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diff --git a/34367-h/34367-h.htm b/34367-h/34367-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..395662c --- /dev/null +++ b/34367-h/34367-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7939 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Last Cruise Of The Spitfire, by Edward Stratemeyer. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Last Cruise of the Spitfire, by Edward Stratemeyer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Last Cruise of the Spitfire + or, Luke Foster's Strange Voyage + +Author: Edward Stratemeyer + +Release Date: November 21, 2010 [EBook #34367] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE</h1> + +<h2>OR <i>Luke Foster's Strange Voyage</i></h2> + +<h2>BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA," "A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA" "FIGHTING +IN CUBAN WATERS," "RICHARD DARE'S VENTURE" "REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY," +"OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH" ETC., ETC.</h3> + + +<h3><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></h3> + +<h3>BOSTON<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.</h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1894,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By THE MERRIAM COMPANY.</span></h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1900, <span class="smcap">by Lee and Shepard.</span></h3> + +<h3><i>All Rights Reserved.</i></h3> + +<h3>Norwood Press<br /> +J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith<br /> +Norwood Mass. U.S.A.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">My Wakening was a Rude One.</span></h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE_TO_THE_REVISED_EDITION" id="PREFACE_TO_THE_REVISED_EDITION"></a>PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.</h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">The Last Cruise of the Spitfire</span>" is the opening volume of the "Ship and +Shore" Series, and tells of the things which happened to a boy who ran +away from his guardian's home because he could no longer stand the cruel +treatment received.</p> + +<p>In this tale, in order to get close to the heart of the boy, the author +has allowed Luke Foster to tell his own story in his own way. Luke has +never before been to sea, and when he is carried off on the "Spitfire" +his real experiences on the briny ocean, set up in juxtaposition to what +he had imagined a life on the "rolling deep" to be, make reading which I +trust every lad who has a "hankering" after a sailor's life may digest +with profit. Luke concludes that a life on land is good enough for him, +and I feel certain that a majority of our readers will agree with him.</p> + +<p>Of Luke's overbearing cousin and his dishonest uncle much might be said +which Luke leaves untold. The boy does this probably out of his natural +good-heartedness. Yet the lives of the pair, and especially that of the +father, well illustrate the old saying, that, sooner or later, every +wrong-doer is bound to overreach himself and fall into the hands of +justice.</p> + +<p>Upon first appearing in print, "The Last Cruise of the Spitfire" was as +well received as the stories in the "Bound to Succeed Series," which had +preceded it; and once again the author begs to thank readers and critics +for their continued kindness to him.</p> + +<p>EDWARD STRATEMEYER.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Newark</span>, N.J.,</p> + +<p>May 1, 1899.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#PREFACE_TO_THE_REVISED_EDITION">PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. Myself and my Uncle</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. An Unexpected Letter</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. Somebody's Crime</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. An Unexpected Arrival</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. An Appalling Prospect</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. A Turn of Fortune</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. On Board the Spitfire</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. Phil Jones</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. Up Long Island Sound</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. A Narrow Escape</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. Captain Hancock's Plot</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. The Storm</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. A New Friend</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. Some Plain Facts</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. Captain Hancock tries to make Terms</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. An Important Discovery</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. In a Tight Fix</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. I am put in Irons</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. The Burning of the Spitfire</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. On the Raft</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. Night on the Hasty</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. A Terrible Loss</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. The Deep Blue Sea</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. Picked Up</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. The Capture on the Ocean</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. On Land Once More</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII. Mr. Felix Stillwell's Hope</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII. On the Cars</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX. Back in New York</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX. An Unexpected Death</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI. Conclusion</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#EDWARD_STRATEMEYERS_BOOKS">EDWARD STRATEMEYER'S BOOKS</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> + + +<p><a href="#illus1"><span class="smcap">My Wakening was a Rude One.</span></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2"><span class="smcap">I went spinning through the Air, and then fell with a Splash into the +Water.</span></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3"><span class="smcap">Down in the Hold.</span></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4"><span class="smcap">On the raft.</span></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE;</h2> + +<h3>OR, LUKE FOSTER'S STRANGE VOYAGE.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>MYSELF AND MY UNCLE.</h3> + + +<p>"Luke!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Stillwell."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you sweep and dust the office this morning?"</p> + +<p>"I did, sir."</p> + +<p>"You did!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You did!" repeated the gentleman, who, I may as well state, was my +esteemed uncle. "I must say, young man, that lately you have falsified +to an astonishing degree."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, but I have not falsified—not to my knowledge, sir."</p> + +<p>"Stop; don't contradict me——"</p> + +<p>"I am telling the truth, sir."</p> + +<p>"Stop, I tell you! I will not have it! Look here, and then dare to tell +me that this office has seen the touch of a broom or duster this day!"</p> + +<p>And my Uncle Felix motioned me majestically into his office with one +hand, while with the other he pointed in bitter scorn at the floor.</p> + +<p>Mr. Felix Stillwell was in a bad humor. His sarcastic tones told this +quite as well as the sour look upon his face. Evidently some business +matters had gone wrong, and he intended to vent the spleen raised +thereby upon me. He was a high-strung man at the best, and when anything +went wrong the first person in his way was sure to catch the full +benefit of his ire.</p> + +<p>I was an orphan, and had lived with my Uncle Felix three years. Previous +to that time I was a scholar at the Hargrove Military and Commercial +Academy, a first class training-school for boys, situated upon the +Palisades, overlooking the Hudson River.</p> + +<p>My father was a retired lawyer, who, being in ill health, went with my +mother on a two years' trip to Europe. They journeyed from place to +place for sixteen months, and then lost their lives in a terrible +railway accident in England. The death of both my parents at once was a +fearful blow to me, and for a long while I could not think, and was +utterly unable to judge what was taking place around me. At the end of +three months I was informed that Mr. Stillwell had been appointed my +guardian, and then I was taken from school and placed in his office in +New York City.</p> + +<p>My duties at the office of Stillwell, Grinder & Co. were varied. In the +morning I was expected to clean everything as bright as a pin. Then I +went to the post-office, and on a dozen other errands; after which I did +such writing as was placed in my hands.</p> + +<p>For this work I was allowed my board, clothing and fifty cents a week +spending money—not a large sum, but one with which I would have been +content had other things been equal.</p> + +<p>But they were far from being so. I lived with my uncle, but I was not +treated as one of the family. His wife—I do not care to call her my +aunt—was a very proud woman who had come from a blue-blooded Boston +family, and she hardly deigned to notice me. When she did it was in a +patronizing manner, as if I was a menial far beneath her.</p> + +<p>My two cousins, Lillian and Augustus, were even less civil. Lillian, who +was a fashionable miss of seventeen, never spoke to me excepting when +she wanted something done, and Gus, as every one called him, thought it +his right to order me around as if I was his valet.</p> + +<p>In the matter of food and clothing I was scarcely considered. Any of +Gus's cast-off suits were thought good enough for the office, and my +Sunday suit was two years old. I had my breakfast with the servants +before the others were up, took my noon lunch with me, and dinner when I +returned from the office, which was generally two hours after Mr. +Stillwell, when everything was cold.</p> + +<p>Looking back at those times I often wonder how it was I stood the +treatment as long as I did. During my parents' lives I had had nearly +everything that my heart wished, and to be thus cut short, not only in +my bodily wants, but also in consideration and affection, was hard +indeed.</p> + +<p>To my mind there was no reason why I should be treated as one so far +beneath the family. My mother had been a gentlewoman and my father a +gentleman, and I was conceited enough to think that by both breeding and +education I was fully the equal of my cousins. Besides, my father had +been well-to-do, and had, no doubt, left me a fair inheritance.</p> + +<p>Had I had less to do I would have been lonely in a city where I hardly +knew a soul. But my work kept me so busy I had no time to think of +myself, and perhaps this is one reason why I did not rebel before I did.</p> + +<p>In the whole of the metropolis there was but one person whom I +considered a friend. That was Mr. Ira Mason, who had his law offices in +the same building with Stillwell, Grinder & Co. I had done a number of +errands for this gentleman, and in return he had become interested in +me.</p> + +<p>To Mr. Mason I confided my story in all its details, and when I had +finished he told me that if matters did not mend, or got worse, to let +him know, and he would see what could be done for me.</p> + +<p>My uncle did not like Mr. Mason, who, on several occasions, had had +clients who wished to obtain patents, and whom he had taken elsewhere; +the reason given being that Stillwell, Grinder & Co.'s rates were too +high, though their peculiar methods of getting patents had much to do +with it.</p> + +<p>It was the morning of my seventeenth birthday. I had requested my uncle, +several days previous, to give me a holiday, which I intended to spend +with an old school chum of mine, Harry Banker, at his home in +Locustville, a pretty village, fifty miles northwest of the city.</p> + +<p>The Banker family and mine had been well acquainted, and I had received +numerous invitations from them to spend some time at their home, a +large farm; but was each time forced to decline.</p> + +<p>When I had requested my uncle to let me go for just one day, I had +thought it would be impossible for him to refuse, as it was the middle +of July, and business was dull. I had saved my money for some time, +determined to be prepared to pay my own way if he should not give me the +price of a ticket.</p> + +<p>My request for a day off was met with a sharp refusal. It wasn't +necessary, there was work to do, and, besides, Gus was going to take the +day to go to Coney Island, and I must attend to his desk during his +absence.</p> + +<p>I was taken back by the curt negative that I received, and was inclined +to "air my mind." I had had no holiday for two years, and was clearly +entitled to one. Gus had had a week at Christmas, and half a dozen days +since. It was not treating me fairly to pile up the work upon me, and +give me no breathing spells.</p> + +<p>What made me feel worse was the fact that I had written to Harry telling +him of my expectations, so that I might find him home, and we could have +a good time. He would surely expect me, and it was doubtful if I could +get him word in time telling him I could not come.</p> + +<p>On the evening before I had written him a letter and posted it. Gus had +seen me do so, and had made a mean remark concerning the fact that I was +to stay at home while he was to have a good time.</p> + +<p>The remark was entirely uncalled for, and it made me angry. Hot words +passed; and he was on the point of hitting me when my uncle came in and +stopped the row. But my cousin was fearfully angry still, and vowed to +get even with me; and I knew he would try his best to do so.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the offices that morning, I was in no bright humor. But I +knew sulking would accomplish nothing, and so set to with a will to +clean up as usual. This job took fully half an hour, and when it was +done I crossed over to Mr. Mason's office to return a book he had loaned +me, and also to obtain another from his large library.</p> + +<p>While in the office I heard footsteps in the hall, and looking through +the partly closed door had seen Gus enter his father's private office, +closing the door after him. I was on the point of following, when I +remembered what had passed between us, and so waited until some member +of the firm might appear.</p> + +<p>Fully five minutes elapsed, and then my cousin came out, closing the +door softly behind him. He paused for a moment in the hallway, and, +seeing no one, hurried down the stairs, and out of the building.</p> + +<p>I thought nothing more of his movements, but continued to look over the +books, Mr. Mason meanwhile being busy at his desk in a smaller office +beyond. Presently I heard my uncle's well-known step, and hurried out, +meeting him just after he had been in his private office, which was +behind all the others.</p> + +<p>"Don't think that because it is your birthday you can neglect your +work," he went on, in a rising voice. "This office is to be cleaned +thoroughly every morning."</p> + +<p>"I cleaned it thoroughly not half an hour ago," I replied stoutly.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to contradict me?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"I'm telling the truth," was all I could say.</p> + +<p>"Does that look like it?"</p> + +<p>The floor certainly did not look like it. Bits of paper were strewn in +all directions, and the bottle of ink on the desk had been upset, +creating a small blue-black river, running diagonally over the oil-cloth +towards the safe that stood beside the window.</p> + +<p>Of course I knew at once who had done all this. Gus had vowed to get +square with me, and this was his method of doing so. Yet I could not +help but wonder what the outcome would be.</p> + +<p>"I say, does that floor look like it?" repeated Mr. Stillwell, in +gathering wrath.</p> + +<p>"I didn't do this, Uncle Felix."</p> + +<p>"You didn't?" he sneered. "Well, who did, then? We haven't any cat to do +it."</p> + +<p>I was on the point of saying it was a two-legged cat, but thinking he +would not relish the joke, replied:</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Gus was here."</p> + +<p>"My son? Impossible! I left him at home half an hour ago."</p> + +<p>"He was here not ten minutes since," I said.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it! Besides, why should he make a pig-pen of the +office, answer me that?" stormed Uncle Felix.</p> + +<p>"Because he knew I had just cleaned it up, and he wanted to get even +with me for that row we had yesterday."</p> + +<p>"A likely story, I must say! As if Augustus wasn't beyond such +childishness! You did this yourself. I want you to clean it up at once."</p> + +<p>"I didn't do——" I began.</p> + +<p>"Not another word! Clean it up, I say."</p> + +<p>My uncle was in such a savage humor I knew it would be useless for me to +attempt to reason with him. So getting a sponge and some water, I began +to clean up the muss on the desk. I had hardly cleaned the writing-pad +when my uncle stopped me.</p> + +<p>"If you are going to take all day, do the job when you come back from +the post-office. I want some letters to go in the nine o'clock mail. +Here they are."</p> + +<p>He shoved the letters into my hand.</p> + +<p>"Now don't get them all dirty!" he cried, "or I'll crack you over the +head. Be off with you."</p> + +<p>In a moment I was on my way to the post-office, three blocks distant.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED LETTER.</h3> + + +<p>As I walked along the street I could not help but ponder over the way I +had been treated. My uncle's manner towards me was getting harsher every +day. If it kept up in this fashion soon the time would come when human +nature could stand it no longer.</p> + +<p>And what was I to do then? Several times I had asked myself that +question without being able to come to a satisfactory answer. It was +easy enough to think of running away and so forth, but this was just the +thing I did not wish to do. My uncle was my guardian, and he was bound +to support me. To be sure, the support he gave me was merely a nominal +one; but I was not versed in law, and was afraid if I went off he might +keep my inheritance from me. I did not know how much money my father had +left, but what there was I wanted to come to me.</p> + +<p>Gus's actions puzzled me. If he was bound for a day to Coney Island what +had brought him to the office at such an early hour of the morning? I +knew that he disliked early rising, and was pretty well satisfied that +even the delight of paying me off would not have induced him to leave +his soft bed.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the post-office, I posted Mr. Stillwell's letters, and then +opened the box containing the letters for the firm. There were quite a +handful, and I looked at the addresses to see that no mistakes had been +made.</p> + +<p>In an instant one of them attracted my attention.</p> + +<p>It was directed as follows:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Mr. Luke Foster</span>,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Care of Stillwell, Grinder & Co.</i>,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">PATENT AGENTS,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">New York City</span>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The letter was addressed to me, and as it was the first foreign epistle +I had received since my parents' death, I looked at it with considerable +curiosity. It was postmarked London, and the handwriting was cramped and +heavy.</p> + +<p>Tearing the letter open, I was still more astonished to read the +following lines:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Mr. Luke Foster</span>,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>:</p> + +<p>"Of course you will be astonished to receive this, I being a +stranger to you. But just before his death I became well +acquainted with your father, he spending with your mother six +weeks at my country residence in Northampton. We met six years +ago in New York, and traveled from that city to Chicago, and +from there to St. Louis; so you will see that we became quite +intimate.</p> + +<p>"While stopping at my house your father expressed the fear that +should he die suddenly while on his travels, and his wife also +(odd, indeed, when such proved to be the case), your future +might be an uncertain one. He said he had made a will, +appointing his friend, John W. Banker of Locustville, New York +State, to be your guardian, but was afraid you might not like +the choice, or that this man might not treat you well.</p> + +<p>"Never expecting that your father's end was near, I laughingly +replied that I was sure he had done for the best. But he shook +his head in doubt, and said men were strange, and often acted +in a way least expected, which is certainly true. So I agreed, +should anything happen to him, to keep an eye on you. I have +not done so for the following reason:</p> + +<p>"Following close upon your parents' death came the demise of my +mother in Paris, and a week later, the failure of a banking +house in South America, with which I was closely connected. +After the funeral of my mother I took passage for Rio de +Janeiro, and it was about two weeks ago that I set foot in +England. Since then I have been exceedingly busy straightening +out my affairs, and this is the first chance I have had of +addressing you.</p> + +<p>"I trust your father's choice of a guardian has been a happy +one, and that you are doing well. If not, write me immediately, +and I will see what can be done. I send this letter in care of +your uncle because I have not had your address. I know that he +and your father were not on good terms, but I trust you no +longer carry on that quarrel.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Very truly,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Your friend,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<span class="smcap">Harvey Nottington</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"43 <span class="smcap">Old Fellows Road</span>."<br /></span> +</div></div> +</blockquote> + +<p>Standing by one of the deep windows of the post-office, I read the +letter through twice. It will be needless for me to state that it +impressed me strangely.</p> + +<p>The most important statement made by the writer was that my father had +never intended my uncle to be my guardian. I knew of the family quarrel, +but Mr. Stillwell, when he had taken me from the academy, had assured me +that that was all past and gone, and I had been delighted to have it so, +for it had always pained me to see my mother not on speaking terms with +my aunt. But apparently my uncle had not told the truth, and for reasons +of his own.</p> + +<p>How was it that Mr. Stillwell had been appointed my guardian when my +father wished Mr. Banker to act in that capacity? This was a question +that worried me not a little. I liked Harry's father very much, and was +sure he would have treated me with far more consideration than I was now +receiving.</p> + +<p>The perusal of the letter drove all thoughts of the unpleasant scene I +had left behind from my mind, and I was on the point of going directly +to my uncle for an explanation of the case. But then came the +recollection of Mr. Stillwell's manner towards me, and I shoved the +letter into my pocket, resolved to say nothing until I had thought the +matter over.</p> + +<p>I walked back to the office slowly, for I was in deep thought. For two +years my uncle had been my guardian, and during that time my life had +been little better than a continual hardship. The letter brought up the +memory of the past, and I realized now more than ever how happy the days +gone by had been. What had brought about the change?</p> + +<p>Clearly, the way I was being treated. Mr. Stillwell cared nothing for +me, body or soul. Indeed, at that moment I was inclined to think that he +would be as well satisfied to see me dead as alive. Perhaps if I were +dead he would inherit the money left me by my father.</p> + +<p>This thought had never occurred to me before, and I gave it considerable +attention. When I came to review the whole matter I discovered that in +reality I knew very little of my own affairs. I had taken many things +for granted, and my uncle's word on all occasions. Whether this was for +the best was still to be seen.</p> + +<p>I was glad I had not gone on a visit that day. Had I done so Mr. +Stillwell would have received my letter, and I do not doubt but that he +would have opened it. As it was, he knew nothing of the communication, +and I did not intend that he should until I was ready to disclose it to +him.</p> + +<p>By the stamp upon the letter sheet, I saw that Mr. Nottington was a +solicitor, and this made my mind revert to Mr. Ira Mason. As I have +said, the lawyer had taken an interest in me, and I was sure he would +now give me the best advice in his power.</p> + +<p>I was sorry I could not go to the gentleman at once. The letter had +fired my curiosity, and I wanted to get at the bottom of the affair.</p> + +<p>But I had already lost time: to lose more would raise a storm of anger +against me. I determined to wait until the noon hour, or after my uncle +had gone home.</p> + +<p>The firm of patent lawyers of which my uncle was senior partner was +composed of himself, Mr. Grinder, a short, stumpy busybody, now away to +Washington on business, and Mr. Canning, a young man who had been but +recently taken in, not so much because he was needed, I fancied, as +because he brought with him plenty of money and a good business +connection.</p> + +<p>Mr. Canning did not come to business until very late, as he lived +twenty-five miles out of the city, in New Jersey. There were no clerks +but Gus and myself; so when I arrived at the office I found Mr. +Stillwell still alone.</p> + +<p>My uncle's face was as dark as a thunder-cloud when I handed him the +letters. I made up my mind he was about to lecture me for having taken +my time, and I braced up to withstand the shower of strong language he +would be sure to heap upon me.</p> + +<p>"So, young man, you've got back at last!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Been rather a long while."</p> + +<p>To this I made no reply. What was there to say?</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder you came back at all," he went on. "To be honest, I never +expected to see you again."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I can't please you, Uncle Felix."</p> + +<p>"Don't Uncle Felix me!" he cried savagely. "After your dirty work to-day +I don't want to be any relation to you."</p> + +<p>This was certainly putting it rather strongly.</p> + +<p>"Whether you believe it or not, I didn't muss up the office," I said +firmly. "Gus did that."</p> + +<p>"I left Gus at home," he cried, even more emphatically than before, and +I could see that he was really angry because of my having dragged his +son's name into the dispute.</p> + +<p>"Gus was here, and left just before you came."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it."</p> + +<p>"All the same, it is true."</p> + +<p>"It's only a story to pass your crimes off on my son. But it won't wash, +Luke, it won't wash."</p> + +<p>I made no further reply, seeing it was useless to try to reason with +him, but hung up my hat and turned my attention to cleaning up the +floor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>SOMEBODY'S CRIME.</h3> + + +<p>While engaged in tidying up the office I noticed for the first time that +the door of the safe stood open. This was a most unusual thing, and I +wondered if my uncle had taken something out and forgotten to close it. +He was a very careful man, and if he had it was the first time I had +known him to do such a thing.</p> + +<p>"The safe door is open," I said mildly, as he moved as if to leave the +office.</p> + +<p>"Have you just found that out?" he sneered; and then I saw that he had +gone over to the door of the office only to close it.</p> + +<p>"Was it open before?" I asked in some alarm.</p> + +<p>He looked at me for a moment in silence, the cloud upon his brow +deepening.</p> + +<p>"Luke, you are a mighty cool one for a boy, but I've got you fast, so +you might as well give in," he said finally. "Come, now, I want no +nonsense."</p> + +<p>This unexpected speech only bewildered me.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you, Uncle Felix."</p> + +<p>"How many times must I tell you that I am no longer your uncle?" he +stormed. "From this time I am done with you."</p> + +<p>"What have I done?"</p> + +<p>"What have you done? What haven't you done? Ruined your good name +forever!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't muss up——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw, give the floor and the office a rest! I want you to own up +without further words."</p> + +<p>By this time I was more bewildered than ever. What in the world was my +uncle driving at?</p> + +<p>"What do you want me to own up to?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"You know well enough."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you do."</p> + +<p>"I don't."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you five minutes to make a full confession," he cried, in a +perfect rage. "At the end of that time if you are still obdurate I will +hand you over to the police."</p> + +<p>This was certainly alarming news. Surely something serious had happened.</p> + +<p>"If you will tell me what the trouble is, I'll try to answer your +question," was all I could find to say.</p> + +<p>Again he looked at me in that hard, cold manner.</p> + +<p>"I want you to tell me," he said, with great deliberation, "I want you +to tell me instantly what you have done with the six thousand dollars +and the papers that were in the safe."</p> + +<p>I stood amazed. For a moment I hardly realized the meaning of the words +that had been spoken.</p> + +<p>"The six thousand dollars that were in the safe!" I gasped.</p> + +<p>"Exactly."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about the money. I didn't know you had six +thousand in the place."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you did. You saw me place it in the safe yesterday afternoon."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I did not."</p> + +<p>"You did: and you took it out either last night or this morning. Come, +tell me what you have done with it, or, as sure my name is Felix +Stillwell, you shall pass the remainder of this day in prison. Luke, I +am not to be trifled with!"</p> + +<p>My uncle was fearfully in earnest, and his thin hands trembled with +excitement when he spoke. In spite of the fact that I was a pretty stout +young fellow, I was glad that though he had closed the door leading to +the outer office, he had been unable to lock it. It might come so far +that I would be glad enough to escape from his presence.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear me?" he demanded, seeing that I made no immediate reply.</p> + +<p>I was busy thinking over the strange news he had announced. Six thousand +dollars and some papers missing from the safe! Whoever had taken them +had made a big haul.</p> + +<p>I could not help but think of Gus. He was the only one who had been in +the office besides myself. Was it possible the young man had robbed his +own father?</p> + +<p>I was loath to believe that such was the case. My cousin a thief! It +could not be possible; and yet if he had not taken the money, who had?</p> + +<p>"Do you hear me?" demanded Mr. Stillwell again.</p> + +<p>"I hear you," I replied, as calmly as I could, though I was nearly as +excited as he was.</p> + +<p>"What did you do with the money?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about the money."</p> + +<p>My uncle made a threatening gesture.</p> + +<p>"It's the truth, whether you believe it or not," I went on. "I did not +know you had the money, and I haven't been near the safe."</p> + +<p>"Luke Foster, do you realize that you are staring the State prison in +the face?"</p> + +<p>"I can't help that. I know nothing of your money, and that's all there +is to it."</p> + +<p>"When did you open the office this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Quarter to seven."</p> + +<p>"Did you clean up at once?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"When you cleaned up was the safe door open?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. It might have been unlocked, but it wasn't open."</p> + +<p>"How long did it take you to clean up?"</p> + +<p>"About half an hour."</p> + +<p>"What did you do then?"</p> + +<p>"I went to Mr. Mason's office to return a book he had loaned me."</p> + +<p>"And then?"</p> + +<p>"When I came back I met you," I replied promptly.</p> + +<p>"And you mean to say the safe was robbed in the meantime. Luke, you +cannot make me believe that."</p> + +<p>"I don't know when the safe was robbed. I told you what I did, that was +all."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a word of your story! You have robbed the safe, and you +have the money."</p> + +<p>"If you think so you can search me," I replied promptly.</p> + +<p>But even as I spoke I thought of the strange letter I had received. What +would my uncle say if he saw it? It seemed to me I was getting into hot +water in more ways than one.</p> + +<p>"I shall search you, never fear," said Mr. Stillwell. "But you had +better confess. It may go easier with you if you do."</p> + +<p>"I can't confess to something I'm not guilty of," I returned. And then, +as I thought of how I had been treated, I cried out:</p> + +<p>"You had better look nearer home for the guilty party, Uncle Felix."</p> + +<p>My reply seemed to anger him beyond all endurance.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare to insinuate my son is a thief!" he cried. "You low-bred +upstart! I have half a mind to hand you over to the police at once!"</p> + +<p>And with his face full of passion Uncle Felix bore down upon me, as if +ready to crush me beneath the iron heel of his wrath once and forever.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Stillwell's anger had reached a white heat, and as he strode towards +me, I was half inclined to think he intended to take my very life. He +was naturally a passionate man, and the insinuation I had made +concerning his son maddened him beyond all endurance.</p> + +<p>I could readily understand why this was so. My Uncle Felix almost +worshiped his son, and to have any one insinuate that that son was a +thief cut him to the heart. I believe he would rather have lost the six +thousand dollars, greatly as he might have felt the loss, than to have +imagined that Gus was the guilty party.</p> + +<p>"My son a thief!" he repeated hotly. "How dare you?"</p> + +<p>"Gus was the only one in the office besides myself," I replied.</p> + +<p>"And that is the reason you lay the crime at his door? I don't believe a +word you say."</p> + +<p>I did not expect that he would. Gus was a favored son, while I was but +an orphan with no one to stand up for me.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tell me what you have done with the money and the +papers?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"How can I when I don't know anything of them?"</p> + +<p>"You do know."</p> + +<p>"I don't."</p> + +<p>I hardly had the words out when my uncle grasped me roughly by the coat +collar.</p> + +<p>"I'll teach you a lesson, you young rascal!"</p> + +<p>"Let go of me, Uncle Felix!" I cried. "Let go, or I'll—I'll——"</p> + +<p>"What will you do?" he sneered.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; only you may be sorry if you don't."</p> + +<p>His only reply was to tighten his hand upon my collar in such a way that +I was in immediate danger of being strangled.</p> + +<p>"I'll choke you to death, if you don't tell!" he cried. "Speak up +instantly."</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>His hand tightened.</p> + +<p>"Will you tell?"</p> + +<p>I did not reply. I saw that he meant what he said, and I was busy +trying to think how to defend myself.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Stillwell had caught me I had backed up against the desk. Near +me lay a heavy ruler, used by Mr. Grinder in preparing designs for +patents. I picked up the ruler, and before my assailant was aware struck +him a violent blow upon the wrist.</p> + +<p>The brass edge of the weapon I had used made a slight cut upon my +uncle's arm, and with a cry more of alarm than pain he dropped his hold +of me and turned his attention to the injury.</p> + +<p>Seeing this I quickly placed a large office chair near the door, and got +behind it, in such a manner that I could escape at an instant's warning.</p> + +<p>"You young villain! Do you mean to add murder to your other crimes?" he +howled, as he proceeded to bind his handkerchief around his wrist.</p> + +<p>"I mean to fight my own battles," I replied. "I won't let you or any +other man choke me to death."</p> + +<p>"You shall suffer for all you have done!"</p> + +<p>"I'm willing to take the consequences," I replied, as coolly as I could.</p> + +<p>He continued to glare at me, but for a moment made no movement, probably +because he knew not what to do next. I watched him very much as a mouse +may watch a cat.</p> + +<p>"Come, Luke, you can't keep this up any longer. Hand over that money and +the papers."</p> + +<p>"Let me tell you for the last time, Mr. Stillwell, that I know nothing +of either," said I. "If any one has them that person is your son."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me such a yarn!"</p> + +<p>"I believe it's the truth. If not, why did Gus steal into the office and +out again in such a hurry this morning?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he was here. I left him in his room at home."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure he was in his room?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, for I called him, and he answered back."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless he was here, and maybe I can prove it."</p> + +<p>My uncle bit his lip. He did not relish my last remark.</p> + +<p>"And even if he was here he did not know the combination of the safe."</p> + +<p>"Neither did I."</p> + +<p>"But you could have found it out. You had plenty of chances."</p> + +<p>"No more chances than Gus had."</p> + +<p>"Pooh! Don't tell me that!"</p> + +<p>"It's the truth."</p> + +<p>"My son is not on a level with you."</p> + +<p>"I always considered myself as good as he is," I returned warmly.</p> + +<p>"My son is not a thief."</p> + +<p>"Neither am I, Uncle Felix; and what is more, I won't let you or any +other man say so," I declared.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do about it?" he asked curiously.</p> + +<p>"I won't stand it, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Do you know that I intend to have you arrested if you don't return what +you have stolen?"</p> + +<p>"If you have me arrested I will do all I can to defend myself," was my +answer. "If I am brought before the judge perhaps I will have one or two +things to say that you will not relish."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"There will be time enough to speak when I am brought into court."</p> + +<p>"You think you are smart, Luke, but you are nothing but a fool. What can +you say against me?"</p> + +<p>"A good many things that you don't dream of. You are not treating me +rightly, and you know it. You don't give me decent clothing to wear, and +I have to work harder than any one in the office. I am sure my father +never intended such a future for his son."</p> + +<p>"I don't care what you father intended!" he snarled.</p> + +<p>"But I do, and what is more, I intend, sooner or later, to try to have +matters mended. My father always told me he wished me to keep on going +to school and then to enter Princeton."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, I am your guardian now, and I know what is best for you."</p> + +<p>"How much money did my father leave me?" I asked, with considerable +curiosity.</p> + +<p>"None of your business."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it <i>is</i> my business."</p> + +<p>"It is not your business, and I want you to shut up!" he cried, in a +rage. "He left little enough."</p> + +<p>"Little enough," I cried. "My father was rich."</p> + +<p>"He was at one time; but he lost the most of his fortune in stocks just +before he died. You have hardly enough to keep you until you are +twenty-one."</p> + +<p>I must confess that my uncle's remarks were quite a shock to me. I had +always supposed that I would some day be wealthy. I gave the matter a +moment's thought, and then came to the conclusion that Mr. Stillwell was +not telling the truth.</p> + +<p>"How much money did my father leave?" I repeated. "I am entitled to +know."</p> + +<p>"You will know when I get ready to tell you, not before."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are mistaken," said I. "And another thing, Uncle Felix, how +is it that you were appointed my guardian?"</p> + +<p>At these words I fancied my uncle turned pale. He sprang towards me, +then stopped short.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that question?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I mean why were you made my guardian when my father and you were not on +good terms?"</p> + +<p>"Pooh, that quarrel was of no consequence," was the lofty reply. "Your +father could not find a better person in which to trust his son's care."</p> + +<p>I had my own opinion on that point, but did not find it fit to say so. +Then I put in what I thought was a master stroke.</p> + +<p>"I thought Mr. Banker was to be my guardian."</p> + +<p>At these words Mr. Stillwell turned even paler than before, and his hand +trembled as he pointed his long finger at me in a threatening manner.</p> + +<p>"You think too much!" he growled.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to answer that question?"</p> + +<p>"What put it into your head?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind."</p> + +<p>"Has John Banker been writing to you about it?"</p> + +<p>In spite of his effort to ask the question unconcernedly I could see +that my uncle was tremendously interested. Like a flash it came over me +that perhaps this was one of the reasons he did not wish me to spend any +time at Harry Banker's home. Mr. Banker might take it into his head to +ask me how I was being treated, and that might lead to trouble.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; but I'm going to find out before long."</p> + +<p>"And you are going to prison before long, unless you hand over what you +took from the safe."</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid of you, Mr. Stillwell. I have always done right. But +I'm going to know something about myself, and soon. I have a letter in +my pocket that tells me that Mr. Banker was to be my guardian, and I'm +going to know why he is not."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stillwell glared at me. If he could have eaten me up I believe he +would have done so.</p> + +<p>"You have a letter?" he cried hoarsely. "Who from?"</p> + +<p>"That is my business."</p> + +<p>"And I'll make it mine. Hand it over this instant!"</p> + +<p>"Not much."</p> + +<p>"I say you will."</p> + +<p>"And I say no."</p> + +<p>I was sorry I had spoken of the letter. I could readily see that it had +worked Mr. Stillwell up to a fever heat.</p> + +<p>"Give me that letter, Luke. I'll stand no more fooling."</p> + +<p>Once more my uncle bore down upon me. But I saw him coming, and shoved +the chair in his way.</p> + +<p>I still held the ruler in my hand, and now brandished it over my head.</p> + +<p>"Don't come any closer!" I cried. "If you do I'll crack you on the +head!"</p> + +<p>My uncle was too enraged to pay attention to my words. He hurled the +chair aside and sprang upon me as a wild beast springs upon its prey.</p> + +<p>"We'll see who is master!" he panted.</p> + +<p>In another instant he had me by the throat. His grasp was that of a band +of steel, and I thought for a surety my last hour had come.</p> + +<p>"Let—let go!" I gasped.</p> + +<p>"Will you give me the letter?"</p> + +<p>My only reply was to struggle with all my strength. In a moment we were +both on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" I cried.</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" he exclaimed, and tried to close my mouth with his hand.</p> + +<p>"I won't shut up! Let me up! Help!"</p> + +<p>But now my voice was fainter. It was all I could do to get my breath. +The room swam round and round before my eyes.</p> + +<p>"Give up that letter and the money and papers you took!"</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!—--"</p> + +<p>I could cry no longer. My senses were fast leaving me. Would no one come +to my assistance?</p> + +<p>"We'll see who is master! If you don't give——"</p> + +<p>My uncle did not finish his speech, for at that instant the door was +flung open, and a tall, powerful man stood in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Here! let up there!" he commanded. "What are you doing, Stillwell? +Who's that on the floor? Great buckwheat, if it ain't Luke Foster!"</p> + +<p>I listened in amazement as well as delight. The newcomer was Mr. John +Banker!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>AN APPALLING PROSPECT.</h3> + + +<p>Never was an arrival more opportune than when Mr. John Banker stepped +into the private office. I fully believe had he come a moment later he +would have found me insensible. As it was it took me several seconds to +recover my breath.</p> + +<p>"John Banker!" ejaculated my uncle, and every line of his features told +of his discomfiture.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing with Luke?" went on Harry's father. "Let him up."</p> + +<p>"None of your business!" growled my uncle.</p> + +<p>"I think it is. Luke, get up."</p> + +<p>By this time I had somewhat recovered, and I was not slow to obey the +command. I arose to my feet, and took my place beside my newly-arrived +friend.</p> + +<p>"What's it all about?" went on Mr. Banker, turning to me.</p> + +<p>"He says I robbed the safe of six thousand dollars," I replied.</p> + +<p>"And so he did," put in my uncle, glad to be able to speak a word for +himself.</p> + +<p>"Six thousand dollars!" ejaculated Mr. Banker. "Phew! but that's a large +sum!"</p> + +<p>"I know nothing of the money," I went on. "But I think his son took it, +and I just told him so, and that made him mad."</p> + +<p>"My son is no thief," stormed Mr. Stillwell.</p> + +<p>"And neither is Robert Foster's son, I reckon," returned my friend. +"I've knowed Luke all my life, and he's as straightforward a lad as one +wants to meet. There's some mistake, Mr. Stillwell."</p> + +<p>"No mistake at all; and unless the boy gives up what he took he shall go +to prison."</p> + +<p>"No, no; don't be too harsh!" cried Mr. Banker. "Remember he is your +nephew."</p> + +<p>"He is no longer any relation of mine! I've cast him off."</p> + +<p>"You have, have you?" asked my friend, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you haven't any right to do it," went on Mr. Banker. "You've got +his money in trust."</p> + +<p>"Precious little of it."</p> + +<p>"Yes? I reckon Robert Foster left quite a pile."</p> + +<p>"No such thing."</p> + +<p>"He was worth fifty or sixty thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>"Fifty or sixty thousand dollars!" howled Mr. Stillwell. "It isn't +quarter of that sum. He left five thousand dollars, and that's all."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Stillwell, he left more."</p> + +<p>"Who knows best, you or I?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind; you can't make me believe Luke's father wasn't better off +than that."</p> + +<p>My uncle pursed up his lips.</p> + +<p>"But that isn't here nor there," he said. "Luke has taken the money, and +he's got to go to prison."</p> + +<p>A look of pain crossed Mr. Banker's face. He and my father had been warm +friends, and I well knew that he would do all in his power for me.</p> + +<p>"He won't go to prison if I can help it," he said. "Luke, tell me the +whole story."</p> + +<p>Despite the numerous interruptions from my uncle, I related the +particulars of the case. Mr. Banker listened with close attention.</p> + +<p>"That sounds like a straight story," he said, when I had concluded. "I +can't see but what your son is just as much under suspicion as Luke, +Stillwell."</p> + +<p>"You don't know anything about it, Banker, and the less you have to do +with the matter the better off you will be."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to see Luke through."</p> + +<p>"What brought you here?"</p> + +<p>"I came to take him along with me, if he hadn't gone yet. Harry said he +expected him up to spend the day or maybe a week, and I happened to be +in the city since yesterday."</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't leave me off," I put in. "He hasn't let me have a holiday +since I've been here."</p> + +<p>"Humph! seems to me you're rather hard on the lad, Stillwell, in more +ways than one."</p> + +<p>"It's none of your business. You had better leave us alone."</p> + +<p>"As I've said before, I intend to see Luke through. Don't be alarmed, my +lad. If you've done right all will go well with you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Banker. I need a friend. Mr. Stillwell doesn't give me +half a show."</p> + +<p>"You shall have all the show you need after this, Luke."</p> + +<p>My uncle was in a rage, but he did not know what to do. Now that I had +some one to stand by me, I no longer felt the alarm I had when alone.</p> + +<p>"For the last time, are you going to give up the money?" asked Mr. +Stillwell.</p> + +<p>"I've already answered that question," was my reply.</p> + +<p>"Then you shall go to prison. Come along with me."</p> + +<p>He made a movement as if to take me by the arm, but Mr. Banker stopped +him.</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, Stillwell. Where do you intend to take him?"</p> + +<p>"To the station house, where he belongs."</p> + +<p>This alarmed me.</p> + +<p>"Can he do it?" I asked. "I didn't take the money."</p> + +<p>Mr. Banker's face clouded.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid he can. But don't be alarmed. I will stand by you."</p> + +<p>But the prospect before me of spending even a short while in one of the +city station houses, previous to an examination, was not a pleasant one. +I had known one young clerk who had done so, and was ever afterwards +spoken of as having been to prison under suspicion.</p> + +<p>"I won't go to prison," I cried. "He has no right to send me. Why +doesn't he send Gus, too?"</p> + +<p>"You come along," said my uncle sternly. "Didn't I tell you we would +find out who was master?"</p> + +<p>He took hold of my arm. As he did so Mr. Canning came bustling in.</p> + +<p>"Hello, what's up?" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>My uncle told his story. The new partner listened incredulously.</p> + +<p>"I can hardly believe it possible!" he exclaimed. "Yet many things are +queer here, he added," with a peculiar look that made my uncle wince.</p> + +<p>"And I'm going to make an example of him," went on my uncle. "Take +charge of the office while I take the young rascal down to the police +station."</p> + +<p>"I will take charge of the office, but don't act hastily," replied Mr. +Canning.</p> + +<p>"Now come along," went on Mr. Stillwell to me. "And beware how you +conduct yourself."</p> + +<p>"I shall go along," said Mr. Banker.</p> + +<p>Taking me by the arm, my uncle led the way down the stairs. Mr. Banker +was close at my side.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>A TURN OF FORTUNE.</h3> + + +<p>It was now almost nine o'clock, and Nassau Street, where the patent +offices of Stillwell, Grinder & Co. were situated, was crowded with +people. My uncle made such a show of what he was doing that it was not +long before quite a crowd was following us, all anxious to know what had +happened.</p> + +<p>"There is no use of your making such a show of the poor boy," said Mr. +Banker. "You act as if he had murdered some one."</p> + +<p>"Mind your own business," snarled Mr. Stillwell.</p> + +<p>Mr. Banker was an upright farmer, and there was little of natural +meekness in his nature. He resented my uncle's speech, and quite an +altercation took place.</p> + +<p>While the two were talking I was doing some hard thinking. The idea of +going to prison became every moment more odious to me. I could fancy +myself in a dark, damp cell, surrounded by criminals of every degree, +awaiting a hearing. What would my friends think? And if the affair once +got into the newspapers my good name would be gone forever.</p> + +<p>The more I thought of the matter the more determined I became that I +would not go to prison. Suppose I ran away?</p> + +<p>No sooner had this foolish thought entered my mind than I prepared to +act upon it. We were now on the corner of Fulton Street, and to cross +here was all but impossible. My uncle and Mr. Banker were still in hot +dispute, and for an instant neither of them noticed me.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Mr. Banker, I'm off!" I cried out suddenly.</p> + +<p>And the next moment I had torn myself loose from my uncle's grasp, and +was dashing down Fulton Street at the top of my speed.</p> + +<p>"Hi! come back!" called out Mr. Banker after me; but I paid no heed.</p> + +<p>"Stop him! Stop him!" yelled my uncle. "Stop the thief!"</p> + +<p>His last words set the street in commotion. The cry of "Stop the thief!" +resounded on all sides, and soon it seemed to me that I was being +followed by at least half a hundred men and boys, all eager to stop me +in hopes of a possible reward.</p> + +<p>But now that I had once started, I made up my mind not to be captured. I +was a good block ahead, and by skillful turning I gradually managed to +increase the distance.</p> + +<p>I was headed for the East River, and it was not long before I came in +sight of the docks and the ferry slips. At one of the slips stood a +ferry-boat just preparing to leave for Brooklyn.</p> + +<p>The sight of the boat gave me a sudden thought. I dashed into the +ferry-house, paid the ferry fare, and in a moment was on board, just as +the boat left the slip.</p> + +<p>It had been a long and hard run, but at last I was safe from being +followed. Once in Brooklyn there would be a hundred places for me to go +in case of necessity.</p> + +<p>Wiping the perspiration from my face, I made my way to the forward deck. +But few people were on board, and quite undisturbed, I leaned against +the railing to review the situation.</p> + +<p>What should I do next, was the question that arose to my mind, and I +found no little difficulty in answering it. I was half inclined to think +that I had acted very foolishly in running away. Now every one would +surely believe me guilty, and if I was caught it would go hard indeed +with me.</p> + +<p>Had I better go back? For one brief instant I thought such a course +would be best; then came the vision of the cell, and I shuddered, and +resolved, now I had undertaken to escape, to continue as I had begun. +Whether I was wise or not I will leave my readers to determine after my +story is concluded.</p> + +<p>It was not long before the boat bumped into the slip on the opposite +shore. The shock brought me to a recollection of the present, and in +company with the other passengers I went ashore. I had something of a +notion that a policeman would be in waiting for me, but none appeared, +and I passed out to the street unaccosted.</p> + +<p>I had been to Brooklyn several times on errands for the firm, so I knew +the streets quite well. But fearful of being seen, I passed close to the +wharves, and finally came to a lumber yard, and here I sat down.</p> + +<p>It was a hot day, and it was not long before I was forced to seek the +shade. Close at hand was a shed, and this I took the liberty of +entering.</p> + +<p>It was a rough place, used for the seasoning of the better class of +wood. I found a seat on some ends of planking in a cool corner, quite +out of the line of observation of those who were passing.</p> + +<p>Here I sat for full an hour. Nothing seemed to be going on in the lumber +yard, and no one came to disturb me.</p> + +<p>But at last came voices, and then two rough looking men approached. I +was about to make my presence known, but their appearance was such that +I remained silent; and they took seats close to the spot where I was.</p> + +<p>"And the captain is sure that she is fully insured?" asked the taller of +the two.</p> + +<p>"Trust Captain Hannock to cover himself well!" laughed the other. "You +can bet he has her screwed up to the top notch."</p> + +<p>"And what is this cargo insured for?"</p> + +<p>"McNeil didn't say. Not much less than a hundred thousand, I guess. Of +course you'll go, Crocker?"</p> + +<p>"Ya-as," replied the man addressed as Crocker, somewhat slowly. "I can't +pick up a thousand dollars any easier than that."</p> + +<p>"I thought I had struck you right. Are you ready to sail?"</p> + +<p>"Anytime you say, Lowell. I owe two weeks' board now, and Mammy Brown +hinted last night I'd better pay up or seek other quarters."</p> + +<p>And Crocker gave a short, hard laugh.</p> + +<p>"Then meet me at the Grapevine in an hour," said the man called Lowell. +"I've got to make a few other arrangements before we start."</p> + +<p>"Right you are."</p> + +<p>"And remember, not a word——"</p> + +<p>"Luff there! As if I didn't understand the soundings."</p> + +<p>"All right. Come and have one."</p> + +<p>The two men arose at once and headed for a saloon that stood upon the +near corner.</p> + +<p>I arose also and watched them out of sight. The conversation that they +had held had not been a very lucid one, yet I was certain they were up +to no good. One of them had spoken of making a thousand dollars in an +easy manner, and I was positive that meant the money was to be gained +dishonestly.</p> + +<p>What was I to do? I was no detective, to follow the men, and I was just +at present on far from good terms with the police. It seemed a pity to +let the matter rest where it stood, but for the present I did not feel +inclined to investigate it. I would keep my eyes open, and if anything +more turned up, or was noted in the papers, I would tell all I had +heard.</p> + +<p>I wandered along the docks, piled high with merchandise of all +descriptions. Beyond, a number of stately vessels rested at anchor, +large and small, among which the steam tugs were industriously puffing +and blowing, on the lookout for a job.</p> + +<p>The sight was a novel one to me, and soon I walked out upon the end of +a dock to get a better view.</p> + +<p>"Hi, there! No loafing on this pier!" called a burly watchman; and I +lost no time in moving on.</p> + +<p>Presently I came to a wharf that seemed to be more public, and walked +out to one side of it. Here it was shady, and close at hand floated a +large row-boat.</p> + +<p>The craft was deserted. Wishing to observe the scene without being +noticed, I leaped into her. There was a cushion on the stern seat, and +on this I sat down.</p> + +<p>The breeze and the gentle motion of the boat were delightful, and for a +moment I thought how pleasant a life on the ocean must be. Alas! little +did I realize what was in store for me on the boundless deep.</p> + +<p>As I sat on the soft cushion I could not help but speculate on all that +had transpired within the last few hours. Early in the morning my mind +had been free from care that was anyway deep; now I was a fugitive, not +knowing which way to turn or what to do.</p> + +<p>But I was not disheartened. I was healthy and strong and I felt +confident that I could work my way in the world. But I was worried about +clearing my fair name of the suspicion Uncle Felix had cast upon it. I +must do that at any and all costs.</p> + +<p>Presently a footstep sounded above me on the dock, and a well-dressed +young man appeared.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, there!" he cried, on catching sight of me.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" I replied, shortly. I was not in a talkative humor, and wished +him to know it.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing down there?" he went on, rather sharply.</p> + +<p>"Nothing much."</p> + +<p>"Do you know that that is my boat?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't know it," I returned, and then jumped to my feet. "Excuse +me, but I haven't hurt anything."</p> + +<p>"But what are you doing there?"</p> + +<p>"Only resting. I've walked a good bit to-day and I am tired. I'll go if +you want to use the boat."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, that's all right. I don't want the boat for a couple of hours +yet. You may stay where you are."</p> + +<p>"Thank you."</p> + +<p>He was about to turn away, but a sudden thought seemed to come into his +mind.</p> + +<p>"You say you have walked a good bit to-day?" he asked curiously.</p> + +<p>"That's it."</p> + +<p>"You are not out of work and on the tramp, are you?"</p> + +<p>"Something like that," I replied. "I'm out of work and as I can't pay to +journey around, I'll have to walk."</p> + +<p>"I see. Well, I hope you strike something before long. It's not pleasant +to be out of work and money."</p> + +<p>The young man nodded pleasantly and walked away. I must confess I gazed +after him longingly. I warmly appreciated the few kind words he had +given me.</p> + +<p>As I turned back to sit down once more I heard two men get up from +behind a number of packing-cases on the pier, and walk away. I had not +noticed them before, and I wondered if they had overheard the +conversation which had taken place.</p> + +<p>It was rather warm in the boat, and the rocking motion caused by the +waves soon put me in a drowsy mood. My time was my own, and I felt in no +humor to move away. I allowed my head to fall back, and almost before I +knew it I had dropped into a light doze.</p> + +<p>My wakening was a rude one. The row-boat gave a violent lurch, nearly +precipitating me into the water. I tried to scramble to my feet, but +some one with a big bag pushed me back.</p> + +<p>"Here, what does this mean——" I began, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" come back in hurried tones.</p> + +<p>Then the bag was pulled over my head and arms, and in five seconds I +found myself a prisoner and hardly able to move hands or feet.</p> + +<p>I tried to cry out and to ask questions, but could not. The bag was +thick, and, being tied around my neck, almost took away my breath.</p> + +<p>For the first instant I was afraid that the police from New York had +found me, but I as quickly gave up this idea. They would never treat me +in this strange fashion, I felt certain. But who were my strange +assailants, and what did they intend to do with me?</p> + +<p>I felt myself lifted out of the boat and into another craft. Then I was +thrown on my back and something that felt like a piece of canvas was +spread over me.</p> + +<p>The boat, with me and my captors moved off and kept moving for perhaps +ten minutes or quarter of an hour. I tried to struggle to my feet, but +strung hands held me down.</p> + +<p>"Better keep still!" I heard a voice cry. "You can't escape, no matter +how hard you try."</p> + +<p>When the boat finally came to a standstill I was nearly suffocated for +the want of fresh air, and I wondered if I had not been chloroformed +when first assaulted. I was hoisted up by several men and placed upon my +feet, and then the cords which bound me were cut and the bag was +removed.</p> + +<p>I looked around with a start. I was on shipboard, with the great ocean +all around me.</p> + +<p>"Down with him!" shouted a voice behind me.</p> + +<p>Before I could turn to face the speaker a big black hole loomed up in +front of me, and I was tumbled down into utter darkness. The hatch above +was closed, and I was left a prisoner!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>ON BOARD THE SPITFIRE</h3> + + +<p>As I have said, I was tumbled into the black hole, and the hatch was +closed over me. Luckily I fell upon a pile of loose sailing, so my fall +was broken and did me no harm.</p> + +<p>But I was so completely bewildered by what had taken place that for a +moment I did not know what had happened. Then I gradually became wide +awake, and realized that I had been entrapped on board the vessel, which +was probably short of sailors.</p> + +<p>I had read of men who were thus pressed into the service, but never +dreamed that such a thing could occur so close to the great metropolis, +and in broad daylight.</p> + +<p>Who my captors were or where they were taking me was a mystery. For an +instant I thought the affair might be my uncle's work, but soon +dismissed that idea as being too dime-novelish altogether.</p> + +<p>With some difficulty I rose to my feet, but the motion of the vessel, as +the sailors got her under way, was too strong for me, and I was forced +to lie down.</p> + +<p>The place was intensely dark, and even after my eyes became accustomed +to the blackness, I could see little or nothing. On all sides not a +light was to be seen, and overhead only a single streak of brightness +around the hatch was visible. I was indeed a prisoner, and must make the +best of it.</p> + +<p>I crawled about the hold for quite a while, feeling everywhere for a +place to escape, but none came to hand. Meanwhile I heard the creaking +of the blocks as the sails were being hoisted, and the tramp of the +sailors as they hurried around obeying orders. I could hear the murmur +of voices, but try my best, could not make out a word of what was being +said.</p> + +<p>Presently, by the motion beneath me, I knew we were fully under way. The +cargo below me groaned as it shifted an inch or two this way and that, +and for an instant I was alarmed lest a case of goods should by some +chance break loose and crush me. But nothing of the kind happened, and +after a while all became comparatively quiet.</p> + +<p>I knew not what time of the day it was, but judged it must be about the +middle of the afternoon. How much longer would my captivity last?</p> + +<p>If I could have found something with which to do so, I would have +climbed up to the hatch, or shoved it open. But nothing was at hand, and +the opening was fully five feet above my head.</p> + +<p>The air in the hold was stifling and soon I breathed with difficulty. I +longed for a drink of water, and wondered how long I could stand being +in the place should those on deck forget I was there.</p> + +<p>But those on deck had not forgotten me, as I soon saw. Presently the +hatch was raised, letting in a flood of sunshine, and then a man's head +was bent low.</p> + +<p>"Below there!" he called out.</p> + +<p>"Let me out," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Will you be easy if we do?" he went on.</p> + +<p>"That all depends. Why was I brought on board?"</p> + +<p>"Because you belong here."</p> + +<p>"Belong here!" I ejaculated. "I don't belong to this vessel."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's what I was told; I don't know anything about it myself. +Here, catch the rope and I'll haul you up."</p> + +<p>As the sailor spoke he lowered a piece of heavy rope. Thinking anything +would be better than remaining in the hold, I complied with his request, +and a moment later stood upon the deck of the vessel.</p> + +<p>As I came up, a man, whom I took to be the captain, came towards me. He +was a tall, lank individual, with a red beard and hair. The look on his +face was a sour one, and it was easy to see that he was not of a kindly +nature.</p> + +<p>"Hello, my hearty!" he exclaimed. "So you're up at last. Had quite a +nap, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why was I brought on this ship?" I demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why was you brought on board? Well, now, that's a mighty good one, +smash the toplight if it isn't."</p> + +<p>"You have no right to bring me on board," I went on, "and I want you to +put me ashore at once."</p> + +<p>The captain gave a scowl.</p> + +<p>"See here, youngster, I don't allow any one on board to speak to me in +that fashion. You've got to keep a civil tongue in your head."</p> + +<p>"Why was I brought on board?"</p> + +<p>"Because you belong here."</p> + +<p>"I don't belong here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you do."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know why. I never saw or heard of this vessel before."</p> + +<p>"Come now, that's a good one. Didn't you sign papers with Lowell +yesterday morning?"</p> + +<p>This question astonished me in more ways than one. First, because I had +not signed papers with any one, and second, because Lowell was the name +of one of the men I had overheard talking in the lumber shed in the +morning. Was it possible I had been kidnapped upon the same ship the two +had been discussing?</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean," I replied. "I don't know Lowell, and never +signed any papers."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense. Lowell!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!"</p> + +<p>And the same man I had seen upon the dock in Brooklyn came forward.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this Luke Foster that signed with you yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, captain."</p> + +<p>I was more astonished than ever. How had they come to know my name!</p> + +<p>"So you see there is no mistake," went on the captain, turning to me. +"Now I want you to go forward with Lowell. He'll show you the ropes. +Come, step lively. We allow no skulking on board the Spitfire. You've +signed articles, and you've got to abide by the deed."</p> + +<p>"I didn't sign any articles, and if he says so he lies!" I burst out in +deep anger at the way I was being treated. "It is true my name is Luke +Foster, but how you came by it I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Well, you're on the book, and that's all there is to it. Perhaps you +were drunk when you signed, but I have nothing to do with that."</p> + +<p>"I don't drink," I replied, and such was and is a fact. "This is all a +put-up job."</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue!" cried the captain. "Hold your tongue, or I'll crack +your head open with a marlinspike! I don't allow any one to talk back to +me. Lowell, take him forward."</p> + +<p>"Come along," said the sailor. "If the old man gets his dander up it +will be all day with you," he added in a whisper.</p> + +<p>For a moment I stood irresolute. I had a momentary idea of jumping +overboard and swimming for liberty. But land could be seen fully a good +half-mile away, and no vessels of consequence were near, so I was forced +to give such a course up.</p> + +<p>I walked forward, but my mind was in a whirl. Never before had I been so +completely taken in. Surely this was escaping from the law with a +vengeance!</p> + +<p>"Who owns this boat?" I asked, as we reached the forecastle.</p> + +<p>"Captain Hannock. She's just as good a two-masted schooner as sails, is +the Spitfire; so you have no reason to complain."</p> + +<p>"Where are we bound?"</p> + +<p>"On an eight months' cruise, up the Down East coast, and then to +England."</p> + +<p>An eight months' cruise! What a time to stay on shipboard! But perhaps I +might escape before the end of the period.</p> + +<p>"What's the first landing?"</p> + +<p>"New Bedford."</p> + +<p>That was not so bad. If I could leave the vessel at that place I could +easily find my way up to Boston, and a sojourn in that city would just +suit me. All trace of my going there would be lost, and it was not +likely that my uncle would look for me so far from New York.</p> + +<p>"Here's your bunk, and here's some old clothes to put on," went on +Lowell, as he pointed the things out. "You had better save your good +clothes for shore. Knocking around the ship will wear them out in no +time."</p> + +<p>"What am I to do on board?" I asked, as I surveyed the greasy shirt and +trousers with some dismay.</p> + +<p>"Learn to do your duty as a foremast hand. If you obey orders and don't +kick up any muss you'll have a first-class time of it," was his reply.</p> + +<p>I was somewhat doubtful of the truth of this statement, but as nothing +was to be gained by refuting it, I bit my lips and said nothing.</p> + +<p>"You can take your time about changing your clothes," went on Lowell. +"There ain't much to do at present. When it storms is the time all hands +work lively, for their own sake as much as for the sake of any one else. +When you're in working rig come to the bow, and I'll give you a pointer +or two about how to tackle things."</p> + +<p>With these words the boatswain—for such Lowell was—left me to myself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>PHIL JONES.</h3> + + +<p>I found the forecastle of the Spitfire a dark and rather unwholesome +place. The ventilation was bad, and the smell of tar and oakum was so +strong that for a moment I had to turn away to catch my breath.</p> + +<p>Luckily my bunk was close to the doorway, so I had the best light the +place afforded. Close to me was a chest, and upon this I sat down to +think.</p> + +<p>It would be hard to express my feelings at this moment. Had I gone on +board the Spitfire of my own will I would not have considered the matter +as bad. True, I had no great fancy for a life on the ocean wave, such as +most boys are supposed to cherish. I knew that at best it was little +better than a dog's existence.</p> + +<p>"Hello, there!"</p> + +<p>I looked up. A boy several years younger than myself stood near me. He +was thin and pale, and his eyes had a frightened look.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm Polly Jones," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Polly Jones," I repeated. "That's a girl's name."</p> + +<p>"'Tain't my right name. They used to call me Phil at home, but the +sailors all call me Polly here, because they say I act like a girl."</p> + +<p>"What do you do on board?" I asked with some curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I'm the cabin boy and the cook's help. What are you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what I am yet. I didn't come on board of my own free +will."</p> + +<p>"You didn't?" Phil Jones's eyes opened to their widest. "You don't look +like a sailor."</p> + +<p>"Come down here," said I. "I want to have a talk with you."</p> + +<p>The cabin boy gave a sharp look about the deck and then hurried into the +forecastle.</p> + +<p>"I don't want Captain Hannock to see me down here," he explained. "If he +did he'd thrash the life out of me."</p> + +<p>"Is the captain such a hard man?"</p> + +<p>"Is he? Just you wait until something goes wrong and you'll find out +quick enough. See here," the cabin boy bared his arm and exhibited +several bruises that made me shudder, "he gave me those day before +yesterday, just because I wasn't spry enough to suit him."</p> + +<p>"He must be a brute!" I exclaimed. "He shall not treat me like that, I +can tell you."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see some one stand up against him," said Phil. "None of the +men dare to do it."</p> + +<p>"What makes you stay on board?"</p> + +<p>"I have to. Captain Hannock has charge of me until I'm twenty-one."</p> + +<p>"He is your guardian?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"He ought to treat you better. Did you ever try to run away?"</p> + +<p>"Once; while we were at Baltimore. But Lowell caught me, and the captain +nearly killed me when I got back. I could have got away, only I had no +money."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't the captain allow you anything for your services?" I asked, at +the same time wondering if I would be paid for what I was called upon to +do.</p> + +<p>"Not a cent. To tell the truth he even takes away what the +passengers—if we have any—give me."</p> + +<p>"He must be mighty mean," said I.</p> + +<p>"If you've any money you had better hide it," went on the cabin boy. +"'Tain't safe here."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Phil, I'll take your advice. I've got four dollars and a +half, and I don't want to lose it."</p> + +<p>As I spoke I felt in my pocket to make sure that the amount was still +safe.</p> + +<p>To my chagrin the money was gone!</p> + +<p>I must confess that I felt quite angry when I discovered that my +hard-earned savings had been taken from me. To be sure, four dollars and +a half was not a large sum, but it had been my entire capital and I had +calculated upon doing a great deal with it.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Phil Jones, as he stood by, watching me turn +my pockets inside out to make sure that there was no mistake.</p> + +<p>"My money is gone!" I exclaimed. "I have been robbed."</p> + +<p>"Where did you have it?"</p> + +<p>"Right here, in my vest pocket."</p> + +<p>"You're foolish to carry it loose. Any one could take it from you," said +the cabin boy, with a knowing shake of his head.</p> + +<p>"I didn't take every one for a thief. Who do you suppose took the +money?"</p> + +<p>"The captain or Lowell. He's only boatswain, but the two work hand in +hand."</p> + +<p>I had already surmised this from the conversation I had overheard. The +two were well mated, and no doubt the sailor was the captain's ready +tool on all occasions.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do about it?" asked Phil curiously.</p> + +<p>"Get it back if I can," I replied with determination. "I'm not going to +be fleeced in this manner."</p> + +<p>"You'd better let it go," said the cabin boy, with a grave shake of his +head. "You'll only get yourself into trouble, and it won't do a bit of +good."</p> + +<p>Phil Jones's advice was good, and I would have saved myself considerable +trouble by following it.</p> + +<p>But I was angry, and, as a consequence, did not stop to count the cost.</p> + +<p>I searched my other pockets, and soon learned that everything I had had +about my person was gone, including the letter from England. No doubt it +was through this letter that Captain Hannock had found out my name.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>UP LONG ISLAND SOUND.</h3> + + +<p>The loss of the letter worried me even more than the loss of the money. +In the exciting events that had transpired since I had received it I had +forgotten the writer's name and his address. I remembered the name was +something like Noddington, and that the address was a number in Old +Fellows Road, but that was all.</p> + +<p>This was deeply to be regretted, for I had expected to put myself into +immediate communication with my father's friend, having any reply +addressed to the post-office of the place I might be then stopping at.</p> + +<p>But now this scheme could not be carried out. To send a letter haphazard +would probably do no good.</p> + +<p>I was so worked up over my discovery that I left the forecastle without +taking the trouble to don the clothing Lowell had pointed out to me. I +looked around the deck, and seeing the boatswain at the bow, hastened +towards him.</p> + +<p>His brow contracted when he saw me.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you put on the suit I gave you?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Because I first wanted to speak to you," I returned. "What have you +done with my money?"</p> + +<p>"Your money? I haven't seen any money," he returned coolly.</p> + +<p>By his manner I could easily tell that his statement was untrue.</p> + +<p>"I had four dollars and a half and some letters in my pockets," I went +on. "I want them back."</p> + +<p>"Why you good-for-nothing landlubber!" he roared. "Do you mean to say I'm +a thief?"</p> + +<p>"Well, where's my money?"</p> + +<p>"How do I know? Come, do as I ordered you to."</p> + +<p>And he shook his fist at me savagely.</p> + +<p>"I want my stuff and I'm going to have it," I went on, as stoutly as I +could.</p> + +<p>"You're going to obey orders, that's what you're going to do," he cried. +"I take no back talk from any one."</p> + +<p>"If you don't give up that money I'll have you arrested as a thief the +first time I get the chance," was my reply; and I meant just what I +said.</p> + +<p>"You will, will you?" he roared. "Just wait till I get a rope's end and +we'll see who is boss here."</p> + +<p>I was somewhat startled at his words, but I stood my ground. Lowell ran +to the starboard side of the schooner, and presently returned with a +stout rope some three feet long.</p> + +<p>"Now, are you going to do as I told you?" he asked, as he advanced +towards me.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare to touch me!" I cried. "If you do you will have to take +the consequences!"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk to me!" he cried. "Just wait till I tan your back for you!"</p> + +<p>He swung the rope's end over his head, and brought it down with all +force. I sprang aside, and received the blow squarely on my shoulder. +Had I not done so the rope would have cut my neck deeply.</p> + +<p>"You big coward!" I cried; and the next instant I gave him one strong +blow from the shoulder that sent him staggering against the rail.</p> + +<p>I do not know to this day how I came to deliver that blow as I did. +Perhaps it was that my temper was at its highest, and I put all my force +into it. I was surprised at my own power.</p> + +<p>But if I was surprised Lowell was more so. The rope's end fell from his +hand, and his face took on a sickly green color. A number of the sailors +who had seen my action gathered around in amazement, and one of them +winked his eye in a most knowing manner.</p> + +<p>"I'll have your life for that!" yelled Lowell, as soon as he could +recover.</p> + +<p>"Don't you come near me," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I'll flay you alive!"</p> + +<p>"No, you won't. I'm not used to such treatment, and I won't stand it."</p> + +<p>I stood my ground, and for a moment the boatswain did not appear to know +what to do next.</p> + +<p>"Catch him from behind, Crocker," he said finally, addressing the sailor +I had seen with him in the lumber shed. "I'll give him a lesson he won't +forget as long as he remains on board the Spitfire, or else my name +ain't Lowell."</p> + +<p>Crocker advanced upon me to do as he had been ordered. Evidently he did +not relish the job, for he came on slowly.</p> + +<p>Not to be caught in this manner I sprang aside, and retreated rapidly +towards the stern of the schooner. I did not know anything about the +vessel, and finally found myself near the cabin, and face to face with +Captain Hannock.</p> + +<p>"Here, what's the row about?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I want Lowell to give up the money and letters he took from me," I +replied; and a moment later the boatswain came up.</p> + +<p>"He won't mind orders, captain," he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"You've got to mind orders while you're on board, Foster."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps I will if I'm treated fairly," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You'll be treated fair enough, never fear. If Lowell has anything of +yours I'll get it and keep it for you until you need it. Now go forward, +and do as you are told."</p> + +<p>For a moment I hesitated. This was not a very satisfactory settlement; +but evidently it was the best I could get, and so I retired.</p> + +<p>"Bully for you," said Phil Jones, as he followed me into the forecastle. +"My, how you did pitch into him!"</p> + +<p>"And I'll do it again if he abuses me," I returned, hotly, for I was not +yet calmed down over the recent encounter.</p> + +<p>"You look able to," went on the cabin-boy. "My, don't I wish I was as +strong as you!"</p> + +<p>"You will be some day, Phil."</p> + +<p>Phil shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I reckon not—leastwise, not while I have to live such a dog's life as +this on the Spitfire. Say, are them your clothes?" he went on, pointing +to the articles of wearing apparel Lowell had given me.</p> + +<p>"I presume they are—for this trip. But I don't fancy them much."</p> + +<p>And the smell of grease on them was decidedly unpleasant.</p> + +<p>"You'll get used to them after a while. Things on the Spitfire ain't as +clean as they might be, although the captain keeps me hustling to keep +the cabin tidy. Can I help you any?"</p> + +<p>Before I could decline Phil's kind offer a dark form appeared at the +entrance to the forecastle.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Phil, you rat, come out of that!" roared Captain Hannock, savagely. +"What business have you got in there? Git into the cabin and lively, or +I'll warm you good!"</p> + +<p>Phil made a break for the deck. As he passed the captain, that brute +raised his brawny hand and boxed him on the side of the head.</p> + +<p>"Take that to teach you a lesson!" the captain stormed; and then he and +his victim moved out of sight and hearing.</p> + +<p>This assault made me madder than ever. But I was powerless to assist +Phil, much as I wished to do so. I could well understand the bully-like +nature of Captain Hannock, and I resolved to be well on my guard against +him.</p> + +<p>After some consideration, I put on the suit of ship's clothing. It +fitted fairly well, and after I had given the trousers several hitches I +felt quite at home in them, and then I went on deck.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>A NARROW ESCAPE.</h3> + + +<p>By the time the sun went down we were well out of sight of land. Here +the breeze was even stronger; and at last several of the sailors +prevailed upon the man at the wheel to send down word to the captain +that sail must be shortened.</p> + +<p>Lowell came on deck with the captain, and both had been drinking +heavily.</p> + +<p>"Shorten sail!" roared the captain. "Not a bit of it. If the mast goes, +let her go."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the wind soon freshened so much that several of the sails +were reefed. I watched the performance from the bow.</p> + +<p>"Here you, why don't you get to work?" cried Lowell savagely, as he came +forward.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to do," I replied quietly.</p> + +<p>"Don't know what to do? You're too lazy to do anything. Get aloft +there!"</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"There."</p> + +<p>He pointed up to one of the masts. I looked in the direction indicated.</p> + +<p>As I did so he caught me by the waist.</p> + +<p>"I'll teach you to hit me!" he hissed.</p> + +<p>"Here, hold up!" I cried, in alarm.</p> + +<p>"Shut up!"</p> + +<p>He placed one of his brawny hands over my mouth, thus endeavoring to +silence me, but with an effort I cast the hand aside.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!"</p> + +<p>"I'll let you go when I'm done with you!" he whispered.</p> + +<p>He was evidently in a very ugly mood, and I saw that he did not intend +to treat me with any show of gentleness. Nevertheless, I was hardly +prepared for what followed.</p> + +<p>Once again he placed his hand over my mouth, and this time, in spite of +my struggles, he managed to keep it there. Then he gradually forced me +close to the rail.</p> + +<p>In vain I tried to break away from him. He exerted all of his strength, +and being but a boy, I was no match for him. In another moment he had me +hard against the rail.</p> + +<p>I endeavored to turn my head to see if our struggle was not noticed by +some of the others. But Lowell kept my eyes turned seaward, and now he +caught me about the arms and the waist.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix you!" he went on, with a hiccough. "I'll teach you to hit me!"</p> + +<p>"Let—let me go!" I managed to gasp.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll let you go!" he went on, sarcastically. "I'll let you go +quicker than you expect, you imp! How do you like that, eh?"</p> + +<p>And the next instant he had hurled me bodily over the side. I went +spinning through the air, and then fell with a splash into the waters of +Long Island Sound!</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">I went spinning through the Air, and then fell with a +Splash into the Water.</span></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Lowell's attack had been so unexpected that I hardly had time to realize +what was taking place, and did nothing to stop the catastrophe.</p> + +<p>But once in the water I regained my presence of mind. I reached the +surface as soon as possible, and then shouted lustily for help.</p> + +<p>By this time the Spitfire had gone on a considerable distance ahead, and +as the wind was blowing little short of a gale, I was doubtful if my +voice could be heard. Nevertheless I continued to call for assistance, +and at the same time did all in my power to keep afloat.</p> + +<p>This would have been an easy matter had I not been weighed down by any +clothes. But the shirt and trousers I wore were heavy, and once soaked +with water they felt like lead. I tried to get them off and also to +unloosen my shoes; but, as is usual in such cases, succeeded in doing +neither.</p> + +<p>At the same time I watched the Spitfire and was not a little alarmed to +see that the vessel was still forging ahead. Was it possible that those +on board were going to leave me behind?</p> + +<p>It certainly seemed so, and for a few moments I was thoroughly alarmed. +I was out of sight of land, and the darkness of night was fast +approaching.</p> + +<p>As I moved about in an endeavor to rid myself of some of my clothing, my +arm came in contact with something which proved to be a short spar. I +grasped it at once, and its buoyancy helped greatly to keep me afloat.</p> + +<p>By this time the Spitfire was far ahead, and I had about concluded that +I had seen the last of her. I noticed that some of the sails were +lowered, and finally that the schooner swung around and began to tack +back.</p> + +<p>It took some time for the old craft to come within hailing distance, and +once or twice she stopped, as if those on board were about to give up +the search.</p> + +<p>But finally she tacked to my right, and I raised my voice to the top of +its power.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!"</p> + +<p>For a moment no answer was returned, and I repeated the cry.</p> + +<p>"Ahoy! I see you!" was the answer.</p> + +<p>Five minutes more and the schooner was alongside. A rope was thrown +over, and, thoroughly exhausted, I crawled on board.</p> + +<p>"You rascal!" roared Captain Hannock. "Thought you could escape that +way, did you? I had half a mind to let you go to Davy Jones's locker!"</p> + +<p>And he shook his fist at me savagely.</p> + +<p>At these words I was almost too dumfounded to speak. Did he really +imagine I had jumped overboard?</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" I gasped. "I didn't go over on purpose. Lowell +pitched me over."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" thundered the boatswain. "That's the biggest whopper I +ever heard in my life."</p> + +<p>"It's the truth."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense," cried the captain. "Lowell seems to worry you +altogether too much. Go forward, and don't you try any more such monkey +tricks again, or I'll take the rope's end over you myself!"</p> + +<p>And Captain Hannock advanced upon me so savagely that I was glad enough +to retreat.</p> + +<p>I went down into the forecastle, and here Tony Dibble, a hand, managed +to hunt me up some dry clothing. While I was putting it on the old +sailor stood by, and presently said:</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you're going to have a hard time of it, my lad. I was +thinking Lowell pushed you over, though he stood by it that you had +fallen. I saw you just as you reached the water and I flung a stick +after you, thinking it might keep you afloat."</p> + +<p>"And it did," I replied. "If it hadn't been for that I might have been +at the bottom by this time."</p> + +<p>"The old man didn't want to turn back at first when he heard you were +overboard," went on the old sailor. "He said it was bad luck."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say he would have let me go to the bottom!" I cried.</p> + +<p>"That's it; and me and Goller and Sampson wouldn't have it, and told him +so, and then he turned back."</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget what you have done for me," said I. And I never +have to this day.</p> + +<p>With dry clothes on I went on deck with the old sailor. Lowell did not +come near me, and I saw nothing of him until the next day.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN HANNOCK'S PLOT.</h3> + + +<p>The sky was overcast, and Dibble said that a storm was brewing.</p> + +<p>"Will it be a bad one?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say. Sometimes a little storm outside is a bad one in the +Sound, and then again it's just the opposite. I remember six years ago, +sailing from Boston to Norwalk that we struck a little storm that didn't +look like more than a puff of wind, and yet when we were done with it we +hadn't any main-topmast worth speaking of."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see a real storm," I said.</p> + +<p>The old sailor shook his head.</p> + +<p>"They're nicer to sit by a good fire and read about than to be in. You +never know what to expect. Besides the Spitfire's best days are over."</p> + +<p>Presently I saw the captain and Lowell go below together. I was +satisfied that they intended to talk matters over, especially when, a +little later, Crocker was called to join them.</p> + +<p>If only I could hear what was said, both about myself and about the plan +to be carried out! By hook or by crook I must get within hearing +distance.</p> + +<p>Presently Phil Jones came up the companionway to throw something over +the side. I immediately approached him.</p> + +<p>"Say, Phil, do you want to do me a favor?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I do," replied the cabin boy readily. "I'm always ready to do +a favor for any one who stands up before Lowell."</p> + +<p>And Phil Jones gave a grin.</p> + +<p>In a few words I told him what I wanted, stating that I wished to hear +whatever the trio in the cabin had to say about me.</p> + +<p>"Tell you what I'll do," said he. "I'll take you down to the pantry. +There is a door there that connects with the cabin, and by looking +through the keyhole you can see all that is going on, and hear +everything, too."</p> + +<p>This just suited me, and under pretext of getting something to eat, I +went aft with him, and was soon within the pantry he had mentioned.</p> + +<p>It was not a large place, and I had some difficulty in turning about in +it without knocking down the dishes that it contained. But at last I +felt that I was in a good position, and then after making me promise +not to tell who had let me in if I was discovered, Phil Jones closed the +door and left me to myself.</p> + +<p>At first I could see and hear but little, but as I grew accustomed to +the place I discovered the captain, Lowell and Crocker seated around the +cabin table, drinking.</p> + +<p>"It's going to be a stormy night, and no mistake," remarked Crocker, as +he helped himself to some more of the liquor that stood on the table.</p> + +<p>"Guess you're right," said Lowell. "If it's bad enough we might let the +old tub go down here without going any further."</p> + +<p>Captain Hannock shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It won't do," he said. "We want her to sink in deep water where the +insurance people can't find her. You must remember that a good part of +the cargo is bogus, and if that was ever found out we wouldn't get a +penny."</p> + +<p>"How far do you calculate to sail?" asked Lowell.</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking I'd better wait till we're about three days out from +Cape Cod. We can sail a little north of the regular track, and so have +things all our own way."</p> + +<p>"Don't go too far," said Crocker. "Remember we've got to get back. Money +won't do us any good if we lose our lives on the ocean."</p> + +<p>"Don't get chicken-hearted!" cried the captain angrily.</p> + +<p>"I ain't chicken-hearted," replied Crocker. "But what's the use of +taking too much risk?"</p> + +<p>"I ain't going to risk being sent to prison for ten years or more," +cried Captain Hannock, in a rising voice. "If you——"</p> + +<p>"Hush, not so loud," put in Lowell. "We don't want any of the others to +know of what's going on. If they did they'd make short work of the three +of us."</p> + +<p>"Now don't you get afraid, Lowell. Reckon your row with that boy has +taken the nerve out of you."</p> + +<p>Lowell muttered something under his breath.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix him yet," he said.</p> + +<p>"Don't do it so openly," said Captain Hannock. "If you do, those who see +it may get you into trouble."</p> + +<p>"Leave me to manage the affair."</p> + +<p>This last remark was followed by a brief spell of silence. What I had +heard interested me greatly. These three men were plotting the +destruction of the Spitfire with a view of getting the insurance on the +vessel and her cargo. How it was to be done I did not know, but I +surmised that they intended to either sink the vessel or burn her up; +perhaps they intended to try both.</p> + +<p>While I was yet thinking over what I had heard, and wondering what was +to follow, there came a loud knock on the cabin door, and Tony Dibble +appeared.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Captain, but the storm is coming up fast from the +southeast," he said, touching his cap.</p> + +<p>"Confound you and the storm!" howled Captain Hannock.</p> + +<p>"It's getting ready for a heavy blow," added Dibble. "We all thought we +ought to tell you."</p> + +<p>"Get to the deck! I know my business. I'll be up when it's necessary."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>Touching his hat again Dibble withdrew. The captain brought his fist +down on the table with a bang.</p> + +<p>"Dibble knows too much!" he cried. "I wish we had left him behind."</p> + +<p>"He's a good sailor," put in Lowell. "Maybe the storm is a bad one."</p> + +<p>"Don't croak, Lowell; I know my business."</p> + +<p>By this time the glasses were empty, and the three men filled them up +again.</p> + +<p>I was considerably alarmed by what Tony Dibble had said. I was sure he +would not have spoken had there not been good cause. If I had not been +so interested in what was going on in the cabin I would have gone on +deck at once.</p> + +<p>Yet what followed enchained my attention so deeply that I was glad I +remained.</p> + +<p>"Say, Lowell, did you read the letter you took from the lad?" asked the +captain, after he had drained his glass.</p> + +<p>"I glanced over it," was the reply. "I didn't have time to read it +through."</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a surprise in it."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Lowell; and eagerly I bent forward to catch what +might follow.</p> + +<p>"The boy is Felix Stillwell's nephew."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"It is a fact. You could have knocked me down with a feather," said the +captain. "How he should come on board the Spitfire is the strangest +thing I ever heard of."</p> + +<p>"I reckon Stillwell would be mightily surprised if he knew his nephew +was with us," observed Lowell.</p> + +<p>"And I reckon you'd treated the lad differently if you'd known who he +was."</p> + +<p>And Captain Hannock gave a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>This bit of conversation puzzled me not a little. What did these men +know about my uncle? Could it be possible that he had anything to do +with the Spitfire?</p> + +<p>I knew that he occasionally made a venture in lumber from down East. On +one occasion I knew him to invest several thousand dollars in a raft +from Maine, although whether it paid or not I never found out.</p> + +<p>I had always believed my uncle straightforward and honest, but now, +since receiving the letter from England, my confidence in him was +shaken. He had not treated me rightly, and this being so, who knew where +his wrongdoing ended?</p> + +<p>"It don't make a bit of difference if he is the president's son," +replied Lowell savagely. "I won't allow any boy to square up to me. And +besides, Felix Stillwell is no great friend of mine."</p> + +<p>"Nor of me, for the matter of that," said the captain. "But still, we +must keep on the right side of him. Remember he has us where the hair is +short."</p> + +<p>"When do I get my pay?" spoke up Crocker, who was fast becoming the +worse for liquor.</p> + +<p>"That will be safe, never fear," said the captain, as he staggered to +his feet, "only remember to keep a mum tongue in your head. If any one +hears of our plans they may blow us sky high."</p> + +<p>"I'm all right: only—What was that?"</p> + +<p>As Crocker asked the last question all sprang to their feet in alarm.</p> + +<p>I could have answered the question with ease. My position had become too +cramped for me, and I had tried to change it. In doing so I dislodged +several dishes from the rack, and they fell with a crash to the pantry +floor.</p> + +<p>"Some one's spying on us!" cried the captain. "Lowell, see who it is!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>THE STORM.</h3> + + +<p>I was greatly alarmed at Captain Hannock's order to Lowell to +investigate the cause of the crash in the pantry. If discovered I knew +my punishment would be severe. These three men were playing a desperate +game, and there was no telling what they would do if cornered.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it was only a few dishes in the closet," said Lowell, as he helped +himself to more liquor.</p> + +<p>"It gave me quite a shock," declared Crocker, and he, too, took another +drink.</p> + +<p>These remarks relieved me somewhat. Perhaps they would not search the +pantry after all. But the next words of the captain caused a chill to +run down my back.</p> + +<p>"I've lived in this cabin going on sixteen years," he said, "and I never +yet knew them dishes to jump themselves down. I'm going to see what it +was. If it's a spy I'll string him up, mark my words!"</p> + +<p>I was now flat on the pantry floor, and to move would cause quite a +noise. What was I to do? It did not become necessary for me to decide +the question. The elements did it for me.</p> + +<p>For at that moment the schooner gave a fearful lurch, first to the +weather side and then over, and an instant later there was a tremendous +crash on the deck.</p> + +<p>For a moment the three men stood as if paralyzed, then all of them made +a bolt for the companionway.</p> + +<p>"Something's gone by the board!" I heard the captain exclaim, and then +all of them passed out of hearing.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were gone I sprang to my feet, and passing out of the +pantry, made my way after them to the deck. None of the men saw me, and +I lost no time in going forward.</p> + +<p>The storm was now upon us, and, as Tony Dibble had reported, it was a +heavy one. The sky was one mass of black, angry clouds, and the wind +blew a perfect gale.</p> + +<p>The schooner pitched and tossed to such a degree that I had great +difficulty in reaching the forward deck, where I presently saw my sailor +friend hard at work clearing away the remains of the boom of the +mainmast, which had swung around and snapped off.</p> + +<p>"Hello, there you are," he sang out. "I was afraid you had gone +overboard again."</p> + +<p>"Not if I can help it," I replied. "That is, unless it becomes +necessary."</p> + +<p>"The old man's a fool," went on Dibble. "He has no business to sit in +the cabin when there's a storm on. We might all go to the bottom."</p> + +<p>"Will we weather it, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"We can try," replied the old sailor, as cheerfully as he could.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Captain Hannock was shouting at the top of his voice. But the +wind was so great that little could be heard, excepting such expressions +as would have been better unuttered. He was now thoroughly awake to the +danger that threatened us, and did all in his power to make up for the +time he had lost.</p> + +<p>Guided by the mate, the sailors were already taking in what little sail +was still spread. In the wind this was no easy matter, and some of it +was torn to shreds.</p> + +<p>"This storm will cost the captain a neat penny," said Dibble, after the +work was done.</p> + +<p>"I don't know if it will or not," I replied. "He doesn't expect to lose +anything on this trip."</p> + +<p>"How can he help it?"</p> + +<p>"He has a way. Maybe I'll tell you when we are alone."</p> + +<p>"Thought the old man acted awfully careless," said Dibble, as he went +off.</p> + +<p>Instead of abating, the storm increased in violence, until I could +hardly keep my feet upon the deck. At first I thought of retiring to the +forecastle, but concluded that if anything happened I would rather be on +deck, and so remained, and held on tightly to the ropes.</p> + +<p>Fortunately a few familiar lights from the shore were still to be seen, +or otherwise we would have been driven upon the rocks. But the wheelman +kept us in deep water, and just enough sail was carried to keep the +schooner head up.</p> + +<p>The storm kept on nearly the entire night, and no one on board the +Spitfire had a moment's sleep. I remained on deck the entire time, and +kept close to Dibble and the other sailors.</p> + +<p>I noticed that Crocker had little to say, and concluded that he was +thinking over the scheme by which he was to make a thousand dollars. I +thought it rather strange that Captain Hannock and Lowell had taken such +a man into their confidence, but made up my mind that it was necessary +in order to do what they desired.</p> + +<p>As I stood upon the bow of the vessel a sudden flash of light revealed +to me a sight that made my heart give a bound. It was a wreck not a +hundred feet ahead of us, and driving onward at a furious rate!</p> + +<p>For an instant I was spellbound; then I gave a wild cry that brought all +the sailors to my side.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Dibble anxiously. "Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No, no. Didn't you see the wreck ahead?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Thought I saw something," said one of the others. "But I wasn't sure."</p> + +<p>"What kind of a wreck?" asked the mate peering forward.</p> + +<p>I pointed in the direction in which it had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"A small sailboat of some kind," I returned. "I didn't see—Look! Look +there!"</p> + +<p>As I spoke there was another flash of light. For an instant all hands +beheld a small sloop with a broken mast, kiting before the wind.</p> + +<p>"You're right," cried Dibble. "Wonder if there is any one on board?"</p> + +<p>"Can't we hail her?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"We might try, although the wind is pretty strong."</p> + +<p>Both of us cried at the same time, and then the mate joined in.</p> + +<p>"Boat ahoy!"</p> + +<p>For a moment there was no reply, and we repeated the cry.</p> + +<p>And then came the faint answer:</p> + +<p>"Help! Where are you? Help!"</p> + +<p>It was a man's voice, and by its sound we could tell that he was +well-nigh exhausted.</p> + +<p>"What can we do for him?" I asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"We'll be on him in a moment," said Dibble. "Let's throw him a rope or +two."</p> + +<p>In an instant he had a stout rope ready. Seeing what he intended to do I +also procured a rope.</p> + +<p>During this time the mate went to the man at the wheel, and told him to +steer a little to the starboard. This brought the schooner somewhat +around, and gave us a chance to take in the man, should he be fortunate +enough to grasp one or the other of the ropes.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we'll lose him in the darkness," said Dibble.</p> + +<p>"Let us do all we can," I said, thinking how I would feel if placed in a +position similar to that occupied by the man on the wreck.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" repeated the unfortunate, in lower tones.</p> + +<p>"He's almost done for," said the old sailor, with a shake of his head.</p> + +<p>"There he is!" I cried, as another flash of light came.</p> + +<p>"Sure enough. Stand to catch the rope!"</p> + +<p>"Stand to catch the rope!" I repeated.</p> + +<p>"I will! Throw it to me!" came back the cry.</p> + +<p>In an instant both of us threw our ropes. By an unfortunate twist +Dibble's went spinning from his hands, and, before he could catch it, +went over the side.</p> + +<p>"My rope's gone!" he groaned. "Yours must do the work, boy, or the man +will be lost!"</p> + +<p>I made no reply. I had felt the rope in my hands growing tighter.</p> + +<p>"I have the rope!" came the cry. "Pull in!"</p> + +<p>"He's got it!" I repeated. "Help me land him."</p> + +<p>Dibble readily complied; and slowly but surely we drew in on the rope.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up!" called the man. "I can't hold on much longer!"</p> + +<p>"You'll be all right in a minute!" I called back. "Don't let go."</p> + +<p>Dibble took hold of the rope with me, and held it up so that the man +might have no difficulty in climbing over the rail.</p> + +<p>Presently the unfortunate individual came in sight. I could see that he +was completely exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Give me your hand," I said to him and leaned far over the side to reach +it.</p> + +<p>With one remaining effort he threw up his arm, at the same time letting +the rope slip from his grasp.</p> + +<p>I caught his hand and held on to it with all my power. The man's weight +was a tremendous strain on my muscles, but fortunately they stood the +test, and then I began to drag him over the rail.</p> + +<p>It was no easy task. The schooner having lost part of her headway, +tossed and pitched dreadfully, and once the water poured over me in a +perfect deluge.</p> + +<p>But I had made up my mind to save the man, and I did not give up. I +braced myself against the rail, and then Dibble gave me his hand; and a +moment later the unfortunate was safe upon the deck.</p> + +<p>"Thank God, I'm saved!" he murmured, and then he sank back unconscious.</p> + +<p>By this time Captain Hannock had come forward to see what had taken +place.</p> + +<p>"Humph! only another mouth to feed!" he ejaculated. "Who saved him? Did +you, Dibble?"</p> + +<p>"I tried to, but Foster was the one to do it, brave lad that he is!" +replied the old sailor.</p> + +<p>"Foster seems to carry himself high!" sneered the captain. "Well, take +him to the forecastle, some of you, and let him get over it. We'll carry +him to New Bedford, providing he pays for his passage."</p> + +<p>I was utterly disgusted with Captain Hannock's brutal words, but came to +the conclusion that they were due in great part to the liquor he had +drunk. I helped Dibble carry the rescued man to the forecastle, and here +the old sailor and myself did all in our power to bring him to his +senses.</p> + +<p>It was quite a job; but finally it was accomplished, and the man sat up.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?" he asked, in a dazed manner.</p> + +<p>"Safe on board the Spitfire," I replied.</p> + +<p>"And the Dora?"</p> + +<p>"The Dora?" asked Dibble.</p> + +<p>"Yes; my boat."</p> + +<p>"Gone to the bottom of the Sound," said the old sailor. "I saw her +founder just as you sprang for the rope."</p> + +<p>"You did? Well, let her go. She wasn't worth much. I'm glad I'm safe. +Phew! but wasn't it an awful storm?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said I.</p> + +<p>The man wanted to know how we had come to see him, and all particulars, +and we told him.</p> + +<p>He was a tall and fine-looking gentleman, about forty years of age. He +gave his name as Oscar Ranson, and said he was a lawyer in New York.</p> + +<p>"I have been spending a few weeks at Port Jefferson on Long Island, and +yesterday set out for a two days' cruise up the shore," he explained. +"But I've had enough of it," he added with a shudder.</p> + +<p>We made Mr. Ranson as comfortable as possible, and, while he was sipping +a cup of hot coffee, he asked me about myself, saying that I didn't look +much like a sailor.</p> + +<p>And then I told him my story. Of course he was surprised.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have believed it possible!" he exclaimed. "But you have done +me a good turn, and now I'll do as much for you."</p> + +<p>"Do you know Mr. Ira Mason, a lawyer?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Quite well."</p> + +<p>"He is a friend of mine. He has an office in the same building with my +uncle."</p> + +<p>"Yes? What is your uncle's name?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Felix Stillwell."</p> + +<p>At the mention of my uncle's name, Mr. Oscar Ranson jumped to his feet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW FRIEND.</h3> + + +<p>"Felix Stillwell your uncle!" exclaimed Mr. Oscar Ranson, as he stepped +up to me.</p> + +<p>I was amazed at his reception of the news.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I know him quite well," went on Mr. Ranson slowly.</p> + +<p>"You do?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; in fact I have had some dealings with him, but—but——"</p> + +<p>And here the gentleman hesitated.</p> + +<p>"But what, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know as I ought to tell," was the reply. "You just saved +my life, and I don't want to hurt your feelings."</p> + +<p>These words puzzled me not a little, and I said so.</p> + +<p>"Well, the fact is, your uncle and I could never agree on some business +matters. I did not think his actions were right, and I told him so, and +we had quite a quarrel. But of course this has nothing to do with you."</p> + +<p>"It will not have," I returned. "My uncle has not treated me fairly, and +we parted on bad terms, so I do not care what opinion you have of him."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I used to live with my uncle."</p> + +<p>"Are your parents living?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; they were killed in a railroad accident in England, and my +uncle became my guardian."</p> + +<p>At this Mr. Ranson was quite interested. He asked me several questions; +and I ended up by telling him my whole story, even to the missing money.</p> + +<p>"It's too bad!" he exclaimed, when I had finished. "I can well +understand how a man of Mr. Stillwell's manner would act under such +circumstances. He is a very unreasonable man."</p> + +<p>"I suppose I made a mistake in running away," I said.</p> + +<p>"It would have been better to have faced the music. But you had no one +to advise you, and did not know but that you would be sent to jail +without a fair trial, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"What would you advise me to do?"</p> + +<p>"Go back and stand trial. You have done me a good turn, and I will stand +by you."</p> + +<p>Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Crocker, who +said Captain Hannock wanted to know if the rescued man could come to the +cabin. Mr. Ranson rose at once.</p> + +<p>"You'll find the captain a very mean man," I whispered, as he prepared +to leave. "When we get a chance I wish to tell you something very +important about him."</p> + +<p>"All right: I'll remember."</p> + +<p>Mr. Ranson left the forecastle. For a moment I was alone; then Lowell +came in.</p> + +<p>"Well, what are you doing now?" he asked savagely.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," I replied, as calmly as I could.</p> + +<p>"Think you're going to have a picnic of it, I suppose?" he sneered.</p> + +<p>"I'll take things as they come," was my quiet reply.</p> + +<p>"Well, just get on deck and help clear things up," he said. "The storm +is over."</p> + +<p>I obeyed his orders. I found the sky was now almost clear of clouds, and +the moon was just sinking in the horizon. Dibble and the rest were hard +at work mending the broken boom, and I turned in with a will.</p> + +<p>It took nearly an hour to repair the damage that had been done through +the captain's carelessness. When at last we had finished I followed +Dibble below, and we retired.</p> + +<p>I did not sleep well during that night on board the Spitfire. The place +was strange to me, and, besides, my mind was busy with the many things +that had happened to me since I had left my uncle's home.</p> + +<p>I could not help but wonder what my uncle had done after I escaped him. +Had he put the police upon my track? It was more than likely. He was not +the man to let six thousand dollars slip through his hands without +making a great effort to get it back.</p> + +<p>Then I wondered, too, if my Cousin Gus had really taken the sum. I knew +Gus to be a mean fellow but had not dreamed that he would turn thief. +Had not the evidence been so strong against him, I would have felt sure +an outside party had done the deed.</p> + +<p>For the present I felt myself perfectly safe from capture. It was not +likely the police had traced me to Brooklyn, and if so, seen me taken on +board the Spitfire, which Lowell must have done as slyly as possible.</p> + +<p>I did not much like the idea of giving myself up after having once taken +the trouble to run away, but finally concluded to be guided by my +newly-found friend's advice, satisfied that if he would stand by me I +would be safe.</p> + +<p>"Wake up there, Foster!"</p> + +<p>It was Dibble arousing me. I was not long in obeying his summons. I +hopped out of my bunk and rubbed my eyes.</p> + +<p>"Time to get on deck, unless you want Lowell after you with the rope's +end again."</p> + +<p>"I don't think Lowell will trouble me much again," I replied, as I began +to dress. "If he does I'll do what I can to defend myself."</p> + +<p>"I like your grit. It does my heart good to see a boy stand up to a man +like him."</p> + +<p>"At the bottom I think he is a coward," I said. "Most all brutes are."</p> + +<p>When I came on deck the sun was shining brightly. Captain Hannock was +up, and he appeared quite a different man from what he had been the day +before. His face was still flushed from the liquor he had taken, but he +was sober, and, consequently, much milder in his speech.</p> + +<p>"Take him around, Dibble," he said to the old sailor, "and show him the +ropes. I guess you've got the making of a good sailor in you if you only +set your mind down to learn," he continued to me.</p> + +<p>"I'm willing to work, but I expect pay for it," was my reply.</p> + +<p>He frowned slightly.</p> + +<p>"We'll talk about that another time, when I've seen what you're worth, +Foster," he returned, and walked aft.</p> + +<p>Dibble took me in hand at once. He was a pleasant man to explain things, +and he said I learned rapidly. By noon I knew many of the more important +parts of a ship, and how the sails were raised and lowered; and as the +weather was fine and we were bowling merrily along, I fancied that a +life on the rolling deep wasn't half so bad after all.</p> + +<p>As we walked around I cast many a glance about for Mr. Ranson, but could +see nothing of him. Finally I asked Phil Jones concerning him, and was +told he was not well and was resting in the cabin.</p> + +<p>During my conversation with the gentleman I had made up my mind to tell +him what I knew of Captain Hannock's plot. I felt sure that he would +know exactly what to do. Moreover, being a lawyer, he could perhaps take +steps to nip the thing in the bud.</p> + +<p>Dinner on board the Spitfire was not an elaborate affair. The variety of +food was not extensive, and the cook was not highly experienced in the +culinary art. Nevertheless, I was hungry, and did full justice to what +was placed before me.</p> + +<p>"It's good, hearty stuff," said Dibble, "and that and the sea air will +make you strong—not but what you're pretty strong already."</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon Mr. Ranson came on deck. He looked pale, and he +had his head bound up in a handkerchief, which, however, he presently +took off.</p> + +<p>It was some little time before I had a chance to speak to him. But +finally he saw me and came forward.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you come and see me?" he asked, after I had asked him how he +felt, and was told that he was fast recovering.</p> + +<p>"Foremast hands are not allowed in the cabin," I laughed. "We are +expected to stay where we belong."</p> + +<p>"I found the captain a very disagreeable man last night," he went on. +"But this morning he was much pleasanter."</p> + +<p>"He is sober now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and that makes a great difference in any one."</p> + +<p>"I have something of importance to tell you," I said in a lower tone.</p> + +<p>"So you said last night. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"It concerns the captain and this vessel. I don't want any one to +overhear it," I returned.</p> + +<p>"Then let us go still further forward. If any one comes near we can +drop the subject and pretend to talk about the ship's course."</p> + +<p>I thought this advice good, and we acted on it at once.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>SOME PLAIN FACTS.</h3> + + +<p>My story took some time to tell. Once Lowell came near us, but he only +heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, +and taking no interest in this he walked away.</p> + +<p>"You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my +narrative.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; every word of it."</p> + +<p>"Because it is a serious charge," he continued. "In olden times they +would have hung a man for such an offense, and they might do so even now +if any lives were lost through the going down of the ship."</p> + +<p>"I don't know how he intends to sink the Spitfire. I suppose he can set +fire to her or else bore holes in the bottom."</p> + +<p>"It is a most atrocious plot. I am glad he intends to do nothing until +after he has left the Down East coast. Wherever he makes a landing, at +New Bedford or otherwise, I can have him stopped. But the evidence must +be strong against him. Otherwise we will get ourselves into great +trouble."</p> + +<p>This was a new idea. I thought for a moment.</p> + +<p>"If you only had some one to testify to your story," went on Mr. Ranson. +"Of course I believe you, but we want evidence for the court."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't the evidence of a bogus cargo be enough?" I asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>"True, it would. I never thought of that. But are you sure the cargo is +bogus?"</p> + +<p>"I think it is. One thing I know: it is insured for considerably more +than its value."</p> + +<p>"What does it consist of?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I think I could find out from Dibble."</p> + +<p>"The sailor who helped to save me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"It would be a good plan. But he may suspect you if he is in the plot."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied Dibble has nothing to do with it," was my ready answer. +"I was going to tell him what I have told you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, then it is all right. And I don't know but that it would be +better to have help in case Captain Hannock attempts to do anything +before we land."</p> + +<p>"Just what I thought."</p> + +<p>"Where is this Dibble?"</p> + +<p>"He has just gone below. I will call him."</p> + +<p>"Don't do that; it might excite suspicion. These men are undoubtedly on +the watch. Talk to him in the forecastle. I will wait here until you +return."</p> + +<p>I agreed; and left at once. I found the old sailor sitting on a chest, +mending some clothing.</p> + +<p>"Say, Dibble, what kind of a cargo have we on board?" I asked.</p> + +<p>He looked at me rather curiously.</p> + +<p>"What makes you ask that question?"</p> + +<p>"Because I wanted to know."</p> + +<p>"Well," he replied slowly, "we're supposed to have fine furniture and +crockery ware on board; but it's so packed up I didn't see any of it."</p> + +<p>"Did you help load?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; the longshoremen did everything. Kind of queer, too, for +Captain Hannock generally gets all the work out of his men that he can."</p> + +<p>"Then you didn't see any of the furniture or the crockery?"</p> + +<p>"No. But what difference does it make? We sail just as well as if we had +lumber or steam engines on board."</p> + +<p>"It makes a great difference. Let me tell you something."</p> + +<p>And taking a seat close beside him, I whispered the story I had told to +Mr. Ranson.</p> + +<p>"Phew! Smash the anchor, but that's a great scheme!" he exclaimed. "I've +heard of such things being done, but never thought the captain was such +a great rascal!"</p> + +<p>"We're going to stop the game. Do you know if we could get a look at any +part of the cargo?"</p> + +<p>Tony Dibble thought for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Just the thing!" he cried. "Come with me."</p> + +<p>He rose and led the way to the end of the forecastle. Here there was a +small door leading to a pantry.</p> + +<p>"There is a trap-door in that pantry," explained the old sailor. "The +old man doesn't know of it. Some of the boys made it on the last trip, +when we were carrying a lot of provisions, and the captain tried to cut +down the rations. He saved one way but lost a good deal the other;" and +the old sailor laughed at the memory of the affair.</p> + +<p>It was an easy matter to raise the trap-door. The distance to the cargo +stowed below was but a few feet, and I dropped down.</p> + +<p>"Shall I go with you or stand guard?" asked Dibble.</p> + +<p>"Better stand guard," I replied. "If any one comes get them out of the +forecastle the best way you can. Have you a chisel or something like +it?"</p> + +<p>"Here is one, and a wooden mallet, too." He brought the articles +forward. "Be careful how you make a noise."</p> + +<p>"I will," was my reply. "But I haven't any light."</p> + +<p>"Here's a bit of candle. Be careful and don't set anything afire."</p> + +<p>Dibble handed the candle to me, and then closed the trap.</p> + +<p>By the feeble rays of the light I crawled backward for quite a distance. +Finally I came to a large packing-case marked:</p> + +<blockquote><p>S. & Co. Crockery. B132. Handle with Care.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The top lid of the case was well nailed on. But after a quarter of an +hour's work I succeeded in loosening one half of it, and pulled it off.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Down in the Hold.</span></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>There was a quantity of straw next to the lid. I scraped it aside, and +then took a look at what was below.</p> + +<p>The packing-case was filled with nothing but common stones.</p> + +<p>I had expected something of the kind, so I was not greatly astonished +when I beheld the bogus crockery that filled the packing-case. I picked +up several of the stones to make sure that I was not mistaken, and then +restored them to their place, put the straw over the top, and nailed on +the cover.</p> + +<p>At first I thought to leave the place at once. But so far I had not been +disturbed, and so I made up my mind to continue the investigation, since +it was once begun.</p> + +<p>I took up my candle, and was not long in hunting up another +packing-case. This was marked Furniture. I took off some of the boards, +and soon brought to light a quantity of pretty fair kindling wood!</p> + +<p>As soon as I had made sure of what the packing-case contained, I +restored the wood to its original place and then began to nail down the +cover, as I had done on the crockery case. I had just driven one of the +nails home when a slight noise disturbed me.</p> + +<p>Without any hesitation I ceased my labors and blew out the light. I was +none too soon, for an instant later I heard Lowell's voice.</p> + +<p>"I was almost certain I heard some one down here!" he exclaimed, as he +came forward.</p> + +<p>"Maybe it was rats," suggested another voice, which it was easy to +recognize as belonging to Captain Hannock.</p> + +<p>"I don't think so. We have nothing to attract them this trip."</p> + +<p>"If I find any of the men down here I'll flog them," was the captain's +savage comment; and it was easy to see that he meant what he said.</p> + +<p>"It would go rough with us if any of them should discover what we were +carrying," went on Lowell. "Paving stones and kindling wood!"</p> + +<p>"Hush! Some one might hear you!"</p> + +<p>The two men came close to where I was crouching. Indeed Lowell's foot +came within a few inches of my arm, and for an instant I did not see how +I could avoid being discovered. Then they passed on.</p> + +<p>"Must have been mistaken, Lowell," said the captain. "Guess you're +getting nervous."</p> + +<p>And he gave a low laugh.</p> + +<p>"Better be too careful than not careful enough," returned the boatswain, +slightly disturbed at the slur. "I don't want to get caught at this +job."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I."</p> + +<p>"They can send us to prison for it."</p> + +<p>"So they can—if they catch us. But I don't intend they shall."</p> + +<p>The two men carried a lantern, and they swung it over their heads, +casting the rays as far as possible about them.</p> + +<p>I was in a direct line of light, and for a second the captain caught +sight of the top of my head as I moved behind the case.</p> + +<p>"Ha! what's that?" he cried. "There's something behind the box!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked Lowell.</p> + +<p>"There," and Captain Hannock pointed in my direction.</p> + +<p>I gave myself up for lost, and wondered what I should do when +discovered.</p> + +<p>"What was it like?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Let's look," said the boatswain, and he moved towards me.</p> + +<p>In another moment they would be upon me. What was I to do?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN HANNOCK TRIES TO MAKE TERMS.</h3> + + +<p>A sudden idea sprang into my mind. I would try it. If it failed there +would be no harm done.</p> + +<p>Captain Hannock's reference to rats put me in mind of cats; and drawing +in my breath, I let off the most unearthly cat cry that has ever passed +my lips, a cry that astonished even myself.</p> + +<p>Both of the men tumbled back in great haste. Then the captain set up a +laugh.</p> + +<p>"It's a cat!" he cried. "Some old strayaway from the docks, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Must be a mighty large one," returned Lowell. "Hold the light up till I +catch her."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Suppose I want to get bit and die of hydrophoby?" exclaimed +the captain. "Let her stay where she is. She can feed on the rats or +starve to death."</p> + +<p>And taking the lantern, he moved off towards the other end of the hold.</p> + +<p>Somewhat reluctantly Lowell followed him. Then I heard a sound as of a +hatch closing, and all became quiet.</p> + +<p>I crawled from my hiding-place and made my way with all possible speed +to the trap-door. I reached up and knocked upon it softly, and in a +moment Dibble opened it from above.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" I whispered. "They have been down after me. Let us get on deck, +just as if nothing had happened."</p> + +<p>Dibble followed my advice. On reaching the deck I found that neither the +captain nor Lowell had put in an appearance. I saw Mr. Ranson still at +the bow, and immediately went forward to speak to him.</p> + +<p>"Well, how did you make out?" he asked anxiously. "You have been a long +while."</p> + +<p>"I've got all the evidence," I returned. "But we must be careful or we +shall be discovered. Listen to what I have done."</p> + +<p>As quickly as I could I related my adventures down in the hold.</p> + +<p>"You have done exceedingly well," he said, and laughed heartily over the +ruse I had used to escape detection. "Paving stones and kindling wood! +It is a great swindle indeed."</p> + +<p>"I guess we won't need any more proofs than that," I said.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed."</p> + +<p>A moment later the captain came on deck followed by Lowell. They gazed +sharply about, and I was sure they were counting to see if any of the +men were missing, for presently the boatswain entered the forecastle to +see if one of the men was not there.</p> + +<p>"I will have to leave you now," I said to the lawyer. "We must not +excite suspicion."</p> + +<p>"You are right," he replied. "I will go into the cabin and take a rest +and think over what you have told me. We have as yet plenty of time in +which to act."</p> + +<p>Ranson left me, and I joined Dibble, who was at work tarring some ropes.</p> + +<p>It was not very agreeable work, but for the sake of being near him, and +at the same time to please Captain Hannock, I lent a hand, and we spent +the remainder of the day together.</p> + +<p>"When shall we reach New Bedford?" I asked, as we were going to mess.</p> + +<p>"Depends on the wind," was Dibble's reply. "If it holds out we may be +there by to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"So soon!"</p> + +<p>"Might have been there before if it hadn't been for the storm. That +knocked us clear out of our bearings."</p> + +<p>My work had made me thoroughly tired, and, as a consequence, it did not +take me long to get to sleep when once I was in my bunk.</p> + +<p>"The captain wants to see you," said Crocker, as soon as I awoke in the +morning.</p> + +<p>"What about?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't say. You are to go to the cabin."</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>Wondering what was up I pulled on my clothing and made my way aft. The +captain was in the cabin alone.</p> + +<p>"Well, Foster, I've sent for you to know what your intentions are," he +said, as I entered.</p> + +<p>"In what respect, Captain Hannock?"</p> + +<p>"About remaining on board. Of course you came on the ship under peculiar +circumstances, but I think you like the life, and I would like you to +remain on board for the trip. I will pay you the same as the other +hands."</p> + +<p>Of course I was astonished at these words. What was up now? Had the +captain hatched out some plot against me?</p> + +<p>I did not know then, as I know now, that Mr. Ranson had spoken of me, +and that in consequence Captain Hannock was rather alarmed over the +prospects should I get ashore. Kidnapping (as Mr. Ranson had put it) is +no light crime.</p> + +<p>"I don't care to remain on board after we reach New Bedford," I replied, +after a moment's hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"You ought to know as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"But I don't. You signed articles, and——"</p> + +<p>"I didn't sign anything," I interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Your name appears on the books," he returned, with a shrug of his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"If it does, it's a forgery."</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about that. But I am willing to do this: If you are +willing to go ashore quietly and say nothing, I am willing that you +shall do so."</p> + +<p>"And if not?"</p> + +<p>He frowned.</p> + +<p>"Then you'll stay on board," he said sharply.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I won't," I replied with spirit. It is doubtful if I would have +spoken so sharply had I not had my friends on board.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will. Do you suppose I am going to let a boy ride over me? Not +much!"</p> + +<p>"You had no right to take me on board."</p> + +<p>"I have a right to take my men where I find them. Now get to your work. +I will give you half an hour to think over what I have said. Then you +will either sign off for the trip without pay, or you will continue on +the trip."</p> + +<p>"And my money and the letter?"</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to do with them," he replied coldly. "Now clear out!"</p> + +<p>I went on deck. I was satisfied that there would be lively times ahead.</p> + +<p>Yet little did I dream of all that was to befall me ere I parted company +with Captain Hannock and the Spitfire.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.</h3> + + +<p>When I left the cabin after my interview with Captain Hannock I knew not +what to do. I was unwilling to leave the vessel with the promise that I +would not prosecute him for what had been done to me, and, on the other +hand, I did not care particularly to stay on board if the Spitfire +should continue her journey.</p> + +<p>Of course I knew Mr. Ranson would stop the schooner at New Bedford if he +could, and have the captain, Lowell and Crocker arrested for conspiracy +to defraud. But there might be some slip, and I wished to take no +chances.</p> + +<p>Had I had the London letter that had been taken from me I should not +have cared what Captain Hannock wished me to do, but watched my chances, +and gone ashore at the first opportunity.</p> + +<p>Where the letter was I could not imagine, excepting that it might be in +the cabin or the captain's stateroom.</p> + +<p>One thing was certain. Whatever happened I must regain the letter. +Personally it was to me of greater importance than the exposure of what +was going on aboard the schooner.</p> + +<p>I walked aft and discovered the lawyer in conversation with Tony Dibble.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have been to see the captain," said Mr. Ranson with a +peculiar smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I have;" and I related the result of the interview.</p> + +<p>"I had a talk with him about your case," went on the lawyer. "But I did +not think he would get around it in this fashion. Well, I will see that +you get through all right."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't care, excepting for that letter," I returned.</p> + +<p>"We can get a search warrant, and hunt it up."</p> + +<p>"But, in the mean time, Captain Hannock may destroy it. No doubt he +thinks it of small account."</p> + +<p>"If I were you I'd hunt it up on my own account," put in Dibble. "You +did slick work finding out about that cargo of stones and kindlings, why +can't you do as well finding out about that letter and your money?"</p> + +<p>"I have half a notion of that sort," I replied. "What do you think of +it, Mr. Ranson?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it would go hard with you if Captain Hannock caught you."</p> + +<p>"But would I be acting right?"</p> + +<p>"Every person undoubtedly has a right to search for his own when it has +been stolen from him."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll hunt it up if I have to turn the cabin and staterooms upside +down," was my sudden determination.</p> + +<p>"You will hardly have time while we are going up the harbor," said +Dibble.</p> + +<p>"Are we in sight of New Bedford?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. There it is right ahead."</p> + +<p>I looked. Sure enough, land was not a great distance off.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get out of the way," I said suddenly. "Mr. Ranson, you +will see me later."</p> + +<p>"Do as you think best. I will stand by you."</p> + +<p>I walked off. I was not sure of my course, and entered the forecastle to +arrange my plans.</p> + +<p>By this time the captain had come on deck. He saw where we were, and +gave orders to lower some of the sails, and then called Lowell to +consult with him.</p> + +<p>Seeing that I was not being noticed, I slipped from the forecastle to +the companionway. In a moment I was down the steps and in the cabin.</p> + +<p>No one was present. Even Phil Jones was away; I could hear him talking +to the cook in the galley. I had the place all to myself, and now was +the chance to do the work I wished to accomplish.</p> + +<p>I will not deny that I was nervous, and for the first moment my hand +trembled so that I could hardly open what I touched.</p> + +<p>But presently I grew more composed and even reckless, and ransacked +whatever came beneath my notice.</p> + +<p>My first work was to pull open the drawer of the cabin table. I found it +full of charts and nautical instruments, accompanied by the log-book. +There was also, stuffed in one corner, the ship's articles, and opening +it, I discovered my name at the very end, written in a rough hand, +entirely different from my own.</p> + +<p>This was evidently the captain's or Lowell's work, and it was on the +strength of it that the two hoped to clear themselves. The fact that I +was a minor had not entered into their calculations.</p> + +<p>I put the articles back into the drawer and closed it. Then I looked +around to see in what direction to continue the search.</p> + +<p>In one corner was a closet. I opened it, but found it contained nothing +but bottles of liquor and medicine, the former predominating. I closed +the closet and then wondered what I should attack next.</p> + +<p>While meditating I heard footsteps on the companionway. It was Captain +Hannock descending, and I had hardly time to slip behind a curtain that +led to one of the staterooms when he entered.</p> + +<p>"Confound the boy, I wonder what has become of him?" I heard him mutter. +"Foster!" he called out.</p> + +<p>I made no sound. The captain stood still for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Lowell must have been mistaken. The young cub would never dare to come +down here on his own hook."</p> + +<p>And with this comment and a final glance around, Captain Hannock left +the cabin and mounted to the deck.</p> + +<p>I breathed more freely when he was gone. I had had a narrow escape. Had +he looked in the stateroom I would have surely been discovered.</p> + +<p>I continued my search with difficulty. The stateroom was comparatively +dark, and my ears were strained to their utmost to catch the first sound +of any one approaching.</p> + +<p>The room was that belonging to the captain. Under the berth was a +locker, tightly fastened. I was certain that the locker contained what I +was seeking for, because it was the one likely place that such a thing +would be in. But how could I open the box?</p> + +<p>I felt in my pockets, but they were bare of everything that could be of +use to me. My eyes rested on a bunch of keys hung upon a nail near by. I +took them down, and tried one after another.</p> + +<p>At length I came to the right one, and in a moment had the locker open. +The box was filled with clothing, but at the side was a smaller box or +pocket, and this contained letters and documents of various kinds.</p> + +<p>I took out the entire batch and ran my eyes over the superscriptions +with all haste. The letters were all addressed to Captain Hannock with +but one exception.</p> + +<p>And that exception was the letter I had received from London.</p> + +<p>Eagerly I opened the envelope. The contents were intact, and assured of +this I stuffed the precious epistle in my bosom.</p> + +<p>I was about to restore the remaining letters to their original place +when the handwriting upon several of them attracted my attention. The +chirography was of a peculiarly heavy and sloping character, and I +instantly recognized it as that written by my uncle!</p> + +<p>I was almost dumfounded by my discovery. What did Mr. Stillwell and +Captain Hannock have in common?</p> + +<p>For a moment I hesitated about opening the letters. Then I reflected +that both of the men were plotting against my welfare, and I opened one +of the epistles without any further compunction.</p> + +<p>It was dated at New York City ten days before, and read as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Hannock</span>:—I will be unable to call upon you to-day as +agreed, and perhaps it is just as well that we are not seen +together too much. The cargo is now all ready at Kinley's in +Brooklyn, <i>well packed</i>. Lowell can take charge of it for us +mutually. The insurance is O.K.</p> + +<p>"I trust you have no trouble with the insurance on the vessel. +Powers will fix it up for you. The New Bedford business will be +all ready for you when you arrive, and you need not wait but +half a day at the most. Will see you to-morrow.</p> + +<p>"F. S."</p></blockquote> + +<p>I read the letter through with great care. When I had finished I felt +sick at heart.</p> + +<p>Beyond a doubt my uncle was in league with Captain Hannock, and the two +were engaged in as big a piece of villainy as had ever come to my +notice.</p> + +<p>I turned to several of the other letters. The second was evidently a +reply to one from Captain Hannock, asking if my uncle considered the +scheme safe, to which Mr. Stillwell said that "nothing ventured nothing +gained," and that he needed money, because he did not as yet dare to +touch the amount placed in his care.</p> + +<p>This letter undoubtedly referred to my inheritance, and I wondered how +large a sum it was, and why Uncle Felix did not dare to use it for his +own benefit, seeing that he would tell me nothing concerning it.</p> + +<p>I would fain have believed that he was not yet hardened to do such a +deed. But his actions towards me did not tend to confirm that idea, and +I was forced to come to the conclusion that he had as yet not had the +courage to do so.</p> + +<p>I put the two letters in my bosom along with my own. Perhaps this was +not exactly the right thing to do, but I did not have time to consider +my actions. By the noise on deck I knew we were approaching a landing, +and I expected every moment to hear some one come down the companionway.</p> + +<p>The third letter was a long one, and very hurriedly written, so much so +in fact that I had all I could do to decipher its contents. I moved over +to the skylight, and was soon deeply absorbed.</p> + +<p>"You rascal, you, what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>It was Captain Hannock's voice. I started in alarm, and found the +skipper of the Spitfire close at my elbow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>IN A TIGHT FIX.</h3> + + +<p>Captain Hannock's face was deadly white, and I knew he had taken in at a +glance what I was doing.</p> + +<p>"Looking for my letter," I replied, as calmly as I could.</p> + +<p>"Are you?" He glared at me. "You're too smart, young man. I'll have to +take you down a peg."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he advanced upon me. I saw that he had a large wooden +belaying pin in his hand, and I retreated as far as possible.</p> + +<p>But he was between me and the door, and took good care not to go round +the cabin table, so I was soon forced to stop simply because I could +back no further.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare to touch me!" I cried.</p> + +<p>He gave a hard laugh.</p> + +<p>"I'll do just as I please. Lowell!"</p> + +<p>There was no answer. The captain repeated the call in a louder tone, +and presently the boatswain came hurrying down the stairs.</p> + +<p>"What's up, Captain?"</p> + +<p>"I've found him," replied Captain Hannock grimly. "Prying through my +private papers!"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Jest so! Come, get some rope. We'll teach him a lesson he won't +forget."</p> + +<p>Lowell left the cabin at once. I wondered what the skipper of the +Spitfire intended to do next. Was he going to flog me?</p> + +<p>I was not prepared for what was to follow. In a moment Lowell returned +with a quantity of stout rope.</p> + +<p>"Now bind him well from head to foot," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't!" I cried.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we do, my hearty," returned Lowell, and Captain Hannock shook the +belaying pin in my face.</p> + +<p>"Stand still, unless you want your head split open," he commanded. "I'll +have you to understand your days of fooling are over. You've discovered +our secret, but it sha'n't do you any good."</p> + +<p>The boatswain sprang upon me, and the skipper of the Spitfire assisted +him. I struggled, but soon found it of little use. The two were too many +for me, and in a moment I was securely bound.</p> + +<p>"Now open the trap, Lowell, and we'll chuck him down in the hold," +exclaimed Captain Hannock.</p> + +<p>"He may yell, Captain."</p> + +<p>"That's so. Tie a cloth over his mouth."</p> + +<p>The boatswain procured a towel, and stuffing part of it in my mouth +fastened it around my neck.</p> + +<p>Then a trap door in the cabin floor was opened, and I was lowered upon +the cargo below.</p> + +<p>"Now you can stay there till you come to your senses," observed Captain +Hannock.</p> + +<p>Then the trap was closed, and I was left to my fate.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for me the distance I was dropped was not great or I might +have been severely injured. I struck upon a packing-case and lay there +helplessly. I overheard my captors move about the cabin for some time, +and then all was quiet.</p> + +<p>The gag in my mouth nearly choked me, but try my best I could not +dislodge it. The ropes about my body, especially those that were +tightened around my ankles, hurt me not a little, but all my efforts to +loosen them only appeared to draw them closer, until, had I been able to +do so, I would have cried out from pain.</p> + +<p>As I have said once before, the darkness in the hold was intense, and +try my best I could not see a thing. Had there been a light I might not +have felt so bad, but as it was I felt next to hopeless.</p> + +<p>I wondered what was going on above. I was not kept long in suspense, for +presently there was a thump and I knew the Spitfire had reached the +dock.</p> + +<p>Then came the noise of many feet, as the schooner was tied up and the +sails were lowered and made fast. At length this task was completed, and +then all was quiet once more.</p> + +<p>I wondered if Mr. Ranson had gone ashore without making any inquiries +about me, and if so, if he would bring down the police or other officers +of the law to arrest Captain Hannock and the others.</p> + +<p>The time dragged by slowly, until I thought the entire day had passed. I +grew hungry and thirsty, and at last chewed the bit of cloth in my mouth +for pure consolation. Would no help come?</p> + +<p>At length, when I had given up all hope of seeing any one, I heard a +noise at the other end of the hold, and presently saw the dim rays of a +candle moving slowly about.</p> + +<p>"Foster, are you here?"</p> + +<p>Instantly I recognized the voice of Tony Dibble, and my heart gave a +bound. I tried to cry out to him, but could not.</p> + +<p>But, though I could not cry, I could make a noise with my heels, and +this I did with a right good will.</p> + +<p>It did not take me long to attract the old sailor's attention. He +stopped short, and held the candle over his head.</p> + +<p>"Is it really you, Foster?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Rat, tat, tat," I replied with my heels.</p> + +<p>"Where are you?" he went on.</p> + +<p>"Rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat," was all I could answer.</p> + +<p>"Gagged, I'll be bound," he muttered to himself; and at last found his +way to my side.</p> + +<p>It did not take him long to unfasten the gag, and that once out of my +mouth I was able to breathe with some comfort, a thing which gave me no +little satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Who did the job?" he asked, as he unloosed the ropes.</p> + +<p>"The captain and Lowell," I replied. "They caught me in the cabin."</p> + +<p>"I made up my mind something was wrong," went on Dibble. "I couldn't +find you anywhere, and was pretty certain you wouldn't go ashore without +letting me know."</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Ranson?"</p> + +<p>"Gone off to get the officers. Reckon we'll have lively times in an hour +or two."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'd better stay down here until he returns," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You can do that unless you want to run the risk of sneaking ashore."</p> + +<p>"I would like to do that if I can. Where is Captain Hannock?"</p> + +<p>"Gone ashore."</p> + +<p>"And Lowell?"</p> + +<p>"On deck, and Crocker with him. They'd be almost sure to see you."</p> + +<p>This was not very encouraging.</p> + +<p>"I'll go up and have a peep around. I don't much like the idea of +remaining in this close place any longer."</p> + +<p>And with this remark I followed Dibble to the trap-door leading from the +forecastle pantry.</p> + +<p>We were soon in the forecastle, and then the old sailor went out on deck +to see if the coast was clear.</p> + +<p>He was gone but a few moments.</p> + +<p>"It's no use," he whispered hurriedly. "The captain's just come back and +is on deck, and Lowell is coming down here! You had better go back for a +while."</p> + +<p>"But if they find me untied?"</p> + +<p>"They won't know but what you untied yourself. Come, hurry up!"</p> + +<p>I followed Tony Dibble's advice. I had hardly entered the hold when +Lowell appeared.</p> + +<p>"Is Crocker here?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Dibble.</p> + +<p>"Better git on deck," went on the boatswain, as he turned and left +again.</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir."</p> + +<p>Tony Dibble followed him on deck, and I was once more left to myself.</p> + +<p>Hardly five minutes passed before I heard a sound that filled me with +alarm. The ropes holding the schooner fast to the dock were loosed, the +sails were hoisted, and before I could realize it we were once more +under way.</p> + +<p>What did it mean? Had Captain Hannock smelt a mouse and thus sought to +outwit Mr. Ranson? It certainly looked that way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>I AM PUT IN IRONS.</h3> + + +<p>I was thoroughly dismayed. All the plans the lawyer and myself had laid +were now useless. He was left behind and I was on board little better +than a prisoner. Bitterly I regretted not having taken the chances of +getting ashore without being observed. Of what use now was all my +information against Captain Hannock and his confederates? In an hour we +would be far out at sea, and then the chances of doing anything to save +myself would be small indeed.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the idea of jumping overboard and swimming ashore entered my +mind. We could not be far from the dock, and anything was better than to +stay aboard the doomed Spitfire.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the idea suggested itself than I undertook to put it into +execution. I raised the trap and crawled up into the forecastle. No one +was there, and I sneaked to the deck.</p> + +<p>As I had surmised, the dock was not over a quarter of a mile away, if +indeed it was as far. I was a fair swimmer, and without hesitation I ran +to the rail with the full intention of jumping overboard.</p> + +<p>"Hi, you rascal, come back! Stop him, somebody!"</p> + +<p>It was Captain Hannock's voice, and it made me run faster than ever. I +gained the rail, and in another moment would have been over.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Crocker! Why don't you stop the lad!"</p> + +<p>The next instant I felt a hand on my collar, and I was drawn forcibly +back.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" I cried, and twisted with might and main to free myself.</p> + +<p>"Not so lively, my hearty!" said Crocker. "The captain says you are to +stay aboard."</p> + +<p>And despite my struggles he held me until the others came.</p> + +<p>But now I was thoroughly desperate, not knowing what would happen if I +was carried to sea. I continued my struggles even after Captain +Hannock's hand was placed on my arm.</p> + +<p>This enraged the captain and he looked around for a rope's end with +which to beat me into submission.</p> + +<p>Seeing a chance, I made another struggle, and this time succeeded in +breaking loose from Crocker and gaining the rail before they could +catch me again.</p> + +<p>Splash! I was over the side and into the water.</p> + +<p>I had taken as good a dive as possible, and now I remained under water +as long as my breath would allow. Consequently, when I again came to the +surface I was all of a hundred feet behind the Spitfire. I lost no time +in striking out for the shore.</p> + +<p>But weighed down as I was by my clothing, my progress was slow. +Realizing how I was encumbered, I paused long enough to pull off my coat +and vest and kick off my shoes, and then I struck out once more.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Captain Hannock was letting forth a flood of vile +language at everything and everybody. He wanted to know who had aided me +to escape and he threatened to shoot me if I did not turn around and +swim back.</p> + +<p>The threat rather alarmed me, but as I did not see any firearm in his +hand I paid no heed to it, but kept on, until the distance between me +and the schooner was considerable.</p> + +<p>But now, to my chagrin, I saw the sails on the schooner being lowered. +Then I heard the captain give the command to lower the boat.</p> + +<p>Desperately I struck out for the shore, still so far away. I knew I +could not make land, but I was in hope that I might get close enough to +summon assistance. There were a number of boats, both large and small, +moving about, and why should I not be able to find some one upon one of +these ready to assist me?</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" I began to cry at the top of my voice.</p> + +<p>"He's calling for help!" I heard Crocker exclaim. "He'll have somebody +from shore at hand soon!"</p> + +<p>"Man the boat, quick!" returned Captain Hannock. "We've only got a +couple of minutes to reach him in!"</p> + +<p>Crocker and the captain sprang into the boat and two sailors at once +followed. Then two pairs of oars dropped into the water and the row-boat +left the stern of the schooner.</p> + +<p>I continued to swim, but my hopes of escape were rapidly leaving me. I +was still too far away from any of the shore-boats for their occupants +to hear my cries, and no one but those on the schooner and the +schooner's boat seemed to be looking in my direction.</p> + +<p>A few minutes more and the boat dashed up beside me. I dove out of +sight, but the keen eyes of Crocker kept sight of me and when I once +more arose he put out his hand and caught me by the ear.</p> + +<p>"Come aboard!" he cried, sharply.</p> + +<p>"Haul him in by the ear if he won't come!" roared Captain Hannock. "We +can't afford to waste time on him. The sooner we get away from this +harbor the better."</p> + +<p>"That's so," returned Crocker, and he gave my ear a tremendous pull. +"Are you coming?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Yes; don't yank my ear off," I replied, for the way he was treating me +hurt not a little.</p> + +<p>"Then come aboard at once."</p> + +<p>He continued to pull my ear, and one of the sailors caught me by the +left hand. So seeing it was useless to resist any longer, I clambered +over the side.</p> + +<p>On the way after me the party in the boat had picked up my coat and +vest, and these Captain Hannock now threw towards me.</p> + +<p>"Put them on and behave yourself," he said, briefly. "Pull for the +schooner, boys."</p> + +<p>I donned the garments and sat down on the forward seat. The captain sat +close beside me, and during the return to the vessel his watchful eyes +did not once leave me.</p> + +<p>We were soon on deck once more, and then without warning Captain Hannock +burst forth into a perfect storm of anger.</p> + +<p>He sprang at me and struck me a cruel blow in the mouth that almost +knocked me off my feet.</p> + +<p>"That's the way to treat him," put in Crocker, "Lay it to him good, +Captain."</p> + +<p>"You brute!" I cried.</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" cried Captain Hannock; and then he turned away to give orders +to the sailors to hoist sail again.</p> + +<p>"You'll catch it now," went on Crocker to me.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," I returned, recklessly.</p> + +<p>"You don't, eh?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't. Do your worst!"</p> + +<p>And I would say no more to him.</p> + +<p>Presently the sails went up once more and again the Spitfire moved away +from the distant shore. With the fading away of the land my last hope +appeared to desert me.</p> + +<p>Then Captain Hannock again approached me.</p> + +<p>"How did you get loose?" demanded the skipper of the Spitfire, as he +hurried up, red with rage.</p> + +<p>"That's my business," was my reply. "You have no right to keep me on +board."</p> + +<p>"I'll put you in irons. Crocker, get the irons, I'll show the cub who's +boss here!"</p> + +<p>In a minute the handcuffs had been placed upon my wrists.</p> + +<p>"We've lost one man; I don't intend to lose two," said the captain. +"Take him below."</p> + +<p>I thought I was to be pitched again into the hold, but this time I was +mistaken. Lowell led me to a small room situated in the extreme bow.</p> + +<p>"You'll spend a day or two here," he said, as he locked me in. "Perhaps +when you come out you won't be so disrespectful to your superiors."</p> + +<p>The room was not as bad as the hold had been, there being a little light +and ventilation. At one end was a small bench, and on this I sat down.</p> + +<p>I was left entirely to myself. Evidently all the sailors had been +forbidden to come near me. Hour after hour went by, yet no one appeared.</p> + +<p>I wondered why Tony Dibble did not manage to send me word of some kind. +I did not know that the honest old sailor was at this minute on the dock +at New Bedford, speculating on what had become of the Spitfire.</p> + +<p>At length towards evening Lowell came with a tray of food which he set +down on the floor of my prison.</p> + +<p>"You want to make the most of it," he said, as he walked away. "It has +got to last you till to-morrow noon."</p> + +<p>The food was not of the best and daintiest kind, but I was hungry, and +even at the risk of starving later on I ate nearly the whole of it. He +had also brought along a pitcher of water, and of this I took a deep +draught.</p> + +<p>I sat for a long time meditating over my situation, but could make +nothing out of it. As affairs had turned, I must make the best of +whatever came.</p> + +<p>I sat awake long after dark, but finally my eyes grew heavy and then I +went to sleep on the bench until morning.</p> + +<p>All the forenoon was passed in solitude. To one unaccustomed to this the +experience is terrible. How I longed to have even a cat or dog to talk +to! But neither one nor the other was on board.</p> + +<p>When Lowell came at noon I asked him how long my confinement was to +continue.</p> + +<p>"Until you are ready to do your duty," he said; and not another word +would he utter.</p> + +<p>The day passed slowly, and the night was to me a restless one. What was +going on in the cabin and on deck? Were Captain Hannock and Lowell +getting ready to carry out their nefarious plan?</p> + +<p>I regretted not having taken one of the other sailors into my +confidence. But which of them could I trust?</p> + +<p>By this time I had made up my mind that Dibble was not on board. +Probably he had gone on a hunt for Mr. Ranson and been left behind.</p> + +<p>I tried in vain to attract the attention of one of the men as he passed. +Either he did not see me or else he did not dare to come near. If only +some of them knew!</p> + +<p>About four o'clock I fell asleep. I slept for some hours, and would have +continued doing so had not a wild cry suddenly brought me to my feet.</p> + +<p>"Fire! Fire!"</p> + +<p>It was a fearful cry—doubly fearful on a ship hundreds of miles from +land—and my face blanched as I sprang to my feet.</p> + +<p>Could it be possible—was the Spitfire in flames?</p> + +<p>"Fire! fire!" came that dreadful cry once more.</p> + +<p>Then came loud voices issuing orders and the rush of the sailors' feet.</p> + +<p>In vain I tried to catch sight of some one. The men, in a perfect panic, +rushed hither and thither, but no one paid any attention to me.</p> + +<p>"On deck there!" I heard Lowell shout.</p> + +<p>"Where is the fire?" burst from half a dozen throats in chorus.</p> + +<p>"In the hold—it is one mass of flames!"</p> + +<p>"Can't we put it out?" questioned one of the sailors.</p> + +<p>"No, the fire has gained too much headway for that."</p> + +<p>"But we might try."</p> + +<p>"It won't do, I tell you. We must get out a boat and leave the schooner. +Ten minutes more and it will be too late."</p> + +<p>"What, as bad as that!" came back with a groan. "Can't we save her +nohow?"</p> + +<p>"No, I tell you, idiot! I've been on board a burning vessel before. Man +the jolly-boat, and lose no time!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, the jolly-boat!" ejaculated half a dozen, and then I heard +another rush.</p> + +<p>I was terribly alarmed. Captain Hannock's foul plot had been put into +execution. What would the end be?</p> + +<p>I was almost stunned by my discovery. I paced up and down my cell like a +madman, but all to no purpose.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up, men!" I heard Captain Hannock exclaim. "Don't be an hour in +doing five minute's work! Use your strength!"</p> + +<p>"Ay! ay! sir! No time to lose, that's a fact."</p> + +<p>And the crew of the Spitfire hurried their preparations even more than +before.</p> + +<p>"Never mind your things, boys, save your lives. We may have an +explosion, and then it will be too late."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE BURNING OF THE SPITFIRE.</h3> + + +<p>Already I could smell the smoke that was pouring out of the cracks +around the hatchway. It would not be a great while before the entire +vessel would be consumed.</p> + +<p>In my cell near the bow I could hear but little of what was going on at +the stern. I had no doubt but what active preparations were being made +to leave the ship. I knew well enough that no means would be taken to +subdue the conflagration. It was not Captain Hannock's desire to undo +his nefarious work now it was once begun. The quicker every one left the +Spitfire to her doom the better he would be suited.</p> + +<p>But my attention was soon taken from the schooner and centered upon my +own safety. At the start I had no thought but what somebody would come +to release me, but, as the moments went by and no one came, the awful +suspicion crossed my mind that the master of the Spitfire meant to +leave me to my fate.</p> + +<p>I could not at first believe this to be possible, but finally the +thought forced itself home to me. No sooner had it done so than I made +every effort to attract the attention of some of the sailors, who, in +their panic, had evidently forgotten my existence.</p> + +<p>I cried out at the top of my voice, not once, but a number of times. But +such was the bustle and confusion on deck that no one heard me, or if +they did paid no heed.</p> + +<p>Would the captain or Lowell come? Surely, surely, they would not dare to +leave me to die on board! But the moments went by, and no one put in an +appearance. The captain was going to make certain that nobody should +live to tell any tales against him. He had probably discovered that I +knew of the plans he and my uncle had concocted.</p> + +<p>It was not long before I made an attempt to liberate myself. The cell in +which I was confined was built entirely of wood, and the door was not an +extra heavy one. But with my hands locked together I was at a +disadvantage. Yet terror lent me an artificial strength.</p> + +<p>I threw my whole weight against the door, once, twice, thrice. It +groaned on its hinges, but that was all. I tried to obtain a purchase +upon the floor, and thereby push the door open. But the flooring was +slippery, and this was a failure.</p> + +<p>As I have said, the cell contained nothing but a bench. In my +desperation I took hold of this, and was surprised to be able to pull +off the heavy board seat.</p> + +<p>For an instant I was at a loss as to the manner in which I could utilize +the board; then the idea came to rest one end against the rear of the +cell and the other against the top of the door, and this I did. Then I +brought my full weight down upon the pry thus formed, as near the top as +possible.</p> + +<p>Instantly the door was pressed open at the top to the width of several +inches. Into this opening I slid the end of the board, and by thus +working it down, managed in a few moments to snap the lock, and then the +door flew open.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile I could hear the creaking of the pulleys as the jolly-boat was +let down into the water. Would they leave before I could reach them?</p> + +<p>With my hands still chained together I rushed out upon the forward deck. +A heavy pall of smoke blew directly into my face, and for a moment I was +completely blinded, and knew not which way to turn. I noticed that the +sails had been lowered, and it was a strong west wind that caused the +smoke to thus rush towards me.</p> + +<p>By the time the wind had shifted slightly I was half choked, and +staggered against the rail to recover my breath. The jolly-boat had +reached the water in safety, and the sailors and Captain Hannock were +not long in entering it. I tried to shout to them, but the sound only +ended in a violent cough, due to the smoke, which every moment was +getting thicker.</p> + +<p>At last I got my wind, and then cried out at the top of my voice,</p> + +<p>"Help! Stop the boat! Help!"</p> + +<p>No one paid the slightest attention.</p> + +<p>"Pull away, boys," I heard Captain Hannock call out; and an instant +later the jolly-boat had left the schooner's side!</p> + +<p>In vain I repeated my cry. If the master of the Spitfire heard me, he +gave no heed, and as for the sailors, they were too busy doing their +duty to give me a thought.</p> + +<p>Deserted! Left to fight for life amidst the flames! Oh, how bitterly I +realized the awful position in which I was placed!</p> + +<p>The wind blew in such a manner that soon the jolly-boat was hidden from +view by the smoke. Evidently all had left the schooner in safety but +myself.</p> + +<p>What was I to do now? Had my hands been free I could have done much, +but as it was I was next to helpless. For a moment I stood irresolute +upon the stern. Should I take a plank or what ever came to hand, jump +overboard, and trust to luck?</p> + +<p>Suddenly a wild cry startled me.</p> + +<p>"Save me! Save me!"</p> + +<p>I looked, and was astonished to see Phil Jones standing terror-stricken +near the companionway!</p> + +<p>"Phil Jones!" I cried.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Foster, is that you?" exclaimed the cabin boy, and he came running +to my side.</p> + +<p>He was deadly pale, and shook so that he could hardly speak.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Foster, where are the others?" he continued.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" I replied.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" he ejaculated. "And we are left behind?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the cowards have taken the small boat, and we are left without +any."</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"I was just trying to think. The fire is gaining headway fast."</p> + +<p>"Can't we put it out?"</p> + +<p>I shook my head.</p> + +<p>"It might have been put out at the start, but it's too fierce now."</p> + +<p>"There ain't any other boat," he went on. "There used to be, but it got +stove to pieces."</p> + +<p>"I can do but little with my hands chained together," said I. "Do you +know where the key to this pair of handcuffs is?"</p> + +<p>"On a nail in the cabin. I saw Captain Hannock put it there."</p> + +<p>"Come, show me."</p> + +<p>I ran into the cabin, Jones following. Here all was confusion, as if the +inmates had been forced to leave in a great hurry. The captain of the +Spitfire had left nothing undone to make the loss of the schooner appear +purely accidental.</p> + +<p>"Here is the key," said Phil, producing it. "Let me take them off."</p> + +<p>In a moment he had the handcuffs loose, and I slipped them off.</p> + +<p>"They should be on Captain Hannock," I remarked, as we hurried on deck.</p> + +<p>"Indeed they should," replied the cabin boy, though he did not fully +understand me. "I was dead tired, and went to sleep on the pantry floor, +and no one came near me to wake me up. I suppose the old man would just +as soon see me dead as alive."</p> + +<p>"I, too, was left alone," I replied. "Captain Hannock and Lowell set +the ship afire, and they didn't want any one to know it."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right," was Phil's reply. "I overheard Lowell speaking +about something of the kind, though I could not quite make it out."</p> + +<p>By this time we had reached the stern, where the smoke was not so dense. +By the flames that were gradually working their way through the cracks +in the deck, where the oakum had burnt away, I knew it would not be long +before the entire ship would be enveloped. If anything was to be done it +must be done quickly.</p> + +<p>"We will have to make a raft," I said. "Get all the ropes you can find +near at hand."</p> + +<p>The cabin boy willingly complied. Now that he had a companion he did not +appear so frightened, and he worked with a will.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>ON THE RAFT.</h3> + + +<p>While Phil was looking for ropes, I collected all the planking I could, +and to this added a door or two. Then we tied all tightly together, +placing the doors on top as a sort of deck.</p> + +<p>Fortunately I was thoughtful enough to build the concern with one end +resting on the top of the rail. Had I not done so it is doubtful if we +could have got the raft over the side. When completed it was all of +twelve feet square.</p> + +<p>"Now take that pole and help pry her over," said I to Phil. "Try to make +her strike right side up."</p> + +<p>He did as I directed. At a favorable moment we gave the final push, and +the raft went over with a mighty splash.</p> + +<p>"She's all right," cried Phil joyfully. "Now what?"</p> + +<p>"Get some stores together as quick as you can and jump aboard," I +replied. "I'll look after some water."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">On the raft. </span></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Picking up one of the poles Phil had thoughtfully taken aboard, I placed +it against the stern of the schooner, and we shoved the raft away as far +as possible. Then the cabin boy took a board, and using it as an oar, +propelled the clumsy craft still further, until we were at least a +hundred feet off.</p> + +<p>"There she goes! That's the last of the Spitfire!"</p> + +<p>As the cabin boy uttered the cry there was a tremendous crash on board +the schooner. Both of the masts had come down together.</p> + +<p>The fall tore a great hole in the vessel's side. Into this the water +poured at once.</p> + +<p>At last the schooner could stand it no longer. She quivered from stem to +stern. Then with a mighty plunge she disappeared beneath the surface of +the ocean!</p> + +<p>The Spitfire was no more! And Phil Jones and I were left alone upon the +bosom of the broad Atlantic!</p> + +<p>I can hardly explain the feelings that filled my breast as I saw the +schooner take her final plunge and sink beneath the waves. It was to me +like some gigantic living creature breathing its last. I turned to the +cabin boy, and saw that his eyes were filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"I've spent a good many years on her," he whimpered. "And all I had was +on board her. It wasn't much, but it was a good deal to me."</p> + +<p>"Let us be thankful that we saved our lives," I replied. "Captain +Hannock no doubt thinks we are at the bottom of the ocean."</p> + +<p>"By the way, where is the jolly-boat?" asked Phil suddenly.</p> + +<p>I stood up and looked eagerly in all directions. Not a craft of any kind +was to be seen.</p> + +<p>"She's gone," I replied. "I suppose they have a compass, and have set +out for the shore."</p> + +<p>"If it wasn't for a couple of the men, I'd like to see the boat +swamped," said Phil.</p> + +<p>"Captain Hannock will be surprised if we ever meet again," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to meet him again. I won't live with him. I'll kill myself +first."</p> + +<p>I was surprised at the determination with which the cabin boy uttered +the words.</p> + +<p>"You are right," I replied. "Captain Hannock is not a fit person for any +one to have in charge. If we ever escape, depend upon it I will do all +in my power to see that you are treated better in the future."</p> + +<p>"Will you? Oh, thank you very much!"</p> + +<p>The sun was now rising quite high in the eastern sky, sending broad +sheets of light over the ocean. I climbed up on the top of the water +cask and gazed eagerly around in all directions.</p> + +<p>Not a boat was in sight.</p> + +<p>"See anything?" asked Phil.</p> + +<p>"Nothing but water and sky," was the reply. "We must shift for ourselves +and no mistake."</p> + +<p>Luckily for us the planks we had lashed together were of sufficient +buoyancy to cause the doors above them to ride clear of the waves, so we +were comparatively free from the wash of the sea, although occasionally +a wave broke over the flooring.</p> + +<p>"We will lash the cask fast," said I, "and then fasten the box of +provisions on top of it."</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea," replied the cabin boy. "If the water strikes the +food it won't be of much account."</p> + +<p>We did as I had suggested, first, however, drawing sufficient water from +the cask to last us for the day.</p> + +<p>"Now if we could hoist a sail we'd be all right," said Phil.</p> + +<p>"Let us see if we can't raise the oar between the doors. I think if we +can, we can tie some ropes fast to steady it and put the sail on it."</p> + +<p>"We haven't any boom."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can split off a side of one of the doors and make one."</p> + +<p>"We can try," responded Phil. "We ain't got much else to do. Gracious, +ain't I glad I ain't alone."</p> + +<p>"So am I," was my warm rejoinder. "We'll live or die together."</p> + +<p>"I ain't much afraid of dying, now you are with me."</p> + +<p>Planting the oar for a mast was no easy matter. Of course we did not +attempt to do it until we had made the boom, and also a small crosstree +at the top, from which we suspended the sail, not very artistically, it +is true, but in such a fashion that it drew very well.</p> + +<p>"There we are!" cried Phil, when the task was accomplished. "What's the +matter with that?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," I replied. And then added with a laugh:</p> + +<p>"Let us go into a firm: Jones & Foster, Boat-builders and Sailmakers."</p> + +<p>Phil laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"You're right! I'm glad it's up. It looks more like a regular boat now."</p> + +<p>"It will act as a signal as well as a sail," I replied, "and we need +both."</p> + +<p>"Now we've got the sail, how are we going to steer, and in what +direction? The ocean looks all alike to me."</p> + +<p>"We will have to be guided by the sun. I know land is to the west of +us, though how far I haven't the least idea. And we'll have to make a +rudder of some kind out of another piece of the door."</p> + +<p>"Suppose we run across Captain Hannock and the jolly-boat?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't likely, and if we do we will have to make the best of it. I'll +stand no more nonsense."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>NIGHT ON THE HASTY.</h3> + + +<p>After the sail was rigged and the rudder lashed in position, we took our +first meal on the raft. I was hungry, but fearful of exhausting our +stock of provisions before we reached land or help of some kind, I ate +no more than was absolutely necessary, and the cabin boy did the same.</p> + +<p>"What will we name the raft?" asked Phil, as he held a cup of water +aloft.</p> + +<p>I thought an instant.</p> + +<p>"How would the Hasty do?"</p> + +<p>"Just the thing!" he cried. "We were mighty hasty in building her. The +Hasty she is."</p> + +<p>And by drinking the water he so named the raft upon which we passed so +many anxious hours.</p> + +<p>It must have been near eleven o'clock before the morning meal was +concluded. By this time the sun was almost overhead, and poured down +hotly upon us.</p> + +<p>"This won't do," I said, feeling my face nearly burning up. "We must +rig a covering of some kind."</p> + +<p>There was a small part of the sail that was not used. This I cut off, +and putting the center of it over the box of provisions as it rested +above the cask, I fastened the four ends to the corners of the doors, +and that gave us a miniature cabin, in which we took turns in resting.</p> + +<p>By good fortune there was a stiff breeze blowing directly from the east, +so by skillful management, we kept the head of the raft pointed in the +direction we wanted to go.</p> + +<p>As we sailed along Phil Jones told me much concerning himself.</p> + +<p>"I've lived with Captain Hannock ever since I can remember," he began. +"My father was a sailor, and he died on board the Spitfire, leaving me +in charge of those on board. My father was mate, and I've heard that +Captain Hannock was a better man in those days."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't your mother living?"</p> + +<p>"No: she died when I was a little baby. That's the reason, I suppose, +the captain took me in charge."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps he had no legal right to do so."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that. But I'm sure he had no legal right to bang me +around the way he did."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. And he shall not do so in the future."</p> + +<p>Then Phil asked me about myself, and I told him much of my history. He +was not very old, but the sharp knocks he had received had given him a +wisdom beyond his years.</p> + +<p>Talking made the time pass more swiftly, and before we knew it the sun +was sinking in the west. It would not be long ere the night would be +upon us.</p> + +<p>"Let us lose no time, but sail along as far as we can," I said.</p> + +<p>"How about sailing by the stars?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about that."</p> + +<p>"I know a little."</p> + +<p>"Then we won't lower the sail until it is absolutely necessary. Come, +you take a nap if you can, and I will steer as long as the sun lasts, +and then you can take the rudder."</p> + +<p>To this the cabin boy readily agreed. He was soon asleep, and I was +virtually left alone.</p> + +<p>As the evening shadows deepened I realized for the first time our +forlorn condition. Here we were, afloat on the bosom of the broad +Atlantic, with no land or sail in sight. What would the outcome of this +adventure be?</p> + +<p>From the present my mind drifted to what had been left behind. I had no +doubt but that my Uncle Felix was searching for me in every direction. +Perhaps he had even made offers of reward for my discovery. Six thousand +dollars was no mean sum to lose, and I knew him well enough to +understand that he would well-nigh turn the metropolis upside down ere +he would submit to it.</p> + +<p>I could understand that my running away made it look bad for me. Every +one would say, if I was innocent why had I not stood my ground? Even Mr. +Banker and Mr. Mason might shake their heads and have their doubts.</p> + +<p>Then I thought of the evidence I held in my pocket against Mr. Stillwell +and Captain Hannock. If I reached shore in safety, what a sensation it +would produce! Had my uncle treated me with more consideration I would +have had some hesitation about exposing him even though he deserved it +and justice demanded it. But not for an instant had he thought of how he +was ruining my good name for all time. And I had been innocent while he +was guilty. He must suffer the penalty of his misdeeds.</p> + +<p>I could not help but think of Mr. Ranson and Tony Dibble. What had +become of the two? Would they watch for Captain Hannock's return and +expose him at once?</p> + +<p>Slowly the evening wore on, until the last trace of sunshine had gone +and only the stars shone down upon the Hasty. Phil was fast asleep, and +I did not like to wake him, so much did he appear to enjoy the nap. Poor +boy! for once he knew that he would not be aroused by a kick or blow!</p> + +<p>It must have been ten o'clock when Phil did awaken. He rubbed his eyes +and sat up.</p> + +<p>"Where am I? Oh, I remember! How good of you, Luke, to let me sleep so +long!"</p> + +<p>"It's getting pretty dark now, Phil. Are you sure you can steer?"</p> + +<p>"I think so."</p> + +<p>I handed him the rudder and lay down under the canvas. At first I was +too restless to sleep; but after awhile tired nature could stand it no +longer, and I dropped into a heavy slumber.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, Luke, wake up!"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I can't say, but something is wrong," he returned.</p> + +<p>At once alarmed, I tried to crawl from under the bit of canvas. When I +had accomplished this feat—which was not easy, considering how the +Hasty rolled and pitched—I gazed at Phil and saw that he was trembling +violently.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Phil—what scared you?" I went on.</p> + +<p>"We struck something," he cried. "I most believe it was part of a boat."</p> + +<p>"Something from the Spitfire most likely," I returned.</p> + +<p>"I don't know—but—but——"</p> + +<p>"But what, Phil—what ails you?"</p> + +<p>"I believe there was a man on it!" he said, in an awful whisper. "I +couldn't see very well. It gave me a fearful scare."</p> + +<p>"A man! Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"No, but it looked like a man. My, it was terrible!"</p> + +<p>"You look it. In what direction was it?"</p> + +<p>Phil pointed over his left shoulder. I peered through the gloom as best +I could, but could see nothing.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's gone now, whatever it was," I said. "Are you quite sure you +didn't fall asleep and dream it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wasn't asleep. I'm not a bit sleepy after my long nap. I am sorry +I disturbed you, but—but I couldn't help it."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," said I, with a yawn. "Well I might as well turn in +again, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, turn in by all means."</p> + +<p>Once more I crawled beneath the canvas. I had not heard a single cry, +and I was inclined to think that Phil had been mistaken concerning a +person on the wreckage he had seen.</p> + +<p>My short nap had only made me more sleepy and it was not long before I +dropped off into a sound slumber, which even the fitful motion of the +raft did not disturb.</p> + +<p>"Luke! Luke!"</p> + +<p>It was Phil's voice again, louder than ever before.</p> + +<p>"Now what's up?" I replied, not in the best of humor.</p> + +<p>"We must be careful. We have struck——"</p> + +<p>The cabin boy did not have time to finish the sentence for at that +instant the Hasty received a terrific shock which nearly split her in +two.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Luke, what shall we do?" cried Phil, in alarm, as soon as he could +catch his breath.</p> + +<p>Before I could answer there came another shock. A moment later Phil and +I were struggling in the dark waters!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>A TERRIBLE LOSS.</h3> + + +<p>To be suddenly aroused out of a sound sleep, and immediately afterwards +to find yourself struggling in deep, dark water is not an experience to +be desired. The first plunge made me shiver from head to foot, and it +was only by instinct that I kept my mouth shut and struck out to keep +myself afloat.</p> + +<p>I had not the slightest notion of what had happened, and in the darkness +could see nothing. It was some time ere I could recover and call out to +the cabin boy:</p> + +<p>"What is it, Phil? Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am," he cried, close beside me; and an instant later his hand +touched my body.</p> + +<p>"What happened?" I repeated.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he replied. "Either something struck the boat, or else +we hit a rock."</p> + +<p>"I don't think we are near enough to shore to strike a rock," I +rejoined.</p> + +<p>"Well, what was it then?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, and what's more I'm not going to try to find out just at +present. Where is the raft?"</p> + +<p>"I guess the Hasty has gone to the bottom. I can't see her anywhere +around."</p> + +<p>"Don't be foolish. She couldn't sink."</p> + +<p>"That's so; I forgot. Well, where is she then?"</p> + +<p>"We must find her. Can you keep on swimming?"</p> + +<p>"For awhile. But don't leave me!" added the cabin boy in sudden alarm.</p> + +<p>"I won't. We can swim together. Take it easy."</p> + +<p>Side by side we struck out. My thoughts were busy. Suppose we were not +able to find the raft? To swim any great distance would be impossible, +and we could not float forever.</p> + +<p>"It's hard work, and no mistake," said Phil, after a few moments of +silence. "I can't go much further."</p> + +<p>"Suppose we let ourselves drift with the current."</p> + +<p>"That's a good plan, for I suppose the Hasty did the same thing."</p> + +<p>So we allowed ourselves to drift for fully ten minutes. Fortunately +both of us were good swimmers, and understood the art of floating. If +not, it might have gone hard with us.</p> + +<p>"What's that ahead?" cried the cabin boy, at length.</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"There! To the right!"</p> + +<p>I strained my eyes. Was it a light? Yes; not one but several, and all +moving rapidly away.</p> + +<p>"It's a boat!" I cried. "Let us yell."</p> + +<p>And yell we did; once, twice, and then a dozen times, in a tone that +made me so hoarse I could hardly speak afterwards.</p> + +<p>"It's no use," said Phil. "It's a steamer, and they won't pay any +attention."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder but that it was the vessel that struck us?" I +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Most likely. But if they would only pick us up I wouldn't care a +straw."</p> + +<p>After this there was another interval of silence. Then my arm struck +something hard. I put out my hand, and was overjoyed to find that it was +the raft.</p> + +<p>"Here she is!" I cried. "Here's the Hasty."</p> + +<p>"Thank our stars!" returned Phil; "I couldn't have held out much +longer."</p> + +<p>It did not take us long to get aboard, and completely exhausted we sank +down on the flooring and panted to get our breath.</p> + +<p>There was no more sleep for us that night, so we both sat close +together, and talked of what had struck us, and what damage it had done +to the raft.</p> + +<p>"The rudder is smashed," said Phil.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, we can make another in the morning," I returned. "It's too +dark to do anything now."</p> + +<p>So we let the raft drift at will, trusting the wind was still blowing us +toward the shore.</p> + +<p>Slowly the night wore on, and at the first streak of dawn we were both +in motion. It seemed a shame to rip up another part of the flooring to +make a rudder. Yet there was no help for it. While doing so I noticed +that the doors were unusually wet, but gave it no attention, thinking it +had been caused by the raft dipping under when the vessel had struck us.</p> + +<p>At last we began to get hungry, and Phil hauled some crackers from the +provision box.</p> + +<p>"They will make us mighty thirsty, and we haven't much water," he said. +"But I hadn't time to hunt up just the best things to take along."</p> + +<p>We ate our crackers, and when we had finished them I turned to the cask +to get some water. I pulled out the bung, and was horrified to discover +that the cask was empty!</p> + +<p>"The water's gone!" I gasped.</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"It's true; there isn't a drop in the cask!"</p> + +<p>Phil was fully as much dismayed as I was. Alone on the broad Atlantic +and not a drop to drink!</p> + +<p>"We can't live without water," he cried.</p> + +<p>"I know that. It is worse than being without food."</p> + +<p>"Ten times over. Where has the water gone?"</p> + +<p>We examined the cask carefully. At the bottom was a bunghole in which a +bung had been placed; but either the riding of the raft or the shock had +loosened the bung, and it had dropped out and allowed the water to run +away to the last drop.</p> + +<p>"We are done for now!" groaned Phil. "We can't stand it twenty-four +hours without something to drink."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we'll have a change in luck before that," said I; but I had my +doubts.</p> + +<p>The hours that passed after I made the discovery were terrible ones. We +suffered intensely from thirst, and I was almost tempted to drink the +salt water that surrounded us. Had I done so this tale would probably +have never been written.</p> + +<p>When the noonday sun shone down upon us we could not stand to be out in +it. Phil crawled under the canvas, his eyes rolling strangely.</p> + +<p>"Water! water! oh, give me water!" he cried.</p> + +<p>I was startled. Was the poor boy going insane?</p> + +<p>"Let me wet the canvas," I said. "It will make it cooler."</p> + +<p>I did as I suggested, and the cabin boy declared it was much better than +before. Then I coaxed him to try to sleep, and at last he fell into a +troublesome doze.</p> + +<p>Throwing more water on the canvas until it was sopping wet, I crawled in +beside him.</p> + +<p>But not to sleep. My mind was in a whirl, and I could not think clearly. +My mouth was parched, and my tongue so thick that when I tried to utter +some words in reverie I could not, a thing that frightened me still +more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEEP BLUE SEA.</h3> + + +<p>I lay several hours under the canvas, wondering how the adventure would +end. At present things looked rather blue, and perhaps neither Phil nor +I would live to tell the tale. At length, when I was about to give up in +despair, a low rumble brought me to my feet instantly.</p> + +<p>It was thunder!</p> + +<p>"A storm! a storm!" I cried. "Pray God it brings us rain!"</p> + +<p>My cries awoke Phil, and he pushed the canvas aside.</p> + +<p>"What did you say?" he asked, feebly.</p> + +<p>"There is a storm coming up," was my reply. "Hear the thunder?"</p> + +<p>"What of it?"</p> + +<p>"What of it? A storm means water, and water means something to drink!"</p> + +<p>"Hooray! so it does!"</p> + +<p>And the cabin boy jumped to his feet at once.</p> + +<p>It is wonderful what life the prospect of rain put into us. Eagerly we +watched the approach of the dark clouds that were fast bearing down upon +us.</p> + +<p>"We must fix the cask to hold water," I said, "and also the canvas."</p> + +<p>"And we can fix the sail, too," added Phil. "We must catch as much as +possible."</p> + +<p>I put the bung back into the cask, hammering it in well. Then by the aid +of the mast, rudder and boom, we hung the canvas so that every drop that +might fall upon it would be caught and poured into the cask.</p> + +<p>Hardly had we finished our preparations when the storm bore down upon +us. The lightning was terrific, the thunder deafening, and the rain came +down in a deluge.</p> + +<p>We heeded not the storm. We drank our fill of the first water that +entered the cask, and oh, how good it seemed! Many a time since I have +drunk spring water of the purest and coolest, but nothing that could +compare with that which Phil Jones and I caught on the canvas in the +middle of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>Our thirst satisfied, we turned our attention to filling the cask. It +was not long before we had it more than half full, and as the cask was a +twenty-gallon one, this was not bad, and would last us quite some time.</p> + +<p>Of course we had to pay considerable attention to the raft, which at +times tossed and pitched in a fashion that made me sick all over, and +rendered it necessary to hold on tightly to prevent being swept +overboard.</p> + +<p>For two hours the storm continued without showing any signs of abating. +By this time we were wet to the skin and shivering with the cold.</p> + +<p>"Now we've got water, I wish it would clear off," remarked Phil, as he +stood holding fast to the mast.</p> + +<p>"So do I. It's no fun thinking that any moment we may be swept +overboard."</p> + +<p>"Hope the jolly-boat is out in it," he continued. "Captain Hannock +deserves all the ducking a-going."</p> + +<p>"He can't be to land yet. Wonder if all the sailors are with him?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. I'm sure there wasn't a soul left on the ship."</p> + +<p>Instead of letting up, the sky grew darker and the wind increased in +fury. The Hasty bounded up and down over the mighty swells, and many +were the times that I thought our last moment had come. Yet each time +the clumsy raft righted herself, ready to battle with the next wave.</p> + +<p>Not without considerable danger I managed to tie the planks more +tightly together. That rude structure now seemed to be our only hope for +safety.</p> + +<p>And thus the night of awful peril wore on.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"This is the very worst storm I ever saw."</p> + +<p>It was Phil who uttered the words. He was lying flat on the top of the +cask, holding on tightly to the ropes that held the mast. He had been in +that position for fully two hours, and it was plain to see that he was +nearly exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Keep up your courage," I replied. "The worst is over, I'm certain. This +storm wouldn't appear so bad if we were on shipboard."</p> + +<p>The box of provisions had become thoroughly water-soaked, and it was now +resting on the flooring of the raft, and I was using it to lie upon, so +that the waves might not wash over me so freely.</p> + +<p>Far over in the east I could see a faint break in the clouds, and to +this I laid my hope of a change for the better. But the cabin boy shook +his head.</p> + +<p>"Storms don't clear that way."</p> + +<p>"Yet this one may."</p> + +<p>"Hope you're right, but I don't think so."</p> + +<p>An instant after these words there was a terrible clap of thunder, and +following it a deluge of rain that almost swept us from the raft.</p> + +<p>"I'll venture to say that's the end of it," said I.</p> + +<p>After the downpour was over it began to brighten, and in the course of +half an hour there were several rifts in the clouds. We watched them +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Don't know but that you were right," said Phil at last. "See! see! the +storm is drifting southward!"</p> + +<p>"Thank fortune for it," was my reply. "I never want to pass through +another like it!"</p> + +<p>In another hour the rain had ceased. I judged it was now about four +o'clock, and I was not far out of the way, for about an hour or so later +the sun rose and peered dimly through the haze.</p> + +<p>It was not long before it was as bright and clear as ever. But the water +was still in a turbulent state, and every minute or two a wave would +break over us with a swash and a crack decidedly unpleasant.</p> + +<p>As soon as I was able to do so I overhauled the provision box with a +view to saving what might still be fit to eat.</p> + +<p>It was in a sad mess, and the salt water had made most of the things +worthless. The crackers and bread I threw away at once, and this left us +with nothing but some potted beef, a jar of pickles and some canned corn +and asparagus—rather an odd collection, but decidedly better than +nothing.</p> + +<p>"We will have to live on closer mess than ever," I said, as I viewed the +stuff.</p> + +<p>"I won't mind that so long as we have enough to drink," returned Phil. +"I can stand hunger, but I can't stand being dry."</p> + +<p>"You're not very dry now," said I, with a faint attempt at humor.</p> + +<p>The cabin boy gave a laugh.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean that way. Guess our clothes will dry fast enough when the +sun gets up."</p> + +<p>The morning proved a long and warm one. We did all we could to pass the +time pleasantly, but it was a failure. There was no concealing the fact +that we were both anxious about our situation.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that because I write so calmly of this +involuntary cruise that we were not frightened, for such is not a fact. +Both of us were greatly alarmed, and would have given about all we owned +to be once more on dry land.</p> + +<p>About every hour one or the other of us would climb up to the top of the +mast and look in all directions for a sail or land. This we did until we +were almost ready to give it up, as nothing appeared.</p> + +<p>Our dinner was a curious one, some potted beef and cold green corn, +washed down with a cup of cold water.</p> + +<p>"Funny we didn't think of this corn when we were so thirsty," said Phil. +"It would have done pretty well for a time."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know it was there," I returned. "Never mind; it's over now, +and I hope we don't have any such experience again."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>PICKED UP.</h3> + + +<p>The afternoon drifted into evening, and somewhat disheartened we +prepared to pass another night on the Hasty. We arranged that Phil +should sleep first for about three hours, and then I was to take my +turn.</p> + +<p>"Tie yourself fast," said I, "or you may roll off."</p> + +<p>He followed my advice, and it was not long before he was in a sound +slumber. I sat on the cask, steering as well as I could by the stars. +Suddenly from out of the gloom ahead an object loomed up. I started to +my feet and strained my eyes.</p> + +<p>It was a steam yacht!</p> + +<p>For an instant I could hardly believe my eyes. Then I gave a wild cry +that caused Phil to jump up in alarm.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"A ship!"</p> + +<p>"A ship! Where?"</p> + +<p>"Dead ahead. Let us hail her."</p> + +<p>And together we called out as loudly as we could:</p> + +<p>"Ship ahoy!"</p> + +<p>There was no answer; but the yacht came nearer.</p> + +<p>"Ship ahoy!"</p> + +<p>"Ahoy here!" came back the welcome cry.</p> + +<p>Then we heard the engine of the craft cease to work, and presently the +long, slim yacht came close beside us.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked some one from the deck.</p> + +<p>"We are shipwrecked from the Spitfire," replied Phil.</p> + +<p>"Will you take us on board?" I added.</p> + +<p>"Certainly; we have been looking for you," came the strange reply.</p> + +<p>But at that instant I recognized Mr. Ranson standing at the rail! The +lawyer looked highly pleased to see us, and waved his hand.</p> + +<p>In a moment a rope was thrown to us from the yacht, and without any +difficulty we ascended to the deck, where a small crowd of men +surrounded us.</p> + +<p>"Right glad am I to see you!" exclaimed Mr. Ranson, as he shook me by +the hand. "And you, too," he added to Phil.</p> + +<p>"Where are the rest of the crew?" asked the captain of the yacht.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," was my reply. "They went off in the jolly-boat and left +us behind."</p> + +<p>"You can tell your story in the cabin," put in another man, who was +dressed in navy-blue and wore a badge upon his breast.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that would be best," said the lawyer. "How do you feel?"</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>"A little hungry," added Phil.</p> + +<p>"You shall dine at once," said the captain, a man by the name of Flagg.</p> + +<p>He led the way to the cabin, and the lawyer, the man in navy-blue, Phil +and I followed.</p> + +<p>"This is Luke Foster, and this is Philip Jones," said Mr. Ranson, +presenting us. "Captain Flagg, and Mr. Henshaw, of the government +force."</p> + +<p>We all shook hands and sat down. Then Phil and I told our stories +straight to the finish, and I also produced the letters I had taken from +the locker in Captain Hannock's stateroom.</p> + +<p>"A serious case, a serious case indeed," said Mr. Henshaw, when we had +finished. "Will you let me retain these letters?"</p> + +<p>I looked at Mr. Ranson.</p> + +<p>"Yes; let him have them. The matter is now in the hands of the +government."</p> + +<p>By the time our story was at an end the supper was served, and never +did two boys make a heartier meal than did Phil and I. As we all sat +around the table Mr. Henshaw asked us many questions, and made numerous +notes of our answers.</p> + +<p>"And how did you come to be out here for us?" I asked of the lawyer.</p> + +<p>"Didn't I promise to help you?" he replied. "When I left the Spitfire it +was my intention to return before she set sail again. I was under the +impression that you had gone ashore, especially as Dibble thought so +too."</p> + +<p>"Where is Dibble? He was not on board."</p> + +<p>"He, too, was left. Captain Hannock sent him ashore on an errand, and +set sail before either of us could return. I think he must have smelt a +mouse."</p> + +<p>"He'll smell a still bigger mouse when he reaches shore," said the +government officer, with a broad laugh. "Burning a vessel and a bogus +cargo that are heavily insured is no light offense."</p> + +<p>"Where do you think he will land?"</p> + +<p>"The first place he strikes. It isn't much fun sailing around in a +jolly-boat."</p> + +<p>"It is my idea that he will land at Nantucket," said Captain Flagg.</p> + +<p>"It won't make much difference to us," said the lawyer. "We will +certainly hear of him in a few days, when he comes to make his claim. +He won't lose much time in doing that, you can depend."</p> + +<p>"And in the mean time I can telegraph to New York to have this Stillwell +arrested," went on Mr. Henshaw.</p> + +<p>I gave a start. I had not thought of such an occurrence.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the government officer, noticing me.</p> + +<p>"Stillwell is Foster's uncle," explained the lawyer.</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Well, I am sorry for you, but the law is no respecter of +persons. Prince and pauper are alike to Uncle Sam."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stillwell is my uncle only in name," I replied. "He has never +treated me half decent, and is even now trying to defraud me out of my +inheritance."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Then there is no love lost between you."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit, sir."</p> + +<p>"By these letters I should say he was not a man to be trusted."</p> + +<p>By Mr. Ranson's advice I told my story. Mr. Henshaw was deeply +interested.</p> + +<p>"It was a great mistake in one way to run away," he said. "But in +another it has helped to gather evidence against him, evidence that will +count for much. But let me tell you one thing."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt if his son took that money."</p> + +<p>"But he was in the office."</p> + +<p>"Only for a short while. That money was gone before the office was +opened in the morning."</p> + +<p>I could hardly believe that. When I had opened the office and swept it +everything appeared all right.</p> + +<p>"Mark my words if I am not right," went on the government officer.</p> + +<p>"I can't see how a thief from the outside could get in the place," I +replied.</p> + +<p>"No: but a thief from the inside——" said Mr. Ranson, dryly.</p> + +<p>I started, struck by a sudden thought.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean——?" I began.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"That my uncle took that money himself?" I burst out.</p> + +<p>"I don't say he did, but it may be so," said Mr. Ranson slowly. "He has +your money in trust. The letter to Hannock says he does not as yet dare +to touch the money in his charge. With you in prison he could do as he +pleased. Do you follow me?"</p> + +<p>"I do; and it's as plain as day. But I never thought my uncle was such a +villain!"</p> + +<p>"I do not say he is; but it looks so. Who would have thought him in +league with Hannock?"</p> + +<p>"No one in New York surely," said I.</p> + +<p>I could not help but think what a sensation my uncle's arrest would +produce. How Mr. Banker would stare when he heard of it! I was sorry for +my aunt's sake, but Mr. Stillwell had brought it upon himself.</p> + +<p>Then I wondered if I would be able to clear myself. One thing gave me +not a little comfort. It was Mr. Ranson's words:</p> + +<p>"Remember, they have got to prove you guilty. Until that is done every +man is considered innocent."</p> + +<p>Yet this did not entirely satisfy me. I wanted to prove that I had not +taken the money. If I did not I was sure there would be some who would +always look down upon me.</p> + +<p>Now that Mr. Ranson had found us, the course of the steam yacht was +changed, so that we headed directly for Boston. Phil and I were assigned +a cosy stateroom, and it is perhaps useless to state that both of us +slept soundly.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning I was aroused by a cry on deck, and the next moment +there was a sharp rap on the door.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"We have sighted the jolly-boat!" was Captain Flagg's reply. "You and +Jones keep out of sight and there will be fun ahead."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE CAPTURE ON THE OCEAN.</h3> + + +<p>It did not take me long to dress after Captain Flagg made the +announcement that the jolly-boat had been sighted. I was eager to find +out how the occupants had fared, and what Mr. Henshaw, the government +officer, would do with them.</p> + +<p>In a few moments Phil Jones and I had on our clothing, and both of us +stepped out into the cabin, where we found Mr. Ranson awaiting us.</p> + +<p>"Where is the boat?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Not over a quarter of a mile away," he replied. "Mr. Henshaw says you +two and myself are to keep out of the way, and he will give Captain +Hannock, Lowell, and the rest a complete surprise."</p> + +<p>"All right. I suppose if the captain saw us aboard he wouldn't feel much +like coming on deck."</p> + +<p>"You are right. But he would have to, nevertheless. Mr. Henshaw will +place him under arrest immediately."</p> + +<p>"I would like to see what takes place," I rejoined.</p> + +<p>"So would I," put in Phil. "Captain Hannock is no friend of mine."</p> + +<p>"Captain Flagg has assigned us three a place where we may see all that +happens," returned the lawyer. "Come with me."</p> + +<p>We followed him on deck. Close to the wheel was a small covered place +used for storing odds and ends of various kinds. It contained a window +so that one might see, and the door was covered with a wire netting, +through which we might hear all that occurred.</p> + +<p>It was this place that we entered, closing the door tightly behind us. +No sooner were we inside than I heard the voice from the jolly-boat sing +out:</p> + +<p>"Yacht ahoy!"</p> + +<p>"Hello, there! Who are you?" was the answer returned.</p> + +<p>"Survivors of the schooner Spitfire," said a voice which I recognized as +that belonging to Lowell. "Will you take us aboard?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Lay to under our bow."</p> + +<p>The yacht stopped moving, and a moment later the jolly-boat came +alongside, and Captain Hannock, Lowell, Crocker, and the sailors stepped +aboard.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked Captain Flagg of Captain Hannock; and I noticed +that Mr. Henshaw had laid aside his navy-blue suit and badge, and was +standing by apparently as an ordinary passenger.</p> + +<p>Captain Hannock told him, and also introduced the rest.</p> + +<p>"My schooner, the Spitfire, bound for Liverpool, took fire and sank," he +continued. "We just had time to get out the jolly-boat and get a cask of +water and some few things to eat when she went down."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" replied Captain Flagg. "How did she catch fire?"</p> + +<p>"I can't imagine, excepting that it was set afire by a hand on board who +changed his mind about going and wanted me to let him land before we +started."</p> + +<p>This was certainly cool, to say the least. Of course Captain Hannock +meant me. Mr. Ranson pinched my arm.</p> + +<p>"Where is that man?" asked Mr. Henshaw.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I wanted him to get into the jolly-boat, but he was +sassy, and told me to mind my own business and he'd look out for +himself."</p> + +<p>"What was his name?"</p> + +<p>"Luke Foster. He wasn't very old."</p> + +<p>"Are all the rest here?"</p> + +<p>"All but the cabin boy."</p> + +<p>"Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Dead, I guess. My boatswain here says he saw him jump overboard out of +sheer fright as soon as he saw the fire."</p> + +<p>"My, what a whopper!" exclaimed Phil under his breath.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess he's gone to Davy Jones's locker," put in Lowell. "He was +a very nervous lad."</p> + +<p>Captain Flagg continued to ask questions, and Captain Hannock and the +others related their experience since the jolly-boat had left the +Spitfire. He said they had a compass on board, but during the storm it +had been washed overboard, and they were then compelled to steer by the +sun and stars. Then the supply of eatables had fallen short and the +sailors had quarreled among themselves on account of it, though he would +make no complaint against the poor fellows.</p> + +<p>"You don't look starved, Captain Hannock," said Captain Flagg coldly.</p> + +<p>"I never show it in my face," was the smooth reply. "But all the same, I +am mighty hungry."</p> + +<p>"You shall have breakfast very soon." And then as Mr. Henshaw gave him a +peculiar look, the captain continued:</p> + +<p>"Won't you step into the cabin?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks: I will. Where are you bound?"</p> + +<p>"For Boston."</p> + +<p>"That will just suit me. I can't pay for the passage though. I haven't +any money."</p> + +<p>"Was your vessel insured?"</p> + +<p>"Only about half value."</p> + +<p>The two captains and Mr. Henshaw disappeared into the cabin. We waited +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"I guess he's done for," said Phil.</p> + +<p>"Yes; Mr. Henshaw intends to arrest them one at a time, so there will be +no fuss," replied the lawyer.</p> + +<p>About five minutes after there was a call for Lowell, and a minute after +one for Crocker.</p> + +<p>"That settles it," said Phil with a grin.</p> + +<p>"Were none of the others in it?" asked Mr. Ranson of me.</p> + +<p>"I hardly think so."</p> + +<p>Just then one of the yacht hands approached us.</p> + +<p>"The captain would like to see you in the cabin," he said.</p> + +<p>"All of us?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>So we went down into the cabin, Mr. Ranson first, Phil following, and +myself last.</p> + +<p>The three prisoners were standing in a row, all heavily handcuffed.</p> + +<p>"I demand to know the meaning of this?" Captain Hannock was saying in a +voice of pretended indignation.</p> + +<p>"It means that you are a prisoner," replied Mr. Henshaw.</p> + +<p>"I can see that plainly enough," sneered the captain of the late +schooner. "But why?"</p> + +<p>"For burning the Spitfire, with a view of obtaining the high insurance +upon her."</p> + +<p>"Burning the Spitfire! Who ever heard of such a thing!"</p> + +<p>And Captain Hannock started back in assumed astonishment.</p> + +<p>"We have heard of it; and also of the bogus cargo you carried."</p> + +<p>"It's a falsehood!" cried Lowell. "We know nothing of the burning of the +schooner. I'm almost certain that boy set her on fire."</p> + +<p>"What boy?"</p> + +<p>"Luke Foster."</p> + +<p>"Did you hire him to do it?"</p> + +<p>"Hire him? Do you think I am a fool!" shouted Captain Hannock.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I do. The reason I asked was because I know you started out +with the intention of setting fire to the schooner, or destroying her in +some way," returned Mr. Henshaw.</p> + +<p>"It's false," began Captain Hannock. "The Spitfire was——"</p> + +<p>At that instant he stopped short. He had caught sight of us, and his +face turned a sickly green. No doubt he felt that for once he had been +thoroughly sold.</p> + +<p>Lowell and Crocker also noted our entrance. The sailor fell back in a +fright. The boatswain turned upon me fiercely.</p> + +<p>"You whippersnapper!" he exclaimed. "Where did you come from?"</p> + +<p>I offered him no reply, and he went on:</p> + +<p>"This is the chap who set the Spitfire on fire."</p> + +<p>"We know all about it," said Mr. Henshaw quietly. "For the present you +three may consider yourselves under arrest."</p> + +<p>"It's an outrage," cried Captain Hannock; but evidently his heart was +not in the words.</p> + +<p>"I'll risk it."</p> + +<p>"You'll be sorry for it," put in Lowell, who was white with rage.</p> + +<p>Mr. Henshaw paid no attention to him.</p> + +<p>"Where shall we place them?" he asked of Captain Flagg.</p> + +<p>"There is no place but an empty coal locker or two."</p> + +<p>"That is good enough."</p> + +<p>"Put me into a coal locker!" foamed the boatswain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my man. And let me add that I think a coal locker plenty good +enough for a man who tries to burn a boy up."</p> + +<p>"I won't go!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you will."</p> + +<p>"I won't!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Henshaw suddenly caught him by the arm. I could see that the clasp +was as that of steel.</p> + +<p>"See here, I want no more nonsense," he said sternly. "You will do just +as I say. Come along."</p> + +<p>He marched Lowell off. The rest of us stood guard over Captain Hannock +and Crocker.</p> + +<p>"You will catch it for this!" said Captain Hannock to Phil.</p> + +<p>"Maybe I will," returned the cabin boy. "After this I'm going to look +out for myself."</p> + +<p>"I'll skin you when I get a chance!"</p> + +<p>"But you sha'n't get the chance," I put in; "that is, not if I can help +it."</p> + +<p>"You! why, do you know who you are?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You are Felix Stillwell's nephew."</p> + +<p>"And what of that?" I asked, wishing to draw him on.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing, only you'll be sorry for what you've done."</p> + +<p>"As Mr. Henshaw says, I'll risk it," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You'll risk it?" he repeated, staring at me strangely.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll risk it."</p> + +<p>"You talk like a fool, Foster."</p> + +<p>"Thank you."</p> + +<p>"I can place your uncle in a very bad hole."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, I can, and that's enough."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll have to go and do it, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Don't you care?" he asked, considerably astonished at my apparent +indifference.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I care," I replied, honestly. "But if my uncle has done wrong I +suppose he'll have to suffer for it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you don't think much of your uncle," he said, suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"I do and I don't. He has not treated me right at times."</p> + +<p>"Oh!"</p> + +<p>"Of course I hate to see him in company, in any transaction, with you," +I added, pointedly.</p> + +<p>"Don't crow, Foster," he fumed. "The end hasn't been reached yet."</p> + +<p>"Not quite; but we'll be close to it when you are landed in the Boston +jail."</p> + +<p>This remark made Captain Hannock more angry than ever, and he began to +use language that I would not care to remember, much less repeat.</p> + +<p>"We'll see," he said at length. "I am not the only one to suffer, when +this goes into court. Felix Stillwell will catch it, too!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I reckon I can put in a word or two against this boy of his," +put in Crocker, who had been listening to what was going on.</p> + +<p>"You may say what you please," I returned, calmly.</p> + +<p>"Say, Captain, didn't that uncle of his send him along to set the +Spitfire on fire?" went on the sailor, suggestively.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course he did!" burst out Captain Hannock, caught by the idea. +"How else would he happen to be on board?"</p> + +<p>I must confess I was rather taken back by this cool assertion.</p> + +<p>I was about to reply, when Mr. Ranson caught me by the arm and shook his +head.</p> + +<p>"Don't waste time talking to him," said the lawyer. "He will do and say +what he can to get free, but it will not avail him—he will only twist +himself up."</p> + +<p>"Will I?" sneered Captain Hannock.</p> + +<p>"You will. You had better remain quiet and think over what you'll have +to say when you come up for a hearing in court."</p> + +<p>In a moment more Mr. Henshaw reappeared, with the information that since +Lowell had objected so strongly to the coal locker they had put him in +the oil closet (the rankest place on board), and now there were two +lockers for the two remaining prisoners.</p> + +<p>Despite their protestations, Captain Hannock and Crocker were quickly +transferred to their improvised cells. They did not wish to be +separated, but Mr. Henshaw would have it no other way.</p> + +<p>And then we steamed for Boston harbor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>ON LAND ONCE MORE.</h3> + + +<p>The Disdain was a fine yacht, and the morning was all that could be +desired. After the prisoners had been disposed of we all went on deck +and had a talk over the affair.</p> + +<p>I learned that the Disdain had been chartered by Mr. Ranson. He had +found Captain Flagg without anything to do, a party that was to have +gone out for a week's cruise having disappointed him at the last moment. +It had not taken long to get the yacht in trim for the trip, and in the +mean time the lawyer had hunted up Mr. Henshaw and related the +particulars of the case.</p> + +<p>The government officer had taken the matter in charge without +hesitation. I did not know his exact authority, but Mr. Ranson assured +me that it was amply sufficient for the occasion, and on this I rested +content.</p> + +<p>"What will you do when we arrive in Boston?" the lawyer asked me after a +while.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir. I suppose I will be wanted at the examination."</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"The trouble is I haven't any money," I went on, thinking it would be +best that my friend should know the exact condition of affairs. "I had +four dollars and a half, but Captain Hannock or Lowell took it from me."</p> + +<p>"Don't let that worry you," he replied with a smile. "Saving my life was +worth considerable to me, and I do not intend to forget it."</p> + +<p>"If you will lend me ten or fifteen dollars——" I began.</p> + +<p>"You shall have a hundred if you wish."</p> + +<p>"I don't want so much. I intend to pay you back."</p> + +<p>"You need not, I——"</p> + +<p>"I want to, though."</p> + +<p>"You can suit yourself. But let me say that I am your friend, and I +intend to help you all I can, not only here, but when you reach New +York. Your uncle will probably have you arrested as soon as you arrive, +unless he has his hands too full of his own affairs, which I am inclined +to believe will be so."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could get at the bottom of that robbery," I went on earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Depend upon it, it will all come out in the end. I have spoken to +Henshaw about it, and he says he will give the full particulars to a +fellow officer in New York who will willingly work it up."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind," was all I could say.</p> + +<p>"While you are in Boston you must be my guest," went on Mr. Ranson. "I +have a legal connection there as well as in New York, and have rooms at +the Ridgerow House."</p> + +<p>This conversation relieved me of not a little anxiety. I thanked Mr. +Ranson again.</p> + +<p>"And now about your companion," he went on. "What do you know concerning +him?"</p> + +<p>I gave him all the knowledge I possessed. Then Mr. Ranson called Phil +aside and had a long talk with him.</p> + +<p>"And so you are sick of the sea?" said the lawyer at length.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; tired of the sight of it," exclaimed Phil. "I'd rather do +anything on land than ship as a cabin boy again."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll see what I can do towards getting you a place in some office +or store, and until then I'll find you a boarding-house and pay your +board."</p> + +<p>"But Captain Hannock is my guardian."</p> + +<p>"He won't be after he is convicted. Have you any relatives?"</p> + +<p>"Only an old aunt down at Lynn."</p> + +<p>"Do you like her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; very much. But Captain Hannock would not let me visit her."</p> + +<p>"Then she may perhaps become your guardian, and let you live in Boston, +or wherever you find a place. I will fix it up for you if you wish."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you."</p> + +<p>And so it was arranged.</p> + +<p>"Tell you what," said the cabin boy, when we were alone, "Mr. Ranson's a +brick!"</p> + +<p>"You're right, Phil," I replied, "and a gold one."</p> + +<p>About noon Boston appeared, and shortly after we steamed up the bay. I +had never visited the "Hub" before, and the sight was to me a novel and +interesting one.</p> + +<p>"We will anchor out in the bay, and go ashore in the small boat," said +Captain Flagg. "Mr. Henshaw wishes to transact some business before the +prisoners are transferred."</p> + +<p>"Can we go ashore?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"You will have to ask Mr. Henshaw."</p> + +<p>"I think you can," said Mr. Ranson. "You do not intend to run away, I +believe."</p> + +<p>"Not much," I laughed. "My running away days are over. This has turned +out very well, but I don't want to try any more."</p> + +<p>Presently the government officer came up.</p> + +<p>"Of course you can go ashore, and do as you please. Only be on hand at +the examination, for you both will be needed as witnesses."</p> + +<p>It was not long before the small boat was launched, and quite a party +entered. We soon reached the wharf, and in a body proceeded to one of +the court buildings, where Mr. Henshaw left us sitting in one of the +lower rooms.</p> + +<p>He was gone full half an hour.</p> + +<p>"Come this way, please," he said on his return, and led the way to an +apartment on the second floor.</p> + +<p>"Here are the persons, Judge," he said, presenting us to an elderly +gentleman sitting in a big chair.</p> + +<p>"I know Mr. Ranson very well," was the judge's reply. "Sit down, I wish +to ask you a number of questions."</p> + +<p>So we all sat down. I was the first witness, and all I had to say was +carefully noted. Then Phil Jones and Mr. Ranson followed; and after an +hour or more, the judge said he was satisfied.</p> + +<p>"I wish all of you to appear here to-morrow morning at ten o'clock," he +said, as he dismissed us. "I will not bind any of you over, but will +trust to your honor to do as I wish."</p> + +<p>This was satisfactory to all hands, and we left. Out on the street Mr. +Ranson told Phil to come with him and he would see what he could do for +him.</p> + +<p>"You can come too, Foster, if you wish," he added.</p> + +<p>"I think I would prefer to take a walk around the city," I replied. "It +is all new and strange to me."</p> + +<p>"Do just as you think best."</p> + +<p>Before we separated the lawyer handed me two five-dollar bills. He would +have given me a larger amount, but I did not wish it.</p> + +<p>"Don't get lost," was his final remark.</p> + +<p>"I'll try not to," I replied.</p> + +<p>I did not know one street from another, but walked up and down. To me +all seemed quite different from New York, and the time went by swiftly. +About the middle of the afternoon I took the cars out to Bunker Hill +monument and surrounding places of interest.</p> + +<p>I returned at supper time. Mr. Ranson had given me directions for +reaching the Ridgerow House, and I found no difficulty in doing so.</p> + +<p>I met him in the hall.</p> + +<p>"Ah, here you are," he exclaimed. "Come up to the room and get into +shape for supper."</p> + +<p>He led the way to an elegant room on the second floor.</p> + +<p>I was surprised at the sumptuousness of the apartment, and did not +hesitate to say so.</p> + +<p>"It is nice," he returned. "Certainly far better than my quarters were +at Port Jefferson."</p> + +<p>"By the way, won't the people be alarmed for your safety?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I have already telegraphed to them."</p> + +<p>I washed up and combed my hair. My clothes were none of the best, but +they were the best I had, and Mr. Ranson told me I could get another +suit the first thing in the morning.</p> + +<p>Supper at the hotel was an elegant affair, and both of us did full +justice to it.</p> + +<p>During the meal I asked what he had done with Phil.</p> + +<p>"I have secured him a position in an office down on the wharves," +replied the lawyer. "The work just suits him, and the pay, six dollars a +week, is, I think, very good to start on. He has written to his aunt +telling her to come down upon my invitation. As soon as she arrives I +will fix the matter up so that there will be no trouble."</p> + +<p>"I think Captain Hannock has some money belonging to him."</p> + +<p>"So Philip tells me. I shall bring him to a strict accounting, and make +him pay over every penny if he has it."</p> + +<p>"I am anxious to get back to New York," I said. "Now I have decided on +what to do I am impatient to begin."</p> + +<p>"I guess you will be able to start by to-morrow noon. I will try to +arrange it with Judge Boyden, so there will be no trouble. But I am +sorry I shall not be able to go with you."</p> + +<p>"No?" I repeated, in considerable dismay, for I had counted on the +lawyer accompanying me.</p> + +<p>"Business will keep me in Boston for a week or more. But I have already +written to Mr. Ira Mason to take your case in charge."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mason!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes. You said you knew him, and he is as good a lawyer as I could get. +What do you think of it?"</p> + +<p>"I like it very much," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I thought you would. I told Mr. Mason to spare no expense to clear you +and also to have the subject of your uncle's guardianship investigated. +I know he will do what I asked."</p> + +<p>"I am sure he will."</p> + +<p>"If you wish to follow my advice write at once to this Mr. Banker, whom +this Harvey Nottington of London says was to be your guardian. With what +you now know perhaps he may be able to throw some light on the +subject."</p> + +<p>"I will do so at once," I replied.</p> + +<p>As soon as the meal was finished I sat down in the reading-room, and +wrote a long letter to Mr. Banker, telling him all that happened, and +what a villain I had found Mr. Stillwell to be. I also said that I +expected to be in New York the following evening and wished very much he +would meet me. I likewise quoted the letter from London, and asked why +my father's wish had not been carried out.</p> + +<p>"That will do first-rate," said Mr. Ranson, when I showed it to him.</p> + +<p>"I think I will take a walk out and post it," I said, for to write the +letters had taken over an hour and a half, and I felt somewhat cramped +from the work.</p> + +<p>"All right. You will find me in the room when you return. Remember it is +number 67."</p> + +<p>I walked out upon the busy street. It was brightly lighted, and in the +evening looked very similar to Fourteenth Street in New York.</p> + +<p>I found a mail-box on the corner, and dropped my letter in it.</p> + +<p>I was just turning away from the box when I felt a hand on my arm and a +cheery voice called out:</p> + +<p>"Well, dash my toplights, if it ain't Luke Foster! How under the polar +star did you git here, boy?"</p> + +<p>I turned swiftly and found that the man who had addressed me so +cheerily was none other than Tony Dibble.</p> + +<p>"Why, Dibble!" I returned, warmly, and clasped his hand.</p> + +<p>"I thought you was on your way to Liverpool."</p> + +<p>"I just got in Boston," I returned.</p> + +<p>"And where's the Spitfire?"</p> + +<p>"At the bottom of the Atlantic, Dibble."</p> + +<p>"No!" He stared at me for a moment. "Then the old man——" he began in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Hush! not so loud!" I interrupted. "Somebody may overhear you."</p> + +<p>"That's so." He lowered his voice still more. "She was really done for, +then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, burned up."</p> + +<p>"Too bad! She was an old tub, nothin' better. But I kinder loved her, +havin' sailed in her so long. The villains! They ought to be strung up +to the yard-arm, every one of 'em!"</p> + +<p>"How did you get here?" I asked, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Just came up from New Bedford. That there lawyer, Ranson, said I had +better come up here and wait till I heard from him. He was going to git +a boat and go after the Spitfire."</p> + +<p>"He did get a boat, and rescued Phil Jones and I from a raft, after the +Spitfire was burned."</p> + +<p>"Good for him! And where is the captain now?"</p> + +<p>"Locked up."</p> + +<p>"What!" roared Tony Dibble, in amazement. "Do you mean to tell me they +caught him red-handed?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly, but they caught him, and the others, too."</p> + +<p>"Good!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ranson is now stopping at the Ridgerow House, and I am stopping +with him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he told me the name of the hotel. I was on the way down there now +to see if he had got back."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you can help him as a witness against Captain Hannock," I went +on.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I can. I ain't a lovin' the captain much, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"I suppose not."</p> + +<p>"No, he was a corker to sail under. It was only the old Spitfire that +took my eye. But she's gone now——" Tony Dibble wiped the moisture from +his eyes. "Too bad! Ought to string 'em up, say I!"</p> + +<p>"The law will deal with them, never fear."</p> + +<p>Dibble was curious to know the full particulars of the going down of the +Spitfire, and walking to a somewhat retired part of the street, I gave +them to him. He shook his head over and over again.</p> + +<p>"And all my duds a-goin' with her," he said "Who's goin' to pay for +them?"</p> + +<p>"Captain Hannock ought to."</p> + +<p>"So he had! Is that there lawyer at the hotel now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to see him at once. Coming along?"</p> + +<p>"Not just now. I will be back later."</p> + +<p>"Just so, Luke; I hope you git justice for bein' left aboard."</p> + +<p>And with a shake of his weather-beaten face, Tony Dibble started off for +the Ridgerow House.</p> + +<p>Then I continued my stroll quite a distance. Some of the shop windows +that were still lighted interested me, and before I knew it I had gone a +mile, if not more. At length I came to a railroad station. A number of +trains had just come in, and a crowd of people were streaming from the +various entrances and I stopped to watch them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly some one stopped in blank amazement before me.</p> + +<p>"So here's where you have been keeping yourself, young man!" were the +first words I heard.</p> + +<p>Somewhat startled, I looked full at the speaker.</p> + +<p>It was my uncle Felix!</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stillwell!" I ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"Exactly; and you shall not escape me this time!"</p> + +<p>And with a very stern face my uncle caught me by the collar.</p> + +<p>"Let go of me!" I cried.</p> + +<p>"Not much! And don't you dare to try to break away, for if you do I will +hand you over to the first policeman that appears!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>MR. FELIX STILLWELL'S MOVE.</h3> + + +<p>I was thoroughly astounded at being confronted by my uncle Felix in +Boston. I was under the impression that he was at his place in New York +City, and for a moment I did not know what to do.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, young man, don't you dare to break away, or the first +policeman shall have you," he repeated, as he tightened his grasp.</p> + +<p>"Let go of my collar!" was all I replied.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will."</p> + +<p>And with a twist I pulled myself loose.</p> + +<p>"Police!" he called loudly.</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet," said I, "I'm not going to run away."</p> + +<p>"Oh-ho! So you've had enough of it," he exclaimed in derision.</p> + +<p>"Never mind what I've had. I am not going to run away, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me you are getting mighty independent," he sneered.</p> + +<p>"I have a right to be."</p> + +<p>He looked at me sharply.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"That is my affair."</p> + +<p>"Why, you young rascal, I——"</p> + +<p>"Hold up, Mr. Stillwell, I'm no rascal."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are! What have you done with that six thousand dollars you +took from the safe?"</p> + +<p>"I never took six thousand dollars from the safe, and you know it," I +returned, with spirit.</p> + +<p>As I spoke I noticed my uncle closely, and saw that he turned slightly +pale.</p> + +<p>"You took that money, Luke. What's the use of denying it longer?"</p> + +<p>"You cannot prove it, Mr. Stillwell. I might as well say you took it."</p> + +<p>"Why—why—you—you——" he stammered.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure the safe contained six thousand dollars?" I went on.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am! Didn't Mr. Grinder give me the money only the afternoon +before?"</p> + +<p>"And you are sure you placed it in the safe?"</p> + +<p>"See here, boy; one would suppose I was the one who had committed the +crime."</p> + +<p>"And why not you as much as me?" I asked, as coolly as I could.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that I didn't place the money in the safe?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I do mean."</p> + +<p>"You young rascal——"</p> + +<p>"Hold up, Uncle Felix, I——"</p> + +<p>"I'm not your uncle any more! I disown you."</p> + +<p>"I am willing to be disowned. You have not treated me rightly for years; +in fact, ever since my father and mother died."</p> + +<p>"I've done more for you than you deserved."</p> + +<p>"You let me work like a slave for next to nothing. Now, if you think you +are going to send me to prison on such a charge as this you are entirely +mistaken."</p> + +<p>"You come along with me, and you'll soon see."</p> + +<p>"I am willing to come along; but you will get the worst of it, mark my +words!"</p> + +<p>After this we walked along in silence for a few feet. Now that he had me +he was evidently at a loss what to do next.</p> + +<p>"What brought you to Boston?" I asked, just to see what he would say.</p> + +<p>"None of your business!"</p> + +<p>"Oh; all right. I wondered how you knew I was here."</p> + +<p>"You can keep on wondering."</p> + +<p>I supposed I could. My words had evidently completely upset Mr. +Stillwell.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready to go to New York with me?" he asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>I thought a moment. What of the examination in the morning?</p> + +<p>"I will if you will let me go to the hotel first," was my reply.</p> + +<p>"Been putting up at a hotel, have you? Nice way to live on other +people's money!"</p> + +<p>"Will you let me go?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but not for long."</p> + +<p>"Are you going back to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>This was somewhat of a surprise to me. I had thought that he intended to +wait until the arrival of Captain Hannock with the news of the loss of +the Spitfire.</p> + +<p>But his next words solved the problem.</p> + +<p>"I shall not be satisfied until I have put you under proper care. You +are a dangerous boy to have around."</p> + +<p>Now it was perfectly clear. He intended to take me to New York, have me +locked up, and then return by the next train to Boston. But for once Mr. +Stillwell had missed his calculations.</p> + +<p>"What hotel are you stopping at?"</p> + +<p>"Ridgerow House."</p> + +<p>"Humph! mighty fine place for you, it strikes me!"</p> + +<p>"It is fine."</p> + +<p>Seeing that he could make nothing out of me, he relapsed into silence.</p> + +<p>It was not long before we reached the Ridgerow House.</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Ranson in?" I asked of the clerk.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Will you please send word that I would like to see him in the parlor at +once?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stillwell started on hearing the name.</p> + +<p>"Whom did you ask for?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>I told him.</p> + +<p>"Oscar Ranson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"What do you want of him?"</p> + +<p>"That is my affair."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stillwell was much disturbed. He walked up and down impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Thought you said you were stopping at this hotel," he demanded.</p> + +<p>"So I did."</p> + +<p>"This doesn't look like it."</p> + +<p>"I occupy a room with Mr. Ranson."</p> + +<p>"Where did you meet him?"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, but that is my business."</p> + +<p>At this reply my uncle was very angry. He wanted to let loose a flood of +bad temper, but did not dare to do so in that public place.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>ON THE CARS.</h3> + + +<p>In a few moments Mr. Ranson came down, followed by Tony Dibble. On +catching sight of Mr. Stillwell, the lawyer was greatly surprised.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stillwell!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Ranson," replied my uncle gruffly.</p> + +<p>"Pretty well, but I didn't expect——"</p> + +<p>"Neither did I."</p> + +<p>"I came to see you before going to New York," I broke in hastily. "I met +Mr. Stillwell at the depot, and he insists on my accompanying him back +at once."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!"</p> + +<p>"And I wish to speak to you in private before I go," I added, in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>We walked to one side. Mr. Stillwell was itching to hear what was said, +but I gave him no opportunity of doing so.</p> + +<p>In a few hurried words I told the lawyer what had happened, and asked +his advice.</p> + +<p>"Go to New York with him, and keep him there if possible," said Mr. +Ranson. "Mr. Henshaw or his agent will be down soon and arrest him. I +will fix matters with the judge."</p> + +<p>"Shall I say anything to him?"</p> + +<p>"No, let Mr. Mason do it for you."</p> + +<p>A little more conversation passed between us, and then I announced my +readiness to start.</p> + +<p>"And good luck go with you," said Mr. Ranson in a voice loud enough for +Mr. Stillwell to hear, and it made his nose go up in anger.</p> + +<p>"Hope you're done," he snarled.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, quite finished."</p> + +<p>"Then come along."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stillwell marched me out of the hotel and down the street without +further words.</p> + +<p>"Going right to New York?"</p> + +<p>"None of your business."</p> + +<p>"But it is my business," and I stood still.</p> + +<p>"Can't you see we are?" he retorted.</p> + +<p>After this hardly a word passed between us. When he arrived at the depot +he said sourly:</p> + +<p>"I suppose you haven't any ticket?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't."</p> + +<p>"Have you any money to buy it with?"</p> + +<p>"If you want me to go to New York you will have to buy me a ticket," was +my reply.</p> + +<p>We marched up to the ticket-office, and with very bad grace he purchased +me a single ticket.</p> + +<p>"When does the train start?" he inquired of the agent.</p> + +<p>"In ten minutes."</p> + +<p>"That suits. Come on;" the latter to me.</p> + +<p>We boarded the train. Mr. Stillwell found a vacant seat in the middle of +the car, and insisted on my taking the inside, next the window. Then he +placed himself between me and the aisle.</p> + +<p>"Now I want none of your fooling," he said, as he settled back.</p> + +<p>I made no reply, and we rode on in perfect silence.</p> + +<p>I sat awake for a long time. I could not speculate upon what the future +held in store for me. I well knew that Mr. Stillwell was a deep one, and +I determined to trust him no further than was absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>"When will we reach New York?" I asked.</p> + +<p>There was no reply, and turning, I saw that his eyes were closed.</p> + +<p>I was pretty sure he was shamming, and to prove it, made a slight +movement as if to rise.</p> + +<p>Instantly his eyes were wide open.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't. Sit down there," he cried.</p> + +<p>I repeated my question.</p> + +<p>"Not before to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>Then he closed his eyes again, and I did not further disturb him.</p> + +<p>Outside of the car all was dark, and as I could not see any of the +scenery through which we were passing, the ride soon grew monotonous.</p> + +<p>Finally my head began to fall forward; and before I knew it I was fast +asleep.</p> + +<p>I slept for about an hour. Then I awoke with a start.</p> + +<p>Mr. Felix Stillwell's hand was in my coat pocket!</p> + +<p>I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I found Mr. +Stillwell's hand where it was. Was my uncle trying to rob me? I did not +open my eyes, but moved slightly to one side, uttering a deep sigh as I +did so. Instantly the hand was withdrawn, and when, a moment later, I +sat up, I saw that he was lying back as if in the soundest sleep.</p> + +<p>There was no more slumber for me that night, and in order to keep awake +I sat bolt upright. This evidently did not please my companion, for +presently he too sat up and looked at me sharply.</p> + +<p>"You might as well go to sleep," he said. "We have a long ride before +us. I thought I wouldn't go to the expense of tickets for the +sleeping-car."</p> + +<p>"I've had a nap," I replied.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't very long."</p> + +<p>"Long enough."</p> + +<p>"Humph!"</p> + +<p>My uncle sank back again, but I could see that he was put out. No doubt +he had counted upon searching my clothing and finding some clew to what +I had done and intended to do.</p> + +<p>It was all I could do to keep awake, but I managed to do so with the aid +of an early morning paper I bought on the train.</p> + +<p>The paper was one from New York that had just come from the metropolis +on the three o'clock paper train. I spread it open, and was rather +startled to behold the following heading to one of the columns:</p> + +<blockquote><p>SET ON FIRE!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Schooner Spitfire Given Over to the Flames.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Arrest of Captain Hannock for Trying to Defraud the Insurance +Companies.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Was the Cargo Bogus?</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>And then followed a description of the arrest by Mr. Henshaw, and a +harrowing account of two boys (Phil and myself), who had been left on +board to be burned, and of the reasons for believing that the cargo was +bogus, and that three New York merchants were supposed to be interested +in the venture.</p> + +<p>Of course the newspaper item was right in some particulars, but it was +terribly overdrawn, and I could not help hut smile as I read it.</p> + +<p>I wondered what Mr. Stillwell would say when he saw it. I determined to +keep the paper away from him, it being time enough for him to hear of +what had happened when he arrived in New York.</p> + +<p>By the time I had finished reading the train was approaching the upper +part of the city.</p> + +<p>"Let me see the paper," said Mr. Stillwell.</p> + +<p>As he spoke I had the paper rolled up and resting on the sill of the +window, which was open. Not wishing to refuse him directly, I gave the +sheet a slight shove with my arm, and this sent it fluttering away.</p> + +<p>"It's gone," I replied. "It's dropped out of the window."</p> + +<p>"You threw it out on purpose," he growled. "Luke, you're getting more +uncivil every day."</p> + +<p>"We have different opinions about that," I returned, with an air of +utter indifference.</p> + +<p>I knew he was too close to town to buy a paper then. There would be one +at the office and he would wait until he could get that.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>BACK IN NEW YORK.</h3> + + +<p>We soon reached the depot, and, leaving it, took an Elevated train down +town.</p> + +<p>"Now, Luke, for the last and only time, are you going to give up that +money?"</p> + +<p>My uncle asked me that question as we alighted from the train.</p> + +<p>"There is no necessity for your asking that question, Mr. Stillwell," I +replied. "I have said all I care to on that subject."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what I am going to do with you?"</p> + +<p>"Have me locked up, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"More than that; I am going to have you sent to the State prison for a +number of years. I hate to do it, but it's the only way to manage you."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it won't be an easy matter to send me to prison."</p> + +<p>"I have proof enough, never fear."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so; and let me say, if you disgrace me by an arrest, I +will make it as hot for you as I can."</p> + +<p>"You are an angel, I must say."</p> + +<p>"I don't pretend to be an angel. I'm nothing but an everyday boy, and +I've got a temper just as well as any one. I've always tried to do my +duty, both to you and to others, and I can't see why you should suspect +me any more than Gus or one of your partners, or—or yourself."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I mean just what I say. I am not guilty, and I am half inclined to +believe you know it."</p> + +<p>"You villain!"</p> + +<p>"If you have me arrested, I'll make you prove that you put the money in +the safe and that Gus didn't take it out."</p> + +<p>"You scamp! Do you think that any one will doubt my word?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they will."</p> + +<p>"I have been a well-known citizen here for twelve years; I think not."</p> + +<p>"Folks don't all know you as I do. When they hear of some of the things +you have done they will think differently."</p> + +<p>"What things?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind; you'll know soon enough."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stillwell was evidently much disturbed. He pursed up his lips +savagely.</p> + +<p>"You speak as if I had committed some great crime," he cried.</p> + +<p>"Maybe you have."</p> + +<p>He grew pale for an instant; but quickly recovered himself.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to scare me, Luke; it won't work."</p> + +<p>"I am not trying to scare you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are."</p> + +<p>"I am only trying to prepare you for what may come."</p> + +<p>"I want no help from you."</p> + +<p>"Very well; but remember, you will be sorry for what you do."</p> + +<p>I said no more, and my uncle did not continue the conversation.</p> + +<p>It was not long before we reached Nassau Street. As we passed along I +could not help but think of the day I had so unceremoniously left Mr. +Banker and my uncle. How much had occurred since that time! What an +experience I had had, and how much I had learned!</p> + +<p>I speculated upon the time it would take for Mr. Banker to receive my +letter and reach New York, and if Mr. Mason had heard from Mr. Ranson +and would be ready for my return.</p> + +<p>I hoped from the bottom of my heart all would yet be right. I hated the +thought of going to jail, even if only for a few hours. I knew the stain +would cling.</p> + +<p>"What did Mr. Banker do after I left?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"None of your business," growled Mr. Stillwell.</p> + +<p>"He did not think I was guilty," I went on.</p> + +<p>"I don't care what he thought."</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Mason; did he think I was guilty?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mason is a fool—always was."</p> + +<p>From this I inferred that my lawyer friend had thought as Mr. Banker +did—that I was innocent. This gave me not a little satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"How did you come to meet Ranson?" he asked after a pause.</p> + +<p>"I might say that it was none of your business——" I began.</p> + +<p>"You scamp!"</p> + +<p>"But I will not. I saved Mr. Ranson's life."</p> + +<p>"Saved his life! I want none of your jokes, please!"</p> + +<p>"I am not joking. He says I saved his life, and I am willing to take his +word for it."</p> + +<p>"How was it?"</p> + +<p>"I was on board a boat, and his boat was swamped, so I pulled him on +board."</p> + +<p>"And so you became friends?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Humph! you might have made a better choice!"</p> + +<p>"I think Mr. Ranson a very nice man. He certainly treated me extremely +well."</p> + +<p>"He's of small account."</p> + +<p>"He said you and he were not on good terms."</p> + +<p>"What did he do for you for saving him?"</p> + +<p>"He offered to do a great deal."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. He's mighty free as far as words go."</p> + +<p>It made Mr. Stillwell feel sore to think I had so many friends. He +knitted his eyebrows and said no more until we reached the office.</p> + +<p>When we arrived we found no one but my cousin Gus in charge. Mr. Grinder +was still away, and Mr. Canning had not yet arrived.</p> + +<p>"Hello! so you're back!" exclaimed Gus. "Thought you'd get sick of +running away."</p> + +<p>I offered no reply, and he continued:</p> + +<p>"What did you mean by insinuating that I took the money from the safe?"</p> + +<p>"If you didn't, what were you doing in the office that morning when you +said you were going to Coney Island?"</p> + +<p>"Who says I was at the office?"</p> + +<p>"I do; and I can prove it."</p> + +<p>Gus reddened.</p> + +<p>"Well, I will own up that I was here, but I didn't go near the safe."</p> + +<p>"So you say. But if you didn't, what were you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Don't answer him, Augustus," put in my uncle sternly. "What right have +you to cross-question my son?" he demanded, turning to me.</p> + +<p>"If he doesn't answer I may have him arrested," was my firm reply.</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"I mean every word I say."</p> + +<p>"Have me arrested!" cried Gus, turning pale.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I—I came to put the office in disorder so that you would catch it," he +faltered. "I tore up some paper and spilt the ink, but I didn't go near +the safe."</p> + +<p>"It was a mighty small revenge," was my reply.</p> + +<p>"I—I—know it. But you stole the money," he continued triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"I did not; and you will have a job to prove it."</p> + +<p>"We'll do it, never fear. Won't we, pop?"</p> + +<p>"I think we will, Augustus. But I fear Luke is in a very unhappy frame +of mind. He doesn't seem to realize the enormity of his crime."</p> + +<p>"He will when he's behind the bars."</p> + +<p>"I trust so."</p> + +<p>"I will never realize what I am not guilty of. What are you going to do +with me next?"</p> + +<p>"Just sit down until I finish the morning mail and you will see. +Augustus, watch him so that he does not escape again."</p> + +<p>"Don't fear. I told you I would not run away; and I always keep my +word."</p> + +<p>I sat down on a chair, and Mr. Stillwell began to look over his letters. +I wondered what would happen next, but I was not quite prepared for what +did happen.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the door opened, and Mr. Canning rushed in. He held a morning +paper in his hand, and was highly excited.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" he demanded of my uncle.</p> + +<p>"What does what mean, Mr. Canning?" asked Mr. Stillwell, as sweetly as +he could.</p> + +<p>"This account of the burning of the Spitfire?"</p> + +<p>"Dear! dear! the Spitfire burned!" cried my uncle, wringing his hands in +assumed anguish. "And I had a cargo on board of her, and but partly +insured!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and this paper states that the vessel was set on fire by the +captain and his accomplices," went on Mr. Canning.</p> + +<p>With a bound my uncle was on his feet.</p> + +<p>"It can't be true," he cried, hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"The officers of the law claim that it is true. But that is not the +worst of it. They claim that the cargo was a bogus one, and that you are +guilty of fraud. Foster, here——"</p> + +<p>Mr. Canning did not continue. With a deep groan my uncle had sunk back +into his office chair like one dead!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED DEATH.</h3> + + +<p>I was alarmed when my uncle fell back in his chair as one dead. I knew +that his heart was affected, and that any sudden shock might prove +serious to him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Canning, starting forward.</p> + +<p>"The news has been too much for him," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You've killed my father!" cried Gus, white with fear. "He's troubled +with his heart, and what you have said has done him up."</p> + +<p>"I sincerely trust not," replied the junior partner. "Let us raise him +up, and some one go for a doctor."</p> + +<p>We made him as comfortable as possible and opened all the doors and +windows. Then while Gus hurried off for a physician, Mr. Canning applied +his ear to the unconscious man's breast.</p> + +<p>"His heart still beats," he exclaimed. "I trust he gets over it."</p> + +<p>We procured some water and bathed my uncle's face, and Mr. Canning +poured some wine that was in the desk down his throat.</p> + +<p>"Is this report true?" he asked as we were doing what we could for the +unfortunate man.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, it is."</p> + +<p>The junior partner shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I have suspected Mr. Stillwell for some time," he said slowly. "I was +not in the firm a week before I was sorry I had invested my money with +them."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I am guilty?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly, Foster; but Mr. Stillwell seemed so positive."</p> + +<p>"I don't think the money was ever put in the safe, sir," I went on.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think that?"</p> + +<p>"Because Mr. Stillwell was not acting rightly about my late father's +estate, and as I was beginning to suspect him he wished to get me out of +the way."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I see! I am afraid he has got himself in a bad fix."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so too, but it is not my fault, Mr. Canning."</p> + +<p>A moment later Gus returned with a doctor. The physician shook his head +when he beheld my uncle.</p> + +<p>"I have been called to attend him once before," he said. "He is not at +all strong, and this may prove worse than you imagine."</p> + +<p>"Will it be fatal?" I cried.</p> + +<p>"I trust not, but I cannot say for certain. The best thing is to get him +home where he can have perfect quiet."</p> + +<p>At these words Gus began to shed tears. I could not help but feel sorry +for him, and also for my aunt and my cousin Lillian when they should +hear the news.</p> + +<p>I went out and procured the easiest coach I could find, and inside of it +we placed Mr. Stillwell, with the physician beside him, and Gus on the +seat with the driver.</p> + +<p>"Are you coming along?" asked my cousin.</p> + +<p>"No; but I will be up later," I replied.</p> + +<p>We watched the coach out of sight up the busy street, and then Mr. +Canning and I returned to the office.</p> + +<p>"It is a bad state of affairs," said the junior partner. "I doubt, after +what the doctor has said, if your uncle ever puts foot in the office +again."</p> + +<p>"I hardly know what to do," I replied.</p> + +<p>And to tell the truth, my mind was in a whirl of excitement. The +unexpected turn of affairs bewildered me.</p> + +<p>While we were discussing matters there was a knock on the door, and Mr. +Mason came in.</p> + +<p>"What, Foster, back already! I knew you were coming, but did not expect +you so soon."</p> + +<p>"Did you receive Mr. Ranson's letter?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and came to have a talk with Mr. Stillwell. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>In a few words I told him what had happened. The lawyer was much +surprised.</p> + +<p>"This will change things a great deal, especially if your uncle does not +recover," he said. "I think we ought to go up to the house and see him."</p> + +<p>"But he is very ill——" I began.</p> + +<p>"All the more reason we should see him. He may have something to say +before his death, if this stroke is fatal."</p> + +<p>I could not help but shiver at the words. It seemed awful to me that my +uncle should die, at such a time, when he was least prepared!</p> + +<p>"I'll do whatever you think best, Mr. Mason," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Then come. We will go at once. Delays are always dangerous."</p> + +<p>In a moment more we were on the way. While seated in the Elevated car he +asked me to tell him my whole story, and I did so, just as I have +written it here.</p> + +<p>"Will you let me see that letter from London?" he asked.</p> + +<p>I did so. He read it carefully.</p> + +<p>"I believe this Nottington is right," he said. "I have found that he is +a gentleman in good standing, and that counts for much."</p> + +<p>"I wish Mr. Banker had been my guardian from the start," I replied.</p> + +<p>When we arrived at my uncle's home I found that he had been brought in +but ten minutes before. The entire household was in a great state of +alarm in consequence.</p> + +<p>We met my aunt in the lower hall. No sooner did she catch sight of me +than she swooped down upon me.</p> + +<p>"You are to blame for all this, Luke Foster," she cried in her shrill +voice.</p> + +<p>"I can't see how," I replied as calmly as I could.</p> + +<p>"You are. You upset him by robbing the safe and then running away."</p> + +<p>"I don't think the boy is guilty, madam," put in Mr. Mason. "We all make +mistakes, and——"</p> + +<p>"There is no mistake here. If my husband dies this boy will be the sole +cause."</p> + +<p>And without waiting for a reply Mrs. Stillwell swept by us and up the +stairs.</p> + +<p>I took Mr. Mason into the parlor, a room that I hardly knew, although I +had lived in the house about two years. Presently Gus came down the +stairs.</p> + +<p>"You here!" he exclaimed. "What brought you? Haven't you done harm +enough?"</p> + +<p>"I don't want to do harm. I thought I might just see your father, and +then go away."</p> + +<p>"Well, he just asked for you," was Gus's unexpected reply. "But ma said +you weren't to be let up."</p> + +<p>"If he asked I'm going," I said with a sudden determination.</p> + +<p>I ran up the stairs at once. At the head I met Mrs. Stillwell.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" she asked coldly.</p> + +<p>"To see Uncle Felix."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess you are not!"</p> + +<p>"Gus says he asked for me."</p> + +<p>"I don't care. You shall not see the poor man."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, madam, but I will," I replied, and brushed past her and on +to the door of my uncle's room.</p> + +<p>She caught me by the arm.</p> + +<p>"You just march downstairs!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Is that Luke?" came a feeble voice from within.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Felix," I hastened to reply.</p> + +<p>"Let him come in, dear; I must see him."</p> + +<p>With a very bad grace Mrs. Stillwell allowed me to enter. At first she +was about to follow, but her husband motioned her away, and she was +forced to withdraw.</p> + +<p>My uncle lay on the bed. His face was deadly white and awfully haggard. +He held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you've come, Luke," he said, with something that sounded like +a sigh. "The doctor tells me I cannot last long."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Felix!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, it is for the best. I have done wrong, and death is better +than public disgrace. Did you come alone?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; Mr. Mason is with me."</p> + +<p>"Mason!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I asked him to come with me. He is to be my lawyer if I am +arrested."</p> + +<p>"Do not fear; you will not be. I own up; that money was not stolen. I +was afraid you had brought with you the officers of the law. Do you know +anything of this—this Spitfire affair?"</p> + +<p>"I know all about it. I was on board the vessel when she burned."</p> + +<p>"You!"</p> + +<p>My uncle was greatly astonished, and he finally persuaded me to tell my +story. When I had concluded he asked me to call up Mr. Mason, and I did +so.</p> + +<p>The three of us were closeted for fully an hour. What took place will be +told hereafter.</p> + +<p>At the end of the interview my uncle was very weak. The doctor was +called in and he revived him, but it was not for long. He died at +sundown.</p> + +<p>His funeral, three days later, was a large one, made up, not only of +mourners, but also of those who came out of curiosity to see the remains +of the man who had lived such a double life.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>CONCLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>My uncle's deathbed revelation was a strange one. In brief, it was as +follows:</p> + +<p>At the time my father and mother were killed he was in a sore financial +strait, and needed money to keep himself from failing and losing every +dollar he possessed.</p> + +<p>He had applied to my father for relief, and my parent was about to grant +him considerable assistance when the fatal catastrophe occurred.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stillwell had immediately taken a steamer for England, and on +arriving there, took entire charge of my father's affairs, though not +without some difficulty with the English bankers, who held my father's +funds in trust.</p> + +<p>On examining my father's private papers, my uncle was not a little +chagrined to find that Mr. Banker was to be appointed my guardian, there +being a will to that effect, a will that Mr. Mason and I afterwards +found among Mr. Stillwell's papers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Banker was not on good terms with my uncle, so the latter knew that +if the former became my guardian the loan that my father had consented +to make would most likely never be carried out. In this predicament my +uncle had taken his first wrong step. He had hidden my father's will and +brought forth an old one in which he himself was named as guardian.</p> + +<p>This wrong step accomplished, the rest was easy enough. But my uncle's +original intention had been to treat me fairly, just as if Mr. Banker +had been my guardian.</p> + +<p>Yet in the end the temptation to use the money for his own benefit was +too strong for him, and he had ended by losing something like ten +thousand dollars out of an estate worth fifty.</p> + +<p>It was then that he had met Captain Hannock, who was an old school chum, +and been persuaded to go into the scheme that had ended so disastrously. +The remainder the reader already knows.</p> + +<p>By a paper drawn up by Mr. Mason, Uncle Felix placed the charge of his +affairs entirely in the lawyer's hands. Mr. Mason was to settle his +estate, pay all that was due to me over to Mr. Banker, my new guardian, +and then settle the remainder upon Gus and Lillian, taking out, of +course, my aunt's share as his widow.</p> + +<p>Although my uncle did not say so, I am pretty well satisfied that much +of his wrongdoing was attributable to his wife, who was a very proud and +extravagant woman. This, I think, is why he left her no more than he +did.</p> + +<p>The day before my uncle's funeral Mr. Banker came down to the city. He +shook me warmly by the hand and slyly asked me if I had enough of the +sea.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," I replied. "Life on shipboard is well enough to read +about, but the city is good enough for me."</p> + +<p>"And what do you propose to do now?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"You are my guardian. I suppose I'll have to do as you wish me to."</p> + +<p>"No, Luke; you are old enough to choose for yourself."</p> + +<p>"Then let me say that I would like to go to college and finish the +education my father intended I should have."</p> + +<p>"So be it," replied Mr. Banker.</p> + +<p>All this happened six years ago. During that time great changes have +taken place.</p> + +<p>Immediately after my uncle's death my aunt removed to her former home in +Boston, taking Gus and Lillian with her. They never write to me or come +to New York, and I am content to leave them go their own way.</p> + +<p>Captain Hannock and Lowell are both in prison, the former with ten years +to serve and the latter five. Crocker was discharged about a month ago. +I have never seen any of them since the day they were sentenced in the +Boston court-room, and I trust I never shall.</p> + +<p>Mr. Oscar Ranson still spends his time between the "Hub" and the +metropolis, and in him I have a true friend. Phil Jones has now a +responsible position on the wharfs, at a good salary, and as the work +just suits him, he will no doubt rise rapidly. His old aunt has become +his guardian, and she holds in trust for him two thousand dollars which +Captain Hannock was compelled to pay over because it belonged to the +cabin boy's late father. Tony Dibble is at sea.</p> + +<p>Two years ago, in company with Harry Banker, I finished my course at +college, and now I am duly installed in Mr. Mason's office as his +private clerk. Having a good home with my employer, I am happy, and that +being so, what more is there to say?</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="EDWARD_STRATEMEYERS_BOOKS" id="EDWARD_STRATEMEYERS_BOOKS"></a>EDWARD STRATEMEYER'S BOOKS</h2> + + +<h3>Old Glory Series</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>Stratemeyer Popular Series</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">TRUE TO HIMSELF.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">RICHARD DARE'S VENTURE.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">TO ALASKA FOR GOLD.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">SHORTHAND TOM. THE REPORTER.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>Soldiers of Fortune Series</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">ON TO PEKIN.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">UNDER THE MIKADO'S FLAG.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>American Boys' Biographical Series</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>Colonial Series</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">MARCHING ON NIAGARA.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">TRAIL AND TRADING POST.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>Pan-American Series</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">LOST ON THE ORINOCO.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>Dave Porter Series</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Stratemeyer Popular Series</span></h3> + + +<p>Since the passing of Henty, Edward Stratemeyer is the most widely read +of all living writers for the young, and each year extends the vast and +enthusiastic throng. In obedience to the popular demand we have +established this <span class="smcap">Popular Series</span> comprising ten representative books by +this great writer, on which special prices can be made. The stories are +bright and breezy, moral in tone, and while full of adventure, are not +sensational. These books, at a popular price, will be a rare treat for +the boys and girls.</p> + +<p>1. The Last Cruise of the Spitfire Or Luke Foster's Strange Voyage</p> + +<p>2. Reuben Stone's Discovery Or The Young Miller of Torrent Bend</p> + +<p>3. True to Himself Or Roger Strong's Struggle for Place</p> + +<p>4. Richard Dare's Venture Or Striking Out for Himself</p> + +<p>5. Oliver Bright's Search Or The Mystery of a Mine</p> + +<p>6. To Alaska for Gold Or The Fortune Hunters of the Yukon</p> + +<p>7. The Young Auctioneer Or The Polishing of a Rolling Stone</p> + +<p>8. Bound to be an Electrician Or Franklin Bell's Success</p> + +<p>9. Shorthand Tom the Reporter Or The Exploits of a Bright Boy</p> + +<p>10. Fighting for His Own Or The Fortunes of a Young Artist</p> + + +<h3>THE FAMOUS "OLD GLORY SERIES"</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or The War Fortunes of a Castaway<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or Fighting for the Single Star<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or A Young Officer in the Tropics<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or Under Lawton through Luzon<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">UNDER MACARTHUR IN LUZON<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or Last Battles in the Philippines<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"A boy once addicted to Stratemeyer stays by him."—<i>The Living Church.</i></p> + +<p>"The boys' delight—the 'Old Glory Series.'"—<i>The Christian Advocate, +New York.</i></p> + +<p>"Stratemeyer's style suits the boys."—<span class="smcap">John Terhune,</span> <i>Supt. of Public +Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Stratemeyer is in a class by himself when it comes to writing about +American heroes, their brilliant doings on land and sea."—<i>Times, +Boston.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Stratemeyer has written a series of books which, while historically +correct and embodying the most important features of the +Spanish-American War and the rebellion of the Filipinos, are +sufficiently interwoven with fiction to render them most entertaining to +young readers."—<i>The Call, San Francisco.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE COLONIAL SERIES</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or A Soldier Boy's Battles in the Wilderness<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">MARCHING ON NIAGARA<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or The Soldier Boys of the Old Frontier<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or A Soldier Boy's Final Victory<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or The Soldier Boys of the Indian Trails<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">TRAIL AND TRADING POST<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or The Young Hunters of the Ohio<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Mr. Stratemeyer has put his best work into the 'Colonial +Series.'"—<i>Christian Register, Boston.</i></p> + +<p>"A series that doesn't fall so very far short of being history +itself."—<i>Boston Courier.</i></p> + +<p>"The tales of war are incidental to the dramatic adventures of two boys, +so well told that the historical facts are all the better +remembered."—<i>Boston Globe.</i></p> + +<p>"Edward Stratemeyer has in many volumes shown himself master of the art +of producing historic studies in the pleasing story form."—<i>Minneapolis +Journal.</i></p> + +<p>"The author, Edward Stratemeyer, has used his usual care in matters of +historical detail and accuracy, and gives a splendid picture of the +times in general."—<i>Milwaukee Sentinel.</i></p> + +<p>"Told by one who knows how to write so as to interest boys, while still +having a care as to accuracy."—<i>Commercial Advertiser, New York.</i></p> + + +<h3>AMERICAN BOYS' BIOGRAPHICAL SERIES</h3> + + +<h3>VOLUME ONE</h3> + +<h3>AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY</h3> + +<p>Here is told the whole story of McKinley's boyhood days, his life at +school and at college, his work as a school teacher, his glorious career +in the army, his struggles to obtain a footing as a lawyer, his efforts +as a Congressman and a Governor, and lastly his prosperous career as our +President, all told in a style particularly adapted to boys and young +men. The book is full of interesting anecdotes, all taken from life, +showing fully the sincere, honest, painstaking efforts of a life cut all +too short. The volume will prove an inspiration to all boys and young +men, and should be in every library.</p> + +<p>For nearly a year Mr. Stratemeyer has been gathering material and giving +careful study to the life of the young William, his childhood, his +boyhood, and all his inspiring and romantic history. The story was +nearing its end when the awful finale came and tragedy ended the drama +of President McKinley's life.—<i>New York Journal.</i></p> + + +<h3>VOLUME TWO</h3> + +<h3>AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT</h3> + + +<p>This excellent work for young people covers the whole life of our +strenuous executive, as school-boy, college student, traveler, author, +hunter and ranchman, as assemblyman, as civil service commissioner, as +Assistant Secretary of the Navy, as a daring rough rider, as Governor of +New York, and lastly as President. Full of stories taken from real life +and told in a manner to interest both young and old.</p> + +<blockquote><p>We unreservedly recommend Mr. Stratemeyer's books for boys. +They are wholesome, accurate as to historical details and +always interesting.—<i>Boston Times.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<h3>GOOD BOOKS FOR BOYS</h3> + +<h3>LARRY THE WANDERER Or The Rise of a Nobody</h3> + +<p>This is a plain tale of everyday life, written especially for boys and +girls who do not care particularly for stories with a historical or +geographical background. Larry is a youth who has been knocked around +from pillar to post for a number of years. The unravelling of the +curious mystery which surrounds the lad's identity makes good reading.</p> + +<h3>JOE, THE SURVEYOR Or The Value of a Lost Claim</h3> + +<p>This story relates the trials and triumphs of a sturdy country youth, +who is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to go forth into the +world and earn, not alone his own living, but also support for his twin +sister and his invalid father.</p> + +<h3>TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN Or From Maine to Oregon for Fortune</h3> + +<p>A splendid story, the scene shifting from Maine to Michigan and the +Great Lakes, and then to the Columbia and the Great North-west. The +heroes are two sturdy youths who have been brought up among the +lumbermen of their native State, and who strike out in an honest +endeavor to better their condition. An ideal volume for every wide-awake +American who wishes to know what our great lumber industry is to-day.</p> + +<blockquote><p>Mr. Stratemeyer's books are not only entertaining but +instructive.—<i>Daily Press, Portland, Me.</i></p></blockquote> + +<h3>BETWEEN BOER AND BRITON Or Two Boys' Adventures in South Africa</h3> + +<p>Relates the experiences of two boys, cousins to each other, one American +and the other English, whose fathers are engaged in the Transvaal, one +in farming and the other in mining operations. While the two boys are +off on a hunting trip after big game the war between the Boers and +Britons suddenly breaks out, and while endeavoring to rejoin their +parents the boys find themselves placed between hostile armies.</p> + +<blockquote><p>A stirring story of the South African War.—<i>The Journal, +Indianapolis, Ind.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<h3>SOLDIER OF FORTUNE SERIES</h3> + + +<h3>VOLUME THREE</h3> + +<h3>AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR Or A Young American in the Japanese Navy</h3> + +<p>"At the Fall of Port Arthur" is another of Mr. Stratemeyer's spirited +war stories. It relates, primarily, the adventures of Larry Russell, so +well known to countless thousands of readers of the famous "Old Glory +Series." Larry is on board his old ship, the <i>Columbia</i>, which is +carrying a cargo for the Japanese government, and is made a prisoner. A +chase ensues, followed by a thrilling sea fight, and the young American +escapes to one of the Japanese cruisers. The young sailor joins the +Japanese navy, and under Admiral Togo assists at the bombardment of Port +Arthur. Life in the Japanese navy is described in detail, and also life +in Port Arthur during the siege and bombardment, which has few parallels +in history.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stratemeyer is easily foremost among all writers of boys' books +dealing with great events as they occur.—<i>Observer, New York.</i></p> + +<p>"At the Fall of Port Arthur" is very well told.—<i>Chronicle, San +Francisco.</i></p> + +<p>The story is timely, describing life in the Japanese navy in +detail.—<i>Times, Buffalo, New York.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Stratemeyer is one of the few writers for boys whose works +may be relied upon for historic accuracy without sacrifice of +interest.—<i>Journal, New York.</i></p> + +<p>Presented with the skill of one of the cleverest juvenile writers of the +period.—<i>Globe-Democrat, St. Louis.</i></p> + +<p>A rattling good story for boys.—<i>Republican, Denver, Col.</i></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire, by +Edward Stratemeyer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE *** + +***** This file should be named 34367-h.htm or 34367-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/6/34367/ + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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