Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1014 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

‘tiring the A Middy Ned, the Runaway. away and go where another fellow likes—not to spexk of the other fellow being a drunken brute. ‘*'m goin’ t’ ship t’-morrow ’r next day.” con- tinued Blood, ‘‘but for where I don’t know ’n’ don’tcare. My money’s all gone, so he got me a sbip t’ get rid o’ me,” After a little further conversation, and much friendly caution, Blood left the young adven- turers to take such rest as they might be able to get out of the miserable apology tor a bed with which the room was furnished, Buta sailor’s life is not one which renders juxurious, or even ordinary, sleeping quarters a mecessity, and soon both were sound asleep. Next morning, the boys were awakened bya loud rapping on the door, and, on opening it, found Blood, with a small bundle under his arm, greg outside, waiting to bid them gvod- 'y. ‘*Be careful, boys; that chap’s liable t’ do anythin’,” were his parting words, and when Ned released the ex-smuggler’s hand, he lefta sovereign in it—shutting and locking the door to prevent its return, Ned had taken a great liking to the big, bluff Hanes gree and knowing he had no money, and seeing the size of his ‘‘ kit,” bad taken this means of expressing his thanks for the friend- : ship shown to Frank and himself. e could easily afford it, too, for before re- revious night, Frank handed bim a chamoi n bag, fastened like a tobacco-pouch, saying: ‘*For fear of accident, Ned, you had better take charge of this, It is yours—given me by Tom Turner to give to you with this message: “Tf you attempt to return it, or refuse to ac- cept and use it, he will believe that you do so merely because you consider yourself so much above him that you will not accept a favor at his hands,” ‘‘ And I think you'll be a fool if you refuse it,” added Frank. ‘I shall accept it—as a loan,” returned Ned, who because of the wording of the message, would have done almost anything rather than nde under the imputation of being too proud to o it. Going down-stairs, the boys found the land- lord in great good humor, e had shipped sev- eral unwelcome guests, at a good price, that morning, and was ready to get rid of more, ‘““Ah! Good-morning, gentlemen!” he ex- claimed. ‘‘I have good news for you, I believe. You can ship to-morrow, if you wish, for your owncountry. Iam anxious, you see to earn the other sovereign,” W hen this pleasing intelligence was interpreted for Ned’s benefit, he impulsively struck the pocket containing the bag, exclaiming: ‘* Tell the old blood-sucker he can have two if he gets us off to-day.” Monsieur Pitou’s small eyes sparkled as he heard the ring of the gold, but he received Frank’s explanation of his friend’s words: ** We wish to goas soon as possible!” with the most innocent and confiding air imaginable— notwithstanding the fact that Monsieur under- _— what Ned said fully as well as Frank ! That day was a long one to the boys, most of it being spent in their room, and it was a relief to be summoned to dine—by special invitation— with the landlord. ** lt is your last night,” he said; ‘‘so, as you have been profitable guests, you shall dine with me, ‘IT wonder what the land shark, as Blood calls him, is up to?” said Ned, as they sat toa well-filied table. Frank made no reply—he felt suspicious of this sudden display of liberality, in view of Blood’s warnings, and refused to take any of the claret until he saw the host drinkizg it. Shortly after the meal was disposed of, both Frank and Ned began to feel a little drowsy, and refusing Monsieur Pitou’s repeated invita- tions to remain below, retired totheir room. It was eight o’clock when they retired, and a few minutes after both were asleep, It was eight o’clock when they awoke—eight o’clock the following night—and a few minutes after, Ned, who was first to recover his senses, gaw the face of Blood bending over him, ‘‘ How the deuce do you come to be here?” ask- ed Blood. Ned stared in stupid surprise. There was nny ge. wrong with bis head—what tie could not imagine, but although it certainly was not clear, he quickly realized that he was not longer in his room at Monsieur Pitou’s refuge for ronaways—bis surroundings and the rolling of the ship told him that mucb. How be had come to be aboard ship he did not know, and so in- formed Blood, ‘* Well,” said the ex-smuggler, ‘‘ I saw the pair o’ ye carried aboard at three bells in the mornin’ watch (1:30 a. M.) an’ here ye’re layin’ like logs ever since—drunk, as I thought—an’ we’ve had t’ be so careful ’bout gettin’ away, that I didn’t geta chance t’ seoif | knowed ye.” ‘* Careful about getting away? Why, what’s wrong—whatship is it?’ asked Ned, in alarm, ‘* That’s what bothered me when I saw who ye were—I couldn’t make out bow ye came ship on her; but I see now how it was—that old ras- cal drugged ye. Is yer money safe?” No, the heavy purse was gone! but, more anx- ious about the ship than the money, Ned again asked what ship he wason, aud like one forced to tell a disagreeable truth, Blood replied: ‘* Well, my lad, I tell ye the plain truth—’n’ Vesa the crew (like peje )areapretty rough lot—I don’t think any of ’em suspect she’s any- thing worse’n a slaver, (which she may be) but I know that ber captain, Bill Brown, was a pirate when I ran across him last time,” A pirate! All the wealth of the Indies would not have tempted Ned from that detested potato- digging, if he could again have the choice be- tween that and running away. He listened like one in a dream, while Blood continued: ** Of course, it d6n’t matter ’bouta chap like me, though ] never got down t’ piracy, but to run the necks of two young chaps, like you, into the halter— I'll wring thatold scoundrel’s neck for itif ever we get back.” Tne fierceness of the threat, and the doubt as to their return, startled Ned, and he was not re- assured by Frank’s quiet comment: ** Out of the fryingpan into the fire!” Frank had been awake for some time, listen- ing to what was going on, and after uttering the above quoted words, got up and looked about the dimly-lighted forecastle. There was some- thing familiar about it, and he asked: ‘* What’s the name of this ship?” “That changes as often as the seasons,” re- plied Blood, ‘* but she left Bordeaux as— B George! It’s your old ship, tbe Volunteer!” ‘* And the captain?” gasped Ned. ‘‘TIs the some captain, whatever name you knowed him by.” The runaways looked at each other in dismay, ‘* Po-e-e-w!” whistled Frank, ‘‘ now we are in for it.” Ned was past speech, but for the next few minutes he did a great deal of thinking from which he was roused by the hoarse call, ** All hands on deck !” CHAPTER VI. IN THE FIRE. Tuk runaways were not at all anxious to meet the captain, but they did not dare disohey the summons, 80 they joined the men who hur- ried on deck, urged by the boatswain’s cry : ae agen there! Tumbleup! Tumble up!” The call that summoned the men brought the captain on deck, but, as soon as the squall , he returned to the cabin, without having noticed either Frank or Ned, among the largely increased crew of the Volunteer. The squall passed as quickly as it came, and the men returned to the forecastle, where the appearance of Frank and Ned created much surprise, and some alarm, among those of the old crew who were in the watch below, ‘* Howsumever, he’s off his liquor now,” said old Dick, while talking of the runaways’ chances of escaping punishment, ‘‘ an’ mebbe he’ll forget all about it, He don’t gen’rally re- member anythin’ when he sobers up, but you [Ned] stand the worst chance—’cause why, your station t’-morra mornin’ isin the cabin, But ye can’t tell nothin’ about it—mebbe he’ll forget ye entirely, ’n’ mebbe he won't.” This was cold comfort for Ned, but the very expres*ion of the boatswain’s countenance, when he came below and discovered the runaways, made it worse, Turner agreed with old Dick, that Ned’s only hope lay in acting as if nothing had hap- ned, ‘*Go right in,” he said, ‘‘and, if be does re- member that you’ve been away, why, just swear that he gev ye liberty ashore, an’ we'll back ye up. . But this Ned refused to do. As cabin-boy, midskipman, lieutenant, commander and com- modore, the most striking trait of his character was his undaunted courage—more so even than his temper—and he would not lie to save him- self from the captain’s vengeance, ‘* You’re nothin’ better’n a fool!” exclaimed old Dick, when Ned declared his intention of telling the truth if questioned. ‘*T don’t care—he can’t do more than kill me!” was the dogged reply. There was little sleep for the future commo- dore that night, Pictures of the grating and cat-o’-nine-tails floated before the eyes of his imagination, and, when be did doze off, his sleep was troubled by horrible dreams of the captain and a ‘‘cat,” compared to which the sword of Damocles was as nothing. Next morning, however, Ned resumed his du- ties in the cabin without any remarks bein passed on his absence, but the grim smile wit which Captain Kiddle—or rather Bill Brown, the pirate—greeted his appearance, indicated that it had not been unnoticed, and that the first drinking spell would be ‘cruelly punished, ‘I'm afraid you’re right—he’s only playin” with ye,” said Turner, when Ned expressed. this as his opinion, From the first night, when the boatswain told them how Ned gave up his last shilling to aid his (Turner’s) mother, the cabin boy had been a. favorite with the crew, and the old bands were anxious about him all that day. When night came, and Ned—his duties in the cabin bein ended—entered the forecastle, an eager crow gathered around him, hut he had nothing to tell, except as above narrated. ‘* All right—then ‘let him ‘look out for him- self!” exclaimed Blood, when Turner coincided with Ned’s opinion that the first drmking bout would bring punishment, ‘‘ All right—then let himn look out for himself! I’m good for neither king nor country ’n’ the first time he Jays a fin- er on ye, my lad, I'll put my knife through im! I’ve got t’die anyhow, ’n’I might as welb die for a good cause as a bad one!”’ The speaker looked around as if bidding de- fiance to tale-bearers, but there was no neces- sity apparently—even the new men joined in the murmur of applause that greeted his threat. The new hands were already beginning to learm something of the character of their captain, and it was quite evident that those of them in the starboard watch did not relish what little they had learned, Encouraged by the sympathy sbown by his mates, the reckless sailor continued: ‘*T don’t want any o’ y»t’ get in trouble on my account, butif ye’r’ men, ye’ll stand by t” keep that brute from this here boy.” There was another responsive murmur, but Turner quickly saw that it eame from the old hands, who were now in the minority, aud he concluded it was hetter for all to stop this kind ‘¢‘There’s no use borryin’ trouble,” he said, ‘everythin’ is goin’ smooth, ’n’ it may keep so, ‘* It’s gettin’ late, let’s turn in, lads,’ As the boatswain observed, everything was running smoothly, and did continue so. Not only that, but at the end of the second week it was clear that, pirate or not, the Voluntecr was shaping her course for the Gold Coast, whether to trade for slaves, or ivory and gold-dust only the captain knew, Whichever it was, both Ned and Frank felt a great relief that they had escaped piracy, Blood, however, wasstill suspicious, and would not believe that the captain had shipped such a large crew to engage in a respectable business— for slave-traders in those days included many large merchants in England, as well as America. After a rapid run of four weeks, the Volunteer anchored off the coast, and then, after a boat- search for a hidden river, of which Captain Brown appeared to possess some mysterious in- formation, the schooner hauled inshore, The hidden river was found, the Volunteer ran up and anchored about a mile from its mouth. Trading for wax, Myst gold dust, ete,, was be- gun almost immediately, and whileit was going on Captain Brown went ashore with a dozen men armed to the teetb. He did not return until next morning, by which time a great deal of ivory was piled on shore, ready for embarkment, and came accom- panied by several negroes in charge Of a file of twenty slaves, fastened to a bamboo pole, which confined them all together, The unfortunate slaves were put in ironsin the forehoid, and, while this was being done, the captain exhibited his goods, with which the principal black man seemed much pleased. They had a long conversation in the cabin, during which the negro cast many glances at Ned, who was called in several times, a8 was Frank, and then the slave escort left the schooner—all but one, who remained till next morning, CHAPTER VII, SLAVES TO A SLAVER! THAT night it became noised through the ship, that the negro who remained was to act as guide COMIC 900 ——— Ee ee a