The Blue Clipper — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

was one between the bitts. He procured it, and struck a light, after first carefully reclosing the scuttle, that the glare might not be seen from the quarter-deck. At sight of him, their shipmaté, the poor fellows would have overwhelmed him with questions, but for his enjoining strict silence. He then teok a leck at their chain. This, one end secured to a post by the forecastle steps, wus fastened to all—thirty men—holding them by turns earefully taken round their limbs, so firmly that by their own efforts, they were unable to displace them. To separate the chain from the post would insure the free- dom of the prisoners, who, however, having no instrument for the purpose, were, themselves, unable to do so, Bend, passing into the hold through an opening in the bulk- head, procured an ax, and, with ene blow, severed the post. The chain was then thrown off,..nd the prisoners were free. _ “ What noise was that?” now came fiom the officer of the deck. “ Leave him to me,” said Bend, while you run on deck-— a few of you—cut the cable, loosen the fore and foretopsail, and the mainsail.” With these werds, he sprung on deck, and running eft, threw himself upon the officer with unexpected suddenness, knocking him down the companion-way. Meanwhile the other men, at once eomprehending his intention, obeyed the orders he had given. There was a good off-shore wind—almost a ga'e—blowing at this time, so that the b'ue clipper, rapidly swinging round, suddenly darted off like an arrow away from the cutter. Cries and shouts, with the hasty trampling of feet—the flashing of lanterns, efc., proc ‘aimed that the cutter’s watch had detected the sudden diseppearance of the clipper. & It was-several minutes, however, ere a gun could be cleared: away. Then there was a broad, bright flash, and a twelve- pounder thundered, sending ils shot whizzing after the clipper, bow disappearing in the darkness. The Dolphin was by this time half a league distant. “Clear away that ten-pounder, forward !” shouted Bend. The men with alacsity obeyed every order of their shipmate, all their officers having been taken aboard the cutter. ¢ = — Gopmicheokscom