Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 949 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 The Three Lieutenants. ! CHAPTER XIX, LOVE—JEALOUSY — QUARRELS. the latter where Decatur was staying ashore, and why, started to visit hia, Other officers were going ashors, and Somers ** By heavens, sir!” exclaimed the commodore, addressing Captain Sterrett, who was now on the Constitution, ‘‘ That is the pluckiest act I’ve | ever witnessed! Your three midshipmen are ed re i bg ky al erthavietie | was invited to join several, who were going to now three lieutenants, and I hope you'll be able And purnieg cheeks, thouch for no transgression, | dine at aninn much frequented by both naval to find three more like them,” Tremblings when met. and restlessness when left, and military men, Captain Sterrett smiled a little proudly, but All tnese are little preluses to pos-<ession, | Much misinformation existed in each profes- his reply was cut short by an exclamation from Of which young passion cannot be bereft, | sion regarding the character of those engaged in the commodore, | And merely tend to show how greatly love is the other, and this was all the greater where the Gunboat No, 5 seemed to bear a charmed fate | P™barrassed, at first starting, with a novice. | other was that of a foreign country. —shot rained Over and around if, but none hit | it, and, encouraged by its good fortune, a cut-| | THE arrival of Captain Dare—he was now ap- ter with eighteen men commanded by a master’s | pointed to the Scourge, with his former rank— mate (Mr., Creighton), pulled to its assist- | and the three lieutenants, threw the quiet house- ance. _hold of Mr. Mackay into a state of joyous ex- During the night following the day’s bom- | citement. bardment of Tripoli a heavy gale arose, which | Everybody was, of course, glad to meet every- compelled the squadron to remain inactive fora | body else—but some were particularly so. Many English and other officers, who had been attracted by the rank and beauty of Sngenie, but had been put aside for Decatur, were present when Somers and his friends arrivy- ed at the inn. The entrance of the Americans brought up ; the name of Decatur, and soon it was being ' treated with contempt by a party of three, sit- + a - day. ‘There goes the signal on the Constitution!” exclaimed Laurie, on the morning of the next day. And the squadron immediately got under ‘way, running in with an easterly breeze. When within two miles of the batteries, an- other signal brought the squadron to anchor, and then, under cover of a heavy fire, Gunboat No. 4, commanded by Decatur, ran in and attacked the largest of the enemy’s vessels, which was captured after a fierce hand-to-hand fight, although the Algerians greatly outnum- bered the Americans, This, with the siuking of three gunboats—two ‘by the flagship, Constitution, and one by the Scourge, commanded by Dare, constituted the work of destruction on the water, but the city ‘suffered terribly from the shells, The Scourge escaped with little damage, but the Constitution had suffered considerably in spars and rigging, and at the close of the day — commodore signaled the squadron to draw off. At daybreak next morning a large frigate was discovered about two miles off, which proved to be the John Adams, commanded by Captain Chauncey. This was a welcome and valuable addition to the squadron, and immediately after breakfast the bombardment was renewed. Encouraged ‘by his good fortune on the first day, Laurie again ran in under the guns of the forts, far beyond the bomb-ketches, but escaped without injury while a boat of the Jobn Adams,.which advanced the furthest of all that emulated his daring example, was sunk almost immediately by a double-headed. shot from one of the batteries. The boats, bomb-ketches and smaller vessels were now at close range, and consequently their fire was more than usually destructive, but be- ing in this position necessitated their being themselves under unusually heavy fire. Seeing the boats would be unable to maintain their good work without assistance, the Consti- tion ran down to the rocks until within grape- shot distance, where she poured in eleven broadsides upon castle, town and batteries, while the ketches ae on the town itself with deadly effect, and the smaller vessels followed the example of the frigate. It is a remarkable historical fact that, al- though while thus engaged, Old Ironsides was under the fire of seventy heavy guns, she lost not one of her officers or men. On the other hand, the havoc wrought by her murderously close broadsides, and the united fire of the ketches and other vessels, was so great as to causs Commodore Preble to decide that the Ba- shaw had received sufficient punishment for his insolent demands upon the American Govern- ment, And, indeed, until the lower 4 pen of Tripoli was rebuilt, and his captured and sunken vessels replaced, the Bashaw did not forget the lesson. hen he did, an even more severe punishment was administered—but that’s another story. Having come to this decision, and having made such temporary repairs as were necessary, the commodore ordered the squadron to Malta, where the more seriously (ojired vessels were hove down to refit, while the others cruised about to pick up any pirates that might have courage enough to stray from their now dismantled As the Scourge had been badly cut. up in the last day’s engagement, Lieutenant Dare had an opportunity to be ashore, as had Spence, who, nee the sinking of bis boat, was aboard the Constitution, which was also badly damaged. Decatur and Laurie, however, fad no excuse to go ashore, except for a very limited period, but Captain Sterrett and Dare exerted sufficient influence to obtain leave of absence for both during the refitting of the vessel, Dare, for instance, to rejoin his wife. Deca- tur to meet Eugenie, and Laurie to bashfully declare his pleasure on seeing Agnes. The boys—and they were really little more— had little to do at Malta, except enjoy them- | selves as much as possible, Captain Dare looked after the Scourge, thus giving his young subordinates opportunity to prosecute their love siege, which they did—most fiercely on Decatur’s part. The latter seemed to have gotten over the dis- may he exhibited on learning that Eugenie was the daughter of the Count de Morny, He made no attempt to hide his delight on again meeting her, nor the reason of it, and it was apparent to all that the young lieutenant was gaining ground. ‘* Steve believes in making hay while the sun shines,” commented Spence, as when, toward the completion of repairs, Decatur quietly in- formed his friends that he had written to Eugenie’s mother. ‘* Por,” said he, ‘I might as well know at once what she thinks of it,” _“* Then you are engaged to her?” asked Lau- rie. ‘*As much as one can be to a French girl without the consent of her parents. ‘*T have told the countess who and what I am,” continued Decatur, ‘‘and what my pros- pects are, ‘*Wrance is now Republican, and nobility can’t amount to a great deal, so 1 guess there’s a fair chance for me.” And there was, but it was the letter that Eu- genie dispatched the same day, that brought a somewhat favorable reply to his request—al- though not definite, ‘‘T hope he won’t make such a fool of himself as you do,” remarked George, when Decatar, having told his news, left the former and Laurie ether. ‘What do you mean?” stammered the latter, turning very red. **Oh, Laurie, you make me sick! I’ve heard the expression, ‘love-sick school-boy,’ used as denoting something particularly idiotic, but it won’t do justice to your case, ‘€'You will not let her walk or talk with any one else, and, when she’s with you, you simply look like a blessed idiot and say nothing!” This was strong language from Gentleman George, but it probably covered the state of af- fairs between Agnes and Laurie. ‘‘ You are not a gentleman!” angrily retorted Laurie. ‘‘ Well, I’m working, at any rate,” coolly re- turned George, adding, as he looked at his watch and bowed to his friend: ‘*1t’s time for me to be on board—shall we see your smiling countenance to-day, or will you be engaged?” Betore the excited Laurie could reply, he was alone—George, warned by the expression of bis countenance, having slipped out. Spence’s words worked wonders, however, with Laurie, who, instead of spending the day with Agnes, reported to Captain Dare that he desired no further leave of absence. ‘* A quarrel!” was the captain’s mental com- ment, but it was not, as be sup , between Agnes and Laurie, for the latter had the full ap- probation of the girl he was so interested in, in returning to his duty, The fierce love-making of Decatur, and the bashful, though quietly persistent, devotion of Laurie, had excited considerable comment, and no little amusement, among Mr, Mackay’s many friends and acquaintances—more especially the garrison and naval officers. This was the secret of George’s censure; Agnes’s appedee and of one of the fiercest duels ever fought, The gallant, though ill-fated, Richard Somers returned in the Nautilus, on the same day that Laurie did to the Scourge, and learning from ting at a table nearest which sat Somers, Until the name of Eugenie began to be con- nected with that of his friend, Somers made no remark, but when that occurred, he turned and deliberately commanded: ‘*Keep quiet there! You are annoying the whole company with your noise!” Asa matter of fact, he was the only outsider who could hear what was said, but it would never do to bring Eugenie’s name into the af- fair, so he took that method of insulting them into silence, An apology and explanation was instantly de- manded, and refused point-blank. ‘‘Then, sir, there is my card!” exclaimed one, throwing a piece of pasteboard before Somers. ' ‘‘ And mine! And mine!” added the others, following their companion’s example. ‘* Two lieutenants and a captain, eh?’ coolly commented Somers, as he inspected the cards, adding: ‘‘ Very well, gentlemen. There is mine. Now, when, and where, 1s entirely immaterial to me, ‘* Arrange the affair as you please, but” (ina low tone) *t you are officers, and should be gen- tlemen, so, | trust, the cause will not be referred As Somers finished, and while the three chal- lengers, as well as his friends, were staring at him in astonished silence, Decatur entered. ‘* Ah! Just the man!’ exclaimed Somers, ad- vancing to meet his friend. ‘‘ Steve, I must ask you to act for me, ‘* T’ve insulted these three gentlemen, and will positively not apologize, so arrange matters to suit them, without discussion,” With the last words, Somers walked out, and Decatur was left to act as second in three duels in which, had he suspected the cause, he would have fought to be ie No one, however, could tell just why Somers bad insulted the challengers, so, following in- structions, Decatur promptly arranged for a meeting—promising, if his friend should be un- able to do so, to furnish the required satisfac- tion. CHAPTER XX, A MISUNDERSTANDING, ‘* My love is like the sea, As changeful and as free; Sometimes she’s angry, sometimes rough, Yet oft she’s smooth and calm enough— Ay, much too calm for me.” THERE was a great deal of rivalry among the oung Officers under command of Commodore reble, but the incident of the challenges in- vited by Somers (to protect the name of his friend) furnishes a striking illustration of the friendship which also existed among them, Having arranged for the duéls, Decatur hur- ried to join bis friend. ** Oh, they were talking too much, and I bade them keep quiet,” was all the explanation Somers would make. ‘ ‘Have you settled everything?” he contin- ued, ‘‘ Yes-~pistols at daybreak to-morrow,” re- plied Decatur, gt s ‘‘ But, I say, Dick! You'll never be able to handle all three. Better let one of us into it! ‘‘ Laurie could act as second to both of us.” ‘“Not much! It’s my quarrel—and I’m not entangled as you are.” Richard Somers was then a young man of about twenty-three. He was mild, amiable and affectionate, both in disposition and deportment, though of singularly chivalrous notions of duty and honor. Decatur understood his friend’s nature. He also, understood the allusion to his engagemen to Eugenie, and made no further immediate at- neue to play the part of principal in the im pendin g duels, = ee ee eee Pa ap