Barney Blake, The Boy Privateer

y art so happy? Art

. No, m

ied already, and art

, mee

hat

drawn

d P

resently Tony Trybrace's shrill boatswain's whistle pealed

, you lubbers, if you

said, and every one wa

ned up from my nap, because the vessel was a good five miles off, and, if it was to be a stern chase, a long time would elapse before we could b

st plan, but sailors seldom lose a chance for grumbling. Our little captain himself, however, if he brought the men up to the mark, never failed to

elescope and tell me what

equest, I was not slow to comply. I sighted the strange craft well and

the captain, impatiently.

r name is the Boomerang. Her captain's name is George Willis, a

ain was

razy?" he

not, captain," was

ow what you sa

g, captain, and I know every spar and ratlin of

," said Captain Joker, laughing as he spoke. "Clap on more sail!" he bawled. "Let out the r'yals to

fluence of the fresh canvas. But when the sun arose we were still three miles from the stranger, who evidently had a suspicion of our character and was cracking on all sail for escape. But

, however, kept on our way, until within a mile, when we let fly again with the swivel, this time striking the vessel in the stern, and sending up a shower of splinters. We thought this would bring her to. But, she was plucky, and seemed determined to show fight. Scarcely had the boom of our Long

t to be taken alive,

our little captain; "just let me h

summit of a huge wave, let her off. The ball danced over the crests with a charming ricochet, and we saw it strike the stranger

umphantly, as we saw the ensign of the stranger lowered in token of surrender, and, at

bawled Captain Joke

rang, of London,

you load

and s

ou were right, you Son-of-a-Sea-Cook," added the captain, t

ctations. I here had the satisfaction of renewing my acquaintance with my old skipper, Captain Willis, as well as with some of the crew. They all expressed their regret at seeing me in the characte

s of the John Bull cockney genus it had ever been my fortune to fall in with. Rather short-about five feet and a half, I should judge-he weighed fully two hundred pounds, was dressed in the genuine London plaid trowsers, gaiter shoes and bell-crown hat of the time. His features

tain and crew on board. We brought off Mr. Adolphus de Courcy, determining to keep him until we should fall in with some American cruiser to whose safe-keeping we could transfer him. It took several h

more, Mr. Adolphus de Courcy strode up t

aptain of this piratical craft?" he

or and good fortune to command, is the Queer Fish, a regular l

this transaction a wery houtrageous haffair; and I

y, and I saw a merry gleam in the little eyes of

now, sir?" said he, wit

wessel," exclaimed the cockney, thinking that he had succeeded in br

o mean what you say

m this wile captivity! I demand it as a peaceable citizen of hold Hingland,

o use. Trybrace!" added Captain Joker, singing out to the boatswain: "have that ar little gig provisioned for t

as a cricket; and he immediately set

h this Captain Joker bowed courteously to

what was to be done with him; but, when the truth dawned that

tle harrangement?" he said, going up to Tony, who was

bows, you lubbers. And caulk up that 'ere seam in the labbard side. Do you suppose the gentleman wants ter go to Davy Jones's Locker

and her cargo was so great, that she settled down almost to the gunwales, and it was questionable how long she would f

nder kept flattering himself that it was a good joke

s hat respectfully. "Will yer Honor be p

a forced laugh. "A wery good joke! 'Ave you got out a patent for

yer Honor condescend to make haste? We cain't stand in the middle of the

e hand, "'ave you the serious intention of perwiding a fellow 'uman being with s

the orde

captain of this willaino

t tell the skipper as how the gen

st immediately. His face was beaming with cordial farewells as h

and a prosperous voyage!" he exclai

vant to kn

e boat. There, there, good-by!" and the captain, in the zeal o

the latter, "I va

hear any thanks at all!

he unfortunate cockney was fairly hustled over the ship's sid

n. "I hope you will find them easy to your han

sheet and continued on our course. We looked back over the stern, and saw the little boat going up and down, in and

the strong breeze. To show you the captain's kindness of heart, just as we were preparing to round to, a sail was signaled on our starboard bow. Ten chances to one it was another prize, and the temptations to keep on our course were exceedingly strong in us all, especial

less cruelty to urge, I will beg you to defer your suggestions to a more fitting occasion. I am co

retty close to the gig, the forlorn, disconsolate aspect of Adolphus de Courcy was too much for a mirth loving nature to endure with

e captain, Tony T

onor like to

h great difficulty, owing to the roughness of the running sea, we grappled the boa

r, and when he found himself safe and dry at last,

up and took him b

prisoner to address his captor with, that a little lesson of this kind would not be bestowed in vain. Trust me, my dear sir, if I have caused you any pain, you compelled me to do so, and I'm sorr

dried his tears, and said in a much manlier voice than

re is returning good for evil vith a wengeance, hand I beg to hacknowl

gether, and, from the way we heard the cork

proved. He remained for some time with us, and, though we were frequently amused at his v