Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 933 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

* . - ———s a em a ee ee ee ee c weigh anchor, the shrill pipin ES Emily King’s prayers, opposed to Captain Dare’s well-known skill as a seaman, and cour- age as an Officer, proved unavailing. Captain Nicholson, now in command of the famous frigate, wanted just such a man for his first officer, and, as soon as Captain Dare’s ap- plication was received, the appointment was made. . The Bey of Algiers had not declared war, and did not do so until June 11, 1801, but he had threatened it, and as his piratical craft then swarmed all over the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic in that vicinity, it was wisely decided to dispatch the United States at once to protect our merchantmen—and forestall the pirates. It was the.middle of March when Dare was notified of his appointment, and instructed to be ready to sail on the first of April. This caused a commotion in the King house- hold, anda storm in the breast of Emily, but remonstrance was useless now, and she finally submitted to the arguments of her brother and his wife, who joined Dare in combating her fears. Captain—or as we must now call him, Lieu- tenant Dare—having completed his arrange- ments, was sauntering down-town to take a look over the zood old frigate. Passing the chandler’s, he thought of Laurie, and called in. The boy was out delivering a package, Mr. Brown told him, and then went on to say how attentive and careful Laurie was—which, of course, pleased Dare. Proceeding to the frigate, Dare found every- thing in readiness to oie and received 'a cordial welcome from Mr, Rogers, the second officer. ‘‘ Weare really ready to sail to-morrow,” said the latter, ‘‘although, of course, we will not weigh anchor for @ week,” adding: ‘* But, we do want a boy—a boy for the cabin. I suppose we must go without, though. Nobody seems anxious to send a son on such a dangerous cruise, in such & position.” ** Laurie!” The thought flashed across Lieutenant Dare’s mind instantly, and he said: ‘ T will attend to getting the boy.” And the upshot of the matter was that Laurie became cabin-boy aboard the United States, with a fair chance of becoming a ‘‘ powder monkey,” or being killed, before the cruise was over. Then came the last day ashore, and with it arrived Captain Bainbridge. ‘* Mr, Dare, I’m happy to have you with me!” te the fashion in which he greeted his first of- ficer. ‘¢ A fighter from the word go!” thought Dare, ore returned the cordial grasp of the other’s And any one looking at the square jaws, firm chin, determined mouth and fearless eyes of Captain Nicholson, would have surely said the same, Next morning the entire household accom- | ed Lieutenant Dare to the frigate—Captain ng, as he quietly acknowledged, a little en- vious of his friend’s good fortune in getting so quickly into active service. Then came Captain Nicholson’s order to of the boat- swain’s whistle, many tearful, cheerful, hearty, mournful and affectionate adieus, and the fa- mous old frigate was again in commission, to add to her other laurels that of Corsair-Chaser. CHAPTER III, SINKING A PIRATE, As Captain Nicholson had plenty of time, he was instructed to skirt along the coast, and be- low asfar as the Bahamas, to see that every- thing was clear before proceeding to Loudon— the first port on the cruise. The boy, Laurie, during the voyage south- ward, had an opportunity to become acquainted with his duties, and with those aboard the ship —and he found both pleasant. Rough-and-ready Captain Nicholson liked him because of his parentage and his lonely condi- tion, and the same was true of the third officer, Mr. Porter, who, up to that time, had been a captain in the merchant service. The second officer, Mr, Rogers, liked him for himself, and because Dare was his friend, and with the midshipmen — Winters (commonly called ‘ Little inters”), Hull, Harper and Decatur—he was soon a general favorite. They had just reached the vicinity of the Bahamas, when, one morning after breakfast, there came a hail from aloft. ** Who hails?” cried Dare, — ’ ‘‘ Well, what’s strange about that?’ ‘*But Il caught her hauling down the black flag, sir, and she’s bearin’ right down on us!” ‘Phew! That alters the case entirely!” ex- claimed Lieutenant Dare, and springing into the mizzen shrouds he took a survey of the stranger, which was now bearing down rapidly on the weather quarter. ‘* A rakish, suspicious-looking schooner, sir! Captain of the maintop saw her hauling down the Jolly Roger,” reported Dare, as he descend- ed to the deck, adding: ” Evidently takes us for a merchantman, ? ‘‘ Well, he'll soon find out his mistake,” as- sured Captain Nicholson, who had come on deck on hearing the hail. ‘‘Get ready to follow him!” * Ay, ay, sir!” The frigate was under working canvas only, but with the men standing ready for the com- mand, it would not take long to put her under full sail. **Stand by to go about, and throw out every rag!” warned the captain a couple of minutes later, as he stood watching the rapidly-approach- ing schooner, t was not until the latter was within a mile of the supposed merchantman, that any signs of suspicions were shown. ‘* There she goes!” cried Dare, as the schooner’s fore boom flew over—a sure sign of rounding to. ‘‘Away to the tops there!” he continued. ‘Out with your flying jib and staysail! Away! Lively, lads, lively /” As the boatswain’s hoarse voice repeated the orders, the men were swarming into the tops and out on the bowsprit working like demons, while the frigate, in the hands of the first offi- cer, wore around, and started in pursuit of the sea rover. | In those days, a half-dozen frigates and as avn? smaller vessels, composed the entire Ameri- can Navy! (England at the same period had 1,000 sail.) On the other hand, there was a superabundance of trained officers, and this zave the puny navy one great advantage. The training and dis- cipline of the men, and the equipment and hand- ling of the vessels, were brought to the highest point of perfection. The United States was no exception to the rule, and was about and in pursuit of the pirate, in less time than it would take another captain to gies the necessary orders. stern chase is proverbially a long one. The schooner had every inch of canvas set—a per- fect cloud of it—and with over a mile start, and a moderate breeze which favored her, it did not look like an easy task to. overhaul her. ** She’s beginning to draw away; she’s got the heels of us!” warned Porter, after a few min- utes. ‘*Oh, for a half-gale! Then we’d walk up on him!’ cried the captain, ‘* More likely what wind there is will die were ie remarked Rogers, ‘‘l’m afraid you're right, Mr, Rogers,” re- turned the captain. ‘*I’d like to overhau! him without, but we'll have to bring down some of his top-hamper.” ‘* Ho, there! Master Gunner!” and as Morris the gunner came forward, the commander con- tinued: ‘‘See what you can do with that fellow’s spars!” ** Ay, ay, sir!” The gun was carefully sighted, there was a moment of suspense, then snap! went the lint- stock, and as the smoke cleared away anxious eyes were bent on the flying schooner, She was to all appearances uninjured. ‘* Again!” cried captain, promptly. f: She — just as I fired,” muttered Morris. ac Boom 1"? Two reports rung out simultaneously—the pirate was ‘‘ talking back”—and the shots did about equal damage, The aot foretopmast was cut almost clean away, while the schooner’s maintop suffered in like manner. Leaving Rogers to attend to the clearing away Of the wreckage, Captain Nicholson watched the progress of the duel between his bow gun and the pirate’s stern chaser, Again and again the dull boom of the guns caused both sides to look anxiously at their Heht spars, Men then amounted to nothing in com- parison with topmasts and yards! But, aside from the unpleasantly close whist- ee ling of an occasional cannon ball, no trouble was caused by this running fire, and Captain Nicholson became impatient. ‘* Morris, Morris!” be cried, ‘‘ Your eye must be getting dim! Can’t you do anything with her?” *¢ She’s rolling so—but I’) smash her stern if ye like!” growled the gunner, ‘‘ Well, do something—anything—quick, for God’s sake!” Instead of dying away, as was feared, the wind had increased quite a little, causing the schooner to roll enough to make her spars a difficult mark. Morris’s offer, therefore, was rather sarcastic, for the small, shapely stern of the low-lying schooner was more difficult to hit than her spars, but, averting his head to hide a gria, heanswered, cheerily enough: a“ Ay, ay, sir!” éé Boom ” Scarcely had the report of the bow gun died away, when the schooner flew up in the wind, regardless of her helm. ‘* What thedickens isthe matter! What have you done, Morris?” asked the captain. ‘* Looks as if their steering-gear was smashed,” Dare remarked, delighted with old Morris’s work, And he was right, As Morris pulled the lint- stock the schooner pitched forward, bringing up her stern, and the solid shot hit the stern-post full and fair, smashing it and breaking all con- mtbr with the wheel, rendering her unmanage- able. This, of course, could be remedied in time— but there was no time, at that crisis, The wind was freshening every minute, and the frigate was bearing down like an ava- lanche, so the pro prepared to exchange pare: if the opportunity was afforded im. But he never fired a gun. ‘* Stand by to let go and haul! Ready there to check head-braces!” shouted Dare, as the frigate neared the schooner. e intended to cross the pirate’s stern, which would enable him to deliver a raking broadside without danger to himself. The frigate, tearing through the water in an ee breeze, was soon at the desired point. ‘*Helm’s a-lee! Let go—haul—check head- braces!” ordered Dare, through his trumpet, ar Morris stood ready to pour in his broad- side. ‘‘Hard up! Hard up!” thundered Dare, the next moment—but it was too late! As the frigate wore around, and, gathering headway, shot ahead to cross the stern of the schooner, a sudden change of wind threw the latter around—broadside on to the United States, There was a moment of horrible, breathless suspense, Cries of rage, defiance and despair arose from the crowded decks of the doomed schooner. Now only a wave separates the two vessels! And now, down comes the frigate upon the pirate craft, striking her right amidships! The noble vessel scarcely felt the shock as she rode over the low waist, and crashed through the rigging of the doomed buccaneer, It was an appalling catastrophe—a terrible sea tragedy, that, for a few moments, held all aboard the American frigate spellbound. Though the enemy had been a sea freebooter and ocean wolf, the brave hearts on the gallant old United States sickened at the sight, The pirate’s doom had been awfully achieved, ‘‘For God’s sake, captain, lower the boats!” cried Lieutenant Dare, at length, pazing at the foam-covered whirlpool, where a few spars and casks, with an occasional head or a hand, were rising and sinking. ‘* Too late—it’s all over with them row,” said Nicholson, sadly; but, cast pegeety | his de- cision, the frigate was hove to and the boats were lowered. But, as the captain had declared, it was too late, except for one man, and he was ere long brought on board unconscious, One out of a crew of one hundred! ‘*And now for London town!” exclaimed Captain Nicholson. ‘‘ We’ve done our business in this vicinity, I think. We'll find no more pirates to run down these waters, at pres- ent, ‘‘Mr, Porter, see about rigging a topsail— for it'll be a wet sheet and a flowing sea, soon.” And, ere long, the grand old ocean patrol was . headed east, to give the Mediterranean corsairs a taste of her metal and a proof of the prowess of the Sons of the Young Republic. ~~ comicboo cS }