Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 22 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

—- - - -_-—— ~~ — out, and Julian swinging toward the dog fastened it | about his neck, and two or three of the crew, who had been excited witnesses of the mishap, drew them both on board, where they were received with much rejoicing. , Sometime during the night the schooner reached the city, but Julian remained on board till morning. Immediately after breakfast he bade tarewell to the schooner, and made his way into South street, looking with amazement at the vast forest of masts and shipping of all nationalities that everywhere met his gaze. pp Disregarding the many invitations of Israelitish dealers in second-hand merchandise and damaged wares of all descriptions to ‘“‘Schtop a leetle!” and come in and purchase, he pursued ing for some vessel about to sail for the East. any of the vessels had placards, or streamers fly- ing, stating they were to sail for such and such ports, but he saw none for India. One immense vessel, at length, attracted his atten- tion by its bulwarks being so high out of the water and its bowsprit being thrust, like an inquisitive nose, *way up among the business interests of the street. A placard at her ore rigging was inscribed, in flaming capitals, ‘‘ Up ror Honea KoneG anp CHINESE PORTS Though her destination was not exactly that for Pgs he was looking, he concluded to go on board of her. Going up the gang-plank at her side, which was al- most as steep as the roof of an old-fashioned house, he found himself on her deck, and saw that her name, like her destination, was Hong Kong. Julian gazed about him with interest. It was the first time he had ever been on board a vessel of her size. In addition to all the appointments of a first-class, full-rigged, clipper-built ship, she carried two brass bow-chasers, or guns, capable of throwing twelve- pound shot. There was also a swivel gun amidships, to carry twenty-four-pound ball—a formidable weapon, Julian sought out the captain, whom he found a worthy representative of his class, and made his in- quiries, which were briefly answered, and he was di- rected to an India-house, or firm, who were the agents of aline of vessels sailing to India. Julian thanked the captain, and, as he was leaving, he inquired the use\of the’great guns he saw on deck, ‘“'To keep off the pirates, my lad,’’ said the captain; **the Chinese seas are not the safest cruising grounds in the world, and we often meet the Malay pirates swar thereabouts.” Julian thought he would like to make the voyage with this captain, for he had an exceedingly pleasant face, and it seemed to Julian this was a field in which there might be a chance for distinction as well as adventure in exterminating these evil hordes of whom the captain had spoken. However, it did not lie in the line of his search now. He, however, asked the captain the price of pas- sage to Hong Kong. he captain looked at him with some surprise. *“Why, my man, I might take you, always suppos- ing ier parents willing, for one hundred dollars.” ‘Il have no parents living ” said Julian, simply. “Tf you were only going to India I would gO With de! I shall see you again, perhaps,”’ he added, as e took off his hat in farewell, and descended the ng-plank. The captain watched him as he passed from view. **A manly little fellow,” he said, “‘ and yet with some- eee Gene and almost womanly about him. He re- minds me strangely—strangely of one I thought I had forgotten, and who has probably ppeceneen me. [hope the land-sharks may not get hold of him.” Julian went at onee to the address given him by we int lid, granite-looking building opposite was in a solid, granite-loo u the head of a long wharf, around which iateted thickly dark-hulled vessels of various tonnage. The offices were quite dark within, and were lighted at the back with gas. In that locality, it seemed to Julian, the shipping firms must co er a cheaper commodity n daylight, for no effort seemed to have been made for many years to admit the latter. The small windows, having an outlook on a narrow alley, were so incrusted with dust and weather- stains that it was quite evident that the presiding enius of the place, whoever it might chance to be, never been able to look out through them, A high counter surrounded by a narrow railing, with a here and there, separated the inmates from the outside public. A dingy place enough, thought Julian, and yet, as he soon learned, from this office went forth an influence felt more than half round the world. A wrinkled face with a complexion like musty chment, below which was only visible a high, Black stock of an ancient fashion appeared at one of the openings of the railing and signed to Julian to approach. He did so and stated his business. The man with a parchment face referred to a card lying. on the desk, “The Punjab, for Bombay, sails to-morrow,” he said; ‘the fare is two hundred dollars.” So much?” faltered Julian. **So little!’ said the man with parchment face immovably. ‘ Make up your mind and come again,’ he continued, waving his hand for him to give place to some one waiting behind. ate stepped back. Here was an obstacle at the very beginning. The pte) ig was a little larger sum than he could command. What was to be done? He went out and walked toward the wharf where ay Pg Punjab, and went on board. er deck and wharf adjacent presented the usual | ] The Sea Serpent. bustle and scene of busy activity always more or _ less visible just prior to to a vessel's Soper ES. While deliberating what to do, he wondered ; the room, a round table and a few chai | whether they would take him as a sailor or cabin- | boy, and made inquiries, receiving the information | that they were ee full-handed, and in any event | is course, look- | he was much too small to go before the mast. He stepped ashore, and as he went slowly up the wharf, he ome fgg a: would find an India paper at the office of the ijab, and perhaps thus obtain information, possibly, of his uncle, not oth- erwise accessible. He returned at once, made known his wishes, and | : hot coffee, with the usual side dishes, which his em- | eo me aided in placing on the table. self was rye copies of the Bombay Times, North China Heraid, and other newspapers.: He searched them carefully, and time over the advertisements and shipping-lists, but BS pace name as Captain Kidd greeted his anxious vision, Going out of the office somewhat depressed, and still yong: it were possible for him to in some other way than as ‘“‘gen’l’man possiger ‘—in some capacity whereby he might accomplish his p ored for some _—and keep his money, he had gone but a short dis- tance when he was suddenly startled by being ac- costed with the words: ‘* Looking for a chance to ship, youngster?” with one or two greasy newspapers lying upon the floor. “Here you can make yourself comfortable,” said his employer; “* the dinner will be up very shortly; I will go down and hurry them up; I am getting hun- gry myself,” and as he spoke he left the room. Julian unslung his knapsack, and placed it in the corner. He had only time to take a turn up and down the room, and glance once or twice through the broken slats, that formed the blinds of the narrow window, when the man returned, : He was followed by a waiter bearing steaks and e waiter disappeared, and the man seated him- “Fall to, my lad,” he said; ‘don’t stand on cere- mony.” J olian was too hungry not to avail himself of the last suggestion, and promptly complied, seating him- _ self opposite the man. Glancing at his questioner, he saw a stout, bearded | man, ina half- hand out to him, “Going to ship?”’ he repeated. “Tf I can,” replied Julian. * Where do you wish to go, what port?” asked the stranger. “India,” said Julian; ‘* Bombay, if possible.” “That's lucky,’’ responded the bearded man; “I am the captain of a vessel—a splendid craft—and want a cabin-boy: you are just the chap I am look- ing for. zon Daenen me at the door of the shipping office. Ih you within making inquiries about a passage, but you had better go with me and save your money till you get out there, unless you have more than you know what to do with, w isn’t eNO? & nd. Julian, brightening h und **No,” sai i ten very much under the influence of this tim y proposition, and the air of familiar friendliness assumed by the stranger. “No, sir, it would take all the money I have and even some more to pay my passage in the Punjab,”’ And involuntarily he put his hands to his breast to to assure himself that his mother’s Bible contain- the money, less only the small amount he paid on the schooner, was still there. _— — eyes were watching him like those of a haw “You have some friends here with you, I sup- pose,” he asked, with affected carelessness. “No,” said Julian; ““Ilam alone in the world with _ the exception 2f my uncle, who lives in India. If _you are sailingin an Indiaman, perhaps you have | met him out there,’’ he added eagerly. * Very likely,’’ said the man coolly; ‘‘I know most wha Soar out there. What's his name?” “ Captain Kidd,” replied Julian. The man started and looked at Julian keenly from head to foot. tin a joking,’’ he said, with rather a discordant ugh. “Oh, no, sir,’ said Julian earnestly; ‘‘ that’s his e 9 name, “Allright, then. But, blow me ifI didn’t think of the old pi— but never mind what I none I find I don’t quite remember ¥our uncle now, h IT must know him, and shall think! It’s such a de- cidedly queer name—smites Smith, and beats Ba- naghar clear out of sight. But, I'll remember him soon, Will you go with me?” “I shall ind be glad to go with you,” said Jul- abe ‘Is your vessel one of the same line as the Pun- a ” The man glanced ly about him, and up and down the street, where they were walking, atone re- plying, then said, “‘ Yes.” ‘Where does your vessel lay?” asked Julian, de- lighted at ie Eecerens that now seemed o g. ‘Over at Jersey City,” was the response. ‘‘She is GiaonargD her cargo. _I am too busy to go over to-day, bu ll take you with me to-morrow. You can, meanwhile, stop with me. I have a friend who keeps a chop-house, not far from here, and as I was just going to my dinner, come along and I'l] show you where, and you can dine with me.” He led the way up a narrow side street down one or two still narrower and further on into one open- into a squalid court, with a dingy house at the tN 3 — J thought, as he f ‘ot avery invit lace Julian thought, as he fol- ih ape: Conductor tains this faies tarcagh a low oor, The man seemed to read what was in Julian's mind, for he said, “‘We sailors—here to-day, and away to-morrow, and anywhere next week—are not very ay a as to our quarters, but we can get as good ners here as enaceeee in this port.” There was a smell of cooking about the place, that was rather pleasant to Julian, for with his depres- _sion gone his naturally healthy appetite began to wake up. He said as much. ‘We will have something to eat immediately,” re- plied his new employer, and opening a side door, and giving some orders in a low tone without going in, e turned and said, “‘Come up stairs. It’s more quiet above.” Julian followed him through a dark, narrow passage, and up a creaking staircase, where the air was filled with stale odors. The room into which he was ushered was rather dark and musty, but a flaring gaslight, which was _ turned up by his conductor, served to dispel some- _ what the gloominess. | There was a low, rickety lounge in one corner of or costume, who was holding his — | and threw Julian had drank one cup of coffee, and nearly finished eating, when he e conscious of a strange sensation—a sensation as if his senses were hes dan from him. In a vague sort of way it filled him with alarm. He attempted to rise, but sunk back in his seat. He looked at the man helplessly; and in that mo- ment the stranger seemed turned to a § nt, glittering eyes of which, to the boy’s fancy, were seeking with a dreadful fascination to control his wavering senses. ; A voice, barely audible to him, was asking: ‘* Where is your knapsack?” Julian felt mechanically for the strap. ‘** Never mind; I see it yonder.” This man was his enemy. A deep sense ef the serpent-Kke fascination and the horror of his situa- tion was growing upon Julian as this conviction asserted itself, and with all the e of bis soul, he made an effort te pening against the helplessness that was ereeping over him, The man’s glittering eyes were upon him. The boy again attempted to rise; but in vain. The man seized him by the arm, and with some muttered words the boy could not understand, half led, half carried him to the lounge, and Julian sunk back upon it. His eyes closed. He was harely conscious of Io fingers plucking at his breast, and a muttered grow like some hyena busy with its prey. . ‘My mother’s Bible,” he gasped, as he felt it being torn from him, And with these words he was dimly sensitive of a terrible crash—a whirl, as if the house had fallen, and all sense of life and light left him. CHAPTER IV. THE RESCUE—CAPTAIN JAMES. Tue terrible crash of which Julian was thus dimly conscious as his senses left him, was caused by the door of the room being burst violently open. There was a rush of footsteps—a yell of wrath and fear—a blow, and the erous scoun bending over the boy was sent whirling against the opposite side of the room, and fell limp and motion- ess. de’ the tide had suddenly turned, and Julian was saved. “Look up, my lad, look up!" cried the new-comer, catching J ulian in his strong arms, and him te on window, which he threw up for the n of air. But the effects of the drug administered in the boy’s coffee had been too powerful, and Julian did not immediately revive. His rescuer placed him gently back upon the sofa, threw cold water into his face, and stood down upon him with an expression of deep Very easily we re ize him, . He was the captain of the vessel for Hong Kong, aboard of which Julian had noticed the brass en He had seen Julian, while alon street, in conversation with the villain who had brought him here—a man whom he instantly recog- nized by the cut of his jib, as pelenging to the class of land-sharks to which he had alluded when Julian was leaving the oe. He picked up Julian's Bible, which had fallen from the hand of the prostrate ruffian, ; Two or three bank notes of small denominations — fallen from it, which he replaced between the eaves. “I see,’ he said, exam it, “it answers a double purpose: a Bible and a —Ha! but what is this?’ He was holding it open in his hands, and glane ~ eg the fly-l It bore this inscription and a. . * From Julia Adams to her son Julian, on his tenth irthday.”’ | For some minutes he stood looking at > gene as if they possessed a new and strange in , Could the love of the dead mother for her son have found expression in his glance, it would seem to have been strongly apparent then. He placed the book carefully in his side- and turned sternly toward the corner where lay the fallen miscreant. He made a resolute step toward the open window, back the dilapidated blinds. By what must seem a remarkable combination of circumstances, a policeman was just passing the head of the court and was looking that way. The captain. called, and beckoned to him; he promptly responded and came briskly up-stairs. The man on the floor was beginning to recover. “Take this villain into custody,” sald the captain; EOMNIE OOO! K<S (EO)