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Full Title
Kidnapped Dick; or, the Fate of the Firefly. A tale of 1781 / by J. Stanley Henderson.
Author
Henderson, J. Stanley.
Date Added
9 January 2014
Format
Journal
Language
English
Publish Date
1887-04-23
Publisher
New York : Beadle and Adams
Series
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure > v. XIII, no. 158
Source
Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure, v. XIII, no. 158, April 23, 1887. Fate of the Firefly
Topic
Dime novels > Specimens.
About
More Details Permanent Link
Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
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“438°
sympathy was not excited for Mary Forrest as
it bad been for Kate Swinton, who had strongly
attracted his boyish admiration, Much as he
- would have disliked to see her become the prop-
erty of the Yankee, it was no occasion for his
interference, especially as he had his doubts as
to whether Van Vorst intended to carry out the
plan in good faith.
When the ranger went on an expedition with
two companions, refusing to allow Dick to ac-
company him, the boy guessed where and for
what they had: gone, and he awaited their re-
turn with considerable curiosity.
Dick’s eyes were wide open when the two
young ladies were brought into the camp, and
_ he was agitated by an emotion very different
from tbat of curiosity, as he recognized the
_ sunny hair and clear complexion of Kate Swin-
‘ton. They were hurried away into the cabin so
quickly that he had no opportunity of speaking
. to them, but he improved his time by watching
Van Vorst and the Yankee, and placed himself
_in such a position that he was able to hear all
that they said concerning the two captives.
The revelations that were then made filled him
with such indignation and pity that he resolved
to become the champion of the two girls, and to
aid them if possible,
He saw Malachi Slicker, dressed up like a
popinjay, enter the cabin, and watched the door
until he came out. Then he went around to the
rear of the rude building, where the tall trees
and the thick bushes afforded concealment, and
_dug away the mud “‘chinking” between two of
the logs, until he could look into the darkened
room and partly see the forms of the two fair
captives. He attracted their attention by
scratching against the wood, and then spoke to
them in alow and cautious tone. — __ :
‘¢Come to the wall. I want to speak to you.
Tama friend.”
The faces of the girls became brighter, as
they stepped toward the light that shone through
the chink, and kneeled down by the wall.
‘‘Ts it possible,” asked Mary, ‘‘ that we have
a friend in this horrible place? Tell us who you
are, and why you are our friend?”
‘* Are you the pretty lady with the long light
hair and the bright blue eyes?”
“Jt is I who have tho blue eyes,” answered
Kate. ‘‘ This is my friend.”
» “JT saw you at your house when we went to
take the black men, and I want to help you, for
you look as pretty as my mother’s picture, I
told Captain Van Vorst that he had better not
try to hurt you, or I might get angry and shoot
him, and now when he wants to take you away
in aship and make you his wife, I mean that he
. sha’n’t do it.”
‘‘His wife!” exclaimed Kate, ‘‘Is that the
fate which he has reserved for me?”
“That is what he means, and Malachi is to
haye the other one. What is the other one’s
name?”
“My friend’s name is Mary.”
‘““Mary is a nice name. My mother’s name
was Mary. What is your name?”
““Ttis Kate, What is your name?”
“Dick. That is—I mean—you may as well
‘eall.me Dick as anything else, It is an easy
Kidnapped Dick.
/him from -it,
name, you know. I will call you Kate and Mary
if you will let me.” ,
‘Certainly we will. Is it possible that you
belong to these people?” ,
‘*T don’t belong to them, Kate, but Captain
Van Vorst is taking care of me now. I will tell
you all about it.when I have time. There is
something else to think of now. They want to
take you away across the sea, and they say they
are going to kill old Petrikin and divide the —
money on the Firefly.”
‘‘Who is Petrikin, and what is the Firefly?”
‘* Petrikin is Captain Petrikin, the Dutchman,
and the Firefly is tho vessel in which they
brought me here.” oo
‘‘ What can you do for us, my brave little fel-
low?” asked Mary Forrest.
‘‘T don’t know yet. I must look around and
think, and.see what I can do, Can you think of
anything?”
“*T know of nothing yet that 1 could do, un-
less you might see my brother, or Kate Swin-
ton’s brother. If they knew where we are, and
what trouble we are in, they would hasten to
help us.”
‘*Is Captain Harry Forrest, the Continental,
your brother?”
‘* He is; and Frank Swinton is with him.”
“Where could I find them?” .
‘“‘T cannot even tell you that, andI fear that
you can be of no assistance to us, though we
thank you most heartily for your good-will.”
‘‘Don’t be down-hearted, Mary and Kate, for
a boy can doa great deal when he wants to. I
have read of a mouse that gnawed some ropes
and set free a lion, or something of the kind. I
am sure that you ask God to take care of you,
and I will speak about you when I say my
prayers, I will see you again, and I mean to
come in there if Ican get a chance. I must run
off now, as [ think I hear some one coming.
Good-by, Kate and Mary!” .
The boy walked away from the cabin, leavin
the girls quite happy in the thought that a frien
was near, although he was but a small one,
CHAPTER X,
THE MOUSE CONTINUES TO GNAW.
ALTHOUGH little Dick spoke so confidently,
and encouraged his two fair hearers, there was
no ground for his confidence, for he had not
formed the ghost of a plan, and knew no more
than the girls themselves how he shouid go to
work to release them.
When he had left the cabin, and really com-.
menced to think for the first time, of the task
he had undertaken, he was appalled by its difli-
culty, and was thoroughly puzzled to tell how to
proceed. If he had had only one friend, in whom
e could confide, and who could advise him, he
would have felt much stronger and better fitted
for the contest; but he had not one, not even old
Aunt Chloe,
He concluded that he would first see Van
Vorst, and ascertain whether the marauder
meant to persevere in his inhuman purpose, or
whether there was any possibility of persuading ,
He sought the ranger while ho
was smoking a tranquilizing pipe after supper).
I nn aes aon tema an
np bin wiainaat reer L
Leena Ser tower oe
mame a Leet rn