Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-09

i0lK again.
"Where is the lad ?" 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 this very mo-
ment. All, hear his step on deck now
Here he comes"
Even as he spoke Ally Bell came hurryine
into the cabin, his face flushed with pleasur-
able excitement.
I'm just in time to see you of, 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 little girls cabi-
and must be pretty!"
"Aye, aye, Mr.. Allen" responded the
Captain, heartily. Didn't you see my col
lection of shells in yonder statc-room No Z
You are welcome to your choice of them all
SIR"
He 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
seamen, as the brig moved slowly from the
wharf towards the sea.
Ally's first thought, on finding himself
shut up in Captain Hiley's state-room, was
that the two men were joking-merely in
tending to scare him little, and then let
him out but he soon discovered that the
Quickste2,-the brig was SO named-had
left her wharf, and was standing down the
Elizabeth river towards the ocean.
The truth flashed upon him
g see it all !" he cried, leaping to his feet.
Hiey is taking me TO sea with him! Cap
tain Hiley!" he shouted, pounding on the
wall, "open the door this minute Let me
out, or it will be bad for you'll"
No reply was made to him-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.
.Ihe thing for me to do, he mused sis
to help myself A boy who can't fight his
own way will never be mani"
Drawing from his pocket match OF which
he usually carried supply, he lighted the
candle In its box at one end of the state
room.
g / see, he mentally commented, looking
around, in the light thus furnished, Here 5
a whole dray load of boxes and bundles.
" And here's cannon too, added Ally-"a
small one, which is expected, no doubt, to
bring big price from those simple natives
in the South sea-"
:" 1 can use this thing" thought The boy
with kindling eyes. 81 have plenty of pow
der in my pocket!"
He had bought this powder just before he
came aboard Of the brig, for the experiments
he had promised to show Amy that very
evening.
Without more ado, Ally set at werk load
ing and firing the little cannon as rapidly as
possible, smashing the door, and calling for
everybody to keep out of the way. The
captain and crew were frantic with fear, as
there was large quantity of powder in the
state-room, and the prospect was that the
ship would be blown to antoms. Having
filled the state-room and cabin with smoke,
Ally siezed one of the Captains revolvers,
burst open the shattered door, rushed npon
deck, and leaped into the river,
"Thunder and lightning!" cried Hiey,
startled beyond expression. "Aiter that
boy, all of you! Satan himself is in him
A hundred dollars to the man who first puts
hand upon him!
With YELL as of od-hountls, half
dozen of Hiey's men splashed into the river,
melted by the promise of money, and sprang
to the pursuit, while Hiley, hastily lower
ing boat, rowed after his men, whom he
soon overlook, one after another, and or
dered into the boat. They then pulled on
after Ally, who had distanced the men while
they were in the water, but who could not
compete with the boat. Arriving at an old
sunken schooner, a long way frem the shore,
the boy climed upon the topmast and looked
back at Hiley, who was rapidly approach
ing. The captain felt sure of his prey, and
was telling his men how to seize the boy,
when Ally suddenly fell from the topmast, as
if shot, and Immediately sunk from sight.
Thunder and lightningl" cried Hiley,
"hes gone!"
"Gone ?" echoed all the men in chorus.
Yes, gone!" and Hiley sprang to his
feet, bending forward. 81 saw him go
he fell back into the water, and went down
like bullet, without the least cry! Pull
for your lives!"
The men obeyed. The boat was quickly
beside the topmast. But no trace ofthe boy
could be found!
"I'll take my Bible oath," said Hiley,
" that the young salamander has not gone
towards the nearest shore-or any other. A
cramp or shark has took himl"
nC CyCS vi tnC oCueutlug Vllldlu III UP
strangely, almost savagely.
"And such being the fact, men," added
he, "we may as well give up the search"
The men resumed their oars, the Captain
the tiller, and the boat returned in silence to
the brig, With Ally ctsnging quietly to
the stern-hs head just far enough out of
the water to enable him to breathc-and
there he continued to stay until the boat re-
turned to the brig.
And then, the boat being left in the water,
at the stern of the brig, it occurred to Ally to
upfasten the boat from its painter, let it drift
down stream some distance, then climb into
it, and row away for Norfolk, which he at
once did.
For minute or two the boat continued to
speed away in the darkness.
And then Ally climbed out of the water
into it, with a long sigh of relief, and seized
pair of oars resolutely.
Crouching out of sight in the bottom of
the boat, he began rowing shorewards-but
softly, for he was still near the brig, and the
night was 90 calm he feared his enemies
would hear him.
There was only too much occasion, as it
proved, for this caution.
The boat had not been gone two minut es
from the brig, when Captain Hiley, wishing
to go ashore to sec Colonel Nichols, made
his way aft, and discovering its disappear
ance at once sent couple Of men after it in
another boat.
Ally seeing that he must again take to the
water, took the oars along with him, and
went drifting seaward, with nothing but
pair of oars to support him.
The night had now fully set in and tae
tide ran fast Cramped and chilled by his
long continuance in the water, the boy was
whrled along, growing weaker every mo-
ment; but Just as hope was at its ebb, he
suddenly bcheld sail behind him, rapidly
approaching, under the force ofa freshening
breeze.
"Brig, certain !" he groaned, after long
look at the nearing cloud of canvass. at
must be old Hiley's. The wind having come
again, he is off for the Pacific Ocean I"
He regarded the brig, as it came nearer,
asking himself if he should hail her.
Let her be what she may" he muttered,
" friend or foe, must hail her! My strength
is used up shall soon slip off from these
oars and drown Fortunately the brig is
coming straight towards me. l will hail
her!"
He waited till the brig was near him, and
then carried his resolve into execution. His
feeble call was heard and answered, the brig
hove to, boat was lowered, and he was ta-
ken aboard the stranger. The boy had only
strength enough to leaan that the brig was
not lllley's, and then he tainted.