Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 206 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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— 28 CHAPTER XXII. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND, THE schooner laid her course for St. Helena pretty early in the afternoon, but the wind be- ing dead in her teeth and the island sixty miles and more away, she was compelled to beat up— that is, to sail about four times the distance to reach her destination. peso Pree 8 evening found her still to lee- wird of the shore, and it was judged best to make a long stretch to the east before morning to be out of the way of the Andromeda, which had lately been added to the station and might have come back to look for them. The officers of the Penelops behaved well in their captivity, all but Wright, who maintained a surly and unsocial demeanor, refusing to be conciliated by the kindness shown him, in com- mon with the,rest. Tom Chumley and the others were much im- pressed by the frank hospitality with which they were treated, and Tom went so far as to say to Norton: ‘*Mr. Norton, I was a midshipman on the Java, when your Constitution picked us to pieces, and I’ve hated your nation ever since; but by Jove, sir, Pll say this:—If 1 were not an Englishman, I should be proud to be an Ameri- can, and I'll never stand by again and hear a word against America. You’ve trusted to our honor, and given us free run of your vessel, when we might rise and overpower you at any time, and I feel the confidence, sir, I feel it.” Delmont, who heard this, was watching Wright, and saw the captain start and look round when Chumley adverted to a possible ris- ing. They were at dinner in the cabin, which was crowded with English officers, and he and Nor- ton were alone in the midst of them. Norton laughed good-humoredly when the other finished. **T’'ll acknowledge,” he said, ‘‘ that I’ve trust- ed to your honor, but ’m not in your power so much as you think.” ‘* Why not?’ suddenly asked the harsh voice of the British captain. Norton looked at bim sternly. ‘** Because,” he said, “any man that would vi- olate his prrole among you would commit an act for which I should hold him personally re- sponsible.” Wright laughed sarcastically. ** Ah, you mean you’d ca!l him out?’ “*T mean no such thing, sir.” ** What then, sir?” ‘*T mean that he would cease to be an officer and a gentleman, and I should hang him,” said Norton quietly. Wright sneered openly. ‘* But suppose you were in his power, and he thought it his duty to bis own sovereign to ex- ercise the power?” The cabin full of officers had become quite si- Jent now. They saw, from the manner of Wright, that something was impending, and ‘wondered what it was. Norton’s face flushed slightly. ** Not recognizing allegiance to any sovereign sir, I cannot appreciate the force of any such supposition. In my country we hold that the people who inhabit it are the only sovereigns, and that the greatest good of the greatest num- ber is the only foundation of good govern- ment.” Wright slapped the table exultantly. “T have you in your own trap, sir. We are more numerous than you, here; for we are at least ten to one in this cabin, Our interests call for the re «Aol of this schooner in his majesty’s service, Now, what have you to say?” Norton looked round him, coolly. ‘*Simply that the subject is getting too per- —_— Captain Wright. I request that you will rop it. : ‘* And suppose I refuse, sir?” asked the Eng- lishman edging closer. “In that case I should cease to think it a jst and put you in irons, sir,” was the quiet reply as Norton turned in his chair and looked Wright in the eye. One or two of the English officers rose and cries were heard. ‘* Captain, captain, for God’s sake—” Wright returned Norton’s glance with in- terest, and spoke slowly and distinctly: ‘*Look you, Mr. Norton, or whatever your name may be—” ‘*Norton is the correct name,” interrupted the other, smilingly, but with a dangerous glit- ter in his eye. “ Treat it with respect, sir, while you sit at my table, and do not force me to forget you are my guest, as well as my pris- oner.’ A murmur of approval went round, and the faces of the British officers showed that they were disgusted with the way in which their captain Even with increasing bitterness, ‘Very well then, I will speak plainly, and abide the issue. Jn the first place, sir, by the laws of war, you are a pirate. You have fired on a ship-of-war belonging to a friendly pow- er— ** Not till you fired first on me,” was Norton’s oe right colored slightly; but went on composed reply. ‘*This schooner bas American papers, and is authorized to defend herself from search. But let it pass. Go on, sir.” ‘* By the laws of war, you are a pirate, with whom no man is bound to keep faith,” continued Wright grimly, ‘‘and you have been fool enough to let fifty-two officers and warrant offi- cers of my ship aboard your schooner, It is true we are unarmed, but your men are scat- tered, some asleep in the forecastle, and we are ten to one in this cabin, with the arm-rack, full of weapons, right over your head. Now—” “Stop!” suddenly cried Norton, putting out his hand, ‘‘I know what ycu are going to say, but don’t say it. If you proceed to act on your threats, I warn youl will hang you.” And yet he made no movement, even to rise from his chair. Wright, for one moment, was staggered by his assurance; but then, looking round and seeing every eye fixed on bim, as if watching whether he would dare go any further, he rose up, saying: ‘“Very well. Gentlemen of the Penelope, I order you in the king’s name to rise and seize those arms, Mr. Norton, you are my aah aig Secure that Frenchman and kill him if he stirs.” There was a confusion instantly. A few offi- cers cried: ‘‘Shame!” but the majority rose and made a rush to the arms-rack, while Wright seized the young American by the collar and re- peated furiously: ‘You are my prisoner. say to that, sir?” orton looked up as coolly as ever, and Del- mont did not stir. In quiet tones, which ccused the officers to keep silence in very curiosity to bear what the American would say, he observe?: ‘‘ Well, if I am, there’s no need to put on such tragic airs, captain, nor to spoil my sbirt co.lar, I’ve not moved yet that 1 am aware,” The response was so cool that more than one officer tittered, and Wright looked puzzled aud relaxed his grasp. ‘‘ Well,” he said, reluctantly, ‘‘ you’re a cool hand, I'll admit.” “Thank you,” was the unrufiled return. ‘‘ Now that this jest is played out, captain, I recommend you to take your seat, and take a rlass of wine to drown your mortification. And it hope those gentlemen who are making so free with my property, will put back those edged tools in the rack. You can’t take the Belle, gentlemen.” He uttered the last words so scornfully that Wright answered, angrily: ‘‘ Why not? Come, why not?” ‘** Because,” said Norton, calmly, ‘‘ while you were vaporing, I was acting. I have sounded an alarm, and if you will look up at that sky- light you will see you are in my power—not I in yours by any means.” right looked up, and, as he did so, Norton suddenly rose and stamped his foot on the floor, close to the leg of the table. In a moment they heard the loud report of an explosion somewhere forward in the schoon- er’s hull, and the noise was followed by a rush- ing of feet on deck, and savage cries of: ‘Get down, curse abi “You would, would you?” ** Kill every Johnny ull in the crowd.” The cries were accompanied by the sound of blows, in the midst of which a dozen muskets were pointed down the cabin skylight, and a voice cried: ** Where’s the captain?” “* Here |” It was the ringing voice of Norton, who added in the same tones: ‘** Avast there! No harm done yet. Only an accident, Itrod on the torpedo trigger with- out meaning it.” The British officers, paralyzed by the racket round them, stood irresolute when Delmont rose up. ‘Put de arms back in de rack!” he cried, sharply. ‘‘ Did you hear de order of Monsieur Norton?” The men at the skylight peered down in amazement, keeping their muskets leveled, and the entrapped officers, in ludicrous hurry, re- stored the arms to the racks, while Wright, the picture of shame and rage, stood, white as ashes, glaring at Norton. Chumley and three other officers had not risen during the whole fracas. Norton looked round the cabin. ‘“‘Gentlemen will take their seats,” he said, in the calmest of voices. at obeyed like lambs, all but Wright, who folded his arms, smiling bitterly. hen the American said to Delmont: ‘My friend, oblige me by calming the excite- ment; see that the rest of the prisoners are put in the hold, and come back,” Delmont bowed silently and left the cabin to go on deck, He found the Americans, all around in board- ers’ guisa, patrolling the deck, with not an Eng- lishman visible, and one of them, in answer to his query, said: “The torpedo skeered them worse’n p’izen, sir. They didn’t show a mite of fight. We druv ’em into the hold like so many sheep, and Now, what do you ‘ » ' One nye, the Cannoneer. Seth Folger and Dan Macy’s a puttin’ on the EEE see semana aaa eee aaacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamama eee ie — irons now. What's be’n the matter?” ‘‘Nothing. Only a mistake,” said Delmont, evasively. ‘Go to your duties, boys. The captain will be up presently.” Vhen he got back to the cabin he heard the voice of Norton, speaking in low, measured tones, while the officers were listening silently, looking as heartily asbamed of themselves as men could well be. ‘*T treated you,” Norton was saying, ‘‘as gentlemen in misfortune. I trusted that British officers were all gentlemen. I took your parole. I gave you the freedom of my schooner, thought that men like you would bave more regard for your honor than the paltry advan- tage to be gained by forfeiting it. You see that you were in my power all the time. I tried you, to find out whether you were or were not gentlemen. I find mga A four among you. I shall be just to them. Mr. Chumley, please rise. Tom rose up, very pale. ‘*You and the three gentlemen who did not assist in this rising are free to depart. I shall request you to act as my envoys to St. Helena. I have kept one of your boats—the pinnace— and Ishall put you into her forthwith. You will proceed to Jamestown and inform Sir Hudson Lowe that if the boat in which you go to Jamestown is not returned with all the French sailors taken from the wreck of the yacht Muchachito, by sunset to-morrow I shall take your officers and hang them.” Chumley shuddered, “You would not do such a thing asthat, It would be savage, inhuman,” ‘‘Had your ship taken ourschooner, where should we be now, sir? You know well enough. I treat as lam treated. Do you refuse my mis- sion? ‘*T do not understand your alternative, sir. If the French prisoners come back, what then?’ ‘*In that case I shall send you all off in the same boat,” ** But it will not hold us all.” ‘It can. make two trips, sir. But tell Sir Hudson, that the first sign I see of treachery Captain Wright swings at the yard-arm, and all your officers, who have forfeited their lives by this attempt at rising, bear him company. Tell him I’m in earnest, sir, and remember that on your mission hang the lives of your friends,” Then he looked up to the skylight. **Four men down here to secure prisoners, The rest cover them with your muskets, Ifa man resists, open fire and kill them all.” His tones were sharp and menacing, and he turned and beckoned to Chumley and his three friends, They went on deck and when he was there he shook hands with Delmont very warmly, ‘** You’re the coolest Frenchman I ever saw. You let me run the whole machine without a jar and you knew nothing of the torpedo, I thank you heartily.” Ten minutes later, in the dusk of tke evening, the pinnace of the sunken frigate, with a] sail set and four officers aboard, left the side o the schooner and stretcbed out for the island of St. Helena, while the British officers, ironed like felons, were sent into the forward hold with a strong guard over them, and a lantern hung from the open hatch above them to ex- pose every movement. ‘“They thought they’d caught us napping,” remarked Norton, as he paced the deck with his friend, ‘‘ but it takes three Englishmen to outwit one Yankee in atrick. Now they can sweat for it.” “And what are you going to do with ‘I see he is locked Wright?’ asked Delmont. up in a state-room.” ‘*Keep bim till the last, my friend. I know these cusses, It’s too much to expect fair play from them when they know they could Blow the Belle out of the water if they could once get within range. We’re not out of the woods et. Then the Belle stretched away to the east under a press of sail, and in the morning was out of sight of the island on an open empty sea, CHAPTER XXIII. THE END OF ALL. At sunset of the next day the. Belle of Balti- more came sailing down in front of Jamestown, after a circuit of the island, in which, to the surprise of her commender and Delmont, not a single man-of-war had been sighted. As they drew near the harbor they could see, however, that all the frigates that had been on uard duty, save the sunken Penelope, were ying at their anchors, their yards str pped as if for a prolonged stay, their upper gear down on deck. They stood on, more and more curious, sus- pecting a trap of some sort, but not knowing what it could be, till Delmont, who had been watching closely, said: “What is the matter? No flags are to be seen.” ‘‘ Tt’s near sunset,” observed Norton. ‘“‘ They may have taken themin. But I think they see us. The semaphores are waving their arms, signaling.” EGomic “S JOO e¢om - a a oe