The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

G* 18 think best. If you stop this expedition, you will receiye the thanks of your country.” = +-——~-+— ---= CHAPTER VIL THE MENTING. \ RTHUR walked the little apartment for a A few moments with a thoughtful brow. = “There seems to be but little doubt of my being able to capture the schooner, Letty. { shall have with me brave and determined men, and as Thurrel, after the forty armed men quit him, will have but seven persons with him, he will be forced to yield.” “He will have two cannon, Arthur,” said Letty, with some misgivings. “Those willnotinjureme. You willsee that he cannot suspect the character of the ‘ Black Swallow’ when hesees us. He will take us for an ordinary fishing smack, and all that he will feel will be surprise that anyone should have ventured out so far. I can run aboard of him before he is aware.” “ Heaven guard you!” “ Be sure that I will return to you the very day after I leave, with the prize jn my posses- sion.” “You will need money, Arthur. You must have purchases to make, and you must pay your men something in advance. ‘Take this pocket- book. It contains one hundred and eighty dollars. Itisallmyown. Nay, you will offend me by refusing. Am I not doing this to save my father’s honour ?” “J will use it, then—at least, what I need, noble Letty,” answered Arthur, placing it in the breast of his jacket. ‘‘ Now good-night. To- eer evening you will see me again before I eave.” The young lovers parted, and Arthur hastened from the inn. He first went to the landing, and not seeing Jerry’s skiff he knew his father had been taken home by the faith- ful black, His own boat remained fastened to the iron ring in the wharf as he had left it. Getting into it he launched out into the river, and pulled directly across. He soon landed at a fisherman’s cabin, where he awakened the in- mates, and called to one of them by the name of William Beal, to come to the door, In a few seconds the person appeared. Arthur took hold of his arm in a friendly manner, and led him towards the place where he had left his skiff. When they had got a sufficient distance .from the house, for him to speak with him without being overheard, he stopped, and said, impressively : “ William, I want you to go with me in the schooner to-morrow night ?” “Where, Arthur ?” “T have planned a fishing-cruise. We have been idle long enough. Mattison, IKemp, Finley, Deal, and Forbes are already engaged. Early in the morning, they will be down at the cove to help to get the smack ready,” i ts ne tts sists hess peg THE BOY CAPTAIN OF THE “BLACK SWALLOW.” “Ttis a bold thing to do, Arthur. We shall have to run by the cruisers.” “ We can do it in the night. The‘ Swallow’ sails like a very bird, you know, But I don’t want anyone to go with me who fears danger.” ‘You know I am not a coward, Arthur. [ will go with you. I am tired of idling. I have this very day been thinking about going round to Portland and shipping in the ‘ Enterprise.’ Iam glad you came to me. Shall you try to run for the Georges ?” : “Tf we can’t get better fishing near the mouth,” answered Arthur, significantly. “ How many men shall you take, Arthur?” “ Perhaps about a dozen,” “That is a large number !” “Ves; but we may fall in with some of the enemy’s gunboats, and we want to have enough to fight our way, or in a calm to row away. I shall have six sweeps on board. If you can find a pistol or cutlass you had best bring it with you, William; but be quiet about it; and you had best say nothing about) the erulse, as information might be given to the British vessels, and they would be on the lookout for us.” In this manner, Arthur paid visits to three other cabins lower down the river, engaging fire more young men of his acquaintance, and then crossed over to the Cove. Having entered it, he pulled up to the head, ran his skiff under the floor of the dwelling, and ascended the rude stairway to the door, It was now.midnight. A fire of pine-knots was blazing upon the hearth, lighted by his mother, who was sitting up for him. “Thanks, dear mother; you are always so thoughtful and kind. Has my father gone to bed ?” he asked, glaneing towards the partition which separated the sleeping apartment from the kitchen or “ living room” of the house. “Yes, Poor man!” “T mean to take my father with me in the smack.” “And then you are going?” she asked, anxiously. “Yes, mother.” “ Well, | have been thinking it all over to- night, Arthur, and I have made up my mind that I-will not utter a word againstit. You do right in wishing to do something. Much as I shall fear for you, I will let you go where you think duty calls you.” “Thanks, dear mother. Now, if you will listen, I have something to tell you.” | “IT knew you had a secret, Arthur, and it would by-and-by come out.” “T am going to make you a confidante, mother,” continued Arthur, colouring with slight embarrassment. He then proceeded to relate to her, from the first, his meeting with Letty, their conver- sations and repeated interviews, and_ their growing attachment. He also informed her of the discovery she had made that night touch- ing the expedition of Thurrel, and made known to her his intention of intercepting him if possible, oO Comichoo nn} KS (©) =}