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diff --git a/44013-0.txt b/44013-0.txt index 68c66da..93438ef 100644 --- a/44013-0.txt +++ b/44013-0.txt @@ -1,35 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Fairfield at Sea, by Allen Chapman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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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: Tom Fairfield at Sea - or, The Wreck of the Silver Star - -Author: Allen Chapman - -Release Date: October 22, 2013 [EBook #44013] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44013 ***</div> <div class="figcenter" style="width: 504px;"> <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="504" height="800" @@ -8232,380 +8194,6 @@ smuggling Chinese across the border.</p></li> advertisements have been retained.</p> </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Fairfield at Sea, by Allen Chapman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA *** - -***** This file should be named 44013-h.htm or 44013-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/0/1/44013/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -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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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: Tom Fairfield at Sea - or, The Wreck of the Silver Star - -Author: Allen Chapman - -Release Date: October 22, 2013 [EBook #44013] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Illustration: HE WAS THE LAST ONE IN, AND ARRANGED TO CUT A SINGLE -ROPE THAT HELD THE BOAT FAST.] - - - - - Tom Fairfield at Sea - - Or - - The Wreck of the _Silver Star_ - - - BY - - ALLEN CHAPMAN - - AUTHOR OF "TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS," "TOM FAIRFIELD IN - CAMP," "THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES," "THE - BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES," ETC. - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - -BOOKS FOR BOYS - -BY ALLEN CHAPMAN - - -=TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS - Or, The Chums of Elmwood Hall - - TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA - Or, The Wreck of the _Silver Star_ - - TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP - Or, The Secret of the Old Mill - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK - Or, Working to Clear His Name - - -=THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - THE DAREWELL CHUMS - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE CITY - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE WOODS - THE DAREWELL CHUMS ON A CRUISE - THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN A WINTER CAMP - - -=BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES= - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - - THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT - TWO BOY PUBLISHERS - MAIL ORDER FRANK - A BUSINESS BOY'S PLUCK - THE YOUNG LAND AGENT - -CUPPLES & LEON CO. PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK - - -Copyrighted 1913, by - -CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - -TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA - -Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. STARTLING NEWS 1 - II. TOM TO THE RESCUE 12 - III. A MYSTERIOUS PASSENGER 20 - IV. A PUZZLED CAPTAIN 28 - V. THE WATERSPOUT 37 - VI. SEEN IN THE GLASS 46 - VII. THE STORM 52 - VIII. A BLOW IN THE DARK 61 - IX. TOM GOES OVERBOARD 69 - X. THE DERELICT 76 - XI. ANOTHER PASSENGER 86 - XII. A MUTUAL SURPRISE 95 - XIII. UNDER SAIL 105 - XIV. DREARY DAYS 111 - XV. MAKING A BOAT 120 - XVI. WIND AND WAVE TOSSED 129 - XVII. A HAND IN THE NIGHT 137 - XVIII. TREACHERY 144 - XIX. OFF IN THE BOAT 152 - XX. DAYS OF SUFFERING 162 - XXI. "SAIL HO!" 171 - XXII. NEWS OF THE MISSING 179 - XXIII. OFF TO THE ISLAND 188 - XXIV. THE CASTAWAYS 194 - XXV. HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION 202 - - - - -TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA - - - - -CHAPTER I - -STARTLING NEWS - - -"Where to now, Jack?" - -"Oh, I just thought I'd run into town and see what's going on, Tom. -Want to come along?" - -"I'd like to--but this Latin--" - -"Oh, bother the Latin!" and Jack Fitch, the chum and roommate of Tom -Fairfield, snatched the book from the scarcely resisting grasp of his -friend. "Come along. You're up well enough. Besides, we haven't that -old tyrant Skeel to deal with now in the classics." - -"That's so. Guess I will go. Think it'll be safe?" - -"As safe as running the guard ever is, Tommy my boy," and Jack assumed -a wise air. "Probably there'll be some of the proctor's scouts out, but -if we can't fool 'em, after we've put in nearly a year at Elmwood Hall, -I wouldn't give much for our ability." - -"Right you are, Jack! Shall we tip off some of the others? Bert Wilson -would like to come along, I know." - -"All right, I'll give him the high sign. Shall we take the human -question box?" - -"Who, Georgie Abbot? Might as well. He isn't as bad as he used to be, -though he's bad enough. Four will be just about right. Got anything -special on, the reason you want to go to town?" - -"No. But there's a good musical comedy there, I hear." - -"How's the weather? Is it raining yet?" - -"Clear as a bell," reported Jack, as he poked his head out of the -window of their room. "Now I'll take a look to see if the coast is -clear, and get Bert and George while you put your collar on," for -Tom, to be at more ease while he was studying, had adopted a sort of -negligee costume. - -Gliding out into the hall, Jack knocked cautiously at the door of the -adjoining room, giving a certain signal. - -"Well?" whispered a voice at the keyhole. - -"Come on into town, Bert," whispered Jack in return, for caution was -necessary, since it was past the hour for the Freshmen to go about as -they pleased, to each other's rooms, and long past the time when they -might leave their dormitory without permission. - -"What's up?" asked Bert, as he opened his door a crack. - -"Tom Fairfield and I are going to take in a show. I'll get George, and -we'll have some fun. Cut down through the basement when you're ready, -and we'll meet just outside the boiler room. Our studious janitor won't -give us away." - -"No, old Demy Miller will be so busy over his Latin or Greek, trying to -be the king pin among studious janitors, that he won't even see us. Go -get 'Why.' I'll be on hand in a minute." - -Jack glided to a room on the other side of his own and his chum's, and -repeated the tapping signal. - -"Well?" queried George Abbot, otherwise 'Why.' - -"Come on to town?" - -"What for? Who's going? What are we going to do? Is it safe?" - -"Say, if you fire any more questions at me," whispered Jack hoarsely, -"I know one lad who _won't_ be going, and that's you, Why! Now hush up -and come along. Tom, Bert and I are going to cut in." - -"All right, I'll be with you directly." - -Jack glided back into his own apartment, and only just in time to -escape the keen eyes of a patroling monitor. But he did get inside -safely, and breathlessly. - -"What's up?" asked Tom. - -"Denton-is-out-there. But I-guess he won't stay-long." - -Cautious observations through the keyhole proclaimed this for a fact -a little later, and soon Tom and Jack were tiptoeing down to the -basement. There they met George and Bert, and the four were soon on -their way to town, cutting across the campus in such a direction as to -conceal their movements. - -It was rather a cool evening toward the close of March, and there had -been a drizzling rain all day. Now it had cleared, coming off cold, -and Jack, realizing this had felt a restlessness that could not be -satisfied unless he was doing something--something forbidden, by all -preference. - -Tom, Jack, and a number of their intimate friends were approaching the -close of their Freshman year at Elmwood Hall. They had gone through the -sports of the fall--football and the like, the Christmas vacation had -come and gone, and now the Easter holiday was approaching. - -When that was over the spring term would open--the closing term at the -school--and Tom would soon be in line as a Sophomore. But much was to -happen before he could count himself a second-year student. - -"Think anyone will catch us?" asked George Abbot, who never could seem -to stop asking questions. - -"What if they do, you old interrogation point?" inquired Tom. - -"Nothing, only I don't want to be expelled just when the Freshman year -is so nearly over." - -"Don't worry. Just trust to me," spoke Jack. "I'm running this outfit, -and we're not going to be caught." - -"There's someone now--just ahead of us!" suddenly exclaimed Bert, -drawing back. The others instinctively paused. - -"No danger!" called Tom, who was a little in advance of his chums. -"It's our friend Bennington." - -"Hello, Tom Fairfield!" greeted a voice out of the darkness. "Whither -away?" - -"Into town on a lark. Want to come along?" - -"Thanks, no. Remember I'm a grave and reverend Senior, and not a giddy -Freshman like yourself. I have a reputation to maintain, and I can't -afford to take any chances with my graduation in prospect. I'd like to -though. I'll see that you get in safely, however, in case there's any -danger." - -"Thanks," called our hero, Tom, as he and his chums passed on, while -Bruce Bennington, a Senior whom Tom had aided in a peculiar way during -the former term, headed toward Elmwood Hall. - -"He's a great chap," commented Bert. - -"He sure is," agreed Jack. "And he's a heap sight different than he was -before Tom found the forged note that Skeel held over him." - -"I'm glad I was able to help him," said Tom. "Come on, now, fellows, -sprint for it. I think I hear a car coming." - -They broke into a run, and a little later had boarded an electric -vehicle that ran near the preparatory school, and into the town of -Elmwood proper. - -"Look who's here," spoke Jack to Tom in a low voice, as they took their -seats, and he nodded toward the far corner of the car. - -"Who?" asked Tom, and then he added: "Oh, Sam Heller." - -"And Nick Johnson is with him," went on Jack. - -"Well, I guess they won't make any trouble for us," said Tom, for the -two lads had been, and still were, his enemies. - -"Unless they squeal on us," suggested Bert Wilson. - -"They're just as much in the fire as we are," protested Jack. - -"They may have gotten permission to go to town," came from George Abbot. - -"Not much!" asserted Tom. "They cut for it the same as we did, and they -won't say anything." - -Sam Heller and his crony glanced over at our friends, but said nothing, -and the car continued on its way. Soon it was in town, and Tom and his -chums hurried to a theatre that the school boys patronized. They were a -little late to see the start of the performance, but they did not mind -that. - -"Say, this is great!" exclaimed Bert as one "turn" after another was -gone through with behind the footlights. - -"Here comes a sleight-of-hand performer," remarked Jack. "I always like -to see them, even though I know they fake every trick." - -"Say! did you see that!" exclaimed George, as the man apparently picked -cards out of mere air. "How does he do it?" - -"Foolish question number eight hundred and forty-seven!" exclaimed Tom -in a whisper. "If you ask three more you've reached your limit, and out -you go!" - -George subsided, and with the others watched the play, which was a sort -of musical comedy, with vaudeville interspersed. The performance was -over all too soon, and the boys started back toward school, after a -round of sodas in a drug store. - -"Well, we'll soon be going home for the Easter vacation, and then the -baseball season will open, when we get back," spoke Jack. "Say, Tom, -are you going to keep your promise, and spend Easter week with me?" - -"Well, I don't know, Jack. You see dad and mother wrote to me to go -down in the country, and visit an old aunt of mine whom I haven't seen -for ages. I don't see how I can make it to go to your place, much as -I'd like it." - -"Are your folks still in Australia?" asked Bert. - -"No, they've left there," explained Tom. "They went there to look up -some property a relative left to my father. They've been gone a long -while now--at least it seems so to me, though the time has passed -quickly enough while I've been here at Elmwood Hall. - -"But I got a letter the other day, from dad, saying that the property -matter was all settled satisfactorily, and that they had started for -home." - -"Are they coming by way of Europe, as they planned?" asked Jack. -"Cracky! Wouldn't I like to see Europe, though!" - -"No, they've changed their ideas," replied Tom. "Dad and mother both -thought they'd like a long voyage, so they took a large sailing vessel -in the Australian trade that is to land them at San Francisco. Maybe -I'll go meet them if I can arrange it." - -"Coming on a sailing vessel; eh?" remarked Bert. "There aren't many -deep sea sailing ships any more." - -"No, and that's one reason why dad wrote that he was taking the trip -this way. He always has been fond of sailing and he thought he might -not get another chance. So he and mother are on board the _Kangaroo_, -somewhere out on the vasty deep at this moment--and I wish I was with -them!" - -Tom's voice was a trifle husky, for he was a bit homesick for his -parents, in spite of the good times he had had at Elmwood Hall. - -Jack Fitch was looking over an evening paper he had purchased from a -newsboy on coming out of the theatre. - -"Anything interesting?" asked Bert. - -"Not much. I was just glancing at the sporting page. I guess we'll--" - -Jack suddenly paused, and stared intently at a certain item on the -printed sheet. Then he asked in a curious voice: - -"What did you say was the name of the ship your people were sailing in, -Tom?" - -"The _Kangaroo_. Why?" - -"Oh, er--nothing. I--say--New York is going to have a crackerjack -baseball team this spring, if their manager gets all the players he's -after!" and Jack tried suddenly to change the subject. - -Tom Fairfield reached over and took the paper from his chum's hand. -Jack tried to hold it back. - -"Why did you ask that question--about the name of the ship my father -and mother are in?" asked our hero, and there was a catch in his voice, -and his face was white. "Why did you? You saw something! Show it to -me!" he demanded. - -"No, it--it wasn't anything!" protested Jack. "Just a rumor. You -shouldn't bother about it. Those things are never true--at least it's -not confirmed--and--Oh I say Tom, it isn't really anything!" - -"Let me see it!" cried Tom hoarsely, amid a silence in the car as it -sped along. "You're trying to hold something back from me, Jack. Is the -_Kangaroo_ wrecked?" - -"No, nothing like that!" he answered eagerly. "There, if you've got to -see it!" and he pointed to a cable dispatch in the paper. - -With staring eyes Tom read: - - "Sydney, N. S. W., March 25.--The steamer _Bristol_, which - reached this port to-day reports passing at sea, a week ago, - in lat. S. 21:14:38, long. 179:47:16, wreckage from some large - sailing vessel. Part of a lifeboat picked up bore the letters - '_ngaroo_.' It is surmised that it belonged to the large - sailing ship _Kangaroo_ which left this port for San Francisco - last week with a mixed cargo, and several passengers. Captain - Ward, of the _Bristol_, reports encountering heavy weather - before sighting the wreckage. He cruised about in the vicinity - for half a day, but saw no signs of life, and no trace of the - vessel. The underwriters have posted the _Kangaroo_." - -Tom read this once, and then over again. Then he stared at the paper, -his face white and his hands trembling. - -"Maybe it isn't true," suggested Jack gently. "And, even if there was a -wreck, maybe your folks were saved. Maybe they changed their minds at -the last minute and didn't sail. I wouldn't worry if I were you." - -"I--I can't help it," whispered Tom. "Dad and mother are--missing! This -is bad news--bad news!" - -Jack put his arm around his chum. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -TOM TO THE RESCUE - - -While the car is speeding back to Elmwood Hall, bearing Tom and his -chums, and while our hero is endeavoring to bear up under the strain -of the unexpected and bad news that came to him, I will take the -opportunity to tell you something more about him and his friends. - -As related in the first book of this series, entitled "Tom Fairfield's -Schooldays," the reason why he went to Elmwood Hall was because his -father and mother had to go to Sydney, Australia, to settle some -business affairs about a valuable property inheritance. They did not -want to take Tom with them, and so break up his schooling, so they -picked out Elmwood Hall for him to attend. - -The same day that Tom received the news about going to boarding school -and heard that his parents were to start on a long trip, he met Bruce -Bennington, who had motored out to where Tom lived, in Briartown. Bruce -borrowed Tom's boat for a row, and Tom was at once struck with the air -of trouble that brooded over the student--for Bruce let it be known -that he was a Senior at Elmwood Hall. - -A little later, Tom started for the place of learning. Almost at the -outset he made an enemy of Sam Heller and his crony Nick Johnson. But -our hero also made friends, his chief one being Jack Fitch, with whom -he roomed in Opus Manor, the dormitory of the Freshmen. - -Doctor Pliny Meredith was head master of Elmwood Hall, and among -the teachers was Dr. Livingston Hammond, a stout, jolly gentleman, -sometimes called the "Live Wire." Doctor Meredith was known as "Merry," -because, as Jack Fitch said, "he was so solemn," though not at all grim -or forbidding. - -There was also a certain Professor Burton Skeel, who was counted one -of the most unpleasant of instructors. It was he who had made trouble -for Bruce Bennington, in the matter of a forged promissory note, which -threatened to ruin the career of the Senior. - -But Tom was able to help Bruce in an unexpected way, and get -possession of the note. The duplicity of Mr. Skeel was exposed, and -he left Elmwood Hall. Not before, however, he had been the cause of -considerable trouble. - -His treatment of the students was so harsh that Tom proposed that they -go on "strike" against him, and refuse to enter his class room. They -did, Tom leading the revolt. - -Our hero also led the escape from the school, when the whole Latin -division of the Freshman class was made prisoners. The boys intended to -desert to town, and stay there until Mr. Skeel was removed, but they -lost their way in a storm, and had to come back. - -Tom, however, had prepared an effigy of the unpopular instructor, and -in the midst of a blinding snowstorm this effigy was burned on the flag -pole, Mr. Skeel trying in vain to stop the student's fun. - -Thus the strike was broken, and Tom and his chums won, a new Latin -instructor being engaged, and Doctor Meredith, though somewhat startled -by the curious revolt in his school, managed to get material from it -for a paper which he read before a very learned society. - -But it was not all unpleasantness and strikes during Tom's time at the -school. He had spreads, he took part in a big football game, and made a -sensational run, and he was champion of his class in the annual skating -race, though Sam Heller tried to trip him. - -Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw Fairfield, Tom's parents, had remained in Australia -ever since September, when they went there, to settle up the matter of -the property that had been left to them. Tom had spent the between-term -vacations with Jack Fitch, but the Easter one, his parents wrote him, -they wished him to spend with an aged aunt. - -"And--and, maybe that's the last letter I'll ever get from them," -thought our hero gloomily. - -He was, as I have said, on his way back to the Hall from the theatrical -performance, when Jack Fitch had unexpectedly come upon the item of bad -news. - -"Say, maybe this is nothing but a newspaper yarn," suggested Bert -Wilson, for want of something better to say, after a period of tense -silence. - -"I wish I could think so," answered Tom gloomily. "But this paper is -a reliable one, and that cablegram came by the Associated Press. That -organization doesn't send out false news very often." - -"But this may be just one of those occasions," put in George. He was -not asking questions now. He, as well as the others, wanted to do all -they could for Tom, who was a general favorite in school. - -"Well, of course, I'm going to hope so," said our hero. "But that isn't -going to stop me from doing things." - -"What is your plan?" asked Jack. - -"I don't just know. I want to find out about the truth of this dispatch, -if I can. I'm going to telegraph, or cablegraph--or--or, do something." - -"If we can do anything to help you, let us know," suggested Bert. - -"That's right," added George. - -"My father has a lot to do with telegraph and cable companies," said -Jack. "He has a brokerage office in New York. Maybe he could get some -information for you, by wire." - -"Perhaps he can," agreed Tom. "I'll ask him in the morning. Oh, I wish -it was morning now!" - -It was rather a dejected group of students who quietly made their way -back into Elmwood Hall that night. Tom's grief was like a pall over all -of them, and they would not have greatly minded if they had been caught -out after hours by some prowling monitor, or a late-staying professor. - -But it was all too easy. They managed to get into the basement -unobserved, and Demy, the friendly and studious janitor, let the boys -into their corridor, whence they made their way to their rooms. - -"By Jove, Tom, I wish I hadn't bought that paper," spoke Jack, as the -two chums were getting ready for bed. - -"Nonsense! It wasn't your fault, Jack; I'd have known it sooner or -later, and I'm glad to have it sooner. I can get busy quicker." - -"But even if the wreckage was found," went on Tom's chum, "that doesn't -say that the _Kangaroo_ is lost. She may have been in a bad storm, and -some of her lifeboats may have been carried away. Why even if badly -damaged she could manage to keep afloat for a long time. A wooden ship -isn't like a steel one, you know." - -"I suppose not. I'll hope for the best." - -"And I'll wire to dad for you the first thing in the morning," promised -Jack. - -Tom did not pass a very good night, sleeping only a little, and that -restlessly, and he was up early. So was Jack, and at the suggestion of -the latter they both obtained permission to go into town, and to absent -themselves from lectures that day. - -"Of course, my dear lads, of course!" exclaimed Doctor Meredith -genially, when the case had been explained to him. "Do whatever you -think necessary. And I will help you all I can. I sincerely trust that -you will find the report unfounded, or, at least, that it is not as bad -as it seems." - -"Say, he's all right, if he is a head master; isn't he?" asked Jack, -as he and his chum were on their way to town, after an early breakfast -ahead of their class. - -"He sure is. Skeel was the only thorn here, and he's gone; thank -goodness!" - -"I wonder where?" - -"I don't know. I heard he'd gone out west somewhere, changed his name, -and was trying to get a berth in a new school." - -The two lads made their way to a telegraph office, and, explaining -matters to the agent, he kindly offered to rush the messages for them. -Jack sent one to his father, requesting an answer as soon as possible. - -"Now we'll have to wait a bit," suggested Jack. "Come on for a walk -around town." - -They were back at the office in a comparatively short time, however, -and waited there while the instruments nervously clicked off their -messages of cheer or sadness. - -"Here comes one for you," the operator suddenly said, and Tom stared -at the affairs of brass and rubber, vainly wishing that he could -understand the Morse code. Finally the agent handed over a moist slip. - - "Sorry I have no good news for your chum," Mr. Fitch wired his - son. "Have communicated with Sydney agency and they confirm - report. _Kangaroo_ may not be lost, but she is missing. Can I - do anything else?" - -For a moment there was silence between Jack and Tom, and then the former -said: - -"Well, it isn't as bad as it might be. Only missing. She may be afloat, -and may limp into port. It will be hard waiting, though, for you, Tom." - -"But I'm not going to wait!" cried our hero. - -"What?" asked Jack in surprise. - -"I say I'm not going to wait for news. That's the worst thing in the -world--waiting." - -"But what are you going to do?" - -"I'm going to the rescue!" exclaimed Tom. "I'm going to quit school, go -to San Francisco, catch the first steamer I can for Australia, and hunt -up dad and my mother." - -"Great!" cried Jack. "By Jove, I wish I could go with you! When are you -going to start?" - -"To-day, if I can get packed up. I'm off for Australia!" - - - - -CHAPTER III - -A MYSTERIOUS PASSENGER - - -Tom's sudden resolve came rather as a shock to his chum, Jack, and the -latter, after his first expression of approval, began to wonder if the -plan would prove practical. - -"But how are you going to do it, Tom?" he asked. "Have you money enough -to charter a steamer?" - -"No, not exactly, though I guess I could raise it if I had to, for, -since he got this Australian property, dad will have quite a fortune. -But that won't be necessary." - -"How else are you going to rescue them?" - -"Well, I don't exactly know," admitted Tom frankly. "I just can't wait -quietly around here, doing nothing. I'm going to start for Australia, -anyhow, and maybe some plan will come to me on the way." - -"But it seems to me," insisted Jack, practically, "that you ought to -have some definite plan." - -"Well, I have, part of one," went on Tom. "I'm going to Sydney, unless -I find them drifting around before I get there. I'll pick out some -steamer that will go as near as possible to the latitude and longitude -mentioned in the dispatch, as being where the wreckage was picked up. -Maybe I can induce the captain to cruise around there for a while, even -if I have to pay for lost time. - -"Anyhow, if I don't locate them before, I'll go on to Sydney, and there -I'll hire some sort of a vessel, and set out in search of my folks." - -"That sounds reasonable," admitted Jack. "I only wish I could go with -you. But I'm afraid my folks wouldn't let me." - -"I wish you could go, too," spoke Tom. "But I guess it's out of the -question. Besides, you've got your school career to think of. Leaving -now, just before the spring term, might put you back, and you'd be a -Freshman for two years." - -"I shouldn't mind that. Still, I won't think of going. But if I can do -anything for you, don't hesitate to let me know." - -"I won't," promised Tom, and then, when a telegram had been sent to -Mr. Fitch, telling him of Tom's resolution, the two boys returned to -school. But it was not to resume study, for there was much to be done. - -Tom at once told his plans to Doctor Meredith, and the head master -agreed that Tom could scarcely do otherwise than go. He made -arrangements to excuse him from his classes, and Jack began to help -his chum to pack. - -Word soon got around the Hall of Tom's trouble and the fact that he was -to leave at once was talked of on all sides. His room became a Mecca -for fond friends, from every class in Elmwood Hall. - -"By Jove, Tommy!" exclaimed Reddy Burke, one of the best athletes -in the school. "It's a crying shame to have you leave now, and the -baseball season soon to start." - -"Well, I've just got to go," insisted our hero. - -"Oh, sure. Well, we'll have a little celebration in your honor before -you leave. Sure any lad that could get up a strike against Mr. Skeel -deserves to have a gold medal. And I say, Tommy," went on Reddy, "bring -me back a pet snake, or a rabbit or something from Australia; will you?" - -"I'll try," promised Tom, and he laughed a little--the first time since -he had received the bad news, for Reddy was a jolly soul. - -Tom found it impossible to leave that day, and that night, in spite of -rules and regulations to the contrary, there was a spread in the room -of Tom and Jack, and in the apartment of Bert Wilson, a communicating -door being opened for the occasion. - -Though the sadness of Tom's leaving was felt there could not be -all gloom and sadness where so many congenial spirits were gathered -together. Tom was toasted again and again, and the best of wishes were -expressed in his behalf. He made a brief address, and said he hoped -he'd meet them all again soon. - -"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" some one started, and it was loudly -sung. And the odd part of it was that no one came to break up the -little gathering. - -True a monitor did hear the unusual and forbidden noise in the rooms, -but, being both wise and sympathetic, he said nothing, and no report -reached the proctor. Demosthenes Miller, the studious janitor, was a -guest at the farewell supper, and made a speech in what he said was -Latin, but--well, he is such a good chap, and was such a friend to the -students, that I'm not going to say anything unpleasant about him. - -And so, after all, in spite of Tom's sad heart, he could not help -feeling a little better as he was a witness to the love of his -classmates. - -"Well, it's good-bye, old man!" exclaimed Jack a bit solemnly the next -morning, as the time for parting came. Several others, deeming their -farewell of the night before not enough, also came in to shake hands. - -"I'll see you again--some time," faltered Tom. - -He went to bid good-bye to Doctor Meredith, and his own particular -professors, and then hurried on to the station, with Jack Fitch as his -only companion. - -They parted with a handshake, and with moist eyes, and lumps in their -throats. - -"Good--good luck!" stammered Jack. - -"Thanks," murmured Tom, and then his train pulled out, and Tom had -started on his long journey. - -A week later found him in San Francisco, the trip across the continent -having been without special incident. He had stopped in New York, to -see Jack's father, and Mr. Fitch had given him some good advice, and -letters to his agent in Sydney. - -"And now to hunt for a ship that will take me where I want to go," -mused Tom, as he left his baggage at a hotel and started for the -waterfront. - -Tom was well supplied with money, and had drafts and letters of credit -for a larger amount. His father had left funds in his name in their -local bank on leaving for Australia, and also instructions with his -business partner to supply Tom with as much cash as was necessary in -case of emergency. - -The news of the possible loss of the _Kangaroo_ was held by Mr. -Fairfield's partner to be an emergency, and Tom had drawn on the -reserve account. - -Following the advice of Mr. Fitch, Tom sought out a certain San -Francisco steamship agency and told of his needs. - -"Hum," mused the manager when Tom had given the longitude and latitude -where the wreckage had been sighted. "That's in the vicinity of the -Eastern Group of the Friendly Islands, as near as I can make out," and -he consulted a chart. "We don't have many vessels hitting just at that -particular spot in the ocean. Still--hum--let me see." - -He looked over a sailing list, made some notes, looked again at the -chart and announced: - -"Well, I guess the _Silver Star_ would about hit what you want. She's -not a very large steamer, but she's comparatively new, and a good safe -boat. Captain's nice man, too. She doesn't carry many passengers, but -her berths are not all filled, and I guess they can make room for you. -If you want to stand the expense I can arrange to have the captain -cruise about in the vicinity of those islands for a day or so." - -"I'll stand the expense!" cried Tom eagerly. "We may sight something!" - -"All right. Then I'll draw up the papers. The _Silver Star_ sails in -six days from now." - -Those six days Tom spent in San Francisco, seeing the sights of the -place, and fretting and worrying that time did not pass faster. - -Tom made the acquaintance of Captain Amos Steerit, the master of the -_Silver Star_, and at once took a liking to him. Our hero went on board -several times, when the steamer was loading at her wharf, and made -friends with some of the crew. - -At last sailing day came, and the bustle and confusion that had been -going on for some time seemed redoubled. But there was a certain order -about the proceedings, and at last everything had been done. - -"I wonder if that fellow is ever coming?" murmured the captain, as he -stood on the bridge, waiting to give the word to cast off. - -"Who?" asked Tom, as he stood beside the skipper, for being a sort of -privileged character, our hero was allowed certain liberties. - -"Oh, a passenger who is going to Honolulu, and who engaged a berth by -wire. He said he couldn't come on board until the last minute, but it's -past that now. Ah, maybe this is he coming now." - -Down the wharf came a rather stout man, followed by a stevedore -carrying a steamer trunk. There was a certain familiar air about the -approaching figure, and Tom found himself wondering where he had seen -the man before. The glimpse of the face he had, however, was not -enlightening, and our hero soon turned his attention elsewhere, for -the getting of the ship under way was somewhat of a novelty to him. - -"Well, you finally got here, I see," half growled the captain from the -bridge, as the belated passenger came on board. - -"Yes, I--that is I--well, I came as soon as I could," said the man, -pantingly. - -Tom wheeled at the sound of the voice, but he had no chance for a close -inspection of the man's face. For, no sooner had our hero shown his -curiosity, than the passenger turned, and fairly ran toward the berth -deck, at the same time calling: - -"See you later, captain! I have forgotten something." - -"Well, it's too late now, if it's got anything to do with going -ashore!" cried the commander. "Haul in that gang plank there!" and he -swung the engine room telegraph lever over to half speed ahead. The -_Silver Star_ began slowly to leave her dock, while Tom found himself -wondering who the mysterious passenger could be. - -"But it doesn't concern me," he mused. "I've got enough other troubles." - -If Tom had only known, though, the belated passenger did concern him, -and vitally, too. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A PUZZLED CAPTAIN - - -Amid a confusing sound of tooting whistles, the clanging of bells, -hoarse commands shouted back and forth, the _Silver Star_ made her -way through the shipping of the harbor, and pointed her nose toward -the mysterious Pacific--the ocean that held so many strange lands and -islands,--the ocean on whose broad bosom perhaps, Tom's father and -mother were drifting helplessly about, in a wreck. Or mayhap they lay -beneath the waves. - -But Tom did not dare dwell on that terrible possibility and, for the -time being, he resolutely put all thoughts of never seeing his parents -again, out of his mind. - -"I'm just going to find them!" he cried bravely, though he knew he had -a hard task ahead of him. - -But just now the busy scenes that were taking place, as the steamer -started off on her voyage, held his attention, and for a moment he even -forgot the mysterious passenger who had gone to his cabin in such a -hurry. - -"Well, Tom, my boy!" exclaimed Captain Steerit, as he looked at our -hero, "we've got good clean weather to start off with, and, if I'm any -judge, it will hold for some time." - -"It isn't so rough on the Pacific as it is on the Atlantic; is it?" -asked Tom. "At least I've read so, and the name----" - -"Don't get that idea into your head," laughed the commander. "The -Pacific is peaceful in name only. Of course I don't mean to say that it -isn't calm a good bit of the time, at certain seasons of the year, just -as the Atlantic is. But when it wants to kick up a fuss it can make a -bigger one than that ocean you've got back east there. - -"Yes, when we get a storm out here, we certainly get a bad one. But -I'm not looking for trouble. We're going to point our nose into the -nicest part of the ocean, to my thinking. You'll enjoy it, even if you -have a hard trick at the wheel ahead of you. There'll be lots to see, -especially if you go all the way to Australia with me." - -"Well, I expect to go there," answered Tom, "for I haven't much hope of -sighting anything near the place where the wreckage was seen." - -"Nor I, either," spoke the captain, "though I didn't want to discourage -you. The drift of the current, and the wind, wouldn't let anything stay -in one place long." - -"Then I'll just have to go on to Sydney and start my search from -there," ventured our hero earnestly. - -"Well, yes, I suppose so, though of course there's a bare possibility -that we may sight something on our way out." - -"What do you mean?" asked Tom quickly, a new hope springing up in his -heart. - -"I mean that the _Kangaroo_, from all accounts, was coming over about -the same path in the ocean as we'll take going out. She was to stop -at Honolulu I see by the papers, just as we are. Of course she was -wrecked--or at least we'll suppose so--before she got there. And if we -sail over the same course we may sight her--or what's left of her. - -"Mind though!" the captain went on quickly, as he saw the look of -despair on Tom's face, "I'm not admitting that she was wrecked. Just as -you have told me, I believe that she may have been disabled in a storm, -and part of her gear, her masts and her lifeboats, may have been swept -overboard. That has often happened. In fact it's happened to me when I -had charge of a big sailing ship. - -"But it's possible to rig up a jury mast, make some sort of sail, and -stagger on, when by all accounts one ought to be at the bottom of the -sea. So you see it doesn't do to give up hope." - -"And I'll not!" cried Tom. "Oh, I do hope we can pick up the -_Kangaroo_. I'm going to keep a lookout every day." - -"Yes, you can do that," agreed the captain. "I'll let you take a good -glass, and I'll also instruct the lookout to keep his eyes peeled day -and night. But it's too soon to begin yet, so you might as well take it -as easy as you can. Say, did you notice the passenger who came aboard -in such a hurry?" - -"Yes," answered Tom, for the ship was now well on her way and there was -less of interest to hold our hero's attention. - -"Did you think he acted in any way funny?" - -"Well, yes, I did," admitted Tom. "He didn't seem to know exactly what -to do." - -"And another thing," went on the captain. "It seemed to me that the -sight of you scared him." - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom, though he was aware that the captain was -eyeing him sharply. "Why should he be disturbed on account of me?" - -"I can't say, I'm sure. Did you ever see him before?" - -"Not that I know of," replied Tom. "Though when I heard his voice it -sounded like some one I'd heard before, though I couldn't be quite -sure, and just now I couldn't even place the voice." - -"Well, perhaps I'm mistaken," admitted the captain. "No matter. Have -you got your stateroom in shape?" - -"Yes, but I guess I can put a few finishing touches on it. I've been so -interested in watching our start that I haven't been below much." - -"Well, I'm going down to get something to eat," went on the commander -with a smile, "and if you'd like to come along I can offer you a meal," -for he had arranged that Tom should sit at his table. - -"I will!" exclaimed the lad. "This sea air makes me hungry." - -"I thought it would," responded the commander, with a laugh. "Keep her -on this course, Mr. Merton," he said to the first mate, who had come up -on the bridge, at a signal, to take charge of the wheel. - -"I wonder if I ought to knock on his door and ask him if he's hungry?" -spoke the captain, half aloud, as he and Tom went below. - -"Who?" inquired our hero, though the question was not exactly addressed -to him. - -"That passenger I was speaking of--Mr. Pierson Trendell his name -is--the one who came on board late. He was recommended to my care by a -friend of one of the owners of this steamer, though I don't know him -personally. He's going to Honolulu for his health I understand. Guess -I'll have to be decent to him, though I didn't take much of a notion -to him, and I don't like anyone who can't arrive on time. - -"But I'll take a chance, and ask him to come with us and have a little -lunch. As you say, this sea air does give one an appetite." - -They were on the berth deck now--the deck where Tom's stateroom, an -outside one, was located. The captain turned into a passageway, and -paused before the door of a room not far from our hero's. - -"This is his berth," he remarked as he rapped on the panel. - -"Who's there?" came a quick demand. - -"Captain Steerit," was the reply. "Would you like to come to lunch with -me, Mr. Trendell?" - -"In a private room?" was the query. - -"No, but at my private table." - -"Any one else?" - -"Humph! You're mighty particular," murmured the commander. "Why, yes," -he made answer in a louder tone. "My friend, Tom Fairfield, is coming -with us. Shall I have a place laid for you?" - -"No, thank you--er--that is, I'm not feeling very well. The motion of -the boat, you know--in fact I haven't quite got my sea legs on. Some -other time, Captain." - -"Oh, very well, just as you like," and with rather a frown of -annoyance the captain passed on. - -"Very strange," he murmured, half to himself, but loud enough for Tom -to hear. "They said he was an experienced sailor, and had been in all -sorts of rough blows. And yet he's seasick when the water is as calm as -a millpond. I can't understand it," and the puzzled captain shook his -head. - -"Can a person get seasick more than once?" asked our hero, rather -anxious on his own account. - -"Oh, yes, there are lots of such cases. And again there are some who -never suffer from it. It's all a matter of nerves, I think. It never -bothers me, and yet I had a first mate once, who was always very sick -the first two days out, and then he'd be as steady on his legs as a sea -lawyer. But every new voyage it would be the same way. But come in to -lunch now," and he led the way to a private table, where Tom was soon -putting away a substantial meal that was more like dinner than luncheon. - -There was only a slight motion to the _Silver Star_ now, hardly any -more than to Tom's motorboat when he had been out in a blow, and he was -beginning to feel that he would not suffer from seasickness. - -Captain Steerit left him to his own devices after the meal, for the -commander had many things to look after. Tom went to his own stateroom, -which he put in shipshape. Then he went on deck again. - -The Golden Gate was fading from sight now, and the routine of a vessel -out at sea was well under way. Tom saw several passengers, but the man -he had begun to classify as the "mysterious one," did not appear. - -"If he's going to be seasick now's his chance," mused Tom, for there -was now quite a decided roll to the ship. - -But it did not bother our hero, who was feeling in excellent health. Of -course he could not help worrying about his father and mother, but he -looked on the brightest side, and made up his mind that if there was -any possibility of rescuing them he would do so. - -It was coming on toward evening, and Tom was wondering how he would -sleep on his first night at sea. As he passed near the bridge, on the -upper deck, he saw Captain Steerit and the first mate in conversation. - -"I can't understand it," the commander was saying. "He comes on board -as a man who is traveling for his health, and who wants to get all the -sea air he can. Yet when I give him an outside stateroom, near young -Fairfield's, he goes and changes it before I know it. He won't come -out to lunch, and now you tell me he asks to have all his meals served -in his cabin." - -"That's it," said the mate. "He sent the steward to ask me, and I -thought it best to speak to you." - -"Quite right. Well, I suppose we'll have to let him have his way, but -I can't understand it. He wants fresh air, but he won't come out and -get it," and the captain filled his lungs with the salty, ocean breeze. -"Very puzzling! Very puzzling!" - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE WATERSPOUT - - -"That mysterious man--they're speaking of him," said Tom softly, as he -turned away. "I'm glad, after all, that he did not keep the stateroom -near mine. There may be no harm in him, and he may be all right, but he -certainly acts queer, and I don't want to have anything to do with him." - -Tom retired that night, rocked by the gentle motion of the ship. He -knew, now, that he was not going to be seasick in ordinary weather, -though he realized that he still had to undergo the test of a storm. - -"I wonder what it's like?" he mused. "There very likely will be big -waves and a powerful wind. But I hope we don't have one. I want to make -a quick voyage, and a storm would delay us." - -Then he thought of the storm that had wrecked the _Kangaroo_ and this -brought the possible fate of his father and mother to his mind. He took -out, and read over again, for perhaps the fiftieth time, the clipping -from the newspaper that had given him his first hint of the bad news. -There were one or two other clippings from other papers, telling the -same story, and a later one, confirming the first dispatch. - -"Poor dad and mother!" sighed our hero. "I'm coming to you as fast as -I can. Oh! if only there was some way of reaching you by wireless! -But, even if the wireless was on their vessel at first," he mused, "it -wouldn't work after the wreck. I'll just have to wait." - -He stretched out, but it was some time before he got to sleep, and his -thoughts were rather sad as they dwelt on the possible fate of his -parents. - -"Oh, pshaw!" he finally exclaimed, half aloud. "This won't do! I've got -to be more cheerful." Then he changed his current of thought to the -good times he had had at Elmwood Hall, and soon he felt himself dozing -off, as he recalled the merry midnight suppers he and his chums had -partaken of. - -"And when this trip is over I'm going back there, and have some more -good times," he whispered. - -Tom went up on the bridge after breakfast, to find Captain Steerit -looking critically at the barometer. - -"Anything wrong?" asked our hero. - -"No, not yet. And yet it has fallen a little. I don't just like it, but -otherwise the weather is good. I don't see any signs of a storm, so I -guess I won't worry. How did you sleep?" - -"Pretty good." - -"Do you mind the motion much?" - -"Hardly any." - -"That's good. I guess we'll make a sailor of you, after a while. Be -around at noon, when we take the observation, and I'll show you how -it's done." - -"I will," promised Tom, and then he went around the ship, speaking -to some of the sailors and officers whom he knew. He also made the -acquaintance of several of the passengers. There was one gentleman, a -Mr. Case, who, with his little son, aged about seven years, was making -the trip to Australia, where he had a business, near Melbourne. He -had come to New York with his wife to settle up some affairs, and the -child's mother had died there. - -"And now I'm going back," the father confided to Tom. "I am going to -try and forget my sorrow--forget it in hard work." - -Tom felt a deep sympathy for him, and for the child, and the latter -lost no time in making friends with our hero. They had many a romp on -deck, and Tom made up a number of games and amusements for the lad. - -The promise of uncertain weather given by the barometer was not kept, -and the ship slipped along through the water in a succession of calm, -sunny days. Tom had almost forgotten about the strange man now. - -Mr. Trendell was not seen on deck, keeping carefully to his stateroom, -and Tom heard that he was suffering much from seasickness. He felt -sorry for the man, as only a person can who does not suffer from the -qualms of the boat's motion. - -"Jackie was ill on our trip over," said Mr. Case, the father of Tom's -little playmate, "but I'm glad to see that he's well going back. I -guess it's the attention you give him that takes his mind off it. But -don't let him be a bother to you." - -"Oh, I like him!" exclaimed Tom, who was fond of children. "He's a good -sailor; eh, Jackie?" - -"Sure," answered the little chap. "Come on, now, let's play ring-toss -some more," and Tom complied. - -The passengers, of whom there were only about a dozen, had soon made -friends with each other--that is all but the "mysterious one," as Tom -still thought of him,--and they all did what they could to make the -time pass pleasantly. - -Tom's sad quest became known to all and he received much sympathy, -while Mr. Case told stories of shipwrecks in which persons, believed -for a long time to be lost, had finally been found. This comforted our -hero very much. - -"How anyone can remain below on such a night as this I can't see!" once -exclaimed a Mrs. Pendleton, who was taking the trip with her daughter. -"Such a lovely moon, and such a calm sea! And yet, I understand, Mr. -Fairfield," she said to Tom, "that there is a gentleman on board who -hasn't yet been out of his stateroom--who takes all his meals there." - -"Yes," replied Tom. Nearly all the passengers were out on deck that -evening, enjoying the calm, peaceful night, and looking at the -phosphorescent sea, silvered by the moon. "I don't know why he stays -below unless it is that he is very ill." - -"Perhaps no one has invited him out," suggested Mrs. Pendleton, who was -quite impulsive. "Let's go, you and I, Mr. Fairfield." - -"Oh, no, mamma!" exclaimed her daughter. "Perhaps he has good reasons -for being quiet. It is none of our affair." - -"But we ought to make it our affair to see that he enjoys the best part -of the trip," insisted her mother. "I'm going to get him out." - -"No, you must not!" her daughter insisted. "Oh, mamma, you do the -strangest things!" and she laughed. "I have to be watching her all the -while," she added with a laugh, to the others. "She has no regard for -conventionality." - -"There's no sense in it," insisted the elder lady. "But I'll not go if -you don't want me to. There, a big fish just jumped up!" she exclaimed, -as there came a splash in the water. - -They all crowded to the rail to look, Jackie Case, who had not yet gone -to bed, being the most eager. - -"Where's the big fish?" he cried. There was quite a swell on, and the -boat rolled from side to side at times with a dangerous pitch, but not -annoying to those used to it. It was just on one of the occasions when -the ship slid along, tilting her rail, with the passengers up against -it toward the waves, that little Jackie tried to climb up to the -highest point of vantage. - -"I don't see the fish!" he cried, and he leaned over still farther. In -another instant he had overbalanced, and, with a cry of terror, he had -slipped across the rail. - -"There he goes!" cried Mrs. Pendleton. "Jackie has fallen!" - -His father came rushing up with a cry of anguish. But Tom had been near -enough to make a grab for the little chap, and he hung fast. Now a -voice rang out: - -"Man overboard!" - -"Man overboard!" repeated the lookout. "Lower the boat!" - -There was a clanging of bells in the engine room, as the propeller was -reversed. - -"Hold tight, Jackie!" cried Tom, as he tried to get the little fellow -back over the rail. "I'll help you. Hold tight!" - -But the little boy was too frightened to aid himself and he let go. -But now our hero had a better hold and he clung on desperately, until -others came to his assistance, and then both were helped to a place of -safety. Tom had gotten pretty wet, but this he did not mind. - -"Oh, Jackie! Jackie, my boy!" cried Mr. Case, hugging the little form -to him, and then, still clasping his son, the man held out his hand to -Tom. - -"I--I can't thank you now," he said brokenly, "but I may be able -to--sometime." - -The accident broke up the pleasant little party on deck, and Tom -hurried below to change to dry garments. As he passed the stateroom of -the mysterious man our hero saw that one of the stewards was speaking -through the partly-opened door to Mr. Trendell. - -"It's all over now," the steward was saying. "A little boy almost fell -overboard, and Tom Fairfield went after him." - -"Was either recovered? Was Tom Fairfield drowned?" asked the voice of -the man in the stateroom. - -"No, sir. They were both saved. Thank you!" This last obviously in -response to a tip handed out. The door was closed and Tom passed on. - -"Queer," he mused, as he reached his stateroom, "very queer that he -should want to know if I was drowned." - -Neither our hero nor little Jackie was any the worse off the next -morning for the accident. Tom's heroism was the talk of the ship. - -"I think the big fish, whatever it was, that caused all the trouble, -must have brought the change of weather," said Mrs. Pendleton to Tom -that afternoon. "It isn't as nice as it was." - -"Oh, we can't always have good weather," spoke Tom. The day was one of -lowering clouds, and as our hero, a little later, went up to the pilot -house, he saw Captain Steerit again studying the barometer. - -"Anything wrong?" inquired Tom. - -"She's falling again," was the answer. "I don't like it. I think we're -in for a storm." - -The wind began to rise about an hour after that, and the clouds -appeared lower than ever, some of them seeming fairly to touch the -distant waves. The rigging hummed and twanged like the strings of a -harp. Sailors were hurrying about, making everything snug below and -aloft. - -"Ha! What's that?" suddenly asked the captain, as the lookout in the -bows cried out a warning. The man repeated what he had said, but Tom -could not catch it. - -"Look, look, Tom my lad, if you want to see a strange sight!" said the -commander, taking hold of Tom's arm, and directing his gaze off to the -left. "Did you ever see the like before?" - -Our hero looked and saw, rising from the ocean, a dark mass of water, -twisted into the shape of a funnel, with the upper end whipping about -and twisting like a snake. At the same moment, from a black and -threatening cloud above, a similar funnel-shaped mass seemed to drop, -only the point of it was toward the point in the cone of water. - -Suddenly the two met, forming a black pillar, and there was a loud -roaring sound. - -"What is it?" cried Tom, but, even as he asked he knew what the captain -would say. - -"Waterspout! A waterspout, and a big one, too!" - -The attention of everyone on board had been called to the strange and -threatening phenomenon by this time, and they all watched it anxiously. - -"A waterspout," murmured Tom. "I've often heard about them, but I never -saw one before. What will it do?" - -"Break when the whirlwind that caused it dies out," was the answer, -"but----" The captain suddenly ceased speaking. Then he cried: - -"It's headed right this way! The waterspout is coming toward us!" - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -SEEN IN THE GLASS - - -Instantly there was a commotion all through the _Silver Star_. The -captain's alarming words had frightened the sailors as well as the -passengers. As for Tom, he stood in fascinated wonder on the bridge, -watching the approaching waterspout. - -And that it was approaching, and rapidly too, could not be doubted. It -was sweeping onward with a whirling motion, straight for the ship, and -there was a low, moaning and humming sound to the wind that had created -it, which did not add to the pleasure of the spectacle. - -"Is there any danger?" asked Tom. - -"There is if it hits us," was the captain's grim answer. "But I'm not -going to let that happen, if I can help it. I'll go ahead full speed -and try to get out of the way. It's only in a sailing ship, where it's -hard to change the course against a perverse wind, that there is really -any great danger, though I have heard of steamers being hit." - -"Oh, Captain Steerit!" cried a woman passenger from the deck below. -"Will we be wrecked?" - -"Not if I can help it," was his answer. "There is comparatively no -danger. I'll pass the spout to one side." - -"Then I'm going to try for a picture!" exclaimed Tom. "Will it last -long enough for me to get my camera?" he asked, pausing on his way down. - -"It will if you hurry," answered the commander. "And I may be able to -give you a chance to get a rare view." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean I'm going to try to break that spout with a cannon shot. I've -read of such things being done, but I never tried it. I've got a gun on -board, for saluting some of the owners at the islands where I trade, -and I'll have my gunner try a shot at it." - -"Great!" cried Tom. "If I can get a view of the spout, as the cannon -ball hits it, that will be a rare one." - -He hurried below for his camera, while the captain gave his order about -the cannon, and the crew ran the gun out on the bow. - -When Tom came up from his stateroom he saw that the spout was much -nearer. But the course of the _Silver Star_ had been so changed that -she was in comparatively no danger of being struck, unless the -waterspout suddenly shifted. - -"All ready now with that gun!" cried the captain. - -"All ready! Aye, aye, sir!" came the answer. - -Tom was taking several views of the waterspout as it was whirling -along, and some of the other passengers, grown bolder as they saw that -there was no danger, were doing the same. - -"Ready to snap her, Tom?" asked the commander. - -"Yes, sir," answered our hero. - -"Then here she goes! Fire!" - -There was a puff of white smoke, a dull flame, and a report that seemed -to jar the whole ship. Tom had a glimpse of something black bounding -over the waves. It was the round shot from the old-fashioned cannon, -and had no great speed, as cannon balls go. - -"Get ready, Tom!" called the captain. - -Tom focused his camera on the whirling waterspout, and waited the right -moment to push the shutter lever. - -It came. - -Surely aimed had been the cannon, for the ball cut right through the -center of the twin-joined funnel-shaped masses of water. The one that -had risen from the sea slumped down into the waves again, carrying with -it the mass of water that had been drawn from the heavily charged -cloud, and Tom got a wonderful picture of the destruction of the spout. - -"There, I guess that won't trouble us any more, even if it had been -headed directly for us!" called the captain, while he signalled for -full speed ahead, since he had slowed down the vessel to enable Tom to -take the snapshot. - -"It was great!" exclaimed our hero, as he went up on the bridge to -thank his friend the commander. "Do waterspouts do much damage?" - -"They do when they're big enough, and when they hit a small vessel. -Even a big steamer might suffer from having thousands of tons of water -dropped on her decks at once. I don't want to encounter a waterspout. -They are quite rare I believe. At least I've seen very few, and the -farther off they are the better I like 'em. Did you get a good picture?" - -"I hope so. But I can't develop it here." - -"Oh, yes you can. I used to be quite an amateur photographer myself, -and I had a dark room fitted up on board. I guess there are all the -chemicals and other things you need, including the ruby light. Go ahead -and develop your film, and see what sort of a view you have." - -"That's great!" exclaimed Tom. "If they're any good I'll make some for -you." - -"All right. I'll be glad to have 'em." - -Tom went below, noting as he did so that the sea was still foaming -and agitated where the waterspout had subsided into the waves. -The passengers were crowded about the gun that had been fired, -congratulating the gunner, and talking about the waterspout and its -sudden destruction. - -To get to the dark room, fitted up in a small stateroom, Tom had to go -past the room of the "mysterious" passenger. - -"Queer he wouldn't even come up on deck to see the waterspout," mused -our hero. "He must have some strange object in remaining below. Well, -I'm not going to think anything more about him." - -As Tom got in front of the stateroom he noticed that the door was -partly opened, and, almost instinctively, and with no intention of -prying, he looked in as he passed. - -What he saw startled him. There was an electric light aglow in the -apartment, for the clouds had made the day gloomy, and Tom caught the -reflection in a looking glass on the wall. And what he saw in the glass -was the face of a man with a beard and moustache. It was a face that -Tom knew well, but it was not the face of the passenger who had so -hurriedly boarded the ship, and who had kept to his berth ever since. - -"A beard and moustache!" gasped Tom. "I wonder if they're false? And -yet they might have grown naturally. But no, they couldn't have, in -this short time. They're false. And I know who that man is now! I -didn't know him smooth shaven, but I do with his beard." - -He had a good glimpse, by means of the mirror, of the face of the -mysterious man. The passenger appeared to be contemplating his -countenance in the glass. - -"He here!" gasped Tom, as he hurried on to the dark room. "That man on -board! I must tell Captain Steerit!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE STORM - - -Filled with his new idea, and alarmed at the possible menace to -himself, Tom turned, and was about to retrace his steps up on deck to -speak to the captain. Then he paused. - -"Hold on a minute, Tom Fairfield," he told himself. "And don't do -anything in a hurry. You came off on this voyage in a rush, and maybe -that was a good thing. But just wait a minute now, and see if this is -the best step to take." - -He turned again, and once more walked past the stateroom of the -suspected man. The door was closed this time, and Tom was rather glad -of it, for he did not want to meet the passenger, now that he knew who -he was. - -"I'll just wait a bit about telling the captain," reflected Tom. "When -I tell him the story he's bound to take some action, seeing that Mr. -Trendell is sailing under false colors. And that's bound to make a -row. It won't be pleasant for me, either, seeing that I've got to stay -on this ship with him for some time yet. And a ship isn't like dry -land--you can't get away from a person when you want to. - -"No, it's better for me as it is, I think. As long as he stays shut up -in his stateroom he won't bother me, though he knows that I'm on board. -That's why he acted so queer, and why he's been in retirement. Now he's -planning some new move. - -"Yes, I'll just lay low for a while, and see what happens. There's time -enough I guess. I'll go develop this picture." - -Tom found the dark room well fitted up, and he was soon at work, taking -the films from his camera, and putting them in the developing bath. -As soon as the yellow coating began to dissolve he saw, coming out -of the shadows, as it were, the dim image of the waterspout, and the -shattering of it by the cannon ball. - -"Say! That's a crackerjack snapshot!" he exclaimed. "As soon as it's -dry enough I'm going to print some views and show 'em. I don't believe -anyone on board has any better pictures than these." - -In his enthusiasm over his views he forgot, for the time being, the -matter that was troubling him. He found that he had a number of -excellent negatives of the waterspout, showing it approaching, its -destruction, and the raging sea after it had subsided into the waves. - -"Good! That's great!" exclaimed Mr. Blake, one of the passengers to -whom Tom showed his views a few hours later. "I hope mine come out as -fine as yours. How did you print them so quickly?" - -Tom explained how he had dried his negatives by dipping them in -alcohol, and pinning them in front of an electric fan, so that he could -make prints a comparatively short time after developing. He even used -the dark room for some of the other passengers, making some prints from -their films, but none of them were as good as those of our hero. - -"You ought to make a set for the captain," suggested Mr. Blake. "I -believe he'd like them to hang in his cabin, as a souvenir of the -occasion." - -"I will," declared Tom, and this brought up anew in his mind the -question as to whether or not he ought to inform the commander of the -secret he had unexpectedly stumbled upon. - -"I guess I'll take a chance, and tell him," mused the lad. "I've -thought it all over, and I'll feel better if I tell. If I don't, and -anything happens, I'd feel as if I was to blame. I'll tell Captain -Steerit." - -But an unexpected obstacle developed. First, when Tom went to look for -the captain the latter was working out some reckonings, and could not -be disturbed. And then, a little later, it was time for supper, and a -concert was to be given afterward, the captain having arranged for it -among the musical members of his passengers. He was really too busy for -Tom to see him in private. - -"Oh, well, morning will do," decided our hero, little knowing what was -to happen between night and dawn. - -The concert was a great success, though it was strictly amateur. There -were songs and instrumental numbers, for the _Silver Star_ carried a -piano. Some one discovered that Tom was a school lad, who had been a -member of the glee club at Elmwood Hall, and nothing would do but that -he must sing some songs. He did not want to, but was finally prevailed -upon to do so, and he had a better voice than he himself suspected. - -"Great! Fine!" complimented Mr. Blake. "If there were more of us here -we could charge admission and make a fund for the sailors. Now, Mrs. -Ford, another of your piano solos." - -Thus the evening went on in gaiety until even the gayest were ready for -their staterooms. - -"Maybe I'll get a chance to speak to the captain now," thought Tom, -wishing to get the unpleasant matter off his mind before he went to -bed, if possible. But Captain Steerit was still busy, and when he did -have a moment's leisure, after the main cabin had been put to rights -following the concert, he was summoned to the bridge by an unexpected -call. - -"I wonder if anything can be wrong?" asked Mr. Blake of Tom. - -"Wrong? How? What do you mean?" - -"Well, I mean that the wind has been rising rapidly in the last hour, -and the barometer is falling. I heard one of the crew say so." - -"That means a storm," suggested Tom. - -"I guess so. Notice how we're pitching and rolling." - -"That's right," agreed our hero, for, now that his attention was not -occupied with the music and songs he could observe that the ship was -heeling over at a sharper angle. And, too, she seemed to be climbing up -some mountain of water, only to slip down into the hollow on the other -side of it. - -"It is a little rough," spoke Tom, "but I don't believe it will amount -to much. Let's go up and look around." - -The motion on deck was more pronounced than it had been below, and -the two had some little difficulty in keeping their feet as they got -outside. They felt the strong wind in their faces, a wind that seemed -to be momentarily increasing in violence. - -"Better get below!" shouted Captain Steerit to Tom and Mr. Blake, from -the bridge. "We're in for a spell of bad weather I fancy." - -"Any danger?" yelled Mr. Blake, above the roar of the wind, which was -humming through the mast and funnel stays. "My wife is very nervous." - -"No danger," answered the commander, and then he disappeared into the -charthouse that opened off the bridge. - -The vessel pitched and tossed, but Tom had been in worse blows than -this, and he saw nothing to be alarmed about. The sky was overcast with -clouds, for no stars were visible, and the wind was strong, but aside -from these indications there did not seem to be anything to be alarmed -about. - -"Well, I'll have to wait until morning, all right," mused Tom, as he -took a turn about the deck before going in. Mr. Blake left him with a -good-night. - -"I'll go tell my wife there's nothing to be alarmed about," he said, -"but she's that nervous that it'll be just like her to sit up dressed -all night." - -"Oh, I guess the _Silver Star_ can weather this little blow," said Tom. - -Remaining on deck for about half an hour longer Tom was beginning to -feel sleepy enough to turn in. The wind had not increased. If anything -it had gone down, though the lad could see, over the rail, that the -waves were running high. They did not break, however, being more like -huge oily swells that heaved up in the darkness, showing dimly the -reflection of the ship's lights. - -"Some power to those waves," reflected our hero. "A lot of power there -when it's needed, but the trouble is it can't be controlled. Well, I -hope we don't run into a worse blow by morning." - -A little saddened as he looked off across the black waste, and -reflected that somewhere on that heaving ocean his father and mother -might be helplessly drifting, Tom went below. - -As he did so he cast a look at the bridge. He saw Captain Steerit -standing there with the first mate, their figures being brought out in -relief against the glow of light from the charthouse. The two seemed -to be in earnest conversation, and Tom, who was unaccountably nervous, -could not but wonder if there was any danger in their situation. - -As he passed the room of the mysterious passenger Tom saw that the door -was closed, though a light showing over the transom indicated that the -occupant was still up. - -It must have been past midnight when Tom was suddenly awakened by -being pitched sharply against the side of his berth. - -"Hello! What's up?" he cried. - -There was no answer, but he felt himself tossed in the opposite -direction, while some loose objects in his room rolled about the floor. - -"Something's going on!" said Tom aloud, as he reached out and turned -the electric switch, flooding his room with light. - -As he did so he became aware that the vessel was rolling and pitching -at what, even to his accustomed senses, was an alarming degree. Tom -sprang out of bed, and brought up with a bang on the opposite side of -his little apartment, giving himself quite a severe knock. - -"Ouch!" he exclaimed, rubbing his elbows. He forgot to hold on to -something, and felt himself sliding back toward his berth, but he -had sense enough to put out his hands and save himself from another -collision. - -"Some motion here!" thought Tom. - -At the same time he became aware of a rushing of feet on the deck above -him, while hoarse commands were cried out, coming but faintly to his -ears. - -Without waiting to dress, Tom cautiously opened his porthole a trifle. -In an instant, even through the small crack, he was drenched with a -spray of salty water. - -"Say! It must be a blow!" he cried, screwing the porthole glass back -into place. "It's a storm all right! I'm going to get dressed, and go -on deck. No telling what might happen." - -Steadying himself with one hand, he sorted out his clothes with the -other. He could hear the passengers in the stateroom adjoining his -moving about, and he thought he detected a woman crying. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A BLOW IN THE DARK - - -"Trouble somewhere," reflected Tom, as he hastily dressed as best he -could in that small stateroom, which seemed uncertain on its own part -as to what was the floor or ceiling. Sometimes one of the walls would -serve as the floor, and again as the ceiling. - -"Trouble," repeated Tom, "or else some one is frightened. The storm -must have developed in a hurry. I'm going to see what's up. I don't -like being below when there's any danger." - -Finishing with his dressing, Tom hurried along the passageway leading -to the upper deck. He had to steady himself as he went along, or he -would have received more hard knocks. - -Coming opposite the room where the "mysterious" man was quartered, Tom -noted that the door was ajar a trifle. It went shut with a slam as -our hero passed, but whether the occupant had been the cause, or the -swaying of the ship, Tom could not determine. - -"No chance to talk with Captain Steerit now," Tom reflected. "But I -guess it will keep until after the blow." - -On deck our hero was at once made aware of the fury of the storm, -and its increasing violence. He had a glimpse of great billows, -foam-capped, racing along at the side of the _Silver Star_, as if to -keep pace with her, mocking her efforts to speed away from them. He -heard the wind fairly howling through the wire stays, as if giant -fingers were playing a wild tune on some immense harp. And he felt, -too, the violent pitching and tossing of the craft, as he had not in -his cabin below. In fact so great was the motion that he had difficulty -in keeping his feet. - -"Some blow--this," gasped Tom, the words being almost snatched out of -his mouth by the wind. - -He saw sailors making their way here and there, fastening in place such -gear as might tear away when the storm became worse. And that this was -likely was becoming every moment more evident. - -Tom managed to make his way forward, clinging to some safety ropes that -had been rigged. He was near the bow, and could see towering billows -curling toward the ship, when a voice hailed him. - -"Get back! Go on back, Tom!" someone shouted. - -He looked up toward the bridge, to see Captain Steerit standing there, -clad in oilskins, for the spray was flying from the crests of the -mountain-like ridges of water. - -"Is there any danger?" Tom shouted back. - -"There always is--in a storm," was the grim response. "Get back. No -telling when a comber may come aboard, and it will carry you off like a -chip. You can't hold on. Get back, Tom!" - -Our hero decided that it was good advice to follow, and, even as he -turned he felt the ship stagger as though some giant had dealt her a -blow. There was a shower of spray and a rush of water that drenched -Tom, and nearly carried him off his feet. - -"Well I'm wet through," he reflected. "I'd better get back to bed, or -else put on dry clothes. I should have put on oilskins before coming -up." - -As he went down a companionway he saw Mr. Blake coming up, with his -wife clinging to him. She had been crying, and was even now sobbing. - -"Don't go up," Tom advised them. - -"Oh, is it as bad as that? Are we sinking?" gasped Mrs. Blake. - -"Oh, there's no particular danger," said Tom, as calmly as he could, -"only you'll get all wet. I'm drenched. Captain Steerit warned me back, -just as a big wave came aboard." - -"Oh, Will, I'm so frightened!" wailed Mrs. Blake. "I know we'll go to -the bottom!" - -"Nonsense!" answered her husband. "I told you we'd better stay below." - -"It's more comfortable, at any rate," said Tom, and he helped Mr. Blake -assist his wife to their stateroom. - -Tom lost no time in putting on dry garments, and over them he put a -suit of oilskins, that would keep out the wet. Thus equipped he started -for the deck again. - -"Now that I'm up I may as well stay and see the storm out," Tom -reflected. "If it grows worse I don't want to be below, anyhow. I'll -have more chance in the open." - -For a moment his heart misgave him, as he thought of the storm through -which the ship on which his father and mother were sailing had gone. - -"I do hope the _Silver Star_ isn't wrecked," mused Tom. "That would -upset all my plans. But pshaw! It won't happen." - -He passed one of the sailors whom he knew. - -"What do you think of it?" asked Tom. - -The man paused for a moment before replying. Then, looking to see that -no one overheard him, the man answered: - -"We've got orders to put fresh water in the lifeboats, and to see that -all's clear for getting away in a hurry." - -"As bad as that?" asked Tom, in some surprise. "Why I fancied the ship -wouldn't make much of this storm." - -"It isn't so much the storm," went on the sailor, "though that's bad -enough, and it's getting worse. But she's opened some of her seams, and -we're taking in water." - -"Have they started the pumps?" asked Tom in some alarm. - -"Sure, but one of them is out of commission, and the others have all -they can do. Take my advice and get ready for any emergency." - -"Jove! As bad as that!" exclaimed Tom with a gasp. "Surely the -passengers ought to be told." - -"Oh, don't worry," the sailor advised him. "The captain will tell them -soon enough. And if they know too soon it may start a panic." - -"That's so," agreed our hero. - -He turned to go back to his stateroom, and, as he did so, he became -aware that the door to the apartment of the man he suspected had been -open a crack. It was quickly closed as our hero came opposite it, as if -the occupant had been listening to what the sailor had said. - -"I wonder if I hadn't better give Mr. Blake, and some of the others, a -little warning," reflected Tom. "No, I guess I won't. The women might -get all excited. Captain Steerit will surely take no chances. But now -what had I better do? I'm going to take my money with me, anyhow, if -we have to leave the ship." - -Tom had provided himself with a money belt before coming on his trip, -and he now strapped this about his waist with the pockets filled. He -also took a few personal belongings that would not take up much room, -nor be heavy. He had on warm but light clothing, and light shoes. - -"If worst comes to worst, and I have to swim for it, I can do it this -way," he reflected. "It won't be cold, that's one good thing, and there -aren't any icebergs in this part of the Pacific. Still I hope nothing -happens." - -Once more he made his way up on deck. He saw none of the other -passengers there, and, taking his place in a sheltered spot, he watched -the storm. - -It was certainly growing worse. Every now and then big seas came -crashing over the bow, sending a shower of spray up to the bridge where -Captain Steerit kept unceasing watch. The _Silver Star_ was pitching -and tossing more than ever. Now she would poke her nose toward some -big, dark billow, and it seemed as if she must bury herself beneath it. -But she would rise to it, and ride on the crest, being poised there for -a moment with her bow and propeller clear of water. - -At such times the engines raced, the screw having no resistance, and -the whole vessel quivered from stem to stern. Then the staunch craft -would slide down the inclined plane of water into the valley below, -only to repeat the process at the next huge wave. - -Then, when some big comber came aboard, the ship would stagger under -the blow, until it seemed as if she must be crushed. But ever she would -emerge from the battle with the sea, to stagger on once more. - -It was magnificent, but terrifying, and Tom, who had never been in such -a storm, was not a little frightened. But when he looked toward the -bridge, and saw the commander there in his glistening oilskins, as calm -and undisturbed as though he was but guiding his vessel on a summer -day, our hero felt reassured. - -"The ship's in good hands," thought Tom. "We'll pull through yet, -barring accidents, and even with a leak, and one pump useless." - -Yes--"barring accidents." That is the one thing on which sailors cannot -count. - -All had been done that human ingenuity could suggest. Everything -movable on deck had been made fast, and the engines were going at top -power to force the ship through the storm. Tom could see dark figures -clustered about the lifeboats, and he knew the sailors stood ready to -lower them in case of necessity. - -"But I think I'd rather take my chance on the _Silver Star_ than in a -small boat in such a sea," reflected Tom, not without a shudder, as he -looked at the heaving billows. - -He could not tell whether it was raining or not, as the spray was -like a fall of the drops from the clouds. There was no thunder or -lightning--just a hard, steady blow. - -On staggered the steamer. Tom braced himself in a corner by a -deckhouse, and held on. He could look over the rail at the hissing seas -that ran alongside. - -Suddenly there came a hoarse cry from the lookout in the bows. - -"Port! Port your wheel!" he screamed. "We'll be upon it in a second. -Port!" - -"Port it is!" came the quick voice of Captain Steerit. - -A moment later there came a staggering blow in the dark--a blow that -seemed to halt the _Silver Star_ in her career--a blow that made the -craft shiver from stem to stern! - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -TOM GOES OVERBOARD - - -"Stand by to lower the boats! Order all hands on deck! Women and -children first!" - -Captain Steerit was yelling these commands through a megaphone to his -crew, even while he turned to order the first mate, on the bridge with -him, to go below to the engine room, and see what damage had been done. - -The _Silver Star_, after the first staggering blow, had come to a -stop, and lay pitching and tossing on the waves. Clearly her engines -were motionless, for Tom missed the vibration that had told of their -ceaseless revolutions. - -"Something bad has happened," reflected our hero. "I've got to be on -the lookout." - -He glanced over the rail, and could see nothing but the black, rushing -waves. He had half a mind to go back to his cabin, and see if he could -not crowd some of his belongings into a valise. - -"If we've got to take to the boats," he reflected, "there are not so -many of us but what we can each take a little baggage. I'll need some -other clothing if we come out of this safely. I'll take a chance." - -He was about to go below when he once more felt the throb of the -engines, and the ship quivered. - -"We're under way again," he said, half aloud. "I guess it's all right. -We may have hit a floating spar, or something like that. And yet, from -the way the lookout yelled, it seemed to be more dangerous than that. I -guess it's all right, though." - -But the order to stand by to lower the boats had not been recalled, and -already the sailors were swarming about them, seeing that the falls -were clear, and that food and water were on board the small craft. - -Small craft, indeed, they seemed, to be trusted on the mighty ocean in -a storm, and yet they were staunchly made, and Tom knew that if they -could be successfully launched they could weather many a blow. - -"Well, if I've got to take a chance, I've got to," he reflected. "I'll -get some of my things, and wait for my place in the boat." - -The sound of crying and tearful exclamations could now be heard above -the roar of the gale, and Tom recognized the voice of Jackie Case, the -little boy whom he had saved. - -"Poor little chap!" he mused. "It's tough on the women and children." - -After that first staggering blow, and the confusion that followed, -order seemed to come out of chaos. Captain Steerit had matters well in -hand, and he issued his orders calmly. The women were comforted as best -they could, and urged to get in the small boats. Some objected, fearing -to trust themselves to the craft in such a storm. But the captain -insisted. - -"Is there really any danger?" asked Mr. Blake, as he stood by one of -the starboard boats, his wife clinging to him. Tom was near enough to -hear the captain's answer. - -"We have sprung several bad leaks," was what the commander said, -"and the pumps can't keep the water down. We must have struck a -half-submerged wreck, and that further opened the seams which were -started by the strain of the storm. I regret to say it, but I fear we -must abandon the ship--before it is--too late!" - -His solemn words set the women to weeping again, but their relatives -tried to calm them. Tom had started for his stateroom, intending to get -some of his belongings, when little Jackie spied him. - -"Tom! Tom!" he called. "Come with me." - -"In a little while, Jackie, my boy!" Tom answered. "I'll get in after -you do." - -"Come with me and my papa," invited the little lad, and he started to -run across the heaving deck, but his parent caught him up in his arms -and hugged him close. - -The engines that had started up, after a temporary stoppage caused by -the collision, again suddenly ceased to work, and once more the _Silver -Star_ lay at the mercy of the wind and waves. It was raining now, and -the storm was at its height, the wind whipping the stinging drops into -the faces of everyone. - -"Hurry, men!" urged the captain. "Get them into the boat and follow -yourselves. Where are you going, Tom?" he asked, for the commander had -come down from the bridge. - -"To my cabin to get some of my things," answered the lad. - -"Better not. We'll have to be quick! She's beginning to settle. She -won't last much longer! There must be a big hole ripped in her. What's -the matter with those signal lights?" he cried. - -"Aye, aye, sir!" came the answer, and a moment later there flared up -the glare of the rockets that might serve to call help to the stricken -vessel. The wireless, too, was crackling out an appeal, but this did -not last long, as the dynamo was soon put out of commission, and the -storage battery did not seem to work. - -"Well, I guess we've got to go," mused Tom. "This is certainly a bad -start toward the rescue of dad and mother!" and he felt a mist of tears -come into his eyes, that mingled with the rain and the salty spray of -the sea. - -"Are all the women and children in?" asked the captain, for one boat -would more than serve to hold them. - -"Aye, aye, sir!" came the answer. - -"Then let their husbands or other relatives join them." - -The men involved in this order moved forward over the sloping and -heaving deck, in the glare of the signal fires, and took their places. - -"Tom! Tom Fairfield!" cried little Jackie. "I want you with me!" - -"Yes, Tom, you might as well go," said the captain, holding out his -hand to our hero. "Good-by." - -"But, aren't you coming? There's lots of room." - -"I'll come--last," was the grim answer. "Go! And good-luck to you. I've -put a trusty man in charge of that boat." - -Our hero sprang toward the lifeboat which was all ready to be lowered -at a favorable moment. But Tom Fairfield was not destined to enter her. - -At that moment, and with a suddenness that took them all unprepared, -there came another frightful blow against the side of the ill-fated -_Silver Star_. She heeled over, and in such a manner that the lifeboat -with its load of shrieking women and pale-faced men overhung the sea. - -"Lower away!" shouted some one. - -"Wait!" cried Captain Steerit. - -Tom felt himself knocked down and hurled across the sloping deck. In -vain he tried to grasp something to stay his progress. A wave splashed -up, making the deck even more slippery. - -Over and over rolled Tom, and he hoped, when he came to the rail, to -save himself. But the rail was not there. In the glare of the burning -signal lights Tom could see where a great portion of it and the netting -had been torn away. There was nothing to save him from rolling into the -sea. - -In vain he tried to clutch the slippery deck, to hold on to something. -He did not cry for help. He knew it would be useless. Over and over he -rolled. - -The vessel was sinking fast now. Tom, imperiled as he was, could tell -that. She rose more sluggishly to the heaving waves. There were cries -of pain, terror and confused shouts. - -A moment later our hero found himself shooting off into space. - -Down and down he plunged. He could see the glare of the rockets -reflected from the surface of the boiling waves. He saw something -white floating, and he tried to hurl himself toward that. - -In another instant he had hit the water feet first, and felt himself -going down into the depths. He had been tossed overboard into the midst -of the ocean and in the heart of the storm. The waters closed over him, -and filled his ears with their booming sound. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE DERELICT - - -"Air!" thought Tom gaspingly, as he went down and down into the depths. -"I must get air! My lungs! They're bursting!" - -He felt himself being buffeted by the waters. It seemed as though he -was in a whirlpool of foam. He was being sucked down. - -Even then he found himself thinking of many things besides the very -evident necessity of saving himself. He was wondering what had struck -the _Silver Star_. He wondered if the ship had gone down, or had gone -to pieces. What had become of her passengers and crew? - -And, with all that, and with the vital necessity of getting a breath of -air soon, Tom found himself regretting that his mission to rescue his -parents must now fail. - -"But it shan't!" he found himself exclaiming mentally. "I'll get up and -save myself, and them too!" - -Tom had grit. It was the kind of grit that enabled him to win the -football game, and to lead his class to revolt against unfair -treatment. - -Striking out with all his might our hero swam upward. He felt that he -would never reach the top so that he might fill his lungs with air, -and he blessed his lucky stars that he had put on light clothing, soft -shoes and was not encumbered with anything. - -For he felt that he was mounting upward. Upward through the blackness -and dark waters to what? - -That was something that even he dared not think about. Would he find -himself on a waste of waters, or would there be some boat near to save -him? Had the whole ship's company perished? It seemed likely. - -Then, as suddenly as he had gone into the water, he felt himself -shooting up out of it. He shook his head, as a dog shakes his body on -emerging from the waves, to free his eyes of water. Then he glanced -about. - -There was a glare on the storm-swept surface of the heaving sea, a -glare that Tom knew came from the flaring rockets and signal lights. -He whirled about in the water until he could face the source of the -illumination, and he saw that which saddened and startled him. - -About a hundred yards away, for that distance she had been swept by the -storm, was all that was left of the _Silver Star_. She was low in the -water--a wreck--and the light flared from one of her signal masts, -where a sailor had fastened it. - -And in the glare Tom saw something else. It was a lifeboat, filled -with people, and it was headed away from him. He knew this was his one -chance. Treading water, so as to bring his head as much above the waves -as possible, he shouted: - -"Help! Help! I'm Tom Fairfield! I'm right astern of you. Help! Help! -I'm--" - -His voice was drowned out in a smother of foam that broke over him -from a huge wave, and he had to swim to keep himself up. The boat -disappeared behind the crest of a comber, only to reappear again, the -dying flare from the light showing the men rowing hard. - -"Help! Help!" sang out Tom again, but at the same moment he realized -that in the roar of the wind and the swish of the waves his cry could -scarcely be heard. Still he called again: - -"Help! Help!" - -Once more he was covered by a smother of foam, and again he had to swim -with all his strength. When he could see the lifeboat again it was -farther off, and then Tom did what he should have tried at first--he -endeavored to swim after it. - -"For they're rowing to get beyond the suction of the ship when it goes -down," he reflected, "and when they're far enough away they'll wait to -pick up survivors." - -He struck out valiantly, his courage coming back to him now. It was not -cold, and save for the violence of the wind and waves, Tom would not -have been in bad straits, for he was a good swimmer. But he realized -the peril of his situation--adrift on the open ocean. - -He had swum perhaps fifty feet, getting occasional glimpses of the -lifeboat as it rose on the crest of a wave, when the flare on the -vessel seemed to be dying down. - -Tom swung around and saw a weird and terrifying sight. As he looked -the _Silver Star_ seemed to stand up on end, like some stricken animal -making a last stand. Then with a suddenness that was startling, the -craft sank from sight, a loud boom proclaiming when the decks blew up -from the compressed air under them. - -Instantly the sea was in blackness again, and Tom felt his heart -sinking, as he realized that he could no longer see the lifeboat, upon -which his sole hope could be placed. - -"But I'm not going to give up. I'll yell some more," he thought, and he -called with all the power of his lungs. - -"Help! Help! I'm Tom Fairfield! Right astern of you!" - -He listened, but all he could hear was the roar of the wind and the -swish of the waves. And then he knew it was hopeless to look for aid -from that direction. - -"I'll keep afloat as long as possible," he thought "and then--well--" -He did not like to think further. "In the morning though," he -reflected, "Ah, in the morning I may be able to pick up enough floating -wreckage to make a raft, or the boat may see me. There must be more -than one boat. They had time to launch more than one when I started to -make my roll into the ocean." - -This thought gave him courage, and he struck out with a better heart, -determining not to give up as long as he could keep afloat. - -"I wonder if there are sharks here," thought the shipwrecked lad. -"Sharks! Ugh! And other big fish!" - -He felt a shiver run through him in spite of the warmth of those -southern waters, and the very warmth, and the thought of how far south -he had come, made him think all the more about some fierce man-eating -tiger of the sea. - -"Oh, pshaw! What's the use of being a chump!" said Tom aloud, when he -got a chance to free his mouth of salt water. "I just won't think of -anything like that. Of course there aren't any sharks here. I'll just -think that I'm trying to win the swimming race at Elmwood Hall for my -Freshman class." - -The very idea, thus simply expressed, made him feel better, and he -struck out with better heart. Once more he went over in his mind the -events that had preceded the sinking of the _Silver Star_ and the -necessity for her passengers and crew to put to sea in small boats. He -found himself wondering what she could have hit, or been rammed by, to -tear a hole in her. - -"And my pictures of the waterspout!" reflected Tom grimly. "They're -at the bottom of the ocean by this time I suppose. And poor dad and -mother--But there, I'm not going to worry. I've got to swim, and I -guess I'll get all I want of it, even though I am fond of water." - -All around him was blackness, save a slight phosphorescence of the -ocean, and when he came up on the crest of a wave he looked about for a -possible sight of a boat. But he saw nothing. He shouted occasionally, -but he realized that he was only wasting his breath. On he swam, grimly -and determinedly. - -The storm seemed to be no worse, and Tom even found himself thinking -that it was abating, after it had done all the damage possible. - -There came a big wave over him, almost depriving him of breath, and -sending him rolling and tumbling down into the depths again. When he -came up, and had filled his lungs with air, he was almost exhausted. - -When he struck out his right hand hit something in the water. -Instinctively he shrank away with a start of fear that he had come in -contact with some monstrous fish. Then a flash of lightning--the first -since the beginning of the storm--revealed to him a large cork ring, or -life preserver. - -He could barely repress a shout of joy--only the thought that his mouth -might become filled with salt water deterred him, for he knew what that -ring meant to him. - -"I can get that over my head and float," he reasoned. He reached for -it. The swell carried it away from him for a moment, and then he got -hold of it. In a moment he had it under his armpits and he was riding -easily on the surface of the sea, for the ring was a specially large -one, and raised him well up. - -He was floating on the surface of the sea, I have said, and yet it was -not like the comparatively smooth surface of a river or lake. For, so -large were the waves still, in spite of the fact that the storm was a -little less severe, that Tom was down in a deep valley one moment, and -on a wave-crest the next. - -"Perhaps I can see the boat, now that there's lightning," he reasoned, -and, each time he came up he looked about. But he could see no sign of -the life-craft, nor were his shouts answered. - -He swam on again, rather hampered as to speed because of the ring, but -he did not mind this. His chief aim was to keep alive and afloat until -morning so that he might look for help, or be located by those in the -boats, if they were still on top of the sea. So Tom floated idly on, -occasionally swimming when he felt a bit numbed by the cold, which he -was conscious of, now that he had been in the water so long. - -The lightning increased in frequency and intensity, and there were -mutterings of thunder. - -"In for another storm, and a different kind," mused Tom. "I hope it -clears up after that, so I have some chance." - -The flashes became more brilliant, as the storm came nearer. Tom took -advantage of every one of them to look for a boat, or for a piece of -wreckage to which he might cling. But he saw nothing. Then the rain, -which had ceased for a time, burst with greater fury. It fairly seemed -to beat down the crests of the waves, and Tom was glad of that. - -"And I can get a drink, too," he reflected, for he had swallowed some -salt water, and his throat was parched. He held open his mouth and the -grateful drops dashed in. The amount he was able to catch was rather -disappointing, but it was better than nothing. - -And then, as the fury of the storm grew, and the lightning became even -more intense, Tom saw something that made his heart beat high with -hope. - -It was a shape of something lying low in the water, and moving -sluggishly on the swell. Our hero had only a glimpse of it at almost -the tail-end of the lightning flash, and he waited for another -illumination before deciding what the object was. - -Then the whole heavens seemed lighted up by a great flash and our hero -saw the object again. - -"A boat!" he cried. "And some one in it." - -He whirled about in the water, headed for the object, and struck out. - -"Help! Help!" he cried again. "Wait for me." - -Back came the answer over the waste of waters. - -"We can't do anything but wait. Swim over here. Go by the lightning." - -Once more Tom saw what he thought was the boat, by the glare of a -flash. Then its peculiar shape impressed him. - -"It's an upset boat!" he gasped. "They've been thrown out and are -clinging to the bottom. But it's a big one, though. Much bigger than -any of the lifeboats. I wonder what it can be?" - -On he swam toward the craft. - -"Are you there?" came a hail. - -"Yes, I'm coming," Tom answered. - -A huge wave seemed to sweep him onward. He saw that he was close to -the wrecked boat. A few more strokes, and a hand was reached out to -him. He grasped it desperately. - -"Come aboard, mate!" a hearty voice sang out. "We haven't much, but -you're welcome to it. Come aboard!" - -Tom found himself scrambling up the side of some craft. In the next -flash he saw the forms and indistinct faces of two men. One of them -held something in his arms. - -"What are you on?" gasped Tom. - -"A partly submerged derelict," was the answer. "It's the one the -_Silver Star_ struck, I reckon, and the thing that ripped a hole in her -and sunk her. It's a big derelict, my lad," the sailor went on, "and -when we were tossed overboard we landed close to it, same as this other -little chap did." - -"What other little chap?" asked Tom, as he sank down exhausted on the -deck of the derelict. - -He had his answer a moment later. - -"Oh, Tom. Tom Fairfield!" a childish voice cried. "I want you and I -want my daddy!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -ANOTHER PASSENGER - - -For a moment Tom did not move from the position into which he had -fallen when he clambered aboard the derelict. He was exhausted, but, -more than this, he was startled by the sound of the childish voice. And -yet, in an instant, he knew who had called his name. - -"Is--is he here--little Jackie here?" Tom gasped. - -"That's what he is, matie," answered one of the men. "I've been holding -him ever since we picked him out of the wreck of a lifeboat, poor -little chap. But I guess he'd rather come to you." - -"Tom--Tom Fairfield I want you!" cried Jackie. "Where is my daddy?" - -Tom felt a lump come into his throat, but he rose up and answered as -best he could. - -"I--I'll take care of you now, Jackie," said Tom brokenly. "Daddy--I--I -guess your daddy is off somewhere in a boat, looking for you. He'll -row up in the morning, and won't he be surprised when he sees you here -ahead of him? Oh, won't we have a grand joke on him, though!" - -Jackie laughed--laughed amid that waste of waters on the wave-washed -derelict. - -"Oh, how nice, Tom!" he said. "I want you to hold me, and tell me about -how daddy will be surprised." - -"Poor little kid," murmured the sailor who held the little boy, as he -passed him over to Tom when a lightning flash came. - -Tom was now getting his strength and wind back after his long swim. He -was still soaking wet, but the rain had now ceased, and the wind was -warm. If the sea went down enough so that the waves would not wash up -over the derelict they might all get dry. And then the morning would -come. But what would it bring? - -Tom gathered Jackie in his arms, and the boy, with a contented sigh, -snuggled up to our hero's shoulders. - -"Now tell me about daddy," he commanded. "Tell me about the joke on -him." - -Tom started to comply, forcing himself to make a joke out of what he -feared would be a grim discovery in the daylight. The boy's father was -probably among those drowned when the ship foundered. But little Jackie -must not know it. So Tom made up a fanciful little story--telling it -while the lightning flashed and the thunder rumbled, and while the -derelict rose and fell on the long swells. - -"Move back here, mate," said one of the sailors in a low voice. "It's -higher, and more out of the water." - -He moved forward to make a place for Tom, and the lad noticed that the -man took a position where he would be more exposed to the waves than at -first. - -"But you--" began Tom with an objection. - -"Come on," ordered the man, half harshly. "You want to keep the kid -dry; don't you?" - -Then Tom understood, and with a grateful heart he moved up so that -Jackie would not be so wet. The little fellow was breathing heavily -now, and Tom knew that he was asleep. - -"Well, Tom Fairfield," remarked one of the sailors, "this is tough -luck, isn't it?" - -"Couldn't be much worse, and yet there's lots worse off then we are," -commented the other. - -Tom looked at the sailors as the lightning flashed again. One he -knew as Abe Fordam, and the other was Joe Weldon. They had been deck -helpers, cargo shifters--doing any of the many things required on -a steamer, and hardly sailors proper, for there were no sails to -manipulate. Tom had made their acquaintance when he had requested them -to pose for their pictures as they were coiling up an anchor chain one -day on deck. - -"How did you happen to get aboard this derelict?" he asked, getting -into as comfortable a position as possible with his little burden. - -"It sort of--happened," replied Abe. - -"We had lowered away the main lifeboat, with most of the passengers -in it," added Joe, "right after the second crash came, and then there -wasn't time to do much more. It was everyone for himself. Some of the -men were cowards, too," he added contemptuously. - -"That's what they were," growled Abe. "They swamped one boat by all -trying to crowd into her. Me and Joe here shifted for ourselves, and -got aboard a life-raft that we slid down the sloping deck. We were -better off than most, too." - -"But how did you get aboard this derelict?" asked Tom. - -"Our raft hit it, after we'd been afloat some time, and I says to Joe -that we'd better take to it, seeing as how it was bigger than the raft. -So we transferred our keg of water to it, and what little grub we had, -and climbed on." - -"Then we found the boy," supplemented Joe. - -"That's right, then we found the boy," agreed Abe. "I see something -awash near the bow of this old craft, and I made a grab for it, -thinking it might be more grub. But it wasn't. It was part of a -lifeboat, with some life preservers jammed under the thwart. I pulled -it up, and there was this kid, sort of fastened by the life preserver -straps. At first I thought he was gone, but I listened close, and heard -his breathing. - -"We got the water out of him, as best we could, and then he began to -cry. He cried for his daddy something pitiful, and nobody knows where -his daddy is," he added softly. - -"Then he called for Tom Fairfield," added Joe. - -"Yes," assented Abe, "he cried for you. And it seems sort of -Providential-like that you should come swimming along. How did you do -it, Tom?" - -"It just happened. I rolled off the deck when the second crash came, -and, when I came up I swam for it. I called for help as I saw a -lifeboat rowing away, but they didn't hear me. Then I swam until I got -this life-ring, and then--well I saw the derelict and made for that." - -"And it's a good thing you did," commented Joe. "For Abe nor I don't -know the first thing about taking care of kids. I'm glad you come." - -"So am I," grunted Abe. - -"What sort of a craft are we on?" asked Tom. - -"A derelict lumber ship, as near as I can make out," replied Abe. "Them -kind floats longest and they're the very worst sort of derelicts for -a ship to hit, for they're so heavy--almost solid, you might say. This -is what the _Silver Star_ hit, I'm almost positive. First we hit her -a light blow, and then we sort of fended off. The engines got out of -commission, and something went wrong with the steering gear, I guess. -Then we fetched up with another whack at it, and that finished us." - -"That's it," agreed Joe. "But it ain't a bad sort of craft to float on -when you've been wrecked. It's better than the life-raft." - -"Will it float long?" asked Tom. - -"As long as we need it--maybe longer," spoke Abe, and his voice was -rather gloomy. - -"Have you any water, and enough food to--to last for some time?" asked -Tom. - -"Not an awful lot," murmured Joe. "There's water enough for four days, -maybe, if we don't take too much, and some tinned meat and biscuits in -the case we put on the raft. Why, are you hungry, Tom?" - -"No, oh, no, not at all. I was just thinking ahead. There are four of -us, counting little Jackie." - -"And he'll get his share, along with the rest of us, matie," said Abe -quickly. "It'll be share and share alike, until the last crumb and drop -is gone." - -"That's what," growled his companion. - -"Are there any chances of us being picked up?" Tom inquired. - -"Oh, yes, plenty of chances," answered Abe. "But you can't tell how -long it will be before that happens. Still we can't do anything but -wait." - -"Maybe one of the lifeboats will sight us," suggested our hero, as he -moved a bit so that Jackie would rest easier. - -"Maybe, but hardly. They'll probably row toward the nearest land," -suggested Joe. - -"And where might that be?" inquired Tom. - -"Well, we were about three days from the Hawaiian Islands, at the rate -we were going in the _Silver Star_," went on Joe, "but in the storm I -guess we were pretty well blown out of our course. Probably now we're -some distance to the east of 'em now, and maybe below 'em, for all I -can tell. But if we can make a southwest course we're bound to fetch up -at some island sooner or later, if we're not picked up by some vessel -in the meanwhile." - -"Oh, then we're not so badly off," commented Tom. - -"It might be worse," agreed Joe. "Well, the storm's over, and it'll -soon be daylight I reckon." - -The lightning had ceased, and the thunder was only distantly rumbling. -It was quite dark, and the derelict drifted on with its passengers -staring moodily out into the blackness--all but Jackie, who was in -happy dreamland. - -"There's the sun," announced Joe, after a pause. He pointed to where a -faint light showed in the east. It gradually grew until the red ball of -fire seemed to pop up from the ocean. - -Jackie awoke, and sat up in Tom's arms. - -"Did daddy come yet?" he asked. - -"Not yet," replied our hero softly. "But he may--soon." - -"And he'll be s'prised to see me here; won't he?" - -"Yes, Jackie." - -Tom looked at the craft on which he now was. As the sailors had -surmised, it was a derelict lumber ship, and one end of it was well out -of the water. - -Tom was just wondering how they could improve their situation by making -a sort of shelter and platform from some of the lumber when Joe cried -out: - -"Look! Look over there! It's a boat, or part of one!" - -They looked to where he pointed. There, drifting slowly toward them was -a wrecked lifeboat, one of those that had been carried on the _Silver -Star_. - -"If we can only get her, she may have food and water in," suggested -Joe. "I'm going to swim for it, and tow it in. I see a rope trailing -from the bow." - -Before they could object he had leaped off the derelict and was -swimming toward the boat as it rose and fell on the wash of the sea. -Joe was strong, and a good swimmer, and soon he was aboard again with -the end of the line. By it they hauled in the boat. - -"Anything in it?" asked Abe. - -"I didn't stop to look. Just grabbed the line and turned back." - -Now the boat was alongside. Tom looked into it and uttered a cry of -surprise. It contained one passenger--a man, and it was the same -mysterious man who had kept himself hidden in his stateroom aboard the -_Silver Star_. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -A MUTUAL SURPRISE - - -"Davy Jones!" gasped Joe Weldon, as he too looked into the boat he had -towed to the derelict, and saw the man. "Another passenger!" - -"And a dead one, too, I reckon," added Abe, grimly. - -"Let's make sure," suggested Tom. "We must get him aboard here, unless -that boat is better than the derelict. Maybe we had better take to -that." - -"No," decided Joe, after a careful look. "She's stove in, and only her -water-tight compartments keep her afloat. It wouldn't be safe to get -into her. Our own craft is better." - -"Then we must get him aboard here," went on Tom. "That is, if he's -alive." - -"And we must get some of that drinking water out of the boat, too," -went on Abe. "It's just what we need." - -"Maybe there's food, also," suggested Joe. "It's a good find all right, -even if the boat is a wreck." - -"Is my daddy in it?" asked Jackie. - -"No," replied Tom sadly. "But, Jackie I'll tell you what we're going -to do. We'll make a little house out of part of that boat, and we can -sleep in it." - -"Really and truly, Tom?" - -"Surely." - -"And we can camp out?" - -"Yes. Now you go away up, on that high part of our ship and stay there -while we pull the sick man out of the boat." - -Tom put Jackie on the highest part of the derelict over which the waves -did not break. In fact, now that the sea had gone down, their situation -was not so bad, for they were getting dry. - -"Come on now, mates, all together," proposed Joe. "We'll haul the man -out first, and then see what's in the boat that's of any use to us. All -together, now!" - -It was no easy task to get an unconscious man from the boat, nearly -awash, to what might be called the deck of the derelict. But they -managed it, and he was made as comfortable as possible. - -"Some of that canvas will come in handy," remarked Joe, as he pulled a -large piece of it from the lifeboat. "And here are two kegs of water, -and some cases of tinned food. We won't starve, or die of thirst, right -away." - -"Right you are, mate," agreed Abe. "Now if we could only get this boat -up on the derelict, we might use the planks for making a shelter, as -Tom said. Let's try." - -It was even harder work than hauling the unconscious passenger up on -the deck, but the sailors knew their business, and with Tom to help -them and taking advantage of the swell of the sea, and an occasional -big wave, they did manage to get the wrecked lifeboat up on the -derelict by hauling on ropes attached to her. - -"And it's a good thing we didn't try to go to sea in her," commented -Abe, as he looked at the holes stove in the craft. "Even with the -water-tight compartments we couldn't have gone far. She must have been -rammed by some of the wreckage after this man was in her. Do you know -him, Tom?" - -"Yes, I know him," was the quiet answer. "Let's get the boat a little -higher up." - -"All together--heave!" cried Joe, and they worked the craft farther up -on the derelict. - -"There's an axe!" cried Tom, as the bottom of the lifeboat became -exposed, when the water ran from her through the rents and gashes. -"That will come in handy." - -"That's what," agreed the sailors. - -Now that they had their prize secure, they turned their attention to -the passenger who had so unexpectedly come to them. He seemed to be -still unconscious, but Tom, feeling of his wrist, detected the movement -of a pulse. - -"He's alive," he said. - -"Then the sooner we get the water out of him the better," spoke Abe. -"Though I don't believe he got much into him, for he was sitting high -in the boat, and she hadn't shipped so very much." - -Then they began to work over the unconscious man, Tom thinking -meanwhile of the irony of fate that had again thrown him into contact -with the character in whose life he had played so strange a part. - -"He's coming around," announced Joe, after a bit. - -"Yes, I guess so," assented Abe. - -The man sat up. His eyes roved about as though he could not understand -where he was. He looked first at Abe, then at Joe, and then sought -little Jackie, who was seated on the highest part of the derelict where -Tom had sent him. Then the gaze of the man went to Tom's face. - -Over the countenance of the man came a tinge of fear, and Tom smiled -grimly. He saw the features of the man as they had been on the day -when he came aboard the _Silver Star_ in such a hurry--a smooth-shaven -face--the face on which Tom had seen the man adjusting a false beard in -his stateroom that day. - -The mysterious passenger gasped. Then he said: - -"You--you here--Tom--Tom Fairfield?" - -"Yes, I'm here, Professor Skeel," announced our hero calmly, as he -faced the former Latin instructor of Elmwood Hall--the teacher against -whom he had led such a successful revolt. "I'm here, and I'm surprised -to see you here." - -"No more--no more than I am to be here--and to see you," came the grim -answer. "It's a mutual surprise I fancy." - -"Yes," agreed Tom simply. - -"Do you know this man?" asked Joe. "This Mr. Trendell?" for, somehow, -the sailor had learned the name by which the renegade professor had -gone. - -"I don't know him by that name," spoke Tom, "but it doesn't matter I -fancy. We have other things to consider now." - -"All right," agreed the sailor. "It's none of my affair. Only when a -man goes by two names--" - -"What business of yours is that?" snapped Mr. Skeel, with a return of -his old, overbearing classroom manner. - -"Nothing, of course. But I've got a right to make a remark, and whoever -you are, I'd remind you that we've saved your life." - -"And what's more," went on Abe, "we're all equal here. We're not on -board a ship now, and there's no captain, unless we elect Tom here, -which I vote we do." - -"Second the motion," came from Joe. "How's that, Captain Tom?" - -"I--I'll not serve under him!" muttered Burton Skeel. "I won't take -orders from him." - -"Then you can go adrift again, and shift for yourself if you like," -spoke Joe sharply. "The majority rules here, and Abe and I vote for -Captain Tom." - -"Oh, I don't know enough about a ship to be captain," spoke our hero. - -"You don't have to know much about a ship to navigate this water-logged -craft," said Joe. "Captain we've voted you, and captain you'll be. -There has to be some one to give orders, and you're him. If this -Professor Skeel, as you call him, or Mr. Trendell, as we knew him, -doesn't like it he can go elsewhere." - -"Oh, I suppose I must give in," said the new passenger bitterly. - -"That's all that need be said," commented Abe, "and if you've got a -secret you can keep it. We won't ask any questions, will we mate?" - -"Not I," growled Joe. "Now then, Mr. Trendell--" - -"You might as well call me Skeel," said the owner of that name. "Since -Tom Fairfield knows me there is no use trying to hide my identity. Not -that I have anything to conceal," he added hastily. - -"All right," agreed Joe. "Now then, let's make this lifeboat fast in -a little better shape, and then we'll chop off some of the planks and -build a sort of shelter. Then we can think about breakfast--that is if -the captain says so." - -"Surely," assented Tom with a smile. "Do as you think best. You know -much more about it than I do." - -The two sailors busied themselves, while Jackie looked on interestedly. -Mr. Skeel, who was rapidly regaining his strength, after a drink of -water, and a bite of biscuit and meat, crawled to Tom. - -"Are--are you going to inform on me?" he asked. - -"Certainly not," replied our hero. "I'm done with you. I have no wish -to trouble you further. I think you acted very unfairly toward our -class, and what you did to my friend Bruce Bennington was criminal, but -he does not want to prosecute you, so neither do I." - -"You little knew the temptation I was under," said the former professor -humbly. "I make no explanations, but I will say that I have decided -to live a better life. I was going to try in a new country to redeem -the past. I had no idea you were on the _Silver Star_ when I engaged -passage under another name, and when I saw you, after I had disguised -myself, I was greatly startled. I kept to my room, and even thought of -adopting another form of false beard and moustache so you would not -know me." - -"I recognized you," said Tom simply. "However, you need not fear me. I -will say nothing, and I hope that you can better yourself in your new -situation. That is all that need be said." - -"I suppose so," spoke Mr. Skeel gloomily. "This is a bad beginning for -a new life, though--a wreck." - -"How did you come to get in the boat?" asked Tom. - -"I hardly know. There was so much confusion. I came up on deck after -the crash, and waited for the order to get into the boat. Some one -helped me in. I was the only one in it when the second crash came, -and suddenly the boat seemed to fall into the sea. I received a blow -on the head, and then I knew no more until I found myself aboard this -derelict. I suppose I must thank you for saving my life." - -"Not at all. It was Joe who swam out and brought in your boat. I am -sorry for you. We will say no more about it. There is a hard enough -task ahead of us as it is, to save ourselves." - -"Do you think we can?" - -"I don't know. It all depends on whether we can get to an island where -the natives will be friendly enough to give us aid, or if we are picked -up by some vessel. We will hope for the best. We have food and water, -but not much of a craft under us. However, since your boat is here, -possibly we can make some kind of a structure to shelter us." - -The two sailors, with the piece of canvas that had been found in the -lifeboat, and with some pieces of lumber which they managed to chop out -of the derelict, were constructing a shelter on the after portion of -the wreck--on the highest part. - -"Oh, Tom!" called Jackie, who sat beneath this improvised awning, "come -under my tent!" - -"I will," answered our hero with a smile. - -"And bring me something to eat," commanded Jackie. "I'm hungry. I want -my breakfast, and I want my daddy. When will he come, Tom Fairfield?" - -"I don't know. Soon, I guess. Now we're going to play at soldiers, -camping out, and we'll have breakfast in our tent. Won't that be fun, -Jackie?" - -"Indeed it will. Hurry up, Tom!" - -Tom smiled sadly, as he collected some food and water from where the -stores had been put. And yet, in a way he was glad he had this little -boy in charge now, for it kept him from brooding over his own troubles. - -"I don't see how I'm ever going to rescue dad and mother when I'm -wrecked myself," reflected Tom. "But it's too soon to give up yet," and -he closed his teeth grimly, to keep back the tears that wanted to come. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -UNDER SAIL - - -"Now, Jackie, what will you have?" asked Tom briskly, as he sat under -the canvas shelter with the little lad. "Will you have ice cream, -or bread and milk, or a boiled egg or some cut-up pineapple, or cup -custard, or any of those things for your breakfast?" - -"Oh, Tom, have you really got 'em?" asked the child eagerly. - -"Why, yes, of course. We always have those things on wrecks--make-believe, -I mean," added Tom quickly. - -"Oh, make believe," and Jackie was a trifle disappointed. - -"Surely. Now here is some nice pineapple to start off with," and Tom -shredded up some canned tongue, put it between two ship biscuits, and -passed it to the boy. Jackie laughed as he took it, and soon was eating -hungrily. - -"Is it good--that pineapple?" asked Tom. - -"Fine." - -"Then try some of this nice mooley-cow milk to wash it down with," -suggested our hero, as he passed over a tin cup full of water. "The -milkman just left it for you." - -"Oh, Tom!" cried Jackie, "it's just like a story in a book." - -"And I hope you keep on thinking so," murmured Joe as he nodded at Abe -while they further made fast the canvas shelter. - -Mr. Skeel helped himself to some of the food, as did the two sailors -when they had finished with their temporary work, and Tom ate also. - -"Now, Jackie," he said, when he had finished, "here is my knife," and -he took it from his pocket. "It got all wet when I had to swim last -night, but it will cut yet, and I want you to whittle out some wooden -soldiers, and we'll play a game pretty soon. You just sit here and -whittle, and take care not to cut yourself." - -"What are you going to do, Tom?" - -"Oh, I'm going to get ready to make a wooden house for us to live in," -was the answer. - -Tom motioned for the two sailors to follow him to the other end of the -wreck. It was lower there, but now that the sea had gone down the waves -did not break over it. The stern was really well out of the water. - -"What is it?" inquired Joe when he and his shipmate had joined our hero. - -"I think we had better take an account of stock," suggested Tom. "See -how much food and water we have, how long it will last us, and what we -had better do." - -"Right you are, captain!" exclaimed Abe admiringly. "I knowed we didn't -make no mistake when we elected you." - -"First then, the food," suggested Tom. "How long will it last us?" - -Joe and Abe collected it--that which they had brought with them on -the abandoned life-raft, and that which had been in the boat in which -Professor Skeel had been found. That individual was sitting on the -stern, gazing moodily off into the distance. - -"Well, if we don't stuff ourselves too much, and keep at the drinking -water every time we're thirsty," said Abe, "we'll have enough here for -a week, at least." - -"Good!" exclaimed Tom. "In that time something ought to turn up." - -"If we don't turn up ourselves," commented Joe grimly. - -"Here! Stow that kind of talk," said his mate quickly. "We've got a -captain who'll navigate us anywhere we want to go." - -"I only wish I could," spoke Tom. "The next thing to think of is making -some better kind of a shelter. Can we do it out of the wood we have at -hand?" - -"I don't see why not," said Abe. "Joe here used to be a sort of -carpenter, and I've worked at the trade too. We have only an axe, but -that's better than nothing." - -"Then let's make a sort of deck house," suggested Tom. "That canvas -awning won't be much good in a storm." - -"Right, captain!" exclaimed Abe. "What next?" - -"That's all for the present. And I guess that's enough." - -They first put the food and water in a safe place, on the highest part -of the derelict, lashing it fast with ropes found in the lifeboat, so -that it would not wash away. Mr. Skeel wanted to help in the work, but -at the first knot he tied Abe exclaimed: - -"That's too land-lubbery for me! It would fetch away at the first roll -of the derelict. You'd better take the axe and see if you can get out -some planks." - -It was hard work, but to the credit of the former teacher be it said -that he did manage to chop out some of the planks. He worked through a -hole in what had been the deck of the lumber vessel, for she had been -laden with planks in all her holds. - -Soon quite a number of planks were at the service of the sailors, who -had finished securing the food. Jackie was still cutting away at the -toy soldiers, producing a vast quantity of shavings but not much else. - -It was no easy task to make a wooden shelter, with no nails with which -to fasten it. But they made pegs of wood, chopped out with the axe and -whittled with the sailors' knives and these served to hold the planks -together and to the deck of the derelict. - -An inverted "V" shaped structure was made, with one end closed by -boards, and the other by a square bit of canvas. This had been built -over the place where the stores had been lashed fast, and made a sort -of deck house. - -"Now then," said Tom, "we don't need the canvas awning, and so we might -as well take it down. It will do for beds." - -"Beds!" cried Joe. "Something better than that." - -"What?" asked Tom. - -"For a sail! Look, we aren't moving anything to speak of now, only as -the currents make us drift. Why not make some sort of a sail, and take -advantage of the wind?" - -"Of course!" agreed Tom, wondering why he had not thought of that -before. - -"And we'll need a rudder to steer with," added Abe. - -"Certainly," assented his mate. "We can rig up one out of some of the -planks." - -"Then hoist the sail, by all means!" cried Tom. - -It was no easy work to chop out a rude mast from one of the planks, set -it upright and bend a sail to it, made from the canvas shelter. But -they did it at last. Then a rudder was made from another plank--a crude -and unsatisfactory affair but which served in a measure to guide the -derelict. - -The canvas was hoisted. Its end was made fast. It filled with wind, -flapped and then bellied out. - -"Hurray!" cried Tom in delight. - -"We're under sail!" shouted Abe. - -"And now to lay a course," added Joe. "Maybe we can get somewhere with -this ship after all." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -DREARY DAYS - - -Like some castaways on a desert island, when they have discovered a -sail in the distance, so it was with Tom and the others when they found -that their water-logged craft was really making headway with the rude -sail they had hoisted. It seemed to them that now they could really -navigate to some place where they would be saved from death at sea. - -"She's really slipping along," remarked Joe. - -"And with some speed, too," added his mate. - -"She answers the helm," observed Tom, who was in temporary charge of -the rudder, as he shifted the rough handle and noted a change in the -course of the derelict. - -"Well, yes, she does, but you can't count on it much, captain," spoke -Abe. "That is to say we've got to keep more or less dead before the -wind. No fancy tacking, sailing great circles, or anything like that. -No frills; it's plain sailing for us." - -"And that will do as well as any other I reckon," put in Joe. "If we -keep on dead ahead long enough we're bound to fetch up somewhere or -other, I lay you that, and you've sailed in these seas as much as I -have, Abe Weldon. How about it?" - -"Well, yes, I reckon so," was the answer. "There's islands a-plenty -around here, if we can fetch one. And there ought to be more or less of -vessels making in and out, for there is lots of trade with these same -islands. So if we don't hit an island we may be picked up, if we keep -moving." - -"Then we'll move, as long as there's wind," decided Tom with a laugh. - -"Can I sail the ship?" asked little Jackie, abandoning his play of -cutting out soldiers. "I want to steer." - -"You may help me," promised Tom. "Come and help push." - -The rudder, if such it can be called, had been hung over the stern of -the derelict. It was like some huge sweep, or oar on a raft, but it -served the purpose. While Tom and his little charge were at this task, -Joe and Abe further made secure the wooden deck house they had made. -Professor Skeel helped them, but he was a moody assistant, and while -the two sailors joked and sang he maintained a glum silence. - -"Well, we're in pretty good shape, considering what happened to us," -finally announced Joe. "What time does the dinner gong ring, captain? -It looks to me like eight bells now." - -"My watch has stopped," said Tom, taking his water-soaked timepiece out -of his pocket, "but--" - -"The sun is good enough bell for me," laughed Abe. "It's twelve now, if -I'm any judge," and he looked up at the ball of yellow fire in the sky. - -"Then we'll eat," decided Tom. "Shall I steer while you--" - -"No sir!" exclaimed Joe. "Captain's table is first, always. I'll mind -the wheel, not that there's much steering to be done, only we might as -well have things ship-shape while we're at it, I suppose." - -The meal was not an elaborate one, but there was no disposition to -find fault--at least on the part of the more mature members of the -shipwrecked party. As for Jackie, Tom played the "pretend" game with -him once more until the child was satisfied that canned beef was roast -chicken. - -The water they had to drink was warm, and not very palatable, but they -made the best of that, too, thankful that they had any with which to -cool their parched throats. - -After dinner they made a more complete survey of the derelict, which -had not been possible earlier in the morning, as the sea was still -running rather high. Now the ocean was like the proverbial millpond, -and only occasionally a wave washed slightly over the submerged bow of -the craft. - -"The forward companionway is almost out of water," observed Joe, -looking thoughtfully at it. "If we could lighten the ship a bit I -believe I could get into it." - -"What good would it do?" asked Tom. - -"Well, I might be able to fetch up something. Maybe some stores--something -to eat. Tinned stuff keeps a good while, even under water." - -"How long do you think this vessel has been wrecked?" asked Tom. - -"No telling. A year maybe, longer perhaps. It's in pretty good shape. I -can't see anything to tell her name by or anything like that." - -They all looked about them at the mystery of the sea. Whence had the -vessel sailed, and to where? What had become of her captain and crew? -They were questions that could not be answered. - -"She's a mystery, the same as what has become of the rest of the folks -of the _Silver Star_," remarked Abe. "I wonder if that lifeboat got -away safely? Was the captain saved? Them things always comes to a man -after he's been saved." - -"Hush!" exclaimed Tom, nodding toward the child. - -"That's right," agreed Abe. "We've got to keep it from him, poor little -kid." - -But at present Jackie seemed happy enough, and he gave no thought -to the possible loss of his father. He was content to be with Tom, -and help to steer the derelict, which task he assigned himself with -whoever was at the wheel. That is all but with Mr. Skeel, and, somehow -or other, Jackie took a dislike to the stern man. Nor did the former -Elmwood Hall instructor seem to care. He performed his duties in solemn -silence. - -All that afternoon they sailed on, eagerly watching for the sign of a -sail, or the sight of some island. But nothing rewarded their gaze. - -"I guess we must be in a pretty watery part of the ocean," remarked Abe -grimly. - -"Oh, we'll fetch up somewhere, sooner or later," declared his mate. - -"Where am I going to sleep to-night, Tom?" asked Jackie, as it began to -get dusk, the sun sinking down behind the waves in a glory of gold that -promised a fair day on the morrow. - -"With me, of course, Jackie," answered our hero. "We'll sleep under the -wooden tent." - -"In the dark?" - -"Oh, yes, in the dark." - -"But I don't like the dark." - -"It's better than the light, Jackie dear. The mosquitoes can't find you -to bite you in the dark." - -"All right. I don't like the dark, and I don't like the miskeeters, -either. Will you hold my hand?" - -"Yes, Jackie." - -"No, we can't make a light, worse luck," murmured Abe. "I've got some -matches, that I always carry in a water-tight case, but it might not be -altogether safe to make a light on a lumber derelict, even if she is -partly water-logged. She might take fire." - -"What was your idea of a light?" asked Tom. - -"A signal, my lad. Our sail, small as it is, can be pretty well seen in -the daytime, but at night we're just nothing, and if a vessel should -happen along, and we were in her path--" - -"However, we'll trust to luck," went on Abe. - -He did not finish, but they all knew what he meant. - -"We can't kick against Providence. Now let's have grub and turn in. -Captain, will you name the watches?" - -"Name the watches?" asked Tom. - -"Yes, some one has to be on duty all night, for we might sight a light -and a hail would bring help." - -"Oh, I see. Well, I think you or Joe had better do that, knowing more -about it." - -"Very well, then I'll take from eight to eleven, Joe can take from -eleven to two, and Mr. Skeel from two to five. By that time it'll be -light." - -"But where do I come in?" asked Tom. - -"You'll stay with him," whispered Abe, winking his eye, and nodding at -little Jackie. Then Tom understood. - -The night passed without incident, the child sleeping peacefully with -Tom. Some pieces of the canvas served as a bed, and little was needed -in the way of covering, for it was quite warm, and their clothing had -dried out. - -"No vessels sighted?" asked Tom in the morning, as they prepared for -the simple breakfast. - -"Not a one," answered Mr. Skeel shortly. "I don't believe we'll ever be -rescued." - -"Oh, stow that kind of talk," commanded Abe, half roughly. "Of course -we will. Why, our voyage has only just begun." - -Dreary days followed. The food and water was divided with scrupulous -care, for there was no telling how long the scanty store of each would -have to last. They went on three-quarter rations--that is, all but -Jackie, who had his full share, though in the matter of water he did -not use as much as any of the others. - -The hours and days passed, and their straining eyes saw no sign of -a sail, and no welcome land loomed into view. Their progress was -slow--slower than they had any idea of, for the sail was small and the -derelict low in the water, and heavy. Dreary and more dreary became the -time. - -"I'll be jib-boomed if I don't think some one has moved the blessed -islands!" exclaimed Abe, one day. - -"It does look so," admitted his mate. "I thought sure we would sight -one before this. If we could only make a bigger sail we could move -faster." - -"We can't, unless we take our clothing, and we need that to protect us -from the sun," declared Abe. "Not being blooming cannibals that can -stand any great amount of heat on our own skins." - -"Then what we need is a smaller boat," decided Joe. - -"What's that, matie?" asked Abe. - -"I said we needed a smaller boat, and then this sail would do." - -For a moment Abe stared at his companion, and then, bringing his hand -down on his thigh with a report like a pistol, he cried: - -"That's it! You've struck it! A smaller boat is what we need, and we're -going to have it! We'll set sail in that and make three times the speed -we can in this bulk. Hurray for a smaller boat!" - -Joe looked at him anxiously for a moment, and then said gently: - -"Come in out of the sun, matie. Take a drink of water, do, and lie -down. I've been touched that way myself once or twice. Just take it -easy and you'll get over it." - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -MAKING A BOAT - - -"Say, what's the matter with you?" burst out Abe. "Do you think I'm -crazy, Joe?" - -"There, there now. It's all right. You'll be over it in a little while. -Just lie down," begged his mate. - -"He sure does," murmured Abe smiling. "He sure thinks I'm touched in -the head. Ho! Ho! That's a good one. Joe thinks I'm crazy!" and he -laughed heartily. - -Joe looked at Tom, and shook his head sadly. Even Tom himself began to -believe that perhaps the hardships of their position, and the horror of -what might come, had turned the sailor's brain. But his laugh seemed -natural. - -"I'm all right!" insisted Abe, seeing that they were looking at him -curiously. - -"Then what do you mean by that talk about a smaller boat, and leaving -the derelict?" demanded Joe half angrily. - -"I meant just what I said." - -"And I say anybody's crazy that talks like that. Where are we going to -get a smaller boat?" - -"It's right here with us now," declared Abe. "There she is," and he -pointed to the half smashed lifeboat. "We can cut that in two, use the -stern and bow that ain't a bit damaged, fasten 'em together in the -middle, with the airtight compartments in each end, and we'll have as -fine a small boat as we could wish. - -"We can hoist the sail on it and then we can make some speed, instead -of just drifting along. I wonder I didn't think of it before, but it -only sort of just came to me now, and that's why I got excited I guess." - -"I sure thought you were raving," declared Joe. "It didn't seem -natural." - -"And you thought I was touched by the sun; eh, mate?" - -"I sure did." - -"Ho! Ho! That's a good joke! A good one! It'll do to tell the boys when -we see 'em again." - -"If we ever do," put in Joe half gloomily. - -"Of course we will!" insisted Abe. "Wait until I get the boat made and -you'll see." - -"But do you think you can do it?" asked Tom. "Won't it leak?" - -"Not when I get through with it," declared Abe. "I can calk the seams -with some of our clothes, and part of the sail cloth. You will see." - -"But with only an axe, I don't see how you're going to cut the boat in -two, and fasten the two ends together," insisted Tom. - -"I've done harder jobs than that, matie," declared Abe. "Wait until I -get to work." - -He then explained his plan. The lifeboat was badly damaged amidships, -but both the bow and stern, where the airtight compartments were -located, were in good shape. By cutting the boat in twain, severing -the damaged portions and bringing the sections together again, lapping -them and making them fast with the copper nails drawn from the useless -parts, Abe hoped to make a serviceable craft, though crude. - -"It may leak some," he admitted, "but I'll stuff the cracks up with -ravelings from the sail cloth, and our clothes that we need least. -Between us we can spare enough. Then I'll make a mast for the sail, and -we can leave this hulk and get somewhere. And Joe thought I was touched -by the sun! Ho! Ho! A good joke! A good one!" - -"All right," assented Joe. "If you make that boat you'll be a good one. -I'll help, of course, but I don't believe it can be done." - -"I'll show you!" exclaimed Abe defiantly. - -Forthwith they began to work, even Mr. Skeel doing his share. He had -settled into a gloomy silence, scarcely speaking unless spoken to, -and he seemed to pay little attention to those about him. Clearly the -shipwreck, and the unexpected meeting with the lad who had exposed his -villainy at Elmwood Hall, had dispirited him. Yet at times he showed a -flash of his old manners. - -It was harder work than even Abe had imagined, to cut the boat in two, -and get out the damaged part. Especially with only an axe to use. Yet -the old sailor handled the implement with skill, and showed that he -knew his business. - -Tom looked after the meals, though he had not much to do, for the menu -was not very varied. He had to keep Jackie amused, too, and invented -such little games as fishing over the broken rail of the ship with a -string for a line, and no hook, and making fairy castles out of the -splinters that Abe knocked off the lifeboat. - -Several days passed, and though they looked almost every other minute -for a sail or a sight of land they saw nothing. They were borne on by -the currents and the light winds that at times scarcely filled their -clumsy sail. - -The watches were kept as before, Tom not being allowed to share in -them. But the darkness of the night was not relieved by any welcome -light. The days seemed to become more dreary as they passed, and only -for the work of making the boat they might not have stood the time so -well. But the work was a blessing to them. - -Tom looked anxiously at the store of food, and as he saw it diminishing, -and no help of rescue at hand he spoke to the two sailors about it. - -"Well, we'll have to reduce rations, that's all, matie," said Joe, and -he spoke cheerfully. - -"Of course," assented Abe. "I'll have the boat done in a few more days, -and then we can set sail. Reduce rations! If I only had a saw I could -work faster, but I'll do the best I can. Reduce rations, that's all. -I'm getting too fat as it is." - -He laughed at his joke, and a grim joke it was, for his belt had been -taken in several holes, and could stand more. They were all becoming -thin. - -When the next meal, after the reduced ration decision had been arrived -at, was served, Mr. Skeel looked at the portion handed him on the top -of a beef tin. - -"Is that all I get?" he demanded roughly. "That isn't enough for a man." - -"It's all that can safely be given," spoke Tom, quietly. - -"Well I want more. I demand my fair share." - -"That's your fair share, mate," said Joe grimly. "It's as much as any -of us have. We're on short rations, don't you understand?" - -"Huh! That may be so, but I notice that you have charge of the food," -and he sneered at Tom. - -"Because we voted him to do so," put in Abe. "And what the majority -says goes!" - -"The boy has more than I have!" snarled the former professor, and he -glanced at Jackie who, under a little tent he had made from a spare -piece of the sail, was eating his lunch at a "play party," as he called -it. - -"That'll do you!" snapped Joe, shaking a menacing finger at Mr. Skeel. -"You eat what you've got, and be thankful on your bended knees that -you've got that much. And if I hear any more talk that the boy has more -than you, why I'll--" - -"Easy matie," cautioned Abe. "Easy." - -Tom looked distressed, but said nothing. When the water was passed, -that too had dwindled in amount. Mr. Skeel looked at his share, and -seemed about to make a protest, but a glance from Joe stopped him. - -The weather had been fine for several days; too fine to last, Abe -declared as he worked away at the boat. - -"We're in for another storm, I'm thinking," he said to Joe. - -"Well, keep still about it," suggested his companion. "No use making -Tom and the kid worry. I guess we can weather it." - -"The waves'll sweep over this old hulk, once they get running high," -went on Abe. "And that deck house won't stand much. The boat, too, is -likely to be washed away. If I only had a saw I could make twice the -speed. But I don't reckon I could get one." - -"Leastways not unless there's one aboard, down in the carpenter's -quarters," said Joe, "and I don't see how it's to be come at. We'll -have to do the best we can." - -"I reckon so. Catch hold of that plank now, and hold it while I chop it -off." - -They resumed work, pausing now and then to look at the sky. It clouded -up in the afternoon, and there came a heavy rain storm, unaccompanied -by much wind, for which last fact they were thankful. - -"This is just what we need!" cried Abe, as he saw the big drops come -down. "Spread out the sail cloth, mates, and catch all the water we -can. We'll need it." - -The sail was hastily taken down, and with another piece of the canvas -was spread out in the form of a huge bowl. The rain filled it, and, -making a sort of channel at one end, the precious water was run into -the nearly empty kegs. Thus their supply was replenished, and with -lighter hearts they resumed their task, the two sailors and Mr. Skeel -working at the boat, while Tom steered. - -It was about a week since they had taken refuge on the derelict, and -the signs of an approaching change in the weather were increasing. In -all that time they had not seen a sail, and what was more remarkable, -they had not sighted an island, though they were in that part of the -Pacific where many are located. - -"Either we are passing in and out among them, just far enough away -so as to miss 'em, or we can't pick 'em out on account of the mist," -explained Joe. "I was sure we'd sight one before this." - -"Same here," murmured Abe. "It's middling queer, though. But if our -grub holds out we'll soon be afloat in a better craft." - -"It doesn't look like it," declared Joe. "You've get a lot of work on -it yet." - -"I know I have, and if only there was a saw I'd make double speed." - -Joe did not answer but walked forward to where the hatchway, opening -down into the lower regions of the ship, showed. It was more out of -water than at any previous time, and it could be seen that there was a -passage leading into the crew's quarters. Joe stood contemplating this, -and then slowly began taking off his shoes, and some of his garments. - -"Hi! matie, what are you up to?" hailed Abe, seeing his actions. "Going -for a swim? If you are you'd better look out for sharks. I see some -big fins in the offing this morning." - -"No, I'm not going to swim--I'm going to have a dive." - -"A dive?" - -"Yes. I'm going down and see if I can't fetch up a saw, or something so -you can finish that boat quicker." - -Abe dropped the axe and hurried toward his companion. - -"Say, don't you do it," he gasped. "You might not be able to get up -again, and we can't afford to lose you." - -"No danger! If I get _into_ a place, Abe, I can get _out_ again. I'm -going to dive and get you a saw." - -"Don't do it!" urged the other. "I can make out some how." - -"Here goes!" cried Joe, and with that he walked down the half-submerged -companion steps and dived into the water-filled forecastle quarters. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WIND AND WAVE TOSSED - - -Abe stood looking anxiously down into the dark opening where his mate -had disappeared. Tom, understanding that something unusual was taking -place, also hurried up to look on, and Mr. Skeel and Jackie followed. - -"Is--is it safe?" asked our hero, for it was as if some one had gone -down a well. - -"Well--er--hardly--that is to say, of course it is!" exclaimed Abe, -quickly changing his mind, as he saw the little boy regarding him -curiously. "Joe'll come up in a minute with just the very thing we -need--maybe." - -Tom caught the alarmed note in the sailor's voice. - -"Why did you let him do it?" he asked in a whisper. - -"There was no stopping him," answered Abe. "He would do it. He knew -that I needed a saw, but, pshaw! I'd rather he hadn't done it. I could -have made out, only the storm that----" - -Then he stopped at the look of alarm on Tom's face. - -"What storm?" demanded the lad. - -"Oh, Joe had a notion that a storm was coming up, and he wanted us to -get the boat done before then, so we'd have a chance to scud before -the wind. But, bless my jib-boom! there ain't going to be no storm, -in my estimation," and Abe cast a hasty glance about the heavens, now -cloud-encumbered. "No storm at all--leastways not soon," he added. - -Amid a strained silence they all watched the opening into the ship, -waiting for the reappearance of Joe. A minute went by, and he did not -come up. A minute and a half,--two minutes! - -"He can't stay under much longer," murmured Abe. - -"No man can hold his breath that long under water," spoke Mr. Skeel, -"at least not an ordinary man. Maybe something has----" - -He hesitated, Abe began taking off his shoes, ready for a rescue. - -"Hadn't we better tie a rope to you?" suggested Tom, understanding the -danger. - -"I--I'll----" began Abe, and then there was a commotion in the water, -and Joe shot up. He did not seem to be in distress. In one hand he held -up a carpenter's hammer. - -"We were just getting worried about you," said Tom, with a breath of -relief. - -"How'd you manage to stay down so long?" asked Abe. - -"I--I found air down there," explained Joe, pantingly. "The cabin isn't -quite full of water, and I stuck my nose up close to the ceiling and -got a breath in an air space." - -"Did you locate a saw?" asked Abe. - -"Not yet. But I will. I found the carpenter's quarters all right. I've -got to go by feeling, but I'll get a saw sooner or later. Here's a -hammer, anyhow." - -He tossed it to Abe and then, after a rest, he went down again. This -time he remained under longer than before and coming up brought an -adze, which would come in useful. It was on his third trial that he -located a saw, quite rusted, it is true, but nevertheless a saw. - -"Hurray!" cried Tom. - -"Now I can do something!" declared Abe. "I can work quicker now." - -"There are some more tools down there," said Joe. "I'm going to bring -some up." - -Which he did, after a number of trials, and some other things that -would prove useful, including several coils of strong rope. But he -could find no food, and, probably had he come upon any it would have -been spoiled. - -"Never mind," said Abe, when his partner had commented on this failure. -"We'll make out somehow. And we'll soon be afloat in a better craft. -Can you spare me a bit of that canned beef fat, Tom, so I can grease up -this saw?" - -Tom passed him a chunk that was hardly edible, but Mr. Skeel seemed to -eye it greedily. He was a large man, and had a big appetite that was -far from being satisfied on the meager rations that were available. - -The saw was soon in shape to use, and then Abe and Joe could work to -better advantage. That night the boat sections were joined together, -and the next day would see the practical completion of the craft. - -"It'll have to be well calked," said Abe, as he looked critically at -his handiwork in the gathering dusk. "Them seams ain't just what I'd -like 'em to be, though it was the best I could do. But if I stuff 'em -well with rags and such-like I guess it'll answer. We'll get at that -the first thing in the morning." - -"And we'll lash the boat well down to-night," spoke Joe in a low voice -to his companion. - -"Yes, I shouldn't wonder but what we were in for a blow," was the -rejoinder. "But don't say anything to Tom." - -"You don't need to. I begin to suspect something," exclaimed our hero, -with a grim smile, as he came up behind the two. "I'm not afraid to -know the worst," he went on. "In fact I want to know it. I'll be better -prepared then. Do you think we're in for a blow?" - -"I come pretty near _knowing_ it, matie," said Joe in a low voice. "We -weren't to tell you, but we're in the storm region now, and I don't -need one of them barometers to tell me we're going to have plenty of -wind and water soon. But don't worry. The old derelict has gone through -many a one, and she'll stand another blow or two I guess. We'll make -everything as snug as we can. You just look after the kid and yourself." - -"Poor little chap," murmured Abe. "I wonder where his father is?" - -"Lost, I reckon, like most of the other poor souls that were on the -_Silver Star_," spoke Joe, gloomily. - -"Oh, you get out!" cried his mate. "You'd have us all in Davy Jones's -locker if you had your way. Maybe the boy's dad is saved, and maybe all -the rest were picked up. And we'll be all right soon, you see if we're -not." - -The cheerfulness of the old sailor was infectious, and Tom felt better -after hearing his cheery talk. True, our hero had his moments of -sadness, particularly when he thought of his missing parents. And often -he found himself wondering what might be their fate, and where they -were. At night, as he stretched out beside little Jackie, under the -rude shelter, he spent many hours of wakefulness. But he tried not to -show his feelings to the others. - -There was a moaning and sighing to the wind as darkness came on, and -the sailors, with Tom and Mr. Skeel to aid them, used the ropes to -lash fast the reconstructed boat and the wooden shelter. The rude sail -filled out and urged the derelict on at a faster pace. - -"If this kept up we'd get somewhere," observed Tom, as he relieved Abe -at the helm. - -"Yes, but we'll make twice the speed in our boat," said the old sailor -proudly. - -The wreck was rising and falling on the swell, the big oily waves -seeming to curl after her as though in time they would reach up and -pull her down into their depths. There were no white-caps yet--they -would come later. - -"We are going to have a storm, aren't we; a violent storm soon?" -demanded Mr. Skeel, when it was almost dark, and the wind was sighing -more mournfully than before. - -"I reckon so," answered Abe calmly. - -"Then can't we do something more to make ourselves secure?" - -"Nary a thing more," spoke the old sailor. "We've done all we can." - -The face of the former professor was white, and he paced up and down -that portion of the deck less exposed to the waves. He was a coward and -he showed it. - -The derelict dipped her half-buried bow farther under a wave. It broke, -running well up on the deck, and breaking against the lashed lifeboat, -sent a shower of spray aft. - -"Oh, it's raining! It's raining!" cried Jackie. "If we only had -umbrellas now, Tom." - -"We'll need more than umbrellas before morning, I'm thinking," murmured -Joe. - -All that could be done had been, and when the last remnant of daylight -faded, earlier than usual because of the clouds, Tom took his little -charge inside the shelter. They stretched out on the canvas bed, and -Tom joined silently with the child, who said aloud his simple prayers, -asking that they might all be looked after by the All-seeing Providence. - -The derelict forged ahead through the waves, blown by the ever increasing -wind. She rose sluggishly on the swell--all too sluggishly--for she was -not buoyant enough to escape the breaking swells. But still, aft, it was -comparatively dry. - -"It's going to be a bad night--a bad night," murmured Joe, who had the -first trick at the helm. - -Tom managed to get some sleep, holding Jackie's hand, but about -midnight he was awakened by being fairly rolled out of the shelter. - -"What--what's the matter?" he cried. - -"It's the storm!" cried Abe, springing up. "It's broke for fair, I -guess!" - -Tom sprang to his feet and looked out. He could dimly see the big -waves all around them, and he felt the derelict pitching and tossing in -a swirl of water. It was at the mercy of the storm. - -Then came a fiercer burst of the elements, a dash of rain, and a -tearing howl of the wind. The derelict heeled over, while a flood of -water washed over the bow and came curling aft. - -"Look out!" yelled Abe, as he saw Tom roll forward, and he grabbed our -hero in time to save him from once more pitching overboard. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A HAND IN THE NIGHT - - -"Thanks, Abe," gasped Tom, when he could speak, for the fright and fear -of again being flung into the ocean had taken his breath. - -"That's nothing, lad," came the calm answer. "Are you all right?" - -"Yes. But this is a terrible storm, isn't it?" - -"It might be worse. It was worse when the _Silver Star_ foundered. -We'll weather it, I hope." - -A cry came from the interior of the shelter. It was Jackie. - -"Tom! Tom! Where are you?" he called. - -"Coming!" answered Tom, and he staggered into the place where his -little charge was lying. - -Tom, groping about in the dark, found Jackie. The little fellow had -rolled from the hollow in the pile of sail cloth that made his bed. - -"All right, Jackie, it's all right," spoke Tom soothingly. "We're -riding on top of the waves like a merry-go-'round. Go to sleep now." - -And, so tired was the little fellow, and such was his confidence in -Tom, that he did slumber again. - -The storm grew worse, and at times the spray from the big waves flew -over the top of the wooden shelter, and dripped down inside. The wind -blew aside the canvas that closed the front and threatened to lift, -bodily, the structure itself. - -But the sailors had done their work well. The rope lashings held, -though they were strained to their limit. The lifeboat, moored as it -was to the deck, tried in vain to break loose to join with the waves -in their revelry of the storm. Joe and Abe looked to it, testing every -knot, however, and their seamanship told. For the present they could -defy the storm. - -Mr. Skeel fairly whimpered when he saw the big seas all about them, -but no one paid any attention to him and he had to make out as best he -could. He tried to shirk his trick at the helm, but Abe, taking hold of -his arm, marched him to the rude steering apparatus, and bade him hold -to it for his life. - -"But I--I may be washed overboard," objected the former professor. - -"You're in less danger here than any of us," declared the sailor. "You -stay here until your time is up," and Mr. Skeel dared not disobey. His -spirit had been broken when Tom, and his chums of Elmwood Hall, had -successfully gone on their strike. - -How they got through that night the castaways hardly knew afterward. -Several times it seemed as if the wind would carry away either the -structure they had built on deck, or the lifeboat that had been -reconstructed with such labor. But the two sailors, with Tom to help -them, made lashing after lashing, as one or another tore away and so -they held to that which they needed most. - -Little Jackie proved himself a hero, for when Tom had explained that -he must stay alone part of the time, the little fellow obeyed, though -he had hard work to choke back the sobs when his companion was out on -deck, doing what he could to keep the boat from being carried away. - -When the storm had been raging for an hour or more there was a sudden -tilt to the derelict, and a grinding crashing sound somewhere in her -depths. - -"What's that?" cried Tom in alarm. - -"Her cargo is shifting!" shouted Abe, above the roar of the storm. "I -hope it doesn't shift too much." - -Almost immediately afterward there seemed to be less spray coming aft. - -"She's risen by the head!" cried Joe, who managed to make an -observation at great risk to himself. "The lumber below decks has -shifted aft and her bow is higher out of water. That makes it good for -us. We'll be drier now." - -And this was so. With the bow higher out of the water the craft -presented a better front to the breaking seas, and what at first seemed -a calamity turned out to be a great blessing. - -The remainder of the night, though the storm did not abate, was not -such a source of worry to the refugees. True, the wind was as violent, -and it even shifted their shelter from where it was lashed on deck, but -the waves did not bring so much discomfort, for the higher bow sent -them hissing away on either side. - -Somehow morning broke, and in the gray dawn they looked about on a -storm-tossed waste of waters. Now they would be down in a hollow of the -waves, and again high on some crest, at which latter time they looked -anxiously for a sail. But they saw none. - -It was just a little after day had broken that the improvised mast gave -way with a snap, and would have gone overboard with their precious -sail, had not Abe and Joe made a hasty grab, saving it. - -"We need that in our boat--if it ever gets calm enough to calk it," -declared Abe. - -"What about breakfast?" asked Tom a little later. "I guess we can all -eat." - -"Right you are, my hearty!" cried Joe. Even the terrible storm could -not dampen the spirits of the sailors. Little Jackie was happier -too, now that daylight had come, and only Mr. Skeel seemed moody and -depressed. He looked at his companions without speaking. - -The storm seemed to have spent its fury in the night, for, as the day -grew, the wind lessened and the waves went down. The mast was mended -and set up again, but a reefed sail had to be used, for the gale was -too strong to risk another accident with the frail gear they had. - -"It may blow us to some island, and then we won't have to use the -boat," said Joe. - -"Oh, don't talk that way," begged Abe. - -"Why not? Don't you want to be rescued?" - -"Yes, but I'd like a chance to use the boat I've made," was the -rejoinder. "Come on, now, we'll try and calk it." - -They started this work after a meager breakfast, during which Mr. Skeel -looked hungrily at the rations passed around. Even less was given than -before, for the provisions were getting alarmingly low, though there -was still plenty of water, for which they were thankful. - -It was no easy task to calk the boat, with such tools and material as -Abe and Joe had, but it was a credit to their seamanship that they made -a good job of it. They tested it by pouring water into the craft as it -was lashed to the deck. - -"She doesn't leak much!" exclaimed Abe in delight as he watched a few -drops trickle out. "When she swells up she'll be all right, and we can -bail if we have to. Now for a sail." - -He and his companion rigged up a mast, and the sail was taken down from -the derelict and fitted to it. This took another day, during which the -storm's traces vanished, and the weather became once more calm. - -"We'll launch her to-morrow," decided Abe that night. "I guess she's -all right." - -"Will it be hard to put her into the sea?" asked Tom. - -"Easy enough, the way the derelict is listed now," was the answer. "All -we'll have to do will be to get into her, cut the retaining rope, and -let her slide. Then we'll be off." - -Tom heard some one behind him as the sailor told him this, and he -turned to see Mr. Skeel regarding him curiously. There was a strange -look on the former professor's face. - -They went to rest that night filled with thoughts of the prospects -before them on the morrow. It seemed, after all, as if they might -be saved, for both Joe and Abe declared that they must be near some -island, and a day's sail would bring them to it, if they could sail -fast enough. - -Tom stretched out beside little Jackie that night with a thankful heart. - -"I'll find dad and mother yet!" he whispered to himself. - -Mr. Skeel was slumbering on the other side of the shelter, at least if -heavy breathing went for anything he was. Abe and Joe were out on deck, -putting the spare provisions and water into the lifeboat, for they had -decided to leave as soon as possible in the morning. - -Tom fell into a doze. How long he slept he hardly knew, but he was -suddenly awakened by feeling a hand cautiously moving over his body. -It was on his chest first, and then it went lower until the fingers -touched the money belt he had worn since the loss of the _Silver Star_. - -"Who's that? Is that you, Jackie?" asked Tom, and his hand went quickly -over to the head of his little charge. Jackie was sleeping quietly. - -"Who was that?" asked Tom. - -There was no answer. It was too dark to see, and he could strike no -light. Someone moved across the floor of the shelter. - -"Abe! Joe!" called Tom cautiously. Then he added: "Mr. Skeel!" - -A snore answered him from the former professor's sleeping place. Tom -stole cautiously to the opening of the shelter. He could hear the two -sailors talking together at the helm. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -TREACHERY - - -For a moment Tom did not know what to do, or what to think. He was -convinced that an attempt had been made to rob him in the darkness of -the night, and he wanted to know who was responsible. Yet he did not -want to accuse or even think of any one as guilty, unless he had good -proof. - -"It couldn't have been Abe or Joe," he reasoned. "I could have heard -them if they had left the shelter after I called out. It must have been -Mr. Skeel. And yet----" - -He paused, and listened once more to the steady breathing of the man -who had once been, and who doubtless still was, his enemy. - -"Could it have been he?" thought Tom. "It was certainly some one here -in the shelter with me, and there aren't many to pick from." - -He reflected that it might have been possible for little Jackie, moving -in his sleep, to have tossed toward him, and gotten his hand near the -money belt. And yet the hand had felt heavier than that of the child. - -"Well," mused Tom, "it won't do to make a mistake. I've got to keep -quiet and see what turns up. Only I know one thing--I'm not going to -sleep much the rest of the night." - -He paused in the doorway, and was about to turn back to lie down beside -Jackie, when Abe, who was talking with Joe near the helm, spied our -hero. - -"Hello, Tom," the sailor called in a low voice. "Anything the matter -the reason you're up? Is Jackie sick?" - -"No, he's all right," replied Tom in a low voice, but loud enough so -that Professor Skeel, if he was awake, could hear it; "Jackie is all -right. I thought one of you came in the shelter to see me." - -"One of us!" exclaimed Abe. - -"Yes," answered Tom. - -"We weren't there," went on Abe. "We've been standing here for the last -half hour, talking about what we might do to-morrow--after we get the -boat launched. We weren't near you." - -"Guess you must have dreamed it, Tom," suggested Joe. - -"Perhaps," admitted Tom, and yet he knew that it was no dream. "I'll go -back to bed," he called. - -The derelict drifted on, and Tom was not again disturbed that night. -Jackie slept well, and so too did Professor Skeel--to judge by his -snores. - -"Well, now for a launching!" exclaimed Joe as the dawning light -filtered through the early morning clouds. "We'll see what luck we -have." - -There was not much to do in the way of preparation, for the two sailors -had very nearly finished the work on the previous day. The food and -water--all that could be spared from the needs of the few remaining -meals they expected to take aboard the hulk--had been put into the -reconstructed lifeboat. An early and small breakfast was served, and -then the work of sliding the craft off the derelict was undertaken. - -As the sailor had said, this was not difficult. The deck of the lumber -ship, on which the lifeboat rested, had such a slope that all that was -necessary to do was to cut loose a retaining rope, and the craft would -slide down on improvised rollers that had been made. This could be done -when they were all aboard. It was like the launching of a small ship. - -"But I think I'll give her a trial first," decided Abe, when all was -in readiness for the launching. "I don't want her to turn turtle, or -anything like that, when we're all aboard. Though she can't sink, with -the watertight compartments." - -"What's your game?" asked Joe. - -"Why, I think I'll take a trip in her myself just around the hulk, -so to speak, and see how she behaves. She may need trimming, or -lightening, or, maybe we haven't got the sail just right. I'll make a -trial in her." - -The others decided that this might be wise, and accordingly, when Abe -had taken his place in the craft, the rope was slacked off, and the -lifeboat slid into the sea. - -"Hurray!" cried Tom, as the craft took the waves. "She's a success all -right." - -"Not so fast! Hold on a bit!" cried Abe. "She's leaking like a sieve in -one place!" - -"Leaking!" cried his shipmate. - -"Yes. One place where I must have forgotten to do the calking good -enough. Haul me back, and we'll get her out of water again, and patch -her up." - -Under Abe's directions Tom, Joe and Professor Skeel pulled on the rope -that was still fastened to the craft and she was worked back on the -deck of the derelict. Then Abe, making a careful examination, began the -work of calking up the cracks where the water had poured in. - -The work took him longer than he had supposed it would, for he -found out that he had to change his ideas when it came to making a -reconstructed boat water-tight. He was most of the day at the task, and -when he had finished he thought of something else. - -"We need oars," he said. "We can't always depend on the wind, and if we -get becalmed out on the ocean, with no shelter, such as we have here, -we'll be in a bad way if we can't make some headway. So I will just -make a pair of sweeps." - -Which he did out of some of the lighter planks that formed part of the -cargo of the derelict. Thole pins were cut out to serve as oarlocks, -for there were none on the made-over boat, and thus equipped the -lifeboat could be rowed, though not very fast. - -"Now I reckon she's likely to be of more use," declared Abe, when he -had finished his task. - -"But it's too late to start to-day," declared Joe. - -"Yes, we'll wait until to-morrow," was the other's decision. The boat -was left in the same position it had been in before, and they settled -down to pass another night on the derelict, waiting anxiously for the -morning. - -It was just getting dusk, and they were thinking of turning in, when -Jackie, who had crawled upon the roof of the wooden shelter, called out: - -"Oh, Tom! Look! See the smoke! Somebody must be starting a fire to cook -supper!" - -He pointed almost dead ahead, and, at the sight of a line of smoke on -the horizon Joe cried: - -"It's a ship! A steamer! The first one we've seen! Oh, if we could -only make her hear or see us!" - -It was utterly out of the question to make themselves heard by -shouting, but Tom, who was at the helm, swung it around until the -derelict was headed as nearly as possible toward the telltale vapor. - -"Wave something!" cried Abe. "Get up on the top of the shelter and wave -something! They may have a man stationed up in the crow's-nest on the -lookout, and he might see us. Wave something!" - -Mr. Skeel caught up a piece of the sailcloth, and, scrambling to the -peak of the shelter waved the signal frantically. He kept this up for -an hour, in which time the smoke gradually got below the horizon, -showing that the steamer was moving away from the shipwrecked ones. - -"No use," said Tom sadly. "We've got to depend on ourselves." - -"And maybe it's better so," agreed Abe. "That steamer might be going to -some place we wouldn't want to touch at all." - -"Any place would be acceptable," spoke Mr. Skeel, bitterly. "Oh! when -will we be rescued? When will I ever get a good meal again?" - -"No telling," answered Abe grimly. "But if we have luck we ought to -fetch some place by to-morrow. That steamer shows that we're near the -lines of travel, and we'll hit on an island soon." - -Disappointed, but not discouraged over their failure to attract -attention, the refugees prepared to spend another night aboard the -derelict. Little Jackie was quite fussy, calling for his father -several times, and it was all Tom could do to pacify him and keep him -interested in "make-believe" plays. - -Tom was a bit nervous about going to sleep, for he feared another -attempt might be made to rob him. He had narrowly watched the two -sailors and Mr. Skeel during the day, and he had decided that neither -Abe nor Joe was guilty of the attempt to get the money belt. - -"It must have been Skeel," decided Tom, "though what he was going to do -with it after he got it is more than I can say. He couldn't have gone -far with it, and I'd have missed it as soon as I awakened." - -He took a position this time so that any one coming toward him in the -night would have to step or crawl over Jackie first, and thus, in a -measure, the small boy would be an alarm clock. - -"But I don't believe anyone will dare try it again to-night," mused -Tom. He had narrowly watched his companions during the day, and he -mentally decided that Mr. Skeel had a guilty air, though, for that -matter, he seldom looked Tom, or anyone else squarely in the face. - -Again it was near midnight when Tom awakened. And this time it was not -because of anyone trying to rob him. He heard some one moving about on -deck, and, cautiously peering out of the opening of the shelter, he saw -a sight that startled him. - -It was just light enough, because of the stars, to make out objects, -and Tom beheld the form of Mr. Skeel at the lifeboat. - -The former professor was fumbling with the retaining ropes, as if he -intended to let the craft slide into the water. But Tom noticed that -the man was in such a position that he could leap aboard the lifeboat -as it slid away from the derelict. - -"He's trying to escape!" thought Tom. "He's going to take our boat and -leave us behind on the wreck. There's treachery here! He's trying to -get away while we're asleep--during his trick at the helm. Well here's -where I spoil his plans!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -OFF IN THE BOAT - - -Determined to foil the scheme of the unprincipled man, Tom stole softly -forward, himself unobserved. He thought over several plans in his mind, -and decided that he must catch Mr. Skeel red-handed. - -"I'll wait until he actually begins to move the boat," murmured our -hero, "and then I'll call a halt. Besides I want to be sure that this -is actually his game. If I jump out too soon he may say that he was -only tightening the ropes, or that the lifeboat started to slip, and -that he stopped it. He's foxy, and I must be the same." - -So Tom watched, and the more he saw of the former professor's actions -the more he became convinced that treachery was intended. - -"He tried to rob me, and get the money in my belt," thought Tom, "and -he was intending to escape then. That's why he wanted the funds. Now -he's going without them--that is if I let him--which I won't." - -The man was working swiftly and silently, pausing now and then to -look over toward the shelter where he supposed all his companions were -asleep. He had deserted the helm to carry out his treacherous design. -Not that leaving the rude steering apparatus meant much, for there was -very little wind just then, and the derelict was merely drifting. - -Tom had crouched down so that he could not be seen, the lifeboat on -the sloping deck of the wreck being between him and the professor. The -latter was working away at the ropes. One after another he cast off. -There was a slight movement to the lifeboat. It seemed about to slip -into the sea. - -"It's time to act!" thought Tom. - -He straightened up, took a step forward and fairly confronted the man, -standing up to face him across the lifeboat. - -"That'll do, Mr. Skeel," said Tom quietly. "I wouldn't take that boat -if I were you." - -There was a gasp of surprise from the man--the same sort of a gasp as -when Tom had shown him his forged note at Elmwood Hall. - -"Wha--what's that?" stammered Mr. Skeel. - -"I said, leave the boat alone!" said Tom sharply. - -"I--I was just fixing it!" went on the man. - -"Yes, fixing it to get away in it," answered our hero bitterly. "I saw -you." - -"It was--was slipping, and I--I----" spoke Mr. Skeel hesitatingly. - -"That's enough!" cried Tom sternly. "I saw you loosen several of the -holding ropes. You wouldn't have done that if you wanted to make the -boat more secure. I believe you intended to desert us. And I believe -you tried to take my money belt away from me the other night." - -"Don't you dare say such things to me!" stormed the former Latin -instructor, as though Tom were in his classroom. But the flash of the -old-time spirit was only momentary. - -"I dare say them because they're true," said Tom quietly. "Get away -from that boat! Don't you dare touch another rope." - -"Oh, I--I don't know what I'm doing!" exclaimed the unhappy man. "I--I -believe I'm going out of my mind. Don't--don't tell on me, Tom." - -"I must," spoke the lad gently, and with a feeling of pity rather than -anger. "Our lives depend on that boat, and if you are not to be trusted -Abe and Joe must know it. I shall have to tell them. They can't depend -on you any more, and they must arrange the watch differently." - -"Oh, Tom, don't tell!" Mr. Skeel was fairly whining now, and his -underlying cowardice showed. - -"Abe! Joe!" called Tom sharply. - -"Aye, aye! What is it?" asked Abe, appearing at the doorway of the -shelter. - -"Have you sighted land--a sail?" asked Joe. - -Then both sailors saw the dangling ropes that held the boat from -slipping--they saw Tom standing in a menacing attitude, and Mr. Skeel -shrinking away. - -"The boat--it's almost overboard!" cried Joe. - -"Did some accident happen, Tom?" asked Abe. - -"No--not an accident. I'm sorry to have to say it, but he--this -man--was about to cut it loose, and, I think, sail off in it," replied -our hero. - -For a moment there was silence, and then Abe exclaimed with a deep -breath: - -"The scoundrel!" - -"By Davy Jones!" cried Joe. "We ought to throw him overboard! Get -forward!" he cried, holding back his anger as best he could. "You'll -berth forward after this, and we'll not trust you any more. Get -forward!" - -Without a word Mr. Skeel obeyed, and then Joe and Abe, with the help of -Tom, made the boat secure again. Little Jackie had not awakened. - -"Here's a piece of sail cloth, it's more than you deserve," growled -Joe, as he tossed it to Mr. Skeel. "You won't freeze, and you can sleep -on that for the rest of the night. In the morning we'll have a talk -before we sail in the boat. We'll decide then what's best to be done." - -"Oh, don't leave me behind! Don't sail without me and leave me on this -derelict!" begged Mr. Skeel. - -"It would serve you right if we did," declared Joe. - -"And I don't much fancy voyaging in a small boat with a man like him," -came from Abe. - -"But we can hardly leave him behind," said Tom in a low voice. - -"No, I s'pose not," agreed Abe. "Well, we'll decide in the morning. -Now, Joe, you and I'll divide the rest of the night into two watches." - -"Let me take my share!" begged Tom. "I'm not a bit sleepy. In fact I -don't believe I can go to sleep again." - -"Well, lie down and rest then," proposed Joe. "Abe and I will stand -watch and watch. It will soon be daylight. Besides, we can't take any -chances with a desperate man like him. We've got to be on our guard." - -"That's what," assented Abe. "You go lie down, Tom." - -Which our hero did, and, in spite of the tumult of thoughts that -crowded in his brain he managed to fall asleep beside Jackie. - -The morning broke fair, and with a gentle wind. - -"Hurray!" cried Joe, as he stretched himself. "Just the day for a -launching. And the breeze is in the right direction too, if I'm any -judge. We'll fetch some island now. I'm sure of it, though why we -haven't done so before is a mystery to me." - -"That's so--and we haven't even sighted a ship," added Abe. "I never -heard tell of such a thing--drifting about in this part of the ocean as -long as we have, and never a sight of the thousand and one islands that -are scattered around here. It's fair strange. But we'll soon be all -right." - -Mr. Skeel sat dejected and alone, some distance from the others, and -they did not speak to him. Their hearts were too bitter against him. -The scanty breakfast was served, Jackie alone getting a full ration, -though naturally he did not eat much. There was plenty of water, -however, but of food they must be sparing, for there was no telling how -long their voyage might yet last. - -"Well, what's to be done about him?" asked Abe, when they had collected -their scanty belongings in the lifeboat, and were about ready for the -launching. - -"That's a problem," declared Joe. - -"We can't leave him here, that's certain," decided Tom. "We have got to -take him with us." - -"But he's got to be told some plain facts," insisted Abe. "He's got to -be made to understand that another treacherous move and overboard he -goes!" - -"Well, something like that," admitted Tom. "But I guess he's had his -lesson." - -"Then you tell him," suggested Abe. "You made him knuckle under once, -and you can do it again." For Tom had told the story of the revolt he -led at Elmwood Hall. - -Tom walked forward to where the renegade professor sat by himself. - -"Mr. Skeel," said our hero, "we are going to leave the derelict in a -few minutes, and try our luck in the small boat. But----" - -"Oh, Tom Fairfield, don't say that you're going to leave me here to -die!" cried the man. "Don't say that! I'll promise anything you like. -I'll row the boat, or do anything, only don't leave me here alone." - -"We don't intend to," spoke Tom. "We'll take you with us, but only on -condition that you try no more treacherous tricks. Will you promise?" - -"Yes, yes! Oh, I don't know what made me do that! I don't really -believe I knew what I was doing. I'll promise anything you ask. I'll do -anything you say, only take me with you, please!" - -He seemed sufficiently sincere, and contrite, and both Abe and Joe -agreed that the only thing to do would be to take him with them. - -"But we'll keep an eye on him, just the same," declared Joe grimly, -"and he can't share in any of the watches." - -Their preparations were all made. Little Jackie was all excitement and -childish anticipation over the change to the smaller boat. In fact of -late he had even ceased to ask for his father, so interested was he in -their strange life on the ocean. - -"All aboard!" called Abe, who acted as master of ceremonies. "All -aboard, and I'll cut loose!" - -They climbed in, taking the places assigned to them, for there was -not much room to move about. The sail was ready to hoist, Joe and Abe -having made a seamanlike job of this. The food and water had been -stowed away, and the tools they had succeeded in getting from the -carpenter's quarters were put in place. A large tin was provided in -case there should be necessity of bailing against leaks. - -"All aboard!" called Abe again. - -He was the last one in, and arranged to cut a single rope that held the -boat fast, thus allowing it to slip into the sea from the sloping deck -of the derelict. - -There was a moment's pause. They all took a last look at the wreck -which had been their home for so many days. - -"Give the word, Joe," said Abe in a low voice. "Watch the waves, and -give the word to cut when the sea's calm." - -"Aye, aye," answered his mate quietly. - -Fortunately there was not much of a swell on, but certain waves were -larger than others, and Joe watched for a favorable one on which to -launch the craft. - -"Cut loose!" he called suddenly. - -With a hatchet Abe severed the line. The lifeboat held for an instant, -poised on the sloping deck, and then quickly slid down into the water, -taking the sea with a little splash. - -"Hurray!" yelled Tom. "Now we're off!" - -"Afloat again, and with something like a proper craft under our feet!" -added Joe. "Hoist the sail, Abe, and let's see how she behaves!" - -The sail was run up. It filled with wind and the boat swung around, -falling off before a gentle breeze. In a moment they were some distance -away from the derelict. - -"Good-bye, old hulk!" cried Tom. "You served us a good turn." - -"And I wish we could blow it up, or sink it, so as to take it out of -the way of other ships," spoke Abe, "but we can't. However, we'll give -information about it." - -On forged the sailboat, putting more and more distance between herself -and the wreck. - -"And now, once more, I'm off to rescue dad and mother," murmured Tom. -"I wonder if I'll ever find them?" and a mist of tears came into his -eyes. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -DAYS OF SUFFERING - - -"Does she leak any?" asked Joe anxiously. He was up forward, attending -to the sail, while Abe was at the helm. - -"A few drops coming in," replied the other sailor. "But nothing to -speak of. She'll swell up when she's been in the water a while, and be -as tight as a drum." - -"Good! We've got a right proper little boat, I'm thinking." - -"And she sails well, too," declared Tom, observing the behavior of the -craft with a critical glance. "She can go close to the wind, too, I -believe." - -"Right you are, matie," exclaimed Abe. "If we had a compass now we -could lay as good a course as any ocean liner." - -But they did not have this aid to navigation, though the two sailors -could manage to get along without it. They held a consultation, and -decided that to steer in a general southwesterly direction would be the -proper course. - -"There's islands there, if they're anywhere," declared Abe; "and there -ought to be ships we could speak." - -"We ought to be somewhere near the equator, if the heat goes for -anything," declared Tom. In fact in the last few days the sun had -become unbearably hot. - -"I shouldn't wonder but what we were, matie," assented Joe. "We drifted -and sailed quite some distance in the derelict, and we were headed for -the equator when the poor old _Silver Star_ went down to Davy Jones's -locker. So I shouldn't wonder but what we'd soon cross the line, if we -haven't done so already." - -"It sure is hot enough," agreed Abe. - -It was indeed, and being in the open boat they missed the wooden -shelter they had had while on the wreck. Still there was a fine breeze -that sent the sailboat along at a good speed, and served to make the -atmosphere more endurable. - -They had brought along all the sailcloth, and once they were well under -way the sailors rigged up a little shelter where Jackie could rest out -of the glaring sun. The small chap was delighted with the change to the -sailboat, and laughed and chatted as if being shipwrecked was a big -joke. - -"Though if we get into a blow it won't be so safe in this craft as on -the other," commented Abe. "Still I think we're in for a spell of good -weather now, and we're somewhat out of the region of storms, if I'm any -judge." - -Now that they were fairly under way again they made their plans for -standing watch. Of course Mr. Skeel was left out of it, save during the -day, when he was to take his trick at the helm. He seemed to realize -this, and, though he did not say much, he acted differently. He seemed -much more humble. - -At night Tom was to take the early trick, so as to enable him to remain -near Jackie during the later hours. Joe and Abe divided up the rest of -the night watch. - -"We'll keep sailing night and day," Abe said, "for we want to get to -land as soon as we can, or speak some vessel, and that may happen after -dark as easily as during the day." - -"The sooner the better," murmured Joe, with a glance at the rapidly -dwindling store of provisions. - -They took an account of the stock when it came time to serve dinner, -and the total quantity of food left was less than they had imagined. - -"What's to be done?" asked Tom gravely. - -"Have to go on shorter rations--that's all," decided Abe. "That is, us -grown folks." - -"Shorter rations!" exclaimed Mr. Skeel. "I don't see how I can live on -any less." - -"It's a question of living several days, or dying sooner--that's what -it is," said Joe, half savagely. "We've got to keep alive until we -sight land, or until a ship rescues us, and the only way to do it is to -eat as little as possible. Just enough to keep from starving." - -"Then we'll do it," said Tom simply, and he proceeded to deal out much -reduced portions of food. Fortunately there was no need to shorten the -water supply yet, though they did take less, for they all knew the -horror of thirst. - -All that day they sailed before a fair wind, and not a moment but what -they looked eagerly for a sight of some sail on the horizon, or the -smudge of smoke that would tell of a steamer. But they saw nothing. - -They were more anxious than they had been on the derelict, for, though -the weather was calm, and seemed likely to remain so, there was no -telling when a storm would sweep over the ocean. And a storm in an open -boat was a different matter from one on the big, though water-logged, -hulk of the lumber vessel. - -True, the lifeboat had water-tight compartments, and would not be -likely to sink, but seas breaking over her would mean the almost -certain destruction of some, if not all, of the little band of -shipwrecked ones. So they looked anxiously for a rescue. - -Night came--a beautiful night with a calm sea, and a great silver moon -riding over head. It seemed an augury of good luck and they all felt -their hearts beat a little lighter. Even Professor Skeel looked less -gloomy and sour, though he did not mingle nor talk with the others, -sitting by himself. - -They slept by turns, though not as comfortably as on the derelict. -Still they realized that they were making better time, and time was a -great object with them now. - -Morning came, and found them afloat on a still calm sea, a sea that -extended all around them, unbroken by any haze or mist that might mean -land, or any speck or cloud that might indicate a sailing or steaming -vessel. The sun beat down in a blaze of heat. - -It was at noon, when Tom went to serve out the frugal meal, that he -made a discovery that alarmed him. - -"Look here!" he cried to Abe. "One of the water kegs has sprung a leak, -and it's empty." - -"Empty!" gasped the sailor, making his way to where Tom stood by the -water supply. - -"Yes, not a drop in it." - -Abe shook the keg. There was no welcome sound of water splashing around -inside it. He drew the bung, and a few drops trickled out. Then, tying -a length of rope to it, the sailor lowered it overboard. - -"What's that for?" asked Tom. - -"I want to see where the leak is," was the quiet answer. "I don't see -how a sound keg could spring a leak in the night." - -"Then you think----" began Tom. - -"I don't know what I do think--yet," was the reply. He held the keg -aloft, and aside from the water that dripped from the outside none -came from it. "There's no leak there," half growled Abe. "Some one has -emptied that water butt!" He looked to where Mr. Skeel stood at the -helm. - -"Do you think----" began Tom in a whisper. - -"Wait. Don't say anything yet," cautioned Abe. "But we'll keep our eyes -open." - -But if Mr. Skeel knew he was suspected he did not show it. He accepted -his small share of food and water with the others, and he did not -complain, as he usually did. - -For three more days they sailed on, each hour adding to their -sufferings, for it was very hot. And they scarcely seemed to cool off -in the night before it was daylight again. - -The water got lower, and to Tom's horror, one day, as he went to serve -out the food, he saw that the supply was much lower than he had thought. - -"I'm sure there was more than this," he said to the sailors when the -professor was at the helm. - -"There's something wrong going on here," decided Joe, "and I'm going to -see what it is. There's got to be a search made." - -One was soon under way, but it revealed nothing. Mr. Skeel had been in -the habit of sleeping on a pile of the canvas and this was looked over. -The man was evidently aware of the suspicion in which he was held, but -he said nothing, and quietly moved away when the sailors looked under -his canvas bed. - -"Unless some sort of a sea monster boarded us in the night, I don't see -how the food and water could disappear," said Tom. - -"There's no sea monsters that could do such a thing," declared Joe, -knowing Tom was only joking. "And yet--well, we'll have to get along -with less, that's all." - -They were down now to almost the limit of human endurance in the -allowance of food and water. All but Jackie--he had nearly all he asked -for. - -Half a week passed. Their sufferings had increased from day to day -with the heat of the sun. Their lips and tongues began to swell and -get black from lack of sufficient water, and their stomachs gnawed -constantly from hunger. They were days of suffering indeed. - -Their eyes were strained from looking for a sail, or a sight of land. -They were weak and feverish. By dousing their bodies with sea water -some of the pangs of thirst were lessened, but the matter of food could -not be remedied. - -Tom watched Mr. Skeel narrowly and it seemed that the professor did -not suffer as did the others. Yet he did not appear to have any secret -store of food or water. Indeed in a small boat it was difficult to -imagine where he could hide it. Yet Tom was suspicious. - -It was one cloudy night when our hero made his important discovery. -It was his trick at the helm, and he had put Jackie to sleep, and -moved aft to take the rude steering sweep. Professor Skeel's position -was well forward, in the bow, and the two sailors, worn out by their -suffering and hardships, were lying amidships. - -Tom began to feel light-headed. He imagined he saw land ahead in the -darkness--a ship coming to their rescue--a ship filled with ice water -and good things to eat. He imagined he heard his father and mother -calling to him. - -"Come, this won't do!" he exclaimed, half aloud. "I must keep a better -grip on myself. Maybe we'll be rescued to-morrow." - -He stretched himself, and tried not to think of cool water and tables -piled with food. And yet the more he tried to stop it, the more often -did visions of great glass pitchers filled with ice water come before -him. That day they had had only a single tin cup full of water -each--one cup full for the whole hot day! - -"Oh, for a good, long drink!" whispered Tom. - -And then he started. Surely that was the tinkle and drip of water that -he heard! Where did it come from? - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -"SAIL HO!" - - -Cautiously Tom peered about him. He listened as only one can listen who -is suffering from thirst, and who hears the welcome sound of water. -True, there was still water in the keg, but that belonged to all, and -Tom had had his share. Was there more on board? - -"It seems to come from up forward," murmured Tom, "up forward where -Mr. Skeel is." At once his old suspicions came back to him. He peered -toward the bow, but the sail was in his way and he could not see well. - -"I'm going to take a look," he decided. There was scarcely any wind -then, and the sea was calm. It would do no harm to leave the helm. - -Carefully Tom made his way forward, walking softly past the slumbering -sailors. And then the sight he saw filled him with rage. - -For there, eating and drinking from a private store of food and water -he had stolen, and hidden away, was the renegade professor. It was the -trickle of water, as he poured it out from a can into a cup, that Tom -had heard. - -Hardly knowing what to do our hero paused. Should he spring on the -traitor and take the stolen supply of food and drink away, or call the -sailors? Yet it might be advisable to see where Mr. Skeel had hidden -his unfairly gotten store. So Tom waited. - -It was agony to see the man eating and drinking before his eyes--eating -and drinking when Tom himself was parched and half starved. And yet so -cunning was the former professor that he did not gorge himself. He was -evidently saving some for another time. - -At last, as Tom watched, the professor made an end of his midnight meal -and began to hide away his supply. And it was in the forward watertight -compartment that he placed his store of food and water. It was there, -where no one had thought of looking, that he kept them. The compartment -was one that could be opened and used as a locker and this use Mr. -Skeel had made of it. He had evidently taken the food when no one was -observing him, and had emptied one of the water kegs into an unused -tin can, and thus supplied himself against the time of need, while the -others were on short rations. And yet with all this, he had daily drawn -as much as had the others. - -"The trickster!" murmured Tom. "I'm going to expose him!" - -Our hero stepped forward. As he emerged in front of the sail the -professor saw him and started. He tried to hide the fact that he had -been eating, but he did not have time to stow away all the food in the -compartment. - -"I'll ask you to hand those things over to me," said Tom coldly. - -"What things?" - -"The food and water you stole from us." - -"Food and water?" - -"Yes! Don't trifle with me!" and Tom's voice was menacing. "If I call -Abe and Joe it will go hard with you. They won't stand for anything -like this." - -"Oh, don't tell them! Don't tell!" begged the man, now a trembling -coward. "I--I just couldn't stand it to be hungry and thirsty." - -"How do you suppose _we_ stood it?" asked Tom calmly. - -"I--I don't know. But I--I couldn't. I had to have more to eat. I have -a big appetite." - -"You'll have to take a reef in it," went on the lad. "Now hand me over -that food and water. We need it--we may need it worse before we're -rescued." - -"And you won't tell on me." - -"Not this time. But if it occurs again----" - -"What's that? What's the matter, Tom?" came the voice of the sailor Abe. - -The professor started. Through the darkness he looked appealingly at -the lad who confronted him. - -"Quick!" whispered Tom. "The food and water!" - -The professor passed them over. - -"What's up?" asked Joe. - -"I've just found the missing provisions," said Tom grimly. "They had -gotten into the forward compartment." - -"The forward compartment?" queried Abe. - -"Yes--by--er--mistake I fancy," and Tom spoke dryly. - -He took them from the trembling hands of the professor and walked aft -with them. - -"I think we can all indulge in a little lunch, and a drink," he went -on. "There is enough here for several more days now, and we won't have -to be on quite such short rations." - -"Thank heaven!" murmured Joe. "And yet I can't see how the things got -in the forward compartment." - -"Nor I," murmured Abe, but though he thought a great deal he said -nothing more on the subject. - -Tom passed around some food and water, though the professor did not get -any. Nor did he ask for it. Jackie did not awaken, sleeping with the -healthy fatigue of childhood. - -Then a little wind sprang up, and some one must look to the helm. Tom's -trick was nearly up, and Joe relieved him. - -"Tell me, matie, did the professor have the grub?" the sailor whispered -hoarsely. - -"He did," answered Tom, "but I think it's best to say nothing about it. -He's had his lesson." - -"Yes, but he may do it again." - -"We'll take precautions, now that we know what a traitor he is," -answered the lad. - -Morning came--morning with the hot sun beaming down and the oily sea -running after the boat containing the shipwrecked ones. - -Mr. Skeel seemed to feel his position keenly, though he was such an -unprincipled man at heart that it is doubtful if any lesson had a -lasting effect on him. - -"Well, I don't see anything of a sail," remarked Abe gloomily, as his -eye roved over the waste of water. "And it's been many a weary day -we've looked for one." - -"And the islands," murmured Joe. "I can't understand why we haven't -sighted some, unless we are farther north than I had any idea of." - -"Well, we can last it out for another week--with care," said Tom -slowly. - -"And we'll be careful in two ways," spoke Abe. "We'll eat and drink -as little as we can, and we'll watch to see that none of our supplies -disappear in the night." - -He looked meaningly at Mr. Skeel as he spoke, and the professor turned -his head away. - -But even the discovery of the hidden food supply could not better -their condition for long. The water, warm and brackish as it was, went -drop by drop, for it was so hot they had to wet their lips and tongues -often. The food, too, while it stopped their hunger, made them the more -thirsty. Jackie, too, seemed to develop a fever, and to need more water -than usual. - -On and on they sailed. They were in the middle of the second week, -and saw no hope of rescue. They hoped for rain, that their water -supply might be renewed, but the sky was brazen and hot by day and -star-studded by night. - -"I--I can't stand it much longer," murmured Abe, at the close of a hot -afternoon. "I--I've got to do something. Look at all that water out -there," and he motioned toward the heaving ocean. - -"Water! Yes, it's water fair enough, matie," spoke Joe soothingly, -"but them as drinks it loses their minds. Bear up a little longer, and -surely we'll be picked up, or sight land." - -"I don't believe so!" exclaimed Abe gloomily. - -"Tom, I want my daddy!" whined Jackie. "Why don't you get him for me?" - -"I will--soon," said Tom brokenly, as he tried to comfort the little -chap. - -They were down to their last bit of food, and the last keg of water. -The latter they had used with the utmost economy, for they knew they -could live longer without food than without water. And yet there was -scarcely a pint left, and it was hardly fit to drink. - -They were all very thin, and the skin on their faces seemed drawn and -tight. Their tongues were thick, and dark, so they could hardly speak. -Jackie had been better fed, and had had more water than the others, and -yet even he was failing. - -Abe and Joe, being more hardy, had, perhaps, suffered less, but their -privations were telling on them. Mr. Skeel had lost much of his -plumpness, and his clothes hung on him like the rags on a scarecrow in -a cornfield. - -As for Tom, he bore up bravely. Day by day he had tightened his belt -that he might "make his hunger smaller," as the Indians say. He had -even given Jackie part of his food and water. - -Night came, the long lonesome night, and yet it was welcome, for it -took away the blazing sun. What would the morning bring? - -They were all partly delirious that night. Tom found himself murmuring -in his sleep, and he heard the others doing the same. Abe collapsed -at the wheel, and Joe had to do a double trick. He would not let Tom -relieve him. - -Toward morning the last water was doled out. No one felt like eating. - -"I--I guess this is the end," murmured Joe. "We've made a good -fight--but--this is--the--end." - -Tom said nothing. He sat in the bow, gloomily looking off across the -waste of waters. He thought of many things. - -It grew lighter. Another day of heat was coming--a day when there would -be no water to relieve them. How many days more? - -Higher crept the sun out of the waves. Tom rubbed his smarting eyes. -He looked, and then he looked again. Then, scarcely believing what he -saw, and fearing that it was but a vision of his disordered brain he -shouted, over and over again: - -"Sail ho! Sail ho!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -NEWS OF THE MISSING - - -Tom's cry echoed over the water and startled those aboard the boat into -sudden life. Gaspingly Joe and Abe sat up. Mr. Skeel was galvanized -into sudden activity, awakening from a troubled dream. Little Jackie -jumped up with a start. - -"What--what is it, Tom?" cried Joe. - -"Have we struck something?" exclaimed Abe. - -"It's a sail--a sail!" fairly shouted our hero. "See that vessel over -there! It's bearing down on us! A big sailing ship!" - -The two sailors and the former professor gazed off to where Tom -pointed. There was no doubt of it, they were gazing at a full-rigged -ship. - -"I saw her as soon as I opened my eyes!" Tom explained. "I was dozing, -I guess. At first I couldn't believe it. But it's a ship all right, -isn't it?" - -He was half afraid that the others would say he was only dreaming. -Anxiously he awaited their verdict. - -"It's a ship all right," agreed Abe. - -"And coming this way," added Tom. - -"No, I'm afraid she's leaving us," put in Joe, a moment later. - -"Don't say that!" cried Mr. Skeel. "I--I can't stand any more!" He was -fairly quivering with fear. - -"It does look as though she was going away from us," agreed Abe -gloomily. "Still, she may come around on the other tack, and see us." - -"Then we must make signals!" cried Tom. "They've got to see us! Yell! -Shout! Make 'em hear us!" - -"It'd have to be a pretty good voice that could carry that far," spoke -Joe weakly. "Still, she sees us. She's about three miles off. Wave -everything you've got!" - -At once Tom caught up a piece of canvas. Every one, save Jackie, -did the same, and soon there was a wildly-waving mass of rags to be -observed on board the lifeboat. - -"If she only sees us!" gasped Tom. "If she only does!" - -Hope awoke anew, and Tom found himself fired with an ambition to do -anything that would put him in a position to rescue his father and -mother. - -"Is--is she turning? Can she see us?" asked Mr. Skeel anxiously, -pausing in his exertions. - -"It's too soon to tell--yet," answered Joe. "Keep on waving." - -They had almost forgotten the professor's mean and sneaking ways now, -in the excitement over a possible rescue. Anxiously they watched the -small speck that meant a vessel. Oh how anxiously! Would some one on -board see them? Would she put about? - -"Can't you head for her any more directly?" asked Mr. Skeel after a -bit. "It seems to me that you're not heading any where near her." - -"I'm doing the best I can," declared Abe, who was at the helm. "I can't -make the wind do what I want it to. It all depends on the other ship." - -They waved by turns, and again peered anxiously at the craft on which -so much depended. She seemed to grow in size, at times, and again, to -their despairing hearts, she appeared to become smaller, showing that -she was leaving them. - -But at last Joe sprang to his feet with a shout of joy. - -"She sees us! She sees us!" he cried. "Look, they are putting about! -They're going to pick us up! We're saved! We're saved!" - -"Are you sure?" asked Tom, not wanting to have his hopes raised, only -to lose them again. - -"Of course! Can't you see by the way her sails are trimmed?" - -"Right you are!" agreed Abe. "She's going to pick us up. She's seen us!" - -This was more apparent to the eyes of the two sailors than to Tom or -Mr. Skeel, but they gladly accepted the news. In a little while it was -evident, even to Tom, that the vessel he had sighted so opportunely was -indeed growing in size, showing that she was coming nearer. - -"Water! Water!" gasped Mr. Skeel sinking down in the bottom of the -boat. "I'm going to faint!" - -Indeed he did look to be in a bad way, and, though the others wanted -and needed the precious fluid almost as much as he did, some was given -him. Though, as Abe remarked, the professor had had more than his -fair share. Still it was not a time to grumble, and, after Mr. Skeel -had been revived, the rest of the water was apportioned out among the -others. And they needed it very much, for their tongues were swelled -more than ever. - -"But we'll soon have all we want," declared Joe, with a laugh that -sounded queer and cracked, coming from between his swollen lips. -"Enough water--all we want!" - -"And food, too, food!" added Abe. "I'm as hungry--as hungry----" but a -simile failed him, and he sat down weakly to stare at the approaching -vessel. - -There was nothing more to do save to wait for the arrival of the ship, -which soon was seen to be a large sailing craft. Nearer and nearer she -came, with the big sails bulging out with the wind. Those aboard the -lifeboat steered as best they could to make the distance between her -and the rescuing vessel as short as possible, but their small sail did -not catch much of the breeze. - -Nearer and nearer came the ship. A crowd of sailors could now be made -out on her deck, lining the rail to find out the meaning of the strange -sight of a small open boat on the trackless ocean. - -"Lifeboat ahoy!" came the hail when the big ship was near enough. "Are -you in distress? Do you need help?" - -"We sure do!" cried Tom. "We've been shipwrecked, and on a derelict. -Take us off. We have no food or water." - -"What ship are you from?" - -"_Silver Star_ out from San Francisco for Sydney. Wrecked by a derelict -about two weeks ago," answered Tom. "Who are you?" - -"The _Alexandria_, from Melbourne, bound for Honolulu. We'll have you -on board shortly. Do you want your boat saved?" - -Thus answered the first mate of the rescuing vessel. Tom looked at his -sailor companions, and they shook their heads. The lifeboat, patched -as it was, could be of little real service or value, and to hoist it -aboard would delay matters. - -"We don't need it," sang out Abe. "It was hard enough to rebuild, but -it's served its turn. Take us aboard without it." - -"All right," came the hail, and a little later Tom and his companions, -so strangely wrecked and rescued at sea, were on the big deck of the -_Alexandria_. - -She proved to be a large merchant ship, carrying no passengers, and the -crew crowded around the refugees to hear their story. - -"Water first--water," pleaded Mr. Skeel, who, now that he was safe, -seemed to resume some of his former arrogant airs. "I must have a fresh -drink of water." - -"And I guess this little chap needs some as well as you," spoke the -mate, with a shrewd guess as to the true character of the former Latin -instructor. "Come below and we'll look after all of you." - -A little later, water and warm soup having been cautiously administered, -Tom was telling the story of the shipwreck. - -"Do you think it possible that any of the passengers or crew of the -_Silver Star_ were saved?" he asked. - -"Quite possible, though we haven't heard of it," answered Captain -Buchanan of the _Alexandria_. "If they got away in a lifeboat it's very -likely that they were picked up. They were in the zone of ship travel, -according to what you tell me, but you and the others drifted out of it -on the derelict, and you've been out of it ever since. It's lucky you -put the small boat into use or you might have been there yet. And now -what do you want me to do with you?" - -"I'd like to go on to Honolulu," said Mr. Skeel, as if he was the first -one to be considered. "I have business there." - -"I'm going that way, and I'll stop and put you off," answered Captain -Buchanan dryly. "What of the rest of you?" - -"Any place suits me, where we can get a ship," spoke Abe, and Joe -nodded in agreement. - -"What about you, Tom Fairfield?" - -"Well, I'd like to go to Sydney, if it's possible. If not, I can go to -Honolulu, and take a ship there to continue the search for my father -and mother." - -"Your father and mother!" exclaimed the captain. "Are they lost, too?" -for our hero had not told of his reasons for being aboard the _Silver -Star_. - -"They were wrecked on the _Kangaroo_, or so I believe," replied Tom, -and he showed the newspaper clippings that had been the means of -starting him on such a long and adventurous quest. - -"The _Kangaroo_!" exclaimed the mate. "That's the vessel we heard----" - -"Yes, yes!" assented the captain eagerly. - -"Oh, have you heard any news of her?" asked Tom eagerly. "Were any of -her passengers saved? Tell me!" - -"It's almost providential!" exclaimed Captain Buchanan, "but a few days -ago we did speak a vessel that had some news of the missing ship--the -one your parents sailed on. It seems that she picked up a boat load of -sailors some distance out to sea. They were from the _Kangaroo_. That -was some time ago, you understand, for we have been from port some -time, held back by contrary winds. But this ship, the _Belgrade_ she -was, had some of the rescued sailors." - -"And--and were they the only ones saved?" asked Tom. - -"I can't be sure of that," answered the captain, "but from the captain -of the _Belgrade_ I learned that another boat load of other survivors -of the _Kangaroo_ set out for some island near Tongatabu, in the -Friendly group. They may have reached it. They may be there yet." - -"Were there passengers among them?" asked Tom, his heart beating with a -new hope. - -"There were, my boy, though I can't tell you to hope that your parents -were there. Still it may be that they were." - -"I'm going to hope!" cried our hero eagerly. "Now how can I get to -Sydney, or some Australian port, and set out for that island?" - -"I'll speak the first Australian bound ship we meet," promised Captain -Buchanan, "and put you aboard. Oh, boy, I hope you find your folks!" -and he shook Tom's hand. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -OFF TO THE ISLAND - - -Once the excitement over the rescue of himself and his companions was -over, Tom settled down to another task. And it was that of looking for -a ship bound back to Australia, that he might once more set out in -search of his parents. - -"And I sure do hope there won't be any more accidents," Tom mused. -"I've had my share of 'em this trip, that's certain." - -The hardships and the privations suffered while on the derelict and in -the open boat soon passed away, and the refugees were made to feel at -home on the _Alexandria_. Little Jackie soon became a general favorite, -and Tom made many friends. - -As for the two sailors, they were soon at home among the members of -the crew, and, as Captain Buchanan was short-handed, he signed them as -first class men, so they were well provided for. - -Mr. Skeel kept much to himself. He seemed in fear that his conduct -aboard the boat and derelict would be told to those on board the rescue -ship, but Tom and his friends had no idea of exposing the scoundrel, -as it would have done no good. So Mr. Skeel kept to himself, glad -enough to be let alone. - -"I suppose there is no telling when you will sight a ship bound in the -direction I was to travel in, is there?" asked Tom, a few days after -the rescue. - -"Hardly," replied the captain. "I have instructed the lookout to report -the first vessel bound for Australia, though, and we may speak one -any day. If she cannot take you all the way there she may be able to -transfer you to one that will." - -"My!" exclaimed our hero. "I certainly will have my share of travel on -the sea! But I sha'n't mind, if I can only rescue dad and mother." - -"And I certainly wish you all success," spoke Captain Buchanan. "What -are your plans when you do reach Sydney or Melbourne, if I may ask?" - -"I'm going to charter a steamer and sail for that island near -Tongatabu," replied Tom. - -"Charter a steamer!" exclaimed the captain. "That will be pretty -expensive." - -"Well, I have considerable cash with me," answered our hero, showing -the money belt which had successfully resisted the efforts of Mr. Skeel -to take away. "And my father's agent in Sydney will supply me with -more, I think." - -"Then you will be well provided for," commented the commander. "You -can do almost anything--up to a certain point--with money, and it's -good you have enough. I can give you a note to a friend of mine in -Melbourne who can fit you out with a proper vessel for such need as you -have. He is also an experienced navigator, and if you like I'm sure -he would sail to this island for you. Of course I can't just say what -one it was, for there are several in the group near the large one of -Tongatabu, and you may have to make a search." - -"I'll do it!" cried Tom, "and I'll be much obliged to you for that -note. I'll engage your friend if he'll come." - -Tom and the captain talked for some time longer, and our hero was given -many valuable pointers about what to do. So interested did he become, -and so occupied was he in looking for a vessel to take him back to -Australia that he had no time to worry about his parents. Not that he -did not think of them, but his thoughts were hopeful ones. - -"I'll rescue them!" he declared determinedly. "And, oh! if I could only -pick up some of those from the _Silver Star_ who may still be adrift in -open boats. And Jackie's father! If I could only find him!" - -But Tom felt that this was too much to hope. Several days passed, -and no Australian bound vessel was seen. Tom began to be a bit -discouraged, but one morning there was a cry on deck when he was at -breakfast. He hurried up to find that the lookout had sighted a large -steamer approaching them. - -"Oh, if it's only going to Australia!" cried Tom. - -It was, as he learned a little later when the steamer hove to in -answer to a signal from the _Alexandria_. A small boat was sent from -the sailing ship to the steamer, and Captain Buchanan requested the -courtesy of transferring one of his passengers to the _Monarch_, which -was the name of the steamer spoken. - -The word came back that Tom would be accepted. - -"Good!" he cried. "I'm sorry to leave you, Captain Buchanan, but I must -rescue dad and mother!" - -"That's right. Good luck to you!" - -"What about Jackie?" asked Abe, who, with his mate, had come on deck to -bid Tom good-by. - -"He comes with me, of course," was our hero's answer. "I'm going to -turn him over to his relatives," he added. "Mr. Case said he had a -sister in Melbourne." - -"I'm going to my daddy!" Jackie proudly informed the friends he was -leaving behind on the _Alexandria_. "Tom is going to take me to my -daddy!" - -"I only wish I was," murmured Tom with tears in his eyes. - -He and his little charge were soon on the Australian bound vessel, and -the _Monarch_ getting under way again was once more steaming toward the -land of the kangaroo and rabbit. - -In due time Tom landed at Melbourne, and his first duty was to take -little Jackie to his relatives. That they were shocked was to be -expected, over the news of the shipwreck, of which they had heard -nothing, though they were beginning to be alarmed over the fact that -the _Silver Star_ had not arrived, and had not been spoken. - -Their grief and sorrow were concealed from Jackie as well as possible, -and he bade Tom a tearful good-by, convinced that our hero was going to -bring matters about so that everything would be all right. - -Then Tom sought out Captain Mosher, to whom he had a letter of -introduction. - -"Humph!" exclaimed the seaman, when Tom had made known his mission, and -his desire to set out in search of his parents. "It's a slim chance, -boy, and it's going to cost----" - -"Never mind the cost!" cried Tom. - -"All right, then. You're the doctor. If you want me to fit out a small -steamer and go to some of the islands around Tongatabu I'm your man. -Only--don't hope too much!" - -"I've got to hope!" cried poor Tom. "I'm going to hope until the--the -last!" - -"Well, maybe you're right after all," assented Captain Mosher. "Now -to business, ways and means, a steamer, a crew, fitting out and -then--well, I've got to get busy." - -He did, to such good advantage that inside of a week all was in -readiness for the start. Tom had communicated with his father's agent -in Sydney, and, as our hero had papers to prove his identity, there was -no lack of money from the inheritance Mr. Fairfield had come so far to -claim. - -A steamer, the _Sea Queen_, was fitted out; a small but competent crew -was hired, stores and provisions for a month's cruise were put aboard, -and one sunny day Tom took his place with the captain on the bridge. - -"Well, Tom, shall we start?" asked Captain Mosher, a kindly light in -his eye, for he had taken a great liking to our hero. - -"Start, and go at full speed as long as you can," came Tom's order. -"I want to get to that island as soon as possible, and find dad and -mother." - -The hoarse whistle of the _Sea Queen_ warned other craft that she was -about to leave her berth. A little later her funnels belched black -smoke, and from her pipe the white steam spurted. She was off for the -island. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -THE CASTAWAYS - - -Quite a new experience it was for Tom to be in command of a steamer, -even though it was a comparatively small craft. And he was in actual -command, for, though Captain Mosher was the navigator, and had all -the powers captains usually have on the high seas, still Tom was the -master, and his orders would be obeyed. - -"If only dad and mother were here with me, or if I knew they were safe, -and I had a crowd of fellows from Elmwood Hall here," Tom reflected, -"this would be sport. But as it is there's too much worry in it to suit -me." - -Not that he shirked his duty in the least, but it was a big responsibility -for a youth, and none knew it better than Captain Mosher. - -"That boy has grit!" the commander exclaimed to his mate. "There ain't -many lads like him who would start off as he did on such a slim chance -to find his parents. And, after being shipwrecked, he starts off again." - -"Oh, 'e's H'American!" exclaimed the mate, who was quite a Cockney in -his way. "'E's H'American, and H'Americans will do hanythink, so I've -'eard, sir." - -"Maybe they will. The more credit to 'em." - -"But H'I say, Captain, sir, 'ave you told 'im?" - -"Told him what?" - -"About them cannibals an' other unpleasant creatures that may be on the -h'islands where we're goin'?" - -"No, I haven't told him, but I'm going to. It's only fair that he -should know about 'em. I think he's got grit enough to take it." - -And so, after the vessel was well under way, and the captain had -leisure, he sent for Tom, who was in the stateroom that had been -assigned to him, next to the captain's own quarters. - -"Tom, my boy!" exclaimed Mr. Mosher, after a few generalities, "it's -only fair to tell you that we may have a hard task ahead of us." - -"How so, captain?" - -"Well, some of the islands around Tongatabu are inhabited by natives -that are not always friendly." - -"You mean----" and our hero paused apprehensively. - -"I mean that--well, at worst, I think, they can but hold your folks -captive, in case the survivors from the shipwreck landed on one of the -unfriendly islands." - -"Hold them captives?" - -"Yes. You see these natives are peculiar. They get streaks, I might -say. If a large enough party of whites landed they would be friendly, -and would treat them well. But if only a few were cast on their shores -they might be ugly, and make them prisoners for the sake of what few -possessions they might save from the wreck." - -"And you think my parents may have landed on such an island?" - -"It's possible. I only tell you to prepare you for the worst." - -Tom was silent a moment, and then he said quietly: - -"We brought arms along, didn't we, captain?" - -"Yes, Tom, but----" - -"Then we'll use 'em--if we have to!" exclaimed the lad, with an energy -that caused the captain to like him the more. "If any cannibals or -other natives are holding my folks captive we'll go to the rescue." - -"And I'm with you!" cried the commander, holding out his hand, which -Tom took in a firm grip. - -The _Sea Queen_ was a fast little steamer and, favored by good weather, -she made excellent time. In due course the island of Tongatabu was -sighted and one night the vessel Tom had chartered to search for his -parents lay at anchor in the harbor. There was not much of a settlement -on the island in those days, but such as it was there was news to be -had, of a sort, though not the kind Tom wanted. - -For he could learn nothing of his parents. There were rumors of wrecks, -and of castaways coming ashore, but none from the _Kangaroo_. - -In fact a crew from another wrecked sailing ship had come ashore to -Tongatabu, but they knew nothing of the casting away of the ship on -which Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had sailed. - -"You might do one thing," said a friendly Englishman who had some -business interests on the island. "I understand there are some natives -here from surrounding islands. You might ask them if they have heard of -any white castaways coming ashore at any of the places where they live." - -Tom and Captain Mosher welcomed the suggestion and followed it. They -found the natives--rather a shiftless lot--and questioned them through -an interpreter. But to no purpose. - -The simple black men told stories of wrecks that had happened ten years -back, and related how the castaways from them had come ashore, either -to remain there in an idle existence, or to take the first steamer back -for civilization. There were more rumors, but nothing definite. - -"The only thing to do," decided Captain Mosher, "is to visit all the -islands in the immediate vicinity of Tongatabu. In that way we'll get -first hand information." - -"And we may find them!" cried Tom eagerly. "Let's start off again!" - -This was about the third day of their stay at Tongatabu and that night -they hoisted anchor, and steamed out of the harbor. - -Then began a wearying search. No spot of land was too small to deter -Tom, and at every large island he spent some days, hiring natives to -make a circuit of it, and interviewing, through interpreters, the chief -men. - -But all to no purpose. There had been no wrecks in some time, and no -castaways had come ashore. Tom was beginning to get discouraged. - -"Oh, there are lots more islands," Captain Mosher assured him. "We'll -find 'em yet!" - -"H'if the bloody cannibals ain't het 'em!" said the mate. - -"Keep still!" commanded the captain, emphasizing his words with a dig -in the ribs that made his chief officer grunt. - -They came one night to the small island of Tahatoo, hardly more than a -dot in the big ocean. But there was a good harbor, in a coral lagoon, -and, as there were signs of a storm, Captain Mosher decided to lay to -there over night. - -"And while we're here we may as well go ashore and see if there is any -news," spoke Tom. His voice was despondent, for the search had been -wearying and disappointing. - -"White mans? No hab white mans and womans here," said the head native -in his broken English, when Tom and the captain put the question to -him. "No hab wrecks here. If had, Walla he be kind to um. Kind to white -mans and womans. Me is Walla. Walla bery kind. When you sail away, -captain?" - -"Why do you want to know?" inquired the commander of the _Sea Queen_, -suspiciously, for usually the natives were only too glad to have a -steamer spend some days at one of their islands. - -"Oh, me just ask for friendly like. When you go?" - -"In the morning, if the weather's good," was the answer. - -"Walla t'ink wedder good," said the native grinning. "You go mornin'." - -"Tom, there's something wrong here!" said the commander a little later, -as he and our hero walked down toward the beach. "That native is -altogether too anxious to get rid of us." - -"Why--do you think----" began Tom, his heart beating fast. - -"I don't know what to think, my boy, but----" - -"Do you imagine dad and mother--may have been here?" - -"I don't know, but I think that Walla knows something. I think we'll -just stroll around a bit, and we don't leave to-morrow, no matter what -the weather is." - -Their minds filled with strange thoughts, the two strolled back toward -the native village. The hut where Walla, the head man lived, was easily -distinguished by its size. Around it were other places where the poorer -natives stayed. - -As Tom and Captain Mosher tried to pass through an alley that led past -Walla's hut, a big black man stopped them with a gesture. - -"No can go," he said, grinning. - -"Why not?" asked Tom. - -"No can go. Walla he say so. No can go. After a bit maybe can go." - -"We're going now!" cried Captain Mosher with sudden energy. "Tom, my -boy, there's something on foot here. Draw your revolver and follow me. -We'll see what's up." - -"No can go!" insisted the native guard. - -"We're going!" cried the captain. "Come on, Tom!" - -Tom sprang to the commander's side. In the gathering dusk they could -observe signs of activity about a hut that adjoined Walla's. A number -of native men and women were moving about it. - -Suddenly a shout was heard. A voice was raised in angry protest. And -the words were English. - -"I'll not go! I'll not submit to this any longer! Where is your head -man? What does he mean by taking us away from where we were fairly -comfortable, and sending us somewhere else? What does it mean?" - -For a moment Tom and the captain stood as if paralyzed. Then a woman's -sob was heard. - -"White men! White men, by Jove!" cried the captain. - -"My father!" shouted Tom. "That's my father's voice! I'd know it -anywhere! He's here! I've found him! Dad! Mother! I've come to rescue -you! I'm here! We're coming!" - -Tom sprang toward the knot of natives, Captain Mosher at his side. For -a moment the blacks resisted. Tom fired into the air, and the captain -did likewise. With yells of fear the natives fled, and there, in the -fast-gathering dusk, in front of the hut next to that of Walla, stood a -little group of white castaways--Tom's father and mother among them! - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION - - -For a moment Tom hardly knew what to think. He had heard the voice of -white persons, he had seen them when the natives fled at the shots, and -yet he could not believe that at last he had found his parents. - -Yet there could be no doubt of it. As he stood there, amid the awed -natives, and looked forward, he saw the beloved faces--faces he had -feared he would never see again. - -"Father! Mother!" he cried, and then he ran forward. - -From the little knot of castaways two figures detached themselves--a -man and a woman. Wonderingly they looked toward Tom. Then the man cried: - -"It's Tom! It's our son! Oh, how did he ever get here?" - -The woman answered: - -"It can't be possible! You're dreaming, Brokaw! Tom could never be -here. Our minds must be wandering!" - -"And I say it's Tom!" declared the man. "Tom! Tom!" he called. "Is it -really you?" - -"It is, father! Oh, are you all right? Have the natives hurt you? I've -come to rescue you!" - -"Thank the dear Lord!" ejaculated Mr. Fairfield. His wife said nothing. -She was crying on his shoulder. - -A moment later Tom had sprung to their side and was wildly hugging -them, while the other white castaways, including several sailors, -looked on wonderingly and sympathetically. Captain Mosher, with tears -of joy in his eyes, stood as a sort of guard, with drawn revolver, but -there was no need to use it, for the natives had nearly all vanished, -save a small wondering ring of them that stood some distance off. - -"I rather guess, Tom, my boy," spoke the commander, "that our voyage is -at an end." - -"It surely is!" cried Tom, as he introduced his parents. "I've found -them at last!" - -"H'I always said them H'Americans was great for doin' things," -commented the mate, who had followed at a distance. - -"Father! Mother!" cried Tom. "Tell me all about it." - -"Oh, dear boy, you tell us!" half sobbed his mother. "However did you -find us?" - -And there, as night fell, on that half-savage island, in the midst -of the hut-village of Walla, the head man, Tom told his story. Its -details are already familiar to our readers, so I need not go over it. - -"And you kept on after us, in spite of all," commented Mr. Fairfield, -when Tom had finished telling of his days aboard the derelict, and in -the open boat, followed by the search in the steamer. - -"Of course I did!" exclaimed Tom. "I wanted to find you." - -"And you did, dear boy!" cried his mother. "You found us, and we have -you again! Oh, I never thought to see you any more." - -"Tell me all about it," suggested Tom. And they did. - -With the foundering of the _Kangaroo_ all hands had taken the small -boats. There was much wind and they were separated. The one containing -Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield had drifted from the others, and had finally -landed at the island of Tahatoo. There the natives proved to be rather -unfriendly. - -True, they did not maltreat the castaways, but they stripped them of -everything of value, confiscated their boat and stores and then, afraid -of the possible vengeance of the whites who might start out to rescue -the shipwrecked ones, Walla and his men made the castaways captives. - -Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield, two men passengers, and a few sailors were in -the small boat that had landed at Tahatoo. Their clothes were taken -from them, and they were given a few rags to wear. They were not ill -treated, as native treatment goes, but they were held prisoners. - -This lasted for some time and numerous attempts to escape were -frustrated. The castaways gave way to despair. Then came the arrival of -Tom's steamer. Walla at once feared vengeance, and endeavored to hold -the attention of Captain Mosher and the others until he could hide his -captives in the interior. But his plans miscarried. - -Mr. Fairfield, suspecting that something was up, had objected to being -taken away with his wife. The commotion had attracted the attention of -Tom and Captain Mosher, and the rest is known to the reader. - -"Oh, dad! It seems too good to be true!" cried Tom, when their stories -had been told. "But your troubles are over. You'll soon be back to -civilization. I've got a steamer waiting for you." - -"That's what!" exclaimed Captain Mosher. "And I don't believe anybody -but Tom Fairfield could have gone to sea and rescued you in the way he -did." - -"Oh, of course they could," declared Tom, blushing, for he disliked -praise. - -"Oh, I'm sure they couldn't!" declared his mother, hugging him to her. - -"Well, I'd like a few minutes private conversation with that scoundrel, -Walla," said Captain Mosher grimly. "Where is Walla?" he asked of one -of the head man's guards. - -"Walla him gone 'way," was the answer. "Him gone far 'way. Him say him -got very bad pain, no come back long time." - -"Pain!" cried the captain. "I'd give him a worse one, if I had the -scoundrel!" - -A little later Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield, and all the castaways were -aboard the _Sea Queen_, where they were made comfortable, and given -decent clothes in exchange for the rags the natives had forced them -to wear. Then, as the storm broke, Captain Mosher rode it out in the -coral-locked harbor. - -"And now for Melbourne, and then for home!" cried Tom, a few days -later, when calm weather prevailed. "Oh, it will seem good to get back -to the United States again." - -"But it's too bad so many were lost from the _Silver Star_," spoke Mr. -Fairfield. "Tom, you proved yourself a man! Oh, what a time you must -have had!" - -"It wasn't so easy," confessed our hero, as he thought of the days -aboard the derelict and in the open boat. - -The voyage to Melbourne was uneventful, and to Tom's delight, when he -reached there, he learned that little Jackie's father had reached -home. He and a number of others had been picked up in one of the -lifeboats, taken to a distant port, and had only just reached Australia. - -News was also had of the others of the ill-fated ship that had struck -the derelict. Nearly all of them, including the captain, were saved, -but chief of all Tom rejoiced in that Jackie's father was safe. - -Little remains to tell. Shortly after their arrival in Australia with -their son, Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield were entertained by Mr. Case, and -Jackie renewed his friendship with Tom, whom he thought the greatest -young man in all the world. - -"He found my daddy," declared Jackie, and no one tried to make him -believe otherwise. - -Then, having completed all his business plans, a re-arrangement of -which was made necessary because of the wreck, Mr. Fairfield, with his -wife and Tom, started for home. - -Their voyage to San Francisco was uneventful. They called at Honolulu -on their way, and learned that Mr. Skeel had started in business, but -had failed, because of unfair dealings, and had disappeared. - -"Oh, Tom, I hope you never meet that man again!" said our hero's -mother. - -"Well, I think Tom took pretty good care of himself," spoke Mr. -Fairfield a bit proudly. - -But whether or not Tom met Professor Skeel again, and what were the -next adventures that befell our hero, may be learned by reading the -next volume of this series, to be entitled, "Tom Fairfield in Camp; Or, -The Secret of the Old Mill." - -"Well, Tom, do you want to go back to Elmwood Hall?" asked Mr. -Fairfield of his son a few weeks later, when they were once more back -in their home at Briartown, having had a safe trip from San Francisco. - -"I guess I do, dad. Adventures at sea are all right in their way, but -they're too exciting for a steady diet. I think I can get back in time -to pass with the Freshman class." - -And Tom did, and a glorious time he had. For many a night there were -secret gatherings in the room of himself and Jack Fitch, while the lads -listened breathlessly to the tale of our hero's adventures. - -And now, for a time, we will take leave of Tom Fairfield, to meet him -again in new activities. - - -THE END - - - - -THE SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES - -By ROY ROCKWOOD - -Author of "The Dave Dashaway Series," "Great Marvel Series," etc. - -12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid - -All boys who love to be on the go will welcome the Speedwell boys. They -are clean cut and loyal lads. - - -[Illustration] - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS ON MOTOR CYCLES - _or The Mystery of a Great Conflagration_ - -The lads were poor, but they did a rich man a great service and he -presented them with their motor cycles. What a great fire led to is -exceedingly well told. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR RACING AUTO - _or A Run for the Golden Cup_ - -A tale of automobiling and of intense rivalry on the road. There was an -endurance run and the boys entered the contest. On the run they rounded -up some men who were wanted by the law. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR POWER LAUNCH - _or To the Rescue of the Castaways_ - -Here is an unusual story. There was a wreck, and the lads, in their -power launch, set out to the rescue. A vivid picture of a great storm -adds to the interest of the tale. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS IN A SUBMARINE - _or The Lost Treasure of Rocky Cove_ - -An old sailor knows of a treasure lost under water because of a cliff -falling into the sea. The boys get a chance to go out in a submarine -and they make a hunt for the treasure. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR ICE RACER - _or The Perils of a Great Blizzard_ - -The boys had an idea for a new sort of iceboat, to be run by combined -wind and motor power. How they built the craft, and what fine times -they had on board of it, is well related. - - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES - -BY LESTER CHADWICK - -_12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $.65, postpaid_ - - -[Illustration] - - 1. BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS - _or The Rivals of Riverside_ - - 2. BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE - _or Pitching for the Blue Banner_ - - 3. BASEBALL JOE AT YALE - _or Pitching for the College Championship_ - - 4. BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE - _or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher_ - - 5. BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE - _or A Young Pitcher's Hardest Struggles_ - - 6. BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS - _or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis_ - - 7. BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES - _or Pitching for the Championship_ - - 8. BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD - _or Pitching on a Grand Tour_ - - 9. BASEBALL JOE HOME RUN KING - _or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record_ - - 10. BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE - _or Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy_ - - 11. BASEBALL JOE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM - _or Bitter Struggles on the Diamond_ - - 12. BASEBALL JOE CHAMPION OF THE LEAGUE - _or The Record that was Worth While_ - - 13. BASEBALL JOE CLUB OWNER - _or Putting the Home Town on the Map_ - - 14. BASEBALL JOE PITCHING WIZARD - _or Triumphs Off and On the Diamond_ - -_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE BOMBA BOOKS - -BY ROY ROCKWOOD - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. With colored jacket_ - -_=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid=_ - -[Illustration] - -_Bomba lived far back in the jungles of the Amazon with a half-demented -naturalist who told the lad nothing of his past. The jungle boy was a -lover of birds, and hunted animals with a bow and arrow and his trusty -machete. He had a primitive education in some things, and his daring -adventures will be followed with breathless interest by thousands._ - - - 1. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY - _or The Old Naturalist's Secret_ - -In the depth of the jungle Bomba lives a life replete with thrilling -situations. Once he saves the lives of two American rubber hunters who -ask him who he is, and how he had come into the jungle. - - - 2. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE MOVING MOUNTAIN - _or The Mystery of the Caves of Fire_ - -Bomba travels through the jungle, encountering wild beasts and hostile -natives. At last he trails the old man of the burning mountain to his -cave and learns more concerning himself. - - - 3. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE GIANT CATARACT - _or Chief Nasconora and His Captives_ - -Among the Pilati Indians he finds some white captives, and an aged -opera singer, first to give Bomba real news of his forebears. - - - 4. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON JAGUAR ISLAND - _or Adrift on the River of Mystery_ - -Jaguar Island was a spot as dangerous as it was mysterious and Bomba -was warned to keep away. But the plucky boy sallied forth. - - - 5. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE ABANDONED CITY - _or A Treasure Ten Thousand Years Old_ - -Years ago this great city had sunk out of sight beneath the trees of -the jungle. A wily half-breed thought to carry away its treasure. - - - 6. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON TERROR TRAIL - _or The Mysterious Men from the Sky_ - -Bomba strikes out through the vast Amazonian jungles and soon finds -himself on the dreaded Terror Trail. - -_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES - -BY WILLARD F. BAKER - - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_ - -[Illustration] - -_=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid=_ - -_Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as a setting, related -in such a style as to captivate the hearts of all boys._ - - - 1. THE BOY RANCHERS - _or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X_ - -Two eastern boys visit their cousin. They become involved in an -exciting mystery. - - - 2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP - _or The Water Fight at Diamond X_ - -Returning for a visit, the two eastern lads learn, with delight, that -they are to become boy ranchers. - - - 3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL - _or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers_ - -Our boy heroes take the trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws. - - - 4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS - _or Trailing the Yaquis_ - -Rosemary and Floyd are captured by the Yaqui Indians. - - - 5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK - _or Fighting the Sheep Herders_ - -Dangerous struggle against desperadoes for land rights. - - - 6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT - _or Diamond X and the Lost Mine_ - -One night a strange old miner almost dead from hunger and hardship -arrived at the bunk house. The boys cared for him and he told them of -the lost desert mine. - - - 7. THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER - _or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_ - -The boy ranchers help capture Delton's gang who were engaged in -smuggling Chinese across the border. - - - 8. THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY - _or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery_ - -The boy ranchers track mysterious Death into his cave. - -_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - - Transcriber's Notes: - - --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in - bold by "equal" signs (=bold=). - - --Printer, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected, - except as indicated below. - - --Archaic and variable spelling is preserved. - - --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - - --Inconsistencies in formatting and punctuation of individual - advertisements have been retained. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Fairfield at Sea, by Allen Chapman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA *** - -***** This file should be named 44013.txt or 44013.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/0/1/44013/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -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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