Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1128 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

¥ 7 failed, and all hope of meeting Julian here was at for departure. Ma EEE —~— + +e a, —— —--—-__- - - - . -— — Her eyes filled again at the picture this question | conjured up. “Rather cruelly, Uncle Benny, if [ may tell you the truth. He kept me locked up for two days after Julian went away, scolding me very much for my visits here, and threatening me severely if I came in future.”’ ‘‘Ay!’’ said the old man, “it’s as I thought. Then why not go with me, Maggie. If I have no legal right over Julian, me loving him as I do, and he ear- nestly requesting it, then the squire certainly has none over you, hating you as he must, by the token of his unkindness. I don’t see why this rule won't work both ways. Can you?” “Oh, sir, Lam se young, and without experience, that I don’t know what to think,” “No matter, I know—and if you choose to go along with me you shall be my grandchild, Maggie, aud the heir to al! I leave behind me."’ **Oh, Uncle Benny, you don’t expect to die?”’ “Me! DoIlook like dying? It’s allus the other chap that’s a-going to die! I mean to live seventy or eighty years yet, and shall probably beat eld Parr. He was a hundred and fifty-six. But I mustn’t stand swinging my jawing-tackle here; time’s pre- cious! Come! It will be a fine trip for you, and you will see the world. Soon’s I find Julian I shall brine him back here, and with his authority we will rout the old hippopotamus in his own law-jingle! Will you go? say the word, Maggie.” ‘*T will,”’ she declared, decisively. “Good my lass! You are already in the proper toggery, and we have only to start.’ e seized the small bundle from the locker and threw open the door, **Good-by, uncle,’’ said a hoarse voice, that star- tled them both. “Why, blow me, if it isn’t old Chock-a-block!”’ de- clared Uncle Benny, recovering from his start of sur- ga and looking at the parrot. ‘I can’t leave him. fe must go too. You can take charge of him, Mag- gie, having nothing else to carry.” He took down the parrot, in its wire cage, and handed it to the young girl. picked up the bundle he had laid down, closed atid barred the single window of the cabin, and they came out togeth or, “It is very lucky,’ he declared, as he locked the stout oaken door behind him, and placed the key in his pocket. ‘ The tide is at the full, and the schoon- er yonder just ready to sail. We must be nimble now, Magyie,”’ he added, taking the route Julian had taken leading down to the beach below, almost as briskly as Julian himself could have done. They were not a moment too soon, for the schoon- er was already casting off her shore-lines as they reached the wharf; and no sooner were they on board than she shook out her reefs to a favoring breeze, and with every stitch of canvas drawing be- low and aloft, stood seaward. They reached New YorkJas Julian had done be- fore them, without accident. It had heen years since the old sailor had been in the great city, but no land-shark was Likely to make any attempts to tackle him. To Maggie, however, the sight of the famous me- tropolis left a more indelible impression, if possible than it had upon Julian; but under the protecting care of the simple-hearted old sailor, she telt no ap- prehension. They went at once to the pier of the Hong Kong. They were too late by some hours; she had already an end. Uncle Benny did not hesitate. never do, He looked about him for the first vessel to follow. A ship lying ata wharf adjacent was getting ready Men of his mold A flag was flying at her fore. It was the Punjab. It will be remembered she was to have sailed the next day after Julian’s arrival, She had done so, But the carelessness of the skipper of a transport that was coming into the har- bor, as they dropped down the lower bay, had car- ried away a portion of her bulwark, and the Punjab returned to her wharf to make examination for fur- ther possible damage. Happily, however, it had been no more serious, and she was now ready to sail. As the Punjab was up for Calcutta, as well as Bombay—and he could find no other vessel going di- rect,to Hong Kong under some weeks—Uncle Benny concluded to join her. He accordingly went to the Shipping Office of the company that Julian had visited, produced his mon- ey-belt, which he had secured about his waist, and took tickets for himself and grandchild, as he termed e. For the first time in his life, proposing,” he told the man of parchment face, confidentially, *‘to go asa gen’l’man passiger.”’ They were promptly on board, taking the parrot with them, which made itself at once a familiar fa- vorite by saluting the men on deck, with: “ Ahoy! ghoy!’’ at its very hoarsest,. e Punjab sailed without further loss of time, and that afternoon from her deck, Uncle Benny pointed out to Maggie a faint gray line which he said resented the New Jersey highlands. There were only a few passengers on board; among re them a Japanese with her daughter, a girl of Sught to Ameri- about Maggie’s age, who had been brought to ca when a mere by'to grow up there and be ed- ucated, thought she never seen such a beauti- ful young girl She co&ld speak several languages her own, and could like a fairy. Her mother, too, was a very gracious lady, though very stately, and was exceedingly handsome; and ee eg ee aE Go ———— ee —— a ee eee eee a ——— The Sea Serpent. Maggie learned, without any surprise, that she was a& princess in her own country, and that there were some political reasons why she had been absent so long. Mikado, Tycoon, or whatsoever the name of or rank of the chief might be, and she was now going home to her former residence by way of India. The name of the lady, Maggie also learned, was the Princess Osaeca, and that of her daughter, from whom Maggie derived all her information, Jesso. Before they had been two days at sea, Maggie had formed a deep attachment for this young girl. Happily she herself was exempt from the distress- ing malady of sea-sickness: and Jesso was affected but slightly, while her mother, the princess, was very ill. Here Maggie's sea-coast experience enabled her to be of much service, for although the princess had attendants of her own, they, like herself, were sea- sick. Besides, had they been well and experienced their ways were not the simple, artless ways of Maggie, nor could their touch of gentleness equal that of the considerate young girl. AS a& natural consequence the princess soon loved her, and as she grew better, and able to walk about, she questioned Maggie and learned the particulars of her short history. On hearing the story, which in a measure involved that of Julian and Uncle Benny, and the romantic and interesting search for his uncle, upon which the lad had entered, she sent for the old sailor, and a long conversation ensued between them. From this interview with the princess, Uncle Ben- ny came forth looking somewhat graver, but still with an air of profound satisfaction. The parrot, which had been given its liberty in ac- cordance with former usage, was taken in to see the princess at her request, and she was much amused with its monosyllabic replies to certain questions— questions, however, of rather a stereotyped order? it must be admitted. It was noticeable that in the presence of Uncle Benny Chockablock invariably grew hoarser, as if he felt that the voice of the old Sailor possessed far greater dignity than any other, and it was desirable to imitate his teacher in manner as well as words. After old Benny’s interview with, the princess, he was very often on deck with one of the young girls on each side of him—and he soon came to be con- sidered as a sort of guardian for Jesso, as well as for Maggie. And so until they were met by ‘‘a wave’ of the same storm that the Hong Kong encountered, the good ship Punjab, for Borabay and India ports, sped on her course. CHAPTER XIV. THE FIGHT WITH THE SEA SERPENT. On their return to the tent Julian and the captain made their breakfast, Which was somewhat less Jim- ited as to quality—thanks to the canned meats and vegetables they had found with the ship's stores. ~ After breakfast they discussed the question of car- rying the war into Africa, as the captain termed it, whether they should make an attack on the sea serpent, or wait to be attacked. Julian had heard of these terrors of the ocean, but he had never expected to see one or aid in its de- struction. Meanwhile his opinion was that they could not be- gin too soon. With the weapons they now had he thought that the conquest of the monster would be comparatively easy. This enthusiasm pleased the, captain, and it was resolved to begin at once preparation for the con- flict. Whateyer else hey had to do could be done after- ward, bul there could be no feeling of safety in the present condition of affairs. The first thing to be done was to go off to the wreck and strengthen its resistive capacity by every means in their power. So declared Captain James, and as may be be- lieved, Julian was not slow to coincide with bim in that opinion. They took with them the ax, saw and large auger, and going down to the water’s edge, where lay the float the captain had used, they got aboard and pad- dled out to the wreck, ‘ With the aid of the carpenter’s tools they had brought, as soon as they were on board the hulk. they proceeded to replace that portion of the fore- castle bulkhead and planking that had been blown out or burned, Fortunately the loose timbers and planks lying about afforded pienty of material for this purpose and by placing timbers crosswise and endwise, and doubling planks, they succeeded in converting the forecastie into a strong room with almost the re- sistive powers of a bomb-proof, Here and there they left openings the size of one’s wrist, or smaller, through which weapons could be thrust, And after the deck overhead had been strengthened by transverse timbers, Julian bored with the large auger a series of holes commanding an easy view of the beach, and of the wall of ledge in front, and of the sea below. The hulk lying bow on, this was not difficult. By the time all this work of preparation was com- pleted the day was nearly at an end. They had made two or three visits to the shore, and now made a final one to bring off such things as they wanted for the night, including water and pro- vision. A careful examination of sea and sky, and the di- rection of the wind had satisfied Captain James that no storm was likely to spring oe They ate theér supper, saw the moon rise slowly and gradually, witha light almost like that of day, amd they retired within their strong fortification. av. Nee? ; OF CALS Wt la 2A Ke “' 4 - / 73 ‘ ht + | 2 a 4% oF ¥ : , v5 ove ie antl " Ty « 4 x oe Wy iZ ‘ , es . : ag" Te ’ en Se, oak oat AS Us he ia | Py <7 mn “With the advantages we now have, my boy." | Said the captain, “we shall give him a hard fight. kge may be here early, or may not unl the moon But there had been a change of rulers—a new | is low dowm; probably may not come at all. In | any ‘event, it will only be necessary for one to i ee ee watcéh,”’ ‘* Let me be the one, then,”’ said Julian, eagerly. ‘* As you like,’ said the captain. ‘* But I hada good sleep last night, right here; though by no means so well sheltered and protected as now, and am feelin fresh, My arm, too, has ceased to pain me and is evi- dently doing well. Still, if you like, you can begin the watch. If yousee anything waken me, and, in any event, call me when you get sleepy, or say about midnight.” He disposed his limbs comfortably, and lying down, was soon afeep. Moving softly about from one improvised porthole to another, Julian alternately watched and listened, but for a iong time saw no signs of any living or creeping thing. To his ears came the soft rippling of the waves, and far out to westward the dull roar of the surf. Time passed away, and Julian was beginning to grow drowsy, and remembering what the captain had said. he felt it to be his duty toawaken him. Yet he hesitated, and rubbing his eyes took one more look at the beach. The whole of its dark line nearest to him seemed to be moving. Or wasit a wave of unusual size? He looked again, and his sleepiness vanished at the in- stant. It was the sea serpent! The terrible creature, eighty, ninety, or perhaps a hundred feet in length, was just drawing itself out of the water. Three noiseless steps to the captain’s side, and Julian’s hand was upon his shoulder. ‘* It is here,’ he whispered, excitedly. Captain James was start and on his feet instantly. He took a survey of the beach, “Hard at work already,” he declared, ‘‘and pro- poses to dine at our expense. ‘We have but one gun for long range, but for- tunately we have plenty,of ammunition. The re volvers will do for eae work, if he swims off to us. Statistics of battles show scientifically that it takes on an average two hundred and sixty pounds of lead to kill one man. I hope we shall do better than that; though his skin is tougher than the hide of a rhi- noceros. I will open fire on him at once, forI see that our rations are going fast. The eyes, throat and tail are the most vulnerable points. Take due notice, Julian, and govern yourself accordingly, if it comer to closer range. Stand by with the revolvers!” While speaking the captain thrust the rifle through a port-hole and fired, rhe sea serpent paid no attention to indicate that it was hit or had heard the discharge. The captein had loaded the other barrel with slugs. He now fired it with better effect. The huge reptile threw itself into a mighty coil— bearing some slight resemblance to the copper “worm”? of a poisonous distillery—with wondrous celerity, and with its terrible jaws apart and head rising to a hight of ten fect or more appeared to look around him for the aggressor. The captain gave the gun to Julian to reload, while he took one of the revolvers. “The temptation is great; he said to Julian, ‘* to try bim with a pistol, even at this range. Perhaps it wil reach him; TU try it.” He thrust out the revolver and fired the whole seven charges in rapid succession. The shots told—probably, however, only striking the creature and 8 i pe off. He uttered a wild cry hke that they so well remem- bered, and launched itself in the air, straight toward the wreck, striking the water with a sound as if a ship’s mast had fallen flat wpon it. ‘*“He’s coming,” cried Julian, excitedly, as he rammed down a final charge and capped the gun. ** Now for it!” * Let him come, my boy,” said the captain, coolly. rs y tes me the gun, and stand by with the other re- Voiver, As he spoke he fired both barrels at the advancing enemy. There was another cry of rage and pain. Replacing the gun by the revolver the captain dis- charged its loads in rapid succession—this time at much shorter range, and with excellent effect. There was no time to reload either weapons, and the 5 (i instinctively caught up a knife. On the instant there came a crash against the bow, reaching clear over the strongly-braced deck to the other side, and,for a moment, wreck and tinbers shook and cracked, and trembled like pine twigs ina forest tornado. Well wasitfor them that they had taken the terrible enemy at a disadvantage. They hastily loaded the weapons, and watched . aye opportunity for a shet, which was soon offered hem, The dark shining mask of its body moved slowly across one of the openings left between the timbers,, and Julian thrusting his pistol close, fired, while the captain at thesame instant seizing the opportunity at another opening, drove his knife to the hilt in the monster, leaving it inthe wound. These effective results extorted another cry, fol- lowed by several successive crashes of deck and tim- bers as the maddened reptile lashed about with its tremendous tail. But the precautions taken by Captain James had not been in vain. Thus the deadly struggle continued till near morn- ing, when the violent efforts of the creature slacken- ed, and the huge body was heard to drop into the sea, and though the ened for some time intently, they could hear nothing further. eanwhile the moon having gone down, and the ’ fy Di Ate E > <7 "e be * vy cD 7 : 6, « J '> betsy, oe i, AS 7 Yew "4, ; > °.-. >