Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 909: Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Midshipman Dare. 3 a ——— ———————————— —$——$$— $$ ee ' de = SS d ——_—<<$ ure —— — = —E | the ship than in his supper, although I believe | he could handle her himself.” ‘¢‘Tve no doubt of it, Ballard,” returned the | | captain, adding with a smile, and a sly look at known you would be carried iu this direc- | Grace and Reeves: | tion!” fee ‘‘T wish the same could be said of ourother! ‘* Yes,” replied Ben, who was beginning to and deaving the lieutenant to attend to that, took Ben below where, while the latter was changing his clothes, he related the particulars of his double escape. By the time Ben had finished, the frigate was under way and about two miles astern of the ‘‘- Yes, they lowered the boat, but it was pulled almost directly away from me !” ‘But they saw you fall. They must have — the Soe > - ° ~a — as a ey le Eg ee Aon > : 4 - — é . » 4) a ; young gentlemen,”’ bg. Reeves, thesenior midshipman, joined heartily in the laughter this provoked, but Grace scowled, and in an audible aside, said: +‘ We can’t all be born in the hold of a fishing- smack,” ‘‘Even if that were true—and I happen to know it is not—what disgrace is there in it?” Lieutenant Ballard spoke a little sharply, somewhat embarrassing the middy, who mut- tered an inaudible reply and took advantage of the first opportunity to leave the table. ‘So you, too, know young Darrel?” asked Cap- tain Stewart. ! ‘‘No, sir. I know nothing about him except that he was born in Massachusetts and lived there until his parents died, Then he went to live with his uncle, a fisherman on Long Island, That he told me himself.” ‘* Well, that’s something I did not know, but if you care to hear what I do know of Ben Dar- Pal; light a cigar and ll tell you.” __ The cigars being lighted, the captain reflected for a few moments, and then taking a thick aper from his pocket, began: pap p ‘‘ You, of course, know Harry Kivg. Well, since he’s been wounded, married and promoted all in the same month, Harry’s beginning to be- lisve that the pen really is mightier tban the sword, | ‘This lad, Darrel, rendered Harry a service which our friend repaid by getting him an ap- pointment as midshipman aboard the United States—bis own ship not being selected as yet. ‘* But to return to the pen and the sword part of it: Instead of sending me a simple billet re- garding the youngster, he inflicts all this bunch on me, heading it ‘ A Concise Statement of the Heroic Rescue of Miss pay King by Midsbip- man Ben Darrel,’ and, as I’m not much of a story-teller, I think Dil give it as I’ve got it here,” — Captain Stewart paused for a moment, and then continued: ‘* This is a copy of what was sent to a paper ‘in Boston and anotherin New York (as much to punish the rascal mentioned in it as anything else), but it explains the way it was written— for Harry did not wish to appear as the author, although he used the papers to procure the ap- pointment. ‘* Now for the story—the concise statement, as he calls it,” Tbe captain at once began the relation of Ben Darrel’s story, but was soon interrupted by the cry of ‘‘ Man overboard!” ‘Its the new man— Darrel!” exclaimed Grace, as the captain and Ballard came hastily on deck, and, a moment later, sprung into the boat lowered to rescue Ben. CHAPTER III. THE DOVE—A LEAP POR LIBERTY, As the boat, in command of Grace, left the ship’s side, the United States wore round and sent up rockets every minute to show her loca- tion as she lay to, ‘‘ What can be delaying them? If the boy was afloat, they would have picked him up long ago!” exclaimed Cap Stewart, at the expira- tiou of a half-hour. ‘They're a-comin’, sir! I can hear the oars!” The old sailor was correct, but the boat con- tained no Darrel, and it was with heartfelt re- gret the captain was compelled to give up the jad as lost, ln the heavy sea still running, there was little ‘chance that Ben would have caught any of the miscellaneous articles thrown after him; or that he would be able to sustain himself until day- light, if he did, | : ut Ben Darrel was an expert swimmer, and about the time the boat returned to the United States, he was saving himself from being run down by climbing the fore-chains of a vegsel three miles dead astern. | suspect his fall was no more accidental than the directing of the boat away from him, ‘Then a great knave, or a worse fool was in charge of the boat!” declared the captain, and turning to one of his officers, directed him to furnish Ben with a change of clothing. ‘* You will then come to mein the cabin!” he ordered, as the middy turned away. The officer having Ben in charge spoke no English, which saved his answering trouble- some questions while below, but not so when he reached the cabin. Waving him to a seat, and pointing to a bot- | tle and glasses on a swinging tray, the captain said: ‘‘ Now, monsieur, when you have refreshed yourself, tell me who you are, and why your ship isin these waters, She is an American— that I know already.” Somewhat prepared for this, Ben replied: ‘‘My name is Ben Darrel, a midshipman on board the vessel I’ve just fallen from, but J can- not tell you why she is in these waters.” ‘¢ That is to say you will not?” asked the cap- tain, smiling grimly. ‘* As an officer and a gentleman yourself, you know I cannot!” ‘* Ha! That is well said, but aboard your own ship, you would say a pirate instead of a gentle- mau! This is ‘The Dove ’—a French privateer, and I am Jules Vernier, her captain, Now you will understand why I must know something of your ship,” | Captain Vernier palised, and twirled his mus- tache reflectively before asking! ‘‘Whatis hername? You can answer that!” ‘* The ‘ United States,’” ‘“‘And it is after myself and others of my trade she is sent?” Ben did not reply, and the captain continued: ‘It is well. ou would have said so were it otherwise. Now, how many men and how many guns does she carry ?” ; ‘*]T will not tell you!” replied Ben decisively. “But you will, my young friend! Do you know what it is to be hung up by the thumbs— triced up? Well, you shall hang until you tell me. Ben made noreply. He knew what the agony of being triced up must be, and determined to make a struggle to escape it, but the smiling suave captain sitting opposite, seemed to read his thoughts, : **No, no, my young friend,” he urged, draw- ing a pistol, ‘*don’t attempt it! You will have until daylight to think over what I have said. Now you will go below.” : The captain struck a bell as he spoke, and consigned Ben to the care of two of the crew, with strict orders to watch him closely. On reaching the head of the companionway, Ben saw the United States scarcely a quarter mile away, lying-to, and also noted that ‘‘ The Dove” was now under full sail, evidently intend- ing to slip by the frigate, Although one stood on each side of Ben, neither of the guards had their hands on him, and, before they realized what he was about, the middy knocked one down and plunged over the side of the ship |! CHAPTER IV, A STERN CHASE BUT NOT A LONG ONE, THERE was no moon, and it was quite dark when Ben Pugs into the water, and this prob- ably saved him from the shots that were fired after bim. With every rag of canvas set, and a whole- sail breeze blowing, The Dove flew on, while the middy, swimming strong and fast, headed for the frigate, and seeing it would be dangerous to attempt pursuit, the privateer was kept.on her course. Striking a favoring current, Ben was soon alongside the United States, and climbing the fore-chains made his appearance before the star- tled watch, who took him for a ghost, and fled pirate brig, which—the moon having risen—was plainly visible, ; It soon became apparent that the frigate, fast as she was, bad met her match, for at the end of a half-hour the distance between the vessels remained the same, and Captain Stewart grew impatient, “Try that bow-chaser on her, Ballard,” he ordered. ‘“* Ay, ay, sir!’ came the cheery response, as the speaker went forward to direct the guaner, and quickly his voice was heard; ‘* Let fly at her top-hamper, Morris! daylight through her canvas!” A moment later a flood of red fire and white smoke burst from the forecastle, and scarcely had the report of the gun died away when the foretopsail of the brig was hanging downward! ‘‘Split my topsa’ls but that was a good one!” cried the boatswain, while a cheer arose from every man aboard, but an answering sbot from the brig's stern-chaser cut short their joy, and their own maintopmast at the same time. | Without waiting for the order, the men sprung into the main rigging, and into the tops to clean away the wreckage, and, this done, both yesse]s were again on an equal footing. ‘*That fellow sails as though Give us ae he would poke the wind’s eye out!” exclaimed the captain after a few minutes, and addressing Ballard, asked: ** Can't we bring down some more of his light spars? We must close up with him!” aes, Before the lieutenant could reply, Ben, stand- ing near by, remarked: . ‘The wind is freshening, sir, and we'll be a half-mile the better of it before they feelit. It’s veering rotind on our quarter.” ‘Hang me, but the lad’s right, Ballard! We are both dullards!” and turning to Ben, the cap- tain asked jestingly: ‘*P’ve think ye could keep her closer to the wind?” ‘* Yes, sir. She could sail a point closer if the fore and mainsails were stiffened with a little water,” replied Ben modestly, adding: ‘* We used to do that on my uncle’s schooner,” ‘*In Heaven’s name, try it, Ballard! And, at the same time, throw another shot!” As wart they had heard the words, another shot from The Dove came whistling through the rigging but did no harm, nor did the return shot of the United States injure the sea rover, But, it soon became apparent that Ben’s hint was a valuable one, for the ee began to crawl up on the brig, and, quick to perceive it, the pirate set his stern-chaser to work, Shot after shot came whistling through rig- ging and canvas; one glanced harmlessly off the hull, and one sweeping across the deck sent three men to the care of the surgeon, but the United States eer on gaining until only a half-mile separated the vessels. ‘Now, Morris, try your hand again!” cried — Captain Stewart, and the gunner, eager and im- patient for the order, sprung to his gun, ‘*?Tis the mast itself, and not the tops!” he muttered, as he sighted his yet and, true to his word, the shot splintered the foremast of the brig, carrying death and destruction to all around it, . ‘A silver dollar for another pirate-pill like that!” cried Captain Stewart, while the men cheered Gunner Morris dustily, . The guoner and his mate were already a work, and before the confusion caused by the last shot had ceased, there was another flash, the dull boom of the gun, and the pirate’s fore- mast, struck twice in the same place, tottered and fell over the side! ‘ ‘¢ Morris, thou art a very magician! Ballard! get your boarders ready! Every man to his station! Allen! look to your light sails!” Going forward as he spoke, Captain Stewart directed the firing of the bow-gun, again and , again raking the pirate’s deck, dismounting two guns and cutting away “gingerbread” work generally from stem to stern, until Ballard was — Once over the bulwarks, Ben found himself facing a short, slim-built man in the uniform of on th ; sy | an officer, who started back on seeing him. © quarter-deck conversing about Ben when |_ This recalled Captain Stewart to the fact that they, too, were startled by his sudden appear- | he was now near enough to cross the stern of the Even before the officer spoke, Ben realized | ance, ag much as his exclamation: pirate and deli broadside in | h- that he was aboard a French privateer! ‘Captain! There ? ver a side in passing, W “Hal You are the cause of those lights!” ex- | P've just, il Bn jon ge of the pirates! | out danger to himself, for, varepamnd Be the hg 5 claimed the captain (for such he was), and be-| A man quick to perceive and vi Be Ebranss wreckage of the Loree and of other lighter | before him. able to bring the ‘‘ Long Tom” to bear on the Captain Stewart and Lieutenant Ballard were | sea rover. aa m | t : spars, The Dove was almost unmanageable, ps _ fore te could reply, continued: ae peptely Bieware did not ask for details—time | ‘’Bout ship!” he shouted. ‘ Helm alegoes > ce ay aplg? Py Su not picked up? Vid they perce hee thet when they were under way. let go and haul /” Rheah) | | hiya ae mot lower @. boat?” — t under wey ae once!” he cried to Ballard, The pirate, who, up to this, had been able to " BU initio Musi Meee i ah ey a Bi 2 Sg We it 3 ene eet ane