Johanna Spyri - "Heidi"

Arthur Conan Doyle - "Rodney Stone"

Rudyard Kipling - "The Phantom 'Rickshaw and Other Ghost Stories"

Charles Darwin - "The Power of Movement in Plants"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: Mr. Midshipman Easy

F >> Frederick Marryat >> Mr. Midshipman Easy




Jack attempted to console him by pointing out, that not only
chaplains, but bishops, have been known to fight in armour from time
immemorial. But Mr Hawkins's recovery, was long doubtful, from the
agitation of his mind. When he was able to walk, Jack introduced to
him the Russian captain, who was also just out of his bed.

"I am most happy to embrace so gallant an officer," said the Russian,
who recognised his antagonist, throwing his arms round the chaplain,
and giving him a kiss on both cheeks. "What is his rank?" continued
he, addressing himself to Jack, who replied, very quietly, "that he
was the ship's padre."

"The padre!" replied the captain, with surprise, as Hawkins turned
away with confusion. "The padre--par exemple! Well, I always had a
great respect for the church. Pray, sir," said he, turning to Easy,
"do your padres always head your boarders?"

"Always, sir," replied Jack; "it's a rule of the service--and the duty
of a padre to show the men the way to heaven. It's our ninety-ninth
article of war."

"You are a fighting nation," replied the Russian, bowing to Hawkins,
and continuing his walk, not exactly pleased that he had been floored
by a parson.

Mr Hawkins continued very disconsolate for some time; he then
invalided, and applied himself to his duties on shore, where he would
not be exposed to such temptations from his former habits.

As the Aurora, when she was last at Malta, had nearly exhausted the
dockyard for her repairs, she was even longer fitting out this time,
during which Captain Wilson's despatches had been received by the
Admiral, and had been acknowledged by a brig sent to Malta. The
Admiral, in reply, after complimenting him upon his gallantry and
success, desired that, as soon as he was ready, he should proceed to
Palermo with communications of importance to the authorities, and
having remained there for an answer, was again to return to Malta to
pick up such of his men as might be fit to leave the hospital, and
then join the Toulon fleet. This intelligence was soon known to our
hero, who was in ecstasies at the idea of again seeing Agnes and her
brothers. Once more the Aurora sailed away from the high crowned
rocks of Valette, and with a fine breeze dashed through the deep blue
waves.

But towards the evening the breeze increased, and they were under
double-reefed topsails. On the second day they made the coast of
Sicily, not far from where Easy and Gascoigne had been driven on
shore; the weather was then more moderate, and the sea had, to a great
degree, subsided. They therefore stood in close to the coast, as they
had not a leading wind to Palermo. As they stood in, the glasses, as
usual, were directed to land; observing the villas with which the
hills and valleys were studded, with their white fronts embowered in
orange groves.

"What is that, Gascoigne," said Easy, "under that precipice?--it looks
like a vessel."

Gascoigne turned his glass in the direction--"Yes, it is a vessel on
the rocks: by her prow she looks like a galley."

"It is a galley, sir--one of the row galleys--I can make out her bank
of oars," observed the signal-man.

This was reported to Captain Wilson, who also examined her.

"She is on the rocks, certainly," observed he; "and I think I see
people on board. Keep her away a point, quarter-master."

The Aurora was now steered right for the vessel, and in the course of
an hour was not more than a mile from her. Their suppositions were
correct--it was one of the Sicilian government galleys bilged on the
rocks, and they now perceived that there were people on board of her,
making signals with their shirts and pieces of linen.

"They must be the galley-slaves; for I perceive that they do not one
of them change their positions: the galley must have been abandoned by
their officers and seamen, and the slaves left to perish."

"That's very hard," observed Jack to Gascoigne; "they were condemned
to the galleys, but not to death."

"They will not have much mercy from the waves," replied Gascoigne;
"they will all be in kingdom come to-morrow morning, if the breeze
comes more on the land. We have already come up two points this
forenoon."

Although Captain Wilson did not join in this conversation, which he
overheard as he stood on the forecastle gun, with his glass over the
hammocks, it appears he was of the same opinion: but he demurred: he
had to choose between allowing so many of his fellow creatures to
perish miserably, or to let loose upon society a set of miscreants,
who would again enter a course of crime until they were re-captured,
and, by so doing, probably displease the Sicilian authorities. After
some little reflection he resolved that he would take his chance of
the latter. The Aurora was hove-to in stays, and the two cutters
ordered to be lowered down, and the boat's crew to be armed.

"Mr Easy, do you take one cutter, and the armourers; pull on board of
the galley, release those people, and land them in small divisions. Mr
Gascoigne, you will take the other to assist Mr Easy, and when he
lands them in his boat, you will pull by hit side ready to act, in
case of any hostile attempt on the part of the scoundrels; for we must
not expect gratitude: of course, land them at the nearest safe spot
for debarkation."

In pursuance of these orders, our two midshipmen pulled away to the
vessel. They found her fixed hard upon the rocks, which had pierced
her slight timbers, and, as they had supposed, the respectable part of
her crew, with the commander, had taken to the boats, leaving the
galley-slaves to their fate. She pulled fifty oars, but had only
thirty-six manned. These oars were forty feet long, and ran in from
the thole-pin with a loom six feet long, each manned by four slaves,
who were chained to their seat before it, by a running chain made fast
by a padlock in amidships. A plank, of two feet wide, ran fore and
aft the vessel between the two banks of oars, for the boatswain to
apply the lash to those who did not sufficiently exert themselves.

"Viva los Inglesos!" cried the galley-slaves, as Easy climbed up over
the quarter of the vessel.

"I say, Ned, did you ever see such a precious set of villains?"
observed Easy, as he surveyed the faces of the men who were chained.

"No," replied Gascoigne; "and I think if the captain had seen them as
we have, that he would have left them where they were."

"I don't know--but, however, our orders are positive. Armourer, knock
off all the padlocks, beginning aft; when we have a cargo we will land
them. How many are there?--twelve dozen--twelve dozen villains to let
loose upon society. I have a great mind to go on board again and
report my opinion to the captain--one hundred and forty-four villains,
who all deserve hanging--for drowning is too good for them."

"Our orders are to liberate them, Jack."

"Yes; but I should like to argue this point with Captain Wilson."

"They'll send after them fast enough, Jack, and they'll all be in
limbo again before long," replied Gascoigne.

"Well, I suppose we must obey orders; but it goes against my
conscience to save such villainous-looking rascals. Armourer, hammer
away."

The armourer, who with the seamen appeared very much of Jack's
opinion, and had not commenced his work, now struck off the padlocks
one by one with his sledgehammer. As soon as they were released the
slaves were ordered into the cutter, and when it was sufficiently
loaded Jack shoved off, followed by Gascoigne as guard, and landed
them at the point about a cable's length distant. It required six
trips before they were all landed; the last cargo were on shore, and
Easy was desiring the men to shove off, when one of the galleriens
turned round, and cried out to Jack in a mocking tone, "Addio, signor,
a reveder la." Jack started, stared, and, in the squalid, naked wretch
who addressed him, he recognised Don Silvio!

"I will acquaint Don Rebiera of your arrival, signor," said the
miscreant, springing up the rocks, and mixing with the rest, who now
commenced hooting and laughing at their preservers.

"Ned," observed Easy to Gascoigne, "we have let that rascal loose."

"More's the pity," replied Gascoigne; "but we have only obeyed
orders."

"It can't be helped, but I've a notion there will be some
mischief out of this."

"We obeyed orders," replied Gascoigne.

"We've let the rascals loose not ten miles from Don Rebiera's."

"Obeyed orders, Jack."

"With a whole gang to back him, if he goes there."

"Orders, Jack."

"Agnes at his mercy--"

"Captain's orders, Jack."

"I shall argue this point when I go on board," replied Jack.

"Too late, Jack."

"Yes," replied Easy, sinking down on the stem sheets with a look of
despair. "Give way, my lads, give way."

Jack returned on board, and reported what he had done: also that Don
Silvio was among those liberated; and he ventured to mention his fears
of what might take place from their contiguity to the house of Don
Rebiera. Captain Wilson bit his lips: he felt that his philanthropy
had induced him to act without his usual prudence.

"I have done a rash thing, Mr Easy, I am afraid. I should have taken
them all on board and delivered them up to the authorities. I wish I
had thought of that before. We must get to Palermo as fast as we can,
and have the troops sent after these miscreants. Hands 'bout ship,
fill the main yard."

The wind had veered round, and the Aurora was now able to lay up clear
of the island of Maritimo. The next morning she anchored in Palermo
Roads and gave immediate notice to the authorities, who, wishing
Captain Wilson's philanthropy at the devil, immediately despatched a
large body of troops in quest of the liberated malefactors. Captain
Wilson, feeling for Jack's anxiety about his friends, called him over
to him on deck, and gave him and Gascoigne permission to go on shore.

"Will you allow me to take Mesty with me, sir, if you please?" said
Jack.

"Yes, Mr Easy; but recollect that, even with Mesty, you are no
match for one hundred and fifty men; so be prudent. I send you to
relieve your anxiety, not to run into danger."

"Of course, sir," replied Jack, touching his hat, and walking away
quietly till he came to the hatchway, when he darted down like a shot,
and was immediately occupied with his preparations.

In half an hour our two midshipmen, with Mesty, had landed, and
proceeded to the inn where they had put up before: they were armed up
to the teeth. Their first inquiries were for Don Philip and his
brother.

"Both on leave of absence," replied the landlord, "and staying with
Don Rebiera."

"That's some comfort," thought Jack. "Now we must get horses as fast
as we can. Mesty, can you ride?"

"By all de power, can I ride, Massa Easy; suppose you ride Kentucky
horse, you ride anyting."

In half an hour four horses and a guide were procured, and at eight
o'clock in the morning the party set off in the direction of Don
Rebiera's country seat.

They had not ridden more than six miles when they came up with one of
the detachments sent out in pursuit of the liberated criminals. Our
hero recognised the commanding officer as an old acquaintance, and
imparting to him the release of Don Silvio, and his fears upon Don
Rebiera's account, begged him to direct his attention that way.

"Corpo di Bacco--you are right, Signor Mid," replied the officer, "but
Don Philip is there, and his brother too, I believe. I will be there
by ten o'clock to-morrow morning; we will march almost the whole
night."

"They have no arms," observed Easy.

"No, but they will soon get them: they will go to some small town in a
body, plunder it, and then seek the protection of the mountains. Your
captain has given us a pretty job."

Jack exchanged a few more words, and then, excusing himself on account
of his haste, put the spurs to his horse and regained his own party,
who now proceeded at a rapid pace.

"O signor!" said the guide, "we shall kill the horses."

"I'll pay for them," said Jack.

"Yes, but we shall kill them before we get there, Jack," replied
Gascoigne, "and have to walk the rest of the way."

"Very true, Ned; let's pull up, and give them their wind."

"By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but my shirt stick to my ribs," cried
Mesty, whose black face was hung with dewdrops from their rapid
course.

"Never mind, Mesty." It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when
they arrived at the seat of Don Rebiera. Jack threw himself off his
jaded steed, and hastened into the house, followed by Gascoigne. They
found the whole family collected in the large sitting-room, quite
ignorant of any danger threatening them, and equally astonished and
pleased at the arrival of their old friends. Jack flew to Agnes, who
screamed when she saw him, and felt so giddy afterwards that he was
obliged to support her. Having seated her again, he was kindly
greeted by the old people and the two young officers. After a few
minutes dedicated to mutual inquiries, our hero stated the cause of
their expeditious arrival.

"Don Silvio with one hundred and fifty galleriens, let loose on the
coast yesterday afternoon!" exclaimed Don Rebiera; "you are right, I
only wonder they were not here last night. But I expect Pedro from
the town; he has gone down with a load of wine: he will bring us
intelligence."

"At all events, we must be prepared," said Don Philip; "the troops,
you say, will be here to-morrow morning."

"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the ladies, in a breath.

"How many can we muster?" said Gascoigne.

"We have five men here, or we shall have by the evening," replied Don
Philip--"all, I think, good men--my father, my brother, and myself."

"We are three--four with the guide, whom I know nothing about."

"Twelve in all--not one too many; but I think that now we are
prepared, if they attack, we can hold out till the morning."

"Had we not better send the ladies away?" said Jack.

"Who is to escort them?" replied Don Philip; "we shall only weaken our
force; besides, they may fall into the miscreants' hands."

"Shall we all leave the house together? they can but plunder it,"
observed Don Rebiera.

"Still, we may be intercepted by them, and our whole force will be
nothing against so many," observed Don Philip, "if we are without
defence, whereas in the house we shall have an advantage."

"E'vero," replied Don Rebiera, thoughtfully; "then let us prepare, for
depend upon it Don Silvio will not lose such an opportunity to wreak
his vengeance. He will be here to-night: I only wonder he has not
been here with his companions before. However, Pedro will arrive in
two hours."

"We must now see what means we have of defence," said Philip. "Come,
brother--will you come, sir?"


CHAPTER XXXI

A regular set-to, in which the parties beaten are not knocked down,
but rise higher and higher at each discomfiture--Nothing but the
troops could have prevented them from going up to heaven.

Don Rebiera and his two sons quitted the room, Gascoigne entered into
conversation with the senora, while Easy took this opportunity of
addressing Agnes. He had been too much occupied with the consultation
to pay her much attention before. He had spoken, with his eyes fixed
upon her, and had been surprised at the improvement which had taken
place in less than a year. He now went to her, and asked her, in a
low voice, "whether she had received his letter?"

"Oh, yes!" replied she, colouring.

"And were you angry with what I said, Agnes?" in a low tone.

"No," replied she, casting her eyes down on the floor.

"I repeat now what I said, Agnes--I have never forgotten you."

"But--"

"But what?"

"Father Thomaso."

"What of him?"

"He never will--"

"Will what?"

"You are a heretic, he says."

"Tell him to mind his own business."

"He has great influence with my father and mother."

"Your brothers are on our side."

"I know that, but there will be great difficulty. Our religion is not
the same. He must talk to you--he will convert you."

"We'll argue that point, Agnes. I will convert him if he has common
sense; if not, it's no use arguing with him. Where is he?"

"He will soon be at home."

"Tell me, Agnes, if you had your own will, would you marry me?"
"I don't know; I have never seen anyone I liked so well."

"Is that all?"

"Is it not enough for a maiden to say?" replied Agnes, raising her
eyes, and looking reproachfully. "Signor, let me go, here comes my
father."

Notwithstanding, Jack cast his eyes to the window, where Gascoigne and
the senora were in converse, and, perceiving that the old lady's back
was turned, he pressed Agnes to his bosom before he released her. The
gentlemen then returned with all the fire-arms and destructive weapons
they could collect.

"We have enough," observed Don Philip, "to arm all the people we have
with us."

"And we are well armed," replied Jack, who had left Agnes standing
alone. "What now are your plans?"

"Those we must now consult about. It appears--" but at this moment the
conversation was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Pedro, who had
been despatched to the town with the load of wine. He rushed in,
flurried and heated, with his red cap in his hand.

"How now, Pedro, back so early!"

"O signor!" exclaimed the man--"they have taken the cart and the wine,
and have drawn it away, up to the mountains."

"Who?" inquired Don Rebiera.

"The galley-slaves who have been let loose--and by the body of our
blessed saint, they have done pretty mischief--they have broken into
the houses, robbed everything--murdered many--clothed themselves with
the best--collected all the arms, provisions, and wine they could lay
their hands on, and have marched away into the mountains. This took
place last night. As I was coming down within a mile of the town,
they met me with my loaded cart, and they turned the bullocks round
and drove them away along with the rest. By the blessed Virgin! but
they are stained with blood, but not altogether of men, for they have
cut up some of the oxen. I heard this from one of the herdsmen, but he
too fled, and could not tell me more. But, signor, I heard them
mention your name."

"I have no doubt of it," replied Don Rebiera. "As for the wine, I
only hope they will drink too much of it to-night. But, Pedro, they
will be here, and we must defend ourselves--so call the men together;
I must speak to them."

"We shall never see the bullocks again," observed Pedro, mournfully.

"No: but we shall never see one another again, if we do not take care.
I have information they come here to-night."

"Holy Saint Francis! and they say there are a thousand of them."

"Not
quite so many, to my knowledge," observed Jack. "They told me that a
great many were killed in their attack upon the town, before they
mastered it."

"So much the better. Go now, Pedro, drink a cup of wine, and then
call the other men."

The house was barricaded as well as circumstances would permit; the
first story was also made a fortress by loading the landing place with
armoires and chests of drawers. The upper story, or attic, if it
might be so called, was defended in the same way, that they might
retreat from one to the other if the doors were forced.

It was eight o'clock in the evening before all was ready, and they
were still occupied with the last defence, under the superintendence
of Mesty, who showed himself an able engineer, when they heard the
sound of an approaching multitude. They looked out of one of the
windows, and perceived the house surrounded by the galley-slaves, in
number apparently about a hundred. They were all dressed in a most
fantastic manner with whatever they could pick up: some had fire-arms,
but the most of them were supplied with only swords or knives. With
them came also their cortege of plunder: carts of various
descriptions, loaded with provisions of all sorts, and wine; women
lashed down with ropes, sails from the vessels and boats to supply
them with covering in the mountains, hay and straw, and mattresses.
Their plunder appeared to be well chosen for their exigencies. To the
carts were tied a variety of cattle, intended to accompany them to
their retreat. They all appeared to be under a leader, who was
issuing directions--that leader was soon recognised by those in the
house to be Don Silvio.

"Massa Easy, you show me dat man," said Mesty, when he heard the
conversation between Easy and the Rebieras; "only let me know him."

"Do you see him there, Mesty, walking down in front of those men? He
has a musket in his hand, a jacket with silver buttons, and white
trousers."

"Yes, Massa Easy, me see him well--let me look little more--dat
enough."

The galley-slaves appeared to be very anxious to surround the house
that no one should escape, and Don Silvio was arranging the men.

"Ned," said Jack, "let us show him that we are here. He said that he
would acquaint Don Rebiera with our arrival--let us prove to him that
he is too late."

"It would not be a bad plan," replied Gascoigne; "if it were possible
that these fellows had any gratitude among them, some of them might
relent at the idea of attacking those who saved them."

"Not a bit; but it will prove to them that there are more in the house
than they think for; and we can frighten some of them by telling them
that the soldiers are near at hand."

Jack immediately threw up the casement, and called out in a loud
voice, "Don Silvio! galley-slave! Don Silvio!"

The party hailed turned round, and beheld Jack, Gascoigne, and Mesty,
standing at the window of the upper floor.

"We have saved you the trouble of announcing us," called out
Gascoigne. "We are here to receive you."

"And in three hours the troops will be here, so you must be quick, Don
Silvio," continued Jack.

"A reveder la," continued Gascoigne, letting fly his pistol at Don
Silvio.

The window was then immediately closed. The appearance of our heroes,
and their communication of the speedy arrival of the troops, was not
without effect. The criminals trembled at the idea; Don Silvio was
mad with rage he pointed out to the men the necessity of immediate
attack--the improbability of the troops arriving so soon, and the
wealth which he expected was locked up by Don Rebiera in his mansion.
This rallied them, and they advanced to the doors, which they
attempted to force without success, losing several men by the
occasional fire from those within the house. Finding their efforts,
after half an hour's repeated attempts, to be useless, they retreated,
and then bringing up a long piece of timber, which required sixty men
to carry it, they ran with it against the door, and the weight and
impetus of the timber drove it off its hinges, and an entrance was
obtained; by this time it was dark, the lower story had been
abandoned, but the barricade at the head of the stairs opposed their
progress. Convenient loop-holes had been prepared by the defenders,
who now opened a smart fire upon the assailants, the latter having no
means of returning it effectually, had they had ammunition for their
muskets, which fortunately they had not been able to procure. The
combat now became fierce, and the galley-slaves were several times
repulsed with great loss during a contest of two hours; but,
encouraged by Don Silvio, and refreshed by repeated draughts of wine,
they continued by degrees removing the barriers opposed to them.

"We shall have to retreat," exclaimed Don Rebiera; "very soon they
will have torn down all. What do you think, Signor Easy?"

"Hold this as long as we can. How are we off for ammunition?"

"Plenty as yet--plenty to last for six hours, I think."

"What do you say, Mesty?"

"By holy St Patrig, I say hold out here--they got no fire-arms and we
ab um at arm-length."

This decision was the occasion of the first defence being held for two
hours more, an occasional relief being afforded by the retreat of the
convicts to the covered carts.

At last it was evident that the barricade was no longer tenable, for
the heavy pieces of furniture they had heaped up to oppose entrance,
were completely hammered to fragments by poles brought up by the
assailants, and used as battering-rams. The retreat was sounded; they
all hastened to the other story, where the ladies were already placed,
and the galley-slaves were soon in possession of the first floor--
exasperated by the defence, mad with wine and victory, but finding
nothing.

Again was the attack made upon the second landing, but, as the stairs
were now narrower, and their defences stronger in proportion, they,
for a long while, gained no advantage. On the contrary, many of their
men were wounded, and taken down below.

The darkness of the night prevented both parties from seeing
distinctly, which was rather in favour of the assailants. Many
climbed over the fortress of piled-up furniture, and were killed as
soon as they appeared on the other side, and, at last, the only
ammunition used was against those who made this rash attempt. For
four long hours did this assault and defence continue, until daylight
came, and then the plan of assault was altered: they again brought up
the poles, hammered the pieces of furniture into fragments, and gained
ground. The defenders were worn out with fatigue, but flinched not;
they knew that their lives, and the lives of those dearest to them,
were at stake, and they never relaxed their exertions; still the
criminals, with Silvio at their head, progressed, the distance between
the parties gradually decreased, and there was but one massive chest
of drawers now defending the landing-place, and over which there was a
constant succession of blows from long poles and cutlasses, returned
with the bullets from their pistols.