Commodore Junk — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

MASTER JACK.” 119 Then they saw no more, but lay listening to the distant shouts and firing which reached their ears again and again, till, to the surprise of all three, Jack suddenly came upon them from behind. “Well?” said Abel, eagerly. Jack could not speak for a few moments, being breathless with exertion. “Three men left with the cutter and they are ashore, lying upon the sands.” “Abel,” said Jack, after a long, thoughtful silence, “ we shall never be safe here with these people coming from time to time.” “No; that settles our plans. We must take the boat and ? go. ‘Why not take our enemy’s vessel? We could sail where we liked then.” “ Didn’t I say he was a born gin’ral?” cried Dinny, enthu- siastically. ‘Take their boat!” said Abel. “They’re three men, and we're three,” said Bart, in a low growl. “ Four!” cried Dinny, excitedly. ‘Ye never see how Masther Jack can foight.” “Hush!” said the latter, sternly. “The men are lying about half asleep. If we waited, we might get on board, cut the anchor rope, and drift out with the tide perhaps without rousing them.” “And if it came to the worst we could fight,” said Abel. “Are ye ready?” whispered Dinny. ‘See that your piece is well primed. My shtick’s loaded, and I’m ready to fire it off.” “ Hush!” said Jack, sternly. ‘1 will climb up to where CONnnicloOolk<s a)