The Halfpenny Marvel, Vol. 5, No. 109 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

Ory 1 27 ote 0 x “ape of astonishment’ at the pirates’ ruse gave way to despair as he Hk the. waser-line, and, peering through, Haverlock watched the ‘fight. He dared not expose himself, lest the ranrines, mistaking him for one’of their antagonists, should fire, But his feelings watched the boas put her helm about and steer for the cruiser. hen night hid the man-of-war from view. When daylight entered by the shot-hole next’ morning, the $hree prisoners lad resolved to utilise this mode of escape. Por the first time in his life, probably, Iquorn was sincere in his professions of aid. Being the slightest, is was arranged that be/should first attempt the passage, and secure a large coil of rope which hung over the vessel's side jusb above the hole, while, owing to the lorcha’s peculiar build, the attempt could be made, without attracting attention on deck. At the first blush of dawn the Formosa chieftain struggled through the narrow outlet, and, reaching up, caught the coil of rope. Unloosing the end, he passed it through the aperture, and, cautiously retreating, speedily regained the hold. Shortly after the hatechway above was unfastened, and the daily allow- ance uf food and water handed down. : The three inen eagerly devoured the slender rations, and, entermg into the spint of the proposed escape, for some time debated the best means of sitio wor the aperture. Suddenly Bruce leapt to his feet. he cried aghast. “See! the hold fills!” “Were foundering !’ His companious needed no other incentive. ‘They saw the water strenming in through the aperture, and, by the wash, it was easy to teil that the fore part of the hold was already partly filled. “Throw the line out!" cried Gordon, ta lose {”’ Iquorn patd it quickly out, attaching the end toa beam that crossed the roof. Clutching i$ firmly, he nest attempted to follow, Haverlock aidimg his passage through. Midway he dueped, and, with a ery of (error, struggled back again. — Part of his clothing had been torn from his limbs, while a nasty yash marked his left leg. “Sharks! jhe erted aghast. and even While he spoke the ominous snap of one of these monsters sounded at the aperture, while for a moment the fight was obseured, The captives shuddered. Gordon made a rush to save the rope. He grasped it, and, almost before he could realise what had happened, it parted asunder, leaving the useless portion in his hands. “You scoundrel!’ he cried, turning on Iquorn, “ This rope hag been eut purposely, and this is the Jmnife whieh out it!” Jv made a gral at the Formosan’s vest, and, before the Jatter could prevent him, exposed the sheathed blade of a small knife, | Iquorn gave vent to gery of rage. “Fool! did you think I should aid you to escape?” he roared, completely off his guard. Next moment he had reazon to wish he had been more cautious. Haverlock leapt at him, and, catching hima about the waist, hurled him to the other side of the hold. ‘The Fornosan’s bady struck the larboard aperture, one of the loosened planks bent outward, and next instant Iquorn rolled into the ay ae waters, : But a fate far different was eventually to befall the trescherous scoundrel. Hie howl of fear attracted notice above. Astonished to find one of their captives struggling in the water, the pirates lowered a boat and picked him up. riers descended the hold, and found the water surging half way up the legs of the two Europeans. Escorting them above, the crew closed the hatehway, and, knowing their vessel was Bluking, ran straight for the low-lymg shore ahead. They eleared the foaming breakers, grazed a line of partly-eubmerged reefs, and shot forward into the waters of a narrow stream. _ There was a strong, east wind blowing, which urged the sink- ing lorcha forward. The pirate crammed;on every stitch of sail, and, bait¢ning down the hatches, kept the prow of his vessel pointing up streain, and cutting the water till the surface grew level with the, deck. | The Huglishmen watched the procecdings with increasing fmazement. It was strange to see the craft still plough the “water while.nat a line of her frame was visible. , Chin Apo waa evidently ill at ease. He kept a feverish out- ‘ook, alternately oy each bank. Finally the water-logged war- junk drifted ai raledaly with the current. About a mile ahead the banks of ithe stream rose perpendicularly on each side, a hundred. feet sheer from the water's edge. On the west side iad 22-n erected a triangular-shaped building, while, from a flagstaft tn the centre floated a tricolour of France. A French outpost,” commented Haverlock. “ They're hound to see us, and, if I mistake not, they’ll stop our cdptor’s little came.” | af ( ae spose a white puff of smoke coiled upwards from one b ke Walls, and next instant a dull boom echoed along the auks. A shot struck the lorcha’s foremast, teaiing the gail * We've net a moment ORIGINAL ‘STORY OF .A VOYAGE TO THE POLE. Pe a ee) See next week's “MARVEL” (No. 110), out Wednesday, December th, Lo ed THE “HALFPENNY MARVEL,” = art oa tr f into ribbons and sending the spar. overboard. ‘None ‘of: the «’ we r% crew were carried over with, the wreckage. 0 Instantly a scene of utmost confusion reigned among’ the pirates. leaptinto the water Chin Apo, with Bfty suppaite knew thas, once within Cochin China could Moi savages beyond. Sebood ‘at “Shoot those dogs down the. yelled, pointing” to the) 4 cowardly crew, as they strove to giinithe opposite shore. His order was prompt] y obeyed, and others, who had wavered: —. «- © Me | 4 y 2 or oh owe were bent on fighting; ‘aud‘others, losing heart,’ *) and swan towardsthe opposite bank, 2° - | the helms-'"He: |. that steep pass, nos all the French in prevent hint reaching the fustnesses of the - .:! before, preferred to remain with their chief and risk their lives. _ before the French guns rather than evoke the. ferocity: of» Chin Apo. has It was evident the pirate wished to retain his captives alive, for he moved’ them to a place of comparative safety at. the helm. | Bruce, Haverlock, aud their treacherous companion waited breathlessly for the pirate's next move. The French opened @ hot fire from the fort ahead, and presently a line of soldiors udvanced alonizz the edge of the chil, and worked deadly havoc with their Snider rifles. Btitl the pirate chief was bent on running the gauntlet. He issued his orders quickly, and, in obedience, his ruffianly fol- lowers plunged into the river, and, sealing the opposite bank, commented towing the junk towards ihe steep pass. As they neared the fort on the oppusite side a sharp fusillade cheeked their advance. _ The country, being open, afforded them no protection; and, fearful lest tho body of his followers should be cut off, Chin Apo resolved on a desperate move. ‘The bank on which the French were stationed slightly everhung the river. At the extreine foot a mass of fallen rocks presented a secure foothold for some distance, till the water overlapped them further on. Calling to his followers, he swam quickly to the west bank. The crew plunged into the river, intending to follow; but the soldiers, detecting the move, concentrated a seathing fire into the water below. One after another the pirates threw up their hands, and sank to the bottom. | Considerably lightened, -the lorcha caught a gush of wind, and, striking the opposite bank, remained for some miuutes stationary; then a well-aimed shot ploughed her deck and burst into a thousand fragments above the stern, The yhoelx tore off part of the upper deck, and, straining under the force of the wind, the Jorcha parted from the rocks, and glided slowly towards the pase. The pirates who had towed her so far gained the floating deck, and, opening fire at the soldiers hove, covered the retreat of their companions. : The last man to land uttered a yell of triumph, and, striking forward, Chin Apo and his horde of ruffians scrambled from boulder te boulder beneath the towering cliffs. But, though they were out of range, they were not yet out of danger. | Vhe French outposts, seeing their ae likely to escape, eoealed the edge of the cliffs, and, half a mile in advance, lighted the fuse attached to 2 submarine mine. {t was a diabolical revenge. A flash and terrifie report followed, and next moment the lorcha ‘shot upwards, hurling shattered spars on each bank, and casting its struggling occu- pants into the agitated waters, Bruce and Haverlock were hurled iuto the river, some yards in advance of the others. that portion of the bunk which met the water, and, unable ta advance on foot, were compelled to swim the intervening space, The doctor saw the advantage, and, erying to Gordon, strucle out for the boulders ahcad. ‘Together the two friends landed, and, racing forward, increased the divtance between them and their dismayed captors. The chief urged his followers forward, and, plunging into the water himself, reached the narrow ledge of broken rock as the fugitives disappeared behind a huge boulder three hundred yards in advance. “The rock shelves in, Hide!” cried Haverlacl. Bruce, following the example, crept between the houlder and the cliff, and, searcely daring to breathe, waited’ till the pirates passed on. Ahead the path ivas rough ond irregular, and, half carrying, half leading Iquorn, the pirates pushed forward. | Gordon and lus companion wwaitel til militfall; then, cau- tiously proceeding, followed the track of thetr enemies. They knew their only chance of snfety lay in gaining the upper cliff before daybreak, for Chin Apo, finding luis captives had given him the slip, would assuredly return, knowing ther must be in hiding somewhere along the route. Far several miles they journeyed on in silence. ‘The path widened as they advanced, but its surface became even rougher, and the dark- ness attll further inereased their diffienlties. They must have eovered about six miles, when a faint sound in the rear attracted Haverlock’s attention. Halting abruptly, Now's our chance. FOUNDED ON SCIENTIFIC FACTS, Chin Apo and his band had reached | ye dat iy t= ving fet try ty 4 1 AMIGIOOKS « (C(O) ‘ = oF ym mee Se x : is ae ee ee