Beadle's Dime Novels No. 94: The Mad Skipper — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

“No; we have lost too much time already. Besides, being ‘ short- handed, ’I have no objection to the services of these two men. Ben Williams!’ “ Ay, ay, sir,’ cried the old tar, looking very guilty as he advanced. “ You knew the two men in the hold were not the cabin- boy and his friend... You knew they were these two desert- ers, did you not ?” “Seeing as no harm can come to ’em now, I may as well own up that I did,” answered Ben. “ Well, see that you never deceive me in that way again,” eried the skipper. “ As you have got me two extra hands, however, I'll forgive you this time So that ends the mat- ter.” “ Shall we get up stu’n’-sails ?” inquired the first officer. Wythe did not answer. His. eyes, lighted by the lurid * gleam, were fixed upon space, as if his mind had suddenly wandered from the subject of conversation. The New-Zealander repeated his question, and then, starting guickly, like one suddenly waking from a bad dream, the captain clutched the arm of the savage, and pointing aloft, replied, in a voice that rung like a thunderbolt through every part of the ship: “ Studding-sails and royals! Ay, ay! crack it on the old craft—every thing she can carry! and when you hear tt roar, let me know !” “Me no understand. What roar?” timidly and respeetfully inquired the dusky mate. “ Roar—lI said roar, fool,” shouted the captain, while fic kes of foam flew from his white lips. ‘ You shall know in time what I mean! Up with studding-sails and_royals there ! Let me hear the groaning of the timbers—the cracking of the masts—the booming of our broad bows! Ho! hot there, bestir yourselves, all hands! We have no time to lose! Round and round it goes, roaring, crashing, and thundering like an avalanche! Steady at the helm!” While some of the men were engaged in sheeting home royals and preparing studding-sails, Frank and the old. tar, Ben Williams, darted aloft to rig out the main-topmast stud- ding-sail boom. They were soon on the yard, and, while comiclbooks.con | }