"'Keep still,' I said; 'you act like a crazy man.'
"'Do you know there is a thousand dollars offered for his head in New Orleans?' said he.
"I didn't know that, and I felt somewhat like making as big a fool of myself over it, but I did not.
"The next thing we heard was a terrible rumpus below—swearing and yelling enough to raise the hair on your head. But what cared we? We had the mighty river-pirate, Black Ben, and one of his comrades in our power.
"Not knowing but what some of his friends might be in the neighborhood, we untied the fastenings of the boat and swung out into the stream. We ran considerable risk in so doing, as this was a dangerous part of the river, but Captain Hallongton understood the current better than I did, and we decided that this was the safest and best thing that we could do under the circumstances.
"The tempest and tumult continued below until we were in the middle of the Mississippi and gliding rapidly down the stream. Then a silence came, and Black Ben called up to us and asked us what this all meant. We told him that we had caught him trespassing on our boat and intended to take him down to New Orleans and sell him. The answer to this was a couple of pistol-shots fired at the spot where he supposed I was standing. It struck beneath my feet, and no doubt he imagined it would pass through the planking and kill me; but it was bullet-proof and there was no danger. Finding he could do no harm he took a different course of action. He tried to bribe us to let him go, and made us repeated offers until he reached a figure as high as ten thousand dollars. We told him we would take time to think about it, but we were not quite fools enough to accept any offer which he could make. We knew that all he wanted was to get out on deck, and then there would be the tallest kind of a rumpus. Our only safety was in keeping him just where he was and not give him the slightest advantage.
"Finding his efforts in this direction useless, he fell upon his first plan, of swearing. I have heard some terrible profanity in my time, but I don't think I ever heard anything to equal that of Black Ben. He kept it up until morning, and then all was still again.
"I suppose you understand the way in which we trapped our bird? Captain Hallongton had taken the trouble of finding out Black Ben's manner of doing business and had laid his plans accordingly. It was his custom to wait until the crew of the boats he intended to rob went asleep, and he then stole aboard and quietly despatched them either with the knife or pistol. Knowing this, we had arranged a couple of dummies, which, as we intended, were mistaken by the river-pirate for the entire crew of theGeneral Jackson. The small orifice which I first spoke of as connecting the cabin with the main body of the boat had been made by Captain Hallongton, so that in case there was parley between him and Black Ben before surrendering the boat, the latter personage could thus be made to believe that it came from one of the forms inside, but his course of action rendered this precaution unnecessary.
"We ran a great deal more danger in capturing this renowned outlaw than any of us imagined. We had carefully removed everything in the shape of a knife or hatchet or any kind of a weapon from the cabin, and yet we had every reason to believe that both of these dogs would have their knives with them; but by a purely providential circumstance neither of them carried anything with them except their pistols. How it came about, I cannot say, for it certainly was odd. Had either of them their weapons, it would have taken them but a few hours to cut their way through the planking, thick as it was, and we would have been compelled to shoot them to save ourselves from being shot.
"If they had become satisfied that there was no hope for them, the next thing in order would have been the bottom of the boat. They would have made a leak which would have carried themselves and the flatboat to the bottom, and likely enough ourselves, too, for you must know it is no easy matter to make your way through the Mississippi at high water.
"We did not feel easy when we heard them thumping and rubbing the side of the boat, for we were well aware what wonderful things these desperate characters do when they find themselves in such desperate straits.
"Captain Hallongton stood with his loaded rifle, expecting almost every moment to see Black Ben burst out to view like a raging fury. By placing our ears against the cabin we could hear a peculiar grinding noise, which told us that the gentlemen in there were doing something, although what it was we could only guess. We could hear them muttering and talking to each other, but I could not catch any of the words uttered.
"Toward the close of the second day, just as we came within sight of the Crescent City, two pistol-shots broke the stillness. We could only conjecture what it meant. My supposition was that they had shot themselves, but Captain Hallongton suspected it was only a stratagem to get us to open the cabin door to give them a final chance to escape, or an opportunity to put a bullet through some of us who might look down. So we paid no heed, but kept on floating down the river.
"When we had tied up at the wharf, we brought a number of police officers, acquainted them with our prize, surrounded the boat, and then removed the door of the cabin. We waited a long time, but no one came forth, nor did any sound betray the presence of the men within. At last, one of the officers, more venturesome than the rest, ventured to steal up to the cabin and look down. The next instant he uttered a shout and sprang down, while we rushed toward the cabin.
"One glance showed all. Black Ben and his comrade had both shot themselves, and were stone dead. They had no knives, as I said, but with their simple pistol-barrels they had almost cut their way through the planking. I do believe that if New Orleans had been a hundred miles farther off these two precious scamps would have got out of the cabin and, perhaps, effected their escape.
"However, we had the satisfaction of receiving one thousand dollars reward, and of knowing that we had cleared the Mississippi of one of the most desperate outlaws that ever infested its banks."
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT!!
MOTOR STORIES
A New Idea in the Way of Five-Cent Weeklies.
Boys everywhere will be delighted to hear that Street & Smith are now issuing this new five-cent weekly which will be known by the name of MOTOR STORIES.
This weekly is entirely different from anything now being published. It details the astonishing adventures of a young mechanic who owned a motor cycle. Is there a boy who has not longed to possess one of these swift little machines that scud about the roads everywhere throughout the United States? Is there a boy, therefore, who will not be intensely interested in the adventures of "Motor Matt," as he is familiarly called by his comrades?Boys, you have never read anything half so exciting, half so humorous and entertaining as the first story listed for publication in this line, called"Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel."Its fame is bound to spread like wildfire, causing the biggest demand for the other numbers in this line, that was ever heard of in the history of this class of literature.Here are the titles to be issued during the next few weeks. Do not fail to place an order for them with your newsdealer.
This weekly is entirely different from anything now being published. It details the astonishing adventures of a young mechanic who owned a motor cycle. Is there a boy who has not longed to possess one of these swift little machines that scud about the roads everywhere throughout the United States? Is there a boy, therefore, who will not be intensely interested in the adventures of "Motor Matt," as he is familiarly called by his comrades?
Boys, you have never read anything half so exciting, half so humorous and entertaining as the first story listed for publication in this line, called"Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel."Its fame is bound to spread like wildfire, causing the biggest demand for the other numbers in this line, that was ever heard of in the history of this class of literature.
Here are the titles to be issued during the next few weeks. Do not fail to place an order for them with your newsdealer.
No. 1. Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.No. 2. Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.No. 3. Motor Matt's "Century" Run; or, The Governor's Courier.No. 4. Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of theComet.
PRICE, FIVE CENTS PER COPY
AT ALL NEWSDEALERS, OR SENT POSTPAID BY THE PUBLISHERS UPON RECEIPT OF THE PRICE.
STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK
NUMBERS 1 TO 396
TIP TOP WEEKLY
ARE CONTAINED IN THE MEDAL LIBRARY
We know that there are thousands of boys who are very much interested in the early adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell and who want to read everything that was written about them.
We desire to inform these boys that numbers 1 to 396 are pretty well out of print in the TIP TOP WEEKLY, but all of them can be secured in the numbers of the NEW MEDAL LIBRARY given below.
TheNEWMEDALLIBRARYATFIFTEEN CENTS
150—Frank Merriwell's School-days.167—Frank Merriwell's Chums.178—Frank Merriwell's Foes.184—Frank Merriwell's Trip West.189—Frank Merriwell Down South.193—Frank Merriwell's Bravery.197—Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour.201—Frank Merriwell in Europe.205—Frank Merriwell at Yale.209—Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield.213—Frank Merriwell's Races.217—Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour.225—Frank Merriwell's Courage.229—Frank Merriwell's Daring.233—Frank Merriwell's Athletes.237—Frank Merriwell's Skill.240—Frank Merriwell's Champions.244—Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale.247—Frank Merriwell's Secret.251—Frank Merriwell's Danger.254—Frank Merriwell's Loyalty.258—Frank Merriwell in Camp.262—Frank Merriwell's Vacation.267—Frank Merriwell's Cruise.271—Frank Merriwell's Chase.276—Frank Merriwell in Maine.280—Frank Merriwell's Struggle.284—Frank Merriwell's First Job.288—Frank Merriwell's Opportunity.292—Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck.296—Frank Merriwell's Protégé.300—Frank Merriwell on the Road.304—Frank Merriwell's Own Company.308—Frank Merriwell's Fame.312—Frank Merriwell's College Chums.316—Frank Merriwell's Problem.320—Frank Merriwell's Fortune.324—Frank Merriwell's New Comedian.328—Frank Merriwell's Prosperity.332—Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit.336—Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme.340—Frank Merriwell in England.344—Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards.348—Frank Merriwell's Duel.352—Frank Merriwell's Double Shot.356—Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories.359—Frank Merriwell's Confidence.362—Frank Merriwell's Auto.365—Frank Merriwell's Fun.368—Frank Merriwell's Generosity.371—Frank Merriwell's Tricks.374—Frank Merriwell's Temptation.377—Frank Merriwell on Top.380—Frank Merriwell's Luck.383—Frank Merriwell's Mascot.386—Frank Merriwell's Reward.389—Frank Merriwell's Phantom.392—Frank Merriwell's Faith.395—Frank Merriwell's Victories.398—Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve.401—Frank Merriwell in Kentucky.404—Frank Merriwell's Power.407—Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness.410—Frank Merriwell's Set-back.413—Frank Merriwell's Search.416—Frank Merriwell's Club.419—Frank Merriwell's Trust.422—Frank Merriwell's False Friend.425—Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm.428—Frank Merriwell as Coach.431—Frank Merriwell's Brother.434—Frank Merriwell's Marvel.437—Frank Merriwell's Support.440—Dick Merriwell at Fardale.443—Dick Merriwell's Glory.446—Dick Merriwell's Promise.449—Dick Merriwell's Rescue.452—Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape.455—Dick Merriwell's Racket.458—Dick Merriwell's Revenge.461—Dick Merriwell's Ruse.464—Dick Merriwell's Delivery.467—Dick Merriwell's Wonders.470—Frank Merriwell's Honor.473—Dick Merriwell's Diamond.476—Frank Merriwell's Winners.479—Dick Merriwell's Dash.482—Dick Merriwell's Ability.485—Dick Merriwell's Trap.488—Dick Merriwell's Defense.491—Dick Merriwell's Model.494—Dick Merriwell's Mystery.
Published About January 5th
497—Frank Merriwell's Backers.
Published About January 26th
500—Dick Merriwell's Backstop.
Published About February 16th
503—Dick Merriwell's Western Mission.
Published About March 9th
506—Frank Merriwell's Rescue.
Published About March 30th
509—Frank Merriwell's Encounter.
Published About April 20th
512—Dick Merriwell's Marked Money.
Published About May 11th
515—Frank Merriwell's Nomads.
Published About June 1st
518—Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron.
Published About June 22nd
521—Dick Merriwell's Disguise.
STREET & SMITH,Publishers, NEW YORK CITY
Added table of contents.
Images may be clicked to view larger versions.
Page 1, changed "cast is off" to "cast it off."
Page 4, changed "animal's heads" to "animals' heads."
Page 7, normalized "Potters' Gap" to "Potter's Gap."
Page 13, changed "derived it's name" to "derived its name."
Page 16, changed "give up the slip" to "give us the slip."
Page 28, changed "Chubb" to "Chub" in "Susie, Chub, Welcome, Matt, Clip, and many others...."
Page 30, added missing quote before "Occasionally the creature...."