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“Moses, who chanced to drop in.. Reuben James left her there,
for he knew that Doctor Moses’ influence with the Bey.was all
_ powerful, owing to his great scientific attainments, and Osman
‘would not, in the face of his opposition, dare to repeat his
outrage on that night at least.
Reuben James ‘had not been recognized either by Osman
or Shaddock. When:he began the pursuit of the Arab, he
had taken the precaution to remove his false beard from. his
face and conceal it in his girdle. . ,
. ‘May I be blest if you hain’t a Harab, and yet when those
shalligators were on top of me batterin’ in my top-lights, you
talked like a hold sea-dog.” . .
. **T’ye been to sea, Shaddock,” replied James. :
‘You've been to sea? Give us a grip of your flipper.
That’s it, my ’earty. You've got the grip of a sailor and the.
orny ’and of a hold barnacle, or call me a hold marine. Let
me see your face: No, you hain’t the Harab.. I had a fight
on those streets with a feller.a short time ago, but he ’ad a
_ beard, and yours is as smooth as the back of.my ’and. That
Harab walked hover me, he did, but if he wasn’t a hold sea
‘dog then I’m a halligator.” :
-Middy James felt relieved when he had escaped the lose
scrutiny of the old sailor, and he hastened to turn the con-
-versation upon another topic.
‘*T suppose you’re too old to go to sea again, Shaddock?”
“Too hold to go to sea? Why, if it.wasn’t for the hold
barnacle, we wouldn’t ’ave any sailors. What do these. new
fellers know habout sailorizing with their new-fangled notions!
Nothin’! . While I’ll hengage to reef a sail, take a’and at the
wheel, splice a rope, or work a problem hin navigashun with
hany of them. Bah! they’re all coal ’eavers, that’s what they
is, and they puts hon a monkey-jacket and a tarpaulin’ at,
and calls themselves sailors.” .
“Well, Shaddock, I'm about to buy a mastico. to sail tor}
Constantinople in a few days. If you will go, you-shall be
the captain of the craft,” said James.
‘‘Capting! I say, I’ve never. been- hanywhere but in the}
fo’castle, but I've been rated a hable seaman in one of ’is
majesty’s men-of-war, and that’s hequal to bein’ a capting hon
‘a, merchantman hany day.”
“Then you accept the position, Shaddock—you know the
port well?” .
. Every foot of water. in ‘the channel. has well has a pilot.
I'll go. May I never taste 'ops hagain if I don’t.”
‘¢ Meet me, then, at Isaacs’ house to-morrow night at eight
o'clock. We will take the vessel out’on trial.” :
Middy James bid his companion good-night and hastened
away. Turning into the first dark street he came to,-he read-
justed his beard, and, thus disguised as Hassim, he entered
the prison, That night Osman called upon him, related his
adventures, and solicited his. aid in securing a certain smooth-
‘faced Arab and a certain English sailor. It was. faithfally
promised.
“7 feel just like a Hirishman who’s been a runnin’ haround
_ hall day in the sun with his trotters hin a pair of. French
boots,” exclaimed Jack Shaddock, as he walked back and
forth in front of Isaac’s house the following night, waiting for
Middy James. ‘‘ Hanybody can tell from the cut of my jib
crm rt pen ea
BORN TO. BEA’. MIDDY,.
%
that I was never hintended for a capting,
and Jack Shaddock will-keep it.”
Middy James soon appeared, and the two individuals walked
briskly down to the bay, and went aboard the little vessel
that James had purchased with the proceeds of Esther Isaacs’
diamond necklace. Hoisting sail, Jack Shaddock took the
wheel, and the little vessel.was soon plowing through ‘the
waters toward the Mediterranean Sea. -
‘« She sails like a witch;.but I say, suppose Decatur should
gobble hus hup? -That would be a.pretty kettle of fish.”
‘*The best way to do is to put on a brave face, Shaddock.
Let’s sail close in: under the bow of the ‘Argus,’ I Decatur’s
ship. Will you risk it?”.. :
.. Risk it?) I'd give the. best year of this hold sea-dog’s life
to see Decatur. If I woudn’t, » then bury me in the shadder
hof a marine hospital.”
“Perhaps your wish may be gratified before you return,
Shaddock. Look out now! Keep ber of a little, or we'll foul
the ‘ Argus.’.” : ’
They were then passing close under the bow of the ** Argus.”
Middy James saw a form on deck which he had no trouble in
recognizing. It was Lieutenant Decatur.
“Ship ahoy!” -
The voice came in stentorian n tones from the deck of the
“é Argus.”
‘ Aye—aye!” responded Jack Shaddock, with a voice of
midsummer thunder.
‘«Heave to on our starboard-quarter at once!” cried Lieu-
tenant Decatur.
‘* May I never ’ope to taste ‘ops again if they’aven’t cap-
tured us!” exclaimed Shaddock, as he hove the little. vessel
under the quarter of the « Argus.”
but I gave my word,
CHAPTER IX.
THE BURNING OF THE “ PHILADELPHIA.”
‘Whey the Tripolitan mastico struck: the ‘side of the
‘‘ Argus,” a number of the crew of the latter vessel imme-
diately jumped aboard of her, and took formal possession.
Ropes were run out, and she was properly secured.
When this was accomplished, Middy James climbed aboard
the ‘* Argus,” and followed Lientenant Decatur into the cabia
ofthat vessel. ;
cane have you brought us here, middy?” inquired De-
r.
“Captain Bainbridge desires you, sir, to enter the port of
Tripoli, and burn the frigate ‘Philadelphia’ at the earliest
possible moment. Knowing that to do so successfully you
would need. the assistance of a small vessel, I have brought
you this mastico.. The night is favorable for an attack, and
if it is made now I think it will Prove a thorough surprise, 43
it certainly is not expected.”
‘What is the condition of the ‘ Philadelphia’ now, middy?”
“They have replaced the guns which were thrown over-
board by others of heavy caliber, and put a large crew aboard
to work them. She is anchored ‘in mid-stream, but her fore-
mast is gone, and none of her sails are bent.” :
“Then it will be impossible to run her out of the port if we