CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9720, 16 January 1895, Page 3

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

IN TRUBLOUS TIMES.

THE ADVENTURES OF TWO SCHOOLBOYS.

[BY SYDNEY FRANCIS STEVENSON.] Chapter VII.Ned Bowline.

Loud were the acclamations with which Ned was greeted when he again made his appearance on deck. The men crowded round him eager to shake his hand, and even the captain remarked that " the youngster had 'grit' in him." Harton was put to bed, and next morning he was up and none the worse for his misadventure. Fred was now the hero and the pet of the men, and his presence was cordially welcomed by them on deck. Various were the yarns he was regaled with by the old salts, who made pluck their chief idol. Some of these yarns were rather hard to "swallow," but Fred good-humouredly appeared to give credence to all. His chief friend, Ned Bowline, instructed him and Harton in all slang phrases, and the ' nautical terms for the various ropes and spars. Under his tuition the) boys became regular amateur sailors. The old salt had been one of the crew of a man-of-war, and many'a tale of daring and heroism he related to them. As yet. the boys did not know the true character of the vessel, supposing her to be an honest trader on the African coast.

One fine morning the look-out sighted " Land ho !" ; Instantly all hands were on deck, including r Spence and Harton. A gianbmountain was seen towering upagainst the sky, which Ned Bowline declared to bo the Peak of j Teneriffe. By thi3 our heroes knew theygSrereoff the group called Canary Islands. The schooner, whose name was the Fox, rounded to and made for the largest point in Grand Canary. It was a fine sight to see the masterly way in which she was tacked as she made her way into port. Suddenly the helm was put about, the sails clewed' , up, and the lower-anchor dropped, then the ship was brought sharp to a standstill. Instantly she was surrounded by boats, and a man in a sombrero hat stepped on board to disinfect, and see they had no disease on board. Frank Harton and Spence obtained permission to go on shore, accompanied by Bowline, who having just received his pay squandered it lavishly on the boys. The sailor had taken so much liquid refreshment that he was already half-seas over. In this condition he was rudely pushed by the official in the sombrero hat. The old salt, who could nob stand this, felled him with a blow of his sledge-hammer fist.

Chapter VIII.—The Fox Shows Her

True Colours.

There were now evident sisrns of a brawl. Bowline attempted to retreat, the boys covering his flight and protecting him from the showers of stones and other missiles that were hurled at him. The mob declined, however, to come to close quarters, having had a taste of Ned's hammer-like fist. At last they managed to reach the ship, and speedily clambered on board, followed by their assailants, who informed the captain of the affair. They were, however, speedily repulsed by the captain, he remarking that it was no affair of his. Through this incident the boys rose daily in that; worthy's estimation, who in his rough way admired their pluck. The Pox did nob stay in harbour long, their sole object), in putting in being to obtain fresh water and provisions. After a great deal of knocking about ab sea the schooner ran up a river on the borders of Dahomey. The captain and officers went on shore, and were mot by a party of natives, who brought another band of miserable-looking creatures behind, bound together with ropes. These were packed into several large barns termed by the sailors "barracoons." Spence and Harton had now no doubt aboub the character of their ship, and looked with horror and loathing on the inhuman captain. The slaver stayed ab Dahomey about two or three days in order to ship the slaves and refil tfieir water casks. Before this a boat had been sent out to see that the coast was clear. It soon returned and reported no vessel in eight, and then the slaver set sail, and had hardly got clear of Lagos before she was chased by an English brig, but being a fast craft she easily distanced her pursuer. The Fox now closely hugged the shore, and set little or no sail. The captain was pacing the deck, when the lock-out reported "Sail ho." Instantly the Fox set all sail, bub the stranger did so likewise, and a stern chase began. Slowly but surely the strange vessel gained, and very soon gob within range of the Fox, and a cannon ball from the stranger flew across her bows, and then fell, hissing into the water. Still the slaver kept on. Again there was a shot, followed by a crash, as the Fox's foremast fell into the sea. Her captain, thinking discretion the better parb of valour, accordingly heaved to. A boat was lowered from the stranger's side and soon pulled across to the Fox, and an officer and a dozen bluejackets landed on her deck. " Who commands this vessel ?" he said in an imperious voice. " I am the captain and owner of this craft," said that personage. "I demand to see your papers," said the lieutenant. Tho slave captain, seeing the game was up, acknowledged thab ib was a slave ship. " Very good. You are a prize to H.M.s. Mandrake," said the officer. The crew were then confined below, and the Fox was taken in tow. Our heroes told the lieutenant, whose name was Howard, of their adventure, and were much pleased by the kind manner in which he treated them. The slaver was towed alongside the Mandrake and some of her crew transferred, while the remainder offered to work her back to Lagos, whither she was going under tho command of Howard. Frank and Harton were also going in her, and Howard gave them acabin to themselves. They wore justrebiring for the night, when Harton heard the prisoners talking in subdued tones. A plot was being hatched to retake the vessel and steer her for . Brazil; then she was to become a pirate. The only voice against this was that of Ned Bowline. But he was overruled. Our heroes knew they could fcrusb him, so they informed Howard of what they had heard, and declared that Bowline would stand by them. He was, accordingly, called up under the pretence of waiting on Howard. The Mandrake's crow, Bowline, and our heroes armed themselves with handspikes and cutlasses, and prepared to meet the mutineers. About midnight a silent figure crept up the hatchway with a cutlass between his teeth, and stealthily approached the helmsman. An upward movement of hand and the man fell, stabbed to the heart. Flinging his cutlass overboard, the murderer crepb down again and regained his companions. The mutineers one by one crept softl> on deck and made a rush for Howard's cabin, on their murderous errand. We must now turn to follow the fortunes of our heroes.

Chapter IX.—Captured by Slave

Traders.

Our heroes were seated in their cabin, little suspecting what was being done on deck. Suddenly the door flew open, and the mutineers rushed in. Taken by'surprise, the defenders offered a brave resistance, and three of the Mandrake's crew were wounded ere they were captured arid bound. Bowline, Howard, and Spence offered a brave resistance, and little Harton, armed with a. belaying-pin, performed prodigiesof' valour before they were overpowered. Our heroes Were locked in the cabin, and a sentry was kept constantly over them. The Mandrake's crew had all offered to join the mutineers and had been released. They were now on deck helping the mutineers to shape a course for Brazil. All this time Bowline had been turning and twisting until his bonds were quite loose, then he rolled on his back gradually nearer and nearer the sentry. Then suddenly he sprang up and threw himself on the unsuspecting , man. The mutineer struggled fiercely, but was soon securely bound and gagged. Ned then released the rest of the party, and they cautiously crept on deck and silently dropped into the sea, and swam to the longboat, which hung from the ship's davits, and cut her adrift. They were now in a perilous position, being without food, water, or even oars to guide their boat. The only thing possible was to let the boat drift, which they accordingly did. All night and the next day they went without food and drink, till even the sanguine Bowline began to despair. Suddenly he started up, and looked fixedly for some time at the water, and then sprang up with a cheerful countenance. " It's all right," he said, " we're drifting toward the shore. We shall be within sight of it in | about) two hours' time.'! Sale enough, they

soon perceived a line of mangrove trees, and ere long were gliding up thick muddy water, generally to be found ab the mouth of African rivers. Presently they neared the bank, and Bowline sprang on shore, and dragged the boat up after him. Spence then began to look for something to eat, and, wandering to the river, he produced a bent pin and some string, and before long had caught half a dozen fine fish, which were Boon being devoured by our heroes. In the bushes behind them, a very tall and ugly negro was busily watching them, and, to jndgo from the expressions which fell from his lips, he was, evidently, pleased to see them. "Good," he muttered. " White man worth much money. ' We take 'em to Ashanti King. Get much gold dust). Ha ! ha !" After uttering these words, the negro slave-dealer, for such he was, went back to a number of his followers, and they cautiously surrounded our heroes, who, in less time than it takes to tell, were securely bound and taken off into the woods, the prisoners of Talonga, the famous slaver.

(To be continued.)