Beadle's Dime Novels No. 87: On the Deep — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

LIGHT, HO! 23 He gazed steadily toward the light, until it was suddenly extinguished. ‘i A boat should bb sent to reconsider,” said the mate. “They may be a-preparing some kind of a trap forus. If you say the word, I’ll take the cutter and go.” “ Ay, ay, that’s a good idea. But, be careful, Block, be careful. We hayen’t any men to lose. They must put their arms in the boat, and must muffle their oars.” These orders were obeyed, after which the little craft was cautiously lowered. Four men, who had been selected for the crew, then took their places, and, carefully plying their oars, the boat glided off into the darkness. Block steered toward that quarter in which the last light— the one astern—had been seen. Owing to the precautions taken, the boat made but little noise: the mate issued his orders in whispers: there was no conversation among the men. They had proceeded in this manner for about a quar- ter of an hour, when Block suddenly leaned forward and peered eagerly ahead. He fancied he could distinguish the outline of some ‘object at no great distance. He was soon enabled to make out. the form of a man seated in a canoe, and he doubted ‘not that this was Ringbolt’s murderer—the Malay. He ordered his men to pull more softly, and, turning ‘his head at the same instant, the occupant of the canoe saw the ap- proaching boat. He seized his paddles and urged his light craft through the water with extraordinary swiftness. “Ay, ay, there he goes!” cried Block, “a-running away from us. A’ guilty conscience makes cowards of all.” Pull ahead, lads, long, strong, and steady ; we'll soon have him under our jurisprudence.” The men laid back to their oars with a will, and the boat flew swiftly ‘on in the wake of the fugitive. Having had the start of his pursuers, however, and his vessel being much lighter than theirs, it was some time ‘before the distance between them began to diminish. The course pursued by the mate, soon brought the bark’s lantern some dis- tance off iis starboard quarter—that is to say, nearly opposite to the:right side of his boat. It struck him that the Malay did not now put forth so much exertion as he had previously done, and believing that exhaustion was the cause, he 2 ; comicbooks.com