Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-05-19
TOM CRAB:
Or, An Old Salt, Aaoat and Ashore
BY GUS. COM STO OK.
GROCER srARBUcK.l
CHAPTER ]


his long serpeniine body swaying TO and fro. away
up in the golden mist.
The ship was the '.Ss. George" English mer-
chairman, Captain Band. bound from Lordon to
New York-the situation, ten leagues or so north
cas-. q the Azores. OF Western Islands.
'whereawsy. Tom?'' shouted Captain Band,
through his trumpet
.sTwo points abaft the weather-beam, about two
rpiles of; there in the edge of the log!
The skipper soon had his glass to his eye.
s.she is under fun sail. and bearing down upon
us - he said, to his mates "a craft low IN toe wa
ter and schooner. should think, although the
mist Is so thick thereaway, that can't make out
distinctly"
"WilI You let me look through your glass p in
quired deep, manly voice-when, turning, tne
Captain confronted Richard Merton-a young man.
am American who with his sister, had taken pas
sage for home in this vessel
A handsomer fellow than Richard couh scarcely
be imagfned. He was TALL and broad-shouldered:
with a deep, round chest. frmly-knit limbs. good
compile xion: spirited, brown eyes; darS waNN AR
moustache and noble, well cut features. expressive
of mingled genteness and resolution.
To describe his sister who now stood by his SIDE,
were = more difficulties
With features, regular. yet full OF ever
VARYING expression, with the rounded graees OF
supple magnificent form, she rlyalled the Venus &c
Nc,iici' and might have stirred the heart Of an
watching her brother as he looked through the
Captains glass; Grace Merton observed that he said
something, in low voice, to the Captain
cav ay sir" answered the latter, II perceived
it, but 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, woman-like. to study the expression
of faces, she at once OWNED thai something was
wrong.
give her brother no peace until at last SIZE drew
from him tie fact that the stranger had suspi-
cious look, and doubtless French privateer or
pirate
anal -.
There were, however. plenty of muskets, cut
Iasses and pistols aboard the st. George, besides
couple of nine-poGnders, while the Captain ana
crew were brave men, and Richard Merton, having
had experience in the American navy, as sailing
master. could materially assist in defence OF the
ship.
good guns aboard, and could if he wished and got
near enough to the English craft sink her with
few broadsides -
possible to avoid such n catastrophe. which, how
ever he did not muca fear, as the freuchman' IL
freebooter, would with 10 board aud get possess
"Av. ay 20 exclaimed the mast-header, who had
sighted the stranger. but who was now on deck,
"bad bizness, sbipmatesl don't like the idee Of
fghtin them Frenchers as they did US good service
| In the Reyolutioni'
aNow. lookee here, Tom Crab' exclaimed the
Captain. who, being snidships, had heard what he
sAd you're Yankee, know but blast me II y. l
won't run you through II You back DOWN Wbeh tne
..captain - answered Crab. drawing mp his long.
serpentine body TO its full height ''you might run
me through and through, but wouidn I ut hanu
| against them chaps unless 1 chosedi'
| The loud voice drew Merton to the spot
/ "what is the trouble ?"
"This man says he won't fight" answered Band.
/ 1.-The fact is just here" answered Crab thrust
ing his eyes apart like pair OF compasses; III
them chaps is pirates I'll fight. but If they amt
nothn' but cruisers agin the English nag. don !
/ lift hand.
'.This to me, your captain 7" roareI Band
| Leave him TO me-. said Merton. You are an
American p turning to Crab.
| Il guess you are one, too, amt YER
| 'Tam."
| $50 am I; Tom Crab. of Sag Harbor. at your
service who is sound on the stars and Stripes as
ne is ON the hasty puddin' and pumpkin pie ques-
toni"
"Bangl"
A shot from the stranger. now less than a mile
off passed. with whizzing sound, over the speak
Up went the French nag at her gafT-above that a
black one, hested the next moment, proclaimed
the vessel piratei
his waist, that detarl..ines me- I'm always ready
/ to fight q in outlawsl'
Merton went forward, and attended TO the point
| ing of the two ninC-pOunders, which, being we'll
aimed, brought down. when discharged, the French
mans foretopsail yard by the run.
| asteadyi'' howled Band. now hoping TO escape.
| '.Stesdy at that wheeli'
| Meanwhile. Grace Merton, in the cabin, whittier
/ she had been conducted by her brother. was upon
her knees, her face bowed on her hands. silently
praying
lust as q huge splinter few past her head, and,
striking mirror, shattered the glass to fragments
| The mizzen-inast hal been struck aud just
knocke t. pieces; the wreck lay alongside, drag
| ging the VI ssel down.
Captain Band. seizing an Ak, sprang to clear it,.
when another bali from the enemy carried his head
| of his shoulders.
cooly as picking up the he dashed aft and pro-
i ceeded to clear the wreck.
| The Frenehman now booming along. as If in
tending to strike the vessel amidships her Blooms
| and shrouds alive with ferce-looking fellows,
| armed to the teeth and cheering after the usual
manner of Frenchnen, A. they approached
\ Before the wreck could be cleared. the French
vessel came alongside lufiins up with her canvas
rafting, when some sky boarders sprung aboard.
| desperate combat now took place, as the French
men rushed npon their foes. shouting, mo quarteri
4 The Embellishments crew, thirty IN number. head
| ed by Merton aud the mate. fought like lions.
The other party were led by young man of
singular beauty. ancfully atired. and by another,
| a tall fellow almost dark a Msylay.
| Many men fell on both sides The Englishmen
| fought with their usual logged resolution. their
grim faces expressive of the utmost contempt for
/ their demonstrative foes
/ supple fellow sprsng like tiger upon the back
/ of Merton, who calamity distinguishing him
self. and was about driving 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. go that there at length remained
| but a dozen, who were soon overpowered-
Among these prisoners were Merton and Tom
| Crab.
these rascals must all walk overboardl'' said
the tall man, who had been one of the leaders OF
| the boarding party.
"Blaze away and shoot mel" said Tom Crab,
cooily-.better die that way than tother.'
There was no answer.
"Whatever you do to US, you viii at least be
mereifci to m sister," said Merton.
The younger leader Of the outlaws looked at the
| speaker intently.
"we will not harm your sister," he said, In n
voice of peculiar melody.
He passed into the cabin, followed by his taller
companion. who soon after reappcared.
sBefore the other part of the sun goes down, you
| Bs,asf all ,rdlk TIE Piaskf"
sAnd my sister % said Merton. "You will spare
her. and enable her to safely reach homel"
ave wfn spare her." answered the younger of
Then be drew the taller man aside, and held q
conversation with him. during which he spoke in a
pleading voice.
The other, however. soon broke away.
"The sun is down prepare for deatAi
CHATTER Il
Unfortunate wretchesi
splash splash splash lone after the other all
had walked overheard, to go down in the dark wa
| tiers, except Merton and Tom Crab.
/
ing was about TO suffer the fate OF his companions.
| when the young captain sprang forward, and with
one vigorous push, sent the plank over into the
water.
The taller uttered cry of rage but the other
hung upon his pleading. in his native tongue,
| for the lives of the two remaining.
ssThey were not Britons-they were Americans"
he cried in English, as he glanced at the prisoners
eat your sarice,' answered Tom Crab; "but
whats the difference to the country of them what
| goes to jabber in tother worldi''
At length the taller man seemed affected By his
companions pleadings.
s.Your lives are sparedi' he said-''that is-for
| the PRESENT."
BY midnight the vessel having been sacked Of all
valuables the prisoners taken aboard the
Frenchman. after which the st. George was scut-
tied AMI sunk.
| Next day, at about noon, the captured ones were
brought on deck, to behold the little vessel an
chored in a bay nearly screened from the ocean by
thick m asses of beautiful banana and other trees
that fringed its shores.
The view was beautiful
Upon this peak Merton's keen eye detected what
appeared in the distance to De the RUNE Of tower,
covered with heavy creeping vines, through which
small windows. cstehing the rays of the rising SUM-
/ n "A wifi. a sffano d-iik Ike bril