Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 206 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 One Eye, the Cannoneer. the decks of the yacht, and cowered under the shelter of the low bulwarks, for the night breeze chilled their naked bodies, while both men relapsed into gloomy thought. - At last, after a long silence, Delmont said: ‘‘This will never do, comrade, Iam going to work. I have an idea.” He rose and went forward to the waist, swam across to the forecastle and rummaged about under the wreck after the sail, till he called out to Martin: ‘*T have found it.” Martin, whose gloomy temperament had made him indifferent to the other’s movements, turned his head. ““ What is it?’ he asked, listlessly. ‘‘ A crowbar. The cabin is fall of water, or I should have hesitated. But in the cabin, against the ceiling, is a box of water-proof ag. Spm: that can be set off by pulling a string.” artin started up instantly. “My captain,” be said, humbly, “‘you are worthy to command us all. I will obey your om without more grumbling. What must I of ‘‘ First catch this rope. I can not swim with the crowbar, it is too heavy.” He threw the end of the rope to Martin, and the old sailor hauled in the crowbar, when they set to work to tear open the cabin hatch. As soon as this was accomplished they found the water up to the cabin ceiling, and Delmont dived down and felt his way to the place where the signal box was stored. | It had been placed there for just such use, and he had no trouble in moving it and attaching a rope to it, when he emerged nearly suffocated, and they hauled the box on deck. The signals were lights heavily coated with wax, a string left hanging outside, which, when pulled, ignited some composition inside, and set the light going. In another minute a broad red glare illu- mined the wreck and the faces of the two men. Delmont had set the light on the binnacle of the yacht, which was yet standing, and both men peered out into the darkness round them to watch for an answering signal. ‘Tf the schooner is in sight,” said Martin, ** she will know our light.” But the red glare burned out, and all remained dark as ever. ‘Never mind,” said Delmont, cheerfully. ‘‘ Burn another in five minutes. I will not give up bope till the box is empty.” ‘‘ How many A ine: are there, captain?” “There should be twenty-four, but some may miss fire.” ‘é Captain—” ‘* Well?” ‘* Suppose they see this from the island?” ‘They will come after us in the morning.” “Why not to-night?” **T have counted on that. The frigate is in the harbor, and the fog thick there. The Andromeda is at least thirty miles off. The only ship we have to fear is the Arethusa, and she may be behind the island. Iam going to burn another light.” The string was pulled, and a dazzling white glow followed this time. No answer came from light faded, Martin said: ‘Look at the island, captain?’ On the top of a peak four points of light were moving in queer angular figures, resting a moment, then resuming their gyrations. 4 They are signaling from the telegraph station,” said Delmont, quietly. ‘‘ Well, that is nothing. We shall soon see who they are talk- ing to.” They watched the semaphore lights with such interest that they forgot to let off another fire, till the sound of a gun made them both start. Out on the water it was difficult to locate the one ef the sound correctly; but Delmont said: ‘“Tt comes from behind the island. It must be the Arethusa answering the ny vogelt Martin, who was staring over the sea to the south, suddenly uttered a cry of joy and clutched his comrade’s arm: ** Look, captain!” he cried. A flash had just lit up the southern horizon, and in a few seconds more the deep boom of a heavy gun came rolling over the water. Martin and Delmont had been listening for the sound; but the lips of the younger man were moving all the while, and he said quietly: “Tt is the schooner; but she is ten miles away, Martin.” ‘* How do you know, captain?’ **By counting the interval between flash and report. She may be a little further off, for I did not catch the first flash.” ‘“‘And how far off is the frigate?” asked Martin, curiously. “I cannot tell. I did not see the flash. We must burn another light before she comes from behind the island, or she may see us before the lookout on the schooner.” They did so at once, burning three in rapid succession. Before the glow of the last died the sea; but as the out they were answered by a rocket in the south, and Delmont observed: a EeEEnnnnnEEnEnInnnnEnnEEEeennn ‘They see us at last. Weshall be saved.” Martin looked uneasily at the land. ‘‘T wish we knew where the frigate was,” he said. ‘‘ Watch and we shall see, Martin,” was the tranquil answer. They watched silently for a full hour, when Martin observed: ‘‘T see no lights, and the telegraph station is not working.”, ‘‘No. They think they have located us, and are waiting for morning to catch us, They imagine this is the schooner.” ‘Why do you think so, captain?” ‘Because no one would imagine that to be the truth which has actually happened. If the guard-boat, as I think, took our men off the wreck, they thought it not worth looking after, Moreover, we have drifted out of the line where they looked for us, and if I mistake not, this current, which you complained of in the water is yet to prove our salvation, It takes us outo range every time they locate us in the dark. Aha! There they are.” As he spoke, two rockets rose from the sea, one under the island, the other far away to the north. “The Penelope has come out again,” said Delmont. ‘ The other is the Arethusa. I know our rockets. They have colored stars, These are all white.” ' “Then they are looking for us?” “Of course. But we have three hours yet be- fore dawn,” ‘‘T wish we could see the schooner, captain. She may miss us in the dark.” ‘‘ Possibly. But I think not. Sheshould be within sight by this time, if she only showed a light. Look sharp for her.” Again they peered out over the ocean, and in a little while more Martin said: ‘There she is, passing us.” Where?” ‘Out yonder, toward the Penelope.” Then they saw, stealing through the dark night, about half a mile off, the white sails of the schooner, gliding along in the light breeze, under a cloud of canvas. “The current bas carried us below her esti- mate,” said Delmont. _‘* We must burn another light at any hazard. I think she is nearer than the two ships, and it will not do to be here at daylight.” As he spoke he pulled another string, and im- mediately tossed the light into the sea, where it expired with a hiss. , ‘She sees us,” cried Martin, joyfully. In fact, the schooner immediately fell off before the wind, and came down on them, wing and wing, close enough to be hailed, when a voice shouted: ‘“Whoare you? Speak ques ” ‘Schooner ahoy,” cried Delmont. Belle of Baltimore?” “ Ay, ay,” answered the voice, “is it you, Delmont?) Where the dickens are you? Where's the felucca?”’ ‘“ Here!” cried Delmont. mon ami?” ‘‘ Port hard!” cried the voice. sheets! Steady!” And the schooner shaved so close to the wreck in the darkness that Delmont and Martin both expected to be run down. When she had passed she luffed up, and a boat ‘pulled to the wreck, when a man in the stern-sheets stood up, ‘Ts it the ‘* Don’t you see us, ‘‘Trim in the “res ay ‘*No wonder I couldn’t see you. Why didn’t ou say you'd been wrecked? How did this appen, Delmont?” Delmont grasped the hand of his American friend, and got on board the boat before he an- swered: ‘Tt’s a long story. The Penelope sunk us, and some of the men are prisoners, others dead, Martin and I are here. Did you see the two frigates signaling?” “Ay,ay,” returned Norton, carelessly. ‘I don’t fear those old tubs in broad daylight. But we must get the men back in some way. Come aboard and get some clothes, before we do anything. I can’t promise you such fine toggery as you used to sport on the felucca; but if plain blue flannel is not too coarse, you shall have a hearty welcome.” “Stay,” interposed Delmont. ‘‘ How far off are the frigates, think you?” ‘““The nearest is five miles, the other at least eight, I think, but won’t be sure in the dark.” ‘* How long before they can get here?” ‘Depends on the wind. ey don’t make two knots an hour now. It’s only the Belle that can make six in this sort of weather.” “Captain Norton,” said Delmont, in French, so as not to be understood by the American boats’ crew. ‘In the wreck, under the cabin floor, lies a large chest. In that chest are over a million dollars in gold and jewels, besides some Lo uae Help me get them out before the rigates come and I’ll give you half for the Belle of Baltimore, to take my revenge in. Do you accept the offer?” Norton burst out laughing. “ Accept the offer? Why man, what do you take me for? I was born in the State of South Carolina, and I never went back on a friend et. help get your money; bat when Rut- cage Norton sells his friendship I'll take your offer. Delmont grasped his hand warm] ‘You are worthy to belong Guard,” was all he answered. t6 the Old CHAPTER XXI. TURNING THE TABLES. MORNING dawned over the sea round St. Helena, and the sun shone on three vessels, forming a triangle, of which each side was about five miles, while the sea heaved gently in a dead calm. The schooner, Belle of Baltimore, heeled over from the wreck of the yacht, to which she was attached by heavy hawsers, lay about eight miles from the island, her crew working rapidly at the wreck, which had risen two or three feet from the water, and transferring boxes and bales from her to the schooner through a large hole cut in the deck. The Penelope lay under the land, the Are- thusa off to the north, and all three vessels lay with flapping canvas, slowly drifting on a slug- gish current. Rutledge Norton, captain of the Belle, a thin, sunburnt young man, with a blue eye and fair hair, was giving orders in a sharp, energetic way, while Delmont stood by him, my eying the island, which contained his idol. As for Martin, the old sailor was hard at work diving into the cabin, attaching ropes and helping generally. As the sun rose, Delmont said to Norton: ‘My friend, I am very grateful to you for this service. You came here merely as a spec- tator. I had no right to ask you to shure my risks—” Rutledge interrupted him with a laugh. | ‘‘Nonsense, man. Stopit. I’vea grudge of my own to settle with these fellows.” “What fellows?” ‘“‘These Britishers. My grandfather died in a British prison, and I was at school in the last war, so I had no chance to get even then. This is what I’ve been looking for ever since I came to sea.” ‘T don’t understand you.” ‘““A chance to fight a Britisher in a good cause. I’m going to get your men off that island.” Delmont’s face brightened. ‘‘But how? They are in British hands. can’t attack the island.” ‘¢ No, but we can the ships.” ‘* And do you really mean—” ‘“‘Treally do. Pshaw! It’s easy.” ‘‘ My friend,” said Delmont, gravely. ‘‘ This is not your place. I, desperate, caring not for life, could afford to run risks, but ycu have a home and country to live for. You are not an exile.” , Rutledge pushed him gently away. ‘“ Attend to unloading your old hooker,” he said. ‘I'll attend to the Belle.” ‘But at least tell me what you’re going to do, Norton.” “Certainly. In fact, I shall need your help. You are, I understand, an expert artillerist. I’m a pretty good shot_myself, but I don’t cal- culate my ree well. You have some means—” “Yes, yes, L understand. I use triangulation with compasses or sextants from the deck and the top of the mast.” ‘‘Hxactly. Well, LI don’t understand it, though I can work my altitudes respectably for finding my place on a chart. I am going to fight those ships. or whichever dares to follow me, My long gun will outshoot theirs a quar- ter of a mile; but I can’t afford to waste shots. I’ve only a hundred rounds on the Belle.” ‘‘What do you want me to do, then?” ‘¢To find the ranges for me. Your man Mar- tin, can he point a gun?” ‘‘ He is a better shot than I.” “Very well. Ill attend to the Belle, and you two shall attend to the bey As soon as the wind springs up, we'll begin; and before three days are out l’ll have your mes aboard the Belle of Baltimore.” ;' So saying, he returned to his work and re- mained at it till the loekout cried: ‘‘Wind coming from the south, sir, in a We — his put St. Helena on a lee-shore, but gave the Belle the weather gage of her foes, Delmont, more anxious for his friend than himself, said hurriedly : “Tet us cast off the hawsers and trim the schooner, Norton. If the squall comes on us in this guise, we may suffer damage.” Norton glan south, where a dark cloud was approaching, with black water under its shadow. ‘‘ We've time to get some more things,” he said, carelessly. ‘‘ Tl take care of the Belle. Heave the over amidships, boys, and get her trimmed, but go on working.” The huge forty-two-pounder was dragged amidships, and the little vessel stood 7 in the water, the hawsers slackeaing that held her to the wreck. The hulk of the yacht settled a foot into the /f S) 900 (E <eom (E(@) a