Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 628 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

mw -—- Ci there about the bay, but little attention was paid to any of them until at last one, a pretty pleasure yacht, which looked like a mere toy dancing upon the waves, Came nearer than the others, and held on its way directly toward the yreat leviathan. The young man was the first of the two to notice it, and he called the attention of his com- panion to it. The young lady brought ber glass to bear up- on the yacht, and in a moment sbe uttered a joyful exclamation. ‘*T see my name upon the yacht!” she cried; and instantly she began to wave her handker- chief in a most frantic manner. There was an instant response from the yacht, where several handkerchiefs were seen fiutter- ing as wildly. ! | At about the same time the yacht was sig- naled to the steamship, and then the desires of the persons on the yacht were made known in the true nautical fashion. The request was granted; the steamer stopped, the yacht drew alongside, and in due time Miss Regina Hamptden and Alfred Hamptden, with their servants, were transferred. As soon as this was effected the yacht drew away, and the steamer continued on her course, amid the loud cheering of all on board. The mesting between the mother and daugb- ter can be imagined. It was assuredly a happy one. There was a great kissing time among the ladies, as is ever the case, and the gentlemen did their part by shaking hands with everybody and with one another. There were none of Captain Iron-grip’s men ou board, The arrangement last arrived at was that two of them should be on board the tug, but none on the yacht. It had been found that it could not be well carried out in any other manner. Their presence on board the yacht would have had to be explained to Tady Hamptden, which would have been awkward for Wellingford, As it was, there was nothing to be questioned, and nothing thaé could attach suspicion to him, or to the yacht’s captain, A tempting repast was already spread, and in a short time the company were seated around the table, which, by the way, was on the upper deck under the awning. lt was a joyous party, and one that well knew how to make merry the bour. No limit was upon the reompsny tongues of the ladies, and tbe gentlemen bad all they could do to hold ee own with them, they being in the minor- ty. Wellingford was at his best, and certainly did credit to the occasion, as he well knew how to do. He was, as he has been descr:bed, an easy and fluent talker, and in some manner the whole affair seemed to hinge upon him, though he could not be said to put himself forward. All was going merrily on, and the yacht was pushing along at good speed, when suddenly her whistle screamed out a signal that caused the ladies to give a start. They were not far from the eastern shore, and about opposite the northern end of Staten Island. A whistle was heard in answer, and a tug was seen coming in the opposite direction. Present- ly the tug sounded another signal, and suddenly changed her course, There was imminent danger of a collision. The yacht whistled a sharp signal of warning, and changed her course, and at the same instant the tug swerved back to the old course. Sharp signals were heard on both sides, and in a mo- ment more it was seen that 4 collision could not be avoided. The scene on the yacht was in- stantly changed from one of pleasure to one of wild confusion. —_——_—--~o CHAPTER XIV. THE PIROGUE ON HAND. BrRoaDWAY BILLY and Skinny were happy when the Pirogue rose to the surface to remain there and lie in wait for the pleasure yacht. This began to look hke business, and the worry that had been upon Skinny’s mind was in a& measure removed, And he had got well over his fears, too. Now he could enjoy the strange boat as well as Billy, and he did enjoy it to the full extent of his capabilities, too. “Well, what ye thinkin’ about, Skinny?” Biliy asked, when Skinny had sat for some time in silence, looking out through the small win- dows across the srface of the water. The upper part of the boat was just out of the ny p ‘ ; ey : ‘ ie / * ———————————=—=————— : eae | 7? rn ee _—- err Ce ase ee ° s .: 7 fe vr; - : ‘ ; ay ’ - r vs d , = = + - -_ a 4 he . ‘igd » t e + : * d yo ee) ht 58 ewe le ahs 2, ey 2 hs eels AN ¥ eee PRA hy PO MOR Rt a ae ee / " tf bew - ~~ = > ‘ rif 7 yy ~ -, . ao Broadway Billy’s Dead Act. water, and no more, and the little windows were | the sub-marine craft beld her place under the on a level with the surface. latter, and continued with her on her return up ‘*T was wonderin’ whether this boat could go | the bay. across th’ ocean,” Skinny made known, Now and again the merry laughter aboard ‘* Sweet pertaters!” exclaimed Billy, ‘‘I didn’t | the yacht would reach the ears of those on think you was of big enough caliber ter have a | board the Pirogue, but otherwise the silence was thought as broad as that.” ‘*f ama deep thinker,” Skinny retorted, pay- ing back in the same coin, ‘*So I see, now that I am aware of the fack,” Billy still piled on, ‘*And my ideas is broad, too,” Skinny fired again. ‘* But,” he added, “ that don’t give any solution of th’ problem that I had in mind.” ‘* Been feedin’ on dictionary again, have ye,” taunted Billy. ‘‘ I see Pll have ter study up, or I soon won’t be able ter converse with ye at all, What was th’ problem that ye was rasslin’ with?’ ‘¢ Whether this thing could cross th’ ocean,” ‘¢That is ter be tested,” Billy explained, hav- ing now had bis fling, ‘* They are goin’ ter set out in ashort time an’ try ter make th’ voy- age, ‘t And if we do,” Mr. Daunton here broke into the conversation, ‘‘ the manner of ocean travel will be revolutionized, and our names will be immortalized, I am eager for the trial.” ‘*T would hke to go with ye,” declared Billy, ‘€T bet it will be a glorious trip.” ‘* We could not consent to take you,” was the answer. ‘We will be taking our livesin our own hands, with the chances against us, [ am afraid, ‘here area thousand dangers to be en- countered that we know nothing about now, and a very little thing may leave us helpless at the bottom of the sea. No, we will take no one with us,” “Tt will be risky, and no mistake,” Billy owned, ‘‘ but [ believe I would be willin’ ter take my chances with th’ rest of ye. More’n all that, I begin ter believe that I was born ter die of old age, an’ my presence aboard might bring ye through all right. Jest keep it in mind an’— Hello! there comes a steam yacht, sure as I am here.” ‘‘Tet me see,” said the captain, and Billy quickly got down to give him room in the small pilot-bouse. ‘‘ Yes, so it is,” Captain Daunton agreed, as soon as he got sight of the boat, ‘‘and it is heading down the bay.” ‘*We ought to know the name of the one we are to look for,” observed Mr, Daunton, ‘That is true,” agreed Charles, ‘* but since we do not, we must do the next best thing.” ‘* And that,’ completed the captain, ‘‘is to follow the first yacht that comes along, which is this one.” ‘¢ You haye hit it square,” chimed in Billy. ** Well,” said Mr, Daunton, “Jet us go under and follow her then.” The air-ports were closed, and in a short time the Pirogue was beneath the waves, and bear- ing away toward the course in which the yacht was SPDFORE SOS There were plates of glassin the top of the pilot-house, as well as in the sides, so that objects overhead could be seen as well as those around, In due time the Pirogue came up with the yacht, and the captain made the announce- ment. ‘That is good,” said Mr. Daunton, ‘*‘ Now keep her in sight, and be on the lookout for the tug.” ‘* The tug will not be seen till on th’ return trip,” Billy reminded. ‘True enough. Well, keep your eyes well about you, James.” That the captain promised to do, and so they pushed on down the bay, the mysterious boat now gliding along right under the bottom of the yacht, regulating its speed so as to keep that position, Finally the yacht came to a stop, and the Pirogue did the same. Then there was a wait, during which some of those on the yacht employed the time in fishing. It is perhaps needless to add that they did not catch anything. When the yacht moved on, the Pirogue was not long in taking her place beneath her, and in this manner continued on in her company. Finally, not far away, the monster hull of an ocean steamer was seen, and the yacht came to a stop once more, and then the shouting from the latter was heard, though the words could not be distinguished. When the yacht moved again, it was to draw aiongside the steamer, and the Pirogue ane igi positively that she was on the right rack, When the monster and tiny boats drew apart, . ’ : : : ; ™ 7 a, . . J 4,04 . Sey grt Ce, ~~ 4 EE FE LLL LLL LLL tC©®@F$C_CCCCCC£CQ2£[ et i tEEEtHHé:HEI LTT Lene ee ncn i. ods & ’ . wu f € ; 4. mh Pie 4 eel a > 5 “i dad ~ iene nae * re: unbroken save by the rattle of the machinery and an occasional exchange of words, Broadway Billy was in the pilot’s lookout with Captain Daunton, and Skinny was with Charles in the apartment where the engines were managed, As all were eagerly waiting for the crisis now, but little was said among them, The captain kept his father posted on every- thing, and now and then passed a word with his brother, ‘** Charles!” he presently spoke, when they had been gliding along for some time, and the tug, if one was to appear, was to be expected at any moment, ‘* Ay!” the younger brother responded. ‘¢T think I see another boat approaching now, Be ready to give instant attention to my sig- nals,’ ‘* Depend on me for that,” was the response, Charles was eager for the time for action to come, and there was no danger that he would be found wanting when it arrived. It was now at hand, Captain Daunton did not take his eyes off the tug scarcely, except to keep his accustomed lookout for obstacles ahead; for a tug he had soon made it out to be. Every point was quickly transmitted to the others, Nearer and nearer the tug and yacht drew to each other, and then were heard their signals, ‘‘*That is it!” cried Skinny, unable to contain himself, ‘* that is jest th’ way th’ rascals plotted it.” ‘* Silence!” Mr. ‘‘no talking now.” This was necessary, for some vital word from the captain to the engineer might be misunder- stood, and a failure made of the whole thing right at the critical moment. Captain Daunton’s signals were clear and sharp, and they were obeyed with a quickness that was hardly to be be credited, The crisis was at hand, The Pirogue made a sudden stop; it backed a little; its prow rose to an angle of almost forty- five degrees; it stood thus for a moment, trembling, it seemed; then it gave a sudden turn to the left and shot upward. All within the wonderful craft were holding fast to sometbing, and in a second a shock was felt that would otherwise have knocked them to the floor. Tt was all over, and the Collision had been averted, Let us return to the yacht, The scene there has been described as one of wild confusion. Such it assuredly was. It looked as though nothing could avert the calam- ity that was about to come upon them, Nor could it have been averted, save the timely interposition of the Piregue. Just when the crash was Jooked for the next moment, there arose out of the water a blue- black, shining object, great iu size, interposing its body between the two crafts, and striking the tug a sharp blow on one side near the prow that turned it completely around, and almost caused it to go to the bottom. , What had happened no one could realize. Those in the plot were both frightened and puzzled, while the others were grateful and mystified. What could be the thing that had so suddenly put in its appearance and, on the one band frus- trated their scheme; on the other, saved them from so great a disaster? “ A whale!” ‘The sea-serpent!” Such were the cries that were instantly heard. No one guessed the truth, The tug soon recovered from the shock, right- ed, and, having no further excuse to come near the yacht, steamed rapidly away, and the yacht resumed her course. Bertrand Wellingford was white with rage, a rage which he haa to choke down and smother, though be did give some vent to it in an attack upon the pilot of the yacht, ‘“ You, sir!” he cried ont, ‘‘ what do you mean by such work as that? Do you not know your business? You came near drowning us all,” ‘‘ Not my fault, sir.” the man answered; ‘* you saw how it was, That fellow must be drunk, He paid no attention to my signals,” ‘“T will talk with you about it later,” Welling- ford said, and thus he closed the matter for the Daunton ordered sternly; : ” _* t? Ape ‘tg reo “ ae, 4 ~~ - < . 4,4 *. wt 8 Ap ‘ « 4 - . ; wall e Rwy Va B ee ‘ “A 3 Got . ‘ ; a |e | | Le vat Ve ps i f ay ty * a “| \ | / & \ a avy ye’ (fi | 3 ob ’ Ay ; . = —— 3s _. i Dee = “ ‘ fe