Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 468 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

4; Ste ~ _ a + “ - Kory a 7 ~ ’ * a > P » ee ee eee eee = "y * tae? ta — -_ ~ eee gs — Sat - a € tf . - though the old fort has not had a garrison for many a day. “You take your to the fort, Hal, and Tl lead the boat attack,” cried the ringleader. There was at once the most intense excite- ment, but all became hushed as Neptune Ned called out: ‘* Attention a moment, friends!” * Well, lad?” cried a chorus of voices, ‘* War is not declared yet, though the English have been most cruel, and some skirmishes have occurred. ‘‘ But if you take that brig, you will cause a fleet to come here and destroy this town, while you will not be the’sufferers. | ‘‘Let her go in peace, until war begins, and then strike her; but not now.” Many sided with Neptune Ned, those who had houses and families; but the reckless ones laugh- ed at his fears, and the ringleader divided his men to hasten away, one part to the old fort, they going by land, while his immediate com- mand he ordered to the cove beyond the point, to arm themselves and get the boats ready. ‘ Wise ones warned them, but they heeded not, and all became a chaos of excitement which no one could quell. ‘Father, I will not see them bring ruin upon the town, and cause women and children to suf- fer,” cried Ned. | ‘* My son, nothing can be done, for they are mad,” ‘‘T will do something, sir.” ‘¢ What can you do?” '* “ Wait and see.” And Neptune Ned walked away, taking a ath down the river-bank, his movements being lidden from view by several large warehouses along the shore. CHAPTER XXVII. THE YOUNG KING OF THE SEA. Wuen Ned reached the last warehouse, he came upon a skiff that was tied to the dock. Into this he sprung, and seizing the oars, shot out into the river, : At the town landing the crowd suddenly caught sight of him, and wild yells arose upon all sides, The party to the fort had already gone, and those to attack in the boats were making their way to the cove behind the point of land, where they could not be seen by the approaching brig- of-war, which was now not ever half a mile distant. . Other villagers and many reckless young sailors were constantly coming to the dock, many of them armed with muskets and pistols for word had gone about that an English vesse intended attacking the town. vt) , without looking around, _ hard for the vessel, land, and they wished to capture your and havesenta L. G - been under fire before, said a splendid-loo him, ie When Ned therefore shot out from the shelter of the warehouses, it was very plainly seen what is purpose was. ‘* The boy is a traitor!” yelledone, _ ‘“ He is going to warn the brig and ruin all!” cried sat e804 , ‘Shoot him!” shrieked a third, and above the shout that arose at this a score of muskets were discharged, while Captain Everard groaned in agony of spirit, now seeing Ned’s bold resolve ba eg he would be slain. But though the bullets pattered about the boy, and one buried itself in his starboard oar he did not flinch but held right on, for he had Those on the brig now seemed to realize what was going on, and an officer on the quarter-deck hailed: “ Ahoy, that boat!” ; ‘ Ahoy, the brig!” responded Neptune Ned while he still pulled ‘Do you wish to come on board?” ** Ay, ay, sir.” ‘** Stand by, men, to help him,” ordered the officer, and a moment after Ned was on deck. “Well, lad, are you a fugitive from justice?” ing officer as he approached B: No, sir, I have done no wrong in my mind, _ though many yonder think so. “* The truth is that our people have heard ¢ fighting has 1 ane a beat America and Be : vesse below to man the old fort, while twenty boats filled with men, will soon d yonder point to attack you.” .h! this is great news, and—” __ But, sir, it will not do for our people to fire on you, or for you to slaughter them, so I beg rou © put back down the river, the fort — pe © the garrison party get there to man the open on you, and thus get to sea.” AER ES cage: ae ‘ 7 4 : »* iat ‘ , Stee ote ede a a7 ye , 1 oh rae. cape from the Restless in the Flyi the smuggler cargo on board ying Fish with full Far Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. for [ do not wish to do one act to bring on more trouble than now exists with the colonists; but the truth is my pilot went ashore after getting us nearly up to the town, and then deserted me, ‘‘ He pretended to wish to get the depth of water, and took two men in a boat, went ashore and left us, so we have had to feel our way up this far, as I am anxious to capture a little smuggler craft a fisherman told me had run up the river last mght.” ‘‘ T will pilot you out to sea again, sir.” ‘Can you do so?” ‘‘ T do not believe you could find any one who knows the coast better, sir,” was the modest abe = ‘‘ Then I will accept your services, my lad, and reward you well; but there is a terrible storm sweeping up yonder.” ‘Yes, sir.” ‘** Had we not better anchor in the river until it is over?” ' ‘* No, sir, for the boats will attack you any- how, and the fort party will be ready to fire on you as you run out.” ‘* But this looks like a tornado coming,” and the young captain gazed anxiously at the fear- black clouds sweeping down the river. ‘It is one of our summer storms, sir, but I can run you out all right,” said Ned, and he took the helm, ordered just what sail set he wanted, and showed all that he knew just what he was about. As the wind suddenly came in a violent puff, he headed the brig down the river, just as the boats shot out from behind the point. ‘** Shall I send a load of grape into those boats for their boldness, Captain Hammond?” asked a lieutenant, addressing the handsofne young cap- tain who stood by the helm near Neptune Ned. ‘*No, Bostwick, I will do nothing to cause trouble, for we can easily run away from them under the guidance of this bold youth,” was the answer. ‘Is vour name Captain Cecil Hammond, sir?” asked Ned, suddenly. ‘Yes, my lad.” ‘Is this the brig-of-war Restless?” if It is.” ‘*Aré you a younger brother of Lord Loyd Melton pe Aiea fs - terug my lad,” and the youug officer seemed rised., “IT have something of great importance to make known to you, sir, aS soon as E bave run the brig to a safe anchorage on the coast; but now I will have all I can do to manage the ves- se], as this is a fearful storm sweeping down up- on us,” and Neptune Ned bent all his energies to the work before him. , And a fearful storm it was; the darkness seemed almost like night, the winds howling in mad fury, the waves of the river lashed into a oor at times the banks being wholly lost sight of, _But Ned did not flinch, and won the admira- tion of all as he stood at his post. It was a desperate gantlet to run, but the brig made it in safety, passed the fort long be- fore its amateur gunners reached there, and went out to sea in the coming night and in the face of another Seger 3 All breathlessly watched the daring young pilot, saw him take the brig out of the mouth of the river and from the dangers about them, and then, amid a blackness thet was tangible, head in toward the coast once more, and after fight- ing a fight with death as it were, run into a sheltered harbor and give the order to let fall the Viqites as he brought the brig up into the wind. ‘‘ Bravo, my Young King of the Sea!” cried ee pig? captain, and he seized Ned by the and. A moment after he called out in words that rung through the vessel: i ‘Ahoy, my gallant tars! three British cheers for the Young Kin of the Storm!” And three such cheers were given as gladden- su ed the heart of Neptune Ned, who then asked the — to give him a private interview in the cabin with him, and the British officer led the way, impressed by the manner of the brave y. CHAPTER XXVIII, CONCLUSION, As the reader has doubtless surmised, Captain Hammond was_the brother of Lord Loyd Melton, whom Ned had buried upon the coast with his Gypsy bride, and the youth told the full story, from his rescue of the life-boat to his es- * « ~ 9 « * GS TA ote Aho eae - fv The gallant English officer was deeply im- pressed with Ned’s story, and listened most at- tentively, saying he would gladly accept the in- vitation of the ‘‘ Young King of the Sea,” as he insisted upon calling him, to gu ashore to his cabin with him, for Ned was anxious to go at once, So a boat was lowered, and half an hour after to the amazement of his father, who had come to the cabin on horseback and told his wife and Bertie the story, in walked Neptune Ned and Lord Melton, for by his brother’s death he was such. Then Ned showed him the articles left by his brother, and returning on board the brig that night the next morning took him to the grave in the nook. ‘*'You shall have a middy’s berth for this, my gallant Young Sea King,” said the nobleman warmly. ‘** No, sir, I will not enter the British service against my country, though I thank you most sincerely, for if war comes I will go into our colonial navy when we get one,” said Ned. ** Well said, lad, and my word for it you win a record second to none; but heaven avert a war between the English and our American cousins,” fervently said Lord Melton, while Captain Everard uttered a fervent . ‘* Amen!” But the war did come, kind reader, and we won our independence, and Neptune Ned made a record that was a superb one, for he began on the Flying Fish, then went with bis father upon a privateer, and ended the struggle in command of his own vessel, when he claimed as his wife pretty Bertie Buckner, the smuggler captain’s daughter, who had loved the brave boy from girlhood to womanhood, and been most happy in the end in winning for her husband such a prize as was Neptune Ned, who indeed had a claim, after his exploits, to be known as The Young King of the Sea. THE END. Edward L. Wheeler’s Deadwood Dick Novels Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. 1. Deadwood Dick; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills. 20. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance. 28. Buffalo Ben; or. Deadwood Dick in Disguise, 35. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval; or, The Brotherhood of Death. 42. The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza. 49, 57. 73. 77. 100, Deadwood Dick’s Ea les; or ) at aed g , The Pards of Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine of Whoop-Up. Corduroy Charlie; or, The East Act of Dead- wood Dick. Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty. Omaha Oll; or, Deadwood Dick im Danger. © Calamity = 104, Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double Cross. 109. Deadwood Dick as Detective. 121. Cinnamon Chip the Girl Sport; or, The Golden Idol o Mount Rosa, 129. Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch. 138. Rie e Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home ase 149, oe of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big trike. 156, Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 195, Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of The Black Hills 201. The Blac ills J : or, Deadw “Dick's Ward, ezebel ood 205. Deadwo ick’s Doom; or Jane’s Last Adventure. | 217, Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand; or, - Gypsy Jack from Jimtown. 221. Sugar Coated Sam; or, The Black Gownsof Grim Gulch. | The above are for sale by all newsdeal : five cents a copy, or sent by mail on receipt o six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, 98 William street, New York, ; ~ te" _ : ye is = / 3 4 H< cvpe be at ine aS Ss) 4 oo Oa ak Cl ON Bas isp ng 1: -_ a Gi eee ‘ j be ad : —*, “i