The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

20 “Just as you say. There, get you gone!” he cried, giving the mate a push over the ledge; “and don’t think that Ben Fly, because he has had a stout blow in a fair fight, breeds malice in his heart. You have mistook your man, Bissey.” * The mate recovered himself from the shock of the fall, and swearing vengeance against him, went off towards the river. “ Ben,” said Arthur, “give me your hand. I don’t know how to thank you for your good part in this affair. I should have been badly handled, I fear, but for you.” “J did only my duty, Master Arthur. You struck me, and IL deserved it, and perhaps lL should have borne a grudge, but when they told me how kind you’d been in bleeding me, I thought I would befriends. But I hadn’t quite madeup my mind,when my sister,the widow, told me yesterday how you had sent her home some tea and sugar when she was sick and no money in the house. I then swore that I’d love you for that, though I never had loved you before. After that comes Bissey to me, and tells me as how he and Thurrel owe you a keel-hauling and wanted me to take a share in the capture. So I gets all the plan out of him, pretends to yo in for it, and all that I might have a chance of showing you LI had no ill mind against you, and keeping ’em from doing you a mischief,” “You have acted nobly, Ben. doing now ?” “Nothing. I have ing for a wind.” *“ Ben,” said Arthur, “I, with a few others, have resolved to risk a cruise inthe smack, If you will join me you shall be well paid.” “ Well, I have nothing to do. I'll go,” “TI am getting the smack ready for sea now.” “Vl go with you, and take hold at once to help,” answered Ben. “Td like to see the salt water once more, no matter how risky the venture may be,” : They then proceeded together towards the cove, What are you pockets to let, and wait- CHAPTER VIII, THE SAILING, \HE presence of Arthur at the cove | throughout the day, to hurry the pro- gress of the work by night, had the effect of completing the preparations. As the sun went down, the * Black Swallow,” with her sails thoroughly bent, her eordage rove and in excellent order, and three days’ pro- visions on board, was hauled out into the en- trance of the cove, and anchored with a short eable. As soon as it was dark the twelve, together with Ben and Jerry and his father— fifteen men in all—embarked in the skiff from the house and got on board. A few moments afterwards Arthur made his appearance in a skiff from the town. He had been up to take leave of Letty and report what he had done, —_—— x THE BOY CAPTAIN OF THE “ BLACK SWALLOW. and also to inspect the progress of things on board the schooner. He learned that she would be ready by ten o’clock, and at once put to sea. As soon as he was on the deck of his schooner, he called his companions together, and said: “Tam glad, my friends, to see you all here so promptly. I told you this afternoon that although we were going on a eruise, we might catch something besides fish, and that it was important we should get away by eight o’clock. 1 then told you I would, before we got out of the river, make known to you the object that I have in view besides fishing upon the Banksys I will now fulfil my promise ; and those who do not care to put to sea after they hear what en- terprise | contemplate, shall be landed at Fort Hunnewell in the skiff, which they may have to come back to townin. For important reasons, I eannet make known to you the enterprise until we have left Bath.” “ We are willing, captain,” said Ben Fly, “to stand by you, whatever it is. Thereis some of us as had a guess that other fish was in the sea than haddock and cod; but as we don’t know what you want to do, we are willing to stay and take fair and foul with you.” “Tf you choose to turn your fishing into a little enterprise, [ promise that within twenty- four hours each man of you shall be richer by a hundred dollars than you are now.” This address to the men was reeccived with warm expressions of good will. Notaman de- sired to leave and go on shore. Arthur then appointed Ben Fly his mate, and divided the crew into two watches. In his own he took his father and Jerry. The former had been in- duced to come by his son, to whom he yielded in al! matters, save in giving up the bottle, Letty had promised Arthur to eall down the next day and see his mother, and if anything happened to him to protect her. He therefora left her with a lighter heart, and a mind free from all anxiety. The other preliminaries having been arranged, Arthur gave orders to weigh anchor. All was now noiseless activity. Each man knew that some bold scheme was in progress, and the mystery and probable danger excited their spirits, All went cheerfully to work. The slightest word from Arthur's lips was readily obeyed. The foresail and jib were hoisted by one part of the men, while the others weighed the anchor, It was light, and speedily was hanging by the fluke on the bow. The mainsail was soon set, and Arthur, taking the helm, put it hard down to let the sails cateh a light wind blowing directly from the west. Slowly, and almost imperceptibly at first, the smack glided out of the cove into the dark, fiowing river. Arthur stood at the helm for the first three miles, without quitting it or speaking, save to give an order to ease a sheet or haul afta little more. At length he surrendered the helm to Jerry, who was one of the most skilful pilots between Bath and the mouth of the river,and had the reputation of being able to see in the oO GE od (EO) books im (C ©) 5}