The Golden Harpoon — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

A SLIGHT don’t you attack ’em? They are only two, and you are four! One good assault, and you can cnt ’em to pieces—pcrhaps without the loss of a man!” | “My eyes!” cried Stump, with a low whistle, “it’s marvellous to hear the way that anima! is urgin’ on his pow-wows, while he himself is out of harm’s way. ‘Them that does that ain't always the most persuasive, seeing as it’s only examples that’s contagious.” And the speaker was right, for the mutineers, becoming more irresolute as they marked the firm purpose that shone in the steady eyes of their two adversaries, were deaf to the com- »mands of Lark. “Come, down with your lances—or we'll fire!’ shouted Marline, “and we'll do the same if you attempt to retreat. Remember that | whether you fly from or attack us, two of you at least must fall!” This was not to be disputed, and, dropping | his weapon, Driko motioned to his three fol- lowers to imitate his example. They obeyed, and the harpooner then ordered the whole party to the deck. The command met with the same success as that which had attended the previous one. The four men,-with cowed and sullen faces, ascended the companion-way, followed hy their two conquerors, who still retained thei arms; and as soon as they were on deck, Mar- line gave orders to “ wear” (veer) ship. As the vessel was under whole topsails, it seemed impossible that this duty could be ex- ecuted by the few men now in the craft; but the harpooner and his friend lent their assist- ance, and the yards were swung round at last. As the wind was now from the westward, Mar- line soon afterwards squared topsails and stood due east—hoping that this course would soon enable him to fail in with some of the boats. The man at the wheel, who was none other than the Portuguese steward Joseph, was doubtless much surprised at the change of com- manders; but, whatever may have been his thoughts, the coward was too prudent. to express them. “That’s right, keep her steady!” cried Mar- line, approvingly, “and you there on the knightheads!” he added, glancing forward— “Jook sharp for the beats and the ice!” ‘Ay, ay,” answered the dusky seaman, though his voice was far from cheerful. Descending into the cabin—after having ordered Stump to keep close to the companion- way, and to maintain a vigilant watch—the young man now entered the apartment occu- pied by Alice. — she Gonaded forward to meet him, and did not offer any very decided objection to the embrace with which he received her. “Tam so glad!” she said, as she gently dis- engaged herself after he had kissed her at least a dozen-times. ‘Iam so glad that the mutiny was subdued without bloodshed—that you are safe and uninjured !” ‘ And what is stil better, I trust that we shall soon fall in with the boats,” said Marline. “‘T wore round about ten minutes ago.” > CHANGE. 18 “Wore round? What is that?” inquired Alice. “What! you a sailor’s niece, don’t know what it is to wear ship?” “ How should I?” retorted Alice. “ You know that I never took any interest in your salt-water phrases, nor much in anything pertaining to the ocean.” “Why, then, did you go to sea?” The cheeks of the young girl were instantly covered with blushes. Her heart beat rapidly. She lowered her eyes, and did not speak until she could muster suflicient resolution to life them to the face of her interrogator. Then the glances of both met—a heaven of womanly tenderness in hers, and in his the deep, strong passion of the man. She stepped towards him, placed both hands upon his arms, and, hiding her face in his bosom, said, in a tremulous voice: “Why should I not-acknowledge it? It was that I might be near you.” “And Alice,” said he, “if you were not in this ship it would lose all attraction for me. Heaven shield you from all harm,” he added, as a sudden indefinable presentiment for which he could not account, swept over his spirit, “and preserve you, that we may both be made happy.” ‘hen the lovers seated themselves, ‘and with their hands interlocked, talked of the future, which they were pleased to fancy would be full of sunshine and without a cloud. CHAPTER VI. A SLIGHT CHANGE. - \HEY were very unpleasantly interrupted by the sharp report of a pistol, appa- rently proceeding from the deck, and springing to his feet, the harpooner darted up the companion-way. As he emerged from the entrance, however, he was seized and thrown down before he could use his rifle, by three of the New Zealanders, who had evidently been lying in wait for him. They fastened his arms and his legs with strong cords, and then stepping back a few paces, glared upon him with satanic exultation. At the same moment, turning his eyes to the right, he saw the corpulent figure of Stump lying near the foot of the mizzen-mast; and, bawtine over it, the sinewy form of the savage Driko. The islander was engaged in securing the limbs of the prostrate man with ropes, and upon raising his head to obtain a better view, . Mar- line perceived that the poor fellow was sense- less. His pistol was lying by his side, and near that a belaying-pin, the latter, the young man at once divined, having been used to deal the ship-keeper the blow which had deprived him of consciousness. “ Ay, ay,” said one of the New Zealanders, as though he guessed our hero’s thoughts. “ De Portuguese at de wheel go behind him and knock him down with pin—strikee on de head —and den de pistol ’e go.off, and we know you den pretty soon come up from de cabin, and . Si Comichboo (SO