Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 468 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

. . aes P| pre eee , which could now be seen indistinctly —_—---_oe Sioad in the gathering darkness; but soon she was put sharper to the wind, and began to leave the schooner upon her starboard beam. Instantly a change came over the schooner, for her masts were covered with canvas, and she at once started in chase of the brig. “T knew that fellow meant mischief, and but for you, lad, we would have walked right upon him in the darkness that was gathering,” and the captain turned to Ned, who was delighted at having discovered the stranger. | Sail was then crowded upon the brig, and it at once became a stern chase, the captain maneuver~ ing so as to throw the pursuer as far astern as was possible. But the schooner came swiftly along, and the two pretty vessels went flying over the dark waters under a stiff breeze. After an hour’s chase the moon rose out of the sea, and then it could be seen that the schooner was armed and crowded with men, while Ned observed: “T have been watching her closely, sir, and she is gaining upon us steadily,” ‘“‘You are right, lad, and the brig must be made to do bettor than she is doing, for 1 have no doubt but that fellow is a pirate, and these West Indian rovers are a merciless set!” and the captain gave orders to put on the brig every stitch of canvas that could be made to draw, while all else that could aid her speed was done. But still the schooner slowly gained, and by dawn a bright flash broke from her bows, anda shot came tearing along after the flying brig, _showing that the pursuer was in deadly earnest. CHAPTER XII. THE CAPTURE. Wuen the schooner had first s'arted in chase of the brig, it was a trifle over a league distant; but through the night it had slowly gained, and by the dawn of day was not over that dis- tance off. Then the schooner’s commander concluded to try a shot, and sent a ball after the brig from his bow chaser. It flew over the brig, showing that the pursu- er was within good range. ‘* What flag does he show?” asked the captain, as the sun rose out of the sea and revealed the schooner quite distinctly, ** He has no flag up, sir,” answered Ned, anda moment after he called out: ‘‘ He is sending up a flag now, sir, and it is a black one !” ‘‘ A pirate, as I thought; well, we have only to run for it and try to beat him off, though he has three times as many men,” and the brave cap- tain of the brig began to get his vessel ready for action. In the mean time another shot was fired, and went to the side of the brig; but no attention was paid to it, and the stern pivot eighteen- pounder was cleared for action. Neptune Ned watched these proceedings with deep interest, for he had never been under fire before, or seen a heavy gun manned, and he took in all that he could learn on the subject, with - real boyish glee at the chance of having a bat- tle with a sea rover. Seeing that the brig’s commander paid no at- tention to to his demand to come to, the schoon- er began to firo more rapidly and aim for the chase. “T did not think any craft could hound the Flying Fish as yonder Yalow is doing, for she always shows a clean pair of heels to a pursuer,” the captain of the brig remarked, and all seemed surprised that the schooner could gain on the _ brig. : Pie is improving, sir, in his aim,” said Ned, Ton,” shouted the captain, pounder began to respond who had observed ateach shot came closer an closer. ; “You are right, lad, and he’ll soon— Ha!” and the captain sprung to the side of his mate, who had been cut down hy a solid shot from the schooner. . Ned had felt the windage of the ball, but had not moved from his position, though his face pane slightly when he saw the poor mate killed fore eyes, ay fo ‘Poor Dorion, he is done for,” said the cap- tain, and several seamen bore the mate below, while a second shot tore along the deck, wound- ing slightly two men with ters. ‘Hit him back, lads, and avenge poor Dor- and the eighteen- to the fire of the - Schooner. a, Se a rs, - Pe tA i a 4 é a) 24 J ’ ‘ - ; - mh % ‘ . ei, oF gle fe * ? The first shot flew wild, but a second was in third cut through the sails of the : NS StS ae = r ~ » “4 7 . wf ‘ ‘ > Pa ed ‘ f . 7 ae « , J | . ft {to - o> ‘ ‘ay ‘2 4 Y aye 41 - > 1 —<- > s - - a4 , hot ey ’ ae @ a = a . r ‘ . ind set * : > ’ : . Fas ee es a be . ae ~~ ‘yt . >» 7 en 4 —— " . > for ol : S a ~< a) oe schooner, showing that the range had been got- ten by the gunner. Then both schooner and brig fired rapidly, and it became a running fight, with the chances in favor of the former. : Once having begun to hit his foe, the schoon- er’s commander dealt some heavy blows, his shot being aimed with an accuracy that was sur- prising. The maintopmast of the brig was cut away, a solid shot buried itself in the foremast, a boat was cut from its davits, and two men had been added to the death list and half a dozen more were wounded, ‘‘Tf we could only cripple him!” cried the brig’s captain, and he began to fire the gun bim- self, while Ned sprung to the place of a man who had been shot down at his post. * Bravo, lad! I wish I had a score more like you, in addition to my crew, and we'd beat that fellow off with ease,” cried the captain, as he saw that Ned was a little giant at his work. But now a well-aimed shot from the brig cut away the foretopmast of the schooner, and asec- ond one splintered the bowsprit to atoms, and the former went up into the wind, while a shout arose from the gallant tars. But it was a short-lived triumph, as the schooner, in wearing around, fired a broadside, and the pivot eighteen of the brig was dis- mounted, burying a couple of men under it. ‘* Keep her steady, helmsman, and we'll trust to our canvas now,” cried thé captain. But with astonishing quickness, the schooner rigged another bowsprit and came bowling along once more in chase, her bow gun firing more viciously than ever. Then « shot shattered the rudder-post, and the chase was ended; but not the fight, for the gal- lant old tar called to his men to man the small broadside guns and beat the enemy off, should they attempt to board. Seeing that ne had crippled his foe, it would have been supposed that the schooner’s com- mander would cease firing; but, on the con- trary, he kept up a vicious fire as he drew nearer, and luffing sharp, poured ina broadside. ‘“‘ He intends to murder us, lads, so let us die game—fire!” yelled the captain, and the small guns of the brig opened upon the schooner. But another broadside did fearful havoc on the brig, and four or five men went down, while the oe drew nearer and nearer, still spitefully ing. * Bo you surrender that craft?” cried a voice on the schooner. _‘*T suppose I have to do so, if you spare our lives,” was the answer. | _“* Suppose 1 refuse?” ‘Then you will have to board and pull down my flag yourself and you'll find none but dead men no ees you,’ was the plucky r nse. Te spare you on one condition.’ “* What is it?” ‘“That you step into the places of my men you have killed.” ‘* T'll see you dead first,” and the brig’s plucky gy: again gave the order to fire, he discharge was a surprise on board the schooner, and did considerable damage; but a broadside quickly followed and the brig reeled under it, while her brave captain fell tied by the side of the gun he was again about to fire. ‘* Ho, the schooner!” yelled the mate. “A ; ay.” ‘We surrender on your terms,” ‘*¢ All right, haul down your flag and I'll send boats to board you,” was the response, and _ the order was instantly obeyed, Neptune Ned wondering what would now me of him and if the pirates would massacre them all, as some of the crew suggested. CHAPTER XIII, A PIRATE’S PROTEGE. THE conduct of Neptune Ned from his coming on board the brig, had won the highest admira- tion of all on board. They had seen that though he was a boy he was a good sailor, and more, he was polite to all and won the regard and friendship of the men as well as the officers, During the long chase he had been perfectly cool, and not even he shown fear of death. As the pirates lowered away two boats, while the brig lay to, and filled them with men, a of whom were armed to the teeth, the boy stood calmly watching them. As they came over the side he saw that their leader was a young man of striking appearance, and yet one who looked as thous his life had been spent in reckless dissipation. “Who commands here?” he called out, as he Octo FS tad , . * « 4 # ny a "a alae 4 ’ ‘ ‘he mm’ « , - -** y ree: . 4 Tce Thi => we : : ‘k's _— a ee OO memes sessment sss sms s=emns see —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ~ Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. = ? oa it sprung on deck, his drawn cutlass in one hand, a pistol in the other. And of the twenty-three men on board, eleven now alive remained unharmed, and one of the three was the second mate, who turned back among his men, not at all anxious to have the anger of the pirate leader turned upon him, ‘‘ Who commands here, I ask?’ sternly de- manded the pirate. ‘*'You do, I guess,” The words came from Neptune Ned as-he stepped forward and confronted tho captor. he pirate laughed, as did his men, while he said: ‘*T guess you are about right, lad; but where is your captain?” ** Dead,” ‘* And your mate?” ** Dead.” Ned did not care to say more, as he saw that the second mate hung back to avoid notice. ‘‘ Well, they fought their ship well; but if some keen-eyed fellow had not seen me, under bare poles, lying m your course, 1 would have had no trouble, for you would have run upon. me; who was your lookout?” | ‘*T was,” Ah! are you? ‘“My name is Ned.” ‘The captain’s son?” sé No. ” ‘* A cabin-boy?” ‘* Not exactly.” ‘‘ Supercargo, maybe?” ‘‘ So-called; but mostly a passenger willing to work his way over.” ‘Whither bound?” ** Jamaica.” ‘‘Out of where?” you have a bright eye, lad; but who ** Merchandise, ” ‘‘ ve made a good haul.” wASd T will transt ‘An ill transfer your cargo, ship your men among mine, throw your dead or | badly wounded overboard, and make you my especial a, ‘‘ Yes, for I rather like you, my lad.” ‘‘Itis more than I can say about you,” said Neptune Ned, in a low tone. The pirate then ordered the crew of the brig to go to his boat, telling them he would them as his own men, and the mate went wi them, inwardly thanking Ned for not having be- a iy him, e boy started off with the rest, but the pi- rate said: , ‘“T want you, lad.” “+ You ar.” ‘‘Do you know who I am?” ‘‘ A pirate, I guess.” sé I am.” a | thought so.” “Why? ‘‘-You chased us under a black flag.” “Where aro you from?” ** America,” ‘* You live there?” ‘Yes, sir.” ** 'W here?” ‘* On the coast of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts,” ‘* Ah! near Boston?” ‘*Near mouth of Kennebec.” ‘*T gee; you can be very useful to me, for you know something of the coast, doubtless?” Ned made no reply, and the pirate continued: ‘*‘ Did you ever hear of Redfern, the Rover?” “Yaa a. ‘‘ What bave you heard of him?” “That he was so cruel that he should be called Red Hand, the Devil.” : ‘* Ab! Iam Redfern!” pes Ned never winced, and the pirate smiled. ‘“Now, Ned—for you said such was your name—I wish you to go over the brig with me, show me where the captain keeps his valuables, and then we will return on board the schooner, and you will bunk in the cabin with me, for Pve | taken a fancy to you.” Ned was a boy of much nerve, as the reader has doubtless seen. i He was not one to stand in his own light, and he bad heard much of the cruelty of the Rover ern. He had heard it said that he had been a British middy and was @ son of one of the colonial governors, but had, by dissipation and gambling, disgraced himself and been dismissed from the navy, after which he had taken te ; on head {45 7° A . : >* a a *e 5 < 2 a ; . e ~ PR "% « = - J > 0 ‘ 4 i. ~~ - ond ' —~s ° - >. reuse ae c oom a ’ . - *