Emma AT m Posr Omen AT NEW Yon-,3:

nil I i ll

IN

 

Published Every
Two Weeks.

Vol. VI.

QBeradZe gr- fldanzs, Cl)

98 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y., October 8th, 1879.

17 Z)! ushers,

l-ll

_ \ QC,
so:  .
l. limfim I x

   l 'Il‘lllllll “

MAI-ma.

Tun Cents a Copy.
‘é 2.50 a Year.

 

 

The Mysterious Spy;
GOLDEN FlEATHER,
THE BUCCANEBR’S DAUGHTER.

BY ARTHUR M. GRAINGER.

CHAPTER I.

THE twilight of an autumnal day, near the close of
the year 1813, was softlly blending into the first star-
li ht, while the sk st'l glowed with the lingering
b ush of sunset. 1e October forests, gorgeous with
the mingled dyes of the rainbow, had still light
enough to reveal their glory, which rivaled the bril-
liancy of the opal, emeral , and azure tints which
painted the evening clouds, that rcposed like islands
on the cerulean sea. of the golden west.

The majestic Hudson reflected upon his broad ex-
panse, like a dglorious mirror, the skies, with their
pictured clou ets—the shores, with their painted
woods, cliffs, and rounded hills; while here and there
a sloop, with its great, white mainsail spread to
tempt the idle zo hyrs. was reflected upon it, in-
verted, like a vesse sailing on the other side of our
world. The polished river was ruffled b no wavelet
or wind-ring, and the craft which far am wide dotted
itssurftwe, lay u n it “like painted ships upon a
painted ocean.“ ut the river was not entirely with-

 

ll’
mm:
um

[III/ll
////
III
ll//
«4.. I

gummy/L
mm” m,
Ill/Illi/I/
' "’I/Ie’l/I/I

VII/7

'Jlolllul
"ll/II

WIMIIIIIIIHIIIIIII

I“ 4
m...
VIII/1557,7171 . .

u raw/0,. A

“FRIEND!” ANSWERED ROBERT; “ AND nou’r BE QUITE so READY, SEIPMA

 

out the signs of life. The swift swallows wonderfully
graceful in form and motion, as the y in Sportive
circles, cut, with curving wing, the right bosom of
the water; the hawk, long suspended in the still at-
mosphere, as if gazin at his image reflected below,
sud enly catching sig it of the silvery back of a fish
who swims too near the top of the water, folds his
dark wings, and, cleaving the air like an arrow
descending, cuts, with a sharp “ check“ the water,
and, disappearin for an instant, reappears with his
shining rey in is beak, and soars heavily away
landwar pursued by the ever watchful and piratical
eagle. T e sallnon also flings his silve body out
of the depths into the upper air and, Has ing in the
light an instant falls ack with a heavy s lash,
which is echoed from the startled shores; whi e the
shad in troops fling themselves upward and descend
again like a shower of silver money thrown upon
the river; while, nearer shore, the minnows, in
myriads, ripple the smooth surface as the dart
hither and thither in the exuberance of their appy
existence.

Beside these sounds, all Nature was still. In this
sweet silence the stars came out and hung their
‘ewelr in the dome of heaven; and the moon ut on

err iant tiara in the east. And so day he been
transformed into night, b the most im erceptible
change from the glory 0 one to the g ory of the
other, with no darkness between. The zodiacal
light shot its triangular column of pale splendor far
up the heavens, as if the extended train of the sun.
Arcturus littered like a Koh-i-noor diamond in the
northern S'y, while Sirius blazed far in the south,
like the remote sun of remote worlds. The planets,
lambently shining like lamps of gold, added their

m}, V 

ll
5

{4

I/VI/I/

I/I///////IA'/

{I
/

 

calm beauty to the hour, while, over all, the galaxy
—that belt of universes encircling the throne of G od—
lcnt the soft, far—off radiance of the blended glory of
its myriads of starry suns.

It was an hour grateful to the heart, and to the
soul. Such an evening finds a mirror in the true
bosom of the true lover of Nature which truthfully
reflects it. Man is created to roth-ct in his soul the
whole of creation, and then only does it reach its
end. Matter completes its mission only where it
iniprosscs itself upon immortal mind.

n this sweet evening hour, which we have or-
nlitted our pen to linger upon in describing, a maiden
came forth from an old inn, which stood at the head
of an ancient bridge that s mulled a narrow stream,
and bent her steps toward 1 is later. Ih‘aching it, sho
leaned over the railing, and placing her ('lll'vml hand
to horear like a pink-lined shell, she listened, as if
ll'yiilf to catch some far-01f sound.

‘ ow still it is!" she at length said. “I hear no
sound but a katy-did across tho stream, and tho
gurgling of the tide against the pich of the bridge."

She now gazed down into flu-dark water Inosingly.
The framework of the heavy timbers was roileclod
equally with the bright stars in it, and hor own .
form. Also the great oaks, that grow about tho
banks on either side, and the roof and chimne 's of
the antiquated inn, cast their images in on tho i ood.
It was a scene romantic and striking, such as (‘laudo
and Rembrandt would have rejoiced to linger in,
and transfer in detail to their canvas.

The stream over which the gray, rude bridge lay
was a sort of estuary or strait, connecting the Hudson
River with Harlem River, about three leagues
above New York. This stream was about two miles

 / , r
W/

- rm
Ill/'7

‘ I
“I pill/ii r

 

 

2

The Mysterious Spy.

 

 

in length, and very winding—varying in breadth
from two hundred to five hundred ards. It was
called by the ancient Hollandcrs, w o settled the
Island of Manhattan, “Spu ten Duyvel Creek "'—a
name which has been ren ered famous by the im-
iririiital pen of the great historian, Diedrich Knicker-
boc 'cr.

This “Devil's Creek " at the period of our story,
had in one portion of it thickly-wooded banks, at
which point the great high-road from the interior
crossed it by the bridge above mentioned, and led
down to the city of New York, at the lower. end of
the island, which at the time whereof we write, was
about the size of Alban at the_present day—the
whole intervening conn r of eight miles being
Wooded, with alternate arm-houses and villas,
nearly to Bleecker street.

The bridge spanned Spliyten Duyyel Creek but a
short distance from the arlem river, which was
visible, shining in the broad light of the rising moon;
while the Hudson was nearly.1 two miles off~only
glimpses of which were to be ad from the head of
the bridve.

The 01?] inn had stood long prior to the Revolution-
ary War at the end of the bridge, and had be n
alternately honored with Washington and the Eng-
lish generals as guests. About it grew aged oaks,
beneath which Hessian troopers had tied their war-
steeds, and English officers had sat drinkin sour
Dutch wines, broughtto them from the inn by ‘ mine
host " of that day.

From time to time, the maiden would wistqu
gaze in the direction of the Hudson, peering through
the heavy shadows that lay on the water bone th
the ovurhanging oaks making its limpid surface
look like black marhe. Hearing no sound, save
from time to time the soft, quick, but musical whistle
of the spotted-winged whip-poor-will, as it darted
bat-like, above her head, or its mate‘s mournfu
answer from some distant tree—top. she said:

“I fear something has befalleu him! He was to
have been here, if successful, by the first star‘s-
rising; and now there areathousand in the sky.
Hark! I hear a far-off sound. It Is all still again! 15
must have been a fish leaping! How he lingers!
Hist! I hear a boat! It is oars! No; it was but the
distant creaking of a boom of some sloop inthe
Harlem river.“

She walked slowly up and down on the bridge.
The noise of voices of guests, lau hing or talking,
came to her car at intervals, from t 8 open door of
the near inn. 5

“Those nois travelers! _ How can I detect a
sound! Stay! do hear the dip of oars! It is Robert!
I know his rowing—so steady and even, so true and
timely his oars fall!“

A boat was evidently coming down the stream
from the main or Hut son river in the direction of
tho brid o. It was pulled steadily onward, as one
could to by the ear, for it was yet hidden by a
curve in the winding shore. Nearer and nearer it
came, as the increased distinctness of the sound
showed; but after it had turned the bend, it could
not be discerned for the depth of the black shadows
which envelo ed the banks close to which it was
gliding invisi )ly along. But the eyes of the youn
girl detected its shadowy outline, and watched wit
thogmost intense interest its to sterious progress
toward the bridge on which she s ood.

“ Heaven grant that he may have been successful 1”
she said, with earnest feeling, in a sup ressed
breath, as she hastened from the bridge to a gm: of
stairs that led from the end of it to the water-side.
As she stood upon the head of the stairs, a ray of
moonlight, coming from between the piers, fell
broadly upon her face and figure. She _was leaning
with unconscious grace over the hamster of the
stair-fli ht, looking at the boat With eager expecta.
tion. or rich, brown curls floated about her
superbl -molded shoulders in a gentle evenin wind,
which t e boat seemed to have_brought with t from
the Hudson. The soft reflections of the skies re-
vealed the sweet intelligence that beamed in her
dark, expressive eyes, which, at that moment, were
increased in s )lendor with the light of hope. The
warm color 0 deepening feeling hightened the
native glow of her beautiful face as, with her rub -
red lipsa art, her tail (not too tall,) figure acefuliy
inclined orward, watching the pro ’ress o the little
bark. It was a. “ sweet ap )arition,’ that would have
inspired an artist with an irresistible desire to trans-
fer it, “ alive and all lovely " as it was, to the heaven
of his glowing canvas.

But the beauty of “fair Rosalie Lee," as our
heroine is called, was of that rare kind which mocks
the encil. There dwelt a nameless grace and be-
witc ling expression about her which, in the moon-
beams illumin her, seemed almost spiritual. Her
face was enric ed by an expression so lofty, and
Euro, and noble, yet so sweet and attractive, that

er soul alone could have lent it its radiant beauty.
No pencil, however cunninglly; decked with colors—
however artfully guided by t 3 eye of genius, could
seize, and hold, and duly express this reflection of
her 5 irit in her face.

Ye ,_with all the qualities of a true woman, and a
“future angel," our heroine was one of the most
frank, haplpy, childlike creatures in the world! The
clownish ostler at the inn was roud of her beauty
and goodness, as he boasted of er over his tankard
of beer in the stableayard, while the hi best officers
of the army who stopped at the hoste toasted her
with admiration and wonder. One gallant naval
officer, who had that day dined there on his way to
the city to meet the famous hero Perry, who was to
receive an ovation in New York the next day for his
Victories on Lake Erie, had inscribed upon the win-
dow of the dining-room with a diamond:

TO ROSALIE, THE IN¥1§EEPERIS FAIR DAUGH

“Many a gem of urest ray serene
The dark, athomed caves of ocean bear:
Many a flower is born to blush unseen,
. And waste its frazrrance on the desert air;
Wli'at happy youth shall bring this gem to light,
And plan in some sweet home a flower so bright?"

The smart, stout coachman—albeit he had a wife
and half-a-dozen young Jehus, who drove the mail—
stage every day to and from the city—expressed his
admiration of the popular innkeeiper's daughter by
naming his new Boston coach “ osalie,” and hav-
ing the name inscribed in gilt letters on each door,

 

incloscd by as much ornamental scrollin as is to be
found decoratin the “coat of arms" 0 an Ameri-
can “ nobleman! ’

For whom is she waiting?' Is it a brother or a.
lover, whom she expects in this advancing boat, now
almost close to the steps? And what is the mtelli-
gence she is hoping to receive by him? .

The row-boa comes swiftly on, and a nearer View
reveals that it contains two‘ persons' while the
young maiden no sooner perceives it to ‘be the case,
than she clasps her hands together with an exclama-
tion of joy, saying:

“He is there! Robert has eflected his escape!
Brother," she called, in alow voice “ is it you?”

“ Ay, Rose!" responded a blud, yet somewhat
rudely—toned voice.

“ And is that he?"

“All ri ht. He is safe here in the boat."

“ on, t anks! thanks!”

The rower now gave a final ull with his slender
cars, and shi ping them by a s 'llful movement of
both, so the they fell folded one upon the other in
the bottom of the boat, like the c osed wings of a
swallow, shoved the bows which the next moment

azed lightly the lower ste ; and gliding on slowly,
et the gunwale lie broads! e to the stair foot. The
oarsman—he who had answered her—then spgng
out, and holding the boat firmly, said to the pe on
who was now standin up in the stern:

“Here we are, cap ain. You can step ashore if
you choose."

The tone in which he spoke Was, in part respect.—
ful; and also, in part, sullen. We ma say here that
he was dressed in a nautical blue jac 'et; dark, full,
sailor trowsers, and wore a jaunty little tarpaulin
bat, with lon , flauntiniblack ribbon hanging from
it, after the ashlon of t e men-of-war’s-men of that
day. He was stout and heavil made, with hercuA
lean shoulders, and had a sun- rowned face which
would have been handsome, but for the fixed ex~
greasion of reckless daring which contracted the

eavy brow. He wore his lack hair long and curl-
ing about his neck. His age was about four-and-
twenty. The full moonlight revealed all this, as he
stood steadying the boat, while the other person
ste ped from it.

is erson e was the entire contrast of Robert
Lee, om we ave just described. He was tall and
slender in arson, with fair, flowin hair, and light-
blue eyes, arge and expressive. e was a young
man and handsome; but not so much with regularity
of features as with the fine, in enuous expression
which illumined them. He was c oser wrapped in a
cloak, and wore a brown felt hat looped up at the
side. There was_ a foreiiglair about him, yet his
feitures were eVidently erican, or at least Eng-
15 .

He stepped from the boat to the foot of the stairs
and said, with deep feeli , as he weight the hand
of Rosalie, which was fra y extend to him:

“ It is to you, fair girl, I am told by your brother I
owe my escape an my life! I know not how to
thank you I"

And he was about _to press her hand to his lips,
when a movement With the rope, as if b accident,
but evidently intentional on the part of t e brother
of Rosalie, Jostled him and flarated them. Robert,
in effectin this, did not B , but a smile of mali~
cious satis action leame in his eyes at the result.

“ Robert, you a most cast me into the water by
your carelessness," said Rosalie; “but I can‘t re-
prove where I ought to reward and praise. How I
do thank you. You are twice as dear a brother to
me as on were before."

“If am dear to you, keep your hands and cheek
from every lip but mine, Rose, ’ he said, with a sin-

larl impressive emphasis, as he passed her to

.ke t e cars from the cat. “I have done this ser-
Vice which I would not have done for any soul on
earth but for you to show you that you can do any-
thing with me—that I am ve in your hands."

The st er had d no attention to the fall of
the painter tween im and the maiden, suspecting
no p se; and instead of kissln her hand, he
graspe , with grateful warmth, the and of his pre-
server and thanked him with emotion for the part
he ha home in his rescue.

“You need not thank me, captain! I have my
thanks when I please Rosalie ” he said, more re h-
1 than the words would imply. “Now, Rose, w t
5 ll we do with this gentleman?”

“That I have fixed upon. I will tell you!”

f' You are my gnoserver still. fair maiden,” he
said, in a pleasan , well-bred voice; “I feel I am to
be indebted to on, not only for my r. lease, but for
my safety unt I can regain m frigate or country.
But on s all not be unrewar ed; nor your brave
brot er! No man could have showed more daring
and skill than he has evinced."

“No thanks sir! Come, Rose, what shall be done?
I want to get him on of my hands!”

“ The care! He will'be safe there until I can think
of some plan to let him go without fear of arrest.”

“ And who is to take h In there?"

“You will " she answered, smilingly. “I know
you will, Robert!"

“Well, what if I will? I dare say, next, you will
want me to feed him there; and by-and- y, perhaps,
take him to his sh! , or somewhere else!

“ And why not?’

“ Well! because you say it, I do it! I just tell him
plain] , I wouldn’t care a leather whistle whether he
were anged as a spy, or not! He is an enemy, and
I am not actin fair and above-board to my country
in doing what have done to-night! But as I have
said Rose for your sake, I would go down to—”

“ Hist, bert, silence!”

"I am not less grateful to you, Master Lee," said
the young English officer, “ for the good service you
have done me. At resent I shall need further aid,
and although I hesi ate to trouble—”

“Do not speak of trouble, sir," said Rosalie. “I
made up my mind to save you, if I could; and I do
not mean to have it half done. Will you go, Robert,
and de this Igentleman to the powder-vault under
the o d fort? ease do! I know you will for me?"

There was no resisting this appeal, made in tones
of the most sisterly affection.

“ Well, if I must, I must! Come, captain.” '
8811319 stranger looked inquirineg at Rosalie, who

“ It is a vault in an old fort just below the inn on
the shore, sir! You will be safe there until I can find
some way ‘of escape for you altogether,"

 

“.You are very kind. I am moment! incurring
obliggtions that eternity will not re ay," c said.

“, ell if you’re going captain, t ere‘s no time to
spare! Iwant to turn in!’ said Robert, as h
p need his oars in the boat.

“ I will see that you have everythin ,” said Rosalie
as the stranger once more presse her hand; and
the next moment the boat shot away from the steps,
darting under the bridge and soon disa peared in
the gloomy shades of the bank of the cree’k.

Rosalie. ad ascended to the top of the bridge, and
followed it with her eyes, and then said:

“There he will be secure, at least, for a few days.
I can trust Robert not to betray him. Yet how
strangely my brother acts! How singularly he loves
me! I am sometimes alarmed at his combined
Violence and tenderness. He absolute behaves, at
times, as if he were jealous of me. he were my
lover _he could not idolize me more. Fortunate
for t is poor young English captain, that I can con-
trol Robert and get him to do anything for me.
Yet, With all my wonderful power over him I some-
times feel indeflnable fear of him. He loo s at me
and speaks to me so strangely of late, that I have
more than once fancied he was going insane. He
needs kind words and gentle treatment from me. and
I will not anger him for the world. He has such a
dreadful disposition, too that if once roused, who
could calm him, or bring him to reason? How
bravely he has acted to get the youn omcer out of

risen. I wonder how it was done? ghall I learn it
. y asking Robert when he comes back, or by inquir-
m of the stranger?”

t this moment, a burst of loud singing fell upon
her cars, from a arty of travelers and soldiers in
the inn; and Rosa 'e, as if recalled to the realities
around her, hurried along the brld e, entered by a
side-path, which led to a little ga en- ate, and so
made her way into the house by the tregllised porch
in the rear.

As she entered, a broad-backed, round-stomached
man with beetle brows and an exceedin 1 red face
—w1 h shortcut black-and-gray hair, w ch gave his
head a bullet-like look, dressed in a green jerkin
and who held a cork-screw in his hand—met her, an
said, with a tone of affection:

“Ah May-dew! ah pet uirreli Where hast
been roaming, hey? but in e moonlight, I dare
sa just like all romantic maids! Thou wilt take
co in the cold ni ht air. Where is thy brother,
that‘s ever away w en I'd have him home? Since
he took to the sea, he isn’t worth a rope's end on
land. Hast seen him?"

"I saw him but now in his boat, father! He will
soon be in."

“Ay, and more out than in. He's no use to me.
I hope these privateer’s-men, some of them w111 give
him a But come, my downy eac . let us
take our supper, for it has waited us t is half-hour.
Nay, don’t go out at that door, for there‘s half a
dozen privateer’s-men in there my best
brew, and plotting some devil’s work or at er against
the enemy. I don’t like thy fair face to be stared at
by every ellow. Thou art my treasure, and I‘ll not
let plrofane eyes gaze too free! on thy beauty Rose!
Bes rew me, I do think bre ng u inn-keeping for‘
thy sake; for thou art too fair a la y, by my heard
for such a place as this. Come in to tea. Don’t
stare at thy old father so! I have but cracked a bot-
tle o’ Malmsey and one of Oporto with the captain
o' the Erivateer, to thy health- for he saw thee and
swore y keel and kelson he had never beheld so fair a
maid before, in in or castle, on land or on the main !”

“ Father, do not talk so of me, and to me! I Will
go to tea with you now." And the fair girl. who
saw that her father was a little under the. influence
of his libations, led him into the side room, where
the usual family table was set for them.

e re-

 

CHAPTER II.

. Wu intend to introduce the reader into the room
in the inn occupied by the “ rivateers,” with whom
our also 11 have someth to do; but not just
now. e have first to 0 bags and explain what
led to the expedition 0 Robert Lee to eflect the
rescue of the stranger. In order to renderaclear
understanding of the events which led to his arrest,
it will be necessary to return, a few weeks, to a dark
and storm night. when a. traveler arrived at the
inn and edshelter.

Old Adam Lee, thelandlord, was lubed, and roared
out louder than the wind that howled abroad that
he was in his night-cog) and would not unlock and.
unbar for priest or pre dent on such a night.

“How by my head! do I know it is not some 0’
the Englis that would come in and take me pris-
oner, and m a i¥hter captive?"he growled.
“Heard I no that two ates and a sloop were seen
not three 5 one, 5 about Hell~Gate
Honest trav ers, riend "’ he c ed aloud, “are got
to in some honest hostel afore this! Dot wot!
How know I but it In htn’t be the old 8 uyten
Duyvel , comin’ ere in the storm! 0, no!
“ ‘ Fast bar a-n! lite“,

Fast find at
That’s Adam Lee’s motto."

Without doubt, Adam Lee was a little “ under the
vine,” as he was accustomed to term slight tipsiness:
and so he turned over, and went to sleep.

But Rosalie whose room was directly over her
father‘, had been awakened b the storm are the
knocking; and he listened to er father’s growls,
and through her lat ce, b the flashes of 113 tning,
seein the stranger still at he door, she courageous-
ly an humanely raised her window and called in a

, low tone—feelin in her heart it was too wild a night,

in that equinoc _
kept abroad. The voice of the stranger had a rich,
pleasant key to it, a singular and leasing mellow-
ness, as he asked, civilly for admit ce, which, in-
tuitively, told her that e was not one of the rou h
persons who sometimes disturbed the hostel, to e-
Efid a tankard of ale for their drunken midnight
is

“Who are you that travels in so fearful a ‘ ht?"
she said, speaking to him as he stood on the s 1),
his wet cloak blown all about his face.

He heard, and looking u beheld b the lightning‘s

constant glare, the lovely ace bent own upon 111111;
and instantly replying, said:
“I am a belated wayfarer, maiden! I should
esteem it a kindness to he suffered to enter and
await the passing of the storm, for no man can face
it as it now blows."

atom, for brute or man to be

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The VMYstgeri‘ousw Spy.

 

" Which way do you. come i"

" From the city.’

“Art thou nlone ?”

” I am quite alone. I have old where-
with to pay for lodgin ; and if t on wilt let
me in, sweet lady, I wi i pay thee triple mo-
ney for my shelter."

“ It is not. for that I admit thee,” she an-
swered, feeling, a strange thrill vibrate to her
inmost .soul, as he continued to speak. “I
do it for pity and heavenly charity. I will
come down and open to thee." '

“May Heaven bless thee and all thou lov-
est,” answered the stranger, as Rosalie, throw-
ing about-her a large shawl, lighted a candle,
and descended with noiseless stepsto the tap-
room. This was silent, savea cricket chirp-
ing in the wainscot,.and the' cat purring in

her father's leathern arm-chair; while in a'

cage, ever the ta , started up a magpie, dis-

turbed by the an den light. .

For a moment, after she had got into the
entry and stood by the barred and chained
door, she hesitated at what she was about to
do. 'But she wascoursgeeusy'and «she was
the inmate of a dwelling which was applied to
at ill hours by travelers, though gaeldom in
mom a storm as th'm. ,-But there was some-
thing in thestrangcr's voicdthat had pro-
duced, she could not tell how or why, a sin-

ular influence OVer her soul. It seemedzas
If there had, till now, slumbered in her inmost
heart a golden chord which, for the first time,
this unknown voice had made to echo Was
it love? Was it memory? Had she heard
the tones before? She could not tell, only
she felt bound in a s ell by it, as it were, and
that she must open 1; e door and admit him.
There was also, a curiosity to behold the face
of the speaker with the magic voice, for possi-
bly it might be only memory, and that she
had‘secn him before; but it did not appear
like is remembered voice at all.

So, with mingled fear and curiosity, and as
if guided by an irresistible impulse, the fair
girl softly unchained. the door and removed
the oaken bar. The wind dashed it open, and
the stranger at once a rung in, as she called
to him to do so, quick y. While she shaded
theiight from the blast, he forced the door to
and secured it by re lacing the bar. He then
threw aside his cloa , heavy with water, and
she saw before her a tall, fine-looking young
officer in an undress uniform ; istols in his
belt, and a short sword at his si e. His hat"
was a slouched, naval, cocked hat, and drip-

ing 'with- rain.

r “ A thousand thanks i” he said. “ You have
done me a great kindness, lady, and more than
you know; for. you see myarm is broken!”

“Broken l” exclaimed osslie, with sympa-
thy, directing her gaze from his dead! -pa1e
face to his left arm, which hung hcl ess at
his’ side. “How did on do it? Oh, am so
glad I let you in, sir "

For a moment, the two gazed steadily into
each other’s e es with that earnest, s eaking,
inquiring, ha ~recogniaing look wi which

coplc who have never met, yet think they

ave, regard each other, only the next mo~
ment to turniaway with locked hearts, con-
scious‘thnt they are entire stran era! One
seeing them would have believ they were
dear friends about to fly into each other‘s em-
brace. But at the same instant both dropped
the eye, and an expression of strangeness
and formality took the place of that of half-
fi-iendship.

“ I was thrown’from my horse in the dark-
ness, and when I rose to.my feet, he was not
to be found l The fall broke my arm. I
found my way hither by the aid of the light-
ning; sin! but for your humanity, I should
have erished, or suffered greatly abroad in
the co d storm!”

“ You shallnot suffer here. sir!” said Ro.
salie, with tender feelings ; and making him
sit down in the little parlor by the entry, she
lighted two of the candleswhich alwa s stood
on the buffet, and then hastened to e room
of the doctor of the adjacent village, who
lodged at the inn. He soon aroused himself,
and without disturbing the “host,” Rosalie
calling one of the domestics to her, and in
half hour the, oung stranger's arm was very
surgically set in place and neatly splinted—
Rosalie’s own hands tearing up t c hnen into
stri s, and winding them carefully, but firm-
ly 0 out the limb. The services of the rural
surgeon were rewarded with a gold-piece Ly
the grateful stranger, who bore the operation
of setting with a fortitude that Rosalie could
not but respect.

 

 

She was now about to lead him to a room;
but before following her, he said to the fair
girl, in a low, cautious voice :

“ You have a kind, good heart! You have
done me a favor I know not how to repay.
Will you do me another ‘9"

She was alread singularly interested in
him, both from t is mysterious instinct we
have above alluded to, as well as from sym-
path for his misfortunes ; and she answered :

“ .will, if I can, air!" And she dropped
her eyes modestly beneath the gaze of his
own admiring and earnest looks.

"‘ I am pursued! I fly for my life! If I
am taken, I shall bo executed !"

“ Oh, have you done a murder l” And she
drew back with horror.

“No, I am not a murderer l—Heaven for-
bid !——but I can trust you! Iam an English
naval officer. I came, a week ago, on shore a
mile below this inn, as a spy, to viit the fort
in the harbor below. I was disguised by a
common sailor’s dress over my uniform. I
had’ accomplished my object yesterday, and
was about to return b land with the results,
when I was discovere , havin gone to a tav—
ern by the dock at Corlaer’s Ilook to sleep,
stillvas a sailor. I know not how I was be-
trayed ; but three hours ago, as I was aslee
wit my disguise thrOWn off, it being with this
dress—wearisome—my room was entered, and
I was. called 1: on to surrender. In amoment
I was upon t cm, forced my way through
them, pistol in hand, and leaping from a win-
dow, fled up the lane amid the storm. At the
door of the quarters of some American 05-
car, I saw a horse caparisoned, tied. I leaped
upon him, and escaping the shots fired at me,
gslloped at speed from the town, intendin , so
soon as I reached safely Harlem River, w are
my boat awaits me, to release him. ButI was
thrown as I came out of Manhattanvillc, and
you know the rest of my story. I have now,
you see, in confiding to on my story, con-

ded to you in life! I now not what feel-
ing has inspire me to this dangerous confi-
dence; but there is a sentiment in my heart
which assures me you will not betray me.”

“ I am very sorry you have been a spy to
plot injury to .my country," she answered,
warmly; “ but I cannot betray you," she
added, with feeling and infrank tones. “ Your
secret is safe with me.”

“Even if I should be pursued to this inn i".

“They must not know you are here. I can-
hide you; but, then, your arm 1’"

“ It is doing well. To-morrow I shall be
able to .find my boat, which was to come for
me to-night at the mouth of this creek and the
Harlem River-pend I shall then soon be again
on board my vessel !" '

“ Come with me, by these stairs. I will
conduct you to a place where you will not be
discovered b any one. To-morrow,I will let
you have a isguise which will enable an to
gain, unsuspected, your boat; when hope
you will resolve no longer to act as an cnemv
to in country.’ _ .

“ ought, indeed, to become its friend,
when one of its lovely daughters risks so
much to insure‘my safety.”

“ Be careful of the steps! They lead into
the wine-cellar; but there is an arched pas-
sage that goes a good way underground to a
room, where they say once Captain Kidd hid
his treasures ; for on this spot was the abode
of one of his buccaneers, who always dwelt
on land to receive the booty his vessels
brought in from sea. My father now keeps in
it only his rarest wine and ale; and seldoml
goes to it except on some great occasion. We'_
are now on the lower step. Follow me as
quietly as you can ; for I thought I heard some
one moving up stairs."

In a few moments, the spy was guided by:
the young girl to the extremity of a long pass
sage, which terminated in a small, dark room,
lingd with barrels covered with mold and coh-
We 3.

“ It is a damp and cold place, sir," she said.

“ Better than the grave,” he answered.
pleasantly, ” which is the alternative.” .

“ But it will be only till morning. I will
come as soon as I can to let you out.”

“Thankswa thousand thanks, noble girl!
I shall never forget your kindness. I know
not what it is that makes me feel toward you
as if I had known you all my life ; there must
be, I doubt not, something congenial in our
natures What is thy name ?”

“ Rosalie Lee. My father calls me ‘ GOLD-
“ Furnna,’ also,” she added, with a smile.

 

" A sweet name, and Just fits thee !”

“ And thine f" ‘
, “ Arthur Percy.
British navy.”

“ I am sure you will never betray who
aided thee, sir, when you get to your own ves-
sel; for should it reach my father‘s or my
brother‘s-ears, I should suffer from their an,-
ger—for my father loves not the English, and
my brother has just returned from a cruise.
fighting at sea against your flag.”

“I will nevor betray you,” he answered,
taking her hand. “ IIow camest thou to be
called “Golden Feather?‘ "

_ “ It was given to me b an Indian chief of
the Delawsres, who was mm with a party of
his warriors when I was a girl of eleven. He
took a rent fancy to inc—said I reminded
him of his daughter who had died, and whom

e called by this name; and when he left—
for one of his chiefs was ill, and he remained
here nearly a week—he presented me with a
feather of gold, which the French Governor
of Canada had given as an honor to his grand-'
father."

“ Have an the feather f“.

,“ Yes ; preserve it as a valuable memen-
to of the noble warrior. M father was so
much leased, that he gave im in return a
Snanis dirk with jewels on it.”

“ Hast thou heard from the warrior since i"

“ Yes. He does not forget me ; but has
sent me only last year a rich cape of gorgeous
plumage, and called me his daughter in the
message. He is now, with his warriors, in
arms, fighting for us on the frontier. His
name is Osco-wa-rah l’

“ This is uitc a romantic episode in your
life, answers the stranger.

‘ “ Good-night, sir,” she said. “ I am sorry
to leave you in such a place, and wounded as
you are. I fear on Wlll get no sleep.”

“ Never mind or a few hours—sailors often
have worse quarters," he answered cheerily.

Rosalie then locked him in and hurried back,

leaving the candle with the fugitive; and
gaining the head of the stairs with a beating
heart, she hastened to her room, rejoiced to
find that the noise she had heard was only‘
the shaking of doors and shutters by the
wild winds of the storm.
, The following morning, the tempest had
ceased. The sun rose in cloudless s lendor,‘
'and glittered from myriads of 'ewe s of ice
which, in the shape of knobs, has a, diamonds,
and pendant drops, decorated every tree, and
the eaves of the inn.

“ I wonder what became o’ the ni ht-tram-
er, diamond o’ my eyes i" said 0 6. Adam
as to his nervous dau hter, at the breakfast

table. “It was a roug night for a human
critter to be abroad, and I’m half sorry I—”

Searcer had he spoken thus far, when a
horseman, with jing ing sabre, thundered up
to the door, shouting:

“ Ho, the house! Hilloa, mine host!"

Rosalie’s heart leaped into her throat, for

she feared it was the pursners of the spy.
\ “ What, by my bones i can’t an honest man
eat his breakfast, if he does keep a public
hostel! Has every idiot that can bestridc a
horse’s back, and can buckle on a 's ur, a
right to bid me lay down my bread an knife
and foamin ale, and open to him as if he
were a lord Go, daisy, go to the door, and
see who is the villain that splits his throat,
abroad this frosty morning, when he has only
to alight and civilly come in. I’ll leave my
tankard while the head is on it for no man.
Go, Golden Feather.”

“Ho, Adam Lee! come out an’ thou art
sober, an' tell me if thou hast seen a British
spy stop here, or pass the road."

“ Last night!” cried Rosalie, who had gone
to the door quickly, in order to be the first
to give answer, “ some one called by in the
storm, but my father would not get up to let
him in.”

“ Marry, wouldI not,” answered Adam, who
hearing the inquiry about a spy, rose and
went to his door, his tankard in one hand, and
his bread and cheese - knife in the other.
“Spies! They know Adam Lee would hang
them to his sign-post without shrive or clergy,
came one o’ the fellows hereabouts! What!
is it thou, Jack S edden ?—the wildest o’ the
new troopers. omc down from thy tall

I am a lieutenant in the

” gelding, and come and take a stirrup-cup. I

card thou hadstv given up drivin’ the stage,
and got to be a trooper. When wilt thou go
to the wars and flesh thy broadsword. By
my bones! since Captain Perry has best the
English so, at Erie, there’ll be peace aforc

4:

The Mysterious Spy.

 

 

on can wear the gloss off 0' your blue
acket."

“ I’m afraid so, Adam. But the spy! We
found his horse at Mauhattanville, and there

are men living on the road who swear that‘

they heard a man running by in the night, and
some saw him by the lightning. He took this
wa .”

“ What and who is he i”

“ A Britisher! News got to head-quarters
as how a spy had been taking the soundings,
and skulking about the fort and the harbor;
and he was watched, and followed to the ‘ Best
Bower,” and would have been caught, but he
leaped from a window."

“ I don't know of such a rogue passing here,
unless it was he who halloed at the door in
the storm; and a spy escaping for his life
Would hardly put 11p at a hostel."

“ N ot unless sorely put to it,” answered the
man. “But here comes my comrades !" As
he spoke four other mounted men now came
galloping us, and drew rein at the inn door.

“ No spy here, by my bones, gentlemen i”
said Adam. “A fellow called in the night,
but went on when I would not get up ; though
he could not have gone far in such a whirl-

wind.”

The troopers sat a moment or two, looking
tt each other in a state of indecision. Rosa-

lie, anxiously, from behind‘the curtain of the
window, watched their faces. When she saw
them, at her father’s invitation, alight and
come in to drink a cup of ale with him, her
heart sank within her. She, however, went
in ; and to be a listener, smilingly filled their
tankards and gave them to them. They drank
to her “ fair face " all round, and then mount-
ing their horses, were about to ride ofl", when
Robert Lee, the man-o’-war brother, came out
and said :

“Ho, shipmates!
spy, they say ‘2"

“ Ay, that we are! Have ou seen such a
bare ‘2" asked the sergeant e the party.

“ Can’t say; only I saw, from my window,
the old man here let in a fellow in the storm
last night. But whether he was a spy or no,
or whether he departed at once I can’t
tell.”

“By the bones of my grandfather, Bob, you
lie!” cried Adam Lee, with a par le face.
“ What has dragged thee out o’ be ,lad, to
tell this tale on thy father? Didst thou learn
this on the sea?”

Robert looked at his father in surprise, and
then said 2

“ I will swear I saw the man let in l I heard
him calling, and got up to see who it was;
and I saw a light in the door shine on him,
and saw him go in! That I will take my oath
of, father.”

“ B ever bone in my body, boy, I never
did it If did, it was in my sleep 1”

“It looks strange to hear such opposite
tales, boys," said the trooper called Jack
Speddcn. “It don't seem as if it was all
right."

“ You say the light shone on the man ‘2”
said the sergeant—“ how did he look 9”

“ He wore a slouched hat and a cloak.”

“ The ver man, I’ll be sworn !" cried
S edden. e ofiicer’s horse he took had a
c oak on it. which was gone when he was
found. A slouched hat he had.”

“ I saw, as his arm was put out of the cloak,
to hold the door open as he entered, bright
spots like buttons shine on the sleeve."

“ Our man!” cried the troopers.

Adam Lee regarded his son with amaze-
ment. He then laid his hand lightly on his
shoulder, and said:

“ Bob, did you see this all Y”

“ Yes, sir!”

“ Did I hold the light ?”

“ I could not see who held the light."

“ Hear that, gentlemen friends !”

“ No matter who held the light, boys,” said
the sergeant. “Here was a man let in ere last
night—this young fellow swears to it. The
host denies it. I dont want to injure any
man by suspicion, es ecially Adam Lee, who
is known for and wi e. But the best 0’ men
have their weak side. The s y was an officer
-—-he had gold. We can all e bribed.”

“ Do you mean, you villain i” cried Adam,
“ that l concealed the spy !”

“ It looks very like it," answered Jack Spcd-
den. “ A man was admitted into your house
just about the hour our spy might have got
here. Your son saw him come in, and you
deny it."

“ Well, if he came in, I did not admit him.

You are in chase of a

 

Rose! where are you Rose. Ho, Golden Fear
therl Call your sister, Robert—she might
have come down (for she has a itiful heart,
gentlemen) and let him in ; i so, I know
nothing of it. I have seen no one go forth
this morning. Call Rosalie.”

The maiden, who had overheard all the
conversation, and had given over the inter—
esting young spy as lost, was trembling and
trying to think what she should do to save
him ; when her brother entered the room and
said, grimly, but with courtesy:

“Rose, in father calls you.”

“I heard im! Robert, do you love me i”
she cried, earnestly.

“ With all my heart! Never was love like
mine for a sister," he said. And seeing she
looked distressed, he asked, with tender inter-
est : “ What is the matter?”

“May I trust you ?"

“ With your life i"

“ And with the life of another f”

“ Yes!”

“ The spy is in this house—I let him in! I
promised to protect him!”

“ Where is he ?”

“Concealed in the far wine-chamber.”

“This known would hang you and my
father.”

“ I know it; but I think only of his safety.
Hark! they will search the house—m father
has invite them to do so, to clear imself.
N ow, if you love me, brother, save this
stranger !"

“I will try to, for your sake. How could
you be so imprudent as to conceal him?”

“ He came to the door, weak with a broken
arm, and unable to combat the storm. He
threw himself upon my mercy—I promised
him protection. Be quick—here is the ke !
Go the vault and conduct him in safety to t e
forest by the broken well, which you can soon
clear the rubbish from i”

“If I'do this i'"

“ I will bless you, and—”

“ Love me?”

“ Do I not love you—except when—”

“ Except when ?’ '

“ Do not delay now to ask me—but except
when you are sometimes so singular.”

“ Yes, I am singular. But they are coming
in. For your sake, Rose, I do this! Remem-
ber it, for I shall remember.”

The troopers had ali hted; for Adam Lee,
getting no reply from 's daughter, and see-
ng they suspected him, had sullenl told them
to search his house. This they di thorou h-
ly, even penetrating with lanterns to the ' -
tant vaults, led by the host himself—who be-
gun to suspect t at it was very possible the
man might be hid in his house; and that
Rosalie had admitted him. When he at last
had entered the secret vault, and found it
empty, he felt greatly relieved; but his quick
eye detected a change in the a pearance 0]
some rubbish which had close up one ex-
tremity. But this was not apparent to the
soldiers—who, after a careful search, returned
again to the tap-room.

“We are satisfied he is not here now, Ad-
am,” said Jack Spedden; “ but I would like
to ask Miss Rose a question, if she is to be
found.”

CHAPTER III.

The landlord proceeded to make a search
for his daughter. She, in the meanwhile, was
in the room, pacing it u and down, and de-
liberating how she shou d not in order to es-
cape suspicion. Her feelings were fully rous-
ed by her sympathies with the stranger, and
at every sacrifice she resolved she would not
say a word to betray him. To betray her
agency in his escape, would be fatal to her
own ,safety, she was well aware. Her father
though he idolized her, yet, by nature, was a
stern man, and was capable, as she well
knew from scenes with his guests, of the
greatest violence.

“Rose,” he called now, in an imperative
voice; but, receiving no reply, he said, with
an oath :

“ She seems to have gone out, for I can‘t
see her—” "

“No, father, I am here,” she said boldly,
for she felt that to be frank and fearless was
her only hope.

“ Di you let a man in last night 9”

“ Yes, sir i"

The whole troop uttered a low exclama-
tion; for a large reward being offered by
their superior officer for the ca ture of the
spy, they were animated equa y by avarice

I

E and patriotism to secure him, if they could
‘ get tidings of him.

“ Who was he i"

“I never saw him before! He has gone

again!" she said, as if she was perfectly un-

i concerned.
' “ Which way did he go ?" asked the ser-
geant.

“He said he came from the city; and
probably went on North; but I did not let

im out.”

“ Who did 7” asked Adam.

But she had left the room. The men then
mounted their horses, resolved to divide and
take the two roads before them. Jack
Spedden apologized to the landlord, who re-
plied with growls, sullen and deep, at being
sus ected of harborin a traitor.

a now want in an confronted Rose:

“ How did that fellow leave ? Who, in the
name of Satan, was be? Why did you let
him in? Where is he i!"

“ I do not know, sir !” she answered, quietly.
“ I went to in room and have not seen him
since. Don’t e an ry, sir! I could not let
anybod perish. ow did I know he was a
spy, fat er!”

“ And we don’t know it now, Quim Saba,
as the Spaniards used to say on the Main.
You like to have got us all into trouble and
had me hanged at my own sign ost l”

The tnoopers had crossed the ridge, when
they saw a man coming toward them, with
a pair of doctor‘s bags on his shoulders. It

ed from the inn before sunrise to visit a
a patient a mile off. He was hailed b Spad-
den, who, as the reader has been to d, had
been a resident of the vicinity before enlist-
ing in the regiment then mustering in New
York for active service in the war.

“Hilloa, doctor! Have you meta foreign-
er on this road? A fellow in a cloak and
slouched hat, or heard of one such? We are
after a spy !”

“ Bless me, I set the arm of such a person
in the inn, at twelve last night, and he gave
me a sovorsi n for my trouble. He looked
like an Englis oflicer. But I said nothing.

“ Set his arm in the inn i"

“Yes; at the Red Oak Inn—just than I”

“ Boys, we were on the right scent," said
Jack Spedden.

“ A spy, is he P"

“Yes! a Britisherl Pocketful] of laces
and soundings to bring in the British cat to
take New York.”

“ Bless my heart! I wish I had known it.
Is he gone i”

“We’ve searched the inn thoroughly. He’s
off again.”

At this moment Robert Lee came up by
a path that led down the river bank. He had
a dark, malicious expression on his face. He
had aided the spy in getting out of the vault,
by the orifice of an old well; but when he
saw by the light that he was young and hand-
some, and ver gentlemanl , he seemed to
take a sudden hatred sgainstyhim.

“ Curse him,” he muttered. “ For her sake,
I will put him in the we to escape; but, if I
had my own way, I won d put the hangman's
rope around his neck. Handsome and young!
This is the secret of her interest in him! But
I’ll keep my word to her!"

So he bade the officer follow him through
the garden and woods, and 0 down the creek
shore rapidly, until at long he placed him
securely out of sight of the brid e and inn.

“ New, captain,” as he calls him, “make
the best of our way where you want to gm.
for I feel ug y, and may not keep in my pres-
ent mind to favor on long: for it is not
for your cake, but or another, I have aided

'1)

“ I feel it. I thank you. Here is gold!"

“ Gold—give me none of your gold! ow,
run for it. If you ever speak to my sister
again, I will take our life.”

The officer smi ed at the menace, and then
said:

“Farewell, then, sir! I must thank you
for your services—will you nill you?”

Robert Lee then turned from him toward
the inn, and soon came in sight of the troop-
ers. He approached Jack Spedden, and lac-
ing his hand on the pommel of his s dle,
said, significantly : .

i If you wish to start an English hare, Jack,
take that shady path down toward Harlem
Riverl You Will see tracks in the soft mud."

 

was the village doctor, who had been rous. '

A professional secret, you know. A spy, was~'
he? Dear me! Well, I thought it was odd l"'

The Mysterious Spy.

 

“ Do you mean to say—” .

” I nn-an to say nothing. A Wink to a wise
man is as good as a whi ."

“ Boys, follow me," cried Spedden, with
animation. “ Spur and whip like Satan! Lose
no time! If there is game this way, he is
running to cover!"

Away dashed the whole troop, while a ma-
licious ex ression of thought gathered over
the face 0 the sailor, as he turned to the vil-
lage Esculapius and said :

“ Doctor, if on wish to see sport and have
something to o in the way of your rofes-
sion, follow those lumbering, uiggor- eaded
craft, who sit their horses as if they rode
oxen."

“ What is it ?" asked the doctor, eager] .

“ They are after a spy! and as he is li ely
to show fight, you may he wanted either for
one side or the other."

Thus saying, he moved off toward the Red
Oak, as unconcernedly as if he had no interest
in what was going to take place. Without
question he was a hardened young man, and
his five years’ sea-service had by no means
humanized a naturally evil heart. All that
seemed to humanize him was his love for his
sister, in which there was blended a sort oi
chivalry, as if she were a maiden who had
fascinated him, rather than one to whom he was
bound only by the ties of fraternity.

“Bless my soul! Figéritin ! I must be
on the spot! A spy! on er if it is the
young fellow whose arm I set, and who never
winced, though I must have hurt him decid-
edly—seeing it was the first human arm I evar
set, besides a cat‘s fore- aw. But I did re-
markably well. Good fee would do it again!
Must hasten to the place and see what is oing
on! May be wanted! If there is firing, will
keep out of range till all danger is over, and
then run a with tourni net and bandages l"

Thus so iloquizing, t e little round man
went ofi’ at a trot down the path taken by the
troopers. He knew it won d ere long come
to the mouth of the creek, and if anythin
was to be done in the way of fighting ahea ,
it would soon commence. .

, We now return to Arthur Percy, the spy.
‘After Rose lefthim, he soon became over-
come with fatigue, and fell asleep in his hid-
ing-chamber upon the casks of ale. He had
slept several hours, when he was awakened
by a noise at his door-lock ; and starting up,
with his hand, soldier-like, upon his istol-
butt, he awaited the result. It might e the
fair maid of the Inn; it might be a foe! He
saw that it was day. His candle had long
since burned down in the socket; but the
light of morning streamed in through a crevice
in the rear of the wall, which seemed broken.
The door opened, and Robert Lee made his
i‘appearsnce, with a lantern in his hand! Per-
cy sprang to his feet and presented his pis-
tol.

“ Friend or foe ?” he demanded.

“ Friend!" answered Robert; “ and don’t
be quite so ready, shipmate, with your board-
ing weapons !"

“ Who are on i!”

“I am the rather of the young girl who
was so foolish as to risk her neck to save
yours!"

“ She shall not go unrcwarded!"

“ To the devil with your rewards! If you
care for our life, go to work and help me to
rmnovet ese loose stones. I have promised
but to get you out of this! Be active, for you
have no time to spare. There are half a score
of troopers at the door of the inn, and mean
to search the house, for they know you were
let in. One word : Did you ever see my sis-
ter before ?"

It  I"

“ Then never see her again!
tain, or whatever on are."

.“ I am onl a lieutenant of a frigate !”

“ A sailor . Then I have more respect for

you than if you were a landsman! If you

Come, cap-

’ were not a Briton, at enmity with us, I would

touch in fore-top to you, in honor of the
3qusrter- eok. Heave ahead, sir! we must get
’you out this wa l"

The young 0 oer at once went to work, and
the two, in a few minutes, had made a breach
in the wall, which let them out into the depth
of an old, drv wall. The side. at this were
upgrown with brush, and trees rew thickly
over the mouth. It did not take Tong for two
sailors to scale the sides and stand upon the
earth at the top. .

“ NOW, sir, which way do you lay your
course?" -

 

5

 

“ For the mouth of this creek where it on-
ters Harlem River."

“ Then follow me rapidly, and speak not i"

“I will obey your instructions to the let-
ter.”

The reader has already seen how Robert
Lee led him toward the place indicated, and
how, having literally aided his escape from the
inn according to his promise to his sister,
took the first opportunity of betraying him
to his foes, whom, on his return, he found
mounted and in full pursuit.

The spy was no sooner left alone by his
guide and betrayer, than he hurried forward
along the narrow path under the bank.

“ If I can only get to the place where I
landed six days ago, I shall there find my boat
in waiting, and I shall soon be safe. 1 have
run a great risk; and this young girl, with
the morosc and dare-devil brother, has saved
my life! I shall never cease to remember
her."

He soon came to the mouth of the creek,
where the stream expands into the broader
channel, where it takes the name of Harlem
River. Here he looked eagerl into a cave
on the right, where his boat he landed him
the week before; and where, by a reement
with his ship, it was to come in for iim. It
was not a ship's boat, but a whale-boat, cap-
tured by the frigate on the Nantucket shore,
where it had been some weeks cruising, and
manned by a crew disguised as fishermen.
No trace of any boat met his eyes, save a
small canoe tied to the shore, close at his feet ;
and on the other side of the river, half-a-mile
down, a low-masted pinnace,containing three
or four men, slowly coming up against the
current under its heavy main-sail, aided by
two heavy sweeps.

“ Without question, the boat that was to
come for me was blown ofl“ by the storm last
night. In that case, it will be night before it

ets into the river. My fri ate is f 1 ton

eagues ofl' awaiting me, cruising between the
Long Island shore and the Connecticut main.
Surrounded by foes and men in hot pursuit of
me, my arm paining me almost to torture, I
See no alleviation but to conceal myself in the
'woods until night, and wait for the boat’s ar-
rival! Hark! I hear the tramp of horses up
the creek! Yes, I am pursued even here!
My flight is discovered. One -— two— five
horsemen, armed! Now, Arthur Percy, thy
last hour is come, it would seem! Sell dear-
ly thy life 1”

He stood an instant, pistol in hand, to re-
ceive the advancing troopers—for all of them
were now in si ht—thundering along the nar-
row beach on t e extremity of which he stood
unable to fly beyond, save into the river,
which, swollen by the rains, flowed past dark
and billowy in its swift strength.

“ Stand and surrender, or you are a dead
man !" shouted Jack Spedden, as he drew a
pistol from his holster and leveled it at him.

The spy, without hesitation, fired his pistol
at the trooper, who, crouching in his saddle,
was unharmed, while the ball struck the man
behind him in the forehead, and tumbled him
from his saddle. Pelhmell the other horses
rushed over the fallen man, and as the path
was narrow, they were at once lied one u on
another in a heap—horses an men ming ed
in wild confusion. Spedden, as he rode on,
discharged his pistol at the s , who at the
same moment, with his right hand drew his
other pistol, and fired it in his face. The hat
of the spy was shot through, and Spedden‘s
check was blown away, and with terrible
curses he gras ed his broadsword, and charg—
ed, all covere with blood as he was, upon the
young man, who had on] a light cutlass to

efend himself with, and one arm also in a
sling. Seeing that the dra oon was about be-
ing reinforced by two of is man, who had
disenga ed themselves from the others, obey-
ing the inspiration of the moment, he s rang
into the canoe, and cutting with his his e the
rope which held it to the root of a tree, he
launched out into the stream. Dropping his
cutlass by his side, he seized the paddle, and
darted swiftl down the stream. Shot after
shot was fire after him, which passed harm-
lessly by, being discharged without aim in the
hurry of the moment. In a minute, he was
beyond the reach of their pistols, and fast as-
ca ing from them.

n all there were but seven troopers‘—a1bcit
Robert Lee had told him there were half a
score—and one of these was dead by the side
of his horse; the little doctor stande over

 

.-

him feeling his pulse, and shaking his bald
head.

They Were infuriated at the escape, having
no means ofpursuit, when the doctor, who had
caught the war-spirit, said, pointing to the
pinnecc :

“ IIail her! They will come to you !"

“ A doctor is good for something besides
mending bones !“ cried Jack Spedden, with a
great oath of delight at the idea suggested to
him ; and opening his throat, he shouted ini-
peratively for the pinnace to pull across to
where he stood .

“ Beer ahand, men! You shall have five
dollars apiece if we catch the fellow making
03 in the canoe. He is a British spy; and
a big reward is offered for him I"

The pinnace was not more than six hundred
yards off, and every word was heard by the
skipper, a short, dumpy Dutchman, With a
pipe in his month. In a moment, all was ac-
tivity on board. The main-sail was drawn
close aft, the helm put hard up to windward,
and the jib straightened like a board, so as to
lie close to the wind. The space across the
river was soon run ; and as the lu r vcr touch-
ed the shore, Spedden and four soh icrs leaped
on board, the rest staying by the horses.

“ Dunder and blixen, mans! I don’t wants
bud won on heart ; ant where ish te vive tol-
lar ‘3”

“ You must make sail and pull oar to catch
him first, and then we’ll pay you!" answer-
ed Spedden. Ease off your main sheet and
jib, and head her down river! Out with two
more sweeps. He is a quarter of a mile ahead
of us. Make your craft go like the wind I”

The skipper obeyed with alacrity these ra-
sid orders; and Arthur Percy beheld with

ismay the well-manned pinnace coming down
by wind, tide, and our in full chase.

“There is no alternative but to escape to
the shore again," he said ; but being able to
manage his paddle only with one arm, and the
canoe, taking in water in a stream, was fast be—
coming unwieldly and threatening to sink.
But with all his strength and skill, he sought
to reach the eastern bank ; but here the river
exganded to nearly half a mile in breadth,
an be was in the midst of the current.

The result was, that the iugger gained ra~
pidly upon him, when finding that the canoe
only hindered his efforts, he threw himself into
the stream, and swimming along side of it
with his hand on the gunwale, he propelled it
faster than with the paddle. But his noble
exertions were to prove fruitless. The pin-
nace came lumberin and splashing on, and
Jack Spedden in theéliows and brandishing a
pistol in one hand, and his huge sword in the
other, called to him by every opprobrious
epithet he could command to surrender, or
have his “ brains blOWed out.”

Seeing that he could not resist, and that
unless he yielded he would be fired upon as
the pinnace came within pistol-shot, he threw
up his hand, and said;

“ I yield myself your risoner!"

The pinnace dashed a ongside of him, and
two of the troopers raised him from the water
and laced him u on the deck.

“ is arm is bro en—don’t hurt him, boys,”
said the sergeant. —-

“ So, you have led us a pretty chase,” said
Jack Spedden, sheathing his sword, and layin
his istol upon a cask of fish by him. “I
shalPhave the pleasure of seeing you hanged i"

“ Where ish mine vive tollar—unt to more
oder vive tollar for mine mens.”

“ Hold your yawp, m nhecr! How can we
pay you till we are pai ourselves P" answer-
ed Jack. “ Do you think troopers go about
with bags of gold in their canteens? Be pa-
tient, and dunder and blixcn, as 'ou say, you
shall have your pay ! Now, pu l as back to
the lace we started from.” ,

“ must haf more tollars ifs I do.”

“ I’ll give you leaden ones in the shape of
marbles, if you don’t ut to your ours and set

our sails to take us ack! Do you see this
ong pistolet? I will give you a pill or two,
old mynheer, if on don’t go to work at once
and bring us has .”

It was a strong pull against the current;
but in an hour the troopers were landed at the
Point; and mounting their prisoner on the
horse of the dead dragoon whom Perc had
killed, the whole party were about to ri e off,
when the doctor, who had watched the chase
and awaited them, insisted on seeing the snv’s
arm, the setting of which he said he so"! 3

. his pale face was not exactly right. So igloo

6

The Mysterious Spy.

 

den, who really took the command of the par—
ty, having more will and daring than the ser-
geant, gave permission to him to dress it,
Feeling easier afterward, Arthur smiling]
thanked him and the whole party, then re e
forward. They soon came to the inn, in front
of which stood Adam Lee, Robert, and alargo
crowd who had witnessed the chase and cap-
ture from an eminence near, and now run
down to see the captive spy pass.

“ So, Adam, we have your man," said Spcd-
den. “ He showed pluck and shot one of our
boys dead as a herring. It is Tim Ford ! He
lies under the old elm on the Point. See to
him that he is buried, after the coroner has
seen him. This young fellow will swing for
it, if he doesn‘t as a spy ! It is mighty
strange, Adam, you did not know of his being
in the house, and he had his arm set here,
too ."

Adam colored. He felt both angry and
alarmed; for he knew S edden was a man of
bad blood, and would, i he could make any-
thing out of it, try and get him suspected of
concealing the spy. He did not know how to
answer, when—

“ N o, it was not father, it was I who let him
in l” said the clear, musical voice in the door.
“It was stormy, and he pleaded for shelter,
because his arm was broken. I will take the
blame, John Spedden, if there is any, for let-
ting a man into a public hostel! It was I who
called up the doctor to set his arm.”

“ But I (protest, upon my soul, gentlemen
friends, an fellow-patriots all, I did not have
the least suspicion he was a spy. It was a
compound fracture, and as pretty an o era-
tion as a medical man could wish to pe orm.
Bless my soul, if I had known—” _

“ Never mind, doctor, we wont hang on,”
faid Spedden, with a laugh, in which a l the
troopers joined. “ Give us a tankard‘ all
round, and we’ll be silent at head-quarters.”

“That I will—that I will! Come, Master
Adam Lee, at my expense, vivate these war-
riors! Let them have a foaming pot 0’ your
best brew, all about; and as for the gentle-
man, a glass of malmsey wine would refresh
him.”

The troo ers having drank to the bottom
of their tanlviards, bade Adam “ a good day ”;
and cautioning mine host to look after his fair
daughter while handsome English spies were
about, rode off with their prisoner.

CHAPTER IV.

Perhaps the reader is desirous of knowing
if we have called our story by its present title
alone, because of the heroine’s soubriqnet,
“The Golden Feather.” All in good time,
both fair and manly readers. We story-
tellers, like builders, have first to lay our
foundation ; and as a good part of every well-
built house is hidden beneath the ground; so
the form and character of our tale does not
first make itself apparent. There are a good
man chapters yet to come wherein the
G01 en Feather will play her proper part, and
yet not rob Rose of any of her honors. .

We now proceed to brin up the remainder
of the events which went efore the opening
chapter of our story, some of which have
been given to the reader in detail.

We have said that Rosalie had beheld the
capture of the young English officer, in whom
she had taken so strange an interest—an in-
terest which she felt was not love, yet to
which she could give no other name ! It
was a sort of calm, sweet pleasure in thinking
of him—a wish that Robert, her rude brother,
were like him.

“Oh!” she thought, “if Robert were such
a brother as he would be to me, wore be my
brother, how I could then lean upon him and
love him. But in love for Robert is a fear—
a nameless drea ! While he kisses me, in
his wild affection, I shrink with an instinct of
fear, and almost dislike. I t to overcome
it! I feel it is wrong; that he is my brother;
and that this is the way he has of manifesting
his affection for me! But, what tenderness
there is in the tones and looks of this strang-
er. And will he die ? Will he be executed?
Oh, no, no—he must not perish !"

Such was the train of feelings which agitat-
ed her, as she shut herself up in her room,
after she had spoken to the troo ers so boldly
and confessed she had admitte the spy) into

he inn. Tears filled her eyes at the rave
oun man's fate.
n “ hat can be dons-oh, what can be done?

 

{I would be willing to incur any risk to save
1m."

She kept her room all day, complaining of
a headache. But as twilight came on, she
walked forth, and crossing the bridge, she
wandered along down a by-pnth to be alone,
and to think undisturbed about what she
should do to prevent the death of the youth.
She seated herself upon a rock that overlook~
ed the shining stream. A great branch over-
shadowed her. After some time meditating
in silence, she said:

“He must be saved !"

“What will you give me to save him?"
said her brother Robert’s voice, close behind
her.

She looked, and saw him stepping forth
from the covert of the tree.

“ Oh, Robert, you did not save him to-day l”
she said, with bitter reproach. “ You betray-
ed him after leading him from the vault.”

“ Who said I did? I did what I promised
you! You didn’t expect me to go with him
to his boat,where his men, for my pains, would
have held me prisoner. No, no—I am up to
that game !”

“ The doctor said you ointed out the way
he had taken. Oh! R0 ert, how could you
do it 5’"

“The doctor shall have a wound in his own
oily carcass he’ll find all his medicines wont
heal u , if he highs in this wa . Well,I did!
Was Ip to betray~my flag? had done my
part for ca, and I owed it to my country to
tell the ragoons where to find him 1"

“ It was very unkind of on.”

“I can’t see why you ta e so much interest
in an enem . I suppose it is because he is
young and andsome, and has a small white
hand, and a voice like a singing-woman with
a bad cold—confound his picture! One word
—Do you love him?” he asked, almost sav-
agely.

“ N o !
saw till twenty—four hours ago.

“ I don’t know about that. Women are
queer craft! The run before every wind
and don’t know w at it is to brace up and
lay their course the same with any wind!
There is no depending on what manoeuvre
they may make next !” _

“ I am sorry you are angry with me,
Robert.”

“ Angry! not with you, Rose 1” he said,
with sudden tenderness. And taking her
hand, which, as he held it, slightly trembled
in his. “I cannot be angry with one I love,
as I love you, Rose. But I am jealous of
every eye that gazes on you! I am envious
of every favor you do another! If I knew
you loved an one but me, I should hate
him.” The little hand trembled still more,
and she gently strove to withdraw it. “ I have
heard a rumor since I came from sea; but I
won’t now speak of it.”

She did not ask him what the rumor was -,
but her downcast looks, and a blush that
mantled her cheeks, told that she knew, or at
least could guess, what he meant. Can the
reader? No! We have not let our readers

et into all the secrets of our heroine’s little
eart.

Perceiving she did not reply, he went on in
a sort of menacing tone, t ongh in a very
low one :

“ Rose. I love you as brother never loved a
sister. I—”

“ Love me only as brothers love sisters.
Have confidence in me, and do not act as if I
were a maiden you were in love with; for to
tell you truly, Robert, your excessive affec-
tion is disagreeable to me. I cannot respond
to it. It did not use to be so oppressive to
me 1"

“ Because," he answered, with marked sig-
nificance, “ I did not know once what I know
now I"

“ And what do you know now F” she cried,
turning full upon him; for she could not but

How could I love a person I never

1!

" be impressed by his extraordinary manner

and words.

,, “Well—nothing,” he answered, with a

careless smile; “nothing that I care to tell
now !”

She regarded his face (for it was bright
enough twilight to see it plainly) for a mo-
ment with a perplexed and troubled look,
and then cast her eyes, with a heavy sigh,
toward the flowing river.

h: Ylou sighed, then, for that spy!” he said,
s .
“ 0,, I was not thinking of him.”

 

“What did you sigh for?" he demanded,
savagely.

“Because you are unkind—because you
persecute me, and are so changed toward me.
Once you loved me i"

“ Once I” he repeated with a grim smile of
inexplicable meaning. “No, not as I love

on now! The love Ibear for you now, Rose,
is as far above that you speak of, as the sun is
above the faint star which you see trembling
in the cast! I love you now with a passion
as unbounded as my oWn existence, as—”

“Robert, release my hands! You are in
your cups, or else mad 1"

“Mad, yes! Insane with love for you. For
you, Rose, I would willingly become a slave;
wear iron chains on my hands and feet—but
they would not be so heavy as the chains
which chain my heart to you! Nay, do not
fl ! I am not in my cups. May not a brother
love, without this wild look of terror in your
e es l"

“It is not a brother’s love, Robert. I
must go home !"

“You despise me,” he said, covering his
face with his hands. How is it that the more
I try to secure your heart wholly to myself, I
only estrange it 1’"

“ You ought not then to try ! Brothers
and sisters love each other naturally, and not
for effect or by effort. Be content with my
love as it is, and you will see that I love you,
Robert."

“It is, I confess, jealousy of great love in
me ! When my father folds you in his arms,
I could tear you from them! When I see yo
smile on a young fellow, I could plunge in
dagger into his heart! I worship your beauty
—-I do homage to your Wonderful loveliness !
Iwould have you all to myself as mine ! If I
had a brother, and he ‘should love you, I
could rend him in pieces! Such, Rose, is my
love for you! I could look you n in a gor
geous chamber all your life, and al ow no one
to see or speak to you !”

“ Brother, I fear me your reason is failing
since you got that dreadful wound in your
head,in.the sea-fight."

d “ No, no, Rose! I am not mad! One
a _H
ere he checked himself.

“ Well, what ‘ one day,’ brother 1’” she ask‘
ed, earnestly.

“One day you will, perhaps, know I am
not mad, but sane! But change the sub'ect!
You would be sorry if this spy is hange l”

“ It would deeply grieve me i”

“I thought so I”

“ Not that I love him, but—”

_ “I comprehend! You are only interested
in a handsome young fellow, because he is a
forei ner. All girls like foreigners !"

. “ do confess a singular and unaccountable
interest in him. It seems to me as if we had
met in a dream!”

“I dare say! But, as I have little to fear
from him, I am willing to make an effort to
get him away—"

“ 0h, Robert, how good you are l”

. “ Not uite so good when I explain. There
is a condition !”

“ Name it i”

‘ Will you perform it ?”

“ Ifin in power !”

“ This, t an, is the condition. If you will
here, by this river-side, and beneath the
stars, swear to me by your hopes of heaven
and fear of hell—”

“ Stop, Robert l
ful language 1”

“ By your hopes of heaven and fear of hell,
never again to suffer a person to kiss you save
myself; never suffer one to hold your hand,
save me, never walk arm-in-arm with another,
save me,- never receive a gift but from me ;
and never to marry but with my free consent,
I will release your man, and see him safe to
his shi beyond all danger!" '

" R0 ert, I could smile at the oath. were it
not mingled with so fearful an adjuration!
But  see that you are in earnest! I cannot
take it! I must let my father kiss me i"

“ Well, yes i For the pressut,’ yes 1” he
answered gloomily. Will you take the rest
of the oath.

“Will you release tne spy f" '

“ I swear to you, or die in the attempt i"

“_What is it in you, Robert, that you are
willing to risk your life to keep me from be-
ing kissed, or marrying without your con-
sent ?” , ‘

“ Call it madness! But there is method in

Oh, do not use such fear

 

 

it. It is my humor, erhaps. Are not mad

folk full of humors! Fain told so. Just look
upon it as a mere notion of mine. Take the
oath, and I will, in three weeks’ time or sooner,
show you this spy a free man I”

“ As I am not desirous of being kissed by
young fellows, nor have any intention of
marl-yin , just now, Robert, and as the life of
a fellow- cing depends on my consent to the
conditions you name, I consent to them all
with pleasure."

“ Swear it," he cricd,with gleaming glances
of delight in his eyes.

“ I dare not.”

“ Swear it by heaven above and earth be-
neath, and our hopes of heaven,” he said,
solemnly an fiercely.

“I swear it, then,” she cried, with an agi-
tated voice.

“ Knee! and lift your two hands to heaven."

He forced her upon her knees, and raised
her hands, and compelled her to repeat the
oath with him, word for word! He then raised
her, pressed a glittering cross to her lips,
forcing her to kiss it. and then pressed a kiss
upon her mouth, and said :

“ Noble girl, I see now what a sacrifice you
are willing to make for me, if you will do so
much for a stranger. One of these do s I
may call upon you for a sacrifice for me ”

“ Robert. leave me. You have made me
blaspheme with that cross. You have alarm-
ed and disturbed me altogether. Let me re-
main here to gather composure. As I have
sworn to you the oath you repeated, I shall
expect you to try and save him from the
death. If you do not, I shall never love you
again ; for this ni ht’s scene has deeply
moved me to fear an dread you. But if ou
rescue him, I will forget all and forgive a l l”

“Speak to no soul of my purpose, Rose. I
shall go to work at once to plan an escape for
him,” answered the strange young man.
“ Come, will you go to the house with me i"

“ Not now. I wish to be alone.”

, “ Very well, as Ralph Berry is said to have
been killed at the battle of Lake Eric, I have
. to fear to leave you alone.”

This was spoken with the most cutting and
‘ nicked irony. Rosalie uttered a suppressed
khriek, m. if she Would not betray the feelings
which his sudden intelligence produced; but
unable to control herself, she sank upon the

ground.
“Dead! Ralph Barr killed! Oh, my
heart! in poor heart! t will break! Would

that I ha died with him!”

She seemed to forget the presence of Rob-
vert, her whole soul stricken by the news he
.had spoken. He stood by her and laughed
mockingly.

“ So I knew it! So I could have sworn
you loved him i I heard it when I came home,
.hat of all the young fellows, Ralph Berry
was your favorite! No, he is not dead! I
but said so to try you! I am satisfied now
that you love him. But beware, who loves
youher’ whom you love, dies by Robert Lee‘s
I an .‘ r

She arose, and s ran toward him, and
grasping him by bot wrists, she cried :

“0h! evil. cruel, dreadful man! I know
.you wish me to die! You take the very
course to kill me! You seem to hate me in-
stead of loving me! Tell me, do you now
speak truth, when you revoke your words, and
:say he is not dead f”

“I did but jest, Rose! I heard he was

slightly wounded, and if it will please you,

that he was promoted for his bravery l”

“ How can I believe on? Leave me, Rob.
on, you are inexplicab e to me! You say you
love me, but you take the very course to—"

“Make me hate you! Very well. We must
not hate. Let us not quarrel. I will go and
see what I can do for your sp . But if I resp
cue him, I shall claim your fulyiillment of your
sacred oath !"

“ It shall be kept,” she faint] answered
him, turning her face away from im.

He regarded her a moment in silence, and

' then muttering‘ “ I must be careful, as she
says, that I do not make her hate me, or all
wrll be lost," he Went toward the inn.

The next day he was not at the inn, nor the
threefollowing. True to his word, he was in
the city ascertaining where the spy was in

11501}. and planning the best mode of effect
ingBhis rescue.
y means of bribes with money which Rose
furnished him, he got access to the prison, and
Informed him of his intentions; and obtained

 

"The Mysterious Spy,“

from him gold to enable him to act in his be-
half. The next week, Arthur Percy was
brought before a military court, and tried,
and condemned to be hanged the following
Friday. There remained therefore but nine
da 1 for Robert Lee to act; but he so skill-
fully managed matters, that the very night
before the execution was to have taken place,
the prisoner‘s door was opened, his chains re-
moved, and he was led forth into the open
yard by three men in masks, led by a fourth,
who was Robert Lee. These men were keep.
ers and guards largely bribed with money
enough to enable them that night to leave
New York in a shallop for Nova Scotia, with
a note from Percy to the admiral of the sta-
tion, that they had assisted in his escape, and
therefore fled the country. The escape was so
admirably conducted by the ingenuity and
talent of Robert Lee, that before midni ht he
Was safely concealed in a cave at Ho oken
with his fugitive. There leaving him, he made
his wa up to Spuyten Duyvel Creek, and in-
forms Rosalie of his success, and asked what
he should do with him. She bade him bring
him, as soon as he could do so, safely, to the
bridge, when she would aid him in getting to
his frigate.

But so keen was the search, that it was some
time before Robert Lee could safely withdraw
his fugitive from his shelter, where he pro-
vided him with provisions. At length, as we
have seen, having disguised him completely,
he proceeded with him openly up the river by
day-light, and just after dark reached the
bridge, where our story opened with Rosalie
waiting for his arrival. We have seen how
joyful! she received him, and how, at her re-
quest, or brother conducted him to a secret
cavern in the banks of the stream where once
the famous pirate “ Bird" secreted himself
and his boat’s crew for thirty days, from the
pursuit of a cruiser-’s party.

Our story now will flow on in the natural
order of events, inasmuch as we have let the
reader see enough intimating the circum.
stances which trans ired before we 0 ened
chapter first, to one Is him to rocee with
the story without confusion or o scurity.

Leaving the rescued spy safely sheltered in
the pirate’s cave, which could only be acces-
sible from the water, or by swinging down to
its opening from a branch projectin over its
concealed month, we will here give a reader
a brief assage of histcr .

The attlc of Lake Erie had just been
fought under the gallant Perry, and the whole
band was ringing with raises of the naval
hero. Every city offers him a public recep-
tion, and the poets of the Union were every-
where sin ing his raise. The city of New
York, notiehind ot ers, had invited him to

ecome its guest; and on the third day after
the spy was to have been executed, Perry was
to have made his public entr into the city.
Partly in order to receive h m, troops had
been assembled in the city. The papers, in
printing everythin about the battle to pre-
sent the hero free with his laurels to the
minds of the public, contained the following
paragraph:

“ While the gallant hero of Lake Erie was engaged
at close quarters, Lieutenant Ralph Barr Turner, as
fine, bold, young sailor, who, we are pron to say, is.
native of Harlem, and who commanded the Caledonia
gun-boat of three guns, endeavored to get into action.
His foresail interfered between him and the enemy;
but rather than take an inch of canvas in, he ordered
his men to fire through it. He fought his little vessel
so gallantly, that Perry, taking an epaulette from his
own shoulder, fastened it upon his, thus rewarding
appropriately the cool intrspldity and consummate
skill of the brave young sailor. It is buts. year since
young Turner entered the service as a volunteer. He
got his rank as a lieutenant by cutting out a British
gun-brig in the night undera murderous fire from the
brig and battery, with a loss of but two killed and
three wounded out of seventeen brave fellows whom
he led to the attack. When in the late action, his gun-
boat was disabled, he succeeded in boarding the Aria!
of four guns, and seeing all her men shot away from
one of the guns as he reached the deck, he stepped into
their places an I fought the vessel till the splendid vic-

tory was won ! We hope to see the young oflicer pro-
moted to a deck worthy of his gallantry.”

This paper was received at the inn, while
Rosalie was awaiting the arrival of the escap-
ed spy at the bridge stairs. When she had
sent him by her brother to the cave to wait for
an opportunity to get off, she returned, as we
have seen, to the house.

“Ho, girl! Stop here, light of the dia-
mond," called her father to her out of the
tap-room, soon after she came in. “ Our vil-
legs is in honor! Hear about young Berry
Turner?”

'7

 

 

The sound of this name made Rosalie‘s heart
bound, and then stand suddme as still as
death. What was she about to hear? She
dared not ask, but waited trenibliugiy. He
read aloud the whole of the above paragraph.
When he had ended, he looked round to get
her approval, with a “what think of that,
Rose ‘3” when she was no longer to be seen!
Blind with tears, her heart overflowing, she
had hasteped to her room to give vent to her

weeping Joy.

CHAPTER V.

When at length Rose had subdued the deep
joy of her heart, so far as to appear with dry
eyes before her father, who called to her
while she was in the room, to say he bad
news for her.

“What is it, dear father? Do you call
me 1’"

“ Ay, golden! ay, my bonnie bright eyes !
more news! The spy that was to have been
hanged in the city to-day, has escaped !”

“The whole country side is up, and men
have been seeking him all day,“ said a mun
who stood in the door. “ He was got all last

night i”

“ Pra Heaven he come this way," cried
Adam Lee, “and I lay my hands on him.
By the bones of my grand-mother! I will
show the government I am not the man to
harbor spies 1”

“Is there any reward offered ‘2’.’ asked Rob-
ert Lee, who had come in unperceived, after
having laced Arthur Percy in safety in the
cavern y the water-side.

“A thousand dollars, good money i” an-
swered the man.

“ That’ll bring him, if he’s to be found in
the land," answered Robert Lee, with empha-
sis, and careful not to direct his eyes toward
his sister. ,

“Yes, half of it would make a good ile,”
said Adam Lee, “for a poor devil! but
are on, sir? Ain’t you a police?”

“ es; Iam come down here to look about;
as I heard he was captured about here i”

“ So he was, and a smart fight he made of
it. Let me tell you, as a friend, that, though
he ’s got one arm broke, he isn’t to be taken
by one or two, nor yet three men, unless
they are well armed and have their wits well
about them! He’s a true man-o’-war officer,
and fighting is sugar-plums to him—be sure
0‘ that! Rose, I called you to tell you that,
if you see anything of this fellow lurking
about, you give warning; for he got such

ood quarters here before, he may, like a

orse. come again to the same stall." Here
a great noise of oaths,'and songs, and rap-
ping came from the room where the pri-
vatser-men were drinking. “By my bones,
but I must not have such a disorderly house!”
cried Adam.

“Yes, father, if he comes to the house, I
will let you know !" said Rose, quietly, as her
father rose to see to his noisy guests.

Robert Lee laughed aloud.

“What is it, boy? What is it, lad i” asked
his father, turning back. “Dost laugh at my
waddle ‘2”

“ Laughing at my thou hts, old man i” an-
swered his son, lounging mm the room.

Rose did not like her brother‘s manner.
She felt that the spy was wholly in his power,
and that he mi ht betray him for the reward.
She mistruste his devotion to her, weighed
against such a sum of money. Shc trembled
for the oaptive’s safety. She thought, also,
she had seen her brother, as he went out, to
give a si nificant look to the policeman. She
was con rmed in this, in seeing him in a mo-
ment turn to go out by the door through
which Robert Lee went, which led into a side-
yard. Her resolution was at once taken. Stop-
ping up to the man, she touched him on the
arm, and said, with a smile:

“Sir, you have come far! won’t you let
me fill you a tankard of In father’s best ale!
The night is chilly, and i you are going in
pprsuit of the spy, you may be out all

ht!”
fi‘ho man, who had before regarded her
beautiful face with silent admiration, turned,
and, lifting his hat (for beaut always com-

inands politeness in the ru est men), an-
swercd:

“ It is, as you say, pretty mistress, rather
cool abroad. I will take the ale, and pay folI
it, too, for that matter i"

“ Oh, by no means !

Wait a moment- I"

I

 

8

The Mysterious Spy.

 

 

 

 

Adam had just left the room to stop the
noise in the next apartment; and going into
the next room, she came out shortly with a
silver mug, which she soon filled with amber-
colored ale, the sight and fragrance of which
made the eyes of the policeman sparkle, like

l

the beads that mounted to the rim. ‘

“ Here’s to your health, fair mistress l May
you marr the man 0’ your choice i”

“Than you, sir!"

“ Oh, such ale as this is fit for a king l"

“ Take another mug, sir i”

“ Well, I don‘t mind ifI do!
keep a man wide awake.”
pcrcc tibly smiled. r

“ ou had best take another, sir! I ask
you nothing for it; and as she stooped to
draw it, she dropped from a vial she had
brought with her (and which she purposely
went out for) from the inner room, contain-
ing a sleeping portion,which her father, Who
was wise in all the ways of inn-keepers, used
to drug noisy peoples‘ alwwitli, when the
had made now: enough. By this potent li-
quid, he had all his tipsy and uproarious
guests in the bonds of sleep whenever he saw
fit; and many a night were the old greasy
oakcn benches in the tap and under the stoop,
turned into lodging-places for his company
of sleepers l

“Sit, air, and drink the last at our leiv
sure,” said Rose, pointing to a sett e toward
which the man reeled. She then went out af-
ter her brother, whom she found just coming
back into the tap-room to see why the police-
man, to whom he had actually given a signal,
did not follow, sup osing he had not under-
stood his wink. he man had, however, un—
derstood it perfectl ; for there are certain
conventional signs t at bad men interchange,
phiph all other bad men comprehend intui-

ive .
“ I; that fellow gone?” he asked of her.

“ No ; but I come out to ask you if you left
him in the cavern safely ?"

“ It seems to me you can think of nothin
but him! From that time, over by the stream
there, when. two weeks ago, I made you swear
to me, if I would effect his escape, you would
not wed without my consent, up to this
night, when I have brought him to you safe-
ly, at great risk and cost, I would swear he
has not been out of your thoughts, night or
day! If I had my Will, I would shoot the fel-
low as I would a hound! But I was bound
to you to see him safe 1”

,“ Is he safe in the cavern?’

“ Yes. At least he was half an hour ago!
I won’t answer for him since! Don't you hear
that there- is a general chase after him l His
escape has made more noise than Perry's com~
ing will make to-morrow, or whenever it is!
Rewards are offered for the keepers, and for
the ‘ man in the mask’ who got him away!
That is me] So you see what I have risked
for love of you, Rose 2”

“ I know it. I hope you will never be sus-
pected.”

“If I should be taken and sent to prison,
do you think you Would try as hard to get
me out as you have to effect the escape of the
officer-spy ?”

This was said with mingled tenderness and
reproach — for with all his roughness, he
seemed really and fondly to love her, and to
be humanized by her presence.

“I would not hesitate to do all in in
power. But do not speak of it. How shsl
we dispose of him ‘2”

“ If I had my way, Rose, I would give him
up to the first officer of the police who comes
a ong. Na , don't start so away from me!
A thousan dollars is a great deal; but I

Ah, this will
Rose almost im-

 

wouid rather have your smiles than gold,
Rose.”

She was silent. A 'certaint that her bro-
ther could not be trusted sun into her heart. l

“ Rose, trust me.”

“ I will try to do so.”

“ What do you command 1’"

“ To saddle my horse with your own, and
lead him out b the cross-road, and fasten
him there in an our from now; and I will
then go to his lace of concealment, and lead
him to the res where on are. You will ride
with him to New Roc oils, and so on, until
he can come to a point opposite which, he
says, his frigate is ing. He could arrive
by the shore before awn. He must be dis-

 

guised as a citizen, and I have no doubt he 1
will get off safely. You will then return ‘

with the horses, and can be here before noon,
and no one need suspect your errand.”

“Capitally planned, Rose ! You would
make a good general, or a good conspirator,
I don’t know which. How nice! I like all
but your going down to the cavern by night,
where he is. love you too Well to have you
and this handsome fellow have a Ic‘te-iz—téte
coming through the woodland path together
by star-light. No, no! That would be giv-
ing this spy too much pleasure. I have no
love for him. But as I see your heart is
upon it, I will see him off; but I will go to
the cavern myself for him. You stay at
home, and go to bed, and dream of love and
bap iness. Trust me, Rose.”

“ will!” she answered, fervently, hoping
her confidence would inspire in him fidelity.

“ That is enough. In two hours we will be
on the road. But I must first go into the
tap, where I left my stick."

Rose, instead of entering the house, walked
on until she found herself pacing the garden-
walk, by the river side, in deep thought.
She was reviewing all her brother‘s duplex
conduct and strange character, and the more
she reflected upon the subject, the stronger
grew her suspicions that he could not be
trusted.

“ No, no ! He who could once betray him,
will again! What shall I do? The police-
man cannot aid him. Oh, I hope he will be
true! But Robert is avaricious, and the re-
ward is large. Can I trust him? What is it
that binds him to his promise with me ?
What is a sister‘s love in such a ei'son‘s es-
teem? Is it worth a thousand do lars ? Will
he not risk my displeasure, as he has done
before, trusting to my forgiveness. But if he
betrays me now, by proving treacherous to
this young ofiicer, will never forgive him
while I live. I shall ever behold upon his
hands the blood of his victim. Why am I so
interested in this stranger spy ? I know not
what inexplicable feeling moves me to think
of him so kindl . I know not what mysteri-
ous power impe s me to make such sacrifices
to secure his safety. I do not love him. It
is not such love as I feel toward Robert—-nor
such tender and proved affection as I feel to-
ward the brave, good, noble Ralph Turner!
Oh, how I love Ralph, and how the news of
his brave deeds in battle have made my heart
bound with delight. I fear me, he will quite
forget me in all his glory. I hear the town’s-
folk are to give him a reception, and all the
village girls are to strew flowers in his path,
when he enters the village on his way to his
mother’s. The say he will be a. captain,
and then he Will scarcely look at the inn-
keeper’s daughter.”

“ Wont I, Rose ?” cried a warm, manly
voice close by her side, and a pair of manly
arms folded her close to the gallant heart of
the second hero of Lake Erie.

“ 0 Ralph, Ralph! is it ou ?” she exclaim-
ed, covering her face wit her hands, while
her head dropped upon his shoulder, in all
confiding love.

“ Yes, dear Rosalie ; and overjoyed to find,
from your words which I heard, that you love
me still.”

“ Oh, forever, Ral h! I am now so happy.”

“ And so you can d doubt me, my dearest,
as if lory and love for thee could not go
hand in hand. If I thought rising in rank
could change m heart, and make me love
thee less, I won] rather fall back to my for-
mer station. How lovely you have grown!”
he exclaimed, as he turned her face to the
inoonlight, after removing, with a slight re-
sistance, the fair hands that covered it to hide
both the blushes and tears of her deep iov.
Was it not, also, to prevent him from kissing
her lips? recalling her oath.

“ But you look pale, Ralph. I heard you
Were wounded.”

“It was nothin . I am almost myself
again. And now have seen you, Rosalie,
and know your heart is unchanged (oh, how

the sweet confession I overheard made my ,

heart boundl), I shall soon be well.”

“ I will try and make, you so, dear Ra] h !
Oh, how bravely you fought! I tremble as
I heard the accounts of your bravery and
dangers.”

 

, I can trust you.

his kiss, and even from his folded arm—for
all at once she felt the full force of her oath
overshadowing her soul.

“What, Rosalie, have I displeased you 9"
he asked, with all a lover's quickness and
sensibility.

“ Oh, no, no! But don‘t kiss me. Don’t
hold my hand. I love you with all my heart,
but you must not be angry if I seem cold!
It is only seeming.” _ _

He saw that she spoke as if distressed.
He said :

“I fear you are become ill. The night air
is too chilly. I wont kiss on, although we
are betrothed, dearest, if it is disagreeable to

on."

This was said sadly.

“ Oh, no, no! t is not disagree— I
inean— I— I— 0 Ralph, Ralph ! you don’t
know all !” And she burst into tears.

He stood surprised by her side. His face
wore an expression of sympathy and inquiry.
Through the branches, the moon fell like full
lamp-light upon his face—for he had removed
his naval cap.

He was about a head taller than the maiden
(herself of graceful medium hcigl t), with a
handsome dark countenance ; hig ,open fore-
head, beneath which beamed a clear, brOWn-
looking hazel eye, lighted up with feeling,
and sparkling with intelligence. The expres-
sion of his mouth, thou h resolved, was yet
quiet and pleasing; an his whole face was
one of those which at once invite the confi.
dence of all who, for the first time, look upon
it. A man would sa : In danger, that youn
fellow isto be depen ed on. A woman woul
say- That youn man is to be trusted, where
helplessness see s his aid. A child would
love him at sight , and the beggar would be
sure, at a glance, of relief from his hand!
He was the very person for such a girf as
Rosalie Lee to love with all her being! and
this love, which had rown u with them
from childhood, he reciprocate with all his
heart.

“Rosalie, my sweet love,” he said, “ I will
not my into your secret."

“ know you are too generous. By-and—by
I can tell it to you, I hope.”

“ I will love you the same, and let you keep
it as long as you will.”

“ Oh, how ood you ares”

“ Let us 0 ange the subject. When did

on see my dear mother 2"

“ Three days ago. I was there.”

“Yes, just like you. She wrote me you
often came to see her.”

“ It was next to seeing you, Ralph; be-
sides, she got all the news from you.’

Ralph smiled hap ily, and was about to
express his gratifica ion by taking her hand
——the most natural thin in the world—when
recollecting before she id the ban upon this,
he withdrew his hand, and said, smilingly,
with cod-humor:

“ , I like to have forgotten.”

“And did you come to see me first?”

“ Yes. I arrived in a vessel down the Hud,
son this evening ; and when off the mouth of
the inlet, I was put ashore, and so came along
on foot—for you know it is a familiar path to
my feet, Rosalie. I could not pass without
coming to see you ; and was making my way
up through the garden, when I saw ou in the
walk. I recognized your sweet gure at a
glance ; and, coming softl on to surprise
you, I overheard our kin wordswthat re-
warded ins for all had done in battle. Ah,
Rosalie! the lightest word of one we love re-
pays a thousand hostile roars of cannon.”

“And heard you no more? Did you not
hear what I was saying to myself, be ore that
I spoke about on ?“ she asked, earnestly.

“Yes, Rosalie! I heard some words."

“ Oh, what? Do not conceal l" .

“I heard you say something of the ‘blood
of a victim; and of one you did not love as

ou did mel’ ”

“ Oh, I do not love him at all, Ralph! But
Come with me to the bower
where we used to sit—I will tell you all: for
you must aid ms.”

“ I will do all I can for you, only tell me

“Who would not fight bravely, Rosalie, ‘ how, and what.”
for his country and you! Your image cheer— }

ed me on in the hottest of the fight. This
for Rosalie—that for Rosalie!
glory and for you, feeling you would be a
sharer in all my honors.” .

He again pressed her to his heart, and

I fought for ‘

would have saluted her. but she shrunk from I

In a few moments they had reached a re-
mote alcove of the garden. Here Rose ro-
ceeded to relate, in the frankest and fu lest
manner, without the least reserve, the story
of the spy; and telling where he now was,
ending with the lain declaration of her fears
that Robert wou d betra him yet.

“Has he given only ' promise to thee,

The Mysterious Spy.

 

 

Iifimlllfl: ‘2" asked‘ Ralph, when he had heard
a .

“No more! I have only the security of
his love i”

“Was there no pledge on thy part? What
did you promise him ?”

Rosalie dropped her head. But she felt as
if Providence had given her this moment an
opportunity for explanation, and she said :

“ My brother is greatly attached to me,
Ralph. as you know ! His love has a strange
Jealousy in it, as if I Were not a sister, but
rather one to whom he was betrothed! He is
so jealous of me that he can‘t bear the idea of
my smiling on any *0ung man. So he made
me take a dreadful oath, that if he helped
this spy escape from death, I would not per-
nnt any one to kiss me, press In hand, nor
show me any attention, and that would not
nnu ry an ' one but by his ermission!"

Ralph iairly started, an exclaimed:

“ And did you take the oath?”

“I could not help it, Ra] h.”

“ And soon expecting me home ; and know-
ing We were betrothed !"

. “ Yet I hoped that Heaven would some wa
interpose to release me from it, since I too
it in so ood a cause.”

“Wel , Rosalie, I won’t quarrel with you.
I am greatly relieved by your explanation.
I shall be the sufferer; but it will be hard for
me to keep the oath, too ; for you see you
bound me to it, without knowing it.”

“ I did not think so, then. But it won’t last
long, dear Ralph; my brother has got to be
told we are to be married, and will give his
consent—and then—”

“ But if he shouldn't! I remember Robert
well before he went to sea—we were never

rent friends as boys! I have not seen him
or five years. I fear he will hardly consent, if
he is as jealous of you as you say."

“I think I can prevail with him to do any
thing, Ralph. But I wish you to keep away
from the inn for a few days—I do not wish to
anger him. Now I wish you to try and pre-
vent Robert from betraying the spy.”

“I will do all I can, because you ask it, dear
Rosalie. What can I do P”

“Hasten to the cavern; your brother has
a skifi‘ at the landing. Row to the cave and
take him in, and get him off before Robert
can go there ; for I know Robert does not
mean him well.”

“De end upon me, Rosalie. Where shall
I take im 1’”

“ I know it is agreat deal to ask of ou; but
there are four British vessels ofl‘ new ochelle.
If you could get round into the Sound, you
might be able to reach one of them.”

“I see what is required of me, Rosalie, I
will go at once. I may be gone three d vys
.iwill not return until your errand is faithfully
executed."

He soon left her, and after making a détour
about the inn, came to the river below, and
stop ed at a large antiquated farm-house,
whicIJ projected almost over the water. We
will not linger to describe his meeting with
his mother, which was one of joy and pride,
mutually shared. He remained with her but
a quarter of an hour, and then taking with
him a hired man, who sometimes fished for
the family, he started in the boat down the
stream for the cavern: coming in front of it,
he pulled in, and called in a low voice, “Ar-
thur Percy,” which was the name Rosalie had
given him.

The occupant, who was watching, seeing
only two persons, came boldly out to the
mouth of the cavern, and said :

“ Who calls 7”

“A friend of Golden Feather! I have come
to row you, sir, to your fleet.”

“ Thanks !” answered Arthur; and the next
moment he was in the boat, which shot out
into the moonlit stream

Not a word was spoken more by Ralph.
He felt that he was acting contrar to his
conscience as an American officer, ut loy-
alty to his lady-love. They rowed down
Harlem river for seven miles, until they saw
Randal’s Island ahead. They then turned to
the left. Here a fair wind overtook them,
and hoisting his lateen-sail, the little skiff
went dancing along toward Long Island Sound
like a Feather. ‘

As they flittcd along, arallel with the
coast, the young ofiicercoul notremain silent,
but warm y expressed his deep obligations to
his deliverer Thus a conversation grew up
between them; and by the time the sun rose,

 

 

9.

 

 

the two young men were on the most friendly
terms. At length they came in sight of the
four British ships. Unlike Robert Lee, when
it was proposed to him to take the spy back,
the fearless Ralph had no apprehensions of
being detained. It was ten o'clock in the
morning when he arrived along side of a
noble—looking frigate, of forty-four guns. The
young officer was received as one alive from
the dead by the commanding officer; and
Ralph was not only handsomely cntcrtained,
buta purse of gold and jewels was forced upon
him as a gift from him to Rosalia.

He would have refused it, but it was tossed
into his boat after it left the side ; and he felt
he had no right to throw it overboard, as it
was but a fair offering to the maiden for all
she had done for him.

CHAPTER VI.

The sus icions of Rosalie were correct. No
sooner ha her brother Robert left her in the
court of the inn, to go for the horses, than in
his heart he resolved that the thousand do];
lars should be his, at least the greater portion
of it.

First going to the stables, he saddled with
men’s saddles both horses, and led them to
the cross-roads under a tree, where he tied
them, secretly and unobserved, in the dark
copsc. Thus far he fulfilled his promise to
Rose. He then hastened back to the inn—
little suspecting that, when he reached it,
Rose and Ralph Turner were conversing to-
gether in the distant avenues of the garden,
.by the sound of the whispering winds and
|the rip ling waves of the stream.

The little doctor met him at the door. He
was just comin outwith a mug of beer in.
his hand, “ to rink it,” as he said to Robert,
“in peace," away from the roaring songs of
the privateersmen, who had been for several
hours occup ing one of the little parlors on
the side of t ctap-room.

“Privateers!” growled the doctor; “they
act more like buccaneers; and were it not
that they were rollicking under the roof of
mine host, Adam, I would swear by m
scalpel, that they are bloody pirates! Suc
oaths! Such talk of killing, and burning,
pillaging, and blowing sky-hi hi Bless my
soul; I shall be glad when t eir bellies get
well filled, or the ale is well out. And such
news, Master Robert!”

“ What ?”

“ What? Bless me! Why the spy has
escaped the hangman’s noose. Got the word
here this morning, but didn’t believe it. But
the New York officers are in hot chase. Three
of ’em were here not half an hour ago; and
lo ! there he’s one as drunk as ever Jack Sped-
den was! See him in there on the settee!
That young fellow, with his broken arm, seems
to be a match for ever body in creation—
slippery as an eel l—catc him and can’t hold
him; a gentleman though, born aristocrat—
see that easy enough. It would have made
some poor lady’s heart ache—his mother’s, or
his lady-love’s—if his fair neck had been
broken b the hangman's rope. I have taken
a sort 0 liking for him—and why not? he
was my patient. We doctors have a friendly
fellow-feeling with our patients—and why
not ?”

Thus soliloquizin , he took a seat beneath
the great tree whie grew by the door, and
began to quafl‘ his ale. Robert Lee had al-
read entered the inn, and after listening to
the cor where the men were making so much
noise, he was about to knock, when his father
‘came out and nearly run against him.

“What, odds, Bob 1 Is that you 1’ Those
fellows need drugging, and they shall have it
in their next tsnkardsl They don’t mind a
word I say i"

“ I‘ll see what I can do, father.
captain.” ,

“Eh, you do? Well, it is not the best of
com any, boy—I know him, too !"

“ l‘hen you know, old man, he is no priva-
teersman !” said Robert, significant] .

“ Ah, by my bones! Hast thou t e knowl-
edge, Bob? Come aside here. What dost
thou know? Speak low if’

“ I know that he is a pirate—the famous—”

“ St—st—nc names. Walls have ears. I
ee thou art in the secret. But keep thy
tongue, man!”

“I have no wish to blab, father! I know
'more than you guess at."

“ What is it t”

I know tlie

 

I “That you used to go a buccaneering in
your younger days, before you settled down
and came to anchor here 1"

“Who the devil told you this i“

“ I found it out as I have found out other
events of the past, old man! Now, as to
these pirates, I recognized the captain as soon
as he came into the inn with his six men who,
came down the crack from the Hudson with
him! And what is more, I know where his
craft rides at anchor close under the Pallis-
ades just above Fort Lee."

“ Humph! I shall begin to think you are
one of them ourself; and instead of having
been, as you cast, fighting for your country,

on have been buccaneering !"

“ There are worse trades for ettin gold,"
answered Robert Lee, with a co d smi e.

His father stared at him closely, and with a
troubled countenance. He then said :

“Is it so, boy? I am sorr , then! I had
hoped my son at least woul have been an
honest man, in atonement for his old father's
sins! So, then, thou art become a bucca-
necr l”

“I did not say so i"

“ Manner is stronger than s eech, boy. I
am sad to hear this. So the fa ows there are
your comrades t"

“ Not exactly. I am a lieutenant over all
in that room, save one. He is my captain,
and he is worth to be a leader of men who
dare to do anyt ing their heart inclines them
to do i”

Old Adam shook his head, and si hsd.

“ If I had known this, Iwould no have felt
so easy; nor wouldI have let thee be so much
in company with thy sister. She, at least,
must be kept pure and good.”

“Sister ?” sneered the young man.

“ Whatmean you i” cried the landlord, with
a start.

“ Oh, nothing! Imerely said sister. What
is there in that word? Is she not my sister;
old man ‘1’”

“ To be sure—yes, to besure! Who denies

' ’1

“ I‘h’avc not.”

“I ought to deny, now you are a bucca-
user, to have her called so; for whatever I
have been, I love her as my soul and life, and
I will protect her from harm. Your society,
boy, will contaminate her."

“ You are becoming rare] virtuous in your
old age, father,” he answers , with an ironical
lau h."’ ButI cannot loiter here. I have work
to o.’

Thus s cakin , this can man to ed at
the door (If the goom. y 3 pp

“ Come in l” thundered a loud voice. And
Robert, opening, beheld throu h clouds of to-
bacco smoke. seven men seats about a table
which was covered with tankards. At the
head set the chief, a large, herculesn, brigand-
looking man, with a. naturally ferocious vis-
age made more so b a sabre-cut across his:
temples, eye, and c eek. He was at least
forty-sight or fifty years of age, with gray
hair thickly matted about his forehead and
thick neck. He wore ablue jacket thickl
decorated with bell-buttons ; a broad be t
about his waist containing a brace of pistols,
and u on the table before him lay a sword
with s arp, glittering edges. The men about
him allwore a similar costume, and had some
insignia of office-rank about them. Two of
them Were youn men, with reckless, desper-
ate looks ; a thir had eyes out of which never
shone a ray of mercy : a-fourth, a stout. mid-
dle-aged man, had the outlines of over human

assion deeply cut into his blasts face; I
fifth. at young Spaniard, looked as if blood-
shed was his element ; for the peculiar expres-
sion of the sanguinary wolf was visible in the
murderous glitter of his eye; the sixth wass
mere lad of fifteen. but on his beardless face
the devil was reflected in not less certain
sha c than he appeared in the countenances
of t e rest.

Thus mi t have looked a group of devils
in the {199%, rcveling in the courts of hell.
The features of all were flushed with their
long carousel. No wonder Adam Lee at last
resolved to drug their beer—albeit they threw
down yellow, foreign gold, at ever fresh
draught, to ay five times the reckoning. It
was his avarice which had kept him so long

atient. Moreover, Adam stood some fear of
the leader ; for he had no sooner beheld him
early in the evening enter with his men, and
cry : “ Ho, skipper! Here are a privateer’s
boat’s crew want a supper and plent of good
ale,” than he recognized in the spea er a for-

10

The Mysterious Spy.

 

 

mer comrade in piracy—albeit he had not
seen him for twenty or more years , but when
he found he himself was not recognized, he
felt greatly relieved. His suspicions that he
was now more of a buccaneer than of a priva-
teersman, were ere long confirmed by the dark
tales of blood and rapine he overheard from
the room after their wits were well out with
the wine and ale they poured down.

When Robert Lee entered, the chief of the
party rose, and said ‘

“ Welcome, my lieutenant! Where hast
then been? By the mass! thy father brews
good beer, and draws proper wines from his
cellar! He swears we make too much noise.
It is the fault 0’ his own liquors, I tell him."

“ One would think you were the privateers

you pretend to be, from the loose way you
ct ourselves out; for too much noise may
lea to asking questions which may be tron-
blesome to answer. There are plenty of o-
licemen about, and I would not have tron le
with them here i”

“ Well spoken, Rob Lee. Thou art the
only man of us who has his senses! What
dost then want? Hast come to say that you
are all ready for us ‘3”

“ Not yet. But I want to see you, captain,
outside here. Command these gentlemen to
keep uiet; or, which would be better, to
make or the barge and ba on their ears un-
til we are ready for their ai . My father, lads,
has a way of putting sleeping doses into the
last cups of his noisy guests ; and I would ad-
vise you to drink no more.”

“ We will out the rogue into mince-meat !”
cried one of the pirates, springing to his feet.

“ We will ban him to his sign-post,” cried
others, in great ury.

“Silence, gentlemen !” cried the chief,
rasping his sword. “By the head of John
aptist, I will make the man a head shorter

who moves to do mischief here. We came to
this inn on the invitation of my lieutenant
here. His father keeps it, and his father shall
not be harmed. He has not drugged us yet ,
and so what is the fuss about? We have made
too much noise, I dare say , but it is long
we have been on shore and tasted such good
cheer! Get sober, my friends. We have got
work to do at before we go abroad, if I mis-
take not. ow is it, Lieutenant Lee ?”

“ It is not yet certain which is to be done.
If these officers will return to the boat and
await us, they will best serve the object which
brought them here.”

“ Go, gentlemen,” said the chief.

The officers now removed their caps and
arms, being accontred and attired after the
fashion of privateersmen of the da , and
Adam Lee soon had the satisfaction 0 seeing
them come forth and make their way across
the bridge, not, however, without some sing-
ing and cursing, as they reeled, all clinging
together, in irregular p atoons on their way.
When they got to the north side of the bridge,
they foun a path leading down to the water,
and underneath the dark arch at the end of
the bridge, they found the barge which they

had concealed there, when they arrived just ‘

before sunset from the Hudson, and only
about an hour before the twilight came on,
when Rosalie left them carousing in the inn

to go down to the bridge-stairs at the end ‘
next to “ the Red Oak" landing, to receive ‘

her brother and the spy, as recorded in Chap-
ter I.

There were four human forms lying asleep
in the boat, which, when roused b the tipsy
buccaneers, proved to be huge A ricans who
had rowed the boat into the creek from the
buccaneer vessel which is. close under the
cliffs of the Palisades, near y five miles off.

When Robert Lee saw these bucaneers de-
part for their boat, he took the chief aside, and
said to him:

“ Come with me. I wish to tell you a secret
by which, in the jibbing of a ship, on can get
iive hundred dollars, and do t e country
service.”

“ As to the money, I am willing to have it ;'
but as to doing the countr service, I shall
hardly do that until I am anged," he said,
with a laugh.

Walking together, under the trees, by the
side of the inn, the two men came to an ob-
scure spot, where Robert Lee related to him,
briefly, the position of the spy.

“Good! But instead of the horses, let us
go with my barge for him,” said the pirate.

“ Well, I promised Rose that I would set

 

him awa
did not know the country, to lead him about
so as to get him on the York road, and so de-
liyfiar him up to the authorities at Manhattan-
v1 e.”

“ That won’t do. He might get away from

you. I will row down with my boat and take

im, and then I can to—morrow send him to
the city, and get the reward. You can take
him, and receive the money !"

“ Yes. This will be best! I will get him
out of the cove, and trust him to your boat.”

“ But where is the young woman you said

we should have to bring 03 Y”
‘ “ Well, not to-night. I did think of steal-
!ng one away; but the young fellow who I
supposed was in my way, has not yet ar-
rived.”

“ Her lover ?”

“ Yes."

“ Do I guess right in saying that the young
girl is loved by you ?”

“ She is my sister!” -

“That indeed? /I caught a glimpse of her
in the inn. She is a Venus of the sea! And
why do you wish to take her off to sea with

on ?”

“ To keep her from marrying against my
consent.”

“ It is very odd.”

“That is my affair," answered Robert Lee,
sharply. “I am to command the Scorpion
after to-morrow, according to our compact."

“ That will depend whether you fulfill your
whole art toward me. ,You promised me
that I s ould have my weight in silver plate,
if I gave up the Scorpion to you i”

“ I have not denied this.”

“No, but when I came in my boat for the
silver, you talk only about taking your sister
on board.”

“ And did I not say that, if I wished to bring
a oung woman on board when you took the
si ver, I should have the right ?”

‘.‘ That was half the bargain ! But here I've
been here half the night, and see neither the
money nor the maiden. All the money you
offer me is half of the reward for taking a
s .1!

“Well, captain, do not you to take the
trouble to get angry. The girl bothers me. I
don’t know what to do about her. I haven’t
made u my mind how to act! I have got to
wait an see which way the wind blows !”

“ Well, I cannot wait the changes of the
wind where a woman is concerned. If we are
not to take her off, as it would seem, I would
like to see the plate! You well know our
schooner is sought after, and that it isn’t safe
for her to la twenty-four hours longer in the
Hudson. S s will attract attention. If on
are not going to buy my captaincy in er,
why, say so, and let me be off. I have no de-
sire to hang at my own yard arm! I sell out
to you because I am getting old, and am tired
of piracy ; and with the plate you are to pay
me, I want to find some quiet nook, and cast
anchor for life, and become an honest citizen,
like your father here! Do you know that I
believe he recognized me ?"

“ He did.”

“ I dare swear! Well, if he will let me
alone I will let him alone, and let ‘by-gones
be by-gones !’ But he may inform on me for
his own protection against me; and so I wish
to be off, since he knows who I am i"

“ But first let me go down with you in the
bar e to the cave, and get in man.”

“ care more about my p ate !”

“ Come, then, with me."

Robert Lee then led the pirate ca tain in-
to the inn by a side-door, which Is from a
low Dutch stoop. It opened into a small,
square entry. .

“ Stay here two minutes, In the dark, cap-
tain, until I get my dark-lantern and see
where the old man is.”

“ Never mind where the old man is."

“ He might be troublesome, if he should
suspect anything."

The chief, left in the dark, drew his cutlass
and stood on the alert, moving the point
about him, constantly, in a circle, lest he

 

 

should be approached by stealth, by some one ,

‘ lurking about him ; for men of blood are
ever suspicions of all men and places. Rob-
ert Lee advanced along a. narrow entry,_untll
he came to the tap-room. He found hls fa-

Vther closing up the shutters, for it was now

‘ full midnight.

“ Ah, boy! You up, and here 9"
“ Yes, father.”

on horseback. My plan was, as'he i “On some mischief, I’ll be bound! Go to

bed.”

“I’m looking for a light. Here’s a dark-
lantern. Good-night, old man.”

“ Ay, good-night. Don’t make a noise to
wake your sister. She‘s in bed. She came
to say, good-night, and told me she was not
overly well."

“ Are you going to bed, father?”

“That I am. Your infernal pirates have
kept me in a fever. They shall never darken
my doors again. If they do, I will have a
gang 0’ perlice down upon them I”

“And me too, I dare say !"

“ Yes , you, too, man, if you don’t behave
yourself. What set you to pirating 9”

“ Paternal example, father.”

“ But I have repented, years agone.”

“ Well, when I get a chest 0’ silver, I’ll re~
pent, may be, too, and settle down an honest
Boniface."

“ What do you mean, you rascal ‘?”

“What I said."

“ Do you suspect anything ?” called the
old man, approaching him, and looking him
in the face, as ale as death.

“ Don’t nee to sus set when I know,” an-
swered he, as he left t is room.

“ Can he know? Can he have found out?
Has he discovered in treasure? No, no! he
can’t have done it! he chief has told him ;
for now I recollect, he was one of In very
crew that captured the English ship. Ile has
told him how I got a chest of silver. Ah! if
I had onl reflected while that pirate was
drinking, would have put arsenic in his
tankard! But it was so many years ago, I
could not fix the vessel he was on ; onl
recollected he had been with me. He as
told Rob , et he nor no one else knows that
I have got it all, now. They wouldn’t believe
I have not touched it ; but am keeping it for
conscience’ sake! O Lor’l oh, dear me! If
Rob should have discovered it! I‘ll go and
see, before I sleep! As soon as the house is
all still, and everybody, and Rob, too, is in
bed, I will open the trunk, and go and see if
it is all there, and if any signs of anybody’s
having ever been there is to be found ! I
tremble with very fear 1"

He then carefully closed all the inner doorsi
of the inn, raked up the embers, for it was a
cool night, and then sought his bed-room, re-
solved ere long to visit the place where his
treasure was hidden.

 

CHAPTER VII.

When Robert Lee returned to the pirate
chief, with one slide of his lantern raised, he
said to him ; '

“ We must wait a while. The old man is
wide awake and restless. We will take a
half an hour to go with the barge down to
the cave."

“ Very well, it will do no harm to secure
the spy and the thousand," answered the pi-
rate

The two men then proceeded noiselessly
across the bridge, and descending to the barge,
roused the people in it from their stupor, and
floated down the creek until Robert Lee
pointed out the direction of the cave on the
opposite shore. They pulled in and came to
the bank just below it. The youn betra er
than crept up to the entrance, an calls at
first softly, and then in louder tones ; but get-
ting no reply, he sprung his lantern and
crawled in. A glance around showed him
that it was empty. With a great oath, he
cried:

“ Our bird has flown !”

“ What—gone ?” shouted the pirate.

“ Yes. He has taken the alarm, or has
been warned not to stay by, I begin to guess
who.”

“ There is your thousand gone, lieuten-
ant," said the pirate ; “for, of course, we
can’t tell which way to look for him."

The young man growled some indistinct
reply, and came out of the cave, his face in-
flamed with rage.

“ Pull across with all your might, men,” he
cried. “ He may yet be traced.”

it How {31:

“If the horses are gone, I know which wa
he is gone ; and I will take another and f0 -

; low, and raise the hue and cry on him. He

can't have been gone long.”

On reaching the bank and ascending it to
the cross—roads, Robert Lee found the horses
where he had secured them two or three

 

The Mysterious Spy.

1}.

 

 

 

 

hours before. He uttered an exclamation of
fierce disappointment.

“No, he has not gone the way I supposed.
He must have had aid by the water."

“ Well, let him off then,” said the pirate,
who stood by him. “I hope the plate and
the maiden won’t also give us the slip.”

“Do not gore awoundcd bull,” answered
Robert Lee. “ I mean to keep my word.
Mount one of these horses, and we will ride
back across the bridge to the inn, and put
them up. Then you will see that I can kee
my Word, and that you will find the plate
promised you.”

They rode back to the inn, Robert Lee
having first given orders for the barge to
cross to the shore at the foot of the garden
and there await orders. Adam Lee heard the
noise of the hoofs of the two horses as the
crossed the bridge ; but as it was not unusua ,
in this disturbed time, for persons to be rid-
ing at all hours of the night to and from York,
he did not heed them. Rosalie also heard
the tramping of the iron-shod feet, as she lay
awake upon her pillow, wondering if Ralp
had got safely off with Arthur Percy, and
praying for the safety of both. Like her fa-
ther, the sounds of the two horses would not
have attracted her attention, if she had not
heard one of them neiin as it came near.

“ That is "Golden Feather,’ ” she exclaim-
ed, startin up, as she recognized the familiar
voice of er beautiful jenhette. “ Robert
must have returned with the horses. “ He has
doubtless been to the cave and found him
gone. Will he suspect me? Will he come
to me in a rage? Oh, how I tremble at his
strange ways ! What spell is it that he wields
over me? How glad I shall be when he re~
turns to see. again. He told me he was go-
ing in a privateer. I shall be in constant
fear that he and Ralph will meet while he is
qn shore. Oh, noble Ralph! How superior
to my brother? What comparison can there
be between them? But I must not forget he
is my brother! Yet, sometimes, I feel as if I
were in an unnatural position, with such a
father, and such a brother, whom I love with
a sort of re ugnance, and—shall I say it ?—
shame! T e fulsome affection of my rough
and profane father—the sickening titles of on-
dearment he addresses to me, seem to me
forced and unnatural. I cannot love him at
all as I feel I ought to as a daughter ; and as for
Robert,I don’t know why it is that I so of late
dread him, and almost hate him! Yet the
more I betray this feeling, the more wild and
ungovernable seems his afl'ection for me. If
excess of love should call for grateful love in
return, then ought I to love him. But every
hour I shrink more and more from him.
Hark! What whis ering sounds are those ‘2”

She raised hersellgupon her elbow; but she
heard nothing more, and soon sunk into a
quiet sleep, and dreamed of “gorgeous pal-
aces and marble halls," and all the splendor
which could fill scenes of luxury, wealth, and

owcr. Such dreams she had often before

ad, and wondered that in her visions she
should behold beautiful scenes, which, in her
wakin hours, she had no conception of.

In t e meantime, Robert Lee, having put
up the horses, returned to the inn; and, list-
ening. and finding all quiet, and no light visi-
ble, said to the captain :

“ Now you will see that I am a man of my
word."

.“I hope so; for as I have made up my
mind to turn the Scorpion over to you for
your own purposes, and retire on ‘the plate,’
I don't care to be disappointed."

, “You shall not be. New softly. Do not
speak. Come with me. Here are two spades."

“ Are we to dig a grave ?”

“No ; but lay open one.”

They moved round the house. to the corner
of the north-east chimney, in which was the
fire-place that opened into Adam Lee’s sleep-
ing-room. Here they stopped, and Robert
Lee, striking his spade on the ground, said:

“ Here is the spot. We must dig down four
feet, when we shall come to a trap. Lifting
this, we shall find a small room, in which the
chest is kept, and has been kept for cars.
How much is in it, I don’t know; but have
seen the chest." '

“ Enough l"

The two men went to work; and in the
course of half an hour had reached a thick,
horizontal door. They cleared away the loose
soil, and then proceeded to pry up the ends.
lt yielded, after several trials, and Robert de-

 

scended, followed by his accomplice. The
lantern being 0 )encd, they saw that a largo
chest, black wit i age, and covered with iron
bands, stood on one side.

“ There is the treasure-chest,” said Robert
Lee.

“But it is not open l"

“ We must hoist it out. Remain here, and
I will bring up the negroes, with the rope.
Hark! Some one is at the lock of this inner
door. Be quiet!”

They listened, and were assured that there
was an effort on the other side of a door to fit
in a key. The two men stepped back, and,
with pistols presented, awaited the result.

“If it is the old man, don’t attack him!”
whispered Robert Lee. “ Whoever it is, don’t
fire ; for the report of a pistol would be fatal
to the treasure l"

“ If it is the old man comin to look after
his treasure, we will have to kill him !" an-
swered the pirate-chief close in the ear of
Robert Lee ; “but I will do it with my hanger,
if he is ugly, and so make no noise about it.”

“ If you kill my father, I will kill you!”
answered the other.

Adam Lee was indeed unlocking the door
to his treasure. After the inn had become
quiet, he took up the hearth in his room, brick
by brick, and, removing a covering to a stair-
way underneath it, he descended, with a light
in one hand, and a rusty key in the other.
He came into a passage that diverged from
that one through which, a fortnight or so be-
fore, Rosalie had conducted the spy to his

lace of concealment, from which her brother

ad released him the next morning, only to
betray him to Jack Speddon and his troo ers.
V What was the original use of these an ter-
ranean avenues, cannot be explained, save by
a tradition in the nei hbor ood that it was in
the days before the Itevo ution a smuggler’s
residence, who in these secret passages and
chambers bestowed his unlawfully-landed

oods. Following the passa e a few feet, old
Adam Lee began to fumble or the lock of a
low door at its extremity ; but first removin
from before it several pieces of broken an
ancient furniture which he had purposely
piled up there, in order to conceal the door,
and prevent further progress. The lock was
thickly covered with cobwebs, so that the
key-hole was matted by their accumulation,
showing that the place had not been visited,
years, at least, by that way.

It was his fumbling at the lock which was
heard on the inside. At length he fitted and
turned the key with a harsh, grating sound,
and pulling 0 en the door, he started back
with horror at eholding two men in slouched
hats pulled over their eyes, and one of them
presenting a pistol.

He uttered a cry of mingled horror and
alarm ; for he saw at a glance that one of them
was his son, and the other the pirate-chief,
and he knew they had dug their way there, in
order to rob him of his treasure.

“ What do you here, villain ‘P” he shrieked,
inspired b the peril in which his late was
placed. “ eave here! Depart, or will kill

ou ."
y As he shrieked these words, he sprung upon
Robert, and grasping him by the throat, threw
him across the chest, while he grasped at the

istol which was in his belt in order to shoot

own with it the pirate. But the latter cut-
ting the back of his hand with his cutlas,
caused him not only to let go the butt of the
pistol, but with a scream of pain to spring
upon the pirate.

“I am an old man, but I can fight yet,” he
shouted as he struggled for the possession of
the cutlas :

The pirate drawing back, said, with an oath:
" If on want it, take it, old man 1” and draw-
ing ack, sheathed it to the hilt in his body.

With a groan of agony, and a cry of death
upon his lips, the old man fell back upon the
chest, from which Robert had sprung up again
to his feet. Seeing his father fall, he did not
hesitate an instant, but following the impulses
of N ature, which crime had not wholly oblit-
erated from his bosom, be rushed at the chief,
as he shook upon the floor the warm life-
blood from his blade, and cried :

“I said I would kill thee, if you slew my
father!" and presenting a pistol at his head he
Snappcd it. The chief at once grappled with
him, and both men fell, and for a few mo-
ments—uttering the while deep and terrible
oaths as they writliod in each other’s hellish
embrace—they struggled for the mastery. .At

length, more youthful and agile than the pi-
rate, Robert Lee got the uppermost, and
pressing his knee upon the c est of his an-
tagonist, he placed the point of the hanger at
his neck, an with a curse of rage and tri-
um h, drove the weapon into the juggular vein,
pin ling him to the floor. There were a few
gurglin gaspings, a tortuous, eel-like move-

stretchin
stark. 1' e was dead !
had been scaled up of a mysterious human
life, to be 0 ened only when the Seven Seals
shall be bro en, and the books of the record
of the biogra hies of all men’s lives shall be
unrolledl is name, his career, his infancy,
his youth, his manhood, all his great crimes,
though to us unknown, are not unknown to
the One with whom all will have to do!

out of the whole body stiff and

Robert Lee rose from the body of his cap-
tain. He stood gazing upon him 'h the light
of the lantern which stood on the c est, close
to his father’s marble face, which, by its light
looked fearful in the contortions of its death-
tl ; for he yet breathed.

“He brought it upon himself!” muttered
the young pinto, Robert Lee, as he gazed
upon the sti enin features of the pirate. “ I
kept my word. sw'ore I would slay him if
he killed the old man. And he, too, is dead!
No, he speaks to me. How his eyes glam!
what is it, father ?”

"N Rob — Rob-srt—I’m oing! Stoop -r
hear! If you would—robbe —m-mel If you
— you — you --— don't—want a father’s dying
curse, do—what—I tell you i”

“ What is it, father 1’" as’ke‘d Robert Lee,
'who was bending on one knee, close to his
father’s lips, for he lay upon his back on the
chest, as he had fallen under the murderous
blow—the blood pumping and pumping, at
over word he spoke, out of the wound, and
flowmg over his arm, and down his bad upon
the chest, which was gory with it. obert
Lee was not wholly unmoved! He had still
some filial regard for the author of his exist-
ence. He was not wholly a devil yet. The
scene about him was enough to make him scl
rious ; for the body of his friend and captain,
slain by his own quick revenge, lay at his
feet.

“ Raise up my head, son l” his father
gas ed. »

e obeyed.

“ Swear to me i"

“ What shall I swear ?"

“That you will defend—pro-tect—and take
home—and all the—the plate and jaw-jewels
in this chest! for it is—is—hcrs!”

“ Do you mean Rose i”

“Yes, Rose! She is—is—Raise me up. I
ca-ca—can’t s -spcak! Onemin-ute more—
to—to do justice to—to her. But—in the—-
chest is a paper—I—wrote—it. It’ll tell you
—-I meant to—to—do iustice! Swear to in.
-——to do it, or I shall— not—lie in my—
grave l”

“ You mean that I shall ive Rose all the
plate, and all that is in the c est ?"

“Y-yes — it’s — hers ! Lift me up! I’m
dy-ing! Call her.”

“ No—I can’t leave on,” answered Robert
Lee, compressing his lips ; for he had no wish
she should hear what he was saying.

“ Swear then i”

“ I swear to protect her i"

“ And ive her all ‘P”

“ Yes, if she marries me!” he said, with a
deep and significant voice.

The dying man rose fairly to his elbow. The
words seemed to inspire him with supernatural
power over his dying body.

“ Marry! It is as I suspected and feared.
How knowest thou she was not thy sister 2
For thy words show now that my secret is
thine !”

These sentences were uttered with rapid and
nervous utterance, and with full strength of
angry vehemence. .

“ In the way I learned that this treasure
was here l” he answered evasively.

“And how— how knowest it — thou 1’” he
demanded, sinking rapid] back again. And
the shadow of death, which, for a moment
had been driven away, returned with seven-
fold darkness, u on his countenance.

“ By one who new thee, and was with thee
when you captured the English ship off the

 

V island of Bermuda, and took a fair child and
, this chest-treasure, as your portion. You
' soon after left the sea, and. came and bought

incnto the lithe form, and then a sudden ‘

What a dark volumer’

The Mysterious Spy.

 

this inn, and settled here 1 This mate of yours
came here with you, and helped you to conceal

our chest—for one mun could not alone lift
it. You believvd you made way with him
when ou drugged him in his bed, fearing to
keep the secret with him, and threw him into
the stream, with a bag of stones at his feet.
But he was not drowned! The weight of the
stones released him, and the cool water re-
vived him; but he did not avenge himself,
for he was picked up by a fishing-lugger
which was captured by a French cruiser, and
so he was carried over the sea. In the course
of my voyages I have met him. He was then
gray. We became acquainted. When he
heard I was the son of the innkeeper of the
Red Oak, he became interested in me. The
result was, we became friends, because he had
sailed with you. But it was only on my last
voyage that he told me, while dying of a
grape-shot wound received in action with a

panish silver-ship we were attacking, about
the chest, and the little fair English child you
captured."

Adam Lee groaned, and then gasped :

“ May John Cassin be accursed !”

“ That was his name. He died telling me
that the child Rose was adopted by 'cu, and
called your daughter; for my mother had been
dead a year when you came back from your
last pirate cruise, and took me from the wo-
'man she had placed me with! So I grew up
with Rose, believing her to be my sisterp V d
I loved her, and almost worshiped her. ‘ ’ut
the dying revelation of Cassin opened my
eyes. He not on] told me she was not my
sister, nor your aughter, but that she was
English, and evidently of high blood—as her
father, whom you killed, was a great general,
going out to command some army, or take
some government, with all his treasures.”

The dying man groaned, and seemed
breathing his last under the pangs of a. tor-
tured spirit.

“ He also told me how I could find your
treasure-chest. So, when I returned home a
few weeks ago, I was not long in verifying
Cassin’s words, by digging at a place which
he said would bring me to the roof of the
place where he had helped you place the chest.

found this room and saw the chest, and
proved his words true. But I had no key;
and satisfied with the secret, I covered up the
hole I had dug, and by which I have now come
down a second time to take it away !"

“ To—rob, rome-me l” groaned Adam
Lee, who was kept alive by the eagerness with
which he listened, and by the aid of Robert
Lee, who, pressing his hand over the wound,
stopped the propulsion of the 'ets of blood
for a few moments, while he spo c. He also
wet his li s with a flask of brandy which he
found in t e pocket of the pirate, which re«
vived him. ‘

“Yes, rob you of what is not your own!
But I value the secret that Rose is not'my sis-
ter more than this chest full of silver. I have
made use of the secret to try and make her
love me, so that I can wed her!”

“She is a noble's daughter. Thou shalt
not! For this I have kept the secret from
thee. She has no suspicion ! Take her
home 1”

“ That is it. Now, you come to the point,
father ! Hold on now, till you get it out.
Here is more brandy.”

“ I‘don’t— kn-know — her father! We
took—took the ship-by surprise, massa—and
all but—a boat’s—crew that escaped. I don’t
know her n-name—save Rosalie! She was
but two or three years old—not more—and
could tell nothing. M-m-m-ore br-an—I’m—

°___”

He placed the flask to his lips.

“ Find—who she is? ’ Take—her—home!
Don’t—harm—don't marry—her! She’s too
—good—for—for—”

The young man angrily withdrew his hand
from t e orifice, and with a grant jet of red
blood, the soul of the innkeeper, Adam Lee,
went its way l

“ Two dead men I” soliloquized the young
man, as he wiped his father’s blood from his
hand! “ So my Rose is a born lady asI sus-
pected. Here, in this chest, is her dower. I
shall get a lady for a wife (love me she shall),
and this chest of silver honestly as her or-
tion. So, then, I know the whole story. he

 

old man meant some day to repent of his ‘
deeds, I dare say, and go and find her reln— i half-opened door which led into the treasure-

tions for her, and take back the plate; and so
at last die in peace. No doubt his conscienet

l

1

led him to preserve it to this day, it being the
price of blood! But he’s gone now, and itis
mine ; and as for Rose, I shall soon have her
as mine. Now, how shall I manage? The
chest of silver must be got out at once. These
murders to-morrow must be known ; and the
house willbe searched, and all will be lost! I
will act promptly. The Scor )ion is now
mine! The men must be told the captain
was killed by the landlord, who attacked us.
I shall then carily take the command, giving
each of them a portion of the jewels. But
I will see what is in the chest." Taking the
key from the body of his father, he unlocked
the chest, and uttered acry of surprise at the
glittering spectacle which met his gaze.

“ Enough for me and Rose, and to keep the
crew in good—humor,” hesaid, as, he locked it
again.

He then made his way out of the opening,
and hastened to the barge. Ilere he told the
men that they must at once come for the
chest, and informed them that they had been
attacked, and that the chief had been wound-
ed. Four of the pirates, twv junior lieuten-
ants, a gunner, and uarteiumaster of the
Scorpion at once went ack with him to the
rear of the inn. They descended; and find-
ing that the chief was 1 ing dead beside the
dead body of the host, t icy had no suspicions
of the part Robert Lee had taken in hisdeath.
Everything, therefore, was as favorable to him
as he could wish. With as little noise as pos-
sible, the chest was removed and drawn out of
the pit, and borne on the shoulders of the
four negroes to the boat. On the way, Rob-
ert Lee said :

“Now, men, I am your captain, as next in
command. Obey my orders, and you will
not regret the change. In this chest is treas-
ure enough for you and me."

This address was well received; for his
courage in fight, recklessness in boarding, his
forwardness in crime, and overbearing will.
were all qualities which such officers and an n
as he was to command could estimate and duh
respect. '

When the chest was safely deposited in the
boat, he said to his officers :

“Now, gentlemen, wait for a little while.
You know the old man who is killed was my
father. I have a sister in the house. She
will be left alone. I wish to take her with
me to sea! She may not be willing to go,
and I may need force. One of these slaves
shall come with me, in case she has to be car-
ried.”

He then left the water-side, followed by a
stout Ethiopian naked to the waist, and went
softly back to the inn.

CHAPTER VIH.

The room in which our heroine sle t ed
joined that of the host of the Red 08. , her
nominal father; and the noise, whatever it
may have been, which was caused by pene-
trating under the inn beneath his room, did
not reach her ear, until the loud shriek of
Adam Lee startled her from her slumbers. It
was the cry the landlord gave utterance to on
opening the door he had unlocked, and behold
the two robbers of his treasure standing be-
fore him, as we have already described.

“ That was my father’s voice,” she exclaim-
ed, with afi'right, “and it was a cry of terror.
What can it be t” ,

She rose at once, with that courage which
was ever characteristic of her; and striking a
light with flint and steel, she proceeded has-
tily to half-dress, and hasten into his room.
Her surprise at seeing the hearth taken up,
and a pile of bricks upon the floor. was
increased by beholding, beneath, a stair-
case leading to a dark passage She stood
a moment, looking down, when she heard
voices and confused, subterranean sounds,
like men in deadly struggle. '

“ Kind, merciful Heaven, protect me !
What is this fearful thing ‘8” she exclaimed.
Then came to her ears the plaintive voice of

l

 

suffering, followed by the fierce cry of Robert '

Lee, as he sprang forward to avenge his fath-

er’s death. Unable to endure the suspense, ;
she descended the yawning opening with her =

candle, and advanced along the passage. The
draft of air blew out her candle, and she
found herself in darkness—save that a faint
gleam of light struggled toward her from the

chamber. She heard the terrific struggle upon

the ground, and the death-blow given to the 5

j

pirate. But she could'not, with her eyes, per-
ceive all. She only understood that men were

’ combating.

Then all was silence for a moment, when
she heard the voice of Robert Lee. Softly
she advanced; and looking in, beheld—her-
self unseen, for his back was toward her—the
dead pirate-chief; and also the wounded
“ host of the Red Oak,” lyin:r across the chest.
All this she was able. to see by the light of
Robert Lee‘s lantern, which stood upon the
chest. She gazed, petrified and silenced with
horror. She had not the power to utter a
word, or give vent to her great terror. The in-
stinct of self-preservation, combined with in-
nate curiosity to watch the end, kept her heart
still in its beatings. She heard “ her father”
speak, and would have rushed forward to aid
him, but she felt that her brother’s hand, al-
ready dyeil with blood, would not, if need
were, be withdrawn from her life—for she be-
lieved he had slain both of them.

As the dialogue between the son and Adam
Lee went on, she became intensely absorbed
in listening, and her senses became all ears,
that she should not lose a word!

How wonderful were the revelations which
were unsealed to her! How her heart beat
hard, and strong, and rapidly, as she learned
that she was not Adam Lee’s daughter, nor
the sister of Robert Lee! Whata weight it
lifted off her soul, and what a world of intel-
ligence by which she was enabled rightly to
read his strange and inexplicable love for her!
All, all was heard by her that passed between
the son and his dying father; and she could
hardly contain her joy, even in such a grave
and solemn hour, to know that she was not the
daughter of that dying man, once a pirate,
who had slain her father—nor allied by blood
to his desperate and lawless son !

Clasping her hands upon her bosom, she
stood until all was over, and the spirit of Adam
Lee had passed into eternity. If Robert Lee
had looked through the door, he could not
but have detected the spirit-like figure, all in
white, that stood in the darkness of the pas-
sage, listening, half-concealed. But he was
too intent on his own reflections and pur-
poses.

When she heard Adam Lee call for her, shag
had nearly betrayed her presence by advanc.
ing a step ; but the voice of Robert Lee
checked her footsteps, and so she was let into
the whole mystery! Yet there remained an-
other mystery—deeply, painfully interesting
to her. Whose daughter was she? What
general had been slain, as said Robert Lee, by
Adam Lee, in the ship he captured? Had
she a. mother? a sister? a brother? What
was her country? Perhaps England, as it
was an English ship!

All these thoughts flew through her mind
in an instant of time, as she stood there.

She now saw Robert Lee depart (as she un-
derstood from his spoken thoughts) to get aid
to remove the chest. That he was in league
with pirates she now knew, and she shuddered
at the reflection that she had let him fold her
to his heart but a few hours before. 011!
how she saw through all his wild love. She
perceived how, learning she was not his sis-
ter, he conceived for her the wild passion
which had so alarmed her and excited her
terrors. All was now explained to her.

“ But what shall I do? He will soon be
here with his crew. If I am discovered, I
shall perish. These lawless freebooters will
show me no mercy. And this chest was my
father’s! and this treasure is my own! Oh!
that I could obtain one piece of it as some
clue to the discovery of my parents—for it
may be marked !”

Risking the consegluences of discovery, she
entered the place an tried to open the chest.
To her great joy it yielded. Robert Lee, in
unlocking it, had only shut it, and not re-
locked it.

“It is mine: I steal from no one. I will
take this bracelet, this locket, this ring, and
this package of papers. He spoke of them,”
she said, as one after another of these objects
met her eyes in an old velvet-colored casket.
“They may help me, in my friendliness, to .
know who my parents were. I am sorry for
this mnn’s death. He has been kind to me,
in his way. But, now that his hand put my
unknown father to death, how can] grieve for
his sudden end? L0! he fell across the ver
chest for which he did the deed of blood. s
not this Heaven’s retribution? Yet he would
have saved the treasure for me. But what ben-

 

ciit would'it all have been to me—my father
unknown ; nay, it being the price of his life?
is it wonderful I instinctively shrank from
the love of Robert Lee? I believed him my
urother, and he knew that we were not allied
to each 0t] er—pressed his suit upon me. Did
he hope 0% day to make me his wife! Yet
how could he, unless he revealed all. Per—
haps he intended to do so. Ilark! there are
steps! He returns! I must conceal myself.
Of all men on earth, I now most fear that
young man. Yet how little he suspects I
know all 1”

She withdrew from the place deep into the
passage, and saw them descend into the pit,
and with ropes draw out the chest. When,
at length, the last man disappeared, she felt a
sensation of relief.

“ I shall never see him again. He will go
off to his vessel, wherever it is, with his trea-
sure. If, in the morning, he comes back, he
will not find me here. I dare not let the day-
break and Robert Lee behold my face. There
is no evil that he is not capable ofl”

She then hastened up stairs into the room
from which Adam Lee had gone down to his
death—and goingto her chamber, she proceed-
ed to put together such apparel as she might
require ; for she had made up her mind to fly
at once from the dreadful place. She feared
not so much the presence of the dcdd bodies,
almost beneath her very room, as the pres-
ence of the living Robert Lee.

In twenty minutes. she had collected her
dresses, and such clothing as she might re—
quire for some weeks—not forgetting to place
the Golden Feather in her bosom—and then,
With tears in her eyes, at leaving the home of
her childhood and years, her little room and
its favorite ornaments, her canary-bird, et
rabbit, and more petted cat—and at feeling
herself a lonely orphan in the world—she has-
tened from the house, to go first to that of the
mother of Ralph; for what other shelter of-
fered the helpless maiden ?

The inn was quiet. The murders which
had been committed had been done under the
ground, where the noise could not be heard

‘by the servitors of the inn. She opened, with
a trembling hand, the outer door, which led
upon the stoop, intending to gain the road by
a side gate. Just as she opened the gate, she
felt a hand laid firmly upon her arm, and a
voice said :

“Where now, Rose? Are on going to
meet Ralph Turner on a moonlight tryst? I
hear he has got home.”

“ No, Robert Lee. Release me 1”

“You are quite, high in your speech and
manner, girl, for an innkeeper’s daughter,” he
said. tauntingly.

She was about to answer that she was not
Adam Lee’s daughter ; but prudence warned
her it would be unsafe by this assertion to let
him know she had overheard what had pass-
ed; “and,” thought she, “if I say this, he
will also know I know of the murder, and he
ma silence me by taking my life. So she
sai , as firmly as she could:

“ I am going to take a walk. I cannot
sleep.”

“ Well, if you want to walk, come with me.
I will ramble with you. The moon shines like
a coronet of diamonds. Suppose we walk by
the river side?”

“Robert, let me go back into the house l”

“ I‘lo; you shall go with me. Come l gen-
tly, if you will; forcibly, if Imustl Come
here, Becca !”

Instantly the wildest terrors filled hersoul,
f or she saw the negro advance toward her with
lierce looks. She felt that Robert Lee meant
cvilr She shrieked, and bounding through
the gate, fled from him like a deer. In his
surprise and rage, he drew and discharged his
pistol after her. It did not stay her flight. She

ounded across the bridge—her white robes
streaming like angels’ wings on the air, with

the Velocity of her speed. Not less swift did
>ltoberl: Lee follow. He did not call, nor did
she a second time open her 1i )5, as 'if fear had

Ifrozen her voice. The pirates in their boat, be-
neath, saw her, and set up a cry that appalled
her; and, recognizing their new captain (for
the broad moon fell brightly upon the bridge),
they aided his pursuit by discharging several
pistols into the air aft her. She seemed to
carry a charmed life.uhmching the extrem-
ity of the bridge while her pursuers (for the
African went, also, leaping after her with
L'I‘eéit bounds, more like an ouran-outang

 

The Mysterious Spy.

it, she turned down the path in which we re,

collect Robert Lee found her seated beneath
a tree, when he made her take his three-fold
oath—the motive of which the reader now
plainly comprehends. Away, like a bare pur-
sued by wolves, she ran, scarce touching the
earth with her flying feet. The Ethiopian
made enormous leaps, and gained upon her
each moment, while Robert Lee called to him,
as he ran, “ not to lay hands upon her rough-
ly, if he wished his life.”

The path led in the direction of the humble
home of the mother of Ralph ; and it was the
instinct of love which led her to take it. And
where was her bravo lover? or the spy, who
also would have sacrificed his life to save her?
They were together, in the skiff, on the way
to the English frigate; for all these events
—the reception of Arthur Percy by Rose,
after his escape from prison ; his secretion in
the cave, by Robert Lee’s aid ; the arrival of
Ralph from Lake Erie, and meeting with her
in the garden ; the carouse of the pirates in
the inn ; the resolve of Robert Lee to betray
the spy, and his actual escape from the cave
by the aid of Ralph; one and all occurred
during this one night. Ralph and Arthur
Percy had now been on their way three hours,
for it was now but little after three o’clock in
the morning.

And, lest there should be any confusion in
the reader’s mind as to times, we will here re-
mind him that the story opens on the evenin
of this very eventful night, and that all the
events which have occurred have—with one
exception—taken place on this night, begin-
ning at the moment when We introduced Rose
leaning over the bridge, watching and waiting
for Robert Lee to come up from New York
with Arthur Percy, rescued from the death
which he was to have suii‘ered the next day.

The exception to which we have alluded, was
the episode which we introduced in the sec—
ond chapter, wherein we stopped the direct
progress of the tale to go ack to explain
how Rose first met the 'spy, and became in-
terested in him, when—a fortnight, or little
more revious‘he had applied, in the midst
of a readful storm, for admittance at the
inn.

The reader will recollect, that after we had
explained this, and brought the personal sto
of the spy up to the very moment he is we -
comed by her at the bridge stairs, after his ss-
cape, by Robert Lee’s aid, from the gallows,
that we again took up the thread of the story
where we had suspended it; and from that in-
stant our story has been onward. from event
to event, still not yet advanced beyond the first
night, on the evening of which we introduced
our heroine to our readers, upon the bridge.

Having thus refreshed the memories of our
readers — which, in serial stories, require,
from time to time, a cue to what has been be-
fore done—we have a clear field before us for
the further illustration of our story and its in-
cidents yet to come.

Rose felt, as she flew, that she was running
for life—perhaps honor. She knew the=un-
flinching pur ose of the man, Robert Lee,
who pursued er; and now, knowing his so-
cret, she had everything to fear if she fell into
his hands.

It was half a mile straight down the river-
bank, to the abode of the widow. The Afri-
can came on, it seemed, aided by his long
arms as well as his feet. The cotta e was
now in sight, but the negro was close ehind
her. She almost felt his hot breath upon her
neck. She felt she could not reach the gate
of the house. She shrieked for aid. The
path led along the precipice overhanging the
waters.

Suddenly, with clas ed hands upraised to
Heaven, and just as t e ubian’s hand was
about to seize her, she cried : “ Better death
than capturel” and sprung out into the air
from the clifi‘, and descended thirty feet into
the dark wave below.

The African, without hesitation, lea ed after
her. As she rose to the surface, she s risked:

“ Save me, oh, save me! Save me, oh,
mother, from Robert Lee l"

The widow heard the cry in her sleep, and
arose and hastened to the window. She saw
the savage madly lashing the waters; and,
unable to swim, endeavirring to sustain himself
with wild blows at the waves ; but each instant
he sank deeper, and, with a howl of rage and
despair, disappeared. Rose, accustomed to
swim. strove to reach the opposite shore ; but

 

 

13_

cars, engagingin the chase, and being called to
by Robert Lee—their captain——from the shore,
to take her up, they soon gained upon her.
Seeing that escape was hopeless, the young
girl dived deep beneath the surface, resolve
to )erlsh ; but, either the instinct of life pres
veiled, or she could not keep under, for coni‘
in to the top of the water, she was instantly
seized and taken captive. The boat then
pulled in with the insensiblc maiden, to take
the pirate captain—as we must now call
Robert Lee—on board, and who was calling
to them to land and receive him.

“ Now, men, for your lives!” he said, in a
tone of command, brief and earnest. “The
alarm has been given all along the creek. I
hear dogs barking, and men shouting, and see
lights in windows. Pull for your heads,
lads I"

There were eight cars in the boat. Five of
the pirates took each an oar, and the three
remaining Africans. The sixth and oldest of-
ficer of the Scorpion took the rudder, while
Robert Lee, taking Rose in his arms, support-
ed her head 11 on his shoulder, her long un-
loosed hair falling in dripping tresses all over
it. The barge was now pulled at great speed
'up the stream. It kept close in under the
bushes that grew along the bank. There were
four or five persons on the bridge as they

assed under it, calling down to the boat to

now what was the screaming, and firing, and
shouting they had heard. Among them was
Hobbs the ostler, the coach-driver. and the
doctor, who was the most noisy and inquisi-
tive.

“Bless me! Halloa, the boat! What is
it ? Has there been anybody killed or wound-
ed? If so, it is a case for mel Boat ahoy l
What is the fuss?”

“It is me, doctor," answered Robert Lee,
boldly ; for, soon expecting to be beyond
reach of any danger, ho had no hesitation in
bein recognized. “ We’ve caught the spy l”

“ less us! that is news! How is his arm?
I hope it healed at the first intention, and

will get quite well before he‘s hanged. But _

that’s a woman !"

“ No. He was disguised as a woman, try
ing to get out of the country, and so we take
him as he is l”

“ Bless us, indeed! Did you ever ?” cried
the doctor, running across to the other end
of the bridge ; for the barge, by this time, had
got u the stream, and soon was out of sight.

Ho he shook his head. He said :

“ I’m but a bi nor-ant stable-man, but I
don’t loike the 100 s 0’ that beat. I see three
black niggers in it, and the same set 0’ prio
vsteer-men, or pirate-men, as got drunk,’
early in the night, at the inn. I don’t loike it;
more, too, coz master Rob is among ’em; for
where he is, you may be sure the old Satan is
curr in’ his orse for a race bent on evil."

“ ’in sartain, mates," said the stout stage-

driver, that ar’ was a ’ooman; for, if the spy
could at on women’s ownds, he couldn‘t
make his hair grow long ike a ’ooman’s l”
. “I was won ering at that!” said the doc-
tor. “It must have been a female. I never
saw such long hair, except once when I hap-
pened to see Miss Rose combing her’s, when
the wind blew up the curtain as I went b .
But what a scrimmage. I heard at least half-
a-dozen pistol shots !"

“And sich hollerin’ and yellinl” said the
stage-driver.

" And what’s more, I certain hearn a squall
like a gal a yellin’ to the top 0‘ her voice.
Eh ! who is here? It isn‘t a ghost, is it, doo-
tor ?"

They all turned, and beheld a white figure
advancing rapidly upon the bridge, from the
end op osite the side on which the inn stood.
They all three looked a little startled, and the
doctor began to take retrogade steps, when
the figure spoke, with great excitement :

“ Is it you, doctor, and you, Master
Hobbs ?”

“ Ah i it is Mistress Turner!” said the
stage-driver, re-assured. “ She has got fright-
ened out of her house, and run here in her
night-gownd, skeered at the doin’s. What is
it, mistress ?” '

“ Oh i nei hbors, how glad I am to find you
her. Such dreadful, horrible scenes. Poor,
poor Rose Lee ! They have carried her off!"

“Who? what? where i’” cried the three
men. '

“ In a boat! It rowed rapidly up the
stream with her. I followd it as fast as I

than a human being) were in the middle ofithe piratc‘s barge came bearing down, with full 4 could!"

'\

 

 

 

The Mysterious Sm:-

 

14:
I

“ It has just got out of sight,” said the doc- i
tor. “Bless my body and soul! was that l
Rose they had i"

it Yes."

“ But it was her brother.
hap cn to her 9”

“ don’t know. But she came running
down to my house, screaming for help. Igot
up to see what it was, and saw her leap into
the river, followed by a terrible black man.
As soon as she rose again, she shrieked:
‘ Save me, 0 mother, from Robert Lee l”

“Did she say this?” the men asked, and
others who now came up stopped to listen,
until she had nine or ten men, chiefly far-
mers, about her.

“Yes. She tried to swim toward my house.
I got out as soon as I could, not thinking of
myself—only of her—when a boat full of men

icked her up. The negro I saw drown be-

ore he could reach her. The boat was then
rowed in to the shore, close to my gate, and I
saw Robert Lee get in and give orders, as if
he commanded the boat, which at once pulled
up the creek l”

“ Where is the boat ?” cried several men.

“ It passed up under the bridge, not five
minutes ago,” said the doctor. “ Itis strange
she cried ‘ Save me from m brother!’ ”

“ N ot at all, friends,” sai Hobbs, the host-
ler, stoutly, if you knowed what I know.”

“What do you know ?"

“ That she loves Ralph Turner, and he don’t
Want her to love him nor nobody else. How
did I find out? Why. I was over there in
the maple wood b the water, about two
Weeks or so agone, ookin’ a'ter astray horse,
when I hearn talkin’ close by, and listenin’, l
hearn Miss Rose and Master Lee. I can’t go
for to say all I hearn, but I hearn him make
her swear a drefi‘ul oath she‘d marry nobody,
nor kiss nobody, nor speak to nobody he
didn‘t want her to. Well, she did it—for he
frightened her into it. Now, you sees, sich
a brother don’t act like one! and I guess as
how he’s caught her a sparkin’ down by the
widder’s, to-night—or, better said this morn-
in', for I hear the roosters acrowin’—and she’s
jum ed into the river afore she’d let him
onto her! and so he got these privateer’s-
men as was carousin’ to be] him, and so he’s
got her into the boat, an is takin' her a’
some‘at lace where he can keep her from
lovin’ Ra ph Turner.”

“That’s it, Master Hobbs,” said the coach-
man. “ You’ve guessed the riddle for ear-
tainl Now, coz he is her brother, he’s no
right to treat her in this fashion; and, as she
cried out to be saved from him, I notion she
is afraid he‘ll do something cruel to her.”

“ Where is Ralph Turner ?” asked the doc-
tor.

“ He is not at home, at all.” answered the
widow, and Rose was not coming down to see
him, for she .knew he was gone. He left at
midni ht, to go down Harlem river."

“ If e‘d been there, he’d have given Master
Robert Lee a different reception,” said a young
farmer, who held a flail in his hand, on which
he leaned like a young Hercules. “ When is
be coming home, mistress?”

“ Perhaps not for two days. If he was
here, he would soon get a party 0' brave
youths and overtake that boat, and rescue
the poor helpless girl from her brutal
br :ther l”

“And, as he’s not here, I’ll take his place,"
answered a young fellow in a fisherman’s
garb. “ Who‘ll volunteer to give chase ?"

“Heaven bless you, Mark Manning l" cried
the widow. ‘

“ Something must be done." said the doctor,
“ for as he has passed by the inn—where he
ought to have left her—and as he denied who
was in the boat, I begin to fear he has joined
the rivateersmen,and is going to take her off
to t eir vessel—which is, I dare say, some-
where over in the Hudson. Indeed, as I was
riding along yesterday. I saw two or three
persons looking at a strange-looking craft an- ;
chored across the river, which the said was a ‘
privateer, but looked amazingly like a pirate." .

The excitement now became intense, and ‘
seven young men volunteered to take a boat 9
with young Manning, and go in pursuit.

What harm can

 

CHAPTER IX.
The young fellow, whom the widow ad-
dressed as Mark Manning, was, next to Ralph
Turner, the most suitable person to lead the

 

pursuit of the pirate‘s barge. Likc Ralph, he
was a lover of Golden Feather—at least had

been ; but when it came to her turn to choose 1'
between the two. and she said . “ Mark, I love ‘

Joseph best!” he, in the most frank and man
ly way, said: “I know, too, Ralph loves thee.
So I won‘t be angry. Let us be friends, Rose,
though we cannot be lovers l”

that moment—a year before our story opens
-— nothing had marred the confidence and
friendship of the three.

How much better is this than resentment
against the maiden who refuses the hand and
heart offered, and revenge against the lover.
There is no reason why a. rejected lover should
be converted into a relentless foe! How
strange—how marvellous, to see two young
persons, who were intimate last week, pass
each other to-day with the air of strangers—
almost bitter enemies. If a lover gets angry
for being refused, all we can say is, that he is
an exceedingly vain person, and, withal, self-
conceited. Because a fine girl declines mar-
rying a man, it is no reason she dislikes him.
There is not one of the sex who is not willing
to remain “ friend” with a rejected lover, if
the wounded vanity of the lover would suffer
it. A lady estcems it a compliment to be
loved, and to receive an offer of marriage ; and
though she may decline, for good reasons of
her own, yet her ggmtitude for the preference
given her would ind her to the discarded
lover for a life of friendship, if he would per-
mit. No—no! Sensible men know better
how to behave in these cases; and if the
can’t win the wife, they won’t be foolis
enough to lose the friend.

With this little mourccau of our private opin-
ion on this delicate subject, we new resume
our story.

The reader will remember that the last
chapter closed with the crowd of people
gathered upon the bridge, in great excitement
at the events connected with the abduction of
the maid of the inn b “her brother "—as all
believed him to be. he statement of Hobbs,
the hostler, about the oath he overheard, con-
vinced all that Robert Lee meant evil to his
sister:

“ Yes,” said the mother of Ralph; “ and it
is clear why! You must know my son,
Ralph—”

“ Hurrah for Ralph Turner! Hurrah for
the hero of Lake Erie!” shouted several of
the men ; so that his mother, looking around,
ex ected to see her son coming. But it was
only the prideful adulation and applause of
his neighbors, who had been reading of his
exploits in battle.

“He got home last night,” continued the
widow, “and went to see Rose first. He then
came home to see me about eleven o’clock, or
perhaps, later. But he had only time to stay
about twenty minutes with me, as he had
some business to attend to for a day or two
and left me. Oh, that he was here now! So
you see that no doubt her brother, hearing
that Ralph went to see her, has brought all
this revenge upon her for Ralph’s sake !"

“We will take her from him Were he twice
her brother l” said Mark Manning, resolutely.
“ We boys don't allow brothers, in these parts,
to treat their sisters in this fashion. From
all I can hear, Robert Lee has not got a good
name since he has been at sea; and some
people whisper that he has been in a pirate
vessel 1"

“ That’s what 1 nearn, too," said Hobbs;
“and I believe it about ’un.”

“You mustn’t stand talking here, while
every minute the boat is going further from
us,” cried Mark, who was selecting his party.
In all, fourteen were chosen. The ran back
to their homes for their arms— or in this
warlike day every man possessed guns or pis-
tols—and were to meet him in a few minutes
at the inn stairs, where was chained a long,
swift row-boat, which belonged to Adam Lee.

“ And I wonder Adam Lee hasn’t been up,
and out!" said several voices, as the whole

arty proceeded toward the inn stairs, follow-
lng Mark Manning—who had sent one of the
men for his arms, while he went to rouse
Adam up, to ask for the key of his boat." I

“ He won‘t let ’un have it,” said Hobbs, “if
he knows it is to chase his son l”

“ But if he knows Bob Lee has run off with
his sister, no one knows to where,” said the
coachman, he’ll go, too, in it; for he loves
her more ’n he does Bob—for, in my ’pinion,
there wasn't much love lost atween ’em 1”

He then shook ‘
hands with her, and with his rival; and from ‘

“That there ain't,” answered Hobbs.

The whole crowd now reached the front of
the inn. The day was just beginning to mani-
fest its coming by a scarcely perceptible gray-
ish dawn. The moon, however, still shone as
brightly as at midnight.

“ We must turn him out—it is time he is
up. Yes, We must have his boat, will he or
not!" said some of the men, who began to
shout:

“ 110, Adam Lee!”

“ Up. Master Adam l”

“ House, ho! Come, rouse thee, old Adam;
thou hast more customers before thy door
than thou hast ale for l”

All was silent.

Mark Manning shook the door. Others
rattled at the shutters which we have seen
Adam close so securely the last night.

“ Come, we must either break in the door,
or break the lock to his boat,” said the reso-
lute Mark.

“ Then let us break in the door!” cried a
stout fellow, throwing his shoulder against it.

“Nay,” said Mark, “ it is better to break
the chain. So let the key go. Come, my
lads, he called, as he saw his comrades running
up with their guns, blunderbusses, old swords,
and rusty pistols, “to the boat—we must
take it i"

Scarcely had he spoken, when Hobbs, the
hostler—who had gone round and threw open.
a window, which he knew of—threw open the
door, saying:

“ The old man is not in his room. I stopped
to call him. He hasn't been in his bed ; and
there is a pile o’ bricks on his floor, and things
look strange like. I mistrust something!”

Mark Manning went through the tap straight
to the bed-room. A lamp was just expiring
upon a. little table ; yet it gave sufficient light
to show the pile of bricks, and the cavity un-
der the hearth.

“ This is strange, neighbors l” he said.
“Adam Lee ! Ho, Adam Lee! Look over
the house for him, and call him i”

He then took the lamp, and went and gazed
down the dark, cavernous openin . He saw
stairs, and asked for a candle to be lighted,
which some one gave him.

“I will go down here.”

“ It may be he’s been hiding something; I
never know’d 0’ this place,” said Hobbs.

“There used to be stories of money hid
about here,” whispered an old woman; “ for
once smugglers lived here, they as .”

Mark went down the stairs, and, by the aid
of the light, he found the passage-way, which
he followed until he came to the door, which
was ajar. Close behind him came the doctor,
then Hobbs, then the coachman. As the
young fisherman pulled open the door which
swung toward him, he uttered a or of horror,
as his candle revealed to his start ed gaze the
glaring corpse-faces of the landlord and the
strange captain! The doctor next beheld;
and called aloud: “Murder!” The hostler,
peering over their shoulders, uttered a about
of terror; while the coachman, crowding on
to see what it was, absolutely roared with con-
sternation at the appalling sight. One after
the other, save the doctor and oung Man-
ping, retreated upon the startle crowd, hal-
0mg:

“Murder! Assassins l" -

“ What is it ‘2” cried several voices

“Adam Lee lies stark and still“ in his cellar,
and by him the privateer ca tain l” cried the
coachman, “hot as dead as errings. Afoul
murder 1"

The excitement was now immense. The
men and women ran every way, crying:
"‘ Murder 2" Mark Manning and the doctor
examined the wounds, and decided that they
had mutually killed each other, fighting.

But we will not dwell upon this scene. The
coroner and constable were summoned, and,
after a full debate among them, it was decided
that the privateer captain (who had been seen
in the inn with his men)had either attempted
to rob Adam Lee of some moneys he might
, have hid there, or of his wines; and that

Adam, following him, had fought with him,

and killed him, after being wounded himself l

The doctor’s evidence showed that the wound

in the body of Adam Lee was made with the

hanger which lay upon the floor ; and Robert

Lee, before leaving, had arran ed the bodies

in such a way as to appear to ave fallen in
fight, each With the other.
I But Manning did not ate for the coroner
‘ and his jury; but leaving this process to

 

d

The Mysterious Spy. '7

 

 

the little bustling doctor, he took "the key of
the boat from the nail, where it hung above
Adam's bed, and hastened to the water-stairs.
He was followed by sixteen young fellows, all
armed impromptu. The boat was unlocked
and manned, and pushed off, almost without
a spectator, leaving the scene of murder be-
hind—for the discovery of the dead bodies
had drawn the attvntioii of all to the subter-
ranean chambers of the inn.

“ Now, my friends," said Mark, “ we have
a serious work to do! It is nearly half an
hour since Robert Lee asscd the bridge to-
ward the Hudson. Ill: is two miles’ pull
nearly to the main river. He must be nearly
out of the creek. Now, bend to your oars,
for the rescue of the loveliest girl ever known.
You have all seen Rose Lee. You know how
beautiful she is! You know how I loved her,
and was rejected for a better man than my-
self—Ralph Turner—whose bravery we are all

roud of! Now, her brother, because he
,ikes him not, has made her swear not to no-
tice him ; but, like a brave girl as she is, she
has defied him, and he has carried her off!
—where, or for what pur ose, I know not!
But, it is rumored, he is a uccaneer. I dare
say, with truth. It is said that a strange ves-
se is lying in the North River, near Fort Lee.
In fact, the privateer captain is said to have
been seen coming from her to this creek.
The gardener says he saw Robert Lee and
this captain talking together in the yard, and
heard something said about his vessel under
the Palisades. Therefore, it is my opinion
that Robert Lee has gone in his boat to that
vessel, and takes his sister there ! If we
would rescue her, we must overtake the boat
before it gets along-side of that vessel. Give
way, strong and hearty, men !"

his address was made to them while the

were rowing up the creek, with all their
strength bending to their grateful task, with
a good-will.

Mark Manning, who had been many cruises
to sea in his father‘s fishing-smack, and once
in a privateer from New London, was readily
obeyed by his less skillful friends ; and while

,cight of the sixteen men rowed, the rest ex-
amined the guns and pistols to see that they
were ready for service. Among them, one
gun without a lock, and another without a
flint-stock, Were laid in the bottom of the
boat, as worthless.

“ We muster,” said Manning, “ eleven mus-
kets and fowling-pieces, and four pistols, be-
sides five broadswords and six bayonets, and
a scythe ! This will do l—for there were but
ten men in the barge, including Robert Lee ;
so the doctor said, who saw it, in the broad
moonlight, pass beneath the bridge. Relieve
oars,” he said to his party, after the eight
had rowed a mile along the winding channel
of Spuylzcn Duyvel Creek.

The day was now bright and broad alight
in the cast, but the sun had not yet rolled up
his mighty wheel of fire into sight! The
gray shores grew more distinct, and the gor-
geous autumnal tints became each moment
recognizable to the eye. he reddish blush
of morning soon overspre the heavens, and
the scenery and the faces of all in the boat
were as distinctl visible as in full day. Then
the various gar s of the young farmers and
others of the rescue party became apparent.
There was Eli Gamble, the miller‘s son, in his
mealy jacket and white breaches, all coated
with flour, and his red links—also as gray as
an old man’s—armed with an ancient mus-
ketoon, said to have belon ed to a Dutch
sklpper, his great-uncle! here was Tim
Tuppet, the tnilor’s dashing apprentice, with
an enormous dragoon sword, as rusty and
dull as a hinge, but heavy enough to kill a
man, with the simple descent of its own
w ' t i There was Ichabod Porter, the
stou , good-looking blacksmith, who wielded
not only a musket, but carried a small sledge.
hammer, sticking out of his smut-lined poc-
kets! There was Jacob Browse, who was a
{piner’s ‘onrneyman, who shouldered adoublc-
arrele shot un ; and his cousin, Dick
Browse, who ha a horse-pistol, loaded to the

muzzle. with horse-shoe nails, furnished b

Jacob Browse ! There were also Will Woo v

sey, the farmer; Alex. Ward, the farmer;

Otho Newton, the ferr man ; and George
Budd, John Finch, Jae Shcver, Jack Bal-
lard, and Joe Dent, all fishermen, armed with
muskets and harpoons. There was also the
son of the village parson. Henry Ballardflho
carried a brace of English pistols; and two

 

or three clerks of the village of Harlem,

armed with guns and swords—some of them

having been privates of a volunteer company,

called the “ Spuytcn Duyvel Guards,” which

had only been disbanded a few months, in

order to form a new cor s to enlist under the

Federal flag. One an all of these young

men assembled, on the nonce, at twenty:min-

utcs’ warning, to rescue (or at least attempt

it) the fair Rose Lee—had been her admirers,

[he bolder of them her lovers, and the boldest

had addressed her. Of these, Henry Ballard,

the minister's son, had been the most refined

and the most timid—Jar his was one of those
sensitive and delicate natures which beauty
awes and confuses, and before the bright
glances of which all courages oozes out at
the fin ers. He had never addressed her ;
but had made up his mind fifty times, in the
past three years, to do so. When, now, the
alarming sounds which raised all the people
who lived within half a mile of the inn
roused him, and he learned the situation in
which the overbearing conduct of Robert Lee
had placed her, he hastened also to arm, and
ioin the pursuit.

Thus these sixteen young men were bound
together by one motive, and inspired by the
same feeling. The constituted a brave, de-
VOted, and invinci 19 hand, to whom, all
chances being equal, she might safely confide
her rescue.

While we have been enumerating this part
of heroes, the boat was passing onward wit
all the strength of eight willing oarsmen to.
ward the Hudson.

Mark Manning was at the helm—evar few
moments uttering an encouraging wor , and
even aiding the after-starboard car with one
hand. In the bows sat the others who were
not rowing, awaiting their turn to relieve the
rowors.

The day was already red in the east; and
as they came, all at once, to the opening oi
the creek, and saw the broad Hudson flowin
past them in its ma'esty, the sun rose and

Had the world with ight, as glorious as the
third day of its creation, when it rolled u to
the wondering gaze of Adam, after be ad
supposed it had sunk in ni ht forever. Every
sunset is a new creation —every breaking
morn is a miracle of Heaven; and as great
a marvel as that first morning, when God
said : “Let there be light,” and “ all the sons
of God shouted for joy.”

There was but one in the company of young
men on whom the splendor o the new day
made any impression. To his soul, all was
beauty and glory ; and he gazed about upon
the rainbow-tinted forests, the dark cliffs, the
vast woods, the shining hills, and looming
river, with its eternal palisades, lifting their
Titanic battlements to catch the first beams
of the god of da .

The first use Manning and others made of
the light was to scan the river and shores,
with eagle lances, in search of the boat!
They knew rom the ripple on the water, ere
the emerged from the creek, that it was not
far before them.

“There it is!” cried Henry Ballard, as his
eyes—admiring a lance of sunlight shooting
down between the trees, on the east shore of
the Hudson—caught sight of a boat passin di-
rectly through the shining beams, see ing,
2hc kobscurity of the dark shadows of‘ the
can .

“ Ay," cried Manning, “it is the barge !”

The whole party at once set 11 a about of
joy and menace. The crew of t e barge had
already discovered them ; and Robert Lee
was seen to spring to his feet, and draw a pis-
tol, which he seemed to level at the heads of
the rowers, as if threatening them with death,
if they did not new row with all their strength.
As he was but a uarter of a mile ahead of
the boat, he can! distinctly see and recog-
nize several of the young men, especial y
Mark Manning. He also knew the green and
gilded leasure-boat which belonged to the
inn, an could guess why they wore in it.

“ Now, in lads, and friends all,” said Mark,
“we are to ave an open race for the rescue!
This boat, as the name on the sides, and the
gilded feather carved on the bows, shows

on, is “ The Golden Feather,” named after

ose Lee! It is a good omen! We are
bound to rescue her! Look to your arms,
you that are not rowing; and you will row
with all your might. Harry Ballard, I wi
make you second in command! Iwill divid
you into two parties! If I board them, you

 

 

.15

 

 

 

will defend our boat, and manage it. If you
board, I will do so! Give way, boys, all l
They are but ten in all, including the three
negrocsl I see the fair form of Rose! See!
Death to him ! She is struggling to rise up,
and make signals to us for aid, and he keeps
her down ; and look, the villain points the
pistol at her head I Now, boys,  you have
one spark of love for her remaining lll your
hearts, you will put me alongside that barge
in five minutes i"

“We must not be too precipitate when we
come up, or he may shoot her,” said Harr .

Manning shuddcred, and then said, Wit a

ale cheek:

“He dare not! He dare not! lf—”

His attention was drawn by a shout from a
lateen-sail fishing-smack close in by the shore,
along which they were now rowing after the
barge. It was from a fisherman on board. _1~le
was steering so as to meet them, yet givmg
the barge a wide berth.

“ Ho! hilloah! Do you know them are be
pirates you are chasin’ 1’”

“ Worse, if possible! But how do on know
it ?” demanded Mark, shouting bnc to the
land, as he surged rapidly along. .

The reader need hardly here be reminded
that Mark Manning was yet ignorant of the
true character of the men in the barge. It is
true one of the young men had said that it
Was whis cred that the party who were carous-
ing in he inn were buceaneers, rather than

rivatecrsmen. But they only suspected
ii'om their conduct, their character. That
Robert Lee had come home from sea with the
reputation of having been buccaneering, was
well known to all about Harlem ; but our party
of young men did not know but that priva-
teersmen might not be quite as uproarious as
an pirates under the influence of spiced ales
and good wines. That the privateer schooner,
so called, from which the barge came was a
pirate, there was not one in the Golden Fea-
ther believed; for of late years a pirate in
the North River had not been heard of.

Yet, during awar, when rivatsersmen (that
is, private armed vessels were sent out by
merchants with letter-of-marque commissions
from the government, to cruise against the
enemy‘s commerce, it would not have been a
ver difficult matter for a regular bucosneer,
an or false apers, to enter the bays and rivers
about New ork, under the disguise of a pri-
vateer‘s flag. The class of vessels, long, low
black sehooners, which the lawful privatecr-
captain loved, was of the very character buc-
cancers made use of in their foraging cruises
—lords of the wide main:

“ o’er the glad waters of the dark-blue sea,
Their thoughts as boundless and their souls in free;

For as the breezes waft the blllows foam
Survey their empire, and behold their home.”

CHAPTER X.

“ How do you know it is a pirate-boat?”
called Mark Manning to the tall fisherman on
the deck of the smack which was darting by
toward the south, in the direction of the city.

“I know it well enough, Mark Manning,"
he answered. “I have been aboard. It was
last night. I offered to sell them some fish.
Such a blood-thirsty set never sailed in an
honest craft! Moreover, when I got away I
found this Frenchman swimming! at my rud-
der ring; I took him in. He tol me it wasa
pirate from the coast 0’ Nova Scotia. His
vessel had been taken, and all sunk but him.
The kept him because he was a carpenter."

T us speaking, he pointed to a small red-
haired man, who sat upon the hatchway,
dressed in a blue shirt, and duck long trows-
ers.

men continued to row on without stopping.

The man answered, but the first name was
indistinguishable; but the words, “and Rob.
Leo is his first lieutenant. I am on my way
down to the city to let some privatecrs there
know, in order to have him taken afore he gets
to sea again I”

“Now, my men," said Mark, “ we know
what we havo to do. These are iratesl
Robert Lee is conveying his sister to is own
vessel; for, without doubt, the man we saw
dead was the irate-captain of her. He is
now, therefore, in chief command! You ma
judge that a pirate will have little mercy for
any woman, even though she be his sister.
He will marry her to one of his companions,
or, Heaven knows! perhaps sell her for
“odds” ‘

“ Who is the captain i" asked Mark, as his.

16

The Mysterieesfipv-

 

The Golden Feather flew over the water
now like the wind. Her feather bow out the
surface like a spear, and turne it over on
either side of her pathway like arches of
flowing silver, falling into foam.

There was an eager, earnest, resolute air on
the faces of all. Some with their pistols cock-
ed, or their guns brought to the shoulder, gaz-
ed upon the flying barge with set teeth and
burning eyes. Mark stood at the rudder,
pale, resolved, calm, and terrible in aspect.

Iis breath was quick, and his chest heaved
like a storm billow. He looked as if he could,
:ith his own impatient will, give wings to his

oat.

The barge was also doing its best. The

irates, urged by the voice and gestures of

obert Lee, sent their boat through the water
at a rapid rate. But they were not fresh
like their pursuers. They had passed the first
part of the night reveling at the “ Red Oak,"
and had no sleep the remainder ; and they
had been rowing steadily since they took the
maiden out of the water, and received on
board their new captain. Fatigue soon began
to tell upon them.

Mark perceived that he gained slowly upon
them, and encouraged his oarsmen.

The reader, in order to form an intelligent
idea of the locality of the present scenes, is
informed that where the inlet, or the mouth of
Spuyten Duyvel Creek opens into the Hudson,
the shore of the river on the north side of the
creek extends half a mile westwardl before
it bends northward to form the east ank of
the river; and that the river here is more
than a mile and a half in breadth to the shores
of Hackensack ; that Fort Lee is a short dist-
ance above on the west shore, and thence ex-
tends northward the great, natural wall of the
mi hty Palisades.

obert Lee, finding himself pursued (not at
all to his surprise, for he knew the firing and
ise would rouse the people), kept close along
gs spur of the shore until he came to the
oadland, where the river-bank turned north-
wardly. Here he left the shelter and eddy,
and steered directly across to Fort' Lee, in a
' diagonal course. It was agood hour’s pull to
reach his vessel—anchored not far above the
old, and then dismantled fort—especially with
the current against him.

As soon as Mark saw him leave the land
and strike across, and perceiving that he was
going direct for his vessel, which was just
perceptible, lying close under the gray clifl'l,

e or ed. '

“ Now we shall have them !"

“It is a contest of strength !” said Harry
Ballard, his fine eyes glowing with excite-
went.

“Buan huzza!" shouted the rest of the
men. 6‘ To the rescue of Golden Feather!"

“ Relieve oarsfi’ said Mark, as he got fairly
out into the 0 en river—with the chase about
eight hundre yards ahead.

The boat felt the impulse of her fresh oars-
men, and almost leaped her length out of the
water at every pull. They rose to their feet
and flun themselves back with the whole
weight 0 their bodies u on their cars, until
the water roared aroun her, and the wake
boiled and seethed like a caldron. '

The skippers who stood on the decks. of
their great white-mainsailed sloo s, which
were swec ing down the river be are a fair
wind, watched the race with eager interest,
little comprehending its object ; save those,
close to whom the boats passed, and who could
see the light of battle on the faces of Mark’s
part , and the arms in their hands. The
who e population of the shore, as well as or
the river, saw the pursuit and shouted their
applause of encouragement—some supposing
,it a mere boat-race for a wager; others per-
ceiving that it was a chase of war.

“ It is a boat load of English prisoners as
has escaped, I guess,” said one skipper to his
mate.

“It must be a boat load of smugglers,"
said another; “and that’s a perlice boat a’ter
’em 1"

“It is that privateer’s boat that the are
chasing,” said some lockers-on from the s ore ;
“ perhaps the crew have committed a murder
on land. That is Mark Manning at the helm.
What can it all be 1‘"

Ignorant of the true cause of the fierce
pursuit and eager flight, one and all cheered
the boat on board which the sixteen lovers of
Golden Feather were, which now perceptibl

sined on the barge, upon the stern of wine

best Lee stood, pistol inhand. and seem-

 

 

ingly with one foot on the form of Rose, keep-
ing her down out of sight in the boat.

The race each instant became more excit-
ing. The distance between the two boats
grew less. At intervals, Mark’s party, una-
ble to suppress their feeling, burst out into a
shout—a sort of battle-cry of defiance and
vengeance.

“Harry, hand me your gun," said Mark.
“It will send a bullet further than mine. I
must fire upon Robert Lee, or he will get to
the schooner yet, in spite of all our efforts.

“Let us all fire, Captain Mark i” cried sev-
eral of the oung men, cockin their pieces.

“No ! on ,may hit her. on know I am
a true and dead shot! I will knock him over-
board, and then we shall have it our own way.
Give way, one and all. Lay out all your
strength, men. Now, steady! Ease you.
oars, all. Let her glide a second."

He raised the gun to his shoulder, and
bringing the sight for an instant to the range
of the person of Robert Lee, he drew the trig-
ger. A flash, a loud report, and all eyes were
fixed upon Robert Lee. They saw his hat fly
ofl‘ into the air, struck by the ball, while he
returned the fire with his pistol, and a shout
of derision, and mocking Manning on his poor
gunnery. But fearing that other balls would
come after him more steadily sent, he stooped,
and raising the form of Rose in his arms, he
held her before him as a shield, and, shout-
ing, bade them fire—for there was a fair mark
for their shots 1”

“ The coward !"

“ The cold-blooded villain l”

“ The desperado !”

“ The craven pirate 1”

These were the e ithets which this base and
nnmanly act broug t upon him.

“You see, men,” said Mark, “that he dc-
fies us, and does not mean to be taken. It
won't do to fire. All depends on the cars!
Each man who is not rowing will bend to an
car with his fellow—two men to each car.
We will at come up with him."

The additional impetus of sixteen arms was
at once felt. The boat trembled in ever art
like an aspen leaf. The spray dashed hig on
the bows, and fell in showers over them.

“ Keep your powder dry! Turn down the
muskets, or brin all the fire-arms aft here,
Harry,” he crie , with ringing and excited
tones.

The barge also got new impetus, as Robert
Lee threw overboard a cask of water, and then
all the jackets of the men, and two or three
pieces of <plank, in order to lighten her. She
shot ahea , however, only for one instant, and
then the pursuing boat came on hand over
hand, like the avenger of wrongs! Each in-
stant lessened the distance between them,
when a sloop descending the river passed so
slowly between the pursuer and pursued, that
the boat in chase had to hold up to prevent
striking at full speed against her counter, and
to dela full half a minute before it could
procee on its course.

There was a loud and angry denunciation
b the young man of the skip er of the sloop,
who, in his curiosity to see t e pursuit, had
luffed, and so checked the progress of his
craft.

The barge profited by the delay, and went
at the swiftest speed for the Hackenssck shore,
'yet heading up toward the schooner, which
each instant became more distinct in its dark
form and shar outlines, its raking masts and
generally misdhievous and bold aspect; for
vessels have an “ expression” to them as well
as people, and one as easily interpreted by
seamen. The peculiarly piratical character
of this stranger—slthoug she entered the
harbor of New York under privateer’s colors,
and was suffered to pass up to her anchorage
under the Palisades without hindrance, the
day before the opening of our story—had at-
tracted the notice of the eople who lived
about on the shores, and o the craft on the
river. It is true, privateersmen, as we have
already said, often affected a buccaneering
look, and so this vessel mi ht have passed for
what she retended to be,
visages of) the crew. It was this that main y
drew suspicion on her; for it 'was well-known
that the crews of the
most who]
board the corpion looked like Spaniards.

But we know why she is anchored there! 2

Or does the memory of the reader require a

little refreshing upon what we only hinted at '

before 1’ That Ro ert Lee was at sea in a pi-
rate vessel when he heard from the dying buc-

 

ut for the forei n l

rivateers consisted al-.
of Americans, while the men on ,

vv—x

' caneer, Cassin, of'the treasure-chest, we re-

collect very well. We also remember that he
at once left the pirate vessel, and returned
home on the Corvette Cyane, an American
man-o’-war, on which he shipped as seamen.
He came in order to avail himself of his
knowledge of his father’s secret to possess
himself of his treasure, and also to secure the
love, as “a lover,” of Rosalie.

Before leaving the West Indies, he had
lanned with the captain of the irate vessel

in which he had been second 0 'cer, that he
should, as soon as he had returned from an
expedition to Jamaica, sail for New York;
and, as a privateer, anchor in North River
and visit him at the Red Oak, where the pi-
rate chief, weary of his roving life, and get-
ting grav, was to sell his captaincy to Robert
Lee for half the treasure, and assist him, if
need were, in conveying “ his bride" on board
his vessel.

We have seen how painfully and m steri-
ously to her Robert Lee made use of is se-
cret, that Rose was not his sister! He hoped
to win her heart as a lover, so that when—as
he intended to do—he should reveal to her the
fact that they were not related, she would be
willing to become his wife. We have seen
how senselessly and unnaturally he acted to
secure her heart and affections to him as her
future husband—defeating, by his gross igno-
rance of women and of love, the very object
be aimed to accom lish. From the fact, too,
that her su pose father, who was struck
down by A am Lee on board the English
ship, was a man of rank, and had so large a
quantity of plate, he hoped by marrying her
to become enriched if he shou d (as he resolv-
ed to try to do), dicover her family. It was,
therefore, in order to compel her to marry
him, if she should (on being told that she was
not his sister) refuse, that he had resolved to
take her, with the treasure, to the Scorpion.

“ Once my wife," he reasoned, “ I can then
steer for England; and if I find she is an
heiress, as I believo she is, to great wealth, it
will all become mine i”

We now comprehend the motives which
have been actuatm the conduct and leading
to the plans of R0 ert Lee.

Let us now follow him, as in possession of
the treasure and of the maiden; but under
other circumstances than he had contemplated,
we beheld him approaching his vessel.

Once more the boat with the sixteen al-
lant wooers of Golden Feather recovered or
lost headway. Robert Lee saw that they were
gaining upon him faster than ever, or his
oarsmen were won with rowing after their
night’s debauch. Es still held Rose between
him and the fire of his pursuing foes! One
of his men, who was now the first lieutenant,
all at once threw down his oar, and said, with
an oath, in Spanish:

“ I am a gentleman, and I’ll pull no longer.
Let us face about and fight them!”

“ Ay i” cried the other rowers, all of whom
but the three Ethiops were inferior officers of
the Scorpion, “let them come on i”

“They are two to one,” answered Robert
Lee. “ They are furies armed. See the fierce
resolution in their faces, as they look round
while they row. We shall lose our treasure!
Once more give way, my brave officers.”

“ Only on condition you give us all the
late in the accursed chest which makes us
rag so heavily.”

“It is yours I” he cried, almost wild with

madness.

They once more bent to their oars, when
Robert Lee, finding that the boat of aven-
gers was coming in fast, suddenly unloosed
from his waist a red sash, and placing it on
the point of his dagger, he waved it toward
the schooner—at the same time ordering his
men to fire at the boat in order to attract the
attention of the schooner, which was now but
half a mile distant. q

“ Fire astern !" he cried. “ I know thevr -
lains are beyond pistol-shot, but they may
hear us on my vessel and send a boat to our

' aid.”

The simultaneous discharge of eight pis-
tols, the bullets of which ricochetted along
the water and then sunk ere the went half
way to Manning’s boat, create I. report
which was heard on the Scorpion.

At the moment, the officer of the deck was
smoking his cirgarette, and idly lolling over
the quarter, his mep being dispersed in
groups about the forecastle at breakfast. He
saw the two hosts, as he did other objects
moving on the water; but they attracted, at

has» r4< --~w

 

 

lmil‘ great distance, no particular attention,
nor caused any speculation. But suddenly,
the flash of the pistols and the confused, com-
biiied reports from the head boat, caused him
to start from his attitude of indifference, and
take his spy—glass from the to of the com~
panion-way, where he had lai it some time
before, after having in vain scanned the op-

osite shores in search of the captain and his

urge, and wondering why it had not come
off during the night. The men forward, also
hearing the distant firing, some of them rose
to look in the direction whence the sound
came, and could plainly see some one waving
a red scarf toward them; but it was too far
for them to distinguish with the eye who it
was.

But the oflicer of the deck, the only one
left on board, had no sooner placed his glass
to his eye and taken one look, than he called
out in a voice of quick and stern authority :

“Away, there! you second-cutter menl
Man the long boat! Oars, arms, all! Not a
moment’s dela ! It is our barge chased by
a cutter crow ed with armed men, not five
hundred yards behind her! Tumble down
into the boat all you quarter boarders ! Each
man take his cutlass and pistols! Lively-—
lively! they ain upon them i”

The long cat, which would hold thirty
men, and was pulled by twelve cars, and
which lay along side, was in a few moments
filled with armed pirates, and two ordinary
boat’s crews with cars, headed by the captain
of the forecastle guns.

“Give way, hard and strong, men! If you
get there in time to give relief, don’t pursue
the other boat. We are in no place to show
fight. Break your backs, there, you fellow“
you’ve not a moment to spare."

The long-boat darted away from the Scor-
pion with a head of foam roaring about her

ows, while the pirates set up a shout intend-
ed to intimidate the pursuing boat.

“Confound the captain and the officers,”
said the quarter-master; “ they have got in-
to some quarrel and betrayed their cloth, and
this comes of it. But where is e1 capitano ‘3"

he continued, his glass at his eye. “I see
‘only Lieutenant Lee in command of the boat.
Has old gray moustache been killed in a fray,
ashore? A young girl, too! Ah, yes; there
was something said about one to be brought
off—Lee’s sister. A nice place this for an
officer’s sister. Every man to his taste !
There goes the long-boat fast and free to the
rescue. They will get there in time. N 0!
 is that? An enemy from a new quar-
er

While he was speaking,'he saw the long-
boat a scene of confusion, broken oars flying
into the air, pistols and men, while the roar
of a heavy gun revealed the cause. A can-
non-ball, from an unseen source, had struck
the long-boat in the midst, not only killing
three of the pirates, but breakin the boat in
two and causing her rapid] to 11, while the
surface of the river aroun it was black with
the heads of the drownin or swimming buc-
caneers on whom this su den vengeance had
fallen.

The quarter-master was not for more than
a moment ignorant of the source of this well-
aimed shot. The forward deck of a hand-
somely-painted new Albany sloop was half-
vriled with a cloud of smoke, while three or
four men wire seen on board gathered about
a swivel which the were reloading. ’

The skipper of this sloop, in coming down
the river cforc the wind, seeing, while yet
some distance off, the chase, had, with a spy-
glass, been enabled to perceive that it was a
party of armed young men in pursuit of a

oat full of Spaniards and negroes bearing off
a young girl. With an honest and plain man,
duty and common sense need no teachin .
He saw at a glance that there was mischieg;
and steering near Mark‘s boat, he hailed to
know if he wanted help.
, “Ay, captain,” crie Manning. “The chase
is a pirate running ofl‘ with one of our village
iris."
g “Then here’s at himl Boys, bring that
swivel to bear on the boat 1” shouted the
skip er, lufling with the wind, all shivering.

“ ot for the world! You will kill her!”
cried Herr Ballard. “But there comes a
boat to he p them; you can blaze away at
that l” >

The ski per himself sighted the six-pounder
swivel, w ich he carried on] to fire salutes
with on coming into port, an when the launch
had got half-WmY to the barge. he fired.

 

, bokcn had
‘ hind. Eachnionicntthe pimlc slid away from

The Mysterious Spy. _

At the result, the party under Mark set up
a. wildcry of victory, while the common of
the barge under Robert Lee seemed appalled;
for they suspended for an instant their row-
ing ; but he leveh-d his pistol at their heads,
and menaccd them on.

The Golden Feather now bounded ahead
with new spirit, when the quarter-master,
who had alrcnd ' given orders to make sail
and slip the cab c ready for flight as soon as
the barge should (if possible) reach the
schooner, seeing that it was in danger of be-
ing boarded by the pursucrs, brought a nine-
pounder carronadc gun to bear on Mark’s

oat. While it was being charged with grape,
a part of the crew Were making sail, a art
had cut the cable, while half a dozen in a
small cutter had gone out to pick up their
drowning males.

“ Malfecho! This is the last day-light
those fellows shall see i" cried the quarter-
master, as he touched the priming with his
cigar.

The gun, overcharged, rebounded so with
the discharge, that the shower of deadly mis-
siles flew over the heads of the party of oung
men, roaring, whistling, shrieking in tie air,
as if a troo ) of screaming devils had darted

sst, invisibly. The brave band of youths,
instead of being appalled, pressed forward,
encouraged b the voice of their leader, which
now rung wit 1 the metal of battle.

But all in vain. The schooner, under her
jib and forl-sail, and released from her anchor,
was adroitly steered toward Robert Lee’s

boat, picking u , by ropes thrown over, the"

swimmers, unti the barge was met by it and
pulled to the gangway, with the last expiring
strength of the rowers.

The first words that Robert Lee uttered, as
he came alongside, was :

“Give them a broadside at once, Domingo.
Sink the scoundrels 1”

Rose, seeing that she was now wholl in
the power of this dreadful young man, w iom
she now knew to be a pirate, uttered a cry of
despair, and would have sought shelter in the
bosom of the river, but for his intervention.
She was lifted on board, and borne by him to
the cabin, more dead than alive.

When Manning and his friend saw that the
barge was safe under the guns of the schoon-
er, there was at fii-sta desire to pursue and
board her ; but wiser councils prevailed over
a course that would have been direct mad-
ness; for they could see that the vessel car;
ried nine guns—four carronades to a side, he-
sides a long fifty-six on the forecastle.

The schooner also rapidly moved down
the river, drag ing her boats after her, her

arts open an her' men at the guns, as if
defying attack or attempted capture. The
broadside was not discharged, from motives
of prudence; for, on second thought, as he
came up out of' the cabin, Robert Lee felt that
any extreme hostilities like these would bar
his course to sea—if it would not be already
barred; so he crowded on all sail to escape
from the river, triumphing in the possession
of Rose Lee and her treasure of silver.

 

CHAPTER n.

Mark Msnnin and his party, though foiled
in capturing R0 ert Lee’s boat, and rescuing
Rose from her wicked “ brother’s” power (for
her brother he was yet believed to be), re-
solved not to abandon all hope of recovering
the lovely girl from his grasp. As they saw
the Scorpion spreading all sail to escape down
the river, he gave the word to pull hard and
fast to the city, in order to give the alarm, and
try and cut the pirate off from the sea.

“ The wind is not so strong but we can row
faster than'she can sail," said Mark. “ There
is a new privateer anchored off the Battery,
which, when I was down in the city, three
days ago, was ship ing men. She was fully
equipped for sea ; at her captain, they sai ,
had not been appointed. If we can get word
to her, she can, with a broadside or two,
check the career of this Robert Lee 1”

So the young men bent to their cars, and
went down the river like an arrow. The
Scorpion kept near the Jersey shore, and
setting her ying gib and fore-top gallant-
mast, and gaf-topsail, glided swiftly and si-
lently down the stream.

But the wind increasing, as if to favor her
escape, the Scorpion soon forged far ahead of
the pressing boat, and when opposite Ho-

cft Mark and his crew a mile be-

\

 

 

1'7

 

his pursuers; got oppositc the city, which it
passed, boldl , and laid her course for the Nar-
rows. But t is fishing smack, which we have
already spoken of as steering for the city to
give the alarm had already made known to a
revenue boat the character of the schooner
up the river; and the boat put off to the
irivateer vessel, in order to make known the
fact. But there was no ollicer in command
on board, only a ship-keeper, and he stated
lhat there was not crew enough on board to
do anything; and, in fact, that he dare, not
move an anchor without orders from the
owners on shore. Nothing discoinfited, the
revenue boat pulled into the Battery, where a
park of guns was kept, but the captain was
away; thence to Governor‘s island, where was
an open battery in cmbrusiircl It was not
lhe present fort, but merely a breastvwork
mounted with long eighteen and twenty-four
pounders.

Searcely had the officer in command heard
the news than the suspicious schooner came
in sight, dashing toward the passage between
the island and the main. The officer—although
most of his men were in the city, like the
commander of the Broadway Battery, in order
to add éclat to the military reception of the
hero ofLake Eric, the youthful Captain Perry
—at once got two guns to bear; and when the
schooner got within range, opened his fire.

Mark Manning saw, a mile and a half off,
the flash, and heard the thunder of the gun,
and his heart became almost dead within
him :

“They know not what a treasure that
schooner holds, or they would not fire ! The
shot may kill her i" This last pronoun showed
what treasure was in his thoughts.

“ Heaven preserve her! There goes a sec-
bnd gun i" cried Henry Ballard. standin up
with excitement, and watching with dres the
effect of the firin . Shot after shot followed,
The schooner diii not respond, but kept on
her course, with desperate recklessness.

“ The )irate seems to be guarded b 1
spell I” said Mark. “ Not a shot has hit him-
See, I believe he is beyond range now, and
showing his heels at the fort i”

It was truc ! The Scorpion having received
a shot through her fore-sail, and another be-
tween wind and water on her larboard-beam,
passed swiftl out of range, and laying her
course for t is N arrOWs, soon faded away
from sight in the hazy atmosphere that hung
over the Lower Ba *.

13 this time, the party commanded by
Mar had reached lhe Battery, at the ex-
tremity of the city, but hopeless, sad, discom-
fited. The firing had brought an immense
crowd to the landing, whore, feeling it was
useless to pursue farther, he steered the boat
iii. He was soon surrounded by numbers who
"made numerous inquiries, and when it was
generally known that the escaped vessel was
a buccaneer, which had ascended the Hudson
under the flag of aprir steer, and carried off the
loveliest maiden of Harlem or all the country
round, and murdered Adam Lee in his own
inn, the excitement was very great. This
being the day on which Perry was to receive
the ovation of the city for his gallantry, thou-
sands were congrcgatcd there from all the
vicinity, for leagues. The appearance of this

arty of sixteen young men, armed and reso-

iiite, attracted universal attention; and while
Mark was relating to a colonel of the city
troops, who had been drawn to the spot, the
facts, a erson came u ), and said that Com-
modore err , who had just then arrived at
the Mayor's ouse, the last house in Broad-
way on the West side, opposite the north ate
of the Battery, having been told the facts, ad
requested that Mark should come and see him,
as he desired to hear from him the particulars.
He, therefore, not a little proud at the honor
of being presented to the great naval hero of
the da , left Harr in command of the boat
and of is men, an went with the messenger.
He felt sad and disappointed at the escape of
Robert Lee with his sister; but he tried to
bear u , and meet the hero with cheerfulncss
and s f-possession.

Until the victory of Lake Erie, a succession
of disasters from the British arms had visited
the frontier along the lakes. National con-
fidence, patriotism, public spirit, were para-
lyzed. At this critical juncture, Perry won
his brilliant victory upon Lake Erie. It elec-
trified the country With joy and confidence ;
credit, patriotism, and pride of country were
at once restored. The hero of this victory
was hailed, from Maine to Louisiana, as the

~ 4_.__ -4

 

18

 

“ Deliverer of the Frontier," “ The Conqueror
of the Conquerors of Europe," and as the
“bright, particular star" in the constellation
of American naval heroes.

Every American bosom beat with joy.
Public rejoicing bore testimony to the grati-
tude and happiness of the nation. In the p rin~
cipal cities illiiminations took place, and
every VillflL’O participated in the general joy.
“ The merchant,” says the historian, “laid
iiside his ledger; the mechanic, the implements
of his trade ; the man ofbusiness suspended his
enterprises; the laborer, his toil, and the specu-
lator, for the day, forgot his dreams of gold ;
while woman, beautiful and patriotic Woman,
uninfluence-l b the alluremciits of other ob-
jects, and the landishments of personal ad-
miration, lent to the scene all her sweet in-
fluences, and all the charms oflier presence !"

When Mark was ushered into the presence
of the hero, who stood in the drawing-room,
receiving and shaking hands with all who
crowded forward to do him homage, he bOWed
with modest self-possession, and stood aside
admiring the andsome face, gallant bearing,
and resolute, yet courteous aspect of the hero.
After a few moments, when there was a ces—
satiion in the rush of visitors, Captain Perry
sai : .

“Step aside with me, here, by the win-
dow." And standing in the eastermost window,
on the south side of the house, looking out on
the Battery, he said: “ You are the young
sailor who has reported a buccaneer vessel to
have just gone to sea !”

“ I am hardly a sailor, sir, but rather a fish-
erman."

“ Of which our best seamen are made. Tell
me what you know of the escaped schooner.
I have heard only confused reports !”

“Two days ago. sir, an armed schooner,
under a privateer-flag, came up as far as the
Fair ades, and anchored. Last night she sent
a boat, with seven or eight foreign-looking
men, into Spiiyten Duyvel Cri ck, to the Red
Oak Inn, by King's Bridge. There they ca.-
roused till after midnight, and then departed,
after murdering the inn-keeper, leaving their
captain dead, and carrying off a young girl,
Rosalie Lee, the inn-keeper‘s daughter, the
loveliest maiden in all that region! I, with a
dozen and more of my companions armed our-
selves, took a boat, and gave chase !”

Mark then went on briefly to give an ac:
count of the events which followed, and the
successful escnpe of the schooner out to sea,
defying pursuit, and mocking at the batter-
008.

“What was the name of the schooner?”

“I do not know, sir. But there is a man in
my boat, whom I took charge of as soon as

I landed here who had been in the pirate 1

vessel, and escaped, and was taken up by a
:hallop. The skipper has butjust now placed
' 1m in my hands; for I at once felt the import-
’ nets of having him to obtain information
from i"

" You were very prudent! Will you go
and bring him here ? What is your name ?”

“Mark Miinnipg.”

“ I shall not forget you. Return immedi-
ate] With your man.”

Mink, on reaching the quay, found the man
the skipper had picked up, who was a little

Canadian Frenchman, and the sole survivui‘ .

of the Nova Scotia shallop which the pirates
had, as the reader is already informed, cap-
tured at. sea, saving him only because he was
useful for his trade.
before the hero, who thus questioned him:

“ You were a Canadian Frenchman ?"

“ Oui, Monsieur Capitainc l” answered the
petite man, bowing to the ground.

“ You were captured by a pirate !”

“ C‘esl orai, Monsieur! Diable buceaneerl
He tué—what you call—kill moin brot’er,

mon pére, my von little brot’er, and un, deux, ‘

trois plus des hommes! Dey keepee me—
moil parce-que moi—Jo cut, saw, nail down——
hammer — one charpentier. Dey kill like
sheeps—moutons—toute le monde! Tres mall
much had people i Capitaine—ma foi l—dia—
ble soi-méme l”

“ What was his name ‘2”

“ Je nevaire hear nothin’, mon capitaine !" ,

“ What was the vessel's name ‘3"

“ Le Scorpion !——diable iiom !”

“ How many guns ‘1’"

“ Huit, vot you call hem—sight! Nine-
pound shots, et un gran’ magiiiflque cannon
cinquante—six livres do shotsl”

“HOW many men ?”

He soon brought him i

The Mysterious Spy. w

 

__J

 

i “Qiiarante-vingts, what you call—aightee ‘

mans !”

“Where did she sail from to come to
this ort ?"

“ amaique !”

“ How long have you been in her ?”

“ Sev—en mont! Four cruise."

, “ Have you any idea whercrshe is now bound
,‘ to ‘2"

“ Angle'terre ! I hear dem speaks ’bout
sailin’ dare wid de new capitaine l”

“ What new captain ‘3”

“ De Monsieur Lee, premiere officier, I hear
speaks, vas to he ca )itaine after de pirate
got into le riviere e Hudson. I hear do
capitaine talk ’bout some ma‘m’selle to go,
vot you call d’aller, in do vessele to L'Angle-
terre when dey catch her an’ bring her
boord l”

“ Do you think she has now sailed for Eng-
land ?”

“ Dat I tink. Je ne sais pas. Me don’t know.
Me believe dat is so !"

“Now, my young friend,” said Perry, ad-
dressing Mark. “ you see we have got out of
this poor fellow all he knows. The schooner
is plainly a buccaneer. She has effected the
purpose on which she seems to havo ventured
into these waters, viz., in carrying off a young
lady! It is possible she has gone to England.
What is there peculiar in relation to this maid-
en thus openly carried off?”

“ She is very lovely, and the daughter of
Adam Lee, the innkecper at King‘s Bridge,
who was early this morning found dead in his
wine-cellar. By his side lay the body of the

irate-chief, as if he had been slain by the
liindlord in defending his life, or perhaps
money.”

“ It was, then, probably an affair of love.
The pirate who has abducted her is her lov-
er !”

“ By no means, Captain Perry,” saidMark,
with emphasis. “ The new captain is the
brother of the young girl!”

“ The brother ?”

“ One would believe not from his conduct
toward her. He has ever been a tyrannical
brother, and of late as jealous of her as a
lover! He has recently made her take oath
not to speak to, look upon, or marry any

oung man without his permission. We be-
lieve it is because her lover came home yes-
terday, and went to see her: that the brother.
finding it out, has taken her to sea with him.
, He was once a sailor, but became a pirate.
i and it seems was really attached to this pirate
vessel, although he came home from sea some
Weeks ago. But she is hardly arrived ere the
officers are at the inn of his father carousing
and whispering with him, as I hear say.”

“ It is a singular tale! Who is her lover 9”
And the hero looked half smilingly, as if he
thought he beheld him before him.

“ The whole party with me have been at
one time or other Rose Lee’s lover, sir! But
when she preferred another to us, we thought
no less of her; and late events have shOWed
he was worthiest of her of us all.”

“ That is a ri ht, generous, and manly
speech," answereECaptain Perry. “Who is
the favored youth? Methinks he ought to
have been in your company, if not its lead-
er!”

“So he wonld have been, Captain Perry;
and perhaps if he had been, we might have
succeeded better, though we did our best.”

“i dare say you did. I heard you pulled
up under the very guns of the schooner, and
even stood her fire of grape in your open
boat!”

“ I wish now we had boarded her, sir, though

 

could row, and we were pretty tired. I wish
Ralph had been with us. As I was saying,
sir, he left last night on business for a day or
two up East River.”

“A pity! Ralph who ?"

“ Ralph Berry Turner, sir.”

“ What, my brave fellow Ralph. the boldest
heart that ever beat beneath a blue jacket!
He was to be here to—day. Is he the lover?
Poor fellow ! This will be hard news for him
‘ to hear when he gets back.”

“Indeed it will, sir. I should be sorry to

' be the one to break it to him. His mother
thinks he will be at home to—morrow."

I “ I was in hopes to have seen him to-day.

‘ He is invited with other of my oflicers to the
great ball to-night; for he is to share some
of the glory 9f the victory to which he so
largely contributed by his valor. I am, he

the wind pushed her ahead faster than we ,

assured, more and more interested in this fair
maiden‘s fate; for a cruel brother may be as
dreadful a tyrant as an unprincipled suitor.”

While he was speaking, an usher of ceremo-

l nies came to the window, and said :

“ The crowd is gathering again in the hall,
and are urgent to be presented to your excel-
lency.”

“Come to see me to—night. In the mean-
time, try and find Ralph. Where does his
‘ mother reside?”

“Nine miles from here.”

“ See her. Ascei-tain where he is gone, and
if he can be sent for. Tell him without fail
to hasten to me. I maybe able to serve him
in his trouble. Come you with him, if you
will, also. Now, farewell! Be diligent in
finding your friend without delay. As for
this Canadian, keep him with you. He may
be of service, there is no telling.”

Mark then left the presence of the hero be-
fore whom the Whole city was doing homage ;
and hastening to his boat, leaped on board,
and gave orders to start for home again.

“ I go to find Ralph," he said. “ The com~
modore says he must be at once found, as he
has something to propose to him. Let us
pull round the Battery, so up East River and
Harlem River to the ridge. We must also
keep this man with us. He has given usa
great deal of information about the schooner,
drawn out of him by Captain Perry, who,
boys, has the kindest heart in the world, and
his eyes glistened when he was told that Ralph
(whom he seems to love almost like a broth-
er), was betrothed to Rose Lee, so cruelly car-
ried away by her lawless brother. His eyes
also flashed through his tears with angry in-
dignation at the daring act. He wishes to see
Ralph at once. He has something on his
mind to propose to him about the matter."

While Mark was absent, several of the pop-
ulation who admired the heroism of the young
men had brought them fruit, cakes, and cof-
fee from the stalls, which were erected about
the Battery fence as on a Fourth-of-July day ;
for the reception of Perry was a universal hol-
iday for the city and country. Mark was also
pressed to refresh himself, for it was now ast
ten o’clock, and they had been fasting since
the evening before.

The boat now got under way again with
eight oarsmen; and as it rounded the Bat
tery, its occupants were cheered by the pop-
ulace. Passing around the shipping part of
the town, they rowed on by Corlaer’s Hook,
and so successively passed Blackwell, Ward,
and Randall’s Islands, until they entered Har-
lem River. By one o’clock they were at
King’s Bridge again ; and great was the sort
row of the people when they heard of the
want of success of the party. On their way
up the creek to the bridge, they had passed
the house of the widow, where Mark sprung
on shore to inquire about Ralph—leaving the
boat to go on to the bridge without him, un-
der the charge of Harry Ballard. It was with
melancholy and gloomy feelings the youn
fellows sought each his own home, surroun ~
ed by relatives and friends who rejoiced to ses
them returned once more, sound and safe}
‘ far from emissaries near the river the chase

had been witnessed. and many a mother and
‘ sister’s heart failed with fear when they be-
: held the distant firing. and saw the flash and
‘ heard the thunder of the cannouade as it was
discharged from the schooner.

“ And did he say he should be gone three
days ?” asked Mark, of Ralph’s mother, whom
he found in her house weeping over the fate

l of Rose, saying she knew her brother would
I kill her, rather than she should be rescued.

“He did not sa certainly, Mark. He did
not not know how lbng. It might be a day—
it might be three.”

Mark then told her what Captain Perry
had said, and ended by asking her to tell him
exactly where he had gone.

“I can go and meet him, and hurry his re
turn.” \

The widow was troubled. Dare she con-
fess to the young American that his friend
had gone, at this crisis of all others, to escort
a spy to a British frigate up the Sound?
Several times the information was upon her
lips, but she suppressed it, for fear it would
not do to trust him with so dangerous a se-
cret—especially as Ralph was his successful
rival. If the widow, however, had known of
the deep fountain of native honor and gentle-
man] feeling in Mark's bosom, she would
readi v have trusted him.

 

 

“ Il'e went on secret business, Mark. I
cannot tell you ; but the moment he returns,
you shall know it. I trust he w111 be back
to-night, for I do wish him to see Captain
Perr .”

“ 31ml] feel for Ral h when on tell him
Rose is gone,” said ark, {"0 ingly. as he
rose to no. “ We did our best to rescue her ;
and he will believe us."

“ That he will, and thank you with all his
heart and soul,” said his mother, as Mark
Went out.

When Commodore Perry had some respite
from the crowd by the arrival of the dinner-
hour, he was conversing with the captain of
the fort, and the mayor, and some officers, up-
on the bold proceeding of the buccaneer
schooner. He was warmly regretting that
the privateer (the only armed vessel in the
harbor. at that time—the ships of war being
cruising at sea after the enemy) was not in
fighting trim to have given chase, when a
lieutenant of the navy in his suite, said :

“ She could be got to sea, sir, I am told, in
thirty hours, if the seamen only knew who is
to command her."

“ What, has she no captain ?”

“ No, sir. The six merchants who own her
and have fitted her out, found, last week, that
the captain they had chosen was not a relia-
ble man, and they have withdrawn his com-
mission.”

“As soon as a captain can be found will
:men enlist ?” demanded Perry.

“ At once, sir," said the captain of the
port, “if he is a man of the right metal, and
they have confidence in him.”

“I know two man for them,” answered the
commodore, slapping his hand on his knee,
with loud emphasis. “ Who are the mer-
chants who fit out the vessel ?”

“I can send them to you, sir, in half an
hour,” said the mayor.

“ Do so ; at least, the chief men.”

Within the time, four of the rich merchants
of the city presented themselves before him,
and said that, hearing he knew of a suitable

captain for their privateer, they would glad-

ly take any man he recommended.

“ What say you, gentleman, to Lieutenant
Ralph Turner? His name and deeds are not
unfamiliar to ou l"

“ We shouldle glad to get such a man.”

“I think you can get him. I will let you
know to-morrow, or by the next day.”

“If he will accept it, we will confer the
command upon him,” answered the mer-
chants; and the interview terminated.

CHAPTER XII.
- We now return to our hero, Ralph Turner,
in the anticipation of whose unhappiness,
when he shall bear the terrible news of the
abduction of Rose, in a pirate vessel, we are
sure our readers sympathize.

We left him, as the reader will remember,
returning in his skiff from the British frigate,
on board which he had placed in safety the
spy, Arthur Percy, in compliance with the
promise he had made to Rose Lee the evening
previous, in the garden alcove by the inn.

t was an errand which was by no means of a
kind agreeable to him, inasmuch as it seemed
like sctigg a‘part against his country, for
which he had been fighting so gallantly, to
connive at, nay, actually accomplish the
escape of a foe, whom the just laws of the
land had condemned to death. But love is
stronger than patriotism, although the old
knightly war-cry of

“ For God, my lady, and my country 5"

would seem to give the sentiments an equal

lace, and put them side by side with hol
aith. Let those oung men who read this
not condemn our ero, until first they have
proved their devotion to their country by
shedding their blood in arms for it; and
Inext, until they have been placed in his posi-
tion, with one dear to him as life placing the
life of another at his disposal, or urging him,
“ for her sake,” (oh, magic words to the true
and young heart!) to save it.

Ralph, after leaving the ship, the wind be-
ing ahead, had to beat in long tacks to and
fro across the Sound; and it was late in the
afternoon when he passed through Hurl-
gate, then roaring with the wild confusion
which led the ancient Dutch burgomasters
and ski pers to give it a name signifying
their be ief in the tradition that it was the
veritable entrance to Hell. But the tide be-

 

The Mysterious Spy. i

ing at half-flood, it was divested of the fear—
ful aspect which at low water it assumed;
and Ralph, who was familiar with the waters
all about East river, passed through it in safe-
ty, although his little bark was tossed and
whirled about in the complex vorticcs of the
boiling surface like a cookie-shell in a seeth-
ing cauldron.

Just as the sun was descending the western
sky in a flood of gold, he entered Harlem
River; and taking the wind on his larbonrd
beam, he was able to lay his course up the
stream. He had not proceeded more than
two miles, when coming to the rapids. he saw
two men fishing, one of whom, on seeing him
sailing past, hailed him, and said :

“ Ho, Master Ralph Turner! Is that you?
We’ve heard of your brave deeds l”

" Yes,” called the other ; “and we are glad
you’ve got back safe and sound from them

loody wars you’ve been in ! Are you just
up from Yor ? We heard you was a-comin’.
And we‘re all mighty proud 0’ you I”

“I got home yesterday, and have only been
down the river.”

“ It’s a pity you was away. Such doings l"

“ Yes," shouted the other, as Ralph sailed
bn. “Have you heard the news ?”

“ What news ?" and Ralph lufled a little to
check his speed.

“ About the pirate and Adam Lee murder-
ed last night, and—”

' “ Adam Lee murdered l" exclaimed Ralph,
starting up. “ And b whom ? Where is
Hose? Is she safe? hat is it all? Whl

did it? Tell me, menvI’ve heard nothing!
Only tell me if Rose is safe l” And he steered
his skifl' straight over to where the two men,
whom he knew very well, were seated in
their boat.

“ Well, all we know is this,” said the elder
of the two.

“ But Rose ?”

“ Well, I guess she’s safe—for her brother
took care of her !” answered the younger.

“How was Adam Lee killed ‘2”

“ As I was tellin’ ; a privatecr schooner was
anchored over in the Hudson, and her captain
and crew pulled ashore, and had a carouse at
the Red Oak.”

“ Yes, yes—I know it! I heard them. Go
!)

on.

“Well, in the night, the whole of the vil.
lags about Harlem Bridge—I mean King‘s
Bridge—was roused by firing of guns and
pistols, and what not—and shoutin’. And
they found on goin’ into the tavern, oldAdam
Lee dead, with his head out off, and the pri-
vateer captain dead, holdin’ the old man’s
head by the hair—showin’ he’d cut it off."

“This is horrible and strange! Did you
see it, Seth Cutts ?"

“Not I! I got up, but I don’t like to be
whar ther’s shootin’ goin’ on ; so I let my old
woman, who don’t fear the devil, go in her
nightcap. And she told me all about it.”

“Its true," said the other man, seeing that
Ralph looked incredulous since the authority
was given to him. “I went myself, and see
Master Adam alyin’ on his back, dead, with
a hole clean through his breast; and the ri-
vateer captain, dead, with a dagger woun in
his neck. The crowner was sittin’ on ’em—
and gave his verdict—‘ Died 0’ killin’ one
another, with malice perpense—both guilty.’ ”

Ralph slightly smiled, but the gravity of
the deed deeply impressed him.

“If this is so—tell me what became of his
daughter!”

"Wall, some said her brother had carried
her off to keep the privateer from catching
her; for they said the rivateer captain was
killed a tryin’ to get ose Lee out of the
house: and old Adam died a defendin’ her;
and Robert Lee then carried her off to a place
0’ safet ."

“ This is some relief to your dreadful news:
But I must go and see for myself.”

“ There was a. set 0’ fellows led by Mark
Manning," called out the younger fisherman,
as Ralph spread his sail and flew away from
them, “ what took boat, and chased the priva-
teer boat: to pay ’em for killing Adam Lee,
and trying to run ofi‘ with Rose. I see ’em
start, all armed, just at da “break, in Adam
Lee’s boat he calls Golden eather.”

These last words were shouted at the top of
his voice by the fisherman, who, the reader
will see, had no exact information about the
events which had transpired.

“ That Adam Lee is murdered there can be
no question," said Ralph. as he cast water
upon his sail, to make it hold more wind by

 

 

 

179

swelling the threads. “Oh, blow harder,
breezes! I feel as if I could fly, till I knew
certainly what had become of Rose. Her
brother taken her off to save her! I cannot
understand it! But I shall soon know all!
There comes a row-boat down; it contains
three persons. They are strangers, and dress
like the Island men. They may know some-
thing—for it is now three miles from h- me,
and I am all impatience to hear the truth.
Boat ahoyl” he called, as he kept away to
speak her.

it Ay‘ ayln

“Are you from as high up as King’s
Bridge ?”

“ Yes l”

“ Has a murder been done there ?”

“ ch, two," answered one of the men who
was steering. “ The inn-keeper and a pirate."

“A pirate? You mean a privatcersman !"

“ So he passed for one. But it turns on! he
is a pirate! His boat was chased by a boat's
crew, and nearly taken, when the schooner
opened on the King‘s Bridge boat with grape,
and took her own boat aboard, hoisted the
black flag, and went hand over fist down the
river, before a seven-knot breeze, and got to
sea, although the battery opened on her.”

“ Can this be all true ?”

“Yes, sir. I am a revenue ofiicer, and have
been up to the inn to see about it—to satisfy
myself. This pirate captain had the boldness
of Lucifer, to come into the Hudson under a
privatcer‘s flag, and come ashore, and carouse
at a public inn. There is a.story he came
after a young girl—the sister of his lieutenant,
who had sold her to his captain for gold, and
was then and there to deliver up to the pirate
leader, who, however, was killed l-y her
father.”

Before Ralph could hear more, the tire boats
were parted: as each kept moving its own
way ; so thathe could hear no more. He gave
utterance to a deep groan, and covered his
face with his hands.

“Worse and worse—worse and worse. What
can be the true account? Yet, 0 merciful
Heaven! this last looks mosl likely—dreadful
as it is. It is in kee ing with the rumored
character of Robert ee. Yet, could he be
so completely a devil as for such an idea to
seize him, as to bargain his sister away to a
pirate chief. Rumor said he had been a bur.-
caneer. It is possible this may be true. It
accounts for the visit of the schooner; for the
landing of the crew at the Red Oak—where I
myself heard them singing and carousing,
supposing them American privateersmen.
Doubtless they were waiting for night, and
silence, to receive Rose from the hands of her
diabolical brother, and convey her to the
vessel. Doubtless her father died defending
her, and slow the captain. But where is Rose?
The fishermen said that Robert Lee had taken
hvr to a lace of safety. 0h fly, my boat!
Blow win s! My heart and head will burst,
with the op ression of this news."

He seize his cars and rowed with all his
energ , aided b the wind, which was a five-
knot rceze. Ie soon came in sight of the
two oaks which grew by the shore, at the foot
of his mother's humble home.

“I shall soon be there!" he cried, and re-
newing his exertions, in five minutes more he
touched the bank ; and bounding up the path
to the door, leaving his boat to the tides The
sun was just setting—being not quite half an
hour high.

.“ Mother—O my mother!" he cried, us he
threw the door open and beheld her sealed by
the window, pale, and with traces of tears on
her still beautiful face; for age does not de-
stro ,but only alters the aspect of beaut .
“ W are is Rose? Is all this true I hear ?'

“Ralph! Joy—joy! You are come, my
son!” was her only re ly, as she threw her-
self into his arms. “ ou've heard it, then 9"

“I have heard—I know not what. Is Rose
safe? Tell me that, mother, and then I can
listen to all else with atience."

“ I ho e so—oh, hope so! Sit down,
Ra] h. Ron are wild with agitation.”

“ ear mother, do not talk of my looks. I
hear Adam Lee has been killed by a pirate.
Is it true ‘3”

“ Yes; and he klllt‘d the pirate.”

“He was a pirate, then ‘3”

“Oh, yes! You do not know what times
we have passed through—"

“Rose—what of her? Where is Rosalie?
Do not let me go mad, by this delay !’

“ Rose was carried away by her brother—"

“By her brother Robert?’

 

 

Wmuum‘...‘

W

l.

20

The Mysterious Spy.

 

u Yes." ’

“ I heard so ! Where is he 1’ I was in hopes
he had brought her here.”

“ She fled here, but-—-”

“ From whom ?"

“ Her brother and the pirates."

“Mother—mother, see, I sit down! I am
ready to listen to all—all! I will be calm.
This broken intelligence only tortures me.
Go on; tell me all.”

“Rose, I suppose, frightened by the mur-
ders, fled here. I was asleep. It was at least
two hours after you left—half way betWeen
midnight and day. I was awakened by a
fearful shriek; I started to my feet, for I
knew Rose’s voice. (Ralph pressed his tem-

ples hard, and compressed his lips, to com-
mand himself) I heard voices shouting, and

then a wild cry and a plunge. I looked out
.and saw Rose struggling in the river. Near
was a negro drowning, with horrible out-cries.
A boat full of men was coming down stream.
Rose then called to me from the water, into
which she had leaped—or been thrown by her
pursuers—to ‘ save her from Robert Lee.’ ”

At these words of his mother’s narrative,
Ralph leaped to his feet with a great cry, as
if it came from his heart, while his eyes
flashed the fires of vengeance. He was about
to speak; but unable to trust his voice, or
control it, he simply made a gesture to his
mother to go on.

“ I rushed out to do what I could when the
boat came close to her. She sunk, at once,
as if resolved to die, but was seized and taken
on board—”

Ralph groaned with anguish that shook
his frame, and caused the floor of the room
to vibrate.

“You are ill, dear—”

“ On—go—on l”

“I saw them take her out of the water;
and then I heard Robert Lee call from the
shore, close by the gate here, for them to pull
in, and take him on board.”

“ They—d-did—so ‘2” gasped Ralph.

“ch! They then, by his order, pulled u
stream. I was afraid to be seen, lest he won!
put me to death—for I could see, through the

‘I ranches, his face, with the moon on it, and
it was fearful to see, for the wickedness in it!
3 But he was no sooner in the boat than I fled
[1p the path to the bridge, and gave the
alarm. Alread some people were abroad,
having heard her shrieks, and, I believe, ‘
some firing; and soon the whole neighbor- l
hood about the bridge was out to know what E
was the matter! The pirate boat, with Rob- ‘
ert Lee in it, passed up under the bridge and
out of sight before the whole truth was
known. Then Mark Manning, Henry Bal- ‘,
lard, and others, finding Rose was carried 03 1
against her will by her brother, got up a 1
party to pursue it, and recover her.” !

“Noble friends! Brave fellows! I shall
remember this."

“They went to the inn to borrow Adam
Lee’s boat, when his dead body was found,
also the foreign captain’s, in the cellar. Then ‘
the whole people got together, as you may 
believe. Mark and his party armed and gave ,

chase, and—” I

At this moment the door opened, and Mark 
and Henry Ballard stood before Ralph.

“What! He is here 1" they both cried. :
“We came down to see if he had come i"
This was addressed to the mother, who was
facing the door, to which Ralph had his back.
He turned, and cried, as he caught their
hands, his eyes running over with great tears :

“ I know all—all ! Thanks, thanks, my
brave friends! I have only one question—
‘ Did you—rescue—her ?’ ”

“ We did our best," began Mark.

“ I believe it! I know you did ! Did he— ‘
her brother —carry her to sea 2’"

“ Yes, he did,” answered Mark, his own
eyes answering the emotion of his friends.

“ Oh, my heart—my poor heart! It will
break!” he moaned, and sunk almost insen—
sible into the chair, from which he had risen.

His mother kneeled by his side, and rubbed
his temples; while the two young men, un-
able to administer a word of consolation, or
to offer hope, where there was no hope, stood
each holding one of his hands, and fairly
weeping, like brothers, at his heavy sorrows.

“ Don‘t take it so to heart. my son 1" said
his mother. “ It is not as if she were carried
off by the pirate captain himself!”

“And as he is dead,” said Henry Ballard,
“there is no danger of his giving his sister
to another."

 

1 of the scene' that burst upon them.

; bearin
‘ “'Broo s," and other heroes 0 the battles or

 

 

,1

 

“ I fear everything evil for her in his power.
A brother! lle is rather a demon !” cried
Ralph. And rising to his feet, almost at a
leap, he exclaimed :

“ It won’t do for me to stay here !
act! I must pursue him !”

“ Oh, my son! you can do nothing! You
have no vessel! Do not think of leaving me,
and you just home again.”

“ I must not stay here, and Rose in peril,
and unhappy, as she must be. She would
never have cried out : ‘ Save me from Robert
Lee,’ if she had not mortal fear of being in
his power.”

“A vessel!" exclaimed Mark. “You can
have a vessel to pursue at any moment you
say so i”

“Speak quickly! How i!"

“ Captain Perry is in the cit ! He knows
all about the carrying off ogRosc—for we
stopped at the city, when we could pursue
the schooner no further. He became doe 1y
interested, when we told him you were he-
trothed to her. He said to an officer pres-
ent that he would, as soon as you came, send

on with an order to Newport, where a Unit-
ed States vessel la , which he would order to
sea, if you desire it, and let on go in her.”

“He is very kind ; but it Will be too late, I
fear."

“ He made me promise to bring you to see
him as soon as you came home.”

“Did on promise?”

“I ,di .” ,

“ Then I will go with on. Farewell, dear
mother! I wish to see Ca tain Perry. His
word is a law to me ! I wi l soon return. I
wish to learn all I can, in the city about the
vessel."

It was with painful reluctance his mother
parted with him so soon again; but, holding
out the hopes of soon seeing her, he kissed
her with respectful, filial affection, and went
away with his two friends.

I must

They walked u to the bridge ; and, on the '

way, they relate all the particulars of the
pursuit of the pirate-boat to Ralph. He lis-
tened with the deepest attention; and when
they told him how Robert Lee, in order to
prevent being fired upon, ex osed his sister
to the bullets, as a shield for is own person,
his indignation burst in the bitterest denun-
ciations.

It was dark when they reached the inn. In
one room on] was there a light, which re-
vealed—exten ed upona table—the corpse of
Adam Lee, by which watched two men. The
pirate's body had been buried that day by
the coroner, in the corner of an open e1 ,
where, it was said, two smugglers had been
hanged and buried eighty years before—a
desolate and “ haunted spot.”

Ralph went into the room recently occu-
pied by Rose, and gazed sadly upon her toil-

. et-table, and into the mirror, which had so
3 often reflected her beautiful face; and there

inwardly vowed, that he would never cease

. the search for her over the world, so long as

life remained in him.

Going thence to the house of Mark Man-
ning, the three mounted there on horseback,
and rode rapidly in the direction of the city.

When, about eight o’clock in the evening,

z they entered Broadway from the Blooming-

dale road, they were struck with Ihe splendor
The
name of “PERRY” was emblazoned in letters
of fire, and spanned the street ; while arches,
the names of “ Barcla ,” “ Yarnell,”

the Lakes, were passed in succession by the
three riders. The houses on each side were

, illuminated, and flags were strung across the
‘ street, or floated from the roofs.

On arriving at the intersection of Bleecker
street with Broadway, 8. great arch bore the
name of Washington, in stars of light; and,
farther on, a transparency represented Perr
and his vessels engaged in the fight; an ,
under the form of one figure, was inscribed:
“Lieutenant Ralph Turner !”

“See, Ralph! You are not forgotten!”
tried his young companions, pointing it out
to him.

“Yes ; my country does me too much
honor! But, Harry—Mark, what is all this
to me now, with what I suffer!"

“Cheer up! See! They recognize you!
Hark! ‘Three cheers for Ralph Turner!’
the give.”

l Blitlph raised his cap and bowed, and said :

l “ Let us ride rapidly on l My heart is not

in this."

 

The streets Were thronged with people, and
they had to turn aside, to make any progress,
into another street. Here they dashed on-
ward ; and, by-and—by, re-entercll Broadway,
and reached the Park, where salutes were fir-
ing in honor of “ the hero,” who was just re-
turning from a grand procession through the
city, to prepare for the military ball to be
given to him.

By skillful winding in and out, our party
reached the quarters of the commodore, or
captain, as he was then known ; and learning
that he had just returned to his room, Ralph
hesitated to inform him of his presence.

“ Hc wished to see you without delay,”
said Mark.

“ Yes ; there should be no delay,” answered
Ralph.

And, alighting, he entered the house, and
sent his name to his commander b a bright-
looking midshipman, whom he knew, and
who was attached to his suite. It was at once
carried to him; and the next moment the
handsome little naval officer returned, and
said that the captain wished to see him.

CHAPTER XIII.

Ralph found “the hero of Lake Erie” in
his private room, in the act of throwing off
his gold-embroidered coat and laying aside
his sword, in order to take some repose be-
fore the ball should begin in the City Hall,
two hours later.

The moment he saw Ralph, he took him
by the hand and said, with a smile of plea-
sure, which was saddened by the manifest
sym athy of his voice : I.

“ am glad you are come. I am sorry for
your misfortune, my dear boy. Cheer up!
It may come out all right yet, since it is her
brother who has taken her off. A bold
scoundrel! and to get to sea without any-
thing beyond a shot or two in her timbers
and canvas! If there had been an armed
vessel in port I would have sent her in chase.
Bdut everything was tied up, just as We want-
s it."

“ You are very kind to have thought of it,"
said Ralph.

“Not at all. But it is not yet too late to
give chase."

“ How, sir? What can I do 1’"

“There is a privateer riding at anchor
here—a new, staunch, and Well-built craft. I
went on head of her this afternoon, wholly
with an eye to you. She can be ready for
sea in twelve hours, if you will take command
of her.”

. “I, sir ?” cried Ralph, with wonder and
o .
J )‘7‘ Yes, on! I have named you to her
owners. hey say. if you will accc t the
command,you shall hm s it. Ifyou 0, you
can get any number of min ; for your name
alone will be a. host to ship on! Do you hes-
itate? You can then give chase to the schoon-
er, which I have reason to believe has sailed
for England.”

Captain Perry then repeated the conver-
sation between himself and the Canadian.

“ But, sir, as a privateer, I must cruise for
the interests of the owners. How can I have
two objects in view?”

“I will tell you. After seeing the mer-
chants, to-day, who are getting her for sea, I
learned that they intended her especially to
cruise in the English seas, tin re are so many
on the southern coast and in mid—ocean. The
captain they were to have had was a stock-
holder with them, and twenty of the men be
shipped; but they are willing, as you are a
young man, and have not capital, to pa you
wages, and such crew as you ship liberal
monthly pay. I told them that you would
serve them as faithfully as if you were inter-
ested in the profits.”

“ I will take command of the vessel, air, if
they will permit me to use my own discre-
tion where to cruise first."

“That is, if they will allow you to begin
by giving chase to this pirate.”

“ Yes, sir. That is all that is on my
mind.”

“I have no doubt they will; for I told
them your story, and that you Would want
someliberty of choice.

“ If they will do so, I can ship sixteen of
the best young men to be found, who will ask
no wages if we do not take the Scor )ion."

“Good! admirable! Are they (hie brave
fellows whom that gallant youth, Manning,
led in pursuit of the boat ?"

“ Yes, sir.”

W”

 

The Mysterious Spy.

 

21

 

“ That will do. I shall see the merchants,
soon. They form part of the Committee of Es-
cort. As soon as they arrive, I will speak to
them aside, so that no time be lost.”

Ralph thanked him, and was about to leave,
when he said :

“Remain here. I wish to present you to
them."

“ I have friends in the street."

“ Be here, then, in an hour."

Our hero took leave of the brave and gen-
erous captain, and rejoined Mark, to whom
and Harry he made known what had trans-
pired at the interview. The were both
elated at the prospect of his ta ing the ves-
sel, and at once volunteered to o with him
if he should accept the comman of the pri-
yatcer.

“ You have an hour, Ralph," said Harry,
“let us walk up Broadway and look at the
illuminations."

“I prefer pacing the Battery, here, with
my own thoughts, my friend."

“ No, no," said Mark; “we can't allow it.
You can do no good by taking to heart so
heavy her loss. Be cheerful. That is half
the battle.”

Ralph suffered himself to be persuaded,
and walked with them up the street, which
was thronged with people enjoying the sight
of the dazzling arches and the illuminated
windows. Broadway was then lined with the
residences of the wealth citizens, from the
Batter to the Park; an each of these vied
with t a other in the s lendor of the brilliant
dis lay of parti-colore lights.

bout the tower of Trinity Church lights
were suspended, lending to it a magnificent
a pearance. The front windows of Grace
0 urch, just below it, were a blaze of lnm s.

The City Hotel seemed on fire, so splendid-
ly was every window lighted up. The walk-
on, and Ralph became interested. At ength,
they reached St. Paul’s, the superb spire of
which was glittering with the star-like forms
of fire. The Park was in a blaze with rock-
ets, while at intervals the deep voice of artil-
lery mingled with and rose above the shouts
of men.

Suddenly, there was a cry of “ fire!” The
word was caught up with startling loudness,
vehemently passed from tongue to tongue!
A rocket had fallen upon the cupalo of the
s ire of the Beekman-street Church, oppo-
site the Park, and was alight; and the blaze
momently increasing as it seized upon the
shingles. At the sight, 8. great cry like de-
spair and terror rose upon the air! The
p see was a hundred and twenty feet in the
air, beyond the reach of ladder or the fire-en-
gines of that day. There was a wild rushing
to and fro, and confused cries; but nothing
Was done. Ralph no sooner beheld the little
blaze, not bigger than his hand, far up in the
sky, as it were, than his features lighted up
with resolution.

" The church will be destroyed! I will try
to save it !"

He ran forward, separating the crowd right
and left, and coming to the post of the lofty
steeple, he caught a Ieathern fire-bucket of
water from a half-crazed erson, and passing
his left'arm through the andle to the shoul-
der, he began to climb the lightning-rod,
hand over hand, amid the cheers of the mul-
titude. What would have been impossible to
a landsman, was ractical for a seamen who
had courage an strength. Twenty, thirt ,
fifty feet—up he went! The voices cease !
Seventy feet! A hushed silence prevailed,
and every e e of the ten thousand spectators
was upon im. Ninet feet was achieved,
and he reached the arc itecture of the first
cupalo. He climbed over it, and a ain re-
sumed his ascent. The flame, fort eet still
above him, was fanned by the win , and mo-
mently enlarged. He stayed not’an instant
to gaze downward or look upward, but con;
tinued to mount with steady courage.

“He can never get over that frieze !“ cried
one.

“ He will give out before he gets ten feet
higher!” '

“ He can never reach it i”

“ The spire is too smooth for him to get
footing l” . .

" If he is not up there soon. it Will be too
late!" ‘

“ See, the blaze is a yard high i"

“Hear it crackle !”

“ How it shoots into the air 9”

“ He has spilled half the water over him in

 

climbing. He'll have none, ‘whcn he gets
there, to put it out with I”

Such were the Words uttered by the excit-
ed crowd. Then came cries of cheer.

“ Bravo l"

“ Courage !”

“ A few more feet and you'll have it!”

“ Don't give in l”

“ Hold hard! You are most there i"

“ Will he reach it, Mark ?" said Harry, as
he stood by his friend, watching with their
hearts in their months.

“Yes! He knows not what fail is! See,
he will be up in a moment. The flames are
alread curling close above his head!”

Suddenly a vast, great, mighty outburst of
human voices proclaimed the victory! Ral h
had reached the very co ing on which t e
flames burned, and standing, clinging to the
lightning-rod b which he had ascended, be
carefully poure the water from his bucket
with the other over the blazing shin les, so
that not a drop should be lost! By egrees
the flame sunk, and then, after a lith flash-
ing, which revealed the hero‘s calm, brave
face to all below, it was extinguished. And
there stood the conqueror in mid air. clearly
visible b the light of the illumination in the
park an streets.

Such a shout of applause as burst upon
the air New York has not since heard, even
with her half million of inhabitants. Ralph
felt the very steeple vibrate with the concus-
sion. Lingering a moment to assure himself
that no covert sparks remained, he slung his
bucket upon his shoulder, and proceeded to
descend as he went up. There was a deep,
expectant silence until he had get near the
ground, when a rush was made toward him;

ut as he touched the earth, he found himself
between Harry and Mark, who, at his request,
hurried him 0!? by the most accessible way
to avoid the pressure of the excited people,
and passing down Spruce street, they made
a détour by William street and Maiden Lane
back to Broadway.

At the expiration of the time, Ralph re.
turned, and with Mark and Harry in com.

any, a peared before Captain Perry. He
informs Ral h that the merchants were con-
tent that he s ould do his best to capture the
Scorpion, especially as he promised that nei-
ther he nor his friends would claim any prize-
mone if she were taken. His commission
was t at very night made out, and b twelve
o’clock the next day, through the iligence
of Mark and Harry, not only the other young
men of “ the wooers of Golden Feather”
were volunteers to go with Ralph, but he
could not receive one-third of the brave sea-
men who pressed forward to ship with him-—
such was the influence of his reputation for
courage and seamanship.

Thus, what was intended to be a privateer,
partook o! the character, under the new cap-
tain, Ralph Turner, also of an armed mer-
ohantman—that is, so far as shi ping the resi-
due of her men was concerned). She was a
long and handsome craft, rigged as a brig
forward and as a schooner aft, with an enor-
mous s read of canvas. Her tonnage was one
hundred and ninety-six ; she was painted
black, with a gilt belt running round her waist
fore and aft; her spars were painted bright
vermillion, and also the interior of her bul-
warks. She carried mounted only six guns,
but they were long eighteen-pounders, and
amidships was a ponderous sixty-four not
mounte , but with every a pliance for set-
ting upon a pivot between tie masts.

At noon the day following the flight of the
buccaneer to sea—the ship-stores being all
on board—Ralph, having gone on board with
all his crew, eighty-six in all,and taken leave
of Captain Perr (who gave him some in-
structions as to his movements when he should
get outside), and also of his mother, who came

own to bid him adieu, and pray for his suc-
cess, he gave the orders “to up anchor, and
put to sea l”

Amid the cheers of thousands on the shore
and shipping, “ The Golden Feather”——-for
this was the name which, by permission of
the owners, Ra! h conferred upon his beauti-
ful vessel—~in ed from her anchorage, and
with the wind nearly dead south, began to
beat out of the harbor. Her first tack brought
her close to the head of Staten Island, so
close she lay to the wind, sliding along at
eight knots with ease, with the wind six and
a half points free. In her next starboard
tack she fetched far below the quarantine

 

ground; and in two hours after weighing up-
chor, she was bounding like a loosed bird
over the dark-blue sea—yieldin in graceful
undulations to the long ocean ro ,over which
she flew with winged speed.

We will now follow the escaped buccaneer,
and availing ourselves of the privilege which
belongs to an author—of penetrating all
places—descend into the cabin at the time
when Robert Lee carried her there, after tak-
ing her from the barge on the river. Havin
locked her in, he re-ascended to the deck to
give orders, as the command now devolved
upon him. The chest of treasure he had
a so seen taken out of the boat and placed in
his main cabin.

The vessel was constructed with four cab-
ins, two on each side of the companion-way
for the officers, and two aft—one opening
through into the other, and sternmost. The
forward of these two cabins, which took up
the whole breadth of beam, was the captain’s,
and the inner one was reserved for treasure
and arms, and for passengers the buccancer
chief took a fancy to save from death. It
was now ele antly fitted up, and had the ap-
pearance of a luxurious boudoir. In the
main or on tain’s cabin were two carronades
with close orts, and one in each of the
side-cabins; ut the after—cabin had no gun
in it. The only entrance was through the
captain’s room. In the stern were two square
windows, or dead 1i hts, which were strongly
barred with iron. here were a few pictures
hanging up, books on the transom, which
was decorated as an ottoman, and mirrors
and toilet articles.

When Rose Lee found herself left alone,
she raised her ale face, and gazed about her
with looks haf collected, and sensibilities
scarcely returned—for the reader will remem-
ber that for a time in the barge she lay in-
sensible in the arms of Robert Lee. Her
long hair still hung wet and disheveled over
her sha ely shoulders, and her dress was
heavy with water. No longer beneath her
arm was the small bundle she‘ had taken from
her room in the inn, and to which she had
instinctively clung through all. The docket,
ring, and package of papers were safe in her
bosom.

With a fearful, startled no she looked
about her, as if she expects to see revealed
the form of some comrade in crime of her
dreaded brother.

“ Oh, why am I brought to this vessel?
What madness has come u on Robert? Does
he seek to destroy me? hat have I done ?
What will be m fats? Hark! the vessel is
sailing away wit me. I will shriek for help.
Oh, that Mark Mannin and his brave band
could have reached me Yet I should have
died by Robert’s hand! He swore it, that if
they captured him, I should die on the in-
stant! Yet at what “price have I purchased
life—I know not! his is a pirate vessel!
It is all too true, that my brother was a pirate
—he seems chief, too I This gives a hope of
safety from insult from these dreadful men !
Oh, m sad, sad fate! And poor Ralph!
When e comes to hear it—if he had been at
his mother‘s, I should have been safe! It is
punishment to him and me, because he was
guiding a spy out of the country. It may

6 so—it may be so! and I shun this fate,
while Arther Percy by my means is free! I
will not murmur, then. I will try and con-
ciliate Robert. He can not mean to injure
me! What scenes have I passed through!
My pulse trembles and my heart beats by
starts! Would that I dare repose, for I am
so weary—weary! I am sick at heart-—"

Thus soliloquizing, the unhappy girl rested
her face in her hand, and insensibl sunk
down into a disturbed and dreamful s umber.

In the meanwhile,Robert Lee was on deck,
occupied in getting his vessel safely out of
the river. He could see the boats pulling to
the city, and well knew it was to ive the
alarm. But. being a thorough sai or, and’
cool and active in den er, he managed his
vessel so skilfully, that 6 took every sdvan- u
tags of wind and current; and, as we have
seen, ran the gauntlet past the battery and
the fort.

As he assed near the privateer, which was
snehoredpofi‘ Battery Marsh street, he said to
his first officer—a tall, mustaoled Greek, who
spoke English, and called himself Captain
Marco—who had been at the Inn :

“If that craft were ready for sea, and should
give chase, I should stand a poor chance.

,2
u
"l

 

 

...._."
-V 1.,“_ A.

 

22

The Mysterious Spy.

 

See her cut-water, and what length to her
breadth of beam. She will sail like a swal-
low i"

“I’m mush bleezed be non ready!" growled
the man, with a Spanish shrug of his left
shoulder—and indeed he looked more like a
Cnstiliian than a Grecian. “Wish vay you

oin steer af we get zafe out to de ocean?"

“ East! I‘m bound for England."

“lo de oapitan say when we kom. You
tak’ de ladish, too !"

“Don't you speak of her again, Captain
Marco. She is my sister !"

“Tics! Iknow! I know! But look!"

The battery of guns on the island have
opened upon them; and Robert Lee, com-
manding all but the men necessary to steer and
Work the vessel to lie flat on their faces, gave
all his thoughts to getting out safely to sea.
When, at length, he had left the island a
league astern, he called the ofl‘icers about
him, and the crew aft, and made them this
brief address.

“MY Man: I am now your captain! You know
me. I have been your first lieutenant. You know
I keep my word. If a man disobeys my orders,I
will put him in irons—if a man is impudent, I will
I mean to he captain of this vessel,
These are my omcers. They each have risen a grade
by my advancement. You will obey them. As for
your old captain, he is dead! He was killed—and
some here saw him (lead in the inn—while trying to
get treasure from my father. I have it. It is mine I
I keep it for my sister. She is on board with me.
Yin will respect her. The first prile we takc,I will
make a present to you, without touching a stlvsr, in
honor of my taking the command 1”

“ Three cheers for Captain Lee i" called
out one of the crew, which was given with
oaths and ells; for no sailors but the An-
glo-Saxon new how to “huzza!”

Captain Lee then dividing the crew into
larboard and starboard watch ; and giving the
latter in command of the dark Greek, he re-
mained on deck until the Scorpion passed
the Narrows, and had the open sea before her.
He then returned to the cabin.

Here was a congregation of men, now, on
board this vessel, united only by the common
bond of crime and avarice, and held in union
by fear—for no cowards are to be met with
equal to desperadoes. Pirates are seldom
brave ! Here was a young man of three—and-
twenty, who, solely by the strength of his
will and the resolute devil in him, not only
committed himself fearlessly to the company
of this band of outlaws, but controlled them.
His self-reliance had upon them the effect of
destroying their own ; and while he had not
the friendship of one of them, he was as quiet
and assured among them as if they were one
and all read to is down life for him.

But ban its an buccaneers must have
leaders ; and it is not the man they most like,
but the one who is the most successful in cap-
tures, and who fears not them while they fear
him, whom the will follow. Hence, even in
a pirate vesse , there is discipline, and the
routine of system and order.

shoot him !

CHAPTER XIV.

The pirate-schooner’s watch-bell forward
was stri ing eight bells, or the hour of noon,
When Robert Lee descended into his cabin.
For a moment, he stood and looked about
him, as if surveying, with secret pride, the
place, now his, so recently occupied by the
pirate chief.

There was his storm-jacket, hanging where
he had left it when be last put it off ; and by
it, his rough-weather tarpaulin. Opposite,
were his swords and cutlasses, a bar uebuss,
and several braces of pistols in eckets.
There was, also, his couch, his desk, and Pa-
nama chair.

“ So, I am lord and master here now,” said
Robert Lee, half aloud; “ and I have come
to the command, with all the silver in my
hands, thanks to m good blow given him in
the cellar! Herc am master, with all the
sea before me—master, too, of the fairest form
that ever graced a throne! Beautiful Rose!
I value your possession more than vessel or
treasure. This desk is also mine, with its

contents, which its master used to guard so 2

jealously from all eyes. Doubtless, he ex~
pected to return and take it away ; but Death
has stopped all that. Now, I will make my
toilet, and go in and see in fair prisoner.”

As he spoke, he prepare to appear to bet-
ter advantage than the roughness of the
chase in the boats had left him; as he did
so, he continued:

“ It was a marvel I got past the forts as we
did. But we were sailing too fast for them
to take good aim. If that shot which buried
itself in the waist had gone a little farther
aft, it would have passed through the cabin,

so much for—the lovely Rosalie Lee! How will
she receive me? Shall I let her know at

governed by circumstances. Whatever be
the issue, she is completely in in power.”
He now approached the inner- oor, and
was turning the key, when a “ lease, massa,”
caused him to turn round. twas the old
African steward who had served the former
captain, who was bowing, with his hand on
his breast, with deference.

“ Well, fellow?”

“Shall old Wallah wait on new capitan—
same on 01’ capitan ?”

“ Yes. You will do for me as you have
done for him.”

“Whnt'll young new capital: hub for him
dinner?”

“ The best you can get.”

“ Dar no wegetable—no fresh meat—shick-
en—we come to sea so quickum 1”

“Get, then, what you can. Go!"

The gray-haired steward, who looked like
a humane, honest fellow—a rare bird in a

irate vessel—then retired; while Robert

e, muttering : “I shall have to put in some-
where for vegetables, or the men will all have
the scurvy”—unlocked the inner state-room,
and softly entered.

He saw his captive asleep, as we left her,
with her head in her hand. He stood gazing
upon her in silence. Was there in his face
pity ?—was there sorrow in his heart for her
whom, for years, he had looked upon as a
sister, and who still regarded him as her
brother? No. Gold and hard were his e es,
as he re arded her pale and interesting ace.
She sobied, as it were, as she slept. Sud-
denly she started, as if feeling the malevo-
lence of his eye, and murmured: “Save me,
Ral hl Oh, sa—s—v—." And the sentence
die away again in troubled sleep.

teeth. “ He is all that will be in my wa , I
see ! She calls on him I Save her? a,
ha! He is very little likely to help her now.
Let her call even waking; and I will laugh
at her, if she defies me. But if she is—-—”

“ Oh, mother! save me from Robert Lee ?”
she shrieked, and started to her feet with wild
regards.

When she beheld him, dark and frowning
before her, she cried, with anguish:

“ Oh, it is all, all real! I hoped to find it
a dreadful dream. 0 Robert, Robert! where
am I? Save me? Restore me? Whither
are you taking me ‘2" she implored, as she saw
through the stern-windows that the sea was
all rolling about the vessel, and the land only
visible afar off.

“ To hap iness, Rose l Na , do not fly
from me. Km I not your brot er ? Do you
think I would harm you ?”

“ I—I—don’t—know,” she gasped, like a
terrified child, from the farther corner of the
, state-room, where she shrunk from him. “ I
: am—almost—beside myself! Don’t approach
3 me, or—I—shall—”

“Shall what, dearest?" he said, ironically,
yet not moving. For he verily feared she
was losing her reason, as, with lips parted, her
eyes fixed and bright with terror, and her
1 long hair held about her form, with both
, hands, she watched him.

“ I—know—not! Die, if I could l”

“ That would be very silly, Rose. You
are to live and make me happy. You know
I love you.”

“Love! You
i love me i"

This sentence was uttered interrupted]

‘ and brokenly, as if the speaker were hal -
distracted, and could notcollect her thoughts.
“ Yes, Rose, I love you,” he said, in a
, softer tone; for he saw that it would not take
i much to make her go mad, in her present
state of fear and weakness of body.
‘ Suddenl she advanced a step, and said,
, with wild ervor:
“Robert Lee, what do you want with me?
; Why have you done this? My father slain,
l perhaps by thy hand l”
“It is false! The captain slew him, and I
llew the captain for the deed!”
“ Why have you made me a prisoner, and
are taking me to sea ?”

 

What is love? Love!

and, perhaps, robbed me of all I have dared ‘

once I am not her brother? No; I will be 

“Accursed!” he cried, through his shut,

“ I have my reasons.”

“It will never prevent me, hear thou, 0
wickedest and cruelest brother maiden ever
had, from loving Ralph Turner! I did not
swear I would not love! Do with me as you
will, I can never cease to love him; and if

on have taken me away in this terrible ship,
of which I see, with horror, you are the ter-

rible master, hoping I shall forget him, you
‘ are deceived !” l

“ You will make me angry, girl.”

“ So I wish to do, that you may. L.‘..a mo-
ment of wrath, strike me dead! Oh! death
is better than life—the life I see before me,
as your slave, not our sister—for sister
never was so entreate !"

“So, I see your spirit is roused. A mo-
ment ago I thought you were getting lunatic;
but I need have had no such fears; there is
fire enough in you to blow up a gun—ship.”

“Robert, I ask you where you are taking
me ?"

“ On a. leasure-excursion in my yacht.
See how nely I have had your state-room
adorned, all by my orders, for you, expecting
to take you on board.”

“Then this outrage was planned before-
hand ?”

“Without question. In order to capture
you, this vessel came in from sea ree days
ago, and anchored in the North ri er.”

“ And why? What was all thi done for ?
Why did you wish to tear me from my
home ?"

“To give you another in this vessel—in
these arms."

“ What means this strange language?
Robert Lee!” she cried, trembling, she knew
not with what undefined horror and sus-
picions.

“It means that I love you to madness,
Rose 1” he cried, fiyin toward her, catchin
her hands, kissing t em passionately, an
kneeling at her feet.

“Release me, sir l Do you know what you
do ?” she cried, with wonderful dignit and
stern rebuke, while her eyes regarded him, as
if she believed that much wickedness had
made him mad. “You forget I am our sis-
ter—that this love is accursed by ad and
man l”

“What care I for God or man, or the curse
of either? I do what I list; I recognize no
accountability to any higher tribunal than
my own will and pleasure I"

He still held her two hands, and still knelt
at her feet. With an out-cry of des air and
mortal agony, she tore herself from im, and
fled to the door. He had taken the precau-
tion to lock it on the inside and remove the
key. He rose to his feet and laughed at the
result of her effort.

“It is of no use, Rose, to try to escape
from my love. To do it, you must escape
from the body."

“I cannot, I know not, how to understand
you. If you are insane, Heaven have mercy
on my be] lessness! If not, then I must
cast mysel on your mercy! You know not
that there is a gulf between us as wide as
heaven and earth are sundered, and that you
may not cross it with one thought beyond a
brother's pure and holy love! Oh, mercy!
that I should have to plead with a brother
thus l”

“The farce has gone far enou h, Golden
Feather,” he said, with a smile—i a smilin
expression, combinin in it triumph, and
malice, and love, coul thus be termed ; “ I
will explain to you the mystery of my pas.
sion for you, since it is you harp only on the
chord that you are my sister."

“ And would to Heaven I were not i" she
cried, with angry spirit. “I loathe the re-
lationship with one so base and devilish as
thou art .”

“Thy wish is granted. Thou hast the se~
cret of all I have dons !"

“ What? How? What is hidden under
your words, which looks darkly out of your

 

 

eyes? Robert Lee, what do on mean by
! saying my wish is granted? 0 power can

Beyer the bond of Nature between me and
L thee.”

“ No, not were we brother and sister!”

“ Were we ?” she ejaculated, with increas‘
ing wonder.

“ Yes, were we; but I will not amuse my-
self with you, poor gold-fish, any longer, but
haul you into the bank. We an not brother
and sister!

 

 

The Mysterious Spy.

23

 

 

“Taco airs-r l”

He started, with an exclamation of surprise,
at this quick, direct, indignant response,
which was wholly unlocked for.

“ I lie 1” he laughed, sneeringly. “By the
mass ! as they swear on the Main, your beauty
returns with the most brilliant hues, when
your temper is up in this way, and your eyes
sparkle with the splendor of old. I never
before believed you were so charming, Rose.
I shall begin to think that women, like game,
require alittle seasoning of the pepper and
mustard of anger to be palatable. Never-
theless, what I said is true.”

“You but assert it as a last resort, 0
devil, most wicked !”

“I swear it to you, Rose! We are not re-
lated any more than I and my lieutenant
Marcos are kith and kin.”

“ I could almost say, thank God! but for
-—for——. Yet, sir, have you proof of this .9
Who are you, if not my brother?

“The question is, who are you? I am the
son of Adam Lee ; but you are not his
dau hter l”

“ hen has the instinct of my heart been a
true one,” she exclaimed, in a whisper, as if
iohloquizing; but he overheard her.

“ So you ave had suspicion ?"

“ I know not. What is this news, which I
know not whether to call good or evil? But
Heaven turn it to good, if it be true! Hast
thou only mocked me ?”

“ No. You are not my sister."

“ Amen! So be it. Let what may come,”
she said, folding her crossed hands upon her
bosom, “I hope it is true."

“True enough for me, Rose. Listen. You
shall hear.”

“ Oh, lie not to me l”

“ I will show you proofs of all what I say.”

“ Go on.”

“Sit down. You will be fatigued. I will,
not approach you."

She sunk upon the transom, and bent for.
ward to hear, her face expressing neither
hope nor yet doubt ; but rather a patient ex-
pectation—a want of full confidence, yet ready
to hear all. She looked also watchful and
fearful. She felt all the helplessness of her
situation, in the power of a man who,
whether her brother or an alien, was equally
her foe and terror.

“ Last voyage, Rose, I met with a man (a
pirate, if you will), who told me, while dying,
that there was a chest of treasure hidden in
my father’s inn, under the hearth ; that it had
been taken from an English ship, which was
captured at sea by a buccaneer vessel, of
which my father was captain."

“ Adam Lee?”

“ Yes, Adam Lee. You see it runs in the
blood, Rose."

She made no reply, save to clasp her hands
closer and grow pa er. She now remember-
ed the chest she had seen in the cellar and
seen in the boat.

“The dying buccaneer, whom I had be-
friended, not only told me where he had
helped my father to conceal the chest, but that
it contained plate and jewels to a large
amount, which belonged to an English as-
senger, who was struck down and killed, I
Believe—at an rate, left for dead , and his

aughter, a litt e girl of two years, was taken
a fancy to by my father—who not only saved
her from the general massacre of the shi ’s
company, but adopted her. I see you is-
tenl ’

“And that child ?"

“Is yourself! My father left the sea and
came home, and opened the Red Oak Inn.
This was seventeen years ago, about—and
ever since you have believed yourself his
dau hter; I also, believed you were my sister,
unti three months ago, in the West Indies,
when the man Cassin made known the facts
to me. Ihastened to return to New York by
the first ship, leaving my captain in the
Scorpion, in the West In ies. I, however,
had told him why I wished to leave and come
home, when he proposed to me to surrender
the command of the vessel (the same we are
now in) to me for one half the treasure. To
this I agreed—having, as he knew, been anxi~
ous to get a command; and so we arranged
to meet in New York on a certain day. I
then came home, arriving, as you know, a
month ago. You recollect how you flew into
m arms! That embrace electrified me—for
I {new it was more than a sister’s kiss. From
that moment I resolved to win you as a lover;
so that when I should reveal to you that we

 

were not brother and sister, you would con-
sent to be my wife !"

“ Now-now, I see! I know all] The key
to your conduct is at length iven! What
unfair, unmanly advantage, sir, id you, under
the mask of a brother's lovc, seek to take of
me ‘?” she said, blushing with anger at the
recollection how often he had treacheroust

rofancd her lips and cheek at will, with guilc
in his heart. What modest female could have
forgiven this 1’

“But was the tale true? Might it not all
be an invention? Did he not seek to deceive
her ?" These were the thoughts which flash-
ed through her mind, although she had heard
something before, in part, in the cellar. He
seemed to read her thoughts, and said:

“You need roof?"

“ I do—yet fear it!”

“ Are on so desirous that I should be your
brother ‘” he asked, maliciously.

“The proof l"

He unlocked the door, and leaving it open,
so that he could see what he did, he unlock-
ed the chest in the next room, and drew from
it several pieces of silver, and exhibited them
to her—not aware she had alrcad seen the
interior of the chest, and remove from it n.
locket, ring, and ackage of papers: as the
reader will remem er was the case.

“Do you see these? They are 3. art of
‘what belonged to the general in the nglish
ship. They ought to be yours, I dare say
you will pronounce! So they shall be, when

on are mine. It will be a fair exchange,
ose.”

She shuddered, with looks of abhorrence.

“If you still doubt—”

“ No—no! I feel I am not your sister—nor
Adam Lee's daughter! It is enough i M
instincts shrink from such blood-alliance. It
is in some sense a relief! Ah! I overheard
something of this. But, while it led me to
suspect I was not his daughter. I knew not but
I was still our sister. But, till now, I had
forgotten all this, in In great alarm.”

“ What did you over near 1’”

“What passed in the vault. and much of
what Adam Lee. dying, revealed. But it
made not, then, a clear impression u on m

"mind, so shocked at the scenes I w1tnesse .

But now I recall it all! I am satisfied, not
onl that he is not my father, but that, more
stil , you, O fiend, are not my brother l”

“ I am glad we are now come to an under-
standing,” he said, closing the chest.

“ Stay! What inscriptions are on that
plate ?”

“ No name—only a coat-of-arms. I see on
wish now to know who your father was. at
this plate tells no tale until we can find in
England what house carries this shield. Till
then, you must be content with the honor
of being the wife of Robert Lee, Commander

of his Satanic Majesty’s armed schooner, the.
Scorpion l”

As he said this, he returned to her state-
room. She firmly confronted him—meeting
his aze with the full force of her own.

“ tobert Lee, we do understand each other.
I see that you are resolved to take advantage
of my helplessness to coerce me to marry

ou !”

“I am delighted to see you come so direct-
ly to the point. It saves a good deal of box-
haulin , and talking round the capstan.
What do on say to it ?" .

“ ThatI regard your conduct as base, be-
yond description—defying language to ex-
press it in suitable phrase. I refuse to be-

come your wife. I can die; but Iwill not.

wed you! Death is in my power, if I am in
yours 1”

“ I can only smile, dear Rose, at your
tragic eloquence. Death is not in your power.
There is not even a bodkin here, with which
you can take your life : and I know you can’t

its your own head off. I knew something
of your character, and put all out of your
way. Nor can you leap into the sea—for you
see the stern lights are iron-bound. No, no!
You are a sweet bird, all safely caged; and it
would be an appropriate song for you to sing,
with the starling, in the book you recollect
you had, when you was a little girl,
“ I can’t get out-I can’t get out.”
But I will leave you to reflection. I see you

 

are not in the mood for loving ; but reflection ‘

and time will soon bring you round. I will

give you till to-morrow evening at this time, ‘

to say whether you will be my wife. You

l

know me well, and that it 1's not safe to trifle
with a man of my‘ humor. Good-bye. My
old African steward shall bring you your
meals, and you shall not be intruded upon
the next twenty-four hours. Ishall then come
to pay my suit to you—not as a brother, but
as a lover. I hope you will find by that time
it is for your interest to consent to marry‘
me i"

“Marry a buccancer? Marry the son of
the man who slcw my father? Marr the
wretch who carries me off, and plays tile ty-
rant ?"

“ Very nice speaking! Quite in the ro-
mantic vein, Rose. I overlook your abuse. I
offer you honorable marriage. We will etc
at Faye], Western Islands, and be honorably
unite by a priest there, in one of tho Catho-
lic churches. If you are sensible and docile,
and give me a favorable answer to-morrow
night, I will give you the freedom of the ship,
treat you as a queen—do all in my power to
render the voyage agreeable to on. I will
come into your presence on] w on invited,
and act the gentleman in al oints, till we
reach Fayal—which will he in a out fourteen
or fifteen days. If you do not. But I make
no threats! You know what will be best for
you! Something is due to my mad love for
you. You have no ties—an orphan—ignor-
ant of your own name, family, or country! I
offer you—”

“Enough! Leave me, Robert Lee l"

“ Adieu. fair Rose. May the fates lead you
to choose happiness with me, rather than—"

“ Death Without thee 1 Stay! I choose
the latter now 1”

He laughed, and without a word more, went
out. and locked the door upon her.

An hour afterward, while she sat weepin
heartily over her fate, it was opened by 01
Wallah, who brought, upon a silver salver,
wine, fruit, cake, and other luxuries. At first
she started with alarm at beholding him enter;
but his kind and admirin tones, as if her
beauty amazed him: “ Wi 1 pretty mistress
eat something, 01‘ Wallah brin ?” and his
honest face reassured hl‘I‘Z and she accepted
the refreshment, having fasted since the pre-
vious day. l

\
CHAPTER XV.

The Scorpion kept on her course before a
brisk breeze from the south-west, due east,
after passing the Narrows. When Robert

, Les returned to the deck, ever lhing was

drawing free and full, and the sc ooner was
leaping along at nine knots, dashing the white
foam from her bows, and leaving a lon
milk-like way, extending far astern. The lan
was quite visible as a faint blue cloud on the
horizon; and, here and there, a small vessel
could be seen running down the coast, or
steering for the entrance to New York har-
bor. The sun shone brightly ovsr the sea,
the waters of which deepened their lulueness,
as they increased in depth.

“ A spanking breeze, Captain Marcos,” he
said to the Greek lieutenant, who was pacing
the deck with a Turkish pipe in his mouth,
and a spyglnss beneath his arm, which occa-
sionally ie leveled at some one of the sails in
sight :

“ Vera kood windo, capitano l Where you
bound now 9”

“ For the Western Islands first.”

“ Ehg l That ish vere we rob te convent!
It no goot go dare! Bad look steal from de
priest.”

“You have no conscience in such matters,
I know, Marcos. I am going to cruise about
England. I have business at Faye! on the
we ."

“ Ehg! What you do for vegetable ?"

“Board the first merchantman, and help
ourselves.”

. “ Vere well! To men must have vegeta.

blesl Will you get as moosh gold cruisin‘

about Anglelant as of we went town to de Vest
Indie again."

“More. I expect to find some on shore
there i”

“Ah, dat inteet. Dere more gol’ and zil-
ver on shores dau on do seas. Vera goot!”

Robert Lee now walked round the vessel,
spoke to each of his officers afi‘abl , and said
a few social words to the men ; an then ex-
amined, with the gunner by his side, each of
the carronades and the long “ fifty-six” pivot
gun. Having satisfied himself of their good
condition, he then inspected all the small
arms, pikcs, cutlasses, and the ammunition.

 

 

 

l
l
e
l

= unm- ‘ v .  —-

":d’

7- EL”--. ;... A

m

“;:3

<_-_....__

My». ‘

nip--

..,_......‘ Jamm- acre—f

24

The Mysterious Spy.

 

 

He made himself thoroughl master of the 1
condition of the vessel; on then had fift ,
of the men organized into squads, six to eac ,
un, with a captain; and selected his board- l
mg parties ; in fact, placing the whole
schooner on a “war-footing." The loss of
nine of the men,who were drowned by the
shot from the sloop‘s swivel, rendered changes
in other ways necessary to perfect order and
efficiency. For such a dark-looking, warlike
craft, scouring the sea, was likely, at any mo-
ment, to be chased by a frigate, or attacked
by a privatcer. He also directed that the
whole crew should be drilled at their posts
twice in twenty~four hours——-once in the day-
time, and once by night: Thus prepared for
every emergency, and fearing no danger from

ursuit, Robert Lee retired to his state-room
ust as the sun was going down, like a great
shield of burnished gold, into the bosom of
the sea astern.

Rose, in her gorgeous state-chamber, sat
by one of the windows in the stern, and gazed
musingly and sadly westward upon the sun-
set scene on the sea. She had now been alone
five hours; and had slept four, awaking re-
freshed, and with a calmness which enabled
her to contemplate quietly and truly her sit-
nation. She took her place by the stern win-
dow. and gazed out upon the aqua-marine
surface of the shining and rolling ocean, with
a wonder and delight which, for the time,
drew her thoughts from herself. The long,
glittering swell of the emerald-tinted billows
which followed the Vessel, breaking in crests
of silver foam under her stern—their ma-
jestic voice, as they in unison lifted it up in
their solemn tones—the racefnl sea-gulls,
with snowy breasts and ark-brown wings,
wheeling in swift circles above the seething
wake, their bright eyes watching the surface
for any crumbs that might fall overboard—-
the distant white sails that seemed moving
along on the outer arc of the ocean; and,
above all, the descending sun lighting up
ocean and clouds with indescribable glory,
were, one and all, objects that interested her.
As she now beheld the sun slowly dip his
lower limb into the sea, and gradually do.
scend, lingering a moment in the form of a

olden bow before he went down out of sight
altogether, and flinging a great scarf of gold-
on glory along the surface of the sea toward
her, she could scarcely suppress an exclama-
tion of wondering admiration.

Grief is ever a tem orary emotion! The
more violent it is, the riefer is its existence.
God has so wisely and mercifully constituted
us, that time, and change, and outward cir-
cumstances, all contribute to soften it, lessen
it, and divert it. When we behold the be-
loved wife bereft of her husband, and witness
her shrieks of desolation and anguish, we
should sup ose she would never cease to weep
for him. ut day after day passes, and the
fountain of her tears is gradually dried up;
by—and-by, the face of mourning can smile
a sin; the low voice of sorrow recovers its
efissticity of tone, the slow step of grief its
lightness, and Time weaves a tender vail of
memory over the past, and invites the late
’mourner to interest herself once more in the
present! All this proceeds from the wisdom
and goodness of our Creator, who knows
“what is in man," and that continual sorrow
would destroy him. So, the mother recovers
from the death of her first-born, the brother
ceases to mourn the loss of a sister, the friend
of a friend ; and the smiles of this year re-
place the tears of last year. So, the prison-
er, when first cast into his dungeon, now casts
himself upon the stone floor in despair, now 1
springs to his feet, and extends his manacled g
hands toward Heaven in anguish unspeakable. {
He mourns, he weeps, he agonizes, he beats ;
his brow, and raves with mental wretchedness 1
at his fate; but the next day he is calmer; 

l

 

the third day, more passive, and, ere long, tears ,
and groans give we to silent submission to a
fate which he feels is without remedy.

Thus it was with Rose! The wi d excite--
ment of her situation had exhausted itself! ,
her anger had ended in bitterness of heart— 
her tears could flow no longer! She could
only wait and trust in Heaven, and bear with v,
submission her fate, until it should become "
necessary to call upon death to save her from
a union—to her more dreadful than death.

She sat, therefore, gazing out n on the sea
with a calm, fixed sadness settle upon her '
lovely face. She was reflecting upon the
past, and upon the wonderful revelation re~

spectinz herself.

“ Not his sister l—not Adam Lee's daugh‘
tor!” she suddenly said, in an under—tone, as
if not conscious her lips were moving. “This
is so wonderful to me ! Yet, I feel, they both
spoke true—Adam Lee dying, and Robert Lee
here ! My heart seems to have lifted from ii
a great cloud—for though ‘m father,’ so 1
have called him, treated me kindly, yet I
could never let my heart go out to him.
There always eemed to be a grief between
my heart and his! And now that I believe
he slew my father, I can only regard his mem—
ory with )bhorrence. It is true, he has ro-
techid my childhood and youth; but he he
not de rived me of my natural protectors,
and had he not my father's silver? But he
may not—that general—have been my father.
I may have been the daughter of some other
of the passengers. My pride must not o’er-
leap itself, or I may'fall yet lower. But who
I am, I have a desire to learn. Ah, I forget
in these idle reflections where I am—that I
am a captive—that I am so, so miserable!
Can I escape? Is there no help for me?
When to-morrow evening comes, I shall not
consent to his terms! What then? I dare
not contemplate. Is there no dagger in this
fi hting vessel—no weapon 1- can make use
of, if I have to call on Death’! Ralph ! O
my noble Ralph ! where art thou? I-Iast thou
heard all? How wilt thy great heart bear the
news? Mine bleeds for thee! What wilt
thou do? Thou canst not pursue mel Thou
knowest not whither I am gone 1”

She clasped her hands for a few moments
in despair and grief. Suddenly she started,
and her face lighted up with the light of re-
newed intelligence.

“ I will do what I can ! Ca tain Perry was
in the city, and perhaps ha avessel; and
Re] h, whom he loves, might induce him to
sen after the pirate. Oh, hope ! hope! Dare
I hope? Yet it is my only hope. A pirate
escaping so publicly, and defying the forts, is
an insult to the naval officers in New York,
and they may give chase. This is my hope!
It is faint, faint, indeed ! If I could only
leave on the sea some trace or sign of the
way we are going. I have heard of bottles
being thrown overboard. Here is an ivory-
inlaid desk, with perfumed note-paper. I will
write—but first, how shall I set it afloat!
There is no bottle here," she cried, looking
carefully all around the state apartment.
“Ah, I have found one !" And she seized a
long and narrow Cologne bottle which stood
upon the toilet.

She opened it, and poured the fragrant
fluid out of the window into the sea; which
she could do unseen, as the stern windows
were hidden from the deck by the projection
of the tafl‘rail and heavy stern works. As
she emptied the Cologne out—a more fragrant
libation, and from fairer hands, than Ne tune
had ever received before, even when Niobe’s
tears fell upon his snowy locks—she noticed
that one of the gulls poised himself 11 on the
waves directly beneath, expecting foo to fall
into the water from her hand; for though
wild, yet these birds, by keeping near vessels
for months, night and day—going from one
to another—are often very old, especially
when hungry, and come within a yard or two
of the ships.

“If I could catch one of these, and fasten
a note to his wings i” was her assing thought.
“But, then, they are not 11 e the carrier-

igeons I have read of, and would never take
it to the far-off land."

To the bird she cast some crumbs of cake,
which immediately) picked them up, with
thrill cries, which rought a score of others
close beneath the stern, darting and turning
in eccentric curves, and almost brushing her
hand with their long. cimeter—like pinions.

“ I will try and catch one. It is the best I
can do!” she said.

She formed a hook of a long, Spanish hair-
pin, which she saw on her toilet-table; and
attaching it to a thread, after a few minutes,

5 Was overjo ed to see one of them take the

hook, and utter in captivity.
“ You are a capital fisher, Ross," said the

, Voice of Robert Lee.

She started and looked up. First detect-
ing the Cologne in the wind, and hearing the
clamor of the birds under the stern, he looked
over the larboard davit, and beheld her take
the bird. Rose made no reply, but drew in
her bird.

“ I wasn’t aware you were so good a fisher,
Rose.
birds in the sea."

 

You have an odd humor to fish for _

She was silent. Laughing coldl , he added :

“Well, take your time! I in nd to be a
fisher, too ; and I intend to have a bird with
‘ golden feathers.’ ”

The twilight' was now falling in a soft vail
upon the sea.

“ Could he suspect ?” she asked herself.
“If he had, he would have betrayed his sus-
picions. Now, what shall I do with in bird,'
which is so strong-winged and fierce Can
he serve me? I know not. But a drowning
person will catch at a straw.”

She secured the bird by throwing over him
a hollow foot-ottoman; and then, without
any definite ion as to how she should dis-
pose of her etter, she sat down to write.

apidly with a pencil, she wrote as follows:

“Tan Prams SOHoonna Scoarron,
“ Ar Sn, 6 o’csocx, P. M.

“The writer is Rosalie Lee. She is a prisoner on
board, in fear of death, or misery unuttcrable. She
calls on all good Christians and brave seamen, who
read this, to come to her aid. Especially does she
hope that Ralph Turner, of whom she is the betrothed
bride, will try and pursue. This vessel is full of men.
Its captain is Robert Lee. She is bound to England,
to the best of my knowledge. We are steering now
exactly east. It is nine hours since we left New York
Xprbor, and the land is no longer visible. Come and
‘ d me, if this falls into the hands oi’ any one who
can.

“ P. S.—I forgot to say, that the vessel is to stop at
a place called Fayal, on her way to England. This
schooner is full of men, and strongly armed with large

“DB.

“ I do not know how I shall get this letter away
arom the vessel. I shall trust it to a kind Providence,
which guided the dove to the olive-tree over the path-
iess flood.

“If this falls into the hands of Ralph Turner oi
King's Bridge, let him know that Robert Lee as
shown me proof that I am not the daughter of Adam
Lee, nor his sister! This, 0 Ralph! is the secret
which he had in his heart, that caused him to run 0!
with me. But, dear Ralph, I will be true to you. I
will die ere I become the wife of Robert Lee.

“ If you get this, sail straight for Fayal.

“ He has given me till then to decide between death
and himself. Your faithful, and true, and loving

It Roan."

The fair reader will see that the fair captive
had begun addressing no one in person; but
as she went on, Ralph began to fill all her
horizon, and the rest of it was addressed
actually to him—as if she, in her young, and
true, and hoping heart, believed he would see
what she wrote : a true woman’s letter. We,
are sure that every fair girl will “ hope and
pray" that he, Ralph, may get it; for did we
not leave him on the deck of the “Golden
Feather,” but twent —four hours behind the
pirate vessel—all sai crowded, in chase; yet
uncertain, however, whether the young buc-
caneer of King’s Bridge was ahead of him
on that course.

When Rose had completed this missive, it
was so dark in her state-room, that she could
hardl see to trace the closing sentences.

“ ow, what shall I do ?" she asked her-
self, as she folded it up. She be an to re
flect, but was interrupted h old allah, who
knocked on the outside to now if she “hob
de wax can’les lighted u ?”

“ No—I prefer to be in the dark,” she an-
swered.

“ Berry well, missis,” answered the old fol-
low; “you nebber be in the dark shure, if
you keep your bright eyes open 1"

Rose could scarcely suppress a smile; but
it was like a passing breeze upon the icy face
of a fountain, bearing no ripple.

“ That man seems not to have abad heart ;”
she said; “yet I dare not trust any one in
this dreadfu vessel! If I place the note in
this bottle, I cannot stop it tightly, for it has
a glass stopple—and the water will fill it and
sink it. I can tie it to this wild bird, but will
he bear it to the land? Do the not always
hover over the sea? What abs 1 I do ?"

She cast her eyes about in the twilight to
see if anything could suggest itself to her.

” Could I get one of these cane chairs out
through the window, it would float, and I
could tie my bird and letter to it; and both
together might attract the attention of some
vessel.” _ '

The idea seemed to be full of hope; but
the chairs of course could not be forced
through a window which had bars of iron
across it, at intervals of four inches.

Perhaps no situation calls forth so wonder-
fully the inventive qualities as that of cap
tivity, which it is desired to escape from. All
Rose’s mind was active. Resolved to inter.
mit no means of making her situation known,
she paced her room and cogitated plan afici-

Ian—the sea-bird under the ottoman being

he central figure around which her thoughts
revolved.

“HItiothelettsrnndu’ hiswlng,hcwill

A

The. Mysterious SPY:

 

 

dive into the waves, and it will be wet and
destro 'ed, and all will be lost in the outset!
And i he did not, the only hope of its being
seen by mortal e 'e is, that it might be taken
by some one on board some vessel, which is
improbable, unless llcaven directed him—as
it did the ravens, to go to the prophet. I
must not be too superstitious, and believe the
bird will fly into the hands of the first ship.
I must think of something else—some other
,plan! But I won‘t let the bird loose till I
decide fully.”

So she went on to plan and think, walking
to and fro. Suddenly she lighted upon an
idea. In the state-room was a sort of armour
or clothes-press of rosewood, which her ca -
tor told her had been filled in Kingston, a-
maica, with every article of feminine appar-
eling : and it was all at her service. Curios-
ity, after obert Lee had left her, led her to
0 en it. he saw that it was filled with the
richest dresses. She now went to it, and pro-
ceeded to remove all the ribbons from them
and the hats, and soon collected a handful of
brilliant streamers. It was 'ust light enough
for her to distinguish one color from another.

She now went to work and wove a sort of net,
which she secured at the crossings with pins.
When she had completed a sort of netting—
the size of her two hands—with the loose ends
of ribbon, a yard long, extending from it in
streamers, she laid it by her, and said :

“ think that will do, if it is not too heavy.
It wi 1 be cons icuous enough.”

She then too the note, and rap ing it in a
piece of oiled silk, which she found in one of
the bonnets, she firmly tied it up—leaving
strings to it. Then she carefully removed the
bird, and fecdin it to keep it quiet—for it
beat her with itsdong and muscular pinions—
she fitted over its back and neck, the net she
had made, and tied it under his breast and all
beneath its body. She then fastened a very
long pennon of scarlet ribbon to each of his
feet; all the while having to hold him down
with great difficulty.

“ This is all I can do to make it attract
notice. It will be so frightened, I hope it will
’fly to the land for relief. If seen in the day-
,time from an vessel, it will be shot at and
perhaps kille ; and then the little acka c I
am about to tie under his wing wi 1 be is-
sovered !”

She, then, as carefully as she could for the
pecking and fluttering of the bird, secured the

oil-cloth parcel firmly to his body. Once
more she examined the whole odd costume, to
see if it was secure ; and then, with an almost
hopeless prayer on her lips, she let the bird
loose, after passing it and all its gorgeous
pennons carefully through the iron lattice.

“ Go, 00d birdi Fly and bring me aid.
The goo winged-angels guide thee to some
brave men’s ship: or to Ralph, braver than
all !”

It was now uite dark. She knew that the
bird would not a seen if it at once flew astern,
the vessel at the same time leavin it.

In an instant the sea-bird,~terr1fi'ed by the
strange ap endages, dashed away with a pierc-
ing cry. t became at once inwsible. Its
cry, however, continued far out in the air, and
was answered by that of a score of other
birds. Painter and fainter it grew in the dis-
tance, and finally ceased altogether. Rose,
with clasped hands, said, as she sank back ex-
hausted:

“I have done allI could ! I leave the event
to Heaven 1"

CHAPTER XVI.

We now follow the path of the wild sea-
bird, leaving for the present our heroine in
her captivity. The sea-gull, after leavingher
hand, filled with fear at its extraordinary
handling and caparisoning, darted like an ar-
row from the bow, astern.

The flutter of the numerous pcnnons of rib-
bons, as it clave the air, increased its terror ;

aand now rising high in the atmosphere, now
swooping close to the sea, now dashing off in
a straight line, it strove to disengage itself
from its appendages, all the while shrieking
with anger and alarm, and followed by a cloud
of screaming companions. _

At length, after a tortuous flight of hours,
it sunk exhausted upon a billow, and seemed
to submit quietly to its fate. But the weight
of the ribbons, saturated with sea-water, con-
stantly kc tit rising to escape being drawn
under and drowried. At length, morning
dawned, and the sun arose and the bird rust-
ed ; and diso-rning by the light the brilliant

 

25

 

colors of its decorations, ngain started, no
doubt with fresh terror ; and, rising with a
score of fluttering streamers into the atmos-
phere, flew round and round in circles, and
using every device to free itself. Other birds,
seeing it by the sunshine, kept aloof from the
green, blue, yellow, and scarlet monster, and
the bird had the whole field to its own wild
swoopings.

At length, it seemed to understand that the
sea was the worst place for it, and an instinct
appeared to guide it landward ; for though
the coast was sixty miles off yet, the sea-bird
knows ever its direction, and this frightened
bird bent its course against the wind westward.
By-and-by, beneath it, its clear e e beheld a
portion ofa wreck ; and, dcsccn ing quickly,
he lighted upon the fragment of a fore-top-
gallant yard, which some vessel had carried
away in a gale. Here the bird found safety
and repose, and for hours remained immov-
able. Two hours before sunset, a sail was seen
stretching away along the sea. It was com-
ing down before the wind, and her course was
eastward, and almost in a line with the spar
on which the bird perched, but miles yet from
it.

It was a charming nautical spectacle to be-
hold the graceful bearing and swift progress
of the vessel, which wns an armed brigantine,
schooner-rigged aft, and carrying great
breadth of canvas, with an immensely-large
foretopsail, almost like a sloop-of-war‘s. She
Was painted black, save a vermilion streak
along her waist ; and one or two of her port-

oles being open showed a vermilion lining.
Her horizontal spars were also of a light red
color. She raked so broadly, that her main-
truck was vertical over the taifrail; in fact,
her lofty and slender mainmast leaned back
over her stern. To a seaman‘s eye, she was a
beautiful object. Onward she came, dashin
the salt spray aside from her sharp bows, an
looking as if born of the sea-foam.

At her fore-topmast head fluttered a little
flag, on which was a “ Golden Feather.”

Let us look upon her deck. The steers-
man is at his post, with his eye now on the
foretcpsail on the binnacle.

“Full east!” said the voice of a young
man, who was the officer of the deck. It was
Mark Manning.

“East it is, sir."

“ Does the wind fall, Manning ?" asked an-
other young man, who came out of the cabin.
" I think it has.”

“No, Captain Turner ; we are running ten
knots large.”

“ I would it were twelve l”

“ We get as much out of this wind as any
craft can get," answered another of the “ six-
teen,” all of whom might be seen in one part
of the privateer or the other ; for Ralph, on
quitting his post, had placed his watches and
set everything in order, as became a skillful
seaman and naval fighter. The decks were
white and clean, and in the most perfect or-
der. The batter of guns was a model in the
completeness 0 its arrangement. Order,

uiet, discipline were established and reigned.

ow different was the class of faces and the
bearing of the men on this honest vessel from
that on the Scorpion i Nearly all of the
eighty men on board were young fellows,
frank-looking and bold. The “ sixteen” Ralph
had formed into a quarter-deck boarding- ar-
ty, to be headed b himself—Mark her. in
the forecastle boar ers and Harry the mi -
Ihip—fcr three parties of boarders were com-
bined in the plan of attack, whether upon the
cnem or upon the pirate. V

Ra ph now, near y seven hours out from

port (having sailed about noon), was constant-

watching the horizon; now looking all
a out to see if any suspicious sail was in sight
(for the ocean was covered with British cruis-
ers), and now earnestly peering ahead. He
kept aman constantly in the fore-topgallant
cross-trees on the look-out.

“It is now nearly two hours'to sundown,"
he said, stopping and speaking to Mark. Ten
miles an hour in six hours is sixty miles.
Give the Scorpion, if she is steering east, nine
miles an hour, and she will be two hundred
miles ahead of us, for she got twenty-four
hours the start of us. This will be a long
chase. Ahoy, aloft! Keep your eyes open."

“ Ay, sir i"

“ Do you'see anything?”

“ No, sir."

“ It will be days before we overtake her, it
we are on her track. which is doubtful,” said

Ralph. “What would‘ I not give to speak

 

 

some vessel comin in ?"

“Sail, he i” suddenly called the man aloft.

“ Where away ?"

“ Off the larboard beam.” ‘

“Not in our course,” answered Ra] )h, with
a look ofdisappointment; but ascen ing the
rigging, he saw that it was a vessel beating up
from the eastward, and was then on her lar-
hoard tack, which would bring her across her
course not far astern, if the Golden Feather
hove to. ~

“ That is a bark," said Mark, after taking a
look with a glass. “It is possible she ma
have seen the pirate—who, if he Went eas ,
has laid his course through her zig-zag ing
tack. Brace up a. couple of points, an let
us speak her.”

In half an hour the bark was within three
miles, when, as if suspecting the bad charac-
ter of the vessel, she tacked and ran away
on the other leg.

“ It may be an English vessefi,” said Mark.
“ It is my duty to give hase. csidcs, I may
hear something of the cor "on, if it is not."

In a moment, the Golden eather was brac-
ed shar to the wind on the starboard tack,
and in ull chase of the stran er. The latter
dis icyed the American flag, at kept on her
flight. The speed of the privatecr on the
wind was wonderful ; she seemed to slip ahead
of the very wind itself in her un aralleled ve-
locity. In twen minutes, Ral ) fired ashot
at the chase, w ich brought ier topsails to
the masts. In a quarter of an hour more, he
was within bail, and setting the American col-
ors, ran under her stern. -

“ Ship'aho i What bark is that 1’"

“ The N autilus of Bath, Captain McLellan.”

“Where bound ?”

“ Into the capes of the Delaware.”

“ Have you met a low, rakish, black schoon-
er full of men, and carrying eight guns, with-
in a day or two i’"

“A —ayl Ipassed her last night about
three ells in the starboard watch, when we
were on the larboard tack. She was going
dead before the wind, and hailed as to heave
to. We did so, and she took from us all our
vegetables, fresh provisions, and what they

leased. We were thankful they gava us our

ives. The were certainly pirates, sir. If
you are a nited States vessel; if you kee
east by north half north, you will overhali?
her, if she keeps the course she took after
they boarded us."

“ You are sure it was a clipper schooner?“

“ Yes ; and her as tain’s name was Lee. \
heard him called so y his men, who boarded
me and spoke of him. I thought you, sir.
were one of the same, and ran from you."

“ I thank you for your news. It is the ves.
as] we are at sea in pursuit of," answered
Ralph, with kindling eye, and his whole man.
ner changed to one of excitement. “Square
away again, air, and report ‘ the Golden Fea-
ther, privateer, Turner master.’ "

“ Ay, ay, sir! I hope you will take her,"
answered the short, bluff, Yankee captain, as
he turned to give his orders for his vessel to
resume her course.

Ralph had already shouted his commands
to put the privateer before the wind, and once
more the graceful and swift vessel went bound-
ing like a greyhound over the waves of the
sunlit ocean.

“ We are not at fault, you see, Mark,” he
said, with 'oyful tones, as the brigantine was
once more ending to all her canvas, and roar-

ing in her track like an angry leviathan in

'pursuit of prey. “It was a fortunate thing
We spoke the bark. We are now sure she is
before us. Kee her awn ' acouple of points
more southward y," he a( ded to the man at
the helm ; “ for we left our course that much
to s eak her."

T e rivateer in the course of a mile fell
again into her exact line of course, and the
look-out aloft still swe t the horiaon.

While Mark and I arry were talking with
Ral h leaning on the capstan, as to the prob-
ability of overtaking the schooner, a voice,
seemingly from the sky, cried out, with excit-
ed tones very unusual in a seaman aloft

“ Look, sirl Look there below! It is a
devil 1”

Ralph and his friends sprang to the hula
works, when an extraordinary object was seen
hhead, making its way wildly through the air

“ What can it be ?"

“ What monster of earth or sea is that ?”

“My gun here—quick i" cried Ralph. “1

/

- ~vA-4‘-- _. mm M,

e. m..._..._ ._.........

26

The Mystgrious Spy.

 

know not whether ghost or goblin, but I will i

fire at it." The excitement on board, from the
quarter-deck to the forecastle, was intense.
The helmsman, in his anxiety to see what it
was, nearly caused the ship to breach to.
Every eye was now fixed upon the strange
creature.

“ It is Satan himself !” cried the boatswain,
with a huge oath.

“See what feathers of all colors!"

“And long and queer ones, too.”

“Isn‘t it a rum ’un ?”

“ What canit be, captain ?” said Mark, who,
amid the flutter of the long streamers of
parti-colored ribbons, as poor Rose’s sea-bird,
scared up from the spar by the coming ves-
sel, took to the air in wild circles, could only
gaze with marvel like the rest.

The crew set up aloud shout, as it drew near
the vessel in one of its sweeps, its gayly-col-
ored ribbons snapping and ruflling, the sun
shining upon them, and lending to him a sin-
gular splendor in his coat of divers colors.

“Keep her away. That will do—-as you
are. It is a strange bird of some sort, but
never mortal eyes saw such a one before,”
said Ralph. “I mean to fire and bring it
down, if lead and powder will produce any
effect upon such an extraordinary-looking
creature !"

The bird seemed to be confined in its move-
ments to a series of circles, as if revolving
about an invisible centre ; and as the vessel
steered toward it in one of its swoops, the sea~
gull was brought within range of the musket,
pith which Ralph was armed standing on the

ows.

He fired, and the bird, with a shrill cry,
rose strait into the air for a hundred feet, and
then, turning over, fell headlong, wildly whirl-
ing round in his descent, and struck the water
about forty fathoms ahead of the brigantine.

“ It is a mortal bird, at least,” said Harry
Ballard, as he witnessed the effect of the shot.

The vessel was immediately brought up
into the wind. and a boat lowered in order to
secure it. Mark went in the boat by his com-
mander’s orders, and every eye was watching
his progress. When he reached the bird, he

‘uttered a loud shout, and called to Ralph :

“It is a sea-gull covered with ribbons !"

i “ This is very extraordinary,” answered
Ralph. “ Come alongside with it.”

As Mark returned and stepped on deck with
the be-ribboned bird in his hand, the whole
crew, in spite of the discipline of the ship,
crowded to get a look at it.”

“ You see,sir," said Mark, holding the bird
outstretched by the two long and slendvr
wings, “ it is a gull. It is dead! Was ever a
bird dressed up in this fashion before ‘2”

“ Let me see it," said Ralph. And taking
it, he examined the manner in which the nets
work of ribbon had been fitted to the bird’s
body, and how the streamers were attached to
its legs.

“ This is not accidental. but has been done
for some object," he said.

“ Perhaps some crazed person had the bird,
and fancied to dress it up so, and it escaped,
or was let go by them,” said Barry.

“ Let us examine it carefully. Untie all
these ribbons,”, he said to some of the men.
The sailors soon divested the bird of all the
streamers, soiled, wet, and ruined by the ex-

osure all night on the sea. As the last rib-
iion was untied, asmall parcel, unseen before,
dropped upon the deck. The boatswain
caug t it up. and handed it to his captain.

Ralph took it, and, seeing that it was care-
fully round, said :

“ This may reveal something!
,be something in oiled silk."

He unwrapped the coverings, and, 10 l a
paper, rolled carefully up, met his eyes. He
seized it with eager curiosity, while his young
officers gathered round, not less desirous of
asceitaining what was in it. Unfolding it, he
found it perfectly dry, and discovered that it
, Wus written over. A second glance made his
heart bound; for he thought he recognized

It 6( ems to

the writing (so familiar to him) of Rose. The i

first line—
“The writer is Rosalie Lse—"

caused him to tremble so (was it with joy, or 

what inexplicible emotion?) that the paper
fell from his fingers.
cried:

“ It is from Rose! Look !—her name !—

how wonderful! This bird seems to have been 
a messenger from Heaven of tidingsfrom her! !

Pardon inc—I cannot—rcad—here l"

 

 

And with great visible emotion he hastened
i to the cabin, as if he would Veil from the
‘ eyes, even of his most intimate associates, the
,‘ expression of his face as he read.

l l‘hey stood looking at one another with
i amazement. Harrv spoke, and said :

i “ Can it be possible that Rose Lee has writ-
ten, and placed a note under the wing of this
bird, and that it has reached our vessel in so
marvellous a way ?”

ing? I am overwhelmed with amazement at
this thing. Secure the bird! Do not let it
get away," he added to the men.

The brigantine still lay to ; for Ralph had
given no orders to fill away again, in his total
oblivion of everything but the note he graspv
ed in his hand.

Upon reaching the cabin, he read it, though
with mingled feelings of joy, sorrow, anger,
,‘md vengeance ; buth and wonder prevailed,
that the note, so hope essly committed to the
wild sea-bird, should have come to his. hand,
and within fourteen hours after it was sent.

Having concluded the erusal of it, he
kissed again and again the ear signature, and
then called all his officers into the cabin, and
said:

“ Providence is with us l This is from Rose I
Hear it i”

He then read it aloud to them.

When he had ended, the young men all
were seized with a spirit of vengeance.
Thanking Heaven for aiding the bird to the
vessel, they gave vent to their feelings of de—
light at knowing they were certainly on the
track of the pirate.

When at length the excitement had in some
degree subsided, so that Ralph could talk in
ordinary tones, he said :

“ You see, my friends, that the very birds
of the sea bring the news where Robert Lee’s
vessel is. Noble and true Rose! What but
inspired hope, or the extremity of despair,
could have led he? to trust such a messen-
ger? And see how, that it might attract the
notice of ships, she decorated it as we have be-
held it! N ow we have nothing to think
of but her rescue. We know now, certainly,
that the pirate is before us, and that Rose was,
last evening, safe; and, what is more, she has
some days of grace! She tells us, too, that
which we could not learn from the bark—that
Fayal is their destination. Now all will‘de-
fiend on speed. Return, my friends, to the

eck; make sail on her, and give ever stud-
dingsail on board to this fair wind. I neces-
sary, to increase our speed, we must throw
half of our guns overboard; for we shall not
need them in contact with the foe who is to be
boarded, and fought hand to hand l”

Ralph having seen that his vessel was put
under as much canvas as she could well carry,
once more went to his cabin, and read the let-
ter of Rose, and rejoiced at the earnest of her
love which its glowing language betrayed.

“Who would not die for such a devoted
heart ?” he said. “ 0 Robert Lee l thou
child of the devil! thou mayest rob her life
from me; but never can she be thine living!
Alas! dear Rose, would that thou knewest
how we are coming to aid thee on the wings
of the wind. Thanks, oh, thanks for this let-
terl—for assuring me that there is respite
given you! But, more wonderful news than
all, that thou art not his sister! It fills me
with joy, yet increases my fear. I have often
gazed on thy fair, innocent, full face, and
wondered that thistlcs should produce roses,
and thorns lilies of the valley, when I con-
trasted thy father‘s—Adam Lee's—with thine,
and Robert Lee’s with thine!

 

But, catching it up, he l

“ Ah ! Mark, come in. I am thinking over
the most remarkable part of her letter—that
in which Rose asserts her discovery that Rob
ert Lee is not her brother, nor Adam Lee her
father l”

“ Do you not know, Master Ralph, that I
have wondered at her having no likeness to
them?” answered Mark. “And once, when I
spoke of it to my grandfather, he shook his
head, and said: ‘ I should not wonder, lad, if
there was good reason! There was, I mind,
a talk some seventeen years or more agone—
when Adam Lee came back from sea, and
brought that pretty little girl with him. He
said that he had married a second wife over
the seas, and she had died, and this child was
hers; but the commoners and good Wives
didn’t like the stor , and said Adam Lee nev-
er had an angel-cherub like that!”

“ It was certainly a note,” said Harr ; i
“for did we not catch a glimpse of the writ- ,

 

, “ I am glad to hear this, Mark! The idea

that Rose is no relation of Robert Lee fills me
wilh joy; yet it increases in anxiety and
fear. But she writes that the end has given
her till they reach Fayal to decide between
death and—but I can’t speak on the subject.
Now I have but one thought—to overtake this

iratical monster. If I have to throw over-

oard half our stores, I must overtake him!
Yet—no—no! This is not my vessel! Guns,
stores are not mine, to be cast into the sea.
I serve owners! What is one heart’s love, or

, one maiden less on the earth, so that money

is made for those who have placed me in com-
mand ? I must be true to my employers,
While I seek the rescue of Rose l”

“ Do not despair, and take it to heart so
heavily, Master Ralph,” said Mark, laying his
hand kindly on his shoulder. “ We are run-
ning fourteen knots. Robert Lee is not more
than two hundred or little more miles ahead
of us. The same good fortune which sent the
sea-gull to our vessel, is givin us the cer-
tainty of her safety; and our eing on the
right track will continue with us.”

“ I hope so—I will try and think so. But
how my heart bleeds for Rose when I reflect
upon her present misery. In what a state of
Constant terror must she be—knowing, too,
that Robert Lee is not her brother l It drives
me mad to contemplate hersituation.” '

“ Let it not occupy’ your thoughts, Master
Ralph. You have a brave heart to meet dan-
ger in battle—”

“ Yes; I would rather face a battery than
this horrible suspense. ‘ will go on deck,
and see how she is runnii! ; the wind seems
to increase, the way she rolls.”

The oung privateer captain ascended to
the doc . The wind was increasing almost to
a stifi‘ gale, and was almost due aft; and be-
fore it the bri antinc rolled and plunged head-
long, almost ipping her yard-arms, and toss-
ing the spray of the waves high as the fore.
top, keeping the jib and flying—jib heavy
with sea-water.

“ Hold the reel 1” called out Ralph.

“Fifteen knots, large, sir l" answered the
second oflicer.

“That will do,” he answered, with a slight
smile of ratification, as he took the spy-glass
from its eckets on the top of the companion-
way, and scanned the sea in the direction of
his course.

CHAPTER XVII.

Leaving the Golden Feather in swift ur-
suit, across the ocean, of the Scorpion, an the
latter in full flight fbr Fayal, one of the West-
ern Islands, we return to the cabins of the
latter, and to our heroine, captive in one of
them.

'When Rose had liberated the sea-bird, we
have said she offered up a silent prayer that
some vessel might discover it, and from its
extraordinary appearance seek its capture.
She then firmly secured her door b drawing
the heavy furniture against it. his done,
she committed herself to the care of Heaven,
and, by-and-by, sunk into deep and refresh-
ing sleep. At intervals throughout the
night, she was half-awaked by the regular
tolling of the half hours of the night-watches
on the shi ’5 bell ; and once she thought the
schooner and stopped, and she fancied she
heard voices shouting one to the other ; but!
she did not fully wake, and the sounds min:

led with her dreams. This was when the

corpion fell in with the bark, and brought
her to and boarded her.

When the sun rose, she awoke refreshed;
and, for a moment, ere she unclosed her eyes,
she imagined she was in her room at the inn;
but the sight of the cabin made her blood
run cold, and her heart cease to beat for a
moment—for all the horrors and peril of her
situation forced itself upon her recollection.
She siartcd and listened. The noise of the
rippling sea under the vessel’s counter, the
surge of the milk-white wake, and the cries
of a flock of sea-birds alone were heard;
save the regular tramp over her head of the
ofiicer of the deck, pacing fore and aft.

“ I will, at least, dress in this apparel which
is here,” she said ; “for mine is so wretched
with the sea-water, and so soiled and torn I
cannot wear it. I will appear, at least, be--
fore him, if he visits me, Wllh self-respect!"

So she attired herself with becoming neat-
ness, like a sensi' le girl as she was, in one of
the dresses which the wardrobe contained,
and arranged her hair with taste :

“Even if no one sees me to-day but the‘

 

 

old man who brings my food, I must appear
well.”

Not only did she appear well, but trans-
cendently beautiful. Her night’s repose had
recovered her from all her fatigue ; and if
the roses had not wholly returned to her
cheeks, yet they wore a tint of delicate cama-
tion, which, harmonizing with the brilliancy
of her eyes, added fresh charms to her face.
There is a certain class of feminine beauty
which is enhanced by being, in some degree,
disturbed; to which uncertainty and slight
trouble lends a piquancy which is very at-
tractive. Such was the beauty of Rose Lee.
She could not, as she gazed into the long
Florentine mirror, which almost filled one
side of the state-room, but confess that she
was very lovely. Her eyes expressed un~
conscious admiration.

Suddenly a cloud overspread her features,
and she sighed heavily.

“ All that is now so fair in me may to-mor-
row be no more i I care not how beautiful I
be, if I am not beautiful to the eyes of my
noble Ralph! As for Robert Lee, before he
shall compel me to become his, I will end my
life in the dreadful sea."

There was a low knock at the door.

“ Who is there ?"

“ Old Wallah, and missis breakfus.”

“ Is no one else there ?”

“No, missis.”

She removed the ottoman from against the
door, and the African stood before it with a
temptin breakfast on a large salver of chased
silver; oubtless part of the spoils of some
unfortunate ship captured by the former cap-
tain of the bnccaneer vessel.

She partook of the breakfast, while the old
man res ectfully stood and awaited her or-
ders. Mgre than once she stole glances at his
face, to see if, in extremity. he could be trust-
ed to serve her ; but his dark visage, and the
heavy lines of his features, betra ed only an
animal ood-nature—a quality 0 aracteristic
of the A rican.

“Do We sail ver fast, Wallah ‘9” she asked,
in order to break t e irksome silence.

“ Oh yes, missis ! Ten-knot wind mi’ty
lfa’r; sea smoof as lake. Missis no sea-sick?
’Expec’ to see y'ou'missis mi’ty sick; but den
an’t hab much sea. B -bye, when blew
galls, ,old Wallah shure young missis be mi’ty
sic .’

“ I hope not,” she answsred. But she had
been so sick at heart, and under such intense
excitement, that she had no thought about
the sensations of the bod .

Her breakfast ended, gallah returned to

"say that, “Massa Capitano wants to know

how missis do i”

“ Tell him I am well, but wish to be alone,”
she answered, scarcely knowing how to reply,
or whether to re 1y at all to the message.

At length the ay passed. Robert Lee kept
his word-mot to approach her until sunset,
to know her decision. As the hour approach-
ed, she trembled; for she knew the resolved
and evil character of the man in whose power
she Was. But she made up her mind to be
calm, and treat him with as much forbearance
[as she could.

A knock was heard at the door. She re-
co nized it as his peculiar way of rapping on
a cor from boyhood, by a sort of tattoo with

the backs of his finger-nails.. She said, -

evenly :
“ Come in, Robert." \
He entered with a wax-candle in his hand,
which she saw he was dressed with almost
foppish care. He placed the candlestick u on
her table, and bowing with ceremony, sai :

“ Rose, I have come according to m prom-
ise, to ask on if you can love me " She
was amazedy at his deferential and amiable
tone.

“ N 0, Robert Lee ! I can never love you.”

“ Rose, do you know what you say ?"

“ Perfectly. I can never marry you."

“ You know not how madly I love you i"

g " I regret it for our sake "

“I adore you— idolize you! You have
fiiscinated me! Your beaut bewilders me!
Oh, Rose, do not turn away rom mel Once
I paid suit to you when you supposed I was

our brother, and did not comprehend me;
but now on have no excuse—have pity upon
me! I 0 not wish to make use of force:
and if I do, it will be your own fault. You
can not escape «you are eternally in my
power! N 0 power on earth or sea can take
you out of my hands; I am the arbiter of
your fate! Will vou, will you? You shall

 

The Mystemous Spy.
become my wife! ' If 'ou consent with grace.
and yield gently to w at you cannot resist, I
will render you happ , and all will go well;
but if I am compelled),7 by your obduracy, to
drag you to the altar (for the altar I offer 'ou
in a l honor), you will be the sufferer. f I,
who can command, sue to you, thus (and he
knelt before her) ought I to be despised and
insulted? Turn upon me the light of those
bright eyes—smile once upon me with that
angelic month! No! All cold and icy sil-
ence l” He sprang to his feet with a cloud of
thunder upon his brow. His voice rang like
an iron clarion : and catching her by the
wrist, he said :

“Proud, insolent, sneering wretch. You
shall rue this. You despise me, I see plainly.
Very well; you shall become the wife of the
man on despise. I will not degrade you;
but w en we reach Fayal I will send for a
priest to camcon board, and your fate will be
sealed."

" I put my trust in heaven," said Ross,
deadly pale with mingled indignation and
(ea

P.

“ I laugh at all such sentiment, Rose. But
now that we are at war until we are made one,
I will, as generals do in war, repose a truce.
It will be ten or twelve days efore we reach
Fayal. I will give you the freedom of the
deck, to go and come as you list. I will not
speak to you of love ; but we will be like two
strangers, whose interest it is to be courteous
toward each other. Do you accept the
terms l?”

“I have no power to accept terms,” she
answered, with a troubled look. “But if you
will not speak to me of love, sir, till we reach
Fayal (by which time she secretly hoped
Heaven would send some relief), “I will be
as affable as I can be, with so heavy a heart
in m bosom."

“ xcellentl Now we shall get alon ,
Rose,” he answered, with a smile. “ I sha
make it a point to be particularly civil to you.
I meant to have had a faithful negro woman
to serve you on board ; but I came off to sea
in such a confounded hurry, as you well
know, I had no time to send the boat ashore
for her. But an inn-keeper’s daughter," he
said, with slight iron , “ knows pretty well
how to wait on hersel —hey, Ruse ‘i”

She made no reply; and he was about to
make some additional remark, when came,
loud and clear, the cry:

“ Sail, he 1"

He rushed from the state-room, and wasin
a moment upon deck. The sun had just gone
down in a brilliant, golden sk , which was re~
flected over the ocean—whic looked like a
sea of topaz.

“ Where away 1’"

“ Three points off the lea-bow; heading
south south-west, sir.”

He took his lass and ascended the rattling!
of the larboar rigging a few steps; he dis-
covered a ship laying her course nearly across
that of his own vessel, having the wind, which
he had aft, nearly on her starboard beam.

“Full-rigged, and carryin three top-gals
lsnt—sailsl She looks like an nglish merch-
antman," he said to Captain Marco, handing
this officer the soy-glass.

“ Going South, erha s for de cotton,"
answered Marco. “ uch ellows always carry
plenty gold.”

“ Yes; we must find out her uslity. Keep
her away a olnt,” he said to t e steersman.
“ That will 0. Now we shall about cross bar
bow. Captain Marco, show them our open
ports; and hoist the stars and stripes at the
main, and let her see ’em. Then clear the
decks for action. Boarders, to your arms;
captains of guns, look to your pieces; gun-
ner, see that all the men have their ammuni-
tion. Load with a single shot, the long Tom
on the forecastle." .

These, and various other orders were rap.
idly given; and the two vessels continually
neared the same point, and as it fell dark over
the sea, were but three miles apart. Robert
Lee now went into the cabin, and said :

“ Rose, we are about to fire our big gun !
Don’t let it frighten you! I must close these
dead-lights, for there may be firing from a
vessel we are about to attack, and I wouldn’t

like a chance musket-ball to kill youl If ‘

you hear firing lie flat on the floor, for the
shot may come through the vessel, if our
game has any heavy calibres on his deck.”
The strange vessel was no sooner concealed
from the schooner by the darkness, than she
wore-shipped, and stood off north north-west,
as if to escape from the neighborhood of it

.~ :r‘. m-~--::n.~——3=..-~-..—; r—.~ —~:>-~— ~.

27

 

 

craft that had so treacherous a look as the
Scorpion plainly ball.

This manoeuvre was no sooner discovered
than Robert Lee, satisfied she was unarmed,
brought his vessel short up to the wind on
the starboard tack, and went dashing off to
intercept her. In an hour the ship was plainly
descernible, not a mile off: for the moon had
risen, and flooded her sails with light.

“ Send a shot nthwart her bows, Marco,"
ordered the young pirate chief. “ lt will give
her a taste of our qualily."

The roar of the huge engine of war was
like a pea] of thunder, close above the vessel
—in which every joint and timber trembch
like a loaf. He waited to sue the result, and
beheld alight run up into the rigging, and
then lowered and hoisted thrve times, while
the ship came into the wind, back her main-
topsail, and remained stationary.

“ She dies easily,” said the pirate ca tain,
as he ordered his cutter to be lowerc and
manned.

Getting into it with ten armed men, and
followed by another boat containing tWenty,
he ulled to the prize, and mounted to the
deck.

“Who commands this ship?” he demand-
ed, as he saw an anxious throng abOut the
gangway.

“ I do, sir l" answered a stout, fleshy man.
“ And if on are a Yankee privateer, we trust
you will be civil to my passengers.”

“ Where are you from ‘3”

“ Halifax, bound to Jamaica.”

“ English 9”

“ Yes, sir."

“ What is your cargo ‘9"

“English goods and the like.”

“ How many passengers have you r?”

“ But two—an English lady and her maid.”

“Excellent! It couldn’t happen better!

resent my compliments to the lady, and tell
her I must have the serving-woman—for my
sister is on board my vessel, and needs hei‘
service l”

“ Do you mean to take her out of my ves-
sel, sir. ’

“ Without doubt, and the lady too, if she
will not let her maid go without her. Be-
sides, I would like to know what gold you
have. I am very much in need of money."

“Sir, you talk more like a pirate .than a
privateersman—who at least observe the laws
of war!”

“ You have hit it, Captain John Bull l I am
a pirate, at your service.”

At this confession there was a general ex-
clamation of horror and surprise ; and the
crew moved awa far from him, who, with a
score of men at is back, stood with his ent-
lass drawn, and a pistol in his left hand ready
to slay at a word.

“ A pirate l” gasped the captain. “Then
are we lost.”

“ Not if you are civil. You are lucky. A
privnteer would have sent your ship, and on
as prisoners into Boston or New York : w ile
I only ask for 'our bags of money, and a few
little articles or the table, perha s, and a
serving-woman to wait upon a la y on m
craft. Come, sir, bring out your money, or
will make your decks like shambles in five
minutes I”

It was in vain for the captain to resist the
demand. With a heavy heart he ordered his
men to bring up four boxes of gold and five
of silver, which were passed into the‘boats.

“ Now for the maid.”

“ She will not go. sir. Her mistress will
not let her be taken."

“ So then I will take both mistress and
maid.”

In ten minutes more, not only the lady, but
her servant, with all their luggage, was trans-
ferred to the pirate boats ; shrieking, and
wild with despair, and struggling to escape
from their fate b len linginto the sea. Their
voices were hear by lose, and thrilled to her
soul.

“Oh! what other poor females are come
hither to this place of hell 1” she exclaimed.

Ere long her door was opened by Robert
Lee, and his men came bearing into the state-
‘ room, one after another, the two females. The
lady was almost insensihle, while the young
‘ woman struggled madly with her captors.
. But no sooner did she see the beautiful face
of Rose, than, with a cry of surprise and de-
; light, she flew to her, and clasping her knees,
said :

“ 0h, lady. save me : save mv mistress from

 

. ‘s... _. .s.

28

Spy.

 

these dreadful men—for you Have the face of

an angel, though I find you here.”

“ Here Rose, is company for you. Ibrought '

them who“ out-of regard for you: knowing
you would e lonely. Here is a maid to wait
on you. I hope you will all enjoy yourselves
now in each others’ society. Just tell the
lady from me, we don’t intend to harm her!”

Thus speaking. Robert Lee left the state-
room for the deck; and the two vessels part-

‘ ing company, were soon lost to each others’

:!

sight, in the obscurity of opposite horizons.

“ I will do what I can, poor girl,” answered
Rose, as she raised the young English servant-
girl to her feet. 4‘ But I am only a captive
here. Lad ," she added, going toward the
mistress, w 0 sat with her head in her hands
looking vacsutly around in blank despair, as
if her situation were too dreadful for tears or
cries, “ I feel deeply for on.”

The lady looked stead' y at her, and said:

“ So young—so fair—and yet—”

“ A ca tive to the captain, lady."

“ Ah, on are you to be pitied also I .What
fearful destiny awaits me 2’"

“ He will not harm you.”

“ Harm me? Has he not already torn me
from the vessel on which I was going to meet

my son; is not death, or nameless horrors ’

before me, in the power of such a man i"

“ Your lot is to be deplored, lady. But I
have no doubt he will release you at Fayal,
so that you can return to your friends.”

H How soothing (your voice is ! How sweet
to look at you, an listen to you, fair girl I”
said the lady, who was a beautiful and digni-
fied English woman, about forty—three or four
years of age; her whole appearance charac-
terized by high breeding, and thorough re-
fineinent.

“ Will he not killus, mistress i" asked the
blonde servant-maid.

“ Do not fear him! I hope, madam, you
will try to compose yourself. It is inevitable
that you must remain on board for ten or
twelve da s." .

The l y groaned deeply. Rose gently
placed her arm around her, and kissed her,
and said :

“ Pardon me, but I wish to soothe you. I
feel impart to blame, for this outrage in bring-4
ing you on board; for he says that it was in
order that I might have company. I hope,
kind lad , you will forgive my unconscious

rt, an try and he resigned. Be assured

e will leave in: three here undisturbed.
Where were you going i”

“ To Kingston, in Jamaica, to meet my son,
who is a oung man of three-and-twenty. Alas!
the sea is always fatal to my family. He will
be there awaiting me; and when the vessel
arrives, and he hears that I have been torn
from it by a pirate, it will drive him crazy.
Oh! my poor, poor boy; what sorrow is in
store for thee and for me ?”

And here she clasped her hands in a ony,
and wept freely. The girl also sobbe as if
she could never be consoled, her face laid in
her mistress‘ lap. _

We now ass over the events which follow-
ed this addition to the passengers on the
Scorpion. Day by day the lady, who proved
to be an English countess, became more and
more reconciled to her hard fate—especially
as between her and Ross an intimacy, the
most pleasing, had grown up, and an. inter-
course, such as might be between an intelli-
gent mother and lovely dau hter. The maid,
Mary, also became resignc , and employed
her time in the service of both ladies, equally.

Robert Lee, by degrees, had taken advan~

‘ tage of this better state of things occasionally

to present himself in their presence, and as-
suring the lady that aim should be at liberty
as soon as the schooner reached Fayal.

Neither of the ladies had touched u on per- ,

sona! history. All that the countess new of
Rose‘s antecedents was, that she was an or-
phan, and that this pirate chief had run off

I with her, hoping to win her consent to marry

him.

But one afternoon, as the schooner, after
Weathering a three-days’ terrible gale, came
in sight of Fayal with English colors flying,
Rose, feeliog her confidence drawn out more
and more toward the charming English lady,
at her request entered into particulars, and
told her all that she knew about herself, Viz.,
how she had been taken by a pirate at sea,
adopted by him as his daughter, brought. up
with Robert Lee as a sister, and beloved by
him, after he had discovered that they were
unrelated. In the midst of the narrative, and

The Mysterious

l before the lad could make a remark, Robert
‘ Lee came, an said:

“ We are in sight or our port! Come on
deck and see the romantic scenery of the
island.”

The words made Rose shudder as if ice had V

ment was the seal of her fate. She made no
reply, but cast herself into the arms of the
countess, and burst into tears:

“ This word is the knell of my life 1"

“ You will not marry him i”

“ N ever—never—never! Let me die!”

“Lone! sufferer-l I am helpless. Let us

0 on dec ! Perhaps We may be noticed, and
inquiries made that may turn out for our ben-
efit."

They went on deck, and Robert Lee began
to point out the various )oints of the scenery,
as the harbor opened. he Scorpion moved
in slowly, as she had lost her mainmast in the

alc. Robert Lee was as cool and cavalier as
if the ladies Were ordinary “passengers.” In
his power they felt it their duty to conciliats
him so far as was possible. So much were
the ca tain and his men occu led with objects
aboar , that they had not 0 served. among
several other vessels making the port, includ-
ing a frigate under English colors, and with
the two of her fore and main-top-gsllant
man, a brigantine very low in the water,
with very square yards and long spars, com-
ing up astern, hand over hand, and not two
miles 03. Suddenly it attracted the attention
of Captain Marco—who, after a close look,
seized his glass with an oath.

“ Captain Lee, dat is de privateer we leave
In New York harbor thirteen days ago I” he
shouted.

The pirate captain turned quickly, and
instantly cried : “ It is the same. It looks as
if I have been chased! How could he have
known I was coming to Fayal? Clear the
deck for a fight, lads! Ladies, go below. He
is coming on with a bone in his teeth, and in
our crippled condition will, I fear, overhaul
us before we get to the anchoring-ground un-
der the port."

The Scor ion was now pressed onward into
the ort. he brigantine came on rapidly,
gaining every moment. The Scorpion at

ngtli reached her anchorage ; and while his/
men were letting go his anchor, he was con-
veying his treasures of boxes of gold and sil-
ver into his boat. He had not time to take
his chest of plate, as the Golden Feather al-
ready began to open her fire, but he lunder-
ed it of what he could on the spur o the nio-
moot.

“ We can‘t defend her, men. Take my ad-
vice and get into the boats, and pull ashore.
We are only pirates taken on our own deck ;
on land, nobody has a right to ask our busi-
ness. That frigate coming in will help the
brigantine, if need he, and We shall be no-
where. Fly, my men. I will share my gold
with you on shore !"

He then entered the cabin, and taking Rose
in his arms, bore her with muffled lips to his
boat, bearing the countess and her maid be-
low. In a moment, the Scorpion was desert-
ed, and the pirates in their boats were pulling
for the shore under the fire of the privateer.
Before they reached it, a jet of flame rushed.
up the foremast from a torch left to fire the
vessel by Captain Marco, and the two females
rushed on deck shriekin for aid. Onward,
like a white-winged an 5 of vengeance, came
the Golden Feather, dc 'vering her fire as she
advanced. Suddenly Ra! h Turner, who stood
upon his deck, saw the oats leave and the
flames ascend, shouted to his steersman to
bring the privatecr alongside, for he believed
that Rose was one of the females he beheld in
such mental extremity.

“ The have deserted her!" he cried.
”‘ There is Rose ! Get ready to man the hosts,
and pursue the cut-throats, while I board the
schooner and save her. Have your buckets
of water ready, lads."

The next moment, the Golden Feather was
brought to within two lcn ths of the pirate
vessel ; and leaping into a cat, a few strokea
of the oars placed Ralph on her deck. While
his men ran to extinguish the flames, he rush—
ed to the females ; but seeing that both were
‘ strangers, -he cried:

“ Where is she .’ Ross—where 2"

The countess pointed to the boats ; and
then, with a grateful cry, fell fainting with
joy at her own deliverance at his feet. He
‘ raised her up, and placing her in Mark‘s
I charge, with the girl who was wild with de-

i
i been laid upon her heart. The announce-
l
i
i

 

light, and then calling all his men and boats,

he gave chase after Robert Lee, whom he saw

bearing off with him the fair form of Ross.
CHAPTER XVIII.

We might linger here to describe the joy
with which Ralph Turner and his friends came
in sight of the Scorpion just as she was mak-
ing for the port of Fayal ! We could report
their exclamations, their animated conversa-
tions, their ex ressions of hope that they
should overhaul) the chase, now in full view,
before it should get into port. But having
, alread shown the Golden Feather as having
’actualfy captured the pirate vessel, we will
not 0 back to paint scenes already nst.

hen Ralph discovered that the females on
board were neither of them Rose, and beheld
her borne shoreward, no pen can paint his
disappointed and fierce rage. Shouting to
his boats to follow, he pursued the buccaneers,
who had full half a mile the start of him.
The quay was about three quarters of a mile
from where the Scorpion was ; and while
Ralph was pulling at the top-speed of his
cutter over the first quarter, Robert Lee was
pulling on the last quarter. He did not, how-
ever, steer in toward the quay, which was
thronged with eople ; but, veering to the
right, he pulledp straight for the stairs of a
chapel, which overhung the water a hundred
fathoms beyond the main landin .

Here he landed, and, followed by two of
his men bearing Rose in their arms, he hur-
ried up the steps into the chapel—at the door
of which stood a priest, with a cross upon his
breast.

“Haste, holy father! here is gold !" And
Robert Lee flung into the skirt of his stole a
handful of gold. “Not a moment’s dela l--
unite me and this maiden ere yonder cat
ponies up, and I will double-quadruple thy

as l”

The fleshy priest, without a word, athered
up the gold, and ran into the churc , beab
oning Robert Lee to follow him. He did so,
with Rose. more dead than alive, borne in
after him by two men—one of whom kept his
sash held c ose down upon her month, while
the other so confined her arms that she could
not struggle. The heavy church doors closed
upon them!

In the meanwhile, the English frigate which
was layin
not far astern of the Golden Fe her, seeing
this latter vessel—at the peak 0 which flew
the American privateer signal—was attacking
a schooner with the English flag flying at her
mast-head, bore down to the aid of the schoon-
er. supposing her an English vessel chased by
s Yankee privatecr.

“ An impudent dog," said the commander
of the frigate, to dare to attack her right in
our sight.” And he crowded on sail toward
the Golden Feather.

“ Look, in lord ! the English crew have
taken to their boats, and the Americans have
given chase in theirs,” said an elegant young
officer, whose uniform showed that he was the
chief lieutenant of the frigate, which carried
forty-four guns, and, save the loss of some of
her spars in the late ale, was one of the
finest ships in the Britiin service.

“I see it, Arthur. What can it mean 1’"

“There is a female in one of the boats;
they seem to be flying with her to the shore.”

‘ Well, we will soon find out. Send a shot
into that rivatecr, as an invitation to surren-
der. If s is has taken the schooner we will
return the compliment, and capture her I”

 

The frigate fired three guns ; and then, as
the privateer did not surrender, she laid her
along side, and took her by a small boarding-

arty ; for not twenty men, under Harry, were
eft on board of her. He made no resistance ;
. but said he could not surrender while his
. captain was on shore. The young ofiicer,
\ whom the commander addressed familiarly as

Arthur, headed the art which took posses
sion of the Golden out er

“ What vessel is this ?" he demanded.

,“ An American privateer."

I‘ Your ca tain ?"

“ Ralph urner.”

“ You are hold to attack an English vessel,
3 with a British frigate half a mile astern of

ou l"

“We attacked a pirate, sir. This vessel is
a buccaneer! We have chased her across the
Atlantic. She ran in here under English col-
ors ; and hence you are deceived.”

“ Ah, then ! that changes the affair i” said

her course into the harbor, and

liven,

ire-2.,

n. ,1.

The Mysterious Spy.

 

29

 

the omccr who now, looking across the deck
to the deck of the schooner which lay along-
side of the Golden Feather, uttered a cry of
sur rise, and the next moment was answered
by he lady on the deck, with a shriek of wild
o :

J 3‘" My son—my son! Oh, Arthuri—my
son—my son l" -

The next moment he had cleared the bul-
warks, and was clasping to his heart the En-
glish countess — embracing her again and
again, and saying:

“ My mother—my dear, dear mother! how
came you here ? What awonderful meeting I"

For a few moments she could not speak for
the suffocation of joy and surprise; but then
answered:

“ Our ship was taken by this pirate! I
have not been harmed; we were treated with
res ect. He had on board a young lady he
ha captured, and was brin ing her to this
place, to marry her a ainst er will—and he
took us out of our s i as her companion.
The pirate-chief escape with her in his boat,
as the vessel came u . Alas! Rose—Rose!
I fear she will be lost B’

“ Rose 1'”

“ Rose Lee l”

“ From New York i" he exclaimed.

“ Yes ; her brother, Robert Lee, is the i-
rate! She had a lover—Ralph Turner—w o
commanded this pursuin vessel; for she saw
him on her deck, throng her cabin window.
The irate flies with her—the lover ursues i"

“ ad I, also, my dear mother i" e cried;
“for I owe to that maiden my life! Come
with me (is this our maid i’) on board, and
let me lace you in charge of our brother—
Lcrd enry—who is in 00mm nd; and while

on tell him your surprising story, I will aid
in the rescue of this fair girl. To her and her
lover I owe my reunion with you i"

“ Oh, save her Arthur!”

In five minutbs more a ion launch from
the frigate; filled with arms men, was in
swift motion to the shore.

The priest, in the meanwhile, had got before
the altar, and had begun to hurry the service;
while Rose was en ’ orted b Robert Lee,
with his arm around) her, an held up, also,
by Captain Marco. Sudden] . in the midst of
the mumbled rites, she leape across the chan-
cel rail, snatched the heavy-jeweled cross from
the breast of the officiating riest, and fled
like a deer around the altar. obert Lee was
about to leap after her, when the strong priest
forced him back, with his hand against his
heart, with :

“ Sacreligious heretic ! dare you profane the
sanctuar ?"

Rober Lee drew back; but only to grasp
the hilt of his dagger, with which. bounding
forward, he struck the riest to the heart:
and then, leaping across is body, pursued the
maiden. Captain Marcos was too supersti-
tious to follow into such sacred precincts ; but,
seeing that Rose passed out of the high altar
into a side aisle, he ran to intersect her. As
she passed him, he extended his arm to arrest
her, when she struck him with the heavy cross
to sharp a blow in the face, that he sta gered
back, with execrations upon her. n the
meanwhile, there were heard sounds of firing
at the door, and the clashing of steel. It was
the crew of the Scorpion, whom Robert Lee
had ordered to remain there, and guard the
door, defending it against the charge of the
crew of the Golden Feather. The next mo-
ment they ave way before the flashing cut-
las and batt e-cr of Ra] h Turner, who, cut-
ting down righ and 1e t, with Mark by his
side, burst into the church.’

At this moment Rose was flying for her
life down the ion aisle, toward the door,
Robert Lee boun in after, with his blood-
reeking dagger bran ished in his hand, and
menacing her with death if she did not stop !
At a glance, though she was a hundred feet
08', saw all her peril. Each instant the pirate-
chief was gaining upon her. Ralph sprang
forward, crying to her, as he saw him in the
act of throwing his dagger at her :

“ Hold, monster! Do not do it! Rose, fly
to me 1”

Fast as he was running up the aisle over
the intervenin space, he felt that she must
be killed ere e could reach her, when he
heard the shrill whistle of a bullet past his
ear, and the next moment saw Robert Lee
leap half his hei ht into the air, while from a
deep-red s at in is forehead the blood spout-
ed out, an deluged his face. With an acute

 

cry of sin, and an oath of disa pointment,
he fell orward, dead, upon his fa cl

The next moment, Rose was nestled close to
her lover's heart, like a terrified and pursued
dove that has found shelter in its on nest
from the pursuing hawk. IIow she trembled
for joy and wonder! Was it a dream P Was
it in Ralph’s arms she found herself inolosed,
heart throbbing against heart?

“ 0 Ralph !” she gasped—“0 Ralph! you
have come and saved me i"

He could not reply for emotion ; but, draw-
ing the trembling girl near to his bosom, he
whis ered in her ear:

“ ose, this is the he iest moment in my
life. It was your sea- 1rd that directed me
here!"

“That was a good shot of mine i” said
Mark, as he came up.

“ Was it our good eye and true hand that
sent that ba 1 into the monster’s brain ?" said
Ralph, gras ing his friend’s hand. “ Here,
Rose, thank im ; he is your friend and mine
forever !" A

At this moment there was a sound of voices
heard; and one came in, and said they were
about to be attacked by a boat’s crew from
the English frigate. Ra] h at once hastened
to the scene, leaving Mar , for the moment,
with Rose; and when he arrived outside he
beheld indeed a party of English sailors,
headed b an officer, advancin upon the run
toward the church. The 0 car, however,
held a white handkerchief in his hand, and
waved it, in token of amity. Scarcely had
Ralph got a glimpse of his face than he ran
toward him, and, to the surprise of both par-
ties, who expected to see them meet in battle,
they warmly embraced.

“ Is it true, then ? Is she safb f”

“ Safe i and the villain is dead I”

“ Where is she ?”

“Come with me.”

This conversation, brief as it was, was un-
derstood mutually; for both had the same
thought on the mind—the fate of Rose. As
soon as Rose beheld him, she started with
pleasurable surprise, exclaiming:

“ Arthur Percy ?"

“ Yes, fair Rose. I little ex acted to meet
cu here. How wonderful the scenes you
ave passed through ! And that is the cruel

brother who has done all ?” And he pointed
to the dead bod of Robert Lee. “ I remem-
ber his face we] . And he was, then, a pirate,
as you feared?”

“ Y‘es,” said Rose ; “ but he is not my
brother! I have since learned it."

“ That, then, is good news. But do you
know who the lady was who was your com-
panion in the vessel 2”

“ An English lad .”

“And my mother ”

“ Your mother, sir i"

“ Yes. I was amazed as well as overjoyed
to meet her. She had sailed from Halifax for
Jamaica, where she had an estate. I, in my
frigate, after we had touched the shores of
America to land a messenger to the army in
Canada, was bound direct, also, to Jamaica,
where my resence was needed in settling the
estate; an only put in here because we were
blown out of our course, and needed s ars.”

“How wonderful this meeting here ” said
Rel h.

“ es, on all sides. Now, my dear friends,
to whom I owe my life, you must permit me
to play the host, and com c] you to consent
to e my guests on boar the frigate. You
have seen her before, Captain Turner; and
but a short while since, when you left me on
board.”

“Yes ; and it was during my absence that
dear Rose was carried off by Robert Lee.”

The priests of the church now crowded
round, and made a great outcry at the dese-
cration of their sacred edifice by the slain
body; and, after having given them mono
to efra the expenses of burial, the who 8
part is . And, greatly to the surprise of the
won ~ering' eople of Fayal, the American and
En lish sai ors mingled together on their way
to t eir boats. As for the buccaneers, the
soon dispersed among the hills, and hid them-
selves, save five or six who were wounded,
2nd whom Ralph handed over to the authori-
ice.

The “Golden Feather,” instead of bein
detained by the English commander. whfi

 

Passing over the happy meeting between
Rose and the countess; not excepting their
contented En lish maid-servant, and the pres-
entation of alph, Mark, and Henry to the
commodore, we will take our readers into the
state cabin, where, after dinner, the whole
part are assembled. _

“ Row," said Lord Barnwell—the captain
of the frigate—after they had drank wine to
the happ reunion of Ralph and Rose, “ come,
fair girl, et us hear your histor . My sister,
the countess, has told me of ier wonderful
adventures, and deep! interested me in you,
as an one must be wile could see your face ;
forI e not know why, but your looks have a
singular fascination over me."

“ And over me, Rose, a most wonderful
feeling comes, when I gaze u on you," said
the countess. “ If I believe in the trans-
migration of souls, I should believe we had
lived and loved each other in another state of
being."

Rose, all jo and love—and seated by Ralph
—smiled, and7 said : s

“It is so with me, Lady Isabel. It seems
as if I had seen you in my dreams, before we
met in that vessel‘s cabin.”

“ The countess tells me, fair Rose, that you
for eighteen years supposed yourself to_ be
the daughter of an inn-keeper in America,
and the sister of his son, who, it seems, turns
out a pirate." ,.

“ Yes, sir. So I was educated to beheve."

“ Then you do not know your parentage ?”

“ No, in lord i”

“ Nor 0 what country i”

“ No, sir i"

“ This must be a painful mystery to you."

“ It would be, my lord, but now I have—"

Here she stopped and blushed so beauti<
fully, and looked into Ra] h’s eyes so con.

fidingly, and loving] , an happily, that it '

did not require wor s to ex ress, what we
will, however, put into wor s : That now
she had Ra] h, he was name, family, coun-
iry, the who e world to her. i

“I dare say," said the commander, With a
quiet smile answering her looks, as if she had
really s oken ; “ but still, it would be pleas- I
ant to nd out your famil .”

“ Yes, my lord, for alph‘s sake. He
might wish to know who I am."

“ I am content, Rose, so you are not of the
blood of Adam Lee," answered Ralph. “ You

erceive, my lord, that the supposed brother,
a some way, got the secret that she was not
his sister, and chose then to carry her off, to
try and compel her to love him, and marry
him.” ~

“ In which he has been nicely defeated. _A
romantic and tragic affair altogether. Miss
Rose,” continued the commander, cracking ,
put, “ have you no recollection of your earl)

ife i’"

“I think so; but know not how to distin~
guish it from the dreams of childhood."

“ What do you recollect l’"

“I think I recollect a lovelg face, but in-
distinct. Someti es I have t ought it was
like that of the ountess Isabel. But I can
trust to nothing certainly of any impressions ;
for my earliest definite recollections are with
the inn where I was brought up.”

“ Relate to my brother what you told me,"
said the countess.

“Perhaps I had best let his lordshi read
aloud this paper,” she said. “I foun it in
the chest 0 plate.”

“What chest 1’” asked Ralph and the com-
mander, in the same breath. For the reader
must recollect that Ralph has not all the in-
formation of the facts of this story. Of
the chest, he knew nothing ; for, as yet, Rose
had had no opportunity of entering into the
particulars of what was set, having only
told him the general out ine of the events
with which she was so intimately associated.

“I see I must tell the whole story," she
said; “ but it will, I fear, be tedious.”

“By no means,” said the captain.

“ Let us hear all, dear Rose," said Ralph; l
“ for I heard of no chest." i

“ And that reminds me," said the countess,
“ that the boxes of gold and silver, which
were taken from the ship I was in, were put
by the pirates into their boat, and ought to
be searched for.”

“ I had their boats taken possession of,

I

, dear mother," said Arthur Percy ; “ and they

was the uncle of Arthur Percg, was given u , , are now alongside, with the boxe's in them ;

and the schooner recognise
prize.

as her law ul ' but are you sure that they contain gold and

silver f”

I.‘

 
 

30

" Without doubt.”
“I will then see that they are at once
brought on deck. I supposed it was shot, it

 

was so heavy, and from the looks of the ‘

boxes."

“ Yes ; the captain had his money packed
in that way, not to be suspected. But they
compelled him to confess ho had it; and so
took it off."

“ Excuse me ; and, Miss Rose, pray defer
your account until I come back."

He then left the table to give the necessary
orders for the transfer of the coin to the frig-
ate’s deck. When he rolurned, he said :

“It is so. I had one of them opened."

“How much is there?” asked Lord Barn-
well.

“ Not less than ten thousand pounds, iffour
are gold and five are silver."

“ A large sum. It must be returned to the
captain when we reach Kingston. He will
be not a little gratified, as well as surprised,
to wake up some morning, and see his boxes
of money arriving on board again, from my
boats alongside.”

“What has the paper you have in your
hand to do with the chest ?” asked Ralph of
Rose.

“I took it out of it 7"

“ Where ‘9”

“ At the inn."

“Whose chest was it ?"

“It was Adam Lee’s—at least, was in his
possession. But it was not his property. He

ad come unlawfully by it. It was in defend-
ing it he lost his life.”

“ Did you then know how he was killed ?”
asked Mark.

“ Yes. I overheard the quarrel. It was
the pirate chief who slew Adam Lee, who was
defending the chest. He fell over upon it.
Then Robert Lee slew the pirate, to avenge
his father’s death. The two men, Robert

 

Leo and the pirate captain, had come toge-V
ther to carrv away the chest of silver-plate, l
when Adam Lee entered the place of conceal- l
ment under ground, and so lost his life! II

The Mysterious Spy.

“ On board the Scorpion, m lord i” an-
swered Rose. “It was carrie off by the

captain, Robert Lee, when, as I told you, the ,

pirate-chief and Adam Lee were slain in the

‘underground chamber, where it was con-
‘ cealed l"

“ Arthur, will you see that the chest is at
once properly guarded l’" said Lord Barn.
well.

“ You forgot, uncle,” answered the young
officer, “ that you have recognized the Scor-
pion as the lawful prize of my young friend
and captain of the olden Feather, here !”

“ True, I had forgotten it. And, as you
seem in a fair way, my dear sir,” added the
noble sailor to Ralph, “to secure the lawful
owner of this mysterious chest, why it is in
its proper place under your protection. Go
on, La y Isabel l”

Arthur here rose to ive an order, by
Ralph‘s request, for the c est to be brought
on board.

“Now, I wish to tell howeI got the chest, and all
abouts it, so if, hy-and-by, Rose wants to find out her
relations, she can have a clue; but while I live, I
can’t give her up to anybodye—for I love her as my
owns daughter. The doctors says I have a heart
dizeaze, and may go of! at any time, so I want to
keeps my log all writ up and ship-shape with deth
and the others world. As I sed my name is Adam
Lee. I took to pirating afore Iwas twenty, from a
natural evilc ways of life as was in me. Well, I got
to be a skipper of a pirate craft and seventy men,
and we cruised about the Spanish Main,and some-
times cfle t 8 Bahamas, and sometimes of! the coasts
u’ New England and New Yorke. One day, in 1796
~r 1797, I forget which—for it is now lSlZ—near the
Bermuda, I fell in withe a shipe steering southe. She
had just stopped there—for I saw her coming out o!
the porte. She proved to be an English ships of five
hundred tons. Iran for her. and she gave me the

. heel, and we had a hard chase of it for two hundred

mile or more—for I was two days chacing her, wind
balling, but mainly from the W. and S. W. But I get
within range, and opened upon her, when, alters giv-
ing me several ugly shots, killing five of my people,
and wounding as many more, she struck her colors.
My anger was up, and I told my mene to give no
(mm-tor. The upshot of it was, we drove the sailori

all into the sea, or killed them on the deck; but the

oflicers and passengers fought desperately, for they‘

knows there was no mercy in my eyes i”
“ What a desperado l” exclaimed Arthur

saw them both lie there dead. Then Robert ‘ Percy. “ and yet. {01' I saw him at the inn, he

Lee went out to get men to carry off the
chest. But before he went, he took the key 1
of it from his father, who made a strange dy- }
ing confession, which I heard, and opened it‘
to see what was in it. He then shut it, but,
did not lock it, and went out. The dying
confession of Adam Lee gave me the first in- ,
timation I ever had that he was once a pirate, ‘
and that I was not his own daughterl By.
it, too, I overheard that he had robbed a ship
of the chest, and had killed the owner, and
carried off his wealth and his child! So I
opened the chest hurriedly, and took from it
a ring, locket, bracelet, and this aper—
hoping, at some time, they might s ow me
my real parentage.” 1

“Read the paper," said the captain. And ,
all pro ared to listen to the countess, in whose
hands ose had placed i‘

 

CHAPTER XIX. .
The paper which the Countess Isabel began i.
to read was, as Rose now stated, in the hand- ‘
writing of her father—that is, of Adam Lee,
whom she had so long regarded as her father.
The countess, in a clear, trained voice, firmly-
toned and Well modulated, so that it was a
pleasure to listen to its accents, thus began :

“I, who rite this, am Adam Lee. I shall sine it with
my own signature. I am the keeper of the Rose Oake
Inn; but considering the uncertain condition of a
man's life, I wish to say a fewe words to any honest
person who may finds this paper. This chest of silver-
plate was wrongfully come by, and was get by the
price of blood ; and as I don’t want to have this mater
on my consiense in the other world, with all my other
cvilc deeds, i leave this writing in he found after my
death, so thatjustice, though late, may be done to an ‘
orphin girl. which is Rose Lee, my Golden Feather,
and which I love as dear as if she was my own blood
and bones, and have tryed to make her happy and
contented—for I felt I had done her a great injury;
and so I would not touch an ounce of the silver that
rightfully belonged to her, but have hid it away in
this chest; where it will be found after I die, if she
doesn’t git married before to some nice young fellow ;
in which case, if I like him, and she marries with my
consent, I mean to give her fortin, which is all which
is in this chest."

“This is a very singular document,” said
the commander, Lord Barnwell; “ but though
the writer is illiterate, yet he makes his mean-
ing clear, though with a good deal of circum-
locution. By it we understand, Miss Rose,
that you are not his daughter, and that the
chest containing the silver he speaks of be-
longed rightful y to you, and his conscience

led him'to preserve it, Where is the chest
low 2"

. who was Governor of Jamaica.

was a fair enough specimen of a. well-fed
landlord l”

“I never suspected of him such evil i”
said Rose. “ He never spoke a loud word to
me in his life i"

“ He seems to have been a penitent man
toward the last!” said Lord Barnwell.

The countess resumed :

“They was ledc on by a tall military man, who

fought like a lion, and, I believe, would have recap-'

tured the ships from my men, ifI hadn’t resolved
that he shoulde die or I! So I paid no attention to
the bullets and swords. that were aimed at me—no
more than as if they were feathers—and got to him
and cut him downe. But a boat got on from the
ships, carrying a lady with her, who shrieked for her
child. The reste was quick work. They tooke to the
water, and soon were shot as they swum; and so we
had the vessell all to ourselves ; but I could not cap-
ture the boat which had the lady. Now comes about
this chest you’ll find this paper in. There was a
little girls, about two yeares’ olda. sleepin’ in the
cabin all the while the fights was going on; and I
found her there, with a negro woman by her, and I
took pity on the child, and told the woman I would
not hurt it, nor her neither, if she was its nurse. She
told me it was the daughter of the brave ofllcer;
they called him General—”

Here the countess, who had read rapidly
and excitedly, shrieked. The paper fell from
her hand, and she turned dea ly pale, while
her brother, Lord Barnwell, started to his
feet, and ran to her, and said, as their eyes
met:

“ Can it be the ship, Isabel?”

“ Oh, it must be—it was my husband—I am
sure l Merciful Heavens ! can it be that-—”

“What is this doc emotion? What have
you discovered?” as ed Ralphywith intent,
while Rose looked at Lady Isabel w1th startled
curiosity. I

“My husband was General, Lord Newlle,
He went out
with me and my child, two years old, who
had a black nurse, to go to Jamaica. The
vessel was chased and boarded in just this
way. I had rushed on deck, leaving my child
asleep to plead with my husband to conciliate
the pirates, when some persons, who were
crowding into a boat, seized me and tore me
from the ship ; and since then I have never
"seen my husband and child—unless-J’ and
here she fixed her gaze earnestly on the face
of Rose, who was trembling with a strange
feeling of—she knew not what—coming joy.

“Unless you behold her here in this lovely
'girl i” said Lord Barnwell. _ .

“ Oh! shall I call her my child? Shall I

‘ tion be fatal, should it prove'false.
, tient—be calm,'all of ,you, for ‘Ivsee you,

‘r "a

the was about to rush' to vher,'whcn"I.crd
Barnwell cried : V
“ Not yet, not yctusister i

‘I.est the re-ac-
Be

1'4-
thur, are greatly excited, and believe on
have recovered a'Iohg-lost sister! Be pat cut
for a few minutes! Suspend all your opinions!
I will finish this paper. It may throw more!
ll ht.’ ‘ ,-
gThe eager group listened with strange emo-'
tion. Arthur had to support his mother,

“ and soothe her,"but she would not release the

 

hands of Rose, as she kept murmuring :

“ She is—she is—she is my child 2"

Lord Barnwell, whose voice was tremulous
as he read, resumed :

“ They called him General ; and she told, me that a
chest of plate I saw was also his. There was a name
on the chest, which I have torn 011'; but I have re-
membered it. It was ‘Arthur Neville !’ ” .

“ She is—oh, she is my child l" shrieked
the countess; and casting herself into the
arms of Rope, she fainted away.

“ That seems settled now 1” exclaimed Lord
Barnwell, “ so far as this paper can settle it!
Come, sister, let not 'oy kill-youl” And,
aided by Arthur, he ore her to a settec,
while Rose, bewildered and not knowing'how
to realize all, knelt by her, and strove to
arouse her. She dared not call her “mo-
ther,” lest she should not be; but, sudden]
recollecting herself, and wishin to verily
much happiness, she said to Ra ph:

“ I havcuhere a locket, a bracelet, and a
ring, which'I took from the chest. The locket
I never could open, as it has a secret spring.”

Ralph was about to place these jewels in
the hands of Lord Barnwell, whenvArthnr,
who had brought his mother to consciousness,
exclaimed: . v

“ Lookl Here comes the chest!"

Two ‘men brought it at this instant into
the cabin, and Arthur, opening it, took out a
piece of plate, a silver urn, and exclaimed,
with wild joy:

“It is our arms! This is our family plate,
my lord! Look, dear motherl” '

The countess, roused by the exclamations, ‘
no sooner saw the chest, than with a cry of
joyful surprise, she bounded toward it, cry-
in :

a It is the chestl It is our late! Can
there be any more doubt that use is m
daughter ? Oh, keep me' not from her l”

Ralph then said :

“ Here, my lady, are jewels Rose gave me.
She took themlfromthe chest!” .

“ Mine—mine alll And see!” she cried,
“ here is my husband’s likeness l” and sprin -
ing the locket, she revealed a handsome, m1 -
itary-looking man, the resemblance of whose
9 es and mouth to those of Rose made Lord

arnwell exclaim :

“ It is enough i This locket is proof indis-
putable, were there no other. Rose, fly to
your mother’s arms l”

For a few minutes there was heard nothin
but the voice of tears veiling low words
happiness ; and the solemn scenes of doe
emotion which reigned, cannot be describe .
Let the reader imagine all.

“But, my dear mother, do not keep Rose
all to yourself; for, if she is your daughter,
she is my sister i” said Arthur, tendenl em-
bracing her with tears and smiles; while one,
blushing to be in the arms of the handsome
spy, herself knew not whether to withdraw or
linger like a sister in them.

“And I have found a niece, too, and must
have my kiss l” said the noble old sailor, as
he drew the happ Rose to his heart, and
pressed her forehea affectionately, while rest
tears rolled out of his eyes, and he so bed
like a school-boy.

What can we say more i The story is told.
The mystery is ended ; our part is done—tho
imagination of the reader must supply all
that the'psn cannot compass.

Three days after this happy denouement
of our plot, the British frigate and the Gold-
en Feather might have been seen decorated
with flags, while in the cabin, just as the sun
was setting in a blaze of glory, stood up a
noble and handsome pair before the cha lain
of the frigate, hand clasped in hand, 'ng
before Heaven the solemn pledge of loving
and eternal truth one to the other. Need we
name them? Around stood Lord Barnwell,
all smiles, with a white rose in his button-
hole, close b the bride the happiest woman

embrace you, Rose, as my daughter 1’” And I in the worl , her mother (oh, how that no.

 .4- .

_“fli

 

 

 

, .st'aw‘v‘

 

The Mysterious Spy.

31

 

 

and sweet word made the heart of Rose warm
with happiness and peace !), the Countess of
Neville. Then came the manly Mark, happy
because Rose and Ralph were happy; and
Henry Ballard, ensivo, yet rejoicing with
both; and in a alf—circle around stood the
band of the other fifteen lovers and rescuers,
each with a rose in his jacket and smiles on
each face.

When the benediction was pronounced, the
bridegroom, having pressed the lips of his
bride and also her mother, brother, and her
uncle, whispered a word to Rose, when, with
beautiful blushes, she offered her cheek to each
of the brave fellows, her band of true and faith-
ful rescuers!

Now the ship shook with the roar of can-
non, to which responded the guns of the
Golden Feather, while other vessels in the
harbor re-echoed the bridal salute !

CHAPTER XX.

The state-room on board the Golden Ii‘ea-
ther having been fitted up by the exquisite
taste of Lady Neville for the bridal couple,
they at once took up their quarters on board.
Parties were given on shore to them, and for
several days there Were rejoicings, greatly to
the delight of the citizens of Fayal.

To have seen the fraternal manner in which
the English and American seamen visited one
another on board their respective vessels, no
one would have su posed the two countries
were at war; and, ortunately, to consolidate
their good feeling, two weeks after the wed-
ding a {pip came in, bearing the welcome

ews the a treaty of peace had been rati-
ed, and the two countries were at war no
longer.

Ral h now resolved to return to New York
with is prize, of which he gave Mark the
command.

Lady Neville endeavored to prevail upon
him to go to England; but, as 6 could not
do so until he had placed his vessel and his
friends once more safely in New York, she
resolved to accompany her recovered daugh-
ter.

Just before the sailing of the Golden Fea.
ther and her prize, Lord Barnwell called
Ralph into his state-cabin, andsaid:

“ My dear young friend, I Wish now to say
a few words with you at the request of my
sister and nephew, Lord Arthur Pere Ne-
ville. We all feel so ‘perfectly happy hat I
desire nothing shoul mar your hap iness.
You are a noble young gentleman, an have
shown yourself worthy to be allied with the
best blood of England, as, Without vain
boastin , I can assure you, you are. You de-
served ose, and she is ours. You have

enerously tendered to 0rd Arthur, your

rother-in-law, what remains of the plate and
jewels. He has refused to receive more than
one or two pieces, as memorials of his father.
The only thing we both, as well as my sister,
Lady Isabel, regret in this whole affair is,
that you shou d have married one who,
then h——as is clearly established—of noble
bloc , is without a fortune l”

“Sir—my lord, what do I care for a for-
tune with my wife? When I loved Rose, I
did not sup ose her rich, or other than the
daughter 0 Adam Lee, the innkeeper. We
were both poor. I havs the promise of a
lieutenancy in an American frigate, on my
return. This will be fortune enough for
dear Rose and me."

“You are a generous fellow! But let me
tell you just how affairs stand. My noble
brother-in-law, the Earl of Neville, was a
gallant soldier, as well as an anciently de-
scended noble. But he came to an estate
somewhat embarrassed, when he got to be of
age; and it was on this account, and artly
to reward his services with the army in pain,
that the Crown, in 1796, conferred upon him
the rich office of governor of Jamaica.

“ He was on his way thither, with his fam-
ily plate and the rest of his fortune, when his
shi was taken by this pirate, Adam Lee, and
he imself slain. The Crown, on hearing of
this calamity, generously bestowed upon the
widow, Countess Isabel, the estate which her
husband had bought beforehand, but had
not paid for. But I weary you. To make a
long story a short one, what I wish to sa is,
that when young Arthur—who was lc t at
school in England, came to be sixteen, he
saw that he would, when he became of age,
come to a title which he would not havo the
means of supporting with dignity; for the

 

 

roperty of his mother in Jamaica roved‘to
be of little value without a horde o slaves to
cultivate it. The result was, he entered the
navy, and is now, as you see, first lieutenant
of this frigate. His mother has been resid-
ing some years in England, and having learned
that there was a defect in the title to her
West India property, she sailed for Halifax
with her son in this frigate, where he left to
take the packet to Jamaica, intending, after
we had visited the coast of New York, to pro-
ceed to Kingston for the purpose of taking to
England the late governor.

“ You know the rest, sir! You have mar-
ried an almost ortionless bride; for the es-
tate in Englan belongs with the title to Ar-
thur, and are scarcely value enough for the
rents to kee it in re air. In a Word, you
have marrie into a no le but im overished
famil . If, however, you will visit England
with ose, as soon as you can do so consist-
ently with your duties in America, you will
be warmly received by me at my seat in Sur-
rey, Barnwell Hall, though I am more at sea
than on land; for I can’t keep up two estab-
lishments i"

This was said with a smile and with a frank-
ness which leased Ralph, who answered:

“As I di not marry for money, my lord, I
have all and more than I bargained for ; for
Rose has a mother and brother, which neither
of us know of ~, and a good wife is better than
rubies, and love than gold i"

This matter being settled, in a day or two
Ral set sail in The Golden Feather for New
Yorik, accompanied by Mark as prize-master
of the Scorpion ; while the frigate, having re-
paired all damages, weighed anchor to con-
tinue her voyage—Arthur on board to trans-
act his mother’s affairs for her—to Jamaica.
It was, however, agreed on by all parties that
at the end of six months they should all man-
age to meet at Neville Abbey Manor, the an-
cestral seat of Arthur Percy, Earl of Neville.

 

We now follow the Golden Feather to Am-
erica.

Seventeen days after her departure from
Fayal, the privateer dropped anchor with her
prize alongside of her off the Batter ; and
so soon did the news spread, that Ralph hard-
ly had time to get on shore with his bride
and the countess, and place them at the City
Hotel, before a hundred boats were around
the brigantine, and both vessel’s decks crowd-
ed with people.

The same afternoon — three hours after-
ward—a carriage mi ht have been seen drin
ing rapidly past the ted Oak Inn. From it,
eagerly looked the face of Rose, and she was
painting out the place to the countess. Ralph
also surve (-d the place eagerly.

“ It is a I shut up—and how desolate it is!"
he said. “But go on, cosch'man !”

He was anxious to see his motherl Over
the bridge rolled the coach with swift revolu-
tions of its wheels, and in a few minutes drew
up at the gate of the widow’s cottage.

The mother of Ralph, hearing and not sus-
pecting the cause, hastened to the door.

“ Mother l” he cried, “here I am with Rose
as my wife I”

The next moment she was clasped in the
arms of both. The countess wept at the
happy meeting; and being named as the new-
found mother of Rose, was welcomed with
fresh joy to the humble home.

When, that night, after all had retired but
Ra] h and his mother, he made known to her
all is adventures and those of Rose, what
joy and wonder filled her bosom l

“And then Rose is really the daughter of
an earl and countess?”

“Yes, mother; and what is more, she is
the queen of my heart I"

The next morning, while they were all at
breakfast, a horseman spurred u to the door.
He wore a foreign dress, and iboked like a
foreigner. There came following‘him swiftly
on foot an Indian runner. The rider alight-
ed, and in good English, but with a French
accent, he said he had come with a message
to Rose, the daughter of Adam Lee; that he
had been to the inn, which was closed, but
that some persons said she had just been seen
in a carriage driving toward this place.

“ I am Rose Lee, or was !" answered Rose,
advancing.

“ Then this is for you i” he said, giving her
a letter.

“ Non i” ejaculated the young Indian; rum.

not if she do not hav to golt father! Te great
chief said no one but de daughter who haf te
golt fether !”

“Here then is the golden feather !" answer-
ed Rose, as she smilingly drew forth from her
bosom a slender case, and from it displayed
the feather of gold, which the Delaware chief,
seven years before, had given her.

The Indian no sooner beheld it than he
made a low obeisance before her, pressed the
feather to his lips, and said 2

“ Me your people! You be queen ov my
nation! '

“ This lotto will explain!” answered the
courier.

It bore the seal of the Governor of Canada.
The contents were rapidly scanned by the
e es of Rose, while Ralph read over her
shoulder. It contained a document with sig-
natures. The Indian names attesting the first
signature, which was that of

" Os-co-ws-nn,
" Chief of the Delswsrss,
“ In the Canaries.”

The instrument was the last will and tests-
ment of this chief, wherein he not only made
Ross, under the designation of “ Golden Fea-
ther,” the “ uecn of his people," whether in
the United tates or the Canadas, but the
heiress of twenty thousand acresof reserved
lands, which appertained to him.”

The validity of the instrument was attested
by the signature and seal of the governor of
the province.

Shall we not here close our tale ?

Behold how Rose enriches the noble family
of her ancestors l for these lands soon became
so valuable that Ross became the richest heir-
ess in America.

Of course, Ralph shared with perfect equal—
ity her prosperity. He did not again go to
sea, for all his time was occupied in manag-
in his vast estates.

be next year they visited England. What
a happy meeting l Young Lord Arthur (the
spy) was presented with gold enough by his
sister to recover all his lost estates, and to
live in a style commensurate with his noble
rank.

Lord Barnwell was not for otten by the
generous Rose, nor one of “the brave six-
teen,” who, through many and various deli-
cate avenues became participators of her
bounty, as they always were sharers of her
friendship. Ralph would not remain in Eng-
land ; but leaving his brother-in-law, Arthur,
the Earl of Neville, to en'oy the estate of his
fathers in union with a lovely English girl,
he erected a princely mansion in the midst of
.his Delaware estates on the lake, where he
lived the “lord of the manor,” happy and
respected by all who knew him.

At length. he and Rose, after twent years’
happ life, were" gathered to the worl , where
all h 0, whether of weal or woe, must end,
having an only son, Mark Henry Turner.
Es ., who, on the death of his Uncle Arthur,
wit out issue succeeded to the title and es-
tates in England, where he now resides. In
commemoration of the incidents of this his-
tory, he has added, by permission of the
royal herald, to his coatof-arms s sea-gull,
decorated with ribbons as a crest, and three
golden feathers in a field gules in a quarter-
ing‘of the shield.

arewell, good and evil, who have. figured
in these pages. Vice has received its r0
sompense, and virtue its reward.

m END.

 

 

 

The Sunnyside Library.

 

I

1 Lam Room. By Thomas Moore ......... .. 10c.
SDox JUAN. ByLordByron...  .... .. mo.
8 Psmnxsn Losr. By John Milton ......  10c.
4 Tnannvorm Lm. SirWaltechott... ioe.‘
5 Luann. By Owen Meredith ............... .. 10c.

6 Unnnm, oa run WATER-SPIRIT. From the
German of Friederlch De La Motto Fouque... 10c.

For sale by all newsdealers, or sent. postage paid,

on receipt or twelve cents for single numbers.
double numbers twenty-four cents.

ADAMS, VICTOR & 00., Publishers,
98 William street, N. Y.

,, q.

 

 

BEADLE’S

 

 

 

32 Large Three-Column Pages.

1. A Hard Crowd : OR, GENTLEMAN
SAM‘S SISTER. By Philip S. Warne.

2. The Dare-Devil: OR, THE WINGED
WITCH or THE SEA. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.

3. Kit Carson, J r., THE CRACK SHOT OF
THE WEST. By Buckskin Sam.

4. The Kidnapper:

SHANGHAI OF THE NORTHWEST. By Philip S. Warno.

5. The Fire-Fiends: OR, HERCULES, THE
HUNCHEACK. By A. P. Morris.

6. Wildcat Bob, THE Boss BRUISER :
on, THE BORDER BLOODHOUNDS. By Edward L. When»
ler, author of “ Deadwood Dick," “ Double Daggers."

7. Death-Notch, THE DESTROYER: OR,
THE SPIRIT LAKE AVENOERS. By 011 COOIneS.

8. The Headless Horseman. A strange
story of Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

9. Handy Andy.

10. Vidocq, THE FRENCH POLICE SPY.
Written by himself.

11. Midshipman Easy. By Capt. Mar—
rya .

12. The Death-Shot: 0R, TRACKED To
DEATH. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

13. Pathawa : OR, NICK WHIEELES, THE
OLD TRAPPER or THE ORTHWEST. By Dr. J. H. Rob-
on.

14. ThagAendanegea, THE SCOURGE ;
OR, THE WAR- GLE OF THE MOHAWKS. By Ned Bunt-
ine, author of “ The White Wizard.”

15. The Tiger-Slayer: 0R, EAGLE-
HEAD To THE RESCUE. By Gustave Aimard.

1 8. The White Wizard : OR, THE GREAT

PROPHET OF THE SEMINOLEB. By Ned Bunth’ne.

17. Nightshade, THE ROBBER PRINCE
or HOUNSLOW HEATH. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

18. The Sea Bandit: OR, THE QUEEN
)1! THE ISLE. By Ned Buntline.

19. Red Cedar, THE PRAIRIE OUTLAW.
By Gustave Aimard.

20. The Bandit at Bay: OR, THE PI—

RATES or THE PRAIRIES. By Gustave AimaI-d.

21. The Trapper’s Daughter:

THE OUTLAW’S FATE. By Gustave 8rd.

22. Whitelaw: OR, NATTIE or THE LAKE
SHORE. By Dr. J. H. Robinson,

23. The Red Warrior: 0R, STELLA
DELoRHE’S COMANCHE LOVER. By Ned Buntline.

24. Prairie Flower. By Gustave Ai-
mard, author of “Tiger-Slayer.” etc.

25. The Gold-Guide: 0R, STEEL ARE,
THE REGULATOR. By Francis Johnson.

26. The Death-Track: OR, THE OUT-
LAWS OE THE MOUNTAIN. By Francis Johnson.

2’7. The Spotter-Detective: OR, THE
GIRLS or NEW oRK. By Albert W. Aiken.

28. Three-Fingered Jack, THE ROAD-
AGENT or THE ROCKIES; OR, THE BOY MINER or HARD
LUCK. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

29. Tiger Dick, THE FARO KING; or,
THE CASHIER’S CRIME. By Philip S. Wame, author
of " A Hard Crowd," etc.

30. Gospel George; or, FIERY FRED,
THE OUTLAW. By Josep E. Badger, Jr.

31. The New York ‘Sha ;’ OR, THE
FLASH 0F LIGHTNING. By Albert W. ' en,

32. B’hoys of Yale: OR, THE SCRAPES
OYA HARD SET OE COLLEGIANS. By John D. Vose.

33. Overland Kit. By Albert W.
en.

By Samuel Lover.

on,

34. Rocky Mountain Rob.
bert W. Aiken.

35. Kentuck. the Sport. By Albert
W. Aiken.

BY Al-

36. Injun Dick. By Albert W. Aiken.

OR, THE GREATI

 

LIBRARY.

 

 

 

 

KIT CARSON, JR.—N0. 3.

37. Hirl. the Hunchback; OR, THE
SWORDMAKER OF THE SANTEE. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

38. Velvet Hand; on, THE IRON GRIP OF
INJUN DICK. By Albert W. Aiken.

39. The Russian Spy: OR. THE BROTH—
ERS OF THE STARRY CROSS. By Frederick Whittaker.

40. The Long Haired ‘Pardsg’ OR,

THE TARTARS or THE S. By J as. E. Badger, Jr.

41. Gold Dan: on, THE WHITE SAVAGE
or THE GREAT SALT LAKE. By Albert W. Aiken.

42. The California Detective : OR,
THE WITCHES on NEW YORK. By Albert W. Aiken.

43. Dakota Dan, THE RECKLESS RANGER;
or, THE BEE-HUNTERS EXCURSION. By 011 Coomes.

44. Old Dan Rackback, THE GREAT
EXTARMINATOR; or, THE TRIANGLE’S LAST TRAIL.
By 011 Coomes.

45. Old Bull’s Eye, THE LIGHTNING
SHOT OF THE PLAINS. By Joseph E. Badger, JR.,

46. Bowie-Knife Ben, THE LITTLE
HUNTER OF THE NOW-WEST. By 011 Coomes.

4‘7. Pacific Pete, THE PRINCE OF THE
REVOLVER. By J as E. Badger.

48. Idaho Tom. THE YOUNG OUTLAW
0E SILVERLAND. By 011 Coomes.

MIDSHIPMAN EASE—NO. 11.

Each Number Conlplete.

 

 

Price 1 0 cts.

49. The Wolf Demon, or, THE QUEEN or
THE KANAWHA. By Albert W. Aiken.

50. Jack Rabbit, THE PRAIRIE SPORT. i
or, THE CHILDREN OE THE LLANO ESTACADO. By Joe
E. Badger, Jr.

51. Red Rob, THE BOY ROAD—AGENT
By 011 Coomes.

52. Death Trailer, THE
SCOUTS; or, Life and 'Love in a Frontier Fort.
Hon. Wm. F. Cody, (Bulfa’lo Bill.)

53. Silver Sam; or, THE MYSTERY or
DeadWOOD CITY, By Col. Delle Sara. ‘

54. Always on Hand; or, THE SPORTIVE
SPORT or THE FOOT HILLS. By Phillip S. Wamo‘
author of “ A Hard Crowd," “Patent Leather Joe ’

55. The Scalp Hunters. A ROMANCE or
THE PLAINS. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

56. The Indian Mazep a; 01‘, THE
MAD MAN or THE PLAINS. By Al ert W. Aiken.

57. The Silent Hunter; or, THE SCOWL
HALL MYSTERY. By Percy B. St. John.

58. Silver Knife : or, WICKLIEEE, THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGER. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

59. The Man From Texas: or, THE
OUTLAW or ARKANSAS. By Albert W. Aiken.

60. Wide Awake; or, THE IDIOT or
THE BLACK HILLS. By Frank Dumont.

61. Captain Seawaif. THE PRIVATEER.
By Ned Buntline.

62. Loyal Heart; or, THE TRAPPERS on
ARKANSAS. By Gustave Aimard.

63. The Winged Whale.
W. Aiken.

e4. Double-Si§ht, the Death Shot. '
By Joseph E. Badger, r.

65. The Red Rajah: or, THE SCOUROE
OF THE INDIES. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

66. The Specter Barque. A TALE
01" THE PACIFIC. By Captain Mayne Reid.

6’7. The Boy Jockey: or, HONESTY
VERSUS CROOKEDNESS. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

68. The Fighting Trapper: or, KIT
CARSON To THE RESCUE. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.

69. The Irish Captain: A TALE or
FONTENOY. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

70. Hydrabad, THE STRANGLER; or,
ALETHE, THE CHILD or THE CORD. By Dr. J. H.
Robinson. .

'71. Captain Cool-Blade, or, THE MAN-
SHARK OF THE MISSISSIPPI. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

’72. The Phantom Hand. A STORY or
is]? YORK HEARTHS AND HOMES. By Albert W.
1 en.

’73. The Knight of the Red Cross;
or, THE MAGICIAN or GRANADA. A Tale of the Al-
hambra. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

74. Captain ofthe Rifles. A ROMANCE
on THE MEXICAN VALLEY. By Captain Mayne Reid.

CHIEF on
By

By Albert

'75. Gentleman George, or, PARLOR,
PRISON, STAGE AND STREET. By Albert W. Aiken.

76. The Queen’s Mnsketeer, or,
THISHE, THE PRINCESS PAIMIST. By George Albony.

'77. The Fresh of Frisco. or, THE
HEIRESS OE BUENAvENTURA. By Albert W. Aiken.

78. The Mysterious Spy: or, GOLDEN
FEATHER, THE BUCCANEER‘S DAUGHTER. By A. M.
Grainger. Ready October 8th.

79. Joe Phenix, THE POLICE SPY. By
Albert W. Aiken. Ready October 226.

A new issue every two weeks.

Beadle’s Dilne Library is for sale by all
Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt Of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS.
Publishers. 98 William Street. New York.