The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

22 VHE BOY CAPTAIN OF Arnold’ will, of course, be brought to in passing the fort, but they are prepared for | you can. this. Forty armed men are engaged to go down in her, who will fight her past the fort, and resist any attempt to board her, “ When she is safely past, these forty men will be landed at Cape Small Point to make their way back to Bath. They are to be well paid for their services. ‘The value of the cargo of the ‘Arnold’ is eight thousand dollars, and probably would sell to the British for twenty thousand. . Now, my friends, you see the object of my being here. Those who choose to re- main wiih me walk to the starboard side of the deck. Those who decline shall go to the fort in the skiff with me, as I shall land to tell the commander to prepare to intercept the schooner, or at least to do her as much mis- chief as he can as she runsby. It is now near eight bells, and the ‘Arnold’ is probably already under way, coming down, I need not say to you that we shall be likely to meet with -vesistance in boarding her, which I shall do before she gets half a league outside, Her crew, after the forty men are put on shore, will comprise only seven men besides Thurrel and Bissey. IL forgot to say they have two old nine-pounders. But we will not give them time to use them. We are sixteen in all, and I have pistols and cutlasses on board for all of you, and as our cause is good, there is no soar of our success. Now, who goes with me ” Every man walked resolutely to the star- board side. As they did so a flashing illu- minated the darkness enveloping the fort, and then the ‘boom ” of a gun resounded over the water. “There is a signal for us to heave to,” cried Arthur, “Luff, Jerry, sharp in the wind. Het go the main halyards and drop the kedge with a short hawser. Be ready to move again at a moment’s notice, Ben. I will now take the skiff and go on shore,” he added, as the smack came up into the wind and was station- ary within a pistol-shot of the fort, which was situated upon a low, sandy point almost on a level with the water. Arthur stepped into the skiff, one of them accompanying him to row, and they rapidly pulled towards the land. Lights were visible moving about in the embrasures, and as they came nearer they could see the dark figures of soldiers moving upon the parapet. When he came within twenty yards he was hailed. “ A boat from the fishing-smack. I want to speak to the commander,” answered Arthur. “ Pull into the landing,” was the brief reply. As they touched the rock at the foot of the wall of the fort an officer, attended by three soldiers, approached him. One of the soldiers held a lantern in his hand. ‘‘T have landed to tell you, sir,” said Arthur, “that a schooner of one hundred and ninety tons, loaded in Bath with provisions, and having on board forty armed men, besides a regular crew of cight persons, and carrying two nine-pounders, will try to pass you in the THE “BLACK SWALLOW?” course of two hours. You must stop her if She is running out to supply the British fleet with fresh provisions.” “TI thank you, young man, for your promp information. I shail do my best to stop her. Fifty men and two nine-pounders? I have sixty men in all and seven pieces of different calibre. I will try to give them a warm recep- tion. But I fear I shall not be able to stop her unless I can be so fortunate as to sink her.” “IT hope you will be able to cripple her,” said Arthur. “ But if not she may fall into my hands outside. In my smack I have a party of resolute young men, well-armed, who ave with me for the purpose of aiding me in capturing the schooner if shes should escape you.” “T shall try to stop her,” answered the com- mander, resolutely. “Good-night, I hope one or the other of us will succeed.” “JT hope so,” answered the cominandant, as he held the light for Arthur to step upon his boat. He then returned hastily inte the fort, while Arthur puiled back, and immediately getting under way, steered directly for the mouth of the river, CHAPTER IX, THE PASSAGE OF THE FORT, Wes twelve o'clock the same night on A which Arthur sailed from Bath in the = “Black Swallow,” the schooner “General Arnold” was silently hauled from the wharf out into the river by two boats tow- jing ahead with oars muffled. After ‘Churrel had got his schooner under full way, aud spread every yard of canvas that she could carry, he examined the guns and had them loaded to the muzzle, while he directed all his men to charge their muskets, and get everything ready for service. Bissey had the helm. The men were not divided into watches, for 'Churrel expected in four hours at furthest to be alongside the British frigate off Seguin. In about half an hour before getting down near the fort, Thurrel had everything in readiness for asharp fight. He now called his men together, and thus spoke to them: “ You are all pretly well aware of the nature of the expedition that we are going on, Listen, for now I wish to give you a few Instructions. * JJonour is for these fools who would rather starve than turn a few dollars by helping the enemy to fresh provisions. Any marketin war is my maxim. Now, my men, we are near the fort. Weshall be hailed, and if we do not heave to they will fire into us. I shall not heave to, be assured; but, instead, run close under the wall of the fort and return their fire with our nine-pounders. If they attempt to board us in their barges, your duty is to repel them and try to sink them. I will either get past or sink the schooner! Now you know your duty, and all you have to do is to perform it! COPMICLCY) <SiiGoO Rie