Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 122 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

— —E ——— now line of light, leaving the remainder of the hold in deeper gloom than ever. The r stood on the deck, slowly*urning, and throwing the sharp beam of light suctyssively over eve int of the hold. “ t shall we do?” asked Alice, shrinking in- atinctively from the coming gleam. “Wish Dick would h up,’”’ was Phil’s answer. “ We'll be seen sure, afore he gits it open.” The revolving light came nearer and nearer in its zepgreee round the circle of the hold. ‘“Mought keep ahead of it if it weren’t fur bein’ por muttered Phil. ‘‘Ha! come this way, Miss ce!”’ He had just caught a glimpse of a possible co- vert. Taking her hand he led her eres but noise- lessly to the side of the ship, where lay a p of old eable. Crouching down behind this, they were covered from sight of the mate. In a minute more the light passed slowly over them, its intense geen re- vealing every portion of that section of the hold, but thro the space in which they crouched into deeper darkness. It moved over their heads and slowly traversed aft along the deck. The two fugitives emerged from their concealment and approached the ladder. At the same instant a sliding sound was heard, and the grating moved quickly back, Dick’s head appearing at the o ae **Up the ladder, Miss Alice! Quick as lightning! It’s your only chance!”’ cried Dick, in excited tones. The noise had attracted the attention of the mate. He threw the light of the lantern upon the fugitives. They stood, too, ina circle of daylight entering at the open hatch. The foot of Alice was already upon the ladder. The mate dropped his lantern and ran hastily toward them, with a fierce imprecation. ** Quick!’ cried Phil, excitedly lending Alice his assistance. ‘“‘ Give her your hand, Dick! Dick obeyed, and the trembling fugitive was rap- idly drawn up the steps. hil was about to run up the ladder with the nim- bleness of a squirrel, when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, and turned to looked in a pair of re- vengeful eyes. ‘* Shoot the hatch, Dick!”’ he shouted. ‘* Thunder’s broke loose here!” Dick at once obeyed. The hatch slid to its place. The devoted lad was left in the power of his furious foe. | CHAPTER XXII. FOR LIFE OR DEATH. “I win be even with you anyhow, you meddling young imp!” the mate savagely cried, as he attempt. ed to jerk Phil duwn from the ladder. But this was not so easily done. The boy clun desperately to the rounds, and tug as the infuriate man might he could not loosen his hold. “T’ll settle you, you wharf rat!’ came in a furious growl from the lips of the mate. Releasing his p of Phil’s arm with his right hand, but still holding his shoulder with his left, he struck a fierce blow at the y’s head. It would have been bad for Phil had that blow reached him, for the mate was amanof great muscular power, and put all his strength into the blow. ‘ But a man cannot use all his strength in two direc- tions. The grasp of his left hand naturally relaxed, as he put his vigor into the right. In an instant Phil darted down the ladder, jerking himself clear from the loosened hold, and the mate's fist came in contact with hard wood instead of soft flesh, with a vim that was in no wise agreeable to his knuckles. A mocking laugh broke from the boy’s lips as he darted away with the speed of ahare. The mate in- stantly followed with a loud imprecation. A hard chase round and round the interior of the hold. Phil’s object was to reach the ladder, and escape to the upper deck. But his foe divined this, and y ne m so closely that he had no opportunity to 080, . The mate was a fast runner, and it was as much as Phil could do to keep out of his clutches. The dark- ness of the hold favored the fugitive, and he made many a quick double and turn, as the chase continu- ed three or four times round the circuit of the hold. At his last turn Phil made straight for the ladder. But his pursuer was not three feet behind him, a low curse breaking from his set lips at every few steps. Phil stoo a, as he passed, and snatched up the overturned bucket. back over his shoulder, he dashed this impromptu rempens behind him, at the ankles of his Ne grey is aim was a true one. The mate stumbled and pitched heavily for- ward over the obstruction. Phil’s next move was quick as oy . Heturn- ed and darted up the ladder, reaching the top of it by the time his foe had regained his feet. Phil lay on the deck above, looking down through the hatchway, and breaking into a tantalizin ey at his discomfited foe. He had not calculated sufii- ciently on the exasperation of the mate. There was a blinding flash that lit up the hold for an instant, a loud report, and something scored the boy’s skull as if he had been touched by a hot iron. The maddened mate had fired a pistol, point-blank, at his mocking foe, ‘** Guess it’s time to git,” said Phil, coolly. ‘ Dont want to be stoppin’ ncbody’s bullets.” The mate was by this time at the foot of the lad- der, and was ascending hand over hand. Phil ran os forward, entering and passing through the lumber room, and thence through the second door into the cabin. He closed this door with a bang, and bolted it behind him. ti) —_— -oe ee —————— rn oe ee + | os Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. He turned again to encounter the tall, brawny figure of Tim Fagan, who stood in the middle of the cabin, looking at him with astonishment. As Phil darted up the stairs to the deck there came a push at the door he had just fastened, fol- lowed by loud knocks and fierce curses. cee at once opened it, admitting the mate. “Where is the boy?” cried the latter, breathing hard, and his eyes glaring around the cabin. **On deck,” said Fagan. ‘‘ What was that noise I With no other answer than a harsh wl, the mate rushed forthe deck, followed quickly by his astonished confederate. The situation was an interesting one. The Strong- bow was now almost across the stream, and was rounding oe to enter her dock on the Brooklyn side. A group of persons stood on the pier watching her approach, A short distance in the rear of the ship came a small, swift tug-boat, heading for the same wharf. On her deck was visible the form of Harvey Russell accompanied by several other persons. Amidships of the Strongbow stood Phil, breathing hard from his late exertions, and facing the captain, who shrunk back in nervous fright from what he was still half disposed to consider an apparition. Further forward stood Dick, who had just emerged from the forecastle. A group of sailors, headed a old Ben Bowline, stood near him, looking on wit intense interest. ‘**A feller mought think you weren’t much used to ghosts,’’ said Phil, jeeringly, to the captain. ** Maybe you'd like to feel me to see if I’m solid or not.”’ “I would!” cried the mate, who had approached the boy from behind, and who now grasped his shoulder. “I've got you, you young burglar, and if I don’t make you sweat, shoot me! ‘**Give me a hand here, Fagan,” he continued, in a voice intended for the ears of the sailors. ‘tI caught the little devil trying to go through our lockers. T'll truss him up and give him a baker’s dozen with a cowhide to teach him better habits.”’ Nothing loth, Fagan came forward to his assistance. But they did not know the capabilities of a full- fledged wharf rat. With a quick stoop and a squirm of the body which seemed as if it could only have come from long ractice, Phil senlid ¢ like an eel out of his coat, poh ra the latter ilapidated garment in the mate’s ands. Wild with anger, Hendricks sprung forward to seize him again. But he encountered another un- expected obstacle in the form of Dirty Dick, who stepped with apparent awkwardness in the way, oy and man went down in a heap together. While the infuriaied mate was striving to regain his feet, Dick nimbly crept out, and ran forward to safer quarters. But there was no second foe in Hendricks’s mind. He looked round for Phil, and saw, to his surprise, that, the boy was half-way up the shrouds, climbing like a cat to the mast-head. “Come down!’’ was the fierce command. ‘Come down! or I'll bring you down a dead weight!" And he ificantly gaasped his pistol. Phil’s reply was a taunting ey He had caught sight of the Spproacnns tug, and ran out nimbly on the yard-arm for a clearer view. There was considerable excitement on the deck of the ship.” Ben Bowline had instinctively started for- ward on seeing the mate’s significant gesture. It wads DUC step, however. The involuntary sense of obedience of a sailor to his officer restrained him. Captain Monroe stood with his eyes fixed on Phil, perched on the extremity of the main yard-arm. A visible tremor shook the frame of the nervously- organized villain. He could scarcely yet believe the boy to be me flesh and blood. t the opening of the deck leading to the men’s quarters sapeered a fair young face, unnoticed by any of the deeply-interested spectators. It was the face of Alice Homer, her eyes wide with fright as she realized the situation. . ** Hillo! there!” Bie Phil, hailing the tug, on which he recognized a familiar face. “ Pile on m and run aboard this rotten old tub! Do you hear Mr. Russell? Your girl’s here, among a pack of bloody murderers.”’ ‘*Come down! or Pll bring you down!” screamed the furious mate, with extended pistol. ‘You dry up,’’ was Phil’s deflant answer. The mate was far past the bounds of reason. Heedless of a warning cry from the wharf, now very near,or of a thrilling scream from the deck behind him, he took steady aim and fired at the reck- less boy. The lookers-on thought they saw a quick shudder pass through Phil’s frame. With a leap that seemed convulsive he sprung eae out from his perch, and cleft the air swiftly in his downward fall. A ery of horror arose. Even if only wounded b the ball it looked as if he must strike the deck in descent and be crushed out of all human shape. But, Phil’s lucky star stood by him. e came down like a shot, coiled up into a ball-like sha and just grazing the bulwarks in his fall. As he Nid so his frame shot out straight as au arrow, his feet striking the water first. In an instant he was lost to view, beneath the liquid plain. The scream heard had come from the pallid lips of Alice Homer, who sprung recklessly toward the mate, with the wild hope of diverting the villain from his aim. She caught his arm, but too late to prevent the shot, and stood ng with mppelie’ eyes at the fearful descent of the boy from his aerial perch. ‘*Good heavens! you have killed !” she screamed, running to the side of the vessel, and looking fearfully over. -heard? It sounded like a pistol-shor.” “Hal my pretty mad lady!” cried the mate, his | I ee oe Ee ere - ee ee ———- — 17 | mind diverted to a now object. “So you are out of | your cell? This will never do.” He sprung forward and seized her by the arm, ‘“*Here, Captain Monroe!” he continued. “ Hel me with her. She will be in one of her frantic spel in a minute, and then ten men could not hold her.’ The eyes of Alice were turned upward in wonder and — at this bold effort to convert her into a maniac. “She is no madder than I am,” screamed Dirty Dick, rushing recklessly toward them. But a back-handed movement of Tim Fagan’s arm stretched this puny rescuer spfwling upon the age “7 the brawny innkeeper hurried to the aid of eé mate. ‘*Keep back, men!” cried Captain Monroe to the sailors, who showed an inclination to interfere. “The girl is mad, I tell you. We were bringing her toanasylum. She has broken from her room,’ “Is the boy mad, too?’ sternly responded Ben Bowline, who had hastened to the side of the vessel to look for the form of Phil. But the water yot hid the fallen youth from view. ‘Some of you men get a carriage, at once,” cried a commanding voice from the wharf, which the ves- sel was now ron grazing. -“* It was the handsome face and elegantly-dressed figure of Andrew Cun- ningham, his smooth cheek marked by more than one scratch from the broom of Mrs. Hardy. Alice looked appealingly to the sailors. But the shrunk back, evidently believing her indeed mac and not caring to interfere. ‘ Will no one help me?” she asked, in a tremulous voice, Cunningham stepped briskly forward. “Come, come, my dear miss,” he said in a sooth- ing tone, *‘youare among friends. Now do be calm. Weare going to take you to a very pleasant home.” She looked up with a faint cry of terror on seeing the face of her ruthless foe so near her, and shrunk tremblingly back from the polnene touch of his hand, her face growing deathly white. - ar as the incidents had passed, two or threo minutes.had elapsed. And yet, the vigilant eyes of Ben Bowline had seen no trace of Phil. The face of the old man grew dark with anger as he realized tltat the boy was either drowned, or slain by tha bullet of the murderer, He straightened up his tall form, his eyes fixed meaningly on the mate. At the same moment the pursuing tug came alongside; Harvey Russell monding erect, white, and stern as a fate, upon her eck, CHAPTER XXIII HARVEY RUSSELL TAKES A HAND, Harvey Rosseiu had not been inactive on the morning of the day so full of stirring incidents. His first visit had been to the police authorities, whom he had notified of the abduction, and of bis discoveries concerning it. There were three officers accompan him when he left and proceeded toward ¢ © wharf where lay the Strongbow. First, however, he went to 310 Globe street, the directions of Phil’s residence as he had received them from that individual. He wished to see where pel gg aid was, and to form his own plans ac- cordingly. On ascending the stairs he met a bright-eyed little 1, whom he stopped to question in the ocality of the rooms which Phil H honored wiewhe just anedd'el That d “Why, just ahead, sir. oor at the end of the passage. That is Mrs. Hardy you see inside the mm. a it is oy nas yee I want to find.” “Her son!’’ crie usy, breaki into a me laugh. ‘Why, Phil is her grandson’ She is dread. ful old, you know, and he is a little fellow; not much b r than me.” | ‘‘T shall find him in there then?” asked Mr. Rus- sell, advancing, “Oh dear no, sir! He went out more than an ao, Excuse me, but are you not Mr, Rus- se ‘Why, how could you know that?” “Oh! Phil told me all about you. How you were in love with Miss Alice, and all. You see, Phil dont i anything at all from me.” ¢ ‘it seems not,’’ replied Mr, Russell, with a laugh and slightl pee: ** And he dont me anything from me either, for he told me about a little sweet- pal of his, who waS ever so much in love with im,’ ‘*Now he had better have held his tongue.” said Susy, coloring. ‘* Did he rea che her name” oy he said it was Susy my Lane, I think.” ‘He told you a story, then, forI dont love him one bit,’ exclaimed the piqued little beauty. ‘ Not much, I mean,"’ she corrected herself. “And I dont like him to be going around telling everybody he meets such «emai ‘* But maybe you do not consider it properly,’ sug- youre Mr. Russell, with an pe ae at his te auditor. ‘Why, how do you mean, sir?” “Dont you see that it only shows that Phil is al- ways thinking of you? And. he loves you so that hoe thinks it must be you loving him.” ‘Why so I do, a little!” she impulsively exclaimed, ** Phil is ever so nice.—Oh, Mrs & gen- tleman looking for Phil.” ae old lady ys just left her room, and stood in e paseage near them. : a am sorry, sir, but my boy is out,"’ she said, cour- usly. ‘*So I have just heard from this oung lady.” This is oF Russell,"’ said Alice, introducing. ECoOmiGcbaooks . Hardy, here is (E(0) —— ww —— ome ee =e ee