Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 909: Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

i oe & age — ¥ r _ was Janvrin’s next thought, an a: the gale, only the tail of which struck the United States, for the former was headed almost due South for Carthagena, then the home of the West Indian pirates, while the latter was bear- be reaped for Savanna la Mar. nder nothing but a storm staysail and bal- ance-reefed foresail The Hawk scudded before the gale, which did not abate until she was more than half-way across the Caribbean Sea. True seaman that he was, Darrel remained on deck all day, rendering assistance in the man- agement of the vessel and making valuable suggestions, which Captain Andre invariably Nothing further was said about Darrel’s joining The Hawk, and at night the captain said: ‘You had better get something to eat, and then turn in for awhile, It looks as if this was going to keep on all night.” ‘* 7 think it is going down, and you might try a bit of the mainsail,” returned Darrel. ‘*Kh! D’ye think so?” exclaimed the pirate, staring at Darrel in astonishment. ‘** f do; she'll surely standit. I’ve doae it my- self in worse than this now is,” ‘* Let out a reef in that mainsail!” ordered the captain, and after watcbing the effect for a couple minutes, turned to the middy. ** By gosh, you’re rigbt!” he exclaimed, admir- ingly. ‘* Let’s go beiow,” Leaving the first cflicer, Janvrin, in charge, they went below to supper, and, being drenched to the skin, Darrel accepted the cffer of a glass of brandy as be would have hot coffee. This pleased the pirate captain, and never niggardly in profanity,; he now poured forth oaths and curses of all nations, in a manner which must bave won the admiration of his guardian angel, After consigning his soul to perdition, and ex- pressing the bope that his eyesight might be im- psired beyoud cure if he haa ever seen a better suilor than Darrel, Captain Andre continued: ‘* Keelhaul my soul, if I don’t make ye first officer when we fit out at Cartbagena! We'll ship a hundred men, and go privateering, if that suits ye,” Janvrin, coming down the companionway at the moment, beard what was said, and having noticed tke captain’s admiration of Darrel’s work during the day, guessed what had gone before, ; He also heard the middy’s reply: ** But, captain, I baven’t said I’d join you, and, even if | bad, I would never rob your first officer of his berth,” ‘* Bah!” snorted the captain, contemptuously. **'You’ll change your mind before we leave Carthagena,” And then going off on another tack—for he now felt sure of Darrel—the pirate began a lowing description of the place, and the de- lightful time they would have there, with: ‘* We'll havea glorious time! 1’ve got lots of money, and you shell help to spend some of it while we’re refitting,” Meanwhile, Janvrin had stolen back on deck to reflect on what he had heard, and finally came to the conclusion that the captain was _ right. ** He will— he must change his mind,” mutter- - ed Janvrin, as he paced the deck full of jealous anger, and then came the recollection of the middy’s prompt refusal to oust bim, ‘*T must help him to get away-—-but how?” he pondered long and deeply over tho means to be adopted, and the likelibood cf his part in Darrel’s escape being discovered. _ fit was, he knew what his fate would be. The captain, meantime, was continuing his _ description of thedelights of life in Carthagena, and gradually drinking himself drunk, but be- fore falling asleep, he took from a secret locker a pair of silver-mounted pistols, and a beauti- _ ful, jewel-mounted sword, which he handed to Darrel. ** Here, take these,” he said, sleepily. ‘‘ Even _ if you ain’t joined, you will, but I’m sleepy, and you must stand a watch for me.” It was nearly eight bells (12 o’clock) when Darrel came on deck to relieve Janvrin. The gale had subsided to a gentle breeze, and the moon was sbining brightly. . ** So you’ve decided to join!” sneered Janyrin, | see tne arms. ‘*T have not, and never shall, be the conse- _ quences what they may!” **Good! Now how would you like a chance to getaway ?” | ‘ ‘ rr t'G me the chance, if you mean that? I'll By way of reply, Janvrin took Darrel by the Midshipman Dare. arnt, and pointing over the taffrail, whis- ered : pe There lies the gig with oars, mast and sail, provisioned for tendays. You can step your mast and bend on your sail after you’ve rowed a little distance. There’s your chance. If you want it, take it, and I'll see that no one inter- feres,” Ten minutes later, Darrel Dare had hoisted a lug sail, and was speeding over the bosom of the Caribbean Sea, headed for Jamaica, and three hundred miles from where he had last seen the frigate. CHAPTER XV. BACK TO THE ‘‘ UNITED STATES ”—GRACE DISAPPEARS, THE United States had been pretty badly cut up in rigging and sails, and the privateer being in even worse condition, Captain Stewart decided to return to Kingston for repairs, Some temporary repairs were made and then, with Ballard in command of the prize, the ves- sels proceeded under easy sail, keeping well off the coast. On the morning of the third day, Reeves, who had been aloft with his glass, came partly down the main rigging to announce: ‘* A small boat about three miles to the wind- ward!” ** Anybody in it?” asked A?len. **Can’t say, sir. Lug sail set, and seems drifting,” replied Rseves, mounting the rig- ing. ‘ A hoy, the deck!” cried Reeves, almost as soon as he had gained the mast-head, ‘‘ There’s some one in uniform in the stern sheets!” The lug-sail of toesmall boat shifted «» minute after, and it now bore straight toward the frigate, ‘* Better lower a boat, and if she shifts again, go after her,” suggested Reeves, ‘*Doso!” said Allen, at the same time giving orders to heave to. This brought Captain Stewart on deck, and he, too, tecame deeply interested in the small boat, which was now within two miles of the frigate. ‘‘Lower away! Lively, lads—she’s shifted again!” cried Lieutenant Allen a few minutes atter the captain came up, and away shot the quarter-boat in comman of Reeves, The sail-boat was soon overtaken, and then the watchers on the frigate and corvette, (which was also lying hove to) were surprised to sse the middy waving his cap around his head. What the deuce is the matter with the lad?” exclaimed the captain. _, “Looks as though he felt happy over some- thing,” returned Allen, The mast of the sail-boat was unstepped, and two of the crew rowed it after the other boat, both quickly reaching the side of the frigate, where many curious eyes awaited their coming. ‘It’s Dare! It’s Darrel!” was the cry, and, as the reader has om ago surmised, it was. The gig bad, indeed, been provisioned for ten days, but with food only, and for three days Darrel had not had a drop of water. Meat, salt junk, there was in plenty, but he did not dare touch it, and even the dry, hard, ship’s bread created such a thirst, that after the first day he refrained from that, Fortunately, two oranges were among the things placed in the boat, and, upon the juice of these Darrel had managed to Keep up uatil the previous night, when, from the intense heat and exhaustion he became unconscious, ‘* What’s that in his hand?” asked the cap- tain, when Darrel was placed under an awning. ‘* A piece of dried-up orange, sir. Poor boy! God only knows. how long he’s lived on that!” replied the surgeon. ** Phew!” whistled the captain. ‘‘ Look at the pistols—and that sword!” Much speculation had been excited by these weapons, and when Darrel became conscious, the captain’s first words to him were regarding them. . ‘* So, my lad,” he said, with a smile, ‘‘ you’ve been after another sword?” Too weak to speak, Darrel answered with a faint smile, ‘‘From the pirate, are they not? You were a prisoner and escaped?” continued the com- mander, The gig bore the name of the pirate schooner, and the captain guessed the rest. ‘** He must not attempt to talk,” said the sur- geop, and the captain had to curb his impa- pence regarding the present whereabouts of The During the afternoon, Darrel related to the ——'. of. _— captain the story of the escape of the schooner’ and his escape from her. ‘** Carthagena, eb?” mused the captain; “‘ well, we must give ’em a call. ‘* And this happened before midnight?” he con inued, recurring to Darrel’s story. ‘* it had just struck seven bells, sir.” Turning to Ballard, who had come aboard to see Darrel, Captain Stewart said sharply: ‘* Find out who had charge of the «eck !” ‘‘ Mr. Grace, sir!” replied Ballard, returning from the log-book. ‘* Call Grace!” Grace came aft—he had kept forward ever since Darrel was brought aboard. ‘¢‘ Mr, Grace, you asserted that the prize was alongside during your entire watch while lying at Kingston. Now Mr. Darrel tells us the ship slipped her cable before eight bells,” Looking the captain straight in the face, Grace replied: ‘*Mr, Darrel must be mistaken. was there during my entire watch.” ‘‘ We wor found ashore, sir, at midnight.” Every one turned on hearing this, and saw Donald, the boatswain, ‘¢ Correct, as far as we know, Donald!” ex- claimed Captain Stewart, and turning to Grace: ‘* You will consider yourself under arrest until we ascertain more about this at Kings- ton.’ With a -cow] at the boatswain, Grace saluted, and turning away, went below to the ward- room. Kingston was made that night, but next morning Midshipman Grace was not to be found —nor was the gig of The Hawk. CHAPTER XVI, ORDERED HOME, GRACE’S disappearance with the gig was sufli- cient for Captain Stewart, ‘‘The scoundrel was in league with the pirates. He drugged our men and then released them,” he said, and then ordered his gig to go ashore to capture the missing midshipman. But the captain’s efforts, opposed to Andre’s gold and Andre’s influence, were powerless to find Grace, and when he corvette and frigate were both refitted, he was compelled to sail without having found him. During the two weeks spent in getting the corvette and frigate in good shape, Captain Stewart had managed to obtain a number of men—one large lot of fifty being from a French , privateer, who, not caring to be bothered with prisoners, had landed them at Kingston. Captain Stewart had now sufficient men for both vessels, and was at first inclined to sail for Carthagena, but finally decided to cruise around the Black Republic before doing so, ‘¢ We wi!l putin at Port au Prince, if we don’t find anything,” he said to Ballard, ‘‘ and from there we'll mako for Carthagena.”’ Darrel Dare, now fully recovered, was put aboard the corvette as Ballard’s first officer, with Donald, the boatswain, acting as second The prize officer.* | [t should have been mentioned before that the third officer of the United States, Mr. Seaver, had been ill ever since leaving New York. He had been wounded on the previous voyage, but insisted on joining his ship when she sailed, and although full of pluck, was only in the way ever since, his wound having broken out afresb. The voyage to Port au Prince was uneventful, but on reaching there Captain Stewart was very much put out to receive orders to return home, yi there was, of course, nothing to do but obey. ‘* Lunkheads!” was all he said, and then orders to get under way. Both vessels were in excellent condition, and being built for speed, the voyage home was quick and uneventful. Reaching New York, Captain Stewart was surprised to find that it was through kindness he had been summoned home... Mrs. Stewart, the captuin’s mother, was at the point of death, and after sending a message to Captain King, he hastened to the home in Philadelphia where he had been born only twenty-nine years previous, for Captain Stew- art was then the youngest of bis rank in the American Navy. Captain Stewart’s messenger to Captain King was Midshipman Darrel Dare, and the message was a very lengthy one. ‘Darrel presented himself at the King home- stead in his very neatest uniform, wearing tho jeweled sword and silver-mounted pistols, but gave + age | \ \ al