, ye jade! Ha, ha! ha, ha!” — CHAPTER XXII, THE smuggler raised the marlin spike above the head of the unsuspecting atolt Crash ! Down it came with resistless force, and the man pitched forward from the windlass upon the deck. : The smuggler eagerly scanned the deck, Not a person was in sight. Crouching down behind the windlass, he waited a moment to see if the sound of the blow had alarmed the crew. All remained quiet. No sound was heard save the Buea ripple of the flood tide as it was cut vy the bow of the cutter and was swept past on either side. Thesmuggler crept to the bowsprit. He scratched upon it three times with the marlin-spike. Instantly a slight commotion was observa- ble in the water below. In a moment more smuggler after smug- Jer came over theside until they stood on Alias to the nuniber of twenty, ’ “he forecastle first,” whispered the leader. Each man took down his pistol and re- moved his knife. “*Malke not a sound,” whispered the leader. “ A misstep ruins all.” Stealthily they passed through the hatch- pray and descended the ladder into the fore- castle. é In their hammocks, sound asleep, lay the crew of the cutter, In the absence’ of Dick Hart, Charlie Fisher, old Ben and Kitt, there were only fifteen on board. : Silently the smugglers glided to the ham- mocks, one man to each. Each had in his hand his knife, held to the throat of the sleeper, and his pistol to his breast. When all was ready the leader placed his hand on the arm of the man who occupied the hammock nearest the hatchway. Heshook him gently. The man awoke. “Hist!” whispered the smuggler. ‘‘ Not a word—not a sound—not a movement, or you are a dead man!’ i To disobey was certain death. The sailor submitted and allowed himself to be bound hand and foot. The same tactics were pursued with each of the others. “Success!” ejaculated the leader, ‘The worst part of the job is over. Nowten of you remain here to watch these fellows, while the rest of us go to the cabin ‘and capture the officers.” : Leading the way, followed by ten of the men, he entered the cabin and advanced to the first state-room door, It happened to be the lieutenant’s, and it was locked: : Stepping back a‘few feet the smuggler threw his dody against it. With aloud crash the fastenings gaye way and the door flew open. . In rushed thesmuggler, followed by two of his men. The lieutenant, who had been sleeping | soundly, started up with a cry of terror. **Back—back!” exclaimed the smuggler. “Down, you goverment hound, or die!” The lieutenant sank back upon his bunk. “Who are you?” he gasped, quaking with terror. ‘Who are you, and what do you want here?” a. “We're the smugglers whom you've been sent to hunt like dogs,” was the tierce reply. “And we want you !” : ‘Mercy !” whimpered the lieutenant. . ‘“* Bah !” sneered the leader. ‘‘ What an in- fernal coward you are. A fine man you for the government to-send to guard the Jersey coast, where brave men live.” “Thad to come” whined the lieutenant. “Twas sent out, and I had to obey orders. pore make me suffer for what I couldn't elp.” “Tie him up,” said the smuggler, contempt- uously. “If the rest of the officers are such sneaks as this man, I can whip a hundred of the curs myself.” Paying no further attention to the lieuten- ant, he went out of the state-room and tried the next door. It was Brott’s. The scoundrel had’ been awakened by the assault on the lieutenant. Realizing that either the crew had muti- nied, or the cutter had been attacked by the smugglers, he crouched down in a corner, al- most frightened to death, not a thought of re- sistance entering his cowardly mind. When the smugelers knocked upon his door and demanded admittance, Brott crept trem- blingly forward and let them in. The instant they made their appearance, he fell on his knees and commenced to beg in the most abject manner. “Spare my life,” he howled. ‘Don’t kill me. I love the smugglers—l’ve always been their friend—I swear I never struck a blow or lifted a hand against them.” “You're worse than the other coward,” said the smuggler, contemptuously. ‘ By George ! you’re the worst I ever saw.” He administered a kick to the wretch that made him howl. “Oh!” roared Brott. ‘Good Mr. Smug- gler, dont do that any more. Vye always oved the smugglers, and I’ve only been wait- ing for a chance to join you. Tl join you now, right away.” The smuggler regarded the crying villain with contempt. . ‘ “You're a fool, as well as a coward,” he exclaimed. ‘“*We can get plenty of brave men on the shores of the bay, and don’t want such weak-kneed, white-livered fools as you. Get up, youcur!” Brott arose and stood half bent, in abject submission. 5 “T’ve a notion to throw you overboard as food for the sharks. Such a coward as you don’t deserve to live.” at Oh, don’t—please don’t! I ain’t fit to “That's so. Tie him up, fellows.” Brott was tied tightly, howling in terror meanwhile and begging for mercy, and thrown on the cabin floor. CHAPTER XXIII. Av this instant Jennie Harding made her appearance at thie door of her state-room. “Hal” exclaimed the smuggler, in surprise. ‘“ Whom have we here?” Zee ““One who was rescued from the wreck of the Hyperion, the fever ship now in quaran- tine at Norfolk. I suppose you are the smug- lers. [ama guest on board the cutter, and hope I shall be treated as a lady while the cutter is in your hands.” : “Certainly. The men of this coast never ill-treat a lady. You will be Bere safe. and may go ashore as soon as it is consistent with our safety to send you. In the mean- time, you may have the liberty of the deck, if you will promise not to make the slightest effort towards releasing the officers or crew of the cutter.” “T can’t promise that.” : *“Then we must confine you to your state- room.” Seer Jennie immediately went inside, and the smugglers closed the door and locked it. ; Returning to the forecastle, the smugglers ' carried the crew of the cutter one by one into the run and left them. Returning to the quarter-deck, they con- sulted as to what was best further to be done. , “Take her outside, over the bar, and scut- tle her,” said one. e *¢ Set fire to her,” said another, . «Put her in the smuggling line.” ‘Hold !” said the leader. ‘‘ There’s as many different opinions about that as there are men, ~ We'll take time to consider. I'll ask another —
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$5 Ps bs DICK DART. oT question. What’s to be done with the offi- cers and crew ?” ’ Before the question could be answered, a head appeared over the bow of the cutter. Ghe owner of the head gazed aft fora mo- ment and then quickly disappeared. “By Heaven !” he whispered to some one be- low him, “‘ we’ve walked squarely into a trap. The smugglers have captured the cutter. What’s to be done?” * * * * * * “Here we will stand and die!” cried Dick Dart, as the smugglers closed in upon them from the north and south. ‘*‘ Make mince- meat of some of the rascals before we fall, my braye boys!” : \ “Hurrah !” shouted old Ben. ‘ We can’t die at a better time.” ~ ' “Die be darned!” roared Kitt Cutlash. <‘ Who's a-talkin’ o’ dyin’? Don’t you see there’s a swamp to the right? Foller me!” Perceiving the determined attitude of the fugitives, the smugglers had paused. ome of them must fall if they forced the Henig, at close quarters, and they did not like the idea. They halted for consultation. “Come on!” yelled Kitt; “never say die !” Furoing: abruptly to the east, he dashed through the trees into the swamp. Dick and old Ben followed at double quick. “With a yellof rage the amupe ters followed. Kitt’s ma_euver had given the fugitives the advantage in point of distance. The smugglers were no nearer them than they had been before. i ‘ _ But they were on both sides, and our friends were obliged to run straight ahead. A few minutes of this would bring them through the narrow swamp, and out upon the sands, where there was no cover, This must be avoided. They must keep - under cover at all hazards. Right ahead was a thick clump of bushes, Into this Kitt sprang, followed by the others. ‘ x The smugglers were not twenty yards behind. At Kitt’s feet was a large club. Catchin; it up he flung it with all his force far ou into the bushes. It crashed through the branches when it |. ‘struck, making a loud noise. «There they are!’ cried the party to the southward. “‘Run the government dogs down. Chase ‘em out upon the sand and we've got ’em !” Both parties dashed by the bushes and dis- appeared in full pursuit. ; “Hel he!” chuckled Kitt Cutlash. ‘ Ye'll run us down on the sand, will ye, ye lubberly Sand Spaniards! Ye'll have to s oP, chasin’ a log o’ wood. first. We must take the back track, fellows. Away with ye.” _ Away they went on the back track to the westward toward the meadow. Leaving the swamp they came out upon the open meadow. Dashing across it, they reached the thor- oughfare. “Tn with you!” cried Kitt. ‘‘ We'll hidein the reeds on the Pelican. They’llnever think ‘o’ looking for us there.” Wading across the thoroughfare, they hid among the reeds in the east shore, ___ From here they could see the house and the line of the beach to the southward for sev- eral miles. In about an hour they saw the smugglers emerge from the swamp and walk toward _ the house. : They were gesticulating violently. “Tf them smugglers was to come for to go to lay hands on us again, how they’d maul us!” chuckled Kitt. “ Bones, yer right,” said Old Ben solemnly. « And I'll swear there’s brains in a skeling- ton, arter all.” Z The smugglers disappeared in the house. “Keno,” said Kitt. ‘ It was determined to make no further move- ment until some time after nightfall, But the time was improved by taking the bearings of their ANIL From the appearance of the water to the southeast it was concluded that there was a - flat in that direction. : - To reach it it was only necessary to swim the channel, when they could wade ashore and reach the beach considerably to the south- - ward of the house, when it would only: be “necessary to walk about eight miles down the perk to reach the cutter. ‘ It was past ten o’clock, as near as old Ben could tell by the position of the stars, before it was thought safe to make the attempt. Deaying the Pelican, they struck out for the flat, reached it, waded ashore, and struck out down the beach for the cutter. Reaching the spot where she was anchored, they swam out to her and climbed up the fore chains. - Dick Dart was first. —. _ As soon as he reached the level of the deck and looked off he saw that something was wrong. A moment’s inspection convinced him that the men he saw ina group on the quarter- |deck were smugglers. Dodging down, he communicated the intel- ligence to Kitt and old Ben. “We must recapture the cutter,” he whis- pered, ‘Ben, is the forcastle gun loaded?” “Tt was when I left this morning.” ; ‘What with?” “Buckshot and 8 Bs, for a big flock o’ black GuCke that feed out on the flat off the Big edge.” . “Will you help to make an effort to retake the cutter?” “Ay—ay!” «Then follow me.” Like shadows they crept over the side, and skulked to the windlass. * The smugglers were earnestly engaged in conversation, apprehending Be danger, they had neglected to post a watch. The torecastle pivot gun, a brass piece with : movable carriage, stood just abaft the wind- ass. Dick crept to it, Feeling for the cap, he found that it was in its place. Slowly he moved the muzzle of the gun un- til it pointed directly at the center of the group of smugglers. Seizing the lanyard, he sprang upright, with Kitt and Old Ben on either side. Clear and shrill his tones rang out on the night air: : ‘Surrender, you smuggling dogs!” he cried. “Throw down your arms, or I'll blow you all to atoms!” : : CHAPTER XXIV. “DrartH and destruction !” yelled the leader of the smugglers. ‘‘ We’re betrayed ?” “Not betrayed !” shouted Dick Dart; “‘only surprised. Do you surrender !” “No. Forward, men, and hurl the govern- ment hounds into the bay.” “ Halt—stand back—back, I say ! Or, by the Eternal, I’ll stretch half your number dead upon the deck.” “Upon them !” roared the smuggler. But the smugglers were not disposed to obey. They were brave men enough, but no man cares to rush to auiels and certain death, Dick saw that they were cowed. “The first man that draws a_pistol, or makes a motion to come forward, dies!” he cries. ‘‘ We have the best of you and we're bound to keep it. Ben Bowline and Kitt Cutlash shoot dead the first man that makes a movement.” ; “ Ay—ay !” growled Old Ben. ‘‘Blarst’em! I’m only a waiting for’em to do it, that’s all.” “Tf one o’ them ‘ere Sand Spaniards comes for to go to lift the small end o’ his little finger,” croaked Kitt, ““down he goes like a load o’ brick.” ! “Now, you fellows,” said Dick Dart, stern- ly, ‘“‘you’ve no business aboard this craft, and I want you to leave. Away you go to starboard. Forward—march !” The smugglers hesitated. . ; 3 “What!” exclaimed Dick; “‘you hesitate? oon eu blow you all to perdition in a urry !” He tightened the lanyard. ; The smugglers knew that death awaited the greater Rete of their number if they dis- obeyed, and they started for the rail. Dick turned the gun so that its muzzle looked at them wherever they went. | They clustered in groups by the rail. “ Overboard with you!” cried Dick. The SUE ets hesitated. ; “What! you won't?’ exclaimed Dick. ‘Very good! Idon’t know that I have any objection to blowing you all to atoms, Here goes!” ~ He made a motion to fire the gun. With a yell of rage the smugglers leaped headlong over the side, plunged into the bay, ae se out with all speed towards their © oats. ** Ho, ho!” roared old Ben. my hearties!” “Go to the’devil!” roared the leader of the smugglers. ‘* Wait till we get our boats and we'll board you quicker than lightning.” “I'm afraid that’s true enough,” muttered Dick, ‘The only way to get the best of them was by catching them ina bunch. If they come from two directions and spread out it’s all day with us.” “ Sartain,” agreed old Ben. “Wonder what they've done with the crew ?” * Pitched ’eni overboard,or thrown ’em in the run,” volunteered Kitt. “Watch here, while I go between decks and see.” Going to the hatchway, Dick groped his way to the run. The first voice he heard was old Sam Saw- «Try it again, yer’s. «“There’s been the devil to pay above there,” said Sam. ‘‘Ihope them Sand Spaniards have gone to fightin’ among themselves. If - they eat each other up, there'll be some chance for us, I reckon.” “ Hallo, Sam Sawyer!” said Dick. “Blow me for a porpoise,” muttered old Sam, ‘‘if that ain’t Mr. Dart’s voice, knock my brains out wi’ a belayin’ pin.” ‘Right you are, my hearty. Would you like to come out of that?” “ Ny—ay! But how the deyil did ye get here? -What’ve ye done wi’ the smugglers?” * Licked ’em and piched ’em overboard.” Drawing his knife, Dick cut the cords that bound the men and led the way to the deck, In a few words he explained the situation of affairs. Quickly arming themselves, they awaited the attack which they were sure the smug- glers, in theirrage, would make. They were none too soon, Kitt Cutlash was watching on the star- board side, Ben Bowline on the larboard. The crew had per armed themselves when old Ben whispered : “That's a boat full o’ men just a-coming out o’ the darkness.” i a en by to repel boarders,” whispered ick. ‘“Ffalloo! Here comes another,” sang out Kitt Cutlash, in a shrill whisper. ““By Heaven, we're going to have a tug of it,” exclaimed Dick. ‘‘ We must divide our force. Half go to the right, half to the left. Beat the rascals back !” The men took their stations, each with a ie in his right hand and a pistol in his eft. “Don’t fire a shot till they’re alongside,” whispered Dick. ‘‘Then cut and slash like the devil. Work lively, for they outnumber us, and they're tough customers when their blood’s up.’ At that instant the voice of the leader of the smugglers was heard from the larboard flatboat. ; “Be lively, my gallant fellows. Get on board before they can release the crew, and the cutter’s ours, without a blow.” Crash The boats struck against the cutter’s sides. “Up with you!” shouted the leader. “Repel boarders!” exclaimed Dick. “Hal By Heaven, they've released the others,” cried the smuggler leader. “‘ Upon them, my brave boys! Cleave the govern: ment hounds to the chin.” } ‘‘ Beat the villains back!” cried Dick. The Suealets swarmed up the sides, , Slash, slash! Crack, crack! The battle had commenced in earnest. The scene became pandemonium. Yells and curses broke from the smugglers, shouts and cries of encouragement from the crew of the cutter. The fight was about equal. First the ad- pentee was on this side, then on that. Suddenly a thud was heard as some object struck the stern of the cutter, It was a third flat-poat of the smugglers with a crew of ten men. Instantly they swarmed on deck and rush- ed into the thick of the fight. It now became one-sided. The crew of the cutter were contending against more than double their number. ventually they must beovercome. It was enty a question of time how long they could old out.
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fia | DICK DART. But not one of them thought of surrender, The cutter’s crew had now been forced back from the rail on each side, and the fight be- came concentrated on a small portion of the quarter deck. The cutter’s men were nearer the windlass. ‘The leader of the SEER ICL had caught up a cutlass, and now he rushed upon Dick Dart. Dick did not shrink from the encounter. " With set teeth he awaited the onset. ‘Die, you government hound!” shrieked the smuggler, His form towered up, and his features were convulsed with rage. He delivered a fearful blow at Dick’s head. Parrying the blow easily our hero sprang aside, and before the smuggler could recover brought his cutlass down. It struck the smuggler fair on the forehead, splitting his head open. His ‘immense form crashed down upon the deck, dead before it struck. The smugglers uttered roars of rage. The death of their leader seemed to have madden- ed them. ‘Stand for one moment longer, my lads !” cried Dick. ‘‘ Don’t think I’m deserting you, I go tosave you!” ashing forward he seized the forecastle gun, and aimed it at the eenter of the smug- gling group. The smugglers;could net see this movement, for the cutter’s men were between the gun and them, Dick seized the lanyard. “Down, my lads!” he shouted. quick as lightning.” Old Ben and Kitt, who were in the thick of the fray, comprehended what was to be done. They nepeated. the order and dropped up- on deck, followed by the remainder of the crew! : In their astonishment at this maneuver, the smugglers stood for an instant spell-bound. _ That instant accomplished their destruc- tion. Dick pulled the lanyard. Bang! There was a flash of flame, a loud and deaf- ening report, and then the charge of buckshot _ and3B’s tore through the closely crowded ranks of the smugglers. Fully half of them went down and more were. slightly wounded by that terrific dis- charge. | . The shrieks of the wounded and dying rent the air. ; “Up and upon them, my lads!” rang Dick Dart’s clear and clarion voice. ‘ last blow now, and the cutter’s ours.” “ Wurrah—hurrah—hurrah! Dart forever !” Springing to the front, Dick led the charge. . But it was no longer a battle—it was a rout. Terror had entered the hearts of the smug- eles atthe fearful slaughter that had over- aken them. With wild cries they broke and fled. Rushing to the rail, they plunged into the bay and struck out for land, some swimmin towards the beach, and others for the Grea Sedge, ; The men rushed to the side, intending to fire whenever a head appeared above water. “ Hold!” cried Dick Dart. ‘‘ That would be murder. The men are incapable of de- fense. Let them go!” “ Ay—ay |” said Old Ben. “ Let’em go, my lads. They’ve had enough of it, I’m thinking. And they’ll keep as far from the cutter after this as they would from the plague.” Shrieks and groans broke from the wounded on deck. “Attend to them, my lads,” said Dick, * Care for the wounded smugglers as well as for our own men, Do as well as you can for ’em to-night, and at daylight we'llsend to the main for Dr. Hankinson. I'll go down into the cabin and see what has become of the of- ficers and Jennie Harding.” ‘He hurried to the cabin. : On the floor lay Brott, nearly frightened to death by the commotion on deck, shaking and trembling. “ Dick cut his cords. Brott sprang to his Cats He did not at first recognize Dick, He fell on his knees, ““ Don’t murder me, Bead Mr. Smuggler !” he gasped. “I’ve got blue blood in my veins, and the government will avenge my death. Don’t kill me—please don’t, good, noble sir.” “Shut up, you coward!” said Dick, giving him a sounding kick. “Are you so frighten- ed that you can’t see? I’m Dick Dart.” * Down as out One **Good God! I thought you were drowned.” “Not much. Where’s the lieutenant?’ “Tn his state-room—dead, for allI know.” Dick rushed into the state-room. The lieu- tenant was bound hand and foot and crouch- ing down in‘his berth. When hesaw Dick he uttered a howl of horror. “ Away from me!” he shrieked. “ Have you, too, come to torment me? Back, ye fiend, to the regions of the dead.” ‘‘Never been there yet,” said Dick coolly. “Of course you didn’t try to send me there— oh, no! But Tl return good for evil. Tl set you free, anyhow.” Dick cut the ropes, and without speaking further, left the state-room. 1 * Alive—alivel” eatped the lieutenant, with staring eyes. ‘Death and fury, he is my evil genius!” 2 Dick went to Jennie Harding’s state-room. He knocked on the door. “ What is it?” asked a weak voice. “Better say who is it? It’s Dick Dart.” “Thank God! thank God!” The door was opened. Jennie appeared. 22 Yielding to the force of the arguments of both, Nellie crept along the log to firm land. As soon as she was safe, Charlie tried to pull himself out. But he had sunk deeper, and could not get a firm hold on the log. The suction of the mud was great. Try as he would, he ¢ould not overcome it. Every movement only made matters worse., He sank little by little, until his shoulders hardly showed above the mud. The hag had been watching every motion with interest. “Wold still!” she now exclaimed, “Tl help ye. But Ill have to move the log—it ain't right for ye now.” By the strenuous exertion of her great aenetD she succeeded in pulling the log to and, Instead of toppling it over again and throw- ing it in proper position, she put her foot on it and stood looking at Charlie. “What are you waiting for?” he demanded. “Hor you to sink and disappear,” S Merciful Heaven! don’t you intend to help In an instant she ran to Dick’s side and clung | me? to him too much overjoyed to speak. “Curses !” gritted a hoarse voice. They looked around and saw the lieuten- ant with a face of a demon glowering upon them. “a CHAPTER XXYV. ‘* Ha—ha !” shrieked the hag, as she stood on the edge of the quagmire, ‘‘ You’re doomed —doomed— doomed! You'll sink down— down—down ! until the mud gets into your ee and then you'll choke to death, ho— o—ho !” The solitude of the yast swamp re-echoed with her fiendish laughter. She swung the lantern around her head, and shrieked with devilish glee. With her gray hair flying in the breeze and her only garment a filthy night-dress, she resembled a fiend incarnate. The sight maddened Charlie Fisher. He made another desperate effort to extri- cate himself. : ‘It only resulted in sending both him and Nellie still deeper into the mire. ae elo) oh, help!” cried Nellie, appealing to e hag. ° The old woman laughed until the lantern danced up and down. j “Ye got in yerselves!” she shrieked. ‘‘Get out the same!” “You she-fiend!” cried Charlie, ‘‘ will you see the girl die before your eyes? If you don’t want to help me, get her out anyway.” “She ran away—she ran away!” screamed the hag. ‘‘He, he! She’s safe enough now, though ; and she'll stay in the mud one while, Tll- warrant ye. Till doomsday—till the day of judgment—and not a minute more or less.” ut the appearance of glee suddenly ‘left her, and her countenance lengthened. What would Brott say about this? By the girl’s death he gained nothing. If she lived, and he made her his wife, he would be the gainer of half a million. ae Clearly it was to Brott’s interest that she should live. ; The first violence of her passion — which really crazed her for amoment—passed, she saw this plainly. SS : She determined to rescue Nellie, if possible. “Well, I'll help ye out!” she exclaimed, Apt how am I todo it? That’s the ques- ion.” “Throw a rail, a log, anything solid to us,” Searching around by the aid of the lantern the hag found a log about ten feet long and several inches in diameter, Dragging it to the edge of the quagmire, she lifted it up on end and toppled it over. It fell within reach of Charlie. “Take hold,” he said to Nellie, ‘Try as hard as you can to lift yourself out. I'll as- sist you.” ‘ _ By their combined efforts Nellie succeeded in drawing herself from the mire and getting upon the log. The effort sent Charlie deeper into the mire. He sank down nearly to his armpits. Nellie reached out her hand to him. ““Now Ill help you,” she said. “No, no! Reach the firm land first, and then I'll try to follow. The log won’t bear the weight of both.” “That's so,” croaked the hag. out first, or you'll both sink yet.” “You come | woman away and caught hol “Yes, to die. I’m going to stop here until © you sink, which I think will be in about ten minutes.” **Oh, you monster!” ‘“Ha, ha!” shrieked the hag. name! Yes, that’s the name! But the monster’s on dry land, while be out o’ sight in just ten minutes. Ho, ho!’ Nellie, who, overcome with exhaustion, had jain down, sprang to her feet at these horri- «That's the A monster! ou'll e, he!® ble words of the fiendish old woman. “We shall not die!” she exclaimed. ‘If you’ll not save him I will!” : . With a-quick spring she pushed the old of the log. The hag gave utterance to a shriek of anger. Leaping forward, she caught Nellie by her long and flowing hair. - % “Stand back!’ she shrieked. shall die, and die he shall!” A terrible struggle commenced. Nellie did her best ; but she was no match: for'the old woman. Even at her best, her strength was not equal to that of the hag, and now that she was weakened by her struggle in the mire, she was but a child in her hands. In a moment she was overcome. With her left hand clutching Nellie’s hair. and her right SDE the lantern, the ol woman commenced to drag her back towards the cabin. } Once or twice she commenced to intercede for Charlie Fisher's life. At last the hag turned on her fiercely. “Tf you say one word more, I’ll brain you on the spot,” she hissed, \ The fiendish glare of her eyes convince Nellie that the fearful old woman meant what she said. i She walked on passive after that, but in her heart she never ceased praying for poor Charlie. : When they arrived at the cabin, the hag thrust Nellie inside, and closed the door. “There you are,” she croaked. ‘And if I give you a chance to escape again, I'll give them leave to murder me to-morrow. No— no, my lady! I’m up to your tricks now, and Til find a way to thwart ’em.” Going to a closet, she took from it a bundle ofrope. With it she approached Nellie. “What are you going to do with that?” asked the trembling girl. ““T’'m going to tie ye up,” hissed the hag. “T’m going to tie ye up so tight that ye can’t move.” «Please, don’t do that.” ; ** Will ye swear on the Bible not to run away again Q” : “Then Ill tie youso tightly that the cords will bring the blood.” aga Nellie splerno eG no further objections. “Very well,” she said. ‘You ang the stronger, and, of course, I submit to your brutal will. But see the condition I am in. At least allow me to get some of this mud off me first.” To this the old woman made no objection. She prone buckets of water, which Nellie used lavishly. The old woman gave her some of her own filthy skirts to wear while hers were drying. “Now, my dear,” said Mrs, Steady, when this was done, ‘‘ I’m going to get some sleep, and you must be tied up.’ : cit “T say he
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24 — DICK DAR. — Nellie made no resistance, for she knew it |. would be futile. Mrs. Steady drew a chair close to. Nellie’s and sat down upon it. : Then after tying the girl’s wrists and ankles tightly, she wound the rope several times around her own and Nellie’s body and fast- ened the ends securely to her own chair. There,” she muttered, in a tone of satis- faction. ‘By this time that rascal who thought to help you escape from here is out of sight in the mua, and dead. You're fixed so that it is impossible to escape, and everything is working like a charm, after all. And now that my mind is easy, I think I'll go to sleep.” Her eyes closed, and sitting bolt upright in her chair, she fell fast asleep and commenced snoring loudly. We will return now to Charlie Fisher, who, poor fellow, on account of his perilous situa- tion, certainly needs our attention. When the old woman disappeared, dragging Nellie after her, he for the moment gave way to despair. For a short time he could perceive the lan- tern’s gleam, but soon that entirely disappear- ed, nd he was indeed alone in that awful po- sition. : Must he, then, die? 3 Must he slowly sink down into the fearful quagmire in which he was slowly settling until it sucked him entirely under and choke out his young life? The thought was terrible, and in his agony he shrieked for help. There was no answer; and no sound was heard except the sighing of the night wind through the branches of the cedars. The sorrowful sighing seemed to be the chanting of his requiem above the frightful sepulchre where he was to be entombed for- ever, To add to the horror of the situation, what little light there had been was now ob- secured by one of those dense, black thunder clouds, which come up from the horizon so suddenly in those latitudes. It made the swamp so dark that he could not see his hand when it was heid before his eyes. With a last cry of despair he threw his hands above his head with a gesture of aban- donment, Ah, what was that? His hand touched something. ‘ - He clutched at and held it. It was the slender twig from one of the branches of a cedar tree that grew on the sol- id ground several feet behind him. | The touch sent through him a thrill of | hope. | Little by little he drew towards him the ° slender twig, until he aad the limb from which it grew, and of which it was a part. The young branches of the swamp cedar, when green, are very tough. They bend easi- ly, but it is almost pape to break them. Exerting his strength gradually, and work- ing his body to and fro in the mud, little by little he drew himself out. Retaining his hold on the branch, he made gradual progress until the solid ground was reached. ‘Staggering forward a few feet, he sank down at the foot of the tree whose branches had saved him. ~ And then, with a tremendous crash of thun- der and a vivid glare of lightning, the shower was ushered in. 3! When it ceased the swamp was a vast flood. - The clouds did not clear away, but a driz- zling mist continued fallin : dark as pitch. The swamp sas still as Rising, Charlie started on his quest in search of Nellie Harding. He knew, from what she and the old woman had said, that she was a prisoner in a hut inthe swamp, and | hi that it was near by. Fer hours he plunged through the swamp, - often falling into mud holes and extricating himself with difficulty, until, borough ex- hausted at last, he did what he should have done at first—he sat down and waited for the light of morning to guide him in his: search. ee came, but it assisted him very ittle. : ; The sky was still overcast—he could not see _thesun. He could not tell the points of the compass. i Had he been a woodsman he would not have been at a loss, for the formation of the cedars and their mosses would have given him his bearings. : But these indications, which are so plain to one who is accustomed to the swamps, was lost on him. A heavy wind was blowing, and its rea through the tops of the cedars drowned al other sounds. Suddenly the wind lulled. He then became conscious of a dull, heavy, roaring sound. It was the sound of the surf of the Atlantic, as it’dashed upon the beach. Walking forward in -the diréction of the sound, he came out upon the edge of the meadow. z The first object that met ais gaze was a boat which had entered the river and was be- ing rowed toward the shore. ie the boat were four men and a woman. With a ery of surprise Charlie dodged back behind a cedar. ‘By Heaven!” he exclaimed, ‘it’s the cut- ter’s jolly boat. And in it are the lieutenant, Brott, two of the most rascally of the cutter’s crew, and a woman. What infernal game are they up to now, Il wonder? I'll watch and see, CHAPTER XXXVI. ‘Your comments are unnecessary, sir. You and that old fool Ben Bowline and the skele- ton Cutlash seem to have a propensity to go ashore, and I shall send you to-day. Take rations to last until sundown. Watch the road Jeading from John Allen’s tavern through the barberry bushes. You will start at once and return at sundown.” “ Ay—ay, sir!” Dick bade Jennie Harding good-bye, went on deck, summoned Kitt and old Ben, got into the skiff, pulled ashore and were soon lost to view among the bushes, In about half an hour the lieutenant sought an interview with Jennie Harding. “Get ready to go ashore, Miss Harding,” he said. * Go ashore! Whatdo you mean? Ihave no wish to go on shore just now.” . “Tam sorry to put you to any inconveni- ence,” said the lieutenant, with studied po- liteness, “but the fact is we are about to. commence operations against the smugglers. which will endanger the lives of all on board the cutter. I must insist that you allow us to place you in safe quarters on shore with- out delay. “ Oh, very well,” said Jennie, curtly ;“‘if you don’t want me here, of course I can go.” The lieutenant bowed. “ How long will it take you to get ready ?” Tre lieutenant’s brutal face was uglier than | he asked. usual, as he saw the position in which Dick Dart and Jennie Harding stood. é “Tll have no lovers Se aboard this m craft !” he exclaimed, in a snarling tone. “ How are you going to help it?” asked Dick. “By Heaven, il show you, you cur!” roared the lieutenant. He caught Dick by the shoulder and en- deavored to thrust him aside. Our hero stood firm as a‘rock. It would have required a stronger man than the lieu- tenant to move him. ; “Hands off!” he exclaimed, shaking him- self free. ‘‘ You're my superior officer, but that doesn’t give you the right to knock me about. .Try it again and I'll tumble you head- over-heels.” : : The lieutenant drew back. “Brott,” he exclaimed, “‘I order you to knock that mutinous rascal down.” “Wa, ha!” Jaughed Dick. ‘Better not try it, Brott. You've felt the weight of my fist before, and ITadvise you not to tempt me a second time. I say, Brott, you look like asick wolf of the ugliest species. What's the matter with your ear?” Brott sneaked into the state-room, making no answer. “Miss Harding, go to your state-room |” roared the heutenant. “TY shall do nothing of the kind, sir. I am not your prisoner, but your guest, and as such I shall certainly pay no attention to your orders,” “Very well. Dart, go on deck. Dare to re- fuse and I'll report you for disobedience of orders.” ‘“* Of course I'll obey orders.” ee lald go on deck too,” said Jennie. You'd better not,” said Dick. ‘‘ There are a great many dead and wounded men up there, and things are net in just the condition to be seen by you.” ; “Of course I’ll do as you say,” said Jennie, in a tone that set the lieutenant raging. She turned her back upon the lieutenant and went into her state-room, Dick went on deck. The lieutenant followed, received an ac- count of the repulse of the smugglers, left pi in charge of the deck and returned to the cabin. He hurried to Brott’s state-roorm. “ Brott !” he exclaimed, ‘‘ that infernal Dick Dart has got the appeal hand. Jennie Hard- ing is already heac -over-heels in love with AD ; ” “Tt don’t require more than one eye to see that,” grumbled Brott, who sat nursing his sick ears. : cil We must get her away to-morrow morn- ing. ee must,” said Brott. In the morning, about ten o'clock, word was passed forward to Dick, who was on the forecastle deck talking to Ben Bowline*and Kitt Cutlash, that he was wanted aft. He went immediately. : “Dart,” said the lieutenant, ‘‘I shall here- after keep a scouting party on the beach to look after the smugglers.” ““A good plan,” said Dick. “Ten minutes, sir.” The lieutenant went on deck and ordered the worst two men in the cutter to arm themselves and go aboard of the jolly-boat. Brott took his seat in the bow. Jennie came on deck with a valise. The lieutenant tossed it into the boat, handed Jennie in, and took his seat beside her in the stern-sheets. “Give way, men!” The jolly-boat shot across the bay, heading toward the mouth of Forked river. The lieutenant cast sly looks of exulation at Jennie. ** Aha! my lady,” he said to himself, ‘at last you are in the toils, from which there is noescape. And this very night, by fair means or foul, I shall become the happy possessor of a wifeand half a million of money. Ha! hai I care very little whether ’tis foul or fair.” CHAPTER *XVIT. ‘As sure as fate that girl is some relation to Nellie Harding,” muttered Charlie Fisher, as the jolly-boat passed so near that he had a fair view of its occupants. ‘Who is she and where could they have picked her up? Well, they’re going up the creek, that’s certain, and I'll follow.” He was snugly ensconced out of sight be- hind a cedar. Rowing past within twenty feet of him, they continued on their course up the creel, Stealing out from behind the tree, Charlie commenced following thé boat, which, on ac- count of the turnings of the creek, moved so slowly that he could easily keep abreast of it. Keeping out of sight behind the cedars pug underbrush, Charlie glided stealthily along. When the thickest of the swamp was reached Jennie Harding began to grow sus- picious. “Where are you taking me?” she demand- ed. “Surely there is no hotel in this dis- mal swamp.’ “Certainty not,” said the lieutenant; ‘‘but the Janding is a short distance further up, and the road to the village leads from it through the swamp.” ; Jennie said nothing more, but her suspi- cions were not set at rest, by any means, At the spot to which Brott had taken. Nellie in the skiff they went ashore. With Brott leading the way, the lieuten- ant walking at Jennie’s side, and the two villainous sailors bringing up the rear, they plunged into the swamp. Suddenly Jennie paused. *T don’t like this!” she exclaimed. ‘I will go no further with you into such a place,” “Good!” muttered Charlie Fisher from his hiding-place, a few yards to the eastward. “You're getting your eyes opened to the danger, and that’s half the battle.” “You'll go where I choose to take you !” angrily exclaimed the lieutenant. — ‘ ennie Danes her feet firmly on the turf. “T shall not stir a step !” she exclaimed. “We'll see,” sneered the lieutenant. He threw his arm around her for the pur- pose of forcing her along. ~ ; i
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But he had not counted the cost. Instantly he staggered back with a roar of pain, and a scratch across the ball of his right eye, that for the Peel if not forever, ef- fectually destroyed the sight of that useful member, “Stand back, sir!” exclaimed Jennie. “Ill teach you that I know how to defend myself.” *¥fa—ha!” chuckled Charlie Fisher, behind the bushes. ‘‘ What a little tiger-cat it is, to be sure.” The lieutenant uttered a cry of rage. He gave a signal to the two sailors. Instantly they darted forward, and before Jennie knew what they were about, seized her around the waist. For a moment Charlie thought of interfer- ing; but_he realized that it would be mad- ness, and utterly destroy his chances here- after. He clenched his teeth and remained still. Jennie struggled hard, but it was no use. The sailors lifted her in their arms, and held her as easily as if she had been a child, “ Aha!” exclaimed the lieutenant, with an oath. ‘‘Now, perhaps, you'll learn to behave yourself. Bring her along, my lads,” While this by-play was taking place, Brott had not said a word, but stood looking on, apparently 'unconcerned. hen the lieutenant received the scratch, he uttered a short chuckle, and his mouth expanded into a fiendish grin. Ae soon as Jennie was secured, he paid no further attention to fhem, but turned and led the way at a quick pace into the depths of the swamp. : x He did not pause until he reached the cabin of the old hag. ; Here he paused and waited for the others to come up. : “Stay outside until I go in and see how things are inside,” he said to the lieutenant. Opening the door without knocking, he found the old woman busy about the stove. and Nellie Harding sitting on a chair, boun hand and foot. : “ What in the name of the fiend does this mean, old woman ?” he demanded. “Oho, my gallant lad, you’re back, are you?” croaked the hag. ‘I’m glad you are— J am, indeed ; for I never had so much trouble with a girl as I’ve had with this one in all my mortal days.” : Thereupon she told all that had occurred in his absence, “ Brott glared angrily at Nellie. “So you tried to escape, did you, after all the promises you made to me?” he demanded. “Yes, I did,” said Nellie. ‘But it wasn’t because I wanted to run away from you.” “ What was the reason?” ‘Because I hate and fear this wretched old woman. I don’t consider my life safe with her aninstant.” And you're willing to keep your promise to me?” “ Certainly. z “Very well,” said Brott. “TI really can’t blame you for being afraid of Mrs. Steady. She isn’t very beautiful, and her manners are not calculated to inspire confidence, that’s a fact. Yl untie panes He set Nellie free. Sear : “ve brought you a visitor,” he said, “Who? sa “Your sister Jennie.’ Nellie sprang to her feet. She uttered an exclamation of joy, She was about to rush to the door, when Brott detained her, “Wait,” he said. “I'll bring her in.” He opened the door, and ushered in the party outside. ce Tn an instant Nellie and Jennie were in each other’s arms. “Very pretty,” ‘Now sit down, the whole of you, talk business.” : wea His wounded eye was causing him intense pain, and his face was purple with rage as he spoke. in the meantime Charlie Fisher had crept as near as he dared, and lay concealed in the bushes while the lieutenant, the two sailors, and Jennie remained outside. ‘ When they entered the house he left his cover. < Making his way stealthily to the back part of the house, he found a crevice wide enough to admit of his seeing and hearing all that was going on inside. The lieutenant opened the ball: ; “Now Jet’s to business !” he exclaimed, say- agely, binding a silk handkerchief over his D sneered the lieutenant, and let’s DICK DART. wounded eye. ‘‘Miss Jennie Harding, you are wholly in my power.” “ u a Miss Nellie Harding is in mine,” said rott. “Yes; and we have made up our minds that they shall be our wives.” “Have you?” asked Jennie, quietly. ““That’s all very well on your side, I dare say. But you forget that it takes two to make a bar- gain,of that kind.” “Very true. But I think you will come to the conclusion that itis to your interest to consent.” He looked fiendishly at Jennie as he said this, and his expression was so brutal that it sent a thrill of terror through her, ** What do you mean ?” she gasped. “T mean,” he hissed, ‘‘ that if you don’t be- come my wife this night, before many days you will beg and plead of me upon your bended knees to make you’so, and I shall then refuse.” “Oh, Heaven! Are you a perfect fiend ?” “Tam Ee, you choose. Now take yourchoice. Wil ron marry me or nob?” “No, you wretch! No, you monster! I trust ano in the hands of the Almighty, who will not suffer such a villain as you to conquer.” The lieutenant uttered a deep curse, Brott seemed to enjoy the scene, “Never fear, lieutenant,” he said. ‘She'll come to terms after thinking of it awhile. Her sister has come to the conclusion that it will not pay to resist, and has promised to marry me. Haven’t you, he dear Nellie ?” ‘© Ves,” said Nellie, placidly. ‘Wor shame!” exclaimed Jennie. ‘‘ Nellie, I am ashamed of you—I am ashamed of you. I will die before I submit.” “So would I,” said Nellie, quietly. ‘But there is a fate which young girls should con- sider worse than death.” Jennie shuddered. She hid her face in her hands. “By Heaven!” muttered Charlie Fisher, “Nellie Harding is playing some deep pene I don’t believe she has the slightest idea of marrying Brott. Why can’t that sister of hers see it and help to fool the rascals?” “Tf you will let me talk to Jennie a minute I think I could induce her to look upon the thing as I do,” said Nellie to the lieutenant. “Very well, Go ahead.” Nellie took Jennie’s hand and led her to the corner of the room furthest away from the others, : It was the very corner where Charlie Fisher was looking through his chink. Nellie commenced talking to her sister in You’re a sensible girl. .| low tones. Charlie took.a small “piece of paper anda pencil from his pocket. He wrote as follows: “Promise anything—everything—but de- lay the eee as 3 as youcan, Manage to put it off till eight o’clock—before the time comes you shall be rescued.” The girls were between the chink and the others who were in the room. Pushing the paper through the chink, Charlie held it with the tips of his fingers so that it would attract attention. Nellie saw it. She took it cautiously and read it. With a flush of joy upon her face, she pass- ed it to Jennie, “Allis not yet lost,” she whispered: ‘I have been fighting against time. I have con- sented to gain time. Promise to become the wife of the lieutenant and I will manage all the rest.” ““T will. You have been right, after all.” Refolding the paper, Nellie pushed it again through the chink. f They might be searched by the old hag, and it would not do to have the paper found upon them, Going back to their chairs, they sat down. ‘My sister has consented,” said Nellie. “‘Ha!” exclaimed the lieutenant. ‘She Sapa se become my wife?” 0 “By George!” exclaimed Brott, “I don’t know about that. Are you sure you’re not both up tosome game? If I thought that, T’ » “Be quiet,” said Nellie. ‘She consents be- cause she can’t help herself, that's all.” ‘Very good,” said Brott. ‘‘That’s a sensi- ble way to look at it, ’'m sure. The next question is, when is the thing to be done?” ““Oh, in a few days.” ; 26 ! AS ** \ few dasys be dashed!” roared the lieu- tenant. ‘‘It shall be done this very after- noon.” Nellie saw that he was determined, “We'll compromise,” she said. ‘Say eight o'clock to-night. I'll not be married a minute sooner, and that’s flat.” ‘All right,” said Brott, ‘‘ At eight o’clock, then, let it be, and by a justice of the peace. I don’t trouble the preachers much—l’ye no use for’em. Lieutenant, come outside. You two fellows keep your eyes open.” The lieutenant and Brott went outside and closed the door. «Those ine are up to some deep game or other,” said Brott. ‘‘Wemustn’t give them - a shadow of a chancesor they'll’ be off as quick as lightning, and we'll have the trouble of looking ’em up.” “Yes, curse ’em! Ibelieve to heaven my eye is running out. Confound the Tartar,~ I'd give something if we could only get the money without the women,” “Can’t be done,” said Brott. ‘Now, lieu- tenant, if you'll stay here and help guard the girls il pay a visit to an oldsquire I know in the village. For a consideration he'll tie the knot whether they like it or not, and be ready to swear afterwards on a stack of bibles that ney) were willing and anxious. Ill be back with him before eight o'clock, ready to have the thing done up brown at the exact hour,” Brott furned away, swamp and disappeared in the direction of the upland, CHAPTER XXVIII. THE conversation between Brott and th® lieutenant had not been heard Bye who was on the o pee side of the building. Neither did he see Brott when he walked away. But he was soon informed upon the subject. The lieutenant entered the house, glared angrily around, slammed the door and after rubbing his wounded eye exclaimed : “Brott has gone after the official who is to marry us. He is a man who willstand no fooling, but will pronounce the ceremony whether youlikeit ornot. Make no fuss when. he comes, orI swear you shall repent it in eae and ashes before you’re many hours older.” He sat down, commenced to nurse his eye and glared angrily at them. ‘* When is he poeees asked Nellie. “Before eight o'clock.” “You may rest assured there’s no use of his coming before night,” said Nellie, point- edly. ‘‘ And soi tell you and every one else who hears me.” ‘ Charlie Fisher heard her, as she intended that he should. Had he known that Brott was intending to make a journey across the swamp, he would have intercepted him. But it was now too late. He knew that Dick Dart was on board the cutter, for he heard the crew mention as much when they were searching for him on the Great Sedge. With the lieutenant and Brott away, Dick would be in command, and he had no doubt, at least, he, Kitt Cutlash and Ben Bowline would return with him to the swamp. Gliding stealthily into the swamp, Charlie made his way to the landing. Pushing the skiff from the bank, he shoved down the creek until he could use the oars, Then he sat down on the seat, shipped his oars and rowed across the bay. Meanwhile, on the cutter there had been un- usual excitement since the lieutenant and Brott, with the worst scoundrels of the crew, rowed across the bay with Jennie Harding. *“ Bill-ee,” said old Sam Sawyer to his chum, oe it’s my opinion the devil’s to pay.” ‘Sam-ee,” said old Bill, “it are.” Which showed the state of feeling on board the cutter. ‘ 5 When the jolly-boat was observed crossing the bay with only one occupant, the excite- ment increased. ER The men crowded to the side. PH Sosa 2d “Harpoon me fer a sparm whale, if it ain’t Charlie Fisher !” ejaculated old Sam. ‘‘ Strand birds and sand se !that beats naturel” “ Ahoy, my lad!” roared Sam, as Charlie Fisher came on board. ‘‘ You've lost yer bear in’s, reckon.” y “Ts Dick Dart aboard?” ‘*No; he’s on the beach.” ‘© When will he be back ?” walked into the thick @
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‘Not aforesundown. What's the row?’ Charlie explained. “ Catfish and lamper-eels !” ejaculated Sam. <* What's to be done?” ‘Nothing until Dick Dart comes aboard.” “Tell ye what,” said Sam. ‘‘ Ill send a man arter him.” This was done immediately, and the man was given instructions to say that Dick was wanted immediately on board. Charlie went into the galley and sat down to the first meal he had eaten for along time. Hours Pp ssed and there was no sign of Dick Dart and his party, or the man who had been sent in search of him, “ Charlie,” said old Sam atsundown, “it'll be death to me if I liftmy hand agin the lef- tenant or Brott. But Im an old man, and can well afford to sacrifice what little of life still remains to me for the sake of them ‘two young girls. I’ll go wi’ ye and help get ‘em out o’ the clutches o’ the two rascals.” s = hee Dick will certainly return before ark,” Hardly had he spoken when from the bar- berry bushes emerged Dick, followed by Kitt, Ben and the sailor. They were on the run. Springing on board their boat, they pulled out to the cutter. Dick was the first to leap on deck. ‘‘Where’s Charlie Fisher?” he asked. ** We've just heard the news. We've been away up the beach, and only met the man as we were returning. Tell me the news.” In a moment he was put in possession of the more important facts. “The girls must be saved!” he cried. ‘‘ Kitt, Ben, it is death to you for you to lift your hand against a commissioned officer, and Vl not ask you to do it.” «Then Tasks myself,” roared old Ben; “if so be as I was born to be hanged, I couldn’t stretch hemp in a better cause. I’m bound for that there swamp, and so I tell ye.” “That's the talk,” croaked Kitt. “ IfI come for to go for to git them young pals out o’ the scrape, and am swung for it, [Il make faces at the lieutenant and Brott, and sass ’em as they tighten the noose around my neck.” : “As for me, I’m a deserter, and my life is forfeited at any rate,” said Charlie Fisher. “T may as well be banged for a sheep as a jamb, and I want the satisfaction of breaking the lieutenant’s head first.” Dick’s heart beat high with hope. ‘You're brave fellows, one and all,” he ex- claimed. ‘‘Come on, and we'll save the girls _ if we all die for it afterwards.” They sprang into the jolly-boat and pulied away toward the mouth of Forked river. ‘Good luck to ye !” yelled old Sam, “ Bill-ee, we'll go below and drink success to’em in a bucketful o’ grog.” ; We must now follow Brott through the swamp on his way to the village, which he reached in good time. ! Going to the tavern, he inquired of Stout Parker, the landlord, if he knew where Mr. Spoon, the justice of the peace, was to be found. : “Ya—as,” drawled oldStout. “ You'll find him at his house, Lreckon. He just come in - arter a horn o’ applejack, and said he was go- ing home.” Where does he live?” The fat landlord waddled to the door and pointed out the house. Brott hurried there and inquired for Mr. Spoon, who came to the door and asked his business. ; “Don’t you know me?” asked Brott. ‘Never saw you before,” Brott told his name. sxe «The dickens !” exclaimed Spoon. 7 He seized Brott’s hand and shook it heart- ily. “By George! Im glad to see you, Brott. Walk right in.” “Not just now, thank you. I’ve some im- portant business with you, Spoon. Put on your hat and come outside while we talk. I don’t want our conversation to be overheard.” Arm in arm they strolled down the one street of the village. “Do you want to make a thousand dollars?” “You're right Ido. Try me and see.” And you're not particular as to the means, so long as you’re not likely to be punished ?” Devil a bit.” i Brott then told what he 0. : “Tm your man,” said Spoon, with empha- sis. ‘ : was expected to DICK DART. “Tf they should Hee to object, you must pay no attention to their protests.” “Nota bit of it. Trustme. AndIam to ae a thousand dollars for my share of the job?” “You are.” *7’d run the risk of going to the devil for a thousand dollars. I'll tie the knot as tight as the gates of Satan’s kingdom. When is the thing to be done?” *«To-night, at eight o’clock.” ‘All right. Then there’s plenty of time. Come back to the house, and the old woman shall get us a bite to eat.” They remained in the house until late in the afternoon, when they started for the swamp. Arriving ‘at half-past seven, .they found everything as they had left it. : »The interior of the cabin was dimly lighted up by a tallow dip, which only served to make everything look more dismal. Brott proceeded to introduce the justice. “This is Mr, Spoon,” he said, addressing himself to Nellie, whom he now jooked upon as his own lawful property. ‘‘He is author- ized by law to perform the ceremony of mar- riage.’ $ “Certainly, young lady,” said Spoon. “ And I shall only be too happy to tie the knot good and strong.” “No doubt of it,” said Nellie, ‘‘ How much do you get, Mr. Spoon?” é ; “Hh?” demanded Spoon, growing red in the face. “ How much are you to be paid?” “T expect no fee or reward, young lady,” said Mr. Spoon, with dignity. ‘©Of course you don’t,” said Nellie. “Well, he’ll get something then,” snapped Brott, ‘‘and now go ahead and let’s have the thing over.” ‘“‘Certainly—certainly. Be good enough to stand up, young ladies, and join hands with your respective grooms.” “Not just yet,” said Nellie. “Why not?’ demanded the lieutenant. “Damme! Do you intend to back out at the last moment?’ ¢ «The last moment hasn’t come yet. Istipu- ied ee nothing should be done until eight o'clock.” “What difference does a, few minutes make?” grumbled Brott. “None, perhaps. If so, say itis my whim.” “Oh, very well,” said Brott, drawing out his watch. “It is now exactly twenty min- utes to eight. That twenty minutes will we wait, and not another second.” Minute after minute passed. Not a word was spoken. The silence of death reigned in the cabin. It was so intense that even the soft ticking of the watch could be heard throughout the room. The old woman, more fiend-like than ever, sat upon a stool, her elbows upon her knees and her chin resting on her skinny hands, glaring triumphantly upon the girls and oc- casionally giving utterance to a low, harsh chuckle. Upon the features of the justice of the peace was a wicked leer. ' Brott sat grim and silent, watching the watch, The lieutenant’s face was that of a demon, and occasionally a low curse broke from him as the twinges of pain in his wounded eye be- came uuusually acute. Nellie Harding’s face was very pale, but otherwise she seemed unmoved. ‘ She leaned forward in a listening attitude. Jennie clung to her in terror, ; Suddenly Brott’s voice broke the silence, eee up,” he said; “Mr, Spoon, pro- ceed.” “Stand up, all parties, and join hands.” The lieutenant and Brott came forward, but Nellie never moved. “Oh, never mind!” said Spoon. “ There’s nothing in the law that makes it obligator upon the parties to either arise or join hands,” He continued with the service until the question was reached : : * Wilt thou take this man to be thy lawful husband?” © “No!” cried both girls at once. ‘‘ Never |” ¥ A fearful curse broke from the lieutenant’s ips. . apy x Destruction !” hissed Brott. ““Go on, Spoon! Goon, I tell you. Repeat the cere- mony ! And we'll soon teach these stubborn vixens whether they are our wives or not !” ¥, | ceiving two or three scratches from the CHAPTER XXIX. ““ HERE we are,” whispered Charlie Fisher as the jolly-boat glided up the creek an reached the landing inthe swamp. ‘“ Hurry, for your lives. It’s nearly eight o'clock, and we may be too late, after all.’ *“ Lead the way !” said Dick, excitedly. On arun they started into the swamp. In ten minutes they reached the hut. ** Stay where you are, while I go and see what they're up to,” whispered Charlie. Going softly around the house, he applied his eye to the crevice he had used before. Hardly had he looked when he left the place and ran back. His face was paler than usual. “We're not a minute too soon,” he whis- ered. ‘* We must lose no time. There are our of them inside—the lieutenant, Brott, and the two sailors. I’ll manage Brott; you, Dick, take the lieutenant, while Kitt and Ben will attend to the sailors. The other fellow who is repeating the marriage service is small fry and can be attended to afterwards. Away we go.” Dashing open the door, they sprang in upon the scene; The lieutenant had caught Jennie’s hand and was trying to force her to her feet. Dick sprang upon him, His clenched fist shot out like a sledge-ham- mer, and took the lieutenant between the eyes. He fell like a log. Dick leaped upon him and seized him by the throat. - “You infernal scoundrel !” “Your game’s blocked at last “Let me up!” gasped the lieutenant, *-You’re choking me to death.” 1 He commenced to get black in the face. Dick took his pistols from him and pitched him into a corner. “Lie there, you dog !” he exclaimed. ‘‘ And if you dare to move, I'll murder you.” rte meantime Charlie had collared rott. * He soon choked him into submission and he lay cowering like a cur. Kitt Cutlash and old Ben had no trouble with the sailors. A loaded pistol placed at their heads ended the affair so far as they. were concerned, and they allowed themselves to be quietly dis- armed. Mr. Spoon had made a dash for the door. But Kitt caught him by the throat as he peed and flung him into the corner, where e lay quiet, afraid to make a movement. The olds woman seized a knife, and sprang at Charlie Fisher, who had Brott down. Kitt Cutlash noticed the movement. ‘Leaping forward, he caught her by the throat and sent her flying behind the stove. “Belay all, old lady!” he croaked. ‘“‘If ye come for to go for to leave that shot, I'll jump down wee throat and kick ye to pieces, by ginger By this time Jennie and Nellie were very close to Dick and Charlie, overwhelming them with expressions of gratitude. Affairs having been satisfactorily explain- ed, attention was again directed to the pris- oners. “Mie ’emup,” said Dick. “What!” roared the lieutenant, ‘Tie me, your superior officer, up! If you dare you shall be hunged for mutiny, by Heaven!” “That for the hanging,” said Dick, snap- ping his fingers. “I know what I’m about. itt, tie him up.” ; “Ay, ay, sir,” croaked Kitt, chuckling. “« And if you come for to go for to make a fuss while I’m a-doing of it, lieutenant, I’ll wal- 4 you well, by gravy l ; ) he lieutenant submitted with very ill race, Kitt bound his hands securely behind im, and followed suit with Brott, the two sailors, Mr. Spoon and the old a re- ae, who used her nails with considerable sacs cess. Mr. Spoon commenced to beg. “Shut up,” said Dick, ‘Off to the boat ‘with ’em, my jads!” They were marched to the jolly-boat and tumbled in. : “Where are you going to take us?” whined the lieutenant. , “To the cutter,” said Dick, shortly. The lieutenant laughed in his sleeve. Was it possible Dart was foolish enough to take — him among his own men, where he could have. te exclaimed.
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every atae his own way and turn the tables instantly He could hardly believe it. But it was possible, nevertheless, for the jolly-boat headed straight for the cutter, reached her, and the prisoners were hauled up. ; The crew of the cutter were all drawn up to receive them. “Release me !” roared the lieutenant, ‘and arrest these mutinous rascals instantly.” — To his surprise not a man stirred. “ Away with them to the cabin,” said Dick. They were forced down below, with the ex- ception of the two sailors, who were sent to the run, Brott, the lieutenant, and Mr, Spoon were seated by the cabin table. “Now,” said Dick, “you're off my hands, ; and another actor will make his appearance.” The door of a state-room opened, and a tall, noble-looking man in nayal uniform appeared. The lieutenant uttered a cry and his face turned white as death. “The admiral !” he gasped. s¢ Yes,” was the reply, in deep, full tones. “Tam the admiral. Icame down from New York yesterday, to Barnegat Bay, on a shoot- ing and fishing excursion. I concluded this evening that I would pay the cutter a visit, as I learned that you had been having a brush with the pana coe, On the way 1 met the jolly-boat, with Mr. Dart and a crew aboard. Ascertaining their mission, I told them to take prisoners all they found in the cabin in the swamp and bring them on board the cut- ter. Lieutenant, there haye been grave charges made against you and Mr. Brott. You shall have an opportarl ty of meetin your accusers face to face. Mr, Dart, stan forward and tell your sap He didso, Charlie Fisher followed. Then came Nellie and Jennie Harding. “ What have you to say to this?” demanded the admiral. » “Ttis isalie. The girls went with us of their own accord. They were anxious to have us marry them. ” They— He stopped and uttered a gasping cry. eMy od!” he screamed, “it has appeared again! There—there! Take it away!’ the side of the curtain stood the specter. Its Hecd was uplifted and pointed warningly DICK DART. ~ at the lieutenant. In solemn, threatening tones it spoke this word : “Confess!” F *T do—I do!” shrieked the cowering wretch. “Have mercy.” “Yes—yes!” “Do you confess that you shot Dart in the Pelican thoroughfare?” ~ ‘* Yes—yes!” *“TDo you confess that Brott tried to murder Fisher on the Great Sedge and left him for de: ““Tdo—I do!” “Do syou confess that you and Brott ab- ducted Nellie and Jennie Harding against their will and tried to force them to marry you against their will for the sake of their fortunes ?” ; “T confess everything—everything!” shriek- ed the wretched man. ‘Only leave me— leave me! Torment me no more! Go back to your home among the dead.” The ghost laughed. “Ha—ha! The farce is ended,” it said. It threw aside the white garment anda mask, and stood revealed old George Larue, captain of the fore-top. “« Tt’s all easily explained,” he said. “There is a sliding panel behind the curtain, I dis- covered it while foraging in the hold. Hay- ing a taste for masquera ing, I fixed up this rig and made it as horrible as possible. Several times I appeared to the lieutenant, when he was engaged in concocting his plots, always succeeding in frightening him almost to death. As he never had the courage to come towards me until I disappeared, I always had time to slip through the panel, which moved directly back to its place, Several times I was behind the curtain and heard Brott and the lieutenant arranging their plans, and I wish now to add my testi- mony to that of the others.” ‘Tnough!” said the admiral. ‘I have al- ready heard sufficient to assure me that two greater villains neyer went unhung. You can give your evidence before the court-mar. tial in New York, where I shall take these rascals to-morrow. Mr. Spoon and the old woman shall be delivered up to the civil au- thorities here for trial. Away with the last two to the run, and take the lieutenant and (THE END.] * Brott to their state-rooms and lock them a , His orders were executed immediately, and two men were directed to stand guard con- stantly at the doors. Then the admiral turned to the two girls. “Miss Jennie and Miss Nellie Harding, would you like to see Mr. Dart made a cap- tain, Mr. Fisher a first Jieutenant, Ben Bow- line a second lieutenant and Kitt Cutlash a midshipman ?’ he asked, “Yes, indeed. None deserve it more than they.’ oT lies with you whether they shall be so or not.” “With us! How so?” “Tf you, Miss Jennie, become Mr, Dart’s wife, and you, Miss Nellie, marry Charlie Fisher, all the commissions shall be made out ae than a week.” The girls threw a ae glance at Dick and Charlie, then blushed and looked down. Dick and Charlie looked down. “What do you say?’ asked the admiral, his eyes twinkling. It would be a pity that ‘they should lose their commissions on our account, after they have done so much for us,” “Then you consent ?” s* Ye—es.” _That is all. When the end is reached it is time tostop. And we have reached the fin’® of this story. The admiral granted Dick and Charlie leave of absence to take Jennie and Nellie to New York, Kitt Cutlash and Ben Bowline went too, and ‘‘stood up” at the wedding that soon followed. The instant the ceremony was completed, ue peed placed their commissions in their ands. The lieutenant and Brott were tried by court-martial, found guilty, reduced to the ranks and sent to the Dr The old woman and to the State prison by the civil authorities. Kitt Cutlash and Ben Bowline still flourish and &lways sail in the same ute, The lives of Dick Dart, Charlie Fisher, and their pretty wives have been very happy thus far, and we hope they may continue to live happily together to. : ortugas, r. Spoon were sent_ Usetul and Instructive Books. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD » BOAT.—Fully illustrated. Every . doy should know how to row and sail a boat. Full instructions are given in this little book, together with instructions on swimming and riding, companion sports to boating. Price 10 conts. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or we will send it to your address on receipt of the price, Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 * and 36 North Moore street, New York. Box 2780. @OW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR,—Every boy should know how ine * ventions originate. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, hydraulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, ete., etc. The most instructive book published. Price 10 cents, For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or sent to your address, postage free, on receipt of pricz. Address PEN MENS publisher,.34 and 86 North Moore street, New York. Box 2730. . o HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER.—Containing fourteen illustrations, giving the different positions requisite to become a good speaker, reader and elocutionist. Also containing gems from all the popular authors of prose and poetry, arranged in the most simple and concise manner possible. For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Ganada, or sent to your address, postage fres, on receipt of ten cents. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 86 North Moore street, New York. 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For.sale by book and newsdeal- ers, or send ten cents to Frank Tousey, 34 and 36 North Moore street, New York. and it will be mailed to your address. post paid. . street. New York. GOW TO WRITE LETTERS.—A wonderful little book, telling you how to write to your sweetheart, your father, mother, sister, brother, em- loyer; and, in fact, everybody and anybody you wish to write to. very young man and every young lady in the land should have this book, It is for sale by all newsdealers. Price 10 cents, or sent fro: this office on receipt of price. Address Frank Tousey, publisher, and 36 North Moore street. New York. BR. 0. Box 2730. HOW TO DRESS.—Containing full instruction in the art of dressin; and appearing well at home and abroad; giving the selections o} colors, material, and how to haye them made up, Price 10 certs. . For sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Danada, or sent, post-paid, to your address, on receipt of price, by Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 86 North Moore street, New York. Box 27380. ; AOW TO BECOME A SCIENTIST.—A useful and instructive book, give - ing a complete treatise on chemistry; also, experiments in acoustics, mechanics, mathematics, chemistry, and directions for making fire- works, colored fires, and gas balloons. This book cannot be equaled. Price 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or it will be sent to your address, postage froe, on receipt of price. . Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 84 and 36 North Moore street, New York, Box 2730. fOW TO BEHAYE, containing the rules and etiquette dr good socie and the easiest and most approved methods of eepeasnt to good ad- vantage at parties, balls, the theater, church, and in the drawing- room. Price 10 cents. J'or sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postage free, on receipt of price, Address Frank Tousey, publisher, 34 and 86 North Moore street. New Xork. Box 2780. HOW TO TELL HORTON SS ey one is desirous of knowing what. their future life will bring forth, whether Hep or misery, wealth or poverty. You can tell by aglance at this little book, Buy one and be convinced. ‘ell your own fortune. ‘Tell the fortunes of your friends. Prive 10 cents. Frank Tousey, publisher, o4 and 36 North Moore street. New York. Box 2780. flOW TO HUNT AND FISH.—The most complete hunting and fishing” guide ever published. It contains full instructions about guns, hunt. ing dogs, traps, trapping, and fishin, together with descriptions of game and fish. Price 10 cents, Fo" sale by all newsdealers in the United States and Canada, or sent, 7 ostpaid, to your address, on re- ceipt of price, by HEAT publisher, 34 and 36 North Moore OX K t ‘
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The Great § Gent Wide Awake Liang. The Largest, Cheapest and Most Popular Library in the World. Containin Stories of Adventures in all Parts of the World, and Comic Stories by the Most Humorous Authors of the Day. A New Story is Issued Each Week. Price Only 5 Cents per Copy. For Sale by all Newsdeclers. 1 Tom Biown’s School Days...By Thomas Hughes 2 The Pirate.................-By Captain Marryatt 8 Adventures of Robinson Crusoe,.By Daniel Defoe 4 Joe Dodger, the Boy Ventriloquist........ By Gus Wiliams 5 Sindbad the Sailor @ Peter Simple..............-.By Captain Marryatt 7 Pantomime Joe; or, An Orphan Boy’s Career 8 Snarleyyow; or, The Dog-Fiend...... : By Captain Marryatt & Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp 10 Poor Jack 1 Tommy Bounce—comic.............By Peter Pad 12 Shorty; or, Kicked Into Good Luck—comic.. : By Peter Pad 13 The Devil’s Diamond; or, The Fortunes of Rich- ard of the Raven’s Crest 14 Shorty in Luck—camic ..By Peter Pad 15 Dick Dauntless, the Boy Privateer.By J. G. Bradley _ 16 Skinny, the Tin Peddler—comic....By Tom Teaser 17 The Marked Moccasin; or, Pandy Ellis’ Pard.. By Marline Manly 18 Gulliver’s Travels 19 Ali Baba; or, The Forty Thieves 20 The Mulcahey Twins—comic......By Tom Teaser ~21 Jacob Faithful; or, The Adventures of a Waler- MAN... .s.0eeseseeeeeesee es BY Captain Marryatt 22 The Young Engineer 23 Oliver Twist...... 24 The Image of his Father 25 The Young Sergeant. A Story of the American Revolution................By Col, Raiph Fenton or, The Search for the By Jas. D. Montague By William Carleton ...By Charles Dickens .By Horace Mayhew 28 Harry Hale 29 One of the Boys of New York; or, The Adven- tures of Tommy Bounce—comic..By Peter Pad $9 Infantry Dave, the Young Scout of the Wiider- seseeseseseeeeby Ralph Morton The Kagle j or, The Hero of the Regi- MENE... .ceeeseeecesseceseeee bY Philip Murdock The Pirate Doctor; or, The Extraordinary Career ofa New York Physician $3 Cavalry Jack at Champion Hill..........-.--.+ : By Col. Ralph Fenton $4 The Pirate Chief; or, The Cutter of the Ocean ; aS By an Old Salt $5 The Smugglers of St. Malo..By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. 86 Little Mac, the Boy Engineer....By Ralph Royal 87 Josephine; or, The Lady of the Gulf..........-. By J. H. Ingraham 88 Sea-Dog Charley; or, the Adventures of a Boy HeyOir ccs cncheswepaskeccces 3 By Cap Phil Jordon 55 The Boss Boy. By the Author of ‘Teddy O’Lyun” 66 Shorty, Junior; or, The Son ofhis Dad—comic ~ 5 By Peter Pad 47 The Pirate Schooner.,........By J. H. Ingraham 68 The Gold Hunters; or, The Search for the’ _- Mountain Mine................By George Fenn 69 The Pirates of America........By J. H. Ingraham 60 The Pirate Cutter............By Midshipman Easy 61 The Black Pirate { : s 62 Union Dick. the Yankee Spy..By Philip Murdock 63° Will Wamies; or, The Freaks and Fortunes of a ' Newsboy : 64 The Potomac Detective..........By Ralpl Morton 65 The Sea-King 66 Life in the Red Brigade 67 Billy Bo’swain 68 Mulligan’s Boy—comic............By Tom Teaser 69 The Wild Robber 70 Goldburn, the Girl Guerrilla . By Morris Redwing 71 ane Light-house Murder; or, The Inyisible eauty 72 Daring Davy, the Boy Rifleman..by Ralph Morton 73 The Pirates of the Shoals......vy J. H. Ingraham 74 The Robbers of the Rhbine:.......by Colonel Blood 75 Jack Harkaway’s School-days 76 Harkaway Afloat 77 Harkaway Among the Savages 78 Harkaway’s Escape i 79 Harkaway at Oxford 80 Harkaway and the Black Band $1 Harkaway and the Brigands 82 Harkaway and the Spy 83 Harkaway Trapped 84 Harkaway and the Italians; or, The Brigand’s Doom 85 Dick Lightheart at Sea 86 Dick Lightheart Around the World 87 Dick Lightheart in London 88 Dick Lightheart’s Victory 89 ae meus of Mystery; or, Adventures Under the Sea 90 Detective Danor, The Irish Ferret.by D. O'Sullivan 91 Joe Ready; or, By the Side of General Scott.. by Richard R. Montgomery 92 Cavalry Jack at Murfreesboro. By Col. Ralph Fenton 93 A Sword For a Fortune......By Horace Appleton 94 Union Dick iy the Rebel Camp.By Philip Murdock 95 Yankee Rob, The Young Scout of the Rap- pahannock.......++--+----e-- BY Ralph Morton 96 Dick Mizzen; or, The Cruise of The “ Corsair ”” By Richard R, Montgomery 97 Union Dick in the Seven Days’ Fight......... By Philip Murdock 98 Cavalry Jack in the Swamps. By Col. Ralph Fenton 99 Daddy Durge, the Old Man of the Dead-House: or, The Ghouls ef Paris.......By Walter Fenton 100 Union Dick and the Guerrilias.. By Philip Murdock 101 Bul] Run Bob; or, The Rebel’s Bride. A Thril- ling Story of the Old Dominion. By Ralph Morton 102 Battting for Glory; or, The Unionists of Tenes- S€€.......-..+..---- By Richard R. Montgomery 108 The Young Recruit......../.....By Ralph Fenton 104 The Rival Spies; or, The Fall of Vicksburg.... y Percy B. St. John 105 The Boy Swordsman; or, The Mysteries of the Catacombs......-..++.--.... By Perey B. St. John 106 Ben Breeze; or, A Boy and His Banjoand Their Journey Around the World. -By J. R. Scott 107 Cavalry Jack; or, The Scout atShilol......... By Cel. Ralph Fenton 108 The Young Artilleryman; or, Between Life Sebatens seceseeeeees By Hal, Standish ; or, A Boy in Business:..... By Author of * Through Fire and Water,” efg 110 Topmast Tom; or, The Buccaneer’s Secret.... By Alexander Arinstrong 111 Bayonet Bill; or. The Nemesis of the Battle- field. A Thrilling Romance of Stone River ~ : By Ralph Morton 112 Dick the Lion-Hunter; or, Adventures on the African Coast.......By Richard R. Montgomery 113 Sherman’s Drummer Boy..By Col. Ralph Feuton 114 Stars and Bars; or; The Rebel Conscript. A Thrilling Story of the War in Georgia....... ~ By Capt. Phil Jordon 115 Charge for the Flag; or, The Color-Bearer of Shiloh............2-e+.0-2-+--By Percy B. St. John 116 Red, White and Blue; or, Two New York EM * in the Northern Army.........By Ralph Morton 117 On Board the Merrimac; or, The Adventures of @ Boy Tarin the War of the Revolution...... By Percy 8. St. John 118 Black Horse Tom; or, The Young Cavalryman of the South................-.By Ralph Morton 119 Jack Harkaway and His Son's Adventures’ Around the World 120 Harkaway and His Son Homeward Bound 121 Jack Rushton; or, Alone in the Pirate’s Lair ' By the Author of ‘Gentleman George”? 122 On and Off the Stage; or, Which Was Right? 123 The Bush Boys......... .. By Captain Mayne Reid 124 The Rival Schools: Their Fun, Feuds and ~ Frolics ‘ Ae ad Slee ee al ell a A re ee ee eee ee ee ee | Ee 125 Frank the Fisherboy; or, Perils on Land and SOB. cccccecsccccevccees-e---by Charles E. Pearce 126 Young Tom Rodman........... By J. A. Maitland 127 Shorty, Jr., on His Ear; or, Always on a Rack- et—comic..........By the Author of ‘‘Shorty ” 128 Fred Spangle; or, The Life of a Strolling Play- er 129 The Young Tragedian 180 Clarence Rhett; or, The Cruise of a Privateer By Ned Buntline 131 Paddy McGroarty; or, The Drammer Boy of the Irish Brigadé..............-By Philip Allison 132 Brian the Brave; or, The Hero Minstrel Boy... By Dennis O’Sullivan 133 Yank, Shank & Co., Yorkers....By Harry Enton 134 Master of Himself; or, A Boy’s Fight in the World.,....... .---+...By Commodore Ah-Look 135 Jim Jams; or, Jack of All Trades—comic...... By the Author of ‘‘Skinny, the ‘Tin Peddler? 136 The Boy Bohemian; or, The Adventures of a Young Reporter.............By Philip Alison 187 The Mysterious Messenger; or, The Secret of the Three Black Stars..........By Hart Barnard 188 Burt, the Detective; or, A Sleuth-Hound on the Track............By Police Captain Howard 189 ‘'12;” or, Traeked to Death 140 The Young Ventriloquist 141 Denver Dick; or, The Mystery of the Treasure Mountain..........By Corporal Morgan Rattler 142 Dick Daring, the Bareback Rider 143 Gypsy Blanche 144 The Boy Clown; or, The Star of the Pantomime By Harrigan & Hart 145 Three Yankee Chums; or, Dr. Dodd’s Explor- ing Expedition.......By Commodore Ah-Look 146 Unlucky Tom—comic A 147 Lathy; or, The Funny Adventures of a Thin Boy—comic 148 The Sea Fiends 149 Under the Ocean 150 Andy Handy; or, The Boy Jim Fisk Started in Dille Bisavacesccvsevace ....-By Col. Blair 151 Red Leary, the Bill-Poster; or, The Murder on the Pier... y Col. Robert Lennox 152 Daniel Boone, the Hero of Kentucky 153 Hale and Hearty; or The Boys of Columbia COlEZC.....++.000--22---- BY Tittlebat Titmouse 154 Tim of the Mail-Train; or, Steel to the Last.... - e By Hart Barnard 155 Out With Stanley; or, Young America in At- TICA. eeecescccencecceeses ese by COl, James Bigir 156 Mad Maurice; or, The Crazy Detective ......- By Dennis O’gullivan 157 Shorty and the Count; or, The Two Great Un- mashed—comic.....By the Author of ‘t Shorty *? 158 The Wharf Boys of New York 159 Big Silas 160 Nip and Flip; or, Two of a Kind—comic...... By the Author of “ Skinny, the Tin Peddler ”” 161 The Four Jacks; or, The Dog Detective..... : By}Paul Turk 162 The Miser of Harlem; or, The Old House by the Bridge..............By Col. Rob rt Lennox 163 Young Harkaway and the Pirates 164 Harkaway’s Triumph 165 Harkaway on Magic Island 166 Ferret, the Little Detective 167 The Man of Many Faces 168 Harkaway’s Peril 169 Harkaway to the Rescue 170 Harkaway, the Magician 171 Reckless Rob; or, The Mystery of Palm [sland By Ralph Kamble 172 Luke Lander, the Lion Hunters.or, The Boy Adventurers in Africa ....By Col. J. M. Travers 173 Rob Rattler, the Scapegrace.By Col. J. M. Travers ° 174 The Dwarf King; or, The Adventures of Harry Blulf....00++.0++e000+-e--.By Ool. J. M. Travers 175 The Gallant Middy; or, Captured by Pirates,. By Richard R, Montgomery 176 Harkaway the Avenger 177 The Rival Crusoes.......... 178 Harkaway in Australia 179 Harkaway and the Convicts 180 Harkaway and the Bushrangers 181 Chased Around the World 182 The Detective’s Mistake 183 Chips and Chin Chin—comic.........By Peter Pad 184 Chips and Chin Chin Among the Mormons—.. : COMIC. <<... sc00eseesesceseosee~ BY Peter Pad 185 Chips and Chin Chin’s Adventures with the Indjans—Comic.....++.-0+-+e+e+++ BY Peter Pad reer rer By Harry Ainsworth
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7 THE FIVE CENT WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY---Continued. 186 Chips and Chin Chinin Omaha—comic....... By Peter “Pad 187 Chips and Chin Chin in St. Louis—comic..... By veter Pad 188 Chips and Chin Chinin New York—comic.... ° By Peter Pad 189 Jack Hawley 190 ‘The Two Boston Boe 191 Frank Martin, the Young Rajah 192 The Mao atl Apprentice 193 The Charmers and the Charmed 194 The Red Circle 195 The Nemesis; or, Tracked to their Doom 196 Tom Trump 197 The Boy Pilot 195 Satan’s Tree 199 The Sehool on Wheels 200 A Lightning Flash 201 The Mystery of a Minute 202 Bound te Be An Actor 203 Mountain Tom, the Rebel Raider.........+... by Morris Redwing 204 The Mystery of the Red River 205 The Masked Messenger 206 The Prairie Phantom........----By Hl. C. Emmet 207 The Young Engineer 208 Fighting Against Odds 209 Harry Halsey 210 Donnell O’Gig 211 Mustered Out at Fredericksburg. A Tragic Romance of War....by Richard R. Montgomery 212 Kilpatrick's Charge; or, The Terrors ofthe War By Richard R. Montgomery 213 The Dare-Devil Detective 214 Game to the Death 215 Kickapoo Joe 216 The Struggle for a Mine 217 Stump; or, * Little, But, Oh, My!”—comic 218 Stump at $chool—comic 219 Stump at Sea—comic 220 Stump and Jack Hawser—comic 221 Stump’s Rackets Below Decks—comic 222 Stump and His Chums Homeward Bound—comic 223 Three of a Kind—comic 224 Adventures of Charlie, Mike and Don—comic 225 Thirteen 226 The Brotherhood of Death 227 Tricks; or, Traveling with a Variety Show 228 Under the Gallows 229 Adrift on a Floating Island 230. Fred Hazle 281 Shot in the Dark 232 Doonie Crandall 233 Meta, the Girl Crusoe 234 Teddy Doyle 235 A Trip to the Center of the Earth 236 Drifting Harry 237 Rory, the Smasher 238 An Irish Boy’s Luck 239 Oey Miles Away; or, Sheridan’s Ride to FaG see ee eee seseeeesee by COl. Ralph Fenton 240 Reard anna Musket; or, The Young Trooper's PYIZE sv... cceoveesecseveese DY Percy B. St. John 241 Tornado Tim 242 The Boy Avenger 243 Jack, the Joker 244 The Irish Robber’s Apprentice 245 Fighting His Wa: 246 A Knight of the 247 Fritz the Tumbler 248 Iron-Knuckled Ted 249 Dare-Devil Dick 250 The Dock-Boy of New York 251 Captain Cartouche 252 The Gipsy Boy's Vengeance 253 The Boy Miners 254 Water-Duck Jim 255 The King of the Swimming Gang 256 The Flying Ship of the Pacific 257 The Adventures of Harry Franco 258 Cripple Charley 259 The Adventures of Two Tramps 260 uncer Jimmy 261 The B) aeksmith’s Apprentice 262 Jumping Joe 263 Jack Gordon 264 Mat McCarthy’s Fortune 265 London Bob—comic 266 An English Boy in America—comic 267 Scotty the Terrier 268 Philadephia Dave 269 Billy the Boxer 270 Cadger Con 271 The False Detective 272 Highfalutin’ Jim 273 Charley Lance 274 A Search for a Missing Man 4 Commodore Rip-Rap 278 Teddy O’Lynn 277 The Shadow Ship 8 Lone Jack 279 Blue Grass Bob 280 The Wild Rider of Old Kentuck 281 Shoo-Fly; or, Nobody’s Moke—comic 282 Shov-Kly at School—comic 283 Shoo-Fly u pare come e 284 Shoo-Fly the Gymnast—comic 285 Shar’ then! the Young Robber of the West 286 Dashing Bob 287 Johnnie Burgoo 288 Rewiable Joe 289 The Yankee Claude Duval 290 Midshipman Ned 291 The Ornise of the Old Ironsides 292 Jack Feeney 298 The Young Trish Brigana 294 Lance, the Lion 295 Tipton Blue 296 Po ME Easy Ned rush 297 True Blue; or, Right.at Last 298 That Boy of Ours 299 ‘Lom on His Muscle 300 Bob Short; or, One of Our Boys comic 801 Percy of the Strong Arm 302 Jack Manly; or, On the Trail 303 The Freebooters of California 804 Captain Merrick and His Rangers 805 Nero. the Hunchback ‘ 306 The Bell-Ringer of Trinity 307 Harry Harley 308 ‘The Arctic Queen 309 Harry Fitzroy $10 The Heart of Oak $11 The School on the Sea 312 The Golden Island 313 Among the Savages 314 The Specter Schoolboy, and other stories 315 The Headsman of Old London Bridge 316 Harold Forrester 817 Mat o’ the Mist 318 Eveline Duke $19 Mark Bradley 320 Driven to the Sea 321 Routing the Redskins 822 Tom Fox 323 Adventures of a Philadelphia Detective $24 Richard Savage 825 The Mystery of a Misspent Life 326 Double-Six 327 The Dominoes of Death 328 Gipsy Bess $29 The Queen of the Highway 830 Rodolf, the Traitor 831 The Boy Cavaliers $32 Young Captain Kidd 333 The Secret of Wizard Lake $34 The Prairie Witch 835 The Hunters of the Silver Trail 336 Traveling With Barnum $37 Three Dashing Hussars 338 Pat O’Corker; or, Always to the Front $39 The Diamend Eye 340 Jack of the Naval Brigade 841 The Zulu’s Daughter 842 The Haunted House at Deadman’s Corner 343 Sir Guy's Secret #44 The Fortunes ofap Acrobat $45 For the Green Flag of Old Ireland 846 Kathleen O’Shaughnessy 347 tom the Midshipman 348 Out With Captain Cook 349 Every Inch a Sailor 850 Ralph, the Light Dragoon 351 The Brothers in Arms 352 Jack of Cheapside 853 The Green Banner of Islam 854 The Oolonel’s Daughter 355 Walter’s Secret 356 The Outlaws of Berkeley Forest + 357 Redspear the Outlaw 358 The House of a Hundred Terrors 359 Oswald, the Unknown 360 Adventures of a Free Lance 861 The Treacherous Knight 862 Young Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker 363 Tinker’s Man Bogey 364 Young Harkaway in Spain 865 Young Harkaway in Turkey 366 Mole Among the Mussulmans 367 Young Harkaway and the Arabs 368 Young Harkaway and the Ceunterfeiters 369 The Secret of the Traitor Gate 370 The Waif of the Tower 371 Ralph Wildhawk 872 The Brigand Chief 373 Marco Bravo 374 Zara, the Gipsy 375 The Servian Spy 876 Sword and Cimeter 37; Adam Bell = 378 The Archers of Inglewood - 379 The Knight of the Red Cross 380 Jack-o’-the-Cudgel 331 Croquard, the Free Lance 882 The Fair Maid of Kent 383’ Dick the Brewer $4 The Oxford and Cambridge Eight 885 The Wild Huntsman 886 Tom Mansfield, the Smuggler 387 The Sunken Treasure 888 The Slave’s Reyenge $89 Cris Carrol, the Scout 890 Phil Rayleigh, a London Arab $91 The Knigiit of the Iron Hand 392 Tom Lester 893 Bicycle Bob 394 Mark Darrell 895 Oscar Merivale; or, the Forger’s Victim. 396 Tom Oakland 397 The Mad Alchemist; or, Dees Unfolded.. By Dr. H. M. Jordan 898 Worm, thé Pittsburg Detective. By An Old Netectave 399 Rob Racket, the Scourge of the Cowboys 400 Gipsy Dick; or, Born a Detective......... By Seth Huntington 401 The Red River Pilot ...........by Paul Braddon 402 Catana, the Robner’s Daughter. By Seth Huntingdon 408. Detective Sket S....by A New York Detective 404 The Boy Scouts of the Sierras. by Seth Huntingdon 405 The Heir of Longworth 406 A Ghostin the Mirror, and other stories......-. by Allyn Draper 407 Strange Stories PEM nie aot Teste Soe y Dr. R. Jackson and Orrin Goble 408 The Skeleton’s Legacy; or, The ay of the TRIENG Otc cscceetes nese by Col. J. L. Trueman 409 The Pirate’s Son...............by J. T. Brougham | 476 stuttering ‘Sam—comic | 410 The Young Revenue Detective; or, Among the & Moonshiners............-. by a Retired Detective ; 411 Little Hall, the Boy Engineer. By Capt. Will Dayton 412 Captain Hurricane; or, The Waif of the Wreck By Allan Arnold 413 ORM Ted, A True Stor J of Life on a Saemees By J. M. Bradon 414 The Ghost of Paul Priestly; or, “The Mystery of Haggard Hollow....... . BY James Grsenwocd 415 The Cruise of the Beauty..By Captain Will Dayton 416 Joe Jordan, the Young Inyentor 417 Ebenezer Grow—comic 418 “harley Charlton, the Young Ree ouare ravers 1m Africa y J. L. Freeman 420 Stuttering Mose; or, The Old Scout of the Rey- yO 419 Gorilla George; or, A New York Boy olut’on. ..By General J. L. Johnston 421 The Kingdom in the Sea........By J. G. Bradley 422 Lighthouse Lem; or, The Mystery of Pead- man’s Reef.... Tern -.- By an Old Sea Captain 423 The Search for Mii das’; or, Treasures From the Deep..... + BY Gerald Fleming 424 The Young Explorers......By Capt. Will Dayton 425 Little Nugget, the Pride Of Leadville. .....cc.. By Major J. Anderson 426 The Young Aeronaut..........By Professor Wise 427 The voy Trapezist..... .By a Former Professional — 428 Prairie Phil; or, The Panther of the Platte.... By Harry Rockwood 429 The Green Caps...... ....... By a U.S. Detective 430 Hollow Roost; or, The Traitor Guide......... By Morris Redwing 431 The Grimsda’s Ghost, and other tori 1esstevivess By a Physician 482 Lost in Africa; or The Adventures of Two Young Castaways......By Samuel T, Johnston 483 Denver Dan and His Mystic Band..By “ Noname 434 Shorty in Search of His Vad—comic. By Peter Pad 435 The Blasted Pine; or, Three Boy Scouts...... By Capt. Will Dayton 436 Denver Dan and the Road Agents. By ‘‘ Noname” 437 The Freebooter’s Secret.,......By J.T. Brougham 438 Sawdust Charlie, the Pet of the Ring......... By an Old Ringmaster 439 Denver Dan and the Counterfeiters.By ‘* Noname ” 440 Cavalry Jack at Corinth.....By Cot. Ralph Fenton 441 Ned Owen; or, The Mysteryofa Missing Ship. By Capt. Will Payton 442 Denver Dan Outwitted; or, The Outlaw’s Tri- Tian s Waseeceaseces BY Noname? 443 The | Birdie of Gold: “or, “The sete halas Daughter,.:.....0.++++.-...By Morris Redwing 444 The Treasure Cave; or, Run to Karth By a Trayeler 445 Denver Dan, the Sheriif..... ssae..-By “ Noname”? 446 Long Paw, the Mysterious Kunter..By Kit Olyde 447 A Yankee Boy in Africa......By Percy B. St. John 448 Black and Blue; or, Nick Wharton onthe War- DAthivteerves ye «+.....--By Harry Rockwood 449 Ivan and Ismail; or, “Scouts of Pleyna.+....0s by Don Jenardo 450 Denver Dan’s Peril; or, The Outlaw’s Ruse.... by ‘*Noname * 451 Sir Rufus the Rover; or, the Pirates’ Island.. by Richard R. Montgomery 452 The Russian Spy.............-by a U.S. Detective 453 The Creole Brothers....by Colonel J. M. Travers 454.The Castaways; or, The White King of the AtlantiCz. sesessiseeses Don Jenardo 455 Denver Dan to the Rescue; ‘or, The Mountain eer’s Stratagem.,......+-+-..-.-.By ‘‘Noname’? 456 Condemned; or, Number 709.......... By Richard R. Montgomery * 457 The Wolf of the Waves. A Tale of the Pi- rates of Old...........By Alexander Armstrong 458 Billy Bangs’ Schooldays...By Captatn Will Da ton 459 The Mad Doctor.... ........-...By Paul Braddon 460 Zola, the Ola Trapper’s Daughter.By R. T. Emmet 461 The Shortys’ Trip Around the World—comic By Peter Pad 462 Locomotive Bill, the Giant Engineer... Cugeuee By Samuel Keene 463 Buifalo Bill’s Ghum......By Colonel Ral hn Fenton 464 Denver Dan and His Chums.......B. oname ” 465 The Old Magician.....By Corporal organ Rattler 466 The Unknown Scout,.....+.-....--By Zeke Baxter 467 The Brother's Crime, -By Percy B. St, John By J. T. Brougham --By Paul Spry 470 Tumbling Tim; or, h a Circus— MIC. cerrccvccecsevecsscevevsresssby Peter Pad tain; or, The Struggle. of Des- perate Mons. 3eeees ces --By Allyn Draper 72 The Picador of Chapultepec......By Don Jenardo 473 The Lost Island; or, The Cruise of the ‘‘ Caro- line’’.. +++. By Colonel J. M. Travers 474 “275” or, The House of Many Doors.. B Philip Murdock 475 The eae fea Brothers; or, The Chase of a Sea- 80 Sone feceeaedentecatat BYwii ty OLYOO sasbeseeseet DRL CLL AG 477 The Mad Hunter; cr, The Mystery of the Bea- VEY DANY. 000% sensesesee “hed Gro Will Dayton 478 Persimmon Bill; or, tle Red Cross of the Cheyenne, .....seeeeeeeereesee++By Don Jenarao 479 Young Lynx, the ‘Amateur Detective......... By Philip Murdock 480 Buck Bidwell, the Box Slayer of the Pawnees,, _~ y Lieutenant BE. H. Kellogg 481 Toby, ne Spy; or, The Sansa Conspirators of Par’ sececessevees By & Parisian Detective 482 The Phantom OL the WAVES rcv ssenseccocesmpes h.- By Alexander Armstrong 483 Denver Dan in New York.........By “Noname” 484 ey Bounce, Jr.; or, A Chip of the Old Block—Comic. ...+.+.s-++« +eseees. DY Peter Pad 485 W ale Ashore; or, Adventures in a Strange «+... BY Harry Rockwood 486 chatile ‘Chubbs at College, By Captain Win Dayton
Page 30
: Oy. THE FIVE CENT WIDE AWAKE LIBRARY ---Continued. 487 The Irish Clande Duval.By Corporal Morgan Rattler 488 The Twin Boy Scouts........By Percy B. St. John 489 eae eather Jack; or, Life in the Arctic Re- gion seencceseccvecsoveceby Albert J. Booth 490 Sanaris “Aide. By Capt, Geo. Granville (U.S. A.) 491 Old Fox; or, The Mystery of the Trunk........ By a Parisian Detective 492 The Old Thirteen; or, The Union League of Charleston. PES aes cS C BY, Morris Redwing 493 Silvershot, the Sport from Poy By Kit Clyde 494 The euens Slayer; or, The Terror of the Chip- pew: Miosccuvecascevectectes By J. G. Bradley 495 The Trish ‘Claude Duval QS & Rebel....-.-.sse0 By Corporal Morgan Rattler 496 Astray in the Clouds......By a Retired Aeronaut 497 The Shortys Married and Settled Down—a sequel to all the Shorty stories—comic..... By Peter Pad 498 The Tree of Death.....s........By an Old Trapper 499 The Twin Detectives; or, True to een Other. By Ralph Royal 500 William Tell, the Dead Shot of the West....... By Harry Enton 601 Trapper Duke; or, The pens Avenger...... By James D. Montague 562 Leon the Outlaw; or, The Avenger ofthe Death PASS. ...-s+seceessseeeee-BY James D. Montague 503 Tommy Bounce, Jr., in Se Es By Peter Pad 604 Around the World; or, Fighting LORWilieece ess By Harrigan & Hart 505 Ont With the “‘Jeannette;” or, Two Years : “ana Icebergs...... +. eBY a Herald Reporter 506 Oaptain H. €. Emniet ‘om Drake; or, The gone Privateers By 607 Fred Ford; or, Life at Boarding-School....... By Captain Will Dayton 508 Billy Bakkus, the Boy With the BigMouth— - COMIC... ..a0se0eee+0055.by Commodore Ah-LOok 509 Bow and Arrow Jack, the Indian Nemesis..... By Kit Clyde 610 Arctic Phil, the Bear- Slayer: of the Northern Seas seeaeseeeeeby Alex. Armstrong 611 Fred Baxter, the Wild Horse BAR ewe By J. M. Travers 512 The rookfield Bank Robbers....by D. W. Stevens 618 The order Bandits........by James D. Montague 614 The Young Sharpshooters of the Rebellion.... by Col. Ralph Fenton 516 Fighting Joe; or, The Game Man of the Plains by Kit Clyde 616 Invincible Bill. A Wonderful Story of Neva- da, California and Utah of 12 Years Ago.... by Alexander Armstrong 617 Skeleton Gulch; or, Oaptain Texas and His Band of Vultures:......0.ss000e6 «by J. R. Scott 618 The Irish Claude Duval as a Privateor......... by Corporal Morgan Rattler 519 The Wolverine; or, The Count’s Treachery. .. by a Parisian Detective $20 Ben Bolt; or, the Young Blacksmith.......... by James D. Montague 621 From Drummer Boy to General............... by Richard R. Montgomery §22 Bob Rollick; or, What Was He Born For— COMIC....++.. scaecoscevsby Peter Pad $23 Northwoods ‘Tom, ‘the ‘Athlete Hunter, by Kit Clyde 624 Only a Cabin-Boy; or, Saved by Grit.......... by Harry Rockwood 625 Astray in Africa..........+.-..-by Walter Fenton by Alexander Armstrong _ 527 Barnum’s Boy Ben......by Commodore Ali-Look a 628 The Black Mask; or, The Vow of Silence...... by T. W. Hanshew 529 Son’-west fred Po tcteioe seeeee.by Kit Clyde 630 Bob Rollick, the Yankee Notion Drummer; a sequel to ‘* Bob Rollick; or, What Was He Born For?’’—comic...... nthe by! Peter Pad 631 The Drunamer Boy Spy; or, the Slaughter of the Wilderness.,.........-...-by Ralph Morton 632 The Black Hercules......by Colonel J. M. Travers 633 Fireman Dick; or, The Pride of Number 9,... by James D, Montague 534 The Shortys. Out For Fun—comic....by Peter Pad 635 Red River Bill, the Prince of Scouts.by J. R. Scott 536 Special. Expréss Ned, the Prince of Boy En- gineers...........066-+----. by Horace Appleton 637 The Shortys? Ohristmas and New Years at Home—comic...........+-+-..+-+..Dy Peter Pad 638 Owlface, the Riyer Scourge; or, The Guerril- la’s Captive. A Romance of the War in the South-West... .+...by Captain Phil Jordon 539 The Spies of the Delaware..........by Kit Clyde 640 Denver Dan, Jr., and His Band of Deadshots.. by ““Noname” 541 Frank Reade and His Steam Man ofthe Piains; or, The Terror of the West.......by “ Noname” 642 On Deck; or, The Boy Pilot of Lake Erie...... by Howard De Vere 543 From Pole to Pole; or, The Sailor Boy Avenger by Horace Appleton 644 Dick Wright and His Band of OaUID ME gs oh by J. R. Seott 545 The Boy Captain; or, The'Search for a Missing W SES CSD. Alexander Armstrong Mishaps and Mischiefs— aeeseee- DY Peter Pad he Avenger....... by Don Jenardo 546 Pickle and omic 547 Fort Hayes; or, Black. 548 Noiseless Nat; or, Always Just Where He’s ’ Wanted. ..sceessceesenseeDY James ng Montague - 649 The Secrets Under the Sea.....-...+..by Kit Clyde 550 Lazy Jake, the Boy Spy of ae Rebellion.....° \ y Col. Ralph Fenton "BBY *Sam Sharpe at Soticals aBye Captain W Will Dayton 552 Privateer Tom—a sequel to * ote Tom Drake 1.05.0. .sssecccnecvecess DY H. C, Emme 653 Frank Reade and His Steam Horse.by ‘‘Noname ”? | 621 The Captain of the Nine; or, Aiways a Leader., 554 Billy the Bootblack; or, ‘The 7p. Card Last by Harrigan & Hart 555 The Rival Scouts..........--...---»by J. R. Scott 556 The Coral Cave; or, Paul Philip’s Cruise..... ‘ by Horace Appieton 557 The Army Scout; or, The Mysteries of the West by Kit Clyde 558 Missouri Jack and Hjs Band of “*7?.......... by James D. Montague 559 Lasso Luke; or, The Three Prairie Pards...- by Kit Clyde §60 Shady Dell School; or, Haps and Mishaps of Schoolboy Life. SLBA Dy. Captain Will Dayton 561 The re of Gold; or, Under the Shadow o1 Cri Wicaastacsstes ss by Horace Appleton 662 The Mag “Man of the North Pole; or, The Boy Mazeppa of the Arctic Seas....... cby Kit Clyae 563 Extree Nick,the New York Newsboy......-.+. By Commodore Ah-Look 664 Oath-bound; or, The Jack of Spades. By J. R. Scott 665 Ouster’s Last Shot; or, The Boy Trailer of the Little Horn..,. Nee By Colonel J. M. Travers 666 Gassy Hyde; or, The Fire- Boy Fiend of Phila- delphia...... epetbce BY. Corporal Morgan Rattler 567 Fred Hazard, the Star ef the Circus........ By Horace Appleton 568 Coonskin Kit, the Dashing Government Scout By Kit Clyde 669 Denver Dan, Jr., and the Renegade. By “Noname’”? 570 Billy Badger; or, The Mysterious Unknown of the Bank Robbers’ Band. By James D. Montague 571 The Braud of the Desert........By Walter Fenton 572 Mail-Car Ned; or, Falsely Accused.......-..- By Alexander Armstrong 573 The Maniac Pirate............By Horace Appleton 574 Smokestack Bob. the Hero of the Rail. By J. R. Scott 575 Nimble Nip; or,The Imp of the SU ate y Tom ‘Teaser 676 King Morgan, the Terror of the Sean! Sn aateeeet By Alexander Armstrong 677 The Convict’s Oath; or, The Prisoner of Van a Dieman’s Land. oN BY James D. Montague 578 The Serpent Queen; or, The Ae sh the Riders of Georgia.....s..seeseeees +e By Kit Clyde $79 The Fortune Hunters; or. Two Yankee Boys in Australia.........-.-..By Alexander Armstrong 680 The Fatal Star.........-.....8y Horace Appleton 581 The Bootblack’s Plot; or, The Mystery of a Night........e00s soccsceee BY J. R. SCOtt 682 Huron Harry; or, The Haunted SKM ese loe By James D. Montague 583 Doomed; or, The Secret ei of Boston.... By James D. Montague 584 The Maniac Rider; or, The Mystery of Hawkes- wood Grange.......++.---+-By Horace Appleton 685 The Gypelens Den. A Story of the Romany RACO, ccccsecceccvcee seceesene--sby Kit Clyde 586 Matt Cuetrys er, The Life 07 the School. .... By Captain Will Dayton 587 The Phantom Avenger; or, Dick Darling in.. Montana..... Ref ALBY Alexander Armstrong 588 Hugo, the Texan; or, The Demons of the Alamo By J. R. Scott 589 Lost on the Desert; or, the Guide’s Treachery By James D. Montague 590 The Avengers’ League.» .-.ses0- ...By “*Noname ” 691 The “Sea Wave's’? Last Cruise; or, The Pi- TALES’ CAVE... sccesccesscensss cee BY Kit Clyde 592 Cromwell's Boy Spy; or, The Roundheads and the Oayalierseeere, .-..-By Horace Appleton 698 The Pirate Hermit; or, The Waifs Legacy...... By Alexander Armstrong 594 Dick the Shadow; or, The ah ITS Trails of the Backwood.. ccecceesceoes bY Je R. SCOtt 595 Fighting the Reds! 5 or, Beaver Bis Last Trail .-...By James D. Montague 596 ane Black Dor The Jailer of the Tow- 597 Wrank. Reade and His Steam Tea 598 Cheeky and Chipper; ory Through Thick and Thin—comic......-...-By Commodore Ah-Look 599 Dead Man’s Pond; or, The Black Demon of the Sierras ...............-..-By Horace Appleton 690 ‘The Tiger of the Seas; or, Ferced to bea Pirate By Alexander Armstrong 601 Harry O’Malley, the Young Irish Invincible... By Sergeant O’Donnell 60. Arkansaw Bill, the Indian Spy...... By J. R. Scott 603 The King of the Deep.......--++-+---By Kit Clyde 604 Little Death Shot; or,The Gold- ater, ‘8 Ghost By James D. Montague 605 The Magic Mirror......-...---.--By Don Jenardo 606 Old Rube, the Ranger.......-.. .-..-bBy J. R. Scott 607 Frank Reade and His Steam Tally- se ioasqecns y ‘‘Noname” 608 Out with Barnum...By fentenane om H. Kellogg 609 Storm King Dick; or, The Oe Adventurers... y Captain Will Dayton 610 Frank Durham, the King Hf the Cowboys.... By K Kit Clyde €11 Hildebrandt Fitzgum; or, My Quiet Littie Cou- SiIN—COMIC........00eeeseeeeeee++by TOM Teaser 612 Si Swift, tae Prince Of TTAPPeTS.«2.c.ssces 00 ky James D. Montague 613 The Hyena Hunters; or, Inthe Wilds of Africa By Harry Rockwood 614 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Fatal Oath...... By Alexander Armstrong 615 The Young Fenian Chief 616 Among the Crocodiles; or, Adventures in India By Harry Rockwood 617 Lance and Lasso; or, The Young Mustangers of the Plains.... -.By Marline Manly Z «By Kit Clyde 619 The Shortys Out Fishing—comi ....-By Peter Pad 620 Coal Mine Tom; or, Fighting the Molly Ma- QUITES........eceeeeeeeee- BY SET GCant oO By Harry Rockwood 622 Sassy Sam; or, A Bootblack’s aries Around the World—comic..... .By Commodore Ah-Look 623 Young Putnam; or, Always to the Front....... By Harrigan & Hart 624 aN or, The Mountain Queenie Venge- eteecccesesece -..-- By Morris Redwing §25 Frank Reade, It. “and His Steam Wonder... By *Noname’”? 626 ee Spy of ‘776; or, The Green Mountain tes WevescesdvessDY clUOlyde 627 Frank: Reade, In, and Ais Electric BOat...+-- By Nonaine ’? 628 Ghouls of Gilt Edge..........By Harry Rockwood 629 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Adventures With His Latest Invention........4...BY * Noname”? 630 The Shortys Out Gunning—comic....By Peter Pad 631 Frank Reade, Jr., and his Air Ship.By **Noname’”? 632 The Young Boy Chief; or, povenianes in the Far Westicsscatestee .-. By Captain Will Dayton 633 Frank Reade, Jr.’s Marvei........By ‘*Noname” 634 Lhe Lighthouse on the Rock... «....By Kit Olyde 635 Sassy Sam Sumner—a sequel to Sassy Sam— COMIC........-----++ee- By Commodore Ah-Look 6386 The House of Horrors..... By James D, Montague 637 The hen of the Northwest.By Alexander Armstrong 638 The Captain's Secret; or, The Wreck of the SCTBISY 2s iecccssscccessvocceccesvea bY KIS Olyde 639 Among the ATADETEIM seiko es ..By Don Jenardo 640 Garry Galore; or, The Adventures of a Wild Irish Boy at Home and Abroad...... ...-- By Corporal Morgan Rattler 641 Cast Up by the Waves.........By Alex. Armstrong 642 The Shortys Farmng—comic. «see. BY Peter Pad 643 Under the Ground; or, The Wild Man of the Cavern. The ‘Strangest Story Ever ‘Told. By Harry Rockwood 644 Yankee Pete, the Man of Grit...........- By James D, Montague 645 ‘Hotspur Harry; or, The Texan Trailers ...... y Alex. Armstrong 646 Buckskin Burke; or, The Cache of Gold....... By Kit Clyde 647 Gucrias, snd Regulars; or, The Cost of Inde- penden seeeee DY Col, Ralph Fenton 648 The YEIET of Dead Man’s Gastle....sseeseee By James D. Montague 649 Mad Pete; or, a Feartul Retribution. By Leon Leroy 650 Olfona Man: of-War......By Major Walter Wilmot 651 Frank Reade, Jr., in the Clouds....By ‘* Noname?? 654 The Boy Pedestrians; or From California to M@ine......cccceee perry Jas. D, Montague 653 Trapper Against Renegade; or, Life on the Plalnsscisievecesiccevesere Senses BY Kit Clyde 65% vote Davy Crocket; or, The Hero of Silver GuIGh. .coveseues sovsceewceeDY Wild Bi 655 Tom Basswoed, thie Swamp Hero.By Capt. B. Park 656 A Sailor’s Diary..... sesseeees By Col. Leon Lenoir 657 Frontier Fred... 658 Tales of the W: Als sesseee 659 Wrecked on the Coast of Florida. By Zach Brewster 660 The Boy Méchanic..........By Jas. D, Montague 661 Among the Danites; or, The Price of a Life.... By Kit Olyde 662 New York Noll, the Hazbor Police Boy. ...... By Horace Appleton 663 Young Marion, the Patriot Spy of the Revolu- ti eosveeeeeee BY Ralph Morton sapere eneenene 664 Young America in Egypt; or, The Drummer Boy’s Bravery.......- By Alexander Armstrong 665 The Shortys’ Country Store—comic...By Peter Pad 666 Gunboat Harry; or, The Navy’s Best Man...... By Col, Ralph Fenton 667 Frank Reade, Jr.’s Great Electric Tricycle, and What He Did for Charity.........By ‘‘Noname Me 668 Dick Wheel, the Young Roller Skater.......... By Percy B. St. Jon 669 The Ghostly Bell Ringer......By Horace Appleton 670 Man-of-War Dick; or, Fighting for the Stars and Barg..e.ssseeece + --+-+-by Ralph Morton 671 The Shark Fighters; or, “At eo with the De- mon Fish.....-....++++....By Harry Rockwood 672 Sam, Saddle the Wild Horse Tamer ..........- By Morris. Redwing 673 The Young Arctic Explorers; or, In Search of the North Pole............ -By Harry Rockwood 674 Old One Kye, the Trapper Guide of the North- WSs a scccubeves teksedeescestnee DY seu NODaMeN? 675 A Yankee Boy in Moxico..........By Don Jenardo 676 Cast Up; or, Adventures on the Briny Deep. By J. IT. Brougham 677 Steam-boat Steve. the Boy Pilot Of the Missis- Sippi..........-.00eseeeeeee «»- BY Hal Standish 678 The Yankee ‘Boy Whaler..... -By Albert J. Booth 679 Little Mike Malloy, the Pride of the Irish Coast. By Corp. Morgan Rattler 680 Dick Twilight’s School Days............. By Captain Will ‘Dayton «By Albert J. Booth 681 Dick. the Engineer.......... 682 The Spy of the Northwest... By Jas, D. Montague 683 The Pacific Specter... By Alexander Armstrong 684 The Lost Whaler; or, Adventares of the North- Gri Seabees teri Ieee By C, Little 685 Panama Pete; or, ‘The Outlaws of the Isthmus y Hal Standish 686 Sightless Saul, theMysterious Man of Montana By ** Noname’” 687 Joseph J ump and His Old Blind aise = conte By Peter Pad 688 A Struggle for Fame; or, Fighting Against Fates. .csscsesseccesscesaeeby H, K. Shackleford 689 Jack Hawser’s Tavern—comic.....By Peter Pad 690 Black aeons Bill; or, The Hero of the Coai Min aeeeceeBYy Ralph Royal 691 A Boy With ‘Grit, ‘and How He Made His For- secseesceeeessee- By Captain Will Dayton 692 Jack | Siow aways or, Bound to be a TAvaves ‘By Howard De Vere
Page 31
= FIVE CENT 693 The Sunken City. A Tale of petals ORE; A By H. K. Shackleford 694 Royal Dick; or, Standing by His Chums...... By Hal Standish - 695 Wing and Wing; or, The Young Captain of ; the FIYAWAY .scescee en Seeeceee esos bY Kit Clyde * 696 Dick Dayit, the ‘American Boy Middy..By ©, Little 697, Frank Keade, Jr., Witn His Air- oy in Africa Bv **Noname ?? 698 Trusty Joe, the Brave Old Seout...By ‘** Noname” 699 Found at Sea; or, The Secret of a Boy’s Lite. By Hal Standish 700 Little Ned, the Leader of the School.......... ; By Oaptain Will Dayton * 701 Will o’ the Wisp; or, The Wild Man of the . COASE. . oc cececsecneescesceevecsesseby Kit Clyde | 702 Recavat Wed, the Prince of the Air.. .. by ©. Little 703 Jack, the Wrecker’ 8 Son; or, Adventures on the Coast,....re..sseseseeecseby J. T. Brougham 704 The Fire Bugs of Chicago... .by Jas. D. Montague - "06 Lighthouse No. 6; or, The Ghost of the Sea.... by Allyn Draper 706 The Wolf-Fighters; or, The Adventures of Two New York Boysin Minnesota. .< mat eae’ by Howa : 707 Railroad Larry; or, Always in on 'Time.. ‘ by Albert an Booth _ 108 Bound Together; or, The cOUne: Fire Laddies of Springdale. s.eceeesesseeeeD y Robert Lennox * 409 Two Weeks on a Wreck; or, Abandoned ih OGeaN ...cccovcseoecee eee by Hal Standish 10 The Jolly Travelers; or, “Around the World for : FUN—COMIC...sceeececssseereee---. DY Peter Pad © 711 The Haunted Pioneer; or, Fighting for Texas by ‘*Noname?? 412 Leaves From a Diary; or, A Young Clerk's 3, Downfall.......:..+++ee00e-Dy H.K. Shackleford 7138 Boone’ and the Renegade; or, Life in Ken- ; TUCK Y oes aces sepcevsesecasbe Kit Olyde - 714 Before the Mast; “Or, "N Sailor Boy's Travels in Many Seas......+.+.+++<-++- by Jas, D, Montague 415 Monaco, the Jaguar Hunter.....by Hal Standish Be 416 From. Page to Senator; or, Working his Way ag pe. secseseceese-DY H. Ky Shackleford ~~ 117 Judge Cleary’s ‘Country Coulrt—Ccoinle,........ 7 by Tom Teaser * 18 Old Rough and Ready; Os, The Heroine of Monterey... seees- Dy ** Noname ?? 119 Fire Bell Dicks or, “tue Rival Hook and Ladders by Robert Lennox 720 Kidnapped} or, Forced on a Man 0’ War... by J. G. Bradley 721 Jack 0’ the Plains; or, The Headless Mazeppa z by Paul Braddon _ 422 The Prisoners of the Castle; A Blow for Freedom. cee ncuron byed Jas. D. Montague 723 Muldoon, the Sport—comic........by Tom Teaser » 724 A Newsboy’s Trip Around the World......... ‘ by H. K. Shackleford _ 725 In Dixie; or, A War Correspondent’s Thrilling : Adventures... ...+- «by Col, Ralph Fenton : 726 The Skeleton Sentine y Lieut. BH. H: Kellogg -727 Muidoon’s Vacation—comic......by Tom Teaser 28 The Valleydale Social) Club; or Ruined by Wine by H. K. Shackleford 729 Davy ge La) Vow; or, His Last Shot for IER . 2 Vere VENZEANCC......eeeene sereseeesees «DY Kit Clyde “730 Weeping: His Word; or, “Lucky? Landy’s & PIUCK. see eececcee’ jeseseeeeDY Jas, D, Montague ' 431 Young Tom Drake; or, Bound to be & Captain By the Author of ‘Privateer Tom,’ etc., etc. © 182 gue atawg Maiden; or, Through Deadly Dan. ce big dsstvecseoeessdy. Corp. Morgan Rattler ~ 133 mie. Tstied prince; or, Two Boy Rapireis mn Alaska Sead eederecneers sec DVoden Ge Bradley 734 Pilot Boat No. 7 and ItsAmerican Boy Oaptain by Kit Clyde 785 In the Wild West; or, On The Plains With Bulfalo’ Billseessseeeseees---DY Robert Maynard “136 A Sailor Boy's Kingdom; or, Young America In the South Sew islands. by H. K. Shackleford 737 The Forest Mystery..........by Jas, D. Montague © 788 NOS Ben; or, Three Voyagers 1n the Yellow- aces seevateseeccersosby Kit Clyde 739 A Walt from the “sea; or, a from the Foam 7 y Thomas P. Murray 740 The Book Agent’s Toe oni Wetucaees DY ed? 741 Dandy kock, the Man from exas............. by D. W. Stevens PAGO Near the Gallows; or, A Ss Man's Peril by R. T. Emmet 148 Dick Daunt the Diver; or, Down Among the Sponge-Outters......sesceseseee y J. G. Bradley “144 Across the Continent on Wings; or, Frank Reade, Jr.’s Greatest Flight......by ‘‘Noname’? 745 Lost In an Unknown Sea; or, Adventures Un- ‘der the Barth... se. -by Jas. D. Moutague 746 The Shorty Kids; cr, phree Chips of Three Ola i Blocks comics... -.. Laan EEA Peter Pad k Walton Among the Cannibalss.e.e..--+« a iat pie by W. I. James, Jr 448 The Six Swordsmen; or, The Boy Oavalier.... by Richard R. Montgomery’ 749 pecs esd or, Dick Walton in the South GiivascesscocsesccsecsecesDV We I, James, Jr. 750 yrank e, Jr., Exploring Mexico in His New Ai r-Shin... b act y ‘* Noname ?) : 451 ae ee Twins The Cavaliers of Mys- bY Richard R. Montgomery 2 35 OT, Chea Revenge. ..+...-se0 752 Five Dollar p i Bory iS ae or, Travelin: for _Pleas- 758 ake: ee eB ae uveUny, Foroneredser or, The Castle on tke Teicieesuces sevecesesDy ‘+ Noname ?? Lak fi “the Champlon Bo Jumper ee young Boe Oe if It. Ke Shackleford 1656 Lite’ Jack cunns His Twenty Boy mic. aes 754 old ridge, the Yeouts Firemen...... ~ by Robert Lennox WIDE AWAESIC 757 Dick Spray; or, A Stowaway’s TBD. to Bio Fi G. Bradley 758 Barnum’s Hunters; or, Trepp Wild ‘Ants mals for the Greatest Show on Harth......° By Richard R. Montgomery 759 The Seven Masks; or, ‘The SO: City League y Percy B. St. Jou 760 Muldoon’s Night Seooh comics ty Tom Teaser 761 The Unlucky Miner; or, The Rivals for Dead Man’s Claim....... «+eee..-Dy Paul Braddon 762 Cal, the Cowboy; or, "The Young King of Las- soers seecesereee by D. W. Stevens 763 His. Birst ‘Drink; ora Country Boy’s Life in NeW YOrK.ccesscseces «by H. K. Shackleford 764 'The var’ 8 Boy Mail-Oarrier; or, Young Amer- ica In RUSSIA ........0.-ceeeeeeeeees DY O. Little 765 Trappers and Trailers; or, Battles With the ReqgiMentewey cece ge eee ees DY, “Noname ?? 766 On the Queen's Service........ ..-by J. G. Bradley 7167 Tick Tack, the Messenger Boy; or, Sharp Work for a Million...... nee DY, Robert Lennox 768 Sam Spry, the New York Drummer; or, Busi- ness Before Pleasure—comic,... we DY Peter Pad 769 A Lost Boy; or Homely Jack’s cra She at a y R. T. Emmet 770 The Black Rider, A Story of ne evolution, By Ralph Morton 7i1 A Week Above the Clouds; or, Cast Adrift in @ Balloons. ccisccce MC Raalean he Hal Standish 772 The Young Moonlighter; ‘or, An American Boy in Ireland.... ...e.sse-eee0.. 0Y J. T. Brougham "73 Dashing Del, the Knight of the Knife; or, The Maniac Father........sss0- «+e DY Paul ‘Braddon 774 Little Matt, the Pilot; or, The Perils of the LARC. ss cceceercscscsee A eee hy! Little 775 The Irish Boy Monte Cristo. eeeccccsces by Corp, Morgan Rattler 776 A Cruise Among Pirates; or, The Blue-beards of the Sea... Jo... reer) Kit Clyde “71 The Little Joker—comic.........,.by Sam Smiley 478 The Two Runaways; or, The Hardships of a Reasons ---by Hal Standish 779 The School-boys’ League; Working His Way Against Odds......... 10 sDY. Robert Lennox 780 Lucky Lal, the Newsboy; or, Climbing the Ladder of Fame....scccatecscseesees «by ©, Little 781 Lost in the Land of Snow; or, “wo American Boys in the ATCHC. 0.02006 sore. by: R. T. Emmet 782 Coal Mine Kit; or, The Mule eke of Diamond Shatft...-... ere Dy Percy B. St. John 783 The Band of 12; or, The Knighte of the Trail... by Paul Braddon 784 Mutdoon the Fireman—comic... .-by Tom Teaser 785 Diving for GOld.......-+eecees See by Kit Clyde 786 The 12 Owls; or, The Secret Band of Chicago y Paul Braddon 787 The Fire King; or, The Yankee Boy Explorer by R. fT. Emmet 788 The Boy Bank Messenger; or, Brave Bob Brad- shaw’s Secref Foe........ Sevuisewe sUS20UiILUe 789. His Last Cent; or, How Joe Dutton Made His Fortune ssvinceiscveesesss be by H. K. Shackleford 790 Born to be a Sailor; or, Bob Dare’s Life on the Waterssiits ts ticcscraeececcessDY KibCiyde 791 The Hlectric Man; ‘or, Frank Reade, Jr., in AUISUCA]IG aveccescceclsensensess es DY, “Noname ” 792 Satan; or, The Mystery ‘of Ten Years......++. by Howard De Vere 793 Those Quiet Twins—comic.,.....-..by Peter Pad 794 The Ozar’s Messengers or, The Burning of Mosco wusvoteveusss Dye Lee InMeL 795 A Soldier at 16; or, Figiting for the Union... by ©. Little 196 Teddy of the Toll Gate; oF The Man With the reen Shades..........2y Corp. Morgan Rattler 797 The Mayflower Boys; or, Life in a Yankee School....-....+seceeesee.- DY Percy B, St. Jon 798 The Young Snow Trailers; or, pig. Track, the Giant Moose Hunter...... +.---Dy Paul Braddon 799 Denny the Clown. A Story of Cireus Life in * Treland.............by Corporal Morgan Rattler 800 On the Rail; or, Perils in the Life cf a Young Engineer. tesececveeeesaby Albert J. Booth 801 3,000 Miles ona Bicycle; or, A Race Across the ~ *Gontinent.......- sevsceosceseeese DY O, Little 802 Fearless Phil; or, ihe Tero or Rugged Rift..... by Paul Braddon 803 The Shortys’ Christmas Rackets—comic...... by Peter Pad 804 Claim 4; or, The Hunchback een Pocket ‘*Noname?? 805 The Miser’s Son; or, In Search Af Hidden Go sscccecescens-soeeeDy H, K, Shackleford 806 The Waits OGMNAWVOTKives covcsteune by N: 8. Wood (The Young American. Actor). 807 Brian the Bears or, The Pranks of a Wild Trish Boy ee eee by Corporal Morgan Rattler 808 The Haunted Bell Tower; or, The Hidden Mys- LOVYVircleccccseeses sereeeesDY Percy B. St. John 809 Two years on an Island of Ice..by A Vice Booth 810 A Bootbiack’s Luck....--..-- ---by O. Little 811 Around the World in a Balloon; or, Thousands of Miles Through the Aitssesessby R. T. Emmet 812 The Fur Hunters of Winnipeg...by Paul Braddon $13 Six Weeks Under Ground...........by Kit Olyde 814 The se Boy; or, The Hero of the White NSE.... cs eesecseceseesssDY H. K. Shackleford 815 The. Electric Horse; or, Frank Reade, Jr., and His Father in Search’ of the Lost Treasure of the Peruvians.....:-seso-seeeneeDy ** Noname”? 816 Lion Luke, the Boy Animal Tamer...,..... by Perey B. St. John 817 Caritlo, the Corsair; or, The Mysterious Mon- arch of the Meaitérranean......by J. G. Bradiey 818 Fearless Phil’s Ohase........-..-by Pani Braddon #19 The Ghost of the School- Tlouse.. veseesdy CO, Little 820 The Young Avenger; or, The Knightof the Silk Maskvicss Sekse eae take eames AY: *“Noname ?? OW veeeaee 821 Up and Down; or, The Life ofan Elevator Boy by Percy B, St. John 822 Dick the Middy; or, A Bove Life on a Man-o’- War sesesccerssceveseeess- DY J. G. Bradley 823 Footlight Fred th x; or, Bound to be BASLATS: «scales oak see lees eby NGS Wood 824 A Rolling Stone; or, * Jack Ready’s Life of Fun P<OOMIC saree eae hse toss se.0---.- DY Peter Pad 825 The Secret of the Tattooed Map..by R. T. Emmet 826 Custer’s Little Dead Shot; or, The Boy Scout of the Lite Big Plorn. feta ehy tt Noname’”? $27 A Queer Race. The Story of a Strange People by William Westalt 828 Kit Carson's Boy Trapper........by Paul Braddon 829 Slippery Ben, the Boy Spy of the Revolution.. 830 Paddy Miles” Luck; or, The peel Boy Miner.. by Corp. Morgan Rattler 831 The Boy Fish; or, Little Blok the Renal eae by R. T. Emmet 832 Ben the Bowsman; or, Adventures in the Mon- . TEZUMA SWAMP... .0csececrssseerevesby CO, Little 833 The Mastodon’s Cave; ‘or, Two Wide Awake Boys in the Far West... - by Percy B. St Jolin 834 The Boy Stage Driver; or, The Hero of Rocky 8. es Fomine seek en eres bY Paul Bracdon 2S 835 From Newsboy Up; or, A New York Boy in BuSiNSS...vaseoee ese by N. S.. Wood (the Young American. “Actor) 836 Alonein the Wild West; or, A New York Boy’s Search for Buifalo Bill. paereeribyi Rk. T. Emmet 887 The Secret of the Sealed Gold Mines. by‘ Noname ” 838 Little Blondin, the Tight-Rope Walker..by ©. Little 839 xen New York to San Francisco in a Catama- VeseceeseseessesssesvossDy JONN Sherman 840 A eypHOR Jay. Gould: or, A Boy Among the Mouey Kings.... MEET H. K. Shackleford 841 Only an Errard Boy; or, Getting Up in the Ord. es ee Seen Seaby, k, 'T. Emmet 842 Jack Ready?s Scliool Scrapes—comic.by Peter Pad 848 The Ice-Boat Boys; or, Cruising on Frozen Waters in the Northwest..........by C. Little 844 Little Blind Joe; or, The Sharks of New York, by N.S. Wood (The Young American Actor) 845 Young Ironclad, the Boy Gunner.by Jolin Sherman 846 The Boy Gold Hunters; or, Young New York in California. ....sessesseeeeeeseby R, T. Emmet $47 The Shortysin the Wild West—comic.by Peter Pad 848 Billy the Bugler. A Story of Governor’s Island - and New VOrK. 2... csccce-ceccccece C, Little 849 Frank Reade, Jr.’8 Chase Through the Clouds. by *‘Noname”’ 850 A mess Boy; or, The Mystery of an Iron OMeALEEreeeete bar eee B y R. T. Emmet 851 My Friend Smith...........by Talbot Baines Reed 862 The Boy Crusoes; or, The Young Castaways of the Pacific fe... by St. George Rathborne $53 Jetty. the Tumb or, The Wonder of the og 854 ae eh und Boy; or, Through 100 Miles of Sees asecccces..cee DF O. Little 855 Frank Reade, wr, and His Electric Team..... by ‘“Noname’? 856 The Shortys’ Christmas Snapee cores Aen Sin by Peter Pad 87 Two Walfs: cr. Afloat in New York...- ecsees by N. S. Wood (The Young American ‘Actor) 858 Fearless Pliil in Dee ues or, The Tiger’s Last Plot...... syaseaDy Paul Braddon 859 A Southern Boy ‘in New York; or, Bound to Make His Money..........by He kky Shackleford 860 Steamboat Billy; or, The State-Room Secret, 861 The Boy Lion Tamers; or, Adventures in Africa 362 Out With Kit Garson, A Story of the Karly Days of Kansas........+..s-.+.-Dy R. T. Emmet 868 The Boy Samison; or, Taking Oare eee Hh C. Little 864 The Boy From New York; or, Bs Fight for Five MilliONS.........veseee- + DY Percy B. St. John 865 Smart & Co. the Boy Peddlers—Comic...... ++ by Peter Pad 866 A Chicago Boy; or, Up From ile LOW eat AK By John Sherman 367 oi fol Boy; or, Maloney After Education— soccaiseshbicee catecucienesies DY LOIN. eCaker: 868 rhe Boy Telegraph Operator; er. the Mystery of a Midnight Message-...by Go). Ralph Fenton 869 Dick Boldhero; or, The Strange Adventures of a Young Yankee Sailor.......Written by Himsett 870 Garry the Greenhorn; or, From Stowaway to SCNALorscceccccsess by Corporal Morgan Rattler 871 From Wrrand Boy to ras) or, Bound to be At the TOP... cresseeevecsessessDY KR, 1, Enimet 872 Bob Allen’s Ranch; or, A Cattle King at i7.. . by_C, Little, 8733 Behind the Scenes; or, Out with a New York Combination—Comic:....s.sssees by Peter Pad 874 A Boy Among the White Caps; or, A Victim of the Lasher ee ae ec DY: Paul Braddon 875 General Washington's Boy; or, The Youngest Soldier in the Revolution.....by. Raiph Morton 876 Pawnee Bill and the Oklahoma Boomers. ...< by Geo. W. Goode 877 Frank Reade, Jr.’s Search for aeanken Ship; or, Working for the Government,by ‘*Noname?”? 8718 Young Captain Tom Drake; or, In Search of the Pirate’s HOMe...-...cnsccoser by the Author of ‘* Gaptain Tom Drake, ” etc. 879 A Bad Boy’s Note BookK—comic......-...DY “Ed? 880 The Young Railroad Kings or, From Brake- . man to President.....+0+.DY "Col. Ralph Fenton 881 Joe Junk, the Whaler; or, Anywhere for Fun =coMmi svat aiecee ane wets eae bY Peter Pad 882 Lost on the Atlantic..........by Howard De Vere 888 Monitor Matt; or, The iant ofthe Waves, A Story of the Great Rebellion...by Ralph Morton 884 The Boy Rovers; or, The Adventures of Two) PIUCKY BOYB...cccssccsccccosocosssesDY Cy Little | 885 His Own Boss; or, The Boy Oaptain of Cat- NCAA DAKGseweueaccesceseses DY. eee B. St. Jotin ~ secen «vee eteee- DY Corporal Morgan Rattler — SEN LIBRAR Y-=--Continued.
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LATEST ISSUES OF The Great 5 Gent Wide Awake bray 886 Braving the Flood; or, The FIMCEY Fight of Two Johnstown Boys. ces by R. T. Emmet 887 Muldoon the solid Man—connic....by om Teaser 888 The Boy Star; or, From the Foouights to For- HUNG OE esos eet e eee acee y N.S. Wood 539 The Young Commander; or, A New’ ¥ ork Boy * in the Southern War,...........by Ralph Morton 89, Two in a Box; or, The Long and Short of * it—COMIC!.cs.ssecesesses cesezee by Tom Teaser 891 The Soldier’s Son; or, The Secret of the House of Hight Pines. "AStory of New York... " by ©. Little atin sam the Young Western Sport. 2s oveco.. by Pani Braddon dhe Funny Four--comic..............by Peter Pad $94 The White Queen of the inthe: or, Two Yan- : kee Boys in Mexico.............by R.'T. Emmet "895 The Deacon’s Son; or, The Imp of the Village COMIC I... te eesceeecscee---s--DY LOM Teaser 696 The Boy Slave of the Galley; or, The Mystery ofthe Treasure Ship.i... ~ by Percy B. St. Join 897 A Bad Egg; or, Hard to ie Teenie. anes by Tom Teaser 8938 Two Years With a Pirate; or, The Phantom » Ship of the Gold Coast. 2sece5s by J. G. Bradley 699 Muldeon’s Boarding House-comic.by Tom Teaser 900 The Boy Diamond King; or, The, Young : Monte Ohristo of New York..... >.-.by ©. Little 901 Ikey; or, He Never Got Left~comic. by Tom Teaser 902 The Armoret’s Son; or, The Mystery of the Tower of LONGO. ...2se00+0+ebY Allyn Draper 903 Jimmy Grimes; or, Sharp Smart & Sassy— Comes MCU Seat sree by Tom Teaser 904 Dick Getaway; or, Fighting for a Fortune. .... by Corporal Morgan Rattler 905 Tom Quick, the Averiger of the Delaware..... by R. ‘i’. Emmet ~ 906 Sam Switch the Boy Engineer; or, betes at the Bottom)...... ........... by Albert J. Booth 907 Daring’ Dave the Diver; or, The Prince of SWIMMETS. veo. escecceccecsesceccee DY O, Little 908 Sam; or, The Troublesome Foundling—comio. y Peter Pad 909 Ve Van; or, Deadly Grip and ily aDeHot disease -by Paul Braddon 910 A agack New York Boy; or, From Poverty to : Wealtlitsc.vecesdes solve cess aeeDY John Sherman 911 Foretop Tom; or, A Yankee Sailor ~ Boy Among the Malay Pirates... .« by J. G. Bradley 912 Bulger Boom, the Inventor— comic..by Peter Pad 013 Out in the Streets. A Story of High and Low Life im: New York. i.e. sess. ee by N. S. Wood (The Young American Xector). The syanp Demon; or, Lost For Two Years. by R. T. Emmet Par) Denver Dan, Jr., the Stage Driver; or, The Mystery of Golden-Gulch........by “Noname 916 Maloon's Brother Dan—comic...by Tom Teaser 917 Butfalo Bill’s*Boy Bronclio Breaker; or, The Youngest Hero on the Plains..by Paul Braddon i a1 a banen i) Pee or, From ‘Cabin: Boy to by J. G. Bradley .. by Peter Pad ‘0 Boy’s Life in a Great Uity.; -..-.by Captain Will Dayton 921 wild Bill's Be Pa ney; or, The Redskins’ . Gold Secret: ....8....00..6 by Paul Braddon 922 Mulddon’s Christmas—comic .-+-by Tom Teaser - 923 Captain Jack: the Pirate’s eee or. The Devil- Sh of the Indies............by Roger Starbuck 924 A Bad Boy at Schoc com eoeees DY “EL? 925 Mr. M¢Ginty—comic.:......2..... by Tom Teaser 926 Nas Joe, the Boy Telegraph Cite. oes by O, Tattle 927 Snppea to China; or, The Life of a Ranaway Rebethcesccs sseeeeeeee DY J. G. Bradley 928 Searoning for Stanley; or Tom Stevens* Ad- ~~ ventures in Africa:............by R. T. Emmet 929 Boarding-School; or, Sam Bowser at Work » “and Play—comic.....sesesses000+-DY Veter Pad 930 Young Magic; or, The Boy with a Charmed Life... feeeee-sees--esee++-essby Panl Braddon 931 Muldoon Out West—comic........ by ‘Tom ‘Yeaser 932 The Boy Treasure Hunters; or, eared for Lost: (MONGY.icssisesesecessees by John Sherman $33 Senator Muldoon—comic......../.by Tom Teaser. 934 Sam Johnson, the Negro Detective, by Harry Kane 935 Frank Reade, Jr., in the Far West; or, The. . Search for a Lost Gold wat seedy. se SEED ” 936 The Waif of Mystery Island; or, The Adven- tures of a Boy Who Was- Kida: apped...... by Roger Starbuck 937 The Mystery of the Sealed Door; or, The Old- est House in New York...+....- y R. T. Eypme 938 islund No. 7; or, The Pirates of Lake Michigan by Geo. W. Goode 939 Our Landlord; or, Lifei in Frénch Flats—comic by Peter Pad 940 From Jockey to Judge; or, The Boy Who Was” > Always Ahead....+.+-0++.+++eee+e 2 sD¥ C, Little 941 Alone in New York; or, Ragged Rob the News- | boy.by N.S. Wood (The Young American Actor) 942 The Boy Express Messenger; Or, Fighting the Train Robbers.........- veces DY John Sherman 943 Next Door; or, The Irish Twins—comic...... by Tom Teaser 944 The Limbless Hunter; cr, Si SLaare Revenge y Roger Starbuck 945 The Bay in Red; or, The ‘Goar'e Y Masked Mes- BOYLET ec vescecseeccaecsccees DY R. T. Emmet 946 Adrift in’ the Antarctic; or, Two Years on a Continent of Ices... ........--+---.--by C. Little 947 The Aldermen Sweeneys of New ee ce by Tom Teaser 948 Pawnee Bill; or, The White Chief's First War Trail. see. ce ecsccectsscecesss Dy Paul Braddon 949 ais Boy § Sbowman; or, A Circus Manager at seeccccereseceeee «--D¥ John Sherinan 950 ap Top. Teddy. the’ Young Foretopman; or, ‘our Years Before the Mast.....by J. G. Bradley 951 Mrs. Brown’s Boarding-House—comic........ by Peter Pad 952 The ie Sheriff, or, The LL LUE. of Peco VANECY. sc ceccscsecererceccesesseby KR. T. Emmet #53 The Buried Gold “Ships or, The Sailor. Boy’s GNOSh. cc cce-cerccces evssoee-. DY C. Little 954 Our Future President; or, The Oak That Came From the Acorn—comic.......++.- by Peter Pad 955 General Crook’s Boy Gnide; or, The Great Indian Fighter's Black Hills Trail. ssc. cee ; by Paul Braddon 956 Three Yankee Boys in Africa; or, The Giants Of thé CONGO, ..e.eeeeeeeee DY Percy B. St. John 957 The Boy Surveyor; or, Running Out a Rail- road in the Indian Country... by Jolin Sherman 958 Rob Rounds, the Young Fireman.....by C. Little 959 Muldoon’s Base Ball Club—comic .br Tom Teaser 960 Fair-Weather Frank, the Dashing es Boy..* y J. G. Bradley 961 Hagle Dan the Boy Hermit of the Webvied te by Paul Braddon 962 Captain Lewis, the Pirate.............. by C. Little 963 Muldoon’s Base Ball Ciub in Boston—comic.. by ‘om ‘Teaser 964 aany Horton; or, From a Wailf to a Million- osececsvscsseeees DY Captain Will Dayton 965 The prairie Post Boy; or, The Scalp Hunters - of Apache Land saaeiesse ... by Panl Braddon 966 Chums to the Death; or, The Adventures of.a Boy Marine..........506 by Roger Starbuck 967 Muldoon Abroad—comic..........by Tom Teaser 968 An Engineer at 18; or, The Boy Driver of the Lightning Express, veccccssscees DY R..T. Emmet 969 Hardpan Harry, the Hunted Boy; or, A Young New Yorker Ainong Western Outlaws...... by C. Little 970 The Property Boy; er, Before the eT es and Behind the Scenes......... S. Wood 971 zatioons Base Ball Club in” Philsenghiae MICSceses esecceseeeees D¥-Tom Teaser 972 The. My. stery of the Fire-Ship; or, A Brave Bo: Saiting Master.....,/........by Roger Starbuck 973 The Roy Bicycle Scouts; or, On the Wheel Among the Redskins..........by Paul Braddon 974 Rob Rider, the Circns Equestrian; or, Two Years Under the Canvas......by Geo. W. Goede 975 The Shortys’ Minstrels; or, Working the Same Old Rackets—comic.....0«sssse0s .-by Peter Pad 976 The Tunnel Under the Sea; or, The Adventures = © of Two Drowned Boys. ........by RT. Emmet 977 Pawnee Bill Doomed; or, The Great Scout in * No Man’s Land sorscicdseses 032, Paul Braddon 978.The Buffalo Hunters; or, Wild Life of the ~ Piainss-cqeceds ete cs DAY, Robert Maynard 979 Little Tommy Bounce; or, Something Like His Dad—Comic. ...- sec. .ceeeeecees ese DY Peter Pad 980 The Treasure Trove; or, The Buccaneers of the © GUIfsvecvsssseensscenterseensee DY J. G Bray Ra Sr Ie Oe by R. T. Limmes r, Three Boys’ Lueky by H.K. Shacgieford Vacation......seee-+-- 983 Muldoon’s Picnic—comic. 984 Luke Lines, the Boy Stage Driver; or, The Four-in-Hana of Keno Camp...by Pant Braddox 985 Jockey Jim, the Waring Boy Rider; or, Win- ning His Fortune in the Saddle... saeeseces * by Robert Maynard 986 The Lost Boy Captain; or, The Secret of the Hidden ‘Whirlpool......---.by Roger Starbuck 987 Honest Jack Jarrett; or, How ee Made His MOnCY....0.0..202---e0e0e- DY He K. Shackleford 988 Rob Rivers, the Raft Boy; ‘or, Log Driving on the Missouri River.......:s..++ by R. T. Emmet 989 Muldoon the Cop, Part 1.—comic..by Tom Teaser 990 Muldoon the Cop, Part 11.—comic. .by Tom Teaser 991 The Boy Wrecker; or, The Young Pilot of the Breakers....ssece+boces- +---by Roger Starbuck 992 Born to be Rich; or, A Boy’s Adventures in Wall Streets... s.sesessees .by H. K. Shackleford 993 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Queen Clip er Ol the Clouds—Part I..............by “ Noname” 994 Frank Reade. Jr., and His Queen pe eret of: the Clouds—Part {1,.....-.......by “Noname ** 995 The Boy Lawyer; or, Fighting For a Stolen MUON occsisnisovaisebecusee 996 Littlé Tommy Bounce on His Travels—comic. by Peter Pad 997 The Little Biack Rover; or, The Mysterious Privateer of New York B ES ern: Vea by Corporal Morgan Rattler 998 Pawnee Bili’s Oath; or, The Oklahoma Scouts Lost Gold Caches: ..:ces0+. «.--by Faul Braddon 999 Jimmy Grimes, Jr.; or, The Lorment of the Village—comic,......-c-..ese0s.by Tom Teaser 1000 ‘The Pirates of the Black Cave; or, The Mys- tery of the Hidden Lake.....by Roger Searbuck 1001 proUR Thick. and Thin; or, Our Bora ADIOAG. ...ssereccswerecs ces by Barton Bertren 1002 Jack and Jim; or, Rackets and peters at "School—comices..eecresse+-002-b” Tom Teaser 1003 Littie Quick-Shot; or, Burlalo Fils Wild West in Euro pees jesesseee-DY Paul Braddon 1004 The aigaterlaue Light Ship; Or The Smug- - glers of the Death Coast..... 1005 Muldoon’s Grocery Store—comic. Fart I... by Tom Teaser '1006- Muldoon’s Grocery Store—comie. | Part II.. y 1007 Frank Reade, Jr.,°and His Monitor of the Air; or, Heipiug a Friend in Need. by “ Noname” 1008 Gerald ’O'Grady’s Grit; or, The Branded Irish Lad...........by Corporal Morgan Rattrer — 1009 Denver Dan, dr., the: Silver King; or, Tle Richest Lode in Neyada.........by “Noname ?? 1010 Six Weeks in the Saddle; or, The Adventures? of a Boys’ Riding School. sees 1011 The Traveling Dude; or, The Comical Adven- tures of Clarence Fitz Roy Jones—comic... by Tom Teaser, 1012 Black Brow, the Pirate; or, pee Cruiser. of the Dark River.. i C or, Around the World by Water.... ces Uy Geo. 4. £mal 1014 ek Reade, Jr,, Uxploring a River of Mys- > ery. A Strange Story of Africa.b 1015 auldoon’s Trip Around the eon 1016 auldodi' 8 Trip” Around the Wein -fomic. J--~comic. 1017 nal CRORE Fred: “on, The Young Swamp Hun: fer of Lonisiana.......e--- . by H, 1018 Among the Sun Worsbipers: or, Two New York Boys in Peru..........,by Berton Bertrew _ 1019 Jack Magic, the Boy Wonder; or, The Fah a est on the Stace.....e.-- 1020 Frank Reade, Jr., and His Electric Tivos or, The Great Inventor Among ae Aztecs. “* Naname,?? 1021 Two Boy Wanderers; or, ‘The Shona of the Lost Island....... .... shy: Roger Starbuck 1022 The Wonder of Wall Streets or, A Boy Among the Bulls and Bears.....+,by H. Ke Shackleford 1023 The UNKNOWN, ..-.s.see00e-e00-0¥ Paul Braddon 1024 ane Comical Adyentures of Two Dudes— mic stereeeees seresescoess- Dy TOM Tease! 1025 Cast ‘Adrift; <, ‘One Year on a Ralts.......06 i i by J. G. Bradle} Gr sale by all newadealers i in the United SSS and Canada, or sent to yout, adress Hoa nRtd: on recep of Brice, 5 p cents, Address FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher 34 & 36 North Moore Street, N. x -Box 2730. see. by-Tom Teaser RT. Emmet | Tom Teaser - by R. T. Emmet - -by Roger Starbuck : Ronamie’ : Tom Tease ~ K. Shackleford ; y C. Little 4 by Roger Starbuck. ] | / / i } wcateersvens ay Tom Teaset i