Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 11 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

} i “| > Px —— a ee ere —— ee - 2 —_— -_ — _— ee Sawbridge, and committed to his eare a letter to Dr, Middleton. Once more behold the trio tagether — the _two midshipmen hanging over the tafirail, and Mesty standing by them. They had rounded Europa Point, and witha fine breeze off the land, were lying close hauled along the Spanish shore. Lr. Oxbelly was also walking bear ther, “Vhou ld was cruising here it was very different,’’ ob- served Jack; “Lhada vessel which { did not know how to manage, acrew which I could not command, and hadit rot been for Mesty, what would have become of me?” ‘*iassa Easy, you know very well how to gGou out of serapes, anyhow.” % “Vos, and how to get into them, coigne, Sark. ‘*And how to get others out of them, too, Nod. ‘No more of that, Hal; an’ thoulovest me,’ “quoted Gascoigne, ‘I have often wondered what has been the lot. of poor Azar.” , ‘7a lot of most women, Ned, in every country— wized at first, neglected afterward—the lot she misrht wks had wiia you.” | continucd Gas- “ Porhaps so,’ replied Ned, with a sigh. “Massa Kasy, you get everybody out of scrape; you get me out of scrape.” ‘*T do not recoilect how, “You get me out from boil kettle for young gentle- men—dat devil of a scrape.” “And I’m sure I’ve got you outof a scrape, Mr. Oxbelly.”’ “How so, Mr. Easy?” ed “Tow so!—have I not prevented your quarreling | with your wife every night?’’ | “ Certainly, cir, you have been the means. But do | rou know. when we were engaging the. other day, 1) could not help saying to. myself ‘I wish my wife was | here now, holding little Billy at the hatcaway. “Put at night, Mr. Oxbelly.”’ At nicht!—whyz, then I’m afraid I should have wish- od her home again—ii’s astonishing how, comfortable I sleep now every hight. Besides, in this Climate if would be intolerable. . Mrs. Oxbelly is a very large wo- man—very large indeed.” : “Woll, but now we must hold.a council of war. Are we to run up the coast, or to shape a course direct for Palermo?” : ‘‘ lourse direct, and we shall take nothing, that is certain,’’ said Gascoigne, “TP we take nothing we shall make no prize-money,”’ continued Oxbelly. ‘TP we make no prize-money the men will be discon- tented,” said Easy. ch “Tf no ab noting to do—it will be d—d *tupid,” con- tinued Mesty. “Now then the other side of the question, If we stecr for Palermo, we shall be sooner there and | sooner home.”’ | “To which I reply,” said’ Gascoigne, “that the shorter the cruise is, the less I shail have of your com- ny.” | “And Tshall have to sleep with Mrs. Oxbeily,”’ con- tinued Oxbeily. ‘Hab fino ship, fine gun, fine men, and do not’ing,"’ | cried Mesty. ly rde power, [no like dat, Massa Easy.” | * You want eight months.of coming of ae, Jack,”’ observed Gascoigne. ‘*Tt won’t make a difference of more than three or four weeks,’ said Mr. Oxbelly: ‘‘and the cxpenses have been very great.”’ e But—’’ ‘* Bub what, Jack?” ‘‘ Agnes will be better defended going home br men who have been accustomed to be in action. And, as for her waiting a little longer, it will only make her love you a little more,” dus “Sleep single a little longer, Mr Easy: it’s very pleasant,’’ said Mr. Oxbelly. “That's not very bad advice of yours, Gascoigne, “Stop a little, Massa Easy,” said Mesty, ** you know dat very good advice.” “Well, then,” replied Jack, “I will, as 1 am quite in | i Mesty.’’ DA J An on 79 observed the minority. We will work up the whole coast—up to Toulon. After all, there’s something very pleasant in commanding your own ship, and Tin not in a hurry to resign it—so that point’s decided,”’ The Rebiera was steered in to the land, and at sunset | they were not four miles from the lofty blue mountains | which overhang the town of Maiaga, There were many | vessels lyit £ the bottom of the bay, close in with | the town; the wind now fell light, and the Rebicra, as | she could not fetch the town, tacked as if she were a | merchant vessel standing in, and showed American | colors, a hint which they took from perceiving three or | four large vessels lying In tac outer roads, with the colors of that nation hoisted at the peak, “What is your intention, Jack?” said Gascoigne, “Tl be hanged if I know yet. .L think of working up | to ths outer roads, and anchoring at night—boarding | the American vessels and gaining intelligence,” | “Not a bad idea; we shall then learn if there is any- | thine to be done, and if not we may be off at dayii rht. ’ “The pratique boat will not come off after sunset,”’ | ‘And if they did we could pass for aa American, bound to Barcelona or anywhere else—the outer roads where the vessels lie are hardly within guushot.”’ Mosty, who had resumod his_sailor’s clothes, now | observed, ‘ What we do, Massa Easy, we do quickly— | time for all t’ing, time far suow face and fight—tme for hide face, pees and ste2l,”’ “Very true, Mesty, we'll crawl this time, and steal if | weecan. It’s not the warfare Ilike best of thetwo.” _| “Both good, Massa Easy; suppose you no st-al board | of polacea ship, you not see Missy Agnes.” “Very true, Mesty.. ‘Bout ship, Mr. Oxbelly.””’ * Mr. Oxbelly not good for boat service,” observed | Mesty, showing his teeth, It-was dark before the Rebiera was anchored in the | outer roads, a cable’s length astern,of thie outermost, | American vessel. Oae of hor quarter-boats was lowered | down, and Gascoigne and our horo pulled alongside, and, | lying on their oars, hailet, and asked the name of the | vessel, 2 **So help me Gad, just now I forget her name,”’ re- plied a negro, looking over the gangway, “Who's the captain?” ‘ “So help me Gad, he gone on shore. “Is the mate on board?” i, “ So.help me Gad—he gone on shore, too, “Who is aboard, then?” ) | go on shore now.’ | Rebiera, consulted with Oxbelly and Mesiy, | ly, and said, “ All right.” _tened aft. The vessel soon gathered way, Midshipman Easy. ship in the outer roads, with only a black fellow on | board! I say, Pompey, do they always leave you in | charge of the vessel?’’ ‘‘No, sar; but to-night great pleasure on shore. Everybody dance and sing, get drunk, kick up bobbery, and all dat,”’ ** What, is it a festival?” “fo help me Gad, Ino know, sar. ‘Ts there any one on board cf the other vessels?” “Everybody gone on shore. Suppose they have black man; he stay on board.”’ ‘*Good-night, Pompey.” “Good. night, sar. Who come on board?’ ‘**Captain Easy.” ‘‘ Captain Hee-see, very well, car. Our hero pulled to another ship, and. found it equally deserted; but at the third he found the second mate with his arm in a sling, and from him they gained the information that it was a great festival being the last day of the carnival; and that cvery one was thinking of nothing but amusement, ‘**T’ve anotion,’’ said the mate, in reply, “* that you're 33 call when captain ] on <<, are y . 3 | American.”’ ‘You’ve guessed rizht,”’ replied Jack. “What ship, and fzom*whas port?’ ‘“Tthode Isiand, tae Susan and Mary,’’ repned Gas- Tatiet. » ( O.;rne. “Tthought y¢ nl were north. We're of Néw York. | What news do you briny? * ‘Nothing,’ repiicd he, “* woare from Liverpool last. A suecession of questions vas now put by the Ameri- can mate, and answered very skillfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired how the market was. It was. necessary to make ond reply to all these in- quiries before they could ask apparently indifferent | questions of American traders; at last Gascoigne in- quired: ‘Do you tiink they would allow us to go on shore? the. pratique boat has not been on board,’’ “i*hey'll never find you out if you are off before day- light; I1,doubt if they know that you are anchored. Bosides, from Livcrpoo!l you would have a clean bill of health, and if they found it out they would notsay nauch: | ’ * v they’re not over particular, l’ve a notion,” * What are those vessels lying in-shore?”’ ‘*T guess they have olive ofl on board, the chief on ’em, But there are two double latteens come in from Valparaiso. the day before yesterday, with hiies. end copper. How they ’scaped the British, I can’t, tell, but they did, that’s sure enough,” *Good-nizht, then.” **You won't take a glass of sling this fine night with a countryman?” ‘To-morrow, my good. fellow, to-morrow; we must 9 on board the and. ther manned and armed the two quarter and stern | Tuey thought it advisable not to hoist out their long- boat; no fire-arms were permitted to be taken, lest, ‘oing off by accident or oi: herwise, an alarm should be civen. Our hero and Mesty proceeded in the first boat, and pulled in for the town; Gascoigne shortly after | _ : I the second, and the boatswain in the joliy-boat, fol- Our hero and returned ‘ ‘ DoOats. lowed at some distance, There was no nolice taken of them; they pulled gen- tly down to the landing-place, which was deserted, There was a biaze of light, and the sounds of revelry in every quarter on shore; but the vessels appeared equally deserted as the American ones in the ofing. Kinding themselves unobserved, for they had taken the precaution to pull only two. oars iu each boat, .they.. dropped genily alongside one of the double-masted latteen vessels, and Mesty stepped. on board. * He peeped down in the cabin, and perceived a manlying on the lockers; he came up in his stealthy manner, closed the hatch soft- : Jack left Gascoigne to take out this yessel, which he did very successtully, for it was very dark; and although there were scntr.eu posted not yar off, their eyes.and ears were turned toward the town, listening to the music, A second vessel, her consort, as boarded in the sime way, but here they found a man on deck, whom they were obliged to seize and gaz. They put. him down in the cabin, and Mesty, With another boat’s crew, cut. her cables, and swept her gently cut toward the American vessels. One more vessel was required, and Jack, pulling two oars as usual, saluted a galiliot heavily aden, but of what her cargo consisted was not known. In this vessel they found two men in the cabin, playing cards, whom they seized. and bound, and, cutting her cables, were obliged to make. sail upon her, as she was much too large to sweep out. As they were making sail they, however. met with an interruption which they did not exvect. The crew belonging to the vessel, having had enough amusement for the evening, and intending to sail the next morning, had thought it right to come eff sooner than the others. it was then about midnigns or a little later, and while some of Jack’s men were aloft, for he had six with him, Jack, to his annoyance, heard | a boat coming off from the shore, the mona in her sin ing achoras. Tho galliot. was at that time just wnder stecrage way, her topsails had been loosed and her Ji» hoisted, but the former had not. been sheeted home, for the three men below could not, in the dark, find the ropes. The other three men wera ou the foreyard loosing the foresail, and Jack was. undetermined whether to call them down immediately, or to, allow | them to Joose the sail, and thus ¢et good way on the vessel, so as to prevent the boat, “hich was loaded with men, from overtaking them... Tic boat was not more than twenty yards from the gallio’, when, not | finding her where they leit her, they pulled to the right, and lay on their oars, This gave a moment of time, but they very soon spied her out. ‘*‘ Carambo!” was the exclamation—and the head of the boat was pulled round, ‘* Down, my lads, in a moment bv the swifters,”’ cried Jack. . ‘‘ Here’s a boat on board of us,”’ The men were in a few seconds on deck, and the others, who hal now sheeted home the tonpsails, has- but beiore that her way was sufficient, the boat had pulled under the counter, and the Spaniards, lott ing their oars swing fore and att, were chinbing up, their knives in their teeth. A scurfle ensued, and they were thrown down again, but they renewed their attempt. Our hero, per- ceiving a sinal’ water or wine cask lashed to the gun- wale, cut it loose with his cutlass, and with one of the ‘*So help ime Gad, nobody on board but Fompey— | men, who was by his side, pushed it over, and dro a:.d dat me.” | ang it into the boat. It struck the gunwale, stove a plauk, “Good ship-keepers, at all events,” said Jack. “A | and the boat began to fill rapidly; in the meantime the ' 39 on EE Le — — _ _ alliot had gained way—the boat could not longer be eld on, from its weight, and dropped astern with the meninit. Those who were half in and half out were left clinging to the gunwale of the vessel, and as they climbed up were secured, and put down in the cabin. ¥ortunately, no fire-arms having been used on either side, the alarm was not given generally, but the sen- try reported fighting on-board one of the vessels, and the people of the guard-boat were coliected, and pulled out; but they only arrived in time to sce that the gal- liot was under way, and that the two other vessels from Valparaiso were not in their berths. They hastened on shore, gave the alarm: the gun- boats, of which there were three at the mole, were or- dered out, but half the crew and all the officers were on shore, some at balls, others drinking at ‘averns or po- sadas; before they could be collected, ali three vessels were alongside of the Rebiera; and not aware that any thing had been discovered, our hero and his crew were lulled in security. Jack had gone on board, leaving fourteen of his men on board the gellio’ serene had done the same—Mesty sti]! remained on board his vessel} and they were congratulating themselves, and ordering the men on board to the wiadlass, when they heard the sound of oars. ** Silence !—what is that?” exclatmed Oxhelly. “The gunboats or rew-boats, as sure as I'm alive!” At thismoment Mesty jempcd up the side. ‘* Massa Easy, I hear row-boat not far off.” “So do we, Mesty. Gascoigne, jump into the boat— tell the men in the prizes tomate all sail right out, and leave us to defend their rotreat—s.ay on board of one and divide your men,” “Dat all right, Massa Mr. Gascoigne, be smart—and now, sar, cot cablo anc make sail; no time get up anchor.” This order was given, aloft in a moment, and \ cra payed her head round an could perceive the lx and sailing not five anew ad . brt although the men were expeditious, as the Rebi- | the jib was hoisted, they io three gunboats pulling length frem them, Al- theugh rather short-handed, topsails, courses and top- rallant sails were soon set, the men down to their quarters, and the guns cast loose, before the gun- boats were close undcr their stern. Then Jack rounded to, braced up, and the Rebiera stood across tiiem to the ‘Why the devil don’t they fire?” said Jack, “T tink because they no hab powder,” said Mesty. Mesty was right—the ammunition chests of the gun- boats were always landed when they were et the mole, in casc of accidénts, hich might arisc from the crew being continually with cigars in their mouths, and in the hurry they hal gute forgotten vo put thcm on board. ‘At all events, we have powder,” said Jack, “and now we'll prove it. Grape and canister, my lads, and take good aim.” The commanders of the gunboats had hailed each other, and avreed to bourd the Rebiera, but she now had good: way on her, and sailed faster than they pulled. A weil-divected broadside astonished them— they had no idea of her force; and the execution done was so great that they first lay on their oars and then paler back to the mole with all speed, leaving the Re- jiera in. quiet possession of her prizes, which had already gained two miles in the offing. The Rebiera, as :oon as Jack perceived that the gun- boats had retreated, was put beiore the wind, and soon closed with her c:ptures, when she was hove-to till daylight with the three ve:selsin company. Gascoigne returned on board, prize-inasters were selected, and Jack determined to icep Uiem all with him, and take i thera to Peolernio. cables’ CITAPTER XUI. IN WOICH THERE IS AMOTHER SLICHT DIFFERENCE OF PINION LETWEEN THOSE WHO SHOULD BE FRIENDS. vessels proved of considerable value, will, copper, bides, and cochineal. The Witn oweet-oil, and was also no des- ien gailiot was laden picable prize. At daylight they were al) ready, and, to (he mortification of the good people of Malaga, sailed away to the eastward without intcrruption. ‘Mo tink we do dat job pretty well, Massa Easy,” observed Mesty, as he laid the breakfast-table. ‘‘ Nothing i.e trying,” replicd Gascoigne; “I’m sure when we stood into the bay I would have sold all my prize-money for adoubioon. How dol share, Jack?’ “Only as Gue of the crew, Ned, for you are a super- numerary, and our articles and agreement for prize- money were signed previous to our sailing.” “Tcught to share with Mr. Oxbelly’s class by rights,” replied Gascoiguc. “That would be to take half my prize money away I shall went it 2l', “ir. Gascoigne, to pacify my wife for giving her the stip.” ** Ah, very well; I'll get all I can.” lor ten days they ran down the coast, going much too fast for the wishes of the crew, who were anxious to make more money. They seized a _fishing-boat and put on board of her the four prisoners, which they had found in the vessels, end crrived off Barcelona without falling in with friend or ioe. The next morn ing, the wind being very Light, they discovered a large vessel at daylight astern of them to ihe westward, and soon made her out to be a frivate. She made all sa in chase, but that gave ther little tnecasiness, as they felt assured that she was a British cruiser. Onc fear, however, came over them, that she would, if she came up with them, impress & portion of their men, “As certain as l am lere and Mrs. Oxhbelly’s Southsea,’’ said Oxbelly, “‘they ll take some of thé men—the more so as, supposilg us to be a Spanish con voy, they will be disappointed.” “They will hardly taxe them out of the prizes,”’ ob served Easy. “T don’t know that; men must he had for his Me jesty’s service somehow. It’s not their fault, Mr, Eas; —the navy must be manned, end as things are so, s things must be, : It’s the kine’s prerogative, Mr, Rasy and we cannot fight the ba‘tles cf the ecuntry with i: “Yes,” replied Gascoigne, “ecrd although, as soo as the services Of seamen cic 1.0 Jonger wanted, yo find that there are demag; cues en shore who exclain against_impressment, they are, cnie* enough on th point when they know thrt thcir Lves crd property de pend upon sailors’ exertions.” “Very truc, Mr Gascoigne, but it’s rot our fault we ave obliged to take men by force; it’s the fault c those who do not legislate so as to prevent the neces sity. Mrs.-Csnbelly used to say that she would easil mnanage the mct.er if she were Chancellor of the & chequer.”’ (E(O) (E(o) CS micboo Cc