Beadle's Dime Library No. 878

Catalog Description "The Cruise of the Sea Witch" by Burke Brentford is a naval adventure serial set in summer 1778. The British armed brig *Hector*, commanded by Lieutenant Romney, discovers a derelict schooner off New Jersey with a man lashed to its mast. The rescued castaway is revealed to be Dick Dareall, the notorious privateer captain Romney intended to execute. As Dareall stands on the yard-arm awaiting hanging, the fog-shrouded schooner *Mist Witch* attacks, forcing Romney to abandon the execution. In the ensuing chaos, a pressed sailor named Jack Simmons cuts Dareall's bonds. Dareall descends into the *Hector*'s hold, planning to seize the vessel by accessing the forward magazine. Above deck, Romney's brig suffers repeated cannon fire from the circling *Mist Witch*, which maneuvers unseen through heavy fog, systematically damaging the British vessel and killing crew members.