Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1014 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

—_ - Te, @ — ae — looked, for my poor, old mother—well, this is the lad that gh up his last sbillin’ t’ her, and that put me in the way o’ findin’ her.” After that, no one commanded more respect and good will in the forecastle than Kdward Preble, and a fine-looking, well-built youth of sixteen, who was sitting at the boatewain’s feet, with his head resting against the latter’s knee, turned and took a look—long and deliberate—at our young adventurer, after which he shook hands with him, ‘** Well, as I was sayin’, I’ve an idee she’s goin’ out as a slaver,” resumed Dick. ‘‘ The cargo that be’s put aboard—printed cottons ’n’ hard- ware ’n’ irons for legs ’n’ arms—don’t look like the last cruise,” ‘** That’s rightenough, Dick,” returned Turner, ‘*but | know ve go to France first, ’n’ it’s like- ly the printsan’ hardwareare for there, As for the irons, ye all know how it was when them chap escaped six months ago.” There wasa@ general murmur, in response to the boatswain’s last words, and he continued: **To-morrow’s a long day, boys—powder ’n’ ' shot, ye kaow—an’ for one, l’m goin’ t’ turn in,” The men, following Turner’s example, arose and retired to their bunks, and after being in- troduced to Frank Horton, the youth who had shaken hands with him, and whose successor he was, Ned did the same, Next day was a busy one for all hands, and when everything was stowed, and the order was given to ‘‘man the windlass!” Ned breathed a sigh of relief. be clattering of handspikes preceded the sailor’s song. Then came the heavy labor by which the anchor was lifted from the bottom, and, in a few more minutes, the ship was re- leased from her hold upon the land. The wind came fresh off the ocean, charged with the saline dampnesz of the element. As the air fell upon the distended and balanced sails, the Volunteer bowed to the welcome guest; and then, rising gracefully from its low inclina- tion, the breeze, that music so grateful to a sea- man’s ear, was heard singing ttrough the rig- ging. Ere ten minutes had gone by, the lighter sails were set, the courses had fallen, and the Volunteer’s bows were throwing the spray be- fore her. Ned enjoyed all this very much, but before night he began to feel very queer; then very sick, and Sealy was helped below by Turner, was om in his hammock, where he remained in # gale of wind of three days’ duration, bewil- dered, confused, puzzled, and every minute knocking his head against the beams, with the pitching and tossing of the schooner. “And this is going to sea,” thought Ned; ‘no wonder father was opposed—warned me against it,” be gale abated on the evening of the third day, the next morning the sea was nearly down, a there was but a slight breeze on the wa- rs, The comparative quiet of the night before had very much recovered Ned, and when the hammocks were piped down, he dressed himself and went on deck, ‘*Hello! Allright again?” asked Horton, n° Sagi Captain Brown been wanting me ‘‘Captain Brown? Who the deuceis Captain er asked Horton, looking very much sur- prised, ** Why, isn’t that the captain’s name?” counter- questioned Ned, equally surprised. ‘*No—the captain’s name is Kiddle. The only Captain Brown I ever heard of is a regu- jar pirate. How did you get that name into your head?” In reply Ned told how he had come to ship on the Volunteer, and the captain’s instructions re- garding the letter to The Brigadier, “‘It was only a joke,” declared Horton, and then proceeded to instruct Ned as to his duties, which were anything but heavy, until the schooner entered the Bay of Biscay. Then Kiddle began drinking heavily, and Ned suffered as well as the rest, for nothing could be done to the satisfaction of the cap- tain, who was a demon when under the influence of liquor. When within one day’s sail of Bordeaux, a squall struck the schooner, bringing the half- drunken captain on deck, and the first person he met was Ned, who had hitherto escaped the kicks and blows, now so freely distributed among the crew, ‘* What are you doing here? Why aren’t you ot work?’ demanded the captain, seeing the first cfficer had the vessel in bnapee trim, and having 0 One else to find fault with. ee eee oe er Middy Ned, the Runaway, oe ‘* You told me to clesr out—to go on deck a half-hour ago,” replied Ned, ‘* Ye lie!” roarei the captain, catching the boy by the shoulder and shaking him. ‘ Ye lie, Isay! Don’t ye lie?” ** No, sir, I don’t lie!” exclaimed Ned, wrench- ing himself free, and at the same moment a sud- den lurch of the vessel threw the captain on his back, where he lay yelling and cursing, until Turner hel him to his feet. ‘* Where’s that young scoundrel?” he demand- ed, as soon as he was standing up, and catching sight of Ned, who was some distance away, or- dered him to come aft, at the same time threat- ening to break every bone in his body. As Ned had no desire to put himself into the brute’s hands, he remained where he was, and, warned by the recent fall that he could not cross the slippery decks, the captain ordered the men to ‘‘ seize that young imp ard clap him in irons,” but— Not a man stir.ed to obey the order! CHAPTER IV. ESCAPED, ‘Ha! Mutiny would ye!” cried the captain, and pulling a pistol from his pocket, Jurched for- ward, calling upon the men by name to seize Even the latter saw that this was done to bring matters to a head—that refusal by the men would be met by at least one pistol-shot from the captain, and for a moment every manof the crew was ripe for mutiny. They were tired of the captain’s brutality, and now that it meant murder, all that was needed was a leader, Ned, however, put an end to the incipient mu- tiny, by saying to one of the men ordered to put him in irons: BS me down, Silas; I don’t mind it a bit. The man addressed laid his hand on Ned’s arm, and, followed by the other threatened man, the three went below, where the boy was left in the forehold—but not in irons, That evening the Volnateer made the mouth of the Garonne, and anchored off-shore for the night, Ned had had several visitors during the after- noon, andone of them, Frank Horton, after re- porting the captain as drinking himself into a drunken stupor, said: ** Ned, I’m tired of this, and I guess you are, too, What do you say to taking French leave?” ** Run away?” ‘* Yes, I can’t stand that brute any longer ;— we will not talk about itnow, To-night, when I come off watch, we'll arrange how to get away.” Atone bell in the middle watch (8:30 P. M.) Horton came below, looking somewhut excited. ‘* We've got to get away to-night or not at all,” hesaid, on entering the hold. ‘* Turner heard the captain, before he got too drunk to talk, tell Bruce [che first officer] to have the gig ready to goushore to-morrow morning, andthat as soon as he returned, we would set sail again— where to, nobody knows, but more than likely, for the Gold Coast, because the people he’s going to see are agents for coffee, sugar aad other planters, who need slaves all the time.” ‘‘ Well, I’m ready, but I can’t swim very far, Frank,” “Swim? Who's talking about swimming? You steal into the fo’ks’lein a few minutes, and make up a bundle of your best duds. Then about seven bells (11:30) come on deck, and we'll put off in thedingy.” ‘* That’s all right, Frank, but what about my being seen in the forecastle, not to speak of on deck?” ‘* You needn’t be afraid of being seen in the fo’k’sle: the men won,t say anything about it, As for being seen on deck, Turner will look out for that part, He’s officer of the middle watch, in place of Bruce, who is sick.” ‘Ob, if that’s the case, U'll begin now,” said Ned, and his friend offering no objection, he entered the forecastle, where, as predicted, no one seemed to notice anything strange about his appearance, although the conversation changed almost immediately to Bordeaux, and the best gra | places for runaway sailors in that town. Ned quickly perceived that this talk was for hie benefit, and paid strict attention to the names, prices and places mentioned, until the men sought their hammocks. He then made up a small bundle of articles deemed most necessary and at seven bells slipped up on deck, The boatswain was standing on the forecastle head, his face turned to the sea, ani going aft, i A ‘ : bya P ohne ; . *) r . = by P \ P d | " x 7 +8 - : 4 af CJ bags! Sut Rage ae: AG aa _ - <p — es — —- _— ae eee Ned, leaning over the taffrail, saw Frank +n t's small boat, which was directly under the cabin windows, “Quick!” said Frank, in a low voice, and holding taut the rope by which the boat fos secured, for Ned to slide down, which the latter quickly did, **Sit in the stern,” he continued, cutting looss from the schooner, and taking the oars headed for Bordeaux. After a half hour’s stiff rowing, the young ad- venturers effected a landing, and picking up their bundles started to find one of the hiding places mentioned by the sailor. In this Frank’s knowledge of the French language, which he had picked up from the crew of the Volunteer, proved of great assist- ancc, Indeed, without it, they might have searched all night, Two or three inquiries, however, and a shil- ling toa ragged boy of twelve or thirteen, who was their final guide, brought them to Monsieur Pitou’s cafe—a miserable looking wooden shanty, situated in an even more miserable looking, out of the way alley. Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, the boys found the bar well filled with seamen of almost every nationality, and others who were there to assist them in spending their hard earned ses Eutrance had not been obtained without diffi- culty, but once inside the appearance of his new guests assured Monsieur Pitou of their character, anc. his first question was how much money they had, ** Don’t tell him!” warned a voice from behind the boys, but in so low a tone, that, amid th» noise made by the half-drunken sailors sittin: round them, if escaped the landlord’s notine. Acting on the bint, Horton displayed a sovereign, saying: “If you can ship us before that is gone, th: balance is yours, and my friend will give you another.” ‘** Now give us something to eat and drink,” continued Frank, cutting short further ques. tioning, and turning, as if in search of a place, saw the man who had warned him, He was a big, muscular-looking fellow, sitting alone, and taking a seat on the op te side of the table, Frank made an excuse for talking to him by saying: ** Will you jon us, shipmate?” ‘*For the sake o' talkin’ t’ ye without bein’ no- ticed, I will, my lai, but don’t you go squander- in’ yer coin on me, or any o’ these bloody land- sharks,” replied the stranger, and the landlord having brought a small bottle of claret for the boys, and cognac for the man, he continued: ** As soon as you’ve finished eatin’, go to yer room, ’n’if ye like, ll goup’n’ talk with ye— but, anyhow, don’t stop down here,” A waiter now appeared with some cold meat and bread for the three, and, while eating, the ae who told them his name was Blood, said: ‘*This is the first I’ve had to-day. A week ago I came here with seventy pounds—this mornin’ I hadn't tuppence, Sie i 2a got any coin, keep it t’ yerself, or they'll bleed ye as they did me, . ‘* Did you have to run away, too?” innocently asked Ned, ‘* Yes—from the customs officers,” replied Blood, with a grin. ‘“* Smuggling?” asked Frank, Blood nodded, and the meal being finished, the party retired to a room on the floor abcve, CHAPTER V, INTO THE FIRE, Up-stairs, Frank told the story of their run- ning away, andin return Blood, who had seen all kinds of service, in every quarter of the globe, related the story of bis connection with a band of twenty smugglers, who had been sur- prised two weeks previous by the customs cffi- cers,’ He had escaped by jumping overboard, nab ca! all his comrades had been killed or cap- ured. ** Now,” said he, ‘I sup you’re anxious t’ get back bome, ’n’ from the offer ye made that land-sbark below, it won’t be long afore you'll be shipped. He'll tell ye it’s for America, but, an as likely as not, it’ll be some other place, ‘ause he'll be crazy t’ get rid o’ ye,” This was anything but a pleasant outlook, and Ned came to the conclusion that running away wasn’t such a fine idea after all—it didn’t seem to agree with him, It was all very well to run away and go where you like, but quite another thing to run