Avon Fantasy Reader No. 9 — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

that grog, Mr. Andrews,” he said, “and while you’re there, pass out the axes from the rack in my cabin.” oo: : The grog came along a minute later; and then the Third Mate with three big axes from out the cabin rack. : : : “Now then, men,” said the Skipper, as we took our tots off, “those who are coming with me, had better take an axe each from the Third Mate. They're mighty good weapons in any sort of trouble.” We all stepped forward, and he burst out laughing, slapping his thigh. _ “That’s the kind of thing I like!” he said. “Mr. Andrews, the axes won’t go round. Pass out that old cutlass from the steward’s pantry. It’s a pretty heity piece of iron!” The old cutlass was brought, and the man who was short of an axe, collared it. By this time, two of the ’prentices had filled (at least’ we sup- posed they had filled them!) two of the ship’s anchor-lights; also they had brought out the bull’s-eye lamp we used when clearing up the ropes on a dark night. With the lights and the axes and the cutlass, we felt ready to face anything, and down we went again into the boat, with the Captain and the Third Mate after us. | “Lash one of the lamps to one of the boat-hooks, and rig it out over the bows,” ordered the Captain. This was done, and in this way the light lit up the water for a couple of fathoms ahead of the boat; and made us feel less that something could: come at us without our knowing. Then the painter was cast off, and we gave way again toward the sound of the running water, out there in the dark- ness. I remember now that it struck me that our vessel had drifted a bit; for the sounds seemed farther away. The second anchor-light had been put in the stern of the boat, and the Third Mate kept it between his feet, while he steered. The Captain had the bull’s-eye in his hand, and was pricking up the wick with his pocket-knife. As we pulled, I took a glance or two over my shoulder; but could see nothing, except the lamp making a yellow halo in the mist round the boat’s bows, as we forged ahead. Astern of us, on our quarter, I could see the dull red glow of our vessel’s port light. That was all, and not a sound in all the sea, as you might say, except the roll of our oars in the rowlocks, and somewhere in the darkness ahead, that curious noise of water running steadily; now sounding, as I have said, fainter and seeming farther away. “It’s got my oar again, Sir!” exclaimed the man at the bow oar, suddenly, and jumped to his feet. He hove his oar up with a great splashing of water, into the air, and immediately something whirled and beat about in the yel- low halo of light over the bows of the boat. There was a crash of breaking wood, and the boat-hook was broken. The lamp soused down into the sea, and was lost. Then in the darkness, there was a heavy splash, and a shout from the bow-oar:—‘“It’s gone, Sir. It’s loosed off the oar!” “Vast pulling, all!” sung out the Skipper. Not that the order was neces- 92 CONMICMOOOKs (©)