Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1014 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

S. rt Abe \ 4 ae 2 & . : sm ae = thay << = a ~~, ix ete . ~ | oe | LO — Pi —we Middy Ned, the Runaway. turning quickly and looking, (as Turner had been,) seaward, The frigate showed no colors, but to the ex- rienced eyes of those gazing at her there was ttle doubt of her nationality. CHAPTER XIV. A DARING EXPERIMENT. ‘Yrs, tis my old friend, the Nymph, with- out a doubt,” continued Blood, after examining the fugitive through hisglass, ‘* Curse her, and blast him who commancs!” he added, with a sudden and startling access of rage. ‘I'd give my right arm for the command of the smailest frigate afloat for one hour!” hat he would do during that bour was ob- vious enough to the wondering Turner, from the expression of hatred with which the speaker watched the rapidly-approaching frigate. In a few moments—probably recalled to him- self by Turner’s attention—Blood grew calmer, and quietly ordered: ‘*We must run for it this time, Turner—and fast, too, Set every rag of canvas that will draw!” There wasno timeto be lost. The brig had already set her topsails, while coming right down with the wind, which was rapidly dis- persing all traces of the fog, was the frigate, and notwithstanding his wonder, Turner’s or- ders rung out in those sharp, terse sentences which command the confidence of the seaman, and his prompt obedience. Those on board the Volunteer had been so en- gaged in watching the fight between the boats, and Turner’s sinking of the launch and jolly- boat, that the frigate had come almost within long gunshot range before she was perceived, but in five minutes the beautiful schooner was under way, and out of danger from that quarter. The dull boom of a heavy gun now came over a bag, and the frigate displayed the English ensign, ‘* That’s the lion’s roar—now we'll hear from the cub,” commented Blood. Kven as he spoke, a cloud of smoke burst from the bows of the brig, and a shot flew across the stern of the Volunteer, Blood smiled contemptuously, glanced back at the frigate, which, being hopelessly out of range of the light-heeled schooner, was already reduc- ing sail and preparing to heave to, signaling the brig at the same time. ‘* Follew us in, eh? By heavens, he'll regret it, if he dares!” indignantly exclaimed Blood, reading thesignals. The brig, in obedience to orders, was bearing down tocut off the schooner, but this was not likely to happen, unless the latter should lose some of her more important spars within a very few minutes, for she would then be safe in neutral waters—or rather should be, Blood, however, had read the order to follow him, and was just in the humor to gratify his pursuer, ‘* Give that feilow a gun, and hoist our colors!” he ordered, adding: “See if you can’t improve on their gunnery, Mr, Turner—some of the new hands may be able to do it.” ‘* Can’t I take a crack at her, cap’n?” Notwithstanding the title, the tone was de- cidedly familiar—too much so to suit the man who, since taking command of the Volunteer, had maintained the most rigid discipline, de- manding and receiving the most implicit obe- dience and respect from his former messmates, ‘*Hal Who—” fiercely began Blood, turning quickly on the man who had addressed him, “*Beg yer pardon, sir!” interruptec the man, shrinking back, and speaking in an entirely dif- ferent tone, ‘*I knowed ye hadn’t noticed me, an’ as ye wor in the waist—” Blood waved his hand toward the Long Tom, saying: ‘That will do, Jason. Sight your gun for his topmasts!” ** Ay, ay, sir.” As the man walked to the gun, the captain turned and inspected his recruits with a in- terest—almost anxiety. He had hardly looked at them before—satisfied, from their physical appearance as they approached in the boats, tbat Monsieur Pitou had for once kept faith, in so far that there were neither weaklings nor drunken men among them. ‘*Smugglers and—by Jove!” Blood had commenced frowning, but with the last words, the frown vanished, and he called Ned who was standing close to bim, ‘* Send me that thin, small, sickly-looking fel- er EE i a a low—him in the red cap, leaning on the cap- stan!” le ordered, . Ned obeyed, and the man indicated followed oe captain, who walked aft after sending for im, On reaching the quarter-deck, Blood turned, and addressing the other in a cordial tone, said: | | ‘* Careful, now, Turner! There—lower away!” ordered Blood, ag the brig yawed to with all her sails set, ** Ah! she has surrendered!” was the universal and regretful comment of those on shore, x8, in obedience to the order, the main and fore- sails of the Volunteer were ip an instant down ‘*Glad to see you, Hansen! Most of these are | on deck—the former in almost—apparently in to- your men?” ‘* Yes, sir—or rather were,” replied Hansen, adding: ‘** i had to run the lugger ashore, rather than allow them to haveber; Your youngsterscame in time to catch me, and prevent our going to another in a body. ‘*Of course, you bave noticed there are about twenty of your old comrades among the men who joined?” ** Yes; but, let that go! ** Hansen, I’m going to fight that brig, and you must act as second lieutenant! You know the men; send them to the gunsas you would on the lugger, when I give the order. ‘* Go forward, now, and pick out your crews quick as possible.” “* Ay, ay. sir?” As the insignificant-looking Hansen saluted and walked forward, Blood called to Turner, and as the latter approached, the report of the Long Tom caused him to look toward the brig. ‘* Well done, Jason!” he exclaimed, seeing that the shot had carried away the brig’s fine foretopmast. ‘* Now, Turner,” he continued, ‘ we’re going to give that brig a dose if she comes much fur- ther after us, Hansen—that little fellow in the red cap—will act as second lieutenant, He was commander of the fighting smuggler-privateer ‘ Fox,’ and is a very fiend in a fight.” Pausing for a few moments, the speaker took a rapid survey of the situation of the vessels, Yes,” he continued, ‘‘ we will try it, now, Keep her away for afew minutes—as if we were going to run along inshore, and stand by to run across his forefoot—to give him a broadside.” The Volunteer was, now, about two miles off the mouth of the Garonne—the shore on either side of which was crowded with spectators, at- tracted by the firing, and wondering at the singuiar spectacle, CHAPTER XV. A SURPRISE ALL AROUND. As before stated, the Volunteer was about two miles off the mouth of the Garonne, when, to the astonishment of the spectators, she alter- ed her course as if intendingto run along in’ shore, and inany were the expressions of disgust at the stupidity of her commander in not run- ning up theriver, where he could lie safe under the guns of the fort. Delighted at this opportunity of driving the Volunteer off-shore, and into the jaws of the frigate—which, perceiving what was going on, was again under full sail to head off the chase— the commander of the brig came down almost before the wind, but bearing closer, and closer, in-shore, Apparently, the schooner was nicely trapped —or rather had trapped herself—and the Ameri- can sympathizers on shore groaned, Escape seemed impossible. To go on, meant to run right under the guns of the frigate, while to retreat meant a close range broadside from the brig. Asif realizing the hopelessness of the case, the American, notwithstanding the increasing breeze, began reducing sail until the brig was within a half-cable’s length of her, Satisfied that they bad the schooner between them, neither the frigate nor the brig bad fired a shot from the moment the chase had passed the only avenue of escape—the mouth of the Garonne River—intending to take the prize un- injured. ith the prize almost in his grasp, and still with the intention of taking it ummarred by heavy shot, the commander of the brig ordered bis marines forward, and began a heavy fire of musketry to induce her tosurrender, but in vain —the schooner held on her courss, her men sheltered under the bulwarks, Oddly enough, too, although still under the same canvas, the Volunteer maintained nearly a cable’. length lead of her pursuer, and kept, the masts of the latter in one—that is, ina straight line astern. Fearing the prize would fall to the frigate, and angeréd at this temerity, the commander of the brig prepared to round to, and pour in a broadside. } | | ET Sh re ken of submission. So, too, thought the delighted captain of the brig, for bis orders could be distinctly heard on board the schooner: ‘* Marines cease firing! Hands shorten sail, and clear away the first cutter!” But the heavy press of sail which the brig was carrying was not to be so quickly reduced as that of the schooner, and as she rounded to she shot past the supposed prize, A half-minute before, the low order ran from ‘stem to stern of the schooner: ‘* Ready there, you starboard gunners, and you sail-trimmers! Keep that mainsail up a trifle!” As the stern of the brig swept by the jib- boom of the schooner, those on the former ves- sel were amazed to hear: ** Hoist away the jib-sheet! Up that main- sail! Port—hard-a-port! Steady—fire!” At the first word, Turner had taken the helm, and at the last, uttered as the beautiful schooner wore across the stern of her late pur- suer, the starboard battery was poured in. The range was murderously short, and the six double-shotted guns, in broadside, with the Long: Tom’s load of grapeshot, wrought terrible havoc —spars, sails, ropes, and men being cut down in heaps. , lt wasa daring and skillfully executed, though terrible, punishment for a flagrant violation of the law, and as the Volunteer, with all sail set, began to draw away from the crippled brig, Blood leaped to the taffrail, and through his trumpet shouted: ‘‘ Next time you undertake to break the law, be sure you can do it with impunity! You de- serve another broadside!” Asif confirming his words, a dull roar came murmuring over the water, It was the cheer- ing of the excited spectators, who lined the shore in thousands, and who salated the Volunteer, when she shortly afterward entered the Garonne, with deafening cheers. ‘¢That was a bright idea of yours, Hansen— engaging the cutters, Wemight not have had an opportunity to leave her in that state, if you hadn’t prevented all four boats from coming at u3 at once,” observed Blood to the second lieutenant (pro tem,), as the Volunteer bore away for the river. ‘The idea was bright enough,” returned Han- sen, elevating his eyebrows, ‘‘and it ran with inclination, but your youngster is the one en- titled to credit for it—not me,” ‘*Eo? Which one?” asked the surprised cap- tain, ‘‘ The youngest,” ‘‘Ned! Come, Hansen, no joking on the quarter-deck,” ‘‘Notatall, sir, I have but stated the fact— it was Ned, as you call him, who directed that your long-boat should be relieved of its over- load and then proceed to the schooner, while he aud I, with the remaining boats, should attack the enemy’s boats,” ‘‘To him, also, belongs the credit of forcing two carronades out of that inborn thief, Pitou, added Hansen, “The deuce he did!” exclaimed the other, in astonishment, ‘‘ How did he do it?” ‘* After securing all of my late crew and your former comrades, by using your name, he and the other youngster demanded some money and goods which Pitou bad stolen from them, ‘** He—Pitou—protested innocence, but every- body knew the thief, and son oy a thief, was ly- ing, and all joined in promising bim a warm bed over bis own fire if he delayed in returning what was stolen; but this lad restrained the men, though they were rather glad of an excuse to pay off old scores at parting, and it would seem he had an idea of what was coming, for he pro- posed to allow Pitou time to find the missing money and and goods in exchange for the loan of the carronades,”’ ‘To which, of course, the old scoundrel glad- ly consented ?” ‘*{ don’t know about that, At all events, no- body asked him; we just took them.” Blood could not forbear smiling at this quie simple way of describing what he could we picture—the tumult created by the angry, re- vengeful seamen; the shivering, thievinz, hypo- critical landlord; the insignificant-looking but actually all-powerful Hansen taking no active | | miecpoo CO (S co