Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 938 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

” a“ Je ba - f . ' \ ar \ te ons } ae S as Rf , ot WE? i A ET Tw, * t+ ‘ * é would have seen the latter rivulet, either. 6 Stanford turned to Nat, * Done?’ he asked, en. * Be off!” They turned to leave the cabin. “Say, old skeesicks!” cried Jingo Jim, defiantly, “Ill jest make your hide wrin- kle when I git outer this.” “Yes, when you do.” “Yes, jest then, old gutter roller. git.it where Adam got the apple.” “The time will never come. I may as well say that both of you are doomed. Death is near to you!” You'll CHAPTER V. IN GREAT PBPRIL. Stanford did not get the satisfaction of hearing a reply, so he added after a brief pause: : iF “I did not intend to tell you, but tbe fact is this old sloop will soon Le at the bottom of the East River, and you will go down with her. The craft is a deserted wreck, anyhow, and we have only had to bore a few holes in her hull to insure speedy sinking. The plugs have just been pulled out and the sloop will be floated. She will go out into the stream, float a few fathoms and then sink.. So will you!” eee This is infamous!” exclaimed Aldrick ee, “Lam going to dispose of you!” asserted the sport. ) “ Scoundrel!” “Call me what you will; save you from sinking,”’ “At least, do not doom this innocent boy,” t | ~ “He must drown, too.” “But he has no share in my work—” “Let go the cable, Al,” coolly directed the boy from Chatham Square. “ Don’t waste words on this old crook. He’s too mean ter eat honey without turning it inter vinegar. Don’t even speak ter the lantern-jawed old rat-ketcher.” * Boss,” advised Nat, “we want ter git a move on. This craft will go and take us with it.” “Away!” ordered Stanford. The plotters hustled out. last moment the sport paused and looked malevolently at the prisoners; then he moved on and the helpless pair were alone in the cabin. Both were depressed and worried, and several moments passed without speech from them. Then James aroused. “We are afloat!” he exclaimed. “Stanford has kept his word,” admitted ‘Lee. There could be no doubt of that. The sloop was swaying and bumping around as the water caught her dilapidated sides and tried to hold her up. That this could not long be done was certain, for h every movement told how much of a wreck she was. “She tips up bad,’ added the peddler, after a pause. Yes,” ef “Any hope o’ rescue, do you think?’ ‘Somebody may see us.” “But they wouldn’t know anybody was in the cabin.” ‘6 True.” “How would et work ter yell like Kimanch Injuns?” any “Useless, I fear. We are all enclosed, and the way shut off for shouts to reach the outer world.” “Say, Al, look here! The water is com- in’ in!’ A light had been left burning, and if Jim had been looking at the boatman he it will not Water was coming in, and not in a tiny It came fast, and Lee ‘outtered: | Just at the } ror and desperate energy. ‘Was in deeper water. | bonds and they fell away without much change color.. the measly old sloop is makin’ bows ter. “Say!” cried Jim; “be you goin’ ter drowned ?” “ What can we do?’ “Git yer lamps open an’ you'll see w'ot I'll try ter do!” Jim began a furious struggle with his bonds, and though it seemed wholly use- less, Lee followed his’ example. They twisted and squirmed until they -were tired, and then gave it up as a bad job, breathing hard and bruised around the wrists, ‘ree bath!” muttered James, grimly. The cabin had a liberal supply of water now, and it was washing the prisoners as the old craft lurched and plunged in her vain efforts to keep afloat. “We must be in mid-river.” “Yes. Somebody may see us.” “Boy,” seriously spoke the boatman, “T am exceedingly sorry you must suffer with me, when you are wholly innocent. You are so young—too young to die so miserable a death.” “Yes, an’ too good,’ added Jim, with grim humor. “IT hope you will forgive me—” * Crickey!” Jim interrupted as the sloop gave a big lurch, which sent him and the boatman rolling into a corner in headlong style. They were bruised, but not badly injured. “Good as a gymnasium,’ commented Jim, ejecting a load of water from his mouth. “Our hour has come. Iam an old river man, if I am young in years. I under- stand this well, and can gauge the pas- sage of events well. About five more minutes—. Ah! how the water pours in! It comes now in a flood! Hear it gurgle! Death is here!’ Jim was choking, but he managed to lift his head a little and eject the water again, ‘Brace up, Al!’ he gasped. The boatman did not seem to have ex- aggerated. The sloop was pitching wildly and the water came furiously. It needed no expert to see that the craft myst sink speedily. There was a gurgle from Lee which told of his dire extremity. Up to that time James had been almost indifferent. His | had not been a happy life and death was not to him as it was to others more fav- ored. Now, however, thinking the boat- man was about to die, he stirred into hor- He began a new, a frantic struggle with his bonds: Every muscle most. “It’s bust ’em or die!” boy. | The gurgle was louder from Lee, who was strained to the ut- muttered the * Whoopee!” : Jim’s bonds gave way, and he signal- ized the fact with a shout of triumph. His hands were free, and he whipped out his pocket-knife with wild haste, . The blade was keen, and he severed the cords on his ankles quickly. “Al, Al!’ he cried. The gurgle continued from the eorner. Jim leaped forward in the water, seized his companion and dragged him back. “ Brace up!” he eried, excitedly. “Tl git you out., Here I got” | The heroic boy slashed at the boatman’s trouble. Lee was floundering around and gurgling painfully, but Jim pulled him t his feet. | “Get a grip on yer cable!” cried the rescuer. ‘“‘ This is a game we can’t af- ford ter lose. Hump yerself, Al! See! bmw 4 my ity P% Ye Y Wea. AAS . - » ve ‘ r , 7 rey a f = ; ) ow hay j , : tn! fhe aay 42 Me 7/9 oF lg oe Peasy bd = - - > . ~~. “ 4 of one: 3 ont ay oe oe Oe Be Ss Ui a sh 4 ve By itt e : HW; * % j wy 4 . ’ ja i . - + r = aes”. BAe Oe OR ED Pel “fd ae fing es : PRL” 5: PV the brine with alarmin’ politeness. must skip or drink up the East River. Unlimber yer joints.” Lee blew the water out of his mouth vig= orously. He had been near to death, but with the first breath of pure air he re- vived in a measure and all of his courage returned. “We must go!’ he gasped. “This way. Hi! the companionway is blocked, but we must clear it!” “Let me at it!” The boatman spoke with vigor, and he dashed at the mass of obstruction. With the sloop still pitching wildly, he clawed away energetically, and Jim did his share. Such work could not fail to make a mark, and the peddler’s voice suddenly rose in a jubilant shout. “ All clear! Here we go!” They rushed out and were soon on the deck. Water was running over it, and it was a wonder the craft had stood up so long. ' “ We are in the middle of the river.” “No other boat in sight.” “Can you swim?” It was Lee who asked the question, and Jim’s reply was prompt. “Tkin I? Kin ye’r uncle saw wood? Why, I’m half duck an’ the rest mermaid, I be. Come on, Al. Be you ready ?” | “Yes. Quick! The sloop is going down!” The adventurers leaped together. A sudden lureh of the craft sent them ftying with erratic curves and they came down like lead, but both knew what to do. They began to swim, and with speed oc- casioned by the fear that the sloop would sink and drag them down with it through force of suction. Not until they were several fathoms away did they pause, but Jim’s voice fin- ally rose cheerfully. “Say, Al, it strikes me we are alive, ain’t we?” “Yes. And the sloop—she is still up.” ‘Look, look! She lurches again; she pokes her nose under water.” _ * She is gone!” | It was true. With a last gurgle and a good deal of commotion the vessel went under, never to rise again of her own volition. The river boiled above her as if - to mark the grave of the wreck. | '-** Boy,” spoke the boatman, gravely, “if we had been five minutes later we should not be alive now.” “Right, old man!’’ “A close call. But we are in the mid- dle of the East River. Let us strike out and get to land as soon as possible. Head for the New York shore and swim for it. Talk no more now.” | It was good advice, and they went on with steady strokes. Aldrick found that his young Companion was quite equal to the task, and no aid was required. Tired, but safe, they presently landed at a New York pier. = abe ks oe “This is glorious,” declared Lee. “T never was so glad before to see the city lights.” (aca “Ditto, me!” agreed James. “ Now, I’m ready ter hear w’ot it’s all about.” JINGO JIM'’S HELPING HAND. The peddler spoke with cheer He still regarded the streets before them with a peculiar expression on his face. “Boy,” he added, “you don’t know how _ lucky you are to be a resident of New York. It is the greatest place on the face ofthe globe, and well may its people be proud of it.” ) ~“ Correct, but let’s erful as- suranee, but Lee did not take the hint. * |’ s 7 “" a ' $e: =, . ‘ é i et Te ee . - ee ee <5 ee ee a defer thinkin’ of it " es i \ Bs now. Some day we'll take a spell off an” , ¢ } * ny” t ' ree ‘ we a ,