The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-09-13
CHAPTER ii.
4 DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY.

DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY.
Before Ally Bell reached the brig lying at |
the wharf his uncle, Colonel Nichols had |
been there aud arranged with the Captain,
who went by the name of Hiley, TO carry
Ally of to China, for which service the Col. |
onel promised to give the the Captain the
brig and ten thousand dollars, in case tie
bog nerer come back. Hiey was murder
er, whose real lame was Sprouts, and Col. |
onel Nichols knew it, And Colonel Nichols
had robbed Mrs. Lester, and now wanted to
rob his nephew aud have him murdered,
and Hiley knew that, and resolved that
Ally Bell should never see Norfolk again.
s'Where is the lad he asked as he and
Colonel Nichols finished drinking success TO
their neiarous schemes, to which the Colone!
replied:
ale should be here at this very moment
All, ! hear his step on deck now Here he
| comes !"
Even as he spoke Ally Bell came hurrying
into the cabin, his face flushed with pleas
urable excitement.
| "I'm lust in time 10 see you off, Captain
| Hiley," he said, not noticing the guilty looks
of tie conspirators. 1.-The wind is fair, and
the crew anxious. A good voyage to you,
Captain. Bring me some rare shells when
you return. They are for little girls cabl-
net, and must be pretty 7
"Aye, aye, Mr.. Allen" responded the Cap
tain, heartily. Didn't you see my collee.
ton of shells in yonder state room No !!
You are welcome to your choice OF them
all, sir
| lie advanced, and flung open the state.
room door.
Ally bent forward and looked in
With quick thrust, Hiley pushed him
into the little room, and hurriedly locked the
door,
+. With an exultant smile Colonel Nichols
!. said adieu, and went ashore
The next minute the hurried trampling OF
, | feet was blended with the songs of the stout
8 seanen, and the brig moved slowly from
e the " harf towards the sea.
:. Ally's FIST thought, on finding himself
}. shut up in Captain Hiley's state room, was
}. that the Two men were joking-merely in
e tending TO scare him u little, and then LEI
him out: but be soon discovered that thu
le OHcLstcp-,hc brig was so named-lst
left her wharf, aud was standing down H.
.. Elizabeth river towards the ocean.
is The truth flashed upon him
Il see it all he cried, Ieapint TO HI:
feet. "Ili.ey is taking NE to sea with him
Captain Hiley !" he shoute pounding OF
r, the wall, "open the door, this minute lie
| me out, or it will be bad for you -
6 No reply was made to hun attention
paid to his cries.
G lie saw that be was fast
For moment he was stunned by the
Il know edge of his situation.
}. Then be drew up his slight boyish hngur'
proudly, his ewes ysshed defiance.
/. The thing for me- 10 do, he unused, "is
to help myself i boy who can't fight biz
D, own way will never be man -
0. Drawing from his pocket match o
which be usually carried a supply, he Lighted
pc the candle IN rs box at one end OF the state
g room
II see, he mentally commented, looking
/: around. IN the light thus furnished Here
a whole dray load Of boxes and bundles
%. Aud here's il cannon too added Ally
Is - small oue, which is expected, no doubt
BIZ 70 bring Zig price from those simple La
d: tivDs 10 the South sca.
r. II can uee this thing thought the boy
ii with kindiing eyes. Il have plenty Of pow
u DER IN nT pocket
lg lie had bought his powder Just before h
came aboard Of the brig, for the experiment
id be had promised to show Amy that yer,
20 evening.
at without more ado, Ally sa; at work load
n ing aud firing the little cannon as rapidly a
g possible, smashing the door, and calling GU
for everybody to keep out Of the way. Ih
d Captain and crew were frantic with tear, a.
there was a large quantity Of powder in the
rs stale room, and the prospect was that thu
a ship would BE- blown to atoms. Having fiji
t. cd the state room and cabin with smoke
20 Ally seized one of the Captains revolyers
It, burst open the shattered door, rushed upon
H. deck, and leaped into the river
as Thunder and lightning! ~ cried Hlley
ID startled beyond expression after tina
boy, all Of voul Satan himselfis in him !
y, hundred dollars to the man who first puts
tn hand upon him! !"
Q? With a veil, IA of blood hounds, half
&c. dozen OF Hileys men spashed into the river
melted by the promise ofmoney, and spran
eh to the pursuit, while Hlley, hastily iower'n
las boat, rowed after his men, whom he 500
wo overlook, one after the another, aud ordeTe
ISL into the boat. They then pulled on ate
Ally who had d!stanced the men while the
'e- were 10 the water, but VINO could not CON
N pete with the boat Arriving at an Ola sun
& ken schooner, a long way from the shore
the boy climbed upon thetopmas', ana look
< ed back at hley, VINO was rapidly approach
IL ing. Inc captain fet sure OF MS prey an
was telling his men how to seize the boy
e, when Ally suddenly tell from the topmas
ed as II shot, ana 'mmedla'eiy SUNK 'ror
o. sight.
lhunoer ana hghtning! crled huey