The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-05-13
TOM CRAB:
Or, An Old Salt, AfOat and Ashore
BY GUS. COMSTOCK,
RoGER srARBUcK.)
CHAPTER L.

CHAPTER I.
Down from aloft, like the far-of scream Of a bird
in the sky, came the cry of ''SaiI OF"
He who uttered it-a tall. swarthy fellow-stood
bending forward from the main-top-gallant mast,
his long, serpentine body swaying to and fro. away
up in the golden mist.
chairman, Captain Band. bound from London to
New York-the situation, ten leagues or so north
east Of the Azores, or Western Islands.
"Whereaway, Tom?" shouted Captain Band,
through his trumpet.
Two points abaft the weather-beam, about two
miles of; there in the edge Of the fogl"
The skipper soon had his glass to his eye.
''She is under full sail, and bearing down upon
usl' he said, TO his mate; "a craft low in the wa
ter, and a schooner, 1 should think, although the
mist is so thick there-away, that I can't make out
distinctly"
Will Won let me look through your glass % in
CURED a deep, manly voice-when, turning, the
Captain confronted Richard MertOn-a young man,
an American, who, with his sister, had taken pas
sage for home in this vessel.
A handsomer fellow than Richard could scarcely
be imagined. He was tall, and broad-shOuldered
with 4 deep, round chest, frmly-knit limbs, good
complexion; spirited, brown eyes; dark, wavY nair
moustache, and noble, well cut features, expressive
of mingled gentleness and resolution.
To describe his sister, who now stood by his side,
were a more difficult task.
varying expression, with the rounded graces of a
supple, magnificent form, she rivalled the Venus dc
Medici, and might have stirred the heart Of an
anchorite.
watching her brother as he looked through the
Captains glass, Grace Merton observed that he said
something, in a low voice, to the Captain.
cay, ay, sir, q" answered the latter, ~ perceived
If, but 1 didn't like, do You see, to speak of it be-
fore the young lady"
The words were too low for Grace to hear, but,
accustomed, w~Oman]ike, to study the expression
of faces, she at once OWNED that something was
wrong.
Now her curiosity was aroused, and she would
give her brother no peace until at last she drew
from him the fact that the stranger had a suspi-
cious look, and was doubtless a French privateer or
As France and England were then at war, the
crew could expect no quarter from their foes, If
pirates.
There were, however, plenty of muskets, cut
lasses and pistols aboard the st. George, besides a
couple of nine-pounders, while the Captain and
crew were brave men, and Richard Merton, having
had experience in the American navy, as a sailing
master, could materially assist in defence OF the
ship.
On the other hand, the Frenchman probably had
good guns aboard, and could, If he wished, and got
near enough 10 the English craft, sink her with a
few broadsides.
Captain Band resolved to keep far enough OF, if
possible, to avoid such a catastrophe, which, how,
ever, he did not mucn fear, as the F~renchman, if
a freebooter, would wish to board and get posses
sion of his cargo.
GAY, ayl +" exclaimed the mast-header, who had
sighted the stranger, but who was now on deck,
''bad bizness, shipmatesi don't like the idee Of
hghtin' them Frenchers, as they did us good service
in the Revolutionl"
~Nov. Iookee here, Tom Crakl' exclaimed the
Captain, who, being amidships, had heard what he
said, "you're a J Yankee, 1 know; but blast me if 1
won't run you through if you back down when the
fighting beginsi"
Captain I" answered Crab, drawing up his long,
serpentins body to its full height, ''you might run
me through and through, but 1 wouldn't lift a hand
against them chaps unless l chosedl"
The loud voice drew Merton to the spot.
''What is the trouble ?"
"This man says he wont fight" answered Band,
quivering with rage.
"The fact is just here answered Crab, thrust
ing his eyes apart like a pair Of compasses; 'Tf
them chaps is pirates, I'll fight, but if they AMT
nothin' but cruisers agin the English flag, I don't
lift a hand"
"This to me, your captain - roared Band.
'Leave him TO me" said Merton. 'You are an
American % turning to Crab.
'Iguess you are one, too, amt YER
liam"
$50 am 1; Tom Crab, of Sag Harbor, at your
service, who is as sound on the stars and Stripes as
ne is on the hasty puddin'. and pumpkin pie ques-
toni"
4'BangI"
shot from the stranger, now less than a mile
OF, passed, with a whizziDg sound, over the speak
Up went the French flag at her gaf-above thata
black one, heisted the next moment, proclaimed
the vessel a piratel
"AI right" cried Crab, buckIing his belt around
his waist, 'that determines me. Pm always ready
to fight 3in outlaWsl"
Merton went forward, and attendedto the point
ing of the two nine-pOunders, which, being we'll
aimed, brought down, when discharged, the French
mans foretopsail yard by the run.
STEADY 20 howled Band, now hoping to escape.
"Steady at that gheelI'
Meanwhile, Grace Merton, in the cabin, whittier
she had been conducted by her brother, was upon
her knees, her lace bowed on her hands, silently
praying.
A terrible crash suddenly b. ought her to her feet,
just as 9 huge splinter few past her head, and,
striking q mirror, shattered the glass to tragmentsl
TIL noSv1annna1& had haan C4rT1rl- and sueA
knocked to pieces; the wreck lay alongside, drag
ging the vessel down.
Captain Band, seizing an AZ, sprang to clear it,
when another ball from the enemy carried his head
of his shoulders.
San unfortunate circumstance" said Tom Crab,
coolly, as, picking up the Ak, he dashed aft and pro-
ceeded to clear the wreck.
The Frenchman was now booming along, as If in
tending to strike the vessel amidships, her bOoms
and shrOuds alive with herce-lOOking fellows,
armed to the teeth and cheering after the usual
manner of Frenchmen, as they approached
Before the wreck could be cleared. the French
vessel came alongside, luffng up, with her canvas
rafting, when some sixty bOarders sprung aboard.
A~desperate combat now took place, as the French
men rushed upon their foes, shouting, mo q~uarterI"
The Englishman's crew, thirty in number, head
ed by Merton and the mate, fought like lions.
The other party were led by a young man of
singular beauty, fancifully attired, and by another,
a tall fellow, almost as dark as a Maylay.
Many men fell on both sides. The Englishmen
fought with their usual logged resolution, their
grim races expressive OF the utmost contempt for
their demonstrative foes.
A supple fellow sprsng like a tiger upon the back
Of Merton, who was calamity distinguishing him
self. and was about driving a dirk in the back of
his neck, when Tom Crab, with one slash of the
huge cutlas he had been wiping, cut of the little
Frenchman's head.
One after another, the merchantman's brave crew
fell to the deck, so that there at length remained
but a dozen, who were soon overpowered.
Among these prisoners we're Merton and Tom
Crab.
"These rascals must all walk overboardl" said
the tail man, who had been one of the leaders of
the boarding party.
'Blaze away and shoot mel" said Tom Crab,
coolly-'better die that way than tother."
There was no answer.
whatever you do TO us, you will at least be
mercifci to m sister" said Merton.
The younger leader of the outlaws looked at the
speaker inteutly.
"We will not harm your sister" he said, in a
voice of peculiar melody.
He passed into the cabin, followed by his taller
companion, who soon after reappeared.
Before the other part of the sun goes down, You
must al odlE the plank"
"'And my sister ?" said Merton. "You will spare
her, and enable her to safely reach homel'
ave will spare her" answered the younger of
the pirates
Then be drew the taller man aside, and held a
conversation with him, during which he spoke in a
pleading voice.
The ether, however, soon broke away.
''The sun is down prepare for DEATH"