Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-09-17
CHAPTER II.


a DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY
Before Ally Bell reached the brig lying
at the wharf, his uncle, Colonel Nichols,
had been there and arranged with the Cap
tain, who went by the name of Hiey, to
carry Ally Off to China, for which service
the Colonel promised to give the Captain
the brig and ten thousand dollars, in case
the boy ncUer came back. IIiley was muir
derer, whose real name was Sprouts, and
Colonel Nichols knew it. And Colonel
Nichols had robbed Mrs, Lester, and now
wanted to rob his nephew and have him
murdered. and Hiley knew that, and re-
solved that Ally Bell should never SEQ
Norfolk again.
Where is the iadT he asked as he and
Colonel Nichols finished drinking success
to their nefarious schemes, to which the
Colonel replied:
! HE should be here at this very moment.
All, 1 hear his step on deck now Here he
comes
lEven as he spoke, Ally Bell came hurry
ing into the cabin his face flushed with
pleasurable excitement.
I'm just in time to see you off, Captain
Hiley,' he said, not noticing the guilty
looks of the conspirators. 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 a
little girls cabinet, and must be pretty
Aye, aye, Mr.. Allen responded the
Captain heartily. Didn't you see my col
lection of shells in yonder state-room
No? You are welcome to your choice of
them all, sir
He advanced and opened 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 trampline
of feet was blended with the songs of the
stout seaman, as the brig moved slowly
from the wharf towards the sea.
Allys first thought, on finding himself
shut up in Captain Riley's state-room, was
that the two men were joliing-merely in
tending to scare him little, and then let
him out; but he soon discovered that the
QuickStcp-the brig was so named-had
left her wharf, and was standing down the
Elizabeth river towards the ocean.
The truth flashed upon him!
Il see it all = he cried, leaping to his feet.
'Hiley is taking me to sea with him Cap
tain Hleyr he shouted, pounding on the
wall, open the door, this minute Let me
out or it will be bad for your
No reply was made to Lim-no attention
paid to his cries.
He saw that he was fast.
For moment he was stunned by the
knowledge of his situation.
Then he drew up his slight boyish figure
proudly, his eyes flashing defiance.
THE thing for me to do he mused is to
help myself A boy who can't fight his
own way will never ba man..
Drawing from his pocket match, of
which he usually took supply, he lighted
the candle in its box ut one end of the state
room.
Il see he mentally commented, looking
around in the light thus furnished. Here's
a whole dray load of boxes and bundles.
And here's a cannon too added Ally-'a
small one, which is expected, no doubt, to
bring big price from those simple natives
in the South sea.
Il can use this thing thought the boy,
with kndling eyes. Il have plenty of pow
der in my pocketp
He had bought this powder lust before
he came aboard of the brig, for the expert
ments he had promised TO show Amy that
very evening.
Without more ado, Ally set at work load
ing and firing the little cannon as rapidly
as possible, smashing the door, and calling
out for everybody to keep out Of the way.
The captain and crew were frantic with
fear, as there was large quantity of pow
der in the state-room, and the prospect was
| that the ship would be blown in atoms.
Having flied the state-room and cabin
with smoke, Ally seized one of the Can
tain's revolvers, burst open the shattered
door, rushed upon deck, and leaped into
the river.
Thunder and lightningr cried Hiley,
startled beyond expression. After that
boy, all of you'll Satan himself is in him
A hundred dollars to the man who first
puts hand upon himr
win yell, rs of blood-hounds half a
dozen OF lliley's men splashed into the
river, melted by the promise Of money,
and sprang to the: pursuit, while uiley,
hastily lowering II boat, rowed after his
men, whom he soon overlook, one after
another, and ordered into the boat. They
then pulled on after Ally, who had distance
cd the men while they were in the water,
but who could not compete with the boat.
Arriving at an old sunken schooner, long
way from the shore, the boy climbed upon
the topmast and looked back at Hiley, who
was rapidly approaching. The captain felt
sure of his prey, and was telling tho men
how to seize the boy, when Ally suddenly
fell from the topmast as if shot, and imme-
dlatoly sunk from sight.
Thunder and lightning = cried Hiley,
he's gomez
'GoneH echoed all the mon in chorus.
Yes gone = and Hiley sprang to his feet
bending forward. Il saw him go lie fell