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A TALE OF 1673.

————_2»-——_——

THE BRIGANTINE:

ADMIRAL LOWE'S LAST CRUISE,

anew

BY DECATUR PAULDING, U.5.N.

LOUDON t
BEADLE AND COMPANY,
44, PATERNOSTER ROW.

 

 
 

 
 

    
  
 
 
  
 
  

 

 
  
 
 
 

 

 
  
 
 
 
 

 

THE BRIGANTINE.

 

CHAPTER I.
DUTCH NEW YORK.

Ir has been said that “coming events cast their shadows
before,” but, little did the peaceful burghers of 1673 dream
that their rude settlement on Manhattan Island, with its little
fort of forty-two guns, was to swell and increase till it be-
came the wonder of the older world, extending itself over the
hill-capped island till, gradually assuming a gayer and mightier
form, it burst in all its grandeur, and aspired to its merited
station—the metropolis of a great and powerful nation. New
Orange, as it was then called, and the title by which we shall
designate it throughout the following pages, was situate on
the southern point of tlie island called Manhattan, or Mana-
hachtanienks. It is well known that the present powerful
city of New York owes its birth remotely to the enterprise of
Schipper Hendrick Hudson, and more nearly to the activity
and perseverance of those never-to-be-forgotten sturdy sons of
Holland, Schippers Hendrick Christiaanse, and Adrian Blok,
of Blok Island memory.* ‘

* Holland, under the name of ‘The States General,’ was at that time
in the ee of prosperity, extending her commerce to the remotest
nooks of lands then unknown to the rest of the civilized world, and her
flag floating in the breezes of polar and tropical climes, seemed to breathe
the defiance, “ Veni, vidi, vici.” She plowed the waters of every sea
with an adventuresome keel, and as the reward of industry, perseverance,
and adventure, was acknowledged to be undisputed mistress of the ocean.
The ‘* City of the Isles,’? which had first obtained supplies from the East
and scattered them over all Europe, had gradually, through a succession
of years, lost her enriching a but to pour wealth into the lap of
Portugal, under the auspices of that truly enterprising monarch, Henry
“the nayigator.” Lisbon was then the great mart of all the Eastern pro-
auctions, and 80 continued to be under Philip IJ, till the war with Eng-
land was commenced. At the commencement ofthis war, the English, no
longer able to get their supplies of spices and other Eastern commodities
from Lisbon, were obliged to apply to the Dutch, who furnished them at
three times their Cae and thereby made a speculation which enriched
many of the good burghers, at the expense of their English friends. Brt

 
 

 

THE BRIGANTINE,

* In 1628 the settlers at Nieuw Amsterdam commenced a fort
which was to be the terror of all foreign powers, but which,
unfortunately, advanced so slowly that, ere its completion in
¥635 or ’36, the little Dorp had more than trebled its population.
At length the fort was completed, and frowned upon the
waters of the peaceful bay in all the majesty of conscious
might. It was looked upon by the honest burghers of that
day as a chef-d’euvre, with its forty-two little fourteen-pound
cannon, four towers, one at each angle, and two gates, one
opening to the southward upon a sloping plat of grass, the
other upon present Broadway to the northward. This speci-
men of field architecture was situate about the north end of
the Bowling Green, and at the opening of our story was called.
Willem Hendrick. There were then several large sycamore,
elm, and apple trees around it, a favorite resort of the citi-
zens as a lounge, where, upon benches under each tree, they
smoked the peaceful pipe, and related to a wondering-audience
of “youthes” and “maydes,” stories of battles with the In-
dians, and of witchcraft in the East. Now and then a gray-
headed old man, laying aside his apathetic listlessness, would
hunt about in the dark recesses of memory and draw to light
some scanty recollections of the Fatherland. The little city
itself, after the Dutch fleet had taken it in August, 1673, was
comprised within very narrow limits.

soon (on the revolt of the Netherlands from Spain) Philip closed his
ports against the Dutch, and seized their vessels then lying there at
anchor. But this state of things was not of long duration, for honest,
Mynheer, after looking about a little, and smoking a pipe or two, aroused
from his lethargy and determined that his galliots should aspire to the
honor of the “long voyage.’’ Accordingly, ships were fitted out and
dispatched to India, where treaties were stipulated with the natives, and
colonies planted, which soon increased to the thrift of Peehya and
eventually resulted in the expulsion of the Portuguese. hus the wealth
of the Indies, which once ae to Venice through the Saracens,
afterward to united Spain and Portugal, finally fell into the hands of the
Dutch Hast India Company. Through this company, all Europe, even
England included, received the supplies which their necessities demanded.
‘With more than two hundred ships they explored the unknown seas of
China, penetrating eyen to the Celestial Empire, and venturing still
further upon the rude inhospitalities of Japan, that terra incognita. Thus
they eae dominion over the sea and became a great and powerful na-
tion. It was then, when the States General were af the summit of glory,
that Hendrick Hudson was dispatched to find a north-western passage to
India ; failing to do which, he chanced to fall in with our little island, the
scene of the following story.

From his favorable report, the aboyementioned Schippers were sent
out to make a settlement, which they effected in the ea 1614, by build-
ing four little shantees, near the site of the present Bowling Gréen, and
dignifying the little “‘dorp””’ with the imposing title of New Amsterdam,
aiter their great commercial city at home.

 

  

    
 

 

  

NEW AMSTERDAM. li

A wall of wooden piles extended from about the intersec-
tion of present Pearl and Wall streets, along the line of Walt
street, quite oyer to Lumber street, and there* terminated in a
small redoubt built of mud, and beautifully decorated with
clam-shells. Beyond these points, on the east and west side,
the Groot and Salt rivers had not yet been encroached upon.
The building of houses and wharves west of Lumber and east
of Pearl street, has been done in later years, by filling up
these rivers with the hills which have been cut down in grad-
ing the streets. Persons living on Pearl street used to keep
their boats secured to their houses for convenience. Even the
promenade ground on the Battery is all reclaimed ground;
for, in the times of which we write, there was a fierce ledge
of rocks protruding their bristling backs from the water, in the
very center of that beautiful ground, and were then styled
“Peter’s Ledge,” from the fact of one Petrus Ten-Broeck
having lost his’ boat there one dark night, and being obliged to
mount astride the rock till relieved bythe guard at the fort,
who were summoned by the vociferous appeals of said Petrus.
What is Broad street now was then a canal, or inlet of water,
walled up on each side with a narrow ¢ottoir on either bank,
sufficiently wide to allow foot passengers a pathway. This
inlet, which had been made to resemble as much as possible a
canal, partly for the purpose of imitating the fatherland,
partly from the headstrong disposition of the waters, and
partly with the design of facilitating the transportation of
goods landed on the mole below, to the stores of the owners,
was the resort of all boatmen employed in and about the city
and on the Groot river, as well as of the country trading
boats which brought produce to the market, then standing in
Broad street, a little above Exchange Place, then called
Garden street or alley. Broad street was called the Here-
Graft, or Gentleman’s canal. Another canal ran along the
jine of Beaver street (then Princess street), intersecting and
érossing the Here-Graft. The houses were good old-fashioned
houses, built of red Dutch brick with tiled roofs, standing
‘with their gable-ends toward the strect, like unto a man with
his back to his company. The houses lay altogether on the
eastern side of Broadway, the lots on the western side run-
ning down to the river without buildings, but then occupied

 

  
    

 

12 THE BRIGANTINE.

by the Governors as a garden and fecding-place for deer.
Beyond the city walls were the Bouwerys and King’s farm.
Thus much for the city to enable the reader to understand
our narration.

 

CHAPTER II.
IN LOVE AND IN JAIL.

Burore a large two-story house, built in true Dutch style,
standing in Princess street, on the Canal, were two negroes

sweeping the ¢rottoir, enlivening their morning’s labor with a ~

catch in broken English, and now and then addressing each
other as occasionally some bright idea shot athwart the curly
pate, which Peter must tell to Augustus with the seasoning of
a good broad negro laugh. Two large sycamore trees were
jutting out from the side of the trottoir nearest to the house,
and bid fair to dispute ere long with the foot passenger the
possession of the walk.

“But what you tink,” said Peter, resuming the thread of
conversation which had been interrupted by the passing of a
boat in the canal, in which were four English sailors and an
officer, “what you tink, uncle ’Guss, bout Missey Evvy; you
tink she lub dis Cap’n Vinsunt, eh, ole niggur ?”

“Don’t know, Pete, don’t know,” replied the sagacious
Augustus, with a knowing shake of the head, which put his
“don’t know, Pete,” at once to shame, “ole niggur mustn’t
tell all he know.”

“Cum, uncle ’Guss, you needn’t be afeard of ole Pete, no
how. Ole Pete neber tole of ’Guss and Missey Dinar when
dey went for hunt eggs togedder in hay rick, eh, ole niggur?
choogh—hoogh !” and the secret-keeping Peter indulged in a
long, loud, obstreperous burst of merriment, to the great dis-
comfiture and annoyance of his sable ally.

“ Hooh! you Coromanchee black, what for you make such
big noise?” said the downcast Augustus, at the thought that
his wooing had been witnessed by Black Pete, the blackest
negro and most notorious gossip in the colony. “’Spose you

 
  

 
ELVELLYNNE AND CAPTAIN VINCENT. 18

want make a muss, Pete, and go for to tell ole Missus,
ch?”

“No, no, uncle ’Guss, Pete know better dan dat But,
come now, ole niggur,’ said he, in a conciliating tone, draw-
ing forth at the same time from the capacious pouch of his
galligaskins two pieces of fine leaf tobacco, which he had
purloined from his master’s pouch: “Pete got two piece ob
real gen’leman’s sort; you tell Pete what you know bout
Missey Evvy and Cap’n Vinsunt, and he guy ole’Guss one piece.”

The eyes of “uncle ’Guss” rolled about with a peculiar
twinkle at sight of the delicious weed, as he extended a huge
ebony paw to receive the wages of disclosure. No sooner
had he grasped the prize than he pitched upon Peter in the
bitterest tone of invective.

“Wa! you, Pete, where you get him,eh? Niggur stole
him, eh? Gooh choogh! You no keep dark bout Uncle
’Guss and Missey Dinar, ole ’Guss tell Massa Von Brooter!
Pete go poney den, ch, ole niggur ?” : 3

“Gorry, Uncle ’Guss,” said Peter, rolling about his orbs
in pure astonishment till only the whites were visible:
“ Gorry, uncle ’Guss, you play’ niggur mean trick,” and with a
yell that might have startled the solitudes of Africa, with
upraised broom he rushed upon the deceitful Augustus. But
uncle ’Guss had watched the first burst of passion, and slyly
retreated toward the gate which opened on a path leading to
the side of the house, and from behind which he manfully re-
turned all Peter’s blows—with this adyantage, that, while
Pete’s broomstick fell upon the fence at every blow, his rung
a full change on the sconce of the Iuckless besieger. At this
moment the original cause of this combat made their ap-
pearance, issuing from the side-door of the house, in the per-
sons of a male and female. The female evidently was of the

‘gentry. Her dress was composed of a light silk, open on the

breast, to display a fine linen cambric stomacher, beautifully
wrought with curious workmanship of flowers standing out in
bold relief. The upper edge of this stomacher was trimmed
with the finest production of Mechlin’s curious art, (so much
coveted at the present day,) and very broad. <A ruff of three
folds of like material with the stomacher, very finely quilled,
and trimmed with a very narrow edging of lace, served partly

 

 
 

14 THE BRIGANTINE. 1g

to conceal a neck of exquisite proportions. The sleeves,
which were tight, terminated in fine ruffled cuffs, overhanging
a small white hand, the fingers of which were glistening with
gems of other climes. The dress itself was much longer in
the skirt than was then generally worn, falling in graceful
folds nearly to feet delicately small, and cased in white silk
stockings of very fine texture, which were again covered by
calf-skin shoes very similar to those worn at the present day.
On the head was a small cap coming three quarters of the
way to the forehead, and fitting very closely. The female
was in person of a middle stature, and truly lovely. Such
was Elvellynne Montford, or, as the old domestic styled her,
“ Missey Evvy.”

Her companion was a man of commanding stature, fine
face and soldier-like mien. England had stamped her im-
press on his brow, and declared him at once to be a Briton.
His dress was & naval uniform of a Captain’s grade, made of
fine blue broadcloth, slashed at the sleeve, from beneath
which peeped a delicate ruffle around the wrist—the outward
mark (in those days) of gentility. His nether garment was
confined at the knee by a large golden knee-buckle, on which
Was engraved a coat of arms, and displayed a leg of finely-
formed proportions. Below the knee, the limb, as was usual,
was not coyered with a large top-boot, but merely encased in
black silk stockings and light pumps, which, like the breeches,
were confined by a sparkling buckle, but of smaller dimen-
sions, though bearing the coat of arms.

“ Hooh, Gorry, dar come Missey Evvy and Cap’n Vinsunt, .
involuntarily exclaimed Peter, slinking along the ¢rottodr till
hid by the building, while “ uncle ’Guss,” unable to effect a
precipitate retreat, betook himself busily to his former occupa-
tion with the broom.

Captain Vincent had already proceeded haif way to the
gate when a silvery voice arrested his attention and he re-
turned. Elvyellynne was still standing on the “stoope,” and
bade him tarry a moment while she went in the house. A
minute after she returned with a large camlet cloak, which
she playfully threw over his shoulders, to conceal his uniform
while passing over to the redoubt where lay his boat. This
was a necessary precaution, for an English officer in the heart

*

1 bee
pee

A DISGUISH REJECTED. of]

of an enemy’s settlement was open to abuse as well as im-
prisonment if detected by the authorities.

“ But, but you would not, Elvellynne,” said the young man,
half endeavoring to shake off the garment, which she as
obstinately replaced, “ you would not have me wear this curm-
bersome cloak, on this hot September day !”

“Indeed, though, I would,” replied Elvellynne ; “and mind,
sir knight, that it be not doffed till you are once more safely
on the decks of the Greyhound, which, if you again desert to
come and visit me, I will betray you into the hands of Goy-
ernor Colye, and haye you imprisoned in the old Stadt Huys.”

“T am already your prisoner,” replied the young man, in a
tone of gallantry; “but, really, there is no danger, no neces-
sity whatever of this disguise. No one will molest me; and
if they do, why I have, you know, a good Andrew Ferrara at
my side. No, no, Elvellynne,” continued he, “I shall reach
my boat in perfect security, for you know I traversed the city
from thence to this place but a few hours since, and that, too,
without mecting even a scowling brow.”

“Ay truly, Charles, but that was before daylight, when,
if you had met any one besides the watch, you would not
have had light enough to discern if they had any brow. You
must, indeed you must, bold Captain, surrender, and submit
to be conquered.this time by a woman;” and so saying,
Elyellynne stooped, and taking up the old cloak which the
Captain had thrown down, once more placed it over his
shoulders, and with a good hearty smack, (for, gentle reader,
that was the custom of 1673!) bade him adieu, and turned
within the house.

The young man with a bad grace submitted to the infliction
of the cloak, for a few moments, and then, haying seen his
fair protectress fairly within the walls of the building, again
threw the offensive garment from him, and giving it in charge
of the two slaves, not forgetting a small douceur of coin, be-
took himself with rapid strides “along the ¢trottoir toward the
westerly side of the town. As he passed by the termination
of the canal in Princess street, (now Beaver,) his eye rested
upon the form of him who had a few moments before at-
tracted the attention of uncle Guss and black Pete. He waa
aman of apparentlv about fifty-five years of age, a fine face, ~~

4

; LP»,

 
  

e

THE BRIGANTINE.

and powerful frame. The stranger had just stepced from his
boat, and was buckling to his side the sword which had lain
during the passage up the canal on the thwart before him,
when Captain Vincent first spicd him. Fora moment the
young man’s suspicions were aroused, and he involuntarily
stopped with his gaze fixed upon the stranger.

When the object of this scrutiny, having made fast his
sword, turned towards the ¢rottoir, he too seemed seized with
some sudden wonder, and in turn, gazed upon the young
man, but with very different emotions. He was fixed with
astonishment. at seeing a man in the uniform of an English
Navy Captain in apparent security, roaming through the heart
of an enemy’s city, for England and the States General were
then at war; while Captain Vincent thought he recognized in
the stranger the person of a notable pirate who was at that
time infesting these waters, and whom he had once before
met boldly traversing the streets of Boston. His gaze was
met by an unquailing eye. Thinking that he might be
mistaken, and, at the same time, reflecting that he wasin the
midst of a hostile power, the young man proceeded onward.

Turning out of Prince street into the Broad-way, he came
directly upon the fort and Governor’s house. Several soldiers
were lounging about, leaning upon the fence of the Governor’s
garden, within which, pacing up and down, was the Governor
himself. Admonished by these sights, that he was not in
exactly the safest place in the world, and buried in a reverie,
wherein Elvellynne Montford, a country seat on the Thames,
and sundry other little matters held prominent place, the
young man was not aware of the approach of three soldiers,
till one of them, tapping him on the shoulder, intimated that
the Governor would speak with him. His first impulse was
to lay hand on the sword whose boasted aid had been his
reliance ; but, seeing that all around was peaceful, and reflect-
ing that the Governor only wished “to speak with him,” he
turned towards the garden, not liking the distribution of his
companions, one of whom walked on either side, and the
third behind him with a fixed bayonet. Reaching the garden
he was accosted by the Governor, and confronted with his
own. boat’s crew (under a guard of soldiers), which crew he
supposed till that moment lying beyond the redoubt.

 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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’ amination.

    
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
 
 
  
 

CAPTAIN VINCENT ARRESTED. - AP

Under a file of soldicrs tho young man, with his boat’s
crew, was marched along the docks to the Stadt Huys, or
City Hall, then standing at the head of Coenties slip on Pearl
street. As they were filing out of the garden gate into the
Broad-way, Captain Vincent could not avoid casting one long-
ing look toward Princess strect, and thinking of the ill-fated
cloak which, had he worn, as Elvellynne desired, might have
sereened his person from notice till he should have been
warned by the absence of his boat’s crew of his danger. As
he looked up the Broad-way, his eye caught the form of a
female standing on the corner of Princess street, which his
fears at once told him was the person of Elvellynne. He
looked again to make “assurance doubly sure,” but the form
had vanished, and he was left to hisown thoughts. A thou-
sand times he cursed his folly: first, for haying entered the
enemy’s stronghold in a glaring uniform, and again, for not
complying with the maiden’s advice concerning the cloak.
His knowledge of the Dutch language was slight, but still
sufficient for him to catch the words “spy,” “sent over,”
“England,” “hanged,” from which detached fragments he ~
gathered the very comfortable intimation that he would pro-
bably be tried, condemned, and hanged, as a spy. In no yery
enviable state of mind he entered the Stadt Huys, and was
conducted to the council chamber, there to undergo an ex- }

The Governor and his officers soon arrived, and taking their
places the prisoners were brought forward for examination.
Some member of the court suggested that the prisoners be
examined separately, and have, after their examination, no
communication with the rest. This suggestion was at once
adopted. Accordingly, Captain Vincent, as the principal
prisoner, was first brought forward. The examination, which
was long and severe, and conducted principally under the
guidance of Governor Colve himself, resulted, much to ‘the
satisfaction of all, that the prisoner was a spy, and, as such,
had been taken within the very walls of the city. Justice,
and particularly military justice, in those days, was sometimes
very summary. Vincent looked around, and heard murmurs |
of approbation at the decision; he feared lest, without further
investigation, he might be led out to the first tree, and there,

  
ss
18 THE BRIGANTINE.

at once, receive his quictus—which, by the way, was no very
pleasant contemplation to a young man of twenty-four, who,
half an hour before had been thinking of a country retreat on
the Thames, a lovely wife, and “ other little things.”

He felt half inclined, at the expense of his feelings, to
declare to the court the object of his coming into the city, and
then, when the declaration trembled upon his lips, the idea of
subjecting the name of Elvellynne Montford to be bantered
about in the public mouth, and perhaps to be the theme of
ribaldry and jest among the rude soldiery, as often deterred
him.

There was a commotion in the court among those nearest
the door, and soon the cause of it made his appearance in the
person of Alderman Von Brooter, a member of the Common
Council, guardian of Elvellynne, and owner of the good old
Dutch mansion, where we first met the Captain and Elvellynne
on the “stoope.” Puffing and blowing, up came the Alder-
man, pipe in mouth, and, stumping up to the seat of the Goy-
ernor, begged permission to address the court; which being
granted, he deposed that Captain Vincent, commanding his
Majesty’s (Charles II) sloop of war Greyhound, had come
ashore that morning with peaceable intent, and with no other
purpose than to pay his respects to his ward, Elvellynne Mont-
ford. The good Alderman went on with his deposition, and
after a long speech, concluded by begging that the court
would dismiss the prisoner in peace, with a present of pipes, te
remunerate him for the indignities suffered. At first it waa
thought that the Alderman’s suggestions and deposition would

have great weight with the court in its decision. All had-
-been carried away by the good man’s speech, and were enlisted

as strongly in behalf of the prisoner as, a few moments before
they had tilted against him.

But, expectation was, for once, disappointed; even tho
prisoner’s countenance became momentarily overcast, when he
‘was remanded for further examination’ on the morrow. At
this critical moment, there was a second commotion in the

‘court, caused by the opening and shutting of-a large door im-

mediately fronting the Governor, and the stately form of
Elvellynne Montford was seen moving up the chamber til
confronted with the judges, Her dress was the same as that
THE SCENE IN COURT. 19

in which she had, a short time since, parted with her lover.
She cast a look of halflove, half-reproach at the officer, as
she passed up the space involuntarily opened to her, tacitly
upbraiding him with having neglected her advice. Her
deposition was very similar to her guardian’s, but touching
more remotely upon those delicate points which the good
Alderman had stumbled headlong into ;—still, in substance,
the same. Having concluded her attestation, Elvellynne sat
down, nearly exhausted, nor could she be persuaded by her
guardian to leave the chamber, till some final decision. The
court, at first, was staggered by so strong and respectable a
corroboration of testimony, but, after wavering a little, again ~
attained its balance, and a second time remanded the prisoner
“ for further examination on the morrow.” This was equal to:
a sentence of death, as all were aware, and no sooner was it
pronounced than, with a teawless eye, though blanched check,
the stately form of the maiden was again seen passing down
the long chamber with unfaltering step, till hid by the large
jron-studded door. <A slight quiver of the lip was discernible’
as she passed by the nearest of the spectators, and once, but
once only, Vincent thought, as she passed by and turned upon
him her full, beautiful eyes, he could distinguish the slight
sound of a tremulous sigh. The prisoners were conducted to
strong cells beneath the council-chamber, and the court ad-
journed to convene on the morrow, and pass sentence of death
on the intruders and spies.

‘CHAPTER III.
ADMIRAL LOWE.

Wirs the same stately step and look of determination, the
maiden traversed the narrow streets, till she arrived at the
mansion. Passing over the very spot where, three hours since,
she had parted with her lover, Elvellynne entered the house,
and proceeded through certain curious crooked by-ways,
known only to Dutch architects, till a smail door arrested her

 
  

 

 

 

 

20 THE BRIGANTINE.

progress. This she opened by means of a key which hung
at her girdle, and, entering the apartment, carefully closed and
locked the portal behind her. She threw herself into a large
arm-chair, arrayed, and resting her head on her hand, gave
way, not to tears, but to serious reflection.

The apartment in which she was seated was small, and so
altogether unlike the apartments of those days, that we deem
t necessary here to say a word concerning it, in order that
the reader may the better understand any scene which might
hereafter occur in this petit boudoir. The little room was in
the north-west corner of the house on the first story, and the
windows both on the north and west looked out on a spacious
garden which ran along present New street, then called
Nicuw-straat, or stradt. One of these, the one looking west-
erly, was open. The floor (which was very uncommon, since
even the Governor’s floors were sprinkled with white sand)
was covered with a soft carpet, which betrayed no approach- |
ing footfall. The furniture was a perfect curiosity, being
made of mahogany, and elegantly plain. A large scroll sofa
stood in one corner, with hair cushions. On the couch was a
volume of Spenser’s Faery Queen, still lying open, and near
by a small stand of French workmanship, on which was lying
some very ancient music, and that most difficult of all instru-
ments to perform on, an arch-lute. In one corner of this
elegant retreat, stood an upright book-case, containing a col-
lection of lore which an antiquary might envy. Near by the
eld arm-chair, stood a diamond-shaped table, scattered over
whose surface lay books, some articles of needlework, and a
small box containing the implements used in female work-
manship. Near one of the sharp angles of the table stood a
small silver bell. Cushioned tabourets were scattered pro-
miscuously about the chamber, on one of which the maiden
was now resting her foot. In this little retreat, Elyellynne
was wont to pass her leisure hours, giving herself up to the
delights of literature, or finding employment in some delicate
piece of workmanship. Here, too, she was wont to sit in
silent: reverie, and think of her lover, and of the happy hours
they had spent together, while roaming over the smiling pro-
vinees of “sunny France.” This little abode had been granted
her by her good guardian, to be exclusively her own, and she

 

 

 

  
 

 

had fitted it up after her own taste, with furniture brought
from Europe. Here she could retire when sorrow pressed
upon her heart, and, unmolested, could sigh and wish for better
times.

Elvellynne Montford was a child of misfortune, for her
parentage was unknown, even. by herself. At the tender age
of four years she had been Jeft at Alderman Von Brooter’s
: house one evening, by a young Irish sailor, with a note written
i in the English language, in which Alderman .VYon Brooter
was charged to.guard and watch over her, and send her (so
soon as old enough) to Europe, for the purpose of receiving
the best education which could then be had. Inclosed with-
in the note was an order on one of the largest merchants in
Amsterdam, for 11,000 pounds sterling, (or about 50,000 dollars
which the good Alderman looked upon as rather a hoax,
but which, nevertheless, he determined to draw for, together
with some information concerning his little protégé. Ac-
cordingly, by the first ship, the order was sent, and by the
next ship, to the Alderman’s no small wonderment, duly came
the sum drawn for, together with a letter from the merchants,
stating that the sum mentioned had been placed in their
hands shortly before, subject to his (Alderman Von Brooter’s)
draft; further than this they knew nothing. Here was a
mystery which all the burgher’s efforts were unable to solve; —
and his zeal at length being wearied, he determined to let the
matter rest, and act according to the injunctions Jaid down
ic in the anonymous letter. The little Elvellynne grew to be a
' beautiful girl; by her winning graces and ready conceptions,

she completely captivated the good man’s affections.

At the age of ten, the guardian determined to obey his
directions and send her to Europe, to be instructed by the
most expert masters of the day. At the time of her intro-
duction to the reader, Elvellynne had been but eighteen months
returned, after perfecting her education, and was in her

eighteenth year. It was after her return that she had fitted
up the little abode where we last saw her, and where, for the
present, we shall leave her.

i + | BLVELLYNNE’S HARLY HISTORY. 1

Se eee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turning out of Princess street and procceding along the
Here-Graft, on the trottotr, we come to an old-looking house

 
 

 

THE BRIGANTINE.

of one story, with a very high pediment roof, standing on the
corner of Garden street, Mow Exchange Place,) and fronting
on the “ Here-Graft,” or Broad street. The house is evidently
a public one, or ferry-house, as the crowd of idlers about the

door and within the tap-room indicates. An old sign in the ~

shape of a boat, of the true Dutch build, with two oars twice
the length of said boat, is lazily swinging on its creaking
hinges, to the gentle breeze. The building itself is composed
of rusty Dutch brick, and has but two windows in front, one
high up near the garret, and the other by the side of the
door, which opens at one corner of the wall. The window
below is shaped like a show-case, and glitters with an array
of old Dutch bottles, filled with good Hollands, and other
liquors.

The front, which we have just been describing, is literally
the end, for the building stands with its gable toward the
public way. The side on Garden street has’a door, with a
stoop and a window on either side. Above are two dormer
windows, looking out on the moss-clad roof, which is not tiled
but shingled. In front of the house, and on the side of the
trottoir nearest to the canal, stands a post, to which a boat is
attached by a rope. Sundry boats are passing up and down
the canal, but none like the one we haye mentioned, which
was clinker built and English modeled. Three or four sailors
were at the time of our story (which might be about four
o'clock in the afternoon) loitering about the tap-room door, in
true English style, cracking theirjokes on the slow-moving,
systematic Dutchmen, and now and then practically illustrat-
ing their spirit by treading accidentally on Mynheer’s toes, or
pulling his low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat over his eyes.
This was the “Ferry House,” so called, notable for its good
liquors, moderate prices, obliging landlady, and kept by one
Anne Bonny, more familiarly styled Dame Bonny of the
night-cap, from the fact of her head-gear being the same both
for day and night. Dame Bonny was a good-natured,
obliging woman of two-score years and five, always ready to
help a customer, and always ready to praise her own Hel-
lands. In fact, she kept the best liquors in the colony ; and
many whispered that Dame Bonny’s puncheons were never
landed at the mole, as was then required by law, but found a

    

  
DAME BONNY’S INN. 28

nearer way by a short cut to her cellars. Be that as it may,
the good dame never found fault with any one, but sold at
lower prices than any one clse, and better liquors too. Many
a burgher might be scen after nightfall, and before the ringing
of the great bell within the fort, soberly trudging along the
trotioir in the direction of Dame Bonny’ § little hostelry ; but,
whether they as soberly returned, it is not our province to
disclose. Eyen the fat, good-natured face of the Alderman
was not an entire novelty to the Dame; and she as readily
dealt out her gin to the prying authorities as to others, not-
withstanding frequent shoulder-shrugging and some whispers.
There was one customer, however, to whom she was more
than usually attentive, and for reasons best known to herself.
The Dame was standing in one corner of the little tap-room,
holding a whispering conversation with one of the before-
mentioned sailors, and seemed very attentively listening to the
tar, who was very earnest and violently gesticulating, when a
thump on the floor of an adjoining room arrested her atten-
tion. It could be no ordinary matter that would have sent
the hostess thus hastily bustling out of the tap-room, smooth-
ing down her short-gown, and stopping a moment at a small
glass to see that her trim, neat-looking cap was nicely ad-
justed. Another thump impatiently following fast upon the
heels of the first, caused the good dame to cut short her toilet
and obey the summons. Leaving the tap-room, she passed
through a small side-door scarcely large“ enough to admit her
rotund personage, and found herself immediately in the
presence of the very customer whom we have mentioned
above as claiming more than a due share of her*attention.:
He was a man of perhaps fifty-five or thereabouts, some-
what of a portly appearance and Herculean frame, Time had
grizzled his locks and stamped upon his features the impress
of passions which had left deep furrows to mark how fierce
had been their power. A small, twinkling gray eye still
shone with all the fire of vigorous manhood,.and told that
the spark within was not so extinguished but that a slight
breath would easily resuscitate it. His brow was high and
open, though traversed by two deep indentations on either
side, commencing at the temple and gradually falling to the
inner end of the eyebrows. His dress was a gold-laced coat,

 
 
 

 

24 THE BRIGANTINE,

and breeches of the same, confined at the knee, at which point
they were met by heavy top-boots, His neckerchief was
loosely tied around a finely-formed neck, and his whole en-
semble was such as would at once declare him at the present
day to be one of those who go down to the sea in ships, He
was the owner of the boat floating at the door, and the very
personage who had in the forenoon attracted the attention of
uncle ’Guss and Peter, and afterward of Vincent himself. He
was attentively scanning a miniature when Dame Bonny
opened the door. He hastily thrust’ the toy in his bosom at
her appearance, and thus accosted her:

_ “Ah, Mistress Bonny, you are looking hale and well; time
wears well with you; how is little David ?”

“ Oh, the child is well, sir, saving the bit of a mark left on
his cheek by the hook,”

“ Ah, that’s well, Dame. I was afraid he might have suf-
fered somewhat with the wound, But how is the last run of
Hollands: good isn’t it ?”

“ Ah, Admiral, never was there better; but you must try a
glass of the same, so as not to forget it, Here, Paul! Paulus
Spleutcher !”

* Nay, nay, I thank you, Mistress Bonny, but I have not
forgotten the flavor, seeing that I had a brush with a bit of
a lugger in getting off, and have now some of the brand on
board the Merry Christmas.”

“But, Admiral, yu had better try a little, one little glass,”
said the coaxing Dame, stepping toward the tap-room door,

© for the purpose of bringing the liquor in question herself.

“Nay, nay, dame,’ said the stranger, who was no less a
personage than Ephraim Lowe, Admiral of the pirate fleet in
these seas, “I thank you again; but I haye that on hand
which requires a clear head, and would be your debtor if you
will keep Paul from imbibing too much of that same Hol-
Jands, and send him here, for I have need of him.”

The woman took from the table at which the Admiral was
seated, the remains of a plate of crackers, and a dish which
had contained eggs, and disappeared, This had been his only
meal since the morning, and was his uniform diet whenever
on shore. Occasionally the Admiral indulged in a yery weak
potation of Hollands, but very rarely, as temperance in food

   
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 

  

PAUL AND THE ADMIRAL. 25

and drink was his constant practice. The result of this
regimen was, as might be expected, good health, great bodily
strength, and a very clear, strong mind, which had enabled
him through a long life to avoid the snares set for him, and
preserve a stern discipline over the rude men whom he com-
manded. Ephraim Lowe, (or as he had been jocosely dub-
bed, “ mighty Ephraim,” from the fact of his having, unarmed
and single-handed, with his clenched fist, struck down a
furious bull which was making at him when ashore at Buenos
Ayres,) had, from his superior knowledge, great physical
strength, and stern, upright demeanor, been appointed by a
unanimous voice of the pirates, who had a rendezyous at
Barnegat inlet, Admiral and chief commander of their
forces, with power to form a code of laws whereby they
might be better regulated as to their distribution of booty and
arrangements at the different rendezvous, It was thus that
he came by the sobriquet of Admiral Lowe.

In a few moments the little door, through which the Dame
had vanished, again opened, and the person aboye alluded to
as Paulus Spleutcher, made his appearance. He was a tall,
merry-faced, shrewd-looking son of Erin; and, like all that
tribe, when they get in a dilemma, not knowing how to do it
otherwise, opened the interview by scratching his head.

“Ah, the top o’ the morbnin’ ty yee, Admiral, an’ how is it
yee ar. Can Paulus Spleutcher be of inny sarvice to yee, for
it’s tired he’s ghettin of this divilish land-cruising, and would”
be afther a taste of the salt say-water agin”

“Good-day, Paul, good-day,” good-naturedly replied the-
Admiral; “so you want to be tripping over the merry seas
again.”

“ Ah, indeed, and it’s just that same I'd be afther dooin’; yer
honor has hit it exactly.”

“But, Paul, you are at present occupied here, aud how can
you leaye? The Dame would migs so good ahand as your-
self.”

“Och, oogh! the devil a bit would Mistress Bonny be after
missing Paul; and she’s @ good woman, too, that same
Misthress Bonny. by

“Ah, Paul, it was a bad busincss ‘that,«your leaving the
Merry Christmas to sail under land colors.” ‘

  

 
 

 

 

26 THE BRIGANTINE,

“Indeed an’ it was, Admiral Lowe; an’ Paul wud like agin
to be in the fleet.”

“Well, Paul, I must not rob the Dame; but I will see her,
and if she wills, you shall be on board the brig ere this time
on the morrow.”

“Thank yer honor; blissin’s on yer owld head,” said the
grateful Paul, turning to leave the apartment ; but the Admiral
called him back.

“ Paul,” said he, “I have something on hand which. be-
hooves me to put you onduty. You remember that some
thirteen or fourteen years ago, you were charged with an in-
fant child to deliver at the house of a burgher in the settle-
ment—one Oolen Von Brooter ?”

“Yes, yes, yer honor, I do; an’ by the same token, that
she’s the swatest lass in the whole colony at this day. Paul
has kept his eye on the babby, and there’s not a sowl in the
Orange, fore and aft, that wudn’t go to the death for Miss
Elvellane. Och, Admiral, she’s a swate cratur an, she is,
minny blessin’s on her head; she saved Paul from the powney
and the powst wonst, and when the puncheon in the cellar,
bad luck to it, rowled off the skidd, and browk my arm,
wasn’t it she, the darlint, that even came here herself to see
Paul, and bring him swates and bandage his arm, an’ make
him comfortable like? An’ she too a stranger to Paul, an’
niver laid eyes on him afore as she knowed, ounly Paul
knows that she did wonst afore, and that was when he car-
ried the swate rheud bleugh, and left her at Oolen Von
Brooter’s !”

“Well, Paul, well,” interrupted the Admiral, smiling at the
Trishman’s affection, and feeling assured that he would go any
length to serve the “swate cratur,” but at the same time ad-
monished by a small golden repeater lying on the table by
his sword that time “was waning apace,” “Would you like
to do Miss Elvellynne a service ?”

“ Paix, an’ that same wud I.”

“Very well, then, Paul, now listen to me, and only an-
swer the questions which I shall put to you, and I will show
you how you can tenfold repay all tne kindness which
Elvellynne Morftford has ever shown you.’ ‘The grateful
Paul’s eyes glistened with moisture at the thought ; and tha

ps

vw
a

“Te

SOMETHING IN HAND. 27

“Admiral proceeded. “ Are you well acquainted with the city,

Paul: 2"

“Yer honor, I am,” replied Paul, careful to avoid any un-
necessary words, as Lowe had directed him.

“Could you, in an emergency, find stowage for three, so
close that the Hoofd-Schout, (high sheriff,) if close ut their
heels, should not come upon them 2?”

“Paix, Misthur Admiral, and that’s what I could by the
same token that I have had a little hexperience in the same,”
(Paul had been an arrant rogue, and given more trouble to
the city authorities than any other man in the settlement.)

“Very well,” said the Admiral. “ But further; do you ae
the Stadt Huys ?”

“Yes, yer honor.”

“ And the prison cells bencath 2” 4

“ Ah, an’ it’s there Paul’s at home, yer honor, by the same
towken that he’s been a tinant rent free thray times widin
ayteen months.” :

“That will do, then, very well. Do you know who Elvel-
lynne Montford is?”

“No, yer honor, ownly that owld Mary give her to me,
and towld me where to take her, blessin’s on her sowl.”

“ Well, Paul,” said the Admiral, approaching closer to him,
“T told you I had something on hand, and something for you
to do: now I will tell you what it is. I know you of old,
Paul, to be trusty and faithful; for you were able to go to the
main truck before you were five years old, and never left my
ship till three years ago; nevertheless you know the laws of
the Merry Ohristmas and the fate of treachery. You re-
member James Donnoven, the Swede ?”

“ Aye, faix, an’ I do.”

“That is sufficient. Do you know a Captain Vincent, a
British officer, who is cruising about in these waters in pursuit
of pirates, and commands the Greyhound sloop of war?”

“Yes, yer honor; I’ve sane him at the Alderman’s; and a
nate sprig he is, barrin’ his trade.”

“Well, Paul, this same Captain Vincent was foolhardy
enough to leave his vessel last night, and come ashore to see
Elvellynne. The authorities have laid yiolent hands on him,
and he is now a prisoner in the Stadt Huys. To-morrow

 
 

 

28 THE BRIGANTINE.

there is to be a trial, and before this time twenty-four hours
the prisoner will swing from the old tree by the fort, unless

rescued to-night; and I have sent for you, Paul, to get him.

free. You must do it.”

Paul started back in astonishment. He knew the Admiral
to be at swords’ points with the British, and knew that orders
had been given out through the fleet, that every Englishman
taken should have his nose slit in three places. This rancor
had been occasioned hy the taking of one of the schooners in
the fleet by a cruiser nf King Charles, and hor crew being all
hanged by the king’s officers. But here was the Admiral, in
the very height of his power—(the pirates were very nu-
merous and bold at that date)—the man from whom the order
to mutilate had proceeded, about to undertake the liberation
of one @gainst whosy whole nation the utmost cruelty and
rigor had been declare:! and exercised. It was this reflection
flashing across Paul’s mind that caused him involuntarily to
start back and exclaim, ‘* But he’s a Briton, yer honor.”

“True, Paul,” responded the Admiral in a determined tone,
“but he must be liberated, and that too not for his sake, but
that of Elvellynne Monttord, whom you will serve more than
in any other way by attending to my instructions.”

Reconciled to the thought of liberating a Briton by the re-
flection that he was about to serve his benefactress, Paul lent
an attentive ear while the Admiral unfolded to him the exist-
ing relation of affairs betwern Elvellynne and her lover. A
plan was formed for the liberation of the officer, and the
Admiral again seated himsell at the table, desiring Paul to
call Jacques, and giving him the parting admonition to “ re-
member the trysting-tree two Lours after bell-ringing.”” With
a light heart, Paulus Spleutcher left the little apartment, and
sought out the elderly-looking far with whom the Dame had
been conversing when first summoned to attend upon the
Admiral,

   

  
 

 
 

ELVELLYNNE’S DISTRESS.

CHAPTER TV:
ADVENTURES OF A NIGHT.

ELVELLYNNE Montrorp still remained seated in the old atm-
chair in her little retreat. The sun was just descending the
western horizon, and beaming brightly through the open case-
ment, playing around her feet in golden streaks, as if in very
mockery of her feelings. There had she sat for four long
hours, scarcely changing her position, ruminating over the
change that a few moments had wrought in her destiny, and
endeavoring to light upon some plan by which she might be of
service to her lover. At one time she resolved to go and
throw herself at the Governor’s feet, and plead with him for
that leniency which she had seen him so little disposed to
exercise in public. Then she reflected that, if so strong a
corroboration of testimony as had been made in behalf of
Vincent would not move him, what could the supplications of
a maiden effect? Again she turned her thoughts to the
prison-house, and exerted all her energies in futile attempts to
plan some means of effecting the prisoner’s escape. Here,
too, she was repulsed by failure. In these mental struggles
she passed the time, till the somber twilight had come and
gone, and the darkness of night was fast setting in. Every
moment was bringing nearer the dreaded morrow, and she
shuddered and groaned audibly as she thought of her lover
suffering an ignominious death, in a distant land, far from
friends and home, and without one friend to soothe his last
moments, one consoling word to cheer him. In this terrible
state, overcome by her mental exertion, and half frantic with
doubt, fear, and perplexity, she suddenly uttered a half-
smothered exclamation, and sunk fainting in the chair. The
figure of a man was visible at the window peering cautiously
around in the room, and in another moment the person of
Ephraim Lowe passed into the apartment. Gently lifting the
lifeless form of the maiden in his powerful arms, he leaped

_ through the window, and yaulting the low fence, soon stood

in the open street.

 

  
  
   

a

380 THE BRIGANTINE.

The Admiral glided around the corner of Nieuw Straat,
and emerged upon the trottoir in Princess street. Passing
down Princess street and in front of Alderman Von Brooter’s
house, he was met by one of the city watch, already set, who
opposed his further progress.

“Ah, what have you there, sirrah?” said the watch, mis-
taking the white drapery for stolen goods, and the Admiral
for a thief. “Come, come, I’ve got you this bout at last, my
hearty,’ and laying his hand upon the Admiral’s shoulder,
declared him a prisoner.

“ Pass on and leaye me unmolested,” said the Admiral, in a
stern voice; but the watchman, elated with his success at
nabbing a thief, and dreaming of the reward which would
fall to him, in a summary manner commenced hauling along
his prize. The Admiral with one arm pushed him aside and
succeeded in passing him on the ¢rottoir. But, the sturdy
Hollander again seized his prize, and was about to raise an
alarm, when Lowe, shifting his burden from the right to the
left arm, struck the unfortunate guardian of the night full on
the head. The man fell lifeless and never spoke more. The
blow intended only to silence had fallen with such force as to
crash through the skull, leaving the indentation of four
knuckles. Again the Admiral pursued his course, and, un-
molested, arrived at Dame Bonny’s. Passing through the side
door in Garden street, he entered the apartment where we
have before seen him, and depositing his burden upon a rude
settee in one corner, summoned the Dame, under whose hands
and kind attention Elvellynne soon recovered.

The Admiral was seated by her, kindly chafing her little
hand and exciting Dame Bonny to accelerate her movements.
“Tndeed, Admiral,” returned the Dame, “ indeed, I am making
all haste; the maiden is doing well and you will soon enough
hear the rating of her tongue, when she finds how she came
here. But, you are a kind man, Admiral,’ continued the
Dame, struck with his solicitude, “and take as much interest
in the girl as if she were your own bone and flesh.”

A momentary cloud flitted across the pirate’s truly fine
face, at the Dame’s random suggestion; but immediately, the
features settled down in an expression of calm melancholy,
and he again betook himself more assiduously than before to

ya
A STARTLING REVELATION. 81

his occupation of chafing Elvellynne’s cold hands. While
the Dame was absent for some stréng salts, Elyellynne opened
her eyes, and gradually returned to a state of consciousness.
At first she was bewildered, on gazing around the apartment
and finding every thing new and unknown to her and a
stranger by her side, so familiarly but kindly attending her.
Her first question was, “ Where am I?”

“Safe,” replied the Admiral, and, stooping down he whis-
pered in the maiden’s ear a few words. LElvellynne started
from the couch with a sudden motion and spoke:

“ Prove it,” said she, “ prove it, and—” here the portly Dame
rustled through the door, but, at a wave of the Admiral’s
hand, again retired. Lowe took Elvellynne’s hand affec-
tionately in his own. “ You had,” said he, “a small locket,
with a golden back, on which was inscribed the initials, A.
H. Have you the locket now ?”

Elyellynne drew from her bosom the trinket and handed it
to him. He looked at it attentively for a moment, and placing
his thumb on one side, slightly pressed the edge. The back
moved on its hinge and disclosed to Elvellynne’s wondering
eyes, the face and bust of a beautiful woman with a coronet
on her brow of strawberry leaves, and a row of pearls above
the leaves. The miniature bore a maryelous resemblance to
herself, and she gazed on it for a long time in silence. “It’s
your mother, your own dear mother,” at length said the Ad-
miral, producing another miniature, its counterpart, from his
own bosom, “and you are very much like her.” The old
man gazed long and fondly on the features of the lovely girl,
and then averted his head with a sigh.

The heayy jarring sound of the old bell in the fort was at
that moment heard pealing along the narrow street and warn-
ing all good people that it was nine o’clock, and the hour to
retire. The Admiral started up, and going to the small door,
called Jacques, and asked him if tie boat was all ready, and
the men within call. He was answered in the affirmative,
when, giving the man particular injunctions to be under the
bridge with the boat in two hours, he closed the door and
again seated himself near Elvellynne. Taking her hand again
he disclosed to her the object and original cause of her being
in that strange place.

 
      
 

82 THE BRIGANTINE,

   

« Elyellynne,” said ho, “you love Char.es Vincent?”
Elvellynne blushed, but firmly answered, “T do.”
“And you would feel your heart’s wish gratified if he was
beyond the reach of danger ?”
Elvellynne again replied, “I would.” a
“Well, then,” continued the old man, “listen to what I |
haye to say, and ere to-morrow’s dawn you shall see him free.” |
Elyellynne sunk at his feet, and bathed his hands with
kisses and tears of joy. Lowe then unfolded to her his plot
and the part which she was to play. Under Dame Bonny’s
hands she was sooh equipped ina pair of thick shoes, hat |
and shawl, and other articles of cumbrous shape, which the
good Dame insisted on her wearing as preventives against cold )
ahd the night air. Indeed, if history speaks truly, the Dame
‘pressed upon her acceptance a small pocket flagon of that I
same yaunted Hollands which she had before lauded so highly, i}
but the maiden gently declined the proffer. >
Lowe was pacing up and down the narrow apartment with |
the habit ofa sailor, and casting, ever and anon, an impatient
glance at the repeater on the table, which admonished him i
that the hour was fleeting by, when Paulus Spleutcher made it
his appearance. 1)
“Come, come, Paul,” said the Admiral, impatiently, laying
aside his sword and gold-laced coat, and taking from the wall
an old-looking garment which he donned, “ you are late ; you
were not wont to be so tardy.” |
“ Ay, yer honor, but P’ve bin recoiterin’, and it’s all as still {
as a hurricane of my own coonthry. There’s Slapy Jim has
the inner watch, and Spiteful Jo the outer, and slapy, enough
it is he’d be by this time, by the same towken that he and I
smowked a bit pipe thegither, jist afore the watch.”
“What should make him sleepy, Paul?” inquired the Ad- ok
miral. i
“Troth and becase, ” replied the quick-witted Irishman, “I |
spiced his pipe.” ae
“Spiced ? spiced 2” repeated Lowe, not understanding him, |
“what may that be, Paul?”
“Paix, and only shat T mixed up a bit opium vith the
tobaccy.” 4 4
The Admiral smiled, and Elvellynne complimented Paul on

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
   
sconce

THE STADT HUYS. 83

his ingenuity. The Admiral left the room for a moment,
passing into the little tap-room beyond, where, on the floor,
lay stretched three swarthy-faced mariners, fast asleep. A
third was sitting in a corner, apparently keeping a watch and
regaling himself with a good Dutch pipe. Him the Admiral,
stepping noiselessly over the sleepers, accosted by the name
of Jacques, bidding him to arouse the crew and prepare for
departure. :

 

It was midnight, when three figures might be seen stealthily
passing along the drottoir which flanks the Here-Graft. An
athletic man led the little party, seemingly acting as com-
mander; the center position was occupied by a female, while
a tall, slim figure, with a bludgeon in his hand, brought-up
the rear. Their movements were very guarded. To see
figures, other than those of the watch, abroad, at that late
hour of the night, boded no good. ‘The little party kept well
within the shadow of the buildings, to avoid as much as pos-
sible the light of a harvest moon, shining with almost Italian
intensity. Occasionally, as they emerged from the shade of
the buildings, they, too, were momentarily flooded in the light,
but these conspicuous places were rapidly passed, and as much
as possible avoided by the leader.

It was at one of these open spaces where formerly had
been a fence, but which was now half thrown down, that the
leader stopped suddenly, and raised his finger as an intimation
of danger. There was a heavy trampling of fect as if in reg-
ular march, now distinctly audible, and occasionally a jarring
ring of metal, as if two muskets had come in collision. As
the sounds approached, the leader cautiously stepped behind
the angle of the dilapidated fence and beckoned the other
tivo to follow. Here a passing colloquy ensued between the
chief and him of the bludgeon, in a whisper, which ended in
the latter stepping forward to a position where, without being
seen, he could reconnoiter the whole street. This position
was not long maintained, however, for the figure suddenly
dodged again to his hiding-place behind the fence.

“What is it Paul? the relief guard? But ?tis not yet time

- for—” 8

“ Hist, yer ioror, and kape as quite as an unhatched babby.”

 
 

84 THE BRIGANTINE.

The heavy tramp of men was every moment drawing
nearer. “The Hoofd Schout, the Hoofd Schout,” whispered
Paul, as the high sheriff, with a guard of ten soldiers, passed
the hiding-place, snd proceeded up the Here-Graft in the
direction of Dame Bonny’s.

“ Ay, and I fear me there’s mischief in the wind,” returned
the Admiral.

So soon as the guard were lost to sight, our little party
again sallied forth and took up the line of march down the
Here-Graft, using the same precautions as before, till, coming
to the mole, they turned to the left, and followed the course
of the bay along Dock street, now Pearl.

The Stadt Huys in which the prisoners were confined was
a large square two-story building standing on Dock street,
and fronting on Coenties slip. Under the building ran a
Jarge arch which supported the council-chamber above. The
base of this arch, or the distance from one springing line to
the other, was probably ten feet. From this passage, on
either side, went off the cells which contained the prisoners,
having heavy iron-studded doors opening into the passage or
arch. It was common to have a sentry pacing along before
the building, so that at every turn he passed by the mouth of
the arch. Owing to the increase of prisoners from the capture
of Vincent and his boat’s crew, a double guard had been set of
two sentries, one of whom was pacing before the building
by the mouth of the arch, and who has before been designated
by Paul as “ Spiteful Jo,” probably from his no very amiable
temper ; the other was keeping guard within, the same whom
Paul had styled “Slapy Jim,” from the great attention he
paid to his slumbers.

Sleepy Jim was now enjoying the effects of the opiate
which Paul had previously administered, and the old arch
loudly echoed with his nasal music. A dim lamp, suspended
from the intrados of the arch, threw its feeble light over the
damp walls and whole interior, disclosing the cell doors, on
vach of which was a large number, and showing the heavy
form of the sleeping sentry stretched on the brick floor, with
his musket by his side, and a large bunch of heavy antique-
looking keys at his girdle.

The little party had gradually approached the building by

 
PATRICK AND THE SENTINEL. 85

Dock street, until fairly up to it, where an angle of the wall
served to hide them from the sentry pacing outside.

“Och, murther, but if St. Pathrick wud ownly pit his
blissin’ upon us an’ douse the moon,” muttered Paul, “ thin
the gallant would be safe enough.”

Lowe whispered some instruction to Paul, which resulted
in his retracing the way along Dock street, for the distance
of a hundred yards, carefully creeping along the shade of the
_ buildings, till, having gained the desired situation, and watch-
ing an opportunity when the sentry was pacing from him, he
boldly sallied out to the middle of the street, and commenced
humming an air. Louder and louder grew Paul’s song as he
gradually approached the sentry with the air of a drunken
man, till “ Saint Patrick’s day in the morning” echoed loud
and long through the lonely street. Elvellynne cvuld not
suppress a smile, and the Admiral, in a whisper, expressed his
fears lest the inner sentry should be awakened by Paul’s
noisterous and unrelenting melody.

On he came, enumerating at the top of his lungs the good
deeds of the blissid Saint Pathrick, till admonished by
‘Spiteful Jo” to cease his noise. The drunken Irishman, in-
sensed at having his national melody interrupted, straight-
way began to revile the sentry with interest.

“Ochone, ye dirty blackgyard; may the divil chowk ye,
bad looks to ye an’ the like o’ ye for intherruptin’ the song
of the blissid Saint Pathrick, and he too a blissin’ de craps
an’ de harvest.”

“Get along with you, you drunken Paddy,” retorted the
sentry, “or I'll clap you under the arch here.” ;

“ Faix, an’ it’s that same that you cudn’t do. Hout tout,
ye're a dirty baste, Misthur Sentry, an’ so ye are, ye spiteful
divil,” returned Paul, in hopes to allure the sentry from his
post, and thus give the Admiral an opportunity of slipping
from his hiding-place under the arch. But, the sentry was
not thus easily to be beguiled, and obstinately persisted in
keeping his post, notwithstanding all the revilings of Paul
The Admiral saw the dilemma, and feared lest, through the
obstinacy or phlegmatic disposition of the soldier, the whole
plot would be marred.

But, the quick-witted Irishman was not at all at a loss

 
THE BRIGANTINE.

After brandishing his shillelah, and den.anding satisfaction of
the sentry for the insult received, he reeled along toward the
building, from behind an angle of which, directly opposite to
the side where Elyellynne and the Admiral were ensconced,
he commenced most manfully to pebble the sentry into some
kind of life, all the while interlarding his pebbly shower wth
some such phrases as the following—‘ Ah, ha! take that, ye
dirty divil, rust yer owld bownes.” And then, when a suc-
cessful shot would ring on the soldiex’s steel cap— Hughk,
ye spalpane, how does that sit on yer bit nob?” By. a suc-
cession. of successful throws, the sentry was at last whipped
up toastate of anger, and leaving his post, rushed at the
patriotic Irishman, who was peeping from behind the wall,
and ever and anon letting fly a specimen of “ ground apples.”

But, the brave Paddy was not inclined to stand against a
fixed bayonet ; with a drunken reel he started off, at the same
time accosting the soldier with: “ Arrah, my hinney, but jist
lay down yer baggonet, and try a bout at stick wid me, and
Patrick O’Doolen’s yer man,”

The sentry, however, was not at all inclined to comply with
the enemy’s request, but, determining to avail himself of the
“chance of war,’ followed up in hot pursuit after the Ivrish-
man, who was constantly running against posts and tumbling
over and oyer, all the while taking good care to keep a re-
spectabl distance between himself and the enraged soldier.

The Admiral, having repeated to Elvellynne her instruc-
tions, slipped round the angle of the building, under the axch. .
Here he found “Sleepy Jim” enjoying the sweets of repose,-
not at all disturbed by the din without. Stooping, the Ad-.
miral took from his girdle the bunch of keys, and proceeded
to the door marked as number ten. It was far back in the
yault, and at some distance from the sentries. After trying
two or three keys, he at last introduced: one which turned
harshly in the lock, and the door swung slowly open. Ona
rude pallet, in the corner, lay the object of his search, as
calmly sleeping as if in the cabin of his own ship. His
clothes, with the exception of his coat, had not been doffed,
which, together with his cocked-hat, was deposited carefully in
one corner.

The sentry, after chasing Paul without success, and finding

 
A DESPERATE UNDERTAKING. 87

that he could not come up with the light-footed marauder,
abandoned the pursuit as useless, and with a chopfallen coun-
tenance returned to his post.

Elvellynne trembled as she saw the soldier once more
pacing before the vault. She had just seen how difficult it
had been to lure him from his post, and feared lest the second
attempt, which she herself was to make, should be a total fail
ure. The maiden’s heart trembled within her at thought of
the dreadful to-morrow, if such should be the event; still, she
relied strongly upon the resources of that wonderful man
who already had gained an unaccountable influence over her

There was suflicient light through the chink of a window
to allow the Admiral to discern objects around the cell
Placing his hand on the prisoner’s breast, Vincent opened hig
eyes. t
“ Hist, hist,” said Lowe, “or we are lost! Get up and fol
low me, and you will escape the death which awaits you.”

To his utter astonishment, Vincent refused to avail himself
of the proffered opportunity to escape, but resolutely deter
mined to abide by the decision of the morrow’s investigation
relying upon his honorable intentions for coming into the
city, and asserting that, on a second trial, he could convince
the court of the same, and thus be honorably discharged from
an imprisonment which he felt convinced had been the result,
of misconception.

“No, no, old man,” continued the young Englishman
“whoever you are, [thank you for your kindness and zeal.
but can not honorably avail myself of this opportunity, which
must have been the result of much forethought and artifice
to enable you to gain peaceable access to a place so well
guarded as this.”

“Not avail yourself!” repeated the Admiral, disconceried
at the young officer’s resolution; “why you may as well at
tempt to convince a nor’-wester as the court. “ But come,
young man,” said the Admiral, sternly, “this is no time or
place for jesting ; if you value your life a straw, you will fol-
low me and thank Elvellynne Montford for your escape.”

So saying the old man turned, as if about to leave the apart-
ment, when he was called back by Vincent. Thinking it was
® consent to leave the prison, Lowe gaye the preconcorted

‘a ie ‘

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

38 THE BRIGANTINE,

signal, (a cough,) to let his confederates without under-
stand that it was time for them to commence their parts. At
the signal Elvellynne, with an effort, summoned all her re-
solution, and, “tracking back,” as Paul had done before, she
walked deliberately down the street, and passed before the
sentry.

Paul, in the mean time, had crept up very close to the
scene, and lay behind an old timber-head, watching for El-
vellynne’s appearance. No sooner did he see her, than, leay-
ing his place of concealment, the pseudo-drunken Irishman
reeled along up, and commenced a course of gallantries,

which the damsel not at all relishing, applied to the sentry to -

put a stop to.

“ Aha! you Irish thief, are you there again ?” said “ Spiteful
Joe,” leaving his post at once to go to the relief of the dis-
tressed damsel.

“ Arrah, an’ it’s that same I am, you Dutch divil,” re-
sponded Paulus Spleutcher, at the same time taking Elvel-
lynne up in his arms, and making off with her out of sight
of the vault. The guard, as was expected, followed, and
gained so fast upon Paul that he was obliged to drop his
burden and run, the sentry all the while pursuing.

Another succession of falls, tumbles, and lap-wing ex-

pedients again lured the sentry further than before from his _

post, and quite round behind the building, where, to beguile
him, Paul commenced another series of blackguardism.

The Admiral cautiously looked out, and secing that the
sentry was gone, again pressed Vincent to follow. ‘There is
no time to be lost,” continued he; “perhaps while we are
now dallying, the opportunity may be lost.”

“Old man,” said Vincent, “I can not, and will not go!—
but do you make good your retreat, while you may. If, if,”
and his yoice slightly faltered as the possibility suggested it-
self to him, “if I should not be able to conyince the court,
and should be sentenced to die the death of a spy, tell El-
yellynne Montford that Charles Vincent’s last breath was
spent in prayer for her, and give her this ring.”

It was a moment of suspense, but not of long duration,
with such a man as Ephraim Lowe. With the arm of a
giant, he raised the young man from his pallet, as if he had

   

 

 

 
   
   

—p__—_+—¢}

 

    

THE POWER OF A NAME. 39

been a child, and left the cell. The door was closed and
locked after him, and in another moment the powerful frame
of the Admiral was stooping over the sleeping sentry, to
deposit the keys. A pistol from his bosom fell upon the
sleeper, as the old man was stooping down to restore the
keys, and awakened him.

“ Who goes there ?” cried the sentry, mechanically, starting
up and attempting to seize his musket, but the Admiral’s
foot was upon it, and he replied, drawing another pistol from
his bosom :

“T go here; Ephraim Lowe! and a word of alarm from
you will be your death-signal. Follow me!” said he, sternly,
presenting the pistol to the sentry’s head. The talismanic
name thrilled through the bosom of Vincent, and struck the
astonished sentry at once dumb. Vincent, without any re-
sistance, gave himself up to the guidance of this extraor-
dinary man, and “ Sleepy Jim” followed in silence.

The name of Lowe was one which had become truly ter-
rible within a very few years, in these waters, and was hardly
mentioned by the common ignorant people, save in a whisper,
and then with a shudder. The nurses used the name to
frighten their respective charges into docility ; the slaves were
terrified into obedience and tractability at the very sound of
the dreaded cognomen “ mighty Ephraim ;” all classes united
jin fear and hate of this uncommon man, concerning whom so
little was really known. Had the citizen, when passing the
fine-looking old man on the trottoir, been told that he was
that dreaded and notable pirate, the burgher would probably
have leaped into the canal. Every thing that was dreadful and
terrible had been associated with his name; and yet, the old
man was so little known, as to be a frequent visitor at the
city, roaming all over, even within the very walls of the fort.
Half of the wealth of the city would have been willingly
given for the pirate’s head, and yet the little city had never
been the subject of his persecution, but rather of his kind-
ness. But the notoriety was his, and such is the power of
‘association and fear, that he was believed to be, by many,
nothing short of Old Nick himself,

Proceeding in silence, the three men issued from beneath
the arch, and swiftly passed along by the same path our little
  

 

THE BRIGANTINE,

party had a short time before traversed. The Admiral led
the way, keeping “Sleepy Jim” before him, more dead than
alive, while Vincent followed.

It seems the fate of mortals to be thwarted by the presence
of crowds when they would most wish to be alone. It was
so in the present case; for when nearly up to the bridge,
under which the Admiral had ordered Jacques to lie with the
boat, the measured tread of the patrol going the rounds was
heard, and the fugitives were forced to screen themselves be-
hind some old casks, which fortunately offered a kindly
shelter.

“ Stoop low and be silent,” said the Admiral, addressing his
captive, and holding a pistol to his head, while poor James the
Sleepy cowered down in fear and trembling. The patrol
passed, and was soon out of sight, when the little party again
moved on.

“ Now,” said the Admiral, as they approached the bridge,
“now we are safe. Captain Vincent, I will thank you to
stand guard over this wakeful sentry, for a moment, while
I go down.”

So saying, the Admiral descended the steep bank which led
down to the canal, and when low enough to look under the
bridge, saw that all was clear; but, no boat was there! An
exclamation of surprise at first escaped him, and the thought
that Paul-might have betrayed him flashed across his mind.
But no; he knew Paul too well—had known him from in-
fancy, and never had found him guilty of a base thing. He
ascended the bank again to rejoin his “eonvoy.” Surprise
upon surprise—they, too, had vanished !

“ Foolish boy !” muttered the old man, as the suspicion
presented itself to him that Vincent had voluntarily returned.
to the prison-house; “he knows his fate. Hah! yonder,
even now, by the gleaming moon, I can see the half-finished
gallows that the workmen were raising to-day, looming up
against the silver sky, and polluting the free air of heaven
with its hated form. And what, what will become of her,
who has based all her hopes upon him! Silly, silly boy ! to
run back to the trap from which he had been rescued. But,
he must not and shall not die; and perhaps even now I may
overtake him,” said the old man, energetically.

   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
   
         
   
   
  

 

pe scree

 

    

THE ASSUMED QUAKER. 41

The patrol, having finished the rounds, and again on its way
back to the barracks near to the fort, dashed round a corner,
into the street, within ten feet of where Lowe was standing.
To move would have been inevitable detection, and the old
man drew himself close up against the wall of the building,
relying upon the hurry of the soldiers to get back to the beds
they had left, as his only chance of escaping observation.
They dashed by, thundering over the bridge till beyond hear
ing, and the Admiral was just congratulating himself upon
his fortunate escape, when a heavy hand was laid upon his
shoulder, and a voice at his ear said: “Englishman, you are
my prisoner.” He turned, and the Schout (or sheriff) stood
beside him.

“But what if I will not go with thee,” pleasantly suggested
Lowe, assuming the calm forbearing and language of the
Friends, who were then driven hither and thither, and per-*
secuted to the death; “thou wouldst not, being a man of
war and might, push me even unto the detaining me from 9
lawful calling ?”

“ Halloa, ter tuyvel!” exclaimed the Schout, “what have
we here? a~poor driveling Quaker; perhaps Edmundson, or
even George Fox himself?” and giving the supposed Quaker
a buffet or push, the Schout left him, and betook himself on
his way in search of the real Englishman, who he little
dreamed was the man then before him, personifying the Qua-
ker. d

The Schout, however, had not gone far on his journey
when a heavy hand was in turn laid upon his shoulder, and
the Quaker was at his side.

“Friend,” said he, “though I may be even as thou sayest,
one Edmundson, or a certain George Fox, yet will I not suffer
the indignity thou hast just offered me, without complaint.”

“ Hoof! you won't, eh!” said the Schout; “well, then, Pl
give you something to drivel about ;” and drawing his hand
back, he struck Lowe with the open palm across the face.
“There! friend Quaker, take that for your supper, and next
text, saying, ‘He smote them with a rod of iron’”

“Verily,” replied Lowe, “TI shall neither take that for my
text, nor shall I sup on the blow which thee has dealt me,
being a peaceable man and unable to return thee the same

   
  

 

 

THE BRIGANTINE,

coin, which showeth thee to be one of little valor in striking
a man of peace; but, lest thy unruly temper and vverflowing
courage should lead thee into some fracas, meeting with one
who will return the knocks for knocks, whereby thou mightst
be worsted, and peradventure sorely smitten in the combat, I
will even, friend, (his hand was on the Schout’s throat with
an iron grasp,) bind thy cowardly arms for thee and ‘ clap’ a
comfortable ‘ stopper’ upon thy mouth, lest peradyenture thee
takes cold in the night air.”

The struggling Schout made an effort to free himself from
the Friend’s grasp, but, a deadly clutch was upon his throat,
which prevented noise and soon terminated the contest. Re-
leasing his hold, when the Schout ceased to move, the un-
fortunate man fell heavily over, when Lowe, drawing a cord
from his pocket, and placing a knee upon his back, fastened

‘the hands behind with a tight knot, then taking a hankerchief

from his pocket, he put an effectual gag in the poor fellow’s
mouth, but not before some returning signs of life evinced
that his prisoner was not really dead.

Rolling him over where he would not be discovered till the
morning, he left him with the parting admonition: “ Friend,
when thee next meets one of my friendly calling, before thee
attempts to molest him, first ask if peradventure his name be
not Ephraim Lowe.” Thus saying he turned toward the
Stadt Huys, when a new difficulty sprung up in the shape of
three men, who appeared at a little distance to be watching
his movements.

“ Pish !” impatiently exclaimed the Admiral, dropping to
the ground for concealment, “these sleepy Mynheers appear
to be all abroad to-night, instead of snoring away by the side
of their ‘goede vroeuws, and dreaming about long pipes and
Virginia tobacco. But, the devils have seen me and are com-

‘ing this way, so I may as well meet them.”

The three persons now carefully approached the spot where
Lowe was standing, until so near, that he easily recognized
the form of Paul Spleutcher. “Ha! muttered the Admiral,
fiercely, “the hound has betr&yed me, and is putting them on
the scent, but he should have brought more than two, to take
Ephraim Lowe.” By this time the whole party had ap-
proached so near as to be perfectly distinguishable, when,

 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   
   
MEETING OF THE FUGITIVES. 48

instead of two myrmidons of the law, as he had supposed,
the old man saw with joy, Vincent and the captive sentry.

“Flooch! yer honor,” said Paul, cutting a very unphil-
osophical capriole in the air, “I was afraid lest them diyvils
patrowls had nabbed ye, and was jist recoitering to pursaye,
so I was.”

“ Ah, Paul,” replied the Admiral, “I have been doing you
a great injustice, for I feared you had been playing oe
but, how has this happened ?”

While they again proceeded, but now in the direction of
Dame Bonny’s, Paul related to the Admiral, how he had seen
the patrol returning toward the fort, and fearing lest they
should suddenly come upon the fugitives, he had run with
great speed by a by-way to warn them of their danger, but
had no time to go under the bridge and admonish him, which
explained why, when Lowe again ascended the bank, he
found his party had vanished ; “ but,” concluded Paul, having
finished his relation, “as to being a traitor, Paul Spleutcher
niver was iducated to it.”.

“No, Paul,” replied his auditor, “ you are ‘as honest ‘as the
day is long’ ”

The little party were now wending their way along the
Here-Graft, when, from a jutting angle of the buildings, where
she had been deposited for safety by Paul, stepped forth El-
vellynne. In a moment more she was in: we shall not
say, gentle reader, where she was, but a loud smack, ringing
fairly along the ¢rottoi, told the Admiral, who was leading,
that the lovers were not very far apart.

Love is a strange thing, a very strange thing, gentle reader,
and very like unto a pumpkin, which rolling down a hill,
doth not know that it gathers velocity but to its own ruin,
and will smash, notwithstanding Mr. Webster’s authority to the
contrary, against the rock at the bottom. It was so in the
present instance; for no sooner did Elvellynne make her ap-
pearance, than “Sleepy Jim” made his disappearance, not
haying one to guide his way; for Vincent, who had held
guard over him, had eyes but for one; and, had it not been
for Paul, the captive would probably have escaped. How-
ever, Paul seized him in the very act, as he had really, upon
deliberation, concluded that the present was a favorable time

 

 
 

 

 

    

44 THE BRIGANTINE.

for him to make an honorable retreat; and was fairly pulling
out his pipe preparatory to taking that step. A few steps
brought them to Dame Bonny’s, where, to the Admiral’s sur-
prise, nothing was to be seen of his boat, which should have
been at the bridge below.

CHAPTER VY.
THE HOOFD SCHOUT.

Tr was now nearly daylight, as the few first glimmering
streaks in the east announced; and the Admiral, with a hasty

step, entered the Dame’s to ascertain, if possible, any thing -
Pp iY 2

about the absent boat. A few sturdy strokes soon brought
the Dame bustling into the tap-room, light in hand, “ benight
gowned,” and “ benightcapped.” ;

“ Hist, hist, for the love of God, hist, Admiral, if you would
not have the rascals upon you,” said she, raising her finger.

“Why, what is the matter, Dame ?”

“Matter enough! If you be not sparing of such thumps
as you just gave, you will have the Hoofd Schout with his
whole gang, who are waiting without, upon you,”

This was startling intelligence.

“But the boat, Dame?’ composedly asked Lowe, “ the
boat and Jacques? Do you know any thing of them? They
have failed us now, when we should be beyond the south end
of Long Island.”

“They've got your boat, Admiral, and poor Jacques, too,
who fought like a tiger, with all the crew,’ answered the
Dame.

“Taken my boat!” repeated the Admiral ; “ who has taken
my boat ?”

“Why, the Hoofd Schout and his gang, and they are now
waiting outside, watching for you.”

Here the Dame briefly related to the Admiral, that, shortly
after he left with Elvellynne and Paul, and before Jacques
had started, while about getting the men in the boat, the

 

 

ee

&
  

    

THE SIEGE OF AN ALE-HOUSE. 45

Hoofd Schout, with a dozen soldiers, had made his appearance,
and seized upon the launch, together with the men, as they
were about embarking.

“Ooch, oogh! ’twas thim same spalpanes that we see’d pass
as we were lyin’ in the crook of the fence,” interrupted Paul.

A great noise was now made about the door, as if people
were endeavoring to force it.

“Tt is the Hoofd Schout,” muttered the Dame, “ with a half
score of soldiers at his back.”

The Admiral walked softly toward the door, and having
seen that it was well barred, requested the Dame to stand by
it for a few moments, and if perchance the bar should be
raised, to replace it, while he, with Paul, Vincent, and Elvel-
lynne, retired into the little room where we first saw him, and
which adjoined the one now besieged, but directly on the
other side of the house. Here, without any words, Lowe
stripped from Vincent his uniform and silk stockings, and,
taking from the wall an old coat, leather breeches, pair of
blue worsted stockings, broad-brimmed Dutch hat, and clogs,
bade him put them on with all haste; which being done, he
gaye a few brief directions to Paul, and desired Captain Vin-
cent to follow him out of the house; and, when once out, te
run for the market-place, and mix with the crowd, whick
would be pretty dense at this hour of the morning, with peo-!
ple of all descriptions, from the country and farms outside,
bringing in their poultry and produce. At the same time he
warned the Captain, if separated from Paul, to return to the’
Dame's by nightfall, if he could do so with safety. Taking
his way through the back part of the house, followed by Vin-
cent, who was now not only willing but anxious to escape,
Paul descended to the cellar below, and pulling away two or
three old boards, disclosed a small window looking out on the
Here-Graft. Through this he crept, followed by his comrade,
and, without discovery, emerged into the public street. A few
minutes brought them to the market-place, where, without
discovery, they mingled with the crowd.

Meanwhile the Admiral was not idle. The Dame had kept
the door good till the fugitives were clear, when she resigned
her post to the Admiral, which scarcely had she done than a
sudden pressure forced the frail barricade, and disclosed to the

 
THE BRIGANTINE,

pirate the whole gang of besiegers. With a wave of hig
hand he kept them back for a moment, when the cry of:
“There he is—there he is, there’s the English spy! Seize
him—seize him !” was raised, and a rush was made forward.

The old man stepped out on the little stoop, and, finding
that force was the only argument likely to be listened to, he
very deliberately took each one as he advanced by the collar
of the coat, and lifted him over the low railing which guarded
either side.

At this juncture a great clattering of feet and ringing of
arms attracted the attention of both besiegers and besieged,
When round the corner of the Here-Graft came bounding a
man, his clothes tattered and rent, his mouth foaming, and
tongue lolling with fatigue, and his person here and there
bespattered with blood, and bearing the marks of a severe
fray. At his heels followed two of the soldiery with lowered
muskets and fixed bayonets. Panting and almost exhausted
with fatigue, the pursued man made straight for Dame Bonny’s
little stoop, around which was collected the band we have al-
ready seen, and, with a fierce bound passed through the
astonished assailants, and stood by the Admiral. It was
Jacques. He slipped within the apartment; and, before the
crowd had recovered their astonishment, and while they were
listening to the recital of the two soldiers, the Admiral also
stepped within and quietly closed the door. Taking a glass
of good strong Hollands, which was administered by the
Dame’s own hand, and having recovered breath, Jacques
briefly related to the Admiral, who was standing with his
back braced against the door by way of a bar, his capture by
the Hoofd Schout, and subsequent escape.

It appeared from his disclosure, that, afler their capture, he,
with the three other seamen, were marched to the barracks
under a guard, while the boat was taken to the fort and secured.
When arrived at the barracks, they were placed under a guard
of only two soldiers, (the same we have just seen,) till the
Governor should rise in the morning, when they were to be
conducted. before him as suspected spies. “ Seeing as how,”
continued Jacques, “the sojers was but two, and we four, we
made a rush at them, tumbled them over, and then made sail.
Long Bill, Tom, and Mike jumped into a country craft that

   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

od
   

    

TO THE RUM-HOLE. 4y

lay alongside, and shoving off got up sail, and stood across
the harbor; while the sojers headed me up so close, that I
could not weather ’em, and so bore away for the Dame’s.”

“Well, Jacques, you have done bravely; but, where do
you think Bill and the rest are ?”

“Aboard the Merry Christmas, sir, by this time, for they
had a fine slant of wind,” replied Jacques.

A cry was heard from the adjoining room, where Elvel-
ynne had been left to stand guard over Sleepy Jim. The
Admiral jumped from his station, which was immediately oc-
cupied by Jacques, and rushed to the room. The sentry was
standing in the center of the floor, with the pistol, which, in
an unguarded moment he had wrested from Elvellynne, and
which he presented to the Admiral as he entered. “Stand,
sir spy,” said he, “or I fire.’ The old man resolutely ad-
yanced ; “ Sleepy Jim ” leveled the weapon and fired, but the
hand of Elvellynne struck up the arm, and the ball passed
harmlessly over his head, lodging in the ceiling beyond.

“Well done, my brave girl, well done!” shouted the Ad-
miral, “you are worthy of your lineage.”

Sleepy Jim was now effectually secured with cords, and the
Admiral hurried to the assistance of Jacques, who could not
much Jonger hold out against the “ sojers.”

In this emergency the Dame cried out: “The rum-hole!
Admiral, to the rum-hole ! while I keep the door.”

“Wa! you have it, Dame,” said the old man, who was then
turning over his resources for some loop-hole of escape—* you
have it! and calling Elyellynne, with Jacques, he disap-
peared by the same passage which Paul had taken.

Meanwhile the Dame commenced a parley with those out-
side. “Good people,” said she, “why do you molest alone ,
woman at this hour of the day ?”

“We want the spy, the Englishman,” roared the crowd.

“There is no spy here, Mynheer Hoofd Schout,” returned
she, “but if you mean those who were but just here, they are
passed out by a window into the Here-Graft.”

This the Dame knew to be a thumper, but she thought
that the emergency warranted this little deviation from truth,
and would give the Admiral full time to get bey md pursuit.
With a whoop and halloo, the assailants all left the door, and
 

 

 

THE BRIGANTINE.

ran around the house; but here no spies were to be seen.
Enraged they returned, and demanded of the Dame why she
had misled them, and commanded her to unbar the door.

“T tell you, they are gone by the window,” reiterated the
Dame; “but, if you will not give me credit, let me but have
time to don such raiment as it is beseeming alone woman
like me should wear, and not appear in this undress, which

our violence caused me to come forth from my bed in.”

The mob assented, and the Dame, hastily throwing a loose
gown over her shoulders, again returned and unbarred the
door. The soldiers rushed in, and fell to ransacking the
house, in which search they found their captive comrade lying
bound in the little room.

Acting upon the Dame’s suggestion, the Admiral led Elvel-
lynne and Jacques through the inner apartments of the
house, and descended a stairway to the cellar below. The
rum-hole, which the Dame had mentioned, was a secret pas-
sage, or small vault, constructed in bygone years, and used by
the smugglers to conceal their goods, arms, and naval stores.
The entrance to it was by means of a large flat stone, so set
in the stone wall of the cellar as to appear to be a “ part and
parcel” of it. This stone turned upon a large pivot, and
could only be opened by a spring, which was directly on the
opposite side of the cellar. It was many years since the Ad-
miral had visited this recess, and he had forgotten the exact
spot where the spring which could give him entrance was to
be found. Searching round the halflighted cellar, he tried
twenty different spots, but without success: and when the
soldiery had entered the house, he had not yet found it. The
noise of feet was becoming more and more distinct, and the
Admiral, seizing a heavy stick, was preparing to dispute the
stairway, if any one should try it, when Jacques, more fortu-
nate than his commander, in trying various places, at length
hit upon the right spot, and the heavy stone door flew open
with a loud crack.

Entering the passage, they closed after them the door, and a
hundred yards brought them to a short flight of stone steps,
which, having descended, the Admiral struck a light, and ap-
plied the blaze to a lamp standing on the table, which lamp
probably had not been lit in a long series of years, but which

 
 

wo

  
“so

SEARCH OF THE PREMISES. 49

always was left where he had found it, with a can of oil by
its side, ready to be used in any emergency like the present.

The feeble light disclosed a small apartment shut in by stone
walls and piled up on either side with barrels, pipes, and
hogsheads. In the center stood a table on which was the
lamp, and around the table some deal benches. From one of
the barrels Jacques drew some Hollands, and bathed the
wounds which he had received from the soldiers’ bayonets,
one of which, in the shoulder, was quite severe, and bled
profusely, The poor fellow was in great agony, and Elvyel-
lynne, with a slight knowledge of those matters, though little
used to the sight of blood, undertook to relieve him. With
her scarf she stanched the wound, and soon bound it up very
comfortably in a handkerchief. The poor fellow was quite
relieved, and thanked her, in his rude though honest speech,
with a grateful heart. :

The soldiery, after searching the upper part of the house,
descended to the cellar a few seconds after the fugitives had
discovered the obstinate spring. Finding nothing there but
casks of good Hollands, they again ascended to the tap-room,
where was Dame Bonny dealing out her liquors, to no less a
personage than the burly Hoofd Schout himself, who was con-
versing with “Sleepy Jim” about the occurrences of the
night. “Sleepy Jim” related the adventure of the fort, and
also, that the man who had rescued the prisoner called him
self Ephraim ‘Lowe.

“Pooh, pooh!” said the Hoofd Schout, with a self-satisfied
air, at the same time sipping a little of the Dame’s renowned
Hollands, and smacking his lips with much gusto, “ that re-
nowned pirate and freebooter knows too much to thrust him
self in such a trap: but, ‘by the great boot, this Hollands is
of good stuff, and opportunely come by.”

“ Ah, yes, sir,” languidly replied the woman, not under-
standing her worthy customer’s meaning, “honestly enough
come by; but, the excises are so yery high that a poor lone
woman, like myself, can hardly make an honest penny now.”

The burly magistrate shrugged his plump shoulders, and
looked at the Dame with the self-conceited look of small peo-
ple, as much as to say, “I know, Dame, all about it,” but

made no reply, other than by thrusting forward his glass, to

 
 

 

50 THE BRIGANTINE.

be replenished, and turning to “ Sleepy Jim,” laughed at him
for believing that Ephraim Lowe, for whose head a large re-
ward was offered, had been so foolish as to thrust himself
within the city walls. “No, no,” continued this “little
great” personage, “ Ephraim Lowe knows me, Bartus Spoot-
urken, too well to put himself within my reach, for I should
yab him within a half-hour of his landing.”

The reader may infer that Mynheer Bartus Spooturken was
an exceedingly valiant man; but, on the contrary, while ut-
tering the above sonorous bravado, this worthy limb of the
law was inwardly turning over in his mind how he might
best excuse himself from the duties of his post, in case that
notable pirate should chance to come within the city, and
where he might best bestow himself to be beyond the reach
of that terrible royer’s arm. He generally found some ex-
cuse for dallying behind in any dangerous enterprise, leaving
his men to bear the brunt of the battle, but always coming
in about the time that any fracas was oyer, and the prisoners
secured, to claim the lion’s share of booty and renown. But
the valiant magistrate really did a very “ good. turn,” inas-
much as he laughed Sleepy Jim out of his belief that Ephraim
Lowe was in the city, for, had it been breathed, had such a
suspicion been yelped by the vilest cur in the street, there
would have been such a rigorous search set afoot, that no
corner or cranny could have concealed the daring adventurer.
Sleepy Jim, laughed at and ridiculed by his superiors and in-
feriors, for saying that he had the honor of standing face to
face with rover, after a little while was whipped into the
belief that it was alla dream, and so sat him down, drew
out his pipe, and resolved to forget the whole matter.

After a fruitless search, the soldiery left the house, and once
more Dame Bonny’s little hostelry was tranquil.

  

  
oo

   

    

SHE CITY IN COMMOTION.

CHAPTER YT.
THE DOUBLE FLIGHT.

THe sun was well up in the eastern board, when Peter and
Augustus, the two slayes with whom our story opened, again
were engaged before Alderman Von Brooter’ s house, sweeping
tho trotiow.

“ Gosh, uncle ’Guss,” said black Peter, “ what a debble fuss ;
here Missey Evvy gone, Cap’n Vinsunt in prison, and gwyin’

be hanged, as Massa says, and Massa Allerman hesef mos’
crazy—gosh, uncle ’Guss, wat you tinks bout um ?”

It was indeed as black Peter had stated, for the Alderman
was very much troubled about the disappearance of his ward.
She had entered his house mysteriously, and had as strangely
disappeared. One after another the household domestics were
summoned and catechized, but none, not even her tire-woman,
knew any thing about her departure or where she was to be
found. Atlength, wearied with inquiries, the Alderman sallied
forth for the prison-house, thinking it possible that in her
grief and overwrought state of mind, Elvellynne might have
sought access to the prisoner. The kind-hearted burgher’s
countenance lighted up with a faint smile at the thought, and
with renewed energy he bent his way to the Stadt Huys.

Here, however, he gained no information, save that the
prisoner had escaped, and the devil flown away with “ Sleepy
Jim.” rifling, however, as it might seem, the honest man
at once drew a good augury from it, connecting, somehow or
other, Captain Vincent’s escape with Elvellynne’s disap-
pearance, and surmising that the maiden had a hand in the
prisoner’s abduction.

When the court met at nine o’clock, to ae sentence of
death on the spy, he was gone! a

The day passed over in great commotion, as a report had
been circulated that a British fleet was outside, waiting below
for a fair wind to come up and bombard the city. This re-
port originated in the exaggerated story of some fishermen,
who had seen two vessels, the Greyhound and Merry Christmas,
 

THE BRIGANTINE.

at anchor, but not within sight of each other. At last the
’ day wore away, and no British were to be seen, so the quiet
burghers very pleasantly laid by the old muskets which they
had shouldered all day, strutting up and down, like so many
penguins, and betook themselves to the never-failing pipes, sit-
ting on their pleasant little “ stoopes,” and conversing across
the way; one recounting to his neighbor how many of the
British he would have killed, if they had come! while his au-
ditor listened, in astonishment, at the recital of his neighbor’s
valor. At length night once more assumed her sway.

Dame Bonny’s little tap-room was crowded with its usual

complement of idlers, taking their quantum suffictt of Schnapps,
and discussing the stirring topics of the day. As the evening
deepened, one by one these dropped off, until, at the ringing
of the great bell of the fort, those who remained rose, en
masse, and turned toward home.

At a later hour, perhaps midnight, or a little after, two
figures were sitting in the little tap-room which the idlers had
vacated, and appeared much interested in’a conversation car-
ried on solely between themselves, in a low tone. One of
these was an elderly man, dressed in a uniform, and wearing
side-arms; the other wore the garb of a common sailor, which,
in some places, was much soiled and stained with blood. A
slight tapping at the door disturbed the colloquy, and both
jumped from their seats. The elderly man laid his hand on
the sword by his side, while he of the soiled garment crept
cautiously forward, to reconnoiter through the shutter. Satis-
fied with his inspection, the sailor opened the door, and the
new-comer appeared—it was Paulus Spleutcher, but he was
alone. The elderly man, whom the reader will readily recog-
nize as Admiral Lowe, at once addressed him

“Well, Paul, where is the young man ?”

“Oons, yer honor,” replied that worthy, “ an’ it’s not Pau-
lus Spleutcher can tell ye. The gallant left me about the
night-falling, and the divil a bit of him has Paul sane since,
yer honor.” The Admiral continued :

“But what has detained you so long, Paul? Why did you
not return before and tell me of this, when it might have been
possible to find the youth ?”

“Ah!” replied Paul, “ ye might haye sarched and sarched

   

    

~

AP winencpicge ie eeeapepeemmepte PN plane sci eT ae
  

=. ema

 

WAITING FOR VINCENT. 68

agin, but, if ye did not know the city betther than Paul, ye
wud niver have found the lad—for ain’t it Paul Spleutcher,
his own self, has been huntin’ since the sun-fall, and yet has
not laid eyes upon the same ?”

The Admiral could not divine what had become of Vincent,
Thinking over all the misfortunes which had befallen him, he
then sat down, determined to abide by the issue, and wait till
the approach of morning, at which time, if the Captain did not
return, he would leave the city with Hlvellynne, till the pres-
ent commotion was over, and then return with the possibility
of effecting something in the young officer’s behalf, which he
saw would, at present, be impracticable, as Paul had already
disclosed the unwelcome intelligence, that on account of the
rumors abroad, the guard had been increased and sentries
doubled all over the city. The old man at first feared lest
Vincent might have fallen in with some one of these strolling
parties and been recaptured; but then, he remembered the dis-
guise with which he himself had indued him, and smiled at
the thought of any one’s recognizing in the simple-looking
Dutch lad, the person of the dashing young officer. Paul re-
lated the incidents of the day, and was, in turn, gratified with
the recital of all that had occurred at the Dame’s, since his
fleparture in the morning. The three now sat down, and
passed two hours in planning, discussing, suggesting, reflect-
ing, and all those thousand minutie which present themselves
to minds laboring under the knowledge of immediate danger,
endeavoring to find some clue by which it may be either
avoided or diminished.

The Admiral looked at his repeater, and saw that it was
after three, and now really began to entertain some doubts
concerning the infallibility of the disguise on which he had a
little before placed so much reliance.

Another half-hour was passed in doubt, fear, and anxicty,
and still Vincent did not come. Determined to stand by the
young Englishman so long as was compatible with his own
safety, the Admiral yet delayed, and sent Paul out to find some
kind of a boat in which they might all embark and reach the
Merry Christmas, The Admiral impatiently paced up and
down the room, during Paul’s absence, every now and then
stopping to listen to the least sound, with the yague hope that

 

  
 

54 THE BRIGANTINE.

the loug-expected comer was at hand—hbut, disappointed, he
would again resume his exercise, with some exclamation de-
claratory of his impatience.

It was one of these cessations, when the Admiral was lis-
tening, and chiding Jacques for interrupting the silence with
a slight groan, elicited from the brave fellow by the excruciat-
ing torture of his wound, that a step was heard, and then a
tapping upon the door. Lowe jumped to the entrance and
threw it open, expecting to meet Vincent, but it was only Paul,
returned with an old rickety affair of a boat, which he had
picked up somewhere on the canal, and brought along to the
Dame’s landing. :

While standing at the door the Admiral heard a slight
plunge in the canal, and saw a dark object moving along on
the surface of the water. A moment after, the tall figure of
a man rose from the stream, and Vincent stood before him.
His clothes were sadly rent and nearly torn from his back, and
his whole appearance was that of a man who had received se-
vere handling. It. appeared that the Captain had been mista-
ken by some of the good townspeople for one of their own
countrymen, against whom they had a private grudge, and
had received that treatment which was intended for another.
The Admiral could not avoid smiling at his friend’s ludicrous
appearance, though he condoled with him, and was heartily
glad to receive him again safely, in whatever state he might
appear.

A few moments sufficed to apparel the Captain in his own
clothing which had been left in the morning; and Elyellynne,
who had been taking repose in the Dame’s own room, being
awakened, the little party sallied out to the boat. It was half
full of water and some little time was necessarily consumed
in bailing it out. At length they embarked. With a silent
oar the Admiral himself pulled the unwieldy craft down the
canal, while Paul, with an old board, steered. Jacques, who
was perfectly crippled by the wound in his shoulder, was sta-
tioned in the bow to keep a look-out, while Elvellynne and
her lover were seated on the after-thwart.

So much time had been consumed by the various crosses,
vexations, and delays, that it was now nearly daylight; still
the Admiral encouraged the hope that they might be able to

me
 

    

PASSING THE SENTRY. 55

pass the sentry, who was stationed near the bridge (at the foot
of the Here-Graft) under which the boat must pass, before
they could reach the open bay. The bridge was the same un-
der which his own boat was to have been, the night previous.
Silently they glided along, no one in the boat speaking, till
witbin sight of the above-mentioned bridge. The Admiral
turned around and descried the tall figure of the sentry lean-
ing against a post on the dock, his musket gleaming in the
last feeble glimmerings of the faint moon which was now giy-
ing way to the broader glare of day, already breaking. They
reached the bridge, passed under it, out at the other side, and
were already abreast of the soldier. The hearts of our little
party beat quickly at this crisis, and the old man would have
given ten years of his life for his own swift boat with Jacques
and her crew at the oars. They glided on, and already enter-
tained the hope that they had passed unperceiyved and were in
safety, when the soldier on the dock hailed: ‘

“Who goes there?”

There was no reply. Again he hailed. “Come back, or I
te.

The Admiral plied his strength with redoubled vigor, and
in so doing broke one of the oars in two. The soldier leveled
his musket and fired. Vincent threw himself before Elvellynne,
to ayert the danger from her form. The shot passed harm-
lessly on, burying in the water beyond, and the moment of
suspense was over. ‘The remaining oar was transferred to
the scull-lock, and the Admiral, placing a foot on either gun-
wale, applied his Herculean strength to force the unwieldy
fabric through the opposing element.

They steered for the Buttermilk Channel, between what
was then called Nutting Island (now Governor’s Island) and
Long Island. Already had they proceeded nearly half-way
across the harbor, when a Government boat, filled with sol-
diers, left the fort. As it gained rapidly upon tliem, the old
man discerned it astern, and bent to his task. The heavy
Dutch-modeled craft rolled and swashed about in the water,
but, urged by gigantic force, whizzed rapidly, with a sharp,
cutting noise, through the foaming liquid, with a velocity
which seemed sufficient to set all pursuit at defiance. But,
in spite of the old man’s exertions, and. Elyellynne’s prayers,

  
  

 

THE BRIGANTINE.

the pursuing boat now began to gain upon them. Still the
pirate cherished hopes, for he was perfectly acquainted with
the currents, and saw that the pursuers were laboring, through
ignorance, with a swift tide, which had already carried them
a little to leeward, and which was all lost way to them, while
he was floating swiftly along, with a race-horse current in his
favor. But, the odds in numbers and better complement of
oars more than made up the difference, while the rover saw
that the strenuous endeavors made on the part of the pursuers
must, ere long, bring them up with him. Still, with heroic
energy the old man swung his only oar in masterly style,
while the fugitives, even Elvellynne included, seconded his
exertions with what little assistance they could yield by pad-
dling with their hands. Buttermilk Channel was then never
traversed by boats, being nothing more than a salt-marsh,
very much resembling those setting into the land about Har-
lem, and a pole set on crotched sticks offered a means of
passage from one island to the other. This pole nearly
touched the water at flood-tide, but at ebb-tide was high above
it several feet. Though unknown to the good Dutchmen,
yet the Admiral was aware of a very deep channel in the
center, sufficiently deep to float a large vessel of moderately
light draught. For this passage he steered, and, as it was
rising water, he found that there was barely room underneath
the pole for tho boat to pass, while all crouched low in the
bottom. The pole, however, proved of some assistance, for
Jacques, with his sound arm, laid hold of it, and urged the
boat under, and Paul did the same. So hot was the pursuit,
and so anxious the pursued, that even such little trifles ap-
peared of moment.

Lowe looked back, hoping that the Government boat would
be so high out of water as to be unable to pass beneath the
crossing-pole. But no; on she came, and, by adopting the
expedient of crouching, passed under “all clear,” and soon
came up within a hundred feet of the chase. The hundred
feet were diminishec to fifty, the fifty to twenty-five, and, in
anothsr moment, the Schout lai¢ his hand on the flying boat.
He was the identical personage who had met Lowe gn the
night previous, and whom the royer had left on the dock
bound hand and foot, z

 
  
  
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
  
 
 
 
    
  
   
    
  
  

aba

aa

  
 

  

THE CHASH AND ESCAPE. 57

“Ha!” said the old man, smiling complacently, “ friend,
thee is a valiant man, but shouldst pot thrust thy hand into
another man’s pudding, lest thou gettest it burnt ;” so saying,
he placed the blade of his oar on the bow of the barge, and,
with a powerful shove, separated the two boats, sending his
own whizzing far ahead, at the same time that the barge, hay-
ing lost ner momentum, gathered stern-way. But, the tena-
cious Schout retaining his hold, was dragged along overboard,
and through the wake of the Admirals boat. The pirate,
remitting his toil for a moment, stooped and raised the wet
magistrate into his boat, while the soldiery in the barge, seeing
their leader’s misfortune and strange capture, set up a loud
shout of defiance, and again came on; but, ere they could
again come up, the Admiral rounded a high point of the island,
and the boat, shooting around the headland, glided into the
smooth water of a beautiful bay, disclosing to the young Eng-
lishman’s admiring eyes, the form of an elegantly-modeled
brigantine, gracefully floating at her anchor a few boats’ lengths
beyond. She was of about three hundred and thirty tons
burden, sharp bows, lean buttocks, and her copper about the
water-line shone with the luster of a burnished mirror, as the
rays of the rising sun fell upon it.

With the discerning eye of a seaman, Vincent scanned the
little vessel from truck to water-line, and so interested did he
become in gazing at the beautiful symmetry of her spars,
tapering off till their termination could scarcely be determ- °
ined, the lightness of her top-hamper and delicate tracery of
her cordage, scarcely defined against the opposite sky like the
gossamer web floating in the moist, sunlit air of a spring
morning, that he became entirely forgetful of their dangerous
situation, and insensible to the fact that their boat had become
motionless.

The old man had ceased his wearisome toil, and was wiping
the moisture from his brow, when the pursuing barge poked
her bow from behind the point, and shot swiftly ahead. Lowe
smiled with an appearance of great satisfaction, and, raising
his hands to his mouth, hailed the brig in a voice of thunder:

“Eh, ho! the Merry Christmas ahoy! Man the launch
and take that boat.” (

With the dispatch of a well-disciplined ship, the loud

 

  
 

 

 

THE BRIGANTINE,

whistle of the boatswain piped away the “ .aunches,” and a
large boat quickly shot out from the stern of the brig. No
sooner were the oars dropped, than she cut with gathering
velocity through the foaming waters and in the direction of
the unlucky barge. Too late the men in the Government
boat saw the trap into which they had been enticed, and, after
a faint attempt at flight, surrendered to the swift launch which
Was soon upon them.

The old man chuckled at. the turn of the tables so success:
fully, and, tapping the crestfallen Schout on the shoulder, at
the same time pointing to the brigantine, jocosely said:
“Friend Schout, that vessel yonder is verily the one apper-
taining unto me; how does thee like the cut of her jib?”

“ Der tuyyel!” muttered the affrighted Schout, “and you
are then really that terrible Ephraim Lowe !”

“ Verily, friend Schout, I am that much-slandered man,”
replied Lowe, “and ere the setting of this day’s sun, will have
thee swinging at the yard-arm yonder, unless, peradventure,
thou canst find amongst thy friends ashore the means to com-
pensate a peaceable man like myself for the blow thou didst
so unadyisedly deal me on the dock yesternight, and for the
trouble I have had with thee, inasmuch as, with thy vile crew
of armed men, thou hast but just put me to great bodily ex-
ertion. How does thee like the elevation ?” pleasantly con-
tinued the pirate, at the same time pointing to the fore-yard,
which was now directly overhead; “it is even nearer unto
heaven than thou mayest ever attain again.”

The affrighted Schout read in the rover’s flashing eye the
look of determination, and saw that there was no time to
jest or doubt, for his captor’s blood was up, from the exertion
he had made, and the red stream was pouring from one of his
chafed hands, showing that he had put to no common effort
that huge strength which had been the means of their deliv-
erance. ‘

“© Come, Sir Schout,” impatiently asked the old man, “ what
sayest thou? Can thee find ransom, or will thee dangle yon-
der, like a sheep-killing dog?”

The poor Schout at first could not answer; but, when on
the deck of the vessel a. halter was rove through the yard
arm, and one end was adjusted around his neck, while the

    

as

a

  
 

  

THE SCHOUT A PRISONER. 59

other was held by fifty stout fellows, ready to walk away
with it, he felt his dangerous proximity to another world.
Falling on his knees before the Admiral, while the big tears
coursed down his cheeks, he begged hard for that life which
the meanest and most abject of civilized mortals prizes so
highly.

“Not if the lives of all the States General were centered
in thy one pitiful neck,” answered the old man, still adhering
to the Quaker phraseology, would I abate one tittle, unless
thou canst obtain the sum which I shall name, and that, too,
before nightfall.”

“Speak quickly,” said he; “two thousand Ryders paid
down in good gold, and thou art free.”

The Schout was silent from fright, and the old man con-
struing his silence as a refusal to comply with his demand,
waved his hand as the signal to run him up.

At this moment the hand of Elvellynne was laid on the
pirate’s shoulder, and, with a tearful eye, though awed by
his fierce demeanor, the beautiful girl pleaded in behalf of
the unfortunate prisoner, and not without success. The stern
man’s countenance relaxed as he gazed on the lovely form
before him with a look of fondness; and, at a signal from
his hand, the half-dead Schout was released from his perilous
situation. The brig was got under way, and stood for the
city ; and, in another half-hour, the barge was dismissed,
with two of the captured soldiers, to demand of the Governor
the mentioned ransom. “ And tell Governor Colye,” shouted
the Admiral, as the boat had proceeded a littie distance, “ that
when he wants an interview with Ephraim Lowe, he must
send sailors, and not soldiers, to take him.”

The brig hove to, and in that situation remained to await
the return of the barge with the ransom-money. About noon
the boat was again seen on her return passage, with the Goy-
ernor’s secretary as purser. The bags of Ryders were hoisted
aboard, carefully counted, and one (beyond the sum required)
returned to the Schout, when, taking Elvellynne’s hand, the af-
frighted Schout, having attempted to return to her his grateful
thanks, descended the side with his whole gang; and, enter-
ing the barge, shoved off, no doubt glad enough to be fairly
clear of his peaceful friend, and resolved no more to’ molest

 

  
 

60 THE BRIGANTINE,

any of the fraternity, not even should George Fox himself en<
ter the settlement to “ prophesy.”

The brig filled away, once more, and stood for Vincent’s ship,
which was at a little distance, and which had been hid from
the Merry Christmas only by the jutting point of land. A
boat was lowered, and the rover himself stepped in to accom-
pany the captain to his vessel; but the young Englishman de-
murred, seeing that Elvellynne was to remain behind. She,
however, urged him to go, saying, “that every thing was for
the best,” and appeared to be calm and perfectly composed,
while his bosom was tossed with many conflicting emotions at
the mysterious separation, and her apparent composure.

“ Farewell,” said he, in a sorrowful tone, as he stepped over
the side; “and if, Elvellynne, we never meet more, remember
that the deed is yours and not mine, for this heart beats truly
and warmly for you, and ever will.”

She stood on the deck of the little vessel, and saw, through
the watery film which yet covered her beautiful eyes, the dim
forms of her lover and the Admiral ascending the sloop.
Even the rude men around her, so little accustomed to such
sights, were strangely moved, and offered the maiden their
rough commiserations, though little understanding the cause of
her grief. At length Paulus Spleutcher took her passive hand
with an air of almost reverence, and Jed her to the cabin.

Charles Vincent, though he could not understand the mys-
tery, yet formed the determination to rescue Elvellynne from
the bold pirate’s hands, and no sooner had the Admiral left
the Greyhound, than he ordered the anchor up, and all sail
made. ‘This was effected about the time that the Admiral
had once more reached his little vessel, and suspecting the

young man’s inténtions, he too made sail, and steered along’

the eastern side of Long Island in a northerly direction.

It soon became evident that the Greyhound was making
chase, for every sail that would draw was crowded on her, till
she became a towering mass of canvas. Still, it was useless,
for the Merry Christmas ranged rapidly ahead, gradually dimin
ishing in size, till at nightfall her last sail seemed to sink be-
neath the ocean.

With a heavy heart Vincent gave up the chase, and ordered
the ship “about” to her old anchorage, as if lingering around
 

BITTER MEDITATIONS, 61

the scene of misfortune would bring him some relief. Retir-
ing to the solitude of his cabin, the young man gaye himself
up to all the bitterness of despair and disappointed expecta-
tions. He thought of the stern but brave old man, who had
gained somehow such a mysterious influence over the object
of his solicitude, and he thought of that object, of Elvellynne
Montford, she who was to haye been his own—ay, he did, in
the bitterness and maddening goadings of his feelings, picture
her to himself as the pirate’s bride. But then he reflected,
why, if Elvellynne was his object, did he not leave him to suf-
fer that ignominious death, which would at once have rid him
of a rival.

Agitated by such conflicting thoughts, and endeavoring in
some way to account to himself for the proceedings so myste-
tious throughout, Vincent passed the night in sleeplessness,
pacing up and down the cabin. At length he formed the sud-
den and dangerous resolution to rescue his men, who were yet
in the prison-house. He ascended to the dock with a lighter
step, and gave orders preparatory to his contemplated enter-
prise.

The day passed, like all days of expectation, or “ hope de-
ferred,” with a sluggish pace. Still every moment wag taken
advantage of to accelerate and better the preparations neces-
sary for the hazardous undertaking. Captain Vincent, sum-
moning together his “ship’s company,” addressed them in a
few brief but pointed words. He stated, what was to them
before unknown, that he had been made a prisoner while
ashore, and had been rescued by a mysterious agency, while
the boat’s crew were left behind. He concluded by stating
that the poor fellows were to be hanged on the morrow, and
requested all who would volunteer to put themselves under
his guidance and rescue them, to step to the starboard side.
Without an exception, the whole crew of one hundred and
forty men stepped forward; and, as he could not take them
all, he selected forty from the number, and to them disclosed
his plan. All was at last complete, and only waiting the tardy
coming of the morrow to be put in operation.

 
 

  

“THE BRIGANTINE.

Claw eb Ves
AT THE TAP-ROOM.

Tr story rapidly spread about the town, and was bandied
from mouth to mouth, that the notable Ephraim Lowe had
been eyén within the city walls. The Schout was looked up-
on as a very celebrated personage after his adventure, and
thousands were the questions put to him by the inquiring citi
zens. He had first proceeded to the Governor on coming
ashore after the ransom-money was paid, relating his adventure,
together with his-renconter with the pirate on the night of the
‘prisoner’s escape from the prison.

It was now well established that Lowe had caused all the
mischief, planned and effected the Englishman’s escape, car-
ried off the Alderman’s ward, killed the watchman, (for the
poor fellow had actually died,) and, in short, had a hand in all
the mischief which had occurred in the little city of Nieuw
Orange since it was first founded by Schippers Adrian Blok
and Hendrick Christiaanse, a very striking likeness of whom
every family in the settlement boasted the possession, while
no two were at all alike. Indeed, we have seen thirty-two of
these said “ portraits,” and were not aware, until told by the
owner, a patriotic burgher, who still adheres to the goodly
customs of his forefathers, that they were the identical por-
traits of those renowned colonizers, taken, in olden days, from
life.

It may be easily imagined that Alderman Von Brooter, who
listened to all the gossip of the day, was by no means the
least interested in the reports so widely circulated. He knew
that his ward had been carried off, but he had heard of her,
within the half-hour of his gossip, as married, dead, buried,
alive again, strung up and quartered, and in short in all the
ways which “ it-is-said” (that liar who “ gathers as she goes ”)
could invent. The good burgher at once traced the clue ‘to
the labyrinth from which it originated, and was, ere long,
closely closeted with the Schout. From him he learned the
facts of Elyellynne’s abduction, and his worst fears for the

 

  
AN ELDERLY MAN, IN A GREAT-COAT. 68,

maiden’s welfare were more than realized. Still, the fact that
Captain Vincent was with her appeared to him a consolation.
Little did the good mian dream that while he was applying
this unction to his soul, he was already separated far from her!
But hope, that best of all Heaven’s blessings, clings toa straw,
and the affectionate old man returned homeward with a light-
ened. heart.

It was within half an hour of %elL-ringing, or half-past
eight, as the Alderman trudged steadily along toward his
mansion in Princess street, breasting the damp night-air, which
chanced to blow rather chilly from the south-east. At this
time there was collected in Dame Bonny’s little tap-room an
assemblage of persons of all possible trades and ages, and as
variously employed. Some were sipping of the good liquors,
others regaling themselves with the pipe, while quite a num-
ber were gathered around a small fire kindled in one corner of
the room to dispel the chilly dampness of the night, which
was quite unpleasant, though no rain was actually falling.
Among the latter was one to whom we shall give a little at-
tention.

He was an elderly man, dressed in a cloth great-coat, three-
cornered hat, and top-boots of fine calf-skin, which latter ar-
ticle of apparel bespoke him as belonging to the wealthier
classes, for none but the rich wore boots of so costly material.
His whole air was that of a traveler, for, under his arm he
held a little bundle, while his dexter hand grasped a very form-
idable-looking article in the shape of a walking-stick. Indeed,
at this time, he was standing very near the little smoking fire,
as if to dry the moisture which his garments had imbibed dur-
ing a walk, and a goodly-looking citizen was attentively listen-
ing to his account of the doings at Fuyck, alias Albania, alias
Albany, and of the reports which had reached that place con:
cerning one Ephraim Lowe’s being on the coast.

“Being on the coast, say ye?” interrupted he who had
peen listening; “ why Admiral Lowe has been within the very
city, ay, and within these very walls, during the last week.”

The traveler started and looked around in evident alarm, ag
if expecting to see that notable personage; but, the other see-
ing his motion, proceeded in a tone of assurance : é

“Ah, you need not fear him now, for he has gone, and

 
 

  

64 THE BRIGANTINE,

between you and I,” continued he in a low voice, putting his
mouth to the traveler’s ear, “I had a hand in driving him off ;”
and then, in a louder voice, and looking round upon the assem-
bly with a tone of assurance: “yes, I, Bartus Spooturken,
Hoofd Schout of the city of Nieuw Orange, did press that
bold and wicked man hard in this very room no longer than
three nights ago; and had not my foot slipped as I had my
hand on ‘his collar, I should certainly have taken him. But,
he knows me too well ever to return here; so, sir traveler,
you need not fear. Ah,” continued the burly magistrate, “if I
could only again come within arm’s length of Ephraim Lowe,
he should not a second time escape me, the villain.” So saying,
the high sheriff walked across the room with the air of a Gen-
eral who has just gained a battle, and called for a glass of
Hollands, while the traveler followed him with admiring eyes,
no doubt appreciating him as a man of might and valor.

At this moment the Dame entered, and, casting her eye
' around the apartment to see, like a thrifty landlady, who was
likely among the assemblage to contribute toward her till, her
gaze rested upon the figure of the traveler, in evident astonish-
ment. The valiant magistrate saw her surprise, and thinking
that it was on account of the stranger, busily bustled up and
obsequiously informed the Dame in a loud tone of voice that
the traveler was a friend of his, though not of very long stand-
ing, and requested her to extend all civility to him. The host-
ess promised she would, and turned to her duties. Meanwhile
the conversation turned upon the morrow and the events which
it was destined to fulfill. The traveler all the while seemed
gathering new intelligence, arid his astonishment evidently in-
creased, e

The matter of the spies being executed was duly discussed,
and then the conversation turned upon a more engrossing top-
ic, to understand which, it is necessary here to dilate a little
upon the ancieit customs of the town.

From the foundation of the town, it had always been the
custom among the tradespeople and artisans, to seize the op-
portunity of any holiday or festival-making for the purpose of
exercising themselves in games and feats of strength and agil-
ity. In process of time, bickerings and jealousies sprung up,
and, from acting in unison they split into two parties, which

 

  
    

 

THE RIVAL CHAMPIONS. 65

at the time we write of were arrayed against each other in
bitter hostility.

This hostility was by no means ameliorated from the fact
that the prize had always been carried off by one party, while
the other suffered the disgrace and labored under the ignominy
of defeat. Of course, the animosity waxed warmer and warm-
er, till, at that moment, it was fairly at its hight.

The party which had always been victorious, was called the
Viy, or Fly-men, from the fact that their residence was with-
out the Water Poort, (or water-gate,) at what was then styled
the Smit’s Vly. The champion of this party, who was con-
sidered the strongest man in the colony, and who always bore
off the palm, was one Watson Sledger, a blacksmith, or, as he
was commonly styled, “ Wat of the Sledge.” He was a man
of gigantic stature and well proportioned, and from the con-
stant use of the heavy hammers which he plied to perfect the
niceties of his art, his naturally brawny arms had become very
large and muscular, while their natural covering had assumed
nearly the color of the smoke from his furnace.

The other party, which always had suffered the disgrace of
being worsted, was called the Wall Party, (or Wall-men,) from
their living within the walls of the city. Their champion was
the miller, he of the dusty coat, and was called “ Rob o’ the
Mill.” He was a well-built, merry-faced looking Dutchman—
that is, when you could get a glimpse of his face, which was
no easy matter to do through the flour-dust, and other marks
of his trade which he always carried about with him. He
was a man of goodly proportions too, but not so large as
Wat o’ the Sledge; still, in feats of strength which he was se-
lected to try with Wat he very nearly equaled him.

Rob had been the champion of the Wall-men for the last
four years, but unfortunately for him and his party, had
always been unwell just at the time of the trial, with a sore
hand, strained shoulder, or some other ailment, which in a
manner incapacitated him, while his antagonist had always
been in the full glow of vigorous health.

With this little digression we resume our story.

The traveler, who seemed to have a taste for all kinds of
information, now that the hanging gossip had dropped, was
attentively listening to the new-broached subject with equal
 

 

  

THE BRIGANTINE.

appearances of satisfaction and curiosity, sometimes gratifying
the latter by putting a question or two to some one or other
of the speakers. The conversation went on, and the praise
was all on one side—in favor, too, of the Wall-men—as only
members interested on one side were present, while scandal
and vituperation of the absent party was profuse.

“T say, Mynheer Spooturken,” said one who was standing
near the fire by the traveler, and addressing himself to the
Hoofd Schout, “you mean, of course, to be present at the
match to-morrow, which is to be played between Wat o’ the
Sledge and Rob o’ the Mill ?”

ft Aly that do I,” replied that dignitary, “ for I suppose I
must e’en be present in my official capacity,” said he, bristling
up his little square figure to its full hight, “to suppress any
mobs or violence which might grow out of this said match;
but, an Iwas only the man I used to be a score of years
back, (here he laid down his glass of Hollands,) I would not
suffer the indignities put upon us by these Vly-men, nvr should
they carry off the palm of victory longer, for, by the good St.
Nicholas, this bragging, windy-mouthed Wat o’ the Sledge
should find there was yet one man of metal to be dealt with,
and (in a lower voice) one that he would not wish the hand-
ling of more than once.”

“ Ay, truly, Mynheer Spooturken,” continued he who had
first addressed him, willing to conciliate a man of so great
importance as the Hoofd Schout, “I have some recollections
of hearing sundry of your feats, which showed you to be even
a man of bone and sinew, but that was before you left the
good old city of Amapkondam, and, as you say, @ score of years
or so the younger.”

In this way the conversation proceeded till every thing had
been touched upon, and the traveler, who was by no means a
listless listener, deduced the following inferences: that there
was to be on the morrow a merry-making; that four sailors
were to be hung on Bayard’s Mount; that there was to be a
trial of skill between the two champions; that the valiant and
worthy Bartus Spooturken, Hoofd Schout of the town ,of
Nieuw Orange, was to honor the festivity with his presence ;
and furthermore, the stranger inwardly determined that he
also would be present and witness how the champions

  

 
coe De spas

PAUL AND MISS EUGENIE. 67

conducted themselves; “and mayhap,” muttered he to himself,
as he laid down the little bundle which he had till now held
under his arm, and grasped his stick with a firmer grip, “ may-
hap I may chance to meet this worthy man, this Bartus Spootur-
ken, alone and without witnesses. I would such were my fortune,
for I have even a little account with this’ magistrate which
must be balanced.”

 

As the bell in the fort swung forth its noisy peals, the com-
pany dispersed, and the Hoofd Schout, stepping to the traveler,
tendered him an invitation to be present at the execution and
festivities on the coming day, and, turning to the Dame, re-
quested her to be careful of the stranger. Then, putting on
his short cloak, pulling his broad-brimmed hat over his eyes,
and lighting his pipe, he too sallied forth with a vigorous step
to encounter the sour blast of the night. A few moments
after the magistrate had departed, Paul Spleutcher entered
from the street, leading along with him a female wrapped in a
hood. As she stepped within the apartment, she gayly flung
off the cumbersome mantle which had served the double pur-
pose of protection from the night-air and discovery, and
came forth from the folds of the garment which had fallen at
her fect as pretty a lassie, Paul thought, as he had seen in
many along day. She was rather tall, with a blonde com-
plexion, dark hair, dark eyes, and her smile seemed the per-
sonification of good nature and a sweet temper. She was
accosted by the Dame, at once, as an old acquaintance.

“Ah, Mistress Eugénié, I thought you would soon be fol-
lowing your sweet young mistress; but mind and keep a good
eye on that Paul,” said the old Dame, jocosely, “for he 7 a
roguish fellow.”

“ Monsieur Paul,” returned the damsel, “est il? Ah, no, I
tink Monsieur Paul to be veritablement un homme d’lionneur.”

“By my soul, Miss Eugany, an’ it’s there ye’r right; Paul's
jist the b’y for ye.”

“Oui, oui, yes, yes,” replied Eugénié, not exactly wnder-
standing what had been said, but with true French tact
making some reply; “est vrai je puis bien yous assurer,”

The Dame smiled, as ¢id the trayeler; and the French
girl, as if entirely conscious of the ways of the good woman’s

 
 

 

68 THE BRIGANTINE.

little domicil, passed through the tap-room and on to the

apartment beyond.

“Well, Paul,” said the Dame, “ you have succeeded in get-
ting the girl, but didn’t she demur to come with you alone,
and at this hour of the night ?”

“Och, no, Misthress Bonny,” replied Paul, “ Miss Eugany
and I’s had many a bit word thegither, and didn’t she say
herself, that Paul was the b’y for her ?”

“Did you tell her where Miss Elvellynne is, Paul?”
asked the Dame.

“The divil a bit did I, Mistress Bonny, for fare she might
be frighted. I only towld her that Miss Elvellynne had
bid me bring, her by the same towken that she give me a bit
of letther to delivyher, which I did give my own self to Miss
Eugany.”

“And you had no difficulty then .at all?” replied Mrs
Bonny.

“ Divil a bit did I,” knowingly replied Paul, “ barrin’ a bit
of a slap, which she give me in return for a bit of a buss
which I stow] from her rowsy chake as I was lifthin’ her
over the Alderman’s fence, thinking to pay myself for my
thruble.” ,

To explain Paul’s sudden appearance, let us retrace back a
little. When Captain Vincent had given chase to the Merry
Christmas, it will be remembered that the brigantine outsailed
him, and that, ere nightfall, he was obliged to give up the
pursuit as hopeless, and sail back to his old anchorage, from
which point he was determined to start with the forlorn hope
of rescuing the four men who had been captured with him,
No sooner had. the Greyhound “gone about,” than the Merry
Christmas performed the same evolution, thereby exactly
reversing the position of the two vessels, the one which had
pursued now appearing to fly, while the pursued seemingly in
turn gaye chase. The night, which was just falling, favored
this maneuver, and, long ere the Greyhound had reached her
old anchorage, the Merry Christmas, from superior sailing,
had run in and dropped anchor in the little bay, memorable
from the capture of the Government boat with the luckless'
Schout. From this point, at Elvellynne’s suggestion, the,
Admiral had dispatched Paul with her instructions to bring;

Se,
 

THE TRAVELER AND THE BOAT. 69

off her tire-woman, Eugénié Vallanse, which he effected with-
out much trouble, and it was her whom we have but just
seen in the Dame’s little tap-room.

After the maid’s disappearance, the traveler soon made a
similar moye, and, ere long, the house was in silence.

CHAPTER VIII.
SPORT.

Tue night had become quite stormy, and the wind swept
howling around the angles of the buildings in hollow blasts,
bearing along on its breath, the quick-pattering rain, The
streets were deserted for the more comfortable fireside. Not
even the uncertain footstep of dissipation’s votary, wending
his way to some haunt of revelry, was abroad. It was
during a hard blast, that moaned piteously as it rattled the
big drops against the windows, that a figure, carefully opening
the door of the Dame’s little tap-room, issued forth, and sped
with a swift but noiseless step along the Here-Graft. It was
the trayeler. Arrived within the vicinity of the fort, he
crept cautiously forward, within a few feet of the sentinel,
whose measured footfall he could distinctly hear, while the
dashing rain and misty darkness precluded all possibility of
seeing or being seen, Crawling along carefully, the traveler
passed the fort and proceeded down the sloping plat of grass
between it and the river. This was soon cleared, and he
reached the water. Here, he raised himself erect, and tried .
to peer through the all-pervading darkness, which he seemed
to effect, for again crouching, he altered hig course and was
soon by a post to which was attached a boat. Into this he
stepped, and taking a large knife from his pocket, applied it
to the painter. Instead of separating, it only yielded a harsh,
grating noise. It was chain. The trayeler uttered an ex-
clamation of impatience and vexation, and winding a turn or
two of the chain around both hands, with a sudden effort he
snapped it in twain. It gave forth a clanking noise, which

68 3
THE BRIGANTINE,

was prevented reaching the sentry’s ears by the swashing of
the agitated waters; and the traveler, seizing an oar, shoved
off anid the darkness.

An hour elapsed, and the same figure was again gliding
along the Here-Graft, in the direction of the Dame’s. He
reached the door and entered; there we shall leaye him for a
few hours to enjoy the sweets of repose, till the morrow again
brings him into notice.

At nine of the clock in the forenoon, the prisoners were to
be executed. What were the feelings of the four seamen,
through this dreary night, we shall not attempt to depict.
Suffice it to say, that the night at last waned, and the glim-
merings of the morn stealing into their cells, faintly lighting
up the damp walls, announced to them that their hour was
near. But the stout-hearted sons of Neptune either were un-
conscious or insensible of their dreadful situation.

“T say, old Dutchman,” said a tall, full-whiskered English-
man, “good-morning to you,’ addressing himself to the
keeper, who was almost as much frightened as if himself was
to be executed instead of the merry-faced seamen now quiz-
zing him. “ How’s the old woman, eh?”

“Blow my top-lights, old Dutchy,” said a second, who was
sitting on a bench swinging his legs and spitting at a mark,
“you must turn out early in these parts. What do you think
of thé weather, old cock, eh?”

“Halloo there, you son of a pot-slewer,” cried a third, very
innocently converting the keeper’s hat (which he had put
down) into a spit-box, “clap your helm aweather and stand
this way, till I get a sight of your ugly mug. Blow me, if I
ain’t a mind to eat you instead of this dirty mush.”

The fourth, a roguish-looking chap, very seriously proposed
to his shipmates to strip the poor keeper, trice him up, and
give him a dozen with their knife lanyards, laid up together.
This, in fact, they were about to do, when the guard arriving
to conduct them to the place of execution, prevented their
giving Mynheer (as they said) a taste of man-o’-war discipline.

Slowly the unfortunate seamen were marched along through
the gate, and on the Bouwery road, under a guard of twenty
soldiers.

 
THE HOLIDAY THRONG

Meanwhile, as day dawned, and as soon as the city gates
were thrown open, the people, who all rose with the day,
began to flock forth in groups toward the scene of conflict
between the Wall-men and Vly-men. It was a beautiful Sep-
tember morning. The Bouwery road was thronged as far as
the eye could reach, among the trees and foliage, with people
of every discription. Quite in front of the revelers, might
be seen the burly magistrate, accompanied by his worthy
friend, Mynheer Breyoort, for whom he showed a singular
liking, since his strong assistance on the evening previous.
The tall form of “ Wat of the Sledge” moved along encircled
by a band of his friends, while he of the mill was in a similar
manner escorted by those who sustained him as their cham-
pion. There had been a challenge from both parties, each
one braving the other to some feat which he was to name
and perform; and he that failed to do both, was to be ad-
judged the loser. What these feats were, had not been
named by either champion, but it was easily divined that Wat
of the Sledge would not wander very far from his trade.

Among the many who thronged the highway, was the tray-
eler, whom we left the preceding evening at Dame Bonny’s.
He seemed to be known to no one, for he was walking apart,
from the crowd, and in an independent manner, which seemed
to court the acquaintance of none; still, he was an attentive
listener to all that was said within his hearing, and often pro-
pounded questions to the urchin at his side, whom he had
hired as a guide. He seemed not aware, however, that he
himself was no inconsiderable object of attention and curiosity
to many. He was evidently of the higher class, as his dress
betokened; still he was unattended either by slave or servant,
and had given, -at the Dame’s where he lodged, no name
whereby he might be known.

This curiosity, however, about the stranger, gradually sub-
sided, or gaye place to the more important and immediate
considerations of the day, as they drew near to the spot
selected for the coming contest. It was a level piece of
sward, skirted by venerable old trees, throwing their gnarled
branches overhead, till quite mecting, and thus forming a
grateful protection against the scorching rays of the sun.
The grass beneath had been thickly strewn with bark from

 
 

    
 

79. THE BRIGANTINE.

the neighboring tanneries, to prevent any slip of the foot
which might occur to the discomfiture of either champion.

When our traveler had arrived at the scene of action, he
found the two antagonists already preparing for the contest,
Wat o’ the Sledge was receiving from two of his workmen a
brace of heavy hammers, each one weighing fifty pounds, and
made exactly alike. Rob o’ the Mill was attending in person
to the unloading of a small cart, which contained an im-
mense sack of salt, marked in large figures 800, to signify
that it weighed that number of pounds,

The friends of both parties were gathered around their re-
spective leaders, laughing, talking, and throwing in words cf
encouragement. Here and there were erected little booths,
under whose shelter the owners vended cider, Hollands, cakes,
and other sorts of refreshments, to whoever called for them.
Boys were pitching seawants, young men quoits, while here
and there might be seen a comely maiden listening, well
pleased, to the tale which some favored youth was whispering
in her ear. The spot selected for the trial of strength, lay
just at the foot of the slight elevation called Bayard’s Mount,
on which the prisoners were to be executed, On the crown
of this little elevation, and looming up amid the mist which
yet lingered around its summit, stood the gallows. <A large
group of men and boys was collected directly beneath this
hideous machine, attentively viewing its hight and strength,
and some, as their gesticulations would seem to indicate, were
passing comments upon it, or with upraised hands, pointing
out some deficiency or excellence. At length, all preliminaries
being settled, the waving crowd below began to move, and
the antagonists took their places on the cleared spot, which:
was left solely to them. :

It was the custom for him who had been last beaten, al-
ways to perform the first feat, and thereby test the strength
of the other, Wat o’ the Sledge stood at one end of the littie
square with his ponderous hammers, one on either side, resting
on the ground. His sleeves were rolled up above the elbows,

and displayed his arms, long, brawny, and of a nondescript .

color, something between a light-blue and a brown. The
miller stood a little distance from him, and in a, listless attitude,
as if not caring which way the fortune of the day would

 
 

 

 

   
    
 

    
THE CONTEST OF STRENGTH. " %8

furn; but there was a quick heaving of his powerfu. and
finely-molded chest, and a slight quivering of the lip, which
told to a keen-eyed observer, that Rob o the Mill was not
really so disinterested or apathetic as he would seem.

“Come, miller,” cried the high sheriff, “show your metal
to the smit, and let this day be memorable for the victory
turaed,” ;

Thc: miller stripped his dusty coat from his broad shoulders,
and rolled up his sleeves to the elbow. His arms, like his
stature, were short and thick, while those of the smith. were
long and sinewy.

“Well, Wat,” said he of the mill, walking across the little
arena, and shaking hands with the brawny smith, which was
always the custom previous to the contest, to show that the
champions bore no ill-will to each other, but were simply
performing, in all good nature, the parts which had been as-
signed them by their respective parties, “ yonder is my task,
by the little barrow,” pointing to the sack which was marked.
800; “cau you back it and walk ten rods, and round again ?”

“Faith, friend Rob,” replied the smith, “it is a weighty
work, that same, but nath’less, after you haye accomplished
it, I will e’en try my hand.”

It. was a great weight to carry, eight hundred pounds of
salt, and many doubted if either of the champions would be
able to effect it.. The weight itself, however, was not the
great drawback, for when once fairly on the shoulders, it was
no more than a very strong man, such as each of the cham-
pions was supposed to be, ought to carry. The great dif
ficulty was in raising the load from the ground, and seating
it once fairly on the shoulders, and here the miller had the
undoubted advantage, for to raise a full sack from the ground
to the shoulders requires nearly as much tact or sleight of
hand, as strength.

The miller, from lifting heavy sacks daily, had acquired this
practice, while the smith was a tyro in the art, and, being
well aware wherein the real difficulty consisted, Rob o’ the
Mill had selected this particular feat, hoping therein to outdo
his antagonist. The ground was measured off, and the stout
miller, kneeling on one knee by the sack, with both hands
over his right shoulder, seized the ligatures or loops, which

 
 
 

 

"4 : THE BRIGANTINE.

were purposely attached to accommodate the grasp. All eyes
were intent upon Rob, as he made a moment’s delay the better
to adjust the sack, and Wat o’ the Sledge stood by, attentively
scanning the miller’s every motion. Gradually he bent for-
ward till his forehead nearly touched the ground, the sack
straining and cracking as if it would burst, till at last the
whole weight was thrown into it. One after the other the
corners lifted, as the contents settled down, till the ponderous
weight was fairly clear of the ground. With a steady mo-
tion, Rob rose from his bended knee, regained his footing,
and proceeded forward witha powerful step.

“Hurrah for the miller! Rob o’ the Mill forever!” shouted
the Wall-men, in tones of encouragement.

For the first eight rods the miller proceeded with a steady
step; but ere he had reached the point at which he was to
tun and come back, his steps began slightly to waver.

The Wall-men saw that their champion began to fail, and
set up another encouraging shout of, “ Well done, miller!
well done! Do it strong! ‘Yow’re half-way !”—and other
similar encouraging cries.

The miller picked up additional strength and resolution,
and, for a moment, regained a firm step; but, ere he had
reached half-way on his return to the starting-point, his steps
again began to falter, and deviate widely from a straight line.
Still, he hung manfully to the huge load, and bent him over
to the task. With dilated nostril and bulging eye, he neared
the goal. The bag began to surge downward, and his hands
were drawn nearly over to the middle of his back, while his
forehead was bent almost to the ground. Down, downward,
sallied the sack; but the tenacious Rob still kept his powerful
gripe, till just at the goal it relaxed, the sack fell, but “—
fairly on the mark.

The Wall-men raised a deafening shout of approbation,
and closed round their champion. The exertion had been
great, but a glass of good Hollands soon revived the merry

“miller, and he took his stand among the many, to witness

Wat’s performance.
The gigantic, smith knelt, in the same manner. as the
miller had done before him, and raised the sack; but, in

attempting to regain his footing, swerved a little to one

  
    
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

  
 

THE SMITH VICTORIOUS. ¥ 63)

side, and his ponderous burden tumbled heavily to the
ground.

The Wall-men set up a shout of exuliation, but the smith
soon bent himself again to the task, and this time, with success.

Stung with the disgrace of his first failure, the smith strided
forward, nor was there any indication of wavering when he
had even reached so far as the turning-point. All eyes were
intent upon him, when one of the two loops broke. "With
the quickness of thought, Wat lowered the useless hand, and

_ bringing it round behind him, supported the sack below.

Notwithstanding this great disadvantage, the powerful smith
staggered on, reeling beneath the sack like a drunken man.
He gained the goal, proceeded several yards beyond, and then
dropped the sack.

The Vly-men, in turn, shouted in defiance, and loudly ex
tolled their leader.

A few moments rested the champions, while the company
dispersed to neighboring booths to refresh themselves and talk
over the matter.

The Vly-men, now that their chief had met the enemy on
his own ground and come off best, did not doubt the event
of the feat to follow, but already began to talk about victory.

The traveler, meanwhile, was an idle but an interested
looker-on, and lingered around the spot, while others were
gone to the little booths which held out their attractions all
around. He lifted the hammers of the smith, examined their
workmanship, and put many questions to his little guide.

At length the company returned to the arena, and the smith
proposed to the miller that they should now attempt his feat,
at the same time twirling one of the weighty hammers about
petween his finger and thumb.

“ Ay, but, Wat,” replied he o’ the mill, “you don’t mean
to heave these lumps of iron, do you?” at the same time
weighing one of the hammers in his hand.

“ Ay, friend Rob, that do T verily,” rejoined he o’ the sledge ;
“and he that throws his hammer to the greatest distance from
the mark I will make with my foot, wins the day. What
say you, Rob?” asked the confident smith. “ Will you try it,
or will you e’en give up the day without a stroke for it?”

The miller stood irresolute, for he felt that to contend with

©

 
 

 

46 THE BRIGANTINE.

Wat at his own trade was useless. The Wall-men urged him
on; but he was resolute, and protested against contending
with a man who had beaten him at his own trick.

The smith looked proudly and confidently around as he
stood with the hammer in his bony hand, and cried to the
Wall-men in a taunting tone to produce their champion, or
the day was his.

There were among the Wall-men many men of very great
strength, but none so preéminently gifted as Wat 0’ the Sledge,
and not one could be found who would venture to compete
with the mighty smith. The Wall-men, much disheartened,
were about relinquishing the palm, and the exulting smith
was loudly declaring the day to be his, when the traveler,
who had been standing by, a disinterested spectator, and
altogether unnoticed in the general interest, mildly stepped
forward and addressed the vaunting smith.

“Friend smith,” said he, “if the miller agreeth, and his
party is willing, I will even venture a little throw for the
honor of the Wall-men.”

The smith looked at the coated figure of the traveler in
scorn, and replied that he was ready for any man, Wall-man

or traveler, or whatever he might be.

It was soon noised throughout the assemblage that the
Wall-men had found a champion who would venture to com-
pete with the smith, and the company all pressed forward to
get a glimpse of the man who was so audacious.

The Vly-men, who had till now felt the day their own,
pricked forward in some alarm when they heard the intel-
ligence, and gathered round the little arena.

The crowd soon became quite dense, and many who were
unable to obtain a position where they might view the new-
comer, had recourse to the old trees, and the limbs overhead,
soon were alive with men and boys of both ‘parties, anxious
to get a sight of the contest.

The traveler was now regarded by all as an object of in-
terest; but many, comparing his frame with that of the
gigantic smith, began to make inferences not at all in his
fayor.

“By St. Nicholas, sir traveler,” said the burly Hoofd
Schout, at that instant coming up, and recognizing the

   

  
A NEW CHAMPION. g?

stranger, whom he had met on the previous evening, and
whom he had invited to be present at the festivity; “you are
here to some purpose, I trow; but, beware, for he of the anvil
has the advantage of you in weight, inches, and years.”

The Wall-men very readily and gladly gave their consent
to the traveler’s offer, while he of the mill as strongly seconded
them, glad to be relieved from bearing the most prominent
part in a strife which had always ended in the defeat and
disgrace of his party and himself. Permission being granted
to the traveler to play the part which he had assumed, he
made no other preparation than by rolling up his sleeves,
which action displayed to the eager eyes of the party, whose
cause he had espoused, a small white arm elegantly tapering
toward the wrist. Many exclamations of surprise and even
vexation, were vented at this sight ; for, how was a gentleman,
one with a white and délicate arm, to hold any even game
with the rough smith, inured to toil and hardship? As the
traveler rolled his sleeve further up, the white arm began to
swell, and swell, till near the elbow it had assumed quite a
goodly size, notwithstanding the delicate taper.

“ Sir Smith,” said he, haying finished this little prepara-
tion, “ will you make a heave?”

“ Not with one who is nameless,” grafily replied the smith,
willing to vent his spleen at being pitted against a gentle
white-armed man in that way. “We always have a name

‘here, sir traveler, and suppose that you haye one; mine is,

Wat o’ the Sledge ,” haughtily concluded he.

“Truly, as you say, Sir, Wat o’ the Sledge, I have a name.
You may put me down as one William, or Willy, Wintle ;
and now, if it pleases, will you even make your throw ?”

“ And what,” asked the smith, sneeringly, “ will you heave
for, sir traveler? for you would perhaps like some remunera-
tion. for the great and uncommon exertion which you will
make. Have you yet seen the tools which we of the’Vly
handle ?”

“ No,” replied the traveler to these taunts, in a calm voice.
“J haye not seen any thing but those two large heavy ham-
mers at your feet. Truly you wouldn’t use these?”

“Ha! ha!” roared the smith, thinking his antagonist was
already alarmed at the sight of the weighty tools; “truly, sir

 

 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

THE BRIGANTINE.

traveler, or Wintle, these are precisely the little things I would
challenge you to throw, and that too, for whatever — please.
What say you shall be the stakes ?”

“Your services for one year against that trinket,” replied
Wintle, pulling out a beautiful golden time-keeper set with
jewels, which he deposited in the smith’s hand.

“Tt is a beautiful piece, truly, Sir Wintle,” said the smith,
turning the watch over in his huge paw; “and I should
hardly know in what corner of my shop to deposit it; but
nath’less, it shall be e’en as you say. My services for one
year at whatever you please, against the repeater. And now,
sir traveler, in good feeling, I would e’en advise ye to doff
that great-coat, for on my word you'll need it. When Wat.o’
the Sledge heaves, for the honor of the Vly, and a watch
besides, worth more than his shop, tools, and every thing he
owns in the world, it will be no child’s play, I can assure ye.”

“Nay, nay, sir smith,” replied he of the road, “an you
beat me the first throw, it will be time enough to doff the
garment at the second.”

“Oh, doff the coat, doff the coat, sir traveler,” cried many
of the Wall-men, prepossessed in favor of Willy Wintle, not
only because he had assumed their part, but because of his
mild and unpretending diction. “Ay, doff the coat, Mynheer
Wintle,’ said the officious. Hoofd Schout, stumping up, and
laying hold of the garment.

“Nay, nay, my friends,’ persisted Willy, “I am about
making a throw with the stout smith, for your honors and a
little stake we have pending between us; an it please you, I
would rather do it mine own way.”

“Let him alone, let him do it,’ again cried the vacillating
multitude, and the Hoofd Schout, gently repulsed, stepped
back.

“ Now, Sir Wat o’ the Sledge,” said Willy, “ to it like a man,
and put no trust in a white arm.”

The smith looked contemptuously at his adversary, and, as
if to illustrate it practically, seized one of the hammers, and
with a careless toss, threw it from him. The ponderous
missile, though carelessly thrown, had gathered great impetus
from the powerful arm which hurled it, and rising high in the
air, descended to the ground some feet beyond the last year’s
ae

THE SMITH OUTDONE. "9

throw, where it lay half buried in the sod. .A shout ensued
from the Vly-men, for, contrary to their expectations, the
hammer had flown beyond the last year’s throw, which had
won them the victory.

“There, sir traveler,” said the smith, not even watching
the event of his cast, but turning immediately to his com-
petitor, “there is my throw; can you better it ?” :

“ No,” returned his opponent; “but I would advise you to
do it, and throw with more care, else your stalwart limbs,
friend smith, will be at my disposal for one year.”

“Pooh, pooh, idle vaunting,” returned the smith; “make
as good a cast, Sir Wintle, and I will not be backward to bet-
ter it.”

The traveler smiled, and stepping forward, with a careless
air, and great seeming ease, lifted the remaining hammer from
the ground, weighed it well in his hand, examined it carefully,
and putting one foot forward, with a single swing dismissed
the massive iron from his grasp. A shout of acclamation
from both parties rent the air, as the hammer, skimming along
the ground, buried itself a yard beyond the smith’s.

The miller stepped up and took the traveler by the hand,
while the smith looked around with mingled feelings of aston-
ishment, vexation and alarm. He thought of the bargain con-
tracted between himself and the stranger, who had just shown
a specimen of his enormous strength, and wished that he had
either never made the bargain, or that he knew how much of
the stranger’s force remained behind. He looked around and
saw the countenances of the Wall-men brightening, while his
own party appeared dejected. To be outdone now, after vaunt-
ing so much, and to be outdone at his own trick too, would be
a great disgrace, besides bringing upon him the forfeit of his
person for the period of one year. Maddened by these reflec-
tions and the momentary elation of the opposite party, the
stout smith seized the hammer brought to him, and bent all
his energies to the coming cast.

There was no careless parade of nonchalance, no vaunting
boasts, or taunts thrown at his opponent, but in silence he
eyed the distance before him, carefully examined the ground
under foot, rubbed his hand with sand and poised the heavy
hammer in mid-air. For a moment it moved with a slow,

 
 

— 80 THE BRIGANTINE.

pendulous motion, till, having gained momentum, it flew with
the speed of thought around the smith’s head, performing four
or five evolutions; then, discharged from his powerful gripe,
it went whizzing through the air and fell at nearly twice the
distance reached in the former cast.

“There, sir traveler,” said the smith, attentively watching
his cast this time, and appearing well satisfied with it, “an
you go beyond that you are a better man than Wat o’ the
Sledge, and the day is yours, together with my services for
one year.”

“But will you not try again,” responded the traveler, “ and
mayhap better that ?”

“No, no,” replied he of the hammer, “an you better it, the
day, as I said before, is-yours.”

The smith had made a powerful cast, and one of which he
need not have been ashamed. It was then with no common
degree of anxiety and attention, that both parties watched
the traveler as he once more took his stand on the arena. He,
too, after the smith’s example, threw aside all appearance of
carelessness, and viewed the ground with a quick, unhesitating
eye, but without that look of anxiety which had oyerspread
the countenance of his opponent. As he grasped the ham-
mer, the muscles stood out like whip-cord, and gathered be-
neath the elbow in a large bulb, that evinced no common
strength. The smith eyed his arm with admiration, and even
the dullest now began to perceive the beautiful proportions of
his close-knit frame. A few powerful swings put the sledge
in motion, till flying round the trayeler’s head with too great
velocity for the sight to follow, it was discharged from his

hand and was seen again skimming along the ground. It

_ reached the smith’s hammer, passed on quite over and beyond,
and lit on the greensward, ten feet on the other side! An
exclamation of joy from a hundred stentorian lungs rent the
still air, and, during the general rejoicing, the traveler slipped
on one side unnoticed.

At this juncture, the boys shouted: “The prisoners, the
prisoners; there-come the spices.” Looking along the road,
the multitude perceived the arms glittering in the sun, and, a
moment after, the four unfortunate men themselves, walking
in the center of the guard, but unpinioned.
RESCUE OF THE PRISONERS. 81

During the momentary interest caused by the approach of
_ the prisoners, the traveler succeeded in making a retreat.
‘When the interest had somewhat subsided and the Wall-men
“turned to look for the stranger who had thus unexpectedly
turned the day in their fayor, he was gone. As the prisoners
under the care of the guard were slowly toiling up toward
the summit of that elevation on which they were to breathe
their last, quite a different and unexpected party were also
traveling toward the same point of destination on the other
side of the mount.’ They were quite a numerous party, num-
bering perhaps about forty, well armed, marching in close file,
and headed by a young man in a naval uniform, who seemed
to direct their movements. In his hand he held a drawn
sword, at his belt was suspended a brace of pistols, and his
whole tout ensemble was altogether that of one seemingly bent
upon some daring and dangerous enterprise. It was Captain
Vincent. The shout from the crowd announcing the approach
of the prisoners, informed him that no time was to be lost.
With accelerated step he marched up his meg, and on reach-
ing the brow of the hill where stood the hateful gallows, they
were confronted face to face with the approaching guard.
The instrument of death reared its horrid form directly be-
fore and about midway between the two parties.

“Silence, all!” shouted Vincent. “ Present arms, take aim ;
and now,” said he, addressing himself to the astonished guard,
“surrender, lay down your arms, and give up the prisoners, or
I fire.” :

The guards, taken so unexpectedly, very considerately com-
plied with the modest, request, laid down their arms, wheeled
about, and at Vincent’s command, very quietly marched down
the hill, leaving the prisoners behind them. The seamen gave
three loud, good, hearty English cheers to welcome back their

_ shipmates, so suddenly delivered from an impending fate,
wheeled about with their leader and marched back in the di-
_ rection whence they had come. :
“Twas well done,” muttered the traveler, who at a little
distance, leaning against a tree, had watched the whole move-
_ment. The seamen soon disappeared, winding along beneath
the trees till their march terminated at that point of land now
called Corlear’s Hook; here they embarked in the boats

 
 

82 THE BRIGANTINE,

waiting for them, and, shoving out into the stream, were soon
rapidly pulling for the Buttermilk channel.

This daring exploit struck consternation into the hearts of
many, and the cry of “The English,” “The English,” was a
sound that speedily put an end to all further festivity, The
disappointed people hurried in groups toward the city.

The last of the hurrying crowd had disappeared at a turn
in the road, when the portly figure of the burly Hoofd Schout
issued from the door of a little hostelry near by, where he had
probably tarried for an additional glass of Hollands, and be-
took himself to the road.

He had proceeded perhaps a quarter of a mile or more, and
had arrived at a glen, just about where Pearl street crosses
present Chatham, when he became aware of a rapid footstep
behind him. At the bottom of this glen was a rude bridge,
affording a passage over the water, which set up to that point
from the river.

In the plenitude of his soul, but whether moved by the
recollections of the buxom landlady, or by the influence of
her Hollands, he began to hum a Dutch air. He had hardly
commenced exercising his musical talent, when his attention
was arrested by a fine voice, half singing, half chanting the fol-
lowing words which seemed to be composed at the performer’s
pleasure ;

The greenwood tree, and the birds for me;
And the roar of the laughing sea;

Where we fear no Schout, as we turn about
On wings like the eagle free.

The ship flies fast in the roaring blast,
Which bends the yards, and sways the mast ;

But we fear no breeze on the flashing seas,
And laugh when the storm is past. {

>

“By St. Nicholas, a good and a merry song, sir traveler,”
said the Hoofd Schout, as the new-comer made his appearance
on the brow of the hill; “thou art as good at the song as the
hammer. Truly, an thou art going toward the city, I would
willingly bear thee company, and can perhaps lend thee a
hand at a stave.”

“With right good will, Sir Hoofd Schout, would I bear
thee company, and e’en try thee at a song, for a cup of the
Dame’s best Hollands,” replied the trayeler; “but I fear me

we
THE SCHOUT BE-S-WITCHED. 83

you would weary of my company, ere we had passed a third
of the journey.”

So saying he stepped to the roadside, where was a clump
of tall hazels and young hickories. From among these he
selected the tallest and stoutest wand, which he cut with his
knife and stripped of its twigs and branches.

' “Ha, sir traveler,” said the magistrate, “ methinks so stout a
man as you have this day proved yourself to be, should need
no artificial aid, on the good highway.”

“Friend Hoofd Schout,” said he, “touching the matter of
the stick, I would fain have a word with thee, as I have cut
it and trimmed it for a very curious purpose.”

“What may that be, Sir Wintle?” asked the unconscious
Schout.

“Why,” replied the stranger, “there have been sundry dis-
turbances lately, at the east, caused by some unknown thing,
denominated witchcraft, of which you, being a man of erudi-
tion, have probably heard.”

“ Ay, verily,” replied the magistrate, looking down with a
thoughtful air, “and a very bad thing it is too.”

“There I agree with thee perfectly,” interposed the traveler,
“and now I am truly and most sanely possessed with the be-
lief, friend Bartus Spooturken, that this same malady hath
verily entered into thy portly and comely-looking person, in
the shape of one spirit, styled commonly self-conceit, or a
boasting and lying tongue, which I, Ephraim Lowe, ‘that
bold and wicked man whom thou didst so hard press in the
tap-room of one Dame Bonny, and whom thou didst promise
to capture, if ever thou couldst come within arm’s length of
him again,’ would now out of kindness toward thee, drive out
of thy body, even as the monks and friars of old were wont
to do, with much flagellation and stripes; after which, if it
appeareth meet to thee, I will journey on to the city in thy
company, and even try with thee, who is the better man at
trolling of a stave.” - So saying, Lowe, for it indeed was he,
seized the trembling dignitary by the arm, and commenced the
flagellation. It may be conceived that a switching, with a.
good hickory stick, handled by so powerful a man as the Ad.
miral, was no joke, and the corpulent magistrate capered
round under its effect, yery much like a delinquent school-

 
 

 

£4 THE BRIGANTINE,

boy, “Oh! oh! oh!” roared the magistrate—each “oh”
growing louder than its neighbor, while his capers at tho
sane time, assumed yery much the appearance of a “jumping
jack.”

“Has the evil spirit yet left thee, sir magistrate?” cried the
Admiral; “but no,” continued he, plying the switch with still
more vigor; “I know him of old, to be a hard and stubborn
spirit.” :

“For the love of God and St. Nicholas,” sputtered the blub-
bering dignitary, “ haye mercy,”

“Was the evil spirit left thee, I say again?” cried the Ad-
miral.

“ Mercy, mercy! oh! oh! oh!” ejaculated the valiant magis-
trate, bringing round his stumpy arm and clapping his hand
upon the injured part, while he cut such outrageous capers as
to make eyen the little boy who had guided the traveler, laugh
most heartily. Whack, whack, whack, the strokes resounded
along the little valley, while the magistrate cut pirouettes, min-
uettes, and all sorts of “ ettes,” to their music.

“Have pity, sir traveler, have pity; I am a Wall-man, one
for whom thou didst this day exert thyself so manfully.”

“ Ay, replied the Admiral, “and I am showing my further
predilection for thee, by this present exertion. Has the evil
spirit yet left thee?” continued the old man, smiling, and yet
applying the switch vigorously to the burly Schout’s seat of
honor. ;

“ Yes, yes; gone, gone,” sobbed the worthy man, as if his
magnanimous heart would break, “clean gone, and I willno
more boast of taking thee, an thou beest Ephraim Lowe, or
the devil.”

“That last stroke cleared him out then,” replied the Ad-
miral, dealing a cut of more than ordinary vigor; “and now,
if thou thinkest, friend Bartus, he is fairly gone, why, I would
fain believe thee and let thee go, for I would not that the in-
nocent should suffer. The flagellation, believe me, Mynheer
Spooturken, was-intended for the evil spirit; thou must not
take it at all to thyself.”

So saying, the Admiral rcleased his hold and threw his whip
into the water; then, turning tothe Schout, he pleasantly con-
tinued: “An thou art for the city now, friend Bartus, I haya

— |

ie

Son ee

 

 

 
=m

nile,

 

‘THE SMITH’S VLY. 85

no objections to accompany thee, and e’en try a bost at the
song of which you but just spoke. Verily, an thou usest
thy voice as well as thou didst thy legs, thou art the favorite
of the Nine, and would eyen bear off the palm.”

“ Nay, sir traveler,” rejoined Bartus, shuffling off to put ag
much distance between himself and the Admiral as possible,
“now I bethink me, I have business which calls me on another
way to a friend’s house.”

The Admiral smiled, and proceeded onward toward the
city, while the Hoofd Schout pursued another route, which,
instead of taking him to a friend’s house, led to the western
gate of the little town.

Arrived within a short distance of the city, Lowe turned his
steps from the main road and struck into a small pathway,
which, winding among the scattered trees, led directly to that
collection of buildings without the walls called the Smith’s Vly.

The urchin, whom he had retained by his side, soon pointed
out to him the premises of the stout smith. He entered, and
found Wat o’ the Sledge already plying his craft with great
industry. For a moment the smith did not perceive his en:
trance, and the Admiral stoped to admire the ingenuity and
strength with which he wielded his ponderous tools to perfect
some nicety of art. At length, as he looked up from his work
and discoyered the Admiral, a cloud lowered oyer his counte-
nance:

“Well, Sir Wintle, you are come,” said he, sullenly, “ to
claim your wager, and I am willing to fulfill it.”

“Not so fast, good smith,” replied the Admiral; “for on
certain conditions only will I claim thy services; it was a fool-
ish wager, and rashly made.”

“ Nevertheless, I am ready to abide by my word,” replied
he of the sledge, but will listen to thy conditions.”

“ Are you married?” then asked the Admiral,

“T am,” answered Wat.

“Have you a family ?”

“Two girls and a boy,” mournfully replied the smith, think-
ing of the destitute situation of his little ones if hhis. services
were taken from them; “and none to provide for them but
myself.”

“Then, I am not the man to hold thee to thy wager,” said

 
 

 

  

86 THE BRIGANTINE.

the Admiral. “But one thing, sir smith, I would fain crave
of thee, and that is, should I at any time happen to be hard
beset, thou shalt if possible render me thy assistance; further
than this I would not of thee, for I too have had little ones,
and wot full well of their destitute condition when death has
robbed them of a mother, and left them to the sole guidance
of a father. Promise me but this, and keep thy labor for thy
little ones.”

“That will I, sir traveler,” said the grateful smith, bounding
forward and seizing his hand; “and it shall go hard with me
but I will render thee assistance when thou callest for Wat 0’
the Vly.” The Admiral turned to leave the shop, but found
his way opposed by a guard of soldiers.

 

We left the Hoofd Schout trudging rapidly onward toward
the western gate, which he soon entered. Proceeding down
the Broad-way, this active officer directed his steps toward the
fort-in which was the Governor’s house. With this dignitary
he demanded an interview, and related to the Governor the
fact that Ephraim Lowe was then on the island. In five min-
utes a guard of soldiers was marching through the city to
take him. They passed through the water port, and on -to
the Smith’s Vly, whither it was supposed the Admiral had
gone to claim of the smith his forfeit.

They had barely arrived at the smith’s shop when the Ad-
miral, as we have seen, had turned to depart. ‘“ What, hc!
my jolly men,” said he, seizing the foremost soldier and dash-
ing him on one side; “ make way there, or I make it for my-
self” So saying, he wrenched a musket from the nearest
soldier, and charged directly through the guard. A few steps
brought him to his boat. Into this he jumped, and was fairly
out into the stream ere the soldiers had recovered from their
sudden surprise. They, too, jumped into a boat which lay
near by, but Admiral Lowe, in his own boat, was a different
man from Admiral Lowe in a heavy Dutch yawl; and so
they found him, for the pursuit was soon given over. The
Dutchmen eyen forgot to discharge their fusees-at the flying
terror, and the great Bartus returned crestfallen to the shore,

  
   

 
   

TO-NIGHT, AT EIGHT.

Aa: Panrnwts ad i we i? ae

C6 Ast mR TX 4
A PARTIAL REVELATION.

As the Admiral gayly pulled toward the Buttermilk chan-
nel, he descried three large boats making for the passage. At
first he thought that his retreat had been cut off, but a mo-
mentary and closer observation satisfied him that the boats
ahead were none other than those of Vincent with the rescued
prisoners. They were pulling very leisurely along, and with a
little additional labor he was soon enabled to come up with
them. Captain Vincent did not recognize in the person of
the coated traveler the bold Admiral who had once rescued
him from the jaws of death; nor, indeed, would he perhaps
have noticed him at all with any thing more than a passing
glance, had not his attention been attracted to the traveler's
swift-moying boat.

“Pull, men, pull,” cried the young Englishman, “or a
single-handed man will pass you. Pull, pull,” cried he, as
the traveler was swiftly surging by. They did pull, and
manfully too ; but notwithstanding their endeavors, the stranger
passed, and lay directly ahead, which position he maintained
without any seeming exertion.

“Fairly beaten, fairly beaten, Captain Vincent,” cried the
stranger, merrily, at the same time sheering one side and al-
lowing the boats to come up, when he extended his hand,
which the young men eagerly grasped.

“Ha! the Admiral!” muttered he; “and Elvellynne, El-
vellynne! How is she?” But changing his voice suddenly
to a tone of defiance, he added: “Beware, old man, how you
treat the maiden. I have an account to settle with thee, and
will brook no injury to her.”

The old man smiled as he rejoined: “ You are young yet,
and know not with whom you would contend. TI decline a
contest in which I have so much the advantage of years,
strength and practice ; nevertheless,” whispered he, “ be at the
old anchorage in the little bay to-night, at eight, and I will
meot you on board the Merry Christmas, where we can settle
 

 

THE BRIGANTINE.

all differences to your satisfaction.” The Admiral shoved off
and disappeared round the point.

As the day slowly declined, and the appointed hour of the
meeting approached, Vincent arrayed his person with more
than usual care, paying great attention to even the minutiae of
his dress; and, as the bell on board his majesty’s sloop-of-
wat, Greyhound, struck seven in the second dog-watch, (or
kalf-past seven of the clock,) he passed over the rail into the
boat which was'to bear him to the interview.

-» It was a lovely September night; just such an one as & man
in love delights to be abroad in. Many contending emotions
strove for the mastery in the young man’s breast, as he sat
‘wrapped in his boat-cloak, in silence. He thought of her
whom he had loved, now torn from him by a mysterious hand,
and his soul kindled against the perpetrator of this deed; but,
as his boat shot around the point into the little bay, and ‘dis-
closed to him the beautiful brigantine silently floating at her
‘anchor, he looked toward the cabin-windows, which ‘were
open, and thought he could discover the figure of Hlvellynne
Montford flitting backward and forward’ by it. At the
sight of her, whom ‘he remembered at that moment only as
his betrothed, he forgot all thoughts of vengeance, all thoughts
of a rival, and the dominant feeling was—pure, unalloyed love

At this instant, the first sound of a musical instrament
reached his ear, and he commanded the men to cease pulling.
It swelled and increased, till the rambling notes settled into a
distinct and beautiful air, and he at once recognized the arch-
Jute of Elyellynne Montford. The maiden’s voice presently
blended with the strain, and breathed the following words—
words which Vincent himself had taught her, but a week be-
ae their unexpected separation :—

Oh! ask me not at evening hour
Why look I on the sea,
And pray for breezes gently fair
To waft thee on to me,
The moonbeam tips the heaving surge,
The sun has kissed the wave ;
The zephyr breathes a moaning dinge:
«To mourn the fair and brave.
me Tig then I look upon the sky,
by And scan the watery main ;
O blame me not, if, ina sigh,
T wish thee back: again !

    

ee

  
ape

A MYSTERY CLEARED 89

The voice ceased, and the men, with a few vigorous strokes,
shot the boat along side the Merry Christmas. Vincent as-
cended the side and was met by the Admiral, who; conducting
him aft, ushered him into the cabin. Elvellynne ‘was still
holding the lute, and, as he entered, extended to him her
hand with her old welcome, and looking more beautiful than
ever.

She was dressed in a rich brocade silk, with raised flowers,
and the dress, which was made similar to the one in which
we first saw her, displayed to great advantage, as she rose to
meet the young officer, her truly graceful form,

“Welcome, Charles, » said she, with a winning abt ee
hearty welcome to you; and now sit down, for since T have
become a sailor, I aspire to all the privileges of the berth, fg
am e’en going to spin you a yarn.”

It was Elvellynne herself, so like her old waltotitig way that
Vincent clasped her to his bosom.

The Admiral, seeing how affairs stood, cried: “Bravely
done, young man | you charge well!” and, turning, left the
apartment.

‘Now, said Elvellynne,” gayly leading her loyer to a seat,
“dispel that gloom on your brow, and make up your mind to
settle all your differences with me, instead of Admiral Lowe.”

“But, but,” gasped Vincent, “what interest has this man
in you? He j is a pirate !”

on wve him better than myself!” replied the girl, “ But
hear me,” continued she. “T love him for his Kindness and
care over you, if for no other reason.”

The young man breathed more freely, and she continued :
“T told you that I claimed the privileges of a sailor, and was
about to spin you a yarn; now listen, and I will ned to
you what was never before known by even myself, until re-
vealed to me by my: by this singular man. You have
always known my history, ag having been left when quite
young and helpless, at the house of him who has ever here-
tofore been my good guardian, Alderman Von Brooter. The
circumstances of my entrée into his family with quite a large
fortune, are too well known to you already, to require me to
recut to them again. It was always to me a reflection caus- —
ing much grief, that I did not know my lineage. I now.

 

 
   
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE BRIGANTINE.

i make i¢ known to you as it has been substantiited to me
by—Adrairal Lowe.

“Your own Elvellynne Montford is the daughter of that
good and much-injured man, Edward Hyde, Earl of Claren-
don, whom the wickedness of a weak and silly monarch, nm
backed by the machinations of a debauched court, has driven
from his native land, and whose history I have so often heard
with emotions of sympathy for his sufferings, and indignation
at his persecutors, little dreaming that while I was mourning
the exile and fate of a much-injured and virtuous nobleman,
that that nobleman was my father!’ Vincent looked upon
her with emotions of tenderness and surprise. He had loved
Elvellynne Montford solely and purely for herself, and, when
a lone orphan, her lineage unknown, he had bowed down be-
fore her, and offered the devotion of a sincere heart, laying
aside all prejudice, and resolved to have her as his own. He
now had his reward; her parentage was known, and she w=
claimed as her sire, one of the first and best nobles that j
Europe contained.

“And will you,’ eagerly asked the young man, fondly
taking her hand, “ will you still love me, and still be my El-
yellynne ?”

The maiden blushed, and her silence was: favorably con-
strued ; the contract was ratified on board the brigantine, and
Vincent was once more happy.

A long conyersation ensued, and Captain Vincent was about
asking Elvellynne to solve the mystery of her connexion with
the Admiral, when that personage entered and ended the
mterview. 4

“ Well, young man,” said he, pleasantly accosting the officer,
and offering his hand, at the same time glancing knowingly,
from one to the other, as if he read the secret of their hearts ;. sn
“did I not say well in appointing a mecting here instead of:
on the beach at twelve paces? What think you of the
arrangement ?” ;

a Indeed, sir,” replied Vincent, taking the proffered hand,
*T am bound to ask your pardon for tie idle threat which, i in
a moment of passion, escaped my lips.”

“Pooh, pooh!” Fane the mess “neyer mind that—

  

 
wee

Sa

THE ADMIRAL’S APOLOGY. . 91

never mind that; but sit down, for I have intelligence from
England, which you, as a good loyal subject, should know.”

Vincent seated himself as requested, and the old man com-
menced upon the politics of the day. He touched upon the
weak and licentious character of Charles II., and attributed all
the difficulties of England originally to his imbecility of cha-
racter. He dealt with the members of that wicked ministry,
the “cabal,” individually and severally, holding up in a broad
light the bold, insinuating, untiring eloquence of the Harl of
Shaftesbury; the graceful winning wit, united with a vacil-
lating caprice which assiduously bowed to interest, of George
Villiers, Duke of Buckingham; the ambitious and revengeful
tyranny of Lauderdale ; the impetuous headlong art of Clif-
ford; and the brutish stupidity of Arlington. He laughed at
their attempts at war, mentioned their weakness with scorn,
and held up their deeds as a fit subject for the hatred, con-
tempt, and disgust of posterity.

As he proceeded, the Admiral grew eloquent, and Vincent
thought that never before had he listened to so fine a strain of
invective oratory. The old man unfolded before him the vast
acquisitions of a powerful mind, and retracing the events of a
century with all the familiarity of an eye-witness, held before
his admiring eyes the weak and virtuous courses of different
governments, the rise and fall of empires, with the causes; and
dissected analytically the characters of all the then most pro-
minent men of the old world.

Vincent felt that it was truth issuing from a giant mind,
and notwithstanding his severe attack upon the King, was
conscious that “facts are stubborn things,” and did not reply.
The Admiral wound up by apologizing for having monopolized
the conversation, and then related to Vincent the policy of the
French Court, in sending over to the imbecile and licentious
Charles a beautiful woman in the suite of the Duchess d’Orleans,
who, as intended, had completely captivated him, and the weak
monarch had created her Duchess of Portsmouth. “ You will
now,” continued he, “have no opportunity of transferring
laurels from the Frenchman’s brow to your own, for rest as-
sured that Louis XIV. and Charles, whom he has made his
tool, wil] now go hand in hand.”

Tke old man’s prediction was afterwards fulfilled to the end,

 
 

 

92 _ APHE BRIGANTINE.

for the newly-created Duchess retained so firm a power over
the King’s affections as to bind him securely to France, while
Louis himself condescended as a matter of policy to furnish
the empty coffers of the British monarch with means to carry
on his debauchery and wickedness. Vincent was astonished
at the fact, but was forced to believe it, as coming from the
mouth of one who seemed so conversant with the affairs of all
Europe. He looked upon the old man with wonder, and
sighed as he thought to what heights so powerful a mind
might have aspired had its efforts been directed in a better
channel. The eyening passed swiftly away, and cre Vincent
thought that he had been aboard the brig an hour the bell
struck midnight. He thought that propricty urged his de-
parture, still he lingered and lingered, with the hope that an
opportunity would offer in which he might interrogate Elvel-
lynne something farther concerning the Admiral. is eurio-
sity was fairly excited, but to his disappointment he was forced
to depart unsatisfied. He took his leaye, after obtaining per-
mission to renew his visit on the next evening. As he pulled
towards his own vessel, lying about two and a half miles dis-
tant, his mind was busy with the strange man whom he had
just left. He was a mysterious man, Commanding a light
brigantine, and at the head of a horde of pirates, whom he
ruled with iron sway, he was yet evidently a being of superior
mould. No wonder, thought the young man, that these sea-
robbers have become so expert and dangerous, and succeed in
eluding all attempts to capture them, when they have a man
of such wonderful resources at their head. ;
But in the midst of his reverie an unwelcome thought in-
truded itself, Vincent was serving under a commission from
the King, and one of the principal duties. assigned him had
been to clear these seas of the marauders infesting them. He
had been most of the time since his arrival on that station, and
had succeeded in capturing many of the smaller vessels belong-
ing to these free-tvaders, and one large schooner, off the western
islands, commanded by one Harris, which vessel he had de-
spatched home to England as a prize, under the command of
his best: lieutenant, with a-sufficient crew to work her. T'rom
this vessel he had heard nothing, and felt greatly alarmed lest
the pirates might have suceceded in freeing themselyes from

a

=”
=

the rover !

THE PIRATIOAL CHIEF. BB

confinement, and have retaken the schooner, perhaps murder-
ing the lieutenant, with the few hands he had, and again
started on a roaming excursion oyer the wide seas. He had,
however, succeeded better than any of his predecessors on that
station, and though the prizes he had taken were small, and of
no great consequence, still he had effected so much; that the
Greyhound had become such a terror to these lawless men, that
they had determined to collect together sufficient of their force,
and destroy the cruiser at her anchorage.

The unwelcome thought which we have recorded as in-
truding itself so untimely upon him was, whether he ought
not to take the brigantine. She was a piratical vessel, or at
least commanded by the pirate chief, if not employed in the
service herself. Still, the very man for whose head so much
would have been given, was somehow strangely connected
with Elvellynne Montford, and, consequently, intimately with
himself. Besides this mysterious connexion, he had owed his
life once to this very man; and was not that an obligation
upon him to let him pass unmolested? No; he was bound by
his oath to serve his country and extirpate her enemies; and.
certainly these men, from their leader downwards, were all
enemies to the King and the whole world.

“ But,” thought he, as he gradually became entwined in this
maze of mind, and as insinuating sophistry began to assert her
sway, “what will become of Elvellynne? If I attack this
brigantine, her commander is not the man to give her up
without a struggle. On the contrary, he will fight like a
devil; and—and,” thought the young man, “ what if, with my
reduced crew, he should turn the chance of war and conquer
me? And during the conflict what will become of Mlvellynne?
Perhaps in his madness (for he is a man of fierce passion,
thought Vincent) he may blow up. his vessel rather than be
taken, and with her—Hlvellynne, too!” He shuddered at the -
very idea; and, before he slept that night, had concluded that
his reduced crew, and the absence of those officers who were
on board of the prize, would warrant his not meddling with

 
 

 

94 THE BRIGANTINE,

CHAPTER X.
BARTUS SPOOTURKEN IN A NEW CHARACTER.

_ While Captain Vincent was on board the brigantine, there
was gathered together in the dame’s little tap-room quite a
number of people, all conversing upon some important and
very exciting subject. The assemblage numbered perhaps a
dozen people, among whom were the jolly miller, the stout
smith, and the worthy Hoofd Schout.

Paulus Spleutcher, who, be it remembered, was now serving
the Admiral, was also there, being on shore on some duty for
Elvellynne; but, to avoid all suspicion as to the new business
he had engaged in, Paul very obligingly waited upon all who
called, and did the honours of the tap-room as much to the
customers’ satisfaction as if he was still serving Dame Bonny
in the capacity of tapster. One little squad of talkers analyzed
the bold action of the young Briton in rescuing his four men
in the morning at the very foot of the gallows. Another party
was talking over the general affairs of the colony, while a
. third, and that to which we would call the attention of the
reader, was conversing in a low tone of voice, as if unwilling
that the important secrets discussed should transpire. The
little group was composed of Rob o’ the Mill, Wat o’ the
Sledge, Bartus Spooturken, the Hoofd Schout, and his shadow,
our friend the toad-eater, Mynheer Brevoort.

The Hoofd Schout, at the time we treat of, was speaking,
‘‘Ha!” said ‘he, slapping the brawny smith on the shoulder,
“friend Wat, that was a brave throw you made to-day, and
almost a better than I myself could haye done a score of years
back, though I would even have tried thee at heave, run, or
jump; but wot ye who it was that cast against you and won
the day?” .

‘The smith, who felt grateful to the traveller for not taking
advantage of the wager which he had won, and reflecting for
a moment whether he ought to tell as much as he knew, after
a moment's thoughtful consideration, replied: “ Wot I who it
THE SECRET! | 95
s

was that cast against me, do you ask, friend Hoofd Schout?
Why, certainly, a man of such mettle as he must needs be
known. ’Iwas the traveller, or Willy Wintle, as he styled
himself, and a right brave man too.”

“ Aye, aye,” interposed Bartus, impatient to disclose the
great secret with which he was charged, and feeling his dig-
nity aud importance to be on the increase—“ Aye, aye, twas
the traveller, and Willy Wintle, if you please. But, who 7s
Willy Wintle? That is the question, gentlemen,” said the
dignified magistrate, throwing back his head and drawing in
his chin with a very imposing air, very much like a turkey-.
cock with a spread tail. ‘“ Aye,” said he, with a noble waive
of the hand, who is this Willie Wintle, gentlemen? That is
the question.” Then lowering his voice, he said, in a confi-
dential way, to impress his hearers with the importance of the
great secret which he was about to reveal, “I will tel you,
gentlemen; he is no more nor less than that wicked man, that
scourge of the ocean, that outlaw, Ephraim Lowe, chief com-
mander of those bands of pirates which infest this coast, and
whom I this day very nearly captured!”

“Thou liest!” cried an unknown voice, which made the
magistrate start and look around, but seeing no one in the
room bearing the resemblance of mighty Ephraim, he con-
tinued: “ Gentlemen, you know in our official capacity that
we meet with a great deal of intelligence that you good
citizens never hear, and are obliged to brave a great many
dangers”—here the little man again drew himself up,
placing his hand on his round corporation—“ which would
make a man of even much nerve quake; but we soon get
accustomed to these things and forget fear.”

“Remember the bridge and the traveller,” again cried the
secret voice. The magistrate now looked around evidently
alarmed, but thinking that some one was trying to put upon
him a joke, he again summoned up courage and proceeded:
“These are stirring times, gentlemen, very stirring times,”
and he shook his head very portentously ; “bad news in the
wind, bad news. I think King Charles should keep a cruiser
or two here, besides the one he has, and the home govern-~
ment should make this a station, Bad times, stirring times,
Mynheer Breyoort.”

 
  

HE BRIGANTINE.
»

Now the good man only threw out these suggestions to

excite the curiosity of his auditors, knowing full well that
they, as well as the rest of mankind, were possessed of a
sufficient share of that commodity which once so puzzled our
common mother, and being well aware, too, that they knew
nothing of the facts which he was about to tell them. He
thought, too, that double importance would be attached to the
secret if it was not so easily come by, and that a little suing
would be advantageous to his dignity, and make him appear
the better, while, at the same time, it would add something of
a relish to the secret. He was at least right in one respect,
for no sooner had he thrown out the above hints that he knew
something which nobody else knew, than Mynheer Brevoort
attacked him with questions.
» Aye, bad times enough, for the hogs (may St. Nicholas
eurse them) got into my cabbage-garden and munched up half
my beautiful cabbages, run over the kale, and mein vroeuw is
almost out of salmagundi. Yes, yes,’ said the good burgher,
immersing his hands in his capacious pockets, and looking
round very wisely: “Yes, bad times enough, friend Hoofd
Schout.”

“Poh, poh!” replied Bartus, vexed at his neighbour’s dull-
ness, and that his project should only have set one of his
hearers to rummaging about among his fish and rotten cab-
bages, while the other two had engaged in a little private
gossip of their own. “Poh, Poh! Mynheer Breyoort, you
don’t understand me ; the interests of the country are at stake
the vital interests of the country are at great hazard, and so
you will perhaps very soon find out, when your house is burn-
ing about your ears, your property pillaged, and your family
murdered before your eyes.” This bold sally of the valorous
Hoofd Schout brought, as he had expected, his two other
auditors back to their allegiance, as well as a more direct
question from his dull friend.

‘Murdered your family! pillaged your property!” repealed
the burgher in astonishment, his capacities of mind either not
being able to take in, or his Dutch tongue not being able to
give out all that Mynheer Spooturken had said. “ What
mean you, Mynheer Spooturken ?”

“Why, Mynheer Brevoort, just precisely what I said; that

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
a

= ea Sg RN oy ge ae ee oe

MYNHEER SPOOTURKEN’S TALE. 97

the country is in great danger, and we all likely to be mur-
dered in our beds, perhaps this very night.”

“Then I shan’t go to bed for one,” muttered the burgher.

“ But, what is the news, Mynheer Spooturken,” asked
Wat o’ the Sledge, seeing that the sheriff really had something
to disclose; ‘‘ what is it, man?”

“ Ah, friend smith,” answered Bartus, now beginning to
feel that he had excited an interest, which he inwardly
determined not to satisfy too rashly. “Bad enough news}
news which I have thought fit in my official capacity to make
known to the governor, and there will be a stir I can. assure
ye. It’s a great deal of news that we gentlemen of the staff
fall in with one way and another; and I may thank my sus-
picions for having detected the fact. It is a happy thing for
the City of Nieww Orange that it was discovered in time to
avert the calamity. Oh, if I was only as well versed in naval
tactics, as in my own official sphere, and had a good seventy-

- four under me at my command, what work I’d make with the

rascals. Yes, I’d extirpate them, cut them off, root and
branch, from the oldest to the youngest, man, woman, and
child ; aye, the children particularly, for then there would be
no more of this wicked gencration to grew up, and the old
ones would soon die off. That's my policy, gentlemen, and if
the home government would only adopt my views on the
subject, and give me an armed force, 1 would soon do the
business, I can assure ye!” said the brave magistrate, looking
around for admiring faces. :

“Remember the bridge and the evil spirit!” again cried
the unknown voice in a tone of warning.

The repetition of this warning produced upon the magis-
trate a salutary effect; for he now began to consider the
matter no longer a joke. So, lowering his voice, and having
peered cautiously around to ascertain if there were any indi-
cations of immediate danger, he proceeded to unfold his tedious
secret. ‘You must know, gentlemen, that in the course of
my arduous duties, I have for a long time had my suspicions
as to certain matters; and this morning, after the memorable

feats and rescue of the spies, I started very quietly for home, .

having delayed a little to speak with Mistress Muzzy about
certain business, which somewhat retarded my motions behind

 
THE BRIGANTINE,

the'others. Now, I had proceeded so far as Bridden’s bridge,
when I heard a voice behind me trolling a stave or two of a
little song which I had composed some years agone” (the she-
riff couldn’t spell his name!); “and curiosity incited me to
tarry on the bridge a little till the singer should come up, that
I might see who it was that had caught from me my little
ditty. I had not stood long on the bridge, when who should
come up in sight but the traveller, this very Willy Wintle,
who, to say the truth, is even a man of good parts. Well,
gentlemen, it happened that I recognized him at close sight
as the very Ephraim Lowe, whom I was once so near taking
in this very room, but for an unfortunate slip of my foot.

“Well, neighbours, for you see I was at first fearful—no,
not fearful, but apprehensive—that this Lowe, knowing my
official capacity, should avoid me and take to his heels, though
a score of years back that would not haye saved him,” inter-
posed the officer, looking mournfully down at his protruding
proportions. “But like all great sinners, gentlemen; he was
possessed with the spirit of folly, and came right on; where-
upon, so soon as he was within reach, I laid hands on him,
and we had a tussle; but after a while, he being the stronger
man by a very little, succeeded in getting free, and fled be-
yond my reach. He, however, swore to be revenged and to tear
down the whole city of Orange, and furthermore hinted that
his forces were now on their way hither. I saw it was useless
to pursue the rascal, and so giving that up, I straightway hied
me to the governor, and disclosed to him the very important
intelligence that the pirates with all their forces were coming
down upon the city ere long to sack and destroy. So likea
good governor he has e’en doubled the guard and ordered all
the muskets burnished up.

“There, fellow-citizens, you have the whole of the terrible
intelligence; and all I have to say is, that it becomes us all to
act like brave men in the coming emergency. For my part, I
much regret that important business takes me to Albania on
the morrow morning, which will prevent my taking my part
in the defence; and as my family will be without their head
and chief support, I shall take them with me; for,what would
they do if the enemy should succeed in entering the city and
I gone?”

 
THE REAL VERSION OF THE TALE. 99

At this moment, the urchin who had guided the Admiral in
the morning, and who had also been present at the scene on
Bridden’s bridge—which the magistrate had so strangely mis-
represented—entered the little tap-room. At sight of the
boy, the magistrate was taken with an uncommon and sudden
hurry, saying, “that he had been so much interested in the
affairs of the colony that he had forgotten himself and oyer-
stayed his time;” then, pulling out an old English bull’s-eye
watch, and knowingly looking at it, he hurried off with the
expressed intention of making ready for the morrow’s journey
to Albania. The fact that the pirates were about swarming
towards the city,as Mynheer Spooturken had related, was
actually true; but as to his being the discoverer, that was
another thing. The sheriff was accustomed to allow himself
a pretty wide latitude, as the reader has already perceived ;
and from oftentimes relating the same thing, at last gave cre-
dence to it himself.

Now, the truth about the story was this:—Some fishermen
who had been taking fish along the Jersey shore were return-
ing to the city, when a schooner ram in and anchored. She
sent a boat to the fishermen to bargain for some of their scaly
wealth, but not agreeing as to the price, the schooner’s boat
very civilly took the fish, paid them nothing, and kindly
wishcd them to the devil. There were four more vessels then
standing in the offing, and the frighted fishermen seeing this
evidence of strength, and overhearing some conversation,
which convinced them that these vessels were a part of
Ephraim Lowe's fleet, made the best: of theix way to the city,
and informed the governor of the facts. It happened that
while the fishermen were giving this information to the
governor, Bartus Spooturken made his appearance, eiso big
with news, fresh from the Admiral’s hands, and it was while
waiting for an audience that he had overheard the fishermen’s
narration, and determined to appropriate it to himself, which
we have just seen him doing so well.

As the Schout was proceeding homewards along the Here-
Graft, and ruminating upon the occurrences of the day while
he looked forward with dread to the portentous to-morrow,
his course was suddenly arrested at a lonely part of the street,
by « person holding to his head the shining barrel of an ugly.

 
 

  

100 | THE BRIGANTINE.

looking pistol, and a voice, which he immediately recognized
as the secret voice which had been taunting him all the even-
ae ordering him to follow and keep silence, as he valued his
ife.

“ Oh, oh, don’t, don’t kill me,” cried the valiant man, falling
on his knees and emptying his pockets of sundry half-stivers:
pieces of tobacco, and old keys; “don’t kill me; think of
my poor wife and ten children” (he had but one); “and I will
give you all I have about me.”

“ Rise,” said he of the pistol, “and follow me in silence.
Put up your drivelling halfpence, and don’t lie; you haye but
one child, as you well know.”

“Oh, oh, oh!” groaned the magistrate, as he followed the rob-
ber in silence, with faltering steps, convinced that the pirates
were already in the city, and wishing that he had not delayed
his journey till the morrow, but had started at the first intel-
ligence of the intended eruption.

“Silence,” said the robber, in a stern voice, as, through
great bodily fear, Bartus’s “oh’s” were waxing strong and
too loud for safety. ‘Silence, you fool, or I will let daylight
through your cowardly skull;” at the same time he presented
the before-mentioned shining barrel unpleasantly near to Bar-
tus’s pericranium, while an ominous clicking of the lock told
the good man he had nothing to do but place implicit confi-
dence in his wayward and somewhat capricious guide and do
his bidding.

The robber led the way to the Water Poort, which opened

upon the Smith’s Vly, and having first cautioned the sheriff

against attempting to give any alarm, as they passed through,
strode under the portal and took his way along the water.
He proceeded in silence, following the beach for a half mile,
crossing several water-courses in the way, till at last he
arrived with, his prisoner in front of an old dilapidated hut,
which for years had been uninhabited, but which now seemed
to be tenanted, as the lights streaming through the chinks
and cracks, and the sound of voices from within indicated.
The robber threw open the door and bade his prisoner enter.
Around a table, on which ‘stood several bottles and drinking
vessels, sat three seamen, drinking, smoking, laughing, sing-
ing, and playing at cards by turns. They all looked up and

 

ye es

BE

  
eS

4

ay

THE SCHOUT A PRISONER. 101

laid hands on their weapons as the door was suddenly thrust
open, but, seeing who the intruder was, they set up a merry
laugh, and each one running towards the Schout, seized an
arm or a leg,

“Come Jacques,” eried one, “lay hold, lay hold, let’s bump
him.” Jacques (for it was indeed no other than he) did as
requested, and-forthwith the four, each having respectively a
limb, commenced swinging the corpulent magistrate, back and
forth, before a beer cask. At every third swing when the
body had gathered sufficient momentum, they launched it
directly against the head of the cask. At every successful
bump, which elicited a more than usual groan from the Schout,
some one or other of the seamen would make some remark.

“There,” said Long Bill, who was sweating profusely, partly
from exertion, and partly from laughter, “there, that fetches
him ‘chock-a-block.’ To it again, my hearties, one, two,
three, oh-ye-ho!”

“ Huzza,” shouted Mike, as a vigorous bump knocked in
the head of the cask, “set it up on end, boys, and clap old
Dutchy in it, while we choke him up with sand.”

Accordingly the barrel was set up on end, and into it the
four merry seamen crammed the luckless Schout, who was all
the while shouting for mercy, and kicking most lustily.
Having stowed the bulky magistrate snugly in the cask and
filled up the space all around him with sand from the beach,
which they packed down tightly, just leaving his round head
peeping over the rim, the laughing sailors rolled him up in
one corner and sat down again by the table, to resume their
pastime, which had been. interrupted by the arrival of their
shipmate with the prisoner.

“T say, Bill,” cried one, “what shall we do with old
Dutchy, eh? He’s fat enough to make good pork. Suppose
we cut his wizzen, and barrel him up, then send him to the
city and make a handsome spec on ‘prime mess pork.’ ”

“No, no,” answered Bill, ‘ let’s cut him up and have some
‘fresh’ now. Who'll have have a picce, shipmates?” cried
the long seaman, advancing to the corner where stood the
cask, whetting his knife on his rough hand, and winding his
long bony fingers in the prisoner's hair, as if about really to
eut his throat—* who'll a piece, shippys, eh?”

68

 
 

  

102 TILE BRIGANTINE,

All this while the other seamen sat at the table laughing
and roaring at the odd faces and outrageous cries of the
affrighted Schout, who really thought that his time indeed
had come. He knew that the pirates were men: inured alike
to strife and blood, and had heard of many instances where
the most diabolical cruelty had been practised upon innocent
prisoners without any provocation, merely as a pastime, and
he believed himself to have fallen into the hands of such, little
dreaming that these were only merry rogues. As the long
seaman approached him with a drawn knife, he screamed
in all the agony of expecting death, but when Long Bill seized
him by the hair, and threw back his hoad as if to have a fair
sweep at his throat, the exhausted Schout swooned; the
anxiety and fear had been too much for him. Water, dashed
on his head, and a little hollands soon restored him.

The revellers now sat them down to the table again, and
Jacques recounted to them the scene at Dame Bonny’s, to-
gether with the conversation which took place between the
Hoofd Schout, or old Dutchy, as he styled him, and the other
three. They were much pleased with the trick of the secret
voice, which, with its effects, Jacques depicted in glowing
colours, but when he came to that part of the conversation
where the sheriff had spoken of his running abilities, and told
how he would have taken Admiral Lowe, if he had only been
able to command his feet as he was wont to do in “days of
yore,” Long Bill, who was a very genius for sport, started up,
upset the cask, rolled out the stumpy dignitary, and insisted
upon his taking a bout at “Skip-Jack” with him. Seizing
hold of Mynheer Spooturken’s hands, the jolly tar commenced
wheeling round and round with great velocity, while the
Jutchman was constrained to move his short limbs, too, to
keep pace with -his mischievous tormentor, as well as to keep
his balance. ‘Ho! blast your blinkers, old Dutchy,” said
Long Bill, relinquishing his grasp, “ you don’t keep time,
Now foot it alone, old boy, go ity” cried he, pricking up
the Schout with the point of his knife till the corpulent Bartus
danced away with such vigour that the sweat rolled down his
fat cheeks in huge drops, and his face looked like a red
flannel shirt. During this exhibition of the magistrate’s skill,
the four merry sailors stood by, almost conyulsed with laugh-

 

  
   
 

   

BARTUS CALLED UPON FOR A SONG. 103

ter, urging Bartus on to superior exertion, and applauding
any successful effort; and then again punching him up with
sticks when his ambition flagged, or pricking up his relaxing
strength with the points of their knives. At length satisfied
with the Schout’s contribution to their amusement, and weary-
ing themselves of the sport, the seamen returned to the table,
bringing with them the prisoner. Here he was made to drink
the health of each individual present, in a bumper of hollands,
which, as he afterwards himself said, he thought even supe-
rior to the Dame’s much vaunted liquors. ‘Then the merry
men hoisted the little rotund person of the sheriff upon the
table, and insisted upon a speech in which he should “tella
lie as big as a barn,” and recount to them the true cireum-
stances of his meeting with the Admiral and the delectable
little thrashing which he received at their commander's hands.
This the Schout did, and thinking that his captors were well
acquainted with the facts from their leader, he for once in his
life adhered to the truth. His speech met with great ap-
plause, and for fear Mynheer might take cold after his exer-
tion, the four merry men had him down on the floor again,
to perform another set of pirouettes, which he did much to
their satisfaction.

“Now, old Dutchy,” cried Long Bill, “you have done
pretty well; but there is yet one more thing which by your
own account you will appear well in, and that is a song.
Come, old boy, mount the table, and give us a song.”

“ A song, a song,” cried all; and so a song it was.

Somewhat emboldened by the copious potations which he
had taken, Mynheer Bartus, thinking this was too much to
demand of one man, and that he had contributed his full share
to the common amusement, doggedly refused to comply farther
with their imperative requests.

‘«‘ Who'll have a piece, who'll have a piece?” cried Long Bill,
again flourishing his knife and smacking his lips in very con-
templation of a delicate morceau. “Come, come, old boy, a
song, or it’s all day with you.”

The hint was enough, and scrambling up upon the table,
Bartus threw back his head, squared his shoulders, drew in
his paunch, opened his mouth, and sang, or rather bawled, at
the top of his lungs, the following catch :~-
  

THE BRIGANTINE.

 
 
  

The devil and saints were walking one night,
When a saint met an imp on the way,
Says the saint to the imp, “Ha! halloo, Mr. Wight,
So you're out for a frolick and play.”
Sing tol de rol, fol de rol, tiddle dol day. i =

j The devil pulled forth from his pocket a mug,
3 Which he gave to his saintship to hold,
Then forth from the other he drew a black jug
All covered with brimstone and gold.
Sing tol de rol, fol de rol, tiddle dol day.

Says he, “I will drink to your saintship's good eyes,
Which are brighter by far than the day.”
The liquor he poured flashed @ flame to the skies,
And his impship flew laughing away.
Sing tol de rol, fol de rol, tiddle dol day.
“Huzzah,” shouted the men; “ pretty well sung, pretty well
for a member of the Reformed—a right good and a merry song.”
The valorous Hoofd Schout, elated with his success, and be-
ginning to warm with the liquor, shouted too, as loudly as the
men, and would fain have given another specimen of his vocal
powers, so well was he satisfied with his first performance,
had not his second attempt been cut off at the first line by his
auditors, who, having suffered sufficiently, now pulled him
down, and insisted that he should join them at the game
which they had been playing. The little magistrate was soon
“hale fellow, well met,’’ and as deep in the game-as the most
skilful among them. ‘The coin and halfpence which he had so
inconsiderately displayed to Jacques within the city walls
were soon staked on the table and lost. His watchi(the old

  
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  

 

 

their boat, notwithstanding all remonstrances, and, following 5
themselves, shoved out, and dropped down the stream. A
half-hour of steady pulling elapsed and the Hoofd Schout i
found himself alongside of a brigantine, aboard of which he
was forced to clamber.

English bull’s-eye) went next, and the whole of the burgher’s i

little capital was fairly divided among the seamen, At length,

satisfied with their sport, they “doused the glim,” and left the

hut, leading with them the sheriff. Him they tumbled into |
ae

 
   
   
   
     

  
 
 

 

ge

  
 

c

THE ALARM.’ —S 108

CHAPTER XI.
THE DECK STRUGGLE.

We left Vincent abgut retiring, puzzled with the enigma
whether duty on the one side, or love and honour on the other,
should prevail. He had retired that night a happy man. He
had seen Elvellynne, and all that was unpleasant had been
explained away. It is true that the cloud of mystery had not
yet lifted, but what did he care for that! ‘He had seen his
heart’s idol, and it was enough for him to know that she was
yet his, and in safety. As for the uncertainty which seemed
to bind the Admiral to her, and throw a veil over him, the
lover cared not for that, knowing that time would dispel the
thist, and once more every thing would beam with a gladden«
ing ray, the more bright from its momentary obscuration.
He fell asleep, thinking of Elvellynne Montford, and his
dreams, we have no doubt, were pleasant—very pleasant!
But they were brief, very brief, for his sleep was, ere long,
disturbed, and as the first grey streaks of approaching day
were clambering up the eastern sky, his drowsy ear was at<
tracted by an unusual sound. He listened, and became as-
sured that he heard a scuffle on deck. Jumping from his
berth, and donning his garments in haste, he ran to the deck,
where his suspicions were at once confirmed.

The officer of the watch was contending, hand to hand, with
a tall, powerful-looking man, while a gang of assailants were.
very busily engaged, securing the watch on deck. With the
speed of thought, the Captain rushed to the drum and beat the
alarm; then seizing a cutlass he hurried aft, and, with a
blow, struck down the first man, with whom the officer was
engaged. The crew now came tumbling up from below, armed
ready for a contest, and the assailants making directly at
them, the contest soon became general. After striking down
the ta!l man, Captain Vincent had time to look around him.

All about the Greyhound, where, on the evening previous,
when he returned from the brigantine, there had been no sign

 
 

 

  

106 THE BRIGANTINE,

in the moonlight—were now sailing small vessels. Two were
at anchor, a cable’s length off, to which probably belonged the
gang of assailants, while several were slipping along with an
easy breeze, just ready to drop anchor, and he counted in the
offing seven more white sails, glittering in the dying moon-
light. He felt that his time for action was short, and must
be improved ere the other vessels arrived and sent additional
force.

His decks once cleared of the unexpected enemy, and the
ship once more his own, he entertained no fear of being able
to defend her until she could be put “ under weigh,’ when he
thought that there would be no difficulty in maintaining an
equal contest. To attain this end he rallied his men, now
hard pressed by the pirates, and, putting himself at their
head, made a furious attack upon the enemy, which failed to
expel them. On the contrary, animated and encouraged by
augmentations to their numbers continually pouring in from
the coming vessels, the pirates succeeded in driving the young
commander, with his men, to the after part of the vessel.

Much time had been consumed in the engagement, and the
sun was now rising, displaying to Vincent the ferocious-look-
ing men with whom he had to deal, and, what was worse,
their very superior force. Boldly the young man rallied his
drooping band, and endeavoured to animate them on to
another charge, but, the disheartened seamen resolutely kept
their ground, satisfied with acting only upon the defensive.
In this condition the two forces stood glaring upon each other,
with fierce looks of hatred, neither willing to make an onset
which they knew must be attended with much bloodshed,
when the pirates hit upon an expedient which would soon
have terminated the contest, had not an unexpected power
appeared, and put an end to the fray.

The leader of the pirates, a short, thick-set, wicked- -looking
devil, calling a few of his men, wheeled into the gang-way the
two long guns from under the forecastle, and pointed them
directly aft. These were soon crammed. half-full of nails,
broken bottles, and other kinds of missiles, primed ready for
discharge, and a man stationed at each with a ready match.
So soon as these preparations were effected, the leader stepped

of animated life—nothing, save the peaceful waters glittering

   
 
 

 

  
 

 

THE CALL TO SURRENDER. ay,

forward, and summoned Vincent to surrender his ship or he
would blow both him and his men into air. It was a trying
moment for the young Briton. His crew were gathered
around him, and he read in the countenances of all, dismay
and surrender.

The pirates had so well planned their attack that, before
the officer of the watch had been aware, they were tumbling
aboard, over ‘the rail, in every direction. The suddenness of
the attack, the number of the assailants, and their unparal-
leled ferocity had disheartened the men, and it was with feel-
ings of despair, that Vincent heard them sullenly murmuring,
“ Surrender, surrender, and save lives!” The two long guns:
were resting within a few feet of his men and himself, and the
two desperadoes standing by them were carelessly blowing
their matches, a spark from which might have hurried them
into eternity, and seeming desirous to hear the awful mandate
from their leader, to “fire.”

‘Surrender, surrender!” cried the pirate leader, “ or by the
saints T’ll send you to the other world, without shrift or
prayer!”

“ Neyer!” answered Vincent, “never, villain, will I give
up my ship to you or your bloody crew, till you take her.
You may do the cruel deed, which will ensure you a hell
hereafter ; but, if you are a man,” cried the young English-
man, advancing forwards, “you will meet me in fair battle,
single handed, to prove your right to such a claim.”

“Back !—back!” cried the pirate,” fearing that the com- —
mander’s crew would follow him, “ back !—back I say, or I
will give the word.”

Constrained by so horrible a threat, and feeling only for his
men, the young man moved back to his former station, while
the pirate continued :—

“Ta! ha! do you think, vitién Ihave you all under my
thumb, and your ship under my command, that I am fool
enough to venture a personal combat, which can result in no
good other than to gratify personal vanity? Did you offer to
Harris the chance of a trial at single strife? No, no. I have
you snug, and will keep you there; and now, sir Englishman,
do you surrender? I give you three minutes,” continued the
pirate, taking out his watch, “to consider; or, if you are stub-

 
 

a

108 THE BRIGANTINE,

born, to make your peace with that God before whom you will
as certainly appear at the expiration of that time, as that my
name is Tom Swifter. Stand by your guns there, men! blow
your matches; for there must be no bungling in this business,
and be ready to fire when I give the word.”

The pirate stood, watch in hand, confronting Vincent. As
one minute elapsed, he cried: “One minute gone! Do you
surrender?” The young man was silent. “Two minutes
gone!” again cried the chief, watching the movements of
the seconds. ‘Do you conclude? Make up your mind
quickly.”

It was ahorrible suspense. Vincent did not fear to meet
death ; but he dreaded to think how many innocent men were
with him standing upon the brink of a dark, mysterious futu-
rity. He thought, too, in that moment of suspense, of
Elvyellynne; and a thousand tender recollections—aye, the
whole past, came rushing upon him with the startling dis-
tinetness of reality, scene after scene swelling into relief, and
flitting by him as if to mock his situation. He thought of his
evening’s visit to the brigantine, where all difficulties had
been so happily explained away; and the very thought mad~
dened him.

“Stand by your guns! blow your matches!” cried the
pirate, turning to his men as the allotted time was nearly
elapsed; then, turning again to the English commander, he
repeated his summons to surrender.

* Never! never!” shouted the young man, maddened by
his reflections; and springing forwards, he discharged a pis-
tol, which killed one of the two men at the guns, and rushed
at the pirate with his drawn sword.

“Fire!” shouted the pirate leader ; ‘“ fire!”

“Hold!” cried a voice of thunder, which arrested all motion
and held both parties mute, with such fierceness and power
was the counter-order uttered. All turned in the direction of
the speaker. It was Adiniral Lowe, armed to the teeth.

Frustrated in his design, the pirate leader jumped to a gun,
seized the match, and would have app-ied it to the yent had
not the admiral at that moment deliberately drawn from his
belt a pistol, and shot him through the head.

. *Huzza for the Admiral! The Admiral for ever!” shouted

/

 
  

By

 

 

PEACE RESTORED. “68

the pirate gang, awed into this display of loyalty and obedi-
ence by his fierce and determined demeanour.

The Admiral stepped forward and ordered the dead man to
be removed ; then turning to the pirates, said: “You have all
seen a sudden display of retributive justice. Did I not well,
men? He disobeyed the law, and for that I shot him; and
should have done so had the matter pending, instead of fifty
brave fellows’ lives, been a straw! Did I not right, men?”
asked the old man, turning fiercely to the awed pirates, and
yet holding in his grasp the weapon of death, still smoking.

“ Aye, well!” shouted the men; “he disobeyed, and de-
served his fate. Huzza for the Admiral!”

Captain Vincent could not help admiring the boldness of
spirit which had suggested and effected this summary act of
justice, and thought to himself that the old man who thus
with impunity could inflict death upon his subjects was not
only an admiral, but truly an autocrat. It was thus, and
thus only, that he could keep in subjection the wild and inst- .
bordinate spirits which he commanded, and retain that stern
superiority or sovereignty which, when elected to the station
of admiral, with power to form a code of laws, he had wisely
arrogated to himself. It was the violation of one of these
laws which had caused the death of the infringer; and that
law every man in the whole fleet had sanctioned. There could,
then, be no grumbling at the old man’s summary proceeding,
which was nothing more than carrying into effect that law

which constituted him sole arbiter and gaye into his pais 4
the power of life and death.
_ Having exacted from his men this homage, the old man i
sternly demanded why and upon whose authority the attack
upon the Greyhound had been made without his knowledge.
The abashed seamen answered that it was under Will Swifter’s
advice and direction that the excursion had been planned, and
they had all joined him for the purpose of destroying a vessel
which had given them so much fear and made so many anes
of their smaller craft.

After a short lecture of admonition to undertake nothing
for the future of so much moment without first consulting
him, the Admiral bade them all betake themselves to their
seyeral yessels, and sail for the rendezyous, where, in a few

   

  

  
 

 

  

110 THE BRIGANTINE.

days, he would meet them for the purpose of dividing certain
spoil which had fortunately fallen into his hands.

With a loud shout, the pirates jumped into their boats, and
returned to their own vessels; and in an hour more, the bay
was perfectly tranquil, with not a sail in sight nor a vestige
left to mark what had so lately been a scene of violence.

CHAPTER XII.
OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE.

We left the Hoofd Schout just clambering aboard the brig-
antine. Once fairly aboard, the magistrate was politely
ushered aft by Jacques, and into the cabin, where, at a small

table covered with books, sat the Admiral, reading. Seeing’

who his visitor was, he at once laid down his book and ac-
costed him :

«Ah, Mynheer Spooturken, I have not had the pleasure of

seeing you sinee the day I met you on Bridden’s bridge. Has
the Evil Spirit troubled you since ? ”
_ “Please your worship, Admiral,” interposed Jacques, “the
spirit has been at work again; and I had almost a mind to
knock the lubber on the head for his brags at the dame’s this
eycning.”

Here Jacques related to the Admiral the Schout’s conversa-
tion at the dame’s, which had been so inopportunely interrupted
by the entrance of the urchin who had witnessed the whole
proceedings at the bridge, between him and the traveller.

“Ha!” said the Admiral, rising and scizing a riding-whip
which lay near, ‘‘is the spirit such an obstinate one that he
requires a second application of the unpleasant remedy? But
come hither, Mynheer Schout, and I warrant me that this
second dose shall be so effectual as to rid you for ever of this
troublesome malady; aye, and eyen extend its influence to
half the old women in Nieuw Orange,

 

  
  

 

11

 

THE ADMIRAL’S MEDICINE.

The Schout fell on his knees and began to blubber, at the
same time imploring in a very pathetic voice for mercy.

“ Ah! friend Schout,” replied the Admiral, shaking his
head doubtfully, “it is a foul disease, a dangerous malady, and
one that requires both harsh and instantaneous treatment, and .
it were both pity and shame that so valuable an officer as your-
self should be lost to the good city through a malady of this
kind, for which there is a competent physician and active
medicine.

“ Besides, with such a regard for thee as I have, how can I
endure to see thee the sport of the foul fiend when I have the
means of allaying him, and a little exertion on my part will
restore to full health and vigour an old and valued friend ?
No, no, friend Spooturken, it would be no mercy, it would be
cruelty to grant what you crave; and so I will e’en proceed
to adininister to thee a second dose of this secret’ medicine,
whose reputation was never yet known to fail in effecting a
perfect cure.”

Saying which, the Admiral seized the demon-possessed
patient, and commenced that course of medicine which he had
just been lauding. How far this might have gone is uncer-
tain, but as the Schout commenced to howl, Elvellynne entered
the apartment. Mynheer Bartus, who had a great reverence for
all womankind, probably instilled into him by the frequent
lectures of his better half (which, to say the truth, were not
always confined to theory solely, as the good burgher’s
shoulders might have attested to), stretched his appealing
hands to the maiden for her intercession in his behalf, and not
in vain, for on Elvellynne’s application he was released.

“J thank thee, maiden, verily, from the bottom of my heart,
and will always remember thee with kindness,” said Bartus,
turning to leave the apartment.

“Stay, Mynheor Spooturken,” cried the Admiral, “I have
somewhat to do with thee. Sit ye down and answer my
questions. How much family have you?”

“ Mein vroeuw and one child,” returned the perturbed ques-
tionee, not knowing what was to be the event of this strange
interrogation, and probably not at the moment reflecting that
it was very natural for aman who had expressed such a warm
regard for himself, as the Admiral had done, to feel some in-
terest in all pertaining to him,

 

  
 

 

 

112 THE BRIGANTINE,

“ And these,” asked the Admiral, “are all you have. to
support.”

“Yes,” replied the burgher, “and more than one man can
well take care of in these hard times.”

“ How much property have you?” asked the Admiral.

Mynheer Spooturken’s dull faculties now began to see the
drift of the matter, and fearing for his substance, he rashly
answered, “None, sir Admiral, not a stiver other than comes
. from my profession, and that hardly yields me a comfortablo
subsistence.” ;

Now the fact was, and the Admiral well knew it, that the
Hoofd Schout was possessed of a very handsome little patri-
mony, besides a large sum that more than supported him,
which he ground out of his fellow-citizens in the shape of fees
from the common council. The Admiral also knew the parsi-
monious habits of the burgher, who hardly allowed his little
family the means to hold together body and soul, while he
himself was almost a nightly frequenter of Dame Bonny’s
tap-room, swilling away her far-famed hollands, and squan-
dering in debauchery and dissipation, that which, if rightly
appropriated, would have yielded his wife and child a very
comfortable subsistence, relieving them from that state of
misery in which they really were living.

“ What! nothing say you?” asked his interrogator.

“ Aye, nothing, sir Admiral,” despondingly replied the
magistrate, ‘it is even as I say.”

“ How, then,” asked the Admiral, in a stern voice, which

made the poor dignitary quake for very fear, “ how then is it, -

sirrah, that you are so unremitting an attendant at Mistress
Bonny’s every evening, partaking of the best, and swaggering
with the loudest roysterers, while you wash down lie upon lie
with costly hollands? How is it, answer me?”

The Schout began to make sundry excuses for this incon-
gruity, and said that it was not of his own mind—that he
never should have frequented the Dame’s for liquor, which
cost him a “good penny,” had it not been in accordance with
the views of his physician, who advised him to drink plenty of
gencrous: liquors, and frequent some place where mirth was
going on, as being the best and only remedy for depressed.
spirits, with which he was troubled,

  
  

te

SS = =

 

|

Se

 

SPOOTURKEN’S PLEDGE OF ABSTINENCE.

Now, this was an arrant lie, and the Admiral well knew it
to be such, but proceeded with the conversation. ‘ Did you
eyer see a healthier-looking man than myself?”

“No,” replied the Schout.

“Well, then,” continued the Admiral, “I will tell you how
it was brought about, and how you may become the same. I,
too, was once in early youth affected with hypochondria and
other maladies, which troubled me much; to remove these, I
began to take plenty of exercise and live moderately, the con-
sequence of which was a speedy restoration to health; but
first I had to abandon all ‘ generous liquors,’ which your phy-
sician advocates, and drink nothing but water, which I have
done to this day, and have found that it not only restored the
health of my body, but of my pocket also. Do you so also,
and you shall have the wartant of Ephraim Lowe that you
become a better and happier man. Now, touching the poverty
of which you speak, it. is a bad ailment also, and something
akin to the disease of the evil spirit, but I warrant me that
means can be found to make you aware of the possession of
something, which would, no doubt, make you somewhat hap-
pier than to be a poverty-stricken man.”

“Aye, forsooth, would it,” answered the unconscious
Schout.

' The Admiral stepped to the table, whereupon stood writing
implements, and drew up two papers, which he presented to
Bartus to sign. The first paper ran thus :—

“TJ, Bartus Spooturken, do here solemnly promise - to
Ephraim Lowe, upon pain of his displeasure, to abstain from
all liquors for the space of one year; and during the said time
herein mentioned, to put myself to the bodily exercise of
walking five good English miles per diem before eating.

“‘ Given under my hand and seal, this 20th day of Septem-
ber, in the year of our Lord, 1678.

(Signed) “ Bartus SPOOTURKEN.”

This paper the good man read over, and would have made
some remonstrance with the Admiral, but a single glance at
the riding-whip in the corner at once silenced him, and with-
out farther demur he affixed his name to the document, a

 

  
   

114 THE BRIGANTINE.

duplicate of which was handed to him, while the original the
Admiral locked up in his desk. The other paper was of an
entirely different nature, as the reader may perceive for him-
self, for we fortunately have the original document at hand,
and will transcribo it verbatim. It ran thus :—

“On board the Brigantine Merry Christmas,
“ 20th day of September, 1673.
“ My dear Sir,

‘ “Tam now in the hands of Admiral Lowe, as you will see
by the above. He demands for me the following sums as
ransom money, which he says must be paid, or the city of
Nieuw Orange will lose its Hoofd Schout, as, on the failing of
the following payments, he will hang by the neck your obe-
dient servant, who has no relish for that kind of pastime,
The sums are as follows :—

“For bragging toomuch .. 4... 4. 500 ducats
“For telling onehugelio . .. 2... s 1000 do.
“¥or Admiral Lowe's trouble in giving me

one good severe thrashing ... +. . 500 do.
So HOF DOCU LANSOM Ciel soa rye See eS  L BERY OPS

 

“Sum total . . . . . . 2000 ducats and 1 stiver.

“The above must be sent by the bearer, else your humble
servant soon will dance without a floor.

“ Your humble servant,,
(Signed) “Barrus SpooruRKEN, Hoofd Schout,
“To His Excellency the Governor.”

The burgher protested stoutly against this last document,
but finding remonstrance to be a coin not marketable with
his captor, he was constrained to affix his name also to: this
with as good grace as he could muster.

“ And now, sir burgher,” said the Admiral, ringing a bell,
* you shall be treated as a gentleman prisoner until such time
as the ransom money comes off, when you will be dismissed in
peace; but remember your stipulation concerning the absti-
nence and exercise; and so, Mynheer, I wish you a good-
night. Here, Martinez, show this gentleman his apartments.”

 
  

x
  

 

VINCEN?’S PROPOSITION TO THE ADMIRAL. 115,

Early the following morning, Admiral Lowe was astir,
giving directions to Paulus Spleutcher, who was to be the
bearer of the above document, concerning his mission and
interview with the Governor. It was while thus employed
that his ears were astounded by the sound of strife in the
direction of the Greyhound. WHastening Paul’s departure, the
Admiral jumped into a boat, and on rounding the headland,
which had intercepted his view, saw fourteen of his own
vessels skimming about the cruiser. He was much astonished
at the sight, for it was not customary that any expedition of
moment should be set afoot without first consulting with him,
and this was the first intelligence he had received of the
proximity of so many of the vessels belonging to his fleet,
which he had supposed until now safely anchored at the ren-
dezvous. With the assistance of a small pocket-glass, the
Admiral was able to discern commotion on board the cruiser,
and several boats plying to and fro between the Greyhound
and the vessels which he recognized as sailing under his flag.

The Admiral was well aware of the rancorous enmity en-
tertained by all the pirates against this vessel of the King, and
at once inferred that the present object of their expedition
was to surprise and destroy her at her anchorage. With the
view of preventing bloodshed and saving Vincent, the old
man ordered his men to bend to their oars, and reached the-
cruiser at that critical moment when a word saved everything
save him who disobeyed the command, and he, as we have
seen, suffered the penalty of insubordination, and paid the
forfeit with his life.

It may easily be conceived that if Vincent had felt bound to
the Admiral, that bond was now in no way weakened. Again
and again he thanked the old man for his timely aid, and, in
the fulness of his heart, begged him to abandon his dangerous
course of life, break all connection with the pirates, and seek
from the king that mercy which he felt assured would be
granted him; at the same time the young man promised all
the influence of his family, which was not small, not only to
obtain for him a pardon, but also a commission, giving to him
the command of a vessel of war. These were no small induce-
ments to an outlawed man, as Vineent well knew, and his
surprise was great when mildly, but firmly, the old man

i

 

  
 

116 THE BRIGANTINE.

declined accepting the tempting offer; at the same time de-
claring that he would not accept from so imbecile a monarch
the very first rank in the kingdom. He also explained to
Vincent his system of government and severe discipline over
his lawless subjects, which convinced the young man that his
offers were no inducement whatever to a man who really
possessed more power than the King himself, and could, at his
pleasure, as he himself had witnessed, take with impunity the
life of any offender.

“ But come, young man, lay aside all pity for one whom you
yourself acknowledge to be more truly despotic than the very
greatest monarch, and I in return will make you an offer.
‘Will you return with me to the brigantine, and sce Elvel-

lynne? TI am about going to the rendezvous to meet those.

xash spirits who made you so unceremonious a visit this morn-
ing, and shall be absent with the brig a few days. It is the
more necessary that I should be present with them at this
time, as it is necessary always to strike while the iron is hot if
‘we would mould the material to our purpose. You saw the
summary proceeding ‘effected by my hand but a few hours
since, and heard the shouts of applause sanctioning the deed.
I have been too long a diplomatist to trust appearances. ‘Those
appearances were false; and the very shouts of applause will
ere long, unless my presence curbs them, be converted into the
howls of disaffection. I have now a very considerable sum,
and this morning will bring me an addition to its It is for the
purpose of distributing this sum that I would be with these
men, as well as by salutary discipline to curb any feelings of
revolt which may arise. This, with the assistance of the booty,
which will all be theirs, is a very easy task. There, young
man, you see some of the policy of my administration,” con-
eluded the Admiral, smiling ; “and if you wish to see Elvel-
lynne before I sail, you will accompany me.”

The English officer eagerly accepted the invitation, and,
with the Admiral, shortly entered the boat, and pulled for the
brigantine.

We will precede them a little, and take a view of what was
actually going on there during the absence of the Admiral.
The Hoofd Schout, who, not well, acquainted with his new
resting-place, had not enjoyed as comfortable a night’s rest as

a

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—————— oe : rec

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Di geese ne die a

ELVELLYNNE’S LETTER. 114

was his wont, was also early astir as well as the Admiral.
He bethought him if there were no means of escape from his
confinement without paying the sums demanded, but, looking
around and seeing how everything was guarded, he relin-
quished the idea, and sat down to await patiently the hour
when the arrival of the ransom money would liberate him.
‘While turning over the events of the few past hours, and
thinking himself to be the sport of wayward fortune, Mynheer
Bartus was summoned by a messenger to attend upon Elvel-
lynne. Not knowing what new turn in his fate this proceed-
ing might portend, the burly magistrate followed the mes-
senger, and was conducted into the same cabin where, during
the last evening, he had been so near partaking a second dose
of the Admiral’s restorative, and where, too, he had been
exempted from the unpleasant process, at the intercession of
the merciful maiden. At the same table upon which had been
‘executed the two odious documents he had so unwillingly
signed, sat themaiden. It was now several days since she had
so suddenly and unceremoniously left her guardian’s roof;
and being really attached to the good Alderman, and reflecting
that it was her duty to give him some information, she had
written the following letter, to deliver which was her present
object in summoning the Hoofd Schout. The letter ran thus :—

“My dear Uncle,

“You were doubtless surprised at my leaying your dwelling
so suddenly, without giving you, who have eyer been as a
father to me, any information of my intention. I can assure
you, my dear guardian, that I should not have done so, had I
myself any previous knowledge of my unexpected departure.
You, certainly, if any one on earth, were entitled to the confi-
dence of one who has ever partaken of your fatherly kindness
and indulgence. But, the events of chance were not at my
control, and, ere I was aware, I was borne from your hospit-
able mansion to be enlisted in a cause for which I am sure you
will not blame me, the cause of love. You well remember that
neither your intercession nor mine could at all move the
Goyernor in his decision concerning one who was dear to you
as well as myself. From the council chamber I teturned
home with a heavy ncart, ana repirea yo te privacy ot tne

 
 

118 THE BRIGANTINE,

little chamber, which you so kindly granted me as mine, to
pore over the events of the day, and cast about me for some
means of relief. I bethought me of going myself to the
Governor in person, and interceding for mercy on behalf of
the prisoner, but farther deliberation deterred me. After ex-
hausting in vain all my feeble invention for some practicable
resource, I at length gave way to feelings of sadness, which
entirely overcame me, and while in that state I was trans-
ported from the little room to Dame Bonny’s, in the Here-
Graft, by some unknown person, whom I afterwards found out
to be no less a personage than Ephraim Lowe. Admiral Lowe
told me that Charles would certainly be executed, unless we
could find the means to extricate him from confinement, for
which purpose he had enlistedme. I will not here weary you
with the detail of the subsequent escape. Suffice it to say,
that the good Admiral made known to me his plans, and that
night, principally through his means, the escape was effected.

“ But now, my dear Uncle, I come to a mystery which I am
forbid at present revealing even to you; yet, trust your affec-
tionate Elvellynne when she tells you she is happy. Admiral
Lowe was acquainted with my lineage, and, as a proof of it,
presented to mea fac-simile of the little miniature which I
have always worn, and which, until he showed me a secret
spring that disclosed it, I had never before been conscious of.
Iam intimately connected with this much dreaded and much
misrepresented man, on board whose vessel I now am, and for
the present shall remain. You need not entertain any fears,
my dearest Uncle, for your Elvellynne; she is happy—per-
fectly happy—and enjoys frequently a visit from Captain
Vincent, whose vessel is anchored not far off. Iwould ask you
to visit me, but suppose that prejudice against the Admiral
will prevent. It will afford you, doubtless, no less pleasure
than it did me to learn that your little orphaned protéyée is the
daughter of Lord Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, the man
whose misfortunes we have often together so much deplored.

“ But virtue will furnish its own reward, and how is it pos-
sible that we could ever have looked for a due appreciation of
virtue in a court so basely profligate as that of Charles,
where vice sways the sceptre, and virtue is unknown? You
will at once ask; Where is my father now, since his banish-

   

2

  
=

THE BURGHER’S CALCULATION. 119

ment from that fallen kingdom which he so long endeavoured
in vain to sustain? I answer you, that it is generally sup-
posed he is living at Rouen, but that I-know better his place
of residence. I would write more, but time presses,-and I
will only add, my dear Uncle, that you must not place reliance
upon rumour, nor believe all the incredulous stories we used
to hear about Admiral Lowe, for he is, indeed, a kind and
good man, and even you will one day learn to love and-revere
him.
«“ Adieu, and believe me to be ever
“ Your affectionate ward,

‘¢ ELVELLYNNE MONTFORD.”

This she gave to the magistrate, desiring him to deliver it,
and receive her thanks.

The Schout, knowing that the Admiral was absent from the
brigantine, and thinking this to be a fine opportunity of
speaking without fear of interruption, commenced: “ Yes, in-
deed, young lady, I’ll deliver the letter for your kindness in
freeing me from that dreadful man’s hands last evening; but,
think you there is no way, no possible means of my extrica-
tion from confinement, without paying this enormous sum?
Let me see,” continued Bartus, making a rough estimate on
his fingers of the amount; *‘ for—for—for—well, I’ve really
forgotten ; but there was one item of account, five hundred
ducats. That’s five hundred,” said he, placing the forefinger
of his right hand very knowingly upon the forefinger of his —
left, and looking down very wisely to collect the other items,
which he knew very well all the time, but was not willing
that the maiden should know how little was the price de-
manded for his person, wishing to impress her with his im-
portance by the great sum set upon him. “ Then there’s—
there’s—let me see. Oh, ah! there’s ransom demanded for
my person, Bartus Spooturken, Hoofd Schout of the city of
Nieuw Orange, one thousand ducats—that’s one thousand
more,” continued he, proceeding on to another finger. “Then
then there’s another item, I’m pretty sure, of five hundred
more. What the plague was it? It must have been for ran-
som too! Oh! aye, aye, that’s it; ransom money—a post~

 
  

 

120 ; THE BRIGANTINE,

poned item, five hundred ducats, That’s five hundred more”
(another finger).

“ And then,” cried Elvellynne, laughing at the burgher’s
little artifice, which she perfeetly understood, “then there’s
one item more—one stiver, making one stiver,” added she,

. assuming the burgher’s meditative mood and manner of com-

putation ; “ what is that for, Mynheer Spooturken ?”

Mynheer Bartus looked up, and reading in her merry
laughing eyes that she was well acquainted with the document
and items, and that his game was up, he gave up the compu-
tation and struck at once upon his main subject.

“Tt is a round sum,” said he, “if one of the items were even
for the devil’s smoking tobacco; and, bethink you, is there no
way that will rid me of this payment?”

“None,” returned Elvellynne, “if you would avoid a hor-
rible death and again be free.”

“Saint Nicholas,” groaned the miserly Schout, “it is a
mighty sum—two thousand ducats! ‘Then there is my bull’s-
eye watch, worth—let me see: I first paid Hans Slouter, the
silver-smidt, two ducats and one stiver for it, and for various
repairs since, three stivers; that is, one and three is four, and
two ducats—two ducats and four stivers. ‘Then there is my
halfpence which the beggarly sailors extorted from me last
night at the hut. Oh, oh, oh, such a sum in all!”

Here Paul Spleutcher entered the cabin, bearing sundry
bags of coin, which he deposited upon the table, and withdrew
so soon as the Admiral-entered, which he did in a moment.
“ fold, let me stay!” cried Bartus, as Paul was leading him
forth; “let me stay and see them counted—there may be
one more than the tally; let me stay, I say;” and bursting
from Paulus, he rolled his chubby little figure into the pre-
sence of the Admiral, who stood laughing heartily at this dis-
play of miserly spirit.

“ Well, come, Mynheer,” cried the Admiral, humouring him,
“sit down and count them over carefully, and if there be one
too many, honest Paul shall have it for his trouble, and if
there be one wanting, you shall e’en repay it three-fold.”

The Schout now wished that he had let the matter rest;
but muttering to himself, “Needs. must go when the devil
drives,” he sat him down on the cabin deck as directed, with

  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

sy

Ty
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ty

SPOOTURKEN’S RELWASE. 121

the bags before him, and commenced his weary task. At length
it was finished, and the number found to be exactly correct.
Mynheer Spooturken was thereupon taken to the deck and
sent on shore, a wiser, if not a happier, man.

 

We will not weary the reader with the detail of the meet-
ing and parting between the two lovers. Suffice it to say,
that. they did meet and did part, and that scarcely was Vin-
cent once more on board his own yessel than the Merry
Christmas was gliding down the bay under a press of sail.
With a feeling of despondency, the young man watched the
little brig till her last sail had disappeared below the horizon,
and then descended to his cabin. He found the cabin lonely,
or deemed it so, and returned “on deck.’ The deck, too,
yas unpleasant, and for once he began to think that the fault
was in the anchorage. He had never thought so while El-
yellynne was near. Accordingly the sloop wes put under
way, and stood out to sea for “a cruise.”

 
 

 

122 THE BRIGANTINE. Soak

Ormea bed Bek x Leak,
‘A CHASE—AND SOMETHING ELSE,

Turee days after her departure, the Merry Christmas was
again at anchor in the little island-bound bay. The G@rey-
hound, also, after a short cruise, returned to her former anchor-
age, and the old routine of visiting and being visited was re-
sumed by the two vessels. Occasionally, indeed, the Admiral
would make a trip to the rendezvous, and Vincent, when
conscience whispered him, “ duty, duty,” would be all vigor
and animation, putting to sea for a cruise, but the expiration
of a couple of weeks, at most, would always find him snug
at the anchorage, when the old Admiral would indulge in a
little badinerte at his expense, and Elyellynne herself, first
playfully blame, and then laugh at him.

Time thus sped on with rapid wing. <A year since the
opening of these pages had glided imperceptibly away. The
brig was lying in the little bay, having just returned from one
of the above-mentioned trips, to the rendezvous, and the
Greyhound had not yet returned from a cruise which she had
commenced some ten days before. It was that lovely season
of the year, when, as a maiden from a ball, gay nature began
to doff the brighter garments in which she had reveled through
the summer hours, and the sear leaf, floating by the wayfarer
on the yet warm-breathing breeze, admonished him, that to
every thing there is a fall. Still it was a time when things
were lovely. The playful southerly breeze began to hold
with her more rude relative a gentle strife and murmur in
the forest-bough, that her territory was encroached upon.

It was on a bright morning when every thing seemed to
sympathize with invalid nature, that, as the mist gradually
dispersed before the rising sun, two figures were slowly wind-
ing along beneath the trees, up the litile acclivity which leads
to the summit of Nutting Island, now Governor's Island.

Nutting Island, in the year 1674, was a wild, uninhabited,
beautiful island, rising (as it were) timidly from the surface of
the peaceful waters, and haying its summit covered with

 

ay

—

  
—

THE TRYSTING-PLACE. 123

innumerable hickory trees, which afforded to the youths and
maidens at this season of the year, a pleasant and profitable
employment.

During the pleasanter months of summer, the island was a
favorite retreat for those who dared to make the perilous pas-
sage across the waters, and its surface was marked with many
diverging paths, each one leading to some rustic bower, or
favorite nut-tree. It was now the season for nuts, which
might account for the presence of the two individuals. In-
deed, the maiden seemed busily gathering of nature’s stores,
which she would occasionally deposit in a basket carried by
her companion, a rather elderly, but fine-looking man. The
maiden was in the first blush of youth, and might have at-
tained to eighteen summers. Her dress was of the richest
material, as was that of her companion, and such as was worn
only by the wealthiest and oldest families. The path which
they were traversing led from the crossing-pole (which
stretched across. Buttermilk channel) quite to the summit of
the land. Near by the pole was a small party of men “ get-
ting out timber,’ and discussing the matters which had so
lately agitated the colony. The path which has been desig-
nated as leading from the pole to the crown of the island,
terminated in an open plat of grass, free from trees, and hal-
lowed in the memory of many, as the Trysting-place.

It was about midway between the crossing-pole and Tryst-
ing-place, that our couple was startled by the quick, sharp re-
port of a heavy gun, and a moment afterward, a thirty-two- —
pound shot whirred by, skipping along among the branches,
cutting off boughs and twigs, till its progress was arrested by
the trunk of a stubborn old oak, in which it remained nearly -
buried.

“Ha!” said the old man, on examining the shot and dis-
covering a stamp of the king’s crown, “there’s game afloat.
Let us on, my child, and see what it betokens.”

Taking the muiden’s hand, he hastened forward to the
Trysting-place, whence there was a good view seaward.  Ar-
rived at this point, both involuntarily stopped to witness what
was going on before them. A small sloop-of-war, with English
colors, was maneuvering to escape from two heavy Dutch
frigates, which had chased her in, and were now driving her

 
 

THE BRIGANTINE.

toward the land, where there was no possibility of escape:
The little sloop, however, nothing Jaunted, was beating up
with the hope of weathering the island to the north’ard, and
so running up the harbor through Salt (or East river, through
that intricate passage so little known at that period, and so
formidable to mariners, as to have received the name of “ Hell
Gadt.” If she could have effected this maneuver, . escape
would have been no difficult matter; but, at the critical mo-
ment, when the sloop was heading half a point higher than
the. land, the breeze shifted a point and thus cut her off
altogether. As she fell off, however, the commander gallantly
poured a broadside into the nearest frigate, which cut away
the fore-top-gallant-mast, and elicited from his brave English
tars a good, hearty cheer.

“Bravely done, young man, bravely done,” ejaculated the
old man, pleased with his display of daring, and entering as
warmly into the spirit of the scene, as if he himself had been
a participator. The frigates were now closing rapidly upon

_ the little vessel, and her destruction seemed inevitable, when,
with a word of admonition to his daughter, to meet him at
the crossing-pole, the old man rushed down toward the beach.

“Father, father,’ cried the maiden, “my dear father, is it,
is it the Greyhound ?”

The old man stopped a minute, arrested by the voice of hie
child, and simply replied: “It is, but she is safe.”
tea Thank God, then, h faintly ejaculated the girl, and sjutdik
herself to the pathway, placing implicit reliance upon her
father’s affirmation, <A few steps brought the old man to the
beach, and within hail of the little sloop, where, raising his
hands to his mouth, he shouted, “Ho, oh! The Greyhound,

ahoy !

“Hallo! Who hails ” was returned from the sloop, in the
well-known voice of her commander.

+, “To the channel, to the channel,” shouted the old man;
« there’s water enough to carry you through, and I will see
the pole clear.”

“The sloop fell off, the yards were trimmed, and once more
the Greyhound was dashing on under full sail in the direction
of the Buttermilk channel. The old man haying waited to
see if his advice was taken, now turned in an easterly direction

  

    

Foal

a
5 cal

a

om.

THE PURSUIT, — 123

and strode rapidly on. The frigates, thinking that their
prey was only running further into the net, crowded on sa‘.
and gave chase. The Greyhound stood gallantly on, receiving
the fire of the frigates’ bow guns, and as punctually returning
the same. : ;

The old man watched every motion of the three vesseis
with an attentive eye, and an interest apparently not exceeded by
that of the maiden who stood at a little distance, with clasped
hands, and eyes riveted upon the gallant sloop. As the
English cruiser ranged along, the old man hailed her to keep
the middle channel, and seizing an ax from one of the work-
men, who was listlessly gazing upon the scene, he jumped
upon the crossing pole, and, with a few sturdy strokes, which
were so powerfully dealt as to excite the admiration of even
the timber-cutters, severed the log, which fell heavily into the
water and was borne onward by the swift flood-tide. The ©
Greyhound dashed through, brushing the marsh-grass on either
side, and as she passed, Vincent interchanged compliments
with Admiral Lowe, and touched his cap with reverence to
Elvellynne, who stood at too great a distance for speech, The
Admiral stood with the ax in his hand, watching the sloop
as she slipped up the bay, and had fairly forgotten the presence
of the two frigates till aroused by Elvyellynne.

“ See, father, see,” said she, laying her hand timidly on his
arm and looking in the direction of the nearest frigate, “they
send a boat with armed men; can they mean you harm ?”

The Admiral turned, and seeing the frigate’s boat approach- —
ing, answered :

“Indeed, my child, these Dutchmen are not inclined to see
the game which they had at bay, thus rescued from their
hands, and I bethink me that it is time we should move.”
So saying, he led the way to a little copse hard by, which, at
first glance, seemed impenetrable, but under which, really,
was an inlet of water. Beneath this copse was secreted a
light shallop, into which the Admiral handed Elyellynne, and
then stepped forth to reconnoiter.

The advancing party, composed of four marines and th¢
boat’s crew, under a Lieutenant, had already landed, and was
but a short distance from the copse, when the Admiral stepped
out, and, seeing him, the officer led on his men with a quicker

 
    
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

THE BRIGANTINE.

step. The Admiral, perceiving at oace that no time was to
ve lost, stepped into the boat, and shoved out from the cop-
pice. Immediately on seeing this, the officer lad back his men
to the boat, and commenced pursuit.

The frigates had separated, the one to which the boat be-
longed “lying by,” at a little distance, while the other had
hauled off, and was beating round the island. The pursuit,
for a few moments, was very keen, but the Admiral had the
advantage of a light boat and smooth water, and, conse-
quently, gained on the pursuers.

He had reached half-way between the two islands, and was
eyery moment shooting further and further beyond the chase,
and Elvellynne began to look upon escape as certain, when a
snot from the pursuing voat struck the old man in the right
arm, passing through the arm into his side. The oar fell from
his powerless grasp. For a moment he reeled, but gathering
strength, regained his seat and sat erect !

: “ My father! oh ! father, are you hurt ?” cried Elvellynne, in
a voice of agony, starting forward, and placing her hands on
tue old man’s shoulder.

“Poh, poh, my child,” answered Lowe, not willing that his
daughter should know the extent of the injury, which he felt
was indeed mortal; “poh, no! only a flesh wound in the arm,
which I shall soon recover.”

Satisfied with this assurance, though somewhat alarmed at
the profuse flow of blood from the wound, and the momentary
paleness which overspread her sire’s face, the maiden began to
cast about her for some means, offering a prospect of escape ;
and, in her anxiety, tendered to the ofd man her feeble assist-
ance, at the same time seizing an oar. He smiled faintly at
her ardor, and pointed over her shoulder to the soldiers, already
stepping aboard of the.frail fabric. :

“Save him! Oh! spare him, he is my father!” cried Elyel
lynne, imploring the officer who commanded the boat.

“Duty, fair lady,” replied the officer, politely and kindly
“T regret that duty impels me to this unpleasant necessity ,
could I accede to your request, I would.”

“Oh, God!” muttered Elvellynne, and with clasped hands,
sunk down in the boat.

“Let the man who fired that sbot, stand forth!” said the

coat]
THE TRAITOR. 127

Admiral, in a husky voice, but in a tone so deep, determined,
and fierce, that it startled even the lifeless girl from her de-
spair.

“Let him stand forth, I say! repeated the old man, with
difficulty raising himself with one hand, while the effort made
the stream of life gush, bubbling from his side. The marine,
under some secret influence, stepped forward.

“Traitor !” said the Admiral, as he recognized one who had
ever partaken of his kindness, and whose life he had once
saved at the hazard of his own:—“ Traitor, base and false,
take thy doom!” and, with a pistol which he drew from his
bosom, the old man sent the betrayer to his last account. As
the false soldier fell, he gasped with his last breath :

“He is—he is—the Earl of Clarendon! the pi—pi—pirate
Lowe!” and expired.

“ Ay, truly enough,” bitterly exclaimed the old man, look-
ing at the officer, who stood surprised, “the Earl of Claren-
don, James Hyde, stands before you, and can expect, even
from foreigners, more than from his own countrymen.”

“But, but,” muttered the officer in confusion, ‘“ some—
some mistake, here. I—J—”

“No mistake, sir, whatever,’ returned the Admiral, lan-
guidly, and sinking back, “none. You see before you a man,
who, driven from his own country, hes attempted to lead from
murder and bloodshed, the lawless rovers of the ocean. I am-
Admiral LOWE and you, young man, will have the reward
for taking me.”

Here the Admiral, faint from loss of blood, could say no
more, and sunk gently back, in which condition he, together
with the lifeless form of Elvellynne, was transferred to the
frigate’s boat, and thence to the city.

 
 

 

 

128 THE BRIGANTINE,

CHAPTER. X LY.
THE DROP-SCENE. i

Tr was soon noised throughout the gossiping little town that
the far-famed pirate Lowe was at length taken, and through
every mouth the story ran, with as many additions as each
one chose to make, till every man, woman, and child, was de-
sirous to see the famous rover. The Governor had ordered
the Admiral to be confined in the stronghold within the fort,
when he had been delivered up to the city authorities, not
willing to trust so notorious a character in the cells of the
Stadt Huys, from which it was well known that he had the
year previous succeeded in. the abduction of the English-
man.

Once more Elvyellynne found shelter under the roof of her
kind guardian, but with almost a broken heart. She had been
separated from the Admiral when delivered to the Governor,
and all her entreaties to be allowed to remain with him were
unavailing. In the extremity of her grief the maiden applied
to the Alderman, disclosing every thing to him, the rank and
station of the prisoner, and her connection with him. The
excellent man was as much grieved as surprised at her state-
ment; and taking his hat and cane, immediately sallied forth
and betook himself to the Governor, to whom he related the
facts as he had heard them from the mouth of his ward. The
Governor at once granted ie Aiderman’s petition, and with
tears in his eyes, promised that the prisoner should be recom-
mended to the home government for mercy. At the same
time he informed Alderman Von Brooter that this could the
more readily be done, as a vessel had just arrived, bringing
dispatches which declared that hostilities between the two
powers had ceased, and that the port was now open to all
English vessels.

Overjoyed at his success and the kindness of the Governor,
and wishing that his ward should partake of the intelligence,
the good Alderman hastened home to make it known to
Elvellynne. As he turned into Princess street, he thought he

     

PS
“MINE FOR EVER.” 129

knew the tigure on the zrotioi before him, and hastened for-
ward. The figure turned in at the gate, and before the door
was opened, the Alderman stood by the side of Captain Vin-_
cent. They entered together, and proceeded to the little bou-
doir, where sat Elvellynne in the same chair which once before
she had occupied with similar emotions of grief for her loyer,
who now stood before her. The good Alderman delayed a
little till the first greeting was passed, and then entering, affec-
tionately took the hand of the sorrow-stricken tmhaiden, and
told her she was at liberty to visit her father when and go often
as she wished.

“Father! father!” exclaimed Vincent, in astonishment;
“syhere is your father ?”

“Tn prison,” faintly answered Elvellynne, and covering her
face with: her hands, sunk back in the seat, overcome with
tears. She had never yet told her lover further than that she
was the daughter of the Earl of Clarendon; consequently Vin-
cent was ignorant that Admiral Lowe and Lord Hyde was the
same person. Too much overcome to make the disclosure,
Elvellynne begged her kind guardian to tell him all, and, if
he could no longer look upon her as he had regarded her when
the poor unknown Elyellynne Montford, to absolye him from
all obligations.

The Alderman beckoned the young officer aside, and in-
formed him as Elvellynne had requested; but when he began
to intimate that if he could not, with the same feelings, look
wpon the daughter of Admiral Lowe (or the Earl of Claren-
don, as we shall now call him) as he had upon Elvyellynne
Montford, that she herself had authorized him to liberate him
from all engagements, the young man abruptly turned from
him, and clasped the weeping maiden in his arms. “ Mine, and
mine forever!” said he, and sealed the exclamation with a to-
ken of love.

Feeling himself to be now as much the child of the unfor-
tunate earl as Elvellynne herself, Captain Vincent listened
with equal attention to the words of the Alderman. He told
Elvellynné that the Governor had readily consented to her yis-
iting her father, and dwelt at some length and with strong
hopes upon the Goyernor’s proposition to recommend the pris-

~ oner to mercy. He consoled her as best he might with all

 
 

THE BRIGANTINE.

the tenderness of a father, and then led her forth to the
prison.

As they were leaving the house a messeziger arrived from
the Governor, breathless with haste, to tell Elvellynne that
the earl was suffering much from his wound, and wished to
see her as soon as possible.

With this incentive they hastened on, and soon entered the
fort. Vincent led the trembling girl within the stronghold,
where lay the earl, supported on one hand by the faithful
Paulus Spleutcher, and on the other by Governor Colye him-
self. The leech was administering some restorative to. the |
dying man, and intimating with an ominous shake of the
head, in reply to the Goyernor’s question, that there was no
longer any hope. The earl faintly opened his eyes, and with
a motion signified that he would be alone with his child.
Vincent would have withdrawn with the rest, but Lord Hyde
slowly articulated his name, and he returned. They knelt by
the old man—Llvellynne on one side, and Vincent on the other.

“My children,” said he, in a weak, husky voice, “ what is
done must de done quickly. I am bound on a long passage,”
continued he, taking Vincent’s hand, “and should like to see
the ‘ yards square by the lifts and braces’ beforeI go. Young
man, do you love my daughter as you did?”

Affected by the scene, Vincent could only find words to re-
ply, £ do.” :

“Then,” continued. the earl, “Ict a man of God be called,
tor I would see my child provided with a protector before I
die; and who so meet to claim that right as a husband ?”

The minister soon made his appearance. The earl took
the hand of Elvellynne, and gently laid it within that of Vin-
- cent. “Take her, take her,” said he, “as a dying bequest,
and love her as she deserves to be loved. She has been a
kind and affectionate child, and will be a good wife. Let the
ceremony be performed, that I may die in peace.”

The minister was for a moment too much overcome to read
the service; but regaining somewhat his composure, he pro-
ceedéd. Vincent held up the drooping girl, and amid her sobs
and heart-rending moans the ceremony was completed.

“Thank God!” exclaimed the earl, in a faint voice, and fell
back.

 
\

THE LAST KIss. 131

With a wild shriek Elvellynne sprung to his side, and re-
ceived fidm his lips the dying kiss.

“My child! my daughter !” ejaculated the old man with
his last breath, and gently sunk down.

“My father, speak! speak! oh, speak once more to your
daughter!” cried Elvellynne, clasping the inanimate form, and
wildly kissing the pallid lips; but there was no answer; and
the youthful bride, overcome by the overpowering sensation of
. grief, fell senseless by the side of the corpse.

Vincent gently raised her, and saw that her garments were
dyed with blood—'twas the blood of her dead father.

Years rolled by; time had touched with mellowed tints the
recollections of sad events; but never did Admiral Vincent or
his beautiful lady forget the prison-scene and the death-bed
bridal. Even Paulus Spleutcher, who now held the dignity of
don mart, would often recount to the little Elvellynne as he
led her about the pleasure-grounds, his recollections of her

grandfather, which undeviatingly ended with, “Ah! but he
was a good man, so he was, that same Admiral Lowe.”

THE END.