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Article THE FIRST CRUISE OF THE " VIXEN." ← Page 21 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
fifteen or twenty huts , made in part xvith trees , and , in some cases , xxith canvas . Seven or eight camels xvere tethered beside the huts , as we could see by the light of a small fire , around wMch were standing thirty or forty Arabs fully equipped after then * barbarous fasMon . This group was about four hundred
yards from Avhere Ave stood ; they appeared to be listemng attentively to an old man Avho was seated cross-legged beside the fire , and whose gestures indicated that he was speaking of our vessel , as his arm was held directed towards the spot where we presumed the Vixen lay . Nearly an hour elapsed before we observed any move on the
part of the Moors ; one of the party then took a lighted brand from the fire and proceeded across the dell , folloAved by the rest of the group ; as they passed before the fire , Darcy counted them ; they Avere thirty-nine , which would give exactly thirteen to each galley . Led by the Arab Avith the brand , they crossed
the dell , and disappeared into the wood on the right . Tom volunteered to follow and xvatch their movements , while we advanced cautiously to the encampment . It was agreed that when the galleys had cleared the bar , and were Avithin halfrange of the Vixen's guns , Tom should fire a blue light , four of wMch we were proAdded Avith : this was to be our signal for
the destruction of the pirate ' s nest , and also a beacon whereby we might join Tom at the mouth of the river . Our scout departed , and Ave disposed ourselves , as silently as possible , just within the wood xvhich hemmed in the huts . While thus employed , one of the men was stung by some reptile , the pain of wMch caused him to utter a sliht ¦ cry . An instant after
g , the canvas door of the largest tent xvas throxvn back and the form of a gigantic negro stepped out into the fire-light . He stood for a moment , and then addressed some words to the old man by the fire , who pointed in the direction where Darcy and I stood concealed behind a low brushwood .
The negro advanced towards us , pausing from time to time to listen . " Whist , " said Darcy in a whisper to me , " mind me now , Pether ; if that black fellow passes me , he must be sent to his father , the devil , mind that ; oh , Moses , he ' s comin—look now , Pether dear , it will all depend on your hand ; when you see
me clip him about the Avind , don't say a prayer for Ms soul , but just dMive your cutlash through a vital part ; not too hard though , or maybe you'd pink me . Here he comes ;—are you ready ? " " Yes , " I replied , holding my breath hard , and gripping the hilt of my cutlass ; but I prayed with all my heart that the negro Avould retrace his steps . He came on , however . I was
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
fifteen or twenty huts , made in part xvith trees , and , in some cases , xxith canvas . Seven or eight camels xvere tethered beside the huts , as we could see by the light of a small fire , around wMch were standing thirty or forty Arabs fully equipped after then * barbarous fasMon . This group was about four hundred
yards from Avhere Ave stood ; they appeared to be listemng attentively to an old man Avho was seated cross-legged beside the fire , and whose gestures indicated that he was speaking of our vessel , as his arm was held directed towards the spot where we presumed the Vixen lay . Nearly an hour elapsed before we observed any move on the
part of the Moors ; one of the party then took a lighted brand from the fire and proceeded across the dell , folloAved by the rest of the group ; as they passed before the fire , Darcy counted them ; they Avere thirty-nine , which would give exactly thirteen to each galley . Led by the Arab Avith the brand , they crossed
the dell , and disappeared into the wood on the right . Tom volunteered to follow and xvatch their movements , while we advanced cautiously to the encampment . It was agreed that when the galleys had cleared the bar , and were Avithin halfrange of the Vixen's guns , Tom should fire a blue light , four of wMch we were proAdded Avith : this was to be our signal for
the destruction of the pirate ' s nest , and also a beacon whereby we might join Tom at the mouth of the river . Our scout departed , and Ave disposed ourselves , as silently as possible , just within the wood xvhich hemmed in the huts . While thus employed , one of the men was stung by some reptile , the pain of wMch caused him to utter a sliht ¦ cry . An instant after
g , the canvas door of the largest tent xvas throxvn back and the form of a gigantic negro stepped out into the fire-light . He stood for a moment , and then addressed some words to the old man by the fire , who pointed in the direction where Darcy and I stood concealed behind a low brushwood .
The negro advanced towards us , pausing from time to time to listen . " Whist , " said Darcy in a whisper to me , " mind me now , Pether ; if that black fellow passes me , he must be sent to his father , the devil , mind that ; oh , Moses , he ' s comin—look now , Pether dear , it will all depend on your hand ; when you see
me clip him about the Avind , don't say a prayer for Ms soul , but just dMive your cutlash through a vital part ; not too hard though , or maybe you'd pink me . Here he comes ;—are you ready ? " " Yes , " I replied , holding my breath hard , and gripping the hilt of my cutlass ; but I prayed with all my heart that the negro Avould retrace his steps . He came on , however . I was