Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 909: Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

i « Ba i * ia . * , ede - ¥% = ¢ oat _ of the _ Y. erat See ‘ ’ >be 4 bring only his stern-chaser into play, and now stood ready to exchange broadsides, was dum- foundod by this sudden change, He had been badly wounded, and was stand- ing, pistol in hand, with his back to the main- mast, when the frigate wore around to cross his stern. ‘*Ten thousand devils!” he cried; ‘‘if she crosses we are down by the stern! Haul down the flag !” It was done, barely in time to avoid the fire of the frigate as she swept by. ‘‘ Look out for that fellow, captain! mean mischief, yet.” But Captain Stewart did not need bis lieu- tenant’s caution, and wearing round again, lay to across the pirate’s stern, saying to Ballard: ** Tell them to send their captain and twenty- fiva men aboard wnarmed, or I'll blow them outof the water! And stop all repairs instantly!” CHAPTER V, SINKING THE DOVE. Tue tone in which Lieutenant Ballard de- livered his captain’s orders admitted of neither argument nor delay, but full five minutes a before a large yawl left the brig’s side, tanding beside Captain Stewart, and with the faces of the two in tbe stern-sheets of the yawl plainly exposed to his sharp eyes, Ben Darrel said: ‘*Captain! ‘You called for the captain of the ee unless pulling an oar he is not in the t ‘Thank you, my lad! Just tell Ballard to have the men ready to receive these scoundrels!” quietly replied Captain Stewart. When the boat reached the schooner’s side, the occupants were compelled to come up one by one, and as they reached the deck were met by two men who placed them in a solid body ong the deck—just in front of the stern-cbaser, now loaded with grapeshot. ‘Hold hard!” cried Captain Stewart, as the He may man in charge of the boat attempted to come aboard. ‘‘Go back and get yourcaptain! And get him quick, if you want to stay above water |” * Fire! Fire, or you'll hang!” cried the man in the boat, but at the first word the crew of the United States fired a volley, and then, cut- lass in hand, charged on the pirates, But the latter were men fighting with halters round their necks, and, although half their number had been killed or wounded, the fought with the desperation born of despair—it. was as well to be killed as captured. Foremost in the charge on the pirates was Ben Darrel, and during the short but very hot fizht that followed, the young middy distin- guished himself to the extent of getting a bad wound in one shoulder. : As this was received in leading the men, and through the reckless courage exhibited by the middy, it was commented upon by the captain, who had witnessed it. At the moment ape pirate in the yaw! shouted ‘‘ Fire!” Captain Stewart fired on him, and that was the signal for the master gunner, Morris, to pour his broadside into the stern of the bri ‘ and at the same time sweep her deck from taff- rail to bowsprit, The effect of this at fifty yards was terrible. As the ot captain bad said, the whole stern rig was blown away, and, with a con- vulsive heave that seemed almost human, she went down stern-first! The fight on board the United States was over, practically, the moment the brig went down, and Captain Stewart steod looking re- tfully at the spot where the prize had : n , eneeeee, owing to the treachery of the ra ° ; ’ Suddenly he saw a man in gold-lace uniform come to the surface, clinging to a piece of wreckage, and ordered the boatswain to lower a boat for him. ‘* Lower the ig— jump, Donald!” he cried, ‘‘ Get that fellow if you have to dive for him!” It was Vernier, the sea rover captain, who had unconsciously grasped a part of a spar, and when brougbt on board he was unconscious, ‘‘This is the fellow, is he not, Darrel?” asked e captai ‘Yes, sir; that is Captain Vernier,” replied the alan he who was standing near by, having his shoulder dressed. **See what you can do for bim, Parkes, when you are through with Darrel,” ordered the cap- tain, and then instructed the men to carry Vernier to his cabin, Half an hour later Ben was summoned to the ca where he found the captain, the surgeo #t rrTrs ya . "hs « wis ae Pe % oS ) * + 6 a 3 Midshipman Dare. The latter looked startled on seeing the middy, to whom Captain Stewart addressed the ques- tion: ‘* Darrel, were you mistaken, or is this Cap- tain Vernier?’ ‘* He is, by his own words, Captain Vernier,” replied Ben, ‘*As much as you are Darrel!” retorted the pirate contemptuously. He had been lying on a lounge, but now bya violent effort dragged himself to a sitting posi- tion, and continued: ‘* Captain Jules Vernier, or Julian Varney— which was his real name—is at the bottom of the sea. I, Richard Varney, his twin brother, was hissecond incommand, Incase of capture whichever had the best opportunity was to plead forcible detention by the other and reveal his English nationality—but he is dead and | am dying, and it is useless. og he ship and crew were I'rench, as is that of mv— Richard Varney paused, and sunk back on the lounge, causiny his surprised listeners to believe it was from exhaustion, but after the surgeon bad given him a stimulant he still remained quiet, although evidently in great pain and rapidly nearing the end. ‘*Why don’t you continue?” asked Captain Stewart, ‘*T have said enough,” ‘* What d’ye mean by saying this lad’s name is not Darrel?” The captain felt almost as much interested as Ben himself in this regard, ‘¢ Because it’s not!” was the startling reply, and again dragging himself up, the dying man continued: ‘¢' You are Darrel, yes! But it is your Chris- tianniame. Your full—name—is—is—Darrel— Darrel—Dare— Dare— !” ‘* He made a desperate struggle to say the Sat RAPES said the surgeon, as Varney fell ack, ‘Is he dead?” asked Darrel, as we must now call him, ‘* Dead? Dead as a door nail!” CHAPTER VI. A WARD-ROOM FIGHT—THE SWORD, RICHARD V4RNEY had indeed appeared to struggle. desperately to reveal Darrel’s full name, but death had prevented his saying more, and bitter disappointment was expressed in the face of the captain as well as the middy. ‘* Well, my lad,” said the former, ‘* you’ve been treated rather scurvily. You had a full name until this fellow spoke, and left you only rt of one.” ** And, as that may lead to the discovery of the balance, [| would suggest that he adopt Darrel Dare,” the surgeon remarked. ‘‘A capital idea!” assented the captain; ‘‘ what d’ye say, my lad?” Darrel approved the proposition, and be- fore noon every man Jack aboard the United States was aware that Ben Darrel of yesterday was Darrel Dare to-day which led to a row during the afternoon, During the forenoon, Captain Stewart had puvsiely complimented the bravery of ‘* Mr, arrel Dare.” This excited the jealousy of Midshipman Grace, wlo with Reeves, Donald (the boatswain), Armand (the master-at-arms), and Morris (the master gunner), happened to be in the ward-room when Darrel took out the sword he had won to clean it. ‘* Hello!” exclaimed Grace, ‘* where did you get that sword?” The tone was particularly insulting, but Dar- rel replied, very quietly: ‘“T took it from a cur who insulted a lady!” ‘¢ Did you know him? Know who he was?” ‘‘T did not know him—you know as much about him asI do,” replied Darrel, carelessly, disliking the question. ‘‘ What d’ye mean?’ demanded Grace, flush- ing and starting from his seat, ‘ Mean!” echoed Darrel, in surprise. ‘‘ I mean that I didn’t know the fellow, or his name, if he one. “Oh! that’s it!” retorted Grace, and then sneeringly: ‘‘ I guess he had a name, though it would be a comical sight to see a fellow with a half-name (and not sure of that), taking a sword from a fellow with none at all,’ tarow was imminent every one saw, and quite pleased at the prospect, suspended work on their various tasks, © Fights among the middies for supremacy in the ward-room, was the rule rather than the exception in those days, and Grace was fairly aching for one now, He was older and heavier than Darrel, and I BLL LLL RRR LLL LLL LLL EC ts lilt ttt ttt er . ct had no doubt of his ability to give the latter a ‘* good hiding,” but he was not to have the chance, just yet ‘* You are quite a wit,” was all the reply Vur- rel returned. ** And you are— Ah, I don’t know quite what to call you /” sneered Grace. **Don’t trouble yourself, In the first place, it’s none of your business, and if you did call, [ shouldn’t pay any attention to you,” Darrel coolly declared. ‘‘You wouldn't! Well, come here now, or I'll give you the best hiding you ever got!” Darrel merely smiled, and went on with the work of polishing the sword, but when Grace arose and approached, he dropped it on a locker aud wheeled around. Something in Darrel’s attitude caused the other to hesitate. ** Well, sir? What about that hiding?” This question stung Grace, and he rushed at Darrel, intending to crush him by his superior ware: but the latter alertly stepped aside, and as the other passed, struck him a powerful blow under the ear, knocking him across the room, where he fe]l in a heap. A couple of minutes elapsed before Grace was able to get.up, and as he did so, Darrel re- marked: ‘**D'ye know, Grace, I’m inclined to think you. are the cur that owned this sword? Il’ve just found your initials on it!” **You lie!” cried Grace, making another furious rush, which Darrel easily eluded, and at once struck a straight right-hander that stag- gered his opponent. followed by an upper-cut. that knocked him almost senseless again. Darrel was no longer on the defensive, and without waiting for the other to arise, walked to where he was lying. ‘¢ Get up, you cur!” he said, sternly. ‘' Get up and beg my pardon, or I'll pound you to within an inch of your miserable life, you contemptible svecimen of a United States offi- cer! ‘ Meantime Reeves nad picked up the sword, and was examining it. ** By George!” he suddenly exclaimed; ‘‘ Dare is right; it does bear Grace's initials,” As this was uttered, Grace scrambled to his feet, although bardly able to stand, and stood. before his conqueror. 1 eee words opened a loophole for retrac- n. ‘* It’s not my sword,” he said, sullenly ; ** but,, if it’s got my initials on it, I apologize.’ Without a word Darrel turned, and taking the sword from Reeves, locked it up. A general grin among the spectators of the pattle followed, and as Grace slunk away, there were many joking inquiries as to the promised. ‘* hiding.’ ‘ Darrel] kept very quiet, and if questioned about the fight gave evasive answers, although emis, Phage he was correct regarding the ownership of the sword, and determined to as- certain the truth; but, in spite of his reserve, the story was soon known throughout the ship. ‘‘]t was too good to keep!” was the exclama- tion of Reeves when Darrel remonstrated with him for talking of the matter. ‘And about that sword business, Darrel?” asked the middy. ‘‘ Pll prove that when we get back.” Grace, standing back of the mainmast, heard this, and resolved that it should never be done, CHAPTER VII. A FIENDISH PLOT SPOILED. Arter cruising about for several days, Cap- tain Stewart headed for Jamaica, having fallen in with a trader who informed him that several privateers, so-called, and one downright pirate, were in that vicinity, The latter was described as the typical long low-lying, rakish schooner, white in color an of great speed, the only peculiarity about her being that she was officered by white men, and manned by blacks. So, Captain Stewart headed for the island of Jamaica, passing thesunken town of Port fa and entering the bay at Kingston, just before sunset, As the men stood gazing at the town during the evening, one of them remarked: ‘‘For sharks, it beats any spot in the world! A cannon-ball couldn’t get to the bottom before one of ’em ’d snatch it. So ye kin judge what chance one of us ’d have,” Among the group listening to this was Grace, and he made a mental note of :t. Darrel coool isi overboard once—possibliy a { his evil thoughts took word he might form, . 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