Pluck and Luck #139: Jack Wright and His Deep Sea Monitor — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

Sea: heavy gun epic whistling down toward the monitor. Z Pee CHAPTER XXIV. IN A TRAP, “Treachery!” cried Jack, as the shot went flying over the Sea Serpent. “Do you see what that nigger did, boys?” SLE looks to me as if he was in LWA the pirates,” said Hop- Kins. 3 “or course he is,” assented the boy. “He spotted the golden idol and designed to wreck us on the reef first, so his friends on yonder cliffs could fish the gold up afterwards.” ; “Blast his black mug!” growled Tim, angrily. “Now he has destroyed the landmark by which we south have found our way out from behind this reef. That looks very suspicious to me,” said the boy, loading the three guns. “He must be a member of the pirates’ gang,” said the pro- “ - fessor. | : 24 “Of that lam sure, since he joined their band on the shore,” Bs Jack replied. EE ‘a a put-up job. I see through it.. I'll fix = them, though.” @ wee He aimed the gun at the cliff and fired a shot below where ; the castle stood, at an abutting mass of rock. - With a howl like a buzz-saw ripping through a board, the - projectile rushed through the air and struck its mark. a ae There it burst with a terrific report. Pe The entire wall of stone was smashed to pieces, showing that Uy yt was hollow in back, and it fell with a crash. : a In ‘back of it a sheltered lagoon was revealed, in which floatea a dozen ships of various sizes and kinds. ihe “* The piratical fleet!” exclaimed Jack, in surprise. ay yf Dot vall vhas almost shust so t’in like baper,” said Fritz. “pe % Another gunshot thundered from the cliff-top, and, striking a the water beside the Sea Serpent, splashed it up and sank. Jack flashed the searchlight up on the rocks. They were swarming with armed men. Some of them were hastily filing down different paths to- phe the ships in the lagoon. 4 “They mean to board their ta tc and attack us,” said the Xs professor, grimly. ce “TV’ll stop the barking of the guns up in that fortress!” said _ Jack, as he revolved the turret, and brought his port gun to ie pet upon the castle. “Watch it!” He carefully sighted the piece. % _ Then he pressed the button. :: Away shrieked the shot on its course, and struck its mark. aM tremendous mass of debris flew up in the air, they heard ‘The stot had torn it to pieces. a Py “Bull’s-eye! ” exclaimed Tim, jubilantly. ; Aa By that time several of _the ships in the lagoon, swarming ages men, got under way and came gliding out. _ “They mean to show fight,” observed Jack, dryly. ‘a a Ay, lad, an’ thar’s’ hundreds o’ them to each of wus,” said ee Wait—l'll aterar all the ships out. Tim, return to the DOW'S on lookout. Y’m going to run away.” f “Ay, sir; but I hopes as ye ain’t skeered on vem?” It’s only a ruse.” 2 ais 8 Sate ‘ cliff top, there sounded a inatierias nébeee and a shot from them preparing to pour a deadly battery down upon the moni- z by + ¥ ee 5 DEEP | SEA tox a hey ease, but it fell short, Rarueesl? ny Sioa ee i Just then Jack glanced up at a cliff they were passing. Behind a breastwork there were mounted over a hundred guns, a pointing Gut from the cliffs, and he saw scores of men gikens caf | tor. “Fasten up all openings—quick! ” exclaimed the boy. : Fritz and the professor obeyed, and Tim came in. As soon.as this was done, the boy glanced up at the registers. and seeing that there was plenty of air in the boat for a be 7 hours, he opened the valves and let in the waiter. Down plunged the Sea Serpent under the waves, just@s a. broadside, that shook the island to its foundation, was poured — if from the sioge battery on the side of the rocky bluff. i “on The cannon balls came whizzing, along, and pounded the & water aJl around where the monitor had beén, pia doing i her any harm. ae * Part a blown to ‘pieces, thanks to Jack’s quick forethought. | Down she went about five fathoms ere the boy brought her hi {o a pause in her descent, and drove her ahead. . Neo: ea He kept her going ‘haif a mile under water, the powerful ee, searchlight shedding a broad glare ahead, and then he browse se her to the surface again, beyond the range of the battery. ats The full moon had arisen by this time, Ae It flooded the sparkling waters with a mellow light, ‘and oy showed Jack that the ships were still pressing on ‘after him. A few minutes afterwards several shots from long-rang a guns came screaming after them, and while some fell short. others passed over the monitor, and dropped on either anterior & “It’s getting uncomfortably hot here!” remarked the Hote . “T’lll give them my remaining shot and sinkaship.” The fastest sailor, in advance of the rest of the fleet, Nisei: singled out, and the boy turned the turret and aimed at He then fired a shot, and the projectile hit the ship. - ay Nothing was left of the crew or craft a moment afterwards There came a ery from Tim a few minutes later. és “Breakers ahead!” was his exclamation, _ | “Where away?” asked Jack, in startled tones, as he ‘turne the turret. apr = “Athwart our course,” - replied trim. set at he ae Jack glanced ahead, and saw a long line of surf, stopped | hi monitor, and followed it with his glance. i It led from the shore to the first barrier reef ‘they bi through. “We are cooped up in a natural ashi formed. by ‘that 5 circular recf!” he remarked.. “This is more of a treachery. He, knew very well what he was doing whe! lured us in here.” Sy ane “Dem shibs yhas owerhaulin’ us puddy soon,” said Frit: PAE S50) “We can easily give them the slip by sinking, as we ca any further,” coolly replied Jack. “Don’t alarm you Wait—I will load the guns and give them fight. for a f He hastily put a copper cylinder into each of the “weap af and, turning the monitor around, awaited the, approach of the pirates, — : 2 es They’ were Peer eheronelves nite for ‘Hoe 201 -con= | sidered the electric boat at their mercy, as they knew : would stop its further running, and they Hyg ee : ‘the eagpuriges 0 oe ae i) ; 4 ¥ Ura . Agoutia went the frre’, and the oo and discharged, with eel as aisaeerotis e ect, ; ¢ *)- eek