Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 683 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

~ = - - ~~ * = . ~~ ee = = wi re Bitton ae ut oth SP - ew And from that day the lad was called Salt- peter Sol. He was a graduate of the Sixth Ward, in New York, His father had been lazy, and his mother none-too-well, and overworked by the care of a large family. Sol drifted into the care of a charitable institution on Paradise Park, better known as the Five Points, and, later was sent into the country. He was a brisk young fellow, honest and deserving, and nobody thought the less of him because he came from a charitable home, On this occasion he greeted Ned cheerfully, ‘Hullo, E. B.! You look asef you'd got an idee.” ** T have,” Ned answered. ** What is it!” * Dm going to leave this town!” ** ‘You don’t say so,” ‘“Yes, I wrote to an old friend of my father, who lives at Peekskill, asking if he could give me work, He wrote back that he would, and that I could come any time I saw fit.” ** So you’re off?” ‘“T don’t know. My parents’ household things are all here, and 1’m ordered to move them. want to take them to Peekskill, but I haven’t the money to pay the freight, or even my own fare.” ‘* Borrow !” ‘* Of whom?” * Not o’ me, sartain, fur I ain’t got a dollar. But somebody ought ter Jend.”’ ‘*'T'o a penniless boy?” ‘Why not write to the Peekskill man?” “No. Ican’task any more of him; it’s enough that he should give me a job.” *“ Then what will ye do?” ‘‘T’ve been thinking. There is some lumber still left in the yard. The question is, can I build a raft that will take both me and my oods down the river, free of expense?” ‘* B’jinks! that is an idee!” ** They used to do it in pioneer days,” added Ned, warming to his subject, ‘‘ Families going to settle in Kentucky used to float down the Ohio on flat-boats, They had terrible times with the Indians, but there are no Indians along the Hudson. Now, do you think [ can make and use a raft as I have suggested?” The idea was only crude and vague then, but it grew. Saltpeter Sol entered into it eagerly, and he and Ned planned anew. It occurred to the former that the necessary money could be obtained by selling the lumber, instead of mak- ing it into a raft, but thescheme had become too fascinating to be cast away, They began to build the raft, dnd pushed the work remarkably. | Much sooner than was to be expect it was finished, and lay by the river- bank, ready for the voyage. It was done with ingenuity. They had con- sidered all things likely to occur; had developed rare mechanical skill, and even the old boat- builder of the village was greatly surprised when he saw the result, The raft was likely to be a remarkable sailor, as rafts went, and very comfortable. Later, the goods were loaded, the most valua- ble going Into the cabin, but the others being on the upper deck, properly covered. The time came when the start was made, They left the village and the shore, committed themselyes to the current of the Hudson, and were off on their eventful voyage, ‘We'll name it the Flyin’ Fish? Saltpeter Sol declared, and the name was formally given, If the raft did not “ fly,” it did go better than any one would suppose. A steering apparatus which had been arranged, worked well, an there was no swinging about at hap-hazard. Everything indicated a peaceful, successful trip, but the first night brought an adventure, They made for the eastern bank, where the water was deep, and tied the Flying Fish to a rock. In the hours of darkness they were aroused by a prowler, who proved to be a man. Ned seized him, but, after a struggle in which both boys took part, the unknown escaped. ‘‘ A tramp,” was the voyagers’ decision. _ This was a comfortable and natural belief, but they were destined to change it before the voyage was over. From the time when they left the village they were the objects of a plot which brought danger in its track, and they were floating into the peril blindly. It was on the evening of the gecond day that Jimmy Flocton and Eliza Burch joined them. When Ned left the rescued pair in the cabin and went again on deck, he found that So] bad lighted up the raft. This was accomplished by means Of a red lantern at either end, and a Sal plain lantern which gave them more useful ight, af What are you looking at so sharply, Sol?” asked young Brampton. ‘‘ Hadn’t we better ‘ tie-up’ early to-night?” te Y es,” ‘‘T’ve been thinkin’ that ef we kin keep away from shore we may save a good ’eal o’ trouble. I don’t want no more tramps pokin’ around over the Flyin’ Fish.” ‘Nor 1,” ‘* Then le’s pull up ag’in’ some island,” *¢ A capital idea,” ‘‘ 1m lookin’ fur one now.” ‘* Do you know this part of the river?” sé No,” * Dor 1.” ‘Never mind; we'll find the island, jest the same. How’s our cuests?” ‘Weary and grateful,” Saltpeter Sol hesitated for a moment, ‘*Ef we had any vallybles here I wouldn’t trust them folks around,” “Pm not in love with them myself, but I guess they’re all right,” Ned replied. ‘*Pve seen the like o’ them before. Go down on the Bowery, in New York, and you'll see them any day. Jimmy is a tough from Tough- ville, in his looks, though he may not be vicious, really; an’ Eliza is a bird who runs a sbarp tongue, an’ wears clothes that fit her like a meal- bag on a lamp-post—Il’ve seen lots o’ them dam- sels in New York, at times,” ‘You certainly are not stuck on our guests, but they can do us no harm, even if they wanted to, ‘*Oh! I presume they’re all right,” Conversation ceased. They were passing a large village, and the lights looked beautiful enough, However, the amateur sailors were satisfied with their own quarters, and they gave attention to finding a safe ‘* camping-placeé,” as Sol, with a weakness for terms suitable to their condition, gravely expressed it, In this they were successful after going about a mile further. A small island appeared, and they made for it at once. The steering-ap- paratus needed only a slight change, and they gradually approached land, The island was small, containing but little over an acre, but well fitted for their purpose. A part of it had a growth of bushes, and, in- stead of being wholly a mud-flat, it was high enough to present a slight bank, and make it safe to approach without running aground. The boys bad learned well how to marage it, and the Flying Fish was brought up to the bank with a remarkable degree of success, though it was due as much to luck as anything else. Ned caught sight of a rock, and ran to the stern. There a rope was all ready for him, with a noose in the loose end, and he cast it over the rock, The Flying Fish floated a trifle further; the rope tightened, and they were anchored as securely as they could wish. Just then Jimmy Flocton came out of the cabin. CHAPTER III. DANGER FOR THE NAVIGATORS, ‘“*WHAT’S this?” Jimmy demanded, ‘ Have we run aground?” ** Only anchcred for the night,” Sol answered. ‘* What is that for?” a We want ter sleep, an’ we can’t do that an’ navigate.” ‘* Pll take that post.” ‘Thank ye; but this is our reg’lar way.” ‘‘Ts this the bank?” ‘No; only an island.” Jimmy looked disapprovingly at the land. ‘‘ We're losing time here,” he added. ‘“¢ Wal, we’ve got the whole summer ahead on us.” ‘‘T’m in a hurry, boys, and Ill act as sailor if you'll Jet me. Just you go ter bed, and let me sail this gun-boat.” fy Ey ‘Sorry ter refuse, but the Flyin’ Fisb is an- chored, an’ hyar we stop fur the night!” Saltpeter Sol was annoyed by their passen- Zer’s persistence, and he made this reply some- Ma curtly. vimmy laughed. . Suppose + ketch malaria off these flats?” |, We ait’t troubled.” _, Have you quinine along?” , Nary quin’!” ‘I reckon we shall pull through,” Flocton continued, cheerfully; “and I don’t know as I am very sorry we are here. True, I’m in a hurry, but time won’t run away from us. What island is this?” ‘** Don’t know it’s:name?”’ . “7 A “*] é =F we ‘‘ No village near, is there?” ‘* Don’t see any.” ‘‘ Have you landed, to look it over?” sé No.” ‘*T believe I will. I like to see what my sur- roundings be, and the island looks inviting.” Without waiting forareply Jimmy sprung ashore, and walked off at once, ‘“Reckon we'd better app’int him admi- ral,” observed Sol, ungraciously. ‘*‘He wants ter run the whole biz, anyhow.” ‘* We're not compelled to let him,” Ned an- swered. ‘“T should remark not!” promptly returned the New York boy. ‘This is our man-o’-war, not his’n: an’ ef he don’t like the cap’n, an’ the way things is run, he kin git out an’ walk, Jes? so, by N. Bonaparte!” ‘*You don’t like Jimmy,” said Ned, laughing. ** Do you?” ‘Not very much.” ‘‘Ef [ had a dollar in my pocket I wouldn't trust the chap around, but we ain’t got a thing that kin arouse his coopidity. Oh! I das’ say J. F. is all right, but I don’t like his style overly.” Jimmy had disappeared in the bushes. Not being particularly interested in his explorations, the boys set about making preparations for the night. This task had just been completed when Eliza Burch came out of the cabin, “The night is dark,” she observed, looking around, ‘¢ Yes’m,” Ned agreed, ‘¢ Shall we have rain?” ‘T don’t think so.” ‘Why, we’re aground!” ‘¢ ‘Yes,”’ ‘“ Why is this?” Eliza seemed to be as much interested as Jim- my, jhough, not armoyed,. Ned explained the situation, She listened attentively, but in silence. When he was done she hesitatingly asked: ‘* Hadn’t you better cast off and float on?” 6 Why?’ ‘* T don’t like this place,” “Why not?” ‘“‘ We are close to the river-bank, and—are you sure—we shall—be safe?” Her hesitating speech wag noticeable, but neither Ned nor Sol thought of placing any de- cided construction upon it, ‘* Why shouldn’t we be safe?” ‘¢ Lawless men might come from the shore,” ‘‘ Oh! they won’t swim over to the island to get at us, and tramps—our only foes—have no beats, you know,” ‘* Yes, but—” A footstep sounded on the rocks of the island, Eliza turned quickly and saw Flocton returning. ‘Probably you are right,” she added, hur- ridley. ‘‘ Don’t mention what I said!—I was foolish and—nervous!” Jimmy leaped to tbe deck. ‘* A prime place!” he declared, ‘‘ The island is just’ the kind of a backer yon need, and you are lucky to have found it, e shall rest here as snug as you please, and be rid of the danger of being run down by a big boat in the dark- ness,” His change of base was radical, but Ned did not look upon this with suspicion. Both of the rescued persons had conducted themselves with a degree of circumspection when near the young raftsmen, and, as the latter had not heard the secret conversation in the cabin, they had no good reason to be suspicious. Jimmy talked glibly for awhile, and then, going near to Eliza, pinched herarm, — “ Softly!” he directed. .“ I want to chin with you. Get apart from the kids.” He sauntered to the rear of the raft, and Eliza soon followed.. “The Old Nick helps his own!” Flocton de- clared, “ What is it, now?” | “The landing of the kids here has played right into our hands!” ** How?” Ree ‘Why, when the job is done we sha’n’t have an atom of trouble in getting to shore, The isl- and is not cut off from land as they think. There is a sort of bar, where the water is not over two feet deep, anywhere, and, just where it is deep- est, there are rocks that stick up. ou ‘can go away dry-footed, though you may get some mud on your dainty feet.” ‘‘T’m half sick of this job!” sé Why?” ‘* Tt’s a mean thing to trouble these boys!” ** Now, Lize, you come off! Don’t get on the sentimental lay, again.” “‘ Why should we prey on children?” -OmMIc a ool