Beadle's Dime Novels No. 87: On the Deep — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

BLOCK’S MANEUVER. 25 “J must presarve your muscle, my lads,” said he, “as touch as I can, for I think you'll need it, eloquently, in. a oa hours.” “Beg pardon, sir,’ said old Tom. Rocket, the bow oars- man, “but it seems to me that them rascals are a-trying to head us off—to get between us,and the bark. The sound. of their oars was off our quarter a minute ago—it’s now off our bow,” | Block inclined his head to one side, and listening attentive- ly, soon concluded that the man was right; so he. again ordered the crew to put forth all their strength at the oars. They had not proceeded far, however, when the shadowy out- lines of the longboat and its occupants were seen directly ahead, and approaching rapidly. “ Ay, ay, we're cut off from our craft now, sure enough,” growled the mate, as. he whirled the boat around, “ but we'll make them cut-throats respire a little before they come up with us. So spring ahead, men—spring ahead !” The course now: pursued by the two boats, carried them toward the quarter where the first, light had been seen, ° The mate's crew strained eyery. muscle, but.it,soon, became evident that their pursuers were fast gaining on them. In. the course of half an hour, the two boats were not more than nine or ten’ yards apart, and Block was preparing a whole “ volley.” of learned words to discharge at the Malays, when, not far ahead, looming up through the ‘gloom, he saw the outlines of masts and yards, ; “Luff up, there, aboard the schooner, and lie: to !”. was shouted; fromthe pursuing boat, in the.game musical yoice that previously had. startled Block, and his men, “I'll put some prisoners aboard, atOCE to be strung up at the aint arm !” Some moments elapsed leofoie the order was obeyed, by Which time the schooner had forged so far ahead, that in. luff ing up, she came. between the two vessels, bringing her own boat abreast the starboar d main rigging, and the other directly beneath. her fore-chains, on the larboard, or opposite side. The mate was not slow to take ‘advantage of this maneuver. Hearing the sound of the oars of his pursuers, as, they. pulled round the schooner’s stern to seek him, he directed the cutter cComicbookSscomn -