Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 909: Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee ie * — 3 _ —_ ert ee. -—™ ~ Midshipman Dare. a cE sss castle of The Hawk at midnight did not serve to allay this feeling, which was almost suspicion, for the men were found ashore about that time, The Unitea States was within fifty miles of Savanna la Mar, when a strange vessel was discovered on the weather-beam, bearing down to them with all the canvas she could spread. ‘*Can you make out her hull, Mr. Allen?’ oe the captain, hailing the other at the mast- ead, ‘* No, sir; but she rises very fast,” ‘*What d’ye think of her—from spars and canvas?” continued the captain, when Allen de- scended. ‘¢ She’s very taunt, sir, and her canvas looks foreign. A cruiser she certainly is, and we may as well get ready for her,” ‘** The sooner the better! Clear the deck and beat to quarters,” So rapid was the stranger, that by the time the captain’s orders were obeyed she was not two miles awey. The vessel rounded to as soon as she bad re- duced her sails on the same tack as the United States, displaying her broadside, ‘*A corvette, sir—twenty-two guns, French, by the rake of herstern, French-rigged—French all over, in fact,” said Allen, observing her through his glass, ‘‘A privateer, sure enough! there goes the tricolor!” exclaimed Bailard, The corvette gradually edged down until almost within point-blank range, ‘* Suppose we lay the maintopsail to the mast, captain,” suggested Allen; ‘*‘ then we'll see what she’s up to.” ‘“* Very well, Allen, we'll try it; but I don’t think he’ll bear down on us. Square the main yards!” As soon as the frigate hove-to, the privateer crossed her on the opposite tack until well abaft the beam and then wore round, ranging up on the weather quarter. The United States had already filled her main- topsail to be in command, and Captain Stewart now cried: ‘*Hard down! Fly your jib-sheet and check head braces! Lively now, lads!” The corvette had put ber helm up and paid off to pass under his stern and rake him; but this maneuver was foiled, and, as the United States was thrown up on the wind, broadsides were exchanged, As usual, the result was the cutting away of spars and rigging, as well as a few of bothship’s companies, ‘* Well done, Allen! Well done!” cried the captain, as the young lieutenant at the wheel again checkmated’the attempt of the Frenchman to rake as she ranged up after tacking, but in- stead was compelled to exchange broadsides, The effect of the second broadside was much more severe than the first, and for a few min- utes the ships wero well separated, the frigaté running off the wind, while the corvette was too open to work rapidly. he United States had received five shots in her bull (which, owing to her construction, scarcely more than marked her), three men killed and six wounded, three muin shrouds cut in two, and her mainmast badly splintered. The corvette had suffered more in her spars and rigging—the foremast being nearly cut in two, the Malvyard shattered and her wheel knocked to atoms, which obliged them to steer on the lower deck, ; Without any further attempt at maneuvering, the privateer ranged up again to renew the combat, but 16 was now Captain Stewart’s turn. , Allen skillfully put the frigate across the cor- vette’s stern, and in passing poured ina raking broadside which created terrible havoc, Wearing round again, Allen passed across the rivateer’s stern, delivering another raking Erowdaidle, bringing down the injured foremast and shattered mainyard. “Bout ship and bear down on her!” cried Captain Stewart. ‘All hands to board— dy, so! Be quick now, lads! Quartermas- ter, my sword!” Conning so as to sheer alougside, Allen car- ried away the privateer’s topmasts, which, be- ing drawn to windward by the pressure of the backstays, fell over and became entangled in the ph hat of the frigate, thus preventing the ves- from separating. ‘‘ Boarders away !” cried Captain Stewart, ‘* Boarders away!” echoed Ballard. ; The rapidity of the junction and impetuosity of the attack, combined with the two raking proacelteny caused such confusion that the pri- vateer’s men were only half armed, and totally This, however, only made mattersjeven, for the corvette carried a very large crew, and a despe- rate struggle ensued, the deck being contested inch by inch, blow for blow, neither side asking quarter. Ballard on one side, and the captain of the cor- vette on the other, rallied and encouraged the men until the two captains met, and tnen the struggle centered around them. Both were powerful men and skillful swords- men, and for a few minutes the issue was doubtful, but a stray bullet decided the matter, ae the F’rench captain and settling the com- at. The fall of their captain disheartened the Frenchmen, and the tri-color was hauled down. ‘* A fine prize, Ballard, but dearly won,” said the captain, as they returned to the frigate, ‘** Yes, sir; we couldn’t stand many such vic- tories,” assented the lieutenant. ‘*1’m afraid we'll muster pretty slim for the business we have in hand,” ‘* Too slim, I fear,” returned the captain. ‘‘ And The Hawk and Darrel?” asked Ballard. ** Will you abandon him?” ‘What! D’ye think he’s a prisoner?” asked the captain, in surprise, and Ballard answered, calmly: sé IT do,” CHAPTER XIII, HOW THE HAWK ESCAPED—DARREL A PRIS- ONER, AND now to return to Darrel Dare and The Hawk, It was just after Ballard left the prize, that Grace, who was about to depart, informed Dar- sh that the pirate captain wished to speak to im. On going below, Darrel found the pirate sit- ting on the edge of his couch, with a tray hefore him containing two pots of tea, a bottle of brandy, and various edibles, ‘Such kind treatment looks suspicious, Mr, Dare!” said the pirate, *‘ but if it is my last sup- per, | would be glad of your company. Will you join me?” Darrel, always very kind-hearted, and sor for the pirate, said: ** Yes, certainly.” ‘* A little brandy, then?” ‘* No, thank you—tea,” replied Darrel. The pirate captain Icoked somewhat disap- pointed, but, through entertaining talk and hinting at his knowledge of Darrel’s history, managed to detain the middy for over an hour, While Darrel was below, the men above were eating, ani quite surprised, too, at the fine sup- per prepared for them, which included,many hot Spanish dishes, and any quantity of tea, An hour after supper in the forecastle usual- ly over, Darrel came on deck to find the men stil! eating and drinking and looking rather queer, He did not know what to make of it, and blamed himself for remaining below so long— yet the men were not drunk, and he determined to keep watch himself and say nothing for the penne: » hoping the men would recover them- selves, Striking the time regularly himself, Darrel waited until seven bells (half-past eleven), and then went into the forecastle, determived either to arouse the men or hail the United States. Finding the men lying about like so many logs,and about as easy to arouse, the middy started to leave the forecastle, but had hardly turned his back when he was grasped from be- hind and thrown to the deck, : A big black hand prevented any outcry, while others bound him, and then he was gagged. The forecastle was swarming with negroes! A few minutes later Darrel saw his compan- ions carried out of the forecastle, while he was left behind. Soon the motion of The Hawk made him think she was moving, and he was right. She had slipped her cable and was drifting out to sea, All this happened during Grace’s watch, At the expiration of about two hours, Darrel was released and told to go tothe cabin, and there being nothing else to do, he obeyed the who gave it, In the cabin he found the captain, and another white man whom he had never seen before, en- gaged with a bottle of brandy and a box of Cc ars, ' : ’ ‘ Well, my lad,” Jaughed the former, ‘‘ how d’ye find yourself? Come, don’t look so disma)! Join us in a glass of brandy.” Darrel shook his head, aud asked what had become of the men, | The voices of Captain Stewart and Lieutenant | order—carefully guarded by the brawny negro Stewart, Don’t be alarmed about ’em—they’ll be all right to-morrow, or next day.” ‘* Why did you keep me?” ‘‘Oh—I took a fancy to you!” replied the other, smilingly, ‘* I heard you were somethin of a sailor, and I’m short of officers, So thought l’d give you a chance to make a man of yourself as my second officer.” ‘* And am I to have no voice in the matter?” asked Darrel, quietly, ‘*T don’t see what you can say—except to thank me, and that we'll pass over.” ** But Lam an American officer oho and have not the slightest desire or intention o leav- ing the service,” ** Indeed !” said the pirate, sneeringly, ‘* And don’t you realize that, at daylight to-morrow, you'll be considered to have deserted the Ameri- can service for that of Captain Andre of The Hawk?” ‘That may be, but it doesn’t make it true, for I neither have nor will,” replied Darrel, preserving a calm exterior, but groaning in- wardly, ‘* Be careful, my lad! Weare now fairly un- der way, and at daylight will be miles away from the cursed frigate. You shall have time to consider the offer—many a man of twice your years would jump at thechance—but don’t forget that J never carry passengers !” The freebooter paused to note the effect of the threat, and was rather pleased to see that Darrel remained —at least outwardly -- un- moved, ‘* You're too good to walk the plank!” he ex- claimed, admiringly. ‘‘And you won’t be fool enough to doit, Limagine. Take any berth you can find here aft until you’ve decided. I must keep a guard over you till then,” ‘*Itis useless—but how long am I to have?” asked the middy, as the negro approached, ‘* Well, I’m in po hurry; to-morrow at noon will do,” and as Darrel turned away, the Sea. Rover added: ‘* Don’t forget that walking the plank is very unhealthy exercise at sea!” And leaving the two pirates ene ing at the ghastly jest, Darrel sought his berth, but not to rest, He was tortured more by pat of losin The Hawk, and of what Captain Stewart an his comrades would think of his disappearance, — than his impending fate, for, needless to say, Darrel] Dare bad not the faintest idea of becom- ing a sea free-lance, Still, life is sweet. Again, if he died at noon, he could never vindicaie bimself, and at times Darrel was sorely tempted to do as he had been. done by, namely, trick the pirate by pretending to accept his offer, and then take advantage of the first opportunity to escape, or turn against . him, Again and again this temptation came to him, as he lay thinking of what would be said of his disappearance with The Hawk, and it was not hard. to surmise what that would be, But duplicity was foreign to Darrel’s nature, and he rejected the idea, | It was bad enough to be suspected without appearing to deserve the suspicion, 0, when morning brougbt the negro to sum- mon bim to breakfast, Darrel was fully pre- pared and expectant of death at noon! CHAPTER XIV. THE STORM, AND AN ESCAPE, ‘‘ WELL, made your decision yet?” asked Cap- tain Andre next morning. They were at breakfast in the cabin—the cap- tain and Darrel, the latter being treated very CORERCRETY but it was the velvet claw of the iger, \ | ‘‘T have not yet changed my mind,” replied Darrel, , It was only prolonging the agony forafew hours, he thought, but he might as well live it out, ‘* Very good,” returned Andre, ‘‘ You know the time, and if there’s a black second officer at. noon, you must blame yourself for the conse~ quences, . pes Breakfast over, the two went on ceck and re- lieved the first officer, who, as he went below for breakfast, said: My od ‘* We'll bave to shorten sail pretty soon ; there’s a storm brewing,” | ; ** And it will soon burst,” rejoined the captain, with a glance at the sky. BAS ' But, like Captain Stewart, the pirate was de- termined to take advantage of the storm,and at _ first would do nothing more than take a reef in the topsails; but he was quickly compelled to furl them as well as all the light sails, | | & wf § . * * of * 7 * - a , ‘ _ 2 p! ie ‘ : = “a unprepared to repel the boarders, I sent ’em ashore as a present to Captain} The Hawk was experiencing the full fury OE ipa ens ‘, a , Fs . 7 be . : ‘ Po 24 ss,” chi! : * :? * # j e Pe ry ; 7 - by ‘ a . J a bol > » ; ' , ay, \ i cs - * ~*~" Las Co ¥ rte ' . ‘ hy, fe ; yi 4 ‘ | é é ° a © , ' De ut i ‘ Hh ~~ at ’ * ey A) I } - “ ‘y ; af, “4 1 , ai” J } A ' ‘ ee. ‘ 7" ; A\ -s gA 4 ; LX - SS MII SAR ETI AE 3 tt a Oe a Sec Ee aT eT ama ater ION. 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