The Yankee Champion — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

‘Who is that up there?’? Maynard asked of one of the two men who were stationed in the top. “Tt’s that new man,”’ returned the top-keeper. **Mason ?’’ ‘*VYes. 3 ‘“What’s he after?’’ “T don’t know. He’s stationed in the top, you know.”’ “Hallo, there!’’ cried Maynard. ‘‘Fore-topmast- crosstrees, there. What ye after up there?” — Mason stopped and looked down. “What ye after, I say?’’ repeated Maynard. “T’m going up to keep a lookout from the cross- trees,’ at length answered Mason, and as he spoke he started on. “Stop! Come down out 0’ Hots “a “T’ll see you hanged first. You are not going: to order me around just as you please.’’ Mason had now reached the topmast head,and the old gunner thought he could see a sheath-knife in his hand. The villain’s body was bent forward, but Maynard was convinced that he was reaching toward the topsail-tie. The scamp meant to cut it, and let the yard down by the run. Jacob Maynard may have hesitated for a moment, and his heart may have beat more quickly than was its wont; but he set his teeth together with a grat- ing force, and took one step higher in the rigging. Then he grasped the forward shroud with his left hand, and with his right he drew his pistol. There was a sharp, double click, as the hammer was drawn back, and the old man took a deliberate aim. At that instant the brig rode upon a smooth sea—on the next, a sharp report rung upon the air, and the men upon deck started in alarm. The Tory villain Eomicbooks hal P —4 ay ‘z Sah, -% to eet Eco mn :