Ensign Merrill — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

152 THE JUNK DISAPPEARS. “That will do, lads. Wait until you get ashore with — your prize money. Then you can whoop her up as much as you please. We Ee work to do, and plenty — of it. Some of you cast off those grapplings; let them eo by the run. Mr. Watson,’’ turning to the second officer, ‘‘have the sailing launch and whaleboat lowered. Then take thirty men and board the junk when she swings away. Drive those cattle below and clap onthe hatches. Make ashort survey as soon as you ean and Jet me know what the damages are. Get her under sail at once if you can, and stand by to fol- low us, when we get under steam again.”’ After seeing Watson started in his new duties, Mark returned to the bridge. A messenger from the doctor met him with the news that Ned had at last recovered consciousness, and was doing fairly well considering the gravity of the wound. It was joyful news. He feared the worse when the limp form of his young friend had been carried past the bridge toward the hospital. He would have gone below at once to see Gage, but duty called him to other and sterner actions just then. A glance toward the junk bearing the pirate chief, re- vealed the unwelcome fact that her crew had made sufficient’ repairs to enable them to get underway again. She was already astern and taking every ad- vantage of the wind, which had lately increased. ‘‘By Jove! she shall not escape us if there is any pos- sible way to prevent it,’’ muttered the young com- - mander under his breath. Again he repeated the fervent wish for steam power, and, in his anxiety ran aft to the engine-room hatch. | ‘“Below there,”’ he called out, sgn over ChCne to the gratings. ‘The figure of the old chief, clad. ia aha working - wee co } s, -on ee oA C - : | a =p aa 4 ~~ ile 7s 7) {Al ~ A sae } ha 'y ie * a } ¥ * se” ¢ eluant - a