Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 949 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

** Oh, there’s always something on—the garri- son ball, or something of that sort.” As Decatur predicted, the Enterprise dropped anchor next day in the Bay of Gibraltar, along- side an English frigate, from which the word was quickly passed that tha officers of the garri® som were giving a ballin bonor of the cfficers of the ship. “We're sure to get an invitation,” declared Decatur, gleefully, and again he proved a true prophet. Captain Sterrett was a strict disciplinarian, and when he ordered that every man who ac- cepted an invitation to the ball to be on board at seven next morning, there was little fear of any failing to be found waiting for the boat at that hour. The captain himself was to return at nine that night, as the sally-port would not be opened after that hour, except by special permission, Lieutenant Dare, who still maintained his gloomy reserve, was one of the few who failed to avail themselves of the opportunity to go ashore. He was leaning over the side of the ship, buried in deep, and, by the expression of his countenance, by no means pleasant, thought, when he was startied by the appearance of Spence, climbing up the ladder near which he was leaning. ‘If you please, sir, I have a message from Laurie,” said the middy, as he gained the deck. ‘**tam to tell you that Grace, or Vernier, is now at the ball, or was when I left there. If he leaves before you get there, Mr. Decatur and Laurie will follow him.” ** Vernier at the ball? [mpossible!” exclaimed Dare, very much agitated, and then, glancing at his watch, continued: ** Tt’s too late, anyhow; the sally port is now closed—here’s the gig!” **Il rowed as fast as I could,” said the middy, “Yes, yes. Thank you, my lad. Now tell me what occurred from the time you landed un- til you left.” ‘Yes, sir. After landing and putting off our boat-cloaks, we were invited to the refreshment room—-Laurie, Mr. Decatur and myself—by one of the officers. ‘* While there, Gorman and Harper came in with an officer—at least he looked and acted at home, ‘*You know, Mr. Dare, we don’t pull with them, so we avoided them until Laurie got a pod look at their friend. Then he called Mr. ecatur’s attention to him, and taen Mr, Deca- tur said to go over and listen to what they were aying. **T wouldn’t think of doing it for any one else, and only then because Laurie said he knew the stranger was your enemy, and all is fair in love and war,” ‘‘ Well?” said the lieutenant, not unkindly or even impatiently, but deeply interested, | ** Well, sir, I heard him—Vernier—ask if you were coming ashore, and two or three times if you had received any letters since leaying i inh ae of which inquiries Harper replied, fe) “‘That was all I heard, and then I came here.” ‘Thank you, Mr. Spence, thank you. I’m sorry you will lose your night’s fun at the ball,” The youth was delighted. He would have given an arm for half as much. ‘¢'You will kindly take my watch for a few minutes,” continued the lieutenant, and that completed the conquest of the middy, ‘‘ Now I understand why Decatur and Laurie are so enthusiastic about him. I wonder what eaused such a change in him?” soliloquized Spence, as he proudly took charge of the watch. glow, Dare was repeating the midsbipman’s ee or, having finished, drew a letter from x et. * Now read that, and you'll partly understand my interest in this scoundrel, Vernier—whom I first knew as Midshipman Grace, of the United States,” The letter was as follows: ‘Your wife is with me—this time of her own free will, To prove what I say, she signs with me— * VERNIER, ‘* EMILY,’ “Now you can imagine what my life has been since receiving that,” said Dare, when the cap- tain had finished reading, “It’s very odd—that’s certain,” returned Cap- tain Sterrett; ‘‘ but the boys may ascertain some- thing before seyponr 1 suppose ye believe this to be a forgery, now?” ‘‘By Jove! captain, I believe you've hit it!” exclaimed Dare, a light break over his face, and showing itself in his tone and actions, *' I’ve é , | hoa tiv ; f. Aad ~ oY ~ 4 Vow + * j ‘ ' Bee ; : « Se Pes MG A tate , fi. ue ay ; ; - * - p> aie 2 P ‘ ; . . 5 . 7 v* i ae > a oe 4 - valk + - ji ’ ee i a ee Lhe Three Lieutenants. a a eee never had or seen a line of my wife’s handwrit- | ing, and except that it looks something like her. Midshipman Spence—who, by the way, was now honored with a sobriquet, as all favorites signature, and is positively on her paper, I’ve no | are by seamen, and had been dubbed Gentleman good reason to believe she wrote that.” ‘*Well, I’m glad to see such a change in you, Mr. Dare, | can assure you. Let's try a little of my Madeira on the strength of it.” Leaving the captain, tre lientenant returned to the deck and relieved Midshipman Spence from further duty, although the middy quietly, and by his own invitation, continued to walk the watch with Dare. There was a silent sympathy expressed in this that pleased the young lieutenant, and feeling a little curious, he asked: ‘* Are you from New York, Mr. Spence?” ‘No, sir. I’ve always lived with my uncle in Philadelphia ; and that reminds meof two things, Mr. Dare: first, I’ve never thanked you for pass- ing over my failure to report for duty at the proper time, and, second, just as we were get- ting under way, a shore-boat came under the stern, and a man in the stern-sheets asked if you ‘were still on board,’ I was leaning over the taffrail at the time, and told him you were.” ** And then?’ ‘** He laughed, and rowed away.” ** Was it this Vernier?” ‘*T don’t know, sir. It might have been; I paid very litcle attention to him.” Again the lieutenant sought the captain and their conversation ended with: ** Very well, Mr, Dare; it shal] be as you say; but, as this fellow is a deserter, as well as an ex- pirate, we are in duty bound to endeavor to seize him. When we get him, I’!l guarantee to get at the truth about that letter,”’ But Captain Sterrett was overlooking the im- portant first words in the famous French recipe for cooking rabbits—'‘‘ First get your rabbit ”"— and it was not until the boats came off at seven next morning, not only without information re- garding Vernier, but minus two midshipmen, that he realized the importancé of first getting the rabbit. Inquiry afloat and ashore revealed nothing. Had the earth opened and swallowed them, De- catur and Laurie could not have disappeared more completely. CHAPTER III. A STERN CHASE, “The cry’s ‘A sail! A sail)’ Brace high each nerve to dare the foeman, One secret prayer to aid the right, And many a secret thought to woman! Now spread the flutt’ring canvas wide And dash the foaming sea aside; The cry’s ‘A sail! <A sail!’ ”’ ‘MIpSHIPMAN SPENCE had given Mr. Dare an accurate description of what took place up to the time he left the refreshment-room at the garrison ball, and he was confirmed’ by Harper and Gorman regarding their being in compan with “‘ an officer of the English frigate,” but in- quiry aboard that vessel proved that there was no such officer. ‘* There was aman such as you describe,” said the first officer of the English frigate, ‘* but no- body seemed to know him, although 1 suspect he belonged to that piratical-looking schooner that dropped anchor after dark last night and left be- fore daybreak this morning.” Captain Sterrett was very angry over the loss of the two midshipmen, the mystery surrounding their disappearance, and the time lost in search- ing for them. | ‘*' We can lose no more time, Mr. Dare, he said, late in the afternoon after the ball; i we must join the Commodore as soon as possible, I am sorry for your sake, as well as for those boys, but we must et under way at once.” ‘Very well, sir,” replied the first officer,quite cheerfully, as he turned tv pass the order to the boatswain, whose shrili calls immediately be- gan echoing through the frigate, as sail was made and the anchor raised, The Enterprise was scon under way, and made all sail, steering for Naples, where she was to join,the ecommodore’s squadron, “If we overhaul that schooner, I should like to search her, notwithstanding she shows Enp- lish colors,” said Dare, after they were fairly ar Niky business,” returned ‘th si ess,” return 6 captain after a little reflection ; **but, from what the Englishman said, I think we can chanceit, Be- sides, [’ve an idea that wherever we find that friend of yours, there we'll find those two boys. . cs ew Nici ey oh Da lads were. prob- ably follow m, when they were seize d caubeards” " sn ae ‘+ » ? : ~ eet 4 - . i" jw . ¥~ fp iu % a ‘ a ‘ aoe 7 er ; . ‘A, Heal * 3‘ ‘ ‘* page George—overheard the foregoing conversation, and determined to keep a sharp lookout for the schooner. He felt miserable without his two comrades. | Harper and Gorman made it unpleasant for him at all times and places where it was possible, and when he sought Lieutenant Dare for permission to stay aloft with a glass, the latter, understand- ing the situation, gladly assented. George had eyes sharp as an eyrie eagle, and shortly after going aloft next morning discov- ered a vessel bearing toward the Enterprise, and reported the fact to Lieutenant Dare, who in turn reported it to the captain. ‘‘A polacre-rigged ship—shows English colors like ourselves, and looks no more entitled to,” reported Lieutenant Porter, who bad been aloft examining the stranger as she drew near, ‘From Tripoli, without a doubt,” decided Dare, a little later, and the commodore order- ed sail shortened and the drummer to beat to quarters, On came the stranger until within pistol-shot range; then it was seen that she carried fourteen six-pounders—two more than the Enterprise— and about the same number of men—ninety. The identity of the stranger was already es- tablished. **Tt’s Mahomet Sous’s ship—the Tripoli—that’s him—that big Turk on the quarter-deck,” aver- red Hawkins, the gunner, who had been a slave- prisoner in Algiers, ‘* Hail her!” commanded Captain Sterrett, and the gunner’s words were confirmed, with the addition that she was just from Malta, and Mn oh ta after Americans, but had poor uc **Run up our colors and demand her surren- der! Stand ready to rake her!” When the Algerian saw the red ensign coming down she evidently suspected something, and in response to Captain Sterrett’s summons bauled down her colors, But, Captain Sterrett was not deceived by this apparent submission, and by his instructions Dare kept the ceed oop ready tocross the stern of the Tripoli, which, as he had the wind of the latter, and was the fastest sailer, the lieutenant did not find a difficult task. Meantime the American colors had been hoist- ed, and finding he could not get away, Mahomet Sous, in response to an imperative summons from the Enterprise, hauled up the Bashaw’s flag, at the same time firing a volley of small- arms, The Enterprise immediately crossed the Tri- poli’s stern, delivering a murderous broadside, part round and part grape-shot; then wesring round and skillfully avoiding the enemy’s fire, the other broadside of solid shot was poured into her bull. This had the effect of bringing the Tripoli’s ‘colors down on the run, and Captain Sterrett directed Lieutenant Dare to take the cutter and board her, but before the boat could be lowered, pe entene regardless of consequences, thun- ered: “Hard up! To your guns, lads!” and as the helm was put up, and the captains of the guns, who had dropped their lanyards, supposing the fight was over, sprung to their places, the wily Turk was forced to exchange broadsides instead of raking the Enterprise as he had hoped by the ruse of striking his colors to get into position to execute his treacherous purpose, Enraged at this piece of treachery, Captain Sterrett shouted: “Man the larboard guns! ’Boutshipandrake her in stays! Sharp now, lads, and wéll pay him for that dirty trick!” Again and again this was repeated by the en- raged and more skillful Americans, until the mizzenmast of the Eh ee fell over the side, all her lower spars and rigging carried away with it. The Enterprise then set her courses, which had been hauled Up, and shooting ahead, began bulling the enemy from a raking position, ready when the captain’s humor changed to bear down and rake her, ‘I'll sink her where she lays!” exclaimed Sterrett, savagely, and, as though he had heard the words, Mahomet Sous struck his colors for the third time. ** She’s struck again, sir!” announced Dare. “Let her strike!” returned the captain, who was himself pointing one of the guns, ‘** But, will we not be as bad as they are if we fire on them now, Mr. Dare?” It was Gentleman Sag who asked the question, and as he stood between the captain and first officer. the former, of course, heard it,