The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

THE SAILING, 21 night with the keen vision of an owl. The river, however, was bright with the reflection of the starry firmament, and the shores and rocks were easily seen. * We have now little to fear, my brave friends,” said Arthur, joining a group amid- ships; ‘‘we are now three miles below Bath, and no one suspects our departure.” “Captain,” said Ben, “it’s the opinion of some of us that you intend running for Hast- port, to try to get possession of the English cutter that has taken so many vessels lately.” “You shall know when we get to the fort, Ben,” answered Arthur, quietly; “then those who do not sea fit to go on with me, can take the skiff and pull to the Point, I shall go on the expedition if no one but Jerry stays by me.” “T stick by you, sure, massa,” said the negro; “and the old man, too—won’t you, massa ?” “ Yes, Jerry. Arth and [are one,” responded the father, with tipsy enthusiasm. “If I ever Jeave him may I drink salt-water grog all the days of my life. Jerry, take a nip at the jug. It’s all sweetened and watered—regular half- and-half, with a dash o’ peppermint to keep out the cold. Sir Archy fixed it for me in prime order,” e “Thank you, old massa,” answered Jerry, with a grave shake of the head; “dis nigger am put here in a’sponsible ‘sition, and it nebber do if he drink grog. Asides, massa, I never drinks if I wasn’t.” The smack kept on her way steadily, the wind holding good, and the tide, which had just begun to ebb when they started, in their favour. Jerry steered her skilfully through the bending sweeps and narrow reaches of the river, now shooting her out into the broad river, now guiding her among intricate passages between roexy ehifs, At length, an hour and three-quarters after leaving Bath, they passed within the dark suadow of the lofty sugar-loaf hill overhanging the fort, less than a mile below it, upon a low beach. Upon sweeping round this bold summit, the last high barrier of the Kennebee on the west, the watch-lights of the fort flashed upon their eyes across the water. Arthur now took the helm. All on board became silent, and every eye was bent on the fort as they rapidly neared it. The outlines of the parapet gradually separated from the darkness, and the vessel bore down in a course that would soon bring her abreast of it. The river at this pass was narrow, and objects could be distinctly seen from shore to shore, on a starlight night. A vessel, therefore, could not expect to pass withont being discovered. * Now, my friends,” said Arthur, “we are within a mile of the sea. Hereis Fort Hunne- well, where we shall be hailed as we pass. I shall bring to and land myself, for I have some- thing to communicate to the commandant of importanee. Now if you will all walk aft I will make known to you the object of this expedition,” | transferred the helm for a moment to Jerry, The men pressed eagerly around him. He and then said, in a tone and manner of ro- markable dignity and seif-possession for one so young and hitherto so humble in his condition: “Tne day before yesterday I made up my mind that I would no longer remain idle at home. Iwas weary of doing nothing, as you all have been. But I felt, as I dare say you do, that I would rather run the risk of capture than remain at home any longer.” “Yes, yes, every soul of us,” unanimous response, “T had no sooner conceived the idea than I resolved to carry it into execution. I went to four—nay, five of you nowhere, and laid before you, you will recollect, all my plan, and we agreed in opinion that if we could run out in the night and hug the coast, we might reach the Banks, and in a few weeks come back laden with fish. Well, such was my plan, and only plan. But last night, after I had seen them, and they bad agreed to go shares with me in the cruise, I heard, through a private source, that the schooner ‘General Arnold,’ which some of you have seen loading at the wharf, and which it was given out will clear in a week or ten days for Barbados, risking the blockade —I heard that this vessel was loading with fresh provisions to sell to the British vessels of war off the mouth of the river.” “ By Sapping,” said Ben Fly. “Yes. Heand three others have purchased a large amount of provisions, and have been secretly loading her by night, until, finding that it could not be kept secret, they gave out that she was to clear for Barbados, and run the gauntlet. But Sapping had heen corre- sponding with the captein of the British frigate ‘Mentor, who had offered him his own price for such provisions as he could manage to get to him.” Here Arthur was interrupted by a burst of indignant feeling. “As soon as I was satisfied of this fact touching the ‘ Arnold,’ I resolved that I would make an effort to defeat the expedition. Instead, therefore, of a fishing cruise, I decided on increasing the number of the crew to a dozen resolute men, and taking on board arms, run out of the river by night before them, and lay in wait and capture the schooner.” “Huzza for Arthur Denwood! cried the men, out !” “1 know you willnot. The schooner, instead of waiting a week, is already loaded, and is te sail this very night before midnight. She will haul out secretly, and leave the Custom House officer to whistle for the expected clearance. You will be surprised, but perhaps not, when L tell you that her captain is Talbert Thurrel.” “'Thurrel !” repeated several voices; ‘he is no captain,” “ite is captain enough to run a vessel out of the river to the British squadron. His crew consists of persons as bad as himself. His mate is Bissey, whom you all know, The was the Huzza !’ * Not a man of us will back oO COLMICLOOC) gS (©) i 3