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THE YOUNG: MEN.
OF, AMERICA.
commodore, as he met Jack on the deck of
the ketch, after his interview. ‘You have
accomplished & most wonderful feat and it
shail not be forgotten. Report on beard my
flag-ship at your own convenience, for after
such a masterly cruise as you have made,
legen" be pleased to give you some privi-
leges.” -
pomamodore, 7 said Jack, “I have another
favor to ask of yo
_“ Whe ut is it, my ‘lad? I will never tire of
” granting favors when they are so highly ap-
Preciated and productive of so mach good
as those in the past have been.”
“T want a leave of absence.”
“What! just when we are getting ready to
invest the Tripolitan town. Do you wish to
go away with the Don and his daughter.’ sh
“You mistake, commodore,” said Jack,
blushing. “I do not wish anything of the
kind. [havea project in view which I think
will make the entrance of our fleet into the
bor easy, and I want to have a leave of
- absence ranted | to myself and the colored
ip.
“ wav bat do you mean?” asked the commo-
oe To play the part of a spy.”
“Why, lad, such a madcap enterprise can-
not be thougnt of for s moment,” said the
comm:
“ Commodore, you have trusted me before,
and I have never disappointed you, or be-
trayed your trust,can you not trust me in
this enterprise? My heart is set upon it.”
It took no little persuasion to obtain the con-
sent of tbe commodore, but at last he gave
it. Jack then madeashorteall upon the Don
and the senorita, who were next day to be
transferred to the commodore’s flag-ship until
an opportunity should afford itself to send
them to Spain.) The midshijman’s interview
with the senorita was along one, He related
to her his strange history, and finally con-
cluded by informing her of nis determination,
The senorita was considerably frightened
since she learned that he was going to enter
the beleaguered city, and ‘tried to dissuade
him, but without ava
said he hoped ‘hey would meet again,
ard vt it was her pleasure, when the war
was over he would hunt her up. @ eX-
pressed an urgent desire to know him better,
and both herself and father extended to him
a very, cordial invitatio n for him to visit them
at their manor in Spai
That night Jack and in a small sail-
‘boat quitted the fleet, with pay three days’
rations. The American fleet had been block-
ading the entrance to the port for some time,
hoping the dey would come to some terms
release the American prisoners, but with-
out avail.
The boat, pnder cover of darkness, passed
the entranes, and Jack laid low in the hull,
while Tip, who was not only a good pilot, but
fhoroughly equainted with the harbor, ran
tie boat int e port, on up past the gun-
boats, the frowning guns of the fort, until
suey lauded at a tall
act might seem ike one of sheer mad-
ness, bat Jack had determined on playing a a
bold part. He was disguised asa
had colored his skin a shade darker than it
was to carry out the disguise.
Of course he was unable to speak the lan-
guage, but had decided to play the part of a
mute, and Tip, who understood most of the
languages of the Barbary States was along,
to make full explanations for him to the
Tripolitans, True, bis plan was decidedly
bold, but in its very boldness lay his safety.
In the darkness of night they ceache “the
foot of the pier, and climbed to the top un-
seen, and then wandered along the curious
docks for some time unchallenged.
At last they came to a narrow, dark street,
Tip pulled the pretended Turk by the sleeve
and whisper
et'’s gO this way.”
Down the long dark street they groped
their way hand in hand. Sometimes the
“sound of voices could be heard, or the noise
of men moving about within a few feet of
them. .
A strong guard was kept, and a strict
watch for the American fleet; but not hav-
ing any ideathat so small a craft as the one
on which the Yankee middy and Tip had en-
tered the port would dare come under the
guns, they either had not seen it, or seeing
it, supposed, of course, that it was one of
thetr own small boats that had_been out re-
connoiteriag.
Two or threo times Jack and his companion
halted and ero close against the dirt:
wall of patlinzs, while bodies of sailors or
troops passed down it.
‘ankee middy was cool and deter-
mined. He had undertaken the most dan-
gerous enterprise in which a man ever en-
ee tp. Ry in the enemys’ camp.
e whispered as thoy troped their
@ narrow tty st fe
know where nla street leads?” rect, do you
mee 0. Been here m
ot. bee's | berry dark,” ‘the Ethiopian
they pardl
Tripotiene Sores they h: wf in into n one at
ADs, hy
fore aes seine 3 bond argo one with such
ith yells iat Sten 2 arti n
denoted both surprisy a nd Heutations whieh
rounded the adventurers. Only the fatot
outlines of the monsters could be seen, but
the pale starlight above fell upon two or three
shin ng bla
were
For a few moments the air was filled with
angry voices, and Jack thought his last mo-
ment was come. Tip wasseized and shaken
severely. He heard him talking very rapidly
with the dark men by whom they were sur-
unded, The Mussulmen were exceedingly
angry and Tip very plaintive in his appeals.
t last they were allowed to proceed.
““Who were they, Tip?” Jack whispered
when they | bad passed them,
* Bi
3
“« What< es they say to you?”
“Heap mad—cut head off.”
What did you tell them?”
“Tell ’em ‘whole pack o’ lies. Be very
good Mussubnan. Goin’ up-town to carry
order to de dey.”
“Do you think they had any suspicion. who
we were, Tip?”
“Dey—no—no suspicion. If do, dey cut
head off—all too soon.
“Well, Tip, I hope’ we may always | be as
successful, as we were in this en-
counter,’
“ Hope berry much 80 too.”
Their conversation had been carried on in
alow tone, No one was in earshot, and for
the present the Yankee middy knew they were
safe. But would not always be night,
Day would dawn after awhile, and his char-
acteras the dumb Turk would have to be
sustained under the glare of the sun,
he Yankee middy would require all his
nerve and presence of mind for this terrible
°
re
They finally came to where the narrow dirty
street seemed to have an abrupt termination,
and they were ina sort of asquare or market
place, There was a great broad shed just fn
front of them, under which a score of. camels
were lying on some straw,
“We go dar—we sleep dar,” said Tip, lead-
ing Jack to the shed, -
ack hesitated about choosin camels
for bed fellows, but Tip told him he had slept
with them many a time, and he suffered him-
self to be led between two of the great hump-
cked croutures, and lay down by the side’
of tip.
All was quiet,
Gradually, Jack overeame his fears of the
monster at his side rolling over on him, and
being considerably fatigued fell asleep. .
CHAPTER XVIIL
DISCOVERED AND SENTENCED,
Beep jT was d day and the sun was
5 Aa euiniog “brightly before Jack Izzard
awoke, The little Ethiopian still
slept.
Jack rose to a sitting position and turned
is eyes upon the great camel which lay at
his side still chewing his cud. Forjthe time
being he had almost forgotten where he was,
and it was s0me moments before he could
gather up his scattered taculties.
When he realized that he had penetrated
the enemy’s lines, and was even now within
the walls of their city he could not repress a
shudder. Q
“ Tip, Tip,” he said, seizing the little Ethi-
opian and shaking hin, * wake up,-are you
golng to § sleep all day ?”
ti rted up, Tabbed his eyes and pulled
his turban back from over his face. He
stared about him for a moment in a dull,
stupefled manner, and then realizing where
they were, gave utterance to a gru
Halt a do: ozen Arabs came to the shed and
begun beating the camels to make them get
Trip motioned Jack and they both rose and
got out of the way. These dusky sons of the
desert were villainous looking Bedouins, who
were merchants when they were in the city,
and robbers on tke sandy plain.
One of them ran at Jack with an ugly look-
ing cimeter in his hand and gave utterance
to some strange words, Jack, of course, did
not understand a word that he uttered, and
not forgetting oven while menaced with the
keen blade the part he had determined on
playing, he pojatba to his mouth and ‘shook
r@ was one among them who spoke the
Aripelitan language, and to him Tip explained
that Jack was a Turk, and a mute.
This man interpreted what the Ethiopian
bad said to the only Arab who understood
his language, and he told the story to the
others. For several moments the Arabs
chatted together, and then without another
word one of them seized his whip and began
beating the little Ethiopian.
“My time will surely come next,” Jack
thought and began to run away from the
Arabs. As soon as Tipcould eseape from the
Arab he followed, and they ran up another
narrow, @ dirty strest for a few hundred feet,
an
“Are they following us?” Jack asked.
“No—no come,” Tip answered. .“ They be
"fraid we thieves.”
*Is that all,” said Jack with a sigh of re-
lief, “If we are only suspected of being a
pair of thieves we can stand it; but Ia
afraid that they will come to the opinion that
Lam an American.”
“ think that—he Turk—he dumb
o—no
Turk,” fall the Ethiopian.
“Wel Tip, how are we ‘gol ng to geta bite
of brmaktit Bal vid Jack. “Io am beginning
to feel bh ‘ye
ack must have had a very keen appetit
to think of breakfast when h oO wae nurroun de |
ed on every hand by one of the cruelest, most
bloodthirsty enemies the World has perhaps
ever known, At any moment he might be
discovered—discovery meant either an imme-
diate or subsequent death.
might be seized uponand torn to pieces
by these bloodthirsty, Tripolitans, who, now
that they wore hemmed in and beleaguered by
the Americans, were growing furio'
The prospeets for breakfast were not ver
flattering. Dark-skinned Turks, Tripolitans
and Arabs were hurrying hither and thither
in every direction, There was excitement
on their dark faces, and they ested against
the American and his little guide.
“Mo no see breakfast to eat, ”’ said. the
some, and I
money to buy it, ”? said Jac
Thi not knew that big black fellow,
with long straight hair and large eyes of mid-
night darkness, was watching them from be-
hind a pile of bales of goods, One could
not tell whether his suspicions were aroused
or not, but his curiosity at least was awak-
ened at. sight of the two.
3 they veoumed Their wanderings abou’
the city the great black- eyed raseal watched
them, and without seeming to do so ever
kept close after them,
here,” said Jack, ‘is a place where
fruits are sold. I see dates and figs. Go and
buy some, and some loaves of barley bread
also.’
The Yankeo middy handed the little Ethi-
opian some American and British coin, the
only kind of money he had, and sent him
after the foo
‘ip was eyed closely by the old fruit ven-
der as he advaneed, and selected the fruits
he wished to purchase. When he threw down
the coins, the old fellow looked at him euri-
wil give you the
ously, for a few moments hesitated, and at
fact took them.
hy who 4 was watching the little fellow,
turned suddenly pale,
“Confound it, we have mado a blunder,”
the Yankee midd mentally ejaculated, the
moment he saw the old fruitecer look sus-
piciously at the coin. ‘“ That American
money is going to be!
The little Ethiopian hurried away with the
food, too hungry to notice the strange glances
east after him by the old fruit vender.
H
had not gone a dozen paces before the tall,
dark eyes gleaming with a strange light.
“Amerikanos!” he hissed through his teeth.
The fruit vender started back and stared at
the coin as if it was bewitched. He then
talked with the tall, dark fellow for a few
moments, when the latter-went away to an-
other part of the city, where he met some of
the ofilcers of the dey, Here he halted and
had a long talk with them.
The Yankee middy bad not been: blind to
the strange maneuvers of the tall Tripolitan.
His manner was so decidedly curious and
threatening to the Americans that he even
followed hi nd saw him engaged in eon-
Fersation With the black-bearded officers of
the dey.
wade that money has got us into trouble,”
“ How 80?”
* They have discovered that it is American
coin, and are now discussing it. Well, we ure
in for it, and I’m puzzled to tell just whal
course to pursue.”
,and be the result of this
secret consultation “vhatever it might, Jack
felt that a good breakfast would be of great
advantage to him, so he told Tip to lead the
way to some obscure spot, where they could
eat their bread and fruit,
The little black fellow led them to a retired
ot beneath a large palm, behind some low
sheds, where they sat down and breakfasted
without interruption,
had just completed their breakfast,
and were about to rise, when phey 8aW & car
ayan of camels and Arabs #0 b
«Where are » they going?” Jack asked.
“To de des
“Why could we not escape the same way?
It is not far to Fezzan
The Ethiopian looked up and smiled, and
said:
“No, no; no go; we find no ting to eat—
no water drink—all sand and hot, We stay
here—be kill first.”
Tip had evidently seen enough of the des-
ert, and did not care to venture upon the
reat sand
§ Jack ny, able as yet to get but a very
poor view of. the enemy’s -fortificatiors.
ould he succeed in shaking off that tall
Tripolitan who followed him like ashadow, be
intended going down to the bay and view
the forts and Yessels,
they had just started from the palm tree
when they discovered a dozen black-skinned,
white-turbaned Tripolitans running toward
em. Each was armed with a long musket
with daggers “and pistols in bis belt, and re-
sistance was useless,
Jack turned boldly about and faeed them,
making signs that he was dumb, pointing ot
Tip and intimating that he could talk. Tip,
however, was frightened almost to death by
the savage demeanor of the Tripolitans, Ho
shrank back from the man who addressed
him and hesitated before saying an nything.
Then speaking in the Tripolitan tongue, h
aid
9
“He isa Turk who is dumb.”
“Tam his slave.”
“You both lie. Where did you get the coin
of the Amerikanos?”
‘To this poor Tip hesitated. His dull brain
could suggest no answer, He turned his eyes
helplessly upon Jack and asked:
““What me say, Mr. Izzard? , What poor Tip
speak? How we get the coin?”
This blunder was amply sufficient to cause
their arrest.
The leader made a signal and all his band
threw themselves upon Yankee middy
and Tip. So sudden was the assault that not
a moment’s time was given for preparation
‘or defense. ©
Jack snatched a pistol from bis pocket, but
efore he could draw:the hammer
wrung from bis hand, and he was hurled to
the earth with such violence as to almost
knock the breath from his bod
He supposed his last moment had-como,
But to his surprise he was not.injured; his
bands were tied behind him and he was lifted
0 hia
With Tip following, they: were marched
down the principal street to.a great stone
building, which was the palace of the dey.
Into a dingy hall, up a flight of steps into a
great dingy room, where were # number of
black fellows around another black : fellow
seated on a sort of throne or court bench.
Jack seemed to have been called forward,
aud asort of * trial gone through. There were
a large number of persons speakingin an
unknown tongue. He looked round tosee
Tip, but he had not been broughtin. The
man on the dais pointed to Jack and two
men with muskets came to lead him away.
He knew that he had been condemned, and
was being led to execution.
[To BE CONTINUED.)
0
The Reason Why.
“WILL you tell me, youthfal angler,”
To an urehin di
As together we sat is og,
One fair morn upon the quay.
“Why the fish to you are partial,
Since the breaking of the day.”
This urchin’s face was home;
14 jointed pole had hired
Yet he sat aud hauled the fish in
With skill that made me “tired.”
Scattered round him ae the his eee
Lik cks alot
He a hundred tish had tn ‘aken:
3. Cl i.
But this urchin made no answer,
did only sit and grin;
Til at length U cried in anger:
Yell me! Tell, thou child of sip,
“Or I'll feed you to the fishes!
And your bones shal) sink from sight
As the sun sinks in the evel
“Hold” he cried, ‘7 have a a tie. s?
Then this arohin, sruiling. ausw ered,
her fish
“Don't you eet excited, mister
You forgot to bait your hook. 7
- Pod
[This story commencea in No. 526.]
THE YOUNG
Diamond Hunters;
oR,
Two Runaway Boys in Treasure Land.
A Story of the South African Mines.
By HORACE APPLETON,
Author, one “ The Black Student,
a Fla loating Wr * The You
I, the Water, ‘Fred Leno
e Roma. ofa Printer,
“ ms Sword Bree Fortune”
en
t CHAPTER XII
THE RETURN OF THE ELEPHANT HUNTER,
EANWHILE Pat Murphy and Dr,
¢
t if Dodge soon learned that Frank had
eee RR gone in pursuit of the miner who
sy Be } 2
his girlish sweetheart,
had agreed to take his message to
“Sure an’ he has been waylaid beyant the
town I’m after thinkin’, . Be the powers av
Tara what if the robbers who captured him
foreninst we come here have got him agin’?”
said Pat when he heard that Frank had fol-
lowed the mine
“ There may ‘be ground for fear that such a
calamity as you mention has befallen Frank,
At all events, we will secure orses and go in
pursuit of him, » said the doe’
A number of miners were erortped about lis-
tening to these remarks, and Several of them
volunteered to accompany ou.
“You see we are pretty ‘voll ‘satisfied that
some rascal js acting as receiver for our Caffre
diggers whom we employ in the mines, for we
Ww very well they are stealing our din-
e
3g
“Who are you?” asked the savage leader
of tho band,
10"
mounds,” said one, after the offer of himself