The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

“¢T shall do my part,’ answered Thurrel. *T want two more hands.’ “«Phese you shall have to-morrow, Mr. Thurrel. Come to my house by-and-by to- night, and I will also give youa list of the armed men I think you can take on board to help you out of the river. Most of them have debts at my store, and are in some sort in my power. I havé no doubt they will be glad to earna few dollars.’ «What shall we pay them the trip?’ asked the squire. . **¢] will give each man three French crowns,’ answered Sapping, ‘ It will be enough in these times. Ican get a hundred idlers about the wharves to go for that.’ Captain Thurrel ?’ said the judge. “Tf I have the two nine-pounders Mr. Linn has promised me, I shall want about forty men. J would not attempt to run by the fort with less, for if we should be becalined near it, [ must have force enough to resist any sent from the fort, which contains less than fifty men.’ ** You shall have all these, captain,’ answered Mr. Sapping. ‘So costly an cantuve as this must not miscarry for want of due precaution. Once outside the fort you are safe.’ “¢ Ves, answered 'Thurrel. ‘I shall then land the forty men on Cape Small Point, and let them make their way back-to town, while, with my erew of six men and my mate, Bissey, I run out the blockading squadron.’ “* Our main difficulties to overcome, gentle- men, scem to be,’ said my father, ‘ getting out of the port without giving the alarm to the revenue cutter, and then passing Fort Hunne- well. <As the fort is but three leagues below, with a fair wind both dangers may be passed, and the schooner be atseain twohours. I will send the two cannon down to-night. They have not been fired since last fourth of July, but I daresay they will do service.’ “Where are they, Sir Archy ?’ asked the squire. “One of them is in my chaise-house; the other in a shed up on Ogleby’s Wharf. They are not quite so good as better. guns, added my father, ‘but are worlh quite as much as I gave for them at auction when: that prize-ship was sold here in the beginning of the war.’ “* Have them down, Sir Archy, by two o’elock in the morning,’ said Thurrel, “* They shall be there, captain,’ answered my father. “* We shall realise, I hope, something hand- some from this little affair,” said the judge, rubbing together his thick, fat hands. ** We ought, for conscience’ sake,’ answered the squire. ‘This 1s not exactly in our line, judge, but when nothing else is to be done we must invest in some scheme. I wouldn’t have this leak out for the world. We should be ruined body and soul.’ “« We are all equally involved, gentlemen,’ said Sapping, ‘and will find it expedient to keep one another's secret. n appointing you to this important command L'HE SECRET PANEL? 17 ; we have evinced our confidence in your courage, discretion, and devotion to our interests. We have confidence also in your seamanship, but as you are not a professed seaman, Bissey will act in emergencies in sailing the vessel; though, as you are not to x9 many leagues out, there wi” be probably no need of other aid than your ows experience.’ | “¢T shall do my best. I have confidence in my seamanship, gentlemen,’ answered Thurrel. ‘TI do not fear but that I can sail a vessel safely to India. Asa supercargo I was not quite an idler.’ “<« We know we can trust you, captain,’ said the squire. ‘Itis for your interest to do well. The amount you will receive if you are success- ful—one thousand dollars—is an inducement for you to exert all your skill, to be brave ss well as cautious.’ “¢T thank you, gentlemen, for your advice,’ answered Thurrel, coldly, as if he didnot mucts like these instructions of his employers. “There was some further conversation upon the subject of the enterprise, but it unfolded nothing more, and they rose to depart. Thurrel first left, saying that he would be ready to leava by midnight to-morrow night, if the cargo all arrived at the dock in time to be stowed. They then departed, and before my father got out [ hastened from iny covert to my room.” “This is a most extraordinary affair,” said Arthur, who had listened with the deepest interest to Letty’s recital, ‘ Elave youany idea for what purpose this singular expedition is planned ?” “ Flave you not guessed already ?” “ No, I eannot conceive its object. The fact that it is necessary to fight its way out past the fort shows me that it is hostile to the interests of the country. But why aschooner should be secretly loaded with provisions, placed in the command of such a man as Thurrel, and despatched to sea, puzzles me.” “JT do not wonder that you cannot tell if, Arthur,” said Letty, with honest indignation. “ Their object is to endeavour to get out of the river and reach the British cruisers. Sapping said he had a letter from the captain of the ‘Mentor’ frigate, saying what price he would pay for such provisions as he would supply bim with.” : “This is inconceivable!” exclaimed Arthur. ‘Their purpose ought to be defeated. It should be made known at once to all true patriots in the town, and——” “No, no, Arthur! You forget that the indignation of the townspeople would fall upon my father, as well as upon the others, For his sake the affair must not bedivulged. 1 cannot deliver up to justice my father, Arthur.” ‘‘But, Letty, I have thought of a plan.” “What is it ?” “ Instead of taking the ‘ Black Swallow’ ont on a fishing eruise, | will-man her with a dozen resolute men, and proceed to sea to-morrow night before the schooner, lay off for her, and Now, Captain 'Thurrel, | as she comes out capture her.” “T will not say a word, Arthur, Do as you oO MiIGIoo (S©) S co —s