Marcy the Blockade Runner

ge to no purpose, there were two who stood aloof from every one and from each other; who never spoke a word, but who nevertheless

he same thing-that before the sun rose again the Sabine must be taken out of the hands of th

rew-the midshipman-and he was a little whiffet to be strangled with a finger and thumb. Even the fact that we were in the middle of the tow, the Sumter ahead and the Herndon behind, wouldn't have made any difference to us if we had had control of the brig, because a few lusty blows wi

ly to suit him; and besides, it had occurred to him that it might be well to run ahead and find out what the authorities at Cienfuegos thought of him and his government, and whether or not they would permit Yankee prizes to be condemned and sold in that port. The first intima

hoy!" cam

umter! replied

hawser and stand by to

iness to cast off when they received the word. It took half an hour to transfer the line from one vessel to the ot

pon it with a "Heave yo! All together now," was the surly second mate, who seemed to take the loss of his vessel so much to heart that he hadn't said a word to anybody since the prize crew was put aboard of her. But Jack Gray was there w

bar with him but also the three who were on the bar in front could hear every word he said. "Listen, boys," said he earnestly. "We're going to take the ship o

dshipman was standing. He breasted the bar manfully and joined in the song, looking as innocent as though he had

as it was safe for him to speak. "Jump as soon as you get ready and we'll be there. What was it you read to us from that Mobile paper

n the time comes," added the second mate. "But be sly about it, for we mus

follow the Sumter which was by this time so far off that her lights could not be seen. It took a good while

said Jack. "If he did he will be on his guard, and

, in reply. "I came up when he wasn't looking,

answer. "So do the men. They have all been posted, and a

ly gratified. "Stand by the companion-ladde

tain a chance to gain the deck without being discovered. At the same time he noticed that the long wished for breeze was springing up, and that e

upper, sir," said he,

nd drink a cup of coff

at a cup of coffee and something good to eat would take the place of the night's sleep which he knew he was going to lose. Accordingly he followed the steward toward the cabin, and then Jack told himself that something was about to happen-that this was a part of the captain's plan for seizing the vessel. Jack had been instructed to stand at the top of the companion-ladder and watch all that went on below, and in order that he might carry out those instructions without attracting the midshipman's attention, he quietly removed his shoes and stood in his stocking feet. As he was about to star

, stood Stebbins, one of the Green Mountain boys who had worked at the capstan with him. Other members of the crew were making a pretense of being busy at something in the waist, but they were one and all keeping a close watch on the second mate, and there were hand-spikes, axes, or belaying-pins within easy reach. Jack made a warnin

e heavy Colt close to the rebel's head. "Let go that gun. Stebb

the brig's foremast hands, all of whom carried weapons of some sort, which they held threateningly over his head. There wa

run or give warning to his companions, cut him down. Smith, take this musket and keep a sharp eye on

e everything the second mate did, and the latter advanced close to the companion-way so that he could look dow

I had made no mistake. The captain was not denied the privilege of going in and out of his cabin as often as he pleased, and that was one place where the midshipman, who was really a sharp officer,

Stripes should again float at his peak if he had to sacrifice half his crew to get them there. His next move was to order his steward to dish up supper, and when it was ready he sent word to the midshipman to come down and have a bite; but, although the brig was towing at the stern of the Sumter and there was not the smallest chance for h

he steward, drawing back the

nd him, which, by the way, opened into the captain's state-roo

ard, in his politest tones; and

, was to draw his revolver from its holster and show it to the

e and give you a chance to snatch it while I am i

ir," said the

mewhat famous for the tricks you play upon unsuspecting strangers; but you will find that there are smarter men

e second mate, standing back out of the light so that the mids

The old man is in his state-room, waiting for a chance to rush out and grab him, but I

the worst is forced upon us, we'll engage them in a regular battle. But we do

was eating his supper, and demand his surrender on pain of death. That would have been just the thing to do, Jack thought, if he were only sure that the steward's courage would not fail him when the critical moment came; but unfort

ng a tray upon which he had placed a tempting supper, and J

n't take quite so much pains to get behind me, if you please. Stand aro

steward, as he hastened to take

pture the midshipman, for when the latter emphasized his commands by pulling his six-shooter from under his leg and raising and lowering the hammer with one hand, keeping the muzzle pointed toward the steward'

ate are

husetts

etts men as great

d the steward, who was af

ave a walk-over, sure

s are afrai

ainly

supper. His plan was to have the steward seat the officer with his back to a certain state-room, so that he could be seized from behind and choked into submission before he knew that there was a third party in the cabin; but that could not be done now. The rebel's suspicions led him to change to the other side of the table, and he now sat facing the state-room door, on whose farther side st

d that he hardly knew what he was about, and consequently he did the very thing he tried to avoid. He sprang directly in front of his commander, and the two came together with such force that they measured their length on the cabin floor, the captain and his revolver being underneath. For one single instant the prize-master s

o use the highway," said he, in tones that could not have been steadier if he had been ordering the boatswain's mate

rong that it not only rendered him incapable of action, but brought him to his knees in a second. One vise-like hand was fastened upon the

JACK GRAY RECAP

his back toward the companion-way; and the moment he did so, Jack Gray, who saw that the critical time had come and that the next few seconds would decide who were to be masters of the brig, made a spring for the ladder. As he was in his stocking fe

e captured sailor in your pocket?" inquired Ma

d himself to be possessed of any amount of pluck, and I was afraid that even if I succeeded in getting the drop on him he might sho

ed in the narrative, "why did Captain Semmes keep the Herndon in t

d the Herndon," replied sailor Jack. "The Herndon was a heavy vessel, and had a much larger crew than we had; and perhaps that had something to do with it.

had been secured beyond all possibility of escape. The second mate had twisted his revolver from his grasp; Smith, the man to whom J

ver and dropped the weapon into his own pocket. "I think you will learn to your cost that you have been very much mistaken in the opinions you have formed of Northern people. I sh

erved Jack. "One is already a prisoner,

le, came to a halt at the top of the ladder, and a hoarse

the rest of 'em hard and fast. Tumble up and ta

ifying piece of news J