Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 949 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

em A LL TL TT _ lc A A ae ee ee ee | - and Mr, ** Out of the way, you fool!” shouted Decatur, emphasizing the order by knocking the man down, and through the opening thus made Dare plunged forward. The midshipmen followed, and then the crowd witnessed a strange sight: a man dressed to represent the devil rushing through the flames at the entrance, while a monk and a jester started to climb by means of the vines and projections on the front of the house, The crowd watched the climbers with breath- less astonishment—those gone through the en- trance were already given up as lost. Laurie, the stronger and more experienced of the two, made the better headway, notwithstanding the flames were bursting through the woodwork more fiercely on his side. At length Laurie was within reaching dis- tance of his window, when it was suddenly seen that the man dressed as a devil was hanging out to help him, but glancing at the other side the climber noticed that his con. panion seemed faint, and shook his head toward him, although the flames were bursting out all around where he was himself hanging. Decatur understood, and rushing to the other window dragged the exbausted Spence through the window, while Laurie hung on to the sill of his. At the same moment Dare appeared below with one of the women; then Laurie was helped through the window, and, a little later, Decatur appeared below, carrying the other woman, fol- lowed by Laurie fairly carrying Spence. How the crowd cheered, while Captain Ster- rett, Lieutenant Porter and others of the Enter- prise rushed forward to meet and greet their gallant comrades. CHAPTER V. LAURIE AND THE MASTER, . OF the four, Laurie had suffered most, The minute he hung waiting to see his comrade safe had cost him many severe burns, but it was mot until he saw Spence safe in the inn, which was only a short distance away, that he gave in. And then it was discovered how badly be had been burned—Mr. Mackay, the father of the rescued girls, being the one to make the discov- ery. «Here, here!” he called to the doctor, who was attending to Spence; ‘‘ here is a more press- ing ease, I fear,” ‘You are right, sir. This young man has suffered most of all from the fire,” averred the doctor, after a hasty examination. After bandaging Laurie’s wounds, and taking a final look at the others, the doctor prepared to leave, promising to return later in the morn- ing. ‘‘This is the only one needing particular eare,”’ he remarked, indicating Laurie, ‘‘ and when Julia or Agnes are sufficiently recovered you might allow them to look after him until i can secure a nurse. It will not do to trust him to the care of the inn servants,” And soit happened that, when Laurie awak- ened with a feverish thirst, his wants were sup- plied by two beautiful girls, whom he at first mistook for angels, and their actions did not tend to undeceive him, Mr. Mackay was a Scotchman who had grown very wealthy in the wine trade, having married the daughter of a Neapolitan merchant, and succeeded him in business, Laurie, of course, knew nothing of this, and was much surprised when Julia, the elder of the two girls, and about his own age, as she gave him a cool drink, said in excellent English; ‘‘ You are not to talk or excite yourself, Mr. Lawrence.” : *‘Ob, come now, that’s not fair!” protested Laurie, ‘And, anyhow, don’t call me Mr, Lawrence.” “You should say ‘ Laurie,’ Julia,” inte , Agnes, and both the others looked at her—the youth gratefully, the sister with a queer smile, Then Laurie kept quiet, while tue girls took turns in telling him who they were, and how grateful to him and bis friends, for somehow the lion’s share of glory fel! to Laurie. ‘“‘ But I didn’t do anything except get a little burnt,” be protested, ‘*Oh, yes! You found Agnes lying senseless in the smoke, and gaye her to Mr. Decatur as being strongest and surest to get her safe out, while you took care of Mr. Spence, who says you saved bis life as well as Agnes’s,” ‘*That’s all bosh!” returned Laurie, politely, but neither of the sisters appeared to notice it, and further conversation was stop by the entrance of Surgeon Parkes, Captain Sterrett Mackay. The latter was very much put out by the sur- The Three Lieutenants, geon’s declaration that Laurie might be re- moved to the ship next day, and wished to con- sult his own doctor on that point, but was over- ruled by Captain Sterrett. ‘*We want Mr. Lawrence on board,” he de- cided, ‘* but if we find removal gives him pain, he will stay here until we return.” That settled the question, and after being quizzed by the surgeon, overpowered with thanks by Mr. Mackay, and receiving a few kind words from the captain, Laurie was left to the care of his nurses} The day passed only too quickly, and with evening came Decatur. and Spence—the last of many callers during the day, so that, with the little rest he received, it Was rather surprising that Luurie was in condition to send word next morning that the litter upon which it was pro- eee to remove him was unnecessary—he would walk. Accordingly, after taking leave of Mr. Mackay and his family, and promising to re- turn if he had an opportunity, Laurie, escorted by/his two comrades, madé quite a triumphal march to the ship, where he was received with three hearty cheers! Gentleman George had been telling the story of \3ignorina Xeres until the captain bad caught a fair idea of the truth, as was proved by his say- ing, as Laurie saluted him: ‘*One rescue every twenty-four hours is enough, Mr. Lawrence. We can’t afford to lose the services of an officer for every signo- rina,” Laurie looked confused amid the general amusement, and the captain covered his retreat by ordering the first lieutenant to get under way at once, but, the middy once out of the way, suddenly remembered that as eight bells (12 o’clock) wouid strike shortly, it would be better to pipe all hands for dinner, and make sail at two bellsin the middle watch—1 P. m. This was done, and Laurie felt so well after dinner that he would not remain below, so, taking a glass, he took up his position on the 00D, ; Along about one bellin the dog-watch (4:30 e,M.), Laurie arose and climbed to the cross. trees, from which point he was heard hailing tke lookout at the maintop, Mr. Porter, who had been ill since ths night of the ball, was in his berth, the captain and Dare were in the cabin. and the master was offi- cer of the watch. al Spence’s remarks about the Signorina Xeres led the master and Harper to suspect to whom they were indebted for the trouble at the ball, and when the latter said: ‘**Lookout’s been asleep—he’s gone aloft to warn him there’s a sail in sight,” the master saw an opportunity for revenge. As if to confirm Harper’s words, the lookout hailed the deck just as Laurie descended, an- nouncing a sail about ten miles ahead, but so eager was the master that, without making the usual inquiry as to her course and appear- ance, he at once addressed, or rather attacked, Laurie. “You went'aloft to warn the lookout of that sail just reported?’ he asserted rather than asked, (The captain and Dare, having heard the hai! from aloft, came on deck at that moment, un- observed by Gorman or Laurie, or by Harper, who stood beside the master to enjoy the ex- pected punishment—for, like all those seldom in command, the latter was proportionally ty- rannical and abusive), ‘J went aloft to inquire what kind of a craft, if it was a craft at all, that I thought I saw,” replied Laurie, with provoking calmness. “Then you did warn him?” triumpbantly. ‘I'm sure I don’t know, sir. Perhaps he — tell. you,” was the still more provoking reply. You should, as you well know, have re- ported to me the moment you saw her. Now, sir, why didn’t you? Answer me!” The master was fairly white with rags, and Laurie’s smiling indifference, and the knowl- edge that most of the ship’s company were lis- tening, made matters worse. “I didn’t say I saw anything—I merely thought I did. As the lookout at the mast- head could, of course, be more sure, | inquired of bim.” Laurie’s reply only added fuel to the fire, and the master roared: ‘* Then, sir, you had better go to the mast- head yourself—and stay there till I call you down!” ‘‘T haven’t heard any report of that vessel yet, Mr, Gorman,” said a stern voice that made the master jump. 5 -_—- ---— *“ No—no—sir,” he stammered; ‘‘ FPve been overhauling Mr, Lawrence for not doing his duty.” Nr, Lawrence is not on duty,” returned the captain, sternly, and turning to Laurie, asked: ** Did you make her out?” ‘¢' Yes, sir. She’s a frigate—foreign-hoking, and steering the same course as ourselves,” ‘‘Thank you, Mr. Lawrence, for your vigi- lance. It’s fortunate somebody kteps awake. Nice state of affairs! Nice state of affairs! Mast-head, eb? Mast-head, indeed!” Captain Sterrett was in a thundering rage, and as he ranged up and down the quarter-deck, it looked as though the master stood a fair chance of being mast-headed himself. ‘* She has hauled her wind, sir,” hafled Deca- tur, who had gone to the topmast cross-trees, ** Another man awake!’ commented the cap- tain, with a withering look at the master. CHAPTER VI. AN ENGAGEMENT—MISSING MIDSHIPMEN, ‘* Ships are but boards; sailors but men; There be land-rate, and water-rats, water-thieves And jand thieves; I mean pirates.” SHAKESPEARE. THE Enterprise was uncer all possible sail, and, when the hands were piped to supper, they were within four miles of the chase, which had thrown out English colors, but that was no satisfactory proof of her being a friend, and the meal was a hurried one. A new frigate, the John Adams, was expected to join the Mediterranean Squadron, and re- marking that the stranger, which was larger and heavier than the Enterprise, answered the description of that vessel, Captain Sterrett hoist- ed the American colors, Thestranger immedi- ately hauled down the English colors and hoist- ed American—so promptly that it lookef sus- picious, It was sunset when the Enterprise had arrived within two miles of the stranger; the private signal had been thrown out, but had not been answered—possibly because it was growing too dark to distinguish the colors of the flags. Just before dark, the stranger put her head tovvard the Enterprise, which had now come stem down to her, and the captain said; ‘*Beat to quarters, Mr. Dare—a few minutes will decide whether we’ve to deal with friend or foe,’ It was a difficult situation, and one demanding much caution, it being necessary, on the one hand, to be fully prepared, and not allow an enemy the advantage to be derived from in- action, and on the other, the necessity of pru- dence that friends and countrymen might not be assaulted. Captain Sterrett had hoisted the private night- signal, but here again, from hissails intervening, it was difficult for the stranger to makeit out, so, determined that there should bea no mistake from want of precaution on his part, he hauled up his courses, and brailed up driver, that the signal might be clearly seen. The vessels were now about three cables’ lengths apart, and lights were seen on the quar- ter-deck of the stranger as if about to answer, but she continued ou her’course, keeping half a cable’s-length to the leeward of the Enterprise, until the bow guns of each were abreast of the other, when she hailed in English: ‘‘Ship ahoy! What shipis that?” ‘*United States ship Enterprise!” replied the captain, who stood on the hammocks, ‘‘ What ship is that?” | By this time, the other frigate had passed half ber length clear of the beam of the Enterprise, and at the same time an indistinct ‘** United States ship”—was heard,a broadside from ber guns (purposely trained aft) was poured into ihe Enterprise, doing considerable execution. Furious at being tricked, Captain Sterrett was all over the ship, apparently, at the same time, ‘**Bout ship! Man the Jarboard guns! Quick, lads, quick!” he cried, urging them on with: ‘We'll pay bim back for that! Lively now, and rake him in stays!” Around went the Enterprise with that rapid- ity for which American sailors were then cele- brated, and catching the Algerian—for such she was—poured her broadside into the latter’s stern. The enemy seemed anxious tu getinto action, and hauled up her courses to await the Enter- rise, : In five minutes the two vessels were running alongside, exchanging murderous broadsides at little more than pisto]-shot range—the dumage inflicted being about equal, 9001 VO. a Sean Tas = ™~ ;