The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

en aT 156 fixed upon the vessel which was so rapidly and s0 suspiciously bearing down upon the Fire-Fiy. “Don’t you mean to lend us a helping hand, Mr. Wakefield ?” demanded the captain, as he advanced and proffered a cutlass to Ramsey. . “ Most certainly,” was the prompt reply given by the resuscitated criminal, as he started from his re- verie and seized the weapon which the hardy mariner handed him. In a few minutes the brig came sufficiently near for the persons un the deck of the Fire-Fly to ob- ‘erve certain appearances which were only too well calculated to set at rest any doubts that might have previously existed in respect to the character of that strangée-vessel and the intentions of its crew. For the men on the deck of the brig were all armed to the teeth; and in the bow a ferocious-looking fellow was planted with a grapnel ready to be flung into the rigging of the schooner. “ You perceive, my mates,” said the captain of this latter vessel, “that our worst fears are confirmed and that we shall have a fight for it.” “ Aye, aye, sir,” exclaimed the men thus addressed : “but we ain't a going to give up the Fire-Fly with- out a blow in her defence.” Scarcely had the gallant crew of the trim little schooner given this response, when a man on board the brig was seen to flourish a speaking-trumpet as an indication that he was about to address the captain of the schooner. “ Now, then t” vociferated the latter, interro- gatively. * Haul down your colours—fling your weapons | overboard—shorten sail—and send a couple of men oa board of us as hostages of good faith on your part,” exclaimed the individgal with the speaking- trumpet on the deck of the stranger-vessel. “Who are you?” demanded the captain of the Fire- Fly. “ Ask no questions—but do as you're bid,” was the imperious response. “Then we'll resist you as a set of freebooting scoundrels,” cried the captain of the schooner : then, turning hastily towards his men, he said, “ Treat them to a volley, my fine fellera.” And every pistol was simultaneously fired from the deck of the Fire-Fly. The volley was instantaneously returned by the pirates, who at the same time by a skilful manceuvre can their brig across the schooner’s bows—and the grapnel fastened the two vessels together in a mo- went. Then from the deck of the brig did half-a-dozen ruffian-jooking fellows, all armed to the teeth, leap on board the schooner; and a terrible conflict ensued between the buccaneers and the gallant defenders of the Fire-Fiy. But what words can be found to ex- press the astonishment of Philip Ramsey, when he recognised the redoubtable Magsman and the fero- cious Beggarman im the leaders of the boarding- party f Dropping his cutlass in a moment back towards the mast—with a countenance as pale as death and limbs that trembled convulsively, the resuscitated criminal kept his eyes fixed with a wild vacancy upon the features of the two desperate men who were combatting with irresistible valour at the head of their pirate-followera. Too much occupied to take notice either of Ramsey or of the mingled amazement and terror with which he was regarding THE MYSTERIES. them, the Magsman and the Big Beggarman fought as if the fate of the whole world depended upon the issue. Their lion-like courage was worthy of a better cause ;—and vainly did the crew of the Fire- Fly contend against a boarding-party whose leaders seemed to be ‘endowed with the strength of giants and the fury of demons. Fhe captain of the schooner was the first who succumbed — self-devoted to that duty which he owed his employers, who, comfortably seated in their counting-house in Liverpool, little thought at the moment how tremendous was the danger whick had overtaken their vessel. And now upon the deck thereof flowed rivulets of blood—ghastly wounds were given and received—through the ambient air clanged the din of cutlasses and echoed the sharp crack of pistols—and for upwards of a quarter of as hour the combat raged with a frightfal fury. But at the expiration of that time the result was no longer doubtful. The captain of the Fire-Fly and two of his best men were slain; and the other four were speedily overpowered. Two pershed fighting unti] the very last: the other two were made pri- soners and carried on board the brig, where one died soon afterwards from the wounds he had received. Thus was there but a single survivor of the crew of the Fire-Fly— save and except the reaascitated criminal, Philip Raonsey. é It was not until the conflict was over and the : schooner was completely in the hands of the bucca- neers, that the Magsman and the Big Beggarman observed a tall, slender, genteel-looking man, seated in the stern of the vessel, with his elbows resting upon his knees and his countenance buried in his hands. Naturally presuming that be must be some passenger, who had taken no part in the recent fray, they forthwith accosted him with some words of re-assurance: but when he raised his head and revealed a face which, though ghastly pale, was not to be mistaken in any lineament and could not fail to be recognised in every feature, the two raffiane who had amomeit before fought with such desperate valour, sbrank back in affright and gave vent te ejaculations of horror. But oeither their words nor their manner were observed at the moment by any of their comrades : for Watkins, Bradley, and the other freebooters were all busily employed in overhauling the stores and cargo of the Fire-Fiy;—and the eager glance of scrutiny with which Kameey’s eyes swept the deck of the schooner and thence travelled as rapidly aod as searchingly to the brig which lay alongside, showed him that the terror with which he had in- spired the Magsman and the Keggarman was an- noticed elsewhere. - “ My good friends,” he accordingly said, in a hoarse, thick voice,—* do not expuse me—do not abandon me! I am indeed yeur old acquaintance——” “ Holy God! what does this mean?” exclaimed the Beggarman, clinging to his companion’s arm for support and gazing in mingled horror and conster- pation upon the pale face of the resuscitated crt min “Don't be a fool, Stephen,” said the Magsman. “It's a being of real flesh and blood—that’s clear But who are you, sir?” he demanded, fixing bis looks with some degree of apprehension, despite the bold- neas of his words, upon Rameecy's features. “fam he for whoin you take me,” answered the | wretcued being. “A combination of marvellous cig- 29 nee aT, o EORNIECLO© (C - —_ | —_ ie. (CO