The Halfpenny Marvel, Vol. 5, No. 109 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

Seo S25 ala a ane ZAPU Awl | +> I< ay OCS 4 r gy ™et pe would -risk'my life to be of service to you, but Jecnanet grant . your request. iknow what my. duty is to: you ‘and:.your | = The, mothers ~T'sHall do. it..- Pray don't argue. «It is quite: uscless, -. gnd-+to xefuse’ariything. to you causes me deep pain.” - But where shall you go?’ And, if you find that man, what “TY shall call him out!” replied Aleo‘firmly. “He shall meet me face to face. Farewell!” ~ Pi es “‘Lily’s eyes were lowered now, nor’ dare,;she raise them for fear he should. read the secret she would not confess, even to herself: But Alec saw her face turn white, and, guessing the eanse, a feeling half of joy and half of sorrow came over hun. ~ hen he went out into the darkness of the night to avenge the insult offered to Lily, and she, drying the tears from her pretty eyes, went to tell her miother of her want of success. Alec thought it very unlikely that Meredy would go back to London that night, considering the lateness of the hour and the dact that he had been badly bitten by the mastiff; therefore dt oveurred to Alec that the ruflan would seek refuge at the “tavern by the river where once before he had hidden. It was some considerable distance to this place, but Alec determined to at once proceed there. His wound caused him yauch sufféring, but the remembrance of Meredy’s villainy urged him on. A dense fog hung over the river when he drew near to 1, and he was quite close to the tavern before he could dis- tinguish the hehts. Cautiously stepping up to the window, he glanced through. . The roe wis full of some of the mbst desperate-looking ruffans, but Aferedy was not emongst them. Alec approached the door, and was about to knock to question the landlord, when he thonght he heard a stealthy footstep coming towards him. For a few moments he remained listening, and pre- gently, through the dense fog, he saw a tall form. The man stopped when he caught sight of Alec: then he turned, It was Meredy, aud he feared to face the brave young heutenant sword to sword. So thick was the fog that Aloredy liad little difieulty in escaping, and, when he could no longer eee his pursuer, he stopped to listen. He could hear Alec's ivotsteps approaching, and again the cowardly ruffan hurried on, But before he had taken a dozen steps he trod into space ; thea, with a ery of terror, he plunged headlong inte the swilt- flowing waters of the river. When he rose to the surface a fharp pam seized his legs, Vhe sudden cold had caused a spasin, of cramp - which rendered him perfectly helpless, ancl, as the vapid current swept bim out to sea, he again sank beneath|the surface. ‘hus thrice the wretched man sank; his frantic struggles grew feebler, and soon they ceasad alrogether, Charles- Meredy had gone {o give an accaunt of Jus many crimes ! Alee had heard his cries: but in the dense fog he had not knewn which way to vo to hig foe's aid, for he would not have Jet hirn ‘die like that. Ad last he turned from the spot, and wearlly made his way back to Lady Richardson's mansion. And now he beyan to feel the ¢fects of the wound which he had treated so hghtly. It was terrible to him to lio inactive when he knew that fresh glories were awaiting him. Although he received unremitting attention, he made but very slow progress, and the fear began to haunt him that he would be unable to.take part in the last great struggle. Then came the news that Nelvon had returned to Englend, and the “ Victory” was to be refitted at Portsmouth, while Garry Richardson came to speud the interval with his mother. Aleo's hope returned, for ke knew that he would be by his heloved commander’s side now in the last great struggle, and le régained strength in a manner that surprised his doctor. At last the day arrived when Alee and Harry received orders in join their vessel, and once more the “ Victory sailed to meet the foe. ‘The consbined fcets of the French and Spaniards Were anchored in, Cadiz Bay, and, fearing that they would not put out to sea if they once learnt his strength, Nelcon, keeping out of sight of tand, took up his position some fifty miles to the west df Cadiz, | mb ie ; Some anxious days and nights were passed. Then the com- bined fleets were sighted, and, in spite of the auperiority of numbers and the size of (heir veseela, Nelson gave the order to bear down on them, In breathless silence the officers and sen watched their teroig, commander as he passed them in his Admiral’s coat, en the breast of which were the four badges of his Orders, Phen a cheer arese from the officers and men, for Nelson's Jusé Henal was run aloft—int signal which will be engraved on ‘British hearts for all time. Proudly these banners floated in thoavestern: bredze ; nobly that signa} was obeyed: “ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO His tr, ; J heu proudly, Lord Nelsoy looked round at his gallant flect, 4 can do no more,” he said. “We can only trust to the great Disposer of all evenis and to the justice of our cause. [ Our 1 ae! £m Oar) rn NNY =I Ls PE Jthank Heaven for this: great opportunity of doing my duty is ga = woh patch o 1 ORG aA a ! ' pena aye Py Ce ; a ney yp yo epee 12 a rans PRY 4 i op hE * Lith Arpt, ra o == bar ke NOS PP a ay MLE) Leer oe _ ‘Erg v4. . aed, ) t 5 ’ a . i this niy last battle t””. ae | ph Va Aetbaed 7 Alege felt a sickening fear when he heard these.worda, which were not the first that Nelson had uttered*to;the same effect. Tt seemed asithough: he ‘foresaw his death: ;Making' his way grasped their honest hands. be forgotten.” Mike. ‘““We are going to beat them!’ “ Neilson is on the bridge,” replied Alee quietly. “"True for you! But 1 wish he would take those stars off his left breast, or cover them over, There will be sharpshooters aboard the foe, and they are bound to pick him off!. Can't you ask him, sir?” . “Ywilltry, Mike; but I doubt\if J] shall be successful. Now, farewell.” 7 Alee’s request, which was backed was, however, without effect. LN. “{ gained them in honour,” said Ndlson, placing his hand upon the ghitering stars, ‘‘and in honow JI will die with them !” Then that awful battle began--a battle which covered Britain's sons with glory and filled their hearts with grief. Nelson, as was his custom, had hoisted several flags aboard his vessel for fear one should be shot savay, and, ag the “ Wictary "' sailed towards the fee, they operncd fire. The roar of the “ Vietery’s?’ guns had not yet burst forth. and, im spite of an inerssant fire which raked her fore auc afe, she hore down on the huge four-deeker “ Sautisstuas Crinmtdad.” " yp by the other officers, The frst to fall aboard the “ Yietory ’ was the Admiral’s secretary; then eight marines were struck down by a double- headed shot, aud the Admiral ordered the survivors to be removed from the awful fire to which his own braye breast Was exposed. As Alee watehed that heroie commander, who knew not what the word “fear ’’ ineant, he dreaded each moment thas he would fall. Even as he watehed, a ball struck the bracehita and shveked past between Nelson and his captain. So far the gunners on the “ Vistory’’? had watted for the order to open fire, and when a shot carried one of the brave fellows into eterpify, another man, all undaunted, would take his place, to wait for the signal, should he be destined to hear it; and while they waited half a hundred men were mown down, . Then earne the order. Port and starboard guns flashed inte the thickening smeke: shot and shell shrieked through the sulphurouy als, ‘The " Vietory’s’’ elm was ported, and she ran. down on the “ Kedoutable.’’ who received her with a broadside, then clo.ed her ports lest she should be boarded. ‘Then, from her rigging, came bright flushes, and bullets rained wpon the “ Sictory’s ” deelcs. , Louder each moment grew the battle’s roar. The erashing of timbers, the shouts of the combatants, the rall of mugketr from the Frenchman’s riggaig, and the shrieks of the coe all imingliny im awful uproar. ‘Phe muzzlea of the “ Vietory's”’ gues, a3 they were run onl, aetually touched the “ Redout- ables? side, so that when they were fired, and the shots crarhed them wav through ber timbers, ho Breachmen were compelled to dash buckets of water into the jagged holes se that the vessel might pot take fire. And while the starbonrd guns of the “ Vietory ’’ were dealing death and devastation aboard the “Redoutable,” her port guns were hurling shot and shell into the “Sannesima 'Trmidad” and the “ Bucentaure.” ‘Ewioe Nelson gave the order to cease firing an the “ Redout- able,’ because, her guns now being silent, he beheved she had surrendered, though she. carmed no flag to strilce. At this moment Alec saw a man in the “ Redoutable’s” mizzentop. which was vot twenty yards from where Nelson stood, Jevel bis musket and deliherately fire at the Admiral, With « feeling of anguish impossible te describe, Alec gaw his commander fall forward on his face; then our hero pointed with his sword to the man who had dane that deed, and two mindsbipmen fired. One of the balls pierced the Frenchman’a heed and the other his breast, and he fell lifeless ta the deck; but not before his work was done. Then never before had Fritish warriora fought more furiously. ‘The " Redoutable”’ soon struck, and ship after ship followed her example. “They have doue for me at last, Hardy, his captain, as he fell. “TF trust not,” replied Captain Hardy, motioning to somo men to raise the Admiral, “Ves,” said Nelson; “my backbone is shot through.” [Conclusion of this story next week in our Christmas Numb, which will contain also the commencement of our new ccn- ” vaid Neleon to ‘imued story, “ Dick Danvers, the Young Ventriloquist.’’] New Sériat Siory will be iflustrated every week by one of the best “MARVEL” Artists, and we can ~ Safely say it will be the best Serial Story that has appeared in the pages of the “MARVEL,” forward, Alec sought his old comrades, Mike/and Jack, and. he. . “Heaven keep you, my dear old friends!" he said. | You: kindness to me when J was but a.powder-monkey will never Sure, now, It's very good to talk like that, sir!’ exclaimed .- connicloooks co