Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 959 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

| ——_ “Tf you will allow me,” he continued, ‘I Will run in to-night and burn her!” ‘““My own idea!” muttered the commodore; and then began to discuss the feasibility of the project; but, the gale which forced their return, rung up within an hour, and the attempt was abandoned for two months. ,To the female slaves intended for the Sublime ’ the rescue from captivity was scarcely a mat for congratulation, since they were brough¢ tip to look at life in the harem of the Grand Turk as preferable to any other; but to the dozen male and half-dozen femaleslaves who were Christians, Christmas day 1803 was a joy- ful one, : During the run back to Syracuse, Laurie and Spence, who weroin charge of the ketch, discov- ered thatthe youth, Harry Lee, who kad hauled down the Bashaw’s colors, had a sister—a girl of about sixteen—among the slaves, and from him they learned their history. The two were orphans, and two years pre- vious the vessel in which they were going from London to Madeira, under the care of their uncle, who was in business on that island, had been captured by pirates, outside the Straits, after a desperate resistance. Very few pris- oners had been made, and they suppesed their uncle was killed during the fight. Harry Lee had been allowed considerable liberty while in Tripoli, and was well acquaint- ed with its surroundings, which led Spence, who ap to be deeply interested in the ex-slave and his sister, to sug that he should enter the service of the United States. As there were a great many persons in the squadron who knew much more about Tripoli than Harry Lee, Laurie, who was present when the suggestion was made, smiled significantly, and when they were alone innocently asked: ** George, don’t you think Laura Lee would be of great assistance to her brother in piloting us into Tripoli ” ** Don’t be a fool—if you can help it!” ares the Gentleman, and he walked off, looking fully as angry and indignant as his impolite language would indicate he felt, but he had nothing fur- — to say about Harry Lee’s entering the ser- vice, On dropping anchor at S , however, the matter was brought up by Decatur mention- ing to the commodore, that among those found aboard the ketch, were two Americans, of the _— of Lee, who were anxious to get to Ma- “Lee? Where do they belong?’ asked the commodore, **f know nothing of them, sir, beyond what Laurie—I mean Mr. Lawrence—has told, which is, that when their parents died some two or three years ago, and, having no relations in America, the girl wrote to an uncle in Madeira, and he directed them to meet him in London. They did s»,and on their voyage to Madeira were captured,” ** And the uncle?” “He is sup to have been killed during the taking of the ship, but his sister, who kept house for him, is in Madeira, and the niece, especially, is anxious to get to her.” ‘And the boy? We could make use of him in Sit onid . ially as havi Br yee among them so lon 6 must have pic u some of their lan . ‘ ; “Tt is likely he has,” admitted Decatur, and, returning the rub regarding the prize, added: “ Children learn fast,’’ **So I have heard,” said the commodore with a sharp glance, ** but I shall use this child’s late prison for carrying water and stores. ‘* Ascertain if heis di to stay with us, and I will arrange to get rid of the girl at once. There is an English ship about to sail, and it will touch at Madeira. Good-morning, sir.” Decatur returned to the Enterprise, and sent a boat for Harry Lee, whom he found to be a bright, bold-looking, and finely-formed boy for his years, arry listened to the offer to take him into the service, and when Decatur concluded with: _* You willl e something of a nondescript un- til we return to America, but I have no doubt ad will then be appointed midshipman,” he re- plied: ‘*l am thankful to accept your offer, sir, It is enough that my sister should be dependent upon my aunt, and I shall be glad to begin work ce at once. ‘There is nothing coming to you from your father’s estate, I mean—” began Henatanr tat checking himself, was about to speak of ‘Miss Lee’s departure, when Harry replied: ‘*Not that I know of, sir. sealed packet, to my uncle, was found among my a _ The Four Commanders. father’s papers, and that I delivered to him in London. hat it contained I do not know, but suppose it related to our care and manage- ment. ‘‘We always supposed father was well-to-do, but there were only four or five hundred dollars left after paying funeral expenses, and some outstanding bills. ‘* Well, notify your sister to get ready, and if anything is needed let me know. You will re- port to me for duty to-morrow—or, hold! time enough to do that when your sister sails.” Three days after, Laura Lee sailed in the English ship for Madeira, and Harry reported for duty to Lieutenant-Commander Decatur, who immediately dispatched him with a message to the commodore, advising the latter that the youth had decided to enter the service, and ask- ing. what disposition wns to be made of him. he commodore was.engaged with some re- resentatives of the Sicilian Government at the e, and, having no time to give to such an unimportant matter, sent back word to report to Decatur. Five minutes’ conversation with the lad, how- ever, would have revealed to the commodore that the latter and his affairs were matters o no little interest to the Preble family; but, the conversation did not take place, and when Harry returned to the Enterprise, he was as- signed to the ketch, in accordance with the in- tentions regarding him expressed by the com- modore to Decatur. Pending the conclusion of his negotiations for assistance, Commodore Preble had so disposed his vessels as to blockade Tripoli, protect trade, and look out for suspicious craft in the vicinity Oo ; Shortly after his return to Syracuse, Decatur was ordered to assist in this last-mentioned work, and when the ever fortunate Enterprise set sail, her commander. at the earnest solicitation of Spence, took Harry Lee, the Mascot Middy. As the vessel was got under way, Spence, who was standing forward with Harry, laughingly remarked: ‘‘Now, young man, unless Decatur’s pluck, and the Enterprise’s luck, have deserted us, you'll receive your baptism of fire before you are much older.” ‘Many a true word is spoken in jest.” Be- fore another day dawned, the gallant little En- terprise had ugh a fierce conflict, and Harry Lee and many another brave fellow was under the care of her surgeon. CHAPTER III. THE BAPTISM OF FIRE, THE peng oo had sailed in the early morn- ing, and at t in the afternoon was bowling along with fifty miles between her and the Con- stitution, when a sail was discovered on the lee quarter, but too far away to judge of its char- ac The stranger came up very rapidly, and when the second dog-watch came on deck, at six o’clock, the craft was about three miles distant, The general opinion now was, that she was a French privateer, but one of the men who had just come up, declared he had seen a vessel y like her in the harbor at Tripoli, and, if it was the same, she was @ pirate, having been captured from the French. This man was one of those rescued from the ketch. Being a seaman, he had been received into the American service, and for the same rea- son, Laurie, who was officer of the watch, thought his opinion of sufficient weight to dk ap Decatur, who was asleep and feeling un- well, “ There’s a brig on our lee quarter, which one of the men declares is from Tripoli,” reported Laurie. ‘‘Ha!l How far off? How is she steering?” asked Decatur, springing up at the first word. ‘*She’s close hauled on the larboard tack, about three miles off, and looking us up as only swift heels can—even though we are not pushing the Enterprise,” “ All right! Keep her as she is, Don’t spread any more canvas, Tl be up ina min- ute! Decatur was buttoning his coat while talking, and snatching up his sword, reached the dec almost as soon as Laurie. ““She is fast!” exclaimed Decatur, as he looked at the stranger hugging the wind under a cloud of canvas, and eating her way into the steady breeze with the ease and speed of a fri- gate bird in a windward flight, ** Yes, sir, but it will be dark in a few min- utes, and if would be well to wait for the moon, before allowing her to come much closer. Be- sides, it will give us a chance to try our ‘‘ Very true. Spread every inch of canvas. It’s just the breeze to test her mettle.” The order was quickly executed, and as the Enterprise felt the pressure of the broad sheets of canvas just distended, she flew along at a rate that would have carried her away from most vessels, but it was soon apparent to all that she was no more than holding her own with the other. Satisfied with this, Decatur asked Hansen—the ex-slave—if he knew how the brig was armed, and manned, ‘Sixteen guns, anda hundred men, sir,” re- plied Hansen. ‘‘Hum! Four guns and twenty men more than we have! ell, that’s pretty even!” mut- tered the young commander, as he turned to view the stranger. ‘‘Kven!” exclaimed the seaman, who had caught the words. ‘‘I wonder, now, what he would consider odds?” ‘Pretty hard t’say. I don’t think he knows what it means,” replied Morris, the master gun- ner, who had himself been a prisoner-slave, and knew Hansen when both were in Tripoli. The vessels maintained the same relative posi- tions until eight o’clock, when the first lieuten- ant warned his commander that there would be moonlight in a few minutes, and asked if he should shorten sail. ‘‘-Yes, and then send the men to quarters with as ligtle noise as possible,” ordered Deca- tur This was barely accomplished when Laurie’s expectations regarding the moon were . and it was seen that the pirate was once more gaining rapidly. Soon she was within a mile of the Enterprise, and then, € emipte seg becom- ing suspicious, rounded to, sailing on the same tack as the American. ‘Hang the fellow! He seemed anxious enough to close, but now when he has the op- portunity, he stands off!” muttered Decatur, on seeing this cautious movement. ‘* Suppose we heave to?’ suggested Laurie, who was standing beside him, watching every move of the sea-rover. “Try it. He came on so boldly that I can scarcely imagine him running away,” returned the commander; and now, with her topsail backed, the nick eae awaited the coming of the pirate, which an to edge down toward her, after a few minutes. ‘“He’s coming! He’s coming down nicely!” gleefully ejaculated Decatur, and to Laurie: ‘‘Be ready there to wear and give him a broadside the instant he attempts to rake us!” Laurie qui@tly gave the order to fill the main- topsail, in order to get the vessel under com- mand of the helm, and sent the sail-trimmers to their stations. When within a yore ae the brig fired a , and the next instant a flag was seen flutter- g from her gaff. ‘English, by all that’s “e. !” exclaimed De- catur, in angry prise and disappointment, ‘‘ Where's that idiot that claimed to know all about her?’ he continued, Hansen came aft ret gir Bye and confident, and said very firmly that he now was positive that the brig was a pirate. ‘‘]t’s only a trick, sir,” he added, “and I wouldn’t wonder if she carries an English com- mission, to show when hard pressed. I heard that the Tripolitan consul at Malta had man- aged to get one for her.” ‘‘ We'll soon see!” declared Decatur, grimly. ‘* Mr. Lawrence, return that gun and hoist our colors.” This was barely accomplished when the brig, intending to pass close athwart either the fore- foot or stern of the Enterprise, luffed into the wind, laid all aback forward, and keeping her helm down while shivering, her after sails, at- tempted to break round off on her heel, Decatur, seeing this, thought he could lay her athwart hawse, and ordered Laurie to draw ahead with that object in view. The moon, however, disappeared behind a cloud at this moment, and in the sudden gloom each party miscalculated the distance, and just before the brig began to come up on the other eter her jibboom got foul of the Enterprise’s tur, seeing what was about to take place, had ordered Spence to have a hawser ready, but it was not brought in time, and with some small pe aainy te = at eat he himself lashed the wspri eri } While this jan beter done, the guns of both vessels were at work wherever they could be comicboo