Young Captain Jack
H >>
Horatio Alger and Arthur M. Winfield >> Young Captain Jack
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 | 10 |
11
"He was a tall, wicked-looking fellow, who went by the name of
Mackenzie, although I have since learned that his real name is Mackwell
or Mackey."
"Dr. Mackey! He has been here."
"Here?"
"Exactly, and he claims Jack as his son!"
"The vile impostor!" cried the wounded officer wrathfully. "He is a
villain to his very finger tips. It is to him that I owe my long term in
the insane asylum. Where is he now?"
"That I cannot tell you. I refused to give Jack up, for I did not like
the looks of the man, and moreover Jack did not wish to go with him. I
told him he would have to prove his claim at court."
"That was right. If I can get my hands on him, I will either shoot him
or place him behind the bars."
"He certainly deserves arrest for plotting to take Jack."
"I presume he is scheming to obtain the property which is rightfully
mine. During my lucid intervals at the asylum he got me to tell him my
story. There was property in England coming to me, and also an estate in
Virginia coming to my wife. The trip on the ocean was taken to obtain
the property coming to Laura. He drew from me all the details he could,
and then drugged me, so that for a long time I knew scarcely anything of
what happened. When I regained my own mind, I learned that he had left
the asylum several weeks before, and departed for parts unknown."
"And were you kept at the asylum?"
"I was, for years, for this rascal had put me on the books as being
incurable, and subject to attacks of great violence."
"Of course he did this to obtain possession of the property."
"Undoubtedly."
"It is strange he did not put in an appearance before."
"You must remember he knew no more than I about the exact fate of the
_Nautilus_. How he found out the vessel was wrecked here I do not
know."
"He has paid the wreck a visit--Old Ben rowed him over to it!" cried
Mrs. Ruthven, struck with a sudden idea.
"Did he bring anything away with him?"
"Old Ben thought he brought with him a tin box."
"It must have been my box--the one I placed in the secret closet! I must
get it away from him. But tell me of Jack. When will he be back?"
"I--I cannot say, Colonel Stanton."
"Did you send him away on an errand?"
"I--I did not."
"But he is not here. Tell me, is he--is he missing--shot?"
"He is missing, yes. I do not believe he has been shot."
"It must be more of Dr. Mackey's work," muttered the wounded officer,
and then sank down. The conversation had exhausted him utterly, and it
was a long while before he spoke again.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
IN THE HANDS OF THE GUERRILLAS.
Our hero knew only too well how dangerous a wild cat can be, and as he
gazed at the beast looking in through the open doorway of the lonely
cabin his heart was filled with dread.
"A wild cat!" he muttered. "Scat! go away!" he yelled.
The sudden cry caused the beast to retreat a few steps, and for the
instant Jack breathed easier. But then the beast approached once more.
"Go away! scat!" he repeated, but now the wild cat stood its ground, its
eyes gleaming fiercely and its mouth half open, showing its sharp teeth.
It was tremendously hungry, and this had caused it to find its way to
the habitation.
"Go away, I say," repeated Jack, and then, as the wild cat took a
noiseless step forward, he let out a scream: "Help! Help!"
The wild cat now prepared to leap upon him. It crouched low, shaking its
short tail from side to side. The leap was about to be taken when, of a
sudden, bang! went a gun, and the beast rolled over on its side.
"A good shot, Ben!" came in the voice of Columbus Washington. "I rackon
ye killed him."
"Ben!" cried Jack, in great joy, as the face of the faithful old negro
showed itself at the doorway. "You came in the nick of time!"
"Dat's so," answered Old Ben, as he came forward and poked the wild cat
with his gun barrel. "Dead, are ye? Well, Old Ben will make suah," and
he hit the wild cat's skull a blow that crushed it completely.
"Ben, you saved my life," went on Jack joyfully. "I was certain I was
going to be chewed up."
"Wot fo' is yo' a prisoner yeah?" asked Columbus Washington, as he gazed
at Jack's bonds curiously.
"Dr. Mackey made me a prisoner."
"What, dat man!" ejaculated Old Ben.
"Yes, Ben; he had me taken from the stable, where I had gone to watch
that guerrilla."
"And where am de guerrilla?"
"Dr. Mackey helped him to escape."
The faithful old colored man shook his head doubtfully.
"Massah Jack, do yo' dun t'ink dat doctor am your fadder?" he asked.
"No, Ben; I think nothing of the kind."
"Neider do I. He is a-plottin' against yo'."
"That is what I think, Ben. If I could manage it, I would have him
arrested. Then we could get at the bottom of this affair."
Jack was speedily released, and the party of three left the lonely
mountain cabin and started across the country for the Ruthven
plantation.
"Yo' mudder will be tickled to see yo'," remarked Old Ben, as they
trudged along. "She was worried to death ober yo' absence."
"After this I will see to it that they don't get me again," replied our
hero.
Half a mile was covered when, on turning a point in the trail, they came
unexpectedly upon a company of Confederate guerrillas who were taking it
easy, lying in the grass.
"Hullo! who are you?" demanded one of the guerrillas as he leaped up and
drew up his gun.
"Friends!" answered Jack.
Just then he caught sight of the men who had marched him away from the
stable, and also of Pete Gendron, who was lying on some blankets in the
shade.
"Friends, are you!" cried one of the men who had marched him off. "Up
with your hands, sonny!"
There was no help for it, and Jack put up his hands, and his negro
companions did likewise.
"I reckon as how we cotched ye nicely," went on the man with the gun.
"Whar did ye come from--thet cabin up the mountain?"
"Yes."
"Whar is Dr. Mackey?"
"I do not know."
"Did he let ye go?"
"Of course he didn't let the boy go," growled Pete Gendron. "The niggers
must have released him."
"Is that true, sonny?"
"That is none of your business," answered Jack, not knowing what else to
say.
"Aint it, though? All right, ride yer high hoss, if yer want to. But
throw down them arms fust."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean all of yer are prisoners, thet's wot I mean," drawled the
guerrilla.
"You have no right to hold me up in this fashion."
"Ye forgit, sonny, thet might makes right in most cases. Come, hand over
them firearms."
Jack had been provided with a pistol by Old Ben, and this he was
compelled to surrender, and his companions were also disarmed. The
guerrillas numbered fully a score, so resistance would have been
foolhardy.
"What do you intend to do with me?" asked our hero, after he had been
made a prisoner by having his hands bound behind him.
"We'll hold ye till Dr. Mackey comes back."
"When will that be?"
"Can't say."
This ended the talk, and presently the guerrillas moved up the mountain
side to where there was a fair-sized cave.
They marched our hero into this cave, and tied him and his companions
fast to some jagged rocks in the rear.
A fire was started up and the outlaws--for the guerrillas were nothing
less--proceeded to make themselves comfortable by lying around,
drinking, smoking, and playing cards.
Gendron was not badly wounded, and sat up to look on at the
card-playing.
So the hours wore away. Toward night a scout went out to learn what the
armies were doing, and he did not come back until the next day.
Two days were spent by Jack and his companions in the cave. During that
time the guerrillas treated them brutally, and gave them hardly
sufficient food to keep them from starving.
Gendron was particularly bitter against Jack, and insulted our hero upon
every possible occasion.
"If I was the doctor I'd blow your head off, and get that money for
myself," he said once.
"What do you know about that money?" demanded Jack.
At this the guerrilla closed one eye suggestively.
"I know a whole lot, sonny."
"Then you know what a rascal Dr. Mackey is?
"I didn't allow as how he is a rascal, sonny."
"Well, he is, and you know it. I can't see how he puts up with a fellow
like you, though."
This was said to draw Gendron on, and it had the desired effect.
"He can't help himself," chuckled the guerrilla. "I know too much."
"What do you know."
"I know all about the doctor's private papers--the ones he carries in
the tin box."
"The papers about the property?"
"O' course."
"Those papers won't help him any," went on Jack, wondering what the
guerrilla would say next.
"Won't they? They'll prove that he is----. But never mind--you shan't
git nothin' out o' me," and then Gendron relapsed into sudden silence,
as though he realized that he had been talking too much.
On the afternoon of the next day Dr. Mackey appeared, accompanied by
another man, evidently an officer of the guerrillas. His face grew dark
as he gazed first at Jack and then at Old Ben and Columbus Washington.
"So you were going to help Jack to escape," he said harshly to the
negroes.
"Jack is my young mastah," replied Old Ben. "Why shouldn't I try to sabe
him?"
"You are the fellow who saved Jack years ago, when the shipwreck
occurred, I believe."
"I am, sah."
"Then I am glad I have you in my power," answered Dr. Mackey. "You may
prove useful to me."
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE ESCAPE FROM THE CAVE.
Dr. Mackey turned away to consult with the guerrillas, and Jack and his
companions were left to themselves for the best part of half an hour.
The surgeon was evidently much disturbed over something, and Jack caught
the words, "must leave the country," and "I will send the money," spoken
to the guerrilla captain.
"Can it be possible that he intends to leave the States?" mused our
hero. "Well, we can easily get along without him. But I would like to
know more of that fortune."
At length Dr. Mackey came to him and sat down by his side.
"So you thought to escape me, did you?" he began.
"Do you blame me?" questioned our hero, as coolly as he could.
"Not exactly. But I want to warn you that it won't pay to try to escape
again. I have given the soldiers orders to shoot you down, if you
attempt it."
"In that case they must be outlaws, not soldiers, Dr. Mackey."
"They know how to obey orders."
"Again I demand to know what you are going to do with me."
"If you wish to know so much, I will tell you. I am going to take you
out of the country."
"To where?"
"That you will learn after we are on shipboard."
"Then you intend to take me away from America?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to take me to Europe?"
"As I said before, you'll learn your destination when you are on
shipboard."
"Supposing I won't go with you?"
"If you won't go peaceably, I'll have to use force, that's all."
"You mean you'll drug me, or something like that?"
"Never mind the details. You'll go with me, and that ends it. Moreover,
you'll do just as I want you to."
"When do you intend to take me away?"
"That will depend upon circumstances. Probably to-morrow night, or the
next day."
"What of my companions?"
"Old Ben shall go with us."
"And Columbus?"
"Is that the nigger's name?"
"Yes. Columbus Washington."
"The guerrillas will take care of him."
"Do you mean to say they will shoot him?"
"What if they do? Niggers don't count in this world."
"I think you are a monster, Dr. Mackey!" exclaimed our hero, in horror.
"To kill a negro is as much murder as to kill anyone else."
"I won't discuss the subject. The question is, will you go along
peacefully with me?"
"I will not. You have no right to abduct me in this fashion."
"I have a right to do as I please with my own son."
"Again I say I am not your son. Do you know what I think? I think you
are nothing but a swindler--a rascal who wishes to use me as a tool, in
order to get hold of some fortune coming to me or to somebody else."
Dr. Mackey glared at Jack for a moment, then leaped forward and struck
our hero a cruel blow in the face.
"That for your impudence!" he cried wrathfully. "After this, keep a
civil tongue in your head."
The blow made Jack's blood boil, but he was helpless to resent it. "You
are a coward, to hit me when I am tied like this," he said. "But some
day, Dr. Mackey, I may be able to square accounts, and then you had
better beware."
One of the guerrillas now came forward to consult with the surgeon, and
Jack was left with the other prisoners, to meditate over what had been
said and done.
"He's de wust rascal wot I eber seen," whispered Old Ben
sympathetically. "Wot a pity he wasn't shot down in de fust battle wot
he eber got into!"
"He wants to take us both out of the country, Ben."
"Wot, away from ole South Carolina?"
"Yes--on a trip on the ocean."
"I don't want to go, Massah Jack."
"No more do I; but how can we help ourselves?"
"I wish dis niggah could git free, Massah Jack."
"We must try our best to escape to-night. If we don't do it to-night, I
reckon our last chance will be gone."
"Ise willin' ter do all I kin," answered Old Ben, and the other negro
said the same.
With the setting of the sun over the mountains a strong breeze sprang
up, and presently the sky was obscured by heavy clouds. Dr. Mackey had
gone off half an hour before.
"We're in fer a heavy storm," Jack heard one of the guerrillas say.
"It's a good thing we can crawl into the cave when it comes."
"If they come in here our chances of escape will be slim," thought our
hero.
The approaching storm made it very dark in the cave, and during this
time he worked with energy at his bonds.
At last he was free, and without making any noise he rolled over and
released Old Ben and Columbus Washington.
Suddenly there was a shout from outside.
A guerrilla on guard had discovered a man on the trail, with two horses
loaded with store goods.
"Here's a chance fer a haul!" was the cry.
The guerrillas ran outside, and soon the majority of them were making
after the traveler.
Only two were left on guard, and one of these was more than half
overcome by the liquor he had imbibed.
"Now is our chance!" whispered Jack, as he tiptoed his way to the cave
entrance. "Ben, you and I will pounce upon that man with the gun.
Columbus, you silence the fellow sitting on the rock. We must not let
them cry for aid."
The negroes understood the plan, and in a moment more the party of three
were upon the guerrillas. While Jack seized the gun of the one, Old Ben
caught him from behind and placed a large hand over his mouth.
"Silence, on your life!" said Jack, and leveled the gun at the rascal's
head. The man understood and, when allowed to breathe, said not a word.
To capture the half tipsy sentinel was likewise easy, and after both
were disarmed they were ordered to enter the cave.
"If you make the least outcry we'll come back and shoot you," said Jack.
Then he motioned to the two negroes, and all three set off on a run down
the mountain side. They heard a rifle shot to the right, and
consequently moved to the left.
The storm now burst over the mountains in all of its fury, with vivid
flashes of lightning and sharp cracks of thunder. As they proceeded they
heard the distant falling of one tree or another, as the giants of the
forest were laid low by the elements.
"I dun rackon da won't follow us in dis yeah storm," remarked Old Ben,
as they stopped after a while, to catch their breath. "Da will be fo'
gittin' back to de cabe an' stayin' dar."
"I hope that traveler escaped them," answered Jack. "But those gun-shots
sounded dubious."
"De gorillas ought all to be hung!" came from Columbus Washington. "Da
aint no sodgers, no matter if da do w'ar a uniform."
"They are outlaws, pure and simple," answered Jack. "But come, we must
go on. Ben, how far are we from home, do you calculate?"
"Six or seben miles, Massah Jack."
"Then we have a good, stiff walk before us."
"Do yo' t'ink yo' can walk dat far, Massah Jack, in dis awful storm?"
"I can, unless the rain sets in harder. I am anxious to get back, you
know."
"I don't blame yo' fo' dat, Massah Jack. De folks will be mighty glad to
see yo', too," answered Old Ben.
On they went through the darkness, Old Ben following the trail with the
keenness of a sleuth-hound. But it was far from a pleasant journey, as
Jack soon discovered, as he stumbled along over dirt and rocks and
through the dripping bushes. He was soaked to the skin, and the rawness
of the air caused him to shiver.
The downpour was now extra heavy, and they had to come to a halt under
some trees, in order to get their breath again. The wind was blowing
strongly and it was directly in their faces.
"How many miles have we made, Ben?" asked Jack.
"Not more dan t'ree, Massah Jack?"
"Then we have nearly four still to cover."
"Yes, Massah Jack, an' wery hard roads, too, ober Hallack's hill."
"If there was a cabin handy, I would go in for a rest of an hour or two.
The storm may let up."
"Da is a cabin down de trail, on de bend."
"Then let us stop there."
So it was arranged, and soon they gained the cabin, which was deserted,
the owner having joined the soldiers a year before, and his wife and
children being with some relatives in the town.
It was easy to get into the cabin, and once inside they started to make
themselves as comfortable as possible.
But they had not been in the place over half an hour when voices outside
filled them with fresh alarm.
CHAPTER XXX.
BROUGHT TO BAY.
"Somebody is coming!" whispered Jack excitedly. "I wonder if it is the
guerrillas?"
"If da come, de jig am up!" groaned Old Ben.
"Let us hide upstairs," returned our hero. "Quick!"
There was no time to say more, and all three ran for the ladder leading
to the loft of the cabin, which was but a story and a half high. Jack
was the first up, and the negroes quickly followed, and then all lay low
on the flooring, hardly daring to breathe.
In a moment more two men entered the cabin, shaking the water from their
rubber cloaks as they did so. The two men were Dr. Mackey and St. John
Ruthven.
"What a beastly night!" exclaimed St. John with a shiver. "When I left
home to meet you I never expected such a storm as this. If I had, I
shouldn't have come."
"I didn't look for such a rain myself," returned Dr. Mackey, throwing
off his cloak. "Anybody around?"
"Don't seem to be, although there are muddy footprints on the floor."
The two gazed around, but Jack and his companions were wise enough to
keep out of sight, and apparently satisfied that the cabin was deserted,
Dr. Mackey flung himself on a bench and St. John did likewise.
"You said you wished to see me on important business," observed the
spendthrift.
"I do," was the reply. "I wish to help both you and myself."
"In what way."
"In several ways, Mr. Ruthven. In the first place, you are aware that I
claim Jack as my son."
"I know that."
"I am very anxious to establish my claim to the boy."
"I don't see how I can help you, Dr. Mackey, although I am glad enough
to have you claim Jack."
"You ought to help me, for it will be helping yourself as well. Your
aunt thinks a great deal of Jack. If he is allowed to remain at the
plantation she may take it into her head to leave him half of her
property."
"I know that, too."
"The property ought to go to that girl and to you. With Jack out of the
way you will be pretty certain of your share."
"But I don't understand your game, Dr. Mackey. Why do you want Jack, if
he doesn't care for you?"
"I love the boy, in spite of his actions. Besides, he must come with me
in order that I may establish our joint right to a fortune which awaits
us."
"Well, what do you want me to do?" questioned St. John, after a pause,
during which Jack waited with bated breath for what might follow.
"Jack was picked up from a shipwreck nearly eleven years ago. He and his
mother were taken to your aunt's home, and it was from this home that
Jack's mother, my wife, was buried."
"Well?"
"I am quite certain that your aunt is keeping all of the things which
were taken from my wife's person at the time of her death, and also the
clothing Jack wore when he was rescued. I wish to obtain possession of
those things, or, failing that, I want to get a minute description of
them."
"Do you want me to get the things for you?"
"If you can."
"But my aunt may object to giving them up."
At this the face of Dr. Mackey fell.
"I'm afraid you don't quite understand me, Mr. Ruthven. I don't want
your aunt to know anything about it."
"Oh!" St. John's face became a study. "You--er--you wish me to get the
things on the sly?"
"Yes. You must remember they belong to me. But if you tell Mrs. Ruthven
she will be sure to raise a big fuss, and that is what I wish to avoid."
"I don't see how I can get the things?"
"Can't you get your aunt or your cousin to show them to you? Then you
can watch where they are put, and the rest ought to be easy."
"I'm afraid my aunt is very careful of the things. I have heard her say
as much, to my cousin Marion."
"Well, you ought to take a little risk. Remember, it is to your interest
to help me in establishing my claim to Jack."
"I'll do what I can," replied St. John, after a moment's consideration.
"I would like to get the things as soon as possible."
"I'll go over to my aunt's plantation the first thing in the morning.
But she may not want to listen to me just now. She is extra busy, you
know."
"With those wounded Confederate soldiers?"
"Not only with those, but she also has a Federal officer there--brought
in a few days ago."
"A Federal officer? Does she sympathize with the North?"
"She does to some extent."
"Who is the fellow?"
"A Colonel Stanton."
At the mention of that name Dr. Mackey leaped up in alarm.
"What! that man--in her house!" he gasped.
"Do you know Colonel Stanton?"
"I--that is--I know of him. Is he badly wounded?"
"I think he is."
"I hope he dies then. He is--a--a--very bad customer to meet."
"I can't understand why my aunt makes so much of him."
"Tell me, has this Colonel Stanton met Jack?"
"Yes, they met some time ago, when the Yankees first came to this
neighborhood."
"Ah!" Dr. Mackey drew a long breath. "I wonder what Jack thought of the
colonel?"
"He likes the Yankee very much."
"Humph! Well, there is no accounting for tastes." Dr. Mackey pulled
himself together with an effort. "If you see this Colonel Stanton don't
tell him about me, or repeat anything I have said, will you?"
"I don't want to see the Yankee. I haven't any use for any of them."
"Colonel Stanton ought to be arrested as a spy. I know for a fact that
he once entered our lines and reported our movements to his superiors.
It would be a feather in your cap if you could have him arrested by the
Confederate authorities."
"By Jove! do you really think that?" asked St. John, with renewed
interest.
"I do."
"Then I'll report the case without delay. I thought he was something of
a sneak the first time I saw him."
"If the South would hang him as a spy it would be a good job done."
"Would you be willing to appear against him?" asked St. John anxiously.
"Well--er--no, but I can bring two other men to appear."
"Then I'll surely have him arrested."
"And what about those things?"
"I will get them, if I possibly can."
A loud clap of thunder interrupted the conversation at this point, and
when it was renewed the topic was not of special interest to Jack.
But our hero had heard enough to make him very thoughtful. Why had Dr.
Mackey been so startled to learn that Colonel Stanton was at the Ruthven
plantation, and why had he been so anxious to know if he and the colonel
had met?
"Here's a fresh mystery," he told himself. "I must unravel it if I can."
"I am going to return home now," said St. John presently, when the storm
seemed to be clearing away. "If I don't get back, my mother will be
wondering what has become of me."
"All right," answered the doctor. "But let me hear from you by to-morrow
night, sure."
"I will."
"And don't mention my name to Colonel Stanton."
"But if I have him arrested you will furnish those witnesses to the fact
that he is a spy?"
"I will, rest assured on the point."
A little later St. John hurried off in the darkness. Dr. Mackey watched
him go, and then began to pace the floor nervously.
Jack touched Old Ben on the shoulder.
"Wot am it, Massah Jack?" whispered the faithful old negro.
"Ben, we must make the surgeon a prisoner."
"All right, Ise ready to do my share."
"I am going to jump down on his back. You follow me with the gun."
"I will, Massah Jack."
The surgeon continued to pace the floor of the cabin, and, watching his
chance, Jack crawled to the edge of the loft opening.
Just as Dr. Mackey swung around on his heel our hero gave a nimble leap
and landed squarely on his shoulders, sending the surgeon to his knees.
"Hi, what's this?" spluttered the rascal, and tried to throw Jack off.
But our hero clung as fast as grim death.
"It means that you are now my prisoner, Dr. Mackey."
"You!" ejaculated the astonished man. "Let me go, I say!" And he began
to struggle more violently than ever.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 | 10 |
11