Beadle's Half Dime Library: Barney Blake, the Boy Privateer — page 4: what you’re looking at

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4 Barne ‘*Dat’s so, I wonder who did it?” Snollygoster asked, ; Every one else had some suggestion to make but the doer of the deed was not found; an Dicky Drake swallowed his fury, reslung his hammock and turned in. We were all tired and sleepy. I, at least, was soon in the arms of Morpheus, dreaming of the land I had left, and of the brighteyesthat would look so long in vain for my return. CHAPTER IV. A PRIZE AND A JOHN BULL. Butter. Footman,why art sohappy? Art going to be married? Footman. No, meester. B. ‘Then thou art married atready, and art going to be divorced? F, No, meester. B. What then? ¥F. I’ve drawn a piize, —OD Puay. T was awakened about daylight by a tramp- ing on deck, and presently Tony Trybrace’s shrill boatswain’s whistle pealed out, followed almost immediately by his merry voice with: ‘* Tumble up! tumble up, you lubbers, if you care for prize-money !” Every one heard what he said, and every one was on deck in a twinkling. The morning was just dawning, and, far off, set against the just brightening sky, a sail was visible. I was rather provoked at having been summoned up from my nap, because the vessel was a good five miles off, and, if it was to be a stern chase, a long time would elapse before we could bring her to. Nevertheless, as I was on deck, and as my watch would be on hand in an hour, I thought I might as well stay up and see the thing out. The men were all stationed, as if for battle, as was the custom of the captain on the slight- est provocation. This was certainly the safest and wisest plan, but sailors seldom lose a chance for grumbling. Our little captain himself, how- ever, if he brought the men up to the mark, never failed to toe it himself. There he was now, pacing the poop in his merriest mood. He was always familiar with us, and now he had a smart word for everybody. ‘*Take a peep through my telescope and tell me what vou think of her, Barney.” This was addressed to me, and as there was quite a compliment in the request, I was not slow to comply. I sighted the strange craft well and examined every inch of her as well as the imperfect hght would permit. ‘Weil, well, well,” said the captain, impa- tiently. ‘‘ What do you make of her?” ‘“Sbe’s a British brig,’ I replied. ‘‘She was builtin London, Her name is the Boomerang. Her captain’s name 3s George Willis, and she’s very probably loaded with rum and sugar from Jamaica.” : The captain was astounded. ** Are you.crazy?” he ejaculated. ‘*T sincerely hope not, captain,” was my smil- ing reply. **How do you know what you say to be true?” ** Because I made a six months’ cruise in that brig, captain, and I know every spar and ratlin oF her from the mizzen-peak to the for’ard span- ers. ‘*' Well, if that is so, you certainly are the Son of a Sea-Cook all over and a sailor worth promoting,” said Captain Joker, laughing as he spoke. ‘' Clap on more sail!’ he bawled. ‘‘ Let out the r’yals to the full! Loosen the jib-sheets! T’ll catch the stranger if Ihave to scrape the sky in doing it.” We sprung into the shrouds, and his orders were promptly executed. The gale, which had been stiff before, also blew stronger, and we bounded from crest to crest like a sea-bird under the influence of the fresh canvas. But when the sun arose we were still three miles from the stranger, who evidently had a suspicion of our character and was cracking on all sail for es- cape. But we now let out our skysails and came down on her rapidly. Our masts fairly groaned under the addedimpulse. We actually seemed lifted from billow to billow, rather than to plow through them. At eight bells we were a mile and a half from the flying ship and fired a shot from our swivel to bring ber to. Wesaw the shot dance off and kick up the spray right under her bows, but she ran up the Union Jack of England and kept on her way. Another shot from our bow-gun had no better effect. We, however, kept on our way, until within a mile, when we let fly again with the swivel, this time striking the vessel in the stern, and sending up a shower of splinters. : SEE ata a RG We thought this would bring her to. But, she wasplucky,and seemed determined to show fight, Scarcely had the boom of our Long Tom died away before a column of smoke shot out from the stern of the merchantman, and, before we could fairly make up our minds as to what was going to.happen, the end of our bowsprit was knocked off like a pipestem, as well as a big splinter gouged out of OU Mainmast by a thirty-two pound shot, =.3 ‘¢ She’s determined not to be taken alive,” said Tony Trybrace. ‘We'll see about that!” exclaimed our little captain ;‘‘ just let me have a shy at her with that bow gun!” With that he jumped down from his station on the poop, sighted the bow-gun carefully, and, just as we rose majestically on the summit‘ of a huge wave, let her off. ‘fhe ball danced over the crests with a charming ricochet, and we saw it strike the stranger fair and broad in the mizzenmast, which instantly went by the board, trailing a tangled maze of rigging and canvas into the sea. ‘*[ thougbt she’d think better of it, after a little while,” exclaimed the captain, triumph- antly, as we saw the ensign of the stranger lowered in token of surrender, and, at the same time, she hove to. We came on witha rush, and hauled to close under her bows. ‘¢ What ship is that?” bawled Captain Joker through his trumpet. cee brig, Boomerang, of London,” was the reply. ‘‘ What are you loaded with?” “Rum and sugar.” ‘*Just stand where you are, and consider yourself a prize. You were right, you Son-of-a- Sea-Cook,” added the captain, turning to me. ‘‘ Pll promote you as soon as I get a chance.” A boat was immediately lowered, placed in command of Pat Pickle, the second mate, and in her a dozen sailors, 1 among them, pulled for the prize. We boarded her, and she came up to our largest expectations, I here had the satisfaction of renewing my acquaintance with my old skipper, Captain Willis, as well as with some of the crew. They all expressed their regret at seeing me in the character of @ privateersman, at which I was not at all put out, but recommended them to merciful treat- ment, and succeeded in enlisting three of the crew, who were Canadians, for a cruise on the Queer Fish. There was an Englishman on board the Boomerang, who w.s a passenger, but as he admitted that he was a consul! to the South- American port of Rio de Janeiro, we made a prisoner of him in short order. This worthy will bear a brief description. He was one of the most genuine examples of the John Bull cockney genus it had ever been my fortune to fallin with. Rather short—about five feet and a half, I should judge—he weighed fully two hundred pounds, was dressed in the genuine London plaid trowsers, gaiter shoes and bell- crown hat of the time. is features were red and coarse, and his hair as red as fire. His name was Mr. Adolphus de Courcy. His indig- nation at learning that he was a prisoner was extreme, but, as the second mate didn’t look as if he could bear much bullying, the dignitary reserved his spleen for the captain’s ears. Well, after we had supplied the Queer Fish with all the rum she would be likely to con- sume in the next six months, we put a prize crew on board the Boomerang, and started her for home, leaving her captain and crew on board. We brought off Mr. Adolphus de Courey, determining to keep him until we should fall in with some American cruiser to whose safe-keeping we could transfer him. It took several hours to complete all these arrange- ments, but they were completed at last, and we rowed back to the Queer Fish, leaving the prize crew behind us, and, shortly afterward, the two vessels parted company. As soon aS We were on our own deck once more, Mr. Adolphus de Courcy strode up to our little captain with a majestic air. ‘2 Avelthe honor to haddress the captain of this piratical craft?” he asked in a most grandi- loquent way. ‘My name is Captain Joker, and this ship, which I have the honor and good fortune to command, is the Queer Fish, a regular letter-of- marque, commissioned by the United States Government.” ‘* Wery vell, all I ’ave to say is, as ’ow I con- sider this transaction a wery houtrageous haf- fair; and I demand hinstant release from Your villainous ship.” By this time the Boomerang was a mile or two away, and I saw a merry gleam in the little y Blake, the Boy Privateer. —— eyes of Captain Joker, which was premonitory of some fun. ‘¢How can I release you now, sir?” said. he, with an air of some concern. —- ‘‘No matter ow, sir, I demand hinstant re- | lease from this willainous wessel,” exclaimed the cockney, thinking that he had succeeded in browbeating thecaptain, and that he should now have it all his own way. ‘‘T understand you to mean what you say?” asked the captain. ‘¢ Hexactly!” was the loftyreply. ‘‘I demand a hinstantaneous deliverance trom this wile captivity! I demand it asa peaceable citizen of hold Hingland, whose brvad heegis 1s power- ful alike hon the land hand hon the briny deep.” , “All right, sir, you shall have your wish; only be careful that you do not change your mind, as it willbe of nouse. Trybrace!” added Captain Joker, singing cut to the boatswain; ‘“‘have that ar little gig p ovisioned for two days, put in this little man’s luggage, then put him in, and cut him loose. the Queer Fish.” ‘Ay, ay, sir,” sung out Tony, cheery as a cricket; and he immediately set about giving the necessary directions, ‘‘T wish youa good-morning, sir,” and, with this Captain Joker bowed courteously to the cockney, and retired to the precincts. Mr. Adolphusde Courcy appeared at first un- able to comprehend what was to be done with him; but, when the truth dawned that he really was to be turned adrift, he seemed perfectly stunned. : ‘Vill you’ave the kindness to hexplain this ere little harrangenient?”’ he said, going up to Tony, who was busily superintending the outfit of the little boat. ‘“¢ Ain’t got no time, sir. The captain’s orders were positive, and he ain’t in the habit of re- peating them. Clew up that gearing at the bows, you lubbers. And caulk up that ’ere seam in thelabbard side. Do ycu suppose the gentleman wants ter go to Davy Jones’s Locker afore he gits well started on his way? Put in ~ the water and the sea-biscuit. Now fcr the gen- tleman’s luggage. Allright! Lower her!” The arrangements were all completed, and the little craft was lowered from the davits over the stern. She was so small, and her cargo was so great, that she settled down almost to the gunwales, and it was questionable how long she would float after the-bulky form of the cockney should have occupied the small amount of room left vacart for him at the stern. We all preserved a solemn silence. The wretched Englander kept flattering himself that it wasa good joke until the final preparations left no room for a doubt. : ‘¢ All ready, sir,’”’said Tony, touching his hat respectfully. ‘‘ Will yer Honor be pleased to step inter yer Honor’s craft?” ‘‘Ha! ha! a wery good joke hindeed!” ex- claimed the cockney, with a forced laugh. ‘‘A wery good joke! ’Ave you got out a patent for it? I should like to’ave it, to hintroduce into hold Hingland.” ‘¢Tt’s no joke at all, yer Honor,” said Tony, as sober as a judge. ‘‘ Will yer Honor con- descend to make haste? We cain’t stand in the middle of the ocean in this way, while there’s so much prize-money lyin’ about loose.” ‘¢My wery good friend,” said De Courcy, tak- ing the boatswain affectionately by the hand, ‘Stave you the serious intention of perwiding a fellow ’uman being with such han houtfit, and consigning him to the mercy of the wast and. *eaving hocean?” ‘¢ Them’s the orders, sir.” ‘‘T then demand to see the captain of this wil lainous craft hinstantaneously.” ‘All right, sir. Dicky Drake, jist tell the skipper as how the gentleman wants to bid him good-by.” The message was sent, and Captain Joker made his appearance almost immediately. His face was beaming with cordial farewells as he advanced with outstretched hand toward the dumfounded De Courcy. ‘‘ Good-by! good-by, my dear fellow, and a prosperous voyage!’ he exclaimed, shaking him warmly by the hand. ‘‘Captain, 1 vant,to know as ’0w—”’ ‘‘No thanks! no thanks! my dear sir; I make you a present of the boat. There, there, good- by!” and the captain, in the zeal of his fare- well, almost thrust the poor fellow over the bul- warks, ‘¢ But,” persisted the latter, ‘‘I vant to know as ’ow—”’ He wants to leave | “T tell you I will nothear any thanks at. all’ There, thes aRe1? ec || ~~ aeggnde nee