Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

m n, TE aity awaiting news of Mistress Betty. Suddenly a growl broke from “Master Spence! They’ve doused the lights on the brigantine—if they’re not a hauling of her out, then sink me for a Dutchman! Aye—can hear the clink 0’ the pawls—kedging her, they are.” True enough. Spence, hearing that ‘sound, imagining that he could see the vague shape of the brigantine already mov- ing across the water, caught his breath sharply. He breathed a prayer as he stood there in agonized suspense. Freedom— slipping away in the darkness! Without that brigantine they were lost. He knew it, the others knew it. And they waited for agirl, | Around him he could feel the tense straining and quivering of the seamen— their panting breaths, their awful agony of fear in that moment. From one bronzed throat came a stifled groan, then silence again. At length one man spoke up in terrorized accents. “Master Spence! ’Tis too much to bide here doing naught, waiting for a lady.” Somebody smote the man; there was the thud of a blow, then desperate silence. Spence felt a thrill as he sensed the quality of these seamen, sacrificing their hopes, jeopardizing their chances of escape for a girl they had never seen. He knew how bittershard was that self-control. “Ready at the boats, men,” he said \ quietly. “Lay the wounded men aboard and stand by to launch.”’ A rustle of movement, a scrape of feet as they obeyed. All the while from the camp and the hill there was a flittering of torches and a continual outcry from the Berbers; the hapless servants of Ripperda were being slaughtered there. Then a burst of running feet, and three men came hurtling out of the tumult. The foremost was the Moorish leader who had _ freed Spence, and from him came a sharp, _ terrible burst of words. wi “She is gone! Gholam Mahmoud has seized her, taken her aboard Ripperda’s - ship—he and his men have seized the ship.” _ “Launch!” Like the snap of a taut ca- DOWN THE COAST OF BARBARY. 535, ’em out, lads—the lady is board the brig- antine—after her!” A growl of excited oaths, a heaving of bodies, and the cumbersome fisher boats were scraped over the shingle. The men tumbled aboard, seamen and Moors inter- mixed, and there was a moment of confu- sion. Spence, with six seamen only in his craft, and the Moorish leader were the first to get away. The oars dipped and tugged, the boat drew out from shore. ‘‘ What of Ripperda?” murmured Spence. The Moor whispered an oath. “Escaped, may Allah blast him! His bodyguard rode away with him. Gholam Mahmoud had a dozen men there; they seized the lady and Ripperda’s treasures, and got aboard his ship. I was detained.” ‘““How many of them aboard her?” “Thirty, at least, all corsairs.” Satisfied that the other boats were fol- lowing, Spence drove ahead. The brigan- tine was moving along in tow of boats; she would catch the land breeze soon. Already sheaves were squeaking and canvas was slapping. A moment afterward it was evi- dent that Gholam Mahmoud no longer feared those ashore. Lanterns flashed on the deck, and hoarse shouts echoed; in the bows of the brigantine a cresset broke out its smoky flare. Three boats towed her. “ At her, lads!’ snapped Spence. He steered for hanging lines in the ship’s waist, and the men gave way. For a space it seemed that they would lay her board unchallenged; then, from her poop, cracked out a voice—the voice of Gholam Mah- moud. It was followed by the crack of a pistol, “Off with the robes, lads! boarders away!” The boat surged forward—the oars fell. Spence caught a line, the agile Moor an- other, and they were over the rail. From the poop and bulwarks came a rush of men. The Moor emptied a pistol into them, then leaped forward with his curved blade swing- ing. Spence, cooler of head, stood by the rail, and his steel dropped the first man to Now his men began comin es om All up— over sword in teeth; ny COMic