Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 683 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

a lt eS —— Oe -_- ee ee ee ~ re — Pe ee we ee On A = : a thoughtful, nervous mood. Nixon gave most of his time to smoking, and Sol and Ned were left to amuse themselves as best they could. ** Wonder ef we’re ter hev a fracas ter-night?” Sol asked, meditatively. ** Probably not,” Ned returned. ** How about the last two?” ‘* This ought to be ‘three times and out.’” “Tt may be—fur us. Tell ye what, [ hope I ain’t a coward, but I don’t forgit the way Jimmy Pirate Kidd looked an’ acted. He said he’d see us ag’in, an’ 1 tell ye he’s bad all the way through!” ' ** We've got force enough to fix him, now.” ‘** Yes; ef he comes alone.” **T won’t oppose your idea, Sol, for I feel a bit uneasy, but I hope when he gets away he will think we ain’t worth noticing,” ‘““ You forgit the mysterious somethin’ ho tried ter find.” ‘¢ Can that have been the bracelet?” ‘Great Scott! no; Eliza wa’n’t up on top the cargo; the bracelet couldn’t ’a’ slipped through the canvas ef she had been; an’, besides, Jimmy Pirate’s way showed he was huntin’ fur some bigger article.” ‘What could it have been?” Give it up!” vs And Pye got nothing valuable, to tempt any one, ‘Don’t puzzle yer brains, my frien’, fur it won’t do no good,” Sol declared, ‘* We hev run up ag’in’a mystery with three rows o’ teeth, claws an inch long, hoofs like gunboats, an’ wings like a circus-tent; but we can’t grapple with it, Leave it ter time, an’ Jimmy Outlaw may step around an’ enlighten us!” It was time to retire, and this matter was duly considered. No guard would have been set, owing to their numbers, had not Fordrest hada hope that Sarah Stoltz would put her head into a noose; but, as it was, Nixon was left on duty to watch. The others retired and were soon asleep. An hour later Nixon, weary and none too zealous, followed their example and went to the land of Nod. The raft was unguarded. CHAPTER VIII. THE THIRD ATTACK. A GRATING among the pebbles on the island; & shaking of the bushes; a head raised above the rocks furtively; a pair of.unfriendly eyes bent upon the raft. A spy was there, and he boded no good to the raftsmen. . After a long look he turned and seemed to whisper to some one, and then left his covert. On his hands and knees he crept toward the Flying Fish, using great caution. Although so prudent he felt sure that sleep had claimed every one there, and his eyes glist- ened with mixed, but unworthy, feelings, A little further and he came to a sudden mag © had discovered Nixon, The sailor reclined in such a position that, while his form was eany to be seen, his face was in no degree visible, he skulker eyed him for some time, looked the other parts of the raft over, and then turned and crept back as he had come. men. ain - hak # ih ; oy expressive comment. hey’re sound asiecep. ‘*No chance ter fight, then,” grumbled a fecond man. ‘‘ Perhaps they will accommodate you,” ** Hope so.” ‘“‘ Jones is never happy except when fightin,” ‘He don’t want to kick up a row here,” Tl] lick the man who makes a row!” de- Clared Jones. *“ Be still, now! Ihave discovered one of the kids on deck, fast asleep, The other is probably Mm the cabin. Be that as it may, Our course is pein; we go there, pounce On the youngsters, ush their gurgle, aud tie them up. No uso of hurting them, I[ dare say—and lve promised not to. Then we search the cargo fora certain d we get a ‘tenner,’ each, whether you find your article or not?” ters, . promised; so I'll do.” | Cod! For the blessed ‘sawbucks’ we ben foller you down ter the grit an’ gravel Q’ Moen r Lead on, Jimmy; lead on! Not so ] ii ‘** Then show us the way.” The leader turned: the three left the bushes; they advanced toward the raft, Nixon slept on. No human eye saw the skulkers, Saltpeter Sol. They reached the Flying Fish and crept upon the lower ceck. Fixing their gaze upon Nixon, they crawled toward him. Perhaps they made more noise than they thought they. did, forthe sailor suddenly stirred and lifted his head from the side of the upper deck, against which he leaned. The prowlers dropped down and lay like things without life, Nixon yawned, but, sublimely unconscious of danger, did not look around, He téok a pipe from his pocket and, finding it half-filled, lighted it with- out a suspicion that if he had chancad to thrust out his feet he might have struck either one of three men. ‘ They lay beside his knees like sleeping dogs, screened by the darkness and his carelessness, ‘This keepin’ watch is tough!” commented Nixon, speaking aloud. ‘I wouldn’t go ter sleep fur the world, but [ must saya night- watchman deserves extra pay—especially ef he’s vigilant. Especially ef he is vigilant!” re- peated the disciple of faithfulness, with em- phasis. ‘Some folks would sleep on watch, but IT won't! No, I wow’t! Why won’t 1? Because [ won’t—won’t—won’t—”’ His voice stopped. His head sunk low again, and only the faint drawing of the pipe told that he was awake. And, really, he was two-thirds asleep. The prowlers were not disposed to wait longer. The guard must be aroused sooner or later; the sooner, the better, Jimmy arose and suddenly seized Nixon by the throat, bore him over back and planted his knee on the fallen man’s breast. ‘* Be still, or you’re a dead man!” he growled. The sailor remained quiet, but more because he was utterly amazed than for any other reason, He was not clear-headed, yet, and could not realize the full extent of the situation. Jimmy’s helpers knew what was expected of them, and Nixon’s hands and feet were quickly bound. When a gag had been added, the sailor was helpless. ‘‘ Leave him here!” whispered the leader. ‘‘T don’t know who he can be, but probably he’s some man they’ve hired as a guard; there can’t be any more outsiders. Now, I reckon we'll find the kids in the cabin, Follow me!” He led the way with the readiness of one ac- customed to the place, and then paused at the door of the cabin. All was dark there, but he could hear the sound of regular breathing. Turning, he nodded to bis men, made a gesture to enjoin silence, and next slowly descended the a) 7 fter some hesitation he located the position of two sleepers and placed bis men properly; then the prowlers pounced upon their prey. Jimmy had been sure that they were Sol and Ned, and the result astonished him, First of all a shrill scream arose in a feminine voice, and then a deep masculine roar—sounds which, plainly, were never produced by boyish throats and lungs, p ‘Ho! robbers, robbers!” shouted Edmund Fordrest. ‘* Help, here, help!” This time it was the interlopers’ turn to he dumfounded; they had looked only for weak boys, and a full-grown man and a screaming woman were not in theirline. Surprise put them off their guard, and, ina moment more, Ford- rest was upon his feet and showering lusty blows upon them, The cabin became a mixture of menagerie and Babel, cries in every key mingling with the sound of blows and struggling, As suon as the prowlers realized the situation they evinced a desire to escape, not knowing how much of a force they had to confront, but Fordrest clung to one of their number, the others fell over each other in their eagerness to leave, and then, to cap the climax of their woes hoa they did reach the door, they met Sol and Ned, \ , ‘ The raftsmen had been sleeping outside, but, being aroused, were ready to aid their Zuests. They attacked the interlopers, and the fight Waxed warm. ; ow it would have ended is uncertain had not aslina fled from the cabin in alarm and, almost falling over Nixon, realized the situation and set him free, ' hen the sailor, stirred to the depths with wrath by his treatment, hurried to join his friends. His strong arms made a vast differ- ence, and turned the tide of battle, Finally, one of the outlaws succeeded in getting out of the cabin and, running to the edge of the raft, plunged into the river and swam toward the western bank, About the same time a lig} t flashed up in the cabin. Caslina, having recovered her courage, i » sy had returned there and attended to this import- ant matter. A singular scéne was revealed. Two of the intruders were prisoners. Nixon had taken one unaided; he had bis man flat on his face and stomach; and Nixon sitting astride of his back, held him down, The second captive was quite as securely held; Fordrest, Sol and Ned each had hold of him. Nixon laughed aloud, ‘‘ Here’s yer nice fat calves, all ready fur market! Here’s veal, all dressed but tannin’ it, an’ a rod o’ correction wal laid on, forty less one, will do the tannin’. Shiver my timbers!” Fordrest turned their prisoner over, ‘Jimmy Flocton!” Sol cried, ‘“ What?’ demanded Fordrest. ‘¢ He's the man we tol’ ye about.” A look of joy came to Fordrest’s face, ‘“By my life!’ he murmured, ‘‘luck has changed!” ‘* Let me go!” growled Flocton. *¢ Yes: we will not!” Sol retorted. ** You young cur! how dare you touch me?” ‘* Shall I ketch the itch?’ demanded the rafts- man, readily. ‘* Let me go, 1 say, or Tll—” ** Silence, dog!” Fordrest interrupted. ‘And who be you?” ** ‘Your master!” ‘* No man is my master,” Jimmy raved, ‘‘and Pll do mischief to ye if you don’t let me go! By what right am I thus pounced upon?” _~ ‘* By what right do ye sneak in here?” cried Sol, ‘* None of your business, boy!” ‘111 make it my biz, aged sir!” ‘‘ Hnough of idle talk,” interrupted Fordrest, ‘know you, men, that you are prisoners. You might as well protest against the reign of day and night as to argue with us, Teken in the act of violence, we shall hold you by the right of might, Caslina!” ‘Bring my revolver!” The girl obeyed. Despite the last notification both Jimmy and his partner in iniquity failed to accept the situa- tion meekly, They raved, threatened and plead- ed, but all in vain, Now that Fordrest knew who Flocton was, he would not have released him under any condition, Eager to learn the fate of his kidnapped grandson, he was impa- tient to question the supposed ally of Sarah Stoltz. So, in defiance of their anger, the two ruffians were securely bound, ‘* Now for business!” Fordrest added, CHAPTER IX, OFF ON A DANGEROUS TRIP. THE prisoners were propped up in one corner, An examination had shown that no damage had been done, and no signs of other men were to be seen. It was correctly inferred, therefore, that Jimmy’s fresh attack had been repelled with great success, and bis plans put to defiance and ruin, He was a very angry-looking man as he faced his captors. From his point of view he had cause to be. Three times he had tried to accom- plish a certain purpose, and, every time, signal failure had been his only reward. As a result, his anger burned warmer and warmer, and his malevolent hatred-of Sol and Ned had no bounds, ‘* What’s your name?” asked, : ‘* Find out, if you can!” growled the prisoner, ‘You have claimed the name of Jimmy Flocton, Is it your real name?” ‘*'That’s my business,” ‘Gently! You will lose nothing by being ene with me,” ‘ ? ‘Pve got nothing to say. **Do 4 know a tel named Sarah Stoltz?” Jimmy’s eyes opened widely, betraying surprise, but the tell-tale signs were ‘soon gone, ‘‘No,” he replied sulkily. ‘6 Yon know very well thatshe is Eliza Burch.” “Do I? Who speaks for me anyhow?” ‘‘Be calm, sir! You will see that you are now in difficulty. You have overstepped the law enough so that you are sure of a term in prison if we press the charge, This we certainly shall do unless you alter your course, but you can gain complete liberty by complying with our wishes. Will you admit that Eliza Burch and Sarah Stoltz are the same person?” ‘‘T never heard of Sarah Stoltz in my life!” the prisoner declared, ‘And never heard of a Dey named Joseph Forster, being stolen by her oO. — Fordrest abruptly cDoo!