The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

12 “Would you object to my going into the service of my country ?” “My love, Arthur, makes me a very coward where you are concerned. It isa weakness. | will conquer it. No, I would not object to it, Arthur. Though I am but « young girl, | love my country dearly. Should she call for your aid, I would say ‘Go!’ Nay, I would help to arm you that you might go. Why, then, should I object to this enterprise, when the danger, though imminent, is less? Go, Arthur, and may Heaven, whose protecting hand is over all the earth, save you and prosper you, for you go for a noble end!” “ Thanks, Letty—thanks. But now I must away to obtain the persons I have in my eye.” “ We shall mcet many times before you de- art ?” she said, smiling through her tears. “Yes, Letty. Every moment I can spare from my vessel I will pass here with you.” The next moment Arthur was on his way up the street in search of the persons whom he intended to enlist in his enterprise, young men about his own age, with whom be had often, before the war, been on fishing eruises upon the Banks. He had some distance to go up the winding street, or rather road, which followed the curves.of the rocky shore of the town, with here and there a wharf, with deserted stores, and vessels heeled over in the shallow docks. At length, just on the skirts of the town, he reached aledge which projected into the stream. Upon it were three or four straggling cabins. In one of these dwelt three of the youngmen he came to seek. He was about to approach the door of the nearest when his attention was drawn to a rumbling of cartwheels along the road. He lingered a moment till it passed, it had two men driving it, who moved on foot silently by their horses. He was about to turn away, when he saw the cart stop at the corner of alane,and several men glide out and surround it, and begin to unload it upon horses. Its con- tents were contained in bags, and were easily placed upon the backs of the animals. The waggon then turned round and was driven rapidly back towards the country the way it had come, “That is a strange movement altogether,” said Arthur, as he watched the men and their laden horses move off up the lane and disappear in the darkness. ‘It is as mysterious as that upon the wharf below the town. I shouldn't be at all surprised if these bags were even on their way to the vessel I saw loading so secretly.” A dog at this instant ran from the cluster of huts, and savagely barking, caused a young man to open the door and look out, Arthur advanced, and being recognised by the firelight shining upon the hearth, was invited to enter. ** No, George, I oniy want to say afew words to soe: Get your hat and walk out upon the rock,” The two young men then proceeded together to the extremity of the ledge, close by the river- side, where Arthur unfolded his plans. George Trevitt at once entered into them with him, and ‘ . THE BOY CAPTAIN OF THE “BLACK SWALLOW.” then the two seeking the others, Arthur soon had the ‘satisfaction of having four persons to unite with him, as brave and adventurous as himself, bu’ whose energies the deadening in- fluence of the war had paralysed. After ar- ranging with them to come down to the cove early the next morning, to help in preparing the ‘“ Black Swallow” for her expedition, and talking over with him for half an hour his project in detail, he took his leave and returned towards the town, not a little elated by his success, He had to go within about a hundred yards of the inn, where there was an opening lead- ing to a wharf, when a man stepped up to him from behind a storehouse, and said, in a cautious tone: “ Bissey, is this you?” “No, it is Arthur Denwood,” answered Arthur. “ Who is this ?” * You shall not be long ignorant, my fine fel- low,” answered the person, in a low and ex- tremely savage tone, “I have a quarrel with you, my fine chap.” Arthur recognised the voice and person of Talbert Thurvel, with whom he never had any acquaintance, though he knew him by sight as well as character. “JT don’t know what can be between you and me, Mr. Thurrel],” said Arthur, with surprise at this salutation. “Jf you wish to quarrel, per- haps, if you wait a littie while, the person for whom you mistook me may come along; and, if report speaks truc, he has not only had quarrels but killed his men.” “Do you mock me? You are in my hands, and completely in my power, thank Heaven!” eried Thnrrel, drawing a pistol. “What means this assault upon me?” de- manded Arthur, sternly, “Very innocent! I have to-night heard of your impudence in presuming to visit Letty Linn. And if you would know it, I intended with Bissey to pay you a visit, and punish your arrogant presumption.” “YT don’t know what right you have, Mr. Thurrel, to call me to account for any of my movements; though poor, I am independent of you, and am at least honest.” “You shall know what right I have. The girl is mine! But for your interference, I should have married her. She has taken a fancy to you, and turns up her pretty lip to me as if you were a prince and I a peasant. But my time has come for a reckoning. Either promise me never more to speak to that young girl, or say your prayers—for, as sure as there is a heaven above, you shall die on the spot! Lam a reckless man, Arthur Denwood, when my bloodis up. I had as lief kill you as not.” ‘You are very obliging, but as ] have no in: tention to cease my visits and no desire to he killed, I shall take the liberty of depriving you of the power of doing mischief.” Quick as lightning, he sprang upon the young man, and grasping the pistol over the lock, wrested it from his grasp and hurled it into the dock. He then seized him by the throat, an¢ brought him upon his knees, oO Comichboo S com