Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 933 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

ack . + ~~ The Two Midshipmen. —EEE ee set bim right again—oil the works of his | brig untii it sailed for home, and then they fol- memory ” ‘Do you really think so, Mr, Parkes?” asked Laurie, eagerly. ‘*T have known of such cases, and would not be at all surprised if he recovered with a full recollection of what is now a blank to him. A shock caused it, ard a shock is liable to cure it. And so it proved, but it was long after the frigate and corvette parted company on the broad Atlantic, before Captain Lorris, or rather Lawrence, fully recovered bis senses. During the week he was delirious, the cap- tain’s ravings about Alice (his wife), and James (Laurie), removed all doubt as to his identity, and the surgeon warned Laurie against reveal- ing himself to his father until the latter was strong enough to bear the shock which would be occasioned by the intelligence of his wife’s ‘* How long before we make New York?” ask- ed Captain Lawrence, the first day he was able to get on deck. ‘** About a week, if we meet no dirty weather,” replied Dare, who, with Decatur, had just fin- ished taking an observation, For two nights Captain Lawrence had spent considerable time in Dare’s cabin conversing about recent as well as long-past events, treat- ing tke latter, however, as if of much the same date as the former, Memory was returning, however, even if slow- ly, for when Hawkins passed and purposely avoided meeting the eyes of his former captain, the latter asked: ** Who is that man, captain?” 4, With well-assumed carelessness Dare replied: **He’s our gunner, We got him from an Al- gerian pirate called ‘Red Hand’—I think. His name is Hawkins,” ‘‘ Hawkins! Red Hand!” exclaimed Captain Lawrence, ‘‘I know ¢hose names, and one of them only too‘well.” For the balance of the day the captain appear- ed to be buried in thought, and when evenin came, Dare thought it safe, as well asa g opportunity, to introduce Laurie, who, fearin he could not control himself, had kept out o the way. Accordingly, after supper, Dare said: ‘*T’ve never had an pa ar to hear the story of your éscape, captain, but if you'll come up and smoke a cigar, ll have Maxwell or our midshipman tell it.” » To this Captain Lawrence assented even eagerly. axwell was called and an to relate the story which necessarily included reference to ' Laurie, “* Laurie!” repeated Captain Lawrence, start- ing up in sueprise, and ng in tones so loud that the middy passing at the moment heard him and answered: You, six.” ‘**Who is ‘he? Where did he come from?” continued the captain, as the middy came to- ward them. ‘* Wait until we go below and I'll tell you— I'd rather not say anything now,” replied Dare, in a low tone, and then to Laurie: ‘*Sit down for a few minutes, Maxwell may ay some of his story.” axwell began his story again, but, though interest the moment it an attentive listener, the captain’s seemed centered in Laurie, an was finished, he said: ** Shall we go below, Mr. Dare?” *“‘Remain here for a few minutes,” said the lieutenant to Laurie, as he followed the captain. The *‘ few minutes” lengtened into a half-hour before Dare reappeared. “You can go below now, Laurie,” he said, e he knows all, and wants you,” ** Father!” were the mutual exciamations, as Laurie entered the cabin, anc what followed is best Jeft to the imagination. CHAPTER XXITI, THE SECOND ABDUCTION PLANNED. THE corvette was now rapidly nearing New York, and, to explain what happened when it arrived there, it is necessary to go back to the escape of Vernier and Smith from the brig while in port at London, lie escape was made through one of the stew- ard’s assistants, who had found Captain King’s ‘toy to the irons and was unable to resist Ver- mier’s gold. | Once safe in the city, a watch was set on the lowed in a fast packet. ‘* 11] get her again before three months, and | this time I won’t be so careful as to the means,” said Vernier, as he and Smith watched the de- parture of the brig. He had plenty of money, and on arriving in New York purchased the fastest vessel he could find, which, at Smith’s suggestion, was anchor- ed on the Long Island shore, ‘‘ Now you find as big and as hard a crew as you can get,” said Vernier, And while Smith was engaged in this conge- nial task, he began watching Emily King—her habits, the hours she was wandering about the ounds, sometimes alone, but generally with rs. King or Captain Adams, when apt to be alone in the house,how many servants slept there at night and where located. The result of all his investigation was either to seize Emily when on the grounds at the first opportunity, or to forcibly enter the house and seize her there as soon as Smith had completed the crew. ‘* I’ve got twenty-five men,” said Smith,at the end of a week. ‘‘Twenty-five! Why, man, I want a hun- dred and twenty-five!—more, if you can get them!” ‘* To manage a schooner !”’ peepee Smith, ‘‘Manage! Manage the devil! I’m going to have some of the plums to be picked out of this Algerian war. ** Now get to work uick, for we must begin |, our part of the war right here, Assoon as you male men, we’ll arrange to seize.the girl and sail. A week after the ny haem 4 conversation, Ver- nier learned efrom a servant of the Kings that the captain was going to Philadelphia and would be absent ten days. “How many men have you got?’ he asked Smith that night. ‘t Seventy-five or eighty.” ‘* Well, that will have to do for the present. Get them aboard early to-morrow forenoon, and pick out a dozen of the best—or worst to assist you in seizing this girl.” ‘* Assist me?” echoed Smith, in surprise. ‘‘ Yes, you! Theydlon’t know you, and if you post your men properly you will excite mo sus- picion, King goes to Philadelphia to-morrow morning, and she must be in my hands before that old fool Adams comes to replace him. ‘‘Tf she appears on the grounds alone le the day, watch your chance to seize her an bring her aboard. “If there is no chance during the day, it must be done to-morrow night. I have promised liberty and gold to a slave servant, who will admit you to the house and take you to her room—the rest will be an easy matter for a dozen of you.” Smith did not like the work laid out for him, . and showed it by saying: ‘* This woman business is ugly work, captain —it’s not lucky, I tell ye. You’ve got a fine ship an’ fine crew. There’s fortunes t’ be made in this here war. Why don’t ye drop the woman t an’— *‘ Sbut up, you fool! I wouldn’t give up that girl—if it were only for revenge on Dare—for all the gold in the world! **Now, no more of your chat—when I need advice, l’ll ask for it. Do asI tell you, and see that you doit well, It will pay you as you per- form your work,” Smith was shaking his head ominously, mut- tering, ‘‘ It’s onlucky, sure, it’s onlucky,” and, after a searching, suspicious glance, Vernier continued ; ‘* Come, no croaking! Here’sa hundred dol- lurs, and when you put her on board, you shall have five hundred more.” Smith’s god was the almighty dollar. His forebodings vanished as the money appeared, and grasping it eagerly, he said: * All right, sir. Thank ye—I guess I’d better go and look up the men I'll want.” ‘* Yes, better have ev gt ready.” Next morning, after Captain King’s depar- ny mang Beg pn Bares: ctr goa of besos ounging about the spacious, and only y- inclosed, unds known as the King Home- stead, and remained there all day. When night came, these men gathered at the river, where one said ; ‘*Tt’sino use waitin’, boys. Scatter about ’n’ meet here at ‘leven, sure—then we'll dry the house,” At eleven o’clock thirteen men met at the river, and when one remarked the number, Smith’s forebodings returned. **Tt’s onlucky!” he muttered, but there was no ———— ES drawing back, now, and the party started for Captain King’s residence, They traveled slowly, loitering and talking by the way, for twelve o’clock was the hour the negro was tu admit them, but at length the time and place were reached, the door was opened and five of thirteen entered. , ‘*Keep quiet!” cautioned the slave, leading the way into the parlor, where a single candle | burned, ** Who goes up?” he continued. ‘‘ Me,” replied Smith, in a hoarse whisper, and, in obedience to a significant gesture of the slave, began to remove his heavy boots. He was very slow about it—his heart was not in the job, and the negro grew impatient. ‘*'You must hurry—Captain Adams may wake up!” he said, adding: ** He gets up and smokes every night at one o’clock,”’ ‘“‘What! Is he here?” exclaimed Smith, ‘‘H-u-sh! Yes, he came to-night, Hurry!” ‘““T knowed they’d be some hitch—I knowed it wuz onlucky!” muttered Smith as he stole up- stairsafterthenegro, ‘‘There—in there!” whispered the negro pointing to a partly-open door on the secon floor, and then pointing to another opposite: ** Captain Adams in there,” Softly pushing the door until open to the full- est extent, Smith entered the room. It was quite dark and he could barely discern the form on the bed as he moved cautiously toward it. Suddenly there was a crash, a howl of pain, ao then scream after scream rung through the ouse, Smith’s naked toes had struck against a low stool, knocking it over and causing him to utter an involuntary cry, and alarming the occupant . of the bed. With an angry. oath, he sprung to the bedside, seized her and dashed down-stairs just as Cap- tain Adams, pistol in hand, flung open his door and dashed after him. As Smith reached the top of the first stairway, he could see a struggle foln on below and hesi- tated for a moment. hen he saw a knife flash in the dim candle-light, heard acry of agony and a voice calling to him to hurry, and he obeyed, but the reserne vg Pmygs enabled Cap- tain Adams to catch up to é ‘‘Ha, youscoundrel! I’ve got you!” cried the captain, striking at him with his pistol, while Smith, holding is unconscious burden in one arm, turned and drew his knife—using the girl as a shield, Shouts, shots and cries of every kind began to ring through the house at the same moment, CHAPTER XXII. ARRIVAL OF “* THE SHARK,” Ir was about nine o’clock at night when ‘‘ The Sbark ” dropped anchor in New York Bay—too late to go home, Dare decided, although madly impatient to see Emily. Captain Lawrence, Laurie and Decatur were on deck and he sought to change the current of ‘ bis thoughts by secu se th them, bnt, at eu the end of an hour, the tenant had only succeeded in attracting the attention of the others. ‘What's wrong, Mr. Dare?” asked the cap- in. Pa ‘“‘T hardly know. An hour ago I was anxious to go ashore—more, I must admit, to meet Miss King, (to whom I am tobe married next month) than her brother. Now, Iam restless and un- easy about her, as though some danger were hanging over her—but, of course, it’s ali non- sense,” But, notwithstanding the last words, Dare’s laugh was an uneasy one. ‘*T don’t know about that,” returned the ca tain, very gravely, ‘‘such a feeling as you de- scribe has invariably proved @ warning, a fore- runner, of danger to me or mine,” Ard then the conversation drifted off to the supernatural for a while—dreams, warnings signs, ghosts, death-knocks, all were discussed in turn until Dare’s uneasiness, became very marked. ‘‘ By Jove! I can’t stand it longer, I must do something!” he exclaimed, jumping up. It was a beautiful night, though warm, and when Laurie suggested king one of the boats and rowing up the river, the lieutenant jumped at the idea. ‘‘The verything! Who'll go?’ he said. Laurie and Decatur both expressed a wish to accompany him, but Captain Lawrence did not care to go. _ “All right; take command of the ship, and iif “! | - as a" "kt as ie 4