Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

- Three of them were from Newfoundland, the others were Boston men. Two over the score lay to one side, sorely wounded. All the officers of the Boston Lass had been calm at her taking, and now it was to » Spence that these men looked for leader- ship. Nor did he fail them. “Fear not, lads,” he said quietly. “That Moor was no liar! He and a dozen more men stand ready to aid us, and he bears an order from Mulai Ali to free us. Once escaped, we are safe enough.” ** And the lady, master?” spoke up lanky Cyrus Roberts, whom Spence had appoint- ed to be his chief mate. “ Be yon Moor a going to get her aboard the ship?” ~ “So he promised me,” answered Spence. “ Hark! Something has happened in the camp. 7 - They fell silent, listening tensely. Some- thing, indeed, had happened; the shallop had come to shore, bearing news of the dis- aster at Oran. Now, as the news spread through the camp, there arose a great tu- mult of cursing and shouting. Amid this clamor a dozen men stole into the shed, and their leader came to the side of Spence. “ Make haste, capitdn!” he cried in Spanish. ‘“ Disaster has befallen our army at Oran, and already my emissaries are spreading news of Mulai Ali. Present!y the tribesmen will be crying for the head of Ripperda—here are robes and swords.” The Moor and his men were already un- locking the irons of the seamen. From somewhere close at hand boomed a musket, followed by a shrill yell: “ Ras Ripperda!”’ “T must go!” exclaimed the Moor. “TI shall see to the sevorita and meet you at the boats. Take your time and move care- fully, lest you be recognized. These men of mine will obey you. Order them in Cas- tilian—farewell!” He was gone, running out into the clamor that now made an inferno of the camp. Spence, freed of his irons, rose and took charge. There was no further need of cau- as for the Berber camp was now in tu- multuous confusion, guns flashing and torches flaring on Pte hand. Sgt ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘‘ Every man file past me and get a bu noose. Mr. Roberts! Take charge of these scimitars and deal them out, while I show the men how to get into the robes,” “Aye, aye, sir!” responded Roberts promptly. For any in the feyer-hot camp to know that the Ohristian slaves were escaping, would provoke instant massacre, and Spence took no chances. He garbed each man in a burnoose, while Roberts handed out the swords and a few pistols which had been provided. Deep were the oaths of satisfaction which sounded as the men gripped the hilts and felt themselves once more free and about to strike a blow. “Nigh enough like cutlasses, lads,” sang out Roberts, “‘to make ’em swing well! All ready here, sir. Be they Moors goin’ with us?” Spence addressed the Moors, found that they were to help him capture the brigan- tine, and ordered them to lead the way. A last word to his men. ‘Not a word until we get under her side, lads, or we may lose everything! She is Ripperda’s own ship, and if he gets aboard her we may have stiff work of it. But she’s our only chance of getting home again—look alive! Follow the Moors.” It was the hope of Spence that he might not only capture the brigantine, but take Ripperda prisoner, for it was deemed cer- tain that Ripperda would flee to his ship. Even Spence perceived, when he emerged from the shed, that this was an impossi- bility. From every side the Berbers were surrounding the little eminence on which stood Ripperda’s camp, and the pasha was quite cut off from shore. “Unless he gets away by land, he’s done for,” thought Spence, listening to the fren- zied yells of the mob. Meantime, with his men, he was ap- proaching the shore, where the fisher boats lay drawn up. Here, everything was dark- ness and confusion; several boats were creeping over the water betiwees = goes! . as, came to a halt, c iT