The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

568 THE MUTINY ON THE FLYING CLOUD. cliffs towered high above the mastheads on both sides of the ship, and as the wini happened to be blowing athwart the channel the canvas was almost becalmed ; indeed, had it not been for the little draft of air which now and then came down the channel astern of her, the Flying Cloud would have lost headway altogether. As it was, she still moved through the water, though at a speed barely sufficient to give her steerage way ; and the crew of the gig, seeing her almost helpless condition, raised a loud, confused shout, which they doubt- less meant for a cheer, and redoubled their efforts at the oars. They saw the pirate raise his rifle and take a long steady aim, then came the flash. The bullet struck the taffrail just at their feet. Williams dashed the piece down savagely, disappointed at his ill success ; and Ned stepped “o the wheel and gave it a slight adjusting touch. | When he turned again Williams was standing up in the boat, with his hands to his mouth, and next moment came the hail : ‘“Cloud ahoy! If you will heave to at once I solemnly swear that no harm will come to either of you. I will pass over and forgive your mad at- tempt to run away with the ship; but if you compel us to pull alongside and recapture her, look out! Your punishment will be such that I will make you positively pray to be put out of your misery. Do you hear me?”’ ‘‘T can see his eyes, now,’’ said Ned. ‘‘I will fire first, and directly the smoke clears away you must follow suit; take care to fire into the thick of the crew so as to do all the mischief possible. Now !”’ As Ned spoke he leveled his piece, and aiming carefully, pulled the trigger. Simultaneously with the report came a sharp yell of agony and a groan, and as the smoke drifted away two oars were seen to drop overboard, and two forms to sink down into the bottom of the boat. CHAPTER XXXIX.—THE FLYING CLoup’s Escape. NED WILSON’Ss successful shot caused some confusion in the pirate’s boat, which was increased when Price, the steward, fired his rifle, and Williams was seen to spring convulsively from his seat and fall forward. The pur- suit was now suspended for a time, and Ned went back to the Flying Cloud’s helm. By this time the ship, having drifted past the highest point of land to windward, once more began to feel the breeze; and when the gig—having lost a good hundred yards’ distance—again resumed the chase the ship was creeping ahead at a speed of fully three knots, with the wind coming truer and fresher at every fathom of progress. The men in the gig pulled furiously, but ten minutes later the Flying Cloud glided past the last point of land and was rising and falling on the open ocean. As soon as the ship was fairly clear of the harbor Ned kept her away on a southwest course for the island on which the skipper and Manners had been landed ; and such excellent progress did they make that on the day but one com () LOOKS CO) >