Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 468 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ve ° i i ee a ene ey ( & merge — . 7 '? P et ae eae ee SOE OE TE Sen i rT I IF Ee —e ~~ Pe A he ds z= - . Y aoa -Molsey the G Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. Se - we Bast, 10 ket sloop for Boston, and there determined to Everard felt that she was still unforgiven by her CHAPTER XIX. make a purchase that he felt would please his stern old parent; but she had cast her lot with THE RUN FOR LIFE. father. Louis Everard, the man she loved, and she could THE situation of this little craft, as seen This was of a small, trim little craft which he feel no regret. by Louis Everard and his wife, was a dangerous saw was offered for sale, and which Neptune Ned Ned’s letter also stated that the feeling in Eng- | one. had known as a coast trader, and one that was | land was most bitter against the colonies, and The point of land that concealed the vessel noted for her fleetness and sea-going qualities. that it was hoped that the Americans might of-war from their view, was a bold and rugged The little vessel registered not twenty tons, | sound the tocsin of war, so that they would see | peninsula that rose into a lofty ridge, and but the cabin was large and comfortable for | how useless it was for them to begin a struggle | formed the arm that sheltered a harborage be-~- carrying passengers, and Ned did not doubt | against the mother country. yond it. but that his father and himself as captain and In his letter he spoke of coming back via the It was over a league in length, covered with a mate, with one man for crew and another for West Indies, that he might get all of the ** deep hardy growth of trees, and though a quarter of steward and cook could do a very good business | sea” experience he cou d, and he knew that it | a mile wide at some points, was very Darrow at running between the river towns and Boston, would help him immensely as a sailor, others, and here and there was split in twain by carrying passengers and freight. Then followed a long and weary wait of | channels through from the haven inland to the So Ned invested his money from his piratical | months, and no word camé from the missing | open sea. experience in the little craft, which was one of ar At low tide the peninsula was unbroken, but the style then known on the New England coast | The parents talked over the usual runs made | at a very high tide it was but a chain of half a as a chebacca boat. ° to the West Indian ports from London, and the | dozen islands, the waters of the sea running He had spoken to Captain Harvey about what | time thence on to Boston, and they became | over into the haven. he had received from Redfern, the Rover, ask- | alarmed as the weeks went by after the time, The arm of land was bent from the cliff, ing him if it was honest for him to use it, and | and no word came, and Ned still failed to ap- | whereon stood the fisherman and his wife, and that officer had plainly told him that there was ar. the haven beyond was therefore not visible to: no way to return it to its owners, whoever they Mr. Everard had become strong again, so he | them, while “ies position was such that they might be, and if given toa charitable object, as | went about his daily work without pain from | could not see the passes through the ridge, and Neptune Ned had suggested, it still would be | his leg, and his wife did all she could to aid him | the little vessel had seemed to shoot boldly out of pirate gold, so that he had better invest it as he | in fixing up the little home to make it cheerful | the land itself. deemed best. for Ned’s return. The waters into which it came were thick So Ned purchased with it the chebacca boat, But the faces of both began to look haggard, | with isléts and reefs, and certainly only a skilled which he rechristened the Flying Fish, not be- | as the days passed into weeks, and their brave | pilot could make his way through them to the ing satisfied with the name of Sally’s Slipper, | boy came not. open sea a league beyond this miniature archi- hem her in honor of the daughter of her former The long, cold winter went by, and with the | pelago. beet coming of spring the parents began to fit up this But the one at the helm of the little boat had. king about him for a crew, Neptune Ned | cabin and have all ready for a welcome, for | evidently known full..well, with the water at secured the valuable services of a giant negro, | the would not allow each other to feel that they | high tide, he could run through the ridge, and who was not only a sailor, but a cook, and who had almost given up hope of ever seeing Ned | had done so, while whoever his pursuer was he could also play the violin and guitar, while he again. had been furious at his escape and poured his. sung in what the boy considered the most de- The rumbling ofthe coming war was growing broadsides upon him. ‘lightful manner. louder each day, and the colonists were wearing The last broadside had, as the reader has seen, e ‘‘crew proper” consisted of a young man blank looks at the persecutions the British in- | cut away the topmast, and bringing the wrec whom Ned knew as one from the village on the | flicted upon them. on deck with a crash, it caused a momentary river, and who was a p35 phe seaman, though The English Press Gangs were at work, taking | confusion, while the chebacca boat swept up simple as a child, and called Simple Sam. fishermen from their boats and crews from their | into the wind. The peeps d musician, sailor and cook was | coasting vessels, to serve upon the British men- ‘Oh! the boat is crippled and will be cap-- known as Charcoal, and was just the hue which | of-war, and the towns were swarming with Red- | tured,” cried Mrs. Everard anxiously. had doubtless suggested the name. coats. ‘‘ He is crippled, wife, but her crew are work- With ample stores on board, a fair freight for No actual hostilities had broken forth, but | ing like beavers, and Iam sure have no idea of the merchants of the village, and his crew at | that there was surely to be a break soon, all | surrendering, for they are clearing the wreck. their posts, Neptune Ned sailed out of Boston knew, though the English did not think it would | very hastily and intend running again.” Harbor as proud as it was possible for him to | be more than a show of hostility, soon to be put ‘But can they?” be, and enjoying the surprise he meant to give| down. '* ‘Oh, yes, for that shot only took off her top- his parents in the purchase of the Flying Fish, One afternoon Louis Everard and his wife sat | mast and cut some minor rigging, which will while he knew it would delight their hearts to | upon the cliff, near their cabin home, looking | be quickly patched up; see | they are already seo him again at home after his long and seaward, as was often their wont, and talking | getting her on her way again.” perilous wanderings. over the prospects of war, while their thoughts ‘¢- Yes, and hark!” were upon their absent son, whom they seldom Gun after gun pealed forth until nine were CHAPTER XVIII spoke of now, so intense was their dread that he counted, and the shot flew thick and fast about : was dead. the little craft, which was now dashing along THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM, Suddenly a deep boom down the coast startled | once more upon ber way. Ir was certainly a most lonely home that | them, and going to the point of the cliff, Louis “That British craft carries nine guns, any> Neptune Ned had left behind him when he set Everard gazed in the direction from whence the how, to a broadside,” said Louis Everard. sail for England, and his mother felt the full | sound came, ‘‘ How do you know, Louis?” force of parting with her brave boy when she Again came the deep roar, and he said: ‘‘T counted them, and as they were fired sin-- returned to her cabin and sat that night talking 6s Phat is a ship’s gun, wife, but she cannot | gly she doubtless discharged them as she swung” with her crippled husband. surely be in distress in this blow,” and he gazed | u for a broadside, upon discovering that the “Tt isa long voyage for him to make, hus- | seaward where the waves were leaping about in | ¢ ebacca had not surrendered.” band, and Iam really sorry we let him go,” she | chaotic confusion, tossed by a wind that was “You think they thought so?” said, as she wiped a tear from her eye. blowing strong. ‘Evidently, or they would have kept up their “Oh, Ned can look out for himself better than “Tt looks like a storm yonder, Louis, and the | hot fire upon her; but see, the chebacca is fairly, any boy of his years I ever saw. vessel may be firing fora pilot, to get into a safe flying along toward the sea.” ‘In fact, he is a better man to-day than half | anchorage somewhere.” ‘‘ And where going?” of those who call themselves so; but I hope he ‘Yes, we are to have a blow, that is certain, ‘* Perhaps for the river.” will get back before we have war.” and a heavy one, : “Tt is a dangerous run for these waters,” “You really think, then, there will be war?” ‘‘T guess you are right; and that it is a signal ‘ Dangerous indeed, wife.” anxiously asked the woman. from a British vessel-of-war for some Coast ‘‘ And she will have to gain an offing, round’ “Yes, for it must come, as the colonies are pilot; but heis yonder behind that point of land, | Bald Head and then run in for a harbor?” worn out by England’s course toward them. and we cannot see him— Ab! there goes an- “Yes,” ““ See how they are treated upon all sides, and | other report; ay, and another, and another! ‘“ And the vessel-of-war?” our ports are but garrisons for British troops.” ‘That is no signal firing, Ellen!” cried Louis «“ Will have to run out of the harbor and “You have become thoroughly American, Everard. travel along the coast, but will be a league husband,” said the wife with a smile. ‘* No! see there!” astern of the chebacca.” “Indeed I have, for I love this landofour| As Mrs. Everard spoke there suddenly shot ‘* And cannot catch her?” adoption and her people, and I will go with them | into view, as though coming out of the rocky [do not think so.” in the struggle, heart and soul, and Ned certain- | point of land itself, a small c ebacca boat. “Tam so glad; but what can the chebacca. ly is an arrant little rebel, and will make a name It was under full sail, though it blew a double- have been doing?” for himself if he gets the chance.” reef breeze, and was fai ly foaming along the “Smuggling, I guess.” “Ah! what is there before us all? I dread to | coast, while again came the deep boom of @ “Ah! and the British will hang her crew if think of it,” and Mrs. Everard’s face became | heavy gun, and then another and another in | taken?” very sad at the thought of what might mig te quick succession, followed by a broadside. G Yes, Ellen, they make short work of the for America was just then on the eve of the ‘‘Oh Louis! what does it mean?” cried Mrs. American smugglers; but I think I know that Revolutionary War. Everard anxiously. chebacca.” i A few days after Ned’s departure, Mrs, Ever- “It means that some British vessel-of-war is “Indeed! is it a river craft? ard received a letter from him saying he was | trying to capture or sink thatgallant little craft, | ‘No,a coaster from the Penobscot that, called) just about to leave port for England, and then | wife, that has just run through a channel to es- | the Sally’s Slipper, WS sold by her skipper, I came a long and anxious wait of months, when | cape, that I did not believe but two persons | heard, and went to smuggling, though was soon one day word came from him from London. ' living knew of, Ned and myself,” was the slow | after captured.” . He had just arrived, and hastened to write, he | response of Skipper Everard, and he steppe “Vet she is free now? said, that they might know that he was well. back to a large pine tree, where hung his glass| ‘“‘ Yes, they have gotten her out in some way; He promised to write soon again, and sure | and turned it upon the flying craft, just as an- | but I heard whev last up in town that she had enough a few weeks after they bad a letter tell- | other broadside was fired by the unseen vessel | been taken and was sold as a prize.” ing of his visit to Melton Manor-house, and to beyond the rocky point and a cry came from | “ Then I feel little sympathy with her crew, 1 ey . Mrs. Everard as the chebacca boat was seen to | if they are smugglers,” His visit to his mother’s father he told as pleas- | reel under it and her topmast fell from aloft, | ‘‘ Except for their plucky escape— See, the antly as he could, not to wound her; but Mrs. | cut away by the shot. are running for the offing, and will about reac | CTR" RNS ~ comicbooks:com