Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 187 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy. oe eee es - —~— LD OG OT OE IOI FS OE I OG AE LLG SL LLL LL LT ae ee er rei eee oe tee ee 8 ee a ee + ee rere ewe ee fore placed in a house on the mainland, from whose u Ree windows a clear view of any sail was sible, ‘Lhe boat of the patrol moved slowly up and down the inlet. Keeping to its center to avoid the pest of the mae and rowing with a long, easy stroke, just sufficient to keep the craft in motion and the men awake, Hour after hour passed in this eventless and tire- some task. It was past twelve o’clock when Harry, with a sweep of the helm, brought the boat’s prow around, and headed her again down the inlet. We are getting rather too far up,’’ he remarked. “Tf there’s any attempt I’ve a notion it will be made lower down—probably at the thoroughfare. That will be their easiest passage.’ ‘*Except they come in at the inlet entrance, as they did last,’’ said one of the rowers. ‘** Which they won’t. Itwas too close a shave then for them, And we happen to have a chart of their plans this time.”’ ‘*I wish to mercy they'd run in soon then,” ejacu- lated another of the men. ‘ Patrol duty ain’t the best funin the world. I hope they’re not going to cheat us of our natural sleep for half a lifetime. “Cheat you!” exclaimed a third, *‘ Why I'm bless- ed if aon didn't sleep a straight eight hours to-day. We didn’t wake you up for dinner because we thought it a shame to cheat you of your snooze.”’ A laugh followed at the expense of the sleeper, who grumbled out; ‘“*Plague take your dinner! I made it up at sup- per, as Joe, here, can witness. And I wouldn’t give a farthing for all the daylight sleep ever invented,”’ “*I don’t know about that,’’ replied Joe, “but I can witness that you ate enough supper to satisfy any reasonable man for a week.”’ he renewed laugh at this testimony was suddenly stopped by a low, whistling sound, which came across the water from the swamp. Every voice was hushed, and the oars held sus- nded, Again it came, three notes, in a falling ca- ence, Harry Bains answered, with the same signal. The next instant the sound of oars met their ears, anda small boat, rowed by a single oarsman, was visible emerging from the gloomy borders of the swamp, and oes y approaching. “Is it you, Tim?” called Harry, in a guarded tone, ‘** Ay, ay!’’ came in the same cautious utterance, **Ready and anxious for work?”’ asked the rower, as the small boat <orgRe up beside the large one. “Yes. What is up?” ‘“*The signal has been shown off the coast. Three lights in a triangle. It was answered by Bill Bates, the fisherman, with the same signal, which you might have seen if your eyes had been wide open.”’ ‘“We trusted to your eyes for that,’’ rejoined ITy. a Well, Bates is off. Isaw him safe on the water, and then made for my own boat. [had some trou- te et sag you, so he had plenty of time to reach 6 inlet.” ‘*Lay to, lads!” cried Harry, with sudden vehe- mence. ‘‘ We will make for the thoroughfare. If that is where they are to meet we will cut off our friend on his return, And Ionly hope the captain and mate will row in with him, I'd like amazingly to nab them sharp coons.”’ In twenty minutes they were off the mouth of the thoroughfare, patrolling on the marsh side, in the shadows of the long grass. Their boat could not have been seen at twenty feet distance, in the dim ight of the stars. im rowed across to the island side, where he brought his boat to rest in full view of the mouth of the passage, though himself concealed from easy observation. It was the same channel by whose eet hi Halyard had been left to the slow influx of e tide, From his position he could hear sounds which ap- peared to come from the middle of the island. Low, dragging sounds and subdued voices. For another twenty minutes the patient vigil con- tinued, and then the dip of oars became audible. The prow of alarge boat emerged from the mouth of the channel before the eyes of the patient ayes In a moment more the whole boat was visible, set- ting in the water asif heavily loaded, and rowed by three men. Tim let it get well out into the open wa- ter, and then cautiously followed, with a noiseless stroke of his oars. He could but faintly see them through the sha- dowy gloom. They had almost reached the dark shelter of the-marsh grass, when Tim gave the same signal he had before given, three low whistles. To his utter surprise he heard it repeated, as if by an echo from the island side. Inwardly it was answered in a different mode. There was a quick fall of oars, the shooting of a large boat from under the shade of the ban , the locking of the two boats side by side. It had been so quickly and rformed that the men in the fisherman’s boat bad not recov- ered from their surprise at the signal whistle when the prow of a heavy boat raked up their port bank of oars. Tim, at his repeats could but just see what fol- lowed—the sudden upleapifig of a number of phan- - om-like forme 7 wae and whirling of seve res, an en a sudden ce as y wee all crouched down in the boate. An oath, an ejaculation, a cry followed, but these were instant- Vrith vowed hastily up. ey tai m rowed hastily up. ** What luck?” he aabedl. “Nabbed,” came in the voice of Harry Bains. ag? regular piece of machine work. -There they are, hard wood to chew on. And a glorious boat-load of the contraband.” ** Will we make for the city?” asked Tim. ee a ee ee ee ae eer ww ——- +e or - C- O"-- “No. Idoubt if this is all, We shall have to ques- tion our friend Bates. The gag was taken from the fisherman's mouth, but he sullenly refused to answer any questions, either as to whether there was more goods to come in, or as to any signal by which the smugglers could be deceived. Harry offered him his liberty if he would tell on his confederates, but not a word could be got from him. ‘* Best lock his jaw pens exclaimed one of the men, impatiently. ‘*These other chaps look like anlent, We might learn something by pumping them.’’ ‘* Hold!” eried Tim, with a sudden recollection. *“Waitforme. I will be back in ten minutes.”’ He rowed off hastily across the inlet. He had just remembered the reply, from the island, to his whistle. It might mean something of importance. The others waited in restless impatience for his re- turn. They could not imagine his object. But the ten minutes were not up ere the sound of Oars was again audible, and his boat slowly emerged from the gloom—this time with two occupants. ‘' Who in thunder have you there?” asked Harry, in deep surprise. “*Only a night-hawk, who has been at fly-catching on Turtle Island,’’ came in the well-known voice of Fred Halyard, As the boat came alongside he stepped into the larger craft of the patrol. ‘*T thought you might be wanting your spare cox- swain,” he said. t in the blazes does this mean, Fred?’ ask- ed Harry. ‘‘Howcame you on the island?” ‘It isa long story,” replied the lad, ‘‘ which this is not the time totell. Ican give you this much of it,though. Two friends of mine tried a little game of murder on me, and if they’d hit ten ounces harder 1am afeard it would have been the last of Fred Halyard.”’ “Murder!” cried Harry. ‘‘ You are not joking, y? ‘*T don’t think this cut is a * gee replied Fred, touching his matted hair. ‘‘They left the tide to finish their work, but their calculation wasn’t a up to the mark. I was breathing the water nto my nose beforeI came to. But as cold water didn’t agree with my lungs it brought me to my senses in a jifty. crawled up into the bushes and laid there till my strength came back to me again. ‘* Well! if this ain’tasweet go!” ejaculated Harry, with a whistle of astonishment. ‘‘Do you know anything of the business we are on?’ “You bet Ido. Why itall came off not ten feet fromme, The boat from the Mary Annwill be back inside of half an hour with another load of contra- band goods,”’ ‘‘That’s the ticket!’ cried Harry, jubilantly. “You're a brick, Fred.” ‘‘The captain and mate of the Triton are aboard. They don’t trust this delicate business to the sailors. There’s a signal; but I’ve nabbed it.”’ ‘To your oars, lads,’’ exclaimed Harry. ‘“ You stay here, Tim, and watch our prisoners. Knock them in the head if they are obstreperous. Lay to, now. You’re a perfect brick, Fred.” In their inward passage Fred unfolded his plan. This was to ambush the smugglers, only three re- maining aboard the boat, while the others should hide in the bushes, ready to spring up at a given word All this was fear ere the smugglers’ boat returned with second cargo. The craft of the coast-guard lay, with its three occupants, awaiting their approach. A password was called out from the approaching boat, and answered by Fred, when they dashed con- fidently in. “You are s ” called out the voice of Captain Carstairs. ‘I did not look for you so soon.”’ “Yes, willing hands and ready oars, you know, this time the boats were almost touching. = lo!” cried thecaptain. ‘* Whose voiceisthat?”’ ** Only a night-hawk’s cry,” came the loud answer. It was the signal agreed upon. In an instant the men concealed in the bushes were on their feet and dashing for the smugglers’ boat. They were as i oe seconded by the occupants of the patrol t The surprise was complete. In less than a minute the three sailors who occupied the boat were over- come and secured, while the captain and mate had ther sae much fuller of work than they had bar- gained for. The captain was dragged backward nS two stal- wart assailants, and his arms bound behind him ere he could make any fair effort at self-defense. The mate, however, was more fortunate. He knocked down his first foe by a blow from his iron-like fist. The next instant he had drawn a pistol, and was menacing the assailants. ‘“‘This for you!” he yelled, pulling the trigger on 8. But ere the pistol could be discharged his aim was disconcerted by a fierce blow which fell upon his head and hurled him forward into the mass of his foes. In aninstant more he was secured beyond the chance of a struggle. ; ‘“‘IT owed you one,” exclaimed Fred, flinging down the tiller by which he had produced this sudden change in rs. “And I thought it a good time to pay i now, and save Harry Bains from the clip of a x “You're just the biggest brick going!’ cried Barrys pray his hand. - ‘‘I owe you one now.”’ ‘And if we haven’t made a pull to-night, lads, then there’s no mosquitoes on e -which there is, a plenty.’”’ he continued. ‘I’m afeard the Mary Ann will have to run into port without her wore —_—————~ — head officers, except they call round our way for them. Ready, lads?’ WAY? ay ? ‘*Then give way.” In very few minutes more the procession of cap- tured and captors was moving down the inlet, to- ward Beach City. CHAPTER XXVIII. A CONFESSION SWEET. A WEEK or two has passed since the date of our last chapter, a period rather fruitful in important results to several of our characters, Captain Car- stairs and Miller, his mate, Bates, the fisherman, and half a dozen of the crew of the Mary Ann, are in prison on the charge of defrauding the revenue. Their employers, Messrs. Tompkins, Son & Co., are also in the bands of the law, being free upon bail to answer for their misdeeds, on the principle that the big fish can swim, while the little fish must be kept safely under lock and key. Jim Bundy is also in what we may call a tight lace, though he has a fair prospect of being re- eased on bail, under the auspices of some of the thirsty folks of Crockettstown. We may offer this in evidence that there is some gain in seliing good ale. As for the Mary Ann, she lay off and on the coast on the night of the capture, in despair at the loss of her officers. The crew, of course, were not without a aes of the nature of this enterprise, and not without conjectures ‘as to what bad hefallen their commander. But the orders were to await their re- turn, which was accordingly done. With fair daybreak a boat put off and came out to her, manned by four of the coast-guard, with Fred Halyard in command. Young as he was he knew how to handle a vessel, which could be said of none of the others, except Harry Bains. But the latter had his hands full just now in Beach City, so that Fred, despite his wound, and a dizziness yet re- maining from it, was appointed to take charge of the Mary Ann, and bring her into New York harbor, Meanwhile Amos Yarnall and his son were about prepared to leave Beach City. The former was quite satisfied that Mr. Darlington’s defiance was but bravado, since he certainly could place no trust in the lapsed memory of Jim Bundy, and had no other evidence. And as he showed no signs of pieces to the demand of Mr. Yarnall, the latter — ad about concluded to bring suit for the recovery of the estate, being convinced that no strong defense could be made. He had another reason for this action. He had eve ht to believe that the heir on whom Mr. Darlington depended to checkmate bim was no longerin the way. His operations of the previous A had certainly given him reason to believe that this obstacle was removed; and it struck him that it might be the part of prudence to leave Beach City without delay, as some unpleasant discovery might possibly be made. He had not the most re- mote idea that, at that very moment, Fred Halyard, alive and strong, was giving orders to make sail on the Mary Ann aud head her for New York and a harbor—which was certainly much better than to be ** food for fishes.”’ There was much excited talk at the depot, as he” was waiting for car time to arrive. With eager in- terest he mingled with one of the conversin enue anxious to learn the cause of this unusual exci ment—a little fearful, also, in his inmost soul. “Tt was the neatest job that was ever put up in these diggings,’? declared One enthusiastic indivi- dual. ‘And they say the haulis worth thousands. — All the finest French silks.” ‘* What is that?’ asked Mr. Yarnall. Here was an opportunity—a person ignorant of the news. There was a fine chance to repeat the whole exciting story. Mr. Yarnall soon learned of the capture of a party — of smugglers during the preceding night, with some astoni g particulars of the fight in which they were captured. These particulars, in fact, lost no iquancy from the alg t circumstance that they f never occurred. This, really, only left more wit for the imagination in their de ption, ‘* Who is the ee: whom you have several times spoken?” asked Mr. Yarnall, somewhat nervously. ‘You are making hima very prominent character.” “ Didn’t I tell you? Why, it was Fred Halyard, one of our own Beach City stock. Some devils tried to murder him last night on the islands, but Fred is too tough built to be easy— What is the matter, sir? Are you sick?” . ar tee momentary dizziness,’ returned Mr. Yar- nall, ‘ It always makes me giddy. I am obliged to you for your story, but I fink I shall have to take a seat in the car.”’ “One moment,” remarked a stern-faced man, who had just come up. “Is not your name Amos Yarnall?’ “That is my name,” was the reply, given with outward boldness but inward dread. ‘Then you are my prisoner.” “For what?” demanded Mr. Yarnall, with well- assumed astonishment. yy Os “For assault and battery, with intent to kill, on Frederick Halyard. Your accomplice has just been arrested, and I should advise you to come quietly along, if you wish to avoid trouble,” — ne Yarnall looked nervously around, with tremblio lips and a face yet more pallid than its: norm state. He did not at all like the ¢ about him. And there were wor audible to his senses. The excitable narrator who had just been telling him of the capture of; the smugglers was especially indignant, = —s_—- me! ‘“‘T’ll be shot if this ain’t a neat go!” he exclaimed. “Playing with me as if I was a toad and he was @ harrow. The infernal milk-faced murderer! By Eomichboo must have got up too early this morning. © ct of- the faces” of threat very |