The Golden Harpoon — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ok IN CONFINEMENT. 9 shirt, the latter of which, being open at the throat, disclosed the sinewy muscles of an enor- mous neck. “What is the ship doing here?” pursued Ifarry. “We left her anchored in the bay. And how came you at liberty? Where is Stump? And Alice How——” “One question at a time, youngster,” inter- rupted Lark, with a broad grin. “ You'll know b everything presently, and-———’ “ There’s villainy at work here, Tom Lark— ay, downright villainy!” cried the harpooner, as a suspicion of the truth flashed upon his mind. ; Grasping the lower part of the main chains, and drawing himself to the rail, he sprang upon the deck, to be confronted by the mutineer, who drew from one of the pockets of his guern- sey a heavy pistol, which he pointed at the head of the youth. “You've got yourself into a hornets’ nest, youngster. It might have been better for you if you had stuek to the ice!” ‘Ay, ay,” said Marline, with perfect -cool- ness, as he fixed his clear, unwavering eye upon the face of the giant. ‘‘ You have the advan- tage of me at present, and can murder me if you wish, but you will swing for it in the end.” “Thank you for your good advice,” grufily responded the other, “but I have no intention of murdering you—leastways, not just now— unless you try to kick against what you can’t help. Tm just using this iron to keep you qiet while the steward goes after the hand- cuffs !” “And by what authority,” angrily demanded the young man, “do you thus 3 “Tut! tut!” growled the mutineer, “ none of your polly-wow with me, lad. You know how things are as wellas Ido. I generally do what I please in my own ship.” ‘And dare you pretend that this vessel “Ts mine? Certainly,” interrupted Lark. “She’s mine by the law of equal rights. Cap- tain Howard had her for awhile. Now it’s my turn. Lve been confined in the run a long time, and need a little fresh air, besides the satisfaction of putting some of the captain’s friends in my place. As you are the first of these that Pve met with, you shall have the honour of filling that position. I rebelled against Captain Howard’s authority—you rebel against mine. Captain Howard puts me in the run—Captain Lark puts youin the run. That's what I call equal rights!” 3) CHAPTER IY. IN CONFINEMENT. ™\ HE steward—a tall man, with a long face, | dark grey eyes and thin lips, advanced — and proceeded to secure the handcuffs to the wrists of the young man. The latter eyed him sternly for a few moments, before he ventured to address him. “What has the captain ever done to you, Joseph,” he then said, “that you should thus turn traitor?” “He! he! he!” laughed the Portuguese, “Captain Lark more better as Captain Howard. He take de ship to some port and sell him— cargo and all. Den me get big share of de profit.” Mazline had benefited this man in many ways—had often, by kindly interpositioa, shielded him from the blows of the first mate ; had even, on one cecasion, saved him from falling overboard, while he was aloft assisting the watch to reef the main-topsail in a gale of wind; and yet the ungrateful villain seemed now to exult in the misfortunes of his bene- factor. “Where is Alice ” inquired the latter, as the steward locked the handcuffs. The Portuguese chuckled, but did not reply. “Speak!” cried the harpooner, fiercely. “Where is she?” _ “Why, of course, in de cabin—in her own room—me iasten her in so she can’t get out!” “You are a sneaking wretch, Joseph!” “What you say? No call me dat—lI tell you,” cried the steward, as he pushed the young man against the rail. The chief mutineer interposed. With the stock of his pistol he dealt the Portuguese a oe upon the head that felled him to the deck. “Equal rights!” he said, quietly, as he pointed to the prostrate man and placed the pistol in his pocket; “that’s the law aboard o this craft, in future. ‘This way, Driko, Amolo, and Black Squall,” he added, motion- . ing to three of the New Zealanders; ‘‘ take Mar- line to the run, and fasten the hatch the same as it was fastened when I was there!” The men obeyed with alacrity, and Marline was in the run. No sooner had the hatch been secured, than he heard the rushing of the water and the grinding of the icebergs against the ship’s bottom, as she boomed upon her way. And with his head bowed upon his bosom— with his manacled hands against his brow, and his heart beating loud and fast with anxiety— he offered up a silent but fervent prayer to Heaven to spare his beautiful Alice—to shield her from all harm—and restore her to the arms of those who loved her. z That prayer was scarcely finished when he felt a hand upon his arm, and en lifting his head, he was enabled to make out in the gloom with which he had by this time become fami- liar, the outlines of a human countenance. “Hist!” whispered a low voice, “don’t speak too loud; it’s me—Stump—and you, if I ain’t mistaken, are Harry Marline!’’ “Ay, ay, you are right!” cried. the harpooner, much surprised, “ but where in the name of Heaven, Stump, did you come from? You were not confined here, were you? lL thought you were in league with the muti- neers.” “That's the way of the world,” muttered the shipkeeper, mournfully. ‘“‘ Yes—yes, that’s the way with ’em all! Sarcumstances always goes against a man, hows’ever honest he may be! But I didn’t think it, Marline—no, hang me if I did—that you, my chum, would ever Comilechooksnco