Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

18 ‘Worse ; there’s a cutter manned by the ‘jollies’ making straight for the Foamy Reef.” ‘Donner !” “ And I here!” growled Jonathan Wild. Sheppard and Blueskin drew their swords. ‘“Where away is the boat?” asked one of the pirates. “ Right abreast of the reef,” returned the seaman. “Then they will land, you can’t prevent that,” said Jonathan Wild, quickly. ‘Ty so, Meister Vild, ve can fight ’em here,” ‘‘ How’s the wind ?” asked the thief-taker. “ Fallen, sir,” returned the man; ‘‘ but there 1s still a heavy sea on.” “Well, I will take command of our garrison,” returned Jonathan, coolly. ‘Do you, Wolfgang, man a boat, and when their attacking party is fairly landed, fall upon the reserve that will be left in charge of their boat; leave the rest to me; if a single man escapes we are lost,” “Vere goot, Meister Vild; it sall be zo; but vere ish Barabbas?” ‘Here, cap’en,” returned the dwarf, returning from the Dead Hold. ‘‘Come vith me, Barabbas, de cavern ish attack ; ve must man de pinnace, and fall on ze boat.” “But let it be done quietly,” said Wild. “ You must embark on the opposite side of the reef from that on which they will land ; leave as many men as you can spare to act under my directions.” “ Goot, mynheer,” rejoined the pirate. Wirth Wolfgang selected about a dozen men for his purpose, and with them left the cavern by a secret outlet, ‘Now, my men, be steady and keep silence,” cried Jonathan to those remaining. ‘Let as many as possible of these meddling fools enter the cave, and when they are fairly in the trap fall on them, and cut them down to a man; your lives depend upon your courage. Hush! no cheering. Lurk in the hollows of the rockway, and, once more—perfect silence !” “ Aye, aye, Mr, Wild,” returned the pirates, start- ing into ambush. ‘Jack and Blueskin, keep by my side.” “All right, governor,” “ Quilt Arnold, remove that torch to the sconce nearest the entrance; the light will attract the wasps.” The myrmidon obeyed his master’s orders. ‘‘ Blueskin, Sheppard, follow me,” said Wild. He retreated into a dark angle of the cavernous chamber, For a moment all was breathless silence and suspense. ‘* Hillo, hillo, messmates! this way !’? shouted a voice from without. ‘“ Here’s a light! this is the entrance !” ‘‘Belay, my hearty, not. so much row,” responded another voice ; ‘the devils will hear ye. We must bash in this bulkhead, Stick together, lads, Dennis, ahoy | keep a bright look-out, or we may be attacked in the rear,” Then came a loud and continuous thundering at the door. At length the barrier gave way, and with a hearty “hurrah” a large number of blue-jackets poured into the cavern, “ Push on, lads!” cried a tall, handsome fellow, who appeared to be their leader ; “it was an over- sight not to station a party on the other side of the reef ; the rock is burrowed like a rabbit warren ; no doubt the blackguards haye plenty of outlets there, Push on!” ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. a eS ee a ee *¢ Hurrah |” “Halt! What's that?” “Bana! bang! bang! boom!’ ring the echoes, “The rock has fallen in !”’ ‘The entrance is blocked !” “ We are trapped |” P “Keep together, men!” cried the officers ; “ at least we can sell our lives dearly ; besides, they dare not oppose us.’ “Dare not? Ha! ha!” cried a loud, stern voice, ‘Fire on ’em, my culls! pistol every man Se A blinding flash, a long, terrific crackling of pistol shots. Curses, cries, groans, The pirates sprung from their ambush, Cooped within the narrow passage fifty fierce men are madly battling. The reverberating rocks roar back the thunders of the fray. Foremost among the assailants of the gallant and devoted king’s-men is Jonathan Wild, the peace-ofiicer, He slashes right and left with his reeking sabre, and encourages his subordinate fellow-ruffians by his wild shouts, , Jack Sheppard and Joe Blueskin second him in the onslaught, For a quarter of an hour the hand-to-hand con- flict rages wildly. The officer of the invading party falls under Wild’s sword, Cut and thrust ! clash and crackle! the place is filled with choking sulphurous smoke ! Deadly flashes of flame flit like lightning streaks through the stifling cloud, and torches toss fiercely in the murky air. Yells, oaths and horrid blasphemy ring down the shuddering aisles of the pirate’s hold. Jonathan Wild slashes down the last of the king’s- men, A dreadful pause, and a sudden thrilling hush. Then the pirates utter their stunning huzzas. Immediately after the fiendish crew pistol or stab the wounded, and the dread work of slaughter is complete, “Well, done, my men!” pants Jonathan Wild, wiping his blood-smeared sword-blade with his handkerchief, ‘If your captain, Mynheer Wolf- gang, has played his part as promptly and effectively as we, there is nothing left to be desired.” ‘Bravo !” roared Blueskin, “But, bleod and ’ouns! itwas hot while it lasted, I’ve got a devilish ugly scratch over the left listener,”’ ‘I wish it had been in the mouse-trap |!” growled Jonathan. ‘“ Hist! you fool !” ** Patience, governor |!” ** Silence, all |” A creaking noise was heard, “They are raising the portcullis,” laughed Jonathan. ‘Dam’me, but that’s a clever device, worthy of the architect of the Old Bailey. This place would make a fine prison! Wonder that all the jugs are not built in the middle of rivers or on sea islands, Humph! that’s an idea worth making a note of,” Dix “Tl warrant I'd find my way out of such a hold as this even,” said Jack Sheppard, with a laugh, “ Pish! you're a clever carpenter, Jack, I own,” returned his patron, smiling; “but that would be work for a stone-cutter; but look, yon poor devil has dropped his nose-feeder, Give mea pinch of rapes ; this infernalsmoke has well nigh strangled e. i or Ebooks oO com com