Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 949 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

- the first attack, I found a box of gold coin.” CHAPTER X. CENSURED—PROMOTED—CHALLENGED, ‘* Now letit work: Mischief thou art afoot, Take then what course thou wilt!” SHAKESPEARE, ‘HAVE you, sir, any excuse to offer? asked the captain, as Laurie approached, and saluted, ‘* No, sir, nothing for myself, except the gun- boat and what we sunk, but whatever punisb- ment there is, 1 alone should receive it, I coaxed the others to help me,”’ ‘‘'That may be all true, sir, but ’twas I point- ed out the gunboat!” interposed Spence, from behind Laurie, ‘*Oh! Indeed! Well, suppose you come to the cabin and tell me all abont it,” said the cap- tain, scarcely able to repress a smile, adding: ‘‘ Here, Mr, Decatur! Come, Mr. Dare!” ‘t Now proceed with your story,” said tke cap- tain, on reaching the-eabin, and, as gravely as if on trial for his life, Laurie related evary- thing tbat had taken place since leaving the Enterprise. ** And [ forgot to tell you,” he said, in con- clusion, addressing his comrades, and not the captain, “‘that when I went below, just before Then to he captain: ‘*Tt’s all kinds—French, Spanish, and American—but itll make about ten thou- sand dollars of our money.” Everybody stared in surprise, bat Laurie no- ticed nothing. He was staring straight ahead— thinking that, perhaps, it would have been bet- ter, after all, if they had di+d fighting the pirates. But it was too late now; they would be disgraced, and it was all his fanit. The captain noticed his attitude and guessed English what was passing through the lad’s mind, ‘* Suppose we had left you to your fate?” he asked; ‘‘ what would you have done?” ‘*Oh, we would have been kilied, of course,” replied Laurie, adding and usiny almost tao same words that he uttered years after and which were graven on history’s page: ‘¢ But we wouldn’t give up the ship!” The captain and lieutenant exchanged glances, and the former said: . : ‘**T don’t know what to dowith you. Accord- ing to the rules of the service, you should be court-martialed; but three men and three boys that capture one gunboat and destroy at least two others, against odis running from five to forty to one— Mr. Dare, what d’ye recom- men?” ‘* You might give each an acting order as lieu- tenant,” was the smiling reply. ‘* Yes, that might be done,” assented the cap- tain gravely, adding: ‘¢ Pass the word for the other three,” This was done, Hawkins, Jamesand Maxwell quickly ap ed and stood looking rather blue while waiting to hear what was wanted. ‘*Now, sirs,” began the captain, veverely, ‘* your conduct in leaving the sbip and ,delaying it was abominable, and must be publicly cen- sured; but your subsequent daring and deter- mined bravery Ican commend—privately, So your punishment, shall be sirm;:ly a public cen- sure—your reward must follow—not precede it. ‘* You, Mr, Decatur, and you, Mr. Lawrence, I shall make acting lieutenants to abide the de- cision of the powers that be. Your age and in- experience prevents my doing the same for you, Mr, Spence—at present, ‘“‘You (with a gesture comprehending the others), I cannot do anything for now, but shall watch for the first opportunity, ‘*Now go on the quarter-deck and listen to your punishment.” Like men ina dream the six men went on <2 atte could scarcely realize what had hap- ened. : As soon as they were on deck the captain and first lieutenant appeared—both looking ve grave, and the hands were turned up to divi- sions. Then the men looked sympathetically at the six culprits, while thecaptain read them a severe lecture on the enormity of their offense, winding up the statement that nothing but their gallant behavior pa the engagement with the Algerians, and their still more gallant fight dur- ing the morning, kept him from treating them as deserters, f Then, as he turned to go below, the captain i .cidentally announced that Decatur and Laurie were acting lieutenants, and the men, who were dismissed with this, gave three rousing cheers, There is very little secrecy aboard ship, and, ten minutes after the men were dismissed, every one knew what had happened in the cabin—anid, ,and Laurie, who had s A The Three Lieutenants. SS oo — with the exception of three, rejoiced at the out- come, Midshipman Harper, Gorman; the master, and Williams, the steward, all three felt sorely aggrieved at the mock punishment and real re- ward réceived by the three midshipmen and their compaaions, Lieutenant Dare was placed in command of the prize-crew on the Algiers, and the waster, with Decatur and Morgan, the gunner’s mate, took, charge of the Seraph, and the order being given, the vessels set sail for Tripoli, Morgan, the gunner’s mate, was a stout, dumpy man, with a red face, red hands, red hair and red whiskers, and he had read a great deal—of one book. Every spare moment he had, was devoted to the ** Art of Gunnery,” but, althongh he studied much he understood little, died the same book with more understandifig, extracted a great deal of amusement out of him, The gunner’s mate had once studied navia- tion, and the midshipman had but to get him excited, to cause Mr, Morgan to get horribly mixed in his technical terms; he would mix them all up together; for disparts, sines and cosines, parabolas, tangents, quadrature and Gunter’s scale, projectiles and traverse sailing, were all crowded into a brain which had nor capacity enough for the rule of three. Bat Mr. Morgan expected to be master-gunner some day—perhaps master, and then he would have the advantage cf knowing both arts. After getting Mr. Morgan mixed up, Laurie would set him right, and, if he disputed it, appeal to Hawkins, who invariably confirmed what the midshipman said, which did not make the gunner feel any the better disposed toward his opponent, It was this teasing of Laurie’s that caused the gunner to consent to act as second in a peculiar duel, which was to be fought at the first oppor- tunity. On the third day after the capture of the Al- ciers, Decatur walked forward to speak to the master, who was talking to Williams, the stew- ard. Captain Sterrett did not like the latter, and had seat him aboard the gunboat ‘to be with his friend, Mr. Gorman,” appointing the assistant-ste ward in his place on the Enterprise, which angered the steward very much, and, as usual, he blamed the midshipman—especially pence, who discovered the Seraph. Decatur’s business was of no particular im- portance, and be stood leaning on the rail, just out of earshot, waiting for them to get through, but as soon as Williams became aware of the lieutenant’s presence, he raised his voice, and, asif continuing the conversation said: ‘“T musht agree wud! ye, Misther Gorman— it is quare that whippersnappers of b’ys are passed over the heads uv foine min.” (Mr, Williams wes an l[rishman, but by no means a credit to his native country, for, while the courage of ‘the average Irishman is un- questioned, there was considerable doubt of Mr, Williams’s.) “Yes, it’s rough,” returned Gorman, “ and them associatin’ with common sailors, not t’ speak of makin’ friends of ex-slaves ’n’ pirates.” ** Faith, it’s nothin’ but the money uv that young rip, Spince, that doesit. Shure ye—” Decatur could stand no more—they were making him o listener, and striding forward he stopped Williams with: ‘* You confounded ignoramus, 1f you impose any further on my being an officer, I'll knock you down! What d’yemean by sucb talk of my friends and myself?” Wiiliams shrunk back, but Gorman took it up. ‘‘ Listeners never hear anythin’ pleasant,” he ‘* Listeners !” scornfully echoed Decatur. ‘* You are worse than he is—protecting yourself under the forecastle, when, if on the quarter- deck, you would have to answer for that one word—if nothing else!” There was no question about Gorman’s Cour- age, but he said; ‘* [ty appears to me that your quarrel lies with my friend, It’s a niece way te put it—hidin’ under the forecastle, but ain’t you protectin’ yourself under cover of the quarter-deck?” ‘Be jabers, ye’r’ right he is, Misther Gor- man!” put in Willams, ‘Phin I insult a gin- tleman, I ginerally give him satisfaction.” This was too much for. Decatur’s fiery tem- r, ‘* Very good!” he exclaimed, “‘Tll give you gentlemen all the satisfaction you wish as soon cab get to Malta—we will be sent there to refit, ‘© One ata time?’ asked Gorman. / SSS a slr eee ‘No, sir! Both at the same time, if [ live or nut atall! Now choose your second—mine is —i» Mr, Laurie,” replied Decatur. ‘ He could think of no one else whom he could rust, And so the duel was arranged, and the master could think of no one better than Morgan to act as his second and Williams’s, Morgan had no feeling against Decatur, nor really any against Laurie, but, on the spur of the moment, consented to act because Decatur was one of the ‘‘ three inseparables,” Three days later the commodore welcomed the Enterprise and its two prizes at Malta—the iat- ter being very welcome additions to his small fleet, and on hearing the story of the capture and defense of the Seraph, confirmed tbe actin orders, making the midshipmen full-fledg lieutenants, Hoth the Algiers and Enterprise needed re- pairs, and the squadron proceeded, leaving them to follow with the gunboat. The day after, Lau- ric and Morgan met and arranged that the duel shouli take place next morning—and an odd arrsngement it was. ee CHAPTER XI, AN ODD DUEL, i smell a AevYeo,” : TweLrra NIGHT. “Sir Tosy: ‘ Excellent! ‘* WHEN Laurie and Spence were informed of the proposed duel, both were rather put out over the idea of Decatur putting himself ona level with his opponents by consenting to meet them as gentlemen, it was done, however, and there wag nothing now to do but go ahead, and Laurie waited on Morgan, who received him in a very friendly fashion, and the next morning—which was Sun- day—was fixed upon for the meeting. ‘Hor ye see,” said Morgan, *‘ they can’t re- fuse t let ez go ashore on account 0’ work on the ship. According to agreement, leave to go ashore was asked and granted to all interested, except Spence, ‘‘ No, I would rather you spent the day with me,” said the captain, to the latter, ‘I am go- ing to call on the governor, and you will find it very pleasant.” The midshipman could offer no objection, and on leaving the cabin sought Laurie, to whom he said: ‘‘it’s no go. The old man dines with the governor, and I’m to go with him, Now, there’s no telling what may happen to-morrow morning —you know I’ve got plenty of money, 80 you had better take this,” ‘* This” was a heavy purse of gold, and, after Sota hesitation, Laurie accepted it, say- ng: ‘‘My share of the prize-money will make up as much as this, [ll give you an order for it,” Next morning after breakfast, the three prin- cipals and their seconds met ata little inn as ore, where Laurie was surprised to find Hawkins in conversation with an Arab. Hawkins had come ashore to make purchases the previous night, with liberty to remain over Sunday, #nd, meeting a former resident of Tripoli and one who was @ good friend to him when he was a slave there; had spent the night at the inn, As both Laurie and Decatur and his friend Ben Ali spoke French, Hawkius introduced them, but the first-named was called away im- mediately after by Morgan to make arrange- ments for the duel. Seating himself at a little tableaway from the others, Morgan began: ‘‘Mr, Laurie, I've had no experience on the field myself, and I must confess this puzzled me for awhile, but Pve got it allright now. You know what an equilateral triangle is?” ‘‘One having three equal sides,” replied Lau- rie; ‘‘but what the deuce has that to do with the duel.” . ‘‘ Everything—it solved the puzzle, Indeed, the duel can only take place upon this principle. See here!” The gunner took from his pocket a card upon which was drawn 4 triangle, and at each corner the initial of one of the parties. ‘¢- You see,” be continued, ‘‘we have three parties, and as each must have the same chance, and each a shot, this is the only fair way it could be done, Now, for instance, there stands Mr. Decatur, the master here. and the steward at the other corner, soif the distanceis fairly messured, everything ia even.” ‘By Jove, Mr, Morgan, you've got » great head!” exclaimed Laurie, who could bardiy keep a straight face, ‘* but bow do they =re?” —_—_—_—_———_ a ee ee — att