Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 949 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

7 it will be remembered by those who read of Laurie’s first cruise, that his forte was gunnery, and after the combat had been going on a half- hour, an idea occurred to the middy which, af- ter submitting it to his tutor, Hawkins, the master gunner, he laid before the captain. ** Why not focus the fire of all our guns, cap- tain?” he asked. Captain Sterrett stared in surprise, and Laurie continued: ‘* Fire those amidships as they are, direct for her main-channels, Train those abaft the beam more and more forward, and those before the beam more and more aft—gradually, of course. anes heavy as she is, we'll tear the side out of er! The captain continued to stare; he could hardly realize that it was one of his midshipmen was talking, ‘*Come!” he exclaimed, after a moment, and taking Laurie by the arm, helped him to the main deck, ‘‘Now go forward and help Hawkins point the guns,..and fire all at the word!” he continued. Laurie went forward, and as the firing of the Enterprise was necessarily slackened, the enemy cheered, imagining she was about to strike, but when the word was given, and the concentrated broadside poured in, they were sorely urde- ceived, Three of the Algerian’s midships ports were blown into one, guns dismounted, and her main- mast fell over the side, Then the Enterprise forged ahead of the hampered frigate, and poured in grape and canister, from her upper deck carronades, to impede the labor of clearing away the wreck- age. This was all very good fun for the gunners, but it did not suit the flery spirit of Decatur, who, standing between Laurie and Spence on the quarter-deck, and unconscious of the prox- imity of the captain and Dare, burst out: ‘“*it’s all very good, but we are losing men, and must wind up by sinking her—if we can! Now if we board her we’ve got a prize to show for our losses,” ** You're just right, Steve!” warmly assented Gentleman George, ‘* What d’ye think of your friends?” asked the captain, in a low tone, ** W ell—I must confess I think they are right,” laughingly replied the lieutenant. “So, Mr. Decatur, you think we should board her?” said the captain. ni Pp started, but recovering, replied, oldly: ** 1 didn’t mean to criticise your judgment, sir, but she has too many men, and we may lose her if we don’t!” ‘*And you, too, gentlemen?’ continued the captain, in the same half-serious way. ** Yes, sir!” came the simultaneous response from Laurie and Spence, ‘“* Very well, we'll try her by the board,” said the captain, laughing at the unanimity of opin- ion. ‘* Mr, Dare, give them one more broadside and then run her alongside!” Another and more deadly discharge of the carronades was delivered as the Enterprise, conned by Dare, ran alongside the Algerian, but, notwithstanding the havoc it worked, when Captain Sterrett, at the head of his men, board- oy the enemy, they met with desperate opposi- on. The three midshipmen were close to the cap- tain when he boarded, and fortunately for him. They followed him into the thick of the fight, where the voice and arm of the Algerian captain were heard and felt strongest. Here Captain Sterrett slipped in a pool of blood and fell, but the three inseparables, now backed by Dare formed round him and beat off the enemy until he arose. : Again Captain Sterrett tried to reach the other captain, and this time succeeded in crogs- ing swords with him, but had scarcely done so when the Algerians, who were still superior in numbers, Came with a rush, and the captain was knocked down by a chance blow, which came near ending his earthly career, for the Algerian captain rushed forward with uplifted sword, his time Decatur warded off the blow, and Gentleman George shot the Algerian dead— practically ending the fight, for when Dare came like a tiger, leading the Enterprise men, the enemy fled before them, and the frigate was won, As soon as the main deck had been cleared, Captain Sterrett ordered the hatches to be put on, while he hastened to attend to the condition of his own ship and its company. It was daylight before anything like order was restored on the decks of the Enterprise; the The Three water was still smooth, and she had hung on by a hawser to the prize, but ber sails had been furled, decks cleared, guns secured, and buckets were dashing away the blood from her planks and gun-carriages when the sun shone upon them. The wounded had been put into their hammocks, although there were still several cases of amputation to attend to, the carpenter had repaired the dangerous shot-holes, and by the time all this was done, what Captain Sterrett did not, himself, know before, of his debt to the three inseparables, he learned from the talk of his crew—and a great deal more than actual facts. Lieutenant Dare had been left in charge of the prize, and not seeing any of his three heroes (according to the crew) aboard the Enterprise, Captain Sterrett ssp they had stayed with their friend, but when he went over to the other vessel to see what was needed, and incidentally inquired for them, he found the three midship- men missing, although among neither dead nor wounded, and he was very much concerned as to their fate. Then, too, he had lost his expert unner, Hawkins, and his best seaman, Reuben homas, the master’s mate. ‘“*Tt’s very strange,” said the captain. ‘* And very sad,” added Dare mournfully, CHAPTER VII, WHERE THEY WENT AND WHAT THEY DID, ** Mars dote on you for his novices,” ALL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL. LIEUTENANT DARE was sorely puzzled over the disappearance of his friends, but refused to believe that those whom he had seen alive and unhurt after the engagement was over could be among the bodies thrown overboard, while the decks were being cleared before daylight. Every man of the crew was sorrowfully in- terested in tis fate of the six men, for, in addi- tion to those already mentioned, it was found that Maxwell, the giant captain of the maintop, was also gone, but the first lieutenant was like aman who had lost his brothers, and when the captain went back to the Enterprise to send men to help in making repairs, began repeating his inquiries among the prize-crew, ‘‘ T,ook-a-here, Jack,” said one, seeing Dare coming around again, ‘‘ if he axes me ag’in, I’m a-goin’ t’ tell. I can’t stand it—he’s like a fa- ther that’s lost a dozen young-’uns,” ‘* All right, Jim; I feel that way myself,” re- turned the other, and when the lieutenant reached ‘‘ Jack,” he was electrified to learn that the missing men had gone off in the cutter just before dawn ‘‘to capture 4 gunboat.” Lieutenant Dare was not given to profanity, but he certainly did make use of an expression, regarding the sanity of his friends, which is not countenanced by polite society. Then joy at the assurance that his friends were, as far as known, still alive, caused him to laugh, and go over to the Enterprise to acquaint Captain Sterrett with what he had learned. ** We must run inshore and find the scamps, I hope they have not been captured,” said the captain, on hearing Dare’s story. *T hope not. Vll go aloft—perhaps I can make them out. I’m not inclined to worry much, for those six are equal to an ordinary dozen—the boys in wit, and the men in strength and skill.” ‘¢ Well, let’s hope theyll get back safe with a prize,” said the captain, laughingly, ‘*T shouldn’t be surprised,” rejoined Dare. ** Laurie led them.off, V'll wager; ut as he in- variably falls on his feet, they will probably turn up all safe.” The lieuteuant went aloft, but there was no- thing in sight as far as he could see, and the captain ordered that the two vessels cruise alorg She coast as soon as the repairs were com- leted, And now to explain what became of the three midshipmen and their faithful henchmen. Just before daylight, while aboard the Al- gerian frigate, Gentleman George made out a small boat some distance to the windward, ‘*Tt’s an Algerian gunboat,” declared Hawk- ins, when called upon for bis opinion, ** She enme out too late to be of any help, ’n’ now she’s tryin’ to steal back, The wind’s died out ’n’ they’re towin’ her,” ‘*T say, Steve,” said Laurie, ‘‘ wouldn’t it be a fine thing to take the cutter and capture that nboat? We could%take Hawkins, Thomasand axwell, and in the dark it wouldn't be much of a job for six,” This proposition appealed strongly to Deca- tur’s love of adventure, and, after a monment’s thought, he approved of it, at the same time asking: and we'll have the advantage of the surprise ; - e. ' gia, &, ey ¢ MW L 1 f ek j ; : \ o7 tf : oe 4 : " “ae \ ae Ae =e ape eS ay 7 wa oe Fro Pr isa= 4 aa ae ‘1 ve Ay : hs a oe 3 is vr < 7 at) |) a Sate 9! hn ae we , Dk ss Sh eae AE :. ar ae ee ‘* But how can we get away? The cutter must be armed.” ‘Ob, [ll fix that,” calmly replied Laurie, and he did. The three men were willing to risk punish- ment, and, with the aid of two others, armed the cutter, which, in the general confusion, and favored by the darkness, slipped away -un- perceived. A half-hour’s stiff rowing brought them close to the gunboat, and then pulling cautiously re the stern, Laurie, in the bow, made fast to er. **T can see only two men—one at the wheel, about half-asleep, and the other in the bow,” we Laurie, after peeping on deck, ‘* Rest ’r’in the boat towin’,” said Hawkins and the sound of the sweeps towing confirmed his words. ‘* All right! Let's climb aboard—we’ve got her sure enough,” said Decatnr. ‘¢ Hold on—the man at the wheel first,” said James, Lightly as a cat he swung over the stern, fol- lowed by Maxwell, and before the sleepy helms- man realized what was going on, he was bound and gagged. ** Now come on,” whispered Reuhen Thomas; the three midshipmen climbed aboard, and Zo- ing forward, the other man was easily and quickly secured, ‘* What about those fellows in the boat?” asked Spence, Ke Oh, cut the line and let them go,” replied Laurie, carelessly ; ‘‘ if they make a row, it will be all the worse for them.” ** You take it pretty cool,” laughed Decatur. **Do you know that there are twelve men in that boat?” ' “ Well, aren’t we six and in possession? Cut the rope!” ! This was done, and the sudden relaxation of tension on the rope almost overturned the tow- ing boat, Thinking the line had parted, the men in the boat called to their comrades, and*receiving no reply, pulled to the side, but the first man who attempted to come aboard was knocked back by a stunning blow from Maxwell’s fist, Alarmed at this, the others pulled away until their comrade had recovered sufficiently to tell them that the gunboat was taken, for, at Deca- tur’s suggestion, he had been allowed to come up far enough to see that there were & number of strangers aboard. The boat’s crew was unarmed, and naturally reasoned that those on board the gunboat would blow them out of the water if they attempted to board her, so they pulled away for the shore. The long brass 18-pounder forward, and the two howitzers abaft were too much for them. ‘* Well, I suppose we may as well go back,” suggested Spence. ‘*Oh, hang it—no! There’s been neither fun, nor fighting—let’s go ahead!” exclaimed De- catur, “Right you are, Steve!” assented Laurie, and that settled it. ‘*' We'll have a cruise of it,” said Laurie, and, having the sanction of three officers, the men did not object, so, a light breeze tpringing up at dawn, the gunboat was kept inshore. When daylight came the Seraph—the gunboat —was within five miles of the coast of Algiers, and then Spence, who, as usual, was first to use his eyes, discovered two gunboats bearing out toward them. ‘*T guess what d’ye call it’s the best part of valor!” said Hawkins. ‘These fellows have made good time in going for help t’ get their boat back,” ‘* Yes, but as the wind is dying out complete- ly, I don't see what discretion is left us. We cae fight if it’s five to one—as I suppose it must “Well be very lucky, Mr. Lawrence, if it ain't eight or ten to one,” said Hawkins. CHAPTER VIII, A FIGHT AND A *‘ FIX,” “Front to front, Bring thou this flend— Within my sword’s length set him; if he ‘scape, Heaven forgive him too!”’ MAcBETH. ‘¢ Way not loosen these fellows, Mr. Decatur?’ asked Gentleman George, indicatins, the pris- oners. ‘*‘ Hawkins can ascertain from them if that boat’s crew are aboard those two gun- ts.” ‘* What’s the difference?” ‘¢ Well, if they don’t know we've got her, they will not suspect us until they are pretty closc, | | | | | eee ee ECO Ce SOirvWmU—- > " a ee . . ’ ee