The Yankee Champion — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

THE YANKEE CHAMPION. _ 93 who could not avoid smiling at the captain’s perplex- ity. ‘‘You are fairly trapped.’’ “But, sir, we are Englishmen, and this is an Kng- lish store-brig..”’ ‘‘And we, sir, are Yankees, and that craft along- side is a Yankee privateer. Now, do you under- stand ?’’ | For a full minute the dumfounded Englishman gazed half vacantly into Walter’s face. At first the thing seemed incredible, but gradually a sense of the reality came over his mind, and he turned his head toward the transport. “Beware!” uttered Walter, comprehending in a moment the man’s design. “If you open your mouth to give an alarm you die on the instant, and so does any man who attempts it.”” And as hespoke he gave emphasis to his words by raising a cocked pistol. The poor captain’s jaw fell at the sight of the cold iron, and for an instant he shuddered. “Then I am really a prisoner?’’ he pronounced at length, in slow, measured tones, but with a deep spice of mental anguish; ‘‘and you are all Yankee privateersmen?”’ “You speak of the matter just exactly as it stands,’ returned Walter, and then turning to Baker, who still stood near him, he said: “Man the main-braces, sir, and lay the main-top- sail aback as soon as the mainsail is clewed up. Be sure and move the yards very carefully, so that there shall be no noise. Now, who’ll go aloft and blow out that light at the fore-truck 2” Half a dozen responded. Nixon selected the ‘one who was the lightest, and bade him be careful and Keep abaft of the lantern until the light was out. ~ You don’t expect you’re going to get off with this Eomichboo ‘Ss (Ele) mn