Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1014 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

> Ses = - _ ~~. ea — aa a a | ete - > PORTS Sic: dake tates Satie 7 n a > + ‘rat ad oe i “ Mh 7 _ en 9 St “~V Sake, we “OT shen = , Britisher, as you say, but my all - we'll try our me _ Sie wep talnien Middy Ned, the Runaway. 9 for this is a dangerous spot,” warned Captain Blood, who was, of course, well-acquainted with all that part of the coast. = Ay, ay, sir; as you say ’tis a dangerous a assented Turner, who was acting as first ‘officer, ‘*An’it’ll take a sharp eye t’ see anythin’ t’- aight with the fog that’s settlin’ down on us,” be added, referring to a white mist that was surrounding the vessel so thickly as to prevent their seeing any great distance, It was just eight bells, (midnight,) and the captain and Turner were standing forward, l.oking anxiously about them, while these re- marks were being made, Ned and Frank now came on deck with the others whose watch it was, and the former go- ing forward was in time to hear: ‘ You are right, Turner; we may wake up to find onrselves among a whole nest of cruisers, and privateersmen. There’s no seeing anything to-night,” This caused Ned to glance around, and seeing the truth of tbe captain’s remarks, to wonder why a boat was not sent ashore for hands—to ship whom was th» main object of putting into Bordeaux, for there were but fifteen of the origi- nal crew of the Volunteer left. Ned and Frank had been made midshipmen, and with Turner, assisted the captain in the management of the schooner, so that the former was not out of place in suggesting: ‘**Couldn’t we send the | more men, captain?” The captain looked thoughtfully at Turner, who nodded approvingly, saying: “a We're not more’n four or five miles off shore, “Well, the idea’s a good one; our only hope of being in shape sm ‘ae lies in adopting it—but whois to go ashore? I cannot leave the vessel while she’s in such a dangerous position, and you are unacquainted on shore,” ‘Why not send the youngsters, sir? They got ashore all right before, an’that old thief tnat sent’em back t’ us will do anythin for money.” ‘‘ It isthe only way,” assented the captain, af- \ ter a few moments’ hesitation, adding: ‘* Better go at once, and take four good men with you, Ned,” ‘ ‘ Ay, ay, sir!” joyfully returned Ned, pleased a oh &D Opportunity of calling on Monsieur itou. ‘* And you may warn the rascal that I am in command of the privateer for which the men are wanted, and that he will suffer sore for the least trickery or treachery.” ; ‘That will prevent bim from attempting any double dealing, I believe,” added Blood, as the long-boat pushed off. ** And he won’t findit an easy job t’ fool them yNoys a second time, anyhow,” commented Tur- ner. ** Very likely; but I think the fact that they wil] state the men are for a privateer, of which fam commander, will prevent any attempt to trick them,” ‘Not a doubt of it, sir—an’ it was a good | h trick on him,” chuckled Turner, ‘*It was no trick—that is, if you and the old hands will see ae from my point of view,” quietly returned Blood. **Of course,” he continued, ‘‘a privateer without papers, would be treated as a pirate, and all depends upon our escaping contact with cruisers of every kind and country, until we can get to the French authorities at Bordeaux, [f we succeed in doing that, our story will be be- lieved, the vessel and cargo condemned, and our share—the four officers—and the old crew, if necessary—will enable us to to take her out with a French commission,” ‘“‘T reckon it would, sir—but you’re a Britisher yourself?” ‘Ob, yes!”"—with a bitter laugh—‘‘I’m a nee to the English crown will not prevent my accepting a French commission to get this vessel to the Turner stared, put made no comment. The other had proved himself one who would tolerate neither question nor comment, ruling as abso- lutely as the captain of a man-of- war, ‘‘If we are fortunate enough to get into Bordeaux to-morrow,” continued Blood, * we will be able to correct any mistakes in the men that may be sent us to-night, and, then, if any- thing smaller than a frigate comes athwart us with it—our sailing is good g I’ve ever met,” ) more to himself than Turner, and the latter would not have interrupted him, ’ - United States.” 5 ‘ pe 2 7 ft | had he not noticed that the mist which envelop- ee ee ong-boat ashore for |° _—— EC ee eer oe CU SC 8D ese | | | | ed them was lifting. ** Fog's liftin’ a little, sir,” he observed, **So much the worse unless those boys are on the way back. Send a couple men aloft—and you had better beginsending up rockets,” ‘* Ay, ay, sir!” The mist continued to clear, until just before daylight they could see quite a distance on either side, and with the first streaksof dawna long, low craft, without a stick of canvas set. was revealed floating in the water about a mile astern, and to wind ward. ‘** ’m afraid that fellow’s goin’ t’ give us trou- ble, sir,” observed Turner, ‘‘ There’s a wicked look about bim—more like a French privateer than any other craft I— See! she is lowerin’ her boats!” ‘**T see,” quietly returned the captain turning his glass leeward. ‘* Load with grape, and have all the muskets on deck, If the calm remains with us for an hour, we may beat him off,” ‘*Four boats, ’n’ fifty or sixty men! We're nine, all told,” The captain smiled at this vailed comment on his assertion, He could afford to, he thought, for just coming out of the mist to leeward was the Volunteer’s long-boat, accompanied by two others, all crowded with men. ‘‘Wriends and enemies at equal distance,” smilingly observed the captain, pointing to the boats to leeward, ‘*Sure enough, sir!” joyfully assented the first officer, but in a moment his face darkened, and his voice was unusually stern as he ordered; ‘*Lively there with those boarding nettings! The Frenchmen will be aboard, before the others are half way!” CHAPTER XIII. THE DANGER DOUBLES, CAPTAIN BLoop looked astonished at Turner’s declaration, and the latter explained: ‘‘Our people have been pullin’ overloaded boats for four or five mile—ag’in the current, too, | guess—while t’ other chaps are startin’ out fresh, with the right complement o’ men,” A glancc at the respective parties proved the correctness of Turner’s aasertion, and the captain was quick to perceive and prompt to act. ‘*You are right, Turner!” be exclaimed, and with a look at the arrangements made to receive the visitors, continued: ‘*Those fellows [the boats from the stranger] do gain on ours, and we must be ready for tiem. **Don’c fire a gun until there’s no chance of wasting a shot! Then use your muskets as fast ag you Can with certainty!” “Ay, ay, sir! We'll keep ’em off till our lads get here anyhow!” stoutly assured Turner, who, like all on board, had implicit confidence in the ex-smuggler, ‘* Bring twoof those larboard guns to bear on the boats, end keep them so, but stand ready to meet them astern, and starboard, when they divide! ‘*Hang it! They must know we are short- anded! ‘““Tf we had but one of those boat-loads, I'd put springs on the cable—” A gun from the stranger interrupted the cap- tain, and caused him to glance toward her, and then, seeing the smoke curling from a lee port— which could not reach the Volunteer—toward his ng, Yop and its companions, T'he long-boat was dashing along at a lively rate, carrying @ dozen men, now, instead of twenty, and a second glance showed the captain that she was coming on faster than the French, as well as the cause of the gun—the others stop- ing in a bunch to pick up the men who bad jumped from the Volunteer’s boat. ‘*By Jove! That was a good idea, eh, Tur- ner?” cried Captain Blood, ‘It was just that, sir! We'll have a dozen more men aboard before they can reach us.” This proved to be the case, the long-boat out- stripping all the others—friend and foe—and a dozen brawny fellows, headed by Ned, came on board in time to permit the boarding nettings to be opened and closed before the Frenchmen — close enough to direct fire to be opened on em, As the crew of the long-boat boarded the Volunteer, cheering from the other boats min- gled with the reports of firearms, and a couple of boat-guns, called attention to the fact that two of the stranger’s cutters were engaging those coming to the assistance of the schooner, while the former’s launch and jolly-boat held on their course. \ _ * Now we've got the fools!” crie ee ee ee Blood, ex- | , ultantly. ‘‘ Begin with solid shot on that launch, Turner! If the fools had come on all together, and divided our fire, we'd have had a lively time holding them off.” ‘*It sart’inly was a foolish caper—but how did our boats get so far t’ windward?” re- turned Turner, as he pointed a gun at the launch, **Sure enough! The shore boats have run athwart and compelled them to engage! How could they have got there in time?” Turner made no reply. It was a beautiful day and distance for gun practice; he was de- sirous of making his mark, and determined to show the captain that he knew how to handle a gun. ‘*Our people will suffer for their temerity in closing with boats carrying guns,” continued the captain, watching the four boats now close together and about a half-cable’s length from the VY olunteer. Boom! went Turner’s gun, and as the report died away, a cheer arose from those aboard the echooner—cries of agony and curses of rage from the crew of the launch, Darting a glance in that direction, Blood, who had been watching the opposing bows, shouted: ‘** Well done, Mr. Turner! Another like that for the jolly-boat! ‘“* Here, some of ye—any of ye, tbat can handle a tay if ye can disable one of those boats!” e was walking aft to one of the stern chasers as he spoke, evidently expecting nothing more than assistance in directing the gun, w.ten Frank sprung to his side, saying: ‘** Our boats have guns, sir, as well as cutlasses and pistols,” Blood stopped a moment—astonished at hear- ing this—and darting a glance toward the boats, saw the truth of Frank’s words. The shore boats were firing the guns, and driving the ene- my before them, notwithstanding their over- loaded condition, which greatly impeded their movements, . ‘* By Jove, you are right? If we had a breath of air, I'd undertake to board that craft—and take her, too!” muttered Blood, and even as he spoke Turner’s gun spoke again, The first shot had gone through the center of the launch, from bow to stern, tearing away the latter—and the survivors had been taken care of by the jolly-boat. The latter was the target of Turner’s second shot, and again he made a bull’s-eye, although the damage was all done to the boat—the shot striking it squarely on the bow, smashing it, and five minutes afver the occupants were cling- ing to the wrecks of the launch and jolly-boat, A gun now burst from the stranger, and a re- call signal fluttered from her rigging for a mo- ment—then fell flat for lack of wind to distend ‘** Little need t’ cali em back—they’re goin’ as fast as the Lord ‘Il let °em!” commented Turner, with a grim smile, Blood’s glass remained riveted on the stranger fuily a minute longer. Then turning, and look- ing significantly at Turner, he asked: **Did ye see that signal long enough to notice it was English?” **No, sir; wouldn’t know it if I did, But, even if she is, we’ve given her a pretty sharp hint to sheer off. There’s no danger of her comin’ back for more, I guess?” **Perbaps not,” coolly returned Blood, ‘' but that’s no reason we should allow them go unpun- ished for attempting to board us,” ** She’s an English man-o’-war brig,” he added, ‘‘and”—with a queer smile—* I think I know her —and her captain, too.” The tone, the expression of Blood’s counte- nance, the words themselves—all combined to cause Turner to stare in incredulous amazement, and the former—in pretended wonder—asked: ‘* Surely you are not afraid of eighteen guns because Englishmen bappen to be behind them?” ** Afraid!” angrily began Turner, but glanc- at the approaching boats, which had left the oe cutters in a sinking condition, quietly re : ‘With the thirty-five or forty men about t’ come aboard, an’ the twenty-one now with us, I don’t see any reason for bein’ scared o’ anythin’ —but you’re an Englishman yerself, sir?” **True—yet no man hates the country worse! Wby, sir, I am an outcast—an outlaw—because I dared resent the insults of a titled tyrant— But enough of that! Here are the boats, and To Ags Gy, ei abatancdilyatian Bnghih friga , ay, sir—an’ a fifty-gun Eng te too, or I'ma Dutchman!” ‘‘Ha! Yes, you are right!” exclaimed Blood, L ing about the decks of the Volunteer, and then — «3 * 4 ™~et,« * . ~ ¢ o, e LS - - “ + = ‘ eee pe ees Fiz ' y a “"h iy ‘ Z _— | <b ee ma See , La 4 tall