Pluck and Luck #139: Jack Wright and His Deep Sea Monitor — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

re ¥ Sih A Friis a ae + Pee _JAOK k waren AND ‘His DEM SBA MoNiTOR se sits 3 fy ee wax “ayy 7 Thee NRA Re GE x > p, a AT fc A NERS Sat ere Si te eg Se, ae rN | es ae ¥r A didhgcente report rang “fom the gun, eae a ‘aio came Rae. screaming across the heaving water and struck the deck of the Sea Serpent. There came a fearful shock, and the monitor quivered from stem to stern, causing Jack to imagine for a moment that she was ruined. But a moment afterward the boy saw that the tay plates. ct. of aluminum resisted the ball, which grazed along the sur-_ fe face, tore away some of the railing, and went flying into the > See. “Nothing but a scratch,” coolly commented ‘the young in- ventor. “And now to return the compliment. MHard-a-port, — > While the old sailor spun the wheel around, Jack took a — copper cylinder, filled with an explosive white powder, which Bsc ic _ breeze kicked up a ruffled sea, through which the monitor sped 3 - southward with her low-lying decks half the time rolled under. There were no lights shown aboard of the monitor, save a Ee aici slow in the dead-lights on the after side of the turret, and at a& maximum speed of about twenty knots she forged along, with the dull, dark coast line about a league to the leeward. i The young inventor mabe a keen EN fixed upon the “ ys § Tim stood a the open window with his solitary eye fas- a Sottad keenly ahead, ond his glass eye naiog: an awful mean- ae Speen esiy sae he named horrorite, from a box, and opening the breech of one « ae * Slow ie eon nt ; ‘aes i fa sakwe of the pneumatic guns, he placed it in, fae are am you.leave'the dynamos now?” ‘pak Then closing it, he sighted the weapon, made due allow ia se si i ance for the swell of the sea, and, pressing a button, the piece _ “I dink so alretty.” was discharged. ct ; a eVeevey 3 “ Eee be pty cabanas spar , Nothing but a thud of the escaping air followed, and, with i a howl, the projectile shot through the air, describing a demic! cirele, and struck the ship abaft of the cathead upon the star- board quarter. OB eset It penetrated the thick oak planking, and exploded With. bist roar of thunder. The vibration made the sea. tremble, and there came a fear- cs ful upheaval of planks, timbers, an Fe i act Jas gun, Sn . | chain-cable and several men. ye ba BS They were blown high in the air and torn to tedious! the — Che -, tes 5 ie “Tim, she is perfect now in every way.’ Hie “Ay, lad, I reckon she are,” replied the old sailor, enthu- a _eictiety in the galley, a ae ve repast was in ‘the Roce of cooking. ae ship was suddenly knocked over on her ‘beam. ends, and thee service upon the sea, | i Had the shot struck below or even near the water line, the high explosive power of the powder would have sunk the ves: sel, : A scene of the wildest confusion ensued on board of her, ‘the ts remainder of the crew rushing up on deck, shouting and oF swearing, and the ship put off upon the leeward tack, as if to. get away from the moniter. sith ae ae) “It lcoks to me as if they have more of the dusl than they ere, bargained for,” laughed Jack, loading another of the guns to. guard against need of it. , nd “Dash my figgerhead, but they’vye come ahant wr. sai : Tim, taking a chew of uavy plug, “an’ thar they tacks, Dack fer N’York agin!” Gig “Jack! Jack! “Come up here, haute lad!” sae a Tush the daly pagestes als turret again, when he be- WwW that the entire watch on deck were gathered in the bow ic the caere side, oaks down at the submarine boat. a 4 Carib. vn There was a large gun mounted in ad bow of the ship, at the breech of which the dark fellow stood with the lockstring a n his hand and the muzzle was depressed to bear upon the _ monitor. : | ar AS soon as Jack appeared the Carib saw him. ( ‘Haul to, there!” the dark fellow shouted. “Surrender to or. we will blow your boat out of the water!” — Bea? ack and Tim exchanged glances of intense amazement. Mes “He must command that ship!” exclaimed the boy. by Ay, lad, an’ he must be a-goin’ back ter whar he came ate) yest ghy Lee The noise of the explosions brought Fritz and the professor. in at a rush, inquiring the cause of the firing, and they | wer informed. | she oid wee wet trast? nervously said Hopkins, “that there is no danger ats of the shots they may fire penetrating the hull of this boat.” Awe “No danger whatever,” replied Jack, “for they are so scarec . and so badly punished that eet have fled and won't Rear te shoot again at us.” grinned Fritz. “Pon my word the shock has certainly? made me 5 eee r : about it,” answered Hopkins, and he gauged himself rather gingerly to find out if it might return, but nae satisfied with 2 De the result of his investigation. a As it would be a mere waste of time to pursue the Carib's . ship, Jack let them depart in peace with what there was re- one 4 maining of the eraft, and headed the Sea. oc i to the sores a re | + Porte e 4 re ONE He little oes our strength,” said the Hee “or he would | 10 | thus dare to attack us. But since he is bent upon war- | fare, 1 shall give him a chance to try a duel with us with our ; f 4 ( GHAPTER VI. '- ae , ry ~ ee a OFF carr TIATTERAS, ward again. a : se | No ot more than two hundred yards — separated the monitor | Th® watch was then eae: with Jack ‘and: Hopkins fi in the : from the “ship, and the: vengeful Sil te did not wait si Jack | first and ‘Fritz and Tim in the | second. sia giee ide i es y before he fired. wag | Zh at hy fui, a The moon and stars see down it silvery g . r 1p pe c .* ~*~) a } 4 he we . vy hs en 8 Pe a ; pacts 2 EVES OP eet ann Sa 7 MS ARSE Maeet air ea mi Soe ee Mh de at eT | NEE eee Bate: i es he Po ies