Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 909: Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

(mmm - ~~ + Ce ———+ <= - -- ~ Midshipman Dare, THE PIRATE-CATCHER: OR, | THE SEA ROVERS OF ’98. A Tale of the Grand Old Frigate United States, BY T. J. FLANAGAN, AUTHOR OF ** DETECTIVE HARRY BLOUNT,” *‘ THE PARK MYSTERY,” ‘‘ THE CRUISE OF THE OCEAN QUEEN,” ‘*‘ BURIED TREASURE,” ETO,, ETC., ETC, CHAPTER I.. A FRIEND IN NEED. “Stop, siri Release me instantly!” ‘*Come, now, Don’t play the prude!” ** Let me go, you coward! You are a dis- grace to your uniform!” ** Nonsense, my dear! a kiss?” The first speaker, a pretty girl of about six- teen, made no response, devoting all her energy to escape from the embrace of a yourg man at- tired as a naval officer, but finding her struggles unavailing, she cried: ‘Help! Help! Help!” It was on a quiet roadway in the upper part of the city of New York, at a period when every one in the city lived below Canal street (the district now devoted entirely to business) — a rather lonesome spot at any time, but especial- ly so after dark. Knowing this, the girl was not very hopeful of receiving immediate answer to her cry, but her cries alarmed her less informed assailant, who started back in time to receive a crushing blow from a stick in the hands of a young man of paar to have sprung out of the very ' earth. Without waiting to see the effect of the blow, ve new-comer sprung toward the girl, exclaim- Ta roe be frightened, miss; I will protect you ‘** Look out! He has drawn his sword!” cried the girl, andthe youth swung round in time to _ catch the sword on his stick, | Whether it was the strength or the skill with which it was made, the sid of the stout ash stick knocked the sword from the hands of the officer, and before he could regain it the youth struck him again—this time knocking him sense- 8. ; ‘* Oh, sir, take me home! Here is his sword— 80, if he follows us, ae be safe,” Taking the sword which the girl had picked up, and yielding to her evident terror, the youth allowed bimself to be hurried from the scene of the encounter, ‘We have over a mile yet to travel—I hope be won't come after us!” said the girl, with a hurried look backward, although it was too dark to see even the face of her companion. ‘* Do you know him?” The girl hesitated a moment before eplyin : and the youth could fee/ that she blushed while answering: ep ‘* No, “le met me a little while before you came, I had been out fora walk, and when he asked if I could direct him to Captain King’s residence, I said ou nai I was going there, He looked and acted like a gentleman, at first, and I didn’t think it necessary to tell him who a3 ee a [am Emily King, Captain King’s sister, . } ** And [ am Ben Darrel, living until yester- day just across on Long Island, but now of no- where in particular, Is your brother in the navy?’ | | ‘* Yes—he has just been made a captain, and is home on sick-leave,” replied Emily. For a few minutes they walked on in silence, the youth appearing to be buried in thought, and the girl not caring to disturb him until she Why such a fuss over stopped at the gate barring the walk leading to a handsome hoase. pete met 8 , _“ This is my brother’s house,” she said, and _ then noticing that he made no’movement tw- _ wardentering, continued: = “OF co you will come in and let me, as well as my brother, thank you for your timely orate wan noinag® 3 and fell was 0 _ I was weary ar - asleep under ortunately neak enough to a tree—fo: scare the fellow!” interrupted Ben. Midshipman Dare. ** Please open the gate! and now walk in!” she continued, laying a restraining hand on his arm, as he seemed to hesitate, Entering the parlor, they were met by Cap- tain King, a fine-looking man of about thirty- five, in naval undress uniform, to whom Emily introduced Ben Darrel, and related how they had become acquainted. Her story finished, Emily forgot all about her anxiety to thank Ben, and learning from her brother that bis wife was ‘‘ up-stairs,” hurried away, leaving all the acknowledgments to be made by Captain King. ~ The latter was not slow about expressing his thanks to Ben, and his indignation at the insult offered Emily. He inquired as to the age and appearance of the man, but Ben could tell him nothing, ** ve got his sword, and he must have been pretty young or I[ could not have taken it away from him,” was his modest reply. Mrs, King and Emily entered just then, and after uttering a few well-chosen words of thanks and praise, Mrs. King continued: ‘** And now, no more talk until this naughty damsel and her knight-errant have dined. Come, Mr. Darrel!” Leaving them in the dining-room, Mrs, King returned to her husband, for what purpose can easily be guessed by the following: ‘Harry, something must be done for this young man. He is in trouble—at home I sus- Peete ae Emily is trying to find what it is, ’m afraid, though, that must be left to you. A young man is not apt to confide his troubles to a young woman—especiully on such short ac- quaintance,” ‘* Dear me! what philosophers we are becom- ing!” laughed Captain King, adding: ‘‘ Very well, Dll make him stay here to-night—at any rate, invite him, and that will prove your home- trouble theory. Now, you had better see that our hero isn’t being talked out of his supper. ’m going into the library; let me know when he’s through.” The captain left the parlor, but his readin was soon interrup by the entrance of h wife and the youthful ‘‘ hero and heroine,” ‘* Emily and I must go out for a few min- utes, so we have decided to leave Mr. Darrel with you,” explained Mrs. King, with a sig- nificant look at her husband, ‘You live on Long Island, I believe, Mr. Darrel,” said ye age King, looking at his watch, ‘‘ and, asit is rather late to cross now, I hope you will stay with us to-night.” The young man grew red and murmured somet which the captain did not catch, but -tbat made no difference in the game he was playing, for, as if he had heard, he exclaimed: ‘* Oh, if you think they will worry at home of course it is only right you should return, I will send my boat with you.” oe ‘*] did not say that, sir,” replied the man, ‘‘ The fact is, I have no home, this morning I lived with an uncle—my only relative—just across the river. He is a fisher- man by occupation anda bruteby nature. This morning when I retu —I was out all night with the schooner—he was beating my aunt and I interfered—”’ a . “<6 We ”? ‘Well, I didn’t get the worst of it, He under- took to give me a thrashing—but he didn’t, and en d to clear out as soon as he was able to Eso aoe of a achgonen, as Darrel. Do you know anything about sailing **Oh, yes, sir. In fact, with the help of three negroes and a couple of white boys 1 ran my uncle’s craft. He was too lazy and ignorant to do it himself and preferred to remain home abusing my aunt,” Captain King gazed reflectively at the hand- ey intelligent features of the speaker and ed: ‘* What do you intend doing?” ‘“*T hardly know, sir,” ‘Excuse me, but you use very different lan- guage to that of fishermen generally. Where were you educated?” : ; ‘* At home, sir, by my aunt. She is well educated and taught me what little I know,” re- plied Darrel, adding: ety ** And now, if you please, sir, I will go.” ‘** But, i don’t please, Mr, Darrel. You rendered us a great service to-night—we don’t know bow great, and I shall not rest easy until I bave repaid you. By your own showing you and here you must remain t to carry out an idea which occurred to me, anes hn you like'to go to sea—as a midship- have no home—you must ‘a my ee | canfind means; * Wh ; | he?” j : (ey i is the lad Imean. He’s on deck nOW | «a Wes seep Until " " My ———— --__..-____ ee ** Please don’t make fun of me!” replied the younger man, ie | ‘Then you would likeit, Well, I think we I think I hear can manage it so that you shall, the ladies—let us join them,” And thus itcame about that Ben Darrel, a homeless, friendless waif at seven in the even- ing, spent that night and many following nigbts at the home of his friend, Captain King, where he was treated with courteous consideration, CHAPTER II. ON BOARD THE ‘* UNITED STATES,” ** Ts Captain Stewart aboard?” ‘*'Yes. What’s your business?” The second speaker was Midshipman Grace of the frigate ‘‘ United States,” and the other a young man of about nineteen or twenty, who had just come aboard in a shore boat. To the middy’s counter-question, the other quietly replied: ‘* That, sir, is my business!” **'Very good! Then you can’t see him!” ex- claimed the middy, angrily—not knowing that the captain had just come up and was standing on the quarter-deck, but the other did, and very coolly replied: **Oh, yes, I can! Out of my way!” and brushing the middy aside he crossed to the cap- tain to whom he presented a letter, The captain’s countenance lighted up on see- ing the handwriting, and after a hasty perusal of the letter, he extended his hand, saying: ‘All right, my lad! Get your kit aboard quick, for we sail in an hour,” ‘*[ have everything alongside, sir!” ‘* Uniform and all?” es, sir.’ ‘*Good! Grace, see to getting Mr. Darrel’s things aboard!” This was gal] and wormwood, but the middv had to attend to the work of seeing Darrel’s chest raised and put below, while the latter was being intaoddead. to Mr. Ballard and Mr. Allen first and second officers of the ‘‘ United States.” ** Now, Mr. Ballard, you can weigh anchor as soon as you like,” said Captain Stewart imme- diately after Darrel’s chest was hoisted aboard, and when the young man came on deck, uni- formed as a midshipman, the ‘‘ United States” was already under way for the West Indian waters, . French privateers had for some time been de- stroying commerce between the West Indies and America, and the mission of the United States was to destroy them. It was just after the Revolution; peace had been established between the United States and England, and there was now an opportunity to attend to the pirates and free rovers that were destroying what little commerce there was, _“ We're going to have a stiff blow before long!” remarked Lieutenant Ballard, shortly after, eet came on deck, and, addressing the latter, as : ** iver been to sea before?” ** Yes, sir.” : ; That's good! Know anything about sailing a ship? ‘* Yes, sir—a little. I’ve handled a schooner,” but the lieutenant was already replied Darrel, giving orders to shorten sail, and paying no attention to him, ° Quick and sh the orders came, and the large crew springing aloft with a will, the Uni- ted States was quickly in condition to meet the impending storm, with nothing left standing but the balance reef foresail and the close-reefed mainsail. Jib and flying, fore and maintopsails —everything on the lighter spars was taken in, ‘‘She could stand a little more, but we’re in no great hurry and she’s just refitted—so I won’t risk them,” said Ballard, regarding the rapid work of the crew with considerable satisfaction. And she could, for the United States was of a peculiar model—but one other, before or since, ever baving been built in the same style. They were now outside with plenty of seaway, and the frigate-of-war, as the United States was, flew along before the storm like a bird on the ing. Two bells (5 o’clock) had been sounded when the squall struck, and an hour after it had pass- » | ed—leaving no trace, of its fury on the stanch have | fri frigate, : ;, **That’s quite a sailor you shipped just before ng!” remarked: ieutenant Ballard on join- ing the captain, at supper, the fifth day out, pi, ome pageant Allen in Spi a of.the deck. “Whom do you mean—Darrel? Where i8 with Allen—more interested in the working or { | | LSP : bong! hut ¢ i. » 7 oa x ! " WArbo